Opening his eyes to the morning, the previous night had weighed just as much as the first time, the smell of iron that permeated his mother's scent continued to haunt Lang. Turning his head to the window once more, he sought comfort in the colors dancing in the distance. However, even their luminous glow could not redeem the past. His palms, itching from the small forming scabs had reminded him one more.

Red... It's all red, why can't I see the other colors as easily?

It was not the fact that he could only see red, but the truth of it being that red was the only thing he could focus on. Was he this angry that he finally realized how much he hated it, or that he loved his mother enough to finally reach this edge? Whatever his reasonings were the only thought that bore into his mind was that he could not allow himself to be weak anymore, not again.

Mom...Just how much more do you have to go through? What can I do to help? Is it power? Wealth? What will I need to do for you to never feel like this again...

With a heart and head that steeled itself Lang's first thought was in order to reverse right and wrong, he would need some form of strength. In his mind, he had slowly thought out the first few steps. A stronger body would allow him to move more freely, a stronger body would lessen the chance of her seeing him getting hurt, from there he would gain fame in some way, maybe as a miraculous war hero who did not need to rely on sight or hearing, or an advisor who thought with their soul on the line.

As Lang sat up he focused on the sensations of his body, with every position now intending to fix his stiff and inflexible joints, as he stretched his muscle, the sense of burning attacked the areas. With the pressing pain, Lang could only smile with each new position as the areas that once burned now felt limber, now they felt lifted and free.

It's working... I'll have to give up on the ones that don't feel like they're stretching though.

Finishing up his very first routine, Lang waited for a maid to arrive, and after a few more minutes of waiting a few knocks had come to the door, the translator informed him with three vibrations, reaching over to the nightstand and feeling for the clicker Lang had answered.

I wonder if time had passed that much quicker when I was stretching?

"Come...Hello..."

"Young Master, this is butler Anthony?

Brother An is here today?

"Sis Alicia...Where...?"

"Yes... I'm sorry Young Master they are attending to your Mother right now."

Ah...

"Yes... Sorry..."

Anthony could only scrunch up his face in regret upon hearing Lang's words, as he walked slowly up to him, a big and gentle hand tousled his hair. Slowly as he could, Anthony had dressed Lang and as he did he noticed, that when his hands brushed past Lang's back, the skin seemed, sticky, barely noticeable but it felt a tad oilier than his arms.

Did the young master do anything to make himself sweat?

As he finished dressing Lang he had, in the pretense of smoothing out Lang's outfit, had pressed his hands on the larger muscle area's that would be in the most pain after exercise, as he watched Lang's reaction carefully he had placed his hand on Lang's forehead to move some hair out of his face.

No fever, no aches, sweat, the body is warmer as if blood has been circulated recently. Stretching? But why would the young master do this when he hasn't before?

Anthony had decided he had passed enough time, in order to not seem suspicious he had held onto Lang's hand and led him to the dining hall, the seats were empty and no one else besides the both of them and some other servants could be found.

Upon being seated Lang could feel the silence that wasn't preoccupied by Alicia or Noir speaking, nor could feel his mother's presence around. Loneliness as Anthony brought him his breakfast invaded him.

Ah... maybe...

Turning his head to the wall Lang affirmed his feelings right now had matched. Rather than the red from earlier, the current colors that he could not keep his eyes off of were blue and green. Loneliness and regret had seized the air as well as his heart as he slowly sipped away at the egg and tomato soup, dryly crunching on the croutons in the soup. Stopping for a moment he reached down into his pocket and grabbed the clicker.

"Brother... Anthony..."

"Young Master?"

"Afternoon... Uncle Reynold"

"I apologize Young Master Lang... Sir Reynold is training with the guards today"

"Visit... Ask"

"Understood."

Upon being requested as such Anthony could only grant Lang's request and with the confirmation, Lang hurriedly finished up his meal. With the other servants cleaning up the table Anthony had clasped and held Lang's hand guiding him at a moderate pace stretching for a length of time as they exited the building and made their way to a smaller subsection. Entering the lounge Lang was escorted to a seat while Anthony had left to fetch Reynold.

Leaning his head back not much time had passed as the smaller-sized Anthony was accompanied by a taller man, his body was thinner, but his movement solid, practiced, and much more disciplined. One could feel the strength behind the steps the man took, but contrary to the slightly cold face that hung on him, his hand was lifted and gently placed onto Lang's shoulder.

His hand... no... I can't feel any movement from his wrist, his body must be perfectly still. It's as if he's a grand aged tree.

As Lang swallowed his saliva he reached down to his clicker.

"Uncle... request..."

"It's been a while since you visited, alright go ahead, we can catch up later."

It's because the smell in here is just old sweat that I don't come...

"Teach... Strong... Body...:

"Boy, do you know what you're asking of me?"

"Yes..."

"Listen Kid, with your bod--..."

Gritting his teeth, Lang's resolve burst forth as he grabbed his uncle's wrist and directly showed his uncle his scabbed palms. Tossing the hand off his shoulder, the desperately clicked as quickly as the machine could translate. He stomped his foot, he shed his tears, he couldn't speak, he couldn't hear his own words to make sure they made sense. He could see, however, no matter how blind he was he could see this.

"Sick... Useless...Self... We...ak Can't... Save..."

I'm tired! I can't live like this anymore!

"Uncle... strong ... Help"

I don't want to feel mom hurt when I hug her! I don't want to see her tremble again!

"Myself.... suffer... will ... save... mom"

Even if I run myself down I'll do it! I don't want to smell blood on Mom again!

"Beg... Uncle ... Please"

Please Uncle Reynolds... please please! Let me bleed in her place!

Nauseated at his helplessness, sickened by his own inability to aid his mother, angered by the weakness he was born with, Lang trembled in silence before turning his head and gazing at the colors in the distance one more time. He could see his own convictions.

Ah... Why didn't I notice... all the colors... they're all so bright...

As he turned his head back Lang breathed out softly and dropped his clicker, slowly with a silent thud, each knee had hit the ground. Lang had kneeled and bowed to Reynold with sincerity. The weight of his enclosed feelings from all the years had lifted but they were now weighed by the responsibilities of his actions.

"Young Master! You can't d--"

"Anthony quiet! .... This is serious... his actions just now"

"You can't be serious R-"

"Does it look like I'm joking?! A young man has laid down his pride in exchange for a glimmer of hope to save someone. Are you taking his actions lightly?!"

"No I... No... not at all"

As silence filled the air Reynold continued to stare at Lang, the standoff did not end. Anthony gazed at the two as one stared intently while the other one did not raise his head.

Tick... Tick... Tick

Reynold had seen it earlier, and he was more impressed now, nearly two hours had passed since Lang had bowed and he had not moved a muscle. Understanding fully what Lang's values were able to grow into, he could not stand having the child on his knees anymore, trodding his way to Lang he hoisted him up by the arm, pulling Lang into a hug.

"Ki... Young Man... you have convinced me, Lang"

Zzz... zzz .... Huh?

"You have shown me your actions today, I will engrave them in my heart, you will start tonight, I will tell you what to do now then."

Ah? .... Ah! Thank you Uncle!

After receiving the instructions, Anthony a bit shocked by the event would not have thought that Lang who actively endured would instead be the one to conquer this time. As he led Lang back to the house, his eyes that were fixed on Lang had shown more respect, appreciating the site now.

*****

Valerie had not found Lang anywhere in the house nor in the garden, as she rushed room to room panic had set into her psyche, recovering took time, and she couldn't fathom to herself lonely it felt for him as yesterday and today she had to be away from him. She did not know at this point if it was for her sake or his that she just wanted to hold him.

Luckily for her, Alicia had found her to informed that Lang had just arrived back from an outing. With the brief news, Valerie collapsed in exhaustion from searching and slowly laughed, a sweet smile appeared as she chided him gently to herself.

"You rascal... making your mother worry"

As Alicia assisted her up she meekly told Alica to help in preparing dinner, Alicia who was relieved as well chuckled and headed off. Valerie now knowing her son was safe had gone to the dining hall to await for Lang, turning on the tv she rested her head against her hand as she watched. No more than a couple of minutes had passed before Lang arrived, turning off the device she turned to look at him standing up as she noticing something peculiar about her son.

Lang... Your smile looks... confident today, something good must have happened.

Lang upon entering noticing the subtle familiar scent, walking and counting his steps carefully three steps forward, to the right, and five steps forward once more until the comforting smell was right beside him. Stopping and turning he reached out feeling for the chair slowly before nodding and embracing.

"Lang?.. I stood up from the chair honey"

*****

In the darkness of his room, Lang was curled up on the floor, sweating, distraught, and seemingly in pain. He squirmed about swearing to himself the this would be worse than the pain of being bullied. Worse than the mockery of his step-siblings, more horrid than knowing harsh eyes stared at him when they ventured into the town.

Why did all of them bring the food when I was hugging that chair!! I'm so embarrassed Craaaapppppp! That's it I have to train my body now to forget about this!