Cinco Storia Book Two: A Pet's Freedom

Chapter 16

Depressed just didn't seem to cut for an explanation as Riki sat drifting into his thoughts, unable to determine how he felt, how his heart seemed to be sinking every day into a darkness he couldn't fathom. The Furniture were worried, and so was Iason who could do no more but watch his Pet sulk and brood, as he himself had sulked and brooded the first time he woke up from Jupiter's induced sleep.

But then it was understandable. For now, the Blondie gave Riki his peace, kissing the latter goodbye every morning, bidding him a good day even as he realized there was a grand possibility that he might find him there on that same spot when he comes back later on. For now, his work awaited, and the long hours between them would be as trickling poison from which he might suffer, counting the minutes before he would be allowed to enfold his Pet again.

"Take care of him," he ordered Katron who only nodded...

Depressed.

Riki didn't even know the reasons why he was in this state, even after finding out from Katze the terms that accompanied his so-called 'Exclusivity' and reaping the rewards of it immediately thereafter.

He was to have fortune now: a Palace for a home and grandeur all around, a residence on the highest point of Tanagura; he was even shown the contents of the Exclusive's account and the staggering amount contained therein, not even in the Aurora currency other pets used, being the only one allowed of them.

He was to have fame and power: he was the Exclusive, and the only existing consort to Neu-Jupiter, envied by all, powerful enough that his will can cause the world to crumble at his heels if he wanted, loved and romanced, in the arms of the most powerful being there is on the planet.

He was to have...freedom: he was to be allowed to go anywhere, Katze had informed, a level choked with all types of Air Cars and other vehicles for when his riles and whimsy got the best of him and he craved the outside, save that he needed to obey some rules and a few other regulations when he did have to, taking that Furniture Katron along with him.

But then where would he go? He has asked himself the same question during their conversation. To Ceres perhaps? But then why? Has he not proven that he no longer belonged there ever since becoming the rebellious pet of Iason Mink? And certainly, in his current form, he did not belong anywhere else but beside the Man.

Ah, that was it!

Riki found out that he had been repaired by Jupiter before the god died out, returning not only his lost youth, thanks to the years of the Blondie's cruel and devoted training, and the physique once rendered incomplete by his jealous-stricken and former life-partner Guy, but changing him completely to be like...one of them.

The Pet knew he was now more similar to his lover than he had ever been, and it made his heart sink into a mire of sorrows. What has happened to the part of him that was...human? The more he thought about it, the more he suffered within...

What had you turned me into? What!?

Worse, as he sat there, thinking, he could not seem to find any answer. Not even in the Will that was left to him by the dead god. Too bad Jupiter no longer existed for the questions that remained.

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Iason's degree of thought might be points higher than anyone, now coupled with the nearly-complete dominion over the System, he was probably the most intelligent android there was before this change. Yet in affairs concerning the heart, he had no prior experience, had in fact loved only once and had no idea how to nurture the relationship he was now entrusted.