Gratitude

The moment Stefan turned around in surprise, he was suddenly hugged by the child. He sat on the ground due to the sudden force. It wouldn't have been the case if he was not exhausted, but, he just used up all his mana for medical treatment.

He quickly tried to calm the child, ''Calm down, little one. Brother is here with you''.

''Brother! It hurts'', the child said and hugged Stefan tightly.

Stefan hugged the child and consoled him, ''Don't worry. You are here with, Brother''.

After some time, the child peeked out, to see where he was. When he saw so many people gathered, he quickly hid in Stefan's arms. Stefan patted his head and asked, ''What is your name, little brother?"

''I... I don't remember my name'', he answered timidly and looked up.

Stefan was shocked, 'Could it be he has Retrograde Amnesia?' he thought.

'Host, what is that?'', Heli asked curiously.

'Retrograde Amnesia is a type of amnesia, in this situation, a person can remember new information but cannot remember events from before the onset of amnesia. Remember? When we found him, his head was injured. l think that injury must have affected him from remembering his memories'.

'And from the way he is hiding in my arms, it seems that, he has the memories that l saved him. That may be the reason he is very close to me', he explained to Heli.

'But Host, since the child is from this town, someone here must know him, right? Why is it that till now no one came to express their concern for this child?' asked Heli.

'You have a point, Heli. I was so busy calming him that l forgot the most important part', Stefan scanned his surroundings, but no one seemed to pay attention to him except the person he was trying to heal earlier.

''Hello! l am Arwen. Thank you for saving my life. Are you okay?'', asked Arwen hesitantly.

He looked at the child in Stefan's arms curiously. ''Is this your little brother?''

''Hello, My name is Stefan. I just arrived in this town before the hole appeared''. Stefan thought this person knew the child. So he told the child to look up.

But the man didn't seem to know the child at all. He was looking at him with unfamiliar eyes, not like someone who knew him.

''You and your brother don't look alike at all'' said Arwen casually.

''Not my blood brother'', Stefan answered. After that, he came close to the man and asked softly, ''By any chance, have you seen this child before?''

''No, l don't have any impression of him'' he said firmly.

''Do you know anyone who might know this child?'' Stefan asked not giving up any chances to get information about the child.

''There is no way l wouldn't know him if he was from this town. l have been living in this town since last ten years and l have not seen anyone with such a peculiar hair color'', answered Arwen.

''I am known for having connections both in and out of the town. I can confidently pat my chest and assure you that l don't know anyone with such special hair color and eyes who ever lived in this town for the last ten years.

Although Stefan was disappointed, he did not mind adopting this child to be his younger brother. Anyway, this child was very adorable and the way he called him brother melted his heart with cuteness.

''Little brother, Since you don't remember your name, how about l give one to you?'' Stefan asked gently to the child.

''Hm!!'', the child nodded his head quickly and looked at Stefan expectantly.

''Since you have blue hair and golden eyes, your name should be 'Aouli'. It means the one who gives beautiful meaning to life, just like the rising of the sun after a dangerous night, and who has the power as vast as the blue sky''.

''Do you like it?'', Stefan looked at Aouli and asked.

''l like it very much!!!'' he said.

''Young man, you are quite talented in naming people. Would you mind giving my child a name?'' asked Arwen.

''No problem. What is the age of your child?'' Stefan asked.

''Him?'', he smiled heartily at the thought of his unborn child and said, ''He is going to be born soon''.

''You mean he is not born yet?'' Stefan asked, feeling embarrassed, because he didn't know if he will still be here when the child is born.

''Not yet. But according to the healer in the town, he will be born in one week at most'', he said while thinking about his upcoming child and smiled gently.

Stefan breathed a sigh of relief, because he did not want to break his promise so soon. He heard Arwen thank him for saving him, ''Thank You very much, young man. Most people in this town wouldn't be able to survive this kind of serious injury, and, if l had died, l don't know what would have happened to my wife and my child without me. l don't know how l can repay you for your kindness, young man''.

''There is no need for it, but if you really want to repay it, how about looking for information about this child. Because, when l met this child, he was badly injured'', Stefan asked while gesturing towards Aouli.

''If l hadn't been passing by that place, this child might have been dead by now. l want his family to know that he is still alive, maybe they thought he is dead, that is why they left before they could find him, or it can be that they were in danger, so to protect this child they left him in this town and were unaware of the hole that suddenly appeared which could endanger their child'' Stefan answered seriously.

The atmosphere became solemn. Arwen was silent for some time and then replied, ''l will surely look out for the child's information during this one month, but if l still can not find out about him, then, l will owe you a favor. You can ask me anything that is within my capability, and l will gladly fulfill your wishes, young man.

'