Why Daddy Why
By Ar-Elenriel
Chapter 8 School Days
It was very early in the morning and Kratos and Anna had been up all night with tiny Martel. She had not yet adjusted to sleeping the same hours as her parents yet as she had only been born three days ago. Kratos sighed, it was time to get Lloyd up and get him ready for his first week of school. He was nervous about leaving his little son without parents for three days even if it was with Frank and Phaidra. "Lloyd my son, it is time to get up and get dressed. Remember you start nursery school today." Lloyd mumbled his assent and rolled back over and went back to sleep. Kratos sighed again; he knew this was not going to be easy. He lifted a corner of the blanket and began to tickle Lloyd's stomach. "Lloyd you will be late, and I am not making any excuses to Professor Sage for you." snapped Kratos. He was wishing for a cup of coffee at this point and obviously since Lloyd was not awake, wasn't going to get one until he arrived in Iselia.
Lloyd got out of bed and yawned sleepily and began to pull on his clothes. "Daddy do I haveta go to school. I want to stay at home with you, and Mommy and Martel." Lloyd whined as he pulled on his boots. "Uncle Yuan, Mithos and you can teach me please Daddy?" He began to pack his other two school outfits and a few treasured toys (like his toy soldiers and his bear, and his toy sword, and a few rocks, and a small bow and arrow set.) into his red back pack. "Daddy I am all packed can we go now?"
Kratos looked at Lloyds packing job and wondered how many toys his son could pack in his bag at one time. "Lloyd go in and kiss Mommy and Martel goodbye." They entered into Kratos and Anna's bedroom and Lloyd ran up to his mother and kissed her and the baby that she held close. Kratos looked at his small family and smiled when he noticed how much the children looked like Anna. "Time to go Lloyd, Yuan has the transporter ready to take us to Iselia Temple." He lifted Lloyd up onto his shoulders and kissed Anna and the baby goodbye.
Lloyd stared in awe at the huge machine in the center of Welgaia that provided transportation to Mithos, Kratos, Yuan and the other angels of Cruxis. "Daddy are we goin on that? " Lloyd asked as he was beginning to feel a little bit scared about this new adventure. Kratos picked Lloyd up and boarded the transporter to Iselia. Within seconds they had arrived and Kratos stepped off of the warp pad and onto solid ground. He hated warping, he was always worried that the machine would leave something vital behind.
He took Lloyds hand and they headed off for Iselia. When they arrived Professor Sage was herding in the last late arrivals to school. Raine Sage was a half-elf of about 120 years old (scarcely adult in the terms of her people), and had begun teaching the winter before when the priest who had been teaching took ill and died. She bent down to Lloyd's eye level and took his small hand." You must be Lloyd, I am Professor Sage, and this is my brother Genis, he is two and ½." said the Professor as she pulled a little boy with white hair and blue eyes forward. "I see you like red Lloyd. I think you will like the classroom. The walls are painted red. We also have lots of toys for the pre-schoolers to play with." She smiled at Kratos sensing how nervous the angel was about leaving his small son with her. She reached a hand out to Lloyd and said "Lloyd why don't we go inside and show your Daddy the school so he will feel safe about leaving you here. Then you can meet you classmates." Raine led Lloyd and Kratos into the classroom. " Lloyd these are your fellow pre-schoolers." said Raine with a smile at the playing children. " This is Collette Brunel, you will be staying with her and her Daddy during the school week. She is the chosen of Sylvarant and will help your sister Martel care for the Reunification tree when she is older. This little red head is Zelos Wilder, he is also a Chosen but, of Tethe'Alla. And finally this little girl is Sheena Fujibashi, she is the only grandchild of the Chief of Mizuho. Before you ask Lord Kratos the concept of pre-school is relatively new concept that you employer Mithos came up with. It is a means to educate children about people from other races and cultures. This way they will be more accepting of people who are different. I currently run the only program in either Sylvarant, or Tethe'Alla although I am hoping that this will change as the idea catches on."
Kratos thanked the teacher for her explanation although he had been one of the international reunification committee members to come up with the concept. Lloyd had begun to play with the other children in the group and was currently showing his toy soldiers to Zelos who had already begun giving each soldier a name. " Lloyd Daddy has to be to work soon, can I have a hug?" Kratos bent and hugged Lloyd tightly. " Frank will pick you and Collette up after school today. Remember you are staying until Wednesday afternoon. I will pick you up after school Wednesday so bring your things to school with you. I love you son." With that Kratos turned and quickly left the school so that little Lloyd would not see the tears in his eyes. " He is growing up so fast, It seems like only yesterday he was a tiny baby smaller even then Martel thought Kratos as he walked towards Frank's house. He hoped that Frank had coffee, and some asperin he had a headache. He hoped Lloyd would be okay for those three days. Luckily Lloyd was very stubborn and independent just like his father. Kratos smiled at the thought as he entered Frank's dining room.
" Kratos would you like some coffee?" said Phaidra as she bustled around the kitchen getting breakfast for Kratos and Frank. She placed plates of eggs and toast in front of Kratos and Frank. " Bacon will be ready in a few minutes, here is you coffee." Kratos gratefully took a sip of the hot caffeinated drink. Ahhhh awake at last he thought as he began to eat the breakfast in front of him.
" Kratos my friend, What is wrong?" Frank looked at Kratos with concern in his eyes. Something was wrong he knew it. Usually the angel did not look so distraught.
" He's growing up to fast, and I don't want to let him go. The three days a week he spends here now will soon become five when he starts school full time in two years. Then it will be seven days when he starts at the Palmacosta Academy. Soon he will reach the stage where he is embarrassed to have parents. For Origin's sake Frank, Anna I would expect to react to his starting school like this, not me. What am I to do?" The angel put his head in his hands wearily.
" I went through this myself last year when Collette began her training at the Temple my friend. You cannot hold you children so closely you crush their creativity, or curiosity. You might try to find a way to become involved in Lloyd's activities at school. For instance, as a 4,000 year old Angel of Cruxis you have a personal experience of the history that many students find boring. Maybe volunteer to help Raine with her history classes once a week. When Collette started her training I volunteered to teach all of the novices how to use their healing skills. I got to watch over and protect my daughter while helping the community at the same time. I think you would find the experience to be a positive one. Also look to you wife for support. The support of Collette's mother got me through my difficulties, at least until she died last winter."
Kratos looked at Frank with new found respect. Volunteering at the school was a magnificent idea. It would also keep him out of Anna's hair when she was in a bad mood. Not to mention it would help to improve the perception of Cruxis a little at least. He decided that it was time to head back to Welgaia, he did after all have work to catch up on and a new daughter that needed taking care of. " Thank you for the help Frank, I will see you on Wednesday. I will also talk to Raine about volunteering then. Breakfast was delicious as always Phaidra. I will tell Anna, Mithos and Yuan that everyone said hello." with that Kratos walked out the door, spread his wings and headed for home.