Ever since Zalan's abduction, he has been living in the same place as Castor, the very same room from the first day they met. It turns out that this was the only place Castor called home. Which was unusual. Given Castor's god like presence, preparing another living space could be done with mere words, so there must be another reason why Castor preferred Zalan to stay here.
Maybe Castor just didn't want Zalan to leave his sight? Or maybe Castor was becoming fond of him?
Zalan didn't think too much about it, since he was consistently being put on the verge of death after every training session to bother question Castors motives.
Right after today's session, Zalan felt exhausted. Gazing at the flurry of lights dancing around the ceiling, Zalan's cheeks were flushed as his chest heaved up and down rapidly. He laid sprawled like a starfish on the couch in Castor's room, which had now permanently turned into his bed.
Zalan had to rest in between fighting sessions because even if the recovery potion restored every fibre of his being, it didn't have much effect on his stamina. Unfortunately, it meant that he could only wait for it replenish naturally. However, due to the prior endurance training Zalan was put through, his breathing felt less ragged only after a short while with his muscles reinvigorated after every breath.
Soon Zalan was absorbing Vis and feeling refreshed as the soreness of battle slowly eased out of his body.
Castor sat in his chair facing giant glass window whilst reading off a holographic screen displayed by his watch. But unlike his usual indifferent self, castor wore a small smile. This time, without malicious intentions toward Zalan.
A notification popped up from his hologram prompting him to reach over to the side and take out a small wooden box with a red ribbon tied around it. Swiftly turning around, he tossed it towards the resting child.
"Hey Zalan. This is a gift for you".
Intrigued, Zalan eyed the container in surprise.
Today wasn't any special occasion, and Zalan didn't think he had done anything to deserve gift.
Unless, this was a reward for killing the two golems. But having known Castor for more than 2 years now, Zalan was pretty sure Castor was the more likely to reward good fighting with more fighting, rather than gift boxes. Which was precisely why Zalan was a bit hesitant. As much as he wondered what this was about, no ideas popped into his head.
So what could it be?
"Hurry up and open it. I got you the best one." Castor said after seeing Zalan laying there just staring at the box.
"Alright."
Not having anything to lose, Zalan sat up and unraveled the ribbon tied around it delicately as if it were a precious treasure. Peeling it away, he opened it.
Click.
Inside was a familiar looking device perched on a velvet stand. Surrounding it was dark wood mixed together with strands of metal forming a lattice of ashen grey and oak brown weaving around along the strap. Additionally, a black square sat in the middle of the band with the Vermont Clan crest chiselled on top.
Excitement started to bubble.
Zalan has seen this device before on the wrists of just about everyone—in different style of course.
He has been wanting one of these for a long time now.
'A utility watch!'
Zalan inadvertently let out a wide smile. Like the one castor was currently wearing, there were simply so many things that can be done with the utility watch. The reason Zalan was only getting his now was because the central government restricted usage of the watches for children deeming the web 'too addicting'.
"Do you like it?" Castor asked tentatively. He even seemed a bit nervous as if it was his first time doing so.
"Yes. Thank you very much Mr. Castor" Zalan replied, taking it out of the box.
Suddenly, Castor froze.
Something inside Castor broke. Seeing one joyful child receive a gift released an abundance of agonizing memories as Ann resurfaced in his mind again. Gazing at Zalan's smiling face reminded Castor of his daughter's joyous laughter that rang like bells inside Castors mind.
Longing, desperation, and grief flooded Castor's heart as he once again started reminiscing.
From her blonde hair that glinted like gold in the sunlight to her radiant warm smile, Castor sincerely missed every part of the love of his life. And it so happens last time Castor had given Ann a gift was the last time he had ever seen her. The day when 'that' happened.
The day she…died.
Fire reignited in his eyes. More importantly, it reminded him of the reason why Zalan was even here in the first place.
Though it was just a flash, it still pained Castor who took several deep breath and returned to his normal indifferent self. Under the confused gaze of Zalan, Castor hastily took out a pocket watch and kissed the top before sliding it back into his breast pocket.
And unfortunately, Zalan has yet to know just how much a mans emotions can change their behaviour.
"You know what Zalan, go back to training now"
"What?!?"
**********
A few grueling moments of fighting later, Zalan didn't even bother standing up even after taking the recovery potion. Losing sensation in each of his limbs, Zalan felt like cooked spaghetti just barely hanging on after being crushed by a fallen tree. He may as well have just die from fatigue.
Castor didn't look down in pity but rather amazement, yet again, at Zalan's performance.
"I knew you were the right choice" Castor said with a laugh. Seeing that Zalan won't be go anywhere soon, he decided to take this time to explain the functions of the utility watch.
Since Zalan's watch was a custom one, it possessed a personal subspace for storage of items with about 100 square meters of space. Castor made sure to explain that living creatures couldn't be transported inside. If they could, then people wouldn't need to really fight anymore. Conflicts would just be 'beam your enemy into a death trap located on your wrist whilst preventing yourself from being beamed.'
According to Castor's explanation, the watched was connected to Zalan's consciousness so any item can be retrieved by thinking about it. But Zalan had to touch the object and make sure it wasn't connected to any larger structure or else it wouldn't beam.
He already knew how the watch worked since they were very similar to the storage devices he possessed back in his first life, so Zalan just let the known information come in through one ear and leave through the other. After some point, the silence returned.
"You got all that?" Castor asked.
Zalan only let out a slight groan in response.
Seeing Zalan's arm start twitching, even Castor felt a bit sorry for him.
"Sorry Zalan. When I gave you the watch you just reminded me of my daughter whom I love so much. And that triggered my hatred for Chasm-Borns and my will to become stronger again. I got a bit emotional."
Since he didn't—or rather couldn't do anything, Zalan only blinked twice in response.
Castor ignored him and carried on.
"But just so you know, this will probably happen again in the future"
Zalan's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets upon hearing Castors words.
'What the hell is wrong with you. This is child abuse!'
But alas, Zalan couldn't voice it out because he cared about his life and from his experience, child abuse equalled basic training in Castors books.
"Also I'm leaving tomorrow and I won't be back for a couple of years. By the time I return, I'll send you off to the front lines. So from now till then, I have found you a sparring partner. You'll meet her tomorrow morning."
"By the way, if you need anything I already added my contact to your watch. Also, you will stay here in tower 1. Don't leave the clan grounds until I get back."
Castor made sure to emphasize the last part sternly and Zalan groaned with what seemed like a yes.
Remembering something else, Castor quickly added:
"Oh, I also added Xavier's contact to your watch. So contact him if you need anything."
Xavier occasionally visited. Turns out, he wasn't really Castor's nephew, but rather an important subordinate that did all Castor's dirty work when he wasn't around. The honorifics were merely a form of protection to let others know that if they mess with Xavier, they are messing with Castor directly. It was effective because who would want to make Castor angry?
Castor nodded in satisfaction after finishing what he had to say.
"I'm going to go pack now. Good bye"
With a wave, Castor disappeared and left a dust cloud for Zalan in his wake.
Zalan, again, didn't respond but just rested there with a blank expression.
'What is going on today?'