Prolugue

Part 1.

Underneath a tall mountain surrounded by fields of hay at approximately midnight, a particularly loud sound of two metal objects clashing at each other could be heard as the winds blew ever so roughly. Two people moved with speed so fast that the naked eye couldn't catch a single glimpse of them. They moved across the fields, fiercely clashing with each other while one of the men released such intense pressure and killing intent that it was almost impossible for the other person to even breathe.

Under the thick cover of the night, their battle lasted for half an hour already and neither one of them had dealt any kind of significant damage to each other.

The person constantly on the attack was an old man whose body was built like that of a tank due to the countless battles he has been in. His upper body was completely naked and revealed the massive amount of scars he had, while his long gray hair was tied in a ponytail and waved in the wind which gave him a then frightening appearance.

He wielded a thin cane sword which, despite its appearance, was a powerful weapon of mass destruction in his hands. The old man jumped from the ground on which he was standing and swung his sword with fierce strength behind it, aiming it at the man standing in front of him.

It was an attack more powerful than any of his previous ones, one that cut the mountain standing behind then right in half.

"You're not holding back."

"Do you want to kill me that badly?"

The person had somehow managed to avoid the old man's fierce attack by moving out of the way in the last possible second before the sword made contact with his body, and saved his head from being cut straight off.

"..."

"This time, you are taking things too far, Elias."

"You're playing with forces of nature that shouldn't be messed with, and are endangering all of our lives in the process!"

The person clashing with the old man was named Elias. He was a younger-looking fellow in his early forties with black, slick back hair, deep dark eyes, and a small amount of facial hair on his face.

He wore old fashioned and very expensive looking clothes, the kind that only nobility and lords from the mid sixteen hundreds would wear. In his hand, he held a scythe double the size of himself while a white mist was oozing out from it and slightly covered parts of his body as well as his surroundings.

"Fufufu, If you think you can stop me then give your best shot."

"Otherwise, I'll send you straight to the afterlife, old man!"

His words were filled with arrogance and pride, he was confident in his abilities even if he was going toe to toe with a person who was by many considered to be one the strongest monsters in the world.

"You cocky little brat…"

As soon as those words fell from the old man's lips, a dark cloud covered up the full moon and turned the surrounding area pith black. This was by no means a natural occurrence, however, it was the beginning of a battle that would leave the entire countryside completely and utterly destroyed, not even the remnants of its former glory would be left behind.

"This… might have been a mistake!"

Elias swallowed his saliva before taking a proper stance and preparing himself for the upcoming battle. At this moment, he slightly regretted pissing off the old man standing in front of him, and the reason behind it was due to him finally taking this battle seriously and changing into his monster form, one which even he was afraid of.

"There's no going back now!"

The previously human-looking old man whose power was equal to that of Elias himself was nowhere to be seen, however, in his place stood a monster five times his size, covered by darkness, and whose power was now leagues above his own.

"This is the end of the road for you… Elias!"

"May your soul finally find peace as you cross the Sanzu River, towards the afterlife."

As soon as the cloud moved out of the way, and once again allowed the moon to cover their bodies with moonlight, Elias made the first move and attacked the Monster standing in front of him with an attack of equal strength as the one which the old man previously used to cut the mountain in half. The result of his attack and the monster's incredible defense was one that destroyed everything in the surrounding area and left it in an unrecognizable state.

Part 2.

The year was nineteen ninety-nine, and two people could be seen walking alongside a dirt-filled road. It was an older looking man accompanied by a younger woman who wore a distinguished maid outfit and carried a briefcase in her hands.

The man wore a long brown coat that went perfectly with his brownish hat and white gloves he had on his hands. The woman who stood next to him had a worried look on her young and beautiful face as she sneaked glances at his injured face, filled with small cuts and bruises.

"What is the matter, Mai? You've had that worried look on your face for quite some time now?"

"..."

"Master, I'm worried about you. Things might have worked out for you last night due to a string of luck that was on your side, however, if you were to engage in combat once again in your current state, I'm afraid the outcome would be quite different."

"Are you implying I would lose?"

Mai once again looked at her Master's injured body and the terrible state in which he was currently in, and reply with a simple, but harsh yes.

"...Yes!"

Despite the coat and hat that he wore to cover all the injuries he had, if one were to take a long and careful look they would notice the shivering coming from his body which indicated that he was in no state to battle.

"Well, you aren't wrong. To escape with my head still connected to my body can't be considered anything else but lady luck turning her gaze in my direction."

"But even so, I don't know how long I have until they find me again, and like you said, facing either one of those twelve basters in combat can't lead to anything else but death!"

Although their fight lasted for merely ten minutes after the old man had transformed into his Monster form, Elias had found himself incapable of defeating him and was left with only one possible path of survival, and that was to run away.

Just like he said, he had somehow managed to catch the glance of lady luck and escape from the old man's monstrous clutches of death.

"That said. I hope I can find what I'm looking for here!"

The path on which they were walking on for the last half an hour had finally come to an end, and the two were slowly reaching their desired destination which was a big and old looking house, surrounded by trees and a field of flowers which gave it a nice and relaxing feeling.

As the two came closer and closer to the house, they noticed the women standing in front that had patiently awaited their arrival for the past few minutes, and upon seeing them had made a small but gentle smile as a sign of greeting.

"Sir Elias, I assume?"

The young woman that awaited his arrival wore a beautiful gray dress that matched perfectly with her long blond hair and cute child-like face. However you looked at it, Elias was completely charmed by her beautiful looks and now had this blushed expression on his face to which Mai simply replied with a disappointed sigh.

"Y-yes, and you must be Miss Clara?"

His tone of voice turned much deeper and manlier as he bowed down on his knee, took Clara's slim hand, and gently kissed it.

"I must say, your beauty is even greater then I imagined."

"T-thank you!"

Hearing such words coming from the mouth of a man she considered handsome and attractive had left her almost speechless and blushed. Clara's face turned a bright red color as she shifted her gaze away from the gentleman that showered her with compliments.

Their surroundings seemed to have changed as a romantic aura started surrounding them, before being roughly interrupted by a briefcase that came flying at mock speed from behind him. The gentle hands that threw it and the person to whom they belonged to had an ice-cold expression as they glared at him with nothing but pure disgust.

"Master Elias, don't forget what our reason for coming here was."

"Ah, such a party pooper as always."

"But I guess you're right, now is no time for games. Would you be so kind as to show us around my beautiful flower."

No matter how hard she tried, Clara couldn't resist the charm of this handsome man standing in front of her, and the gentle kiss he gave her arm made her face even brighter than it already was. Clara was so shaken by his charm she could barely pronounce her words properly.

"O-of course, S-sir Elias!"

Standing and observing the situation from afar, the girl who arrived with Elias simply had an exhausted look on her face that said "How annoying!". She witnessed these kinds of flattery scenes with her master numerous times, and no matter how many more times she sees them all of them are too annoying to watch.

"How could anyone fall for that?" She asked herself why following the two of them inside of the building, as she slowly walked behind Elias.

The building which they entered was no ordinary one, it was actually an orphanage. Children who were left alone and abandoned, or those whose parents simply died from unexplained causes were all brought here and taken care of until someone who would like to adopt them came, or until they reach a certain age in which they can take care of themselves.

Entering the orphanage, Elias and Mai were surprised at how clean and well kept it was, unlike all the others they visited. Soon enough children's laughter filled the hallway as a group of kids playing tag ran past them with some having noticed the two strangers standing at the doorway. Filled with curiosity they ran over to see who these two strange people were.

A young blond girl pulled Clara by her skirt and while hiding behind her ever so embarrassingly asked who these two unfamiliar people were, and particularly the handsome man standing next to her.

"W-who are these people?"

With a gentle smile, Clara replied to the small girl saying they were guests who were interested in taking one of them home with them and providing them with lots and lots of love and happiness. Upon hearing that, the little girl rushed smiling towards the other children, spreading the words that made all of the kids from the orphanage come to the front door and see their potential new family.

All Elias could now see in front of him were dozens upon dozens of smiling children asking him all sorts of questions from what his name was, what kind of job he had, even what his favorite food was.

"E-eh!"

He was easily said, overwhelmed, by the number of children and questions they were throwing at him. He looked like he would break from pressure at any second, but on the contrary, he didn't. He grabbed some of them and put them on his shoulders while starting to run down the hallway and playing a game of tag with them.

"Why waste this precious time asking boring questions when we can play instead!"

"Come on now, whoever catches me first gets to ride on my shoulders next!"

All of the boys who were high spirited started chasing after him and joining his little game of tag. To the two women observing the situation from afar, Elias seemed just like another one of those kids.

"Hehe, it's nice seeing a man acting so hight spirited with kids. To them, it's important to have someone who can understand them, play with them, and give them much needed love and affection, after what they went through they deserve at least that much, don't you agree?"

Mai gave a gentle smile while noting her head in agreement with Clara's words.

"Hey, hey, Miss what is your name?"

One of the many girls that stayed behind after Elias and the boys went out to play pulled on the maids dress, and with an undeniable expression on her face asked her what her name was.

She, as well as all the other girls who stayed behind, was interested in her since they never saw a real maid before, and to them, that was like seeing an important figure. Maid's were usually the ones that cooked, took care of the house, and made sure everything was in order, they were the kinds of people all of these girls wanted to be when they grew up.

"M-my name?"

"My name is Mai, and what is yours?"

The Maid answered the little girl's question with a gentle and lovely smile on her face while pronouncing her name ever so politely and asking what hers was in exchange.

"I'm Lucia, and I just wanted to say that you're very pretty Miss Maid, Uh, I mean Miss Mai!"

"Hehe, I'm flattered."

Even for a maid, Mai was exceptionally beautiful. Her short dark hair and young face could throw any man on his knees and turn him into her slave. A single glance of her genuine smile made the little girls blush and want to play with her as much as possible.

They took her by hand and dragged her with them into the living room where they would proceed to play a series of games which girls their age just adored, such as "house", "Teatime" and so on.

And in the meantime, Elias was playing a game of hide and seek with the boys all over the house. They would hide and he would go looking for them. All of the children already seemed to love him by the happy expressions on their faces, even if they had just met him. He was a free-spirited person who in a few words could be explained to be simple, just like a child.

"Ha, found you!"

"Nooooo!"

He put the boy hiding under the bed onto his shoulders and stormed out of the bedroom laughing, all the while looking for the others who were still hiding.

"Hey, hey, John?!! Do you perhaps know where the others could be hiding?"

"Hmmm, maybe outside in the garden?"

"Then that's where we're going!"

The little boy named John was one of the thirty-nine children in the orphanage and one of the oldest at the age of five and a half years old.

"Who's that?"

But there was a child older than him, one that has been here longer than any other, and no matter who or how many times they came they would never choose him for whatever reason.

"Ah, that's… well…"

Unlike all other children, he was constantly alone and would avoid any kind of social interaction with other people.

While other children played with the adults who came to adopt them, he would always be by himself. Sitting on the swing underneath the peach tree in the garden, listening to the silent sounds of the leaves as they were falling, just like he was doing right now.

"He's weird, always alone, and rarely talks to us. Some of us don't even know his name."

"... It's not nice to call someone weird, you know."

"But…"

Elias took John off from his shoulders and carefully put him down on the ground.

"Do me a favor bud and go look for the others while I go talk with our loner friend over there, is that alright with you?"

"..."

"I know it might be too much for others to handle on their own, but if it's you I believe you can do it."

Little John's eyes shined brightly with excitement from the praise Elias gave him, and just like he asked John went and did it.

"Ok then, leave it to me, Mister! I'll find them all for you in no time!"

"Good, now go my little helper."

While John went off looking for the other kids hiding somewhere in the house, Elias had some alone time with the little black-haired boy who sat alone on the swing, with his eyes closed and listening to the sound of leaves falling.

He wanted to meet all of the children here before deciding who he was going to adopt, since this was a very important decision which he couldn't do half-assedly.

While the boy had his eyes closed and looked like he was gazing into the skies above him, Elias silently moved towards him, taking good care he didn't make a single sound as he approached him. He was planning on giving him a little fright, however, things didn't go as well as he had hoped.

"I can hear you, Mister. Is there anything that I can help you with?"

Elias was taken aback by the boy's words, he was sure he didn't make any sound what so even while approaching him, but even so, the boy had somehow heard him coming without his eyes even opening.

"Was I so loud?"

The boy took some time before answering him and when he did, his words took Elias completely off guard.

"..."

"Were you trying to be silent?"

Elias was as light as a feather on his feet, and if he wanted, it was almost impossible for anyone to notice him, especially if they had their eyes closed and concentrated on something else entierly.

Just who was this little boy, he asked himself.

Part 3.

"Clara, tell me about the boy sitting on the swing alone in the guarden. I would like to know more about him."

After the short interaction he had with the boy, Elias left to continue playing with other children as John had managed to find all of them, and now after they finished their game he decided to have a little break and talk with Clara about the boy he started having an interest in.

"By the way, those ponytails suit you, Mai… pff!"

Despite wanting to have a serious conversation about the boy, Elias couldn't concentrate due to the new look the girls gave to Mai's hair. It was both funny and cute at the same time but he knew he couldn't say that because he would get a smackdown from her, therefore he held in the laughter as well as the comments he had.

"Yeah, yeah, just you laugh but they did their best and I like it."

Despite not showing it, Mai still knew what her master was thinking and brushed it off as she thought the work the girls did was cute and was deserving of nothing but praise.

"About the boy, you see, he's somewhat special."

Clara looked extremely sad as she started talking about him, she tried to put on a brave face and pretend like it wasn't hard to talk about him, but it was. She felt sorry for the poor child and the abnormality he had.

"You see, despite being very intelligent for his age, he was also born with a unique disposition. The doctors said he was a special child since there were only a few born like him."

"His ears are way more developed than those of normal people! He can hear the faintest of sounds around him and because of that, he can't stand being in crowds of people, especially other children because of their constant laughing and yelling."

"...So, that's why he's always alone."

"Yes, he told me he couldn't take the pain any longer and that he would prefer being alone, as it hurts less that way."

Both Elias and Mai had sad looks on their faces after hearing about the boy's story, some even more than others.

"Still, isn't it bad for a child his age to be constantly alone and not interacting with anyone?"

Mai asked, concerned about his well being and thinking that no matter the occasion it wasn't healthy what they were doing to him.

"Of course it is, and I know that very well! I tried various things to help him from earplugs to telling others to quiet down, but in the end, nothing worked. No matter how quiet they became it was still too loud for him."

"We even asked doctors for their opinions on the matter, but the best they told us was to remove him from the cause of the pain, and so we did."

"Even so…"

"Stop it, Mai! It's not Clara's fault. The world gave him a gift and it is on him to figure out how to use it."

"...Yes, master."

The three of them continued their talk for a little while longer before the time finally came for Elias and Mai to take their leave. Before they did, Elias still had something he wished to do and he once again made his way to the garden, where the little, black-haired boy sat alone listening to the sound of the leaves falling.

"Isn't it hard being alone all the time?"

Elias asked the boy who turned his attention from the falling leaves onto him, and for the first time took a proper look at him. The boy was taken by surprise at his appearance, because of his voice he had imagined him to look a lot scarier, thus the reason he didn't open his eyes the first time they met.

But now, he was surprised to see how wrong he actually was and just how friendly and kind the man standing in front of him looked.

"It's not as hard once you get used to it."

He answered the question Elias asked him with a simple lie, which he could see straight through.

"..."

"..."

"Miss Clara told me about your unique disposition and how sensitive your ears are to sound."

"Is that so, well it is the trough. I can hear better than other people, the more of them and the closer they are, the more it hurts."

Elias kept quiet and looked at the boy as he talked and explained his condition, and from what he could see, one with which he wasn't too happy to have.

"I can assume how hard it must be on your ears, but the question from earlier wasn't meant for the pain in your ears, but the pain you feel in your heart."

"I'll rephrase myself…"

"It must be hard, having to hear the people around you talking behind your back…"

The boy was left speechless while silence covered the entire garden. He tried to deny it, but no words came out from his mouth, and the reason behind it was because Elias hit the nail right on the mark.

One by one, tears started falling down the boy's eyes as he looked towards the ground, trying to hide his crying expression from Elias.

Slowly the number of tears falling down the boy's face onto the grassy fields increased and gasps could be heard and he tried taking a breath of air but couldn't from all the sadness he felt at that moment.

Watching this scene unfold in front of him, Elias kept quiet as there were no words he could tell the boy to make him feel better, only actions that could show his care. He got down on his knees and hugged the boy tightly, giving him an indication he was not alone and that he could cry as much as he wanted.

"It must have been hard… Listening to them, unable to do anything…"

"But don't worry, I'm here now and I'll lend you a shoulder to cry on whenever you need one."

The boy's tears started flowing harder and harder, he was overflowing with happiness and sadness at the same time and decided to let everything he was feeling deep down out all at once, since it seemed that for the first time in his life there was some to whom he could do that.

And so time slowly passed and the two spent it in the same position until the boy's tears had finally stopped. Clara and Mai saw the scene that occurred between the two of them and decided to give them some alone time for a little while longer, sine that was the right thing to do.

The time given to them was spent by listening to the boy's words. Ones which were hard for him to say but he still did, since it seemed as Elias would listen to every single one of them.

"Because of my disposition, I could always hear what others around me were saying, even the things that were supposed to be kept secret."

"I don't really mind all of the sounds I hear, and they don't particularly hurt my ears, that was just a lie I made up to distance myself from the other kids and Miss Clara."

"...Was it because their words hurt you?"

"Yes, I was always given special attention from Clara and the doctors because of my unuiqe disposition, which made the others angry."

"They would often talk amongst themselves and say mean things about me, it hurt hearing it, especially because I didn't do any of it on purpose."

"I didn't ask to be born with this curse…"

"I tried distancing myself from Miss Clara and the doctors in hopes of them stopping, but it only made things worse and they started saying I was being mean towards her, and that only made them not like me even more."

"I even tried talking to them more and making friends with them, pretending like I didn't know what they thought about me, but that wasn't easy. I often wished I wasn't born with this curse and could be normal like everyone else around me."

"At some point, I gave up on trying to be friends with them and decided to be by myself. I realized I din't want to be friends with people who say bad things behind my back, those kinds of people aren't real friends and can't do anything else but hurt me."

"...But don't you feel lonely, all by yourself?"

"...No, not really?"

"You don't have to lie to me, I was once alone just like you. I had no one, and grew up all by myself, without a name for myself or anything to call home."

"Just like you, I was also born with something that made me different from everyone, something which made me hated by others because I never tried to hide it."

"I know how it feels being alone, having no one to whom you can turn to or express all of your sadness towards."

"Because of that difference, I was always alone, everyone avoided me, was scared of me and wouldn't even come close to me."

"I often asked myself why was it me, why did I have to be different from everyone else, I even went as far as to hide my difference and pretend to be someone who I wasn't, but in the end, it was all futile because even if I made friends that way, I knew they weren't friends with the real me, but the persona I created."

"I soon gave up on trying to be someone who I wasn't and decided from then onwards to always stay true to myself and who I was, even if that made others scared of me or even hate me. It was better than lying to myself and pretending to be someone whom I wasn't."

"But even when I decided to do so I was still all alone, with no one by my side to comfort me or give me a shoulder to cry. The only thing I ever wanted back then was someone who could be there for me, and help me when I needed it."

"Even though I was poor, I never desired money, nor food, or power. All I ever wanted was someone whom I could call a friend."

Elias's words hit deep and made the boy feel a little better knowing he wasn't alone in the world, that there were others like him and that they felt exactly like he is right now. He felt like if he could tell how lonely he actually was that maybe, just maybe Elias could help him.

"I-I-I…"

All he needed was courage, enough of it to say the words that described how he really felt, but the fear deep down his heart was greater. The fear of saying what he wanted and once again getting hurt, what point is there too hoping if, in the end, it will all turn out the same way with those around him talking behind his back and breaking his heart.

Just like always.

"I-I…"

He wanted to reach out and take the hand that offered him a possibility of a better life, one in which he could rely on someone, have fun and have a person who he can call a friend, someone who could understand him and be there for him, but the fear of everything turning out like before and ending up in him being hurt was great.

"I…"

Even so, the fear of being alone with no one to turn to for the rest of his life was even greater, and even if it ended up leading to the same thing as before, the boy decided to take a risk and accept the hand that was offered to him.

"I'm lonely… and scared… and…"

Towards those words, Elias replied with a simple but still very reassuring hug that the boy was more than happy to receive. Unlike before, this time he didn't cry, he tried his very hardest to keep it all in because the emotion he felt right now was greater than sadness and he wanted to express it to the best of his abilities.

Happiness.

"Thank you…"

The two spent the rest of the day talking about lots of things, such as how the world outside the orphanage was and how it's like going to work every day. Things like girls and love were also a repairing subject as it seemed the two shared that in common.

They spend hours underneath the peach tree, just chatting and laughing together. It made the boy really happy since this was the first time in a while he could laugh like that, but just like everything, even the good times have to come to an end.

It was already evening and time for Elias and Mai to return to their home, which ment leaving him all alone once again. Once Elias saw that expression on his face it almost looked unnatural since he could no longer imagine him not laughing.

"Master, we should return now! If we stay any longer I fear the worst may happen."

"I guess you're right…"

As Elias gave his regards and turned around walking towards Mai and Clara who were standing next to the door of the back of the house he couldn't help but get remembered about his own past and how the two were pretty similar to each other.

They said their goodbyes to the rest of the children and went on their way. It was no longer safe for them to stay here due to the amount of time they spent there and neither of them wanted to put Clara or the children of the house in any kind of danger, especially the kind he was in.

But even so…

"What is the matter, Master? You seem out of it!"

"Nothing, no need to worry your pretty little head, just the demons of the past doing their job!"

Elias couldn't help himself but be reminded of the old days. Those dark times when he was alone, and wanted someone to be there for him, someone with whom he could smile and laugh, have a good time with, and just be himself.

"Master?"

"Uhh, damn it! Turn around Mai, we're going back!"

"Uh, umm, are you sure about that, what if...?"

"I'm sure, and even if the worst comes to shove, they aren't so heartless to harm innocent children."

"...If you say so."

Meanwhile, at the orphanage, the children were helping Clara set the table for dinner. They were very excited about it since it was something that both the little girls and Mai cooked and prepared together.

While the children ran all over the living room, Clara got an unexpected visitor, someone who for the first time in a while approached her while the other kids were near her. It was the little boy and he looked like he had a question to ask her.

"Oh my, will you perhaps be joining us for dinner this evening?"

Surprised by his sudden appearance, Clara was happy and her thoughts immediately went towards thinking that maybe he was interested in eating together with them and possibly even interacting with others, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

"No… I just wanted to ask… the man that was here today?"

"Ah, you mean, Sir Elias?"

"...So, his name was Elias."

Seeing how his face turned happier after learning his name made Clara chuckle with happiness. This was the first time in a while the boy had any kind of interest in other people. She thought that maybe now he'll start opening up to her a little, just like he did to him.

"When will he be coming back?"

That question took the smile she previously had right from her face, and that was because she had no idea. Neither Elias nor Mai said anything about when they will be coming back, and from her experience, throughout many years of working here, that means that they most likely won't be coming anymore. Now, she couldn't just tell him that, especially since he got so close to him.

"...Look, why don't you join us for dinner and we can discuss that later. A lot of the girls helped prepare it and it would mean a lot to them if everyone ate together."

Hearing those words coming out from her mouth made the boy worry. That happy expression he had on his face slowly went away as he kept thinking about the meaning behind those words, and the longer he thought, the worse it got, so before it could get any worse he decided to ask her directly.

"Does that mean he won't be coming again?"

Seeing his sad expression made Clara even sadder, today was the first time in years she saw him genuinely smile and laugh, and if possible she wished he could continue to do so, but now if she was to say the wrong words it could mean he would go back to the state in which he was before and she didn't want that. She also couldn't just lie to him, so she did what she thought was the best in this situation.

"No, that doesn't mean he won't be coming anymore. They didn't mention when exactly their next visit will be, but I'm sure that was just because they forgot."

Hearing that made the boy relieved and happy, he thought that because they stayed longer than they originally intended they had to hurry up home and just forgot to say when their next visit will be.

"Is that so, I'm glad!"

He genuinely smiled as he said those words, which made Clara relived and thought she did a good job even if she did do a bad thing.

"I'll be going to my room now, thank you for inviting me but I don't want to be a burden to others so I'll eat later by myself."

Hearing that, Clara couldn't go against him and simply responded by noting her head in agreement.

As soon as they left the living room and headed towards the staircase leading towards the second floor where his room was located, a knocking could be heard coming from the front door.

Due to all the yelling, screaming, and running coming from the children he couldn't tell that another person was approaching the house. The man opened the door like it was nothing and entered like it was his house while saying only a few short words.

"Ah, my apology for the interruption but it seems I forgot something and came to pick it up!"

The person in question was indeed Elias, and upon seeing him the boy's eyes shined full of happiness.

"Sir Elias?"

Just like the boy, Clara herself was surprised to see him, she thought that today was going to be their last meeting and didn't expect to see him, at least not for a while.

Seeing the happy expression on the boy's face, Elias grinned as he saw an opportunity to tease him.

"Oho, I see some one's happy to see me, aren't they?"

The boy in question blushed when hearing the words that came from his mouth as well as the face he was making. It was obvious that Elias was making fun of him and he didn't have any of it.

"N-no! Who would be happy seeing you!"

Fully embarrassed, the boy yelled out in response.

"Oh, come on now, just admit that you're happy to see me!"

"A-Am not…"

Before he could finish his sentence his mouth shut tight and his face turned all red as he went to hide behind Clara's round shirt. He got embarrassed because of the person who just now entered the house.

Her beautiful dark and short hair, thin eyelashes, and soft pink lips made the boy more embarrassed than he ever was before. Although he heard her voice multiple times this was actually the first time he got to see her, and it was the first time in his life he saw a beauty like her.

"Huh, what's wrong?"

He tried hiding his face behind her skirt but couldn't help peeking at the Maid standing behind Elias.

"P-pretty girl…"

Hearing those words coming from his mouth gave the three of them different reactions. Mai, the person to whom the compliment was meant for was blushed and happy to hear it, Clara was shocked that he showed any kind of interest in girls and Elias simply busted out in laughter.

"P-Pfff, hahahahah!"

"Owo, don't tell me, are you embarrassed because of Mai?"

"Hahahaha how cute, you're in love."

"S-shut up, I'm not in love! I-I just think she is pretty."

His embarrassed face made the girls who looked at him even more embarrassed as they thought to themselves just how cute this little boy was, but on the other hand, Elias just couldn't stop laughing. It got to the point where he was struggling to breathe and almost died.

"Too bad kid, but this one here is a total Ice queen and lunatic, but if you behave nicely I could give her to you…"

Before Elias could finish up his sentence he got hit from behind and sent flying into the ground by the mighty briefcase, and the women holding it, the so cold Ice queen had a chilling aura to her.

"Don't treat people like objects, and don't give the boy any wrong ideas."

"Owie, that hurt Mai, and just when I was so close to finding you a suitable husband!"

Elias got up from that fearsome hit with nothing but a few bumps on his head.

"What did I tell you about meddling in my love life?"

Her aura became ever so colder and fiercer as the time passed and Elias seemed as if he was shrinking while talking to her. One could hear the lower tone in his voice as he answered her questions with honesty.

"That I should stop because it's none of my business."

"And what were you doing?"

"Ignoring you and doing what I wanted which was wrong because I should respect the wishes of my employees, especially someone who is such a big help as you."

"So what should you do now?"

"Apologise and say I will never do it again?"

"So?"

"I'm sorry, I will never do it again!"

"Good and finish the business you have here so we can finally go home."

"Yes ma'am."

Seeing their conversation made both Clara and the boy feel somewhat sorry for Elias.

"Well now, better get down to business."

Clara was somewhat confused due to the wording Elias had used and couldn't tell what he meant, she remembers him saying he had forgotten something and thought he had left something behind and returned to retrieve it, but the way he is phrasing it now that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Excuse my rudeness, Sir Elias, but you mentioned earlier you forgot something so if possible I can help you find it."

Elias was relieved seeing Clara's confused face.

"There won't be any need for that as the thing I forgot was to ask if this little fella would like to go home with me."

Crouching down with a smile on his face, Elias asked the boy a simple but still very hard Question to answer. He was without a doubt happy to hear those words coming from the mouth of a man he had developed some feelings of love towards, but despite that, he wondered if he was the right choice.

There are a lot of good kids here in the orphanage who would like a father like Elias more than him, and more than anything else a loving family. He thought that maybe his decision was made a little to fast and that taking someone else might be a way better option.

"...Are you sure, there are a lot of kids here who would be a much better choice than me."

"Plus, you don't know me all that well, and..."

"I'm not good around many people and…"

As the boy talked about himself a gentle pat on the head stopped him from continuing any further and the words that came out from his mouth made his decision an easy one.

"Look, all that might be true, but right now I came back because I think I would love to have YOU as a part of my family."

"Of course, there will always be outbreaks and fights in which you might be right or you might be in the wrong, you might even grow to hate me one day, but that's normal."

"It's not what might be best but what I feel is the best, and what I think is that I want you and no one else."

"So I ask again, do you want to go home with me?"

The boy was overflowed with happiness knowing that from all of the children here, Elias chose him as the one he wishes to take home. He felt as he was way too selfish towards the others and he didn't deserve this kind of happiness, but remembering everything he went through in the past few months all of his worries went away and the only thing that was left was a bright hope for a future in which he didn't have to be alone.

"...Yes."

Hearing those words made Elias chuckle with happiness, as well as made Clara happy knowing there was someone out there willing to adopt and be a father to him.

"Ok, now that that's settled, let's get going!"

Elias took the boy and placed him on his shoulders while heading out just to be stopped by Clara's words which would only make everything harder. Elias couldn't just take the boy like that, there were protocols that need to be followed and paperwork that needs to be done.

"Excuse me, but where do you think you're going?"

"Home, isn't it obvious?"

Clara sighed in worry, she knew this was his first time doing something like adopting a child but she thought Elias had at least a genuine Idea of what the steps of doing it were.

"You can't take him just yet, there is still something left to do."

"Oh yeah, your right."

"You never did tell me your name, buddy?"

Not getting what Clara was trying to tell him, Elias thought about what John had told him earlier and realized he didn't know what the boy's name was, so he simply asked him, but the answer he got in return was not one he expected.

"Name? I want you to give me one."

"Huh?"

The boy's words supprised Elias. He knew that the other kids didn't know his name and that Clara had referred to him as "He" mostly. He was curious about what his real name was, and whyhe didn't use it.

"The boy's name is Miles, it was written on the clothes in which we found him after his house burned down, but he doesn't like when I use it."

A lot of thought went through his mind as he tried to think why that was, but the most obvious one was because it made him sad and remember the family he lost.

"I understand, then how does Shin sound?"

"S-shin?"

"Yes, it's short for Shinigami, a God of death."

"...I like it, my name is Shin."

The boy was overflowing with happiness, he wanted to cry, but knew he couldn't do that since it would show how weak he was. Shin wanted to look like a strong man in front of his new father, someone who doesn't cry from every single good thing that happens in his life.

"Well then, with that done we will be going, I'm a little busy with work currency so I can't take care of the papers and forms right now but send them to this address and they will all be done."

Mai proceeded to give a piece of paper with a certain unfamiliar address to Clara while Elias walked out with shin in hand. Unlike she thought to herself it seemed Elias knew full well about the process necessary but was just acting and even if it wasn't to the regulations she went through with his wish and let it slide due to Shin's happiness.

"Oh, and one last thing, the stars are wonderful tonight. I would strongly suggest you take the kids out to enjoy dinner under the cover of the dazzling stars. I'm sure they're going to be happy."

Clara chuckled at his words and looked up towards the beautiful night sky before going back in and telling everyone that they're going to have dinner under the stars and get out.

While they were doing that it seems Elias had made it his duty to tease Shin with how embarrassed he was around Mai. He would constantly sneak glances behind him to see her, while she would simply smile in return when noticing.

To him it was one of the cutest things he had seen in recent years, so he couldn't help himself but tease him. The expression Shin made when confronted was simply too irresistible.

"Hehe, you know I might be willing to give you a few tips on how to get closer to her If you're willing!"

"H-huh!?"

Hearing the words that came from his mouth stuttered the boy and almost made him happy, before realizing he was only making fun of him, which made him even more embarrassed and even slightly angry.

"D-don't need them, huh!"

He pouted after saying it, the faces he made whenever he was embarrassed or angry were just too adorable and cute it melted both of their hearts when seeing them. Both Mai and Elias blushed and thought to themselves how cute this little boy was.

While he continued to be mad at Elias for teasing him like that, his concentration suddenly changed to the unfamiliar sound that became ever so louder every passing second.

He was confused as he had never heard a sound like it, and the more time passed it became louder and louder. Like it was approaching them at a mock speed or something.

"M-mister Elias… sound... it's loud and becoming ever so lounder!"

The words coming from Shin's mouth didn't seem to surprise Elias in the least, it's as if he already knew something was coming, or better said, someone.

He lifted Shin off the ground, leaned him onto his arm, and told him to take a tight hold of his neck.

"Can you do me a quick favor and close your eyes?"

"O-ok."

The boy had no idea what was going on but it didn't matter since the smile Elias wore on his face assured him that no matter what it was, everything would be alright and that he had nothing to worry about.

"And don't open them until I say so."

The boy tightly closed his eyes and didn't open them no matter how loud the sound he heard got.

A dim but still bright light had appeared and it approached them with the speed of a shooting star as it rained down from the skies above them.

A bright yellow light that looked like it came down from the heavens themselves, and in its fall it completely and utterly destroyed the orphanage Shin had grown up in. Nothing but burning planks and black dust were left as fire engulfed the entire sight.

From the ashes of the fire, a body seemed to have risen and at first sight, it might have looked like a human, but if you took a closer look neither its appearance nor aura felt like that of a human. In all aspects the creature standing in the pitches of fire and staring right at the three of them was nothing else but a monster whose goal was no other than Elias himself.

"I'm teleporting us now, master!"

As Mai opened the portal which devoured their bodies and sent them to a remote location far off from their current one, Elias simply stared at the monster with Shin in hand and offered a few parting words to it.

"You've lost…"

The sound of fire and destruction that previously surrounded Shin were now all gone and the only things he could hear were the winds that blew a cold breeze, as well as Elias telling him it was alright to open his eyes now.

"It's alright, you can open your eyes now."

Shin listened to him and slowly but surely opened his eyes only to be reated by the most beautiful scenery he had seen in his entire life. A beautiful big house surrounded by a garden of flowers and trees.

As Shin looked around in amazement, Elias and Mai had their own, more important conversation on the side. It was about what had happened earlier, and more importantly the one who had appeared.

"Who was it this time?"

"By the looks of things and body build, I would say no other than Albion!"

"Tsk, it's a good thing we left when we did, otherwise things could have ended badly, especially if that bastard is the one I'm facing."

His expression turned from a worried and scared one to a relieved and happy one in a matter of seconds, after seeing the happy face Shin was making as he looked at the house and field in front of him.

He let out a sigh of relief and crochet down to talk to Shin. He looked as if he had something very important to tell him so Shin concentrated and listened to his words carefully.

"Listen here Shin, there are a lot of things you don't know about the world, as time passes I will teach you everything there is to know and in exchange, I ask your help with something I'm working on."

Shin stared at Elias for a couple of seconds before bowing his head down and answering sincerely.

"I might not know a lot but I'll do whatever it takes if I can stay with you!"

Those few simple words that came out from his mouth made Elias the happiest he has been in a long while, and in response, he put his big manly hand on his head, gently, and carefully looking not to hurt him, and said.

"You're strong, so never bow before anyone! Bowing means showing weakness, remember that!"

"...and one last thing, thank you in advance, Shin!"