Months passed in the hidden cabin, where Aiden and Talia spent their days caring for the baby they had named Aiko. She had begun to smile and babble, her tiny voice filling the room with unexpected joy.
"Aiden," Talia said as she cradled Aiko, "look at this. She's already trying to lift herself up. I am not sure if this is normal, but she is growing so fast."
Aiden looked up from repairing his bow. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "She looks healthy. That is what matters, right?"
Talia nodded, though her brows pinched with worry. "Yes, but I keep thinking about what will happen if someone finds out about her."
Her fear proved real sooner than she expected. A few days later, a villager accidentally saw Aiko near the cabin. By nightfall, the rumor had reached Varek. That same evening, Talia was summoned to the healers' hall. Varek was waiting, fury already twisting his expression.
"Talia," Varek said, his voice echoing sharply, "I heard something today that should not be possible. Tell me the truth. Have you been hiding an Edenan child?"
Talia met his glare, calm on the surface but trembling inside. "Yes. I could not abandon her."
Varek slammed his palm against the table, making several healers flinch. "Do you understand what you have done? You defied our decision. You have endangered the entire village!"
Elara sat silently in the corner, her head lowered. Talia turned toward her, pain in her voice. "Elara... you knew. Why did you not say anything?"
Elara could not look at her.
The following night, Varek ordered every villager to gather outside the healers' hall. Lantern light bathed the square in a warm glow as people murmured among themselves, unsure why they had been summoned.
Varek stepped onto a raised platform. His voice cut through the air with authority. "Brothers and sisters, a grave truth has been hidden from you. One of our trusted healers has broken our laws and put all of us at risk."
The murmurs grew louder.
He pointed toward Talia. "She has been secretly caring for an Edenan infant."
Gasps swept through the crowd.
"Edenan? Did he say Edenan?"
"Why would she bring that danger here?"
Talia stepped forward, shoulders straight. "I cared for her because she is a child. She is innocent. Whatever the Edenans did, this baby had no choice in where she came from."
"But you know the risk you brought upon us!" Varek shouted. "The Edenans slaughtered countless people on this planet. What if they return? What if this child is something we cannot control?"
The crowd split between fear and sympathy.
Elara finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Talia acted out of compassion. I... should have spoken up instead of staying silent."
The admission stirred the crowd even further. Varek gave Elara a sharp glare, then raised his voice again.
"The decision is final. Talia will be exiled. And the Edenan child will be returned to the place where she was found. We cannot allow this danger to grow."
Many shouted in agreement. Others looked away, ashamed or conflicted. Talia stood firm, even as her heart twisted in despair.
That same night, under a silver full moon, Ravara lay still. The tranquility shattered when someone sprinted through the dark, footsteps pounding urgently. Aiden reached Kirana's home, breathing hard as he knocked.
"Kirana! Please, open the door!"
She opened it, startled. Fresh from her long journey, she was still weary, yet alert. "Who are you? What happened? You look like death is chasing you."
"I am Aiden, from the neighboring village," he said, struggling to breathe. "I need your help. It is a matter of life and death."
She let him inside. "Sit. Catch your breath. Start from the beginning."
Aiden remained standing, fingers gripping his hat. "Kirana... months ago, I found a strange capsule near a cave. Inside was a baby. An Edenan baby."
Kirana froze. "An Edenan...?"
He nodded quickly. "Talia and I cared for her in secret. She is just a normal baby, Kirana. She laughs. She cries. She is innocent. But the elder found out. He is exiling Talia and sending the baby back to die in the cave."
Kirana's face darkened with disbelief and anger. "Why did no one come to me sooner?"
"We were afraid," Aiden admitted. "But now... you are the only one who can stop this."
Lyra entered from the next room, alert. "What is going on?"
Kirana turned to her. "Aiden found an Edenan baby months ago. He and Talia have been protecting her. Now the village plans to abandon the child."
Lyra stared at Aiden. "Do you have any idea what you are risking? What if the Edenans return? What if they track her?"
"The Edenans are gone," Aiden said firmly. "There is no sign they will ever return. Even if they do, she is not responsible for their actions."
Lyra looked torn. "This could bring disaster..."
"Lyra," Kirana cut in, voice steady, "the war is over. We cannot keep living in fear. If we want the world to heal, someone has to make the first step."
Lyra took a slow breath, then nodded. "If you believe this is right, I will support you. What do you need me to do?"
"Go to the Althera Desert," Kirana said. "Find Zephyr and tell him everything. We will need his help to protect the child. And you are the only one who can get there fast enough."
Lyra accepted the task with a reluctant nod.
Kirana turned to Aiden. "Come. We need to get to the cabin. If we are too late, I do not know what they will do to Talia or the baby."
Aiden's eyes filled with relief. "Thank you, Kirana."
They moved quickly. Lyra began preparing for her desert journey, while Kirana and Aiden rushed through the night toward the hidden cabin.
When they arrived, the cold air bit at their skin. Inside, a dim lantern flickered. Talia was rocking the cradle, exhaustion etched across her face. She looked up with relief.
"Kirana," she whispered. "Thank the stars you came."
Aiden stepped closer to the cradle. "This is Aiko," he said softly.
Kirana leaned in. Aiko slept peacefully, a faint glow clinging to her skin like moonlight. Kirana's expression softened. "She looks so peaceful. As if the world cannot touch her." Her smile faded. "But she has already been forced to run."
Talia looked at her with trembling hope. "I do not know what will happen next. But I refuse to let her die, Kirana. I just wanted her to have a chance."
Kirana turned serious. "Aiden, listen carefully. You and Talia cannot go back to your village. Head south to Eldara. Start a new life there. It is far and hidden."
Aiden hesitated. "And Aiko?"
"I will take her," Kirana said firmly. "She will stay with me in Ravara. Lyra is going to find Zephyr. With his help, we will protect the child."
Talia's eyes filled with tears. "Kirana... are you sure?"
"I am sure," Kirana said. "Aiko is my responsibility now."
Talia exhaled deeply, relief and fear mingled in her voice. "Thank you, Kirana. I do not know what would have happened without you."
*****
The next morning in the village of Vireka, a soft chime echoed from the Healers' House, marking the start of the judgment day. Villagers slowly gathered in the square, caught between curiosity and unease. But when Varek stepped into Talia's room to fetch her, the sight froze him in place. The bed was neatly made. Empty.
"She's gone," Varek muttered, his voice turning sharp. He strode out the door and barked to the nearby villagers, "Check the hideout house!"
They ran toward the concealed house at the edge of the village, Varek close behind. But the hideout was deserted as well. No footprints. No warmth. Only an extinguished lantern and a folded blanket left behind.
Karel, an older man with weary eyes, approached quietly. "Last night," he whispered, "I saw Kirana with Aiden and Talia. They took the child with them."
Varek's jaw tightened. "Kirana... So she's part of this." His fists clenched, but he kept his anger buried under a thin layer of restraint. "Tomorrow morning," he said in a low, controlled voice, "I'll speak with her myself."
*****
Meanwhile, Kirana reached the village of Ravara with Talia, Aiden, and Aiko in tow. Her small home felt warm despite its plain walls, a fragile calm settling over them. Talia held Aiko in her lap, brushing a thumb over the baby's cheek.
"She looks so peaceful," Talia whispered. "I didn't think we'd make it out of Vireka without everything falling apart."
Kirana paused her cooking and glanced at them. "It's not over yet. Varek won't forget this, but we have time to prepare."
Aiden stood by the window, watching the treeline. "Kirana, you told us to go to Eldara. But are you completely sure? If Varek decides to chase us—"
"Eldara is far enough," Kirana said. "He won't have the authority to pursue you there. I'll send word ahead. You'll be protected."
Talia looked at Aiden, fear flickering beneath her calm. "She's right. We can't stay here."
Aiden exhaled slowly. "Alright. We'll leave tonight."
Kirana crossed the room and rested a hand on Talia's shoulder. "I'll look after Aiko as if she were my own. Lyra will return with Zephyr soon, and I'll make sure everything is ready."
Talia's expression softened. "Thank you. We owe you more than we can ever repay."
"You owe me nothing," Kirana said. Her gaze fell to Aiko sleeping soundly in Talia's arms. "She represents hope. And we won't let anyone take her."
Later that night, beneath a sky full of cold stars, Aiden and Talia slipped away from Ravara, the road to Eldara stretching before them like a thin promise they desperately needed to believe in.
Kirana stayed behind, preparing for what was coming. She stood at the edge of the forest, watching the darkness between the trees, waiting for Lyra and Zephyr to return—because the fight was far from over.
*****
Morning light spilled over the quiet village of Ravara, slipping through the slats of Kirana's home. The air was cool, and dew still clung to the grass. Kirana was sweeping the porch when the sound of heavy footsteps approached. She turned to see Varek walking toward her, his face a hard blend of anger and disappointment.
"Kirana," Varek said flatly. His eyes burned.
Kirana lowered the broom and straightened. "Earlier than I expected. Come inside and we can talk."
"No," Varek said sharply. "We talk here."
She nodded once, calm. "Then say what you came to say."
Varek took a slow, controlled breath. "I know what you did. You helped Talia, Aiden, and that child escape. What were you thinking?"
Kirana's expression didn't waver. "I did what was right. That child is innocent. You wanted to send her back, to let her die. I couldn't allow that."
"She is Edena," Varek snapped. "They destroyed our world. How can you protect one of them?"
"I know exactly who she is," Kirana replied. "But she didn't choose any of it. She is a baby. We don't punish children for the sins of their bloodline."
Varek clenched his jaw, frustration rising. "This isn't just about innocence. You're risking everything. You're giving Edena a chance to grow among us."
"I've thought about the risk," Kirana said, voice steady. "But if we let fear dictate our actions, we become the very thing we fought. If we want a better future, it starts with mercy, not revenge."
Varek stepped closer, lowering his voice. "People trust you. You're a hero. But this... this could look like betrayal."
"Then let it," Kirana said. "If saving a child costs me admiration, I'll pay the price. I won't let my legacy be built on letting a baby die."
Her conviction hit him, hard enough to quiet him. But doubt still clawed at him. "How can you be sure she won't be a threat? That she won't grow into what they were?"
Kirana took a breath. "Because I'll raise her. I'll teach her what it means to be human. I won't just protect her. I'll shape who she becomes."
"And if you're wrong?" Varek asked, anger slipping into fear. "If this leads to another disaster?"
"Then I'll answer for it," Kirana said. "I will carry that burden. But I refuse to choose cruelty out of fear."
A long silence stretched between them. The wind shifted, carrying the scent of wet earth and wildflowers. Varek looked at her, torn between fury and reluctant understanding.
Finally, he exhaled. "I still think this is dangerous. I don't agree with you. But... I know you. I know what you've done. I just hope this time you aren't wrong."
Kirana's smile was faint but resolute. "I'm not asking for your approval. Just your honesty."
Varek gave a stiff nod. "I'll go. But remember this: if that child becomes a threat, I won't hesitate."
"That's your right," Kirana replied. "And I won't blame you for doing what you believe is necessary."
Varek turned and walked back into the forest, disappearing between the trees. Kirana watched him go, then looked up at the brightening sky. This was not an ending. It was a beginning, fragile but real.
Inside, Aiko slept peacefully, unaware of the storm her existence had stirred. Kirana stepped quietly beside her and brushed a hand over the child's soft hair.
"I'll protect you," she whispered. "No matter what comes."