56 Prototype 1 (1/2)
”Edmond, wake up! It's so late already! You're already late for school!”
Huh?
As the familiar voice that had haunted his dreams for so long was heard by Edmond, he couldn't help but blink with confusion as he groggily woke up and tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes.
The moment his mind became a bit clearer, panic appeared on Edmond's face as he looked around, searching for the City Lord.
The last thing he remembered was the grim expression on the man's face, and that had given him a very bad feeling.
Yet, all he found was the room he had grown up in.
And, in front of him…was the woman who had given him all the love in the world, but had also hurt him, in ways he couldn't even begin to explain, when she had left with some random man on the street with no explanation except that she had 'lost interest' in her family.
At times, Edmond had felt frustration and anger, as he couldn't believe that she had done something like that. Yet, most of the times, he had only begged, again and again, that she would just come back. He was ready to forget it all, if she would just...come back to them, and make them whole again.
Was this a dream? Had he been knocked out by the City Lord, and he was now dreaming? Or was he dead, and this was the paradise that was promised by some of the groups who used to go through the city?
Regardless of what it was, one thing was clear: his mother was in front of him, so he immediately lunged forward to hug her, before beginning to cry his heart out.
All of the feelings that had been trapped inside burst out like a flood. The desperation to see her and save his father that had led him to try and enslave Woof, the sadness and pain that had tempted him to just throw himself into a Tera's mouth and end it all, the hopelessness when he had realized that he was not talented enough and that he might fail in everything in life, just like he had been failing in that task to get a powerful Tera…all of them had congregated into a giant monster in his mind that would definitely have taken his life, but now, with this simple hug that he had missed so, so much, the monster melted into the flood and began to leave with the flood, despite its protests.
”Aw, did you have a nightmare? I thought big grown-up Edmond didn't want any more hugs from his parents…”
Indeed, after turning 18 just a few months ago, he had declared this as he had thought that that was what being an adult meant.
He was so wrong.
Unable to coherently form any words, Edmond finally cried himself dry after a few minutes, and by that time, even his mother had recognized that something was wrong.
”Are you in trouble or something, Edmond? Ned, get over here!”
As she called, a man appeared at the door.
Edmond could only stare with shock as he saw him. Last time he had seen him, he had been recovering from grievous wounds sustained during torture. Yet, now, he looked completely fine, and even his eyes had the same signature look that always came in them when he saw his family.
At first, he looked at the sight of Edmond hugging his mother and was about to remark in the same manner, but after seeing his red eyes, he ran over with worry.
Edmond was really happy about what was happening, but he couldn't make heads or tails out of it.
Yet, the moment he was about to just go with it and just enjoy it while it lasted, both of his parents fainted.
”NO! NOT AGAIN! MOM! DAD!”
As the phantom of the trauma that had been present like a cloud over him for all these days reared its head, a voice suddenly appeared from behind Edmond.
”Calm down. They've just been knocked out so that I can talk to you.”
Edmond turned around with shock, and when he saw the figure standing in the corner of the room, hidden in the shadows, he protectively crouched over the bodies of his parents, as if he was ready to protect them.
He had just gotten them back! Even at the expense of his life, he wouldn't let anything happen to them. Ever.
The figure was wreathed in darkness, and Edmond couldn't make out its features. All he could tell that it was a tall, stocky man.