"Okay, Mom, I'm satisfied. I'm going to grab my boots and take Evelyn up the mountain to the spring," I said, looking at her softly, with good humor.

She narrowed her eyes, almost calculating, raising one white eyebrow before replying, "And which adult is going with you? Your father and I will be busy exploring the Comple— I mean, the Black Tower. I don't want two kids wandering the world alone."

"Honestly, I think my nine years of experience are more than enough to responsibly guide my dear sister on a journey along the river," I said confidently. "And of course, we fully understand the dangers of getting too close to the river and the risk of drowning. Our only goal is to see the spring that flows from the Twin Mountains." I finished, earning a genuine look of surprise from her, as she shook her head in disbelief at my speech.

Aidan whispered something into her ear; normally I would have overheard, but for some reason, no sound came out.

Getting up shortly after, stepping away from the low table and coming towards me, she jabbed playfully, "If you don’t take care of yourself, or if you don’t take good care of your sister, consider yourself... injured."

I responded by putting my hand to my forehead in a mock salute, "Yes ma'am."

"I told you, I'm not a ma'am, I'm a young woman, in my prime," she retorted, ruffling my hair affectionately, expressing her warmth and satisfaction.

Aidan just watched, hand on his chin, hiding a slight smile behind it.

I left the garden and walked slowly toward the stairs leading to the first floor. As I climbed the steps, I felt the gentle alpine breeze coming from the balcony.

Reaching the top of the stairs, I passed the veranda that stretched in front of the bedrooms, offering a panoramic view of the garden and the distant hills, as well as the Black Tower. The sun was rising, weak, casting long shadows and bathing everything in warm light.

I opened my bedroom door.

I grabbed my boots and, as I did, felt the rough, worn texture of the leather against my hands. With the boots in hand, I retraced my steps, passing by my parents' room and across the balcony again.

I descended the stairs carefully, pausing for a moment to appreciate the view once more.

Finally, I reached the bottom and returned to the garden. The day was just beginning, my boots firmly on the ground. When I saw Evelyn waiting for me, already ready, with her green boots, I felt something I didn’t recognize at first. There was a calmness in the way she stood there, naturally... waiting for me.

Recognition? Admiration? Affection? Perhaps, but not in the way I expected. It was a hard feeling to explain, as though her happiness brought me peace... a feeling that's difficult to put into words, as if her happiness strangely affected me.

"Shall we? It’s imperative that you, dear sister, the usurper of our parents' attention, blindly obey my orders due to the authority Mom has bestowed upon me," I said seriously, raising a finger, causing her to laugh, which made me lose my serious posture and join in with a smile.

"Why do you use so many complicated words? Speak Fleulo so I can understand! Haha," she responded, laughing.

I smiled and shook my head. "Fleulo? You mean speak simply, right?" I lowered my hand, took hers for a moment, and, looking into her eyes before letting go, said, "Let’s climb the mountain and see the spring. It’s a beautiful place, and I want to show you. Follow me, if you can." She nodded happily, her golden eyes sparkling.

Evelyn eagerly followed me, and without waiting, I started running towards the edge of the village.

She quickly caught up, and together we crossed the low grass, following the stone path that wound its way to the base of the gorge. The distant sound of the river echoed softly around us, a natural melody that seemed to sync with our footsteps, creating a sense of harmony and tranquility that enveloped the moment.

As we progressed, the trail began to change. The stone path gave way to a more uneven terrain, covered by a thin layer of earth, rocks, grasses, and small wildflowers. The trees around us provided shade, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating shifting patterns on the ground.

"Look, Evelyn, these flowers are called sun-lilies. They glow blue at night." I pointed to a small cluster of white flowers growing by the side of the path. "They're quite common around here."

She knelt to smell one of the flowers, closing her eyes for a moment. "They're so beautiful, and they smell so nice!" she exclaimed, smiling.

Every time she smiled, a small piece of my emotional coldness seemed to melt.

...

We kept walking, and the trail started to climb again, but more gradually. The terrain became rockier, and we had to choose our steps carefully to avoid slipping. The trees around us were more spaced out now, and we could see the river winding below us, glimmering in the sunlight.

"Did you know the river starts up there, between those two mountains?" I asked, pointing toward the Twin Mountains ahead of us.

"No, I didn’t. It seems so far away," she replied, looking in awe and a little tired.

"Yes, it’s a long walk, but it’s worth it. The view from up there is amazing. And now there’s no turning back... we’re going all the way," I said, trying to motivate her not to stop climbing with me.

...

The trail began to get steeper, and the terrain more rugged.

We stopped to rest in a small clearing when she gave in and sat on the ground, surrounded by tall trees. We sat afterward on a fallen log and shared some water she had brought.

"Kiel, do you think we’ll see any wild animals?" Evelyn asked, her eyes showing a bit of fear.

"Maybe some birds or squirrels, but nothing dangerous. We’re safe, don’t worry," I reassured her, trying to calm her nerves.

Sure, I had the chance to scare her by saying there were child-eating monsters, but that would have been unproductive.

After a brief rest, we resumed our hike. The trail narrowed, and we began to climb a steeper section, where the roots of ancient trees formed natural steps.

Evelyn gripped my hand tightly, and I helped her carefully climb some of the larger roots.

"Come on, Evelyn, we’re almost there!" I said, encouraging her as we climbed over a root larger than she was.

We climbed a bit further and reached a point where the trail widened again, leading us into a dense forest area. The trees here were so tall that they almost completely blocked out the sunlight, creating a cool, shaded environment. The sound of rustling leaves and birdsong surrounded us from all directions, creating a feeling of being in a cage.

"This place is so different from the rest of the trail," Evelyn remarked, visibly exhausted and out of breath.

"Yes, it’s like a little oasis in the middle of the climb," I responded. "Let’s rest for a bit longer; the air is thinner here, which is why you’re getting tired so easily."

We sat on a moss-covered rock and listened to the sounds of the forest around us. Evelyn began to play with a large leaf, waving it through the air as if it were a butterfly.

"Big brother, do you think one day the four of us will come here?" she asked, looking up at me with her big, curious eyes.

"Maybe. The world is big and full of places more amazing than this one. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll explore them," I replied, smiling, but this time it felt so sincere that it left me thoughtful.

"Are you sad?" she asked, looking up at me from below with her hair, a mixture of white, lavender, and beige.

"Don't worry," I replied.

After a while, we stood up and continued our journey. The trail began to climb again, this time with a steeper incline. The rocky terrain required us to be very careful with our steps, and we helped each other on the more difficult sections.

"Look, Evelyn, we’re almost there!" I pointed to the top of the hill, where the sunlight was shining more brightly.

With one last effort, we climbed the final stretch and reached the top. The view was breathtaking. We could see the river’s source gushing between the rocks, forming small waterfalls that gently flowed down the mountain. The sound of the water was soothing, and the fresh, yet thin air took our breath away.

"Wow, it’s beautiful!" Evelyn exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.

"I don't think it's worth the effort," I said. "Let’s rest here for a while before we head back."

We sat on a large, flat rock, watching the water flow. I picked up a large leaf and placed it in the water, watching it float downstream. Evelyn laughed and did the same, following our improvised 'boats' with her attentive gaze.

"Why did you want to come here so much?" I asked, curious about her insistence.

"When you said you'd show me this place in exchange for me staying quiet when you rummaged through Mom's bag, I didn’t understand..." She trailed off, slightly disjointed.

"Nothing major, I didn’t want to stir up any trouble, that’s all," I explained, trying to decipher her while we both watched the beautiful spring.

The spring before us was a living spectacle, a point of purity amidst the lush forest. Crystal-clear water silently emerged from the cracks in the rocks, forming small waterfalls that gently flowed down, carving their way through stones covered in dark green moss. Each stream of water seemed to dance under the filtered light of the trees, reflecting silvery glimmers that subtly contrasted with the cool shade of the forest.

The sound of the continuous flow was hypnotizing, a natural music that filled the air with a vibrant calm. The small waterfalls produced a soft symphony as they touched the rocks, generating a steady rhythm that cradled the surroundings. Around us, the air was filled with the refreshing humidity of the spring, mixed with the earthy scent of wet leaves.

Tiny insects zigzagged through the air, their delicate wings catching the light, while birds sang in the distance, completing the natural symphony that enveloped the scene. The ground around the spring was soft, covered by a layer of fallen leaves and broken branches that exuded a woody aroma. Small wildflowers bloomed in shy colors, punctuating the green with touches of yellow and white, as if decorating the path the water traced as it descended the slope.

At the foot of the spring, small aquatic plants grew along the banks, their roots immersed in the clear water, while delicate ferns and wildflowers sprouted between the rocks, as if the very vegetation were in harmony with the gentle flow. Insects hovered over the surface, their wings catching the rays of light escaping through the tree canopies, while birds landed by the water's edge, drinking before taking flight once more.

I moved towards the crystal-clear water and filled our bottle, feeling the cold water pass over my fingers and hands.

"Let’s head back; it took several hours to get here, and it’s important to return before nightfall so we can see the path properly," I said, standing up and looking towards the colossal gorge nearby.

I suddenly moved towards it, feeling an inexplicable pull. I walked around, hearing the footsteps of my 'sister' until I reached the other side. I looked out at the landscape of a beautiful, spectacular planet—a world so beautiful, I thought, so mysterious... A place where the cosmos are not bathed by stars, where great structures hint at a forgotten past.

I felt a small hand tugging at mine from behind.

"That’s dangerous, Kiel. Mom said we shouldn’t get too close," her words hit me weakly.

I kept my back turned, staring at the cliff, feeling the cold—not just the physical cold, but the emotional one.

I questioned myself.

Could I jump from here and finally never feel pain again, feel nothing? It would be an accident, a tragic mishap, and it would be the fault of the irresponsible parents who let their kids come here alone to the top of the mountain.

To complete the cycle in a way that my fear could not stop me, nor my survival instinct. The definitive end, the completeness of non-existence before me.

Would that be right?

I took a step forward, into an extremely risky place. Any misstep or step further would be my death.

In the distance, the black structure rested, my 'parents' likely there.

In the distance, the village was calm and monotonous.

In the distance, the river followed its course.

In the distance, the mountains circled the valley.

I considered it.

1!

2.

3?

Next, eternal freedom?"