Nathan woke up as the sun rose for a new day. Rubbing his eyes in an attempt to stay awake, he then went downstairs to see his adoptive mother talking to his father on the other side of the door. She gave him a smile only he has ever been given, but it was more of a smile of security and assurance, assurance that what she is doing is right and doesn't create any friction in her son's life.
Nathan took a few steps forward from the corner of the room, the sound of the floor creaking came from the wooden floor, disturbing their conversation. She turned to see him wearing his uniform this early in the morning, she greets him in a pleasant tone and as he greets back, he walked over to the door and saw his father holding onto his belongings and wearing a dark brown cloak.
"So, you're already leaving, huh?"
His father responds with a warm yet fragile smile on his face,
"Yes, I've got some business to attend to outside the kingdom. And, are you off to school? Your uniform looks nice. I'm sure all the ladies there are crazy over you."
Nathan glared at him, and after a moment, he turned his attention to his mother and told her that he would meet up with Noah before arriving at school.
"Oh, okay. Aren't you going to eat breakfast first?"
"It's fine, not really that hungry."
She swiftly shook her head to disagree and rushed off to the kitchen to grab a freshly baked bun. She went back and gave him the bun, nicely wrapped and warm.
"Take this. You can't learn on an empty stomach."
He nodded his head and waved goodbye to her, ignoring his father. She noticed this and asked him to go with him and talk things out to try and amend their relationship. He agreed to this and followed him to Noah's place.
Nathan felt his presence following him and stopped on his way to ask,
"Why are you following me?"
His father tried to find the words to give a good reason.
"I'll be using the exit of the western gate."
He looked at him in suspicion and continued on his way with his father in tow.
During the walk, his father began to ask a series of questions to try to lighten the mood.
"How old are you?"
"You don't know how old I am?"
"I have an estimation."
"And it's…"
"You're 17."
"Lucky guess."
"How is school?"
"Does my academics matter?"
"Of course not, I've never gone to school. The only thing I was taught was how to swing a sword and master the shadows."
Nathan took some time before responding and asked him,
"Are there other family members around? People like us."
Lawrence stared at the back of his son's head before he gave an answer.
"Can't recall."
After hearing this, Nathan stopped again, confused, and questioned what he had just heard.
"What do you mean you don't know? Are you saying that you don't know where our family is?"
"I know where they were."
"And where is it?"
"Last I remember, it was a place of ruins."
[I see where this is going.]
"So, they're dead right?"
Lawrence's eyes darkened as he recalled his time with his family and only responded with one word. One word that carries so much emotional turmoil, it's hard not to ask for more.
"Yes."
Nathan sarcastically chuckled after hearing this, realizing he won't get much more details about the events that transpired, he changed the subject to ask a simple question.
"Who's my mom?"
"What do you mean? You've just seen her this morning."
"Don't play dumb, you know what I mean."
Of course, Lawrence knew what he meant; he just didn't want to let him dwell on both families, from his father and his mother. Because they both had secrets and dark pasts, where if a person were to choose which one to be born into, not being born at all would be the better option. But Nathan asked him another question before he could answer.
"Is she dead too?"
Lawrence's heart sank to the deepest pits of despair; his eyes widened at the memory of it. But not knowing or being sure himself, he gave him the only answer he could.
"I… I don't know…"
"You don't know the state my mother is in?"
"The situation was complicated."
"How so? Am I really your son, because the King said it himself that only our family in this country possesses an affinity for shadow magic, so I could be your nephew or something like that."
"No. You are my son."
"And how can you be so sure?"
"Your eyes. They look just like hers, just like Emiko."
Nathan's eyes suddenly grew soft and vulnerable in an instant after hearing her name.
"Is that her name?"
"Yes. You take after her a lot, actually. Your eyes, a bit of her skin color, and a little bit of her cheekbones as well."
Lawrence looked at his son's eyes, eyes like a puppy hoping for more from its caretaker. Nathan then asked,
"How long will you be gone for? I want to know a bit more about my mother and what type of person she was."
"I don't know, maybe a week or two."
"Oh."
Nathan fell into disappointment after hearing his answer.
"But I can stay a bit longer if you'd like me to."
His hopes and spirit were lifted up after his statement.
"I'm not going to force you to stay if you don't want to, but if you do decide to stay, that would be fine too."
Lawrence smiled at what his son said. Cheerful that their relationship is finally getting better, he then says,
"I'll be done with my work sooner than. I want to try more of Eliana's pastries."
Trying to avoid letting his father see the small grin on his face, he quickly turned his head away and ended their conversation with him going about his way to Noah's place.
Lawrence saw his son's flustered attitude, laughed like what has been a long time for him.
"You really are like her."
Nathan then arrived at his Noah's house. Without knocking, Noah rushed out the house from his mother's nagging. He then saw a joyful Nathan in front of him, but begins to ask questions.
"Who the hell are you, and what did you do to Nathan?"
"What do you mean?"
Blinding positive energy radiates from Nathan as Noah covers his eyes.
"MY EYES, THEY BURN! Such delightful energy, it's… astonishing."
Nathan chuckles at his friend's remarks and calls him an idiot.
"Come on, Noah, we'll be late. Don't forget about our plan from last night."
Noah snaps out of it.
"Oh, right. Let's go before we're late."
Nathan smiles at him before calling out his angry mother and greeting her.
"You fucking bastard!"
His mother's voice was coming from upstairs, sounding like a beast hungry for any prey it could find.
"NOAH, GET YOUR ASS TO SCHOOL THIS SECOND!"
"I'M GOING!"
Nathan laughs after their screaming contest.
"Very funny. Let's go already."
"Sure."