Apart from the topography of the Aerindel Continent, Sirius had learned nothing valuable in the past few years. So he spent his time playing in the garden and the courtyard with a wooden stick and some rocks, trying to imitate what he had seen in books, yet he failed.
Aurelius, for his part, still couldn't accept reality. When he was with Sirius, he always smiled, hoping that the child would notice that his sorrow had never truly left. But when he was alone in his bedroom, he would curse both the Heavens and Fate.
It was pointless, after all. Why would the Heavens or Fate answer a mere human? A mere insect? But Aurelius didn't care. He had already lost his pride years ago. He had nothing more to lose, right? So he continued, blinded by hatred.
Two years passed.
Sirius was now ten years old, and for the first time since he was born, he felt extremely bored. He had read every book he could get his hands on and tried everything he had learned from them.
Be it a sword, a bow, a sling, or even a campfire, he had successfully crafted every item he had seen in his books.
And so, for the first time in several years, he knocked on the door of Aurelius's bedroom. Hearing the sound, Aurelius opened the door and saw Sirius standing with a serious expression.
"Yes? What is it, Sirius?"
"Grandfather Aurelius, may I ask if I can leave the house and the garden… just to explore a little more outside? The Bright Village, for example?"
Aurelius was troubled for a moment before his face turned annoyed.
"How dare you ask that? Don't you remember what happened to your parents? This world is evil! You are not allowed to go any further than the garden!"
"I dont remember."
"What?"
"I don't remember what happened to my parents. How could I? I was too young when they died, and you never talk about them. How could I possibly know what happened?"
Sirius was a child who knew nothing about the outside world. What were parents? What were friends? What was love? He didn't know. The only person he knew was his grandfather, Aurelius, but they had barely spoken, nor shared any activity together. Sirius didn't know what kind of man Aurelius truly was, nor what kind of job he once had, he knew nothing about him.
The only two things he was sure of were these: Aurelius had loved his child deeply. He loved him so much that, even nine years after his death, he still mourned him to the point where living without him was unbearable. And secondly, he had tried to take care of Sirius, but ultimately failed.
As for his own parents, or feelings in general? Sirius had only read about them. He had never truly experienced them. He didn't love his grandfather that much, not because he didn't want to, but because he barely knew him. He didn't love his parents either, because he had never even seen them.
Sirius continued.
"I've never asked about my parents, what they looked like, what kind of people they were, because I saw how much it hurt you. You cry because they're gone. You hate the world because they're dead. That's why I never asked. But still, I know absolutely nothing about them."
The house was silent for a whole minute, a long, heavy silence. At first, Aurelius thought that Sirius was speaking nonsense... but then he understood.
Aurelius was shocked.
He had assumed, because Sirius never asked, that he already knew everything. That was the reason he never spoke of them, nor leave the garden.
But how could Sirius know, if no one told him? Sirius had only known one person in his life, him. Why had he assumed otherwise? He had tried to hide his sorrow from Sirius, but the boy had seen it all along. That's why he never asked.
He was speechless. He wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't come. He was not yet ready to talk about that subject with this child.
"I see… so be it. You don't know. But you're not ready yet either. I will tell you everything one day. Someday. I promise. So please… don't ask again until that day comes."
"Understood grandfather."
Sirius accepted the answer easily because Aurelius had made a promise, and he had read in a book that promises are absolute, and that those who make them always keep them. So Sirius would wait. Wait for the day when Aurelius would answer all his questions.
As for Aurelius, still sitting alone in his bedroom, he felt desperate. He had failed in everything, not only had he been unable to protect the people he loved, but he had also completely messed up his relationship with the last person he had left: the child that his beloved son and his adored wife had given him.
He didn't even have the strength to curse the Heavens anymore. Because what Sirius had said echoed in his mind. He felt humiliated and shameless. His whole body trembled with anger at himself. Yet still, he couldn't find the strength to have a real conversation with Sirius.
So he would wait. Wait until he had regained enough strength to confront him with the truth. The truth about his parents. The truth about the world. The truth about everything he would one day ask.