The Lufian Family 1

The young man returns, his soul now residing within a newborn babe. He's not yet regained awareness in his nascent life. Neither of the world nor of himself. His mother cradles him close to her. She's still weak from the difficult labor, but she wants to hold him as long as she can. She can't help but speak his name in a soft voice.

“Winfred!”

Just outside the room where she rests, a regal, muscular man with short blonde hair and a beard quickly approaches. Behind him, a smaller man wearing glasses follows.

“Lord Lufian, I really must ask that you return to the meeting. It is most improper for you to storm out like this.” The regal man, Lord Lufian, opens the door.

“What's improper about a father seeing his infant son!” He slams the door behind him as he rushes over to his wife and son. “Sigiland, all is well?” She looks at him with joy.

“Yes, dear! Me and Winfred are both healthy!”

“That's good. May I hold him?”

“Of course!” She gingerly reaches him out towards Lord Lufian. “Be careful, he's fragile!”

“Of course I will.” She giggles cheerfully as he takes Winfred from her.

“I know, Dagobert.” Dagobert holds Winfred up and looks at him.

“I'm sure he'll become a wise leader one day, just as I am.”

As he says that, the door to the room is cut across its diagonal. The door is kicked open and a middle-aged butler holding a sword walks in, the man with glasses right behind him.

“My, Master Dagobert, this is where you were off to? I suppose I should have expected something like this. I can hardly fault you for wanting to see your son, but now that you have, you must return to the meeting.”

“Dagobert!”

“So I've been caught, then. Very well. Sigiland, I'll return soon.” He kisses her cheek and places Winfred in her arms. He leaves the room to return to his meeting, leaving Winfred alone with his mother once more.

The first six years of his life passed quickly, the young man rendered a child at peace once more.

The middle-aged butler rushes around the manor, though with care to lose neither his poise nor dignity. He knows that he must set a proper example, especially now. He's looking for Winfred, having been tasked by the lord to find him and bring him to his father and mother. However, no matter who he asks, not a sign of him turns up. He has no choice but to keep searching, as he was given a direct order. However, with every moment spent, his typical duties fall behind.

He has no choice but to slowly and methodically check each room. Nobody has any idea where he might be. For a man like him, questioning why nobody has seen Winfred all day wouldn't lead anywhere. Knock, open, close. He repeats the process again and again, still left with no choice.

Eventually he comes to the library, the largest single room in the house. He steps inside and calls out.

“Young Master Win, are you in here?”

He gets no response, but with the library as large as it is he cannot leave just yet. Although the current lord is not quite the type, his great-grandfather was an avid reader and collector of books, and he was the one who expanded the library so greatly. There's only a single table in the library, right in the center, right in front of the butler. There's nothing there, not a single sign of people. He casts a quick sweeping glance and cannot immediately spot anything out of place. He begins to walk between the tall shelves looking around. He still finds nothing disordered, but cannot help but continue on in his search.

At last he comes to find Win. He, just a small boy, sits among a messy pile of books, all clearly taken from the emptied shelf he now leans against. He's entranced, and he glows with joy. Even away from any windows or lamps, his pale blond hair, nearly white, is still bright. His deep blue eyes are wide as he tries to read without much light to aid him.

“Young Master Win! So this is where you were.” Win looks up at the butler.

“Marcus, what does this part mean?”

“Young Master? Well, let me see it.”

Marcus goes over to join Win. Win turns the book in his hands and points to the section he doesn't understand. Marcus reads the whole page quickly. Although he ought to be more knowledgeable, he doesn't know what it could mean. He doesn't even know what the previous section could mean. He has no idea why or how such a young boy has read so much of such a complicated and technical treatise.

“Well, nevermind this. Young Master Win, I've been sent to bring you to your father and mother.”

“Why?”

“Your sister is soon to be born, so come along.”

“Shouldn't I put the books back?”

“Don't worry, Young Master, I'll handle it after I bring you.”

Win closes the book and stands up. Marcus leads Win by the hand to where his parents await. As they come to the door it opens, and Dagobert Lufian, the regal lord of the manor, steps out. He looks happy to see them. Marcus lets go of Win and pushes him towards his father.

“I've brought the Young Master, Lord Dagobert. Now then, I have other duties to attend to.”

“Thank you for bringing him, Marcus.”

They walk inside the room. Sigiland lays in bed to rest. At her bedside the midwife holds the infant. She looks away from the baby when she hears the two of them enter.

“Lord Dagobert, you've returned so quickly!”

“There was no need for me to go after all.”

“Would you like to hold her?” Dagobert smiles gently.

“Of course.”

Dagobert takes his daughter in his arms. He looks down at her with love, then turns towards Win. He kneels down and carefully presents the babe in his arms to Win.

“Win, this is Odila.”

Win looks at her, at his sister. All he feels is love. Deeper inside something darker stirs, but at least for the moment his love can smother it.