Cristo Agersia (2)

Later on, Gray settled down Cristo inside his empty household.

The latter raised an eyebrow when he found out about a letter inside Cristo's basket.

He slowly took the letter while unfolding it so he could read it.

When he read the letter along with the content, his eyes slightly widened as he was stunned by such strange sentences.

Each statement of the letter caught him by surprise.

--- Dear You,

Whoever is reading this letter, it means that you have already found Cristo inside the basket.

My name is Margaret Agersia. I am the writer of this letter. You could say that I am someone from the outside world.

I was born inside the Lucretia Kingdom and formerly reside in the kingdom before Lucretia disappeared over 70 years ago.

But in reality, the Kingdom of Lucretia has not disappeared and was hidden away from the sight of the outside world.

For you, who came from Lucretia, can actually have a chance to escape to the outside world. The action to do so is quite simple, but at the same time, it's hard to do so---

Gray was lost.

He doesn't understand a single thing that was mentioned inside the letter.

About the outside world, and how the outside world has stated that the Lucretia Kingdom had vanished and become nonexistent long ago.

His breathing has steadily become better as he quietly glances from the letter to a baby, who was sleeping peacefully inside the basket.

His eyes narrowed at the sight of the baby as he could only stare attentively at him while silence slowly filled the room.

"..."

There was one thing that came into his mind.

That is the basement below his household.

".. I knew it.."

He raised his hand while covering his mouth in disbelief as he was speechless by the sudden realization.

"... There is an outside world."

He muttered out quietly as hope glimmer in his widened eyes.

Truth be told,

Gray Oswald was not just an ordinary professional butler.

Apart from his job, he has also built a large basement below his household that he found by accident when patrolling around the estate.

He knew for a long time that there was something wrong with the Kingdom he resides in and was born.

He was also aware that someone had done something about the Directive Order.

He glances back at the baby as he carefully carries him to the stairs that leads to the basement.

"... I deeply apologize, Cristo. But for a while, I had to let you live in the basement."   

The basement is the place that lies below his household.

He found the place by accident as he was also surprised by the fact that the basement has many books on his hands.

Not to mention,

How the basement changes its shape every night, every single day.

From that day of discovery, Gray had hidden Cristo inside the basement.

It was in case the Directive Special Knights would find out about him.

-

[17 January 729/Backstory]

"There."

Gray carefully placed the silver tray with a bunch of mouth-watering food in front of the 5 year old Cristo.

Cristo was looking forward to his meal with his body subconsciously leaning forward to the variety of foods.

"This is your meal. Be healthy and eat a lot."

Gray exclaimed as he extended his hand out and pat Cristo's head in which he responded with closed eyes.

"Understand?"

Cristo looked up at Gray as he only nodded as he started to eat his meal.

Gray just looked at Cristo with a warm smile as happiness filled inside him.

For Gray who has never married anyone and doesn't have any family or relatives, Cristo is a very special person to him just like his own son.

"... Sir..."

Cristo muttered out quietly as he stopped eating while looking at Gray.

Gray smiled at him and answered him tenderly,

"Yes Cristo?"

"... When can I go outside?"

When Cristo asks that very question, Gray's expression changed, and could only look at him sadly in the eye as Cristo had been there his entire life.

"Cristo, I'm sorry. In this Kingdom, there are very strict rules that we have to follow under the name of Directive Order. It will be hard to leave this basement, especially if you're not identified in this Kingdom."

Gray reasoned him softly and looked at him with a more relaxed but serious expression.

"I can't just tell them that you came from the outside world."

With another reasonable explanation, Cristo nodded lightly at Gray and continued to eat his meal once again.

-

[28 March 734/Backstory]

One day, something strange happened to Cristo.

He could suddenly create fire from the tip of his fingers when he turned 10 years old.

Gray was surprised by the unknown phenomenon as he also tried his best to find the source of that strange energy that is coming from Cristo.

"Where did you learn these supernatural things?"

Gray asked with wide eyes while looking at Cristo who was playing with his red flames by enlarging and diminishing its size on the tip of his fingers.

"... I don't know."

Cristo truthfully exclaimed, then afterward continued playing with his flames.

Gray sighed and truly understood that Cristo didn't know anything.

It was already expected that Cristo also doesn't know his own origin.

-

[4 July 741/Backstory]

Years later when Cristo has reached the age of 17 years old, he can create another flames with the colour of blue.

The blue one is quite different from the red one.

It is because the blue one is highly dangerous and it is far more powerful than the red flames as it would burn something in a matter of seconds.

In some cases, even if the object wasn't in the grasp of the holder, the flames could still burn it down.

"I'm glad that you can control the blue ones but it's quite dangerous. So please refrain yourself from using it around the basement. I'm worried that something bad will happen when you use it without thinking through."

Gray reasoned him logically.

Gray was afraid that Cristo's supernatural power could make Directive Special Knights discover their whereabouts and was also worried about Cristo since he keeps using his power for self-entertainment.

-

[2 February 744/Backstory]

Another strange thing has happened again after the appearance of the blue flames.

When Cristo turned 20 years old, white flames started manifesting from his hand.

Unlike the previous flames that could only bring destruction, white flames were the exact opposite as it can heal Cristo from any damage that was done to his body.

In one example was a slight wound on his finger.

Gray has witnessed the flames right in front of Cristo.

"... Cristo, please show me all your powers."

Gray asked while looking at the 20 years old Cristo in front of him.

Cristo nodded.

Firstly, he lured his open palm towards Gray as the red flames appear from thin air.

Then, the red was distorted as it changed into blue flames.

At last, he changed the blue ones into white flames.

Gray wrote everything down while observing the ability and tried to understand the circumstances and source of Cristo's supernatural power.

Later on, he finally found the answer.

Mana.

The spiritual life force was mentioned in one of the forbidden books the basement had in which had explained a few things about mana.

"... To cut it short, mana is... something that humans usually received. It can either shorten your lifespan or can also make it longer."

Gray explained all the basic things about mana to Cristo.

Cristo also has understood the situation that he's been through.

They have that information for quite a while.

-

[7 December 760/Backstory]

When Cristo turned 36 years old, Gray is even more confused with many things that have happened.

"... Why is your face still looked like when you're a teenager? 17? 18?"

Gray was confused about Cristo's appearance that hasn't change for the past decades.

"Hmm? What about my mana?"

Cristo replied with another theory that may be the cause of Cristo's young appearance to answer Gray's question.

After hearing the reply, Gray shook his head with his hand moving to his chin as he recites the of the mana's ability and weakness.

"... No. I think not. It doesn't make any sense. I think that mana can only... make you live longer for at least.. 2 or 4 years if the user is injured or on the brink of death."

It was natural to have doubts since they only have a limited amount of knowledge about this.

Gray can only sigh deeply as he nodded.

Cristo was sighing that he later agreed with Gray's statement.

Gray turned his head towards Cristo with a serious expression plastered on his face.

"Cristo, remember this. If someone comes here and found you here and ask why are you stuck in this basement, tell them it's because the structure of the basement often changes and you can't remember the way out."

Cristo's eyes went wide as confusion filled his expression.

"... Huh? Why?"

.

.

.