41 Of Dogs And Men(2) The Turning Point

Paul [pov]

"Hah… hah…" Rudy struggled to breath.

That was something else.

It's been a little more than a couple hours. What was supposed to be just a slightly tougher hunting trip, has turned into a bloodbath. There's red everywhere.

I might have forgotten to mention that Alphas have a higher sensitivity to mana, and with the amount of mana moving from an S class spell they would react.

Oops?

It was a good opportunity to push Rudy to his limits so I ignored telling him. Besides… if he had actually cast that spell without their notice I might get struck. One way or another I was going to make sure that spell wasn't casted.

I still had work to do though. As the fight started getting a little out of hand. The Assault dogs started to stray, and ran from it. Some of them, not all of them. Some tested their luck, and tried to attack my son from behind, but luckily I was there. As the fight proceeded, there were many times during which Rudy's false toki would wear down and break, and even a dog can figure out when to strike if you show the same weakness long enough.

On that note.

"To your left!"

On what remains of an earth wall a dog is running along it, trying to get the jump on him.

Crumble. With a wave of his hand the wall collapses, and the dog jumps from it, and onto a pile of corpses. It's the only one left. The last alpha, the last monster period. It's bleeding profusely from its stomach, and is riddled with holes here and there where small flames burst forth.

It would have escaped if I weren't here, but I've been keeping a close eye on it. It almost feels like bullying.

"Rrrrawr!" A lone alpha yells from a top a bloody hill.

My son intercepts it, with a trident made of stone, keeping it at a distance.

I should probably tell him to avoid such weapons in the future. Even among the demon race, such weapons are frowned upon, as they reflect badly on the user. I'll tell him later.

My son's figure is covered in minor burns and cuts as well, but overall fine. He has healing magic so all the damage he's endured is superficial. I really lucked out with the three alphas. Didn't think it was possible, but I was underestimating him, even then. He's honestly a little scary.

It looks like after devouring a Red Leaf Tiger the pack went through a rapid growth period. If that hadn't happened he would never have gotten this tired.

Opening its mouth the Alpha starts creating a fireball. It looks like it's come to terms with its fate, and puts everything it can into it. Growing larger, larger, and larder it grows to be several times its own size, before sending it out.

BLAST!

"What are you doing?!" I yelled.

Doing a weird wave motion with his hand the fireball crashes in the ground before him, before he jumps into the flames. Soaring in an updraft he soars high, only to see the alpha coming at him.

Should I interfere now?

"Sword god-" I start readying a strike, before I notice a green glint on Rudy's body, and with a twist, he changes locations in midair, and traps the dog, locking it's neck with his legs.

…never mind. He's fine.

Rudeus glowing a green glint flips, throwing the dog with his legs, several feet higher than I thought.

Toki?

Before standing up, and putting a fist at his waist, "just… die!" throwing his fist to the sky, the dirt beneath him moves, and three spears out of it, piercing the dog in mid air. Killing it before it hits the ground. "Making me work for it," he grumbled.

…I'm glad I made him work for it.

I really raised something else didn't I?

"What the hell old man?!"

"What?"

"Don't 'what me!' What happened to the assist."

And get caught in the crossfire?

"I kind of had my hands full."

"Bull! I have eyes, you know!"

"You look like you had everything handled," I shrugged my shoulders.

"I could have had everything handled ten minutes ago!"

But then you wouldn't be tired.

"I helped! See," I pointed to the Assault dogs dead by sword slashes. Quite a few of them tried to run away, during Rudeus's… outburst.

His sword gave out several kills ago, so most of the sword kills are my own. His toki never did quite match up with mine, so he can only use it on himself, but not his weapon. Damaging it all too easily.

Beginner's mistake.

Ghislaine will help him with that.

Rudeus's face twitches, "oh really," he waves his hands, "see?" He directs to the monsters pierced by his pikes.

It's a larger amount.

Truthfully speaking I did think of helping him for a moment. Then he killed two alphas, and was barely tired. So I listened to my gut and let him go wild. I'm glad I did. At the tail end of that fight, big spells started being sent out, and it became a hazard being close to him.

"Heh heh, what can I say?~ I just wanted to see what my son is made of. It's not everyday I get to see my son show off."

He narrows his eyes. "...you're just being lazy," he huffs. "Well, let's go home already."

"Nope."

"Hah?! Why?!"

"It's time for the boring part." I took out the knife, and waved it in front of his face.

"Huh? Oh! Oh… oooh…"

"Yep. You forgot didn't you?"

"..."

Monster materials are a valuable commodity. Especially an alpha. How else are you going to make up your ruined gear? But a tired Rudy is a forgetful Rudy.

"Rudy, this is why you always make the kill swift if you can. More money that way. You can't sell a pelt with holes in it. Lose your cool, you drool. You only go full Superb when you're fighting for your life. Otherwise you're just being…" a thought popped to mind. "Childish."

"...I'm not doing it."

"Fine~" I shrug my shoulders. "Take a break you earned it, but… the longer we're here the longer the trip home will be, and~ do you have the mana to fly back?" I give him a smug look.

"..."

///

It's been a couple hours since then. The sun has moved across the sky, and it's now noon. A few more pelts, and we could call it in for the day. I've been skinning the beast, while Rudeus piles pelts in front of the cave.

I'll have to send a party with a cart to pick them up.

"It builds character he says. I'll show you character," he grumbled all the way through.

"I can hear you, you know?" I told him.

"Good!"

He's a little grumpy.

Claws, fangs, pelts, we've been gathering these things extensively for the past hour. Rudeus was adamant of not participating at first, but when it became obvious I was going to take a while, he finally pitched in. With everything that just happened I've managed to open up a conversation with him. Mostly talking about Sylphy and laws.

It's not much, but it's something.

I finally got what I wanted. A tired Rudy. A distracted Rudy. A vulnerable Rudy, and… unfortunately for me, a little annoyed, but you can't have everything. I should be thankful everything went as well as it did, or as bad as it did. Depends on your point of view.

Now the hard part is actually saying the words. It's difficult. Even sweetalking my wife during our turbulent days was easier, because through it all I knew she was still going to be there. Rudy always feels like he's one bad mood swing from swinging away.

Luckily he's tired.

Congratulations Rudy you did a great job today.

Now… How do I start?

///

Hey son?

Yes Dad?

How would you like to see your relatives for a few years, and start earning some money.

That sounds great daddy. I love you. Please take care of mama while I go become a man.

You can count on me.

///

Too much?

"That's disgusting," he says.

.

Get out of my head!

As I was skinning the final beasts I turned to look at Rudy sitting on top of a pile of pelts looking at the process in disgust.

Ooooh… That's what you meant.

"What is this too much for you? I thought you cooked before?"

"Mostly grains, and soup. I mostly help out Lilia. I'm more of an assistant than a cook. Besides," he shrugs his shoulders, "that's a monster not an animal."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is that," he points to the dog, "tried to kill me. The chickens didn't. It's… just surreal. One moment you're about to eat, and the next moment you're eaten. Survival of the fittest…" he said with a melancholic expression.

"It's a pretty obvious thing."

"I guess…"

"Sure is surprising though."

"What is?" he questioned.

"For you to be talking like that. It's not everyday you act like a kid."

"You picking a fight?" he furrowed his brow.

"Hey, that's a compliment. Calling a child a child is just a fact. Besides, you were all Wham, and Kablam, and Pwah! before, and now you're this… soft… it's unexpected. It's hard to forget that you're just seven years old." A funny thought just popped into my head. "Hey Rudy, you want a tip."

"About?"

"GIrls."

He rolled his eyes, before looking at the sky.

Hey, don't give me that.

Your father is trying to break the ice, and what better way to unite men than women.

I give him three-no, two more years, before he understands women the same way I do.

"You should try showing off that sweet side to adventuring ladies when you start growing up. You'll probably be the talk of the town if you show off your soft side to adventurers. Women love it when you show your soft side. Especially tough women that don't see many sweet guys. You'll be a real hit."

"...I'm telling mom."

"Please don't!" I bow my head.

You mama's boy!

"Whatever. I just think-Hey wait a minute?!"

"Yes?"

"We haven't eaten this before have we?"

I smirk.

"Never mind I don't wanna know."

We actually haven't. Assault dog meat is rather thick. Not tasty at all.

But he doesn't need to know that.

"Ha ha ha," I can't help but laugh.

A peaceful atmosphere has been established between us. After everything… this is as good as it's ever going to get.

Insecurity doesn't suit me. Time to take the plunge.

"Hey Rudy… there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"You don't say~" he stretches his hands to the sky, as he rests on top of a pile of pelts.

"Do you still love adventuring?"

He looks at me dubiously, "...it's alright. I think. Personally I would like to adventure with a few people so I can make my job easier, but that's neither here nor there. I would like to see the world one day. Beyond just the fights. See the sea. Surf the dessert. Maybe jump around a forest. Adventuring is a man's romance afterall."

"I see. How do you feel about teaching?"

"Teaching?"

"Teaching."

Looking at me confusedly he answers, "can't really say. I haven't thought too much about it one way or another. It's alright, I guess. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering if you taught that girl of yours anything at all or if you just played all day long."

"Pfft ha ha, well I can't deny I do love to play, but I do find time to teach her a few things here, and there. The best lessons are the ones you don't even notice. Talk to her a few times, I'm sure she will surprise you."

I did.

"So you're a good teacher?"

"I think so," he shrugs. "At least by this world's standards. I am confident I can teach anyone everything I know at the least, and that's more than most."

"I see, I see, that's good," I nod my head. Time to strike while the iron is hot. "Well here's the thing," wiping my blade clean, I put my knife away, and walked towards him resting my back against a tree next to him. "I got word about a talented swordsman teaching-"

"Pass~" he cut in.

"So fast! Why?! What happened to adventuring?!"

"You sound like you have an ulterior motive, and I have no intention of learning underneath you again."

"Not me you dolt!"

"Really?!"

"Really! Why would you assume I was talking about myself?!"

"Huh… that's new. And of course I thought you were talking about yourself, when are you not. Everytime you talk about a," he makes a weird bending movement with his fingers, "'talented swordsman' it's always you."

"...you make it sound like all I do is praise myself."

He gives me an infuriating smirk.

Rude!

"Anyways! I wasn't talking about myself." This time. "I was talking about Ghislaine. I've noticed recently that even though your magic is as potent as ever, your actual skill with a sword is…" I shrugged my shoulders, "well… It's the same as it's ever been. So I've been thinking how Ghislaine might be able to teach you a thing or two. Give you a little help towards your dreams."

"...can you run that by me one more time?" Jumping off the pile he gets to his feet and crosses his arms. Looking very unamused.

How about that… he looks like Zenith when she's mad.

Rudy… you don't look scary at all. It's practically cute.

"I said her name is Ghislaine. Don't know if your mom's told you about her, but she was a former teammate of ours. I just found out a short while ago that she's working at my uncle's place, and if you're still interested in adventuring, she can teach you a few things. I've been thinking back on the good old days, and I've been struck by the obvious. You can't become an adventurer without adventures."

"..."

A little shocked for words he looks at me without giving much away.

"Thinking back on it, you were right. I'm not the best teacher, but Ghislaine is. I am confident she can teach you a trick or two, like theirs this trick she does with her tail…" I started to reminisce about a certain summer. "He he…"

Oh crap! Getting off topic.

"Ahem," I recovered. "Anyway, I thought it would be a good way to broaden your experiences a little. Training under a Swordking is a once in a lifetime experience. That said, there is a… condition. You would have to take up a teaching position, but you can handle that now can you?"

"..."

Feeling like I'm losing him. I try to sweeten the deal.

"I mean you handled it once right?! Sylphiette is rather amazing. You're a little on the younger side, when it comes to adventuring, so you might not be able to get any of the adventures you want, but you can still earn a decent amount of gold teaching the young lady of the Boreas household. Trust me," I grinned at him, "it's a good investment for your future. That sword you broke is worth more than a silver or two, you know? Anyways, a great deal right. Teaching, and being taught, and a good little pocket money at your side. Interested?

I made sure to add the key part about everything, and that was teaching the young heiress.

Truth be told I didn't actually sell them on Rudy being a bodyguard. It wasn't until around the fifth day, after I sent the letter, that I realized he has a talent for fighting. I don't think it matters much. I don't think Phil would complain that he gets an extra guard for the price of a tutor. A two for one package. I'll make sure to make a note of that on the return letter.

Didn't even know Ghislaine was there, but I'm glad I found out. She really helps sweeten the deal. In many ways.

I really don't want him making a move on one of my women, but it also feels like it would be the easiest way to sell him on it. It's fine though. Unlike a certain maid, I don't have to worry about this one sinking her claws into him. That muscle brain has no room for romance in her head. Nothing but training. Less Rudeus suddenly becomes a Swordking within the two years with a penchant for cooking delicious food. I don't see it happening.

"...why now?" He looks at me with a frown.

"Hmm?"

"Why now? This is too sudden. Even for you. Why now?"

"It just felt right. I've been thinking about this for several months, but you've always had your hands busy, and I never had the chance to tell you." I lied. "It's been a while since you've made some headway hasn't it? Your magic is as potent as ever, but your actual skill with the blade has been the same it's been since you were five. Just thought this was a golden opportunity."

For me that is.

"Training, adventuring, you really are talented in both fields, so when I heard word the other day that the Boreas was looking for a tutor, and Ghisliane happens to be there, it just felt like destiny was calling. Training under a sword king, not everyone can say that, and unlike me Ghislaine might be able to teach you a thing or two. She's a better teacher than me." Another lie. If anything she's more brutal, but he has no way of knowing that. Just a white lie. "Basically… the stars are aligning, and I thought you would like to know. You'd have to become a tutor while you train under Ghislaine, but that's a small price to pay, or rather… you'll be getting paid handsomely. Hell with Ghislaine and Sauros' good reputation, it wouldn't be strange for Sauros to pull a few strings and have you start at D rank."

One more lie. Not so little this time. Although what I said is true, uncle Sauros isn't the type to do that, and the guild usually doesn't do that kind of thing unless you're someone of particularly high nobility. Just another thing to add to the list of things Rudy doesn't need to know about.

"Studying under Ghislaine and learning a thing or two from her, and teaching the young heiress a thing or two as well. Sounds like a paradise if I do say so myself.

In many ways.

"Oh, by the way Ghislaine is quite voluptuous if you're wondering. So it'll be a very pleasant learning experience. Try not to get distracted, and don't make a move on Eris… you'll get fired."

"..."

"Ahem… Anyways… yeah… it's that. Sooo…" I offered him a handshake, "great deal… right? It'll be a good chance for you to make connections, and plan for the future. You can't adventure forever after all. One day you'll want to settle down, and sleep in a comfortable bed with your wife… or two."

If I had made some stronger connections while I was adventuring I might not have needed to beg Phillip for a job.

Standing there facing each other my hand outstretched waiting for him to agree. Me with my charming grin, trying my best to woo him on the idea, and him giving me an analytical look.

Why is it only at times like this that he decides not to talk? Even his sassy quips would be better than awkward silence.

"What's your angle?" After an eternity he breaks the silence.

"Um… what could you possibly mean?" I tried to keep my cool, smiling all the way.

"You don't just do nice things just to be nice. This isn't about Sylphy somehow is it?"

Damn it he knows.

"Can't a father just do something for his son."

"Fathers? Sure. You? Not a chance. Every time you do something nice, it's followed by an ultimatum. So what is it this time? You want me to sweet-talk mom into sleeping in the same bed or something. I'll have you know I haven't done anything to Sylphy."

Huh?

"Wait did you do something?"

I would have mixed feelings about that. On one hand it's not the maid. Yes! On the other hand… Laws will skin me alive.

"No, I haven't. I'm just saying- just forget it, why are you trying to convince me on- actually what are you trying to convince me on. Teaching or being taught."

Whichever would get you out of my household.

"Which do you like better?"

"Hahh… whatever, can't expect a straight answer out of you. Anyways," he starts walking away, "I'll think about it."

"Ah… right," I rub the back of my head, "about that…"

Turning back to stare at me, his eyes narrow, "...what did you do?"

"...I sort of assumed you would say yes," I said under my breath.

"Come again."

"...and wrote a letter. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion. So…" I rub the back of my head as I look away from him. "You have a little over a week."

"He sent a letter. Of course he did," he pinches the bridge of his nose, " because of course he would. Why would it occur to him to ask me."

"I'm right here you know?"

He gives me his mother's stare, "I know."

"Would you have said yes?"

"I might have. Forcing a yes out of me wants to say no out of pure reflex."

It's because you are the way that you are that I felt like going about things this way. I felt you would just say no. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Besides…

"It comes with being a parent."

"…you have no shame do you."

I looked off to the side, "…and that's why I couldn't just tell you." Both of our eyes narrowed, as we locked eyes once more. Neither one of us giving ground.

"If you're going to pull this stunt, at least tell me the truth. This is too sudden, and this," he makes an action with his fingers, "'bonding sessions' don't do you any favors. Spill it."

"The truth is…"

What do you want me to say? That you are a threat towards my spot. Because I just can't, with you around.

…painful words…

A father needs some pride you know. Though I have no intention of telling him. There are several truths I want to say, but it's hard to word them out.

"If you don't talk, then I don't walk."

"I just-"

"Don't do that. You can lie to me all you want. You can even drug and send me there."

That was an option?

But If you don't tell me the truth I'll be going home, and staying. Good luck sending me away. Now…" he steps forward, an inch separating us as he looks up at me, hands crossed, "truth."

That stare… always that stare…

I am looking down at him, but he's clearly looking down at me. I hate this

"Because I'm your father, and that's all that matters."

"Pfft, yeah, sure. You're a father in the same sense I am a swordsman; lacking, and barely fitting the definition."

Slap!

Before I can think, I strike him.

"Ah… that's, that's not what I… I just…" struggling to make excuses, I try to fix this situation.

"Same as ever. A dog by any other color is still a dog," he says with a look filled with disdain.

That same look.

"You!" I grab his collar, and lift him off the ground looking him in the eye. I look him in the eye searching for something else in him. Something besides disdain, or pity, but I don't find it. Letting him down slowly, I put him back on the ground, and let go of his collar.

"...you're just going to trust me in this. We shouldn't be like this. You shouldn't look at me like that. You have to go to the Boreas household, it's what's best for everyone."

"I'm going home," he walks away.

So it comes down to this.

Burst. Rushing past him I dashed past him, catching him off guard, and him jumping to the side, a bright green flash enveloping him. But that's fine, he wasn't my target.

Swing. Swinging at his kite I slash the damaged piece and sever it into several pieces.

"You! Youuu! What are you doing?!" Rudy yelled at me.

"You can't run away from your problems Rudy. trust me on this. You're not going anywhere 'till we come to an agreement."

"Screw you! I'll walk."

"No," I burst a step getting closer to him, and swing the pommel of my blade into his gut, "you won't."

Thinking quickly on his feet, he goes with the force, carried by the wind, and makes some space landing several feet away.

"What the hell is your problem?!" he yelled.

"...the hell is my problem… the hell is your problem! You are-" I choke back the sentence that would ruin everything, "why the hell are you so attached to Lilia?!"

But not all of it.

Ah… shit. I said it…

"..."

"..."

"So, that's what this is about," he mutters. "I don't know what's going through your head, but I don't think I have to explain-"

"Like hell you don't! You! You-youyou. You're choosing that harlot over your family! What's wrong with you?!"

Ah… I can't stop anymore.

This past few days. These past few months. They have been smiling happily and rubbing their happiness in my face. The image of their smiling faces comes to mind. It's been… smothering. I feel I could choke. I have many reasons to send him away. So many reasons…

I… I have to air some things out. Else I feel I could choke.

I didn't plan to talk about it, but… I can't stop. Everything I've been holding onto is coming out.

She was my… she just isn't right for him.

She should have never come becomes his.

I've never really forgotten it. That night. That whisper. I couldn't even if I wanted to. Her happiness, her smile, her… feelings. Rudy's happiness is attached to hers, and she's in the middle of it all.

If she wasn't here…

"It's her. It's always her. Again, and again. Do you even know what kind of woman she is? She is-"

The air becomes heavy, and a wind is blasted in my direction.

"... be very careful with what you say." He says, his eyes glowing green, and his hand stretched out.

I am temporarily stunned, but it abides just as quickly. It was expected.

"You're really going to defend her."

"..." He simply stands there with his hand stretched out.

He really has fallen for her.

"Look…" I massage my forehead.

"Listen, Rudy-"

"No."

"What?"

"We're done here. I'm going home."

"You can't just end a conversation with one word!"

"Yes," he turns his back to me, and starts walking away.

"Really?! You're just going to walk away. You think you can walk away from this? Where do you think I live? Are you going to ignore me for the rest of your life?"

He continues walking ignoring me all the way.

"If you leave I'll tell Zenith everything I know!"

Then he stops.

He turns back at me, with a scowl in his face. "Fine! You want to talk, let's talk. Yeah, so I like her so what? What's not to like? You want to tell me what to do? Who to love? Get over yourself! Why the hell should I take love advice from a man that thinks with his dick. Why am I so attached to her? Why not?! How not?! How could I not be so attached to someone so lovable. Lilia has been there for me at my best of times, and my worst of times. She kept me grounded, when I was losing my mind… my health, she was there, and I fell for her. She has her quirks; she's a little superstitious, a little too obedient for her own good, and has a vicious tongue at times, but even that I like. Through it all she has a kind heart that keeps me from losing it. She makes life fun. I enjoy being with her. I love her meals. I love teasing her, and love being teased by her. All her quirks just add to her flavor. She's just a joy to be around. You are…" his brow burrows further, "you make life a hassle."

"For crying out loud! You can't be this dumb! I know you're not! You're mature, beyond your years, so if it's obvious to me, then it's obvious to you. I am a hassle? Don't be ridiculous. I am ridiculous, because you refuse to listen to reason. She isn't a woman you should fall for. Anyone should fall for. Any woman that can fall for a kid is…" struggling to end that sentence I put up a guard.

He's not going to like it.

"She's broken."

His nose scrunches up, and he gives me a dead stare, but he didn't reject it. It got colder.

You know it too don't you?

"I guess it's on me for not talking to you earlier, but adults get with adults and kids get with kids, that's just common sense. With a few exceptions, but we don't talk about those…"

One battle at a time.

"And any adult that's willing to go against that, doesn't have any sense in them."

Rudy's fist clenches.

"I know you know what I'm talking about. What I don't know is what you see in her, or maybe it really is the obvious… honestly Rudy, if you wait just a little bit you'd find a women with good curves in the-"

Crack.

The earth beneath me moves, and a pillar of earth shoots out of it. Causing me to jump backwards.

"You trying to kill me?!"

"Haven't decided. You intend to keep throwing yourself into that hole you made for yourself?"

"Fine… I'll… refrain," a little, "but you know I'm right. Whatever you have, it can't last. It's all fun and games, until it isn't. You can't play around forever. Soon enough your little fantasy will come crushing down, and… well, you know what they call first loves, Rudy?"

"..."

"They call them crushes. She's going to break your heart, and leave you a mess, because, at the end of the day… that's all she's good for.

"Hah…," he breathes in, "hahhhhh…" he breathes out. His chest rises up and down as he struggles to breathe, his chest rises up, and down rhythmically as he settles down, though the air is heavy. "You… you really are the worst."

"Was anything I said wrong?"

"You don't know anything. Your… right, but you're wrong. She… has her quirks, and… this life isn't ideal, but we, me included, are who we are. Don't talk about her like that. Ever. Under any other circumstances we both wouldn't have noticed each other. I know her better than you think, and she doesn't deserve to be dirtied by your words."

"For-the-love-of! No! Just no! You can't possibly know her. I can't say for sure I know when she started making moves on you, but even if she started making moves on you around your fifth birthday, at the earliest I am willing to think about, that would be what, two years, two and a half. Don't be stupid. How well can you know someone in that long? Hell, I know for a fact that you haven't started to get close 'till recently. How long has your love story actually been a year?!"

"Shut up shut up shut up." He growls. "A lot can happen in a day, let alone a year, and even then I would have known her better than you, because I at least made an effort. Even if I only knew her favorite wine, that would still be more than what you know."

"Says the child."

"You are… whew… hah hah…" calming his breathing he looks at me with cold eyes, "how long did you know Zenith before you impregnated her?"

He asked something absurd.

…it was a year.

"That's… that's different. We're not talking about-"

"Oh, we're talking about you. he walks toward me giving me a viscous stare. "Because I don't hate where I am, and I don't hate being next to Lilia. You are the one that has a problem. Not me."

"I-I am an adult it's my-"

"How long did you know anyone before you had sex with them?"

"This isn't about!"

"How long did you knew Lilia before you raped her?"

"..."

…like that, it all comes out.

Looking into each other's eyes, now a short distance from each other, my shocked eyes meet his own scowling ones. A look of pure disdain.

It all makes sense now.

"...you know."

"Yeah… I know."

She told him.

"She shouldn't have told you."

That's not the type of talk you have with a kid. Of course she told him, because why wouldn't she. It's just all too easy. Suddenly a lot of things make sense. A lot of them.

She really is the worst.

"...of course that would be the first thing you'd say," closing his eyes he pinches his nose. Reopening them, he looks at me with a fervor that betrays his age. "Like I said, I know a lot of things about her… about you, and you can't expect me to take 'your' word over hers. Your word never had any value to begin with." he turns his back to me. "You won't be saying anything about me and her. Everyone is happy. Got it. I work hard to keep this sham of a family together, and keep Zenith happy. You won't say a thing, and you will try your best to be better. You can only go up from what you are. If you break our happiness, my happiness, I'll break yours," he starts walking away.

So… it really is like that.

Burst! Feeling my presence Rudy moves over to the side… but I'm still quicker, landing my sword on his shoulder. I rest it against his neck, showing my prowess.

This is a thing I once learned about wild animals. For a wolf, whose existence is life or death on a daily basis, the highest form of trust is showing your teeth on one's neck. It is a wild animal's way of saying, if I wanted to kill you I would, and the fact that I don't shows how much I trust you. If there was ever doubt in my mind that I would need to bare my fangs, those thoughts have evaporated.

"We're not done talking. If anything, what you said just proves to me more that I was right about her."

Turning his head, he gives me a sideway glance, "you really are annoying."

"And you're a fool," I told him.

Blast!

A cold blast is towards me, stepping backwards, I let it carry me away, and fall a few feet away.

"I'm not the one picking a fight I can't win."

"You think you're stronger than me?"

He turns to look at me, "I think I'm better than you."

…Do you now…

"Hey Rudy… how long have you been chasing after Lila, two, or three years?"

He gives me a look that says 'this shit again.'

Well, I have a reason for saying it. In a direct hand to hand fight, I have the advantage, but I need him off guard. If there's one thing I learned from watching over him, is that he gets sloppy when angry. Like a wild beast.

"So would that have been before or after I slept with her?"

I can feel the temperature dropping. An ice blade forming in his hand. As it drops, I increase my own reserves, warming up my own body with my own fighting spirit.

I'm treading on dangerous territory.

"I wonder just how much she loved you as I fucked her in the-"

Burst!

"Do you wanna die?! Is this what this is? Is this some kind of forgiveness by penance! Do you want me to kill you or something?!" In a burst of rage he comes rushing at me swinging and locking blades with me.

Heavier than I thought, but… sloppy.

Strike! I hit him with an elbow at the side of his face.

"This is parenting. You've had enough of me. Well, I've had enough of you. The woman your pining after is used goods," I lean in, "and you know it."

"Shut up!"

He makes the motion of an uppercut, swinging a fist, and soon after a pillar shoots out of the earth beneath me, coming to my face. Thinking quickly, I lean back and dodge it as it brushes my chin.

Swing, swing, swing…

We fight, our blades swinging here and there. He's trying to use the water style, but…

"Your footwork is off," I lock blades. "Your strength is weaker than mine, you should be using your footwork to work around me." I push forward. "I have more range than you, what's with this frontal assault." I knee, and elbow him again and again. "What's wrong? I thought you were better!"

Clash. "Fuck off!" locking blades he tries to disarm me, not falling for that I-

Slip?

"Huh?"

The floor beneath me is frozen.

Right… magic, but…

While falling I kick out at him striking at his torso, being blocked by his blade, and pushing our bodies apart.

"Since you don't want to listen. Let me force you to listen. You love stories right. Have you ever heard the story of the Lustful-"

Clash!

"Shut up and fight," he grumbled as he hovered over me, his magic keeping him in place.

Troublesome.

I got what I wanted. I have him frustrated. I can win this fight. After this, I'll have to tie him up with the pelts, and send him away. I was hoping he'd make the decision of his own free will, but… we can't meet eye to eye.

The only question is, how will I convince him not to come back? In the end that's the trick. It has to be his own decision, because he can always undo it. So I have to find the right words.

Now if only he let me talked.

Rudy [pov]

This man is insane.

I don't know what is going through his head, I don't want to know, but in what universe does he think he could get away with what he said?

'She shouldn't have told you.' Those were his first words. Not 'I am sorry,' 'let me explain,' or even a cliche, 'it's not what it sounds like, ' or 'she lied.' I would have hated all those responses, but somehow he chose one of the worst ones. Short of saying it's no big deal, that was one of the stupidest things he could say, and he said it anyway.

This man is my father?

This thing is my father.

And I hate it. I hate him.

I HATE him so much.

Life is unfair, if we could pick who our parents were going to be, never in a million years would I pick you, and yet… here we are.

This… person… words do not do justice to the amount of loathing I have for him. He-is-trash. After his little… affair, those feelings within me were fully submitted, and only recently have they been fading.

I had found a measure of peace.

Now it's all coming back.

Lilia's affair hurt me, it wounded me deeply in a way that I've never been hurt before, but it was an uphill battle even then, even though I was a boy chasing the unattainable, just chasing her was fun in itself, I was rushing towards a finish line I couldn't see. So afraid of what if's and could have been that I pushed and I pushed, and I… pushed too much. It all came crashing down. It hurt. Hurt or not though, I didn't want her dead, and the decision back then was just that… a death sentence, and so where normally I would have moved on from our little 'whateveritis,' I couldn't. We had to live together. We were stuck… but that might have been for the best. I was forced to look back at the whole situation… and myself. Sylphy helped me with that. After experiencing Sylphy's feelings for me first hand, I became aware of what I had done, and that I put her in an unwinnable position. So even though I hated it, hated her, I understood her, and I could forgive her. Many things happened since then, and over the course of a year, we understood each other, and we mended wounds. We got closer, and closer, and… inseparable. We healed, and now… it no longer feels like pushing. It just feels natural.

I don't think I'll be able to let her go now.

But him… him I could do without.

I understand you, but that does not mean I forgive you.

"What's wrong? I thought you were better!" He yelled.

"Fuck Off!"

Clash.

I disliked you at first, but you were but a fictional character until my reincarnation, and so your crime only had as much merit as reading someone's crime on the news; heinous, but unrelated, and in the past.

Then I experienced your affair first hand.

I started to hate you. Unlike Lilia I never liked you from the beginning, only tolerated your existence because of her, her, and… her. If it wasn't for my mother, my sisters, and their future I would have left a long time ago.

Funny enough, it was because you are who you are that I stayed in it's own crazy way.

Zenith needed me, and I knew I couldn't trust you. Because you were useless. Because Zenith would cry. Because the babies were in the way. Because of a myriad of reasons I stayed. I wasn't in a rush to grow up, and someone needed me. Someone needed me for the first time in this life. She needed me. I had an excuse to be here.

I understand you, but… I don't like you.

While I was doing my best, and trying to do right by them. You were always the same.

The funny thing is I know your type. You're not the type to learn your lesson by word of mouth, but by experience. It's not until life fucks you over, that you get a clue, but I wasn't about the one to give it to you. I have a bias.

Call me old fashioned, but I don't feel like helping former rapist with a pension for stealing, and thinking with their dick any favors.

…but I knew it would make her happy. So I did what was needed of me, and not what I wanted, and when the time came and you would force me to help you, I abided, because it would put her at ease.

It did. And with it so was I.

That doesn't make me your ally.

It makes me your accomplice.

After the babies were born it didn't matter as much. I started to hate you a little less. I had found something worth loving, rather than being stuck in hatred. You were still the same. You were still you, but… I just didn't care. I was happy. I was done wasting breath and worrying on wasted space, and decided to just be me. Zenith, god bless her soul, lacks a little common sense, but because of it never says anything about my lack thereof, and Lilia was already used to it. It was home.

Whether you're here or not it didn't matter.

I found my peace.

Then you opened your mouth. Spilling your vile.

"The fact that you are my father makes me sick."

So I will open mine.

"I hate you."

///

Paul [pov]

Clash!

…he hates me…

He steps on the backfoot. Trying to go around at me, and swing at my head.

…he hates me…

Swing. Swing. Clash. Slide. Thrust.

Hates me.

I dodge. As he's swinging his blade erratically he tries to pierce my defenses, or bludgeon me, but I have him off guard. Too tired, too angered. His intentions, too obvious.

He swings. I parry. We clash… and I press.

I already knew he hated me, but to actually hear it.

"...dammit Rudy…" I muttered. "Will you listen?" I say as I press blades against him. My Irons versus his ice. It's a nice little trick, but they only last one swing, if that, before he has to make another one.

"No."

Of course you won't.

A thrust, and I smack it away, and kick his leg for good measure.

Swing. Parry. Swing. Parry. Swing… Parry.

Thrust.

Kick to the gut sending him sliding away.

"Hate me all you want. I'm not wrong. In what world is a boy picking the maid over his own father the correct one. You're choosing her over your own flesh, and blood. There's something wrong here. You've fallen for someone you shouldn't have, and she's leading you down the wrong path."

"No one leads me anywhere. I choose where I'm going," he groans holding his stomach.

"Oh, really where is that? Where are you going?!"

"…"

He stops, and for a moment the heavy filling of mana in the air subsides.

Finally… something.

"Rudy…" staying on my guard. I walk carefully to him as demurely as possible so I can have one last say in, without inviting another attack.

I really am treating him like a wild beast, or a monster if you prefer.

"You like her don't you." It wasn't a question.

He glares at me.

That's my blood alright…

"You know she seduced me right."

His fist clenches. A scowl on his face.

I have to be careful how I finish.

"I made the first move, but she's not exactly a saint. It was perfectly consensual. She's as guilty as I am, so what's with this bias? You treat her like a lady, when she's…" I am careful with my words…" anything but. Unlike me she knows how to manipulate the situation to her advantage. In essence…" I point to him, "you."

Rudy's eyes look like that of a wild beast.

"Don't you think it's curious how she started a relationship with me? Got pregnant, and as soon as she gets pregnant, the affair is off. Don't you think it's curious that after everything went to hell she gets back in your good graces, and consequently your mom's as well. What a coincidence! That the one in the middle of it all, is the one that gets it all. She is… she knows what she wants, and knows how to go about it."

I'll give her that much.

The temperature is dropping. I can feel Rudy preparing a spell, my time is running out.

How big are your reserves? You're supposed to be empty.

These are tough things to hear especially about your first crush, but he needs to hear them now else he might never hear them. Especially once I send him away. Time is up.

Excluding Rudy potentially taking my place in a few years. I see Lilia's spot rising as well. They would get together. He would be happy. That is until a better offer appeared. Probably someone younger.

As Lilia moves up in the world she would have to leave him behind, and go off who knows where, with my daughter to boot. It would be the perfect revenge against me.

She is…

"Rudy she's-"

"...you don't know what you're talking about."

"Excuse me?"

"Things aren't the way you think they are. You're not even here. Stop assuming things are a certain way based on the few minutes you're here."

"I don't know anything… I muttered. And what do you know? I'll have you know I've known Lilia for years, before you were even born. I am your father, and I know best."

"Pft, yeah… right… some father. Can't even change a diaper. You're a glorified bodyguard, whose only redeeming quality is his virility. You're a breeding bull who can barely do that. Go fuck yourself."

This little…

"If it wasn't for her you wouldn't look at me like that."

"If you hadn't slept with her, I might have tolerated you."

"It was consensual."

"And the first?"

"That was a long time ago! Why do you keep bringing that up! The person I was then is not the person I am now. This and that are not the same thing!"

"Really? Cause I think they are. The way I see things, the only difference between the boy you were then and the man you are now, is that you got better at lying, including at yourself."

Burst! I dash towards him, and swing my blade. He brings up a defense, but this time I don't hold back, and slice through, and shatter his defense, as well as swinging his body several feet behind.

Break. His body flashing green, his defenses dropping.

"Who's looking to die? A lesser man would beat you bloody for that."

"Gnn…" crouching on one knee, the remains of his ice blade impaled on the ground he scowls at me. "A lesser man is…"

"Tch. you… you are…" I struggle to word out my thoughts. Walking towards him, I keep my blade at the side so as not to invite a strike, before standing before him, looking down at his form. "You know about our past."

"Obviously." he gets back to his feet, a faint green glow going though his body.

"Then you're an idiot. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I raped her, and then several years later, she gets pregnant, almost breaks up our family, and then she tells his son what his father did gaining his favor. You can't tell me you can't see it," I peer into his soul. "You're a tool for her. Nothing more."

Ice spears start forming around him. Gotta stay on guard.

"You know all of her past right?"

"All of it."

"Then you know what happened after. Where she came from… right?"

"Yes."

"Good. That saves us some time."

"Rudy is still lacking in some 'noble,' common sense, but I'll keep it short. Nobles like me are common. There are some that might even be more… handsy… than I am, and she came from the capital. What kind of maid do you think she was?"

He stands quietly, the spears still there, but they're simply hovering, and he's stopped making more of them.

"Since you're lacking in so much common sense, let me enlighten you. Oh son of mine. There's a story out there called the Lustful Asuran Maid. It's exactly what it sounds like; a tale about a maid and sex. A tale of how nobles should be careful with their status, as there are always women willing to use them to make their life better, mistresses. Maids don't have much power. I won't ever fault a woman for doing what she needs to in this life, but it's a different matter when it involves my family. Maids are ultimately at the mercy of their master, but they're not powerless. If you know how to use your assets, a maid can make it far, including in the court. Here's the thing about kind masters, Rudy. Kind masters they tend to be taken advantage of. Because of how difficult a life can be for a maid, a kind master is a treasure in its own right, to anyone, but especially a maid, and… If you're able to snatch a young master all for yourself, then that maid would be set up for life, her and her daughter. A mistress. Rudy, do you know what you are…" I lean down to look him in the eye. "You… are… con-ve-nient."

Swish. Swish. Swish… spears start raining around me.

Alright, that got him-

Bam!

A pain is felt on my cheek, looking to the side, as my body goes sailing, I see Rudy looking at me with bloodshot eyes, a scowl on his face, and grinding his teeth, and the light green glow on his body just became brighter.

Oh… oh, no.

Burst! Dashing off his foot in a moment, he comes at me, blade abandoned, and fist coming to my face.

Putting up a defense, I am in midair, and can only block.

Bam. Bam! Bamph!

Hea…vy…

Again and again he strikes at me, my defenses being tested, I am being pummeled over, and over…

Bamph!

…and over.

My body was pressed, and risen.

Why am I floating?

…how long has he been hitting me? Again, and again, unable to move, I am up a tree, and Rudy's flashing green is right at me.

…ow… it hurts… but… bearable...

Wait for it…

His hand reaches for my neck, and…

Spit.

I spit out blood from my mouth and into his eyes.

"Gaaah?! Caught off guard, and shooting off too fast to stop, I moved to the side, and let him pummel through the canopy, crashing through branches and crashing.

"Hah… hah… hah… that looked like it hurt." I muttered after seeing his body fly off.

Perhaps I overdid it by enraging him.

"Ghwah!" I spit out a little blood. I definitely did. Walking over to where he landed, I see he isn't doing much better. His body flickering green I see him breathing hard, and struggling to stand. "If you had a little more control you could have stopped yourself from crashing."

"...go fuck yourself." walking… hobbling towards me, he throws me a fist, green flickering over his body, while I too easily dodge. He does so again, but misses.

He's running on fumes. I'm almost sorry… almost.

Grabbing his arm mid swing, I throw him over my shoulder, and force him on the ground. Finally… a win.

He rolls to kick my legs under me, but I fall on his knee for good measure. "Gargh!" earning a groan, before I roll him on his stomach, and use my weight to press him into the ground. Locking him down.

I'll force him to acknowledge reality.

I have to convince him to go away for a myriad of reasons, but If I can't establish some dominance over him, he'll walk over me, and come flying back whenever he wants. If he does that then what's the point?

At the very least I will make him see everything for what it truly is, and have him make the proper judgment.

He's smarter than me afterall. It shouldn't be that hard to put two and two together.

He's also more emotional than me.

Sometimes you just need a good jolt of reality. Sometimes it needs to be beaten into you.

"Just fall in love with someone your age. Hell, maybe even a little older, but not an old maid. It just can't work out." I said, as I had my knee pressed on his back.

"...you can't tell me what to do," he groaned.

"Can't I?"

…he's going to hate this, but… If I was ever going to say it. It's now.

"You're ruining your life for someone that is ruined. I should know… I'm the one that ruined her."

"GAAAARR!"

..that got a reaction from him, but it should tire him out, with whatever energy he has left that should get rid of the air in his lungs and knock him out.

He growls from the dirt. His temperature is going up, and the mana becoming palpable, but it'll be over soon. He's trying to cast a spell, but as long as I'm locked with him like this. He can't cast anything, less he risk-

Blast.

We're blasted away in opposite directions.

…hurting himself.

A little blood is leaking from the corner of Rudy's mouth. He took it harder than I did. Between our natural resistances mine is higher than his.

"Grr…uhahh… you're a bastard," he says.

"You're a brat."

As I say that the mana starts accumulating, and the temperature starts dropping. A moment later an ice sword is made in Rudy's hand. He gets in a stance.

Despite my taunts he's thinking a little better it seems. Pain is a good way to set your mind straight.

What a pain.

"... I guess this was inevitable. I didn't listen to reason when I was your age either."

"Stop making useless comparisons," he says.

Deep down I probably knew this was going to happen. "It's been a while since I've sparred seriously."

""Burst!""Leaving a cloud dust behind us, we sprint towards each other.

Clang. We clash blades.

Whether Rudy wants to or not, as long as I can win. I can force the issue.

Clang. Clang.

Break! Rudy's ice sword breaks.

In close combat I have every advantage including weaponry combined with his exhaustion, he should know he has no chance. Why is he still fighting? It's over.

"You're just hurting yourself at this point, just-"

Blast. A blast of cold air is blasted towards me, and I'm sent a few feet back as I get my balance, and a moment later my son shoots soaring in mid air, and swinging his hand as a new Iceblade is forming, clashing against me once more.

Spit. Blood comes shooting at my face.

"Fine…" I get serious, and let my fighting spirit flow.

Break! Breaking his blade I charge through. He makes another icy wind, but I ignore it, plowing through.

This cold wind is nothing compared to those winter nights.

"I can tell you don't have the energy you just had a moment ago, give up."

He jumps back, letting the wind carry, trying to make some distance.

Not on my watch.

Burst. I landed before him.

"What's wrong Rudy? Where's your saint rank magic? Don't have enough time to cast it. Is it difficult to concentrate? I thought you knew better than me."

I swing my blade, ready to strike the blunt end on his, before it gets stuck in an ice cube, half way through.

Nice trick, but useless…

Pushing thew I break through, but the momentary resistance was enough for him to make some distance. He's gathering his bearings.

"Such an obvious tactic…" I mutter before I continue the rush before…

What?

My feet slip on the icy floor.

"Like I said before. Things aren't always what they seem."

Rudy says at a distance, before the air gets foggy, and… the icy mist starts appearing breaking my vision.

Pounce. Pounce. Pounce. Several blunt pillars start forming, and I start getting pummeled.

"Hnnn!" I got stuck by behind. I swing back at him.. But he's not there anymore.

Strike. Dash. Strike. Dash. Strike…

Again and again, weaving around pillars made of his own magic, hidden by fog, he attacks me, piercing and bludgeoning through gaps in my armor. All the while pillars strike at me here and there.

"You want me to listen to you? What a joke?" His voice carries hidden in the fog. "Why should I listen to a man that can't hold on to anything? What, I should take your advice so I can grow up like you? I'm better off dead. At least that way I will be less of a pain then you've been."

Strike. Strike. Strike.

…he's playing with me. He could do some real damage if he used some serious magic, but he does prefer the direct option. That or I have him rattled. That said…

I've been studying you for days, and I know your favored attack pattern, so If I show you my back like this… you're going to strike from…

Here!

Break!

Plowing through the ice I throw a knee, and hit where I imagine his figure of my son would be. Hitting him square on the face, sending him skidding. His body slides a few times, landing on a pile of mud. The water already melted from the previous battle.

…that was more force than I intended.

"Rudy… are you-"

Bamph. Bamph. Bamph.

Suddenly several earth pillars rise, and are shot at me like fist coming right at me.

"...never mind." I start walking carefully to him. "Just give up on her!" I raise my sword at him, and point it at him. "You're throwing your life away for a woman that has thrown away hers!"

"Hah… I said," he raises his fists, "you can't tell me what to do."

So stubborn.

"We'll see about that."

Burst! Pushing forward, I get closer to him, and prepare to strike him, knocking him out.

Blast. Rudy shoots a strong wind, but not at me but at himself, sending himself away.

Running away? No.

His body shoots forward, body flipping, and jumping off a floating ice cube as he comes back down. Coming down with extra momentum, he swings an earth pillar created in his hand, and…

Block.

Heavy…

My body is forced down to take on the weight.

Swinging up at him, he disappears, and jumps at me from a different angle.

Strike. Strike. Strike…

Repeating the strategy again, and again, he continues bouncing off flashing ice cubes, a faint green coming off his body, again and again striking with a heavy club. Gaining speed all throughout adding to his attacks.

"Hahh… hahh…hahh…" I can fairly hear his tired breaths.

"Stupid. If you'd listen to me. You'd know better." getting his timid down. I take hit after hit. Waiting… until… his next trajectory. There!

It's over.

Swinging my blade, I strike at him. Where he's going to be, with the flat end of my blade. Not holding back. I intend to knock him out.

After this… I'm going to need to redouble my training. This was too close for comfort.

His body starts glowing green… and all of a sudden his positioning changes in midair, floating, just above the blade, and…

Oh… shit…

He jumps at me, and puts my neck on a chokehold, intent on passing me out. "Hahh… and I told you… hahh… things aren't always how they appear."

A chokehold? On someone superiorly stronger than you.

"You idiot!" I jump back and let myself fall.

It's fine he has healing magic.

"Huh?"

Only to be cut off at the sound of a 'splash,' rather than a bam. We were sinking.

"Let… go…" I muttered, elbowing him.

When did he do this?

"Not… yet…" he grumbled before disappearing into the mud, his hands wrapped around my neck, his legs around my torso.

Getting lost in the mud I elbow him again, and again, but it was a losing battle, and a moment later, we're both enveloped, buried alive.

"Are you crazy?! Are yo-bra-"

I can't see. I can't breathe. I… I struggle, mud entering my lungs, and causing me to let him go… then and only then can I see. Light returned to my eyes.

I'm stuck.

"Cough, cough, cough… wahh… urgh… that was unpleasant." I see Rudy in front of me spitting mud from his mouth. "Note to self. Close my eyes next time I do that," he creates water pouring it on his eyes.

While my son is gathering his bearings. I look around, and see… the floor. I am buried. A head in the ground, my body has been encased by the earth from the neck down. It's tough to move.

"I don't know how your head works. I don't wanna know. But I don't think you have any right to talk about relationships. You…" he looks at me with bloodshot eyes, "you raped her. You hurt her, and somehow one way or another you managed to get someone to fall in love with you. You married her… and then you hurt her too. I should listen to you? Don't-be-fucking-absurd! Why would I ever want to do that? So I can hurt everyone I love?"

He turns his back to me, and is searching the grounds for something.

Is he?

"Are you seriously just going to walk away?"

"Talking with you is useless," he continues looking around, waving his hand and puddles of water and dirt out the way, "we're never going to see eye to eye," he turns his head once to me, "being next to you makes me want to do unsavory things. I feel myself being tainted, by the scum that is you. I've grown above you. You are… nothing."

Scum… trash… bastard… again, and again.

"This is how you talk to your father…" I muttered.

"What father?"

Snap. Ah… ah… arhhh!

"GraaaAAAH!" I power through, bursting from the ground.

Something within me snapped.

Credit to Rudy he put up a defense last minute, but this time… I'm angry.

…funny thing about toki; when you're angry, it's easier to use. You also tend to go through it quicker, but… I only need a moment.

"Too slow," I slashed at him. Particularly at his forehead. At a 'very' particular vein.

"Gah?! Y-you?!"

"...don't worry… you have healing magic, but… I imagine it's hard to see with blood pouring down your face." In a calm tone I muttered. "I'm sorry, but… it's time I gave you a good beating."

I don't know what I'm feeling.

I would describe it as anger, but I've never been this calm while angry.

I just… I just don't know.

His forehead starts glowing. He's trying to heal.

No.

"Mage vs swordsman trivia number two; it's hard for a mage to cast when they're in pain," kicking in the solar plexus his body shoots out, and he's struggling to breathe. His body is still green so his concentration isn't completely shot, so…

I stabbed him in the thigh.

"Gahh!" he yells.

Break!

It's one of the most painful areas to be stabbed in, it affects mobility, and doesn't threaten one's life.

"That's enough. Give up. Just say you agree with me… even if it's a lie, and we'll call it a day. We'll put this behind us."

"Grrrr… hah… hah… hahh. Ah… lie huh. Yeah I guess I could do that, but then I really would be you," he grumbled as he curled up in pain, one hand on his thigh, another on his stomach.

My fist clenched, I bent down and punched him.

Bam.

"God…"

Bam.

"Dammit."

Bam.

"Rudy!"

Bam!

"Just listen!" I grab him by his collar and drag him to my eye, "you think she loves you. You think you can just have a happily ever after with her. This isn't a fairy tale. You don't just run into the sunset, and get your happily ever after ending."

Trust me… I know.

"You have to fight for it. You have to earn it. Everything about you aside. Do you really think you can find a future in a woman that's willing to lay her hands on a child?"

As I'm talking Rudy just looked at me with venom in one of his eyes the other forced shut, but perhaps because of the pain, or perhaps his reserves have finally hit zero, but regardless he stays quiet. Simply looking at me with venom.

"Tell me Rudy; what the hell are you going to do once you're a little bit older, and all of a sudden you're too old for her," I lean closer. "She's gonna throw you away," I muttered. "Women like her do so for one reason or another there's plenty of people out there that throw away a person once they're done with them." Putting my forehead on top of his bloody one, I make sure he can't run away from the truth. "She'll throw you away, because your relationship is built on a fantasy. The whims of a boy in his youth, who jumped at the first sign of affection he got, and a maid too broken to understand anything, and willing to throw everyone under the bridge for the sake of her happiness, and hers alone," I let go of his collar and let him drop. "That's the kind of woman you're chasing after!"

Badump. Badump. Badump…

My heart won't stop. I've pushed it quite hard. In many senses.

I step back from him, and look at his sprawled body. Laying there bloody, muddy, and beaten.

I did this. I…

What am I doing?

I wonder how it came to this. Did it have to come to this?

If only she wasn't around. If only…

If only he wasn't around.

Such thoughts go through my head.

I am convinced more than ever that I have to send him away. If I don't… we'll both become the worst version of ourselves somewhere down the line. Sooner rather than later.

I am doing what I have to do. That is what it is… that is all it is.

Looking at his beaten form.

If only he hadn't make me so angry.

It's fine. All the wounds are surface deep. It's… fine.

"...cast magic on yourself. Let's go home," I muttered.

"...sen…gan…" he whispered.

"What?" I bent down on one knee to hear him better.

"I said…" His eyes flashed green.

Crap!

"Rasengan!" In a moment, he suddenly pounces, jumping off one leg aiming a swirling ball of energy in a bubble right to my stomach, stepping back. I try to dodge, but it's too late. I'm blasted by a wave of energy at point blank range. My armor taking the impact, and-

"Hurg-" scrambling me internally. My body is sent flying. Crashing against a tree.

…ow.

My insides feel like they've been jumbled.

Looking… in my upside down world, I see Rudy crouching, and on one knee. Still as beaten as I saw him, but a burning look in his eye.

"...nnn… what a prodigious son…" I muttered.

///

Rudy[pov]

"Hahh… hahh… hahh…"

…what a mess?

As he beats me down into the floor he brings me up to his eyes, and started rambling bullshit, more bullshit. In his eyes, I saw desperation. I honestly believe, he believes, what he's doing, but it doesn't mean he's right. It pistes me off more than anything else.

But might makes right, so until I stand. I am wrong.

It's hard to stand.

"...cast magic on yourself. Let's go home," he muttered. "If I had those reserves I would have blasted you into the sky a long time ago."

I got too angry, started wasting mana excessively, and just lashing out. They were already low to begin with, but… I just couldn't control myself, and now I'm paying the price. My body is tight. Everything is heavy. I can move my arms, but it feels like they're not attached to me. I can see me moving them, but they feel far away. Like a meat puppet.

Still had the reserves for one good hit though. One that can't be dodged at a distance.

…my hand hurts…

Looking down at it I see blood. Pain is good. It means I'm alive, but I'm going to feel that in the morning.

"Life is a mess…"

Gathering the mana into my hand I focus my few reserves into my hand, and whisper; "Rasengan…" low enough to get his attention, but that is all. Looking into the ground, I make sure he can't see my hand.

"What?" he bends down.

Who's the idiot?

"I said," I spring to my step, and-

Fuck, my knee hurts.

Hurl myself at him. Jumping from the ground into his stomach, unfortunately the pain stops me and I stumble, but still.. I was close enough to release it, and so like a hand grenade.

Bam!

I blasted him into a tree. His body, sliding down it, and finally shutting up. Finally…

Honestly, I can barely see. There's too much blood on my face.

"...heal…"

And it won't stop.

…nothing.

I'm out.

I have nothing left in the tank.

Dammit.

Ripping a piece of my shirt, I patch it to my forehead, and seal the blood in, until I can recover some mana to seal it properly. Laying down I can only wait.

Paul at a distance.

"..."

"..."

We meet eyes. What do we do now?

I'm tired. I don't want to fight again. Or rather, he is slightly more well off, if I choose to fight I'll lose. There's so much vile that was spouted from his lips, but I don't have the ability to recover her honor.

"I hate you," I told him.

"I know."

If only you weren't around…

I want to punch him. Again, and again, and again, again, again againagainagain… but that wouldn't change anything.

"I'm… not wrong," he said.

"Believe what you want… You can't force me to do things your way."

"Yeah… I guess not, but let me throw you a question. Let's assume I'm wrong. Let's say you two are soulmates tied by fate. That you love each other in body and soul. What's next? You're happily ending. How are you going to bring it about? Are you… going to take Aisha away from me? Will you confess to Zenith, or is she just going to wonder why you one day why you and Lilia disappeared one day, or… are you going to try and do things in secret, underneath her nose, like I tried once, while Aisha and Norn live there as well."

"..."

"I… I don't know what I'm doing. When I can't figure things out… I try to force them, and hope for the best. I guess it wasn't the right choice." He gives me a pleading look. "Do you have a plan? I already made my feelings on you and Lilia clear, but… it's not just you two anymore. It's 'our' family. Can you tell me with full confidence; that you can bring about a future where nobody cries?"

"Hah…" I run a hand through my hair.

…god dammit Paul…

I really hate him.

I… I don't like alot of things he said, and his feelings towards Lilia's are heinous, but in between those slurs, he did make some sense… not much, but some.

The future…

It was the original reason why I took things slowly with Lilia; 'cause I wanted a future, but only after pushing. Pushing and pushing, in fear of you and your grabby hands, I pressed on into uncharted territory with her, aware that I was working under a limited time frame.

But a casanova I am not.

I pushed too hard, and pushed her into your arms. That was my biggest mistake.

I was worried about what could have been, so I took things slowly, but by that time I had already made the mistake.

I wasn't thinking.

Yet… I still found happiness, or…

Did I just stumble upon it? Am I gambling with my future… our future?

I am… lost.

My happy ending it's… further than I thought.

"...hate you…" standing to my feet, pain still in my thigh as I heal it to walk better. Just enough to walk. My mana is slowly coming to me, but if I cast any spell in my current rate, I might faint.

"...I'm going home. It's obvious if we go to war with each other… Neither one of us wins. We'll pretend this never happened. Figure out how to explain your injuries to mom yourself. I'm… going to walk. After a while I should have the reserves to fly my way back. Caravaggio should still be tied to her tree, go to her once you get yourself fixed."

I start hobbling away. Stumbling…

My vision is blurry…

Struggling to gather my bearings, I walk slowly, and look for something to balance. Until I find the remains of the kite shield shattered.

How pointless?

"Sooo… what now?" he asks the million dollar question.

I turn back at him, but nothing comes out of my mouth. Sighing I walk away. I need to rest, I need to think.

What indeed?

…truth be told I should have taken things slower. If I wasn't in such a rush to live my life, if I wasn't aware of the damocles blade that is the teleportation incident, about the infidelity incident, I probably would have taken things slower. If I had taken things slow, I probably could have avoided a lot of things, but I…

"I was scared." I am speaking aloud, but more to myself then to him, but regardless I want, need, him to know. "There is not enough time. There's never enough time. One moment you're breathing, the next you're not. Just dog food for. Life is frail… unpredictable. Even when you know everything… you find out you don't know enough. It's… never enough. I… I found something precious. Something people go their whole life without finding," I know that from experience, "and so the moment I found it I grabbed it, and hanged on for dear life, so tight as if my life depended on it, it might have… but I might have squeezed too tightly."

"...:Rudy?"

"I was scared. Am scared, but as life went on I got less so. Just a little bit, everyday. Always moving forward, running forward, with almost reckless abandonment I was living. I was happy, and I… I ran with it. Afraid that everything that is good in my life would be taken away from me. Afraid that it could be taken from me, by life, by plot, by destiny, by… my own mistakes, whatever you call it. I just kept going. I have to. I am head over heels for her. I… admit, it could have been better, and that is all I would admit of everything you said, but I won't let her go."

He looks down, crestfallen, and… afraid.

"...though I don't know about Aisha, Norn, and… Zenith."

"I've been running blindly, and… time is up." I look off in the distance. "Three years…"

"...Rud-Son?"

"I lost sight of the future, as I indulged in the present. I'll be damned if I said you are right, but… there was some truth to your madness."

I have been running for a long time. Hobbling away, I continue talking.

"Truth is… I'm kind of jealous of you. They love me… of that much I'm sure… but you are her husband, and their father, and nothing will ever take that away. I worked hard to be important to them. I had to. I wanted to. After everything that's happened they made me happy, and I would be damned if I became a source of sadness for them. So I stepped it up. But you…" I took a glance at him, "will always be the father of their children. You'll always have a place in their heart, for better or worse. You'll just have to work hard to be worthy of it."

"As for me…"

This is kind of where my tale ends… isn't it?

"Rudy… did you just-"

Turning to look at him we stare into each other's eyes, and he shuts up.

"I want a lot of things you have. Your talent, and… others… I don't feel you deserve them… but those are just my feelings."

"That's irrelevant at the end of the day. A person's heart can't be decided for another. Their feelings are up to them at the end of the day. You are you, and I am I. Whatever you want… it's probably closer than you think. After all, you're still here. I want a lot of things, but ultimately I want to see them happy. I look towards the sky, "like everyone does, but… this household might be a little crowded."

Time sure does fly.

The thing is once I leave I don't know if I'll be coming back.

With my life about to become a one on one god versus mortal deathmatch, it's going to get… difficult. I'm so head over heels for Lily, I still see me coming back for her. Not even god can separate me from her at this point, but… it's going to be a mess for the family… and… that's something I'll have to deal with, but… it's not something I'm equipped for at the moment.

A child can't deal with that.

For the final steps; I'll have to talk things through, and have a serious talk with Zenith, but I can't do that as I am now. I can't support anyone from under that man's roof.

I'll have to do things as a man.

My future, with her, with anyone, isn't here… not yet.

I have to build it.

"...I'll be late for dinner." I turned away from him. My vision blurry. I can only hobble away to Caravaggio's direction and hope I don't pass out.

"I'm borrowing your horse. Consider it payment." With that I walked away. Calling it an end.

…what comes after happily ever after?