How many years has it been ever since he heard his name as clear as day? He could not remember because the memories were hazy and now, he heard it again. His name that can't be spoken since it had become a curse to anyone who tried to say it out loud. He had tried so many times to remember the feeling of hearing his name but no matter how many times he closed his eyes to grasp that feeling, it never came.
Cygnus stopped on his tracks as he closed his eyes then he took a deep breathe and as his eyes opened, the world in front of him has gotten brighter. He turned around then gave the teen a grin and, in a flash, he disappeared from where he was standing only to appear in front of Ezio.
"To be able to say my name and remain standing, how magnificent!" The glint on his eyes undoubtedly frightened Ezio. Cygnus leaned forward to then moved his gaze around the person but he saw no anomality in Ezio's body.
Ezio took a step back but the man's gaze was still on him, "What-what are you doing?" he felt uncomfortable because Cygnus was still looking at him.
He was about to answer the teen's question but the monster's shrieks interrupted him. Cygnus stood straight and his face returned to it's originally blank look but this time, Ezio could feel that even his demeanor changed.
"You've asked me to help you, is it perhaps to destroy that thing?" the man was now looking at the mutilated combination of a human and dark mana.
Even though he was not looking at Ezio, he could tell that the shop owner was not in a good mood. The only difference he could see from the man was his changed in demeanor. He used to be uncaring and generally cold to anyone, he was still the same but this time Ezio could feel that the way he was staring at the monster was like looking at something insignificant. It was the look that someone arrogant will show to people they look down.
This time he hesitated, "I-I…" he stuttered because he was already regretting his actions and words. He was only overcome by emotion and was not thinking straight now that Cygnus's strong presence could be felt from the air, he woke up.
"What should I do? Should I do this?" he raised his hand then snapped his fingers and the monster exploded on the spot, creating a pool of blood mixed with dark mana.
Ezio's face paled at the brutal scene he was seeing but before he could even recover, he once again heard Cygnus's impatient voice. He snapped his head to look at the man only to see a frown on his face.
"It's a bit messy, should I do it again?" he was still focused on where the enemy was once standing then a dark magic circle appeared on the part where that monster was once standing then it lit up and the monster was revived in an instant. Cygnus then waved his hand and the monster was sliced into two before it suddenly caught fire. "Are you satisfied with my help?" he returned his gaze to the teen who was as white as ghost while staring at the burning monster.
Everything only happened for a full minute but everything that happened was engrained on his brain. The bloody scene and even the scent of burning flesh, Ezio knew that he would have a difficult time moving on from this incident.
He stiffly turned his head to look at the man but he panicked when he saw that Cygnus was already walking towards him. "Don't-don't come near me!" He closed his eyes out of reflex and his voice resonated in the silence. He was breathing hard like he ran a marathon as he waited for something to happen but nothing came.
He slowly opened his eyes only to see that Cygnus has stopped a few feet away from him and he could finally take a deep breathe. "I don't know how you did that, but that is not something a human can do, so who are you?" He calmed himself to met the man's gaze, and even though he started to shiver again, he did not retract his gaze.
Cygnus chuckled and shook his head, "Still naïve even after what you saw. I even willingly helped you take a revenge but the way you are looking at me right now is irritating. If not for your ability to say my name without you dying, I would have killed you too."
Ezio flinched at those words but he still did not give up. He comforted himself by repeating the words 'do not cower' over and over again in his mind like a mantra to keep him safe. They stared at each other but Ezio never answered the man.
When he saw that the fire had subsided, he made his way towards the place where the monster was in hopes that his uncle's body was still there. He did not care whether it was whole or not, he only wanted to give him a proper burial.
Cygnus was ignored. "Ah how courageous of him." He left the place without speaking to anyone.
"Master, are you sure that you are going to leave him like that?" the butler sighed at how human like this butler of his was acting. Sure, he was intelligent but whenever he acted like a human, Cygnus doesn't like it.
"You have been acting too much these past few days, don't play like a human because it doesn't suit you," he tapped the butler's arm then walked away, "as for that child, he will come to us."
They left without dealing with the aftermath of what had happed but Cygnus did not care. It was not his work to clean up somebody else's mess.
Astrophos silently helped Ezio retrieve whatever was left from the grand mage. It was a pity but as a lower ranked mage, he could not possibly do anything even if he joined that fight. They moved Jagan's body towards their home. Along the way, Ezio never spoke. He was only looking straightforward.
After the rush of the incident, everything was settling in. Astrophos concluded that the person Ezio called Cygnus was dangerous. He came to a sudden stop and covered his mouth but the metallic taste of blood still invaded his mouth. He doubled over and feel to the ground but he managed to use his hand to brace himself as he started to vomit blood.
Ezio noticed this and immediately ran to the other man's side after carefully placing down what he was holding. "What happened?" he asked then he touched the man's shoulders to support and prevent him from completely falling over.
"I don't…" he coughed once again, "know." He continued to wheeze and vomit some more before he was finally able to breathe a bit easily. "I just thought of that man's name and this happened."
The teen frowned, if that was true then why hasn't he experience it yet. He shouted the man's name but nothing happened to him. Only because of this, the shop owner showed interest on him. He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts because he didn't want to think of that man.
"I'll help you. Can you stand up?" Ezio saw the man nod his head so he assisted him to stand up. When the man got his balance, he waved his hand so Ezio let go and he picked up what he was holding a while ago.
They finally reached their home but the sight of the house where he stayed for almost half of his life made him realize that everything was real. The surge of emotions he was holding back hit him hard at the truth that he was now alone. No family not even friends to whom he could lean on.
Tears once again flowed down on his cheeks as each drop fell on the ground. Despite his blurry vision, he started to walk again. Past that wooden gate, into the front yard where the vegetables and flowers were thriving and finally into the home that was once filled with warmth.
He released the sack he was holding and it fell on the stone floor with a clang. He stood like that for a while and Astrophos did not have the heart to disturb him so he stayed outside to patiently wait for Ezio.
He did not know how much time had passed ever since he stood there but he knew that he can't keep crying forever so he wiped his tears and kneeled down to pick up the content of the bag that was spilled. There was his uncle's sword, which survived even after being incinerated by that flame. It was a bit charred and chipped he did not mind. He picked up a necklace then stroked it gently before clenching it within his palms.
The pain was still there, it never dulled. The memory remained and it will remain he was sure of that. He stood up and looked around once more as if he was memorizing everything inside the house, from the corners to the furniture. Every memory he had of his uncle in that house, he promised himself that he would not forget.