The room was warm, bathed in the soft glow of the lantern, as Bion cradled the infant in his arms. The child’s breathing was steady now, the earlier chaos forgotten. His tiny fists rested against Bion’s chest, and his fair lashes fluttered against his pale cheeks in peaceful sleep.

  Bion looked at Kallisto, his gaze firm with resolution. “I shall name this little babe Enki,” he declared, his voice soft but resolute.

  Kallisto’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she reached out to brush her fingers against the babe’s impossibly small hand. Enki stirred briefly but did not wake. “Nice to meet you, Enki,” she whispered, her tone filled with affection.

  Bion took a deep breath, his grip on the child tightening protectively. “We must keep his condition a secret,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The council… They will not understand. And yet, they must know of his existence. I fear what they will say—or worse, what they might do.”

  Kallisto leaned back, studying him with wise, knowing eyes. “You’re right to worry, Bion. Your council sees the world in black and white, and something as extraordinary as Enki… They may only see the darkness. But you,” she said, her voice softening, “you have always been different. I have always believed in you, my dear. If anyone can navigate this impossible path, it is you.”

  Her words struck a chord within Bion, a faint light in the storm of uncertainty raging inside him. He nodded, though doubt still lingered in the corners of his mind.

  Kallisto pressed a hand to his arm, grounding him. “You must trust yourself, Bion. Trust what you feel in here.” She tapped a finger lightly against his chest. “Enki was placed in your care for a reason. Follow your heart, even when the way seems unclear.”

  With a final glance around Kallisto’s warm, welcoming home, Bion pulled his robes tighter around Enki, shielding the babe from the cool night air. “Thank you, Kallisto. For everything.”

  She smiled, her expression tinged with both pride and sorrow. “You have my support always, Bion. Go safely—and protect that little one with all your might.”

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  The walk back to Iah Sacred Village was quiet, the stillness of the night broken only by the rhythmic sound of Bion’s staff tapping against the earth. The stars above were sharp and bright, as though they watched over him and the precious life he carried.

  Bion’s thoughts swirled like the currents of the Euphrates, heavy with questions and uncertainties. How would he explain Enki to the council elders? They would surely demand answers he could not give, demand actions he could not bear to take.

  Though he was the youngest Chief Elder in the history of Iah Sacred Village, a position that should have filled him with pride, Bion felt the weight of his role more keenly than ever. His decisions had always been guided by wisdom and principle, but this… this was unlike anything he had ever faced.

  He glanced down at Enki, who stirred slightly in his arms. The babe’s dark eyes fluttered open, meeting Bion’s with an uncanny awareness. For a moment, those eyes—so strange yet so innocent—seemed to peer directly into his soul.

  Bion’s chest tightened as Enki’s small hand reached out, resting against his chest where his heart beat steadily beneath his robes. The warmth of the touch, so gentle and unassuming, seemed to chase away the cold tendrils of fear winding through him.

  As if sensing Bion’s unease, Enki smiled—a soft, pure expression that carried no malice, no danger, only the simplicity of trust and affection. A quiet laugh bubbled from the babe’s lips, a sound so joyous and light that it startled Bion.

  It was as though Enki were telling him without words: It will be all right. I am with you.

  A small smile broke through Bion’s furrowed brow. “You’re a peculiar one, aren’t you?” he murmured, his tone laced with both fondness and curiosity. “Even now, you try to comfort me.”

  The child cooed softly in response, his fingers curling slightly against Bion’s chest before he drifted back to sleep.

  Bion let out a slow breath, his resolve solidifying with each step. Whatever Enki was—whatever destiny had placed this child into his care—he would face it. The council, the villagers, the unknown dangers yet to come… None of it mattered more than the fragile life in his arms.

  For the first time that night, Bion felt a flicker of hope. He glanced up at the spires of Iah Sacred Village, now visible against the starlit sky.

  “Enki,” he whispered, the name rolling off his tongue like a sacred vow. “No matter what lies ahead, I will protect you. That is my promise.”

  The infant stirred slightly, his tiny smile returning, as though he understood the oath. And together, they made their way back toward the village, where fate waited with bated breath to unravel the next chapter of their story.