Maya's fingers gently touched Yavi's cheek, like touching a fragile dream. Her fingertips traced his browbones and bridge of nose, each inch of the outline being carefully cherished. Tears accumulated in her eyes and formed crystal lakes, overflowing silently and rolling down her pale cheeks.
Yavi thought there would be a cry of reunion after a long separation, but his mother just looked at him like this, with so many complex emotions surging in those blue eyes that were exactly the same as his - love, grievance, disbelief, and a hint of vague pain, as if the longing and loneliness of the past ten years had turned into silent questions.
"You... grew up..." Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, with a slight tremor, as if she was afraid of disturbing this dream. Her palms were pressed against his face, and the warm body temperature finally convinced her that this was not an illusion.
Yavi could feel his mother's hands trembling. He held her wrist and whispered, "Mom, it's me, I'm really back."
Maya finally closed her eyes, and tears fell more violently. She rested her forehead on Yavi's shoulders, and her shoulders shrugged slightly, but she still did not cry loudly, as if the suffering of these ten years had made her forget how to vent her sorrow. She just held on to his sleeves tightly, as if she was afraid that he would disappear again.
Yavi's heart seemed to be clenched by an invisible hand. He stretched out his hands to hold his mother into his arms, feeling her thin body trembling slightly in his arms. Only then did he realize that time had taken away not only his childhood, but also his mother's strength.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered, his voice hoarse, "I made you wait for so long."
Maya shook his head, finally raised his head, and stared at him with moist eyes, but the corner of his mouth slowly raised a smile, gentle and sad.
"Just come back... just come back..."
Yavi's eyes crossed his mother's shoulders and landed on his father Herbert. Time has carved traces on his face. The once black temples are now stained with frosty white, and the lines at the corners of his eyes are deeper, but those resolute eyes are still as warm as in memory.
Herbert took a few steps forward and opened his arms. Before Yavi could speak, he was pulled into his arms by his father. The hug was strong and strong, as if to make up for all the gaps in these years. Herbert's hand patted his back heavily, and his voice was low and hoarse. "Welcome home, kid."
Yavi His throat was tight, and he could only hug his father tightly, feeling the long-lost peace of mind.
After letting go, Jace strode forward, smiled heartily, hugged Yavi, and shook his shoulders vigorously. "You brat, you have grown so big now!" His voice was filled with the unique teasing of an elder brother, but the joy in his eyes could not be hidden.
Yavi couldn't help but laugh, and lightly hit Jace on the shoulder. "Brother, he hasn't changed much, he's still so strong."
Jace laughed and turned aside to let his wife come forward. Yavi politely stretched out his hand and gently shook hands with this sister-in-law whom he had never met before. "Nice to meet you."
Sister-in-law nodded gently. "Welcome back, Yavi."
The two little nieces hid behind their mother, timidly sticking their heads out, looking at the strange uncle curiously. Yavi squatted down, winked at them, reached out and gently rubbed their hair. "Hello, I am your uncle Yavi."
The girls looked at each other and finally showed shy smiles.
Finally, his eyes fell on the little girl standing aside - she was even more petite than he imagined, her golden hair was tied into two pigtails, and her clear eyes were looking at him unblinkingly, curious and a little nervous.
Yavi squatted down, making himself eye level with her, reached out and gently rubbed the top of her hair, and said softly, "You are my little sister, right?"
The girl hesitated for a moment, nodded, and asked in a low voice, "Are you really my brother?"
Yavi smiled and said in a gentle voice, "Yes, even though it is our first time to meet, I have always known you."
The little sister stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly stretched out her little hand and touched his face carefully, as if to confirm whether he was real. Then, she showed a bright smile.
Yavi was startled for a moment, then picked her up with a smile, feeling a warmth surge in his heart.
After meeting their family members after a long separation, everyone returned to the castle. Yavi looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar inner castle and sighed in his heart. When he passed by his childhood room, Yavi went in and took a look. Everything here was exactly the same as when he left more than ten years ago.
"I will arrange for someone to clean your room every month. Occasionally when I miss you, I will come here to take a look. Seeing your childhood toys is like seeing you sitting there and playing when you were a child." Maya held Yavi's hand and refused to let go.
The flames in the fireplace crackled, illuminating the entire living room warm and bright. Yavi was sitting on the soft sofa, surrounded by his family, as if he had returned to the days when he was pampered as a child.
Maya came over with a plate of freshly baked honey cake and stuffed it into Yavi's hands without any explanation. "Try it quickly, I remember you loved this when you were a child." Her eyes were bright, as if she was afraid of missing any of his expressions, "How is it? Is it still the same taste as before?"
Yavi took a bite, and the sweet fragrance melted on the tip of his tongue. He smiled and nodded, "Well, it hasn't changed at all."
The father was sitting in the armchair opposite, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand. He seemed calm, but his eyes were always following Yavi's every move. The mother was sitting next to Yavi, gently holding his hand and squeezing it from time to time, as if to confirm that he was really back.
The little sister lay on Yavi's knees and looked up at him. "Brother, did you miss us when you were outside?"
Yavi rubbed her hair and said in a gentle voice, "Of course I do, I think about it every day."
Maya brought another cup of hot cocoa and asked naggingly, "How are you doing outside? Has anyone bullied you? Are you used to eating? I heard that winter is very cold in Northern Kingdoms. Have you ever been frozen?"
Yavi couldn't help but laugh, "Mother, you asked so many questions at once, which one should I answer first?"
Maya then realized that he was too eager, his cheeks were slightly red, but he still stared at him stubbornly. "Answer one by one, anyway, you don't want to fool me tonight."
The father finally spoke, with a smile in his deep voice, "Okay, Maya, let him take a breath. Yavi just came back, and we have plenty of time to chat slowly."
Mother gently patted the back of Yavi's hand and said softly, "It's good to come back. Our family will never be separated again."
The firelight of the fireplace reflected on the faces of his family members. Yavi looked at them and felt a long-lost peace in his heart. He knew that no matter how long he left, this place would always be his home.