Gabriel adjusted the straps of the baby carrier, ensuring Noah’s head was properly supported. He placed a large hand against the back of the pup’s head, gently guiding him to rest comfortably against his chest.
"Where are you going?" Alie asked as she entered the room, having just seen off her parents and Flora.
"I thought I’d take Noah out for a while. He’s been acting strange since this morning, looking too quiet," Gabriel noted, looking down at the tuft of hair peeking out from the carrier.
"Noah gets such odd mood swings," Alie murmured, reaching out to stroke her son’s head. She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders dropping. "I’m a bit tired, Gabriel. I think you and Noah will have to go out without ."
"Just get so rest. I’ll be fine," Gabriel reassured her with a gentle smile. "I’m heading to the Moon Temple with Karn and Carlos. The atmosphere there is perfect for a walk, and it’ll do Noah good. He needs to build his immunity by getting out into the fresh air more frequently." He patted the satchel at his side. "I’ve packed all the essentials in the bag, so don’t worry. I’ll take excellent care of him."
"I know you will," Alie replied, leaning in to give them both a quick kiss. "Since you’re going to the Moon Temple, don’t forget to buy so flowers on your way."
"Sure." Gabriel picked up Noah’s warm woolen cap and carefully fastened it. The little pup squird, clearly not wanting to wear it, but Gabriel managed to pull it snugly over his ears.
"Give your mama a kiss," Gabriel encouraged, shifting slightly so Noah could reach Alie. She leaned in close, and Noah was quick to press a tiny, wet peck onto his mother’s cheek, seeking a final mont of comfort before burying his face back into his father’s chest.
Alie watched them with a soft smile, waving until they disappeared. Her heart felt light; seeing the bond between Gabriel and Noah flourish more each day brought her a profound sense of peace.
Once they were gone, she shut the bedroom door and headed straight for the bed. A slight headache had begun to pulse behind her temples, and she hoped a short nap in the quiet room would be enough to chase it away.
~~~~
The three n stepped out of the car as they arrived at the base of the Moon Temple. Gabriel slid his goggles up, squinting against the unexpected brightness of the sun, though the winter wind remained sharp and strong.
"Shall we put Noah into the stroller? Aren’t you tired of carrying him like this?" Karn asked, reaching for the folded carriage in the trunk.
"No, I think Noah prefers it this way. He likes the warmth," Gabriel answered, shielding the pup from a sudden gust of wind with his hand.
"Let’s go in then," Karn suggested, gesturing toward the grand entrance.
The trio walked toward the temple. Noah peeked out from his father’s chest, his wide eyes taking in the shimring reflections on the marble floors. He liked the glittering objects. And suddenly, he started moving his arms, legs; began speaking in his own language which none of them could understand.
Gabriel looked around the temple with sharp keenness. He recalled the last ti he had encountered the Moon Goddess in this temple. A somber thought crossed his mind. ’So, in the end, soone had to sacrifice their life for .’
"Are you here to visit the main shrine?"
The feminine voice drifted from behind them. The trio turned in unison, and Gabriel felt his heart stop. Standing there, bathed in the soft light reflecting off the white stone, was the Moon Goddess herself.
Gabriel stood frozen in shock. He had been so certain she was gone, a mory lost to the price of his own survival. Beside him, even little Noah seed to recognize her; the pup gaped at her, his tiny hands clutching Gabriel’s shirt as he stared at the woman with wide, unblinking eyes.
"I am working as the caretaker of the temple during the dayti. My na is Cynthia," she said, her voice lacking the sa warmth that Gabriel rembered. She looked at them with polite, curious eyes, as if they were rely strangers seeking a blessing.
"I think Lady Cynthia failed to recognize the Prince," Karn stated, stepping forward with a proud posture. He gestured toward Gabriel. "This is Prince Gabriel, and his son, the little Prince Noah."
Cynthia’s eyes widened in realization, and she imdiately moved to greet him with a deep, formal bow.
"Please, there is no need for that," Gabriel interrupted with a confusion he couldn’t hide. He reached out as if to stop her, but his hand hovered in the air.
As she straightened up, he searched her face. But there was nothing. She looked distant, not with coldness, but with an utter lack of recognition. It was as if the Moon Goddess had not only taken on a mortal form but had completely scrubbed her mories.
"Is sothing wrong, Your Highness?" Cynthia asked, tilting her head slightly when she noticed his intense stare. "You look as though you’ve seen a ghost."
Gabriel swallowed hard, feeling Noah shift against his chest. "Nothing is wrong."
Gabriel turned away abruptly and walked deeper into the temple, leaving Carlos and Karn to exchange a look of utter confusion.
’She had so much warmth in her eyes the last ti we t. A motherly warmth that felt like ho. But now... It’s gone. It’s impossible. There isn’t another woman in this world who could be her exact double,’ he thought.
It made his head spin. Either the Goddess had truly shed her divinity and her mories to live a mortal life, or she was hiding from him. Gabriel’s internal turmoil was suddenly cut short when he felt a small tug on his shirt.
"Pa!" Noah chirped, his voice echoing softly against the high marble ceilings.
Gabriel shook himself out of his trance and lowered his head to look into his son’s bright eyes. "Yes, Noah? What is it?"
"Ga (Go)..." the pup muttered, his face scrunched in concentration as he pointed a tiny, insistent finger to the right, toward a shadowed corridor lined with ancient, unlit braziers.
Gabriel looked in the direction the child was pointing. There was nothing there but an old wooden door, half-hidden behind a heavy silk tapestry. Noah’s excitent grew, his little legs kicking against Gabriel’s waist as he urged his father toward the restricted area of the temple.
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