Chapter 15 His Uncle's Instructions
Astrophos looked at the now bright sky as he rested his body from the fight. That was a long night and he did not even know what happened after they left, even the whereabouts of Xavion.
He sat on the bench outside of the house and checked his body. It was only then that he noticed how he probably looked. Torn clothes with blood with traces of ash on his skin. He shook his head then leaned on the wall behind the bench.
"What a way to start the day," he mumbled to himself followed by a soft chuckle.
He was about to fall asleep while sitting when he heard the door opening. He sat straight and looked at the direction where the sound came from. The teen calmed down but the red and puffy eyes were still there.
"What are you going to do now?" He stood up from where he was sitting and approached the teen. He tried his best to give him a comforting smile but the teen only scrunched up his forehead so he could only give up.
"I will be following my uncle's instructions," he simply answered. His eyes fell on the vegetables and flowers but he did not have the time to take care of them now. He grimaced then returned his attention to the other. "Why don't you go and fix yourself first?" He changed the topic as he turned around and stomped inside the house.
Astrophos followed the teen and took a bath, changed clothes that he grabbed from his dimensional pouch. Before he could ask a question, the teen was already out of the door. He had no other choice but to follow behind him.
"Where are you going?" Astrophos run and slowed down to walk beside the teen.
"Doing my uncle's instructions," he did not give the man a look and answered rather coldly.
"What instructions?" He asked again then he grabbed the teen's arm. Both of them stopped walking.
Ezio looked to his side then gave the man a glare before he pulled his arm from the man's grip. "Why are you asking so many questions? And who are you to keep following me? Ah, now I remember, you were with that monster who killed my uncle, are you here to kill me again?" His voice rose by the end of the last question he uttered. His fists were tightly clenched as he stared daggers at Astrophos.
It was his mistake so Astrophos took a step back to give the teen a space. "I'm not here to kill you, if I were I should have done it already. I am Astrophos, a mage from the Magic Tower, and yes, I am with Siron but unlike him, I did not use any dark magic." He observed Ezio while introducing himself but the teen was still glaring at him.
Ezio did not care who the man was and he did not care about that explanation. He simply ignored the man then continued to walk but he could still here the man's footsteps following from behind.
"Will you stop following me!" He spat. It was making him uncomfortable.
"I just want to make sure that you'll be fine," Astrophos genuinely cared about the teen's well-being after goomyg through that tragedy.
"Don't," he turned around, "don't show me your concern because if it weren't for you and that guy, my uncle would have not have died." Every word he spoke was accompanied by a step and a finger pointing towards the man. Each word were laced with so much disdain.
Ezio clenched his jaws after pointing out what he wanted to say. He did now know why he even let the man follow him home, he must have been confused but now that everything was clear, he did not want to be associated with the ma any longer.
"Stay away from me or I won't be kind enough to you. I don't care if you are a mage, I can still fight you with my fists." He warned before he finally left. He quickened his steps almost like he was running just to get away from Astrophos.
He finally reached the town center where he saw no commotion. He gaped at how normal everything was looking.
He tapped one of the passerby and asked, "Why are you calm? What happened to the destruction here last night?"
The passerby looked at him confused, "What are talking about? Destruction? Last night was very peaceful, never heard any destruction happening."
The answer only made him more confused and speechless. The man he grabbed walked away, leaving Ezio staring around with wide eyes.
He gulped and continued towards the direction of his destination with awe and at the same time, uncertainty. The bake shop was the same as always, there were still customers going in and coming out like nothing happened last night.
It took Ezio a couple of several deep breathes before he finally had the courage to enter the shop.
"Welcome," the butler greeted him as usual.
With the butler's usual welcome, Ezio's nervousness ebbed a little bit but it was short lived. The voice of the owner of the shop came from the kitchen's doorway.
"Took your sweet time huh," Cygnus commented. He then pushed himself away from the side of the door to meet Ezio.
"I-I didn't and how did you even know that I'll be coming here?" Another stutter but he was inwardly glad that he was able to talk to the man after the initial fear.
"Guess," he shrugged his shoulders. "Also saved me the time of going to you."
Ezio was a bit shocked from the man's words. "Why? What do you need from me?"
"Am I really the one who needs something from you or is it vice versa?" Cygnus laughed then he took a seat at the stool behind the counter.
He looked at Ezio and blatantly showed him his glee. Ezio figured out that the man was enjoying his current situation but he did not have time to indulge the man.
He straightened his back as he inhaled and exhaled before speaking, "My uncle told me to go to you if something happens to him then he told me your name, Cygnus Altair, told me to tell it to you."
Both of Cygnus's hands went up in the air as he clapped loudly. "Fascinating! You did it again and I can confirm that there was no retaliation against you. Your uncle was right to tell you my name."
Ezio's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard the last sentence, "Will you help me then?"
"I'll let you follow me until I find out the reason why you can speak my name without feeling any backlash," Cygnus agreed immediately. He was even nodding his head in satisfaction. "I will know the secret behind you."