A Lost Boy

Chapter 25

The atmosphere and climate of the island had still not changed from the bitter cold. This was because Gray was feeling very distressed and uneasy. He really didn't want to know anything more about his parents but Meredy insisted it would do him good and the fairy did drink poison for him so he wasn't going to upset her any time soon.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Gray asked her. "Shouldn't we try to rescue everyone and save this for another time?"

"Don't worry, he won't try anything until dawn." She assured him.

"What if he changes his mind and decides to act earlier?"

"Hades is a precise man who relies on good form or at least what he views as good form. Being on time happens to be something he sees as good form so if he declares he won't do something til dawn then he won't do it til dawn."

He followed her to the immortal tree of Tendrou Island where the fairies lived. This confused Gray for he had been here many times before and during all those times, he had received no information or answers about his origins or his parents. 

"Why are we here?" He asked.

"This tree has many powers Gray." Meredy explained. "It can create fairies, provides a home for the fairies, keeps the island and all who reside on it from aging any further."

"Yes I knew all that."

"But did you know that this tree has all the memories of those who have lived or been on this island?"

"No."

"This tree knows all your memories and Hades's. Knows them and can show them to you. You and that man both a have some connection to your parents and this tree knows how it all began."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"After I showed you that memory of being left at the orphanage you said you didn't want know anything else about your family. So I never said anything, thinking you were probably right to assume they just abandoned you. But then Hades revealed to me why he really hated you so much and after hearing that I knew that it was imperative that you learn more about your mother and father."

They moved closer to the tree.

"Place your hand on the trunk and leave the rest to me." 

Gray did as she instructed. He raised his hand and placed it on the hollow trunk of the great tree.

"Show Gray Fullbuster the memories he shares with Precht Gaeblog. The ones that will help him understand why he was orphaned and why the evil man harbors such hatred toward him."

The tree's wood became a glow in sparkling gold streams which traveled down the trunk and to Gray's hand. As soon as his fingers made contact with the shimmering gold his vision changed. He was no longer looking at the tree or Meredy. He was now looking at a stage, a stage in a grand theater. At the center of the stage their stood a beautiful woman dressed elegantly like a proper English woman, her ebony black hair being held up by pearl and beaded pins, and her eyes were so very much like Gray's. So full of playfulness and whimzy. 

The crowds of people in the audience applauded enthusiastically for her. Some cheered, some whistled, some even threw flowers to her. She smiled to thank them for their kind applause. She then left the stage and was greeted by a man who at first Gray did not recognize because of how differently he was dressed and carried himself but the very moment he spoke he knew who it was.

"You were magnificent my beauty." He said. "Good form on stage."

It was Captain Hades but he was not the man that Gray knew. For one thing he had both of his eyes which didn't surprise him but he appeared younger and more easy to look at. Gray would cut off his tongue before he ever said that man was good looking in any way. He was dressed in some type of uniform, he had no beard, and he seemed to walk with an air of being sophisticated and well off.