As he stood over the sleeping form of
the youngest Zoalord in the history of Chronos, Edward Caerleon
could not help but puzzle over the events that had led to the
boy’s becoming a member of their illustrious organization.
Imakarum had not informed the rest of the Divine Twelve about
the boy’s origins, and even Lord Alkanphel’s information had
left something to be desired, and so Edward saw only one other
way to obtain the information that he was interested in. Laying
his hand on the child-Zoalord’s right temple, Edward focused his
mind.
As he had been expecting, the young one
offered no resistance to his mental probing. For that matter,
the child-Zoalord did not seem to notice his presence at all.
Looking through the memories provided Edward with useful insight
into the boy’s thought processes: Ingriam Mirabilis would remain
loyal to Chronos and the Divine Twelve for as long as Imakarum
remained so.
The child-Zoalord was more loyal to his
father than to any of the Overlords or to Chronos itself, which
was to be expected, considering that Imakarum—or rather, Masaki
Murakami had been the only true constant in the child’s life.
However, perhaps there was a way to secure the child-Zoalord’s
loyalty to the Divine Twelve. It would certainly prove useful in
the event that Imakarum were to try to return to his ways as a
rebel.
It was a possibility that had to be
taken seriously, however much Edward disliked it. Still, if he
could manage to secure the child-Zoalord’s loyalty to Chronos
and the Divine Twelve, then Imakarum’s loyalty would be assured
as well. With that thought in mind, Edward mentally awakened the
child-Zoalord called Ingriam Mirabilis, and as he began to open
his eyes, Edward offered the boy his hand.
"Would you be interested in a more
in-depth exploration of your father’s workplace, little one?"
Edward asked, mentally nudging the child-Zoalord.
"Sure!"
The little one seemed only too eager to
accompany him, and Edward noted this—it would make dealing with
him all the more simple. As Ingriam made ready to leave his
room, pulling on the pair of shoes and socks that Lord Alkanphel
had doubtless provided for him, Edward turned slightly to allow
the child-Zoalord a modicum of privacy.
"I’m ready—let’s go," the child-Zoalord
chirped happily.
Edward turned back, nodding and taking
the child-Zoalord’s hand as it was offered to him. It was time
to begin.