Retrace

Chapter Eight

Nineteen years ago, in a place called Night Grove, Cassius Avery was born. It was nearly daybreak on the day he was born. At the time he came into this world, his father, Leonard Linneo, wasn’t there. Since Leonard Linneo is a part of the nation’s military, he wasn’t able to come to his son’s birth.

Cassius grew up in Night Grove with his mother, Elvira Graisley for ten years. He wasn’t a very good child then. Since he never knew who his father was, the other children teased him about it. When Cassius asked his mother who his father is, Elvira answered that it is Leonard Linneo, the Head of Danior military. Now, when Cassius told that to the others, he was branded as a liar since no one ever even saw what Leonard Linneo looked like. Because of that incident, Cassius turned into a child with a sharp tongue, but with a very soft heart.

When Cassius said that to me, I found it hard to believe. How could someone have a sharp tongue and have a soft heart at the same time?

Going back to Cassius’ story, a time came when a man in a military uniform came to Night Grove. It was quite unusual at that time for military men to come to a small town alone. That man is Leonard Linneo, Cassius’ father. The townspeople couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw him.

“I didn’t believe him when he knocked on our front door,” Cassius said, laughing. “Of course my mother came rushing towards him.”

“Why didn’t you?” I asked. “He is your father right?”

“Of course he’s my father but, I just couldn’t believe him. Ten years after I’m born, that’s the first time he sees me. He’s an unbelievable man and you should know that.”

“But you should understand his position in the military right?”

“I understood that but he never even made me feel his presence. For those ten years, I’ve been waiting for him to come home.”

Okay, now I see. Cassius has quite a temper towards his father. The way he speaks is also quite rude.

“Master please, your manner,” Cyril said.

Cassius scoffed. “After he came to Night Grove, he immediately made preparations for departure. He barely stayed and talked to us, just like what a father would do. The first thing he said is that it’s time to leave. Well, if I had a choice back then, I would’ve run away from Night Grove.”

Cyril cleared his throat. I really feel like Cyril is the one who keeps Cassius’ temper at bay.

“Don’t nag me, Cyril.”

Well yeah, Cassius really speaks like a commoner, but not the usual even. Maybe that’s the result of him enduring all the hardships in life.

After Cassius and Cyril came into terms, Cassius returned to his story. He said that his mother and he went to the north almost immediately. During the train journey to the north, nobody said anything. Cassius’ ten year old self was almost afraid to say anything because of a lethal-like aura he felt from his father.

Careful, Keishi. Even a dagger could prove quite lethal. You should drop that.

I closed my eyes for a while. That word ‘lethal’ used by Cassius sparked another memory. I felt a bit nauseous.

Despite that happening, I know neither Cassius nor Cyril noticed that. Cassius still continued his story. “Right after reaching the north, he enlisted me in a military school,” Cassius continued. “Isn’t that a bit harsh? He never even said that he’s happy I’m alive. He never even had any compassion. I was only ten at that time when I entered military school. it was even as if he wanted to kill me.”