As Claude approached his home, the comforting aroma of his mother's cooking greeted him, carrying with it a warmth that softened his otherwise tense thoughts.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he quietly slipped inside, careful not to startle Dalia, who was humming a light tune in the kitchen.
Her humming filled the house, a sweet melody that resonated with peace and happiness. She was clearly in high spirits, likely because the Holy Ceremony was so near.
The idea of her son participating in such a grand event seemed to bring her uncontainable joy.
On his way to his room, something caught Claude's eye.
Hanging neatly on a wooden rack was the ceremonial white robe, pristine and adorned with intricate golden embroidery.
Beside it sat a delicate crown, carefully decorated with the budding Serene Flowers that would bloom fully during the ceremony.
Claude paused, his gaze lingering on the robe. A bittersweet expression crossed his face.
'It's a shame I won't be able to wear it, especially when mom has been making it for a month,' he thought, his fingers briefly brushing the fabric before he turned and made his way to the kitchen.
"Mother…" he called softly.
Dalia, who was stirring something fragrant in a pot, turned at the sound of his voice. Her face lit up immediately as she saw him.
"Claude! Where have you been this time?" she said with a mix of gentle chastisement and excitement.
"Tomorrow is the day you'll be reborn! It's a special occasion, so you must rest."
She stepped toward him, placing her warm hands on his shoulders.
Her blue eyes sparkled with joy, shining like the calm, soothing waves of a serene ocean. The golden rings around her irises seemed to brighten as if reflecting her boundless pride.
"I just know you'll have an incredible mana affinity," she continued, her voice filled with hope.
"And then, you'll finally be able to travel the world like you've always dreamed of!"
For a moment, Claude was struck silent, staring into her eyes. Her words carried him back to a memory, one so vivid it felt as if he could still smell the blooming wisteria and hear the soft chirping of spring birds.
It had been a beautiful day, a perfect spring morning when he'd sat on their veranda, doodling with a stick of charcoal on a piece of parchment.
"What are you drawing, Claude?" Dalia had asked, leaning over his shoulder with curiosity.
Young Claude, ever eager to show off, held up his crude sketch proudly. It was a doodle of a gray-bearded wizard holding a staff, shouting, "You shall not pass!" at a fiery demon.
"This, Mom! This is where I'll be when I'm older!" he declared with a wide grin.
"I'm going to be a mage and travel with a small human!"
His bold proclamation hadn't come from some deep calling. It had been born from boredom and just like that, his mind playing the Lord of the Necklace trilogy for the hundredth time.
But Dalia's reaction had been genuine and full of joy.
"Really? My son has such a big dream!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands happily. "You'll make a wonderful mage someday!"
The memory brought a faint laugh to Claude's lips, but reality quickly weighed him down again.
His mother's joy had always been tied to his dreams, but today was different.
He couldn't let her hope for a future that could never happen. He had to tell her the truth—and convince her to leave this town with him tonight.
"Mother, I need to tell you something important. Let's talk," Claude said, his tone unusually serious.
Dalia paused mid-stir, her eyes widening in concern. "Alright, let me finish this soup first," she replied with a soft smile, masking the unease brewing inside her.
After a few moments, they moved to the backyard. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, the warm light fading as dusk approached.
They sat on the weathered bench beneath the large oak tree, its shadow stretching across the garden.
Claude sat rigidly, his hands clenched in his lap. He struggled to find the right words, his heart pounding in his chest.
Time felt like it was slipping through his fingers, and he knew he had to say it now.
"I… I'm a daemon," he began, his voice trembling. "I was born with a dark affinity."
The words hung heavy in the air. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, staring instead at the ground as though it might swallow him whole.
Dalia's hand flew to her mouth, her blue eyes wide with shock. At first, she thought it must be some sort of joke.
But as she saw the way his hands shook and his shoulders slumped under the weight of his confession, she realized he was entirely serious.
"Claude…" she began, her voice wavering, but he cut her off, his words rushing out in desperation.
"So, Mother, please… can you come with me?" His eyes finally met hers, filled with fear and hope.
"Let's get out of this shitty town and head north. I heard there's a place where daemons and witches can live in peace."
His voice stumbled over itself, betraying his nerves. He was terrified she would refuse.
Terrified she would choose her husband, Enzo, over him. Terrified she would see him as nothing but a monster.
But instead, Dalia smiled, her eyes softening with understanding. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Claude, I'm so sorry I didn't realize it sooner," she murmured, her voice thick with guilt.
"It must have been so hard for you… you must have been so scared all this time."
Her voice broke, and Claude felt the warmth of her tears against his neck.
Dalia's heart ached as she held her son, realizing how much he must have suffered in silence.
She, too, had endured rejection and scorn for being a witch. She knew all too well the pain of being seen as something unnatural.
"Mother…" Claude whispered, closing his eyes and letting himself sink into her embrace.
For a moment, he felt the kind of solace only she could provide.
But the urgency of the situation pulled him back. "We need to leave," he said firmly, pulling away to meet her gaze. "Immediately."
Dalia wiped her tears and nodded, her expression resolute. "You're right. We have to leave before the Church finds out the truth."
She placed a hand on his cheek, her eyes filled with love and determination.
"I'll come with you, Claude. I'll follow you, even to the deepest pits of hell if that's what it takes."
Her words pierced Claude's heart. He felt a mixture of happiness and pain. Happiness that his mother stood by him without hesitation, but pain because he couldn't be the son she deserved.
A prodigy with a bright future, free of burdens. Instead, he was dragging her into uncertainty and danger.
'What kind of son am I?' he thought bitterly, watching as Dalia stood and headed inside to pack before Enzo came home.
She moved with purpose, her love for him outweighing any fear or doubt.
Claude remained on the bench for a moment, staring at the fading sky. His chest felt heavy, and his thoughts churned.
"I'll protect you, Mother," he whispered to himself. "No matter what it takes."
As Claude moved to help his mother pack, a shadow shifted in the corner of his vision, growing and twisting until it took the form of a towering chaos hound.
It was Sun, his massive figure looming as he bowed his head respectfully. In his mouth was a letter, carefully held to avoid damage.
Claude took the letter and unfolded it, scanning the brief message:
"Change of plan. Meet me on the outskirts of the forest. From there, we'll pass through to the north."
His brows furrowed as unease settled in his chest.
"I found it on Theo's side table, my lord," Sun explained, his voice a low rumble. "But I couldn't find him anywhere."
Claude remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. The contents of the note and Theo's sudden disappearance didn't sit right.
"This… is suspicious," he muttered under his breath, rereading the message.
He couldn't be sure if this was Theo's handwriting, but something about the situation felt wrong.
Why would Theo leave such an obvious note behind as if he knew Claude would come searching?
'And where is he? Based on our plan, he should be here helping us pack. Why the sudden change?'