They started walking once again. While they were passing by the kids, Ian noticed something unusual. One of the kids weren't playing with the others. Or rather, they didn't let him play with them. Ian narrowed his eyes as he observed the kids. 'He has bruises in his body. Looks malnourished as well. An orphan perhaps?' "Art" Ian quietly called for Arthur. He came beside him as they continued their walk. "Yes, young master?" "Find out what's wrong with that kid while we're having breakfast. And have one of the guards observe him." Olivia couldn't hear anything Ian was talking about since she was busy chatting with Corner. Arthur nodded his head and silently left the group. Soon they reached the restaurant that she mentioned before. To be precise, it was what one would call a book cafe in modern world. Ian was impressed with the owners thinking. Whoever it was, they were way ahead of their time. "T
Ian sighed as he stared at his new family. The more he saw, the greater his fascination was. 'No matter how many time I see it, mother's smile is always so mesmerizing. And no matter how elegant she looks, father always looks like her perfect other half. They're like the main characters in a romance novel.' Ian was trying very hard to focus this time when something caught his attention. It was what Miller was talking about. "Should we bring a painter?" 'Painter? Yeah, would've totally clicked a photo in this situation, if I was in earth. Good thinking.' "Should we?" Olivia was glancing at Ian as if asking if it was okay. Ian tilted his head as if he couldn't understand her question. 'Why'd I have any problem with it?' - is what Ian's expression was saying. "You didn't like painters since you were a kid. Is it okay now?" "Yes it's fine... So I don't have any portraits with either of you, mother?" "No. Since you were a kid, you'd always cry whenever we brought any painters in
'Oh? He looks brave. Is he the oldest?' Ian was thinking that maybe the kids were in better shape than he thought. But his thoughts only lasted a moments as he noticed the kid clenching his fist tightly to stop shaking in fear. 'Can't believe I just thought that. Damnit.' Ian was mad at himself for his thoughtless comment. Maybe he wanted to deny to truth, the truth about these kids and their past, just to ease his mind. He was being cruel and he hated that. "Sit. I'll show you." They all sat around him in a half-circle as they wondered what Ian was going to do. First he took a flexible flower branch from beside him and wrapped the two ends to make a circle. Then he added some pretty looking grass around the circle. After that he took 3 or 4 types of wild flowers each time and attached it to the circle. Within a few minutes, it turned into a beautiful flower crown made by many types of wild flowers. With each steps he took making the crown, the kids eyes sparkled more and mor
While Ian was busy stuffing his mouth with cakes and pastries, they soon arrived in a secluded part of the city. It was where the sewer ended. And as expected, the steel bars were broken and it looked like people frequently went inside and out. Steve was standing near the entrance looking like a loyal guard. Seeing Ian and the others approaching, he quickly went and greeted them. Ian accepted the greeting and ordered him to wait near the carriage as they headed inside. Ian still had a cake in his mouth and a packet full of pastries in his hand as he nonchalantly entered the hole. 'Is he really a noble?' Arthur wondered how Ian had no problem eating in a place like this. Even someone like him found it difficult to go inside without covering his nose. "Do you have anything to brighten the place? It's dark." Corner took out a magic stone powered torch from his pocket and handed it to Ian. Ian didn't take the torch and instead signaled Corner to take the lead. Corner happily took
"Fu-Ow ow ow!" Ian almost swore as he felt a sharp pain throughout his whole body. The kid wasn't moving but he knew what was happening right now. His vitality was being snatched away from him. He clenched his fist as he smacked the kid with his twisted arm. He knew it would be dangerous for him if the kid kept stealing his energy. The kid was thrown away to the side as Ian stood up. No matter how strong the kid was, he was still a kid while Ian was a full-grown adult. The kid groaned as he glared at Ian, unable to stand up from the impact of the fall. He was mumbling something while glaring at him. Ian looked at him mumbling as he carefully approached him. When he was close enough, he could finally make out what he was muttering. "S...hu...ng....r...y...food" Ian lowered his guard as he finally understood the whole situation. Just like him, the kids attribute also awakened when they felt each others presence. It was resonance, a trait that only people of darkness attribute posse
When Ian reached home, it was almost time for dinner. So he hurried back to his room with Corner following behind him. The servants jaw dropped seeing him covered in dirt and mud but they all closed their mouth when Ian said that he slipped and fell. Some of them were even worried about him getting injured but Ian said that he was fine. After taking a proper bath to get rid of the stench and dirt, Ian ordered the servants to give the kid a warm bath as well. When the butler asked where he planned on keeping the kid, Ian replied with a short "In my room, of course." and left for dinner. At the dinner table, Miller and Olivia was already waiting for him beforehand. Ian felt bad that he always kept them waiting and apologized. "It seems I'm late again today. I apologize." "It's fine son. I don't mind waiting for you." Olivia looked at him and smiled. Her expression looked like she was looking at the most precious thing in the whole world. Ian felt awkward at that overwhelming affec
At that moment, Ian was having a lucid dream. From the moment he opened his eyes, he knew he was dreaming. Even if he didn't want to, he would still need to realize it was a dream since dead people don't come back to life. A memory of his past. It was a past he remembered way too clearly. 'Anyway, why this dream? It's been so long and so much happened after this.' Ian couldn't understand why, among so many nightmarish incidents, he had to re-experience this one. The backlash of using his ability was exactly this. To be trapped in their own nightmare. Well not exactly nightmare, 'past' would be a better word to describe the situation. And all the pain of that past, be it physical or mental, he had to suffer through all of it once again. "Noah? Hey! What are you spacing out for?" A young boy in his teen called out to him as he tried to smack the back of his head. Ian swiftly lowered his head and avoided the hand approaching from behind. "I'm listening." 'Noah', it's been a w
The outside had began to light up as the sun started rising slowly. The soft sunlight comforted Ian as if knowing his struggles all too well. He tried to sit up, only to find both his hands caught is someone elses grip. Ian turned to his right, finding Olivia, asleep while grasping his hand, as if he'd disappear if she let go. Her eyes had dark circles around them and tear stains were still visible around the corner. On his left, he found Miller. Although his complexion didn't look too bad, the deep frown in his brow made it pretty clear how much he worried about his son. Ian had an unconscious smile on his lips as he observed the two of them. 'It's a shame that none of them belongs to me.' Ian always found himself smiling whenever he looked at the couple. It wasn't because he felt happy. It was a smile mixed with regret, jealousy and a little bit of sadness. He felt regret as he thought about all those emotions that were being wasted on him, the wrong person. Sad how he had to