"You are a brave child, so don't cry." Lucian said with a gentle smile.
"Mm!" The boy puffed his cheeks, nodding stubbornly.
Lucian ruffled his hair lightly.
Then—
"Ren!" A frantic shout echoed through the street.
A woman came running toward them. Her breath was uneven, and her eyes wide as she scanned the area.
The moment she spotted the boy, relief appeared on her face.
She rushed forward and pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly.
"W-Where did you go!?" she scolded, her voice trembling as she checked him over from head to toe.
"Didn't I-I tell you to stay close to me!?"
Her words were sharp, but her hands shook as they gripped him.
She scolded him, but her expression betrayed fear.
Fear of losing her kid.
Fear of something bad happening to him.
The boy, Ren, sniffed, burying his face into her shoulder.
"I'm sorry…" he mumbled.
She exhaled shakily and hugged him tighter.
Only then did she notice Lucian standing nearby.
She quickly straightened, still holding her son with one arm, and bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
"It's fine," Lucian replied calmly, waving it off.
"It was actually her who saved him."
He pointed toward the golden-haired girl sitting on the ground beside him.
"Oh—!"
The woman turned, startled.
But the girl, however, wasn't looking at the woman.
She was staring at Lucian.
Blankly.
Dazed.
Her emerald green eyes were fixed on him—on his face.
'What is up with her?' Lucian frowned.
He tilted his head slightly, studying her expression. She wasn't panicking. She wasn't crying. If anything… she looked stunned, frozen.
'Is she still in shock?'
He bent down and lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Ah—what?" she said, blinking rapidly as she snapped back to reality.
"Are you planning on sitting here forever?" Lucian asked, glancing around.
She followed his gaze and instantly stiffened.
People had gathered around them—some whispering, others openly filming with their phones. A few men stared at her without any attempt to hide their admiration, while several women cast curious or envious glances between her and Lucian.
"No, l—let me…" She tried to stand, but the moment she put her foot on the ground, a sting of pain shot up through her ankle.
"Ugh—!"
Her body fell forward.
Just as she was about to fall, Lucian stepped in and grabbed her.
"Let me help." He supported her as she slowly stood upright.
She grabbed his arms, tightening her grip as she looked at him repeatedly.
Her gaze was intense.
Lucian frowned slightly.
'What is going on? And why is she looking at me like that?'
[Maybe she fell for you.] Akasha's voice chimed in his head, amused.
'Are you kidding me?' His lips twitched.
'What kind of person falls for someone on their first meeting?'
[It's called love at first sight.]
'It is stupidity at first sight. And it is not that… I feel like I have seen her before.'
The woman holding Ren finally spoke again, breaking the moment.
"Thank you both. Truly. I don't know what I would've done if—"
She shook her head, unable to finish the sentence.
"It's alright," the golden-haired woman said gently with a soft smile.
She turned to Ren and softly pinched his cheeks.
"Don't run away like that again, okay?"
Her smile was warm and dazzling, entrancing everyone.
Lucian narrowed his eyes for a moment.
Ren nodded eagerly.
"Yesh!"
His mother chuckled.
"Say goodbye to both of them."
"Bye, Big Brother! Bye, Big Sister!" The boy waved enthusiastically at them as they parted.
Silence followed.
Lucian's smile faded as he turned to the crowd.
"Are you all done with your photoshoot?" He narrowed his eyes at all of them who stood, mobiles in hand, recording the whole scene.
Several flinched.
One by one, they lowered their devices and awkwardly dispersed, though a few lingered at a distance, still sneaking glances.
Lucina clicked his tongue.
Then he turned back to the woman, who was still holding his arm.
"Can you walk?" he asked.
"Huh–ah… no. I don't think so," she said as she tried to place her foot on the ground, only to wince in pain.
Lucian stared at the injury.
"What's your name?" she suddenly asked.
The question caught him off guard.
'My name?'
He tilted his head, confused by the sudden question, but still answered.
"Lucian… Lucian Foster."
The moment the words left his mouth, her eyes widened.
Then—
Her expression lit up.
A radiant smile spread across her face, brighter than before.
"Luci!"
Before he could react, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Huh—?!"
Lucian stiffened, completely confused.
'Who is she?'
She clung to him as if afraid that he'd disappear, burying her face into his shoulder.
He gently pulled back and looked at her properly.
Her golden hair.
Her soft but sharp features.
Green emerald eyes.
And the way she called him by his nickname.
Putting all of that together, the face of a cute girl resurfaced—a girl who always wore the same bright smile as this one.
Lucian's eyes widened slightly.
"Star?"