With great effort, he extended his trembling hand and gently brushed his palm against the girl's cheek, his voice quivering as he spoke, "Are you named Lyra?"
Observing Rian's melancholic yet hopeful gaze, the young girl nodded, her own confusion evident.
"Yes, my name is Lyra. How do you know?" Lyra inquired, her perplexity clearly present in her voice.
She couldn't recall having shared her name with Rian, so his question left her feeling uneasy and anxious.
Upon hearing Lyra's confirmation, the hand cupping her cheek began to tremble uncontrollably, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.
"I... I see... so you've grown," he uttered, his voice choked with emotion as he lowered his head and wept.
Even during the betrayal inflicted upon him by his own subordinates, he had never shed as many tears as he did now, overwhelmed by a profound mixture of joy and sorrow.