Chapter 3: A Friend of a Freak

It has been 3 weeks since the boy stayed in the Mansion. William took care of him in his free time while during his working days, he would put Ronald and Sasha in charge of him while away. It was Monday morning, 9:30 am. William was away due to work so Ryan was left in the mansion with the other two residents.

"Master Ryan? Where are you, young Master?" Asked Ronald out loud with his British voice. He searched everywhere around the Manor until he finally found Ryan with Sasha, who was teaching him how to properly peel vegetables with a knife.

"That's good, Young Master. You are doing well" Sasha complimented him as Ronald let out a relieving sigh.

"I thought I lost you, Young Master," Said Ronald before Sasha gazed over at him in anger that made Ronald feel surprised.

"You did, I saw young master roaming the halls alone so I had to take care of him. You always tend to forget things, you won't be a good butler, and you can't even peel vegetables without getting your fingers cut, Unlike Young Master over here"

"Forgive me, I'm just a combat butler who assists Master William with his work. You seem really good at that, Young Master." Ronald Complimented Ryan.

"Thank you. I always watched my mother cook and peel vegetables so I must have learned something just by watching her"

"Hey, Young Master... between her and I, Who is the better at cooking?" Sasha asked with a tease that made Ryan laugh as well.

"You of course, although I doubt you could beat her when it comes to Adobo, it's my favorite dish at lunch!"

"Oh? I see a Spanish and or Filipino Dish huh? Then I will make you that dish this lunch, not to see If I am better, but because I want to make you your favorite" Said Sasha with her usual radiant smile towards Ryan as pure bliss and excitement appeared in Ryan's face.

"Alright then, Master Ryan would you like to join me for Grocery shopping?" Asked Ronald

"Sure! I haven't seen the City in a long time, we used to live a bit far in the forest."

"Alright then. I will prepare the Grocery list, Ryan please get dressed properly, it will be a bit cold outside" After a few minutes. Ryan was dressed in a warm-looking black and white sweater that matches his hair before hopping inside the passenger seat of the other car. Sasha gave the list of groceries to Ronald. He expected a good luck kiss but received a warning instead.

"Listen, you better get back here without any trouble to Ryan. If I ever find out that he got hurt, you're dead"

"Yes... Ms. Sasha" Ronald sighed before hopping inside the car as well. She waved at Ryan with a cheerful smile before they exited the Manor.

Time skip

They managed to successfully buy the Groceries on the list without any trouble. As they exited the Super Market, Ryan saw the perfect view of the Public Park from where they were and asked for Ronald's permission as he was placing the Groceries in the trunk of the car.

"The City Park? Hmm... Well, it is still too early so why not? Shall we go?" Asked Ronald with a caring smile.

"Yes!" The boy cheered as they went to the park for a stroll. Ryan missed the sight of trees seeing that he grew up surrounded by them. The calm winds rushed behind them for a light breeze as the flowers were radiant to the eyes of everyone who just came here to relax. After a while, they sat on a bench to enjoy the wonderful scenery that the park had to offer.

"Did you enjoy the stroll, Master Ryan?" Ronald asked.

"I did, very much. Ronald, can I ask you a request?"

"You can ask me for anything, I am here to serve"

"Can you not call me Master Ryan...? Ryan is fine by me, I don't want to feel like a mean more than what I already am..."

"... As you wish, Ryan. Are you hungry?"

"I can eat a bit"

"Alright then, stay here. There was a hot dog stand back at the entrance. I will be back and we'll enjoy eating the food here" Ronald smiled at him before elegantly walking towards the distant Stand. Ryan was left alone but he didn't mind, not as long as this view was in front of him. Soon he started to feel quite tired after a small yawn until he fell asleep for a short moment. When he woke up, he can see three male kids fondling his hair before they took a step back when they saw his weird colored eyes.

"Look at his eyes," Said the tallest kid among the three.

"So weird" The shortest replied.

"Umm... hello. I'm Ryan, nice to meet you guys" Ryan offered his hand for a handshake but they just stared at him weirdly.

"Yuck, don't touch us freak," Said the middle one before they started to laugh at Ryan.

"Nice one. Freak. It suits him"

"Yeah, Freak!" Ryan suddenly felt heavy inside of him his mind started to get clouded in pitch darkness, not a single word of response came to his head while the kids in front of him laughed as they kept pointing their fingers at him.

"Why... what did I do to you...?" Asked Ryan with a hysterical look.

"Aww look the freak is about to cry," Said the tallest among them.

"What's wrong with your eyes? Dang! He's crying with one eye! What a freak" The middle one stated as they laughed once more. Tears fell from Ryan's right eye before his Amber eye glowed for a split second without anyone noticing. Soon all they realized was how Ryan successfully aimed a powerful right punch on the tallest kid among them, falling with his back on the ground as they gazed angrily at Ryan's emotionless yet fearful gaze until he snapped out of an unknown trance.

"Wait... did I... No guys, I didn't mean to~" Before Ryan could finish his sentence, the tall kid struck his elbow at Ryan's left cheek, causing him to stumble hard on the ground before they kicked and stomped at Ryan who was helpless on the ground. His vision started to get blurry from the pain to the point he almost passes out. Until he heard a faint female voice. The Kids stopped on kicking Ryan to the ground as they gazed over at a blue-haired girl who was aggressively walking in their direction.

"Hey what are you doing with that poor boy?!" Yelled the girl towards them.

"This is none of your business, he hit us first"

"Really now? So you three weren't picking on him until he cried...? Someone Help! We're being mugged!" The girl screamed like a helpless person in distress that alerted the Kids and made them run away. The girl laughed at the sight before rushing to Ryan's aid. "Hey, are you alright?"

"I'm... not a freak... please stop..." Ryan muttered as he kept crying, what the kids did to him traumatized him severely and the girl noticed it so she slapped him across the face with all her strength.

"Hey snap out of it! Their gone..." Ryan shook his head to clear his mind, soon all he could see was how he was face to face with a cute blue-haired girl in front of him, her eyes glistening in light blue colors as he blinked many times to see if it was real or not.

"Who... are you?" Ryan asked as she pulled him up by the hand.

"I'm Selena! I was walking down the park until I saw those jerks beating you up so I saved you, hehe" She replied with a cute pose like those old anime shows where they do an intro pose.

"Why would you help me...? Didn't you heard what they said...? I'm a... freak" Ryan said with a broken tone and look while she had a sympathetic look towards the poor boy.

"Hey, you're not a freak. Don't call yourself that"

"You're not crept out by my hair and eyes...?"

"No, it suits you"

"You don't have to lie..."

"I'm not! You look... attractive with that hair and eyes..." She complimented him as they both gazed at each other's peculiar-looking eyes with the same light blush on their cheeks.

"My name is... Ryan by the way. Thank you for saving me..." Selena smiled at him before fishing out a white handkerchief from her pocket and gently brushed away the dirt on his cheeks.

"Nice to meet you, Ryan. I hope we can be good friends" She said with a wide smile.

"You want to be friends... with me?"

"Heck yeah! You're cool. So is that a yes?"

"Yes. We're friends!" Soon Ronald arrived with two hotdogs on both hands.

"Ryan, I'm sorry I am late. There was a very long line and what happened to you?" Asked Ronald in shock.

"I was beaten to a pulp by three kids who were calling me a freak until Selena arrived and saved me" Ryan responded.

"Selena...?"

"Yes, she's my friend right here" Ryan pointed at her next to him. The blue-haired girl and the butler glared at each other for a moment before he let out a sigh.

"I see, Are you feeling okay now, Ryan?" Suddenly the kid who Ryan punched arrived with his father who was very muscular like a Russian weight-lifter.

"Hey! Your're Kid punched my Son! I demand he apologized for what he did!" yelled the angry father.

"I believe your Son started the whole mess and Ryan here just defended himself"

"It's true, I stopped them from further injuring Ryan" Selena helped defended the boy.

"Jeffry, Is this true?" The Man asked as Jeffry quickly shook his head sideways in No.

"You're calling my son a Liar? I demand you apologized to him!" The Man yelled in anger as he marched his way towards him.

"But~" Ronald cut off Ryan by slowly pulling him back and standing in front of the Boy, facing the Tall, muscular man before him.

"He does not owe you an apology, I spoke the truth when I said he defended himself"

"Listen, I am sick and tired of hearing your Stupid Harry Potter voice! You better stop talking or I swear I will beat you up!"

"Beat me up...? Well, that is uncalled for. What a savagely act" The man became furious and threw a right punch towards Ronald's face without hesitation. From the look of it he can even knock out a professional boxer in one punch to the nose but Ronald caught his punch with his left open palm like it was nothing. "I don't know if you heard this phrase but... Manners, Maketh Man... Without Manner... Well..." Just as he said that Ronald slowly lowered that man's fist with force, causing him to kneel down from the pain, if he was to continue, the man's fist would be broken. "What would be stopping us from being compared to Savage animals?"

"I... I'm sorry! Please let me go, you're breaking my hand!" Jeffry was shocked along with Ryan and Selena. The man whimpered from the immense pain as Ronald kept a formal pose with an angered look towards him.

"Now... Is this classified as mugging you?"

"No... This is self... defense" The man replied before Ronald let him go. The man and his son quickly walked away in shame and loss of pride.

"Let's go, Ryan, we shall eat in the car as we head back home. Say goodbye to your... friend"

"Alright then. Umm, I guess we're going now..."

"Yeah, this was a cool day for me. I met my first ever friend" Said Salena with a smile.

"Really? you're my first friend as well! When can I see you again?" Ryan asked.

"Hmm... well, where do you live? I can come over and plan where we would hang out"

"Oh, I live in Kenway Manor"

"Oh, I know that place! Alright then I'll see you soon, Ryan Cunningham"

"Alright! Goodbye Selena!" Ryan and Ronald walked out of the park and headed back inside the car. Wait... did I told her my last name? Nah, I probably did." After a short drive. Ryan and Ronald arrived back at the mansion with Sasha waiting for them at the entrance door with a smile. After a while, Sasha was treating Ryan's injuries while Ronald stood beside them with a slap mark across his face.

"Ronald? What did I say?"

"You said I am dead if Ryan was to ever get in trouble..." Sasha glared at him in sheer anger while gently treating his injuries with a small cotton ball that was drenched with rubbing alcohol.

"Ms. Sasha it was not Ronald's fault. He beat up the Man without any sweat, he was really incredible!" Ryan said with a loud voice before wincing in pain due to the alcohol that dripped down his bruises.

"If he hadn't left you alone, none of that would have happened, Young Master."

"Ryan... is it true that you punched the boy?" Ronald asked that made Sasha's eyes widened and paused for a moment before she continued on what she was doing as if she feared something for a second.

"... Yes.... but I didn't know what happened... They were mean to me... they called me a freak, I cried and felt a weird feeling..."

"What was that feeling...?" Asked Sasha in concern.

"Bloodlust..." The room became quiet after what Ryan said. Ronald kept an ominous stare at the boy before Sasha gripped Ryan's hands together, pulling them close to her chest.

"Ryan... Violence isn't always the answer to every problem. There are times where you can stop a problem with empathy or simply understanding them. Promise me... Promise me that you will only resort to violence if there is no other way..."

"I promise... I'm sorry Ms. Sasha" Ryan apologized as she gently hugged him close. After Lunch, Ryan head back to his room to sleep and get some relaxing rest as Sasha and Ronald had a conversation in the Kitchen.

"Are you sure that it was her?" Asked Sasha.

"I am certain... those eyes... that hair... that unnerving Aura... I can recognize those flames of war from a mile away..."

"But why Ryan... why did she choose him...?"

"I don't know... but as previously sworn guardians of this world... we must end him... We must" Ronald stated with a regretting tone.

"No... I saw something beautiful inside Ryan. It may be prophesized that he is the start of the end.... but I can see that he can be the end... of the end"

"Sasha, are you sure you want to do that? We will betray the code of the Guardians... like Arthur"

"Hey... we're not alone... we have each other. I believe that this boy... would change this world's destiny...."