Finding

(32) Surprise

It was somewhat entertaining.

Tord was able to notice how a number of his men had their eyes bulging out at seeing him in the arms of his father while wearing a dress. That said, he was disappointed to know that Sebastian Phantom, Claudius Faust and Solomon Goldsmith (his first three servants and most trusted aides) were able to keep the surprise out of their faces.

Those three merely paused for a moment before smiling at him as if they knew what he was doing. Which in turn irked him a bit for some reason.

That said, Tord knew that he had something better to do. After all, he wouldn't have summoned his men if what he was going to do was important. Therefore, he smiled back at the three and gestured for his father to put him down.

Tord knew that with what's about to happen, he'd better distance himself first from the older Obelia. The man's presence and magic may not frontally harm him but if things were to go wrong then Tord would rather not take his chances of what was to come to him.

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Claude felt like something was amiss.

The whole Ball thing looked to be so well. That said, the way everyone was looking at his child was a bit unnerving.

It was as if his son held all the answers in the world and was their God to be worshiped. The pure adoration and loyalty that they were giving out could be felt in waves and Claude felt as if his very presence was being either questioned or ignored in the room.

Then what made matters all the more intriguing was that his son directly went up to the host and held up his hands as if he expected to be carried. And lo behold, mysterious Sebastian Michaelis immediately takes his son in his embrace and call's the room.

Then an announcement was made.

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Who knew that getting a whole large ballroom full of people to kneel at your feet and call you master would get his father raging for answers? Claude may have acted all cold and collected during the whole event but Tord could definitely feel a roaring fire underneath the elder's skin.

Tord could feel how the elder's magic was just waiting to be unleashed and he had half the mind to be curious enough on what would his father do with such anger.

"Athy, no, Tord. I want you to be honest with me," Claude pleaded as he paced back and forth at their home.

"Okay," Tord voiced out as he patiently he sat at an ornate looking chair and watched the man think over things.

"Was everything that they said true? That you are their lord master and you created them?"

Sighing at where things were going, Tord replied, "Papa, what they told you is true. I created them. They are my servants. Their loyalty is bound to me."

"But how—"

"You know of the concept of homunculi, right, Papa? Well, they're a lot like that. Except they're more like actual androids that have souls and could use magic.

I mean, their bodies are made up of metal and plastic parts. Their blood glows blue which I call Thirium. I basically programmed their code, appearance, function and attitude. So yeah, they're actually pretty much androids that look too close as a human. That said, they could also be considered as homunculi in the magical sense since some of their own codes developed and evolved into what's close to a soul. That, and they were made to be able to use magic." Tord confessed as he stared at his father.

"Oh..."

"Papa, look. I'm sorry for the sudden surprise.

But, with what happened in New York and us moving here to Norway to get away from the attacks made me consider the fact that we should get better security," the four-year-old admitted as he closed his eyes.

"By security means getting into contact with the Crescent Moon?"

"Yes. As much as the Crescent Moon is a pharmaceutical company, it's quite rather adept in terms of military training. To be exact, I personally made a number of them to be as such."

"How???"

"It's complicated," Tord remarked as he smiled ruefully.

"Tord..." Claude trailed off with a frustrated tone that had the four-year-old tempted to open his eyes. But Tord refused the temptation and instead leaned further into the chair which he sat on.

"It's still the same just like back then. I was Athy when things were great. Athansia when you were in your formal moods and Tord when you were either frustrated or angry. That said, I never heard you call me by my whole name before. Maybe in this life I could make you so livid you'd end up referring to me as such," he shared nonchalantly as he began taking off his doll shoes with his eyes still closed.

"What do you mean by this life?" Claude questioned as he was now in front of his son and knelt to come closer to the boy.

Tord finally opened his eyes and pulled up his knees to his chest as he replied, "It means what it means, Papa. This is my second chance in life and I don't want to mess it up."

A surprised look was on the elder's face and Tord basically heard the man take a deep breath. "So, you're not really a child..."

Smiling sadly, Tord admitted, "Physically speaking I am. Mentally? I'm an adult. That said, I never really had a childhood since the main family made things difficult and that some of your enemies are problematic enough as is, Papa.

If you're wondering what happened to you, you died quite rather early. You sacrificed yourself for me so I never really had the chance to know you better. Then, I was further forced to grow up.

I grew up as much I could; clawing my way through with what you left behind and making it better. Obelia Industries further grew into power that was well known in the world and I was basically known to be the 'Prince of Death' as I was your successor and child.

Then, things happened. I was forced to do things more up front and war occurred. I later on become Emperor and ruled the world. Respected and feared by many. I ruled in a manner that had people in favor of my power and authority but also hated me for the project it was hindering."

"You sound like you grew up to be quite rather well," Claude weakly supplied which had Tord giving an empty laugh.

"I was a fucked-up monster. Still am.

I may have ruled with enough glory and left a great legacy but I still failed. I failed since all the people I cared about are dead. You were dead. My friends were dead. Then the sole person who told me that he loved me for everything I am was also dead.

To be exact, the reason why I got here was because of him," Tord shared as closed his eyes again and now focused on the loud patter of rain.

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End Notes:

This is the servant trio that was mentioned earlier in the story.