HOHB - a blast to the past...

chapter #3

"Come sit down Damien, it's about time we have this conversation." Damien's father sternly orders

<Am I about to be disciplined for which reason… Oh. Now that I think about it, I forgot to return to class after abruptly leaving.>

"Father, you know I'm a good student. You see um- you see my nose started bleeding randomly, and I went to the nurse but ended up passing out. Now father, don't blame me, blame this feeble body of mine right father?"

<I really hope this works or I'm going to be cleaning the gutters for the rest of my life.>

Damien's father's lips tighten, a face contorted with a gaze of hostility emerges. "What are you talking about Damien? I know you have a weak body, no need to apologize for such a trivial matter." Damien's father chuckles.

"But if you were to make use of your weak body to skip class, then that would be troublesome, wouldn't it?" Damien's father chuckles in a pressing tone.

"Of course father I would never imagine doing such a thing. So if that's all father, I have some homework to work on so I'll be heading u-"

"No Damien, that's not what I wanted to talk about." Damien's father remarks.

"I think it's about time I tell you about how we first met, the whole unexpurgated truth of what happened 9 years ago." Damien's father suggested in a dejected tone.

*9 years ago*

"I was on the coast of an island called "Philia" where I was studying abroad to further expand my knowledge on physiology and psychology. When I got news from a colleague back in the city that there was a famous orphanage known to hold bizarre and unmanageable orphans on the northern backside of the island."

"Intrigued by this news, I hastily packed my luggage and caught the next bus that was closest to the orphanage. When arriving, I was greeted by several workers of the orphanage with countenance filled with distress as if they were working ceaselessly all day long."

"As I walked into the orphanage a sudden wave of vicious yex aura washed over me. I slowly crept over to see where this yex was coming from. As I took a glance at where this energy was coming from, I was astonished to see that a mere child was the one emitting such a powerful aura of yex. Reluctant to continue, I didn't waver and continued moving forward, observing the children."

"I was already used to the aura that the child was emanating as I was able to cloak myself in a coat of defensive yex before continuing. Although I was not anywhere close to the top-ranking yex user, I was confident in my ability to use yex."

"As I was knowledgeable in the subject of yex, and with my quick-wits, I quickly cloaked the vital points of my body from further harm as I continued."

"Or so I thought. As I continued observing and jotting down notes of my surroundings, I found myself standing in front of a singular black door at the end of the hallway. My inquisitiveness has managed to sway no bounds. As I opened the door to find myself in utter disbelief."

"A dimmed light swayed upon the ceiling wall, a foul stench flowed throughout the room, but amongst such a wretched environment I found myself staring in shock at a child perched in the center of the room locked behind steel bars."

"Presumed to be left for dead, without food I watched in horror as the young boy savagely ate through the carcass of a mouse." Stunned by the act I quickly regained my footing and rushed to the exit, but not before witnessing a smoldering gaze hollow of emotion as the door latches shut."

"Before I could regain my senses, the defensive yex I used to fortify my body was shattered. But how could a child break my yex cloak when not even an intermediate-level yex user could cause half the damage that boy inflicted? The scary fact of the matter is the boy's gaze had no sign of yex manipulation, and yet with just a gaze he destroyed my yex cloak instantly."

"While contemplating the recent events that occurred my subconscious could no longer maintain balance. A quick realization rushed through my mind of the harsh reality of the situation at hand. Against all signals of danger simultaneously flowing to my nervous system, I stepped back inside the room."

"A couple of weeks passed as I consistently returned every day to see the boy, feeding him and giving him toys to play with. A little later the boy became at ease around me and I slowly started to feel a sense of responsibility, which led to me adopting him."

"As you can probably tell, that boy is you, Damien?" Damien's father smiles

"But you see Damien, these past nine years have been the happiest years of my life and I have never once regretted my decision." Damien's father's voice thins and tears slowly lay downwards.

"Dad." My eyes become weepy as a teardrop subsides.

<Trying to look cool in front of your hero is no easy task. I embraced my dad in his arms as we cried the night out.>