Time had a particular way of slipping through Damien's fingers, especially now, when days seemed so carefree and mundane. Yet, even if he spent his time relaxed, he couldn't get the gnawing and constant worry out of his head. The blinking icon in the corner of his vision and constant appearance of the system 110 made sure that he wouldn't forget.
[Task Mission: Prevent the obsession of Johann and the downfall of the Hertz family]
"Haah..."
Damien sighed, glancing up from his book. Across from him, Johann sat quietly. He engrossed himself in his book—or at least he pretended to. Damien noticed how Johann's eyes would occasionally flick up to gauge his reactions, lighting up instantly the moment their eyes met.
"You really like history, Damien." Johann commented, breaking the silence. "You've been reading it a lot recently."
Damien put down his book, carefully controlling his expression. "Yes... I've been deeply interesting in exploring the past."
And it's a great way to learn more about this world. Damien inwardly added.
Johann's smile was immediate. "Then, I think I'll like history too."
Damien suppressed a frustrated groan. No, kid! No! Don't be like this. At this point, I'll never complete this mission.
System: [Host, a reminder, but the progression of the task mission has been stuck at 5% for quite some time.]
I know! But no matter what I do, this kid never leaves my side!
Damien's stomach twisted. Ever since their first meeting, Johann had come to the mansion nearly every day. His father then asked them if Johann could stay with them whilst he travelled around Germany. Of course, his father agreed, and the guesthouse officially became Johann's home. Damien tried a bunch of ways to make Johann less attached, but none of them worked. He was starting to get worried, especially at Johann's more recent responses. It was evident that a reliance was forming—one that was starting to feel unhealthy.
From the doorway, Lukas silently observed, leaning against the frame with his arms cross. He stared at his brother and Johann, his gaze narrowed. Lukas had long been suspicious of the golden-haired boy's increasing attachment to his brother, and made little effort to hide it. But Johann's eyes filtered him out, narrowly focusing on Damien.
When Damien and Lukas's eyes met briefly, Lukas raised an eyebrow pointedly, a silent 'he's here again?' look clearly written on his face.
Damien sighed softly, returning to Johann with a gentle smile. "You know, Johann, there are plenty of other interesting subjects. You don't have to follow my interest just because I enjoy them."
Johann's expression faltered slightly before recovering. "I know... But I just find your interests fascinating."
Closing his book, Damien set it aside. "Johann, don't you think it would be more enjoyable to discover what you like yourself? You might find something that excites you even more than history or anything else I prefer."
Johann was silent, his gaze unreadable as it fell on his lap.
Finally, he spoke. "I guess so..."
This couldn't go on. Damien had to do something.
So, over the next few weeks, Damien implemented a careful strategy. He subtly encouraged Johann to interact more with others—introducing him to estate staff and their visiting children. Whenever Johann sought him alone, Damien gently redirected him toward others, hoping new friendships might help Johann develop his own identity.
"Damien, wait up!" Johann called out one bright morning, rushing to catch up with Damien as he walked towards the garden.
Damien turned around, a calm smile placed on his face. "Good morning, Johann. Actually, I was about to introduce you to someone new today."
Johann visibly hesitated, a faint shadow of unease flickering across his features. "Someone new? But—I thought we were going to spend time together today."
"We will, but you never know; you might make a great new friend." Damien explained.
"..."
Johann's expression dimmed slightly, but he nodded obediently, following Damien reluctantly towards the gazebo where a small group had already gathered. Damien felt a heavy tug at his conscience, but pushed through, knowing he had to remain firm.
Weeks passed, and though Johann seemed to adapt, albeit superficially, Damien could sense the boy's growing frustration. Johann's once open, bright smiles had begun to feel slightly strained, the distance Damien carefully maintained clearly wearing on him.
One afternoon, as Damien sat sketching quietly beneath a sprawling oak tree, Johann approached him cautiously, shifting from foot to foot.
"Damien," Johann began hesitantly, his voice small; "Did I do something wrong?"
Damien's pencil paused over the page. He glanced up at Johann cautiously.
"No, of course not. Why would you think that?"
Johann bit his lip, eyes fixed on his shoes. "It just feels like you're always pushing me away lately. Did I upset you somehow?"
Johann's eyes glistened, his frustrations now boiling. He tried to keep it together, contained. But now that he'd opened the lid, everything came pouring out.
Damien looked up, startled by Johann's tearful and exasperated expression.
"If I'm annoying you, just tell me! If you want me to change, say it clearly! I—I..." Johann stopped abruptly, overwhelmed. Realizing he'd yelled, he clenched his fists and turned quickly, fleeing before Damien could respond.
"W—Wait! Johann!"
Damien called out, but Johann was already gone.
His system appeared and hovered in the air.
"Shit... System, I didn't fail my mission, did I?"
System: [No, host. But, the progression has gone back down to 0%.]
Damien facepalmed.
"Great..."
Watching Damien and Johann, Lukas sighed, finally deciding to take action.
...
It had been a few days. The rain had barely let up. Outside, the grounds of the Hertz estate lay soaked and silent, shrouded in gray mist.
Inside his room, Johann sat curled on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the closed curtains. The tray of untouched food near his door had gone cold hours ago, and the scent of wilted flowers from the vase on his desk made his stomach turn. He hadn't left the room since two days ago.
Not since the day that he yelled at Damien.
Not since he'd watched Damien slowly distance himself from him. And it hurt. Now, it felt like Damien was casting him aside, throwing him to other people to take care of him.
Damien was always busy.
Always surrounded.
Always moving forward.
And he was… here. Alone. Like always.
"Stupid..." He said to himself. Hugging himself tighter.
Suddenly, a soft knock interrupted the silence.
"Johann?"
Lukas's voice, muffled through the heavy wooden door, was soft but firm. "I know you're in there."
Johann didn't move.
"We're worried. The staff says you've been skipping meals."
Still nothing.
Lukas sighed, the weight of it pressing into the wood. "I know you probably don't want to hear from me right now, but if you don't answer in five seconds, I'll come in by force."
Johann's lips parted slightly, startled.
"…You wouldn't."
"One."
Johann stood up in a panic.
"Two."
His bare feet made no sound against the rug as he rushed to the door.
"Three."
He hesitated. His fingers brushed the lock—
"Four."
He froze.
Why was he even rushing? What did it matter?
"Five."
CRACK.
The door slammed down. Lukas decisively shattered the door open, sending splinters flying. Johann stumbled back in shock.
"What—?! You broke the door—!"
"You didn't answer."
"You counted to five!"
"I told you I would!" Lukas huffed, brushing off debris on his clothes. "And this is the Hertz estate. I can do whatever I want."
Johann gawked at the wrecked door on the floor, then back at Lukas, who stood with arms crossed, hair a little wind-tousled, clothes slightly wet from running through the courtyard.
"You're insane."
Lukas smiled, wide and bright. "Maybe. But I'm not leaving until you come out."
"I don't want to talk."
"Good. I didn't say anything about talking."
"…Huh?"
"If you don't want to talk," Lukas said, stepping forward and offering a hand, "let's play."
Johann blinked.
"What?"
"Come outside with me. Just for an hour."
"I'm not a child."
"You are," Lukas said. "We both are." He offered his hand again. "Come on."
Johann's throat tightened.
Johann looked at the offered hand, the cracked door, the way rain tapped softly against the windows. He hadn't breathed in fresh air in days. He hadn't smiled in longer. Slowly, almost warily, he placed his hand in Lukas's.
...
The rain had lightened to a soft drizzle by the time they made it outside.
Lukas led him toward the back gardens, which had transformed into a labyrinth of puddles and misty flowers. Droplets clung to the branches of the trees, sparkling like tiny gems, while the fresh scent of wet earth lingered in the air.
Johann watched, surprised, as Lukas suddenly kicked off his shoes and stepped directly into the muddy ground.
"Come on!"
"You're... deranged." Johann muttered, eyebrows knitting together.
"And what are you, an old man? You keep sulking like one. Balance is important, you know? Have some fun!"
Lukas dashed ahead, splashing through puddles with all the grace of a soaked pup. Johnn couldn't help it—his lips twitched. An unwilling smile began to break through his solemn expression.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath, pulling off his shoes.
The mud squelched coolly between his toes—shocking, yet strangely comforting. When Lukas glanced back, a grin spread across his face.
"There he is!" Lukas spread his arms out. "Try to catch me."
"Catch you?"
But Lukas was already gone. He had ran ahead.
Johann blinked, startled and narrowed his eyes. "…You're on."
He launched after Lukas, slipping and sliding across slick grass and mud, his coat flapping wildly behind him. Lukas was irritatingly agile, but Johann had determination (and longer legs) on his side.
They ducked through hedges, raced past fountains, nearly tripped over startled geese. Finally, Johann caught Lukas beneath the lush branches of a pine tree, tackling him gently to the wet ground. They both collapsed, breathless with laughter, the world spinning around them.
Johann rolled onto his back, staring at the prickly branches above.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, quietly, he spoke up. "Why are you doing this?"
Lukas turned his head toward him, grin fading. "Because I saw you hiding. And I used to do the same."
Johann swallowed hard. "Damien doesn't want me around."
"That's not true."
Johann shook his head bitterly. "He barely spends time with me. It's like he's deliberately pushing me away."
Lukas was quiet for a moment. Then he sat up and hugged his knees, staring ahead at the mist. A thoughtful silence settled between two of them.
"Johann…" Lukas began gently, "Damien doesn't hate you. He doesn't even dislike you. But he does worry when you lose yourself trying to earn his approval."
Johann frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lukas turned fully towards him, sincerity present in his eyes. "Have you realized that sometimes you only seem alive when Damien pays attention to you? It's like you don't see your own worth unless he does."
Johann stiffened, eyes turning away from that burning gaze.
"I'm not trying to hurt you," Lukas added quickly. "I'm saying this because I've done it too. I tried to become everything for someone else once. I changed how I acted, how I dressed, what I said, what I thought—just so they'd think I was worthy."
"…Did it work?"
Lukas smiled sadly. "For a while. Until I forgot what it was like to look in a mirror and recognize myself."
Johann stayed silent for a long time. The wind brushed through the trees above them, leaves trembling.
Finally, he asked, "Then… what should I do?"
"You should ask yourself who you want to be," Lukas replied. "Not for Damien. Not for anyone. Just you."
Johann looked down at his muddied hands.
"I don't know who that is... I don't know where to start."
"That's okay," Lukas said softly. "Most people don't. But you start by trying things—by getting out of your room, leaving your comfort zone, failing, and getting back up again."
"…By failing?"
"You don't have to always be sure all the time. Nor always right. If you mess up, then we'll mess up together. That's how we all learn. Right?" Lukas said without hesitation.
They sat under the tree until the rain stopped and the clouds began to part. The golden light of late afternoon peeked through the branches, warm against Johann's skin. He leaned back, letting it soak in.
"…Thanks," he murmured, barely loud enough to hear.
Lukas didn't respond with words. He just bumped his shoulder gently against Johann's and stayed beside him as the sun broke through, one beam at a time.
"It seems that both of you are having a good time."
A voice popped up from behind them. Both jumped slightly, startled by Damien's voice behind them.
"D—Damien!" Johann jumped.
Damien laughed. "Both of you look ridiculous right now."
Johann's heart clenched nervously. "Did… did you hear everything?"
Damien hesitated briefly, then nodded, his expression gentle yet serious. "I just wanted to apologize, Johann. I should have been more forward with you, but I ended up hurting you further."
Johann shook his head fervently. "N—No! I should be the one to apologize. I clung to you and I even yelled at you." Then he grinned. "Now I understand what I've been feeling tall this time."
Damien smiled. "Real security comes from trusting yourself first. You have to believe in yourself, your own worth."
"It'll be hard... But I think I can do it."
Damien ruffled his hair. "I know you will. And I'll always be here, Lukas too. As friends and brothers to help you."
Johann's expression softened, a sheepish smile forming on his face. "Alright."
Lukas watched silently before chuckling. "Why don't you join us, Damien? I've only realized how freeing it is to roll around in the mud."
Damien immediately recoiled. "Uh... I think I'll be okay..."
A mischievous gleam sparked in Lukas's eyes as he stood, muddy hands extended playfully. "Come now, Damien. Don't be shy. Let your elder brother help you relax a bit."
Damien yelped, backing away quickly. "Lukas! Stay away from me!"
Johann paused, then burst into a hearty laughter.
Together, they continued their carefree play, eventually getting caught by the staff—muddy, bursting in glee, and happier than any of them had felt in a long while. Well... before Yuri, who almost fainted after seeing their appearances, reprimanded them heavily.