The Inventor from Velothain

The Hermit

Jasper stopped. His eyes drifted to his tea cup, “Well, you see Edgar. There was a little discussion between your parents, social services and I about your wellbeing.”
“Don’t treat me like a child, Jasper.” Edgar warned.
“I’m not. I’m just trying to let you down gently. Social services decided it might’ve been better for the two of you to live with me.”
“And you thought it was appropriate to keep it from me and Florence?” Edgar glared.
“It’s not at all like that.” Jasper remained remarkably calm, “I would’ve thought your parents had told you.”
“No, you didn’t, you liar!” Edgar yelled as he stood up from his seat.
“Don’t you dare call me a liar, Edgar Swan.” Jasper boomed. In the few days that he’d known his uncle, he’d only seen him as an eccentric, happy go lucky man. To see him like that, scared him more than he would’ve liked to admit.
“You have no idea how much I felt for you both, as much as you may not have noticed, but you could never live in a place like that.”
Edgar swallowed, he couldn’t bear to look at Jasper, as much as he wanted to go home, he tried to understand his and his sister’s position.
“Edgar, what your parents were doing was neglect. No child should go through something like that.” Uncle Jasper’s voice lowered. He sounded more protective than angry.
“I still don’t understand why you kept it from me and Florence.”
“I just wanted to let you have that bit of innocence.”
“You mean, ignorance?”
“I do not. I believe that you and Florence are capable of the most amazing things and I only want the best from you.”
Edgar scoffed. “Why? You haven’t known us for that long.”
Uncle Jasper smiled as if he knew something that Edgar didn’t. “I was there when the two of you were born, did you know that?”
Edgar shook his head.
“There are a lot of things about your family that you don’t know about.” Uncle
Jasper tapped is nose.
“Can I tell Florence?”
“About your parents? Yes, I’m sure she’d like to know just as much as you.”
A million thoughts were racing through Edgar’s head. he needed sometime away
from everything, to just talk to someone.
“Percy.” He breathed. He looked at Uncle Jasper with an awkward grin. “I’ll be
back in a minute.”
He leapt to his feet and ran for the attic.
“Wait, where are you going!?” Jasper called.
“My room!”

*****

Edgar knew that if Florence was with him, she’d want, more than anything to
Rummage through the boxes and bundles. Edgar wasn’t quite as nosy as she was,
But he was a little curious about Velothain and the multi-nation universe.
He looked at the pile of boxes at the end of the room, he was pretty sure that he
and Florence hadn’t explored that part yet. He crept over to it, careful not to give
himself away, stepping on a creaky floorboard. Edgar opened a small box with the
initial’s ‘ES’ on it. He reached in and found a small journal inside. He opened it to
the first page.

Dear Jasper.
How are you doing? I’m doing well thanks. Its been quite lonely here, so much so
that I decided to create my own friend. Before you laugh, I’d just like to tell you
that I managed to actually get him to work, so prepare to eat your words!
I may be writing to you as though we’re talking right now. To tell you the truth, I
really miss you and I love you, more than you will ever know and I miss you. I know
that we are in two separate worlds (both figuratively and literally, ha ha).
Anyway, there are his blueprints, just in case anything happens to me. The
blueprints and notes should tell you all about how to take care of him.
Okay, thanks and I’ll see you very soon.

The name had been smudged out.
Who could that be? Edgar thought. He flipped through the journal.
Hang on. Was that Percy?