Gideon returned to their room, it was colder than usual. He frowned and approached Kaiden's bed. The child hid under his sheets crying and felt like someone had sat down by his bedside.
"Deon.. is that you?" his voice cracked a bit and Gideon patted him.
"Yep it's me"
"You heard everything, didn't you?"
"I…" There was no point in lying "Yes, I did"
"I just don't understand why it's ok for us to get hurt"
It was never alright for this child to be hurt. He did not do anything to deserve this kind of life. Kaiden is just like everyone else who wants an equal chance in life to be happy. Gideon slowly took off the sheets covering Kaiden and Kaiden turned around to look at him. His eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"I didn't ask to be born like this… am I selfish for wanting to be happy?" Kaiden asked very seriously things children shouldn't be asking. Gideon shakes his head and wipes away his tears.
"You're not selfish for wanting that"
Kaiden took hold of Gideon's hand and placed it against his cheek.
"Why are you still with me even though the other kids bully you?"
"Because I'm your friend"
Gideon smiled and pulled away from his hand, stating that since Kaiden was not able to finish the game… He'll just give the gift now regardless. Kaiden sat up and received the box from Gideon. Upon opening it he saw it was a little photo album that had photos and drawings of them in the past 2 years. Gideon coughed in embarrassment because Kaiden stared at the gift for a while.
"I just thought of a gift that would remind you of our friendship"
"Deon"
"It's fine if you don't like it"
"Deon"
"You don't have to force yourself to say that you like it it's ok"
"GIDEON!"
"YES?!"
Kaiden only smiled brightly and hugged the photo album close like it was something precious. For him, it indeed was precious, even more than any other thing he owned. It was something Gideon put together for him that included all of their moments together.
"I really like it, thank you"
Kaiden's smile was so contagious that it made Gideon smile as well.
"I'm glad that you like it"
Before Midnight, Gideon snuck out to grab the cake slices from Valerie. The moment he returned it was a few minutes before 12 and Kaiden was surprised by the cake. At first, he thought it was from Valerie but Gideon stated that he actually baked the cake and Valerie only helped by putting it in the oven and decorating it. Kaiden felt like this day was too perfect.
'This has to be a dream' Kaiden thought to himself
Gideon took a bite of his portion and it reminded him of home. He missed his real family but he knew there was no way out of this.
'If this was a dream…' Gideon started to think
'I wish I won't wake up'
'I wish I'd wake up soon'
The both of them had opposite thoughts that night.
A few days had already passed since Kaiden's birthday. Kaiden was no longer aggressive towards Valerie but he didn't cling to her like back then. He instead clung onto Gideon more which made him feel a little bit awkward sometimes but as the understanding older brother, he just let him be.
'It'll pass and besides that, Kaiden will be sent to the capital soon'
Gideon managed to pry off the clingy brother of his and Kaiden looked like a rejected puppy that had his ears down while he pouted.
"Go ahead to the Library to the usual spot, I'll catch up I just need to talk to Miss Valerie"
Hearing the name, Kaiden's expression cooled and he nodded. He didn't want to be around his aunt for now. Kaiden trusted Gideon that he wasn't faking any moment of the times they were together. Except for that one time when Gideon stared at him with fear. Even if he said that he won't leave, his entire body was shaking in fear. Both of them were alike but at the same time, they were drastically different as well. The only thing that will prove that they were close was that gift he received that contained proof that Gideon does care about him.
Kaiden smiled to himself and went to the library to pick out some books to study with Deon.
Gideon on the other hand, was in Valerie's office holding up the piece of paper that Azazel had given to him to a candlestick that Valerie lit up for him. Upon contact with the fire, the letter immediately dissipated into a cloud of black smoke. The smoke suddenly swirled and it gradually revealed Azazel who sat on the office chair.
"Nice to see you again Valerie" Azazel smiled and leaned back on the chair before tilting his head.
"I should thank you, Gideon, without you it won't be possible to talk to this lovely lady"
"Let's get straight to the point Azazel" Valerie stated before taking a seat in one of the free chairs in her office.
"Hmm? With him present? Don't you think it's unwise to talk about our old agreement?"
"I won't be able to go" Valerie admits and Azazel glanced at Gideon as if he was saying
'I thought you promised to change her mind'
"How come?" Azazel glanced back at Valerie and the woman just looked down.
"Kaiden hates me now. This is why I didn't tell Gideon to leave yet"
Azazel hummed and stood up from the chair to walk towards Gideon.
"Come to think of it, the first time I saw Kaiden in person…"
He patted Gideon's head and rubbed his hair lightly.
"He was protecting his kid"
Azazel turned around and looked at Valerie.
"I'll assume that you are proposing that we use Gideon here so that we can have Kaiden cooperate with us?"
"Yes, you're correct zel"
"Haha, you still remember my nickname, Val. Still, that's evil of you to use a child even if it's for everyone's sake"
Gideon kept quiet during the entire conversation but he already expected this. Valerie was left with no choice and Kaiden's power was growing stronger day by day. The only ones who can protect him from himself are Luciel and the Demon Nobles.
"Where will you take me and Kaiden? I thought you said you only needed Miss Valerie to go to the Capital with you?"
"Hmm yes, that's originally the plan but Ms. Valerie and I had an agreement prior"
Azazel looked at Valerie asking if he could tell this kid the gist of it and she nodded.
"So you're an orphan, right? Well, the thing is, Kaiden is not. Indeed his mother died but his father is still alive. His mother was supposed to take him to his father after the war but unfortunately"
Azazel went quiet but shook his head a little
"She passed away. His father does not know about Kaiden's existence and for a while it was alright but it seems like it's becoming a little too much for Miss Valerie. If I'm wrong do correct me, Val"
Valerie nods her head and says that everything was correct. She started explaining her side of the story and that she used a blessed pendant that was given by his mother to stabilize his emotions to keep his powers in check. But as of late, the pendant is no longer effective so she can no longer guarantee the safety of anyone if she continues to raise him.
Gideon stayed quiet and nodded in understanding. He knows all of this because he read it once but now having to bear the responsibility of convincing Kaiden to go with his father was too much for him. In the novel, Kaiden resented Valerie for leaving him in that environment. The novel was written from Kaiden's point of view so he did not know that Valerie was suffering trying to keep him and everyone around him safe.
'Once again I am forced to agree to this but the route this will lead to is the very route I am trying to avoid'
Gideon frowned and looks up at Azazel who had been waiting for him to speak up on the matter
"I'll agree to help you reunite Kaiden with his dad but"
"But?" Azazel raised an eyebrow.
"You have to guarantee my safety and I no longer want to be in this Orphanage"
"Gideon!"
Valerie stood from her chair and Azazel raised his hand signaling her to stop.
"Why are you making such demands?"
He was a little bit curious about what was going through this kid's head. Shouldn't a kid his age ask for simple things like food or toys? The things he asked are easy to do but still, he did not expect it from a child.
"Kaiden doesn't have a good temper. And he constantly stuck next to me in the past two years. If I suddenly left him, especially after what happened between him and Miss Valerie, he would hate me and I won't be able to handle that"
Gideon knew he should be acting like a child but he was scared of dying horribly. He just wanted to live quietly from now on. Valerie did not question Gideon's wishes anymore because what he said made sense. She raised Kaiden in the past 10 years but due to a misunderstanding, he has not spoken to her or even looked in her direction once in the previous days. He may forgive her in the future and just leave her be but someone like Gideon who he had known for 4 years only? If we were to exclude the years prior to Gideon's Amnesia then it would only be 2 years, still too short to guarantee anything. She did not want to assume the worst of Kaiden but she cannot leave that possibility out when he was about to bash another child with a rock the other day.
Azazel agreed to swear an oath to keep Gideon safe from Kaiden's wrath. He also promised that once Kaiden has been reunited with his father, Gideon is guaranteed a comfortable life. Once that was cleared out, Gideon was told that he should fetch Kaiden because they will be leaving now.