Chapter 9

It took a while for both Valerie and Gideon to hatch up a plan to keep Kaiden distracted for at least 3 hours without the latter suddenly becoming suspicious of their actions. Initially, Valerie only wanted Gideon to help her decorate but the child kept pestering that he wanted to help with the baking portion. This only made things complicated for both of them but thankfully they did come up with a plan.

"We're doing what?" Kaiden looks up at Gideon. He was drawing something but Gideon was not able to see it because Kaiden kept hiding it.

"A scavenger hunt but I'll be the one hiding things all around the building so I won't be able to be with you while you solve the puzzles"

"That's unfair, I want to be with Deon to play this"

"But it won't be fun if I know the answers already"

"True" Kaiden pouted and Gideon only smiled.

"If you do this, you'll get your gift"

"Gift?!" Kaiden thought Gideon forgot that his birthday was tomorrow.

"Uh-huh! Even though your birthday is still tomorrow, if you complete the tasks you'll get your gift earlier!"

And that's how Gideon managed to distract Kaiden. He indeed made a small gift for him so that when he needed to leave for the capital, Kaiden would still have something to remember him by. That Gideon was his friend.

Valerie and Gideon started making the cake while Kaiden was roaming around specific areas of the building that helped avoid the kitchen at the back. Thankfully because there were two sets of hands working, making the base of the cake went smoothly and it was possible for it to be finished within an hour.

"We'll pop this in the fridge so it can cool down faster… I'll decorate the cake on my own, I'm worried that Kaiden might bump into the other kids" Valerie pinched Gideon's cheeks before sending him off.

Gideon checked the last areas to see if Kaiden had finished but it looked like they weren't done yet so it meant that he was still doing the other tasks. He was walking to the next area when he almost got hit by a rock when it suddenly stopped a few inches away from hitting his face. He was a little terrified because of what happened but he felt like someone was looking at him at a distance.

'Did kaiden stop this ro-'

Suddenly one of the children screamed in horror and there stood Kaiden staring down at a child who was wrapped in blood-red energy that acted like a snake. In Kaiden's hands, he held a piece of paper and pencil while the other held a rock. Gideon ran to Kaiden and held the hand that had the rock.

"Kaiden, don't hurt him!"

"Why not?!" Kaiden pulled his hand away but it caused Gideon to stumble and lose balance.

The anger that was in Kaiden's eyes suddenly got replaced with worry and he let go of the rock.

"Gideon, I didn't mean to-"

"Let him go!" Gideon looked at Kaiden and at the boy who looked like he was about to pee himself in fear.

"Tch.." Kaiden clicked his tongue and still wanted to refuse but ultimately gave up.

The boy ran away in tears screaming that he was going to tell Ms. Valerie and Kaiden screamed back "GO ON TELL HER!"

Gideon was scared of the person in front of him

'Kaiden was about to bash the rock at that child. Even if that child tried hurting him, it still was not enough to actually kill him'

Kaiden noticed the terrified look that Gideon held and felt his chest tightened.

'No… Don't look at me like that Deon'

"D-deon" Kaiden carefully called out to him while reaching for his hand. Thankfully Gideon didn't pull his hand away.

Gideon swallowed his fear. He cannot get on Kaiden's bad side, he wanted to live. His first time experience in death was already shitty, at least let his death in this world be peaceful.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. But he tried hurting you and I thought-"

"Kaiden"

"I'm sorry Deon please don't push me away!"

"Kaiden I'm not pushing you away"

"Then"

"But it doesn't mean what you did was right either. You'll come with me to Ms. Valerie and that bully to apologize"

Kaiden didn't put up a fight and walked with Gideon to Valerie's office to find her trying to calm down the terrified child. The child started panicking again the moment he saw the two of them and Valerie's worries about Kaiden's powers started to kick in again. Gideon acted as the mediator in this situation because Valerie herself was not helping even though she's the "adult" in this situation.

"Kaiden, apologize to Charlie"

This kid's name was Charlie. He was a human and he was on the assumption that most demons won't get hurt by rocks anyways.

"I won't apologize if he doesn't apologize for throwing that rock at you"

"It didn't even land on Gideon!" Charlie defended himself and Kaiden snapped back.

"Because I managed to stop it! If I wasn't then Gideon would be injured again!"

"You two be quiet!" Gideon snapped and glanced at Valerie who was holding Charlie.

"Charlie, If you apologize to me I'll forgive you because you didn't know better but don't ever do it again"

In the end, everyone apologized but Charlie called out to Gideon again to apologize before he left and stated that everyone at the orphanage planned on picking on him again especially tomorrow so the two of them should just stay in their room or be with the grown-ups.

"Thank you for the warning, I'm sorry again for Kaiden's actions"

"It's ok… He only did that to protect you. Just keep him away from me please?" Charlie smiled awkwardly before dashing off.

Kaiden was still sitting inside Valerie's office being lectured on why it's wrong to hurt others. Gideon hesitated on entering the room and that is when he heard Kaiden snap back at Valerie.

"Why is it when others bullied me, you stay quiet but when I fight back you get angry?!"

"That's simply because you are better than that and you're stronger than them" Valerie explains

"I know but that doesn't mean they can hurt Deon as well!"

Valerie stayed quiet because he was right about that. Gideon was suffering as well in silence and it was due to her limited capabilities as a human. But it still cannot excuse what Kaiden attempted to do.

"But it still does not mean you should harm others Kaiden"

She won't back down even if she fears Kaiden a little bit. Kaiden on the other hand thought this situation was funny because it was showing that his aunt doesn't care about him or Gideon's wellbeing.

"Do you even care about me, Aunty?!" Kaiden yelled

"Of course I do Kaiden!"

"Well I never once felt it"

Everyone was stunned by what Kaiden had stated. Perhaps it's because Valerie also reached her limit that she argued back.

"Kaiden, I have spent 10 whole years caring for you. I only want the best for you but you are making it difficult for me"

"Well, I never asked you to take care of me. If you tell me that you promised my mother to take care of me. I have no mother"

Valerie raised her hand to slap Kaiden but she couldn't bring herself to do so and only clenched her fist and told him to go to his room. When Kaiden opened the door that's when they saw Gideon standing there as if he was waiting for them to be done. Kaiden looks down and walks away. Valerie's eyes were a bit teary but she blinked it away and smiled weakly at Gideon before taking a seat.

"Is there anything else I can help you with Gideon?"

"Um.." Gideon entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry if you heard us arguing. But I'm a little thankful that you're there for Kaiden" Valerie beckoned for Gideon to come closer. When he walked towards her, she patted his head in a praising manner.

"Kaiden really cares about you and even if I want to protect the both of you, I can't. Will I be able to rely on you to help Kaiden?"

Valerie was very serious in asking this and Gideon hesitated. He didn't want to be held responsible for Kaiden. What kind of an adult would ask a child who is barely eleven years old this question? Valerie's rationality is clearly affected by her stress.

"I'll try" He stated and this seemed to be enough for Valerie and she let Gideon sit at the chair in front of her desk.

"What did you want to say?"

"Remember that time when a strange man with Pink hair approached us?"

Valerie's expression became serious and she sat up properly.

"Why are you asking me this?"

"I spoke with him"

"When did you- Did he threaten you to have me come with him?"

'Great… just great! First Kaiden and now Azazel threatening a child'

"He didn't! He actually saved me!"

"Hah?"

And so Gideon explained what happened 2 weeks ago when he got home late. He left out the Oath part because he felt like it was irrelevant. But he can't exactly act like he knows the whole story.

"Hmm…" Valerie thought about the situation with Kaiden and how she can no longer keep him in check.

'Perhaps… it is the best option for him to be raised by his father'

At least if he was there, his powers could be kept in check by multiple people given he was technically the prince of this new world.

'This would have been better but, given the fact of what just happened… he would not want to see me anymore if I send him away'

A little bit conflicted, she ultimately decided that Kaiden's well-being is more important than her own feelings. She told Gideon that she was certain Azazel left him something to contact him and to cast it a few days after Kaiden had calmed down. Before he left Gideon proposed that he'll take the cake later himself to their room and Valerie agreed stating that she'll prepare some slices in the fridge so it's easier for him to carry back.