Prologue: Chain of memories – Conrad's POV. with Taylor Hick's 'Do I make you proud?'

A distant memory that's like a scattered dream, a scattered dream that's like a distant memory – Sora, Kingdom Hearts.

I was never really allowed to enter the Bielefeld estate – not until recently, at least. I sneaked away to the family graveyard, to the most recent part though it had been over eighty years. In my hands were the flowers Mother planted in the royal garden: 'Celi Peach Coloured Blush's, 'Secretive Gwendal's, 'Conrart Stands Tall's, 'Beautiful Wolfram's, and 'Yuri's Naiveté's. Three of these flowers brought a chain of memories.

I've never been

The one to raise my hand

There was a certain marker I was looking for. One I haven't visited in years, due to Waltorana's half-blood prejudice. My... memories... of the one person... apart from Mother, my father... Gunter... Gwendal... even Julia... who believed in me...

That was not me

The first man not of my blood to love me...

And now that's who I am

One could say that it was he was the one who taught me to believe in others... to believe in Yuri... What surprised me at times was the assumption that my stepfather was cruel.

Because of you

I am standing tall

Gossips, I snort, who needs them?

My heart is full

Of endless gratitude

I trailed my thumb on the name upon the marker as I laid the flowers against it. Memories came into my head as my lips found their way to the cold stone.

Happy memories.

Something cold nipped my cheek. I looked up to find it snowing... It was snowing when I found him dead. This beautiful white weather...

Harsh...

Cold...

Yet, I would always remember a pair of arms that held me. Arms that were kind and gentle like his name. The winter sun was setting. It had not snowed since Wolfram was born.

You were the one

"Hey," a familiar voice called.

The one to guide me through

I looked over from the sunset towards my younger brother and smiled.

Now I can see

And I believe

He may look like Mother, but I could see him in his eyes. Wolfram came over and helped me up, knowing if there was no one to look out for me when I was here, I would stay up all night and freeze – whether or not I was the Maoh's godfather.

It's only just beginning

His father was the man who once told me, "It is not your sword that is your strength, even if it is one of life; it is your heart."

This is what we dream about

For a while we said nothing and walked back to Waltorana's castle. We went into his room where he would be sharing with Yuri and Greta for the next few months. I often find it funny how my godson had the power to change people at times, most of it with his idealistic views. There are times when I feared there would come a day when he would lose that innocence he possessed and turn for the worst.

But the only question with me now

"I found out about him..." said Wolfram, blushing.

Is do I make you proud?

I nodded, not meeting Wolfram's eyes.

I stared into the fire. This was the same room in which he would hold me and tell me stories whenever I felt that things would not turn out right. I could still hear his voice; Wolfram's voice was finally deepening to his. It was deepening so much, that I cried at times remembering how his voice would still enter my ears even after sleep took me. "I suppose you had to know sometime," I told Wolfram, feeling his now empathetic green eyes on me.

Stronger than I've ever been now

"But why?" Wolfram asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I..." I hesitated, wondering what to tell him, "I was afraid..."

"Afraid I would..." Wolfram paused, "because he and your father were friends."

"The way people influenced you at the time," I murmured, "I didn't even know how to tell you."

"Then, please..." Wolfram asked, "Tell me now... what was he like? How did he die?"

He seemed to instantly regret the latter question when he saw my clenched fists. He died the day Wolfram was born. It was natural, Wolfram now wanted to know. Gwendal avoided talking about it because he knew how it pained me to even listen.

"Koonichan," he stammered, "I'm-I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

"It's all right," I said, "You'll have to know sooner or later..."

He nodded. "Can you start from the beginning? When you really started to know him?"

Never been afraid of standing out

I looked at him in surprise, and hesitated. "It's going to be long..."

He grinned. "I never tire of your stories."

I returned this with a grin. I used to comfort Wolfram before he knew I was half-Human when he was afraid that things would not turn out right.

As we sat more comfortably by the fire, I began to tell the long tale of my stepfather, Gareth Von Bielefeld.

Do I make you proud?

Author's note: 'Gareth' means 'gentle', and 'ruler with a spear'. I thought Conrad deserves happy memories as well, because not all step-fathers are bad.