After reading the book, Airi got a clearer understanding of everything. Ethereal wasn't as simple as he thought it would be. And he hated to admit it, but he thought that his parents were a bit stupid.
He hated it. After all, if it weren't for their foolish ideas, then none of this would have happen. He would live normally, but not as normally as regular old children, but normal enough for the rest of the children in the guild. He was slightly different from them, and there's is only one reason why.
It was already Thursday night and he can't wait for Friday to come and gone. He wanted to go back home, he wanted to find out the whole truth for himself from the mouth of his mother.
As he laid flat on the bed, he closed his eyes to sleep, hoping he would have the same dream again. It was a cozy night and he immediately fell asleep.
Once again, he found himself in the dark, sinking into nothingness with only the distant light above him. He was conscious of everything; he knew he was dreaming. He recognized the place and did not bother to try and reach the light he could not reach and just waited.
Sooner, and just as he expected, the golden lion appeared before him. And just like always, it bowed gracefully to him. He turned around and found the man, he was also smiling at him.
He was the first to speak between the two of them. He did not hesitate and asked.
"Tell me, what exactly is going on here?"
The man merely grinned and answered. "You already know the answer."
Dissatisfied, Airi asked again. "It is actually true?"
"Of course, there's no doubt about it"
"You're not hesitating" He pointed out the obvious.
"And neither do you" the man replied as if mocking him.
Airi was totally losing patience. He can't stand the guy. He just won't give a straightforward answer, he keeps telling things that the lad did not want to hear.
All that Airi want is answers. He isn't like Kishi or the others who is alright that everyone lied to them as long as things are going on alright. He wanted to know the truth more than anything. He might not know what the outcome of knowing the truth is, but he still wanted to know it anyway.
There was long silence between the two of them as Airi continued to stare at him. The guy just smiled and took he initiative to broke the silence.
"Do you remember now?" He asked, but the child simply stared at him, not knowing what he was talking about.
"Fine then, I'll remind you..."
After he said that, not far from them, James appeared and so is the guy. James seemed to regard him a lot, as he looked and spoke to him with utter respect.
"My king, I dare say, that I deemed myself unworthy of this power"
"How can you say that? You are the prince of the Celestials, the remaining survivor of all the other children, the hope of our kingdom. Yet you still say that?"
James smiled, "My apologies, I can't even meet your expectations."
The guy frowned as he continued. "After spending so much time with the roses, I realized how unworthy I 'am of this power. I can't protect anyone; I can't even serve the palace my predecessors vowed themselves into. After all those years I've spent living in Harmonia, I only found myself as a disgrace." He solemnly said. "I may not know anything about my past reincarnations, but I believe they are far different than me."
The man sighed and nodded. "Yes, you are by far different than them..."
James smiled again and spoke with affectionate eyes. "You've been watching, I bet you've seen my son..."
The young Airi appeared, and looked around with pure and curious eyes. He appeared amazed by the sight around him, not caring about the two adults.
He also looked slightly different, at least not the one Airi recognizes. He was cheerful and pure, not the one childhood he remembers. And his hair back then was brown and the pink tips are yet to develop. He was so pure and innocent unlike the one he used to remember.
He known himself as the timid and aloof child and speaks quite rarely, and is only close towards his parents. He also thought that he looked the same from the moment he was born. Yet what he saw now was entirely different.
"Yes, but he is quite an unusual boy. There's something about him that is unusual, and there is also something about him that is fearful."
Without a hint of fear, the young lad ran straight to him and sat on his lap. Both men were flabbergasted and took time before they react.
"Airi!"
His father called out to him, but the boy ignored him. The king however, raised his hand to signal him that it was alright. The child looked at him with interest. His eyes unwavering and beautiful.
"Hey uncle....what are you? Airi thinks that uncle is pretty! I bet; my daddy likes you too...!" He said cheerfully.
He leaned over his free hand, and let go of his large golden sword and caressed the boy's hair. He looked at him fondly, and the child innocently smiled.
"This boy is yet to be tainted. I didn't expect him to speak with me like this, isn't he usually distant towards others?"
"Indeed, he is" James agreed
While looking at the boy, the man used his foresight to identify the boy's future. He pondered about it for a while before he spoke.
"What must be your reason for bringing him to me?" He asked yet James remained silent. Understanding the meaning behind his silence, he sighed and stated his side.
"This child has a bright future, and a great potential as well." he caressed his cheek with his finger "...He will grow fond of the twins, he was in the same age at them, wasn't he? He will also have good friends who will take good care of him. He had two loving parents and was probably be one fortunate child. Though, he will fell ill and perish at a young age, he will live happily till then. Yet the path you wish to take him to is full of struggles. It will be a long yet cruel journey. Do you still wish to take him there?"
The man looked at him. but once again, James didn't give an answer. "He will grow with no real responsibility. If you continued to live, he doesn't have to worry about being an appropriate heir. He wasn't like his cousins; he was truly lucky. This boy will also not live to see the cruel end of the world. He will not know what pain is. Yet do you want to change that? If you gave up on yourself and passed your responsibility to him, he will not perish, but you will. He will be left to live for millions of years alone; he will suffer just as much as the twins will. If he would be unfortunate, he will have to battle against his own kin, and die in a gruesome death nevertheless. It wasn't a nice path to take, yet you still want to give it to him? I do not understand anything at all..."
"You are right, he will only suffer. However, I will not waver. My belief is that he will walk in a greater path this way. A path not as what you foresaw, not the path the world believes. It was a path of suffering yet a good ending. And I want him to be there when it comes."
"How sure you are that the world will walk that path?"
"I believe it will happen"
"Very well, I shall grant your wish, but know this...this child will never live the same way as before..."
The young Airi looked at them with bewilderment, he did not understand anything they talked about. And just as he was about to ask them what's going on, the man placed a hand on his head, and casted a spell.
With the bright glow above his head, the child lost his consciousness and fell on the man's arm. His hair began to change color and turned slightly goldish. A glowing mark appeared in his forearm before it completely disappeared.
"His power will only awaken as your life ends. Till then, I shall wait"