If you're wondering who I am… I'm the bird perched on that tree.
Ah… how annoying. I really wanted to beat up those three bratty kids earlier. Why can't they just stay quiet and let my contractor live peacefully?
Oh right, I'm Arctus's familiar. It's a bit difficult to explain why I'm just sitting on this tree branch without moving at all, even though a familiar's duty is to protect its contractor.
For those who don't know, a familiar is a magical animal with intelligence comparable to a human, that forms a contract with a living being whose soul it finds compatible. Not every magical animal wants to become a familiar, but I… I chose Arctus. So here I am watching my master like a shadow—except my place happens to be on a tree branch.
"Arctus…" a gentle voice called not far from where he was.
"Mom!!" Arctus exclaimed, his face immediately brightening, as if never crying. He ran toward Charoline as if the earlier commotion had never happened.
That's Charoline, Arctus's mother.
In this family, that child position was in dilemma. Just mother, uncle who hate his mother, the troublemaker cousins, and a particular unfair grandfather.
This family's dynamics are disgusting—well, my life before this wasn't much different. If I say this family is confusing, then they still lose compared to how confusing my own family was. Okay… we'll insert that story later. For now, let's follow this mother and child.
Switching to Arctus's side…
When he reached his mother, Arctus raised both of his arms, asking to be carried. Charoline couldn't bring herself to refuse the request of her only child.
"Mom… who is my father actually? Why does Sister Cintia hate me, and even Jhonny and Darren too? Why, Mom…?" Arctus whispered, his eyes glistening with tears, the crying earlier continue with sob.
Charoline fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. How you tell a child whom his father are, when her herself has no idea who's that mam was?
"Your father… is a great man, my child," she replied while gently brushing Arctus's bangs, that's the best answer she can say for now.
"You're lying!!" Arctus said firmly, his voice echoing in the air filled with unbelief.
"If he's great… why isn't he here with us? Does Father hate us? Who is he, Mom?!" He poured out all the emotions he had been holding back—anger, confusion, fear, sadness—everything mixed together into one.
Tears streamed down from Arctus's eyes, unstoppable. Charoline could only calm him down, hugging him tightly until he fell asleep in her arms.
Charoline kiss Arctus forehead gently, 'my poor child, mommy is sorry' she whispered to his young son, as if the world just the two of them.
"Arctus…" I whispered, feeling pity for my contractor.
Ah… human emotions are truly complicated. I feel sad seeing him like that, yet I don't understand why that child wants to know about his father so badly.
You might say this is too heavy for a small child, but there are many out there whose fate is far worse.
Mother… is this what you expected from me? Finding my contractor… that memory again, huh…
Reminiscent about the past, it's still lingering on my heart. May the star have guides you mom...