The Painted Boy

[Seance]

He had woken up with a start, sitting up immediately after he gained consciousness from his sleep. The sight of the room around him confused him at first, before he remembered the event that transpired before he had fallen asleep.

He was carried here by a man, Evan Archen. Remembering said man, Sean quickly whipped his head around to look around the room again, trying to see if he's here at the moment. Climbing down the bed, his imaginary white owl flew off from where she once perched and returned to her post on Sean's right shoulder.

"Hi Celeste... Is it daytime..?" As he asked his owl that, Sean found a window and saw the darkness of night instead of the sun. "I've only been asleep for 4 hours and 2 minutes?"

Celeste is very good with time somehow, so Sean always receive accurate reports from his owl regarding that. Stepping nearer the window, the little boy stared at the droplets against the window. It's still raining heavily outside, it seems.

Turning around, he then noticed the bathroom door is closed. 'Is Evan in there?' He's feeling a bit thirsty now, so he looked around. It's not long before he decided to go downstairs and try to find any sources of water he could drink from.

Opening the door, Sean exited the room and headed down the stairs. The first thing that attracted the child's attention is a very large canvas placed against the wall near the waiting seats.

A worried man paced near the canvas, with a small portable table of art supplies near him. His eyes wandered quickly and soon it caught Sean's gaze. Immediately, the man called out the child, asking if he could watch over his supplies while he went off to talk to someone in this inn for a short while.

"Um...o-okay.." Sean nodded unconfidently, but the man looked so happy by the kid's approval and pulled a small chair, patting it to gesture the child to sit. He repeated that he'll be right back and then dashed up the stairs, out of Sean's view.

With a sigh, the little boy then face the large blank canvas with an interested stare. He sat on the seat that was offered to him earlier very slowly, still staring at the canvas as if he's entranced by the object.

The imaginary white owl on his right shoulder crooned gently, before taking off into a glide and entered through the canvas. Then, to his eyes and his eyes only, the canvas suddenly showed paintings...or actually images, of someone, growing.



"Huh...?" Sean tilted his head slightly at the different paintings being shown to him in that same canvas. The images appeared and disappeared, changing to the next image almost as if that character is growing.

Unbeknownst to him, what he's seeing is himself, growing stronger and stronger. The last one even has a an eagle on the man's shoulder. "..What are you trying to show Celeste..?"

[Evan]

Evan let out a quiet sigh as he exited the shower and dried himself off. The heat felt nice and soothing, but his worries were still clouding his mind.

The boy's mother had been raped because Evan was not supervising Anthony properly. How many others, Evan wondered, had Anthony hurt while Evan turned his attention away completely.

The thought made Evan feel even more guilty. He placed a hand on the bathroom counter to keep himself from dropping to his knees in shame. His other hand held his head while he tried to calm his ever darkening thoughts.

Blaming himself had become a habit. Even when the actual misdeed was someone else's fault, Evan would find a way to blame himself. He was not supervising the miscreant. He wasn't properly protecting the weak.

Evan let out a heavy sigh full of shame towards himself. He pulled himself up out of his physical slump and continued to dry himself off with a towel. His long silver hair was the hardest to dry, though he spent a fair amount of time with his towel trying to dry it as much as possible.

When he deemed it was at least okay, Evan hung the towel up and began to brush his long hair with one provided by the inn. Once his hair looked presentable, he dressed himself and exited the bathroom.

He was surprised, when he looked at the beds, that Seance was no longer there. Evan was unsure what exactly had happened, but assumed the simplest option that the boy had woken up and gone for a walk in the inn.

Evan let out another sigh as he held the back of his head. He wondered how he might apologize to Seance for his negligence and ignorance. Would he understand Evan's words or would his future actions and considerations be enough.

Evan sat down in the chair by the small lamp and the window again. He reached to pick up his book again, but paused as he wondered about Seance. He thought to read a bit more because he'd decided Seance was probably just walking around the inn. Evan, however, realized that this likely possibility was not for certain, and began to worry. He didn't want something else to happen to Seance because of Evan's negligence.

Evan stood up, grabbed his key, and headed towards the door. He opened it and walked out into the hall, closing the door behind him. He looked both ways down the hall, seeing nothing, then proceeded towards the stairs and heading to the main level.

As he rounded the corner into the main lobby, Evan's eyes immediately caught Seance's figure. The boy was staring at a blank canvas. Evan briefly wondered why such a thing was out in the lobby like that and who it might belong to.

He slowly made his way over to Seance, stopping beside the boy and stared at the blank canvas for a moment with him while he gathered his thoughts. Evan closed his eyes and lowered his head slightly as he released a quiet breath of air, deciding on his words.

"I will train you and help you in any way that I can... so that you may become strong enough to manage the responsibilities you've taken on." Evan said in his usual blank and serious tone.

He finally opened his eyes, then, and looked over at Seance. "I apologize for my ignorance earlier, causing you to relive painful memories. I hope that what I can offer as a teacher will be sufficient enough to warrant your forgiveness."

[Seance]

Being so distracted by the painting changing forms, Sean did not realized someone has stepped beside him. So, when Evan voiced out, the little boy visibly jumped on his seat and looked up to the source of the voice. Seeing that it's someone familiar, he eases down and stared up at the man. Celeste returns on his shoulder after soaring out of the canvas, and only then Sean opened his mouth to speak.

"Why?" The little boy finds it strange why this man wishes to train him, as Sean feels the act to be unnecessary. "I'm already managing my responsibilities," he reasoned, still unclear of what Evan meant by training.

When the man apologized to him, Sean kept his eyes on the man with slight confusion hinted on his expression. "I don't need your apology, you haven't done anything to trouble me." To Sean, it's almost normal for him to scream in pain and agony, plus he has yet to understand that the memories he has are painful, because those are the only ones he has and he sees it as invaluable to him.

"Celeste explained why you did what you did. If anything, I'm sorry for my tantrum earlier." Sometimes, it's quite hard to believe this child is only 8 years of age. The boy then stood up from the chair, just in time as the artist from before returned and thanked the boy. He also nodded to Evan as he then began to pack up his art supplies.

"You don't have to care so much about me," Sean said to the man and made his way up the stairs to get back to the room.

[Evan]

Evan looked at Seance as the boy questioned why he was offering to train him to become stronger and stating that he was already managing his responsibilities. "You said before that you need to become strong enough to drag that man back with you if need be. I can train you." He replied with his normal blank stare and empty voice.

Upon hearing that his actions hadn't troubled Seance, Evan's eyes softened somewhat. "I'm glad, then." He replied to the boy, thankful that his actions hadn't caused extra lasting pain to the boy. Still, he felt deeply concerned for Seance, considering the amount of wailing before. He had clearly been traumatized, and no one could blame the boy for being so fearful of touch after witnessing such a visceral reaction.

Evan admired this young boy's maturity. Even at that age himself, Evan wasn't as mature as this kid. However, he reasoned, it's likely that this maturity was largely due to the pain the boy experienced growing up. At that thought, Evan felt solemn.

At Seance saying that Evan didn't have to care so much about him, Evan's eyes opened a bit more then softened again. As he followed the boy back upstairs, Evan thought up an earnest reply. "Perhaps it's due to my teacher's instinct... but I care very much about every child I encounter." He glanced at Seance at the end of his reply, then turned towards the door to their room and opened it, holding it open for Seance to enter first.

[Seance]

"Oh. ...You mean physically strong..." Sean took a moment to let that sink in, and then his eyebrows slowly creased in. "...Have you ever hurt...anybody before..?" The little boy suddenly questions, his head tilted slightly up to meet the man's eyes. "Having strength... even having authority over someone..... I don't--" He sounded like he wanted to continue, but the child only holds himself tightly from within his cloak, clutching his arms together as if to hug himself. "I will think about your offer," he finally said with a curt nod to Evan and turned away to face the stairs. "...I need to mentally prepare myself before involving in anything physical.... as you've seen.." He phased the last part of his sentence in a mocking note to himself, meaning his earlier wailing and screaming.

His expression changed slightly after a few moments, and he turned his head to his shoulder, "Discipline?" Though, his question was meant to the entity on his shoulder than anyone else in his presence, thus his voice is no more than a quiet hush as he climbed the stairs with Evan. The rest of his conversation with Celeste are in whispers, Sean looking more and more appalled, " I do not whine... ...That's... Celeste, that's mean.... ....No.. ...-m... not delicate...." His whispers peaked on certain topics he felt was insulting to him.

What Evan said next froze Sean for a moment. He stared down at the floorboards in wonder, thinking about the man's words. The little boy slowly resumed his steps with his head still down, obviously in thought. When he walked pass the door Evan opened for him, Sean only muttered, "I wish more people think like you." The boy sauntered inside the room and looked around, walking straight towards the windows once he saw it. It's still very dark out, but it sounds like the rain has stopped.

With his back to Evan and his breath hitting the frosted window panes, Sean voiced out. "What was Anthony Reinhardt like when he was my age...?"

[Evan]

Evan looked at Seance with a serious expression when he was asked if he ever hurt someone before. Evan's expression was cold and serious as he thought of his answer and responded, for now, with a simple "yes." Evan noticed Seance's discomfort as the boy spoke but didn't finish his sentence and seemed to get a bit smaller under his cloak. Evan faced forward then and spoke again. "Having strength means having responsibility." Evan said in a serious and clear manner. "When you're stronger than others, you have the choice to use that strength to hurt or protect." He lifted one of his own hands to his waist level and stared at it a moment before clenching his fist slightly and moving his hand back to his side. "I tend to use my strength in order to protect those weaker than myself. Of course, that also means I may need to hurt someone who is using their strength to hurt others. Being able to control your strength and how and when you use it is of great importance."

Evan looked at Seance again as he said he'd need to think about the offer and prepare himself if he's going to do anything physical. Evan gave a slight nod as he looked at the boy, understanding that engaging in physical contact would be difficult for him. "Take your time to think and do what you feel you need to do then." Evan responded, speaking in a serious manner that shows he takes Seance's issue seriously. "Most training methods won't pair you up with a sparring partner too soon. We would go at your pace and I would tailor my instruction to suit your needs."

Evan glanced back at Seance again as he heard him speaking, only to see the boy staring at a spot above his own shoulder. He recalled when Celeste possessed this boy to speak with him earlier. It was clear that Seance had some unknown ability, and Celeste was an obvious key to figuring it out. He wondered what else Seance might be able to do if challenged or in danger.

At Seance's comment of wanting more people to be like Evan, he stared at the boy a moment before dropping his gaze. He knew such a thing was impossible and didn't give it much thought beyond what Seance must've dealt with. There are certainly a lot of people in the world with different types of thinking, and many of them not so kind.

Evan followed Seance into the room and closed the door behind him. As he walked further in, Seance suddenly questioned him about Anthony. Specifically what he was like at Seance's age. Evan's face began to darken somewhat as he remembered the first time Anthony seemed nervous to be left alone with Dieter. Thinking he was about Seance's age when Dieter started hurting him, Evan's eyebrows creased somewhat as he looked down. He tried to push those memories and feelings of guilt away for a moment to answer Seance properly. "He was... quiet, gentle, timid, and a bit clingy." Evan answered slowly as he thought about the past, then lifted his head up again to face Seance with his stoic expression. "He was starting to awaken his telepathic abilities at that time as well."

[Seance]

Sean stared out into the night as he listened to Evan. His breath against the window pane proves to be far more interesting to stare at than the darkness outside, and Sean then used his finger to doodle at it. "He sounded different than what I hear about him now," the boy commented, still with his little window pane project. "I guess he changed." With one last breath on the window, Sean wiped off the remaining vapor on it and turned around to face Evan. "Are you assuming that I inherit his abilities?"

The boy's youthful face doesn't befit his age with how serious he looks. Sean walks closer to Evan, with eyes seeming to stare right into Evan's soul. "...It's eating you.." His green eyes widened slightly upon noticing something, "Celeste was right..." With an expression that looks more curious now, Sean approached Evan closely. "Is it guilt...?" As if in a trance, Sean raises his small hand towards Evan's head, but suddenly the light in his eyes returned, and the boy slowly drops down his arm, staring at his descending hand as he does so. He backs away after that, taking small steps backwards, and then turns around completely. "...I can see now that some things can't heal with time. ...Thank you for telling me that."

Sean just stood there, unmoving, and then he slowly crouched over while his back is still towards Evan. His hands are wrapped over his stomach, shaking. Suddenly, his stomach growls.

[Evan]

Evan watched Seance after he spoke. "Children usually change to some extent as they grow into adulthood. However, certain events can affect that growth in either positive or negative ways." Evan spoke slowly and solemnly, the guilt still eating at him as he thought of the past. "I don't know if you'll inherit his exact abilities or if what's currently developing will be something entirely different. I don't know if he's ever interacted with spirits."

Evan stared curiously at the boy who walked towards him now. His eyes held a deep sadness as Seance asked if what was eating Evan was guilt. He stood still, staring back at Seance, then let out a small breath of air as Seance stepped back and turned away. Evan didn't have a retort for the idea that time doesn't heal all things. He didn't like the idea of leaving such a sad idea linger in the air, but he couldn't deny that the guilt he felt had never gone away even after more than 20 years. In some ways, it only compounded and grew stronger with Anthony's actions since.

When Seance seemed uncomfortable suddenly, Evan looked at him with concern. When he heard what he thought sounded like a stomach growling, Evan released a small sigh and headed towards the fridge. He took out the packaged serving of meat and vegetables he'd saved for Seance. "I bought this earlier for you. Do you want it heated up?" He asked, not knowing Seance's preferences for how he prefers to eat his food yet.

[Seance]

The little boy's expression hardens at Evan's explanation how children can change once they grow. His thoughts immediately jumped towards whether he himself will change into someone as unlikeable as his own father. "I hope I will stay the same.." Sean whispered, his breath carrying vapor against the window pane.

Evan's remark about his ability being something inherent to Anthony Reinhardt's piqued Sean's attention. The boy had turned his head towards him in subdued interest, at the same time finding Evan's insinuation of him having an ability to be a little funny. "Spirits? You're saying as if I can do that..."

Celeste is not a spirit to Sean. She's his imaginary friend. He made her up in his mind so he won't be alone in his journey. It never occured to him that she can be real for others, or that her existence is not just in his head.

The topic of Celeste had brought her forward, as she temporarily looked into Evan's soul with Sean's eyes. She showed the child what regret looks like, how guilt can eat into a person's soul. Again, it did not occur to the little boy that this is not something normal people can see.

Hunger gnaws at him suddenly, a comfortable reminder that he's alive. Pain and hunger comfort him in that way. That whatever happens, at least he's still among the living. He needs to be alive through his self-imposed quest.

Evan then offered him a package on what smells like food, asking him if he wants it to be heated up. "No.. I prefer it cold, please." Sean stood up at the promise of food, his normally stern expression has considerably relaxed. "Thank you... I'll.. I'll return your kindness somehow."

His small hands peaked out from his baggy robe as he receives the food. Without knowing how else to eat food and even basic hygiene, Sean immediately sits on the floor, puts the package down and clumsily starts to open it, intending to just eat it right there with his unwashed hands.