Ethios, the four-year-old boy, was swinging gently on his little swing. The warm rays of sunlight caressed his pale, delicate skin, while the cool breeze parted his short silver hair into two sides.
Closing his eyes, Ethios inhaled deeply, savoring the calm that surrounded him. Suddenly, the sound of children's laughter drifted in from outside.
He opened his eyes, leaving the swing behind, and took a few small steps forward until he reached the window.
The truth was, Ethios wasn't swinging in a garden or a playground. His swing was inside his room—a room that was, in reality, a prison he had yet to recognize.
When he reached the window, he placed his tiny hands on its frame and struggled to lift his small body high enough to see through. He failed several times, but determination burned in his eyes. He refused to give up until he could look at the children outside.
At last, he managed to raise himself high enough.
The window was unusually wide, adorned with golden carvings on the outside, its inner ledge broad enough for Ethios to sit upon.
Sitting there, he finally caught sight of the children below. They seemed tiny—mere dots compared to their true size. After all, the royal wing where Ethios lived towered high above the ground.
There were three boys and a girl. The girl sat on a swing, while the boys ran circles around her, laughing and enjoying themselves.
Ethios saw something in them—something strange. It held him in place, staring for nearly half an hour.
During that time, his mother, Alexa, entered the room. A look of curiosity marked her face as she found her son perched by the window like that. She walked closer, joining him at the ledge to look outside as well.
Her gaze fell upon the children, and she immediately understood what had captured her son's attention. With a soft sigh, she asked gently:
"Have you been watching them for long?"
Ethios answered without turning his head.
"Yes."
Alexa looked back at the children, then asked:
"Why?"
There was a pause. Ethios remained silent for a few moments before speaking again.
"Mother… do you see what they all share in common?"
Puzzled, Alexa studied the children more closely. Minutes passed, but she saw nothing unusual. She assumed her son was pointing out something about their appearance.
"They're just children playing. I don't see anything special they all share."
Ethios lowered his head slightly, then turned to her.
"I've been watching them for a while. They played many games, but one thing never changed. The whole time, they were laughing… without pause."
Alexa's eyes softened as she realized what he meant. It wasn't something physical—it was something deeper. Yet questions lingered in her mind. Why would a child so young focus on something like this?
Her thoughts were cut short by Ethios's calm voice.
"Even though I do the same things—swinging on my swing, running around this wing all day—I never laugh the way they do. Not for long, at least."
Alexa's expression darkened as the meaning sank in.
Ethios was still only a small child, born into the royal palace of the Siren Clan. Yet all his short life, he had seen no one but his parents. He was never allowed to leave the royal wing. His parents were strict in that regard. Thus, he learned about ordinary people only by secretly observing them through the window—never truly understanding what he saw.
Climbing down from the window, Ethios returned to his beautiful white swing studded with diamonds.
Alexa followed, kneeling before him so that her body curled slightly as she took his small hands into her own soft ones. She tried to explain gently.
"Well… as you can see, they're laughing because they're together. They're friends now. And sometimes, having friends around you is one of the reasons for happiness."
Ethios frowned. He wanted friends too.
"I want friends as well. Why am I different?"
For a moment, Alexa was at a loss for words. She wished for him to have friends too, but… he didn't yet know the whole truth. Smiling gently, she said:
"You do have friends, Ethios. I'm your friend too."
Her words surprised him. She was trying to convince him he had something he thought he lacked. But to him, she was different.
"You're not."
He spoke in his usual, calm tone.
Alexa's brows furrowed, and she tilted her head slightly, expecting him to be happy to call her a friend.
"I'm not…? Why not?"
Ethios turned his gaze away, frowning slightly before replying.
"You're… too big."
A playful smile tugged at Alexa's lips as she tried to argue about her age.
"Oh, Ethios, I'm not that old. Sure, I may be much older than you, but I'm certainly not an old woman."
Ethios couldn't help but chuckle, then explained himself.
"I didn't mean your age."
Alexa sighed lightly, then asked:
"Then what did you mean?"
Ethios hesitated, embarrassed. Yet she was persistent, and so he finally confessed.
"I meant… your size."
Silence fell for a moment. Then suddenly, Alexa burst out laughing.
The women of the Akimo race were known for their tall, powerful builds. Their average height was six feet, their bodies a blend of strength and femininity. By Akimo standards, Alexa was considered both strong and strikingly beautiful.
Like most of the Siren Clan, she had silver hair and eyes. But what set her apart was her captivating charm—smooth pale skin, innocent features, and a natural grace.
She was also the ruler of the Siren Clan, one of the finest warriors in its history. She had fought in the Second Great War and stood with the Union forces against the uprising of the Underworld many years ago.
These facts gave her an aura of undeniable authority. For all her gentleness, no one in their right mind would ever wish to face Alexa as an enemy.
Ethios stared at his mother, puzzled by her reaction. From his point of view, all he had done was speak the truth. Perhaps he hadn't considered her feelings, but he had only been honest.
When her laughter finally subsided, she teased him with a playful tone.
"Well, well. Perhaps I am big. In fact, maybe I'm very big indeed."
A small smile tugged at Ethios's lips. In the end, his mother hadn't misunderstood him.
Alexa turned her gaze back to the window. The wind caught her long silver hair and the folds of her regal cloak. Her voice grew calm once more.
"But that will be of use to you."
Ethios slowly stepped away from the swing and approached her.
"How so?"
Without turning to him, she answered:
"Hold on to me.