Chapter 16: Budding proof

"To start it off, since I have a short break before my new job starts next week, I will accompany you guys to get your new ID. We have a lot to catch up… We'll do this slowly…" Will pats Sean on the shoulder.

Sean knows what Will suggested he should do. Sean also knows that he probably wouldn't understand his family's thought process even if he go to their doorstep right now and beg them to explain.

Will suggests for Sean to work hard and raise his living standards and career to match or surpass his family's before meeting them so that he could talk to them on an even ground. If he confront them during that time, Sean wouldn't be looked down on and receive biased treatment because he's the family's 'useless' child. Sean could 'talk' to them and understand them better once he sees for himself the world at the same height as how his family sees it.

Sean understand all this. This is very plausible and probably the best way for Sean to realize what he wants. His desire to know what his family thinks of him and why. How did they manage to treat their flesh and blood like that for all his life?

Sean looks at Will with a serious gaze. "Will, do you think I can even raise that high in life?... Clark enterprise dominated a different country's market in the previous era, and its growing even more wealth in the current era…" Although his family's familial compassion and humanity are questionable, they are royalties at their own right. Their success in the commerce and market industry makes them one of the top. They were at their highest success before and they're growing rapidly in the new era.

Before Sean could raise to a success that his family achieved, he needs to ground his own bones from working hard.

That could just be easily said but it couldn't be done without the resolve as tough as steel and skills to supplement his steps in traversing that bumpy road. Sean now have a stepping stone, Will's involvement with someone so powerful as the explorer's organization's founder could be Sean's ticket to the expressway of success.

Sean don't really feel good about using Will's success as his stepping stone. He don't even know if he could succeed at that very first step.

Will could see Sean's reluctance through his body language. He grips Sean's shoulders to keep him still and looks deep in his eyes. "What are you talking about? Of course you can… you're one of the smartest and strongest people I know…" Hidden in those words, Will is saying that Sean should depend on him in this. This should be nothing to him.

"Thank you, Will…" Sean clearly sees that going along with Will's suggestion could only bring him positive outcome even if he inevitably fails.

He could work on his own future with his hands and he wouldn't have to waste his precious time in bending his own life by what his parents wants for him. Just like what uncle Liam said, Sean don't need to choose a paved path, he could pave his own path. That choice would naturally be hard, but it has more value is he works for it himself and could go wherever direction he wants.

With that, Will and Sean falls into a deep conversation as if it were just the two of them there. Others could see that Sean now has a newfound resolve to stand up on his own two feet and wouldn't be easily swept along by his family's tyrannical behaviors. So they are all very glad for him. They are also thankful that Will arrived and was able to help him soon.

Jess and Rick is really glad to finally reunite with Will but they are also very concerned for Sean and want what's best for him. This time, its probably best for him to let the two of them talk. Will's wise words, intellect, skills, and experience are something not everyone have. He's the best person to talk to Sean with credibility in his every words.

As Will said, they would still have some time until next week to do what they want to catch up for all those times they weren't with each other. They could do all those things they were planning tomorrow or perhaps the next day after that.

Soon, Rick and Jess have to go home now that they could see for themselves that Sean has finally calmed down. Jess went first because she has to take the bus or else she's going to get home late, and she couldn't afford that because her parents must have put efforts to prepare her graduation party. While Rick didn't go until dinner since his house is just a few steps away anyway.

Claire and Liam actually prepared for Sean's graduation celebration. A small feast. They all finally get to eat in the diner as a whole family. Will talked to his parents how he's been, although they've been talking about this matter inside the VR world so there really isn't much to say.

Then, Claire and Liam let Tom play with his two big bros for a bit and then they distracted him with something else inside the VR world. They know that they should let Will talk to Sean. It's good for Will to have someone he's in good terms with in his age. Someone like Sean who seem to be able to match him. While Sean also needs to hear some wise opinions from someone his peer.

"Your family should be very important. But it doesn't mean you have to depend in them your whole life, and it's not like you depended in them since the beginning… Just be grateful that they have given birth to you and then focus on yourself. When you become successful in life, you can throw all what you owe them if you feel that you have the responsibility to do so. If they asked for it, once you have more than enough success and wealth under your name, you could give them as much as they want without having to crawl and dig hard for it. If they become too unreasonable with their terms, you'll have enough power to shut them up…" Will speaks while reminiscing about his parents in his past life. They were very troublesome when they turned old enough for their retirement days. They kept asking for unreasonable things from Will as if they've been there for him when he was a child. They don't know what Will wanted then, they also don't care. But as long as Will was useful, they gave him all his basic needs to survive. Will was thankful for them no matter what, but it doesn't mean he had to live his whole life dedicated to make them satisfied.

Will feels quite sympathetic to Sean. They seem to have been through and is going through the same experiences regarding their parents. Will could give Sean what he wants to hear now because he himself experienced all the hardship and pain of that situation.

Will couldn't possibly talk about this in front of his parents. They already changed location inside Sean's room to talk as much as they want.

"Your mom's cake tasted very good by the way…" Sean wants to lighten up the mood for a bit. He smiles at Will quite weakly.

"I don't think she could make something like that… it's probably a takeout order…" Will says nonchalantly.

"Well, she must have at least chose it right?..." Sean chuckles. His heart felt so heavy before with all complex mix of emotions. Now, he could finally feel a balance after hearing what he needed from Will.

"Actually, I have another reason why I really want to talk to you in private…" Will says to initiate an even more important topic.

Sean couldn't understand. He looks at Will with confusion since he don't know what else they need to talk in private. He is very thankful to Will for listening and imparting him his genius ideas. But then a sudden change of topic. Sean couldn't quite catch up.

"I've been thinking about you every single day for three years… I can't tell others because of some complicated matters. I have a very big secret that even my parents shouldn't know… can you promise not to tell anyone once I tell you?" Will looks somewhere in the corner of the room and says so solemnly.

Sean couldn't believe his ears. He just have been through a rollercoaster of emotions and feel very cordial towards Will for being there. However, why is he hearing something romantic from Will's mouth? Is this just his imagination? There seems to be some ambiguous implications behind his words at the start of his sentence.

"You've been thinking about me?..." Sean's heart starts beating faster. Will's seriousness also couldn't be easily read this time.

Will nods slightly. He then gaze seriously at Sean and ask once again. "Promise me you won't tell anybody else. You'll have to keep it for yourself. I promise I will take care of you and help you with all I can regarding the matters with your family…" Will thinks that just as always, Sean could understand him whenever he talks like this. Unfortunately, Sean is thinking something completely different. It went through far more than misunderstanding.

Unlike Will that's ignorant in the romantic matters, Sean isn't. He's also very open about same-sex romance and even finds them beautiful. He's also still in the middle of writing the novel he started three years ago, inspired by the love of his nurse, Arnold for his colleague Simon.

They're both men so Sean could understand why Will should keep this matter from everybody else, especially his parents. Deciphering Will's words this way, Sean could piece a logical but completely different story from what Will originally wanted to say.

Sean peeks at Will. The other have grown into a handsome fine young man. He has a sharp bearing that especially suits his looks and style. Sean bet that a lot of girls could have their hearts stolen by Will once they see him serious at his work. Not only that, Will is very successful at a young age too. He was a child genius with infinite future prospect. He's also very tall, have wide shoulders and admirable physical features that fits the desirable ratios for men's beauty standard. He suits formal wear very much as well as the job behind the table. He fits very well the role of an overbearing CEO in romantic films and movies.

Thinking like this, Sean becomes even more embarrassed since he realizes that he feels something for Will once he becomes conscious about him in that direction. His face blooms a beautiful pinkish glow while his pounding heart permeates the room. He's so scared for Will to hear this so he clutch his chest.

"Will… I don't know what to say…" Sean is sitting on his bed while Will is in front of him on the study chair. Sean unconsciously scoots far from Will. He slowly slithers backwards until his back presses against the wall. When he couldn't escape backwards any longer, his body positions itself in a defensive stance automatically. His legs curls in front of his chest, then, his hand grabs the pillow to put it in front of him to protect his whole body from Will.

"Just promise me that you won't tell anybody about it… I know this will be shocking and hard to take. But please understand. I have my reasons… I really need your presence to make this work. All my plans from three years ago until now includes you with the biggest part… just promise me… please…" Will turns desperate seeing Sean's obvious reluctance. Will's eyes looks practically begging for Sean to accept him. This is very unlikely of him. He's wearing an expression and delicate side that Will probably never showed anybody else before. This tickles Sean's heartstrings with something indescribably cordial feeling. He can't possibly turn down the other right away when he looks so desperate like this. If he think of it, this is something he also have to carry since it's partly his responsibility why Will is feeling this way.

"I… I understand. I swear not to tell anyone. But please understand, I'll probably need some time to think for myself about it…" Sean could only agree for the time being. They will see for themselves if this would work but if it won't, Sean wouldn't want to cut ties with Will since he's already a precious person for him. The whole Merlin family are.

Of course, something like this could happen. They are now in their teenage years. It's the time for them to have budding feelings for someone. Soon, their budding feelings Will bloom into indescribable heat. Sean's face is now fuming with heat while imagining it.

Hearing Sean's promise, Will heaves a sigh of relief. Sean says that he would need some time for himself to think about it. Of course, that's normal considering his secret could put so much weight on the other's shoulders.

"Thank you… the secret I have all this time… have very great importance to the government and to the whole world itself even. I hope you understand why this needs to be kept with the highest secrecy…" Will's face suddenly turns to his professional one.

Sean hearing this couldn't help to think that it's absurd. How can Will's crush for him be that great to become important to the government and the world itself?

Will then drops a few atomic bombs right at Sean's presumptuous and absurd fantasies. The world is in an eminent threat by what's lurking inside the dark mountain. It's amassing dark energy and only waits for itself to be born and release its chaos to the whole world one day. Will was the first to discover it's existence and then initiated a long term plan against it. He's the mysterious founder of the explorer's organization to gather energy gems as much as possible.

"With the combination of both our abilities, we could create the ultimate weapon against that thing. You see, that thing should be made out of pure dark energy similar to your summons. Using the energy gems that I gathered all this time, we could build something similar to it. A growing and living weapon of mass destruction. With my help, our version will be under strict control while also prevents it from blowing up like last time…" Will concludes his explanation with Sean's importance to his whole plan.

Sean feels a relief to some extent that it is not what he was thinking of, but also shocked in all those revelation with very heavy weight of importance. Sean is even more shocked when he finally realizes how absurd he is to even think that he and Will could start a romantic relationship. It's because Sean have tinted spectrum that openly welcomes romance of every kind. The fact that he's also now in the sentimental teenage years played a big part.

As if a volcano fuming with lava, Sean could feel his face and body emitting hot steam from shock and embarrassment. He couldn't help but hide his face on his knees from being seen by Will and couldn't utter a word.

"Yes… all those things I said regarding my work… research and achievements are all a lie. I am the mysterious founder of the explorer's organization all along…" Seeing Sean's shocked and uncomfortable body language, Will could understand how upsetting all this could be. "I'll give you some time to calm down an think about this seriously. We'll talk again next time once we get another chance to be in a private space…"

Sean nods under the pillow. He's currently torturing himself with introspection, internal fights, self-blame, and could only turn into a pitiful curled up ball.

He could only silently wait for Will to leave before he could possibly look up. However, Will sure is taking his time from leaving. Is there something more that he want? He could feel Will is moving from the chair and stands up. However, instead of going outside the room, Will climbs up on the bed instead.

Sean jerks and looks up in surprise. His steaming red face finally gets some exposure to some cooler air. However, it only turns even more hot and red seeing Will's face getting closer. For some inexplicable reason, Will is crawling on the bed with his usual serious face while looking straight at Sean.

"Will?..." Sean nervously mutters.

"I just need to get something…" Will says so with his eyes as if it could burrow through a hole into Sean.

What could Will want to get now? No, Sean shouldn't assume just like what he did so earlier or It will only end up in him thinking about something so embarrassing. However, Will don't seem to show any signs of stopping. His usual face even looks like a wild animal that's slowly aiming and stalking his prey.

Sean could only gawk at Will's face with a dead blank dumbfounded expression.

At this proximity, Sean could see Will's sharp facial features in detail. His facial structure is a reminiscent of an elegant feline with the best possible way. His fair skin, his plump lips that looks natural and suits his other features, his slim sharp nose with the appropriate width and height. He have big round eyes with slight sharp edges while his jet black eyebrows and shiny sleek back hair glimmers from the fluorescent light. He looks like the sexy and human version of the AI cat in the VR world.

Will's irises looks especially dangerous because of their magnetic charms. Like big black void that could suck anything once they peer at them.

Sean's heart pounds louder and louder once again. He could hear Will's faint and calm breathing. God, he could even feel it with his skin.

Sean's summon are also affected with the emotions of their master. They scoot and huddle into the corner of the room, away from Will

Will's scent drift into the air and Sean smells a waft of it. The scent is like the pheromones that are released by a panther alpha to seduce, making Sean feel some heat under his belly. Although he has ideas regarding romance but he's after all, still inexperienced and thus susceptible regarding this matter. The fact that they're alone in the bedroom is also very controversial that sparks Sean's every nerves.

"Please don't mind. I just needed to touch it for a bit… then, it would end…" Will says mysteriously.

Sean closes his eyes shut. Will is probably going to 'get' and 'touch' his lips for a kiss. With this thought, Sean can't help but swallow a large gulp of saliva.

Sean waits for a long time. However, nothing is happening. He then faintly senses Will getting down the bed. He opens his eyes and see Will now standing up on the floor. His hand his glimmering with complex lines.

"I enchanted the walls to seal any vibrations from defusing outside. We can't risk our privacy or we will get in some serious trouble…" Will says with his sharp eyes.

Sean then remembers that Will did something like touched the wall behind him earlier, right after they entered the room. He sat briefly on the bed, but then inexplicably found another seat.

Just behind this wall is Tom's room. Will can't afford to let even his brother hear any contents of their conversation just now.

"Have a good night…" Will left those words and exits the room

Sean slump his face on his bed and covers his pillow over his head. He want to dig a hole to bury himself right now.

Sean understands that Will have absolutely no concept of intimacy. That's why, what he did just now was nothing for him. He didn't even bother to ask Sean to move aside.

Sean didn't learn any better and assumed once again, only to be bathed and drown in embarrassment the next moment its proven he was overthinking something absurd.

Sean couldn't have a 'good night' as Will said. He couldn't even sleep well and welcomes the next morning with uncomfortable feeling.

Sean is a lot more overwhelmed about the fact that he thought romantically towards Will. Not the fact that his family wants to bring him back all of a sudden, not the revelation of Will's identity as the great founder or that the world is in danger.

It's probably because Sean was emotionally unstable earlier that day, but then Will came like his guardian angel to help him eventually get through it.

Sean is open about any kinds of romantic relationship but he never usually think about it happening for himself. In fact, he never thought of anyone, regardless of their gender romantically. He never experienced feelings that way, until now. He never even got to question his sexuality but it seems to have proven itself that he probably likes men. Or perhaps just Will. He's an exception.

Sean tries thinking about having romantic relationship with other boys but he can't. He is repulsed by even that thought. He does it for girls again but it shows the same result.

"Oh my God…" Sean could only mutter.

"Sean? Are you alright? Did you think through the matters regarding your parents the whole night? You look exhausted…" Claire looks at Sean worriedly.

"Y-yeah…" Sean couldn't possibly tell her that he seems to be developing romantic feelings for her son.

"Will you be fine to go out and get your new ID? Rick will probably come by soon… we could come along with you to get it another time if your not feeling well…" Liam suggests.

Claire and Liam figured that Will already talked it out with Sean how to response to his family. Sean probably realized already that he don't have to choose between anyone but himself. They are glad and feels relieved for him for the time being.

"I think I will be fine, uncle Liam… it won't take much time anyway and I could take a rest after that" Sean reply. Rick and Jess, as well as Will is looking forward to get their IDs. He can't rain in their parade now just because he's having a personal dilemma.

"Okay then… we will head out to work first. Please get along well with Tom and Will as always…" Claire left these and then head out with her husband.

Tom wakes up later. It's finally the long awaited vacation and his big brother is here so he looks forward to bond with him in exploring the Ardent city. However, it seems like his brother still haven't woken up.

"Will is probably very tired. Let's do something else while waiting for him…" Sean explains to Tom.

Soon, Rick arrives, enthusiastically ushering them to leave to the city hall to get their new IDs issued. Unfortunately, Will is still asleep. He could only join Sean and Tom to play a game inside the VR world. Jess also arrives in the VR world seeing that others logged in.

Will stretch his body. His bed is now quite small for him. It was only three years ago that he slept on it every single night. His original room also looks smaller compared to his residence attached to his office at the organization's HQ.

He washes his face and realizes the products and items in the bathroom are all new and appropriate for him. His wardrobe are also filled with new clothes that fits him perfectly. The room seems to have been regularly cleaned too. Will could feel the warmth of his mother's care for him.

He put on a casual combination of clothes. He changes from his sleep wear to a large dark blue t-shirt and fresh-feeling cotton jugger pants with pockets on its thighs. Its better to wear breezy clothes that could still cover his skin properly because it will probably be hot outside. This style is so different from his formal suit and tie. Will also chooses a casual pair of sneakers and a black cap and shades to complete the look.

He woke up too late and it will soon turn noon. Arriving at the living room, he sees everybody on the sofa. They should be in the VR world now. He informs them that he's ready to go and they all logout right away.

The public bus is still popular in the city. Owning their own car is useless since they couldn't be used in outside world. It's better to rely in the public transports unless the have hover cars and work in other cities.

The group of boys arrives at the bus stop. Will's tall and cool bearing easily attracts the women waiting along with them. Will's posture is straight and elegant similar to the models. While his handsome facial features couldn't be hidden by the cap and shades.

He looks relatively young but he effortlessly emits a matured aura. Not only that, his age is now considered adult.

Sean and Rick could see that everybody's gazes are on Will and they couldn't help but feel the same.

Sean takes a peek at Will's casual look. Formal or casual style, both of them could fit perfectly on Will's outstanding physical ratio. Even ugly clothes might just look good on him and could sell it if he models. He blushes once again once he realize his thought of Will. Also, this person is the most successful man in the world. A genius among all geniuses. He couldn't help but feel amazed by Will's seemingly perfect existence.

In the bus, Will and Tom sits beside each other while Sean and Rick sits behind them.

"Big bro… when can I go along with you guys in the city?..." Tom is so sad about the thought that everyone around him is leaving for the capital city. Tom still need six more year's before he could be considered adult. That's why he have to stay with his parent and study in school.

"Tommy, you will be nine soon. You have to protect mom and dad now that you're big and strong. In the future, once I become successful, I want all of you to relocate in the capital city along with me. So until then, you have to stay with mom and dad okay?..." Will's plan will work to the final stages now. Until then, he still can't show all his cards. Will know the approximate time until the primordial vampire is born. If that happens sooner, it will probably lack some strength, and Will have more than enough means prepared to prevent that thing from harming anybody. Will's measures where Sean's ability is included is to make his plan fail proof.

He didn't just wait without doing anything and amassed energy gems all this time, he also built his own army of automated magical weapons and magical monitoring devices that constantly revolves around the dark mountain. In the air, under the ground, and even in space.

That's why, the ardent town is relatively safe despite its proximity to the dark mountain. There's also the factor that strong ability users are attracted to the city's legacy and keeps appearing one after another. This transforms the town into the most fortified city in the world.

Will knows this because of his organization's base here have the highest numbers of high ranked explorers. The original townspeople also have experienced facing off against dark creatures and strive to strengthen themselves everyday.

The 'ultimate' weapon is for Will to utilize flexibly in varying unexpected case-scenarios. It could patch up any loopholes in his plans. Every possible event that could happen once 'that' time arrives needs to be included. Will learned this the hard way.

Will's group meets up with Jess at the next bus stop, and then they acquired their new IDs quite easily since their peers were hot-blooded and got theirs earlier. Some even got theirs yesterday right after they graduated. This cleared the city hall now after that rush from early in the morning.

"You still haven't got yours Will?" Rick looks at Will's ID in surprise.

"Yeah. I have my worker's ID from the GEPCA but I couldn't have my adult licensee since that could only be taken when you turn fifteen in the town or city where your permanent address indicated in your certificates is…" Will nods and explains.

"Oh… we just naturally expected that the GEPCA could have done something regarding that…" Jess finds it a bit unprecedented.

"Remember that the GEPCA functions under the government. Not the other way around. Will's case was special, but it doesn't mean he could cheat the government…" Sean explains.

With that, the others could now understand.

"How about we visit the explorer's organization, now that we're fifteen and have our IDs, we should be able to enter their branch!" Rick suggest.

"You with Jess should go on ahead…" Will replies.

Rick and Jess couldn't understand. They look at the other three and realize that they have the underage Tom with them. Someone has to look after him. But why Sean also couldn't go?

"You don't want to go Sean? Aren't you curious as well?" Jess looks at Will while asking Sean this.

Actually, Will already entered his and Sean's cover positions and titles in the systems in the explorer's organization so that they could confidently come and go in the branches and the HQ in the future. If they head inside the branch now, the AI might identify them as important personnel directly under the mysterious founder.

"Well…" Sean could vaguely feel that Will have important reasons and cooks up a lie. "Don't you think that since we're going with Will to try our luck in the organization's HQ, wouldn't it be better to make our first experience fresh and memorable? I mean, we could take our first step in the organization's HQ instead…"

"You think so? I think differently though. Isn't it better to familiarize ourselves in their facilities since we want to work with them?" Jess couldn't understand Sean's logic for the first time.

"You're right… you should go along with them Sean…" Will pat Sean on the shoulder. Will temporarily masked Sean's pseudo job title in the system.

Will was too swept up with his excitement that his plan is still slowly proceeding as expected. But its now proven that he was just being hasty.

With this, Sean looks at Will with confusion. Is he just playing with him?

The three then went in the explorer's branch while Will and Tom looks around the nearby stores.

"Wow…" the three releases their amazement in dazed mutters.

The branch both outside and inside looks advanced. Levitating AI robots are everywhere conversing with the explorers regarding their missions and ranks. There also people coming back from exterminating magical beasts. They brought their cleaned carcasses and put it in the desk where there are few human employees. The organization functions with the higher percentage of AI workers compared to humans. Although the very thought of that in the previous era is absurd because this means less jobs available for the humans, but in the current era, everyone are ability users, while the majority of them are battle oriented. It wouldn't make sense to let these potential warriors to work behind the desk or their fighting skills might regress instead. In the new era, weakness basically means less opportunities, limited future prospects, and even death.

It couldn't be seen in other parts of the town but all people here have varying armors and weapons. These dangerous equipment would be illegal for those who don't have permit from the government or IDs from the explorer's organization.

Rick and Jess immediately notices few people with Point Link bracelets on their wrists signifying that they raised a certain rank in the organization. They couldn't help but feel proud that those important items are credited to their best friend. Except Sean. He knows that all this and the organization itself is solely built and managed by Will.

Sean's eyes are now tinted with his knowledge that the existence of the organization have a crucial purpose unknown to even its staffs and members. Although, this doesn't mean that how it is looked on by them is completely false, but Sean couldn't help it. This place and the organization is akin to a mine to gather as much energy gems as possible. While all those gems that these people worked so hard to get their hands on would be in Will's and Sean's custody to build 'that' ultimate weapon.

Sean once again realizes how much of a dominating genius Will is. While he also can't help but feel nervous that the heavy weight on his shoulders might fall before they put it in the right place. The world would be at stake if Sean couldn't properly catch up with Will's expectations for him.

End of chapter.