Time passed and I am now 3 years old. During these past years, nothing notable happened. Everyone is so protective, every single thing is spoon-fed to us, we always have guards following us around, considering that we're sons of one of the Harbingers that's understandable. We rarely see Papa, he's always busy and no one wants to tell us anything at all. But considering he's a harbinger that's also understandable; who would want to tell a child that their father is scheming against the heavens?
"Leo! Leo! I'm hungry!" A child that looks exactly like me grumbled on my side.
"Leon, we just ate," I answered
"But I'm still hungry!"
My brother, Leonheart, and I could now talk and make conversations, though it's just a series of back and forths.
"If we get caught eating we'll be scolded again!" I reasoned.
"Then let's steal them!"
"..." My brother is a natural-born thief. He was caught multiple times stealing my food and mora from the maids. Every time he gets caught we'll be locked in the room all day. Not that I mind since there's some books here and I am just starting to learn how to read. As for why he steals mora, it's my fault. I told him that mora is power, it's life and you can get anything with mora so he started to get obsessed with them.
Hours passed, and it's now almost time for dinner. Leon was busy destroying his toys while I'm busy twisting my head, trying to understand the words written in a book. A maid came in and it caught our attention, normally they would just take our dinner to us.
"Master Leon, Master Leo, Lord Pantalone is calling for you." A maid informed.
"Papa!" Leon beamed with joy and dashed out of the room.
I slowly walked my way to the dining table. The room was flashy and full of decorations; from the patterns of the floor, and the statues on the walls, to the beautiful golden ceiling with a hanging chandelier, everything exuded wealth. The rectangular table itself is no exception, despite its wooden material, the smooth surface, and the circled edges feel nice to the touch and the chairs are comfortable to sit on.
A smiling man sat on the furthest chair. We share the same traits and appearance. "Leo, come give me a hug." Papa opens his hands wide; gesturing for a hug. I ran towards him and crashed into his embrace. The warm sensation of his coat is comfortable and his big hands are the safest place in the world.
From "his" memories Pantalone is a Cunning merchant, the richest man in all of Teyvat, and also a Harbinger called Regrator. This past 3 years of my life he has done nothing but good to me. Despite acknowledging the bad things he might have done or would have to do because of his close ties with another Harbinger known as The Doctor, I still can't resist his warmth. He saved us when our mother planned to take us away and kill us. I don't know what's the truth, but does it matter? We never met her, she was not there for the past 3 years.
"I missed you, Papa," I said.
"I miss you too Papa!" Leonheart followed.
"Papa also missed you two." He replied.
We ate on the long table, and multiple dishes kept getting served without any sign of stopping, I don't know the names of most of them, but I recognized some like the Black-Back Perch Stew, Bamboo Shoot Soup, and Sweet Madame. I saw a dish that looked like fried chicken and ate it.
"Looks like you like chicken, Leo" Papa chuckled.
"I'sh tishte!"
"Now, now, swallow your food first." He rubbed a tissue on my face.
"Leon, don't play with your food." He scolded brother and ordered the maids to take the food away with just a gesture of his hands. Our dinner was satisfying, we couldn't eat it all and after just a few minutes our stomachs bulged.
"How were you, Leon, Leo? I've heard you've been naughty, especially you Leon, it's bad to steal mora from people," Papa pinched Leon's cheeks, but he still wore his usual smile.
"Papa! et Hutrs!" Leon protested. Heh, good for him.
"And you Leo, I've heard that you started getting interested in books, do you know how to read?" He asked me. For some reason, I felt like I'm being interrogated.
"Yes, Papa, I'm interested in books..." I trailed. "But I don't know how to read." My sight is downcast. I am really sad that I can't understand the letters in the books; if I want to know more about this world that "he" didn't know, my best bet is from books.
Papa seems to contemplate something, his hands on his chin, his gaze looking directly at me. after a few long seconds, he asked.
"Leo, what do you think of this watch?" He took out a pocket watch with a blue and white color.
"It looks expensive Papa," I answered honestly.
"Hmm, Is that how you see it?" He stood up and sat beside me. "The value of this pocket watch is cheaper than anything else in this house. As you say, Leo, It looks expensive." He then opened it, inside the hands of the watch are not moving, and the glass that protects the inside is shattered.
"This watch has been with me since I was young, it is a gift from my father. But as you can see, it's broken and not working anymore." He then looked at me in the eye and asked.
"Do you think, I should throw it away?"
I felt an unknown pressure weigh upon me. Papa's aura changed in that moment. The words won't come out of my mouth as if my tongue has been cut.
Suddenly his demeanor changed, as if the pressure from before didn't exist.
"You don't have to answer, Leo" He stood up and walked out the door.
I watched Papa's back as he left the room. If I answered that time what could have happened?
Days later, a tutor came to the house and taught us how to read and write.