Chapter 4: 4. PTSD

"He has amnesia? Uhuh... so what's the punchline, Butler Viel?" 

 

"The First Miss can choose to believe me or not, but pass your judgment after seeing the Young Master."

 

Levia did not want to believe the aged Butler's claims. She turned to the shut doors, not changing her questioning expression, "Well, he did act weird… more so than normal, at least."

 

Creak!

 

Theo exited the room and made sure to be a step away from Viel. His eyes reflected genuine confusion for who was who. Theo's eyes gravitated to the woman who had her arms crossed.

 

"Are you…"

 

"Your older sister. Do you remember my name?"

 

"…"

 

“It is Levia, Levia Sigurd. How about your name?"

 

Theo innocently shook his head, "I—I can't… I apologize." 

 

"Ah…"

 

Levia opened her mouth then closed it again the next second. A headache threatened to tear her from the back of her head. Biting her lips, she raised her leg.

 

BAM! 

 

The entirety of the third floor shook.

 

A footprint was left on the ground. Levia let out an exasperated sigh.

 

"Butler Viel, go and inform Father, inform Mother Luara and Thalia about this. I will look after Theo for the time being. Lady Rose, I apologize, but it appears that the matter of marriage talk will be postponed. Either way, you wouldn't want to be married to him anyway, would you?" 

 

Levia waited for no response as she went ahead and grabbed Theo's arm, "Come on, we're doing experiments."

 

"Wha-what are you doing? Unhand me!" Theo rebelled, and Levia didn't care.

 

He chose to plant his feet on the ground, flail about, and pry her grip away, to no avail. He was weaker than his older sister.

To Levia, Heruzen was no more than a toddler against the sister who wanted the last cookie. In short, she wouldn't care about the other's cries.

 

"You-young Miss, please, stop! Please, calm down. Do not do anything before the Master says anything! If anything happens to the Young Master Theo, I don't think Lady Laura would be able to handle such a thing!" Butler Viel said and appeared next to Levia.

 

Rooted on where she stood, Levia looked straight at Viel. There was no room for argument.

 

"Fine, we go with the usual morning routine…." Levia paused then looked at her brother. She snuck a playful smile, "Theo, do you remember how you always loved to eat with the family every morning?"

 

"Pffft!"

 

"Do you want to say something, Butler Viel?"

 

"Of course not, Young Miss."

 

Levia returned her gaze to Theo. 

 

He was trembling, fear and confusion apparent in his eyes.

 

"I-I don't remember."

 

"Don't worry, you will remember soon." 

 

"Ah, ahhh!"

 

The last thing heard was Theo's shouts as he got dragged away against his will.

***

Dining Area. 

The door opened with a slam, and the first thing that caught Theo's attention were the four people present dining at the long table.

 

'Still can't remember them.' He had no clue who they were.

 

His mind was blank as a slate.

 

At the long table was a man and a boy, as well as two girls. 

 

The three, to a degree, looked alike.

 

Theo turned his attention to the man at the end of the table, 'He must be the father.'

 

"Good morning, Levia, Rose. Hmm? Theo? After so long, you finally decided to join us for breakfast." The Father flatly spoke.

 

'He's the unaffectionate type, huh. Gotta watch out for him.'

 

"Mm. (Mm.)" "GOOD MORNING!" the two little girls spoke at the same time while the boy greeted at the top of his lungs.

 

'The two girls' contained characters... I like them. The boy... he passes for his passion.' 

 

Children were one of the few character types who didn't turn out to be complete assholes. So he liked them.

 

Most of them, at least.

 

"Good morning Lord Sigurd, Lyria, Lisa, and Titus." Rose joyfully greeted.

 

"Good morning, you three." Levia placed Theo on an empty seat, "That's where you sit when we eat together as a family."

 

Next to Theo was Rose, who quietly enjoyed breakfast by his side.

 

'Even eating with family is empty; this is more troublesome than I thought.'

 

From what he could see of the Father's reaction, the original does not join family breakfast or dinner for some reason or another. 

 

'If going by what happened yesterday, it must be because he's always drinking and waking up late. So I'm a wastrel? Finally, some good news!'

 

But when Theo sat there with everyone, the feeling of shame and guilt surfaced, '... that's weird.'

 

Levia leaned over and whispered to Theo's ears, "That's our father, Alba "The Dragon Slayer" Sigurd; you may not remember, but he had always been rough with us, so I'll warn you now. Those two girls are Lyria and Lisa; they have their own little world. The energetic boy is Titus. He has way too much energy. Try not to pick on the two girls if you don't want to deal with troubling matters."

 

Theo silently nodded; he eyed everyone seated at the table.

 

The three people already present were his younger sisters and Father.

 

The twin girls were his younger sisters. They had long black hair and straight bangs almost covering their eyes; they looked completely identical. They speak at the same time, with the same tone. They were tiny and looked around the ages of five or six. 

 

But the maturity of their actions betrayed their height.

 

'Must be an early bloomer, either that or… well, a late one.' 

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As for the younger brother, he had azure hair. He was energetic and carried beautiful and clear eyes. Lively, but have acted with manners, 'He doesn't look it, but he's disciplined.'

 

As for the Father, he had silver hair similar to Theo's. Though his body seemed slim and his face so handsome that it was effeminate, Theo knew the truth. 

 

'He's far from being frail.' Heruzen, or rather, Theo, assessed his Father.

 

Theo and his Father met gaze. In a split second, Theo averted his gaze. 

 

He does not know what it was, but he saw a beast under Alba's eyes. 

 

'That's it, I'm avoiding him. I can't attract his animosity.' Theo had been abused in roughly 743 worlds. It was common in the Villain Origin Starter Kit. 

 

One time he was born as an Immortal, and it was one of the more unforgettable lifetimes.

 

One could say that Theo should now be used to getting hurt after so many lives. But, the truth was that he wasn't, for he did not abandon pain and emotions.

 

The pain was one of the core reasons he kept his sanity. 

 

Throw it away, and he becomes nothing but a drone.

 

He was not immune to pain, no, far from it, but he did learn to suck it up and endure when it comes to pain.

 

'Before I try anything, I must first learn the power system of this world. I must avoid getting detected by him—old man? What are you doing?' Theo's sensors all reached sky-high, seeing how Butler Viel approached Alba.

 

'Please... stop.' 

 

Butler Viel leaned over and whispered to Alba.

 

"Theo, you have amnesia?" Alba stopped his hands from eating.

 

'Okay, this is going to hurt.'

 

"Ye-Yes…." Theo meekly answered.

 

"Do you know who I am?"

 

Theo pointed at Levia, "She said that you're my father? But, nothing more." his words were shaking as he spoke.

 

Alba was silent, then abruptly stood up. 

 

His steps reverberated in Theo's ears. 

 

Theo was already gritting his teeth while rehearsing the plead for his life speech.

 

'Please don't cripple me.' He hated the Gods, but it didn't hurt being a hypocrite in time of need.

 

Alba stopped next to Theo, who had paused, moving his hands. 

 

Without any warning, Alba raised his arms, Theo's eyes widened, quickly, he instinctively lifted his own to protect himself, 'Oh yeah, here it comes.' 

 

Alba placed his hands on Theo's shoulder.

 

'Is he going to toss me?'

 

Pull!

 

'Huh?' 

 

With the same expression, Alba pulled his son to his chest.

 

Theo's mind was in turmoil, 'Why is he hugging me? Wi-will he crush my spine? I'm fuck!'

 

He expected for the worst… 

 

"You must be scared and confused right now, but do not worry son; everything will be all right." Alba squeezed Theo tighter, and when Theo let out a silent groan, he let him go.

 

Alba panicked as he awkwardly separated from his son as he opted to leave the room, "Viel, prepare the Dracolites to send a message to the Ghost of Eralian. He still owes me a lot of things."

 

Alba turned to his son, "Theo, if you need anything, you can ask Levia. Do not be shy, she is your family. But do not forget that she is your older sister, so show respect." Alba then promptly turned to Rose, "I apologize, Young Rose, but the issue regarding the talk for marriage will have to be postponed with Theo's current state. I will contact the Church of Light and inform them about the matter."

 

Alba tightened his fist, "And this happened just as you finished the March of Trial. Accept my deepest apology, Young Rose."

 

Rose raised her hand as she shook her head, "No, it is all right. Even without the marriage, I am already engaged to Sir Theo; I will see to it that he's well cared for."

 

"Are you sure?" Alba asked, his tone as stiff as before.

 

"Please, let me." Rose sincerely asked.

 

"If you so insist, then I can only thank you for your assistance." Alba caved into Rose's dedication, "Lyria, Lisa, finish your breakfast; your Morning Practice is about to begin."

 

"Yes, Father. (Yes, Father)" "YES!"

 

Alba left in a hurry, the three ate with haste, and Levia, the rambunctious older sister, showed him a sly smile.

 

"Seeing how you believed that father you actually hurt you means that you're not lying about the amnesia… that's no better, is it?"

 

"..."

 

All the while these happened, Theo was there, stupefied, unable to react. 

 

Previously, they may have been fake, but now, it was genuine.

 

'Is this a dream sequence?'

 

…PaH!

 

He slapped himself. His nose bled.

 

Levia, Rose, and the three who saw this gave him concern... but judging looks.

 

'He may have also received brain damage. How strong was the Dog?' Theo's three sisters collectively thought while Rose only laughed.

 

For the first time in a long, long time, Theo was placed in a situation he could not understand.

 

A non-forceful patriarchal father?

 

A genuinely caring family?

 

All this was new to someone like Theo…