"Then welcome to the Foxy village, young Ren. May your new life be filled with love and light," Queen Elowen said warmly.
Kael stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "From today, your name will be Aurelian," he said. "But we'll call you Aura."
The little boy blinked up at them, then smiled. "Aura…" he repeated softly. "I like it."
Lily hugged him close. "You'll always be our little golden light."
As the three of them walked through the village, Foxy villagers turned to look. A human child? In the arms of royalty?
Whispers followed them.
"Is that a human boy?"
"Look at his hair…"
"He's glowing."
But Lily and Kael didn't stop or explain. They simply walked to the center of the village. There, a group of curious Foxy children had already gathered.
Aura peeked over Lily's shoulder. His eyes sparkled.
"He's so small!" one child said.
"Why is his hair shining like gold?" asked another.
A girl stepped closer, blinking. "Why are your eyes and hair so golden and shiny?"
Aura thought for a moment, then grinned. "Umm… because I drank too much sunlight!"
The kids burst into laughter.
Lily laughed softly and set Aura down on the grass. Kael patted his head. "Play with them. We'll come back later."
Aura looked up. "Okay!"
Lily and Kael turned and left, glancing back only once before heading toward the upper paths of the tree village.
[System Notification]
Heart Echo +3%
Total Heart Echo: 31%
Aura is adapting to village life.
Emotional stability: good
Reputation with Foxy Village: Neutral → Kind-hearted Cub
Status: Integration successful. Monitoring continues.
The children quickly surrounded Aura. They gave him carved wooden toys, pulled him into their games, and taught him how to balance on the swinging rope bridges. At first, he was clumsy, but he learned fast—his body was light and full of hidden strength.
They played tag, hide-and-seek, and even a game where they tossed leaves like throwing stars.
For the first time since hatching, Aura was simply… a child.
As the sun dipped and the sky turned amber, Kael returned.
He found Aura sitting in the grass, surrounded by giggling children. His golden hair was messy, cheeks flushed with joy.
Kael smiled. "Aura," he called gently.
The boy turned. "Dad!"
He ran to Kael and hugged his leg tightly. Kael picked him up with one arm and gave the other children a nod. "Thank you for playing with my son."
They all waved as Kael carried Aura back home.
That night, Lily had prepared a warm dinner. Aura sat between them, swinging his legs as he ate.
The meal was simple—stew with soft bread and fruit—but Aura ate like it was a feast. He was starving after all the playing.
After dinner, Lily checked on Riku and applied his medication again. The older boy still hadn't woken—his face was pale, and his breathing soft.
Aura climbed up beside him on the bed and curled up.
"I'll sleep here," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Lily kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, Aura."
Kael placed a light blanket over both boys, then blew out the lantern.
The room dimmed. Night surrounded the treehouse.
Aura, tired from the long day, drifted off quickly. Nestled beside his cursed brother, heart full of joy, he finally understood what it felt like to be loved.
Tomorrow, the village would continue watching.
But for now, a small golden-haired boy slept soundly—dreaming beneath the twin moons of a new world.