Chapter 334 Fathers and Sons (1/2)
CHAPTER 334
FATHERS AND SONS
Ella and Eggor silently observed a rather queer scene transpiring in front of their eyes. Inside a small room lit up by a hanging chandelier, the man that had just a few hours ago terrified the entire fortress down to its knees, was holding a baby boy and playing with him, laughing and rolling over the floor as the boy grabbed at his beard and laughed back. It was the sort of scene the rest of the world wasn't privy to, the sort Lino would only ever allow those closest to him to see.
However, he'd long since forgotten Ella and Eggor were in the room; the little baby boy had consumed his attention, dragging him into an entirely different world from the one he knows. The boy had Ella's piercing, blue eyes and Eggor's dark, black hair. In a way, Criador represented everything Lino fought for at his core; a chance for the innocent future, where kids like him wouldn't have to grow up with swords and shields and axes in their arms, hollering at the ills and evils, bounding for early graves while their mothers and fathers lit the hopeless and hapless pyres in vain attempt to let go.
The boy lay on all four across Lino's chest, tugging at the latter's beard with odd fascination, occasionally giggling freely, exposing the mouth hollow of most teeth. Peaceful, warm, gentle; it was everything a child was supposed to bring into one's life.
”Ho ho, you're gonna grow up into a strong boy, aren't ya'?” Lino chuckled as the boy tugged as his beard once more. ”Come on, make Brother Lino happy though; say Lino. Come on.”
”...”
”Aww, come on; I know you've got enough wit about you boy, don't you hide your smarts from me,” Lino persisted as Eggor scoffed; after all, he'd been pestering at the boy to call him 'dad' or 'father' for months now to no avail. ”You and I, we're gonna own the world kiddo. Come on, sign that pact. Lino!”
”...”
”Say Lino! L-i-n-o! Lino! Maybe you want to call me Lyonel? Ah, that's way too complex for ya'. Lino! L-i-n-o! Lino!”
”Lino!” the boy loudly exclaimed as Lino suddenly had an urge to throw up a bucketful of blood due to pure joy and bliss. On the other hand, Ella watched Eggor's face go from copper-dye to pale-white, much like snow, his eyes turning into massive saucers as he nearly collapsed off the chair.
”O-o-oh my god... y-you... you called my name...” Lino stuttered with tears in his eyes.
”Lino! Lino! He he, Lino! Lino!” young Criador cried out time and again, each strike beating at Lino's soul more so than any other attack he'd received in his life.
”E-Ella... t-take him...” he quickly handed the boy over, holding his hand over his mouth. ”The lil' bastard might just kill me with his cuteness...”
”Ha ha ha,” Ella laughed freely for the moment as she picked the boy, tucking him into her arms. ”You two are adorable...”
”Lino!! He he! Lino!” the young boy still kept crying out for Lino, however, who found himself weak in his knees.
”G-get out! Seriously! I will die!”
”Ha ha ha ha...” Ella took the boy and slowly left, leaving behind clear, pure laughter. It was only then that Lino noticed Eggor crouching in the corner, drawing circles on the ground with his finger.
”What's wrong old man?” Lino walked over and asked, wondering whether there was something interesting in the corner.
”... shut up you bastard. Go away. I'll skin you alive. I'll use your face to make a punching dummy and punch it till I tire myself out to death.”
”... yeah, I don't think even the Holy Grounds hate me that much,” Lino said, sucking in a cold breath as he sat down and took out a bottle of wine, pouring two glasses full. ”And they actually have a reason to hate me that much.”
”... you know he still hasn't even called me 'dad'?!” Eggor exploded, still standing up however and sitting across Lino. ”And you got him crying out your name like the little bastard's in love with you or something!!”
”Well, you know, I am rather handsome.” Lino said.
”And you're saying I'm not, you lil' bastard?!”
”... yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.” Lino replied, expressionless. ”Have you looked yourself in the mirror? You're like that boogeyman mothers make up to scare their children away from the dark and ghastly places.”
”Good gods, someone ought to cut that tongue of yours clean off,” Eggor said, simmering down. ”It's the filthiest thing in this whole, wide world.”
”... ah, how ugly jealousy can be; please, don't parade it around so freely. It's dirtier than my tongue.” Lino said with a faint grin.
”Humph, just wait till you have a kid and the bastard refuses to call you dad,” Eggor lamented. ”Maybe you'll understand my growing pains.”
”... Hannah and I have been trying.” Lino said after short silence.
”Eh? You're serious?” Eggor exclaimed in surprise.