Adam and Lyra returned to the mansion, their gaze fixed on the small boy. Adam asked his name, but the boy simply shook his head, unable to recall it. The boy's eyes then fell upon Adam's scrapes from the recent fight.
He reached out and touched the wounds, and a soft, glowing green light emanated from his touch. Adam's minor injuries visibly healed. The boy, seemingly unsure of what he'd just done, smiled up at Adam. "You are better now, mister," he chirped, his previous sadness vanishing into a sudden, happy mood swing.
Adam, touched by the boy's innocent act, asked if he wanted to come with them. The boy happily nodded, looking at both Adam and Lyra with an almost parental devotion. Lyra then gently led the boy to the bathroom and performed a thorough scan of his body. Her analysis revealed a mana core rapidly developing in his heart. The boy's wounds, once signs of rot and decay, were slowly repairing themselves, his body transforming back into healthy human flesh.
Lyra continued to clean Azrael in the hot tub, the boy seemingly enjoying himself as he splashed water. Lyra laughed when he splashed her, a familiar feeling from taking care of the twins. She playfully splashed him back, and the sounds of laughter filled the bathroom.
Outside, Adam listened, a mix of warmth and worry in his heart. He thought about their exposed location, the possibility of the variant returning, and the frightening speed of the zombies' evolution with their new mana cores. He knew that variant was just one of many.
Azrael's Unique Evolution and a Heartbreaking Discovery
Through their neuro-link, Lyra shared her analysis of the variant they fought and the boy. There were similarities, but also key differences in their mana signatures. The variant had a developed core with a mixture of mana, suggesting it had consumed other variants to evolve. The boy however, was a unique case of self-evolution, developing his core solely from mana. If left alone, he would have been killed and his mana core devoured by others.
Adam, listening, asked Lyra to figure out the boy's diet, as he would be joining them on their journey. Lyra couldn't give a definite answer, explaining that this evolution was new; they would have to use trial and error to see what the boy could eat.
Lyra brought the boy out of the bathroom, then realized they had no child's clothing. She informed Adam that the mansion's bedrooms likely held some. Adam left the bunker and went upstairs. Lyra used a towel to dry the boy's hair, smiling at his happy face, which was full of affection for her.
Upstairs, Adam spotted a family photo in one of the bedrooms. Something struck him as he looked closer: it was the same boy. His heart sank as he realized it wasn't a coincidence that boy was here. The boy had instinctively, or perhaps from lingering memories, returned to the place where his family was supposed to be.
Lyra, hearing Adam's thoughts through their neuro-link, felt her heart sink as well, and she hugged the boy tighter. "I want to adopt him as my own child," she told Adam.
Adam, still looking for a clue to the child's name, found a school bag. Inside, a tag read: Azrael. Lyra looked at the boy and softly said, "Azrael"
The boy smiled and nodded, "Yes, that is my name." Adam returned to the bunker with Azrael's clothes and gave them to Lyra. Lyra helped Azrael dress, then brought him to the bed and turned on the TV for him.
"Can I watch cartoons, Mom? Please" Azrael asked.
Lyra's heart swelled with both happiness and a pang of sorrow hearing his words. Holding back tears, she replied, "Whatever cartoon makes you happy, my son," patting his head as he pointed to a show.
Adam sat closer on the bed, with Azrael in the middle. Azrael hugged both Adam and Lyra, pulling their faces close to him. "I love you both, Mom and Dad," he said.
Adam's heart ached hearing that. Azrael was just a boy, unaware of his devastating situation: the world ended, his family likely gone, alone, and unable to find them.
Adam saw himself in Azrael—the same boy he once was, losing his parents and facing darkness alone. Tears flowed down Adam's face; he didn't want Azrael to suffer the same loneliness he had.
Adam hugged Azrael tightly. "I will keep you safe, my son," he promised.
Lyra held Adam's hand, hearing his thoughts, and through their neuro-link, she whispered, "I love you."
Adam replied, "I love you too, Lyra"
They took a moment, letting Azrael feel safe, enjoying his cartoon. For that moment, it felt warm and peaceful, as if they had always been a family.