Chapter 253 - Pride & Naivety

"Gin, your mother's a host to a shadow lurker. Even if Aello did not kill her, I would have done it later…"

W-What?

The sudden revelation came to Gin like a huge slap. It was hard, painful, as well as disorienting. What did his father mean that his mother was a host to a shadow lurker?

He couldn't believe it.

After all, if there was indeed something within her, he'd have known about it as Aello would have reacted. But wait…

Aello did react.

Gin's eyes widened as he realized now that he thought about it, Aello had always refused to hide when he still lived here when he was young. From the moment he was born, the harpy was always a constant presence – like a guard dog ready to pounce on anyone who'd come to harm him. The elemental had exuded malice, making everyone in the Kazehaya House spurn him.

Most especially his mother.

The Kazehaya House's matriarch had tried to come to him many times, but couldn't as the harpy had blocked her path each time.  

"Your mother was a Homura," his father then opened as he ushered Gin back to his seat.

Gin nodded then. He guessed it was because of that fact that they couldn't really kill her mother before she went totally nuts. The Homuras were nobles, and the Kazehayas were just mere vassals, even if they started equally. His mother was a cousin to the previous Koutaishidenka and therefore had a higher standing.

"Her family begged me to let her live as long as she could before the shadow lurker would transfer host," Kazehaya Kirio continued, his eyes seemed far away, remembering that time as if it were yesterday.

Gin nodded again. He now understood why his mother had been erratic over the years. Since she's a demigod, the time before the shadow lurker would transfer to another host was longer compared to when it's within a normal human. The Lady of the Kazehaya House was a notable fire-caster, so it was natural that she was able to withstand decades of being host to a parasite.

"But why lock me up at all, then?"

"You were a child with a harpy. What do you think a shadow lurker would do?"Kazehaya Kirio asked, making Gin think hard. When he did, he realized another shocking thing.

Double elemental hosting…

Gin would have been a host to both Aello and the shadow lurker. Creatures of darkness were attracted to their own kind. Since the harpy was already occupying Gin, the shadow lurker would have tried its best to transfer to Gin as well since he's a better host than his mother. He was stronger and he could create more damage than the Kazehaya Matriarch when he lost control.

"There was nothing we could do. Our hands were tied about your mother. We couldn't kill her for her family requested not to until the last minute. We couldn't imprison her as well as it will aggravate her condition."

And she wanted Gin…or at least his body.

"At that time, the only solution was for us to transfer you to the Cedar Palace so you'd be away and safe with the Koutaishidenka."

Gin could understand now. He now also understood why he was locked up.

"You placed a seal in my room…"

Gin finally understood why his room lacked life – why it had a monotonous color of black as the seal would only allow black, white, gray and brown.

"It's why you hit Aoi when he brought me a toy."

The toy in question was a colorful top that Aoi got from the festival. His father had then stormed in his room looking fanatic as if the devil was after him. He took the toy from Gin's hands without words and hurriedly left, leaving his son shocked.

He had then heard his father arguing with his mother outside the very room. If Gin could remember correctly, his father had demanded her mother what she was doing there.

As it turned out, she was there for Gin.

The moment that the seal had weakened she was ready to go to him. Thinking about it, Gin shuddered. That's why his father looked like that. He had thought that he was angry that his brother gave him a toy but with a different reason. It was because the seal was broken.

The young Gin could only cry in silence that day not knowing anything.

"It was so that woman couldn't come near me," Gin stated, making his father sigh and nod.

"She was at the final stages when she had called you back when we were gone. I hadn't realized the servants were already infected. It was why she was able to easily call you back and do those things."

"But why did the servants of the Cedar Palace allow it?" Gin couldn't understand.

It was Yayoi who had informed him of the phone call from his mother. If he was sent to the Cedar Palace for safety, then why did the people there allow his mother to call him back?

This time Kazehaya Kirio bowed his head. "It was my fault," he confessed. "The only person who knew about your mother's condition was the Master, Ryuu's father."

Oh… Now, it's clear.

"It's complete naivety and stupidity on my part. I had thought that when I sent you there, you'd be safe completely. I never thought your mother would find a way to call you back – to hurt you. It's my fault. For that…"

Kazehaya Kirio's voice broke, and for the first time. Gin saw his father shed tears. "I'm so sorry my son. I'm such a foolish, prideful man. I had thought that by keeping things I could protect you on my own. But I just made things worse. I already lost your mother years ago when she got infected. I nearly lost you too…"

Kazehaya Gin knew how much pride his father had. He was such a strong, proud man. To see him break down like this as he apologized, who would still continue to hold onto an old grudge?

"I'm so sorry Gin. Could you forgive this foolish, foolish man?"