Chapter 194 - The child with no blessed name

Faustina stared at her timetable. She scanned for a specific day, a point in time, and finally, the subject along with her classroom number.

She was five minutes away from being late!

"I—uh—um! Goodbye!" Faustina waved her hand at Ezekiel as she immediately retraced her steps to the maze.

Ezekiel, who was taken aback and was left without even a word, stared at the spectacle.

Faustina was gone in an instant.

He sighed; but then he had chuckled after.

"She could've just waited and I would have offered her the magic-free teleportation I created..." Ezekiel murmured as he stares at the sky.

"Now then... why don't you come out there?"

A boy, who was hidden behind the acacia's thick trunk, slowly got out like a sprouting sapling. His amethyst eyes were big and bright, and his silver hair was so similar to Ezekiel's. The only difference is that Ezekiel was older—but other than that, they looked pretty much the same.

"Um... I just wanted to visit this place because the books said that brothe—I mean—the g-guardians live here..."

Ezekiel sighed.

"Yes. They do. The guardians of Magierstadt—the souls of the Magis, are all in this tree, which is why until now it still stays strong. But we wouldn't be able to see them considering they are nothing but spirits. Their physical bodies have perished yet their souls had remained. I believe that is in the history book as well."

"Yes, but..."

"This area is strictly prohibited."

The child stared anxiously over Ezekiel. And fidgeting, he slightly pouted.

"B-but you're here too, Brother Zeke."

"Well, that's because..."

"That Lady earlier also came here and said you two have a secret now..." The child tilted his head on the side innocently. "Doesn't that mean you two are doing something prohibited too?"

Ezekiel sighed. "Be careful the way you phrase it, David Unsterblich."

David only smiled brightly at Ezekiel.

A pair of amethyst eyes and silver-colored locks. These distinct characteristics are the same as him, which qualifies him as the next heir as well. Ezekiel stared at his cousin, who had now ambled his way towards him and made the gesture he had known very well.

Ezekiel leaned down to pick him up as he carried his cousin from the ground.

David Unsterblich.

Like his brother, he wasn't blessed with a second name. But it wasn't like Maria Unsterblich didn't want to—it was because the Court and even the Council didn't permit her to.

"It's unfair...! Why does David have to suffer from the consequences of the Forsaken's actions...! He had to have a blessed name! I demand it in my name!"

"You, a woman of no authority, cannot impose demands. You, a woman who had given birth to the Warlock who is wreaking havoc around Earthland, wishes for God's blessed name to the fruit of your w.o.m.b, the one who shares the blood of that Forsaken?"

"I have nothing to do with that man! Besides, my son David has a different father. Perhaps you would want to consider it?"

"You are the Forsaken's birth mother. Your child, David—the Forsaken's blood brother—can not have a second name, no matter the circ.u.mstance."

The Court and the Council were strict up until the end.

Ezekiel's second name, a blessed name that was given by the Church, was 'Johann' which meant 'God is gracious'. Babies were given a blessed name the moment they are one year of age.

The forsaken naturally had a blessed name as well, but it was ripped from the records and was stripped away from him considering he had committed heinous acts.

And as such, his half-brother David suffered from that as well.

Ezekiel's Aunt, Maria Unsterblich, didn't remarry at all. Instead, she had lavished herself with men after her husband neglected her completely due to the scandal. She was the one to suffer the most repercussions—accused of cheating even if she didn't, removed from her seat as the schoolmistress, and was coined as the mother of the most wanted criminal in this era.

"Say, David," Ezekiel said as he stares into the acacia's falling flowers. They looked like bits and pieces of sunshine that materialized to earth.

"You shouldn't worry Auntie—your mother—so much. If she finds out about this, you'll receive a thorough scolding, a smack in the head, and you'll be stuck in the tower again."

The tower.

That was where the Unsterblichs are living; it is a private magic island that is hidden away from the n.a.k.e.d eye and could only be accessed by those possessing the bloodline or have the key. The security was strengthened due to the Forsaken having the same blood as them.

"Mommy will lock me in the tower again even if I don't do this."

Ezekiel wasn't able to answer that.

It was true, after all. This child, who has no blessed name, is prone to the people who wish to hunt for the Forsaken.

Which was why Maria Unsterblich hid David away.

No one knows of his birth other than the Unsterblich clan and the Deans in Magierstadt.

"All of them will scold me even if I don't go out."

David was clearly sad.

Ezekiel smiled gently. "What about me? Auntie Anastacia? Would she scold you?"

David shook his head.

"See? Not everyone will. So don't be sad."

In the clan, David still receives discrimination given he was the brother of the one who had murdered the royal family of a country, murdered the prodigy and wreaked havoc into the country. Everyone in the Unsterblich household regarded him as the child with no blessed name because he was tarnished by his demon of a brother.

It saddens Ezekiel, but there was nothing he could do. People wouldn't change just because you tell them to. They are fixated on what they think is right—and what was right for them is that this feeble child is similar to his evil brother, despite his completely different appearance.

"Tell me the truth, David," Ezekiel exclaimed. "Did you really come here to check about the guardians?"

David only stared at Ezekiel with his expressions changing from fl.u.s.tered to anxious. They transitioned over and over again. Although Ezekiel knew it was an obvious lie, he still needed to have David vent his thoughts out.

Or else he would indeed live in seclusion, with doors shut over everyone.

He was trying to avoid a prophecy the clairvoyants have foretold.

"When what is contained is released, all hell will break loose and darkness will plague the lands once more."

Even the thought of it makes Ezekiel shiver.

The prophecy.

Nothing but dystopia awaits—that was what the prophecy pertained to. It had no timeframe, so it could occur sooner or later where none would least expect it. Ezekiel had thought that he must take all precautionary measures.

To anyone else.

Everyone else.

He thought he shouldn't let his guard down, especially to strangers that makes him feel odd.

Like Faustina Feuerlon.

She didn't give him her blessed name; it wasn't that big of a deal to Feuersturm anyways. Only Magierstadt had given a priority over the blessed names along with the royalty considering they are the ones closer to the church.

"So, aren't you going to tell me about it?"

"Huh?"

"It's fine if you don't tell, but I'll appreciate it more if you do." Ezekiel smiled gently.

"I went to the ßaum because I wanted to... visit the place where my b-b-brother found peace."

Ezekiel's smile froze.

That answer was the least he could expect.

"The forsaken—er, Jonathan?" Ezekiel exclaimed. "Haven't you read the history about him, David? Are you sure of your reason?"

"B-but... I just wanted to see it for real... the place where brother actually ventured to."

Ezekiel didn't know what to say.

David was young.

He doesn't fully understand the horrible things the Forsaken did. Even if the books were detailed and were enough to send one in rage, David was still a child who lacks the understanding between what was the meter between tolerably awful to utter evil.

Ezekiel recomposed himself as he smiles.

"This place is still prohibited and shouldn't be accessed to easily, Dave. So how long have you been here? It actually seems like you pretty much knew how to maneuver your way to the maze from Faustina's story."

David's face says it all. His surprise expression made Ezekiel chuckle.

"But really. How many times have you come here?"

"About three months ago..." David answered as he looks down. "I'm really sorry, Brother Zeke. I just wanted to have peace and escape the tower for a while. I'm just... suffocated."

Ezekiel sighed. He does understand this child. Usually, by now, he should be playing; but then, instead, he was locked out of existence and was hidden from the public.

"It's alright, but you shouldn't go back here anymore," Ezekiel exclaimed, making David flinch.

"If you would, you should bring me."

David then stared at his cousin, who ruffled his hair.

"Well... it's now time to send you back, Dave."

David smiled at Ezekiel.

"I'll be using the magic-free teleport," Ezekiel exclaimed.

"Are you going to tell mommy about this, Brother Zeke?"

"No." Ezekiel smiled.

"Why?"

"That's because," Ezekiel tousled David's hair.

"You share a secret with us now."