Shadowverse: Maura Abelard Story Arc Kanon58
Summary: Events took place before the main plot of Shadowverse. Maura soak in the streets like a damp cat, Leon pick him up and gave him a home. Not knowing despair awaits when he had hopes they were family. A Dedicated Mauro/Maura Fanfic
Note: If you are new to the fandom and loves Mauro, you are in the right fanfic! Everything Maura/Mauro does here is still based and inspires to all the Shadowverse universe concept and I decided to merge them so it will be much more dramatic and appealing!
ENGLISH SUCKS BUT DONT BOTHER, JUST ENJOY THE STORY.
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Glossary:
Chapter 1 Soak Stray, his name is Maura
Chapter 2 Meeting other Orphans
Chapter 3 Grooming his IT
Chapter 4 Disliking Hiro and Kagura
Chapter 5 The Prince of Shadow
Chapter 6 Tattoo of Age Ceremony
Chapter 7 Tree of Woe's Sacrifice
Chapter 2: Meeting other Orphans
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TIMELINE: 5 YEARS OLD MAURO
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Outside POV
"Mauro, it's me Leon. Can we talk for a minute?"
Leon can hear grunting.
'Don't tell me he is upset again...how troublesome.'
A few days after the party incident, Maura had been erratic.
Leon never had a child and never will have the heart to embrace it either. One thing for sure, the kid is hard to deal with despite having such innocent face and looks like a toddler you can calm down by giving candy.
Partly yes. When Leon attempts to give something to Maura, he does accept it. Still whatever else makes him get triggered to be afraid or simply irritated he just explodes.
As if a wild cat growling.
"I'm coming in."
Leon turns the doorknob, what he finds is Maura with angry eyebrows while scratching his arm.
Wait.
Leon starts to see Maura had some rashes going on. "Mauro!" Quickly grabbing Maura's hands away from hurting himself. "Where did you get those?!"
Leon is worried about the object going completely insane. To his relief Maura's fury switched to embarrassment.
Maura squeaks. "Iih..!" With sudden politeness. "G-good morning."
Leon blinks.
'Raising a child sure is difficult.' Leon is starting to think this is what his parents felt when he is a child back then who also have a grumpy personality. The only person who can make him laugh and smile is no other than Ryuugasaki Eiji.
His dead friend eaten by the Tree of Woe.
Anyhow.
"Let me see..." Maura allowed Leon to invade his private space. Briefly Maura explained his actions. "Its very itchy...tight clothes."
"Oh." Maura is referring to the blue pea coat he is always forced to wear.
Leon looks at Maura's skin as he travels his fingertips on it. 'Ahh I see...'
Maura's body is the type who doesn't like to be restricted. Too much cover to his skin causes irritation between his hair in skin versus the fabric.
'...Or maybe he had a real allergy?'
Leon thinking out loud. "I guess loose clothes is the only way to stop your itching."
Leon looks back, when he found Maura with torn up clothes. It must have been because of that.
What do I mean? It's about how Maura's skin is used to being exposed which if you force him now to wear closed styled clothing's would irritate his body's skin.
As if getting restricted.
Leon is a genius, nobody can deny that. He immediately proposed the solution.
"Let's buy you loose clothing's, with that it won't restrict your body anymore." Smiling. "Sounds good?"
Maura blushes and just nods.
Thus the two went shopping.
...
It is the first time Maura entered such a luxurious shopping mall.
The place is almost empty since it is VIP. Maura runs to one of the display glasses as his eyes sparkled. Maura had not made a single noise but Leon can see his feet hopping with excitement.
"Why Mauro, do you want that display?" Maura is looking at a carved wooden bird toy.
Maura shyness kicks in, he blushes and mutters. "S-sort of."
Leon smiles and snaps his fingers. "Attendant, if I can please purchase this display. How much would you sell it?"
The attendant simply stated the price. At this time Maura does know some cents of money but not that huge amount. So his eyes widen the moment the attendants removes the glass case and gave Leon the carved wooden bird toy.
"Here Mauro, my first gift to you. Take care of it will you~?" Taking Maura's hand and putting the said toy.
Maura's heart swayed once more. "T-thank you!" He happily looks at the toy and you can see his finger tips mesmerizing ever inch of its carving.
The kid is simply easy to be amazed.
'Well that is an achievement.' Only Leon's thoughts. "Now then let us get to the main event shall we?" Patting Maura's head, the child nods.
"Yes sir!"
For now Leon couldn't decide what clothes fits Maura, so they just took measurements of him. Leon decided customize clothes will be the solution. But before that he needs to confirm if this brat is healthy.
He cannot afford him to be secretly ill just to die for nothing. After all, most likely Maura had been consuming garbage food outside if he couldn't get spare food from people.
'Bathing him all throughout and having his teeth brush does not cleanse his inside.' Leon had to make sure the experimental object is in good condition so his plans would succeed.
So when they got home Leon called a doctor as planned from last week.
...
Getting back to their home...
For now he made the boy wear the pajama bathrobe as his clothing for the whole day until they can decide what kind of clothes can help Maura's sensitivity.
"How is Mauro Doctor?"
Maura behave but stiff. The boy knows he had to restrain the urge to push away the hands of the Doctor or Leon may get upset with him.
Thankfully the Doctor is an old man whose gentle enough to check at him so he did not feel the sense of threat, eventually all left is his stiffness with other people's presence staring at him.
Not really understanding the whole point of the conversation but he listens.
"He is quite malnourished and sensitive skin when the clothing gets scraped at his..." the Doctor suggested. "I would recommend to allow him on eating anything he wants. By doing so, his stomach can get used again consuming food. Thus eventually you can put him in a nutritious diet."
Smiling towards Maura. "As a growing child he will definitely grew tall in no time." He pointed at Leon's clothing. "When it comes to fabric, best to make him wear cotton. Don't make him wear like the one you are wearing. It will irritate his skin. But of course as he grows eventually that sensitivity should be gone."
Is Maura a baby or something?
Leon puts a finger to his own chin, typical of him thinking out loud again. "I see. So raising a child sure takes a lot of work Doc?"
The Doctor laughs shortly. "Ahaha! Hard to he a father Mr. Aurenche?" Leon nervously chuckles. "Fine, I shall follow all of those instructions."
Then looking at Maura, he calls his given name.
"Mauro."
"Y-yes?"
Maura getting attentive.
Only to receive a pat at his back. "Bare a little longer, we have another visit."
Maura looks unhappy but he shook his head anyway. "Uhh..."
The Doctor waves goodbye. "I will be taking my leave." Bowing to Leon then smiling more to Maura. "Bye-bye Mauro-chan."
Maura unsure how to feel just made a small acknowledgment sound. "...uh..huh."
As the door closes.
Leon shrugs. "You really don't like other people do you?"
Maura knot his eyebrows in response. "People are not...nice to me...so...I'm on my guard..."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Even to me?"
"N-no!" Quickly Maura raised his voice before it goes back to the faint ones. "Y-you are kind..."
Leon laughs. "Ehehe, am just making a joke. Don't be so stiff." Temp checking the kid.
"Joke...?" Maura is left dumbfounded.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Leon's voice turned serious. "Come in."
As the door swung opens, "Am your Pedi Psychiatrist you have summoned Lord Aurenche." Another human being in white cloak.
Maura felt goosebumps.
Leon gestured to have the man sat in a chair that is facing Maura whose at the sofa. "Mr. Aurenche is fine. Come and sit please."
When the man sits. "Well then, I should get to work." He immediately looks at Maura and and down.
Maura still in his ponytails. "Is he your son?"
Leon with confidence. "Yes."
For some reason that made Maura felt good. 'He admitted so quickly...' as he secretly watching Leon's action...
His attentions where cut once the stranger ask such thing.
"I see, would you mind leaving the two of us?"
"Ok-"
"No!"
Leon looks at Maura.
"Mauro-"
But Maura clings at his clothes.
"No! Stay! Stay...!"
The psychiatrist chuckles. "Oh dear, I did not mean to scare you kid."
Leon trying to calm down Maura whose now like a cat with claws stocked at his business suit, attempting to hide too.
"Sorry he is kinda...clingy. He is...well...a child...so..." Leon feeling apologetic.
The psychiatrist smiles in understanding as he directed his apology to Maura. "I understand. I won't ask your father to leave anymore okay?"
Too late, Maura's eyes open with glares. "Grr..."
Leon softly calls him out. "Mauro..."
The psychiatrist is used to it anyway so he ignores Maura's anger towards him. "Don't be mad...I'm Dr. Tsuguchi. What is your name fella?"
Maura closes his eyes and his grip softens. "...hrrm." but still thinking if he should say anything. This time Leon sound commanding. "Mauro, have some manners."
Afraid Leon might throw him out, he switched right away as a obedient child.
"M-...Mauro Abelard." Suddenly blushing as he introduce himself to the man.
"Abelard...?" Doctor Tsuguchi looks confuse, so Leon quickly mention. "I will fill you in the details later. For now please check the mental stability of my kid."
"O-ok." Still skeptical, he remove his intrusive thoughts for now and opens his bag as he took out two large card photo.
"So Mauro-kun what do you think about this two images and which one you like...Kindly tell me the reason why...?"
It's a photo of a sad face of lil boy versus a happy face of a lil boy.
For some reason Maura did not like the happy face of the boy. It gets to his nerves.
'...Too happy, he must have never been through a suffering.'
Thus Maura points his finger to the sad image.
"I like this one than the other."
Leon and the Psychiatrist eyes spark with bewilderness.
"Can you tell me why is that...?"
Maura finding words. "He looks like me. Suffering." Then his temper changed.
The image of the miserable boy giving him flashbacks.
When he ate trash.
When he was pushed away.
When someone hurt him.
When someone laughs at him.
When someone ignores him as he beg for money and food.
Horrible.
Horrible feelings surging throughout his thoughts, he unconsciously repeated the words his inner self wants to convey.
"It is Suffering, suffering, suffering, suffering, suffering, suffering-"
Leon yells. "Mauro snap out of it!"
Maura with craze eyes "Suffering...!" Then starts to cry. "Wuu...waaaah...!" He sniffles.
The psychiatrist takes notes. "Oh dear he cried." Then comforts the unstable child. "There, there Mauro-kun. Don't cry, your papa is here with you."
Maura looks up to Leon. "Papa...?"
Leon can feel Maura's urge to call him daddy or something, he changes the topic. "Mauro just calm down...will you?"
Maura wiping away his own sobbing. "U-unn..." he is a good boy in particular.
Doctor Tsuguchi puts back the main issue. "Well then, why you don't like the other photo? Look its much better. The smiling image."
Maura looks away. "I hate people like that."
The psychiatrist pretends to frown. "Why is that?"
Maura confesses. "Those people smile everyday but would never care for someone like me whose suffering. It's all nothing but lies..."
Well...that's unexpectedly... "T-that's deep." Sweat drops.
The psychiatrist Doctor Tsuguchi has another test on store. "Well then let's give you a rubik's cube."
Maura's interest is taken. "Rubik's cube?" He held the toy that was given to him. "Try to solve at least one space of colors. Like this." This time he listens properly.
"Wow...?"
Dr. Tsuguchi showed him how to twist. "Here, try it." The way it's color changed, Maura is up for the game.
At first Maura is excited on solving the piece. But it takes too much time and he keep failing. Until Maura had enough.
"I give up."
"It has only been 30 minutes. You still have 1 hour-"
Pissed off. "Doesn't matter!" Maura pulls his own hair, as if he is going crazy again. "No matter what I do...it is all meaningless...I could never solve this toy!" Maura dislikes to do his best the most apparently.
Out of violent rage Maura threw the rubik's cube at the floor.
SMASH!
Leon narrowed his eyes. 'Hmm this violent behavior...comes from his quelled anger. Must have been all the suppressed hate he had for humans when he got mistreated...interesting~' he tried not to smirk while watching the man trying to subside Maura's craze moments.
"M-Mauro-kun calm down!"
Snapping out. "Ah." Maura goes back to cinnamon roll. "I-I'm s-sorry...!" The man smiles. "It's fine..." Then added a lip service. "I would be happy if you can smile for me Mauro-kun."
Maura hesitant. "S-smile?"
"Yes Mauro-kun, like this." Tsuguchi show his smile stretch ear to ear. Not creepy at all but Maura is lacking in confidence.
"I-I can't."
...
After the check up, outside the hallway.
"I see...so his mother died and he had a hard life on streets before you found out he was your son?"
"Exactly."
Is the invented story Leon came up with how Maura is not blood related to him at all. Nobody knows Maura is not blood related to him except the Shadow Knights, the other orphans he raised differently from Maura's range of freedom.
The psychiatrist genuinely feel sorry for Maura as he instructed Leon. "If that is the case it all makes sense now why he had such short temper and very sensitive feelings."
Leon is listening. "Mauro-kun gain difficulty to trust other people and it gave him anxiety around others." As he got done giving him advice. "Lord Aurence please Mauro-kun is seeking love and attention." He eyed Maura with the door ajar you can still see Maura at the sofa behaving himself but you can see he is starting to question himself why Leon took him.
"You better give it to him so he can recover fast. After all he had such beautiful eyes and a soothing voice. He will surely become a good son." Kinda worried. "If you don't...unfortunately the boy might snap."
"Snap?" Leon eyed Maura who for a moment he saw staring at them before he looks away and pretends not to pry whatever their conversation is.
Ignoring Maura for now. "Like...going insane?" He just wants to clarify that Maura is not dangerous or anything. Thankfully the psychiatrist clarified. "He is in the boundary. But with enough love and attention it can be suffice."
Leon gives his hands for handshake of departure.
"Why thank you, I will keep that in mind."
Hand shake.
"I must be going."
The Psychiatrist totally leaves.
"Please take care."
As Leon watched the man leave, Leon went back inside and told Maura to go ahead and take a bath.
Maura is a good boy, he listens to whatever Leon says. Partly afraid of being thrown out, same time because the boy thinks he is trustworthy.
So when Maura left the scene, Leon contemplates at the glass window of his office.
Talking to self. "Hn, the object needs caring? Is he a plant or something...how troublesome but it should be worth it." Eyes changing to his real intentions. "After all Mauro is the chosen vessel and guardian to the Tree of Woe. Which is why only him is unharmed during the devouring explosion..."
Leon pretends that Eiji can still hear him. "Eiji...things you have told me is all truth. However it doesn't stop me." As if he is the victim. "My ambition to save humanity is genuine. No matter what would be and who the sacrifice is."
Leon Aurenche swore to himself. "Humanity must evolve. If we give up, we are forever doom."
As he eyed the stolen shot of a small red haired kid with his grandpa, Leon addresses the mysterious photo. "And...your son Ryuugasaki Hiro is a necessary tool to awake Mauro's potential."
Evil smirk. "Hehe~ a few years to wait."
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6 months later...
And Leon finally realize who really Maura is.
The results of his observation to the lab rat.
Maura Abelard is a good boy, timid, shy and is not good at smiling if told to. He can genuinely be happy if he is not aware of it, it comes out naturally. The bad side is that Maura is quick to get agitated, the kid had some anger issues. The object has two emotions, when he cries its either he is sad or very scared. The other is that when the object opens his eyes he is either very confused or very angry.
Leon knows this can't continue. If he wants to showcase Maura, the somewhat toddler needs proper etiquette and manners.
'I need to do something with his anger management.'
Leon remember, the first night he slept with Maura's room due to the little boy's nightmares. After that he called a psychiatrist to make sure Maura is not going crazy. That he is just emotionally traumatize or something...
But the psychiatrists told him that Maura had a tendency to snap. What does this means?
In short Maura has some mental instability whenever he gets very stressed. Apparently the loud mouth strong personality Kirisame Kagura had made Maura pressured and caused his anxiety fuels to burst. Causing him to get very mad and afraid of another age of his.
Particularly Maura's distaste of humans is awakened.
If you recall Maura pushed Kagura to the floor when she was just trying to befriend him. Although Kagura's method were kinda wrong in the matter...but still...
This doesn't change the fact that Maura has some huge anger issues, anxiety and sensitive feelings.
'Too much to re-shape.' Leon mentally sighs. 'However in order to keep him I have to make a sacrifice ...'
Quickly Leon went to Maura's room and knocks the door.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Hey Mauro, let's have a morning tea...?"
He found Maura already dressed up in a loose white duster he bought for him. He looked like an old Victorian boy.
Leon noticed Maura is struggling to tie up his hair so he...
"Let me help you with that." Maura blushes and nods. The permission to be touched, Leon then ties his hair up more tidy than what Maura could manage.
"You look better and better Mauro." A pat. "Join me for breakfast."
...
At the living room they had the table for two and the said food.
"Mauro remember what I thought you?" It is time for review if Maura remembers the basic table manners he thought him recently.
Maura nods and showed him he knows which fork and spoon to use as well a napkin at his nape.
Proud that Maura is not that hard to teach. "Well then let us eat."
As they got done eating and the tea is serve while Leon had coffee.
Leon notice Maura's pinky finger stood up, he chuckled and knows.
'He is imitating me.'
Kittens are copycat you know!
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Their family act continued in order to develop Maura's comfortability towards him until without even noticing a year has passed.
Maura's world had revolve around inside their apartment where only him and Leon is.
Though most of the times Leon is out or sometimes he is around but in a phone call...still little Maura is very thankful he had a home.
'I wish this continues, if this is a good dream...I do not wish to wake up.'
Is Maura's hope of becoming a real family soon.
Unknown to him he will eventually be betrayed...
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TIMELINE: 6 YEARS OLD MAURO
Still Outside POV
"Happy Birthday Maura."
"E-eh?"
It has been days Leon is very busy due to work. So lately Maura is feeling lonely at the apartment. It is the month of May and unknown to Maura this is an actual celebration of picking him up the streets. He just forgot that Leon decided his birthday May 27th.
Mauro in his unreadable face, always eyes close hiding his real easily swayed emotions.
Leon pulls out something behind.
"Here is my gift to you."
Leon handed him a book. It is a book he got as a souvenir one from his business trips. He thought giving material things may attract Maura's attention to be move trusting towards him.
"Age of yours should read books, I think you'll like this one."
"Ahh..." Maura had not told Leon his secret he actually cannot read. But he is a good boy he will accept it. "Thank you pa...I mean, sir."
Maura still doesn't know how to smile properly and Leon can tell Maura is not that happy with the book.
He also did notice Maura refuses to address him by his name, though that was the least important thing to Leon. So he temp check him. "You did not like it? Do you want toy instead? What do you want Mauro?"
Maura panicked. "N-not at all!" As he shyly says. "As...as long were together I don't want anything else."
Leon scolds him though. "That won't do."
Surprise how Leon is upset. "I want you to develop Mauro." The inner meaning is 'I need you to have human emotions, otherwise the project of Nexus to take over your body will fail.'
If only Maura can hear the truth.
Maura feels oblige to say what he really wants. So he says out loud. "I-I want friends...and uhh..."
The other thing he wanted he can't tell him. 'I want to you call my father.'
Sneak peek to Leon's reaction.
Leon smiles. "If that is the case accompany me for today."
Kinda scared but... "O-ok?"
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Leon and Maura went to 13th flr via elevator. Still inside Genesis company. "Mauro before we go back to the top floor, there is something I wish you to see since you mention you want friends."
Maura can only wear the face in "...?" As he follows along Leon through the somewhat long hallway.
"Here we are."
They enter the tunnel full of lights. Leon beholds, "Welcome to my training floor. The Shadowverse Examination Room!"
Maura who knows nothing about it.
"Shadowverse...?" Not really spiking yet his interest, Leon laughs at his own forgetfulness. "Oh right, I haven't really introduce you to the game."
He then proudly exalts himself. "Shadowverse is a Trading Card Game that I invented with my friends! Now they are gone am the sole founder of Shadowverse company!" As if there is an audience. "Applause such game makes a proper human connection...!"
Maura inertly think so. 'Human...connection...Shadow...verse...?' He is not onto the game yet, his head is full of person desires right now, he just keep it to himself though.
His intrusive thoughts get interrupted when bunch of other kids, more like they are older than him...you can call them preteen age to be exact.
"Look it's Leon-sama!" Aur says.
"Leon-sama!" Yagga jumps.
Seeing them run towards them, "Iiih..!" Immediately Maura hides behind Leon's.
Zain the oldest greets their master. "Leon-sama were glad to see you visit us in the floor-" he quickly saw Maura's unique appearance. "Who is that child?"
Leon forceful though, he moves away and pushes Maura's back to step in front so he can introduce him. "Ahh yes, I haven't told anyone except Ein."
Ein just being strict to herself emotionlessly stood behind others.
But Maura is a coward to the point he went back to Leon's back like a scared kitten. Leon sighs.
"Mauro stop hiding and go upfront will you please?" Maura did not have a choice. "Unn." So he shows himself.
Leon pleased, "His name is Mauro Abelard, his role in here is my son. So treat him with kindness...okay?"
The violent reaction from others.
"What!? Leon-sama's son?!" Yagga exclaimed.
"You gave him that role? Why him Leon-sama! I love you the most! I'll do anything for you!" Zain felt hurt.
Leon hums. "Hm you are saying you judge better than me to pick a role of whose who...?"
Zain fumbles to his own words. "T-that's...!"
Leon warned by his eyes. "Zain, am not very happy how that sounds."
Making him bows. "M-my apologies!"
Maura has never actually seen that side of Leon, that is the first and his eyes sparkled with discovery. 'He knows how to make people follow him...He really is such an amazing guy.'
Meanwhile Aur whose more polite but bold in questioning it. "Leon-sama, you took us all in but you never gave us a role to be your children. Why is that...?"
Leon tells her. "Aur, I took all of you to become one of the Shadow Knights someday. However Mauro right over here is not going to be a Shadow Knight, but he will train with you. You have to guide him."
Soph the least threatened about the situation, talks to Maura. "Hey you okay new kid...?"
However Maura hides more his emotions of displaying awkwardness. His face is not showing any interest, more like scared.
Soph a bit worried. "Is he mute...?"
Leon pats Maura's head so he would stop freaking out. "Mauro is a shy kid, be gentle with him."
Drassil buts in in behalf of Aur. "But...that does not answer our question Leon-sama. Why him? Like, look at him! Does he even know what Shadowverse is...?!"
Leon getting annoyed now, he remained firm but bossy. "Calm down my future Shadow Knights. I will eventually explain to you all why Mauro took the role as my son while all of you remained at this floor." Following up with his gentle smile. "However as I would like to spill the beans, now is not the perfect time to do so. I hope you all understand."
All of them whines. "Still, Leon-sama...!"
Until. "Shut it all of you!"
Everyone shocked. "E-Ein...?"
It is Ein getting fed up with their childish behavior. "It's Leon-sama's decision. All his decisions, thinking, strategies and plans are all absolute." She steps forward. "Have you all forgotten we swore the utmost loyalty to him in exchange of being adopted by him and kind enough to give us a floor that belongs to us...?"
Soph also helps her. "Ein is right, Leon-sama must have good reasons why he took such a weak looking shy boy."
Leon trying to die down the fuss. "Now, now please be kind to Mauro. He has been through a lot-"
'Oh.' For a moment he is stunned.
Leon saw it, Maura opened his eyes real quick and closes them again.
Maura is offended by their words. Maura is angry again.
'Sheesh.'
Leon abruptly ends the commotion. "Well then, if you children would care to show me your improvement on playing Shadowverse...may I see?" Thinking what happens must be fate.
Everyone like dogs their are fawning over Leon Aurenche.
"O-of course Leon-sama! T-the honor is ours!"
Leon then walks to the nearest stadium seats, this area is a mini stadium battle. He claps and orders. "Please begin and show me how much you have all improved."
Maura who wants to seat with Leon, but the man eyed contact him to watch the game close by.
Maura can only mentally pray this should get over quick before he gets more upset being with others who seems to invalidate him on first impression.
Yagga slaps Soph's back. "Quick Soph! Let's battle!"
"Sure thing Yagga!"
As they about to ignore everything, Soph still remembers. "Hey new kid!"
"...?" Maura still in his spot.
Soph tells him. "Watch how we play!"
And the Shadow Knights "Battle- Shadowverse!"
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The game is over, Leon applauses.
"Marvelous, good job Soph and Yagga. You two have improve in using the cards. I heed you will level up more to my expectations." The lip service comes naturally out of Leon's mouth.
"Am looking forward to it."
Touched and inspired the two bows.
"Y-yes Leon-sama!"
Then Soph gets back to Maura who is maintaining a neutral face, who knows if he is too amazed so he is silent or he simply did not understood a thing.
"What do you say Mauro?"
"Eh?" Maura getting startled.
Leon shake his head and tells him. "Mauro, Soph is talking to you. Come on and reply, have some manners."
Maura trying to find words. "Uhhh..."
Soph being friendly. "So how was it?"
Maura did not even think twice. "...so-so."
Drassil somewhat offended in behalf of Soph whose kind enough to talk to Maura and ask for his opinions. "What did you say-"
"Drassil drop it." Ein hushed him.
Leon's observation can tell that Maura is at his limit. "Seems like we can call it a day this visit."
He goes to Maura's side. The orphans looked sad. "You are leaving already Leon-sama...?"
Leon dismiss himself. "I have important things to do as well you Ein, Soph, Aur, Yagg and Drassil has important duties to keep practicing here until you are worthy of the title to be one of my Shadow Knights. As you know Zwei and Zain is also on that level. You children better catch up to those two."
Everyone whose easy to be fooled. "Understood and as you wish Leon-sama!" Leon smirks. "Very good."
Then he taps Maura whose frozen up. "Now Mauro, time to go home."
Maura's ears tingles.
'Home...'
For whatever reason the walk back to the elevator seems all blurry.
Maura Abelard can only monologue for himself.
'This man...who gave me home. Up to this building's top floor, is my home now.'
It flutters his heart.
...
Getting back to the apartment, Leon noticed Maura being in his own world again.
How gloomy for his age.
"What's wrong Mauro? You've been silent."
Leon starts to think. 'Didn't he wanted friends?'
Children are quite complicated.
Maura who pretends to read a book he just got from Leon the moment they got back.
"...T-the other kids." He perks up interest. "Are they from the streets too...?"
Leon not really onto the topic. "Not exactly. They are orphans who I adopted through orphanage."
Maura tilt his head. "Orphanage...?"
What-is-that is all over written on Maura's face.
Leon can tell it is a foreign word to Maura, he knows very little. The lack of education is clearly visible. "It means when your parents abandons you or they died where no other relatives can take care of you, you go to an orphanage."
"Oh..." Maura suddenly felt like looking at the mirror and Leon is able to catch up to his mind reading ability. "However it did not work out to you."
"Eh...M-me...?" Maura worried that Leon knows his feelings about what has transpire today had worn him out and yet definitely curious.
"After all you live far away from the city Mauro. You were in a somehow province environment. Orphanage is not known on those kind of places."
Leon says so.
"I-I see."
Maura had negative thoughts.
'Even the orphanage does not need someone like me-'
"I need you Mauro, always remember that and I mean it."
Leon did not let him get lost in his self pity. The man saw this many times that when Maura gets to look at the floor or something in general he is always thinking how his life sucks.
'If I allow this object lost in his feelings, this thing would start to get furious again and be erratic. A pain but...'
So he needed to boost his confidence.
Maura getting swayed.
"You need someone like me...?"
Leon walks near him and hold both his shoulders, the man knelt down to match his visual view. "Eventually I will tell you, but for now let's teach you how to play Shadowverse." Pulling out his cellphone with the God of Curse coincidentally displayed at the screen.
Leon sees Maura open his eyes and narrows them. The boy is intently looking at the cellphone screen. "What's wrong?"
Maura reads out loud. "U-uhh...ccuuure...?"
Came to realization. "Wait you can't read? Is that why you have been so silent than ever...?" No wonder Maura is only flipping pages of the book he gave him and when Maura watched the other orphans plays Shadowverse, he never reacted in any of them.
Because Maura can't read.
Feeling funny. "Silly me, I should have known you can't really read. You were on the streets after all...It's my mistake Mauro-"
"I-I'll learn!" Maura hyped up.
"Mauro?"
Maura blushing as he declares his adoration for him. "I...I would like to learn how to read...so I can...be useful t-to you...and to p-properly communicate to have...friends...uhh...I'm sorry. I want you to be happy on...taking someone l-like me...I will do my best." something he can offer back to Leon who saved him.
"Very well then, tomorrow I will order books for you then we will stack it up to your room for you to practice reading so you do not have to go school."
Maura never really thought about it. "School?" That he needed proper education. He was just content by waiting for Leon to come home everyday while he makes himself busy with his hobbies.
Leon propose his idea. "I will home school you. I will teach you myself, I won't let anyone else does. I would like to raise you eye to eye Mauro. Of course if you know the basic I may hire personal tutor but still...I want to be your first 'Sensei'."
Maura cannot help but somehow feel the doubt behind his damp heart. This person is too nice to him to be true. "You are very kind to me...L-Le..." attempting to call Leon by his name, the man is too focused on the topic.
"For now let's just teach you the basic knowledge on Shadowverse. Even without reading the card's guide book, you can memorize by pictures right?"
Maura sad about himself not being able to properly address the man who is giving him so much..."Y-yes." He can only frown and be silent.
After done eating, they went to the living room table and Leon reveals his Shadowverse cellphone. Placing the device at the table while swiping some. "Let's see...The fundamental of Shadowverse is to know which field of class fits you the most."
Leon laid the following crafts at the table in a orderly manner digitally speaking.
"I would like you to pick which craft you want by appearance wise. Once you are able to read though, I will have you re-choose. It might be best to try all of them if I were you."
Maura can see the excitement in Leon's eyes about teaching him this Shadowverse thing. "Come on Mauro, make your choice~"
Those words really hits him at times of his downer thoughts. "Choice of...my own..."
Knowing there is nothing else to question, Maura then picks up a card to look at it's drawing.
*PRESS*
The screen taps, Leon knows he cannot read so he reads out loud for him. Leon knows the context of each decks due to being the developer of it. So even without reading Maura's screen phone he says out loud.
"Forest Craft its a class with a technical playstyle, specializing in using many cards per turn in order to create combos. In short it invokes the power of friendship~"
Maura frown at the friendship thing. 'I don't have friends...this will not give me power.'
Maura then picks up the second card as Leon explains automatically.
"Sword Craft is a class focusing on the follower versus follower combat fundamentals of the game. It lends itself well to aggressive and tempo based playstyles centered around dealing a lot of damage quickly and maintaining dominance over the board. In short it's about self discipline and justice."
Maura raised an eyebrow to that. 'Justice...Justice are lies.' Not liking it, he then picks the next card.
"Rune Craft is a spell-slinging class that often focuses on dealing damage through effects and the Spell boost mechanic. In short if you are a good strategist then this fits you well."
Maura commented. "I-I don't like thinking too much..."
"Very well check the rest~"
"Unn."
Maura eyes opens as he seem to be startled of the next card. He didn't pick it up but he is obviously a little bit scared rather than seeing it cool. After all it's a...
"Dragon Craft is a ramp based class focused around boosting your play points to play high cost cards quicker and more often. Once the player has at least 7 play point orbs, Overflow effects activate. In short its all brute force. I don't think you have that in you judging by your appearance~"
Maura made a face of distaste. "I-I don't like dragons..." he quickly swipes it away and opens the next one.
"This is...?"
Leon chuckles shortly then he went back in encyclopedia mode. "Shadow Craft is a class centered around using a player's own destroyed followers to their advantage. The playstyles are widely varied, with many aggressive, midrange, and control based decks. In short if you don't like taking things seriously and want to chill this might fit you Mauro."
Maura moving up his lips into thinking. "Hmm...I'm not sure..." he just did not like it for now reason, he taps again to the next choice.
"And this?"
Leon looks at the screen for a moment then he educated him. "Blood Craft is a class based around risk and reward. A dangerous gamble leads to aggressive and control tactics are commonly seen in Bloodcraft. So if you like doing gamble per turn this is what the deck does. What do you think...?"
Maura getting tired. "Sounds a pain."
Leon laughs, he is amused by Maura's honest feedbacks from each crafts. "Ahaha! Now you learn how to speak out huh? Well check the last one."
Maura surrenders to tap the last one, his finger froze the moment he saw the image.
He gasps. "Oh...this one is cute."
Leon twitches. "Cute...?" That is unexpected. "Hehh~ you sure have weird taste. God of Curse appearance looks cute to you?"
Maura looks at Leon for a moment, he can feel that Leon is freaking out. "Why it scares you ..?" He doesn't understand the concept why it won't be a cute card.
Leon cleared his throat. The kid had some weird taste it seems. "Not really, anyhow...Haven Craft is a class with a focus on making the best offense out of a good defense. You use Amulets with Countdown to summon a strong being. Though it is slower way to win but definitely worth it. In short if you wish to protect yourself the most then the defense system of Havencraft will fit you."
Leon crosses his arms but feeling rathe relaxed. "What do you think Mauro? Isn't amazing?"
Maura keeps swiping back and fort just to check the other components of the cellphone. He now thinks how much effort it took to finish such a game with names and abilities written onto it.
Maura can say he still has a lot to learn moving forward. Amazed "Y-you created...all of these...?" Unsure if he properly complimented Leon.
Leon grins. "Yes." Going back to the matter. "Well together with my fallen comrades but have you decided?"
Maura swipes back to the last deck he had seen. It hits him differently, something about Havencraft feels like he is close home. Probably because he is from A tribe?
"I l-like the God of Curse." He fidgets. "He looks very cute."
Leon eyed him up and down. "Cute huh...that was your reasoning?" A kid is a kid after all.
"I know you have chosen that, but how about we play with each element? Then tell me again if you wish to focus on Havencraft."
Happy that Leon did not argue his taste in the deck he have chosen. "O-okay!" Maura is willing to do his best for Leon.
And so Leon and Maura spend the whole day learning the basics of Shadowverse. Due to Maura's difficulty to read the manual and some words are better to read instead of vocalizing. Leon call it a day when the night time came.
Out of nowhere Leon suggested. "Want to sleep together again Mauro?"
Leon can see Maura's aura twinkles. "C-can we?"
A bit nervous, Leon made sure he is being sweet to the boy. "I'm free today, I let you be spoiled for now Mauro~ It is your birthday after all."
Maura couldn't control himself and went to hug Leon. "Yehey...!"
"Woah!" Leon pats his head. "Mauro you can tell me anything you want, I'll give it to you." To be honest Leon is being sweet because he decided to try out his change of behavior to see how Maura reacts to it. The boy is very clingy and yearns for love.
'Fine by me, until you feel indebted to me to sacrifice your life for my sake~' is the unsaid reality.
Laying on bed and facing eachother, Maura says under his breath.
"Papa..."
Leon blinks.
"Who?"
Maura kind of trembling in his voice. "You are my papa now right...?" Leon narrowed his eyes. "Yes..." however he is not socially prepared to be treated like a real father. Thus unfortunately Leon did not let it slide. "Mauro listen though you cannot address me that."
"Eh...?" Maura's heart raised.
"Just call me Leon-sama like everybody else." Is the cold response. Even though Leon is smiling with kindness, this time Maura can see a clear picture that Leon literally does not want to get that much closer.
"Oh..." disappointed.
"Is that why you haven't been calling me by my name? Because you want to call me your dad?"
In defense. "B-but you said am your son from now on...is it wrong?" Leon stared at him sympathetically but Maura refuses to response, he went silent.
The kid is maybe hurt about it.
"You are acting as my son. Tomorrow your official birth cert will arrive at my office. You will be a citizen of Nekome now Mauro."
But Maura does not want any of that...he just wanted to freely call him dad.
"Don't be sad Mauro. Even if you can't proudly call me your dad with your role, you are the only one I treat like this. Remember Ein and the other orphans? I gave them food, clothes and a room to stay. But never to this range of spoiling."
Trying to divert his desire to something else. "You will be spoiled Mauro, and I hope that is enough to satisfy you."
Finally Maura reveals his sorrowful irises and spokes.
"...Are you going to throw me away if I disobey to not call you my father?"
Leon did not hesitate. "I will be uncomfortable." And goes to gaslight him. "Do you want to make me uncomfortable Mauro?"
"N-no! Y-you..." Maura feels like crying but he stop himself. In the verge of tears. "Le...Leon-sama is very kind to me...so I will do as you wish. Just please do not throw me away!" Maura submits to Leon's command.
Leon perfectly thought so. "See you can actually do it? Good boy. You deserve a pat on head." Ruffling Maura's hair. "Now let us sleep."
Leon rolls back and says. "Goodnight Mauro."
Maura watch Leon's back and awkwardly says back. "G-goodnight, Leon-sama."
Maura stared at Leon's back as the silent night rings to his ear.
'I shouldn't be greedy...I should not ask for more...after all...good dreams may tend to end up abruptly...'
With those inner thoughts Maura fell asleep.
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The next day Maura's room got redecorated with bookshelves for him to study how to read and write while Leon is his personal tutor.
Days passed, eventually Leon called a real home school tutor for Maura since obviously he is a busy man. He can't be there all the time.
The only reason Leon sacrificed his time to teach Maura is to convince IT that he owes him a lot.
"Eventually Mauro will become a saint." Leon at his boss chair. "I can't wait for Mauro to make my dreams come true." Feeling the evil laugh. "Mauro the fated guardian vessel to the Tree of Woe. If only I have known him much more earlier...Asagi and Eiji doesn't have to..."
Side eye to the memory of frame with Eiji and Asagi. "No, what done is done. The present is important."
Leon continues his twisted resolve. "Humanity does not stand up to oblivion, which is I Leon Aurenche will guide the world to the paradise...!"
Clenching fist.
"Eldorado the golden dreams of Eternal happiness."
Leon Aurenche evil smirks.
"A utopia in a endless sleep of peace."
For him that is the best he can do to save the world.
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Christmas has come. Normally Leon would be at the parties but he prioritize shipping a certain suitcase to Ryuugasaki household. When he got home after doing so, Leon found Maura with his hair down and still in pajamas while staring at the photo frame of him with Eiji and Asagi.
Tonight is a good day, BER Months it is.
Right now Maura had simple thoughts.
'This is my first Christmas not exposed to coldness.'
He literally slept all day long due the cold weather and the pillow was soft and warm sheets to cover him.
Maura couldn't resist the luxury.
Upon waking up, same as usual he is alone, so he grab a book and read a few pages. Then he went to the living room, he stop at his tracks as he sees again the visible frame of Leon with other 2 adults.
The man enters the scene.
"Mauro good evening. Is something the matter? You haven't change out of your pajamas since morning?" Bet the kid is hibernating.
However Maura turns around as he held a book in his arms shielding his chest. As if the book is a teddy bear, Leon can see the title of the book.
"Journey of Friends" Leon reads out loud. "Why do you want friends again Mauro...?" It won't be surprising. After all at this kind of age, Mauro will yearn not only parental love but also the care from friends. However Leon is afraid he cannot offer those. Like he tried but it failed already also even if it worked so well...
'If this object gain friends he might stop listening to me...'
He cannot afford someone else to brainwash Maura. That is why he locked him up in the penthouse floor.
Because Maura is not skilled yet to makes lies on befriending people like he does.
"U-um!" Maura dares. "A-are they...your friends?"
Leon eyed little Eiji and Asagi's smiling faces while he wore a grumpy face while blushing.
"Yes they were my childhood friends."
Maura still curious, points up to the adult frame of them in lab coat. "Are they...the same person?"
Leon chuckles. "Yes. They were my friends till year ago."
Maura didn't drop it. Whatever have Maura read inside the friendship book must have put an urge in his curious brain to know more about Leon's personal life.
'The book itself is not harmful...but the way this object would comprehend it...'
Maura spoke again. "Where are they?"
Leon stunned for a moment same time he knows exactly how to answer that.
"They...they were gone."
Maura confused. "Are they...dead?"
Leon closes his eyes. "I wish they are but they are not dead either."
Maura clench at the book, he must have got the word from it. "Did they go on a journey...?"
Leon smiles. "Yeah they went to an endless journey together leaving me behind."
"Are they...good friends?"
"They were very good friends yes."
Leon decided to change the topic towards Maura's instead. "Why do you want friends Mauro...? Are you lonely?"
Maura shyly hides his face by the book as he admits. "Not sure but...I-if...if you have then...I want to as...well...uhh..." the puppy eyes. "I can't...?"
To Maura's surprise.
"Absolutely you cannot."
"Eh?"
Leon almost revealed his true character but he also hides it right away, approaching Maura and putting pressure to the boy's shoulders. "Ah no, let me rephrase it. You can have friends but I doubt they will see you the same."
With a dark tone of voice. "Friends can betray friends." Maura's eyes opens wide upon hearing this. "Finding friendship nowadays is very difficult. They will be kind at your front but behind your back they despise you, envy of you. Until they want you gone..."
Maura then switch his request. "T-then can I not really call you my papa even if we are alone...?"
Leon blinks. Did he heard it correctly? Maura is trying to negotiate with him since the last they discuss this matter.
"Oh, about that..." he try his best not to hurt him much so he wouldn't lost Maura's trust. "Am quite uncomfortable being called that way, that is why I told you from before just call me Leon. We already...talk about this didn't we?"
Maura did get sad but for some reason he forced himself to smile this time and be obedient as always. "I...I understand, Leon-sama. I won't pester you anymore about it."
Leon displayed a apologetic look to keep fooling Maura. "Sorry I did not mean to discourage you. I just don't want to see you hurt Mauro."
Maura shake his head, he had more wishes.
"Leon-sama...I want-"
RING! RING!
"Oops, duty calls." Maura's shoulders slumps down as he watch Leon strode away to answer his cellphone. Time to time this always happen actually.
Maura can only mutter to himself. "I want an embrace...Leon-sama..."
While Leon taking his phone call, his eyes raised questions. 'Ryuugasaki Shigefumi...?' Upon hearing the voice.
['Yeah it is me.']
Feeling friendly.
"Hello Grandpa. How are you?"
Ryuugasaki Shigefumi is unhappy in his voice. He did not waste time to scold Leon for what he delivered back Eiji's belongings about the incident of death.
['Hey you just delivered Eiji's suitcase. The content inside is a cellphone. I can't have my grandson get involve with Shadowverse! I will send it back to you-']
Leon cuts off souding pushy. "That is Eiji's will. He and Asagi made that cellphone for him when he grows up. Call it as a birthday gift to their son...the first and last."
The change of Leon's voice have drawn Maura's attention to stare at him. He wonder why he can hear the voice from the other line is raising his voice towards Leon.
['Because of project Nexus! Because of Shadowverse Hiro became parentless! I cannot afford to have him disappear like they did...']
Leon insisted his point. "Hiro. Hiro means Scarlet Flame or Hero. How typical of Eiji and Asagi to name their son like that. Very ironic."
Somewhat soothing explanation he did, unknown to him Maura is eavesdropping. "Listen Shigefumi-san, as I would like to offer my life in order to apologize for what happen to Eiji and Asagi...I cannot die yet."
Maura's ears cannot hear what the other person saying but he can tell what Leon saying sounds heavy.
"Eiji entrusted me to save the world."
Maura did think. 'Eiji...is that the person from the frame?'
Leon sounds proud. "Also I have a son now. I'm sure someday Hiro and my little kid can be very good friends through Shadowverse."
Shigefumi sighs, he knew it is hard to get through Leon. He is stubborn like his son, after all they were together before. ["I would never let Hiro play Shadowverse! Even though that cellphone will be the only things that connects him to his parents...I'm not ready for it."] Leon sounded more understanding than before. "Do as you wish. But remember fate will move itself and Hiro will eventually find out what happen to his parents."
Before Leon ends the phone call he is still being polite. "Thank you for the time, Good bye."
Maura approaches him and got too curious.
"Whose that Leon-sama...?" He can see the worried face of the child for him, so he brushes off. "Just some old gramps I used to know."
Patting Maura's hair.
"Mauro, let's have our dinner together shall we?" Instructing. "Tie your hair up and we eat."
"Ok..."
Maura now in his ponytail up and in white duster Leon brought him.
Maura unconsciously smiling ear to ear as they eat together.
'So this object smiles naturally when we are together...I should memo that.' After that thought, Leon orders him out of nowhere. "From now on you will study Shadowverse Class with the others."
"Eh?"
Maura actually anxious.
"Do not worry, I will take you to the floor every time there is a need for you to be studying with the future Shadow Knights I have built to save the world." Leon assured him.
Maura though has a different thoughts.
"Um...Leon-sama you had been saying about the world and stuff...I do not...quite understand it."
Leon wipes his mouth with the napkin before he begins explanation. "The world is in peril Mauro because of a certain Tree of Woe." As he says in a sense of praise. "You and the Shadow Knights will work together to save the world!"
Maura still a kid with silly needing. "Uhh...so they can be my friends?" Leon did not even hold up. "That depends on you. But for me you do not really need friends." Crossing his fingers together. "If you can have one, you should be friends to my best friend's son Hiro."
"Hiro..." Maura knows that name. 'The name he mentioned on the phone call.' For whatever reason it did not sit right with Maura how he should be friends with that certain kid. Maura is more curious to Shadow Knights kids as he knew they flock the same feather being...an orphan in general.
However he knew himself he cannot be such selfish as other privilege kids.
"I will do anything you wish Leon-sama..."
And so the plan to make Maura get along or train along with Shadow Knights begins.
...
At the 13th-flr Shadowverse Training Lab ground.
"Say hi again to them Mauro." Leon tap his shoulders, Maura nervous in feet. "H-hi." Can only manage few words.
Aur the browned hair girl with glasses politely bows. "Good morning Mauro-san and Leon-sama."
Leon briefly smiles at everyone before...
"Alright Mauro, I shall take my leave."
Maura in fear of not getting back to Leon's side quickly snaps. "You'll come and pick me right Leon-sama...?!"
Leon chuckles. "Of course I will, now be a good boy."
Happy, Maura blushes in a smile. "Understood!"
The moment Leon left, Maura can hear them.
"Hmm..."
So Maura turns around.
'They are all staring at me.' Sweat drops.
"Mauro where are your parents before Leon-sama found you?" The girl with glasses asks.
Ein scolds her though. "Oi Aur! Don't jump the gun."
Maura flat response. "They are dead. Why you ask?" Truthfully he doesn't feel anything for his dead family anymore now that it feels like they never even existed. He is too young to remember their actual faces.
Aur smirks. "Lucky you huh, you are not abandoned. Not at all, you are even chosen by Leon-sama as his heir...talk about good chances."
Maura frowning. "Abandoned...you mean you got..."
Soph the black character intervenes. "Yeah most of us were ditch by our parents. Ein had abusive parents so she escaped and got into an orphanage. Aur is left by her mom to strave and she got taken by orphanage. Yagga is disowned by his parents. Drassil parents are very poor so they sold him to work at the orphanage while Zwei and Zain had criminal parents they work from undergrounds but thankfully Leon-sama rescued them due their potential skills." He had an afro hair, for some reason be looks genuinely friendly out of all the rest.
Maura just not sure how else to response. "Uhh..I see."
Soph offers his hand for a shake. "By the way my name is Soph, welcome to the team Mauro."
Maura unfortunately did not took the hand instead questioned his friendliness. "W-were a team...?"
Soph joyfully shares. "We are all orphans and chosen by Leon-sama. We should work together to save the world!"
Ein scowling at the back. "Soph, Mauro-kun is not yet ready to know about it."
Maura though forgetting manners. "Then what about you?"
Soph tilt his head. "Hm?"
Maura asks. "What about your parents Soph? What happen to them?"
Without batting an eye. "I killed them."
"Huh?" Maura's eyes snaps open.
Soph explained himself in a sorrowful voice "They tried to kill me and I wanted to survive so...I swung the knife." Then switches to enthuasim. "However Leon-sama forgave me and give me the chance to redeem myself by joining the Shadow Knights! To defeat the Tree of Woe..."
Maura keep hearing this agenda. "Defeat the Tree of Woe?"
Zwei the black haired teen whose older than the rest and much more good in Shadowverse practices they had before Maura came by, approaches them. "You really know nothing huh Mauro. Must be relaxing." Showing his cellphone. "Mauro, let's test your Shadowverse skills shall we?"
Maura made a face. "Eh? Right now?"
Zwei sounds confident and insulting though. "Yeah, we are very curious what's so special about you that you had such different role from the rest of us. It is very intriguing."
Maura does not nor even have his own cellphone yet, but he did see there are sample cellphones attach to each of their desk as something they use for Shadowverse class.
Maura though is not swayed by those taunting words to prove himself. "Under Leon-sama's strict order, he told me to observe only and not to play yet with you guys. Since I do not know what is Shadowverse in general." He said so without emotion.
Zwei crossed his arms. "Newbie to the core...I see." Then Zain buts in, he is the big guy out of everyone. "Leon-sama is probably protecting your weak ass skills in Shadowverse."
Ein already irritated how they keep showing their true colors of jealousy to Leon's favorite pet.
"Zain don't tell him that."
Soph still the one who sincerely wishes to be friends with Maura. "Sorry about everyone Mauro, hope we can be comrades as we walk together in this harsh training!"
Maura alarmed for a second. "Harsh?" He unconsciously covers himself. "I don't like..." but then a black woman enters the room.
"Hey the lesson is starting!"
Marguerite Valois in her younger days enters the room.
Marguerite is Leon Aurenche's personal assistant. But around this timeline she is yet to be promoted. For now she is the heading coach to the Shadow Knights how to master Shadowverse analytics.
Specialized in understanding cards through guidance and advice is what she is good for, though not in actual battle.
"Now get into your seats and we'll-" Marguerite notices Maura's timid stand. "Ah, you must be Mauro."
Shy. "Uhh...!" Maura mentally panics.
Marguerite though already knows the reports regarding Maura's mental health and social skill issues, she took the part of putting the stage to make sure Maura does not run away and be afraid.
"I'm Marguerite, I'll be your teacher in this floor facility. Make sure you study among others, nice to meet you."
Still Maura not sure if he fits in. "...Same."
Throughout the day, due to Mauro still secretly hiding the fact he can't really read all the paragraphs and write them down. Little did he know the children of Shadow Knights, all of their eyes is looking at him.
Eventually Maura felt his excitement died down on how everyone is too serious on whatever their assignment is that always relates to saving the world.
Frankly Maura did not care, he just wants to be Leon's child. He wanted Leon to be proud of him, but as a child the responsibilities given only onto him is not crossing his mindset yet.
As the classes went by days, due to Leon's limited time to take Maura to the Shadow Knights class time, Maura barely sees them.
When they see Maura some of them will wave or smile at him. The others though clearly dislikes him.
Because of this Maura got discourage to befriend with them, everything feels like a competition.
Leon notice Maura getting stressed so he decided to again lock him up to the penthouse and just do Shadowverse self study.
Maura Abelard accepted things as a good boy he is.
['In the end am still feeling lonely in a group of friends, I immediately know I do not belong in their circle...']
"That's why I only need Leon-sama."
Maura gazes above the open window where the blue sky is as he left the book hanging at his thighs.
"Leon-sama...I'll be a good son, I promise."
The thing that supports Maura's heart for now.
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To Be Continued.
Notes: Only Ein has a official name out of the Shadow Knights characters from all Shadowverse universe story. So I decided to make it at "Ain Soph Aur" sounds like Ein's name so you know what Im trying to get in right? Also Yagg and Drassil is from "Yggdrasil" relates to the Tree of Woe, Lastly Zwei and Zain it goes like this...
Maura - wishful bitter child
Mauro - Moorish
Ein (Ain)- nameless being
Soph (Sof) - Infinity
Aur (Oor) - Lights
Yagg (Yagg) - Labour
Drassil - To Support
Zwei - Salvation
Zain - God is Gracious
I believe its around Episode 13 the Shadow Knights without mask gear is shown. So I just invented their names based on Ein's name.
For Maura/Mauro he really is condemn character from the start thats why I give all loves to him!
As said from before there are no OCs here. If there is a Shadowverse character doesnt have a name but did appear the anime, you bet am going to invent a name for them so I can address them lol.
**IF I CANNOT FINISH THIS DON'T BLAME ME, IM DOING THIS TO SPREAD MORE LOVE TO MAURO UNTIL I GET TIRED OF THE ANIME**