Chapter 3 Growth

Time begins to flow by like it was natural now. Days became weeks to months to a few years. By now I should be six technically but since I was reborn a toddler I'm probably eight by size and basic knowledge. Over the course of this flow, all the maids by now have grown 'comfortable' around me and I to them. Most of the time when I purposely choose to be by myself, someone grows a pair enough to keep me company.

Aside from Edward. He's almost always babying me and dotting over me with spoils and such. He only does this because I've yet to call him by the title he wants me to call him. But he's not my father. And he knows that I know this, but it doesn't mean I have no respect for the man. On the contrary since we've been under the same roof for so long, I'm surprised he hasn't gotten fed up with me about this yet.

Much of the time I spend my days in his library and in my room instead of outside. I watch as others my size run and play completely board out of my damn mind. But I know better. Everyone saw that I knew better than to ask to go out and play. They even wonder why I don't ask. I don't ask because of my skin. I chose not to go to school because of what I am. I am human yes, but being a chosen human is a completely different situation depending on the god that chose you.

I see a few others with marks on their bodies running and playing and having a blast with normal kids but the people are not kind to curtain gods that give blessings at birth. My god. The god of blood and sacrifice, has chosen me of all others as their disciple. Has allowed me another chance at life in this world I live in, and even blessed me enough to let me keep my previous powers that I once had as a priest of blood. They may not be as strong as then but as far as I'm concerned, this new start is way better than my last.

However, that being the case, I must be even more careful from now on to not be seen by any others. Not the children. Not the visitors. And especially not the church of the mighty. The pope of the church of might was always one track minded about his teachings, not like mine was any different. Saying what the people want to hear instead of teaching them what they needed to know. Nonsense about having only one lord to allow rule over the people and then saying that those with blessings are given a purpose by the gods that chose them. One god must rule but there is more than one god that rules. Some teaching.

Even the books don't say such nonsense of their gods. Each god does give their people a 'savior' yes. And each savior is to build a 'home' for their god. A temple with people that will praise them and ask for guidance. Each home will have a book of rules. A bible to abide by. So long as you stay true to this book of rules then the house will forever remain 'clean'. I've read all the books. All but the one that was lost to my church over time. Mistakes were made, and our teachings led to confusion and misdeeds. And I realized this too late. Now I feel I need to rebuild the church of blood according to my gods will. But what is their will to have me born as a disciple and not just a priest? Whatever the case, I am thankful nonetheless.

At this moment, I am sitting in my room looking out to see them play in the sun that I have longed for, for quite a long while actually. It would be nice to be in the sun again, but I can't do that without someone calling out blood child and send a hunting party after my head. I know this all too well. I want to go out. I want the sun. I don't need friends or anything. Just a little time outside to bathe in the light of day beyond this window.

"Treven?" I heard Eddie call from the closed door. I look to find him opening the door and peeking his head through like a nervous girl. "Hey, buddy. You doing okay? You don't walk around the house much."

"I'm fine, Eddie." I tell him as I look back out the window to the sky. "Just bored."

"Heh. I bet you read all the books off the shelf and even got the spell charts down. I'm amazed you would want to do all that on your own."

"Well yeah. I mean aside from it being literally the ONLY thing I'm able to do to learn about the world outside."

"... What about learning magic?"

... What? Wait I can do that!? I'm allowed to do that!? And here I've been trying to keep a low profile! What sort of shit is this!?

"I seem to have got your attention." Eddie smirks and immediately irritates me. "Awe come on! Don't gimme that! Tell you what? I can find a private teacher for you to learn magic from. You can make a new friend that way too. Speaking of..." Dammit, he trailed. "Why haven't you gone outside yet? As many times as I've seen you look out that window watching the other kids I could have sworn you would ask someone to take you somewhere at least."

Are you fucking serious right now. You watched my disturbing birth and seen my skin and you want to know why I don't ask to go outside? "Not looking like this, no!" I tell him.

"Ah. Right. That's right. You're uh... Not like most blessed kids." No shit, Holms. "You know, it scares me that you know so much about yourself already. You got a mouth on you but you behave well. You do as your asked, and stay out of trouble... It's like you're scared of the people around you." I am. Like fucking hell imma do something that makes you see I'm the exact same bastard that committed suicide in your face.

"... Hey, Treven. What's really wrong, buddy? You can tell me anything. You know that, right?" To hell I can! "What's bugging you?" God, I fucking hate it when he pulls the puppy eyes on me.

"... I want to be in the sun." I finally admit. "I don't care about friends or people. I just want some daylight. But I don't want to be seen by everyone. Because I know what my blessing is and I don't want anyone to find out. Like you don't want someone to take me away, which is why you spoil me. I know what's going on, Eddie. I get it. But, the world is cruel to people with my blessing and to everyone else that's similar."

It's horrifically quiet for a long while. Eddie just heard me become some philosophical genius for a minute.

"Treven..." He finally says sadly. "... I sorry, buddy." He sighs.

"What for? It's not your fault. At least your willing to accept me with this blessing. I'm grateful enough for that, so I won't complain."

"Actually I'm... Sorry about this." We look to the door as it opens wider. To my horror and surprise, the one man I didn't want to encounter entered the room with two attendants each holding a few items each. One held a mage staff and a black book with a red cross on it. The other a detection scanner that picks up on magic and magic level, both in quality and quantity. The man now stood a good ten feet away from where we sat towering over in his white and gold garnished robe. His eyes orange like mine with a blue cross on his chin. The pope was in my room staring holes into my soul and petrifying me.

Why? Why is he here right now!? What the hell did I do wrong to be noticed by this man!?

Eddie moves out of his way with a bow to greet him. "This is him, dear father. The boy I found."

"Why did it take you so long to tell me of this?" His voice was gentle yet cold like ice.

"I wanted to see if he was truly as wicked as the blood followers said he'd be. If he was, I would have slain him where he stood." Now that's just fucking ominous! I'm right here, man!

"And what compelled you to keep him?"

"... When we entered the ritual sight, the priest gave up the hostage and gave his own life instead. In that moment, I saw her. The god of blood flowing out of his body and draining him in turn she used his blood to make this boy and placed him on the corpse of the priest before everyone in the room."

"... So the god of blood did indeed exist after all. And this is... 'her'? Chosen one?" He questioned that. I'm actually kind of curious myself now. Apparently my god is a goddess.

"According to the followers, yes."

"Didn't they all claim this child would be the death of all of us one day?"

Really? They were screaming at me not to kill myself cuz they thought I would destroy them all with the church of blood. The pope now looks me in the eyes with a terrible gaze.

"What is your name?" He asks me.

"His name is..."

"I didn't ask you for the name you gave him, Sir Edward." Eddie shuts up in an instant.

I shouldn't lie. Lies go against our teachings. I know this. 'Yet hiding the truth from those who are not one of us is fine.' That's not a rule. I must never lie. To anyone. "My name Cresel Stinger."

"... Who are you?" It's worded different. It's not the same question.

"I am the disciple of blood."

"A disciple? Do you know what this is?" He takes the black book and holds it in front of me.

It takes me a minute to register what it's supposed to be but... "Is it supposed to be the blood bible?"

"That's correct. Your very sharp, Cresel Stinger."

"But it's wrong, though isn't it?"

"Hm?"

"The book of blood is a book not just made up of rules but also descriptive consequences if not followed. It should also tell you what I am without you needing to ask me." The words are flowing out as if knew what I was saying. But I don't. I've never heard of this before. This isn't even me talking.

"... What else can you tell me, Cresel Stinger?"