Lacking Emotion

Chapter 8

"Wait. Your aunt is still alive?" to say that Soma was shocked is a understatement. He was dumbfounded. Unable to grasp the idea of Charlie's aunt still breathing and kicking.

"Are you saying that I'm old?" with age comes wisdom, but sadly so does the fact that you take more comments the wrong way.

"Well you're not exactly young either" Granzoul respond with a smirk. He was sitting on a rather high branch. No one knows how the hell he got up there...

At first glance Charlie would come off as someone around the age of 40 - 50. But when you get a closer look you realize what a big mistake you made.

His face was covered in wrinkles. And the long snow white beard didn't help to hide the age either. He would always lie about his real age but Soma guessed his age somewhere around 60 - 68.

A dark look made its way to Charlie's face as he glared at Plankton. He turned his body so that he was facing the smirking Granzoul instead of the book he was previously reading. His lips curled up into a devious smile.

"You yourself cannot talk" he pauses to see Granzoul's face drop and eyes widen with horror, "Now if I remember correctly... Ah yes. You are indeed older than I am, correct?"

The two friends continued with the argument, oblivious that Soma continued to ponder over the thought of how his aunt was still alive.

Isn't she supposed to be like, what? 100? Maybe 120?

A sudden question snapped him out of his trance, "Charlie?" the old man looked over to the little boy, completely ignoring the rambling Granzoul.

"Yes, great one? You don't think I'm old, do you?" he asked with a sparkle of hope in his eyes. Soma avoided this question by voicing his, "Why are you mentioning your aunt anyway?"

Granzoul who realized a while ago that he was being ignored, stood next to the boy and beamed. "Just look at my little Master Soma! So observant! You have grown into a fine young ma—" his fangirling got interrupted by Charlie's sudden response.

"I've noticed that the patrols of the soldiers in the town has increased. They have suspicions that you are here" he sighed as he sat down on one of the nearby chairs.

"So? Why does it matter that I'm in town—"

"Because they see you as a threat"

Soma was taken aback. They saw him as a threat? But they've never even met him before, how can they just decide that he's a danger to everyone?

Charlie let out a tired sigh, "I'm sorry great one, but this is about your father. You know how the saying goes, 'like father like son'. They fear you'll become just like him" he finished.

...

Four hours ago the three had set off to where Charlie's aunt lived. They had to... 'hide'... Soma when they crossed the border. I won't go into detail, but let's just say that being stuffed without warning into a bag filled with silver utensils isn't the most fun activity there is.

Their journey would take them three days by foot, but if it were per horseback it would take the approximately a day and a half, if not less.

Time was catching up to them and soon it became dark.

Granzoul —being the paranoid freak that he is— decided to set up camp for the night. They chose a cave that was about a kilometer away and unpacked what was necessary. He left a while ago in search of fire wood, leaving both Charlie and Soma alone with the bags they brought with them.

The three year old boy couldn't take it anymore as he collapsed onto the ground. Charlie rushed to his side but Soma just waved him off. He was exhausted.

"Hikers, you have my pity" he breathed out as he admired the stars.

"Hikers? I don't believe I have heard of such a term" the old man said as he went to sit down next to the boy.

"Just forget I said anything" Soma told him as he rolled over onto his side to look at Charlie. He was looking at his hands with eyes that were filling with more concern by the second.

Although he didn't show it, something was bothering Soma as well. The people of the town feared him. The soldiers saw him as a threat. How?

He understood that it was all his father's fault but he's never even met the guy before. How can he possibly turn out like him? And how can he be a threat? He doesn't even have magic or anything special. No special features at all.

But that brings him back to the question, just who exactly is his father? What did he do to strike fear into the heart of everyone?

He knows he is a 'bastard' as one of the men who attacked them that night said, that much is clear.

"Out with it. What's wrong?" the boy suddenly voiced, almost giving the old man a heart attack.

Charlie sighed but nodded and slowly turned to face the boy. "I..." he hesitated and shook his head before continuing, "I think it's time I told you about your parents"

The end

Just kidding!
I know this chapter is very short buuuut now you have something that will keep you busy until next time!

Plus, now you have to suffer with a cliffhanger.

MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA— *cough cough*

Damn. I really need to work on that.