Last Flicker of Life (1)

Within the forest, a sparkling pure water falls fell down to the bottom land, splashing out countless droplets and forming fancy imagined mist. It created a slithering path of stream that went further beyond the peripheral vision.

It was dusk and the family including the uncle were happily having a dinner. The ambiance was riveting, full of contented joy.

"Hey kid, want to go explore this city right now? It’s having a booming festival this night. You'll be seeing fireworks in the sky, lightening up by mystical elements." Orlan's loud voice travelled far the mansion-like-house, his tone virile and rough.

"Really?! Mom, dad, I want to go. I really want to. Please, please, please...." Gloathiac suddenly became highly agitated in excitement. He was pretty exhilarated that he called Heish as "Dad", to let him go for once.

"No! It’s really a no!" Louissa was insistent to let her son stay in the house.

"But Mom?! It’s been 5 years already. I haven't gone even once. Those fireworks I've only looked upon ever since, I wanted to experience it closely!" Gloathiac, a five year old kid, even with an intelligence of an adult, could not defeat his childish emotions. His tears fell, suffering a setback of unable to once again attend to a festival of his dreams.

An empire-toppling beauty especially of cute child with crystal teardrops. It run down to his snowy white cheeks which turn red from his excitement but suddenly fell down in expectations, suffering in extreme frustration.

If a little boy could not soften up your heart, then think of a little pretty and cute girl, sob in front of your face.

If you're still unperturbed, then there were strangers that happened to pass by and watched you not helping the poor little girl.

Every year, and every time this happened, the couple was extremely moved and wanted to cheer him up, agreeing to his requests. But to toughen their will for the sake of the safety of their child, it was totally a torture.

However at this time, even amidst the sad atmosphere; Orlan guffawed in humorous laughter, reverberated even outside the house.

"What amused you? You barbarian pig?" Louissa was incensed at her brother's uncaring attitude. They were deeply stressed of how they can fix this situation but her brother didn't even mind. He didn't console but even laughed heartfully. She continued to scold,

"What brother are you?"

Heish at the side, was silently confused. He knew Orlan must be up to something.

"Hahahaha haha.. Hha. Haa..(Inhale).....Sigh..." Orlan had finally managed to stop himself. "How can I not be amused? Just earlier he apathetically killed an enormous beast. And now that he just couldn't go for a mere festival, he immediately cried like a pitiful weepy baby??!! Hahaha."

Hearing his uncle ridicule, Gloathiac resisted his weep, feeling embarrassed. Whereas Louissa only bare his fangs even more, her sweet rage intensified.

Just letting Louissa hit him repeatedly like a child was, it only brought him even more laughter, "Who is the child now. Is it my nephew or is it you? Hahahaha"

Even the full strength of Louissa, it only tickled Orlan, increasing his urge to laugh.

"Brother, stop bullying Louissa haha." Heish lightly laughed. He didn’t know what to do whether to laugh or cry.

Orlan was the core reason Gloathiac had knew of the festival occasion. He always came here every year, taking advantage of the kid's excited impulse wanted to go, in order to have fun watching the family's scuffle.

"I know, I know, it’s just that--" Orlan wanted to continue to laugh however a visage of a tiger appeared in the window. It was the white-striped tiger.

"Rooaaarrr" The tiger let out a small cry as if saying, that's enough, you fat muscled pig. Even it was only a soft sound uttered out by the beast, it was still resoundingly loud.

Orlan went pale in fear, his cherry emotions immediately dispersed. He wanted to curse Gloathiac for taming that pet this year. "Okay, okay."

He was entirely finished having his fun. He spoke seriously, "It’s okay to let the child to celebrate with me. Don't worry, I've fully investigated these past five years about Gloathiac's identity and whether someone searched for him. As far as I am concerned, at least to the nobles, no one had a missing child."

"Brother, is it really okay for him to enjoy the festival?" Heish asked seriously. The notion of giving his child to risk made his heart terrible. His identity was safe but he couldn’t leave his wife behind.

Louissa and Orlan had a delicate identity, so they cannot enter the city recklessly. Only Orlan had the courage to cover his identity and blend with the people. Even so, he could only roam around the outskirts or inside the city but near to the city gate, lest he will be discovered.

Leaving a child noble was a treacherous act, it would make the reputation of the city as a whole, unruly. It was because nobles acted as representatives, the faces of the city. As such, the perpetrator, the ones who left behind Louissa and Orlan to be fed in the wild, would take any means to rid of the evidence.

On the other hand, Louissa had conspicuous features: her deep blue hair coupled with green eyes. Those two distinct traits would fully portray her identity as a full noble.

“Of course, you can trust me. How many years did I waste myself drinking inside the city?" He burst in a boisterous laughter. "Don't worry. I am very careful of my recent actions. I'm pretty sure, no one would even bother to trace my footsteps."

Orlan was pretty confident. All those years since he was a kid, no one had identified him as a noble. He was proud of his ability and put pride of it.

"Dad, please help me convince Mom. I want to go. Go go!!" Gloathiac rattled out words fast. His lost expression was gone and became exulted hearing that he may have a chance.

"Ehh" Heish don't know what to reply. Women were hard to deal with but with Gloathiac's natural puppy eyes and now calling him dad since a long time, he could only abide.

From his seat, he looked at Louissa who stood before Orlan, seemingly have lost her soul and thinking her child would be gone for a night. It would be a first time feeling this sensation, vast worry rushed to her mind. Heish stood and approached her, speaking,

"Louissa, it may be the greatest gift we can give to our child. For once, we must agree to one of his wishes."

"B- But, he is still 5 years old. To wander in a strange place, I am deeply worried." Louissa's tone was full of unease. The sheen of her eyes reflected down-heartedness, feeling dejected at the probability of losing her child for a small time.

"It should be okay. Orlan is very strong you know. When it comes, he will protect him." Heish consoled her, his eyes showed gentle care.

Hearing his brother-in-law complimenting him, Orlan widely smiled, showing his white teeth. He spoke assuredly and patted his chest, "You should have nothing to worry about, and my body size is very useful. It will come to a good use. Hahaha"

"O- okay. But be sure to be careful. Take pay very good attention to your surroundings. Don't be lost." Louissa had finally agreed, but she still said word of concerns. She could not help but also tear up.

"M- mom!!" Gloathiac suddenly ran to her mother, hugging him in gratification. Finally, he was given permission to explore in the city even for a night. "M- mom, I love you!"

Louissa only ended up crying, feeling the bliss of her child. It seemed he greatly wanted to go to the festival.

Glothiac gave his mother a kiss to her cheeks, giving out a wide smile that could wreck a kingdom. Afterwards, he also didn't forgot to hug his father. His own redolent aroma that could enchant even the fairies spread out following his steps.

Glothiac said sheepishly in the embrace of his father, "Thanks father. I love you."

Heish lightly laughed. His child had finally called him father for two long years. It was highly worth it to agree of his son's wishes just to hear the sound of calling him "father". His eyes felt wet, but he immediately controlled it. "Spread your wings, my son."

Gloathiac then sprinted to his uncle's side that already stood away. His expression was extremely elated, unable to suppress his excitement. "Let's go Uncle! Onwards to the city!!"

"Okay okay. But your uncle was tired of the walking so can you teleport us to the outskirts?" Uncle Orlan pitifully begged, his expression was for pleading. It was a high contrast to his powerful and robust figure.

"Ehh, I've always wanted to walk until the city." Gloathiac complained. It was a unique adventure treading a path following his dream.

"Come on. It will take a long time to walk with that pretty little legs of yours. Hahaha" Orlan laughed in a puissant manner. He continued, "It will not be too late to walk back home after we're done of the festival. The sooner we arrive, the more time we can enjoy ourselves. Don't you think so, little lad?"

"You're exactly correct. Uncle, you're really the best." Gloathiac had a wide smile plastered on his tiny face. His innate intelligence seemed to be clouded by his agitated emotions, he hadn't seen through that his uncle was playing with him.

"Brother, you better not toy with his abilities after you came across the city. Promise me that." Louissa soundly said out, laced within her words were also angry threats.

Orlan only brushed it as if he couldn't bother with her sweet threats. He burst in loud guffaw, "I promise you my dear little sister. No harm will come to us. Even if there were, this nephew of mine will just blast them out to smithereens. Haha"

"Brother!!" Louissa's anger was evident. She wanted to lash out her harmless attacks again but she was stopped de novo by her husband.

"It's okay Louissa. You should know him better than I do. If he says he'll protect him, he'll risk his life to do it. It’s a pride of men especially for us warriors." Heish smile warmly, attracting Louissa anew.

"Hmmp, if your son was harmed, I'll put the blame on you." In the presence of her husband's flowery words, her attitude would always revert to be a child.

"Hahaha. Take care of my little sister, my bro. It must be a long time before you had a pleasant time between just the two of you alone." Orlan broke out again in continuous laughter.

"haha" Heish lightly laughed. He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry again.

"Uncle, I'm starting right now. Mom, Dad, we're truly going. Bye!!"