Inside the car, the little boy tears continued to fall from his face as they drove away, he hugged his bear tightly that his grandparents gave him.
"Don't worry, you can always visit them." the man said whilst driving the car.
"Really?" He asked
"Yes, I promise..."
"Mister how should I address you?" he asked while rubbing his face onto the bear, wiping the tears in his eyes
The man ponders for a second on the boy's question, "It's up to you, you can call me by my name Alex, father if you like or Uncle even Mister is fine."
The boy looked down as he hesitated, "Fa- Father..."
It surprised the man that the boy called him father instead, he then wonders if the elders have told him anything about his past. "By the way, has your grandparents told you anything about your father or mother?"
Claude shook his head, "Nothing much about mother, all I know she is a mission since she was a hunter they said. They mentioned nothing about my father."
"Hmm..." he thought for a while as he contemplates on the matter, "Anyway, how old are you?"
"I'll be turning 6." he showed him using his fingers.
Claude and the man continued to question and get to know each other during the journey home. They have driven for a couple of hours now and Claude's eyes all widened when he saw the view outside.
"Where are we?"
"We are in the Capital City now," he answered
Tall skyscrapers and modern technology surrounded the Capital City, unlike the city Claude grew up in which was just a simple neighborhood. People still crowded the streets despite it was late and dark already unlike in his old home which would be empty and quite by now, here everyone was bright and live.
"Are we living here?" he asked
"No, we're almost there..." he answered as he rubs the boy's hair. "No worry, it won't be that lively like this at night there."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the gate of an Academy. It was not an ordinary academy since surveillance and gadgets well guarding it. It was built in a large glade of forest and the establishment was antiquated. Its elegance matched with the beautiful night sky above, it was dark so you can hardly see what around. Moments later, they finally arrived at a small chateau on the school ground, they also passed by a few building within the academy but this one was all alone in a vast space with its own gate as well.
Alex got out of the car as he went to the other side and opened the door for Claude as he carried him, an old man then stepped out of the front door and greeted them. "Master welcome home."
"Walden, this is Claude my son," he said
It surprised Claude when Alex addressed him as his son, his face turned all red as he buried his face in his chest.
"Young Master Claude, welcome home," Walden said
Claude was too embarrassed to show his face, "Hello..."
Alex did not pressure the young boy in his arms as they carried him inside the house, he went to the lounge and sat down on the chair, "Don't be shy this is your new home now?"
Claude took a glimpse at the place, it was decorated in modern design despite the house looked antique from the outside everything else inside was shiny and filled with techie stuff. While he quietly observing the place, he suddenly felt sleepy and yawn after the long journey.
"Let's get you ready for bed," Alex said as he carried the boy upstairs but before they could reach his room he was already fast asleep in his arm. He then gently place the boy on to his bed and wrap the blanket over him, he planted a soft kiss on the boy's forehead. "Good Night."
Early the next day the little boy woke up in an unfamiliar room, he wanted to cry frighten from the sight of the strange room but he recalled what happened last night. He notices some of the staff he packed were all arranged already, there are even new clothes in the closet and some toys.
Claude got change by himself and headed down stairs, he notice Alex was not around at all, he check each room and no sign of him. He ended up heading to the kitchen there an old lady was cooking, he was too frighten and unsure of the place he steps back and tried to run away.
"Young Master you're awake," she said when she felt the new presence inside the kitchen.
Claude paused and looked down, "Hello."
"I'm the cook and housekeeper my name is Marta." she then gave him a plate of sliced apple, "I'll serve your breakfast soon, for now, have some apples."
Claude seat patiently at the breakfast counter while watching Marta prepare his breakfast, watching her reminded him of Granny and tears soon fell on his face.
Marta notice in the corner of his eyes that the boy was crying, "Young Master, what wrong?" She came running to his side as she tries to comfort him, "Does your stomach hurt?"
The boy shook his head, "No, I just miss Granny."
Marta coaxed the young boy down, "Come now, you'll see them soon. So stop crying now."
Claude wipes off his tears as he continues to munch on the sliced apple.
After breakfast Claude continued to wonder where Alex could be, he spends his day reading books as Marta brought him snacks and drink time after time. In the end he spent his whole morning and lunch without a single sight of Alex shadow.
Claude gather his courage and looked for Walden, "Walden, why is father not home?"
Walden was startled to see the young boy behind him, "Young Master, your father is working right now."
"Where does he work?" he asked
"Here..." he answered
Claude was confuse, "But I haven't seen him all day."
Walden chuckled at the boy adorable reaction, "His working at the academy which is also on the same place us our home. Did you see the big building last night?"
He nodded his head.
"That is First High Academy, is one of the elite school in the city. It's home to some of the most gifted Caster Hunter in the city and your father is one of them. Right now he is the Chairman of the academy."
"Chairman?" Claude was surprised, for his father does not look too old to be a chairman of an elite academy. "Isn't he too young for that?"
"Your quite right Young Master, but First High Academy is his family established. He being the youngest of the young masters, the elder favors him more, he was then in trusted to handle the academy matter."
"Can we visit him then?" he asked
"Of course you can Young Master, it's not the far and you can always walked around the school ground freely." he answered him.
"Can I go on my own then?"
"Sure, I'll draw you a map to help you get to his office then." he replied
After getting change and receiving the map from Walden, he ventured outside and check the whole academy. Since it was still school hours there weren't a lot of children outside, those who notice him were mainly other teacher, professors or school ground worker. The sight of the young boy was shocking for them but no one dare asked who he was since he was able to enter the academy it means his from a powerful family.
It didn't took Claude to find Alex office, his secretary greeted him and brought him inside.
"Claude, your here. " Alex said as he got up from his desk, walked towards the young boy and carried him in his arms.
"I brought you some snack, I help Marta make them." he handed the paper bag.
"Thank you." he replied.
"Will I be studying here in the future?" Claude wondered
"Of course you will, I'll make sure you get to study here." he answered him as he placed him down on the ground.
"But I heard this school is for elite, I'm a nobody and I'm weak." he said as his face looked depressed.
"Don't you want to study here? Do you know your mother studied here as well."
"She did?" it shocked him
"Yes, she was one of the best student in the academy during our time." he said
"Since you and mother studied here, then I'll study here as well."
He then rub the young boy head, "That's more like it."
Claude then continued venturing on his own, since he was born with Eidetic memory he was able memories the path he took to get to the office and how to get back home. While he was out and roaming around, he notice a group of strange men. He recalled how all the people he encountered were all dress earlier and those men doesn't seem to be workers nor students in the academy. He quickly reacted by trying to run away and looked for help, but before he could someone caught him from behind.
"Where do you think your going kid?" The masked man said
"Let me go?" He yelled
"Boss, what should do with him?" the man asked one of the masked man while carrying Claude on his shoulder.
"Just kill him before he does something..."
Claude struggled and tremble in fear, he then bite the man in the ear and kneed his stomach causing the man to throw him aside.
"You son of a b*tch." he yelled, then shot Claude using his magic pistol wounding his leg preventing him from going anywhere else.
Claude scream as the plasma beam hit him, "Somebody help..."
The man laughed as he saw the helpless boy on the ground, "I'll make sure you'll get what you deserve you little punk."
Claude looked coldly at the man gathering all his courage, "Stay away from me..." He then started feeling a weird feeling inside but he didn't know what it was, the wound he felt earlier seems to no longer hurt as if it was healed already.
The man grab Claude by his hair and pulled him up, he laughed as he enjoyed torturing him but he looked pale when he saw something different from the boy. He was too shocked that he suddenly drop the boy on the ground.
"What's wrong kill him already?" the boss said
The man hesitate of what to say but before he could his head was already chop off. Those behind him was shock from what just happened, as the man body collapse on the ground. A man holding onto a dark scythe stood behind him and beside the young boy who was still on the ground.
"Claude are you alright?" he said but was startled too of what was happening.
Those who saw what was happening started to tremble, they weren't trembling at the sight of the comrades dead body but to what was happening to the young boy.
"Sorry, not only did you trespass in my school, you saw something you must not know." Alex said and within one swing all of them were beheaded. He then dismiss his scythe and carried Claude away. Burning the dead body into ashes.