Side Chapter: Colerio Sapher (2)  

Young Colerio Sapher, now 10 years old, wandered through the bustling kingdom of Magux. The streets were alive with the sounds and sights of a thriving market. Beggars lined the cobblestone pathways, merchants loudly advertised their wares, and entertainers performed for gathered crowds, their acts eliciting cheers and laughter. Colerio marveled at the diversity and energy surrounding him, taking in the colorful displays of goods and the lively chatter of townsfolk.

Navigating through the throngs of people, Colerio made his way to his favorite spot—a secluded area in the kingdom that few people knew about. This hidden nook was a sanctuary for him, a place where he could escape the chaos of the market and reflect in peace. As he approached, he was surprised to see a familiar figure already there. It was his friend Lumiere, an 11-year-old boy known for his passionate dreams of peace and unity. Lumiere was crouched down, talking animatedly to a cat.

"Lumiere!" Colerio called out, a grin spreading across his face.

Lumiere turned around, his eyes lighting up with excitement at the sight of his friend. "Oh, Colerio, you're here!"

Curious, Colerio walked over and asked, "So, what are you doing?"

Lumiere, looking slightly embarrassed, replied, "Um... I was just imagining this cat as a beastfolk... you know, hehehe."

Colerio couldn't help but laugh. "Aahaha, you are really funny... thinking of an ordinary cat as a beastfolk!"

Lumiere's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "Hey... it's not funny... hmph."

"Okay, okay, if you say so," Colerio said, still chuckling but trying to be considerate of his friend's feelings.

After a moment of playful banter, Colerio's expression turned serious. He looked Lumiere in the eye and asked, "Do you really think you can unite the beastfolk? Do you believe your dream of uniting the Eldoans and beastfolk will come true?"

Lumiere's face became solemn, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a look of determination. "Yes, I believe... well, I know it won't be easy, but I'm committed to this. After all, it's my dream, and I won't give up until I succeed."

Colerio was intrigued by Lumiere's conviction but pressed further, "What if you fail?"

Lumiere's response was immediate and unwavering. "If I fail, then so be it. But only death can stop me from trying. As long as I breathe, I will relentlessly pursue peace."

Colerio stood there, stunned by Lumiere's unwavering resolve. He had always admired his friend's idealism, but hearing these words, he felt a deep sense of respect and inspiration. Lumiere's determination and courage struck a chord deep within him, leaving an indelible mark on his heart and mind.

This moment, with Lumiere's passionate declaration echoing in his ears, would stay with Colerio forever, shaping his thoughts and actions in the years to come. It was a defining moment, one that would influence Colerio's own path and the choices he would make in his journey ahead.

.........

Meanwhile

Luke Sapher sat alone in his office, his mind racing with thoughts about the recent revelation regarding a beastfolk in his mansion. Alfon, his trusted mage, had brought disturbing news, hinting that one of the maids might not be who she appeared to be. Luke pondered over the implications of this discovery, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

"So, Alfon found a clue... from a maid," Luke muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet of his office. "But which maid? Who could it be?"

Lost in thought, Luke considered the implications. The presence of a beastfolk within his household was not only a security risk but also a breach of trust. His mind raced through the faces of the maids who served under his roof, trying to discern any unusual behavior or signs that might indicate their true identity.

As he contemplated his next move, the door to his office creaked open, interrupting his thoughts. Luke looked up and saw the maid who was always by his wife Mae's side standing before him.

"My lord, my lady said she wishes to meet with you," Helena, the maid, announced respectfully.

Luke nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze sharpening as he studied Helena. "You, maid... what's your name again?" he asked, trying to conceal the suspicion in his voice.

Helena bowed slightly. "I am Helena, my lord," she replied calmly.

Luke nodded again, muttering her name to himself as he continued to observe her closely. "Helena, huh..."

Internally, Luke wrestled with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, Helena had been a loyal and trusted servant in his household for years, always by Mae's side. On the other hand, Alfon's warning echoed in his mind, urging caution and prompting him to investigate further.

With a polite smile, Luke dismissed Helena. "You can go now," he said, his voice betraying none of his inner turmoil.

As Helena exited the room, Luke leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with unanswered questions. The mystery of the beastfolk within his mansion gnawed at him, and he knew he had to tread carefully. His wife amd son's safety and the security of their household depended on uncovering the truth hidden behind the façade of their trusted servants.

.......

Meanwhile

Colerio and Lumiere had just finished a serious conversation when Lumiere suggested they have a magic training session together.

"Colerio, why don't you try out your new technique here?" Lumiere proposed eagerly.

Colerio hesitated briefly before agreeing, "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

Lumiere encouraged him, "Great! Show me what you've come up with. Let's see if it's better than my magic," he teased playfully.

"But what if something goes wrong?" Colerio asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Lumiere reassured him, "Relax, we're in our Safehouse. There's no one around to get hurt."

Feeling more confident, Colerio summoned his magic without the usual elaborate preparation. "Liquor Ignis!" he exclaimed, conjuring a liquid that flowed like water but burned with intense heat. The fiery liquid surged through the trees, impressing both boys.

"Wow, you did that!" a voice exclaimed suddenly.

Both Colerio and Lumiere turned to see a 9-year-old boy standing there, wide-eyed with amazement.

"Whoa, who are you?" Colerio asked, genuinely curious.

"I'm Ron!" the boy introduced himself proudly. "Call me Ron."

Lumiere chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm. "A kid?"

Ron scowled. "I'm not a kid.. I am 9 years old !"

Colerio grinning, "Only 9. That's definitely kid territory."

Ron crossed his arms defiantly. "Well, you're not that much older than me!"

Colerio defended himself, "I'm 10 almost 11, and Lumiere here is 11. We're practically adults compared to you."

Ron crossed his arms defiantly. "Hmph."

Colerio sighed, slightly exasperated. "This kid..."

Lumiere intervened calmly, "Hey, let's all relax."

Colerio turned to Lumiere, a bit concerned. "What do we do now? Ron knows about our Safehouse."

Lumiere shrugged nonchalantly. "It's okay. We'll just ask him to keep it a secret."

Turning to Ron, Lumiere said, "Promise us, Ron. Don't tell anyone about this place."

Ron hesitated, then replied cautiously, "It depends..."

Colerio groaned inwardly. "See?"

Ron's curiosity got the better of him. "It depends on whether you show me how you did that magic," he said, eyes fixed on Colerio with intense curiosity.

Colerio frowned, trying to explain, "It's just through studying, Ron. There's no big secret."

Ron wasn't satisfied. "Studying, huh? I guess I need to study harder!"

Colerio smirked, not entirely convinced. "Sure thing, Ron. Keep dreaming."

Feeling slightly hurt, Ron's eyes welled up. "Why are you so hard on me... perhaps you don't want me here?"

Colerio tried to backtrack, feeling bad. "It's not that, Ron... It's just that what we're doing here is kind of advanced."

Lumiere stepped in, whispering to Colerio, "Why are you being so hard on him?"

Colerio sighed, scratching his head in frustration. "I don't know... It's just... seeing him here, it stirs up mixed emotions. And besides, we're focused on serious training. I don't want a 9-year-old to mess things up."

Lumiere shook his head reassuringly. "You're overthinking it. Don't worry about him. Everything will be fine"

Colerio nodded reluctantly, still unsure but he trust Lumiere's judgment. "Okay..."

Ron, sensing the tension in the air, decided to clear his throat nervously. "Um, hello... I actually know a bit of magic too," he admitted tentatively.

Lumiere's eyes widened with interest. "Really? That's awesome!"

Ron nodded earnestly. "Yeah, I can do this." With a determined expression, he cast a spell, saying, "Fire Arrow!" Four small flames converged and formed into an arrow shape, a considerable feat for a 9-year-old.

Lumiere clapped enthusiastically. "Wow, you made four arrows already! That's impressive!"

Colerio observed Ron's magic display with a neutral expression. "hmph, It's not that great, though. I was doing that when I was just 8 years old," he remarked casually.

Ron looked at Colerio, surprised and slightly hurt. He had thought he was the only one with such skills, believing himself to be a prodigy.

"I don't believe you," Ron retorted stubbornly, feeling challenged.

Colerio sneered, "Blehh... I don't care if you believe me or not. It's not like I need recognition from a kid like you."

Ron's eyes welled up with tears, hurt by Colerio's dismissive attitude. "Why are you really so mean to me?" he cried out, his voice trembling with emotion.

Colerio immediately felt a pang of guilt. "No, no, I... didn't.. mean... to be...Uhm.. mean to you."he stuttered, regretting his harsh words. He couldn't explain why he always seemed to act this way around Ron; it was a complex mix of emotions he struggled to understand.

Ron's crying intensified. "Wahh!! Wahh!!"

Lumiere, seeing Ron's distress, stepped in to mediate. "Colerio didn't mean what he said," he interjected calmly, shooting Colerio a meaningful glance. "You should do something."

Colerio sighed heavily, feeling responsible for Ron's tears. "Stop crying," he pleaded softly. "Okay, what you did was great. You're amazing, alright?"

Ron sniffled and wiped his tears away, his expression hopeful. "Really?"

Colerio nodded sincerely. "Really."

Ron's face brightened with relief, his tears drying up. "Okay," he said, feeling reassured by Colerio's words.

Then Ron, after drying his tears, looked up at Colerio with curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "What's your name?" he asked, eager to know more about the boy who had both amazed and frustrated him.

Colerio, slightly taken aback by Ron's sudden change in demeanor, pointed to himself and replied, "Me? I'm Colerio."

Ron nodded eagerly. "Nice to meet you, Colerio!" His smile was bright and genuine, reflecting his relief that Colerio had accepted him.

Then, turning to Lumiere, Ron asked enthusiastically, "And you, nice onii-san, what's your name?"

Lumiere beamed back at Ron. "I'm Lumiere. You can call me Lumiere," he said warmly, patting Ron's head gently. "Nice to meet you, Ron."

Ron nodded again, saying, "Oum," a bit shyly but clearly happy to have made new friends.

Colerio watched the exchange quietly, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his earlier demeanor. He sighed inwardly, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering guilt over how he had treated Ron. He still couldn't quite explain why he had been so harsh, especially considering they had just met. It was as if something inside him had reacted strongly to Ron, a feeling he couldn't ignore.

Little did Colerio know, the reason behind his conflicted emotions lay hidden in their shared past—a past that neither he nor Ron were aware of yet. Ron was his little brother, separated from him at a young age, their connection unknown to either of them at this moment.

As they continued their conversation and playful banter, a bond began to form between the three boys. Colerio, Lumiere, and Ron were unaware that fate had brought them together on this day, setting in motion a series of events that would eventually reveal the truth of their intertwined destinies.

To be continue