Chapter 174, Spiro

"Will Arata be okay?" Milo asked as he headed east.

"He'll be fine, don't worry Milo." Alistar smiled. "He's grown up very fast. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Will, what do you think?" Andrew asked me.

"Arata won't waver over something like this. In fact it'll only make his resolve stronger." I answered. "He will definitely find justice for what has been done to those Braves. What he saw will only make him stronger."

"And if he falters, wavers or falls we're here for him." Ethan smiled.

We all nodded and I could feel the life form Gregory told us. The closer we got the fainter it seemed, could they be dying?

"Will, there." Theo pointed to the figure up ahead.

Just one young man, he seems to be dragging himself, he doesn't seem armed but he is obviously wounded and badly for that matter. Maybe the proper term is you g kid... Because he seems to be very young.

"Let's go." Lucas said and I nodded.

----

"What is this strange energy I'm sensing?" I asked myself as I felt the auras of Will and the others surrounding one person.

Whatever the person with them is I know one thing. It isn't human.

"Arata! Over here!" Alistar called to me and I descended beside them.

"Who are you people! Please! Just let us go!" He said and he struggled.

I turned to his direction and saw young man... No perhaps young child is tied up in Lucas' string. With sky blue hair and white skin with charming golden eyes. He was dressed in nothing more than a robe.

"Who are you?" I asked him and his eyes glared at me.

"You aren't dragging me back there! I won't go back!" He said and suddenly I saw his arms had bruises.

"What did you do to him?" I asked.

"Nothing. We found him badly injured, Zhen even healed him but the moment he was better he went wild so Lucas tied him up." Adonis said.

"Hmmm..." I looked at the young kid up and down. "Okay! Let him go, Lucas."

"Okay... if you say so." The strings disappear and he looks at me dumbfounded.

"Can you tell me your name? Mine is Arata." I told him.

"I don't know my name." He said. "I can't recall anything. Not my name, where I'm from or where I'm going."

"Hmm... I see. "Then what can you remember?"

"I remember that I woke up in a container. I had chains on my hands and feet." He says and I nodded.

"That's all I needed to hear." I told him and patted his head. "Okay. You're name is Spiro. You're a Brave I was training when you suddenly disappeared. You were captured and it seems you broke free by yourself."

"Eh? Really? I didn't-" Before Chase could finish Autumn pinched him. "Ouch."

"Come with me. We'll get you home." I took Spiro's hand and dragged him with me. "Don't worry, we're your family."

------

We returned to the Forest of Fallen Leaves, Autumn gave Spiro a room to rest as his wounds had just healed. I placed a Petal to guard the door incase he came out and casted a barrier of silence around his room.

"So, care to explain?" Xander asked.

"That person is likely an Humunculi. But not a Brave." I told them.

"What do you mean?" Angie asked.

"Humunculi are artificial humans. They are often just like robots but what's different is that they have biological parts and humanoid features such as human emotions." I told them.

"Then was he made from a dead Brave?" Mitan asked.

"Doubt it. It seems that he doesn't have it." Licht said. "The Brave Core. In other words, he is a Humunculi they experimented on, trying to turn into a Brave."

"So, the reason Arata said he was one of us was..." Rachel looked at me.

"He is innocent. He was brought into this world like normal people, but he wasn't treated like one. He isn't a product of the Artificial Brave Project but rather a victim of it." I answered. "I'll keep him by my side seeing as how he'll definitely become a target of whoever created him."

"I see. Since he wasn't made with a dead Brave, then he is innocent. And he should be given the freedom he deserves." Theo smiled. "I agree with Arata's decision. All opposed say aye."

Everyone smiles, so it's decided. We'll keep Spiro by our side as our newest member and protect him from whoever created him.

Just as we finished, I got a call from Pres. Mayumi. I excuse myself to answer the call and I the moment i answer it I hear the sound of gunfire.

"Pres. Mayumi?! What's going on?!" I exclaimed in fear.

"Oh! Arata-kun, sorry, I was at the firing range with the girls." She assured me. "I just called to see how things are going on? Oh! Is now a good time?"

"Yes. It's the perfect time." I told her. "Pres. Mayumi, I have a big favor to ask."

I explain to her everything and she simply listens, after I'm done she says she understands and she's proud of my choices. She tells me she'll have everything ready by the time we get back. I thank her and she ends the call. I return inside and see Spiro sitting down with the others around the table.

"Spiro, we're going home tomorrow. Tonight get some rest, alright?" I patted his head.

"Okay, Dad!" He said and I'm frozen.

"I'm sorry, what did you just call me?" I asked him.

"Dad! Uncle Chase told me that you call your parent as Dad if they're a male or Mom if they're female." He answered and I glared at Chase.

"What? I couldn't help it. He seemed like an easily influenced type." He protested.

"Whatever. Okay then, if you like calling me that then go ahead." I patted his head.

Judging by the way he looks, I'm guessing Spiro is only around twelve or maybe eleven years old. I'm only sixteen so I would prefer if he called me big brother but I guess it can't be helped.

"Don't worry, you're gonna be alright now." I patted his head and for the first time I see him smile.

Don't worry, I'll definitely keep you safe. So you just need to grow up strong and healthy, Spiro. A New Hope for Braves.