BLACK AND WHITE

IV

"Shall we sit"

Eliott waited till Julianne and Dylan were out of earshot before addressing the visitors.

"Of course."

The two royal guest went back to their uncomfortably low stools,the woman's evidently displaying her discomfort as she sat back while the gentleman maintained a straight face choosing to stand by the side seemingly looking off into the unknown.Eliott folded his arms choosing to stand as well while the woman scanned his face closely,like she was looking for the answer to some question before she finally spoke up."So you uses glasses too?"

"Yes,what about it?"

"Your great grandfather used a pair of spectacles quite similar to the one you're using now.A really beautiful little thing it was"

"Wait,wait,hold on a second, maam.There's no way I can believe you just said that.I don't have a great grandfather.As you can see I'm just an orphan with no biological family.And I dont wear glasses because I want to.I wear them because I have to.I'm actually......."

".....Shortsighted!"Julianne finished.

Eliott had to admit to himself that he was surprised that the woman knew that.Who could she possibly be,he thought to himself."Is there a chance she's......"

The woman continued unperturbed."Like I mentioned earlier,your great grandfather used a pair of spectacles like you do.Shortsightedness was a trait that ran in the family.Along with smarts and high intelligence.I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out to be witty and intellectual with a thing for observation and solving problems."

By this point Eliott had already drawn conclusions as to who this woman was.She was literally feeding the information into his palms.Still he needed to hear her say it.

"If that's the case,"she continued."I'm sure by now,you already pieced out who I am,my dear Eliott".

"Well then why do you seem so hesitant to say it?Just come clean and say it already."

Adjusting once more,the woman sat up and locked fingers on her crossed knee as she spoke to Eliott."Well that's because I really want to expel any doubts or suspicions you might have in your mind right now.In which case,I should present you with this...."

She reached for a small silvery pendant on a chain around her neck and touched a small button.A large holographic image popped up in front of them,clear and authentic.Eliott stared at the picture of a family of four.The woman addressing him now was there alongside another aged woman sitting on an armed chair.There was also an elegant,tall and imposing man,well built with blond hair,permed all the way backwards.He was holding what Eliott thought was an infant version of himself.Eliott felt an impulse to smile and even laugh but swallowed it when the woman brought forth one more evidence.

"If that's still not convincing enough, there is one thing you shouldn't be able to deny"she said as she ended the holographic picture.

Right on cue,the gentleman who had been standing quietly walked forward towards Eliott.

"A birthmark.A hidden birthmark.Right at the back of your neck".The man pulled out two small hand mirrors and leaned forward to Eliott."If I may,sir!"he said politely and positioned one of the mirrors behind the young man's neck raising the hair at the back of his head.He reflected the image against the other mirror for Eliott to see.There indeed was a dark colored birthmark there.A birthmark he had no idea about all his life.Dumbfounded he reached back as if to touch it and feel it for himself.It definitely couldn't be a hoax but right now,he was still trying to believe that the situation was exactly what he thought it was.Even as he had predicted it,it still came as a surprise.

"It was one of the first things I noticed about you when I gave birth to you.I thought it was beautiful but the doctor said it was permanent "

Eliott chuckled."Well,allow me to properly address you for the first time.Although it might take a weird twist in my mouth.You'll have to forgive me though.I haven't exactly addressed anyone as such over the past years......mother!"

The woman,Helen,squinted her nose and tilted her head slightly as her butler moved back to where he was initially standing. "You don't seem as excited as I imagined you'd be. I had anticipated a more......heartfelt moment of acceptance."

Eliott scoffed."I imagine that deep down somewhere,I'm screaming and bursting with joy but I guess,uhm,I dont know I'm more concerned about why you just abandoned me for over 16 years!"

Helen closed her eyes and lowered her head in pain,the first act of humility that she'd displayed ever since she came in the house."I really regret the circumstances that led up to this moment especially from my end.But I had hoped that if you gave me a chance to at least explain my actions and what happened, that would make the situation a bit more easier to understand."

Eliott didn't realize when he leaned back and supported himself on one of the wooden poles holding up the room.He sank slowly as he pondered the situation.He was talking to his mother.His actual mother!His thoughts and heart were slowly coming to terms with that and any barriers or security measures he had set up in case she was a fraud was already lowered at this point as he read her sincerity. He was overwhelmed.Much more than he'd expected when she first mentioned all this to him but then again,he hadn't expected his biological mother to show up in his life today.

While he sat there looking like his heart was open to the world, Helen saw this as an opening to reveal more to him."That man you just saw in the picture,that was your father.You may probably have heard of him unknowingly.Eliott,my dear,your father was Finnegan Cressia II."

Eliott's gaze flew upwards to his mother.He wasn't interested with the entire name;the name Cressia was what caught his attention.And Helen could read his expression as he stared at her."You dont mean...?",it seemed to say.

"Yes,"she replied."Your father was THE Finnegan Cressia II,or as he was called the dragon's fang and also the last tamer of the mighty Vulcage."

Eliott's gaze fell again but much slower this time.He didn't even know how he felt at that moment.This was major news to him.He never for once imagined this.He may have on one or two occasions imagined what his parents were like and he always envisioned some humble average couple.Not the royalty before him now so it was a bit hard to swallow.Was his father really one of the legendary tamers who people looked up to?Who kids adored?

Helen continued."Your father was a powerful tamer and was even rumored to be the most powerful tamer who ever wielded the silver dragon.Alongside his partner and bestfriend,Theodore Trane who wielded the other legendary dragon Ragzagog,your father defended all of Aldea from threats and dangers,especially a most unspeakable evil that surfaced about 20 years ago."

Eliott looked up,his interest piqued.He knew this story.He had heard it countless times when he and Dylan went to town from a food truck owner that loved to attract his customers with his wild tales."The Doom dragon Overlord!"

Helen nodded."Out from the Necro underworld,that colossal terror rose covering the land with his evil wrath.But our legends were strong.Time and again the mighty tamers repelled the dragon,sending him defeated back to the underworld.But the Doom dragon had found a way bypass the seal that kept him trapped there,placed on him by your ancestor,Gilfreid Cressia and his rival,Jacob Trane.However,even his escaping method had a limit to how much he could use it.So the cunning dragon waited for the perfect time to use his last chance.And right about this time,both the Trane and Cressia family had their heir.Your father was so overjoyed that a while after he organized a private ball in honour of his and his friend's son.Just at the height of his happiness, the Doom dragon Overlord attacked, crashing the party unexpectedly and catching our two warriors off guard.They were swarmed by the dragon and his minions and things were looking bad."

At this point,even without realizing it, Eliott was paying close attention to the story.His mother was pleased that some sort of bridge was being formed between them now and she continued."It was bad enough that the warriors were getting overpowered by the Doom dragon's forces,they also couldn't fight back at full strength because of their families being caught in the middle of the fight.Their greatest fear however was the two heirs that were in danger of being wiped out.Wiping out the wielders and also their heirs would be a disaster and Ragzagog and Vulcage would fall to the hands of the Doom dragon who seeked to absorb their powers.So the tamers unselfishly turned their priorities from defeating their foe to protecting the younger generation of the dragon wielders even at the risk of their lives".

Eliott was finally starting to see where the story was headed.His let his gaze drop once more."The dragon Overlord raged and in his fury took the lives multiple members of the Cressia household and sadly,Theodore's wife,Barbara.The bereaved tamer took his son and on your father's orders,he escaped from the battlefield.No one heard from him afterwards.He probably took his son somewhere far to train him in secret.Laying his life on the line,your father also instructed I take you away while he held back the Doom dragon.Setting off a protective barrier and entrusting his loader to me,your father moved in to face the villain with just one S class yorkur.He was indeed the dragon's fang. He went down as a legend.I wasn't ready to let him down and I wasn't gonna let my son die.The Doom dragon went on a destructive spree to find both heirs and his minions came after me.No where was safe.It was obvious that there were spies and betrayers in the Cressia household who had informed and orchestratedtge attack with the Doom dragon at secret occasion.So no where seemed safe enough. I needed to get my son somewhere safe.Somewhere away from the public.Somewhere he'll never be suspected to be.Where he can grow without danger or the Doom dragon's minions coming for him.I ran into an orphanage while fleeing and realized I had found the perfect place for him.That son.......was you,Eliott".

Eliott pushed his hair backwards from his face where it was sticking to his forehead due to him sweating. He exhaled deeply as he rested his head against the wooden pole.He didn't expect it when a tear suddenly ran down his cheek.This really was eating into his emotions deeper than he thought.Helen,herself was touched and her face turned a shade of grey."I am sorry my son.I really am.I wish I had grown up with you and played the role of a proper mother.But I was much too determined to see to your safety than my feelings as a mother.So in order to protect you,I had to sacrifice my joy and the chance to experience a key part of my motherhood.There were times when I thought of coming out here to see you.But I couldn't afford any form of tracing that would lead back to you.I wasn't willing to compromise your safety for anything in the world."

Eliott finally looked at his mother,eyes watery from trying to hold back his emotions.Helen gasped and smiled in an effort to soothe her son's pain.Maybe now wouldn't be the best time to reveal their purpose of coming for him.

"Well,if that's all said and done,would you care to tell me the actual purpose of your coming?"Eliott said suddenly.

"What do you mean?We've come to retrieve you back so you can be with your family once again like it was before"Helen replied trying to cover up."Come now,you couldn't possibly believe that I would buy that.No heir,16th year,the exact year a person can be officially allowed to carry a loader and registered as a tamer.And you show up for me.Only an i***t wouldn't see through it.This is the sort of thing that could get past Dylan but not me of course".

"Hmm.You really are smart.I think I was underestimating my own son"Helen replied."Well it's just like you said.After your father's passing, you were the next in line to wield Vulcage.But there's more at stake.Our elite scouts informed us that the barrier at the edge of the Necro underworld is weakening.It's only a matter of time before the Doom dragon resurfaces in Aldea.From what we gathered it may have been that he chose this same time when the new wielders of the legendary dragons would rise to stage his return.He intends to finish what he couldn't years ago.The Doom dragon has been reported gathering his strength and staging his minions even among the elites in the Aldea Tamers Association.And with the seal weakening every year,we were lucky it lasted this long before giving out.Which is why we need you to come back and take on the mantle of power which your predecessors have passed down on to you."

Eliott started to rise slowly,chuckling more as he picked himself up."So that's what it is,huh?Well in that case..........I refuse!

Helen was sure she hadn't just heard Eliott refused this sacred duty."What?"

"Sorry dear mother,but I never planned my life out to be some people's hero figure neither did I expect to have such a huge responsibility fall on my laps.I am very much content with the simple life I have right now.I never asked for such a task in the first place.Besides this is all too sudden.I mean,I just found my mother who I haven't met for 16 years and the next thing you tell me is that I have to go be some hero for something I haven't the slightest idea about"

"I know this is quite difficult to take in.But my son you need to realize that there is more involved in this than just you.The whole of Aldea is at stake here.Without the power of the legendary dragons, the Doom dragon could never be defeated. And the only one who Vulcage will answer to is a true heir from the Cressia household.You,Eliott, are the only surviving heir of our bloodline.You are the only one who can control the powers of the silver dragon.There's a reason our family has evolved over time to produce outstanding and intelligent men.It's so they can be ready to shoulder the huge burden that comes with wearing the crown.So they can handle any pressure that comes with that sacred responsibility.The point is even before I came here,I already knew you were more than capable to carry on the family's legacy.I believe in you and I have always believed in you right from the start.I know you are the one who will save Aldea from this catastrophe."

Helen couldn't help but feel like this wouldn't be enough to convince Eliott even though he wasn't saying anything.She needed to go......deeper.Personal."I know growing up here,you've had some bonds and friends.Think about them.Think about the life you desire here.Think about........Dylan,wasn't it?Imagine if the Doom dragon rampaged through Aldea and caught this orphanage in its destructive wake,you'll be plagued forever knowing you had the power to stop it but you just turned a blind eye".

The look on Eliott's face told Helen she was winning him over at last."Think about Julianne, think about the children here.They will suffer if this evil isn't stopped and you can be certain that Vulcage will be passed on to no one but you.So if you still feel like backing down from what you're supposed to do, so be it.Its your choice to make either ways."

Eliott had been awfully quiet for a while now and wasn't saying anything.He looked like he was deep in thought and conflicted over the issue. Helen wondered what he was thinking about and after about 5 minutes of silence, she was ready to speak up again when Eliott interrupted."I'll do it!"

"Really!?You finally realize what's at stake here,my son"

"Dont get me wrong,I'm not doing this because of you or me.I just realized something about what you said and it seems I wouldn't have a choice either way.But,if I am going to do this,it has to be on my terms.Because I've been thinking a great deal and I've made up my mind on how I'm gonna go about this whole thing.So do we agree on that?"

Helen agreed instantly."But of course.You are the one who's going to save us all afterall so it's only natural we agree to your terms".

Eliott looked down gloomily for a while and then brushed himself up. There was no more time to play around. He had to face what he had to do next and for that he would need to make some sacrifices.He was fine with it as he was considering the end result instead of the present situation.At that moment, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs,most probably Dylan.He knew what he had to do next.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dylan sat on the porch and stared at the floor that evening sadly.He had been in his room all day after Eliott left.Aedean had tried to cheer him up but he simply didn't have any intention of pulling himself back up.All he could think about,all he could see was Eliott walking away with his back to him.The thought haunted him like some daytime nightmare.Julianne came to the porch and knelt down beside Dylan who seemed not to even notice her presence.She looked over the fields at the sunset and recalled when it was her and Eliott sitting on the same spot a few days ago.Her heart bled but she pulled herself together immediately. Right now,she was more concerned about taking care of the boy in front of her and cheering him up.

"Not your typical birthday, huh?"she said playfully.Dylan however was not amused and kept his gaze fixed on the floor.Julianne immediately felt regret at her choice of words but realized she had no idea how to start such a conversation.She lowered her gaze too and looked away trying to come up with a better approach.

"We were going to change this family together."Dylan spoke,his voice a bit crooked which gave the impression that he'd probably being crying all day."We were gonna go to the city and make something better of ourselves.For the sake of the whole family. We vowed we were gonna be together forever and solve the family's problems and take care of you and the younger ones.And now he walks out to take a different path and worse is,he's not coming back.He doesn't even want me around anymore. He betrayed us.He betrayed me".From the corner of his eyes,Dylan saw Julianne smile a bit,which perplexed him for a bit.

"My dear boy,it may be true that Eliott is no longer here with us anymore and his path may have strayed from yours.But that doesn't necessarily change the bond you have with him.As long as you still feel this close to him and affected by his actions, your love for him still remains and so too does your bond with Eliott live on.And as much as it hurts,we have to trust and believe that whatever Eliott has decided now,its what he sees is the best for us all.Just as you said,Eliott wanted to make something better for the family and wanted to help us.Maybe his newfound royal life will afford him an opportunity to help this family in some way in the future.You have to let your love allow you to believe in Eliott".Julianne placed her hand on the boy's shoulder encouragingly while he looked up at the sunset trying to recall something."Still,his eyes when he looked at me.They were so cold and lifeless.Like he didn't care about me anymore".

"Well,my son,sometimes we have to look past the actions of others and into the heart to know the truth.We may have to excuse Eliott who just found his mother after so long for the first time. So maybe he was bound to say something he didn't mean or do something unintentionally.But when we think about it,looking back over the years,you and Eliott have truly developed a bond.You've created memories and both have been such amazing figures in the lives of both the children and me.And I could never thank you enough for that.But you both have been much more to each other.Supporting each other,helping each other and filling the hole in each other's hearts.Which is why even though he's left,the memories you both have will always live on and will always be a part of your life.It's in here....".Julianne touched the youngster's chest."...And no one will be able to take it away from you.You will always have Eliott with you,my child".

Dylan somehow felt a bit lighter,better and he felt the urge to say something back."Well,there was that one time when he put a frog in my bed at night.No way I'm just gonna forget that".Dylan chuckled a bit and he realized he was gonna be okay. He still had Julianne and Aedean and Marty and Becca and Cindy and the rest of the children as well as the memories he created with his bestfriend.He hugged Julianne who readily hugged him back."Thank you!".

She gave him a warm smile after pulling away.The sort that warmed a heart to happiness after hearing some encouraging words.She patted his shoulder.He was indeed growing up.She remembered when she first found him at her porch and her mind instantly flew back to the present.

"Oh that's right.Dylan,I came to give you this!".She rose and reached into her gown,bringing out a small wrapped object shaped like a box which she then handed over to Dylan.Dylan chuckled."You still got me a present,maam?".Julianne shook her head."No.That actually came the day I found you.It was with you when I picked you up from my doorstep".Dylan's heart flew up."Huh?What could this be?"he asked looking at it."I don't know but I was supposed to give this to you today.I'll just leave you to it.It may be very important".Julianne walked into the house as Dylan eyed the package in curiosity after which he began to loosen the tied edges carefully. When he unwrapped it,he saw it was a small electronic box sealed tight.On the side was a message that glowed clearly."16 years from today!"