"Is it working?... I don't know, I think he always looked like that... You're right, Give him another one, just in case."

A one sided conversation drifted into Seth's ears as he stirred from his sleep, his eyelids so heavy they simply refused to open no matter how much he tried. That was, until he felt a liquid flooding into his mouth and being forced down his throat.

His eyes snapped open and he shot up, coughing and spewing as the golden liquid trickled from his chin. Beside where he was sitting, there was half a dozen vials, some still holding small dregs of the same liquid within them.

Julius was sitting next to him, one of the same vials in his hand, as Titus stood by the wall with his arms crossed and a soft smile on his face.

Titus gave a satisfied nod.

"See? I told you, it worked perfectly."

Seth coughed again, opting not to tell them that force feeding him healing potions, until he nearly drowned on them, hadn't been helping in the slightest. They were probably just worried, so he'd let it slide this time.

Although... It was probably best to educate them a bit more on a humans need to breath later on, just in case this came up again.

He groaned as he stood up, kicking a few vials across the floor, before resorting to summoning his spear and leaning on it as he rose to unsteady feet. His body was uninjured, although that's not unexpected considering his rude awakening, but he was feeling worse than ever before.

While the healing potions could help with physical ales, there wasn't much they could do about soul injuries it seems, and his soul took one hell of a beating.

Glancing around the room, his brows knitted into a confused frown before letters painted themselves into existence in front of him, as Julius answered his question before he even had a chance to answer.

"Mistress Astra took our new Brother out into the courtyard. The Lizard left on her own before that. Oh, and Brother Bob is waiting for you. He arrived while you were unconscious, shall I summon him here?"

"Ye- Actually, On second thought. Tell him to meet me in the courtyard. He should meet his new Brother before his mission.

Thank you again boys for your help. I'll be back soon, I have a feeling I'm not going to be very active for the next few days."

He gave a weak laugh before beginning to shuffle off towards the door, taking small steps as he was hunched over and using his spear like a walking stick. He looked, and absolutely felt, like some doddling old pensioner that should be carted off to a retirement home, instead of a powerful leader of a post apocalyptic society.

He would have rode this spear like he usually did, not just to massively increase his speed but also to bypass the sheer embarrassment of walking like this, but when he tried to lift it he nearly collapsed from the shooting pain that it brought.

Even having all of his puppets and Spirit Animals active brought with it a constant, dull throbbing pain, but it seemed new activity directly connected to himself was even worse, so he had to simply get comfortable with hobbling.

When he had made it out of the lab, and into the corridors of the castle - a process that took nearly ten minutes - Seth could hear mutterings and murmurs from those that he passed. They stared at him as they passed, some with pitiable eyes and other with self assured amusement. They whispered between each other, or simply muttered to themselves, sharing theories on his poor state as he continued down the corridors at a pace even a snail would call pathetic.

"Do you see that? I never thought being the Lord's attendant would be so difficult on someone."

"Pfft, I knew that little one armed wimp wouldn't be able to handle it. Why did he even pick him? I would do a much better job."

"Maybe this will be my chance, maybe he'll be looking for a new squire... I need to ask around!"

"Oh gosh, poor boy. He's such a trooper, doing all he can and working until he's broken. I just hope he doesn't over do it."

"Do you think we should do something nice for him? I bet he's the type that works to the bone without asking for anything. I mean just look at him."

He knew what they were thinking, I mean they were gossiping around him like he was deaf as well as lame, so it wasn't exactly difficult to know. But he didn't worry about the gossip train. Those who looked down on him and spread those rumours were only helping him, since no one would consider the weak and broken squire as a threat nor someone they could use as a valuable hostage.

It was a perfect disguise. As for those who were vying for his job, they were going to have a tough time convincing him to fire himself. Being your own secret boss really was the ultimate job security.

Although they were all playing into his devious master plan... Did they really need to gossip so loud?! Didn't they have the decency to at least let him hobble past before they started to talk about him?

You're supposed to do it behind their back, not in front of their face! It really made him feel like a useless weakling instead of a cunning, powerful mastermind. But that was the intended disguise so... mission accomplished, I guess.

Eventually, after over half an hour of gruelling hobbling that you will be spared the details of, Seth finally made it out to the courtyard, although he was panting and wheezing when he arrived. Bob was already standing by the door that opened into the courtyard, tapping his foot to a Seth's habitual rhythm, while the sound of blades clashing echoed from behind him.

When Bob saw Seth, he immediately hurried over and put his arm around Seth's shoulder, lifting him out of his hunch and properly supporting him. With Bob doing most of the walking, and Seth being practically dragged along the floor, they made record time in exiting out into the courtyard.

"Thank you again Bob. Is everything prepared for the mission, everyone understand their assignments? How are the 'recruits' looking?"

"It is my pleasure, Father. This reminds me of when I was first born, those first few days supporting you while you rested in your cocoon. Those were such wonderful days."

"Really? I would have thought that they would have been a bit lonely."

"Lonely? Perhaps. I was only just born, so I don't think that concept had much meaning just yet. I hadn't met people, that was all I knew. So I didn't know what I was missing to feel lonely.

But I guess, Looking back on it, If I were to return to those days with what I know now that, yes. It might indeed get lonely. But even still, if that were the case, It would just inspire me to work extra hard, so that I could revive you even faster so I could have company once more."

The sand on his face shifted, his entire head swirling until it formed a slightly exaggerated smile. It was one that he had taken from a picture he had found, and had practiced until he could replicate it.

Unfortunately this practice also meant that he replicated the persons features along with it. But while other's might have found it disturbing, Bob actually found it easier to think about and control his faces in such ways.

By this point he had given up on the nuances of human facial expressions. All the 'micro-expressions' and double meanings, it was impossible to keep track of. As soon as he learned that humans could cry when they were happy and when they were sad, that had been the final straw.

So instead of forming a consistent face, he practiced emotions in a new way. All of his emotions, the faces he put on to interact with people, were different faces entirely. Different features, genders and all sorts, simply based on who he found and studied when it came to that emotion. It was thousands of times easier.

"I'm really sorry Bob... I know I'm not really the best when it comes to Father stuff. And I know I've been neglecting you all lately, but especially you. It's probably not easy seeing new Brothers being made and taking away my already limited attention.

I promise it's not intentional. I'm just... Just not good with these things. I promise that in the future, I'll find some time to spend with you boys, especially you. You all do so much for me, after all and I want to earn the name Father."

Bob's face shifted again, his previous expression dissolving into sand once more and becoming a completely blank face. He stared at Seth as he spoke, tilting his head slightly, before his face shifted once more. The sand bristled, settling into the features of a young girl with a bright, beaming smile.

"It's okay Father, I know what you do for us and these people. So long as I am being useful, I am happy. Although, I do look forward to some time with you. For now, I'll enjoy this time now before I have to leave on my mission.

There is one thing I have to request though."

"Oh, what is that then?"

"If you're going to make more children... Can you try to give us a sister next? One like Auntie Ophelia?"

Seth laughed, patting Bob on the chest and nodding his head.

"I'll do my best Bobby, I'm sure you'll make a fabulous older brother to any little sister than you get."