Arthur was perplexed at the sudden arrival of this man—Reid. There wasn't a sign of malice or evil intent, the man just warmly introduced himself, still feeling unease, Arthur stood there silent.
Reid noticed the trembling boy and took two steps forward.
"Did you see a ghost or something, kid?"
"Did you just say you're a Knight? More like heavenly Knight? That's..."
"Now don't lose courage as l stand before you young lad, l'm only a candidate as l previously mentioned."
"Way to ruin the fun, all this shivering just for you to become a clown. What's with all the confidence—" Arthur fuelled muttering those words.
Reid observed silently, letting out a deep sigh.
Arthur cut his words as the trembling worsen, losing his footing, Reid held him before he dropped on the ground. "Take it easy kid...? You must be his pet l presume?"
"Pet?! I mean, meow-meow or something."
Comfortably placing Arthur on his back, he held on Storm and set out. It would be humiliating seeing a man of his status carrying a lone child and cat on his back with his beautiful clothing, but he simply put his pride on the side.
"T-that... that's a... Heavenly..."
Reid walked passed the villagers at the farm, the people were speechless, not even wishing to utter a single word, all they could do was watch from the sidelines. It was like a strick ruler entering his kingdom where his servants feared him, the scenario best matched the scene. What brought this Knight at this village? What reason did he have here? Did someone commit mass crime? They weren't really sure what the reason was, the best solution was to avoid anything unrelated to them.
They continued their usual jobs, children changed their direction home, and the animals scattered wildly.
Reid, with a confident look, didn't set his gaze at the villagers as he walked out.
That was because...
Few moments later, Arthur slowly opened his eyes and found himself inside his room lying in bed, he yawned as he stretched out his body and got off the bed. It was strange being here, then he remembered...
"That guy!?"
Arthur growled a single word as he stormed out of his room and dashing down stairs, last thing he remembered was being taken by a man who claimed to be a Knight. Which meant he could still be inside, wanting to get to the bottom of this, he raced to get the answer.
Arriving downstairs in a flash, the first thing he saw was the blonde hair man—Reid, sitting on a chair gazing at Arthur like he was expecting his arrival. Facing on the opposite side of the chair, he found his mother—Aisha sitting alongside another person, she was laughing, then took a sharp gaze at Arthur, and her expression brushed off.
"Father?" Arthur questioned in concern as he slowly approached his mother.
His father had left them for quite a while without even saying anything, it grew both Aisha and Arthur worried, so the boy assumed he has arrived.
Getting stabbed by his own family, the person sitting next to his mother wasn't his father Adam, but a lady in blue dress.
There was another unknown person in the house, more and more questions rose in the boys mind.
"At first glance, l knew you were Aisha's son, you both look alike. Didn't know my sister had a handsome son." Reid broke the silence adding a bit of comedy to the touch.
"Sister?"
"Didn't Aisha tell you about uncle Reid? That isn't fair Aisha, atleast inform the kid about my existence."
"Sorry, didn't remember to do that."
Arthur brushed his tensed expression off, and sits inbetween the beautiful lady in a dress, and his mother as he puts his hand on his chin closing one eye.
Honestly, these past few days has been piling up like rocks, infect it was a fever dream. Can't these people let a man rest for the achievements they made? On the other hand, these weird looking people arrived at my home and surprisingly the guy in blonde said my mother is his sister.
Apparently, these weren't some random guest, but were part of my family, on my mother's side.
"I'm sorry Arthur for not informing you about my family, please don't get mad." Aisha said, feeling guilty.
It makes sense, l never had a thought about my parents family, and why they never showed up when l was born. It's a tradition for families coming together and witness the new born, unless there'd been a conflict between the two. Mother didn't even gaze at me after saying that, was she avoiding eye contact for real?
"No worries mother, it's okay if you didn't inform me about some dude pretending to look handsome."
"...huh?"
Yeah, l was talking to you blonde guy, don't act confused.
But l still had one question...
"So mother, what do they want from us?"
As l asked, the beautiful lady besides me opened her mouth first. "The names, Diana Rivers. I'm a candidate of the Heavenly Knights, l was requested by the father of the household to seek Aisha Rivers."
"You're a also a Knight?"
"A candidate as l previously mentioned, in a couple of years, we'll be accepted by the higher judges and officially become a Knight." Diana stated, getting her face closer to me.
"Great..."
It's not fair, it was my dream to see a Knight in plate armor, wielding their might sword and reading a beautiful horse. I mean wearing a dress and some cloak doesn't match the description, l pushed Diana's face away from me and raised an eyebrow. Then l recalled something...
Father of the household.
Aisha Rivers.
Those description sound new, isn't Aisha's second name Zephyros? Peeking at mother, she begun sweating. That was odd. And who the hell was the father of household? I need to feed my curiosity quickly.
"Sorry if it's weird but... Could you elaborate on the Aisha Rivers part, and the father of the household."
As l asked those questions, Mother quickly glanced at Reid in a panic, immediately after, she calmed herself and nod at Reid who returned the nod. Reid stood up from his chair, went by the window.
"This might sound complicated, but since l'm telling you, you'll find it easier than any other six year olds." Reid continued, " l'm aware you're using your father's surname, which Aisha should have known by now it's disrespectful, she belongs among the seven great families."
"Seven great families?"
According to Reid, there existed seven great families that held the most powerful title in the world, they were once known as the leading war power house, even today, these families still hold the title.
Aisha broke a forbidden law, if one member of the great families decide to engage with anyone outside the family structure, their children should bare their names. Aisha married Adam and took his name, which broke the law, then l was given the name of 'Zephyros' primarily meant to be 'Rivers' it was a minor law, but under no circumstances should it be broken.
"Though, the father of the household doesn't know that, we decided to keep it a secret between Diana and l," Reid added, placing his finger on his mouth.
Thank goodness, l honestly thought mother would receive a penalty for disobeying laws, but man do l belong in a big shot family, leaving the scraps so soon.
These guys shouldn't scare me like that, and this father of the household, l wonder.
"I appreciate you both keeping a secret, but tell me about this father of the—"
"No!" Diana interrupted with deep voice, "we can't tell you everything, even if you belong in the same family."
"W-why? Atleast feed my curiosity, this father of the household sounds like a big shot feared by many, and probably has a large reputation—"
"Indeed, his name is feared by many, even holy Knights know his name. A man known as the demon slayer, one that raid an entire nation, gaining his reputation at the age of twelve, and killing the leader of the hell continent. There's much more."
And l got interrupted again.
But this time with a twist, sounds like this man is a demon himself, all those honourable mentions are absurd, now l'm getting the shivering legs.
This still doesn't answer my question, why did these guys show up at our house? It doesn't seem connected on telling me stories about my family. I let out a very, deep sigh, and asked.
"We're here to take Aisha back home, the father of the household wants to judge her for leaving the family after a long time."
"What?!"
Did l hear properly? Judge my mother, just because she left the family. That's just childish, is this man that bored that he sent Knights to take mother away from here, this is just stupid, ridiculous, unbearable.
"What do you guys mean by judge?" I asked weakly.
Reid turned my direction, "she will be killed unfortunately." He replied with a calm expression.
Guess my hunch was correct, these bustards want to end her for a minor rule that was broken.
"I see," l whispered weakly, refusing to gaze at them.
I was upset, enraged would be a better term. Why did this suddenly happen? Father mysteriously left, Ken decided to also leave, now mother is sentenced to death. Why's my life now turning like this, l just want to live a normal life, one without pressure. Mother didn't say anything, but l could hear her cries, she tightly gripped on sleeves. My body couldn't take it anymore, l wanted to do something, something to save mother, but nothing rang in mind.
"Aisha tarnished the family name, now the father of the household couldn't take this disrespect any longer, so for that—"
I had enough with his talk, you've said enough Reid.
"Step back," l interrupted Reid, as l gazed at him with a tensed expression.
"Arthur dear, no!"
I held out my wooden practise sword and faced it directly at Reid, mother tired stopping me but l stepped away from her. Reid seemed like the strongest one, so l must take him down first, then after, it will be Dia—
Gulp.
Look at her sipping that tea without a care in the world, it's like l'm not a threat to her. I felt my cage bursting, going overdrive, l could even sense large amount of divine energy spilling out. I swung my sword backwards, and...
"Flowing flower..."
"You're going to attack me? You don't want to start an unnecessary fight do you?" Reid muttered looking unfazed.
I mustn't hesitate, strike!
Clap!
When l started losing it and my mind went blank, mother slapped me.
Ouch!
"Mother...?"
"Don't... don't involve yourself in a situation that doesn't include you, please stop! I'm... begging you... Ahhhh!" Mother cried out.
"I was... just... trying to help, l didn't know l got in the way."
I'm sorry, l'm sorry. I was just trying to help, l don't want old memories filling up, l would regret not acting, l would regret not doing something, l would regret losing you! I don't want that, why do you keep leaving me? Tell me, am l that weak?
This kid is quite talented, that sword technique he activated was an unregistered one. Unless he gave him that book, moreover, he managed to use it in a short span of time, interesting.
"You shouldn't have done that, Aisha, the boy has a stronger will power, at his age having the thought to fight, that's new."
"I'm sorry Reid, Arthur quickly jumps to conclusions without first reading the room, but... it's the reason l love him." Aisha continued her cry.
"An intelligent boy, l see."
"I don't want to pose any problems, l don't want Arthur to suffer because of me, let's just go—"
"Arthur!" I called out to the depressed boy, ignoring Aisha.
"?..."
"Do you want to save your mother?"
"Huh? Of course."