Akagi walked beside Mrs Winston, with his hands crossed behind his back. They talked as the full moon shone brighty in the dark, cloudy sky. "Melissa cannot have children," Akagi told his former teacher, Mrs Winston. Mrs Katerina Winston had known Akagi for eighteen years, and was his first teacher. She was the third Dutchess of the Kingdom of Malato, South of Siberian highlands. Her family had left the Academy under her knowledgeable foresight when she was just eighteen, due to the untimely death of her second aunt, who had inherited the Academy and written it off to Mrs Winston in her will. 

"That is unfortunate, especially since I know you adore children,"
"It is," Akagi continued walking, "That is why I am happy that the little boy is moving in our lonely manor. I hope I can be a good father to him,"
"Ariel would be wonderful gentleman under your care, I am sure of it. How kind the lord is,"
"Indeed,"

"But he is already sixteen. Wouldn't you wish to adopt a younger child? You could provide a comfortable life to him," She asked him, "
"I cannot quite gather what you mean," Akagi stopped and looked at her.
"One of our alumni found a supernatural child washed away after a shipwreck somewhere far in the ocean...On the shore of northern Livonia. The child has sustained injuries on his neck and shoulders, his arms have blade marks, one of his fingers is also chopped off,"
"Tortured?" Akagi mumbled, "How old is the supposed child?"
"I do not know exactly, he doesn't seem to know that. But I am assuming he is five to six years old,"

Akagi pressed his fist on his chest, "God have mercy. Such a young child. And let me guess, you wish for me to adopt this broken child?"
"Yes,"
"No, absolutely not. I do not think I have the ability to raise a child like that"
"He is a happy child. I do not what he has been through, I think he has lost his memories. But he is friendly with all the teachers and obedient. He would not be difficult to raise,"
"But-"
"You see, we cannot give demigod children to be raised by human parents. Too much can go wrong. You, I have known long enough to put my faith in you,"

"How do you know the said child is a demigod,"
She smiled, "You'll know it when you see him,"
Akagi sighed, "I am sorry-"
"Please, did I not take you in?" She said, "You were a broken child as well. Look at you now, look at how far you've come. Does this little life not deserve a second chance? Do only children with a clean past get to have it? Will you be the church that denied you? Or will you raise above the politics of purity to embrace a possibility. A life that awaits him. All he needs... is a chance,"

Akagi looked down and Mrs Winston nodded, "That's alright. We'll see if we can find other demigod couples,"
"Show me the child," Akagi said and Mrs Winston smiled.

"Come with me,"

They walked to the Academy's primary dining hall. It was a charity building which looked after orphans and old volunteers who were looking for an income in their old age. The grandmothers cooked the meals, while the grandfathers helped cleaning. Akagi waked inside the botanical garden behind the dining halls, which had many little children making snowmen.
"What are these children doing so late at night?" Akagi asked her.
"It snowed in the morning so they weren't allowed to be out. The weather is better now,"

Akagi looked around, "Where is the child?" And a snowball landed on his face. Mrs Winston laughed while he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and cleaned the snow. 
"You play, mister?" A child asked. His skin was glowing golden in the darkness. A faint, moonlike glow. Bright brown eyes, bright red cheeks, sharp canines, red elbows and a spell binding ring on his index finger. His little finger on his right hand was missing. 

"Leori!" Mrs Winston rebuked him, "Be more civil, he is Lord Akagi,"
Akagi's eyes were locked on the little child. He got down on his haunches to meet eyes with those supernatural eyes, "Zdravstvuyte," Akagi greeted him. 
The child bowed, "Zdravstvuyte," He looked at Akagi, "You play, sir?" He had another snowball in his hand. Akagi smiled, "Yeah, sometimes,"
"Wonderful! Let's play! I will go to that corner and shoot at you. Dodge me!" He ran away.

He looked up at Mrs Winston, "What did I say? You would know he is a demigod," 
"He is different than most I've met..."
"That's his spirit energy. It is very strong,"

"READY MISTER?!" Leori yelled from a distance. 
"How do you know his name is Leori?" Akagi asked Mrs Winston.
"That's what we call him. We don't know his name,"

Akagi had another ball throw at him but this time he caught it.
"Oh my! How fast!" Leori smiled and began making another snowball. Akagi looked at Mrs Winston, "You make me do so many unnecessary things,"
"So, will you keep the boy?"

Leori threw more snowball at Akagi, and he caught all of them. 
"How do you do that?! Teach me too!" Leori ran towards him. The other children were amazed as well. They began approaching Akagi.
"What's your name?" Akagi asked him.
"My name is Leori! What's yours, Mister?"

"Your name is Leori Scheczalier," Akagi ruffled his hair and felt two small horns on his head, while still being on his haunches to meet the child's eyes, "You can call me father,"
Leori's eyes lit up and he looked at Mrs Winston. She nodded with a smile, "Father?" Leori looked at Akagi. He dropped the snowball and hugged Akagi. Akagi hugged him back, still feeling the horns with his fingers,

A demigod with horns? This doesn't feel right...

With the paperwork done, stamped and signed, Leori got into the carriage, Akagi followed. Mrs Winston stood outside, looking at Leori, "Will you come see me, missus?" He asked her.
"Yes," She smiled, "I will,"
"I will miss you,"
"I will miss you too,"

"Say good bye to Mrs Winston," Akagi told him and he waved to Mrs Winston as the carriage began leaving, "Do svidaniya! Do svidaniya, missus!" 
Mrs Winston waved till the carriage disappeared in the fog. Soon, it started snowing. Leori looked outside while flailing his feet. Akagi looked at the little child, 

Horns

-To be continued