Echo of The End

Third Person's POV

The manor bustled with the gentle sounds of another peaceful day—plates clinking, chatter weaving through the halls, and the wind brushing through the leaves outside. It was a serene, ordinary day for everyone. Everyone, except for a little boy who had set off on a mission of his own.

Alaric, with his fluffy dark hair resembling the starless night sky and his gleaming blue eyes that could charm anyone, was on the move. His tiny feet hurried across the floor, although to him, it felt more like running. In reality, it was no more than a swift, wobbly walk, each step adorable as he made his way around the mansion.

He had successfully snuck out of Xironia’s office, a proud look beaming on his face. He had grown too old—or so he thought—to sit still in one room for an entire day. He was on the move with a single goal in mind, toddling determinedly down the halls until the sounds of clinking dishes and chatter led him to his destination—the kitchen.

As soon as Alaric toddled into the kitchen, the scent of freshly baked bread hit his nose, and he took a deep breath, his face lighting up. "Aw, look, we have a visitor," one of the maids chimed, causing soft chuckles to ripple through the room. The maids turned to look at him, and when they saw the wide, beaming smile on his face, they melted.

"Hewwo," Alaric greeted, his sweet little voice causing the maids to freeze momentarily, stunned by his cuteness.

But Alaric wasn't here just to charm the kitchen staff. His blue eyes scanned the room, searching. He took a few more determined steps toward a particular corner, eyes brightening when he spotted her—the person he’d come for. His target was so immersed in her work that she hadn’t noticed his arrival.

The maids watched knowingly, some stifling giggles as Alaric toddled over to the corner of the room, where a maid with snow-white hair was busy at work. Without hesitation, he grasped the hem of her white skirt.

"Eirys," Alaric called out, his voice soft yet demanding enough to pull Eirlys out of her deep focus. She blinked, startled, and looked down at the little boy who had captured her attention.

Her snow-like hair in a rough bun and porcelain-like face caught the light, her clear blue eyes meeting Alaric’s wide, expectant gaze. Eirlys was breathtakingly beautiful, a fact not lost on anyone who worked in the manor. Yet in this moment, her composed demeanor melted as she saw the adorable sight before her.

"Young master?" she said softly, her voice warm as she bent down, smiling at him.

"Pay," Alaric said, his attempt to say 'play' causing Eirlys to suppress a giggle. His inability to pronounce the ‘l’ was far too precious.

"Play?" Eirlys repeated, her heart melting further at the sight of his big puppy eyes staring up at her in earnest. But as much as she wanted to indulge him, her eyes flickered back to the work she was holding. A small sigh escaped her lips.

"Young master, I have to work right now,"

 she explained, crouching down to meet his gaze with a wry smile.

"But I wanna pay with Eirys," Alaric insisted, pouting in a way that made his chubby cheeks even more pinchable. Eirlys couldn’t resist and reached out to gently squeeze his cheeks. He let out a tiny pout as soon as she released him, a clear sign that he wouldn’t leave until she said yes.

Eirlys sighed, defeated by the cuteness. “Alright, but you’ll have to wait at our spot for a little while,” she said, motioning toward the pile of tasks still waiting for her. She didn’t mention that it would take her at least an hour to finish.

Alaric’s little face scrunched up in frustration as he let go of her skirt. His charm hadn’t worked, and that was a disappointment he wasn’t used to.

“Fine…” he muttered, turning away with slumped shoulders, his disappointment visible in the way he dragged his feet.

But Alaric wasn’t one to stay disappointed for long. There were always other options.

His small feet pattered down the halls again until he reached the 'spot'.

A large wooden door that towered above him. Alaric stood on tiptoe, stretching his tiny arms to push it open. Slowly, the door creaked apart, creating a narrow gap between the two thick wooden panels. Alaric stuck his head in first, peeking curiously inside to see if his other playmate was there.

She indeed was.

As he squeezed through the gap, the musty, comforting scent of aged parchment wrapped around him, a familiar fragrance that always promised new adventures hidden in the shelves.

Seated around a table right by the window, the breeze gently stirred a few loose strands of her lavender hair. Her eyes, the same soft hue, moved with quiet focus over the page. Aurelia had a serene look on her face but at the sound of the door, she glanced up and saw him. Her lips curled. She didn’t look at him directly, instead watching him from the corner of her eye as he approached. She could already guess what was coming.

Without hesitation, his tiny fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, giving it a few determined tugs, as if his pull alone could hurry her away from the book.

"Pay?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

Aurelia laughed softly. She lifted him effortlessly, seating him on the table in front of her before getting up to close the window and return to her seat.

“What kind of play this time?” she asked, her tone warm.

Alaric leaned forward eagerly, Aurelia smiled already knowing the answer. Reading was his favourite kind of game.

"Ski- Aureiya you are making fun" Alaric's brow furrowed, his lips puckering as he struggled to form the word, the stubborn ‘l’ sound evading him once again. 

Aurelia's eyes twinkled with mischief as she pretended to consider his words. "Oh, I see... so we’re speaking in riddles today? What shall we read, Master Awaric?" 

Alaric crossed his arms with a huff, his cheeks puffing up in annoyance.

"So which one?"

"Water!" Alaric answered, all excited and his face back to being bright.

Aurelia’s hand swept gracefully across the table, her ring glowing with a soft white light. In its wake, five small books shimmered into existence, their intricate designs appearing like delicate frost on their dull blue covers.

"OO~" Alaric exclaimed his excitement, "Can I do that?" He asked bending towards her hand.

Aurelia raised an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "Not yet, little one," she said with a wink. "You need mana for that. How exactly do you plan to use a storage ring without a core, hmm?" Her tone was light, clearly enjoying the way his face scrunched up at the playful jab.

Alaric shot her a sharp look, his lips pressed into a thin line, but Aurelia’s grin only widened in response. Defeated, he let out a soft sigh, his shoulders sagging in surrender. Alaric’s eyes darted over the books, his brow furrowing slightly. They all seemed to blur together, each cover an unreadable mystery. Hesitant, he pointed a tiny finger at the one sitting squarely in the middle.

Alaric’s eyes darted over the spines of the books, his brow furrowing slightly. They all seemed to blur together, each cover an unreadable mystery. Hesitant, he pointed a tiny finger at the one sitting squarely in the middle. She opened the book Alaric chose and turned it around so he can read it.

"Let's start, what's the title?" Aurelia had long noticed the way his eyes lit up at the sight of a book—too eager for someone his age, but she wasn’t about to object. His presence brought a welcome warmth to the quiet library, and she relished the companionship as much as the lessons.

"T-Torrent," Alaric stammered, his small voice uncertain. His finger hovered over the word as he glanced up at Aurelia for reassurance. She nodded, her smile soft, silently encouraging him to continue. He was still learning to read and that is why he always needed a 'playmate' so he could be corrected.

"Good," Aurelia smiled, resting her face on one hand as she watched Alaric's tiny fingers start tracing words one by one as he spoke them aloud. 

Minutes drifted by, the soft rustle of pages mingling with the quiet whisper of the wind. Alaric’s finger traced each word carefully, and Aurelia’s patient voice filled the gaps, guiding him through the tricky parts. With every page, he grew a little more confident, his stumbles fewer and his smiles brighter.

Suddenly, a low creak broke the tranquility, pulling both of their gazes toward the door. The large wooden panels had cracked open.