Chapter 2: Drawing Stars

The Brightwell Orphanage was the place my childhood was attached to, the place where I have found you. I was an orphan, found by a famous couple's ten year old son in a stormy night and brought to the orphanage they aided. I grew up not knowing of my heritage nor my parents, but there were skills I knew I was good at ever since I was a toddler.

Stealth. Deception. And stealing.

I was a mischievous child who caused most of the ruckus in the orphanage. I was named Claude by my caretakers due to my boldness, independence, inquisitiveness and interest in many things. And because of the quirks I have, I was ostracized in the orphanage.

Due to my mischievous habits, like stealing food in the kitchen and other things in the neighborhood, I was separated.

I was young at this moment, around five, as long as I could remember. Then it was a typical afternoon for me when I entered the luscious forest near the orphanage. I did that to clear my thoughts whenever no one needed me, which has become a habit of mine to wander into the forestry from time to time. That habit brought me to find my new brother, you.

I found you in a small field of grains, which was near a river bank, beside your bloodied parents. As what I could see back then, your family was murdered and you are the only survivor. At that moment, I could've left you to die in such pitiful circumstance.

However, I wasn't merciless enough to do that.

Bringing you home in the Brightwell Orphanage, you were taken care, whilst my time was spent on you and your wellness. Then I realized that I liked you…I felt that we would get along.

"Granger," I muttered, barely audible.

"Hmm?" the fifteen year old man beside me, checking the newly brought child, asked. His name was Clint, the person who brought me in this orphanage five years ago.

"Let's name him Granger!" the excitement escaped my mouth as I couldn't help but smile.

"And why is that? Is it because you found him in a granary?" he inquired, almost about to laugh about the thought.

"…" I couldn't answer because of how right he might be in that question. Patting my messy brown hair, he left to acquire supplies for the orphanage.

So there on I treated you like my real younger brother. The loneliness I felt from being different from other children dissipated and was replaced with my fondness with you.

By the time I reached ten, you were a five year old child; you were cute with your pathetic attempts of imitating Clint with his gun mastery.

"I want to be like Mr. Clint!" you bellowed at me for laughing at you. Clint was a talented gunner and we would watch him together whenever he would practice his aiming and agility.

"You're still a hundred years early for that, little fellow~" I mockingly sang as I took that toy gun he was waving around to show how 'great' he is.

"But if you help me train to be a better gunner, it would take a fewer years, right?" you pouted as you fiddled with your hands.

I chuckled as I patted your raven locks, an odd white hair sticking out (it was a small group of hair he had ever since he started growing his raven locks). "Then what would you promise me for me to do that?" I challenged him as the usual fire in his eyes returned.

"I promise that I'll be a good gunner who would protect the innocent people around us who'll also help the annoying hero that saved me…maybe I'll also be the best younger brother you'll be glad to have," you muttered the last part shyly.

"Not anyone else?" I asked, it was an odd promise, though I liked it. You nodded with vigor as I handed the toy back to you.

Two years later, I stood in the terrace of the orphanage and stared in the direction of the place where you told me your promise. You seemed to have forgotten your own words.

When you said that you wanted to train under a mysterious man who appeared in our orphanage, due to his occupation- a demon hunter. At that time, perhaps you began to forget.

He was at the place where you told me your promise. Alucard, a man shrouded with mystery, piqued you and made you an ambitious person.

And I- I have lost you.