Several weeks passed. Lord Gideon was walking in circles around his castle. He completed four cycles already, but he didn’t seem to be tired. Clenched in his hand was the crumpled paper telling him to return to the battlefield tomorrow. He was about to burn the paper in his hand when Seqina went to him.

“My lord”

“Seqina..”, Lord Gideon examined Seqina’s pleased expression. “I see, you may go”

Seqina excused herself, and Elalios went in front of the Earl.

“My lord, I a-”

“Don’t be”, the Earl said.

“But I..”, Elalios insisted.

[Flame]

Elalios froze on instinct hearing the spell, but the letter of command in the Earl’s hand received the flame instead of him.

“You did your task”, Lord Gideon looked in a certain room. “Assume guidance while I’m away”

“Thank you for your mercy, my lord”, Elalios said.

The Earl left his castle, leaving the servants by themselves.

“Osbert, I know you’re there”, Elalios said.

Osbert emerged behind a door.

“You think Lord Gideon didn’t know you’re there?”

“Don’t compare me to yourself”, Osbert retorted.

Elalios sighed and was attempting to walk away.

“Going away?”

“I have a community to tend to”, Elalios replied.

“I could have done it. Lord Gideon just needs to ask”, Osbert said.

“His lordship knows the best course of action”

“Do you think I can’t do it?”

Elalios attempted to walk away again after hearing the aggravated man.

“You think you’re better than me!?”, Osbert expected a reply, but Elalios only paused for a bit and proceeded to walk away again. “Face me when I’m talking to you!”

[Speed Boost]

Osbert dashed in front of Elalios.

[Strength Boost]

Osbert punched Elalios to the stomach making Elalios to fall on his knees. He smirked after seeing Elalios coughing a bit of blood, and left the unfortunate man on his own. In his way out, Cadell went past him who was walking towards Elalios.

“He still hated you”, Cadell said, helping Elalios to stand. “You should not meet him whenever his lordship is not with us”

Elalios wiped his lips smeared in blood. “Sometimes I have to”

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“That’s a dangerous way of living, Elalios”

Elalios smiled. “By the way, what are you here for?”

“Oh, I almost forgot. What did his lordship plan for the child? Should I care for.. uhh.. who is he again, uhmm”

“Kael”

“Yeah, Kael. Did Lord Gideon say something to you about him?”

“He ordered me to take care of the child”, Elalios paused, and had a little thought. “It’s possible that he will let Kael live with him in his manor, but he didn’t say that to me”

“That’s possible indeed”, Cadell reminisced on the past. “He’s still like that after all these years”

“Hey! Don’t talk like that, Osbert might hear you”

Cadell laughed at Elalios’s remark. “Anyway, I want to meet Kael”

“He’s in that room”, Elalios pointed at the room where Seqina came from. “I should go now, so help yourself”

----------------------------------------

Kael woke up from his sleep. The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar, bland, stone ceiling above him. He raised his head to sit, but was met with a headache, returning him to lie down. He heard footsteps while rubbing his temple. An old man emerged from the door of his room, and as he looked at the old man, a flicker of another came to his mind.

“Gran-”

Kael felt a sharp pain, making the old man rush by his side.

“Kael! Are you alright?”

Kael looked at the old man after recovering from the sudden pain. “Wh.. who are you?”

“I’m Cadell, your… grandpa”

“Cadell? Grandpa?”

“Yes, Grandpa. Do you remember?”

Kael looked at the old man with a confused look.

“It’s alright. An accident happened to you that’s why you didn’t remember. Don’t worry, grandpa will make you remember everything, is that good?”, Cadell said placing his hand above Kael’s head.

In the few days that came after, Kael was taken care of by the four servants. Seqina clean him, and feed him so that he can recover his body’s nutritional needs. Cadell told him the things outside the castle, and told him that his father was out in a battle. Osbert guarded him, but didn’t talk to him that much. Elalios supplemented the memories that Kael apparently have. However, deep inside his mind, there’s emerging broken memories whenever he see Elalios.

Months passed and the Earl finally arrived from the battlefield. The servants taught Kael the way that he should greet the Earl. Kael was ready by noon, but the Earl only arrived at night.

The castle was silenced in the night, as the sound of the gate hinges indicated the arrival of the Earl. The sound of carriage was heard closing in towards the castle. The carriage stopped and was replaced by footsteps. The guards open the doors for the Earl, and inside, the four servants along with Kael were seen waiting for the Earl.

“We awaited your return, Lord Gideon”, all five greeted in unison.

The lord of the castle looked at each of them, and set his gaze towards Kael.

“Stand”

The servants stood. They looked at Kael to signal the child to do his greeting. Kael was nervous, but he tried to do what they taught him. He went in front of Earl Gideon. He bowed like before and spoke his greeting.

“Welcome back, father”

The Earl’s mouth twitched a little. He looked at his four servants, and Cadell slightly bend forward holding his left chest.

“Stand”, Lord Gideon paused. “Prepare, and let us eat. Cadell, call me when everything’s ready”

“Yes, my lord”

The servants waited for the Earl to be far enough, then they brought Kael along with them, walking to the dining room.

“What did you think?”, Elalios asked Cadell.

“It’s as what the lordship did”, Cadell said.

“Stop acting mysterious, what do you mean Cadell?”, Osbert joined in on the conversation.

“Are you sure? Even if his lordship doesn’t want anyone to know?”, Cadell replied.

Osbert went silent, looking at Cadell irritated. He wanted to hurt him like what he did to Elalios, but the Earl is in the castle. He distracted himself looking at Seqina.

Seqina was paying attention to Kael, seemingly satisfied at what the child did. After the night feast, the Earl called for her. She reported everything significant that happened in the town, concluding at the end that the town is at peace at present.