Chapter 122: The Most Imperfect Anomaly (7)

It seemed Ayen was not immune to seeing a charming child. Ayen did not know if that was indeed the case. At least, he found the child pleasing to the eye.

Even his usual indifference when looking at the strangers had softened significantly. Ayen exuded an assuring presence no less than Khal’s.

The child glanced at him, averted his eyes, and looked at the ground. As seconds passed, the child slowly lifted his gaze again and looked at Ayen, then at Khal and Devion.

None of them urged the child; they were only waiting for his response.

The child bit his lips and slowly approached with careful steps. Once he was at the table, Ayen motioned to the seat beside Khal. The child hesitated again.

For the child, Khal was the most dangerous existence. Although Devion was also scary, he felt the biggest threat was from Khal. The child was perceptive indeed.

Khal seemed to sense why the child was reluctant to sit with him. He stood up and carried the chair beside Ayen’s.

Ayen watched him return to his seat. Devion smiled, propping his chin in his hand.

“He’s afraid of you.”

Khal shrugged. He might seem friendly on the surface, but everyone here was aware of his real personality. The child, who was an anomaly, perceived it more.

“You can sit here,” Ayen said, pointing at the chair. “We want to talk to you.” The child glanced at Ayen, then at the chair. While looking hesitant, he still approached it.

However, the child found it difficult to climb into it. Ayen helped the child without saying a word. The child flinched but let Ayen pick him up and put him onto the chair.

It was not for long, and the child was properly seated on the chair; his small legs dangled cutely, not reaching the ground at all.

However, the child’s cheeks reddened when he noticed what he was doing, and he stopped. His small hands are fidgeting on his lap.

Ayen clasped his hands together tightly, suppressing his desire to pinch those cheeks. He did not even know why he was feeling that way.

It was not like this was his first time seeing a kid in his life. He was not even interested in holding them and found them annoying.

Or was the child different because it was technically an anomaly?

“What’s your name?” Devion started the conversation after the long silence. He was still propping his chin on his hands, looking interestingly at the child.

He found the child cute, but his desire to hold him was not as intense as Ayen’s. As for Khal… He did not need to be mentioned.

The child did not lift his gaze and answered in a small voice.

“Aegi.”

“Aegi?” Devion repeated the name, confirming. The child nodded his head. “That’s a cute name! Did you come up with it yourself?” he inquired again.

The child was an anomaly, and naming itself was more than reasonable.

To their surprise, the child shook his head.

“You didn’t name yourself?” Devion raised a brow, his eyes meeting Ayen’s, who was seemingly confused. “Then, who?” He shifted back to the child.

Was it possible that someone already recognized the anomaly before them? Khal stared at the child.

“I, I didn’t,” the child nervously responded. “My, my mom called me that.”

Once more, the three were surprised. For a moment, the two exchanged glances. This was truly unexpected.

This time, it was Khal who began questioning the child.

“You have a mom?” His tone was gentle, but the child still noticeably flinched. Although the question sounded odd and insensitive, if asked about an anomaly, it was a valid one.

The child did not answer immediately; then, suddenly, the child’s tears gleamed in the corner of his eyes.

What the…

Devion was stunned. The same was true for Ayen and Khal. Ayen even glared at Khal, who was equally surprised. He did not know if he would complain that none of this was his fault or not… But Khal could only shut up.

His question made the child cry, and his precious guide was pissed at him. Devion did not even have time to tease Khal; his thoughts were stuck on the fact that the anomaly was crying.

Was Khal’s question so offensive to the child? Devion did not think that something was wrong with the question at all.

The child sniffed and wiped his tears with his small hand.

Finally, Ayen could not stop himself and reached out to wipe the child’s tears. The child was startled, looking at Ayen with his round, tear-filled eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Ayen asked softly; it was so soft that Khal and Devion could not help but glance at him.

The child sniffed again and let Ayen wipe his tears. He then finally answered Khal’s question, afraid that not answering would make him mad.

“I had a mom.” The child bit his lips, and fresh tears streamed down his cheeks; sorrow filled his eyes. “But, but, now I’m alone.”

The child could still remember the warmth of his mother. The memories were fading, and he was often confused. Yet, he was certain of the existence of his mother.

“But, in my heart, she is alive,” the child’s eyes glistened as he said this. Despite the innocence of the tone, it carried an emotional weight.

Devion and Khal exchanged a glance. They saw the same thought through their gaze. Ayen might not have been looking in their direction, but he was aware that what the child was saying was something incredible and yet bizarre.

Khal watched the child, an anomaly named Aegi, who claimed his mom called him that. How could an anomaly have a mom? Unless it was a different kind than humans do.

However, with how the child sounded, it seemed it was the same in essence.

“Do you know what you are?” Khal’s words sounded serious now. The child stiffened at the tone. Ayen pursed his lips and did not stop Khal’s questioning, even though the child was obviously scared.

This was Khal asking the necessary questions. Ayen was not too lost in cuteness yet.

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