Chapter 3: Parent and Child

Trying to get those vicious pictures out of his mind, Dio proposes they do something new.

"Let's play hide and seek!"

Hide and seek?

"No need to speak! I already know what you're going to say!" After being around Rood so much, Dio already figured out the blond's actions. Knowing the blond, he was going to say something like 'That's childish.' or 'Are you an idiot?'

"Dio..."

Here it comes.

"Do you even know the layout of this place?"

"..." Okay, he wasn't expecting that answer. Sweat starts dripping down from Dio's head as he hadn't thought of it that far.

"Won't you get lost of if you run around without knowing where you're going?"

Ah, the logic of Rood's words hurt him more than his casual insults.

Seeing as how his friend was about to burst into tears at any moment, Rood decided not to say anything any more.

After apologizing, Rood agreed to go along with the game. Being the only one with knowledgeable of the place, Rood was the one chosen to be 'it' while Dio and Lidusis hid. And by the off chance he couldn't find either of them, he could just ask his guardian to find them since all he had to do was make an announcement of two lost children to find them.

"5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."

Finished counting, Rood looks around the hallway for Lidusis and Dio. Finding Dio won't be a problem although he can't say the same for Lidusis. Even at school, he had a hard time finding him.

He'll start with Dio. Two people will have a better time finding Lidusis than just Rood alone.

Knowing that goofball, he probably couldn't have gone too far since neither him or Lidusis knew the layout that well. He'll start with the rooms nearby.

Going through four rooms, Rood didn't find either one of them. Proceeding on with the fifth room, Rood was going to search the next room until something outside caught his eye. A nest of baby fledglings sitting a top a tree branch. And there was no sign of the mother bird around. She must have gone to find food for her babies Rood imagined. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left her nest. It was about time for Rood to go back to finding Dio and Lidusis until he saw one of the baby fledglings leaning too close to the edge of the nest until...

It fell. It was clear that the fledgling was still a newborn that had yet learn to fly as it remained in the nest.

Without delay, Rood jumps from the window despite being two stories above the ground to catch the young fledgling. Fortunately, Rood managed to safely catch the fledgling while midair. However, because he acted on instincts, he had forgotten to check under him. Normally, that wouldn't have been a problem since Rood was very nimble and could land properly by himself. This scenario was a bit more different, because there happened to have been people passing by.

And as his luck would have it, he ended up landing on top of one of the passing by civilians unaware that he had just used the unfortunate victim as a land pad. Preoccupied with the safety of the baby fledgling, Rood check to see if it was alright. And much to his relief, the fledgling was safe and sound. It would have been bad if he hadn't caught the poor thing.

It wasn't until a bit later that he noticed the two adults near him: a lady with dark gray hair wearing fancy black colored clothes and a brilliant orange haired man in a ponytail.

"... Haha..." Rood wasn't sure what else to do but let out a light laugh from the pressure. "... Nice weather today..."

...

Before things get worse, Rood makes a break for it or attempts to at least until someone grabbed him by the back of his collar. That someone being the person that Rood had just landed on beforehand.

"Hold it."

The man was quite fast. Not many people could catch Rood like that.

"Don't you think you should at least apologize before running off..." The pale cyan haired man said to Rood. Looking at the child's eyes, he could tell the blond child who was slightly uncomfortable with being stared at was not just any regular child.

Rood did not think he would get caught like this. The only thing to do is end this as soon as possible so that he can go back to Lidusis and Dio.

"I sincerely apologize for my misconduct. I did not mean to cause you or your companions any trouble."

Well, this was unexpected. He didn't think he'd hear a straightforward apology like this from such a young child. Normally, it'd be like 'It wasn't my fault.' or 'I didn't do anything wrong.' Usually, kids deny their mistakes even when they are at fault.

"I'll make sure not to commit the same mistake twice." Rood apologizes (acting).

"Y-Yeah..." The cute, teary expression on Rood's face certainly surprised the man.

"Now, Lispen. There's no need to pressure the child. As you can see, he was only saving that small bird." The dark gray haired woman noticed the baby fledgling in Rood's hands.

Lispen too could see the fledgling. So this child did all that to save a bird? He knew children were hard to understand, but this was just beyond the usual antics of a five year old.

"Lispen, you may release the child. Flan, return the chick to its nest. We can't make such a small child climb up a tree now can we."

"Understood, Dayner-nim." The man named Flan kindly collected the fledgling from Rood after Lispen released his grip on Rood's collar. "Now then back to your family you go."

Flan carefully places the fledgling with its siblings.

"Well, then thank you." Rood properly thanks them, and then runs leaving a stunned Lispen who had a hard time comprehending the events that just unfolded before him.

"Hahaha... That kid sure knows how to apologize." Holding back his laughter, Flan says to his partner after returning the fledgling back to his home. "Kukuku... But was it really necessary to do that to such a young child?"

"He jumped up from that height and caught that bird perfectly without harming it. Do you really think he's an ordinary child?" Lispen rebutted.

"Well, if he's here, he's probably one of Opion's members. Lispen-nim was hunting demons at a young age too. A little older though." Flan lightheartedly remarked. "That kid definitely has a bright future ahead of him. While we're at it, why don't we get an apprentice? Although with your temper, I'm not sure if that's possible..."

And there he goes again laughing things off.

Although it didn't have the same effect on Lispen who coldly glared at the clown.

"I'll shut up..." Getting the message, Flan stopped talking.

"What a strong child. And smart too." The female superior commented.

"Right? Why don't we bring him in?"

"Quiet."

Annoyed by his partner's childish whims, Lispen pulls on Flan's ponytail silencing him in place of his ladyship.

"Opion, certainly does hold prospecting contenders. Now shall we move on. Like that child said, today's weather is quite nice."

Continuing on with his search for Dio and Lidusis, Rood took the opportunity to see if either one of them was outside. So far no sign of them although he did see the stray cat that would come in and out of Opion. Rood would often feed it regularly when he had the time. The cat's behavior was kind of peculiar as it was playing with a bush like it was scratching some curtains. Was there something in that bush?

Curious, Rood peers over the bush to find Dio wearing some tree branches tied to his head by a white headband. He couldn't believe he was using such a cliche camouflage technique.

"..."

Meeting each other face to face, neither side spoke or even uttered a word. Rood had no idea what was going on his friend's head, and Dio didn't think Rood would look for him outside.

And that was how he found Dio.

Next up was Lidusis who was hurdle of his own. With Dio, Rood was able to search twice as much ground. It seems that Lidusis wasn't outside as they couldn't find him anywhere not even behind the bushes. Meaning that Lidusis was inside.

Based on Lidusis's personality, he would probably choose some dark and isolated place where hardly any people go to. With that in mind, Rood searched the places where people hardly go to. It wasn't until he later found Lidusis sleeping in under a stairway that not many people use.

"Really. You sleep in the strangest places, Lidusis." Guiding his friends through the hallway, Rood didn't get why would Lidusis choose to nap over there. If he wanted to, Rood would have asked Ms. Ren to let them use a room to sleep in. "And you..."

Rood draws his attention to Dio who looked at Rood with anticipation waiting to hear what Rood had to say to him.

"You stink at camouflage."

"Rood!" Dio cries at Rood's blunt words.

"I'll ask Ms. Ren to prepare some snacks before you guys go home." Rood tells them.

"What? No way, I want to stay longer! Even Lord Artian agrees!"

Lidusis wasn't sure how to respond after getting dragged in by Dio.

"You're the one who said sprouted nonsense about coming to over to my house and intruded out of nowhere." A fiendish black aura surrounds Rood as he reminded his friend. "So the extra should just stay quiet and be a good boy."

Scared out of his wits, Dio fervorously nods his head not wanting to get killed.

"Good..." Now that he got Dio to shut up. They can finally get some peace and quiet.

According to the receptionist, Master was in the reception room. And it's likely that Ms. Ren was with him too. Bringing Lidusis and Dio with him, Rood opens the door to the reception room. And just as he was told, he found his guardian there except he had company with him more specifically the people he met earlier. And immediately slams the door at the sight of the guests.

He didn't think he'd see them again.

Why...? Rood racks his brain for answer.

"Rood?" Dio called out his friend's name in hopes of an answer as to why Rood suddenly shut the door like that.

Before he could get an answer, the Master of Opion opened the door that Rood had just closed.

"Rood, what's wrong?" Kielnode didn't understand why Rood just came in like that only to slam the door after one second.

"No... You have guests. I'll just come back later." Rood didn't want to see them again. It'd be way too awkward after what happened before.

"Guests? No, they're clients." Kielnode corrected his son as he picked up his child.

"Doesn't matter children shouldn't be in an adults' meeting..." Rood struggles to get out of his Master's hold. He absolutely wasn't going to stay any longer.

While Rood was coming up with excuses not to go in, Lidusis and Dio peeked in through the opening of the door letting their curious childlike nature get the best of them. Both kids were surprised by clients Rood's guardian was meeting with. Not just them as the other party was in shock.

"Lis?" The dark gray haired woman called out.

"M-Mother?"

Mother?

Rood, Dio, and even Kielnode did not expect to hear that word come out of Lidusis's mouth. Did they hear that right?

He just called her his mother.

And so the client that Kielnode was meeting with turned out to be Lidusis's mother. Brought against his will, Rood sat next to his Master with Dio on his other side while Lidusis sat next to his mother.

Why is this happening... Rood didn't get why was it that his luck has been so bad lately.

What's more is that the intense stare from Lispen made Rood feel even more uncomfortable.

Unaware to Rood, Dio glared daggers at Lispen as he overprotectively clinged onto Rood.

"... This child..." Lidusis's mother starts.

"Oh, he's my one and only son. Although he's young for his age, he's a helpful and diligent worker to have around."

Unseen to the others, Rood secretly pinches his Master for blurting out unnecessary information.

"My... That's quite a child you have. Opion certainly does have many hidden talents here."

"He is my pride and joy." Kielnode boastfully quoted. "Thank you for the compliment, Duchess."

Duchess! Rood heard that correctly, right? He just called her a duchess. So this woman turned out not only to be Lidusis's mother but also a Duchess... Wait, then Lidusis is from a high class family?

Rood had just realized that just now.

"The streets are flooded with talk about the Black Magician. I hear he's very powerful despite his young age. How about it? I'd like to meet the man of the rumors while I'm here."

Even Flan looked stoked at the chance to meet the Black Magician.

"That's a shame. The Black Magician is currently away on a mission right now." Kielnode answered inadvertently crushing Flan's hopes.

"That's unfortunate. It can't be helped then... I'm sorry for getting sidetracked." Duchess Dayner glance Rood who was slightly perplexed as to why she was staring at him. "... Hello, nice to meet you again, child."

"?" Kielnode was slightly confused as to why was the Duchess talking to Rood like that. It's not like they had met each other before. Rood didn't even know that the Duchess was Lidusis's mother to begin with. Besides, this is the first time the Duchess has been to Opion.

"It was quite unfortunate that we didn't get to talk much back then. I hope you remember me. After all, you did land on one of my attendants."

Attendants...? Kielnode turned to his son for an explanation. Just what happened during the short time span that he took his eyes off Rood.

This also caught Lidusis and Dio's attention as well.

"It must be fate that we'd meet up like this." Duchess Dayner sets down her teacup and shifts her gaze from to Dio momentarily. "I presume that you are also one of Lis's friends?"

Technically, he wasn't Lidusis's friend but Rood's. However he couldn't say that to Lidusis's mother. And at the same time, he couldn't just lie that he was Lidusis's friend either. That would only complicate things later. Exactly what was he supposed to say to Lidusis's mother?

Before Dio could give out an answer, Rood answered for Dio and bluntly stated, "He is."

Sealing Dio's fate.

R... R-Rood?! Just what was his blond friend doing. Since when did Dio say that he was Lidusis's friend?! This was bad. Now he had to clear things up before matters get any worse.

"Is that so?" A small smile formed on Duchess Dayner's face. Friend... It's been a long time since she's seen her son make friends. "It makes me so happy to see that my child is able to make friends. He's very shy and introverted, because of his personality he gets taken advantage of a lot. This makes him even more lonely."

Now this making it even harder for Dio to tell her the truth.

"And I can't possibly thank you both enough for all that you've done for my child."

Except that Dio hasn't exactly done anything for Lidusis. It's mostly just Rood.

"So please continue taking care of my son."

Now he really can't take back Rood's words. Not after seeing the melancholic look on Duchess Dayner's face.

Shortly afterwards, Ren arrived with the juice and snacks for the kids placing the tray on the table. She each gave Rood, Dio, and Lidusis a cup of juice and a slice of cake. As the kids ate in peace, the grownups had their own discussion.

"I apologize for imposing on you like this even though you took time out of your busy schedule to be here." Kielnode apologizes to Duchess Dayner.

"No, I'm actually fond of them. It's refreshing to see my son like this."

"Ren, after this, you can take Rood's friend back home while the Duchess takes her son back home." Kielnode told his secretary who agreed to it.

However there was one person who wasn't satisfied with it.

"No way! I came to see Rood's house! But I never got the chance. I don't to go home!" Dio wasn't going to leave. He wanted to stay with Rood longer.

"Now, now. Dio, was it?" Before Rood got a chance to knock some sense into Dio, Kielnode decided to handle this matter himself. "I understand that you care about Rood very much and want to go over to his house, but Rood normally goes home with me until office hours are over. And by that time, it'll already be late. Your parents will worry if you're out too late."

"I'm staying over at Rood's house!"

"You can't. It's such a late notice that your parents probably won't agree to it, and you don't have any spare clothes either." Kielnode reasoned.

"They will! I'll just borrow Rood's clothes!"

This kid was certainly stubborn. He'll give him that much credit.

Glancing over to the side, Duchess Dayner saw the sadness in Lidusis's eyes. She sensed the loneliness and gloominess in her child.

"If it's clothes, we should have plenty at our estate." Duchess Dayner joined in.

"Really!" Dio looked at Duchess Dayner with a look of hope.

"No, it's fine. You don't have to trouble yourself." Kielnode couldn't just drag the Duchess in their problem.

"It's no trouble at all. I assure you. I only ask that my son be allowed to stay over as well."

Eh?

"Excuse me but that's a little..."

"Master of Opion, I know this request may seem a little odd. But as a parent, I hope you can understand my feelings."

He gave up. Kielnode couldn't turn down her request now not when she puts it that way.

"How long will it be?"

After agreeing to allow both children to stay over for the weekend, Kielnode had his secretary take care of the kids so that he could discuss more with the Duchess.

"So your request...?" Kielnode continued back to their original discussion.

"Ah, yes. I came to Opion to make a request, but..."

But?

"I would like to change it."

"Change it?" Kielnode wasn't sure where this was going.

"Simply for your child to continue being friends with my son."

Friends?

"You see. Since he was born, his older brother has been the one to gain all the love and attention even I could hardly have enough time to be with him. His school life is no better either. He hardly has any friends and is currently being bullied. But ever since your child showed up, he's become happier. Now that he's finally able to make a friend, I don't want to see him suffer anymore."

"Well, I see your point. But my child isn't an official member of Opion. He's still only 5 years old." Kielnode reasoned with Duchess Dayner. Based on the Duchess's request, that would mean that Rood would have to stay in Helios. And knowing that child, there's no way he'll be happy about that. He's still mad at him for putting him there in the first place. But it's hard to turn down the Duchess's request too especially since she made a personal trip here in person. Plus, it's really simple and nothing too hard making it harder to come up with an excuse to turn it down.

"Please try to understand this old woman's concern..."

Yep, this request was turning nearly impossible to refuse.