Truth and Bonds

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention, and instinctively, I felt the urge to flee. I swiftly rose to my feet, but upon turning around, I was met with the intense gaze of Mr. Drails.

I was absolutely certain that I was dead, no doubt about it.

"Connor," he replied. "What's going on?" I couldn't find the words to speak, but that changed when he glanced at what I was holding in my hand.

He seemed taken aback, letting out a sigh as he slowly approached me and gently retrieved the birth certificate from my hands.

"Well, it seems you've discovered," he remarked, this time with a heavier sigh as if it happened a long time ago, which I'm certain was indeed a while back when I was born.

"Connor, could you please take a seat in that chair?" he said in a restrained tone.

Once again, I witnessed his repetitive actions, and he let out a weary sigh, but this particular instance seemed to weigh on him more than the others.

"Your mother and I knew each other during our time in the YMPA back in 1992. "I really liked her, even though I had no idea she felt the same way," he said. "My friend at that time, Demetrius Rocke, also shared a similar sentiment about her."

He reclined in an unconventional manner on the chair, as if indicating that it required too much effort to keep going. "At some point, we were determined to closely monitor a high-ranking military officer from Russia." My mother, myself, and Demetrius were on a mission together, but unfortunately, we got separated from each other.

"What happened?" I inquired, devoid of any concern.

"We found ourselves in a difficult situation, as we were surrounded by these individuals seeking change. Unfortunately, your mother and I were forced to be apart from each other." "She was taken by the revolutionaries, and I was captured by the Russians," he recounted. "Demetrius met his demise at the hands of the revolutionaries. I endured a prolonged period of suffering at the hands of a certain group, but I managed to escape. I quickly rushed to locate your mother until I saw her, and I was able to bring her to safety.

I observed him with astonishment, my mouth agape. "So, how did Demetrius manage to escape, considering he's clearly still alive?" I asked. Mr. Drails mentioned that a year had gone by since the incident, and on that particular day, he arrived to find everyone searching anxiously, as if he were some sort of zombie. We were under the impression that he had passed away, but our spirits soared when we caught sight of him. However, he did not seem pleased to see us. He claimed that we had abandoned him and made no effort to assist him. He was particularly upset with your mother, as they were both taken captive by rebels. Soon enough, they found themselves engaged in a heated altercation, unleashing their formidable abilities and cunning, nearly causing catastrophic damage to the school. I can still remember the students screaming with a sense of dread. I suddenly realized the need to take action, so I swiftly confronted him, determined to prevent any harm to others. Unfortunately, by the time he spoke, explosions from the school had already wreaked havoc on the town, causing significant destruction. "We were expelled from school."

I let out a sigh of surprise, completely unaware of everything that had happened.

"Your mother and I provided each other with support whenever possible, and then we got married ten years later, in 2003. We spent a significant amount of time together and then we had you, Connor. However, once you came into existence, Demeitrus began relentlessly pursuing us. We hadn't seen him for a while, but he was still as angry as ever," he said. "We attempted to evade his pursuit, but he persistently trailed us, and it became apparent that his presence was not acceptable to you." I suggested to your mother that she should consider living with my brother. To move on from my presence, and she successfully did. She married my brother, but she always remembered me. Actually, that's how you came to realize that I was your uncle."

"But you're mistaken," I replied. "You're absolutely right."

"Yes, I am," he replied. "I have been your father since the moment of your birth, and I always will be."

"So why did you send me to engage with him in the mission?" I asked. He let out a deep breath. "I thought you would have the option to eliminate him using your special ability, so that our family could find peace, but considering the outcome: You were not ready," he said.

"Why didn't you inform me about this earlier?" I asked.

"Because I didn't want to spoil your childhood." "I wanted you to lead a normal life, and I was concerned that if you discovered the truth, you might lose faith in me," he explained. "However, at the moment, your opinion of me holds little significance." I just want to share the truth with you now.

I gave a disapproving shake of my head. "No, I mean, I'm glad you're my father, but I'm really upset that you deceived me for such a prolonged period."

Mr. Drails rose to his feet, a smile gracing his face. "It was advantageous for you." I wanted you to become a formidable individual, driven by the noble ambition of safeguarding the world from malevolence.

"But you excluded me," I said. Mr. Drails let out a weary sigh as he took a seat.

"Yes, I did," he replied. "All I simply requested was for you to eliminate him, but maybe you could become like me, return to my former self." But probably not in this manner, most likely not. I apologize for not being completely honest with you, but I was concerned about the potential negative reaction."

"I don't dislike you," I said. "Furthermore, I will never do so."

"That's fantastic," he exclaimed. "Right now, would you like to go for a walk outside? I have something to show you."

I motioned and we stepped outside, where the sun was beaming down. The trees adorned the grass with their graceful presence, while the birds filled the air with their melodic tunes. I spotted a small lake in the distance, and I was greeted by a sound that I recognized. The sound of stones dropping into the water, followed by a gentle splashing. It felt like morning, even though it was already four in the evening. "So, what's the plan?" I inquired with Mr. Drails.

He grinned and gestured towards the lake. "That's the place where I spent my childhood, and unfortunately, it's also the place where I lost my parents."

I gasped in surprise. I glanced at him and noticed a deep sense of resentment and anguish in his eyes. I sympathized deeply with him. I felt a sense of remorse for my actions, but I couldn't resist the temptation. I suddenly came to the realization that these individuals were my own kin.

"I'm devastated," I said.

Mr. Drails let out a weary sigh. "Fortunately, you had the opportunity to meet your mother's parents, who are still alive." My father had a rather intense personality, but your mother was truly a remarkably kind woman. "I was genuinely surprised by her transformation," he remarked. "My mother had a rebellious streak, but she was still a kind person, and I'm sure you'll meet her sometime in the future."

I gestured, fully aware that I wouldn't have the privilege of witnessing her arrival "sometime in the not so distant future."

"How's life been treating you?" Mr. Drails inquired of me.

"It's been okay," I replied. "I've had some ups and downs, but overall, things are going well for me." Although I still find the school to be a bit strange, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the failed mission.

"In the grand scheme of things, I truly hope that one does not lose sight of their upbringing," he remarked. "Moreover, I truly hope that you discover a way to forgive me."

"I currently possess," I stated.

Mr. Drails chuckled. "Yes, I guess you have." I'm glad you discovered the truth. I understand that I haven't always been the most exemplary parent, but I will always be your father."

I made a gesture. "I understand, and I care about you," I said.

"I care for you as well, my dear," he replied.

I let out a weary sigh, but couldn't help but crack a small smile. "I will miss you," I expressed.

"I will miss you as well," he replied. "It's great to see that you're easy to get along with, especially since you seem to be an introvert like me."

"Believe me, I am," I replied. "I just need a bit more time to become familiar with everything, and I'm confident I will."

Mr. Drails grinned. "After careful consideration, it seems appropriate to bring you back home now, allowing you to focus on your high school assignments."

After a considerable amount of time, he suddenly created a portal out of thin air, without even pausing to prepare himself before stepping through.

I found myself wandering quite a distance from my house, about fifty feet away. In that very moment, a mix of emotions flooded my heart, a bittersweet feeling that brought tears to my eyes. I hastily brushed them away before they could trickle down my face, and I made my way home with a completely unexpected change in my demeanor.