The weather at headquarters changed in an instant; it was clear and sunny in the morning, but by evening, dark clouds had gathered, thunder rumbled, and soon, a torrential downpour began, drumming against the windows with a pattering sound.
However, Kael's dorm room was exceptionally warm and peaceful.
He had just finished a simple dinner with Sirin—mostly prepared by him. Sirin still ate very little, but at least she was willing to try the dishes he served her.
Outside the window, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the wind howled.
Sirin sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, looking at the city lights blurred by the rain outside the window. Her small body subtly flinched.
There seemed to have been such stormy nights in the laboratory, accompanied by the cold sounds of instruments and painful groans. It was a nightmare she did not want to recall.
Kael noticed her unease.
He cleared the dishes, walked to the sofa, and sat down. He did not sit too close, but simply picked up a picture book and began to read in a gentle voice, trying to distract her.
The story was about a little elf's adventure in the forest, with a heartwarming ending.
After finishing, Kael closed the book and looked at Sirin, who was still somewhat lost in thought. He softly asked, "Are you afraid of thunder?"
Sirin did not answer, only hugged her knees tighter.
Kael smiled, extended his hand, and very gently, naturally, ruffled her soft purple hair: "Don't be afraid, it's just rain, it will stop soon. It's safe here."
This action was purely out of comfort and habit; he often did the same with Kiana.
However, this gentle ruffle was like a key, instantly opening a deeply buried corner of Sirin's tightly closed heart!
Her body suddenly stiffened!
In her memory, there was once a pair of warm hands that gently stroked her hair like this, holding her in an embrace and humming out-of-tune lullabies on nights when she was afraid of thunder... That was... Mama... The vague yet precious memories of "before she was taken away," which had been deliberately forgotten, now surged like a bursting dam, accompanied by the rumbling thunder outside the window, overwhelmingly breaking through the psychological defenses she had painstakingly built!
Sirin suddenly looked up. Her brilliant golden eyes were no longer hollow and wary, but instantly filled with tears, brimming with immense sadness, grievance, and a disbelieving longing.
She looked at Kael, her small mouth slightly agape, and a choked sound escaped her throat.
Kael was startled by her reaction and quickly withdrew his hand: "What's wrong? Sirin? Did I hurt you?"
His question seemed to be a signal.
Sirin's tears fell like broken pearls, large drops rolling down.
She did not cry hysterically, but began to sob silently and violently, her small shoulders trembling intensely, as if bearing unspeakable pain.
"Mama..." She finally uttered extremely faint, tearful, broken syllables, "...Mama..."
Kael's heart felt a sharp pang. He understood instantly.
That unintentional gesture had touched the deepest wound and the softest memory within her.
He no longer hesitated, carefully reached out, and gently embraced her trembling, cold little body.
Sirin did not resist; instead, as if grasping a lifeline, she reached out her small hands and tightly clutched the clothes on his chest, burying her face in his embrace. Her suppressed, desperate cries finally broke free.
The cries were not loud, but filled with heartbreaking sorrow and grievance, like a child lost for a long time who had finally found their way home, pouring out all their unease, fear, and pain.
Kael did not speak, but gently and rhythmically patted her back, letting her tears soak his clothes.
Outside the window, thunder roared and rain pattered, while inside the room, there was only the girl's uncontrollable weeping and the man's silent companionship.
He did not know what she had specifically experienced, but he could feel the immense trauma contained within her cries.
All he could do was provide a temporary haven to lean on.
After crying for a very long time, Sirin's sobs gradually softened, turning into intermittent sniffles, and finally quieted down completely.
The immense emotional release had exhausted her strength. In Kael's warm embrace, clutching his clothes, she fell into a deep sleep.
Even in her sleep, her brows were still slightly furrowed, tears still clung to her long eyelashes, and occasionally she would unconsciously whimper.
Kael looked down at her sleeping, tear-stained little face, his heart filled with complex emotions. There was pity, and also a heavy sense of responsibility.
He carefully picked her up, walked to the guest room, and as gently as possible, laid her on the bed and covered her with the blanket.
He tried to withdraw his hand, but found that even in her sleep, Sirin was still tightly clutching one of his fingers, as if it were her only reliance.
Kael sighed and had no choice but to sit by the bed, letting her hold on.
He quietly watched over her, listening to the gradually subsiding rain outside the window and the girl's even, yet occasionally choked, breathing in his arms.
At this moment, their cautious, distant relationship was broken.
That painful cry was like a baptism, washing away much of Sirin's fear and distrust, replaced by a deeper, fledgling-like dependence.
She knew that this embrace was warm, and this person could be trusted.
Though he could not replace Mama, at least... he would not harm her.
Meanwhile, on the void archives, Otto watched this scene through a hidden monitor, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, a hint of an elusive smile playing on his lips.
"Heh... what a touching scene," she murmured to herself, her tone indistinguishable as praise or mockery, "Superfluous tenderness... always wasted in these pointless places."
But her gaze lingered on the screen for a long time, watching Kael's patient and gentle profile, watching the purple-haired girl sleeping soundly, tightly clutching his finger. Deep within her emerald eyes, an extremely subtle, complex fluctuation flickered, one she herself had not even noticed.
"But this is also what I love most about you..."
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