Levi slowly walked back toward the little boy.
He still wasn’t completely convinced.
There were people in this world who could manipulate memories, create illusions, or learn secrets they should never know.
He couldn’t let his guard down that easily.
The little boy wiped the tears from his eyes.
“You still don’t believe me…”
“It’s hard to,” Levi admitted honestly.
“If you really are who you say you are…”
“Then prove it.”
The little boy nodded.
“What do you want me to do?”
Levi folded his arms.
“When I was little, I went into my father’s workshop without permission.”
“I touched something I wasn’t supposed to.”
“What was it?”
The little boy didn’t even hesitate.
“A blue jewel.”
“It was really pretty.”
“You’ve always liked shiny things.”
Levi stared at him.
His breathing became heavier.
No one…
No one knew about that.
Not Carmen.
Not Olivia.
Not even the Godmother.
Only Arthur…
Levi…
And the teddy bear who had been sitting beside him that day.
A smile slowly formed on Levi’s face.
“Yeah…”
“I’ve always liked shiny things.”
The little boy smiled through his tears.
“So…”
“Do you believe me now?”
Levi nodded.
“I do.”
“It’s good to see you again…”
“My old friend.”
The little boy froze.
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then he slowly hugged Levi back with all his strength.
“You really believe me?”
“Of course.”
Levi smiled warmly.
Even so…
A tiny part of him still wondered if there was something he didn’t understand.
As they embraced, Levi quietly examined the boy.
He looked completely human.
His heartbeat…
His breathing…
Even his warmth…
Everything felt real.
There wasn’t a trace of magic or illusion that Levi could sense.
The little boy looked up at him.
“If you really believe me…”
“Then tell me my name.”
Levi chuckled.
“You made me name you.”
The boy nodded eagerly.
“What is it?”
Levi smiled.
“Zane.”
“I named you after my favorite superhero.”
The instant Levi spoke his name…
A brilliant crimson light burst from Zane’s body.
Levi’s vision blurred.
Suddenly—
The world around him disappeared.
Memories flooded his mind.
Not his own…
Zane’s.
He felt Zane’s confusion.
His fear.
His loneliness.
His desperate longing to return to Levi.
Then came years of experiments.
Pain.
Loneliness.
Waiting.
Every single day…
Zane hoped Levi would come for him.
But Levi never came.
Not because he didn’t care…
Because he didn’t know.
Levi felt every emotion as if it were his own.
The sadness.
The anger.
The disappointment.
The endless loneliness.
It was almost too much to bear.
Among all those emotions…
One stood above the rest.
Loneliness.
A loneliness so deep it made Levi’s chest ache.
Then the memories ended.
Levi found himself back in the room.
Without thinking…
He pulled Zane into another hug.
This time…
He hugged him even tighter.
“I’m sorry…”
Levi whispered.
“I didn’t know.”
Zane buried his face into Levi’s shoulder.
Neither of them spoke another word.
For the first time in years…
Neither of them was alone anymore.