Chapter 5: Family
After reaching Knights headquarters Jean entered her office, surprisingly Lisa was already waiting for her sitting in jean´s chair with a scary expression on her face.
Just seeing her expression, Jean could tell that Kaeya talked unnecessarily too much again...
"Lisa, you are already here?"
"Jean!"
"Today was a hectic day, shouldn´t you go and take some time to rest?"
"Jean Gunnhildr!"
Under pressure emitted by Librarian Jean helplessly lowered her head, It was a side of Jean she could show just a few people and her friend Lisa was very good at drawing it out, the complete opposite of the usual professional self she displayed in public.
"Jean, who is that child on your back?"
"Ugh...It's Durin.... my son"
Seeing Lisa´s expression becoming even scarier, Jean told her details about events in Dragonspine while trying to keep Venti´s identity hidden. Just because other found out doesn´t mean she was going to spread out this information freely even if it meant lying to her best friend.
"So this cutie is a legendary dragon and now even your son?"
Lisa said as she looked at Durin who was sleeping on the couch in Jean´s office.
"Yes, it's true"
"Jean, do you really mean raising him seriously? What will you tell other nobles and people from your clan?
Jean´s Clan Grunhildr was an ancient clan of nobles, they were rich, powerful, and very serious about matters related to one´s standing and honor. Even as head of the clan if Jean suddenly came with a child and proposed adoption it was guaranteed they would oppose it and even use their political power to stop the process.
Jean could probably use her position to put pressure on them but Lisa was sure it would take time for these old farts to accept them.
"I will make an announcement and introduce him as my biological son"
Lisa massaged her forehead because she expected this answer. Jean would never take an easier method If it means there would be harm to someone else in the process.
"Jean are you serious? This is a decision that will affect your life forever?"
"I am Lisa, so please land me your strength"
"*Sight* you are really...Making me work so much you should prepare appropriate compensation"
"Thank you, Lisa, I promise I will"
Seeing Jean´s innocent smile Lisa couldn´t help but sigh, even then she had a small smile on her face revealing her true feelings.
Lisa moved her hand on Durin´s forehead and created a purple magic circle with all kinds of symbols. Her expression turned serious as symbols in the magic circle kept rotating.
After a few seconds, Lisa´s magic started showing its effects, the obsidian-like horn from his head slowly disappeared and his tail too vanished as if it was never there.
His black-haired changed into the identical color to Jean´s gold-blonde hair.
After canceling magic Lisa tried to stand up from the couch only to feel something preventing her from moving.
Durin was holding her by the hem of her clothes with his eyes wide open, staring at them,
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When I realized what was happening I was in a dark place.
There was nothing except me and two mirrors on my right end and left side.
Both were broken, and in each shard was playing a scene.
I couldn´t remember who I was or what was my name.
But scenes that were repeating on these shards of broken glass make me remember my fears.
It hurts...It hurts so much...
The woman kept slicing, stabbing, and torturing me until I couldn´t handle the pain and fainted.
Every day,
Every hour,
Every minute,
Every second was painful,
I will be a good boy so please don´t hurt me anymore...I won´t cry so, please stop.
Let me die.
[Detecting unusual psychological activity from user]
[For users safety system will forcibly wake them up]
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After waking up from a nightmare, the first thing Durin saw was a woman dressed in purple, next to her was another with blonde hair.
Realizing that he was holding her off her clothes Durin released his hand and kept falling to the ground on the couch.
Before Jean or Lisa could react Durin places his head on the ground end starts mumbling under his nose.
"Please forgive me I won´t do it anymore so don´t hurt me...
"I will be good boy, Good boy so please don´t..."
Repeating these words over and over, his body was trembling from fear.
Jean tried to get close but w Durin immediately moved to the corner of the room, From this angle, they were finally able to see his frightened expression,
Tears flowed endlessly from his eyes and his expression was distorted by fear.
Jean´s and Lisa´s minds for a second stopped working.
"Jean..!" Lisa who woke up from a daze first grabbed her shoulder and used her Vision to send electricity through her body.
Jean didn´t hesitate and moved towards him. There was no place for him to run for, after resisting for a second Jean was able to forcefully put him in her embrace.
"I won´t hurt you, don´t worry, I promise so please calm down..."
Despite warm her warm word Durin´s body kept trembling.
Jean signaled Lisa with her eye to somehow help.
"I don´t know I never raised children!!" Lisa said with a frustrated voice trying to search for something that would help in the library.
"I think I have some pills in the library I will be back right away"
Seeing Durin´s state Jean didn´t know what to do, She heard from Venti there was a possibility he would have some memories from the time he was captured by Gold but she never expected him to have such a trauma.
His whole body was constantly shaking, and loud sobs and pleas kept repeating over and over.
Jean couldn't imagine what kind of pain this child suffered to show such a reaction.
What could she do to help him?
What arrogance, she told to herself
She said she would raise a boy, she said she would become his mother.
A woman that could rule a nation but ended up being helpless in front of the first obstacle.
Yet she can´t even help him when he is suffering like this.
Jean was angry at herself.
Angry for her ignorance and how she overestimated herself.
Nails on her fingers dug deep into her thigh.
"Durin listen to my voice...
I won´t allow anyone to hurt you anymore
I will protect you and from now and be always with you.
I may be useless as a mother but I will do everything to keep you safe with my strength.
Believe me,
Believe in your mother"
Be it an unknown tone of kindness or determination he could feel in her voice, Durin stopped trembling.
Lisa who finally found pills kicked off the door of Jean´s office.
She found there Jean embracing Durin who was silently sleeping, Jean was looking at During with a slight smile of relief, In this position, with eyes full of love and determination Lisa couldn't help but see not a Ruler of the nation or Knight that swore to protect. She saw an ordinary mother who genuinely cared for her child.
'So even she could make that kind of expression...It makes me a bit lonely.'
Could a bond like that be born in a short amount of time?
Lisa didn´t know.
But she knows this will be a turning point in Jeans and that child's life.
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I woke up un unfamiliar place again in an unfamiliar place, and for some reason, my hand felt warm.
When I looked at the source of the heat I found a woman with blonde hair sleeping while holding my hand,
Who is this woman?
'I won´t allow anyone to hurt you anymore '
A warm voice once again entered my ears.
I remembered what happened yesterday, How I woke up in an unfamiliar place and a woman with a warm voice that put me to sleep.
Is she the same as that woman with a scary smile from my memories?
No, her voice felt different...
What is the word 'mother' she kept saying over and over?
I didn´t understand what she want, but I wanted to feel this warmth bit longer.
Just a bit longer before I return to that scary place.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone