|| Chapter 1.8 || How We See The Future

There were two probable reasons on why the band around Cedric's wrist had stopped beeping. One would be that it couldn't correctly catch the satellite's signal, and two... was that he was that it signified that he was on the verge of being taken out of the competition. The moment one candidate enters the next phase of the trial, the band's signal would be cut off, and they would be left to fend for themselves. And it seems some had entered the next phase sooner than Cedric had thought. The rest of the candidates who were left behind would be disqualified soon...

No matter what would happen to them, it would be the consequences of their actions, and the elders of the clans wouldn't interfere until the end of the trials.

Cedric felt dread climb up his spine. The very reason behind the torturous years of his life was because of this very competition. He, as only a child, devoid of power, a weakling in the eyes of the elders. He wanted to cut off the chains that bound him from seeing the world like how Cadel had taught him. The urge to break free was extraordinary. However, he also knew that he couldn't protect everything precious to him if he wouldn't excel and grow through hardships to grasp the power to protect.

Cedric didn't want that... to remain a helpless thing, unable to obtain anything.

A sigh escaped his lips as he leaned on the wall behind the bench he was sitting. His eyes softly gazed at the white-haired teenager who was gracefully pressing the keys of the piano. Mary was observing Cadel with a stern yet doting look as she stood behind the youth. Soothing and elegant music flowed in the air as the little vampire's fingers danced on the piano keys. Sunshine, filtered from the white translucent curtains, bathed over his form, making him look as if he came out of a painting.

When Cadel met Cedric's eyes, he smiled with a proud look as if asking for praise. Cedric couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips in a smile.

The youth must have caught the worried look in Cedric's eyes, for Cadel furrowed his brows in concern before focusing his attention back to the keys. As Mary scolded Cadel and the latter only let out an awkward laugh while secretly glancing at Cedric.

Cedric lowered his gaze to the band on is his wrist. He thumbed its silvery surface and sighed. There's only one thing he should do now... for the both of them.

.....

"You're leaving?" Cadel's eyes widened, and his busy hand that was holding a flowerpot paused. They were in Cadel's Yellow Garden, in the middle of transferring new plants in the garden.

Cedric nodded, staring at the puffy dandelion between his fingers. "Yes..."

"Oh..." Cadel couldn't find any reason to refute him. After all, it's been several days since Cadel had brought him here. The expression on his face turned sullen. "I see..."

Cedric helplessly looked at Cadel. He couldn't help but imagine the youth's lonely appearance when Cedric left.

"How long?..." asked Cadel as he put down the flowerpot.

" It's uncertain when I will be able to come back here..."

"Oh..." The vampire's expression turned graver. Redness pricked at the corner of his eyes. "So... you're not coming back?"

"No!" Startled by the despairing expression on the boy's face, Cedric abruptly interrupted. Cadel gazed at him with a look of surprise.

Feeling a bit of guilt, Cedric inched closer to Cadel and touched the youth's hands. His eyes deepened, and the words of a promise flowed from his mouth. "I'll come back. Don't worry..."

Although he still felt unsettled, Cadel lowered his eyes and spoke, "You promise?..."

He felt a hand touch his own, and Cedric's voice entered his ears in a comforting whisper, "I promise..."

The two boys looked at each other softly. As the butterflies within the big dome garden fluttered in the air inside the beam of sunlight, the two teenagers spent the rest of the morning with each other's presence.

....

It was one o'clock in the afternoon. Standing a few steps before the manor's entrance, two people stood. Mary leaned on the doorway, watching the two boys with deep eyes.

Squeezing the book in his hands, Cadel sighed and offered the hardbound book to the boy in front of him. Reluctance and sorrow filled his eyes. "Here... so you won't get bored..."

Amused, Cedric chuckled and took the book into his hands. He recalled it was one of the books that he was most fond of reading. It was endearing for the little vampire to remember it. Cedric reached out and threw all hesitation in the bin within the pits of his mind. His hand rubbed Cadel's head playfully. "Thanks. I'll remember to bring back something nice..."

Crimson eyes brightened. "You better remember!"

"I will." Cedric chuckled with a nod.

Not long after, Cadel stared at the departing back of the young hunter as he headed towards the gates. The teenager's figure grew smaller, and when he finally reached the gates, Cedric turned his head. Cadel felt his heart thump, and he almost jumped in his place. With a bright smile, he waved at Cedric, wishing the youth good luck.

As the breeze whooshed past Cedric's figure, the young hunter's lips curled into a smile. He took in the sight of the young vampire giving him a big wave and the cold-faced female robot standing behind the boy. The towering manor looked smaller from afar. This was the place where he found peace for the first time.

Finally, Cedric turned away. To protect these things dear to him, he must grow stronger.

As Cedric walked into the forest, his mind wandered. How will they look when they meet again in the future?

.....

Cadel stared at the closing gates. Cedric had gone, and who knows when they would meet again.

"..."

Kerpuffle: (poke, poke, poke) Host?...

Cadel: ...

Kerpuffle: Host? Cedric Grey has left.

Cadel: ...

Kerpuffle: HOST! Why are you-

Cadel mentally smacked the system on the head. 'Do you fucking get the atmosphere? I was having an emotional moment!'

Kerpuffle: Oh, I see. I see. Then please continue, master.

Cadel internally groaned, 'No, thanks. The moment has passed.'

Kerpuffle whined, flashing a wronged face, and began coaxing his dear host. Meanwhile, Mary came and grasped Cadel's shoulder in a comforting squeeze.

"Let's go in, young master. The wind has turned cold." Mary softly spoke, aware that the young boy was still sullen of the departure of his first human friend.

Cadel nodded. As Mary led him inside the house, he cast one last glance at the gates before he turned away. The breeze swirled around the green tips of the grass as the doors closed with a quiet thud.

....

"We don't know how he is. The tracker must have been tampered with. "

Within the giant tent, the elders of each clan are seated in their respective places around the round table. Their trusted men stood behind their seats, casting a wary gaze upon those unfamiliar to them. A large pole was situated within the center of the table. It was tall, reaching the highest point of the tent. A single bright lamp was structured within the middle part of the pole, illuminating the entire tent.

One older man rubbed his chin as he leaned back, staring at the display on the table. His seat was more elegantly carved than the other elders. Within the show, a certain young boy's tracker had stopped working. He was one of the most promising candidates for the trial. And somehow, a glitch appeared, and the blinking light that indicated his position was lost. Perhaps, it was due to some signal interference because of the storm. However, many days have passed, and there was still no news of him.

"Mr. Grey..." A woman spoke from his side.

The old patriarch raised his brows and turned to her. He tapped the teacup resting between his fingers on the table. "What is it, Mrs. Theal?"

The woman harrumphed and turned to the display before her. "It seems your 'promising' grandson might have met an unfortunate accident."

Mr. Grey laughed with a tilt of his head. The other elders shifted in their seats in discomfort. There was a sort of mania in the older man's voice. His index finger flexed and tapped the porcelain surface of the teacup. "If that is true, then we have suffered the same losses. However, your grandson was no less a menacing scum for bringing two men to jeopardize the lives of other candidates. What is what makes us different."

Mrs. Theal cocked an eyebrow and shrugged. "Alexander was a worthless misfit anyway. He deserved his downfall."

The old man laughed. "As merciless as ever I see..."

Beep!

The brief sound silence the entire tent. All of the people gazed down at the display on monitors built on the table before them. A green blinking dot rapidly moved past the overflowing river and traveled even further. Faster than most of the candidates the elders had ever observed. It wouldn't take long for this youth to reach the cliffs, the next phase of the trials.

"Hm..." A proud and intriguing gleam appeared in the eyes of the Grey Patriarch. He rubbed his chin as he settled back on his seat. "He's alive after all..."

"What happened to him?" One of the elders said, curiously gazing at the single dot on the screen. "He's behind the others, but he's moving much faster... was he waiting?"

"Waiting? Don't joke around. Clearly, he's been lazying around and moving only when his tracker signaled his termination." Another spouted.

"Hmm..." Old Patriarch Grey raised his brows, ignoring the mumbles of the people around him. He eyed the tiny dot, swiftly traveling through the terrain. What happened, little one?

Several nights later, the forest was cleared, and a lone teenager stood before the corpse of a massive lion. The beast's jaw was dislocated, hanging limply, gaping with blood oozing into the ground. A bloodied rock was found beside the bashed head of the animal. Its eyes were crushed reduced into a disfigured corpse.

Panting, Cedric picked up his discarded knife from the ground and pursued deeper into the forest with cold, ruthless eyes. He reached the foot of the cliff where most candidates had stopped hopelessly. With his bare hands, he climbed. He didn't stop even when he scraped his palms or cut his finger. Anyone who bumped into him would crawl back in fear, even to the point of forfeiting the challenge. He successfully reached the top of the cliff and continued forward without even stopping for a breath. The quicker he finishes all these, the faster it will all end. 

With his heavy breaths, he'd once taken down three snakes and one adult bear during his journey. The audience applauded his strength and intelligence, and the candidates feared him. Through brutal rivers and harsh landscapes, he battled with other competent children.

Finally, the final fight was between him and one skillful successor of another clan. They were fighting for first place in the competition before the exit of the forest. Cedric's exhaustion was a burden to him, causing him to suffer even more than his opponent. However, he stood victorious, holding his broken arm as he limped his way through the arched exit of the forest.

Cedric Grey became the prime hunter of the competition. He finished every trial quicker than the rest of the candidates. The boy lacked sleep, and so no one disturbed him for two days after his arrival.

Within the camp, the Grey Patriarch went to visit his extraordinary grandson only to find the bed empty.

On a tree branch, where the moonbeams rained exquisitely on the earth, Cedric leaned back while holding his bandaged arm close to his chest. A small lantern was placed before him, and in his other hand, an open book laid on his thighs. He struggled to keep the pages open from the persistent breeze of the night.

With a soft gaze, his fingers touched a delicate dried dandelion between the pages. It was tightly pressed inside the book during his journey. Some of the yellow petals were stuck on the pages, leaving a faint stain.

Under the moonlight, a smile appeared on his face.

.....

"He won..." Cadel mumbled, staring at the ceiling. He lazily spread his arms and legs on the rugged floor of his attic as he smiled. "I knew it. I'm a genius..."

Kerpuffle huffed and shook his dumpling body helplessly. His host was becoming more and more self-absorbed.

Suddenly, Cadel rose from the floor and crawled towards the circular window, resting his forehead on the glass. He watched his own crimson gaze intensely.

"I'm looking forward to our next meeting..."

So hurry and come back...