Arknights - Echoes Of The Unfound Dawn

A/N: The pain is still there and my leg feels so numb, but i was able to walk.. well if you can call it a walk.

Xian stepped out of the candy store, the soft sound of the door chime fading behind him. He tore open one of the brightly colored lollipops he'd picked up and popped it into his mouth, the tangy sweetness a welcome contrast to the cool air of the evening.

The streets were quiet, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The ocean, just visible in the distance, shimmered under the fading light. Xian took a deep breath, savoring the peacefulness of the moment, his thoughts drifting with the evening breeze.

As he walked, lost in the serenity of the scene, a sudden collision jolted him from his thoughts. He stumbled slightly as a small body crashed into his side, sending a child tumbling to the ground with a surprised yelp.

"Oh no!" Xian exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to help the child up. The Girl, no older than six or seven, looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, her knee scraped and bleeding. His hands shook as he tried to stand, but the pain seemed too much.

"Are you okay?" Xian asked softly, kneeling down beside him. The girl sniffled, nodding but clearly in pain.

"Is she alright?" A voice called out from behind Xian, and he turned to see two other children standing a few paces away, concern written on their faces. One, a girl with a braid and wide eyes, rushed forward. The other, a boy with messy hair and fur ears twitching nervously, followed her.

The girl on the ground sniffled again. "It hurts," he whimpered, touching his scraped knee with trembling fingers.

Xian nodded, scanning the scene. "Don't worry, I've got a first aid kit," he said, his voice reassuring. He rummaged through his bag, pulling out a small pouch. The kids watched with wide eyes as Xian carefully cleaned the boy's wound, the soft rustle of the bandages and the gentle hum of the street the only sounds in the air.

"So, what happened here?" Xian asked as he worked. The girl, who seemed to be the most vocal, hesitated before speaking.

"We were playing tag," she explained, her voice shaky but determined. "We didn't mean to bump into you, sir."

Xian sighed, standing back up once the boy's knee was patched up. "Tag is fun, but not on the street," he said firmly. "It's dangerous. You could get hurt, or worse."

The boy with messy hair spoke up, clearly eager to defend his actions. "But we were just having fun-"

"I know, but you need to be careful," Xian interrupted gently, his tone softer now. "Running around on the streets can cause accidents, like this one. You need to find safer places to play, like a park."

At that, the girl, who had been quietly holding back her tears, suddenly let out a sob. Her face crumpled, and she covered her face with her hands, her small body shaking with emotion. The other two children looked at her, startled, then at Xian, unsure of what to do.

Xian felt his chest tighten, a wave of guilt washing over him. "Hey, hey," he said quickly, kneeling down beside her. "It's okay, no one's blaming you. I know you didn't mean for this to happen."

He glanced around, noticing a few people walking by, glancing at the scene with curiosity. Some whispered to each other, speculating on what was going on, while others shot Xian questioning looks. He met their eyes, shaking his head slightly, signaling that everything was fine.

"I'm sorry," he muttered under his breath, mostly to himself, but the girl heard him and looked up with tear-streaked cheeks.

"Don't cry," Xian said, offering a gentle smile. "You're alright, okay? You're all alright."

The boy with the messy hair spoke again, his voice hopeful, "You're not mad?"

Xian shook his head, standing up. "No, no, I'm not mad. But you've got to be more careful, alright? How about we go to the park and get some treats? That way, we can make sure everyone's happy and safe."

The kids' faces lit up at the mention of treats, the tension in the air dissolving as quickly as it had arrived. The girl sniffled, wiping her eyes, and nodded enthusiastically. "Can we really get treats?"

Xian grinned, pulling out another lollipop from his bag. "Of course. But only if you promise to play somewhere safe next time."

The kids' faces lit up instantly, their earlier worry forgotten as excitement bubbled up inside them. The promise of treats and safety made their small bodies practically bounce with energy, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they followed Xian to the park.

As they arrived, Xian sat down on a nearby bench, his gaze drifting toward the swings that gently swayed in the evening breeze. The soft rustle of the trees mixed with the distant sound of the ocean, its rhythmic waves lapping at the shore. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon on his left, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange, pink, and gold. The view was peaceful, a perfect backdrop to the kids' joyful noises.

He reached into his bag, pulling out a selection of drinks and snacks he had grabbed from a nearby vending machine. He handed them to the kids, who eagerly accepted, their eyes wide with delight. The sugary drinks and savory treats were exactly what they needed to lift their spirits after the small scare earlier.

"Thank you, Mister!" one of them said between sips of her drink, her face breaking into a bright smile. The others chimed in with similar thanks, their voices warm and sincere.

Xian smiled back, watching them for a moment, but his gaze shifted out toward the horizon. The scene around him felt strangely nostalgic, like a moment plucked from another time a simpler time, when his own worries were quieter and the world seemed a little kinder. He found himself lost in the feeling, letting the peacefulness of the park and the sound of the ocean fill the silence.

His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the boy with messy hair. "Thanks again, Mister. You're really nice!"

Xian snapped out of his reverie and smiled, turning to face the kids. "You're welcome. But, where are your parents?" he asked, his voice gentle yet curious.

The girl with the braid looked down, her eyes momentarily shadowed. "They're working," she answered softly.

Xian nodded, his expression softening. "I see. Well, make sure you stay safe, alright?" he said, his tone carrying a quiet authority. "Next time, no more tag on the streets, okay?"

The kids nodded eagerly, their smiles returning as they resumed eating and drinking.

Xian leaned back on the bench, his gaze distant as he watched the waves gently crash against the shore. The salty air stirred his thoughts, the quiet of the evening stirring a sense of nostalgia in his chest.

The sunset's warm hues seemed to linger in the sky longer than they should, as if the world itself was trying to hold on to a moment of peace, just like him. But as he sat there, lost in the memories and the stillness, a burst of energy broke through the calm.

The kids were bickering loudly behind him, their voices growing increasingly heated. Xian's ears perked up at the familiar sound of their argument, and he turned to see two of them, the boy with messy hair and the girl with the braid, gesturing wildly at each other.

"No way, a rocket is definitely faster!" the boy argued, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "It goes into space!"

The girl shook her head, her brows furrowing. "No, a jet's way faster! It flies through the air, like, super fast!"

The other kid were watching with mixed expressions some amused, trying to mediate, but none seeming to have much luck in stopping the two from their increasingly passionate debate. The girl that Xian helped stepped forward. "Guys, can't we just-"

Before she could finish, Xian raised a hand, stopping her. He chuckled softly, the sound a little more tired than he'd intended. "Hold on, hold on. Let's settle this," he said, his voice calm and warm.

The two kids paused, looking at Xian with expectant eyes.

"What are you two arguing about?" he asked, his smile gentle.

The girl with the braid puffed out her chest. "We're trying to figure out what's faster- a rocket or a jet! I say it's a jet."

The boy with the messy hair shot her a triumphant grin. "I'm telling you, a rocket's faster. It's got more power!"

Xian raised an eyebrow, amused but intrigued. "Well, you're both right and wrong," he said, leaning forward slightly, his hands resting on his knees. "You see, rockets and jets are very different, and it's not just about speed. It's about what they're designed to do."

The kids fell silent, their eyes wide as they listened closely. Xian took a deep breath, the excitement of teaching beginning to replace his earlier nostalgia.

"A jet," he started, "is built to fly through the atmosphere, which means it's designed to move quickly through the air, like a bird racing across the sky. It can reach high speeds faster than most cars or trains especially in the right conditions, like at high altitudes where the air is thinner."

"But," he continued, "a rocket is something else entirely. It's designed to launch into space, which means it has to travel beyond the atmosphere where there's no air at all. Rockets are built to have a lot of power, so they can overcome gravity and push into space, and that's why they seem a lot faster. They're not really competing with jets, because their environments are so different."

The two kids were listening intently, their eyes wide with interest. The boy who had been arguing for rockets scratched his head. "So... rockets are faster because they go to space?"

Xian smiled, nodding. "Exactly. A rocket's speed is incredible, but it's designed for a completely different job than a jet. It's not about one being better or faster-it's about what they're built to do."

The girl with the braid blinked, her confusion starting to clear. "Wow... I didn't know that," she said softly, still processing the new information. "So, jets are faster here, but rockets are faster for space stuff?"

"Pretty much," Xian said with a grin. "It's all about the environment and what each machine is designed for."

The kids perked up at the explanation, looking at each other with newfound understanding. The boy with fox features, who had been quiet during most of the argument, now leaned forward with interest. "How do you know all this, Mister?"

Xian chuckled, his smile widening. "Well, I study engineering," he explained, leaning back on the bench again. "I've learned a lot about how different things work in different environments. Science tells us which machines are best for specific jobs, and that includes speed whether it's in the sky or in space."

The kids stared at him in awe, their earlier argument forgotten in the face of this new, exciting knowledge. They all nodded, their faces lit with a sense of understanding and excitement.

"You're really smart, Mister!" the girl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Xian laughed softly, his heart lightened by their enthusiasm. "I'm just lucky to know a little about how the world works. But remember whether it's a jet or a rocket, they both have important jobs to do. That's what makes them amazing."

Xian watched as the kids listened intently, their minds racing with the new information. To make it easier for them to understand, he decided to take things a step further. With a grin, he knelt down and started drawing in the dirt with his finger.

"Let me show you," he said, motioning for the kids to gather around. The soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the gentle whispers of the sea created a peaceful backdrop as Xian traced a rough diagram in the ground.

"Okay," he began, "here's the thing jets and rockets have their own strengths and weaknesses because of what they're made for."

He drew two simple shapes. one a sleek, pointed arrow for the rocket, and the other a wide, streamlined figure for the jet. "A jet's built to fly through the air, so it needs to be aerodynamic, like this," he explained, pointing to the jet.

"It has to be fast enough to cut through the air, but it can't go beyond the atmosphere because it relies on air to work. It's like riding a bicycle on a smooth road you can go really fast, but only as long as the road's there."

The kids watched closely, their eyes wide with fascination as Xian continued.

"Now," he said, tracing the rocket, "a rocket's different. It's built to break through the atmosphere and into space. It doesn't need to worry about air; instead, it focuses on a lot of thrust to get past gravity. Think of it like trying to launch a rock into the sky it takes a lot of force to push it up, so it's slower at first but can go much higher. However, rockets are big and heavy, so they can't stay at high speed for long they slow down once they've done their job."

Xian paused, letting the kids absorb the explanation. Their faces were full of awe and curiosity.

"So," Xian said with a smile, "they're both fast, but in different ways. A jet is like a quick race car on the ground it goes fast on a smooth road. A rocket is more like a catapult it takes a lot of effort to get it going, but once it's in the air, it can travel far."

The kids exchanged thoughtful glances, impressed by the simplicity of the comparison. The boy with messy hair, still excited, finally spoke up.

"But... why were we arguing then?" he asked, his tone a bit confused now that he understood. "I know jets and rockets are different now, but I still wanna be fast, like them!"

Xian chuckled softly. "I knew it wasn't about who's faster. You're both talking about your dreams, aren't you?" he said with a knowing look. "What's important is why you want to go so fast. So, tell me, why do you want to be so fast?"

The girl grinned, her eyes sparkling. "I want to travel through the sky so fast! I want to feel like I'm flying, zipping through the clouds and going faster than anything else in the world!"

Xian laughed, shaking his head. "Well, you're not wrong, that does sound amazing. But, you know, speed like that can be dangerous without proper training and care."

The girl nodded, a little disappointed but undeterred. "I know. But I still want to try it. I want to get there somehow."

Xian's smile softened, a warm pride swelling in his chest. "You've got the spirit, that's for sure. Keep studying, keep working hard, and who knows? Maybe one day, you'll get the chance to do it. Just be careful, okay?"

The girl's face lit up with a wide grin, and she gave Xian a quick thumbs-up, clearly motivated. "I will, Mister! Thanks!"

Turning to the other kid, Xian asked, "And what about you? You seemed like you had a different idea."

The boy with the messy hair, spoke up next. "I want to see the stars," he said, his voice full of wonder. "I want to travel into space, see what's beyond the clouds, and figure out what's out there. The stars, the planets... I want to know everything about them."

Xian blinked, surprised by the depth of his words. "You want to travel into space?" he repeated, his voice laced with genuine curiosity. "How much do you know about space?"

The boy smiled shyly, as if he was a little embarrassed, but his eyes glimmered with the excitement of sharing something he cared about. "I've read about rockets and astronauts," he said, "and I know that space is really cold, and there's no air, but... I think it's beautiful. I just want to see it for myself one day."

Xian couldn't help but be impressed. "That's more than a lot of adults know," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "You're right, space is vast and incredible, and it's still a mystery in many ways. But who knows? With the way technology's advancing, someone like you might just get the chance to see it in your lifetime."

The boy's smile grew wider, and he beamed with pride. "I hope so, Mister!."

Xian watched them, his heart swelling with warmth. These kids, despite their playful bickering, were full of ambition and dreams that were bigger than the world around them. He felt a quiet sense of hope for the future, knowing that, even if their paths were uncertain, they were driven by curiosity and wonder.

"Just keep dreaming," Xian said, his voice firm but encouraging. "The sky's the limit."