Outside, the night sky shimmered as if sensing the arrival of something extraordinary. The wind gently blew through the window, and the faint sound of chimes echoed through the airâlike a lullaby from the universe itself.
Angeleva rested her head against Safari's shoulder, cradling their daughter.
Safari cradled their son, eyes never leaving their small, glowing faces.
And in that moment, the worldâscarred and battle-wornâfelt whole again.
Safari and Angeleva sat at the edge of their bed, surrounded by the soft candlelight of the healing hut. The room was quiet, save for the gentle coos of the newborns and the occasional loving laugh from the two new parents.
Safari carefully passed his daughter to Angeleva, who rocked her with a glowing warmth in her arms. Then he took his son into his own arms again, cradling the boy gently, his expression focused.
"We'll switch again in a minute," Safari whispered.
Angeleva smiled, looking at him with playful eyes. "You're counting?"
"Of course," Safari said with exaggerated seriousness. "No favoritism. Equal love. That's the law."
Angeleva giggled softly. "You're ridiculous."
"And you love me for it," he said, kissing their daughter's tiny forehead as she stretched her little fairy wings with a yawn.
They sat like that for a whileâexchanging their babies back and forth, savoring the way they gripped their fingers, nuzzled into their chests, and blinked up at the world with sleepy, wonder-filled eyes.
After some time, the doctor gently knocked and peeked in. "They're strong... You've rested enough. The people are waiting to see them."
Angeleva hesitated. "Will it be okay?"
Safari nodded. "We'll show them what love created."
With Angeleva holding the girl, and Safari carrying the boy, the two walked out together beneath the open sky.
The moment the crowd saw them, silence fell. It was a different kind of silenceânot fear or doubt, but awe. Awe at the sight of two beings who shouldn't have existed. Two children born from light and darknessâcradled by the very symbols of both.
Gasps escaped. Then came murmurs.
"They're... beautiful."
"Those eyes... those wings..."
"The horns... they don't look scary."
The people began stepping forward. Mothers, warriors, elders, childrenâsome dropping to their knees in reverence, others just smiling through teary eyes.
Even the ones who once spat and turned away... couldn't help but peek from behind walls or corners. Some of them, the harshest of critics, stared at the newborns... and their disgust melted. They blinked, stunnedâhearts softening under the sheer purity radiating from those tiny forms.
"They're... not monsters," one of them whispered in disbelief. "They're..."
"...miracles," another finished.
Angeleva's eyes shimmered. She leaned into Safari's side as he held his son high for the light to kiss him. "They're changing hearts already," she whispered.
Safari glanced around, then down at his daughter. "They're doing what we tried to do for so long... and they haven't even spoken a word."
As the twin children looked out at the world, blinking in the sun's gentle warmth, one of themâthere sonâsmiled softly.
And for the first time, Safari and Angeleva truly believed:
They had not only found peace...
They had created a new future.
Safari stood with his arm gently around Angeleva's shoulder, the twins nestled in their arms as they faced the gathered crowd. He cleared his throat, his voice strong but sincere.
"We're thankful to this planet," he said. "For sheltering us. For feeding us. For letting us stay. But..."
Angeleva continued, her voice soft but resolute, "...we know not everyone is comfortable with us here. And we understand. That's why we've decided to leave. We won't impose any longer."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some looked down in guilt. Others exchanged uneasy glances. Then, slowly, a few figures stepped forward.
It was themâthe ungrateful ones. The same people who spat, who cursed, who once called the children abominations. Heads bowed, they stepped closer.
An older woman spoke first, her voice trembling. "Please... don't go. Not yet."
Safari's eyes narrowed.
"We don't deserve forgiveness," she continued, "but... we didn't know. We were scared. Blind. And then we saw them... those children..."
A younger man stepped beside her, his hands shaking. "They... they smiled at me. Just once. I couldn't sleep that night. Not out of fear. Out of guilt."
"We watched you walk through fire for her," said another. "And we saw how she cried for you... how she held onto hope even while dying."
A chorus of voices joined, bowing in unison.
"We're sorry."
"Please, stay."
"Just two more days."
"We want to see them... not to mock, not to hate... but to understand."
Angeleva's lips parted, stunned.
Safari looked down at the twins in their arms. His daughter blinked up at him, then gave the smallest giggle. His son yawned and buried into his chest with a soft murmur.
"Even now," Angeleva whispered, "they're doing it. Changing hearts."
Safari gave a long sigh, a half-smile curling his lips. "Just two days. No more."
The crowd lit upânot with cheers, but soft gratitude. Quiet thank-yous. Gentle bows.
And though none could see it, beneath those peaceful faces, the twins held a hidden power. A hidden duality.
On the outsideâwings of light, hearts of warmth.
On the insideâfire, fury, strength no one yet understood.
The people thought they were looking at miracles.
They didn't yet realize...
They were looking at legends in the making.