After settling Moon City's affairs and escorting their advance team out of the Forsaken Land of the Gods, Alaric found the City of Silver group, who were building their new home. He introduced Moon City's team to them and entrusted their care to an Amon Avatar.
Then, Alaric took the Amon cub home.
"I get the logic, but why'd you come back from a trip with a kid in tow?" Jack Jones, one of Alaric's personas, said, stroking his chin with a mix of curiosity and gossip. He eyed the child in Alaric's arms. "Is this your secret lovechild? Or a new student you're taking on? Are you Batman? Should I act all upset, pick a fight, and storm out in a huff?"
It was well-known that Batman had a knack for picking up kids without ever consulting the ones already at home, sparking family feuds.
Klein, too, studied the child in Lucifer's arms, puzzled by the monocle on such a small face.
A kid this young wearing glasses?
Clearly, Klein hadn't yet connected the dots to a certain little raven.
"This child's too young for regular food. Have you got formula? If not, I think there's milk in the kitchen." Azik said, assessing the child's age with a touch of concern.
Medici, who'd just returned to the villa after handling reform matters, raised an eyebrow. His expression turned odd as he looked at the child. "Lil' Raven, are you really gearing up to relive childhood?"
The room fell silent for a few seconds as the others caught on, their expressions growing strange.
Alaric, in his Lucifer persona, smiled. "This is Amon. He decided to experience life as normal human to gain humanity, so we reset him to childhood and sealed his memories. For a while, he'll be living with us."
"..."
"..."
"..."
What a bombshell.
"Hahahahaha! Your day has come, Lil' Raven!" Medici burst into gleeful laughter. He could tell this was just a Avatar, but that didn't dampen his schadenfreude.
Klein's lips twitched. He glanced at the Amon cub, then at Mr. Lucifer, his mind flashing to Lucifer's diaries. Was Mr. Lucifer planning an eye-for-an-eye revenge? Klein sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling a pang of sympathy for Amon.
Azik, after a brief moment of shock, looked at the Amon cub and asked a key question. "Will he grow up like a normal person?"
"He'll grow, but not quite like a normal person." Alaric, still as Lucifer, explained. "He's currently one year old. Each day, he'll age a year until he reaches 18, then stop."
Jack Jones poked the Amon cub's cheek, studying the unconscious child. "What about safety? Putting Klein and Amon together feels… risky."
"No need to worry." Alaric said with a smile. "I've made a contract with Amon under the witness of his father... you know, The Ancient Sun God you're familiar with. He can't cause trouble."
The room collectively exhaled. Amon's notorious reputation was deeply ingrained. Despite his losses to Lucifer and his recent good behavior due to needing favors, that didn't mean he was easy to deal with for others.
"Does he need to eat like a normal person?" Klein asked, curious.
"He can eat, but it's not necessary. He's just a Avatar, after all. Food isn't essential." Alaric explained. He turned to Medici, passing the Amon cub over. "You've got experience with kids. He's your responsibility for now."
Medici raised an eyebrow but didn't refuse. He took the Amon cub, holding him with the practiced ease of a seasoned caregiver.
Then, with his free hand, he gave the Amon cub's cheek a hard tug.
It was a forceful pull... hard enough that the unconscious Amon cub woke with a wail.
"Waaah!"
The room filled with the sound of a crying infant.
Klein and the others exchanged glances. Azik abruptly headed for the kitchen, while Medici, watching the crying Amon, laughed again. "Hahahahaha! He's really a kid now. This is hilarious."
After his laughter, Medici snapped his fingers with his free hand, conjuring a lifelike bird of flame that danced before the Amon cub's eyes. It quickly caught the child's attention, stopping his cries.
Azik returned with a bottle of warm milk, carefully feeding it to the Amon cub.
"That's a professional for you. You can tell they've raised kids before." Jack Jones remarked, stroking his chin.
"Wait, where'd the bottle come from?" Klein asked, puzzled by the bottle in Azik's hand. They didn't have any kids around before!
"It was originally for another little one, but he didn't need it. Amon's making use of it now." Alaric, as Lucifer, said, answering Klein's question.
He was referring to Will, naturally.
Maybe I should find time to visit that fake kid, Alaric mused.
…
The Amon cub's arrival was surprising but didn't disrupt the household much.
Medici and Azik were true professionals, with ample experience raising children.
In the blink of an eye, little Amon was three years old. Under the enthusiastic guidance of a certain Red Angel, the young Amon developed a basic sense of self: he was Amon, a member of the Amon race, nicknamed Lil' Raven. His kind was unique, with one day equating to a human year, meaning he had, at most, 100 days left to live.
Upon learning this, Amon felt his world collapse. That noon, he ate two bowls less than usual.
"Are we really not telling him the truth?" Klein glanced at the sulky Amon munching on candy on the couch, feeling a rare pang of conscience.
"Why spoil it? This is perfect." Alaric, in his Jack Jones persona, said with a shrug, sounding utterly convinced. "Think about it... he thinks he's doomed, but 100 days later, he's still alive and well. What a surprise that'll be!"
"…Fine." Klein said, his lips twitching. He didn't argue further, pulling out his pocket watch to check the time. "I'm heading to my room."
A new Tarot Club meeting was about to begin.
***
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