Eyes Of Etro

Chapter 4: Encounter

"Hey Gramps." Gramps turned around to see Erik sitting crisscross on the floor. His eyes were red and bloodshot, he must have been crying again. Gramps knelt down and placed a hand on his shoulder, eager to know what was troubling him this time.
"What's up kiddo?"
Erik sniffles and looks up at Gramps with his upset brown eyes.
"Where's my mom and dad?"
Gramps pushes up his glasses, he had been expecting this. It was a question that was bound to be asked any day now. But to break it to a child so young? It would destroy him.
"They...well, they aren't around anymore." Gramps replied quietly. Erik sniffles again, this time tears falling down his face. Gramps opened his mouth to say something else but was caught off guard when Erik pulled him into a tight hug.
"So you're gonna be my dad now right?" Gramps, taken aback by this show of affection, could only nod as he hugged the ten year old back.
"Of course kiddo, I promise."

"Cmon sleepy head, get up!"
My eyes snap open and I immediately sit up, my head connecting with someone else's. "Ouch!" The person grumbles as they back away. I rub my forhead along with my eyes and turn to see who was in my room.

It was Sice, all dressed up and ready to go to school. "You ass, that really hurt!" I slide out of bed, snickering as she kept grumbling about her head. "What are you doing in here anyway?" I ask as I make my way over to my closet. "Waking you up!" She exclaims. "You slept through your alarms!" Damn. I did it again, sleeping through my alarms was a really bad habit of mine. "Hurry up! Ill be waiting in the living room." She said. "Also, your red headed friend is here." She then leaves the room. So Iwabe was here, I'm guessing he got all excited when I told him about Sice. I quickly change into my normal black pants and red shirt, I throw on my black jacket and red beanie. As I was tying my shoes, all that happened last night hit me at once. Not about Sice but, the Gate. I quickly tie my shoes and get up to throw open the blinds.

It was still there alright, albeit a lot dimmer than last night. The Sun was still rising and the moon was still visable.Today, the Gate was almost transparent. What the hell was it, and why could only I see it? Sice didn't even notice there was light in my room last night.
"Erik, hurry up!" I hear Iwabe yell in the living room. I shut my blinds and quickly grab my backpack and wallet, shutting the thoughts from my mind. I take one more look around my room before I turn off the light and shut the door.

After shutting the door, I turn around to find Iwabe directly in front of me.
"Geez, about time. I was about to come get you myself." He said. I roll my eyes and walk past the redhead into the living room.
In the living room, I spot Vince snoring on the couch, Gramps reading the newspaper, and Sice standing by the door, impatiently tapping her foot.
"Cmon! Hurry up!"
Geez, it's just school. What's the rush? I thought as I sit down by Vince's sleeping figure.  I glance at Gramps, who was folding up the newspaper.
Gramps sets his newspaper down and makes direct eye contact with me and my knees shake a little. Whenever Gramps makes direct eye contact, you were either in trouble or he had some thing important to say. I could only pray he didn't see Sice go into my room in the middle of the night. He would totally get the wrong idea.

"Today is Sice's first day at school." He began. "You'll keep her safe right?" I mentally breathe a sigh of relief. He just wanted me to keep her out of trouble. "Sure thing Gramps, will do!" I hear Iwabe say behind me. Gramps smiles and nods at him, then looks at me with a demanding stare.
"O-oh, um, yes sir!" I quickly stutter.
Gramps grins and goes back to his newspaper. "By the way after school, I have a suprise for you." A suprise? I wonder what it could be. I suppose it would have to wait until after school. I nod and make my way to the door, Iwabe hot on my heels. "Finally!" Sice yells as I open the door to leave.

When the trio leaves, Vince stops his fake rest and sits up. He rubs his eyes and pops his neck. "For a second there, I thought I was actually going to fall asleep." After getting no reply from Gramps, his expression darkens. "I take it you're going to tell him today?" He asks. Gramps strokes his beard, a look of intense worry on his face. "No. Not tonight, but that dance is in a couple of days. Ill tell him after that."
The dance, a part of the tradition of the tournament. The school would come together to host a celebratory dance in honor of those participating. It was also a great way to make connections, considering one could get scouted by the military or a university.
"He'll be confused, you know he doesn't remember." Vince said. "He won't know about the Crystal, or Etro for that matter." Gramps nods. "I'm well aware of that. But he's begun to see the Gate, it's time he knows the truth." Vince stands up, he knew about Erik seeing the Gate. He could only pray that no one else would notice.
"I pray you're right."