Chapter Text
"I don't care if an old man like that kicks the bucket!"
"Don't say that. It's nice you got any family at all..."
The death of Giuseppe Geppetto left a huge scar on the city of Krat. His knowledge about engineering let this metropolis prosper. Yet, the father of puppet technology was suddenly gone. They said it was an abrupt accident during the opening ceremony at the Grand Exhibition Gallery. It would've been a display about the developing process of puppet technology. He was meant to uncover one of his secrets regarding his geniusness. However, misfortune struck when one of the future puppets fell on the engineer. His secrets were gone with him.
Dark clouds blanketed over Krat. Ever since that day, the sun has barely set on the metropolis. When the day of the funeral came, distant relatives, close friends and colleagues gathered to say their farewells to Geppetto.
Everyone except his own flesh and blood: Giuseppe Carlo. The teenage boy despised his father for abandoning him. Ever since his mother died, Geppetto has been pretty much married to his work. It was natural for the boy to turn his back on his old man one last time.
A lot of people have started gossiping about him skipping the funeral. His best friend noticed those scornful gazes immediately. While they were walking out from the Charity House, he stopped Carlo at the entrance door.
"You went too far this time, man. He was still your father." Romeo said solemnly.
"I couldn't care less." Carlo clicked his tongue. "He did me a favour by pegging out."
"You're just being stubborn." The blond young man furrowed his eyebrows, arms crossed at his chest.
"I'm not stubborn, you know I'm right." The smaller teen tiredly rolled his eyes.
"Uh-uh. But don't be surprised if people will judge you for not paying respects. Even if you hated him, he wa..."
"Romeo, just stop, I won't repeat myself!" Carlo interrupted him. As his gaze darkened, the taller boy backed off from him.
"Have it your way then." His friend shrugged nonchalantly with arms spread out. "But don't tell me I didn't try to warn you."
"Don't worry, I won't. Besides, I don't care about what people think of me." He grinned smugly.
"Ever the fearless, ever the careless, Carlo. You're still the son of a famous engineer." Romeo said half-jokingly.
The other teen flipped his short brown hair from his face, straightened his back.
"Well, the son of a famous engineer will be the best Stalker of the world! I won't live in that old fool's shadow when that time comes."
The tall blond man chuckled at his confidence.
They left the orphanage to get some walk before evening. They've been striding on the streets of Krat for hours, enjoying the freedom and the cold autumn air. The boys forgot about everything bad that happened on that day. As they stalked around a bridge, they stopped their journey for a short rest. Carlo's eyes gazed beyond the faraway mountains. He stared, dreaming about his upcoming adventures outside this boring city his father cherished so much. The boy wished for wings to fly away like a hawk. He just knew that he is a much different calling in his life as those adults expected him to be.
As he was lost in his thoughts, Romeo poked his arm without words. The boy looked at him, who in turn pointed to the top of the bridge. His amber brown eyes spied a certain figure. Standing there like an all-seeing guardian of sorts, the figure leaned on its weapon like a cane. The eyes of the stuffed dog mask gleamed in warm brown color while the Hound stood his ground, watching all over Krat.
This... this sight was Carlo's dream in its full splendor. While the Hound barely interacted with his protected ones, he already found his purpose in his life. He envied the freedom this mysterious Stalker had. He didn't understand why anyone would avoid this way of life.
While he looked at his hero, the Stalker jumped off from the bridge to the top of a storeyed house. Like a fierce wind, he disappeared into the darkness, just as he appeared before the two boys.
After seeing their hero in the flesh, the boys decided it would be the best time to get back to the Charity House. The evening slowly turned into night as they got to their destination. However, before they could enter the orphanage, Romeo said:
"Oh boy, how are you going to explain this?"
Before he could ask, Carlo already saw what his friend was referring to... or rather, who.
The one whom Romeo was referred to already was behind his back, clearing her throat. He turned over her with eyebrows raised questioningly.
"What do you want, Vittoria?" He asked.
The girl looked at him, then her azure gaze shifted to Romeo. After a while, she looked back at Carlo.
"Romeo, Carlo." She greeted them with a flat but quiet voice. The girl looked at the brown haired boy, then at the blond one once again. She smiled a bit at Romeo as he bowed his head respectfully to her.
"Well, I see that you want to speak with this young man." He said half-jokingly as he poked his friend's side with his elbow. "I shall take my leave now. I wish you a pleasant evening!"
Carlo sighed in frustration as he saw his best friend leaving, but not before winking at them. After he went into the house, the younger boy turned to the girl once again. Vittori furrowed her eyebrows as if she expected something from him. Carlo blinked at her.
"You have something in your possession which belongs to me." She said, once again with a flat tone.
"...I don't know what you're talking about." He replied the same way.
"You certainly do, Carlo. While you had your fun spilling my drink with ink once again, you stole my pamphlet."
She was forced to hide a cringe grin from her face. Because of that, the girl looked like she was in some sort of pain for a moment.
"I would appreciate it if you give it back. Now." She continued with one hand reaching out.
Carlo looked at her with a bad eye... then suddenly, he touched her forehead with the back of his hand.
"Do you have a fever or something? You're talking weirdly." He said with a fake condescending voice. "Oh, I know! Maybe you should visit Miss Sophia again. It's not like you have anything to do anyways."
Although the girl wildly pulled away from him, she didn't respond to the mockery. She should have known that he was always like this.Yet, here she was, trying to get back what was hers. This boy has defeated her once again.
Vittoria gritted her teeth, but as she looked beyond him, her gaze held sadness. With a wordless sigh, she walked past Carlo and went inside the Charity House. But before she disappeared, she quietly said:
"My condolences about your father."
It made his blood boil. She and her two goody shoes attitude irritated him to no end. Despite this, he smugly smiled as he reached for his pocket. The black pamphlet was always with him, at arm's length. While it was creased and jagged, he took care of it. Too bad that he only did it for himself, so he thought. It's not like he's planning to give it back to her anytime soon. Not when she just mentioned his old man. He just loved teasing her. The girl was quiet, reserved and well-mannered. She always read boring things he disliked so much. And yet, every time he mocked her, she didn't retaliate in anger. She looked at him with such sadness... almost with pity.
Curiosity overwhelmed him as he gazed after the direction where she went. The girl didn't deny the fact that she was going to visit Miss Sophia. He looked at her pamphlet and sighed quietly.
'It's hard to let a good reading go, but maybe...' He thought as he followed her into the orphanage.
Carlo waited a few minutes before following Vittoria to Lady Sophia's room. Judging by the lack of reaction earlier, she didn't deny that she wanted to visit the daughter of Valentinus Monad. The girl has never talked with anyone else in the orphanage, save for a few students.
As he slowly followed her through the long corridors of the home, she took a sharp turn to the left and knocked at the wooden door. As soon as a quiet "come in" was heard, Vittoria walked in. She left the door slightly open. The fireplace's gentle light leaked out to the corridor. Seeing this, the boy pressed his back to the wall as he leaned towards the door, eavesdropping on them.
Sophia sat on a wing-chair with legs crossed in a delicate manner. She pointed to a chair before a table, asking the girl without any words to take a seat. She nodded curtly as she sat down.
"I appreciate your help, Matron. I didn't know where to turn for support." She said tiredly, yet gratefully.
The lady smiled, but raised her eyebrows in concern. "Are you sure about this?"
Vittoria hummed in affirmation. "It's not like I have any choice on the matter."
The woman looked at her with a sad yet understanding look. She claps her hands before her chest as she hummed.
"How is your brother? You mentioned that he's working at the Workshop Union."
"He's been overworking himself lately. The death of Mr. Giuseppe has shaken everyone in the guild, but they've been even busier than before." She sighed wearily. "Now that he's gone, cutthroat competition will rear its head among inventors and engineers. Despite this, Marcello seems... happy."
Sophia tilted her head to the right in slight surprise. "How so?"
"They've been working on a big project for a while now. Apparently the energy supply won't depend on just electricity anymore." Taking a big breath, the teenage girl leaned a bit forward. "I don't know the details, but it's a much more efficient energy source."
"That sounds wonderful." Sophia said endearingly. But as soon as she saw her protegé's pensive expression, she asked: "Is it not?"
"There've been several accidents in the past two weeks lately. Some of my brother's colleagues have disappeared and no one has seen them since."
"I heard some worrying rumors, but not about the disappearances." The lady gave Vittoria an understanding look. "I'm so sorry to hear that, child."
The girl smiled at her in appreciation.
"I trust my brother. He's going to be alright and makes us all proud."
"He certainly will." Sophia agreed with a curtly nod, then she gave her protegé a knowing look. "...How about your sister-in-law?"
The silence was painfully deafening. Even Carlo looked askance through the leak, searching for the figure of the girl. Vittoria gazed downwards, avoiding Miss Sophia's questioning look. The boy's eyebrows knitted in slight confusion as he saw her shaking. She looked like she was in some sort of pain.
"I..."