"Mr. Lucian, there's no need to be afraid. In fact, we know everything that happened between you and Klark on that day," Endeavor began, his voice measured, almost gentle despite the weight of his words.
Lucian's breath hitched, his hands instinctively clenched into fists. His heart raced uncontrollably. The day Endeavor referred to was like a blur of fear and pain, interspersed with moments of pure, raw survival. He didn't remember all the details how could he? The agony, the helplessness, and the torment had consumed his every waking thought. When the moment came and he killed Klark, it wasn't out of any conscious choice. He was too far gone. It had been sheer instinct his body moving to end the man who had dragged him through hell.
But how did Endeavor know? Lucian gulped. The man standing before him was no ordinary person. If someone of Endeavor's power and status was telling him this, then it had to be true. Lucian knew they weren't bluffing or trying to trick him. They had no reason to do so. These were the strongest people in the world, and they didn't need to explain how they found things out. As curious as Lucian was, he didn't dare ask. Not here. Not in front of these gods.
His throat felt dry as he spoke. "I… I just acted in self-defense. Klark deserved what he got. As for how I killed him… I don't really remember much. I've never used magic before that day," Lucian said, his voice shaking slightly. He was afraid terrified, even but it wasn't the type of fear that made you want to run. It was the cold, sinking fear that told you there was no escape. Lucian could only face it head-on, hoping the truth would suffice. Lying, after all, was pointless.
Endeavor watched the boy, his piercing gaze softening. He could see how shaken Lucian was. "You don't need to be afraid, Lucian," he said, his voice reassuring. "We're not going to imprison you for what happened. Klark deserved the fate he met after putting you through such cruelty."
Lucian's heart skipped a beat at those words. Not going to imprison me? The thought had been weighing heavily on his mind, and for a moment, the tension in his chest eased, if only slightly. However, he couldn't fully relax. There was still so much uncertainty hanging in the air. Still, hearing those words he deserved it felt like a small balm to his wounded soul.
Endeavor, sensing Lucian's relief, continued, "And as for your abilities… we won't pry. We won't ask you to share any personal information that you don't feel comfortable revealing."
Lucian exhaled a long breath. He hadn't realized he'd been holding it in. The weight pressing down on him felt a little lighter, but the remnants of fear still lingered. Endeavor's calmness was helping him find his own, though. If he were anyone else, maybe Lucian would have been falling apart by now. Most kids his age would have been sobbing, begging for mercy. But Lucian had been through more than most, and it had hardened him. He wasn't like other children. That much was clear.
Endeavor noticed the shift in Lucian's posture and allowed himself to relax, if only a little. This boy… he was remarkable in ways Endeavor couldn't quite put into words. The trauma, the experiences that had shaped him they had forged a child more mature than most adults. This wasn't a normal reaction for someone his age. No, Lucian was far beyond that. And perhaps, that's why Endeavor felt a strange sense of protectiveness.
"Now, Lucian," Endeavor began again, his tone becoming slightly more serious. "The reason we're asking you to keep certain things secret…as i had told you earlier it's about your family. I'm sure you've guessed at least a part of it. Your family is… well, they're quite powerful. We're worried that if they find out what's happened to you, it could disrupt the peace we've worked so hard to maintain."
Lucian's raised his head slightly,
He blinked in .. What were they talking about?
"We don't know what might happen if your family learned about your current… condition," Endeavor continued, choosing his words carefully. "They're… well, quite formidable. Even we have concerns about what they might do if they were to discover the truth."
Lucian's gaze flickered between the three people in the room Endeavor, Aria, and Arthur. His eyes lingered on Arthur, who was sitting in quiet contemplation.
Though Arthur hadn't said much, Lucian knew that this man was the strongest person in the world. And yet, even someone like Arthur seemed to be weighing the consequences of revealing too much.
Can my background really be that powerful? Lucian wondered, a flicker of doubt gnawing at him. Could his family, the very same family who had abandoned him to suffer, truly be capable of causing so much disruption that even these powerhouses were concerned?
A part of him felt an odd satisfaction at the thought of his family wreaking havoc on this world a world that had given him nothing but pain. Wouldn't it be fitting if they tore everything apart?
But as quickly as the thought came, Lucian dismissed it. He didn't want that. He didn't want to be the cause of such chaos. He had his reasons, after all.
First of all, he didn't care about family. It wasn't something he had ever experienced or even wanted. To him, the concept of family was just that a concept. It didn't hold any real meaning.
Second, why bother with revenge? It was a waste of time. Getting back at the world for what it had done to him wouldn't change anything.
Third, Lucian believed in repaying what he was given whether that was kindness or cruelty. But he didn't believe in wallowing in self-pity. He wasn't about to act like some helpless child, crying out for help.
Fourth, and most importantly, Lucian didn't want anything to do with his so-called family. He didn't care who they were, how powerful they were, or what they wanted from him. Even though there was a small part of him that was curious, he knew that curiosity was born out of pain. He wasn't looking for love or approval. He wasn't some lost child yearning for the affection of parents who had abandoned him. That part of him had died long ago.
No, if anything, Lucian hated his family. He despised the people who had left him to fend for himself in a world that had shown him nothing but cruelty. If they hadn't abandoned him, maybe he could have had a normal life. Maybe he wouldn't have been forced to live like a beggar, scraping by just to survive. Since the age of three, he had known nothing but hunger, pain, and humiliation. How could anyone expect him to feel any sort of connection to people like that?
Lucian's anger simmered beneath the surface, though he tried his hardest to keep calm. He clenched his fists again, the memories of his past flashing through his mind.
"I don't care," he finally said, his voice low but steady. "I don't want any relationship with them. It's probably a good idea to never use the name Valentino. I hadn't thought about it before, but now that you've brought it up… it makes sense not to take anything from them."
Lucian paused for a moment, his eyes dark with resentment. "As for compensation, I don't need it. I'm happy with the way things are. I don't need their help. I don't need them." His voice wavered slightly, but his resolve was clear. "And as for my abilities, I won't use them. It's too dangerous. They might find me."and i don't want anyone to disturb my life..no they dont deserves it
Endeavor, Aria, and Arthur exchanged glances. They could see the storm of emotions swirling behind Lucian's calm exterior. The boy was trying to hold it together, but his anger, his bitterness, and his pain were all too evident.
"Endeavor, we have to help him," Aria's voice echoed in Endeavor's mind. "He's just a child. Look at him… he's completely heartbroken. He doesn't even want to know about his parents."
Endeavor nodded subtly, acknowledging Aria's thoughts. He glanced at Arthur, who hadn't said a word but continued to observe Lucian with a quiet intensity.
Arthur, for his part, was lost in thought. There was something about this boy, something that reminded him of a past he had long buried. The way Lucian carried himself, the way he kept his pain hidden beneath a mask of strength it was all too familiar.
But for now, Arthur said nothing. He simply watched.