True Name

"Hey, old man, why are you here? I thought you were in Sector Neuve in the west, defending it?" Aria questioningly asked Steele.

"Waa?" Sector Neuve? Is that a place?

Steele then glanced at Aria's eyes and replied, "Beats me, ask Kael. After all, he's the one who ordered me to come home."

Hearing this, Aria just looked at Steele in silence. "..."

Seeing this, Steele sighed. "Haa..."

"Don't look at me like that; I really don't know. Kael just ordered me to come home without any further explanation," Steele explained before tapping his wristwatch, displaying a holographic conversation between himself and Kael.

-Pop!

"Look at this," Steele said, pointing to the holographic screen on his right.

Aria replied, "Ohh..." as she looked at the conversation on the holographic wristwatch.

__________

*MAD MAN*

__________

[Jan 4, 5030 [11:22 P.M]

Kael: How's the situation in Sector Neuve?

Steele: Still shit as ever.

Kael: Good.

[Jan 5, 5030 [10:58 P.M]

Kael: How's the situation in Sector Neuve?

Steele: still shit as ever but much worse.

Kael: Good.

[Jan 6, 5030 [11:09 P.M]

Kael: How's the situation in Sector Neuve?

Steele: still the same shit but less shit as the other day.

Kael: Good.

__________

"Between you and Kael is really boring. I thought you guys were having some sort of special relationship," Aria sarcastically said while continuing to read the conversation.

"..." Hearing this, Steele monetary paused for a moment.

Before he asked Aria, "Wait... what the fuck are you talking about?"

Aria stopped from reading and shifted her gaze to Steele, "I am talking about father and grandfather relation, duh... What do you think I'm talking about?"

"Waa," I thought you were talking about the Yaoi thing.

After that, Aria continued reading the conversation.

__________

[Jan 7, 5030 [11:11P.M]

Kael: I need you to go home as soon as possible. 

Steele: Still shit as ever.

Steele: ...Wait? What? Why so sudden.?

Kael: Don't wanna? Come home and sleep on the soft bed?

Steele: I didn't say NO, but at least you can give some information. And could you explain why?

Kael: Just come. Or I would leave you there to rot.

Steele: tsk, fine.

__________

After reading the full content, Aria looked at Steele, "Wow... how pitiful Steele is," Aria said in utter concern.

However, her eyes looked so blank, like she didn't give a fuck about it.

"...See? I really don't know anything," Steele replied, closing his holographic wristwatch by tapping it.

-Zipps

As the holographic display disappeared, Aria looked at Kael and curiously asked. "Kael, care to explain?"

Kael sighed, "Sigh..."

Before he explained it to Aria, "Well, the reason is that I want Steele to tutor our son, that's all," bluntly stated.

"Huh? What do you mean by a tutor? I didn't know any of this." Steele mumbled to himself and curiously thought, 'Are you guys nuts?'

Hearing this, Aria smiled and then asked Kael once again, "Fine, then what about Sector Neuve? Who is gonna protect that place."

"Sector Neuve hasn't been invaded in a very long time, so I'm pretty sure it's safe even without him," Kael reassured, feeling confident with his answer.

"Fine, but are you sure that was the only reason?" Aria frantically asked once again before giving her a fierce gaze.

"!!!" Kael startled a little bit after seeing that domineering gaze but quickly regained his posture.

"...Yeah, more or less. Also, keep in mind early education is much more important, so our son has a higher chance of survival once he's enrolled," Kael explained again.

But this time, he didn't say it as if it was nothing; this time, he said it as if her life depended on it.

"Waa." Why are you arguing? Is it better for me to learn early, or do you want me to know it all by myself?

Seeing Kael serious with his words, Aria had no choice but to agree as she placed her palm on her forehead, calming down her domineering aura.

'Sigh... almost got myself dried out again,' Kael thought to himself, feeling relieved.

As it was all done, Steele was shocked for a moment that he couldn't talk for a moment.

" W-wait... hold up. I thought you ordered me to come home because we were doing something important," Steele accidentally blurted out.

"So... my son isn't important?" Kael retorted, giving him a cold stare.

Seeing all of this, Aria couldn't help but just hold herself.

"Pff... Old Man, why did you say that?" Aria mumbled under her breath while trying not to burst into laughter.

"???"

Steele noticed her strange behavior and stared at Aria, visibly upset, knowing she was laughing at him for the mistake he made.

Thus, Steele couldn't help but feel betrayed because of his thoughts, 'Curse you, Aria. I thought of you as a friend when we were in second grade, and now you're just laughing like that?.'

However, instead of blaming Aria for what happened, he composed himself and decided to just give the answer that Kael wanted.

"I didn't mean to say it like that, Duke Kael," Steele stated, maintaining eye contact with Kael.

Hearing this, Kael just looked away from Steele's vision and smiled menacingly. After all, he had tricked his one and only intelligent friend into tutoring his son.

'Heh.... too easy, just Aria expected,' Kael thought to himself before he walked over to Aria.

"Was that enough? If yes, let's go to the party," Kael ordered before hurrying up, holding Aria's hand, and walking to the ball.

Seeing that both Steele and Aurilya followed them behind.

◇

In front of the giant wooden door intricately carved with two dragons, 

we entered the ballroom, and the once-noisy atmosphere immediately quieted down as all the guests turned to look at us.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Waa!" Hahahahah, I didn't want to say this is kind of uncomfortable.

It was so damn uncomfortable that I decided to look away and shoved my face onto Aurilya's flat chest.

-Boinggg...

"?!!"

"Y-y-young ...Master?" Aurilya hesitantly asked with a frustrated expression on her face.

"Waa!" I know you're embarrassed because I shoved my head through your bazonka right? However, I don't have a thing about flats.

Before pushing Aurilya's hands away from my head and continuing to show my head on her chest.

"Mnnnn....!" This resulted in Aurilya becoming more frustrated.

"Waaa!" Now you've somehow become cuter... I couldn't help but tease you even more.

However, before I could tease Aurilya even more, it seemed Aria caught what I was doing and directly pointed her attention to us.

"Waa!" Ah, did Aria notice me? Shoving my head through Aurilya's chest? Maybe not.

"Aurilya, give me my cutiee," Aria ordered, her voice sounding jealous.

"Yes, Madam Aria," Aurilya calmly replied, despite looking like a tomato, before voluntarily handing me over to Aria's arms.

"Heheheh, sweetie, let's go!" Aria joyfully expressed as she happily began cuddling me.

-Rubb...

-Squasshhh

-Squasshhh!

"Waa!" Ughh... please don't rub me through your D cup!!

And so, we continued to talk along with Kael, Aria, and Steele through the hallway while I was being squeezed.

◇

While mingling around the ballroom, Kael then glanced at Steele and Aurilya and ordered, "You guys stay here."

"Yeah, just move," Steele reluctantly agreed.

While Aurilya replied with a quick nod.

After leaving Aurilya and Steele behind, we continued to walk towards the center of the ballroom.

While walking alone with Kael and Aria, I couldn't help but feel somewhat nervous.

Maybe it is due to the glances coming from the guests, or is it because of my instincts? To be honest, I don't know.

However, as soon as we arrived at the center of the ballroom, Kael cleared his throat and spoke loudly yet politely.

"Ahem.. ahem!! Good evening, everyone," Kael yelled out loud yet with politeness in his words.

"Waa..." Ugh.... fck!! My freaking ears!

You know there's no need to use a microphone, jerk! Because your voice is already strong enough to get all the attention you need!!!

"I would like to thank everyone who has come here on this wonderful night to celebrate my son's first name," Kael happily greeted the audience.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Even after hearing this, the guests stayed all quiet. It was so awkward, as if waiting for someone to break the silence.

"Waa!" Hmm, what the... why are you so tense?!!

However, that silence was soon broken when Steele started to clap and yelled out cheerfully, "Woaaa! Happy birthday!"

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap!

After that, one of the guests yelled out, "Happy birthday!" and began to clap.

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap!

"H-happy birthday!!" yelled the green-haired guy wearing a pure green coat.

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap...

As soon as it happened, like a domino, one by one, all of the guests slowly but surely started to celebrate my birthday.

-Clap!! 

"Happy birthday!!"

-Clap!! 

-"Congratulations! To that unknown boy and to that baby!"

-Clap!

-"Congratulations! Aria's baby! You're too cute! Just like your mother!!"

-Clap!! 

-Clap!!

-Clap!!!

"Waan..." So they all just came here because of Aria... what are they, simps!?!! This is a baby's birthday party, not a fan meeting!

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap

"Woaaa! Happy birthday!" Yelled the blue-haired guy.

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap...

"Happy birthday!" Yelled the black-haired guy.

-Clap!! 

-Clap!! 

-Clap!!

After that, all of the guests clapped their hands as they looked at Kael with expressions of admiration.

However, not all of them gave the same admiration towards us; some of them fiercely gave us faces of envy and jealousy.

"Waa!" Well, I guess not all of them are happy about us. They're all simps.

"Thank you. Please enjoy your party," Kael said before leaving the stage.

And the party really soon began; countless people ate happily and chit-chatted with each other.

They were happily talking as if they didn't remember the decapitation incident at the party.

◇

"Are we going to start the naming tradition?" Aria playfully asked, her eyes lit up with excitement.

Kael smiled and signaled to Aria to follow him as they walked towards the east-west direction.

We soon came across a wall, behind which lay another wall.

Kael then proceeded to knock on the wall in a specific rhythm - a small knock, followed by a long knock, and then another small knock.

After a momentary pause, Kael repeated this pattern - a small knock, a long knock, and two quick small knocks.

Once again, Kael paused and then knocked again, this time, a small knock followed by two long knocks and a quick small knock.

-Knock...

-Fitful...

-Shrill!!

-Whining!!

-Griiiiiiii...!

As soon as Kael finished knocking, they heard the sound of machinery, and a door opened up in the wall.

After that, we entered the room and noticed a bloody altar, and Aria walked towards it.

"Waa!!" What do you think you're doing, guys?

Aria then placed me on an altar with its red-colored water streaming from above and flowing downwards.

[[WorldView Illustration]]

"Cutie, please bear it just a little," Aria worriedly mumbled while she held my hands.

"Waa?" Bear it a little?! What do you mean by that?!

Hearing this, a sudden flashback of memories from before I was born played inside my head.

"Waa" Damn it, I already locked it away. Why is it suddenly appearing again?

The memories that I'm talking about are those where I almost went insane due to intense pain before I was born.

Remembering it made my face go pale.

"Cutie, don't be scared; it's not that painful," Aria reassured me as she kissed me on my forehead.

-Mwaaah

After that, Kael appeared wearing a tattered priest's robe and holding a small injector the size of a lipstick.

"Wa..." Wait, that is a freaking injection?!

"Waa!" So the ritual that you're talking about involves injecting me with some kind of medicine and then naming it?!

I'm not scared of injections; it's just why it has to be that big!

After that, Kael walked in front of me and held my arm.

"Okiee, son, please stay still, got it?" Kael said, her voice filled with concern.

"Cutiee, bear it, okie?" Followed by Aria.

"Waa." Yeah, yeah, you don't need to say it. I will stay still; after all, it's just an injection.

But when Kael pierced my arm with the injection and pushed the liquid inside, I just thought that I was wrong; this wasn't a regular injection.

Suddenly, I felt an intense pain erupting inside my chest, a mix of boiling pain and melting acid.

"Waa!!" Ahhh!! So this is what you were talking about, Aria. But... this is just child's play compared to when I was being ripped multiple times!

"Wow, Kael, look. Our cutie didn't cry or even show any signs of discomfort," Aria mumbled in awe.

Minutes later, the burning pain in my chest suddenly stopped.

"Waa" Ha... ha... see? This is just nothing. I am strong! Wait ahh!!!

Suddenly, it returned again, not into my chest, but in my head this time.

"Waa" Ahh!! Shit, it hurts, it hurts!

"Kael, look! Even after moving to the second phase, our cutie didn't even flinch!" Aria exclaimed while looking at me in amazement.

"Waa?!!!" What?! Does it have phases?!

After the burning pain in my head disappeared, I thought it was already over.

And so, just like that, I continue to suffer for the next few minutes before it completely stops.

"Waa!" Hoo.. finally, it's done. I'm ready for the next phase!

When suddenly, it showed again, but this time, it was ten times more intense than before, as if I were being fried in burning oil.

"Waa" Ahh shit!! It's flowing through my veins!!

It feels like you are being injected with vitamin A through your veins; it hurts as fuck; however, it feels like your body become healthier.

"Wow... Kael, I don't know what to say anymore. Seeing our cutie didn't even flinch nor cry in the final phase made me so proud," Aria muttered as tears flowed from her eyes out of happiness.

"Waa!" So this is the last phase; then I can do it!! Arghhh!!

The burning pain lasted for two minutes, much shorter than phases 1 and 3, which almost lasted for five minutes each.

"Waa," finally, it was done. I can finally rest...

But while I was taking a quick rest, I saw Kael and Aria looking at me with astonishment through their eyes.

"We" What's up with you guys? First time seeing a baby that didn't cry?

"Aria, I guess I know what to name our son," Kael suggested as he continued to look at me with amazement.

Aria then curiously asked Kael, "And what is it?"

Kael replied, "Khierom... Khierom Soulshearth."