Even led Ienzo into school early the next morning.
"Do I have to be with the Trace again today?" Ienzo asked, not wanting the woman around.
The man sighed and nodded.
"I'm afraid so. Sorry. I know you don't like her very much but I can't remove her."
Ienzo grumbled under his breath.
"You are just going to have to deal with it."
"Fine," Ienzo said with a sigh. He looked at his watch. "Well I better get going before she comes in and finds me with you. I know that we aren't supposed to be seen together because people will get suspicious of who I am…"
He looked away.
"What's wrong?" Even asked, noticing the barely masked pain.
"Why…" the boy started. "Why can't we be seen together? Why can't people know that I'm the last apprentice? It's not…" He looked into Even's eyes. "Bad…is it?"
Even put his hand on the boy's shoulder and shook his head quickly.
"No Ienzo it is not a bad thing. We just want to keep you safe until you're old enough to protect yourself." He ran a hand through his hair in slight distress. "It's just…not everyone agrees with what we are doing and would go to extreme lengths to stop us. Why do you think we have Braig, Dilan, and Aeleus on constant watch with other guards? It's for our safety. Even if they managed to get through our defenses, we can protect ourselves but you…" He paused and took a deep breath. "You are merely a child. You could easily be captured and killed or taken prisoner. None of us would be able to stand that so we keep you a secret. Understand? If you were ever taken away we would do anything to get you back. You mean that much to all of us." He knelt down to look the boy in the eyes. "So please keep your identity a secret. We could never live with ourselves if anything happened to you."
Ienzo nodded slowly.
"I promise. I had no idea that it was so important that people don't know who I am."
Even hugged him gently.
"Thank you," he whispered.
When he pulled away, Ienzo looked at his watch again.
"I need to go now. Or people will see me in here."
Even nodded.
"Good. Go to the library and wait for your Trace."
Ienzo nodded again and turned around.
"I will meet you back here after school is out and we can go home."
"Thank you Even."
He walked out the door and Even watched him sadly.
"Be careful…"
"Ienzo?" Ienzo's head snapped up from the book he was reading and looked around to see his Trace watching him. "It's time for class."
He nodded and stood up, putting the book away as he did so.
The Trace led him down the hallway to his first class.
"So Ienzo," she started. "What kind of place do you live in? Do you live with your parents?"
Ienzo looked down.
'MY PARENTS ARE DEAD. I LIVE WITH MY ADOPTED FAMILY.'
"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "But do you like your new family?"
Ienzo nodded.
'YES. VERY MUCH SO. THEY ARE VERY KIND AND ENCOURAGE MY MIND TO BE STRONGER.'
"That's good. At least they don't try and hold you back. So would you like me to walk you home after school today?"
His eyes widened and he shook his head quickly.
'THAT'S OKAY. I HAVE SOMEONE WALKING ME HOME ALREADY.'
"Oh. Is it a friend?"
'YEAH…I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT…'
"Well I'm always an option if you want."
'THANKS.'
She nodded and opened the door for him.
"Now let's get inside quickly so we aren't late."
Ienzo walked into the room obediently, eyes on the floor as dozens of others turned to stare at him.
This was going to be a long day.
Yet again Ienzo ditched his Trace at the end of the day.
He ran to Even's room as fast as he could.
Bursting into the room, Even jumped and dropped something on the ground.
Glass shattered as it hit the ground and Even's face fell.
"Oh…hello Ienzo. How was your day."
"It was fine. But what did you drop."
Even was already cleaning up the pieces and shoved something in his pocket.
"Nothing. It doesn't matter." Ienzo crossed to Even's side and helped him clean up the glass. "Ienzo be careful. This glass is sharp. Just step back and wait for me to clean this up."
Ienzo nodded sadly and backed away, letting Even clean up the mess in peace.
When he felt liquid running down his palm, he looked at it carefully.
"Umm…Even?"
Even looked up.
"Yes?"
Ienzo held out his palm, ashamed.
"I cut myself…"
Even hurried to his side and inspected the jagged cut across the boy's palm.
He carefully some small pieces of glass out of it with a pair of tweezers before grabbing some gauze and wrapping it securely.
"I will change that out later. But let's just go home for now. Deal?"
Ienzo nodded again.
"Yes Even…"
He followed Even out of the room, wondering what he had shoved into his pocket.
AN: Awwww. Even is so protective of Ienzo. He just wants him to be safe and worries about him like the dad he doesn't have.