The house was silent, save for the soft crackling of the dying fire and Charlie's steady breathing from his room. It was late at night, and moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the empty room where Aurora lay. Her round glasses rested on a nearby shelf, her pale pink hair spilling onto the pillow, her tail twitching under the covers. Beside her, the shadowy figure of Heilbronn lay still, his black fur glistening in the moonlight, his eyes half-closed in a deep sleep.
Aurora stirred, her senses accustomed to the familiar presence and comfort of staying here. Near the window, a shadowy figure appeared—SakuraMirei, with her soft features and long, flowing dress woven from moonlight. Aurora had seen her often, a silent guardian hovering over Charlie, her sad eyes watching her son. Heilbronn's ears twitched, recognizing the spirit, but he remained still.
"Good evening, Sakura," Aurora said softly, sitting up with a small smile, her rabbit ears twitching.
"You're here again. I figured you'd show up tonight."
Sakura's lips curved slightly, her voice like a breeze through the leaves.
"You're always seeing me, talking to me, it's precious. Most people can't because I'm dead, but your magic… is different. I've been watching you with Charlie, and tonight, we need to talk more than our usual nods." Her eyes darted toward Charlie's room, then back to Aurora.
Aurora stretched, pulling the covers closer.
"Yeah, I've seen you hanging around Charlie since day one. I didn't want to intrude, so I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. So, what's the matter, MissSakura?" she asked, her tone calm but curious, used to the presence of spirits.
Sakura's figure flashed, her expression softening.
"Aurora, you brought it warmth—a comfort it didn't realize it needed. Its life as an executioner was hard and lonely, and I… I worried about that. And why am I still here? I'm sure that's what you're wondering, right?" Sakura paused, her eyes distant.
Aurora tilted her head, her tail wagging.
"Yeah, right. Why don't you go to 'EternalPlace'?, where the dead live happily ever after? Instead of clinging to Charlie?" she asked, her voice soft but direct.
Sakura's smile faded into a gentle sadness.
"I can't leave him. He's my son, and even though he can't see me, I can still feel his loneliness. I'm worried he'll carry this burden alone forever and die alone, with no way out, so I decided to stay and watch over him, hoping he'll find peace. Even if it's just through you. I feel like it was fate that we met, even though I thought badly of you before." Her voice trembled slightly, trying to sound clear.
"Maybe it's a Mother's instinct." Sakura added.
Aurora's expression softened, and she patted Heilbronn's head as he nudged her.
"Even though Charlie, he's a bit grumpy, he's a nice guy. I'll stay—at least keep him company. Maybe I'll cook him some meat to cheer him up!" She grinned, her playfulness breaking the tension.
"Stop it, you're a terrible cook, trying to poison someone?" Heilbronn's sarcastic voice echoed through the air, penetrating the consciousness of the two of them.
Sakura's face brightened slightly, her eyes shining with a mother's gratitude.
"Thank you, Aurora. That's more than enough. I'm glad Charlie finally has a good friend who isn't prejudiced or afraid of him." - With that, Sakura's figure dissolved into particles of light, floating out the window as the room warmed up again.
Aurora leaned back, yawning slightly.
"First friend? Seems pretty fun, and meaty. Good night, MissSakura." - Aurora whispered, curling up into the blanket. Heilbronn snuggled closer, his eyes glowing faintly. The moonlight still lingered, creating dancing shadows like whispers on the wall.
It turned out that the shadow that made Charlie shiver and the whispers coming from nowhere were his late mother, SakuraMirei, she must have seen all his emotions since the day she left, she had always been by his side since then. After all, a mother would never abandon her child, they would always watch over us in some way whether it was directly or indirectly, with SakuraMirei being a silent watch even though death had separated them.
In that room, Charlie slept soundly, unaware of the silent bond that was forming around him. The house was immersed in a peaceful murmur, the night kept its gentle secrets until dawn.