A few days had passed since that brilliant night when Codrion had spoken to them about the "new ray of sunshine."
Since then, the Itezista forest seemed changed—more alive, warmer, as if every leaf knew that something great was about to happen.
Sofia woke up early every morning, drawn to the light filtering through the window of her room. The medallion around her neck pulsed gently, and the sun's rays fell exactly on it, like a sign.
"Maybe it's just the morning light…" she sometimes thought. But deep down she knew: Codrion was watching.
One of those mornings, the silence of the castle was broken by hurried footsteps, voices, and commotion.
Sofia left the room and saw ladies running with rags and pots of hot water. From somewhere beyond the large doors of the queen's bedroom, murmurs and cries could be heard.
Sofia's heart was beating fast.
She approached slowly, and the moment she put her hand on the doorknob, a thin cry was heard, like a wave of light.
A ray of light descended from the sky, passing through the large window, and fell right on her mother's bed.
— "He is born! The prince! A son!", a maid shouted.
Sofia felt her knees weaken with emotion. She entered slowly, holding her breath.
The queen sat leaning against the pillows, pale, but with that warm smile that always lit up her face. In her arms she held a baby, wrapped in a white cloth. Above him, the sunlight spread in a warm aura.
— "Mother..." Sofia whispered.
The Queen looked up and held out a weak hand.
— "Come, my dear. Here is your... brother."
Sofia went closer and looked at the child's small, sleeping face. On his forehead, right between his eyebrows, there was a bright spot, like a golden spark.
— "It's... it's like a ray," Sofia said in amazement.
The Queen smiled.
— "Yes. It's as if the light chose him."
The little girl reached for the locket. The warmth there enveloped her fingers.
— "Mom," she said softly, "I know what to call him."
— "So quickly?" the Queen laughed. "And what name did you choose, my little one?"
— "Nicolae," Sofia said firmly. "I dreamed of the name. It means the victory of light. That... someone told me."
The queen looked at her for a long time, but did not ask any more. She only touched her hair tenderly.
— "Then, be Nicholas. Brother of the Sun."
At that moment, the sky completely cleared up. The clouds parted, and above the castle, a white bird flew through the air, leaving a golden trail behind it.
Three days later
Bells rang in all the villages of the kingdom.
Golden flags fluttered on the walls, and the castle courtyard was full of people who had come from everywhere. Peasants, merchants, nobles, everyone wanted to see the new heir.
Sofia looked from the balcony, her eyes wide and full of pride. The medallion shone softly, as if its light responded to the songs in the courtyard.
The king descended the steps, carrying a small white shroud in his arms.
— "People of the Light," he said loudly, "today I show you our son, Nicholas—the sign that the light never goes out!"
The crowd applauded, and the bells rang again.
Along the castle walls, in the crowd, Dragoș slipped through the people, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. He had bright eyes and that serious but gentle look that soothed Sofia.
When he saw her, he took off his hat and made an awkward bow.
Sofia immediately ran to him.
— "Dragoș! You came! I knew you would come."
— "I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world," he smiled. "I brought flowers for little Nicholas… and one for you."
Sofia blushed, taking the flower.
— "Thank you."
Vlad and Alexandra were also at the edge of the yard, watching the scene with respect. Vlad, always silent, nodded.
— "The light has come," he said softly.
Alexandra smiled.
— "Yes, but you know well... every great light also brings a shadow that follows it."
Vlad looked at her for a moment.
— "Then we will have to protect her."
In the evening, after the crowd had dispersed, Sofia sat in the garden, on the bench by the lake. The moon reflected in the water, and her medallion pulsed to the rhythm of Dragoș's ring.
— "Sofia," he said, "when your brother was born, the sky in our village lit up. I dreamed of the lake and of you. You held a ray of light in your palm."
Sofia looked at him curiously.
— "Maybe it was Nicolae."
— "Or maybe it was the future," Dragoș said. "A sign that your light will spread."
A warm breeze caressed their faces, and from the forest a gentle whisper could be heard:
"The sun is now a brother. The circle is complete."
Sofia stood up and looked at the starry sky.
— "Dragoș… promise me that we will take care of him, together."
— "I promise," he smiled. "You too, Sofi."
The little girl looked at him for a few moments, then laughed softly.
— "You know what? I think today was the most beautiful day of my life."
— "And it's only just begun," Dragoș replied.
Above them, the moon and stars aligned in a perfect circle. The lake sparkled, and the Itezista forest murmured, like a giant heart watching over everyone.
"The light is on," it was heard, like an echo.