Marcus glanced down briefly before lifting his head and asking, "Why aren't you dressed yet?"
Feeling awkward, Eli quickly covered himself, his eyes darting around. "I can't find any underwear," he mumbled.
Marcus sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. "Ah, there's no underwear available right now. You'll have to manage without it. The ones here are too big for you," he admitted, scratching his head awkwardly.
Marcus then proceeded to wearing his clothes, from who knows where he got them.
Eli also started putting on his clothes at lightning speed, finishing first. He then looked up to see a body that seemed to be sculpted by the gods.
His muscles bulged with strength but didn't look exaggerated. His abdomen was adorned with a pack of abs, and his wet, brown-shaded skin seemed to glisten with the help of the small lighting. His pecs seemed to invite anyone who looked at them to give them a touch. Looking up to his collarbone made one want to take a bite, and then looking down at the other half, covered in a piece of clothing, Eli felt a slight regret.
"How did you get such a nice body?" Eli asked, his eyes shining with admiration.
Marcus paused for a moment, then let out a light chuckle. "You need to exercise more, kid. Put in the work, and maybe one day you'll have a body as great as mine." He then flexed his muscles, showcasing his physique with a confident smile. Before proceeding into wearing his shirt
"Hey! I'm not a kid—at least my soul isn't," Eli thought to himself. "I'm turning ten tomorrow," he said aloud, crossing his arms over his chest and puffing his cheeks in defiance.
"Yes, yes," Marcus said with an indulgent smile, "you're turning ten tomorrow." He let out a sigh. "We were planning on throwing a party for you, and I was about to tell you something. Me, your dad," he paused, then continued, "your mom and aunt." He handed Eli a gun. "This was supposed to be my birthday gift to you."
Eli examined the gun in his hand with interest. It was a sleek weapon with a glossy black finish and intricate engravings along the barrel and slide. The handle, made from a high-quality composite, was both durable and comfortable. The name "Eclipse" was inscribed in refined gold lettering on the grip, which glinted softly in the light. Gold accents on the trigger and safety switch added a touch of elegance and luxury. The gun's design merged advanced functionality with a distinctive, lavish look, making it both a practical tool and an impressive statement piece.
This was the gun Eli had forgotten to take with him when he went for a bath. He traced his finger over the intricate engravings, marveling at the craftsmanship. For such a fine weapon to exist in this era, Marcus must have spent a fortune. "Eclipse," Marcus's voice was magnetic as he spoke, "your name comes from that word. You were born on the day when the moon swallowed the sun, when everything was shrouded in darkness, a shadow. But," he paused, a faint smile playing on his lips, barely noticeable unless one was paying close attention, "when you were born, you became our light—a small light that seemed fragile, as if it could be extinguished by the slightest breeze. A light so warm we wanted to hold it close. For your father, your mother, me, and Aunt, that day was the happiest." His smile grew wider as he said the last part.
"I don't understand. When you spoke those words, it seemed like the four of you were such close friends, that you all got along perfectly. So why did you, with a hint of exasperation in his voice, say, 'You and Mom'? He was crying as he said it. He said, 'You and Mom cheated on Dad and Aunt.' I can't grasp why you act like you care about me so much, to the point where I began to think you were trying to replace Dad. You and dad are friends, so how could this be?"
"Eli, listen to me," Marcus said, trying to reach out and hold him, but Eli pushed his hands away. "Please," Marcus continued, his voice almost pleading. The desperation in his tone made Eli turn to look at him. Eli's eyes were red and tears were streaming down his face, and seeing this made Marcus's heart ache. Marcus knelt down to Eli's eye level and gently cupped his face. He gazed at him with deep sincerity and said, "It's not what you think. It's all a misunderstanding. Please, just listen to me, okay?" His voice was soft, almost a whisper, but Eli heard it clearly as it echoed softly into the darkness. Eli gave a slight nod in response.
With a deep sigh, Marcus smiled faintly and sat down next to Eli. For a moment, he remained silent, seemingly lost in thought about how to begin. "We were supposed to tell you on your birthday," he started, his voice trembling slightly. "We couldn't tell you sooner because you were young, and… and we were afraid."
Eli looked at him, puzzled, his forehead creased in confusion. Marcus gently straightened the frown with his index finger, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "Please don't hate us, especially me and your dad. Please," he pleaded softly. Eli reached out and took Marcus's hand in his small grip. The tiny hand, so delicate that even a small amount of pressure could break it, gave Marcus an unexpected surge of strength.
Gathering his courage, Marcus began to explain. He clarified that he was not having an affair with Eli's mother but rather with Eli's father. Both of Eli's parents were involved with someone else: his father with Marcus and his mother with Eli's aunt. Marcus explained that every time Eli visited their house at night, it wasn't to be with his mother but to see his father. Eli's mother used a hidden passage to leave the house and visit the neighboring home where she was with his aunt. When Marcus was asked why he didn't use that passage to get to Eli's house, he explained, "That crazy woman thinks I'd do something to his wife," referring to Eli's aunt, who did not allow him to use the passage.
Marcus also detailed the meaning of "doing something to his wife." He mentioned that he was jealous because Eli's parents shared a room, which made him uncomfortable. "Well… it kinda made me jealous," he admitted with an awkward laugh. "So, I… accidentally—" Seeing Eli's intense look, Marcus corrected himself. "Okay, I purposely kicked her feet, causing her to fall. Hey, don't look at me like that. I didn't have it any easier. That witch—ehem, your mom—was really vicious. She put a powder on me that made me itch for days. She's an alchemist."
Marcus continued, explaining that the itching would have persisted if Eli's father hadn't found him scratching his skin at night. Eli's father had been suspicious of Marcus when he avoided physical contact. Marcus scratched his head awkwardly, realizing he was speaking to a soon-to-be ten-year-old. "Your dad went to your mom and got the antidote. I don't know how he got it, but your mom hid from your dad for a few days, avoiding him. As a result, your aunt got angry and confronted your dad, which led to a fight between us." Eli remembered hearing servants gossip about a duel between Marcus and his aunt, which made him think badly of Marcus for fighting with his wife. It turned out, as he now understood, to be quite different.
"Anyway," Marcus continued, "after that, I started visiting your dad through window of the bedroom, but he scolded me every time for not using the door. But, well, I got caught by you when I used the door. By the way, how did you find out?" He tilted his head, curious.
"I was trying to surprise Mom and Dad, so I hid near the flower vase in a hidden corner. The vase was bigger than me, so I was well-hidden. I saw you walk into the main bedroom with a big smile and didn't come out for a long time, which made me suspicious. I waited there for a long time and didn't see you come out, the next day and saw you go in again. I did that for about a week. Thinking about it now, if you really were cheating, how come Dad never found out you went there every night? Also, where was Dad whenever you went there? Now, hearing your explanation, I realize there was a lot I overlooked," Eli said with a sigh.
Marcus ruffled Eli's hair and chuckled. "You're still a kid; it's normal to miss some things. But my soul is not," Eli grumbled to himself, thinking that Marcus had made him angry. Marcus withdrew his hand. "Are you… are you not repulsed?" he asked hesitantly.
Eli looked at him for a full minute before answering. He gave a short laugh and said, "What made you think I would be?" Seeing Eli's smile, Marcus also smiled. "I'm sorry," Marcus said. "I should have told you sooner. I shouldn't have underestimated you."
"Hmph, you should be," Eli replied with a huff, then ended up laughing.
After their laughter subsided, Eli looked at Marcus seriously and said, "It doesn't matter if Mom likes Aunt and Dad likes you, as long as you're not hurting each other. If it's consensual, then it's fine. If Mom and Dad are happy—" He suddenly lost his smile and stopped speaking, making Marcus look at him with concern. "Then?" Marcus asked, his tone worried.
"Wait—then how was I made if Dad and Mom don't have feelings for each other?" Eli asked with a slight frown.
A million reasons and dramatic scenarios raced through Eli's mind, a foreboding feeling enveloping him as he looked at Marcus with horror. "Don't tell me you and Aunt were—" he began, his voice trembling.