Chereads / La Famiglia Di Scudi / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3

Avecii led the old man to a loud café by the sea. It's walls were beige with stones of different shades of brown used to decorate its lower half while the upper half was a light brown stucco. The building had many windows used by the waiters and owner to keep track of all their customers. The seat they had gotten was outside, right next to the vast body of water. The tables were made of wood and painted white, so that they shone brightly in the sunlight. The chairs were of a similar material and color. In the center of the table was an opened umbrella allowing them to enjoy the cool ocean breeze.

As Avecii and the old man sat down at their table a waiter came over and asked them for their order. Avecii called for a coffee and some cinnamon bread while the old man asked for tea and a sandwich.

This was the first time Avecii could take a good look at the old man. He was wearing a dark grey cloak almost as if he was hiding from someone yet had his hood down. Underneath it he had on what looked like a flowered shirt and white pants. He had long, grey hair that was slicked backwards, blue eyes and yellow teeth, almost as if he had been smoking too much. A small beard had started forming around his jaw yet it looked well trimmed. Something about him looked familiar but Avecii couldn't figure out what. He knew he had seen this person before today, but he couldn't remember when or where.

"So you're from Cuore, eh boy?" asked the old man, breaking his train of thought.

"Hm? Yeah, that's where we live, " Avecii answered, "Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I just remember a good friend of mine moved there a long time ago." He said in thought.

"Oh? What's his name? I can ask him to contact you when I get back." Avecii said politely.

"He passed away…" The old man turned towards the sea.

"Oh… I'm sorry…" Avecii gave his condolences after pausing for a few seconds.

"Don't worry about it, he lived a great life, nothing to be sorry about." The old man smiled.

Soon the food had arrived and the two began to eat. In a few minutes they were ready to leave and asked for the bill which arrived soon after.

"I never got the chance to ask you," Avecii finally broke the silence, "Why did you help Mia?"

"Do I need a reason to help a family member?" The old man asked with a chuckle.

"Family member? Are you related to her?" Avecii looked surprised.

"No, no, not that kind of family. HU! HU!" He laughed.

"Then what kind of family do you mean?" Avecii leaned in.

"Now what would be the fun if I told you, hu hu." He laughed.

"Thanks for the meal boy," He said as he slowly got up, "They grow up fast don't they..."

"Hm?" Avecii looked at him.

"Nothing… just an old man talking to himself." He said as he walked away, waving the back of his hand.

"So that's your successor, huh Rico," The old man said after he had created some distance, he pulled up the hood, "Not a bad choice."

"He looked a bit lost… so I gave him a few pointers," He smiled touching his hands together, "Don't be mad at me from up there, 'Kay."

"But man, Dante and he would have led quite the era... if Dante was still here..." He whispered.

The old man disappeared as he turned a corner. Quickly after the check came and Avecii paid it and left. It wasn't until he got back in Cuore that he realized that he hadn't asked for that old man's name.

When he reached the town center there were a lot more people there than usual. He could hear Primo shouting and Tielmo vomiting.

"Primo, what's happening?" Avecii asked when he got closer.

"Avecii, I'm glad to see you now, Mia's missing!" He said.