It was just him and Kaiden left in the room. The young boy really stayed quiet but kept staring at Gideon to the point that it was becoming unbearable.
"If you want to say something just say it…" He sighs in defeat and Kaiden opens his mouth to reply;
"You're different." He says bluntly and Gideon felt his back suddenly turn cold.
Did he notice?
"Back then you wouldn't even hit me or scold me but now you suddenly did those things" he mumbles and keeps staring at Gideon.
Gideon clenched his fists underneath the blanket and looked away thinking what he could reason.
"I didn't? But you were being too unruly" Gideon blurts out. He'll just go with the amnesia route once again. At least that way it's valid why he suddenly acted like a different person.
"Who are you calling unruly?!"
"You. If it weren't for you then I wouldn't have forgotten my memories"
"I… I said I was sorry! I should have stopped you from climbing up the tree"
In the novel, it was briefly mentioned that Kaiden was supposed to grab something from the top of the tree but one of the half-demon boys set up a trap that would make one of the branches snap to a bird's nest so that the birds would peck him. They didn't expect Gideon, who was used to climbing, to say that he'll grab it himself. The spell did not set off when he climbed on that branch but the moment Kaiden insisted that he would do it himself because he saw Gideon slipping up a bit and touching the tree, the spell was triggered and the branch snapped. Gideon fell and got a head injury.
Kaiden panicked and used his Holy powers to save his friend but this revealed that he was a Hybrid to the other spectators. Gideon started avoiding Kaiden as well when he recovered. In Kaiden's Point of view, he was abandoned by his only friend when he risked his own life on the line for revealing that he can use holy powers.
The Current Gideon knew everything about Kaiden but knew little about this Cannon Fodder except the fact that he had a terrible ending.
"I can't remember why I had to climb the tree but it's not your fault" He held Kaiden's hand.
"But"
"Kaiden."
Kaiden stays quiet again and hugs Gideon again.
"I was scared, Gideon… I was really scared"
He felt Kaiden tremble and Gideon awkwardly hugged back the boy. He understands what Kaiden felt. It was the same feeling he felt when he thought he was going to lose his sister. Gideon's eyes looked as if he was deep in thought.
'How's Alice now? Will she find my gift for her? Did I really die back then? If not… will I be able to go back?'
Gideon knew it was already a lost cause given he was in a different body already. What's important now is that he knew Alice was safe before he ended up in this novel. He cannot dwell in the past anymore but he won't let himself suffer a horrible life in this world as well.
"It won't happen again Kaiden"
Kaiden did not respond for a moment but soon says;
"I'll make sure it won't. I don't want to lose you too"
It's as if Gideon got stabbed in the heart with those words. It already hurt when he read Kaiden's life story but it's something else to see him in front of you saying these things… and besides that… aren't these words meant for the female love interests? Ugh let's not overthink, He's still a child… 8 years old to be specific. Wait…
"Um, Kaiden?"
"Hm?"
"How old am I?"
"… you're seven"
"Why did you hesitate?"
"You're eight."
I thought so.
Gideon started laughing because he found Kaiden's actions adorable and the poor boy could only blush in embarrassment as a response.
Later that day, Valerie came back into the room to find Kaiden sleeping next to Gideon soundly while the other child had a book in his hand about the kingdom's history and the war that took place 8 years ago. She only smiled thinking that the boy probably can't read the complicated words written in that book and knocked softly on the door to grab his attention.
"Gideon, I brought along someone to check on your current condition"
Gideon could only nod in response because he was worried he'd wake up the other child. He assumed that Valerie had brought Miss Eicher since she had a child with the demon Alister and raised Gabriella's other child with Matthew. That's one of the ridiculous plot twists in this cliche novel but Gideon will pretend that he is not aware of this information. The only people who knew about this so far were; Valerie, Ms. Eicher, Alister, and Gabriella.
Sure enough, a Lady who looked like was in her mid-30s walked in with a gentle smile.
"I see that you managed to calm down Kaiden" she softly says while looking at Kaiden with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Nevermind that, If you don't remember me... I am Lianna Eicher. I'm a human like Miss Valerie Dixit but I have two children who are similar to both of you"
"I'm Gideon…"
Wait, what was his surname? Was it mentioned in the novel? Author, you really fucked me over.
When she noticed that the boy's words drifted away and his innocent expression was replaced with a confused one, Lianna couldn't help but sigh.
"Lemery."
"Huh?" the boy looks up at her
"Gideon Lemery, That's your name"
"Oh-" Thank you Ms. Lianna you are a godsend!
"Haist... This is more problematic than I thought if you had forgotten that much"
"I'm sorry…" Gideon mumbled and Lianna shook her head.
"Nonsense! Don't be sorry nobody wanted this to happen. That aside... Will you please give me your hand?"
Lianna takes out her notebook and holds Gideon's hand before she starts chanting out a spell. If Gideon was not mistaken, this is a spell to check the balance between our Holy and Demonic powers. Out of nowhere, glowing chains slithered out from underneath Lianna's sleeve and wrapped around his wrist lightly. Lianna's expression twitched and stopped the chant when she was satisfied with the results. The chains retracted back and it was as if Lianna was holding her breath because the moment she let go of Gideon she gasped and held her chest.
"Anna, Are you ok?" Valerie rushed to her side and rubbed her back. Lianna only laughed and opened her notebook to write down her findings.
"Don't worry I'm alright but I'll have to bother you to grab my walking cane from my car later"
"If you say so, How is Gideon?" Valerie's eyes shifted onto the child who looked worried for the woman in front of him and she couldn't help but smile
'You still act the same at least..' is what Valerie thought of seeing him like this.
"It seems like his Holy Powers are not as strong as his Demon side but…" Her words drifted off as she glanced at Kaiden who was still sleeping.
"It seems like there was another power lingering in him but it's not that concerning since it's obviously Kaiden's Holy Power given you had mentioned that Kaiden panicked and poured out his powers in public to save Gideon correct?"
Valerie nodded, "Kaiden was exhausted afterward that's why I wanted to take him back to his room earlier but he wouldn't leave Gideon's side"
"I don't mind Kaiden sleeping over here" Gideon decided to butt in on their conversation because it was getting awkward hearing them talk about him when he was literally right in front of them.
I know I look like a child at the moment so you don't mind talking about me right in front of me but I'm actually a man in my 20s back in my world. It's really embarrassing. But more importantly, I'm starting to feel guilty about this.
The two women soon left, now it was just him and Kaiden alone again.
He did that much for Gideon only to be left behind... He can see why Kaiden hated him so much.
"I'm sorry…" even if it doesn't mean anything now or it has not happened… I'm sorry Kaiden for what the past Gideon had done to you.
"What are you sorry about?"
"!?"
Gideon was startled by the wide-eyed Kaiden staring at him with confusion on why he was apologizing.
"Since when you were awake?" Gideon tried to avoid answering by asking a question
"Since Aunty Anna came into our room.."
"My room, if so, why did you pretend to be asleep?"
"I don't like talking to them."
Silence filled the room.
Since when did you dislike them? It was mentioned that they both cared about Kaiden in the novel during his stay with Valerie. Why is he like this early on?
"You still didn't answer my question. What are you saying sorry for?"
"You were awake the entire time so I guess you'd know what I'm talking about"
"It's my fau-"
"Again it's not your fault and… '' Gideon looks at the child helplessly
"You shouldn't tire yourself. I'm sorry for making you worried earlier"
Silence filled the air between them until Kaiden decided to break it.
"I'll accept your apology on one condition"
"What is it?"
"From now on I'll sleep in this room"