They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

I couldn't say anything. All words of protests and complains plugging in my brain flushed, drain out by just a few words. 

"Hey, kid. This will be a long ride. Wanna hear some interesting stories about how we meet with your Dad?" 

"I've heard enough." His mouth formed a small o. 

"Not everything kid. Okay, let's rewind. Rewind, rewind, rewind. This story may not make sense to you but it's evidently connected to that Seeker of yours. And the long history as to why he was chosen as the 'Seeker'." He clearly emphasized the word 'Seeker'. He lean towards the driver's seat.

"Can you pull over to that pizza store? Yep, yep. There."  He smack Dad's arm, whose sitting without moving on my right. "And you, buy your son one box of pizza slice and sodas will you?" 

My Dad, moved to the driver's seat in robotic motion. I still cringed at his black sunken eyes. Lista clapped his hand for attention.

"So, while we wait, let's start the interesting storytelling shall we?" He gave me lopsided smile and I growled in response. 

"Once upon a time, in a far far far away realm. There lived a warrior whose worship by all." 

Just by the intro alone, I feel sick in my ears. 

"He's a celebrated Ranker among his teammates. Among the Gifted People, the Rank Elders can't help but admire his strength. Can you imagine he can take them on without blessings, equip with nothing except his favorite weapon, the cross swords?" 

I frown. A Ranker? What, like Magnus?

"The warrior lived valiantly. He always fight for the justice. His drive to always protect the weak never considered races. He saves baby Beasts when other Rankers abused them like stray animals. He saves women and children Faeries when they were shipped to slavery by other smugglers." Lista's eyes turned glassy. As if he's recounting someone's life he adore.

Or the past that he longs. 

"But you know the Gifted People and the Rank Ruler." 

I blinked. But didn't say anything. I'm more tempted to bang his head to the window pane until the glass shatters but the chain is restraining me. I can't even move a finger. How am I gonna eat a whole box of pizza?

"They envy those who were better of them. In the magical realm, your strength is everything. To be a Ranker is a great honor. And yet, some people still prioritize their own wealth and pride rather than what's the best for the kingdom. That is why Gifted People are doomed." He looked at me sideways.

"The valiant warrior save a Faery woman who's almost killed by his comrades, giving chances for his enemies who envy him a reason to persecute him in public." He let out a miserable sigh.

Confirming my suspicion that he's definitely talking about his past. That should put his story about him a son from Rank Elders family a blatant lie. I wonder why this tale is familiar.

"And they did. Faeries, especially women, conceive differently than humans. It will only take them days to give birth to a baby. The warrior didn't know this. He was stripped out of his title, his immortality Mark as Ranker and put to custody for months. The Faery never failed to visit him every night. Taking with her, their son. The warrior felt sorry for him. He was born accursed of the world. If the public knew of his existence, a half Faery and a half mortal living among them.. That would surely result to chaos. So the warrior resigned. He gave up trying to get his title and his honor back. Instead of death as punishment, he was sentenced for exile. Along with the Faery woman and their son. The warrior was contented. He's able to find a new meaning to his life again. And that was enough."

He glanced at the window pane and rest his elbow on the door handle. Eyes, certainly mournful. If nothing had happened this evening, if I wasn't physically and magically bound in this chain, I would have put my arms around him, pat his back and let him cry in my shoulder.

But he's an enemy. So thought dismissed.

"But the Rank Elders wasn't done with them yet. The warrior's son was forcedly taken from him. Her wife, the Faery woman immediately died after. He's left with nothing except the bones of his wife on his arms. He can't go back and retrieve his son from the Rank Elders. He's no longer able to enter the protective barrier. He was forced to roam the empty desert. Carrying nothing, except the unquenching thirst for revenge."

I looked down at his hand. They're shaking. He's trying to hold himself together. Trying to act tough. But inside, he's tearing apart. I know by that look. That's what Dad looks like everytime I crept in his room, holding Mom's picture. 

Back when he thought he was Dan Augustus. Not Dan, the Faery slave. 

"The warrior was able to cross the Dead Land, set foot on the territory of the Faeries. His thoughts running wild. He wants to die in the hands of the Faeries. After forcing them to find out what killed his wife. He's willing to burn down the world if that's what he must do for the justice of his family. What he didn't expect…is the Faeries expecting his coming, welcoming him in open arms and showed him… what exactly happened on that day his wife died." Now his voice started to crack. 

And I'm starting to get worried.

"She was slowly killed. Her lungs was punctured. She's already heaving from the long walks under the blazing sun. The disappearance for their son took a huge toll on her, it escalates the damage on her lungs and she died. Right there on the warrior's arms. He mourned for her death. Swore an oath to destroy the Gifted people…for what they've done to his family. The Faeries gave him what he needs. Power." Lista held out his hands. 

Black sparks of lightning crack and the veins on his wrist pop out. Turning all black. I froze… 

"Let me show you what kind of powers the Faeries gave me Lance," he sneers. "My wife gave me half of her abilities, she call it 'Koha technique'. Of course, my son inherited it. And the Faeries? They multiplied the intensity ten folds." 

My heart skipped a beat. All is clicking into place. Like puzzle pieces finally joining together. Lista is Magnus's Dad. And Magnus was chosen as the Seeker because of Lista, the Deities plotted to have the son go against the father as punishment…

For his treason.