ABOUT TEN MONTHS have passed and the medicine were showing effects, earlier and stronger than they expected. Although, something else was strange. Visits from his family were getting lesser and lesser. His father couldn't even visit him in the past few months. Dwayne knew that something else is going on.
Some time later in the late afternoon, he decided to sneak out the tower while his nanny was busy cooking. Taking the map and compass, he learned the main house's location. He had enough stamina to walk to that certain location. He was expecting a grand house, like the painting that his older sister, Iris showed him.
But he saw that grand mansion surrounded by flames and unknown people killing others. His ears were filled with screams and unpleasant noises, he was frozen in his place.
"My lord…! PLEASE, LET HIM GO! He's done nothing wrong!" He heard an overly familiar voice, making his eyes shift to the direction of the entrance gate. His knees trembled, his pupils shrinking at the horrifying sight.
"F-Father…?" He mumbled, not being able to voice it out loud enough, even his voice was getting weak. Soon, another set of figures were getting escorted harshly out of the mansion.
It was his older brothers, only the three of them, in a bloody and disheveled state. Where were his older sisters? He couldn't bring himself to ask, he was already busy worrying about his brothers and father. They looked like they struggled to fight, especially his third brother, Slate. This time, Dwayne fell on his knees, staring at their weakened state with clouded eyes. Tears started falling and trailing down his small cheeks.
"Brothers… why… what…?" His head was full of questions as he couldn't fully grasp the situation. Why is his loving family being treated like this…? Why? What happened? What did his family do to be treated like this?
"Winchester Marquisate is to be eliminated for committing treason against the Imperial Family! We have been ordered to erase every trace of the Winchester! Do not leave a single trace, loyal men!"
Then, Dwayne heard that, that deep and powerful voice of a man, but his eyes remained glued on his loved ones. 'Treason? Winchester family committed treason? That can't be true…'
"Y-young master!" He heard another familiar voice from behind him, it was his nanny, Clementine. She appeared in front of him, but eyes were too clouded to see her clearly. Clementine's heart throbbed at her young master's anguished face.
'It's my fault for being careless! The Marquis and young masters told me to keep him from leaving on this very day!' She was angry at herself for letting him leave the tower on his own, but she didn't have time to waste.
She used all her remaining strength just to carry him, then immediately ran to the path of the hidden tower. As she runs, Dwayne, the boy in her arms, was slowly feeling breathless, his chest was tightening. Only then, he realized what he needed to do.
"No… No! Father! I-I need to protect them-" Dwayne coughed, feeling the lack of oxygen in his lungs, smoke were all over.
But he didn't care, his family were in danger. He wants to protect them! He needed to! That was what his heart was screaming for as his head were too clouded with his thoughts of confusion and anger. He struggled from his nanny's hold, which soon led her to trip and fall on the hard ground. They both let out a hard groan in pain.
Clementine immediately sat up to check her young master's condition, but she saw him standing up with a desperate face. He was filled anguish and desperation to protect his family, she knew that.
"No… I have to go to them… Father… They need me…" He mumbled, slowly stepping up. Clementine wore a pained expression, and ran to stop him from going any further. "Let me go…! Please! My family needs me-"
"You can't save them now! Not with your body!"
Dwayne froze. It was the hard truth that he can never accept right now. He knew he fell on his knees, he knew he was scared, he knew he was weak, but he couldn't accept it. All his siblings were strong, they were exceptional, but why was he the only one who was weak? If he weren't this weak… he could've protected them!
Dwayne look at his nanny with desperation and confusion, tears were falling uncontrollably from his jet-colored eyes.
"Then what should I do?! My family… the whole Winchester is dying, crumbling right in front of me! I need to at least do something! I need to save them! I have to!" Dwayne exclaimed, his breath getting caught on his throat, the burning air made it hard for him to breathe properly. Clementine, who couldn't take seeing this side of her precious young master, hugs him tightly.
"Survive. That's what you should do. That's what your family and the whole Winchester want for you." Clementine said it. Her purpose for being his nanny, she needed to be there for him, she needed to tell him that he has to survive, even if it meant that he's alone now. Slowly letting go of him, she smiles gently.
"Go and never turn back. Stay in the tower, stay hidden from them."
"But…!" Who is really the one he needs to hide from? Those knights who came to kill his family? Or someone else?
"Remember that none of this is your fault. You are not involved in any of this, that is why you must survive." 'And avenge us.' She wanted to say those words, but she knew how much that alone could ruin this precious small child. The Winchester values child raising more than anything, it is a strict rule for every generation head to protect and treasure his family.
However, Dwayne misunderstood her words.
'Not involved… did my family really commit treason…?' There was confusion and doubt rising within him. But he knows well, he knows what kind of people his father and older brothers and sisters are, they wouldn't do such a thing. There has to be a reason.
"Why…? Why did this have to happen..? Father… my brother and sisters… they were the kindest I've ever met, they cared for me-"
"I can hear someone over there!" Both Clementine and Dwayne flinched at that voice.
"Someone must've escaped in that direction, go and check it. Don't leave anyone behind." Just after those words, Clementine gave her young master a slight push, confusing him. Clementine stood up, facing her back to the child. She has been prepared from the day he was born, she knew that a day will come for her to protect him. Even if it meant losing her own life.
"Go back to the tower, immediately, Young Master." Dwayne's jet eyes widened in horror, tears didn't cease to fall. He shook his head as one of his small hands reached to grip her clothes. He was trembling, he was scared.
"No… not you too. P-Please I can't lose you too…" His voice stammered. Dwayne never got to meet his biological mother, all his siblings say she was a wonderful one… and she died because of him. Although they never hated him because he was an innocent man, Dwayne could tell how much they missed her. He would read books and learn how much a mother meant in one's life. Only then did he realized… Clementine is his mother.
And there was no way a mere child can live without his mother.
"Young master… I'm begging you…. please go, hide and make sure you survive. I... all of us will be watching over you, so you must live on." Clementine begs, the heavy footsteps were getting louder and clearer as seconds passed. She's too weak to carry him and run, she has no other choice but to give him a secure path to the tower, she must keep them from chasing after him.
"Go now… quickly…" Just as Clementine mumbled those words, his small legs moved. Dwayne runs with enough speed, afraid for his own life. He wiped his tears for a clearer vision, he remembers the path back to the hidden tower well. So he should be just fine right…?
… No, there's no way he's okay.
Dwayne didn't know how much time had passed, he couldn't care less about it now. He ran back to the tower, locked the doors for safety and slowly walked back up to the green house as he tried to process everything that happened. His family… the whole Winchester is in danger, he doesn't know if Clementine had survived or not, but her chances of survival are close to zero, and he knows that too well but he couldn't accept it.
'Why… How did all of this happened? What did the Winchester Marquisate do to deserve this?'
Other than feeling anger and grief, Dwayne is confused. He couldn't think of any possible answer… other than the rumor that the Winchester committed treason against the Imperial Family. But he knows well he can't trust that rumor. He clenched his fists.
' "My lord…! PLEASE, LET HIM GO! He's done nothing wrong!" ' Dwayne saw how the Butler begged for the Marquis' life to be spared. It was enough evidence that the Winchester did no such thing as treason. So, why…?
Reaching the final step of the stairs to the very top floor, Dwayne came to a stop. This is the first time that he's felt so drained and empty. His family has a low chance of survival. What can he do now? For a moment, the devil whispered right in his ears.
'Jump.'
His fingers dug deeper, nails scaring his palms' thin skin. He was fighting the urge to just let himself fall from these stairs and kill himself, but he can't… Although he had no purpose to live now, he could never bring himself to commit suicide and not regret it. His life barely started! He can't cross the bridge to the afterlife yet… not until he finds out why all of this have to happen.
His legs moved, heading straight to his bed. And as soon as he lied down, tears began to fall once again. All the memories, no matter how trivial, replays inside his head. Their smiles were his most treasured jewels, but now they're gone. He couldn't even do anything to protect them, and yet they were, once again, shielding him from every bad thing and making sure that he, even though left all alone, is alive and well.
He was told to hide because he was weak, and to survive even though he was weak.
But for what reason…? For what reason does a weak boy like him need to survive? Is it because he is yet to spend his life outside? Is it because they want him to see the life outside this tower? What?