19 Rare
Suffocation isn't merely about the absence of oxygen; at times, it's the overwhelming weight of everything bearing down on you.
Neaf experienced this acutely after his encounter with Axtral, that day. He didn't even allow himself to blink for respite.
The dark circles under his skin are a unique trait for a Hybrid AI like him.
Despite Alfred and Alisa's attempts at conversation over the next two days, Neaf remained unresponsive, lost in his thoughts.
"Today marks the end," Neaf murmured, haunted by the real Neaf's warning. His mind raced with uncertainties, feeling utterly powerless.
His thoughts grew more suffocating with every passing moment, tangled with Axtral's words and the regret of missing the opportunity to meet his grandparents due to his act.
"Neaf, how long will you linger here like a ghost? Since that day, you've shut yourself in your room, and we're left wondering how you even got here, devoid of memories," Alfred said, entering the room, his heart heavy at the sight of his son's suffering.
Neaf didn't look in any direction; he simply sat there, lost in his thoughts, clearly uninterested in receiving any information.
At least not when he knew he was suffering alone, or perhaps when he felt the soul of the real Neaf inside this body was suffering alongside him.
Still, no one could intervene; he needed to do whatever it took to survive. It was better to endure solitude than to burden anyone else with his issues.
The guilt of affecting Alfred and Alisa weighed heavily on him with each passing moment.
Understanding exactly what was happening, Neaf certainly didn't want to be a mere clone, receiving everything like a Freeloader.
Receiving no reaction, Alfred walked over to Neaf and sat beside him. "Son, if anything happens at school, you can always share it with me. I'm your father," he said, his voice filled with concern.
Neaf closed his eyes, absorbing the genuine care in Alfred's voice. This had been the pattern for the past two days; he simply didn't have the energy to respond.
He was aware that his lack of response was only adding to their worry, but he felt helpless to do anything more.
"At least tell me how you got here that day," Alfred pressed, his curiosity evident.
Neaf himself didn't know how he got here that day. It wasn't as though he had walked or taken any form of transportation. He had simply found himself teleported in front of the house after regaining composure following Axtral's warning.
Given one last chance, he entered the house, spending the last two days contemplating his situation.
This world was indeed filled with magic, but it still relied heavily on technology. Yet, Axtral seemed to possess a kind of magic all his own, reminiscent of the fantasy fairies Neaf had heard about, though of course, Axtral was far from being a fairy.
Being teleported and saved as he was that day made Neaf realise he was merely a puppet in Axtral's hands. One wrong move and the cycle would repeat itself.
"I remembered the path," Neaf finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Remember? If you recall it, then where did you get the money? And how did your school allow you to leave in the middle of the day?" Alfred questioned, clearly puzzled by Neaf's vague response.
There was no feasible way Neaf could have walked here, especially considering the school was a 40-minute journey away. And the fact that the school had allowed him to leave only added to the confusion.
More than his anxiety, Alfred was deeply concerned about his wife, who had been in tears for the past two days, distraught over their son's behaviour.
That's why, on the third day, Alfred resolved to have a serious conversation with Neaf, regardless of what it took.
"Why do you have to ask so many questions? Can't you just be happy I'm here? Why do you have to annoy me?" Neaf shouted, his body flooded with anger.
He didn't understand why he was the one constantly being interrogated as if he were some kind of criminal.
Alfred was taken aback by Neaf's outburst, but he could empathise with the stress of having no memories and people making claims left and right.
He understood that in Neaf's eyes, he might not behave or regard him and Alisa as his parents, yet he was doing his best not to hurt their feelings.
However, the way Neaf had just spoken was not acceptable. Despite everything, Alfred was grateful he was here because his wife wouldn't be taking it in a good way.
As an AI robot, Alfred couldn't fully comprehend the depth of human emotions his wife experienced, but he made every effort to mimic or perform tasks that would prevent her from getting hurt due to his inability to understand emotions.
"Calm down, there's no need to shout or behave like this. I understand you're going through a lot," Alfred stated calmly, pushing aside his thoughts. "But as I've always told you, Neaf, you're a rare case. There are very few kids who are hybrids of Human and AI, and there's no denying that your life will be anything but easy."
Neaf finally opened his eyes and looked at Alfred, surprised by Alfred's calm demeanour despite his recent outburst. But what caught his attention was Alfred's mention of the rarity of hybrids. Maybe there was something deeper to explore here.
"Can I ask you something?" Neaf questioned, feeling a bit embarrassed by his earlier outburst but determined to seek answers.
"I am your father, you can ask me anything," Alfred reassured Neaf.
"What do you mean by having fewer hybrids? Can you explain?" Neaf inquired.
"Well, you're perhaps the third child born to human and AI parents, which is me and Alisa, and you're the only one still alive. The other two passed away. As for any potential hybrids born after you, they aren't considered pure and unique like you. And even if there are others, their existence remains unknown," Alfred explained solemnly.
