5.4

Rey was still not lifting his head, words and actions were like pathetic excuses to the little boy's ears that no one could see. After catching his breath and unable to tolerate that play, he stood up, turned his back and moved closer to the exit of the room. Nothing those two could do would change his perception that they were out to kill him and the question with which the little boy would keep his head occupied for the time being was, "Who else would set out to kill me?"

In the parlor they were worried and, as usual, they always made a confused noise of shouts and voices to ask for explanations from the maid who only smiled as she blocked the stairs.

Rey could hear three words uttered by the Great Wise Wizard.

"Silvia, let them in."

And he saw the maid turning away as if the comment was an unquestionable order. For him it was somewhat strange, for it was the first time the old man had spoken to Silvia directly. Rey also saw how those present ignored the maid's very strict behavior at the skinny man's words and, anxiously, went up the stairs and invaded the matrimonial room to meet three lively and energetic little ones. There, too, was the vampire returning to bed and nursing two of them, while the father took care to properly hold the one he was carrying in his arms, as one who did not want to break something delicate in his rough arms.

Those who had just arrived in the room would inspect with their gazes and then look the lycanthrope or the vampire in the face and then look at the babies again, as if they wanted to distinguish which one looked more like the father or which one looked more like the mother. Katherine and Mijan disapproved with their faces. The happiness of the rest lasted until Ehimus threw a question into the air:

"What are their names?"

Katherine, who had her eyes fixed on the little one Wulfgang was carrying, turned her face in the direction of the elf as if she was committing a crime for speaking. The little one that no one could see understood that names were a delicate subject and should not be touched so trivially. Not long ago, his parents were almost on the verge of regret over such a questioning. In the crowded room, they could hear the delicate words Maryam used to answer the elf's question. Proudly, the mother pointed to each of her children present there.

"He is Rey, Dante Lobato and Jhades Priovam."

Katherine asked when she heard that the creature Wulfgang carried had a name:

"Herma?..."

"I don't know if I heard correctly, but one is missing a last name" interrupted Ehimus who, as a child, didn't hesitate to ask whenever he was curious, even if he had the lit gaze of the muscular vampire on his shoulders.

At the comment, most of those present ducked their heads. They averted their gazes as if they didn't know how to begin a proper explanation. The atmosphere was tense. Rey skirted the room, like a watchful hunter. Putting aside his feelings, he knew that this was the moment when he could distinguish between enemies and those who were not. He wanted to see in detail the expressions on the faces of the elders.

Mijan was the first to break the silence and began:

"There is something you should know..."

Rey saw on his face the intention to explain as well as his abilities would allow. Two slaps of his hands made the floating machine appear and show changing images.

"The dark past of many species. When a child is not given a surname it is an illegitimate child, a bastard, as when they are born as a result of incest between relatives or other relationships outside the matrimonial lineage...".

Ehimus, unable to bear to remain silent, interrupted the explanation with a shrill cry as she waved her arms from side to side:

"But they are neither siblings nor do they share the same lineage and yes they are married!"

Katherine, putting her hand on the light elf's shoulder to calm him down, continued for this one:

"It is the same in case of breeding between different lineages. A hybrid is not recognized as a legitimate child because he is more likely to become a Of-Bastard and a stain on history. He must be eliminated without remorse at birth and not named, much less surnamed. Of-Bastador, in one way or another, always end up bringing death to the caretakers and those around him."

Ehimus, confused, asked again:

"Of-Bastador?"

Heroclades, in a neutral tone, said:

"Of-Bastador, aberrations devoid of reason. Creatures deformed mentally or physically. Retarded monstrosities who do not discriminate the use of their destructive powers. Many have been born and live protected under the mantle of the lineage that does not accept them as legitimate members, since they serve as vicious weapons that sink their teeth into those they do not recognize as owners. For centuries these creatures are abused, then discarded or simply offered as merchandise from one side to the other."

Mijan continued:

"As I was saying... If they do not share the same blood or lineage and have children, the elders repudiate being given the family name, unless they share the characteristics of the lineage, which are eye color, body features or hair. In case they are allowed to live, parents and guardians are advised to pay special attention to the development process."

Ehimus asked again:

"Developmental process?"

"Yes" answered Mijan, "while growing up they have violent outbursts, abnormal amount of power or strength, dissociation from reality, different perception of sounds, difficulty in learning and sense of superiority. These are major indicators that will determine if the offspring can become an Of-Bastador."

Rey saw Ehimus put her hands on her head. She had a face like she was looking across the room as one who listened without hearing:

"I can't understand anything you're telling me" said the elf.

The light elf looked straight at the images projected by her machine, she seemed to mentally go over everything that had been said. Then he put his hand on the little green girl's head and said:

"All this time it took me to realize. mm, hmn! You're a hopeless case. The strict vegetable diet atrophied your brain."

Mijan's last words didn't sound like offensive words to the young white-eyed girl, but something inside her told her that the light elf was using a polite way to offend. Rey turned his face, and the expression on Ehimus' face told her everything. It was offensive, even if it didn't sound offensive.

Just before the little green girl threw a tantrum, Heroclades intervened. Someone's face was showing, he decided to try to explain the situation in his own way.

"If a human had green eyes or green hair without carrying an elf's last name with them, wouldn't that be strange?"

The elf, dissociating herself from the fury that Mijan's words provoked in her, nodded her head and said:

"Any of the elven races would execute him. As queen I had to give my consent to execution in those ceremonies. They were the product of rapes against my kind and as they had almost the same abilities as us, they were used against us on the battlefield."

Heroclades continued:

"Now. Don't you think that the same thing would happen in the case of someone who was not a bearer of blue or red eyes and would carry the surname of either species?"

Rey nodded his head; although the explanation had not been directed at him, it was clear to him that, at the very least, not carrying a surname would save him some enemies in the future.

"Hm-hm-hu-hu-hu-hu-ha-ha! Now I get it... I knew it couldn't be that complicated. On the other hand, all great news is what you just gave me. After all, it wasn't a mistake not to surname the creature. Heroclades, you can have my praise... Mijan, you are not smart enough to explain difficult concepts in an easy way" said the elf using a haughty tone and totally opposite to the one she used to use.

Mijan could not stand the accusation and, in a fit of anger, threw the first thing that was next to him. Ehimus, returning to her cheerful demeanor, dodged the blow thrown at her by the light elf and then continued.

"So, the little one in the middle, if he doesn't become a Of-Bastador will he become a 'hunter' like the hybrid humans that hunted my people?"

Wulfgang, after giving a sigh because the elf ended up hiding behind him, continued:

"That's another reason why there were vampires and lycanthropes attacking us along with "bounty hunters'.

After the wolf's words, Rey remembered that the Great Wise Wizard in his story had mentioned vampires and lycanthropes attacking the couple on their wedding day. The little boy also noticed that, even though everyone knew the truth, none of the people present looked at him with fear.

Ehimus, still thoughtful, threw out as many questions as she could think of:

"What about the incarnation of this Leonel guy?"

"Incarnations lose the memories of their past experiences," said Maryam, "thus having to follow the natural course of their existence, even after dying again and again. This course makes them more dangerous and unpredictable. Remember that Leonel was a legitimate son. But, in this case, a hybrid of two lineages, he is more likely to be born defective when faced with a task he cannot solve or a power he cannot control, he remains a shell full of anger, without rationality, tactics or strategy. A creature in which only the pleasure of satiation will keep him alive. A true Of-Bastador capable of eliminating everything around him."

Once the murmurs and curiosities settled, Rey watched as Wulfgang still carried him like a father seeking to guard his son's life in case someone wanted to harm him after seeing him different. The wolf turned his face towards Heroclades, he also looked into the eyes of the others who were present.

The tan-furred trainer raised his big toe and gave a nonchalant smile of relief as if to encourage Wulfgang. In response, the lycanthrope also tried to show a relieved face of who did not want to worry any of those present. The same ones who, for the moment, according to the little one's observation that no one could see, did not seem to be worried about bad omens or the future of a non-legitimate child.

Rey turned his face at the voice of Katherine, who spoke with a tone of discomfort that reminded him that she was the only one of the group who had kept her eyes riveted on the baby the lycanthrope carried:

"I can't understand the pain you two are feeling right now" After pausing, the muscular vampire glanced in her sister's direction. "I don't blame Fang for getting attached to the creature after giving it a name either. But I do blame you, Maryam. You know that, by rule of life, it is the mother's duty to extinguish the light of the flame she brought into the world... Yet you didn't. Why?"

"I have my reasons... I plan to wait until initiation. That will be the best time to decide whether to kill him or let him live."

"Then let me be the one to do what they may not be able to do," said Katherine. "They don't necessarily have to wait; the moment their bastard son might pose a threat, one order will be enough to cut off his head..."

Rey raised his gaze, swallowed dryly and ran his hand across his neck. The sharpness of the muscular vampire's words brought back the memory of the immense sword she carried and, therefore, he imagined that instrument cutting him with a single blow. The little boy understood that, in spite of his father and mother, there was someone else to take care of.