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Eternal Palace
knock. knock.
“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”
the door slowly opened. a middle-aged knight walked in, only to stopped right in the doorway. he bowed, offered a salute.
the young man set his quill down. smiling, without raising his gaze to meet the knight’s, he set the paper aside. “could we stop by the Cavalry before heading back to the palace?”
the knight answered, “very well, Your Highness. I shall inform the coachman.”
“did you get the pie?” the pie, was something of utmost importance to bring for this this month’s visit.
“yes, Your Highness.”
“very well. thank you, Sir Zuckerman.” the young man rose, put on his cloak, then walked toward the door. the sun was climbing high, indicating it was almost perfectly midday. the knight, without any command, stepped aside to give the young man way. then, as a knight should, he followed behind the young man at an appropriate distance. “how’s Peletta, Sir Zuckerman?”
Nathan Zuckerman, his Father’s loyal ajudant, was currently the one in charge of the lands of Peletta. just like before, Peletta remained a region with rather harsh climate. nevertheless, Peletta was incredibly stable territory. there were no territorial or power disputes. its wealth had also increased significantly. the sole issue was the annual monster raids.
“the monster subjugation was quite harsh compared to last year, Your Highness. the monsters could produce poison, filling the entire battlefield with poison. while this posed no issue for the Cavalry who possessed wind control, but it became a problem for the Peletta knights. a Cavalry member with the ability to levitate others proved to be of immense help during the subjugation. she levitated all the Peletta knights, enabling them to engage in close combat.”
despite the monster raids occurred routinely every year, the Peletta knights, together with the Cavalry’s north branch, were always able to handle the issue without any major difficulties. with the northern branch of the Cavalry’s unique ability to conduct aerial attacks combined with the solid attack formations of the Peletta knights, the monsters were outmached.
“and the new swordmaster?”
“she was on the battlefield as well. she slaughtered nearly half of the entire monster horde.”
the young man smiled. “it has been quite a while, hasn’t it? we may have lost one, but we have gained someone new.”
“indeed, Your Highness.” the increase in the number of swordmaster served as an indirect testament to the Empire’s solidifying power. for someone to manifest a sword aura powerful enough to be hailed as a swordmaster was no simple feat. with the passing of the swordmaster previously tasked by the Emperor to protect the Red Stone in the Rik mountains, only two swordmaster remained in the entire empire –namely, the very two currently walking together toward the palace’s ground floor. the emergence of this new swordmaster brought newfound hope to the nation.
the knight continued his report, “and the goods are highly useful and expensive due to how pristine the harvest was. Mick Shuden mentioned that it has been quite a while since he last received such clean spoils, not since the Duke’s time.”
“good news indeed.” the young man smiled, deeply satisfied with the report. picking up his pace, he signaled the knight following him to quicken his steps. “let us make haste, Sir Zuckerman. we must depart before the sun is directly overhead.”
***
“Keith.” the sudden call stopped the young man in his steps just as he was about to step into the carriage.
a middle-aged woman, walking in hurry toward him. her pink gown billowing elegantly –a clear, undeniable testament to her high status. despite the bright smile, Keith could sense underlaying anxiety, worried that he might have already departed.
“Your Majesty.” Keith bowed his head in greeting. the Empress, having finally come to stop right in front of the young man, offered a smile in return.
“this is the new tea I cultivated myself. it tastes much better than the last batch.” the Empress handed Keith the small jar she had been clutching all this time. “enjoy it while have your chat with your fathers.”
a pleasant aroma of tea leaves and dried blossoms wafted out as Keith opened the lid. the Empress was well-known among those around her, for her passion for gardening, especially medical herbs and tea. it was uncommon for tea to be a small token of affection from the Empress to her family. “it smells wonderful. thank you, Your Majesty.”
“give your fathers regards, from me and His Majesty.” although the jar of tea had been handed over, the Empress did not release her hold in Keith’s hand. understanding the nature of Keith’s visit she gazed him with a look heavy with meaning.
“oh, it seems Your Majesties will have to give fathers your greetings yourselves. Father would surely be heartbroken to think that his beloved brother and sister-in-law don’t seem to miss him at all.” Keith smiled mischievously. it was blindingly obvious, from whom he had inherited his dramatic flair and playfulness; there was only one person in the Imperial family who took such delight in teasing those who closest to them.
“oh, come now, Keith.” the Empress chuckled. this mischievous behavior strongly reminded her of a certain someone. someone she held dear. someone she called family. someone she cherished like her very own brother. “you just love the thought of seeing your aunt cry in front of them, don’t you?”
“aren’t we all the same?” Keith smiled. years may have passed, but the lingering emotions weren’t something that vanished easily. “if Your Majesties wishes, perhaps we could go together next month. I plan to bring some chocolate cake for my next visit.”
the Empress smiled, warmly welcoming her beloved nephew’s invitation. “I shall inform His Majesty. and I’ll make sure to cultivate a different tea, one that pairs perfectly with your chocolate cake.” she cupped his cheek, gently caressing with deep affection.
“thank you, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now.” Keith offered a final bow before turning to step into the carriage.
“don’t forget tomorrow’s dinner, Keith.”
Cavalry Commander’s Office
“Your Highness.”
the Cavalry Commander, having just returned from monitoring the training session, was caught off guard to find someone already sitting on the couch, waiting. it was unexpected, as the visit fell entierly outside the usual schedule. the Commander bowed, offering a greeating.
“Hello, Commander.”
placing down a pair of small cups, the Commander meticulously brewed tea for Keith –a habit picked up from the previous Commander, a way to dispel any lingering awkwardness in the room. though the Commander felt perfectly at ease and merely did it out of habit. once the tea was ready, the Commander handed one of the teacups over to Keith.
the aroma was achingly familiar. Keith paused for a moment, his gaze drifting blankly into nothingness, before he finally took a sip of his tea.
“how’s the Cavalry, Commander?” he asked.
the Commander set down the teacup they had been enjoying. slowly reaching for the report papers from the desk, and placed them before Keith. “everything is faring exceptionally well, Your Highness. supplies are coming seamlessly, training is progressing smoothly, and the new recruits are developing quite nicely. the recent joint sparring training with the Imperial knights brought significant improvement to both sides –the cavalry and the knights alike. the Commander of the Imperial knights even sent me a thank you letter.”
“everything looks to be going well.” Keith placing the reports back down after scanning through them.
“indeed, Your Highness. it is all thanks to the previous Commander, Your Highness’s Father, who made it much easier for me to manage the Cavalry.”
“not everyone could manage it as well as you do, Commander, even with Father’s guidance. give yourself some credit.”
it was something deeply ingrained in the very blood of the Cavalry. long before the current Commander took charge –even far before that, from the very moment the cavalry was formed– none of its members had ever personally acknowledged their own accomplishments. they always preferred to attribute success to the Cavalry as a whole, earned through the effort of the entire team, never by a single person. on other hand, should mistake happen no matter how small, everyone would rush to shoulder the blame. even the newest recruits had begun to adopt this sacred custom.
a faint smile touched the Commander’s lips. “Your Highness sounds exacly like the Commander.”
“I am his son, after all,” Keith took another sip, returning to enjoy his tea. “are there no major event for the Cavalry in the near future?”
“there is, Your Highness.” the Commander reached a letter that had been set apart from the other document on the desk. “just yesterday, we received a letter from King Ejain of Nelarn. the Second Prince and the Princess of Nelarn are wish to undergo training within the Cavalry, just as the First Prince once did.”
“the Second Prince and the Princess?” tilting his head, Keith devled into his memories. “aren't the Princess awakened years ago?”
if he remembered correctly, during the First Prince of Nelarn’s training with the Cavalry, King Ejain’s right-hand man –who accompanied the First Prince in the Orr Empire– abruptly delivered news of the Princess’s awakening. the awakening of the Princess overlapped with her manifestation as an omega. it was this very event that caused the First Prince’s training program, which was scheduled for a full month, slashed down to three weeks.
“that is correct, Your Highness. however, the Second Prince only awakened recently. it seems King Ejain cannot bring himself to send his sole Princess abroad without any family by her side.”
a princess, a sole daughter, and an omega. though the laws in the Orr Empire stood so firmly to shield all its people –especially women and omegas who were prone to discrimination– other countries were still plagued by such bias. that was the only reason that crossed the Commander’s mind, one they found entirely plausible.
“King Ejain also requested if His Highness the Crown Prince could train alongside them. an official letter addressed to the Crown Prince will be formally dispatched once a positive response to this letter is secured.”
Keith gave a nod. this was not the first time he had received a request for a joint training session from King Ejain. back when the First Prince trained under the Cavalry, Keith had also been personally requested by King Ejain to train alongside him. in the letter of gratitude sent along with several gifts after the First Prince return to Nelarn, King Ejain noted his immense gratitude that the Crown Prince had graciously accompanied and mentored the First Prince. furthermore, the King stated that he held the Crown Prince in the highest regard, just as he did for the Crown Prince’s parents, noting how much he saw both of them in the young prince.
“very well. I shall clear my schedule for it.”
a warm smile touched the Commander’s face as they looked upon the Crown Prince. this young man was the very same child who used to be too small to even reach the edge of the commander’s desk. long ago, back when the Commander was merely a deputy, this child would sit on his father’s lap, present during the deputies’ meetings. he was the very same child who, cradled in his dad’s arms, would overlook the incredibly harsh training of the Cavalry.
“Your Highness seems to have grown taller.”
“am I?” Keith smiled. “it seems I truly have. I think I am even taller than Gakane now.”
“the Imperial genes are truly something else. Perhaps Your Highness will grow as tall as the Commander.” more than just a ‘perhaps’, Keith would undoubtedly stand as tall as the former Commander. his growth phase was far from over, not to mention that an alpha could still grow taller even after reaching maturity. “possessing such immense control and powerful physique, wouldn’t it be a waste if Your Highness did not consider becoming a Deputy Commander?”
a laugh escaped Keith’s lips. “oh, come now, Commander. the Crown Prince duty are already quite enough for me. I have no desire for another stressful duties.” this was not the first time the offer for the deputy position had come out of the Commander’s mouth. nor was it the first time he had declined. “besides, the deputy position for the Sul Division is not vacant. there is no vacancy to be filled Commander.”
despite having turned down the offer more times than one could count, the Commander showed no signs of giving up just yet. knowing firsthand how the Crown Prince led his team during the monster subjugation recently – as well as on previous occasions – only fueled the Commander’s desire to place the Prince in a position to lead the Cavalry.
“I could promote my successor and vacate the deputy position if the Crown Prince willing. this old lady will happily take an early retirement and return to my hometown.”
the Commander’s offer might sound tempting to some, but to Keith, it held no appeal. he had never desired a leadership position within the Cavalry, let alone ascend to commander’s position. while Keith favored the Cavalry’s training ground, but as for leading – resigning himself to inherit the throne of this Empire was already a heavy enough burden.
“old? what’s so old with the Commander? you remain just as radiant and powerful. the Cavalry still deeply desires Commander Beck to lead them. do not be in such a hurry to retire. what should I do if I suddenly miss you? it would take quite a long journey for me to see you in your hometown.”
Ever Beck broke into a genuine laugh. look at this boy. he was the exact same little boy who once sat alongside her and Kanna when his dad had to demonstrated techniques on the training ground. he used to just nod to anything she and Kanna uttered, despite the fact that he comprehended nothing of what the two adult women discussed. today, that boy had grown into a deeply captivating man. he even profoundly skilled with his words.
“Your Highness had always been smooth with your words. it flattered me.”
whenever Ever cast her eyes upon this young man, an overwhelming emotion always gripped her. the young man in her presence stood as living proof of how much had transpired, and how long time had flown. she had carved her path here -starting as a deputy, then the Commander’s successor, and now she was the one leading as the Commander. just like this young man, who was once a mere infant cradled in his dad’s arms, but had now blossomed into a young man.
Ever took another sip of her tea, which was beginning to grow cold. “what actually brings the Crown Prince here? it has been far too long since Your Highness last shared a conversation with me here, within these office walls.”
Keith placed his nearly empty teacup before finally pulling something resembling a book from the folds of his cloak. “I just stopped by to retrieve Father’s journal.”
“the Commander’s journal?”
“yes.” Keith showed her the journal, casually turning the pages. while it wasn’t long enough to grasp the context, it was more than enough for Ever to realize that it wasn’t the Commander’s handwriting. serving as deputy for fourteen years, working right beneath him, Ever knew his elegant script by heart. although the handwriting in the journal was neat, it was lacked the distinct beauty of the Commander’s script. Keith caught her bewilderment. “it’s only called journal in name; its contents are actually Dad’s letters.”
“Yuder’s letters?”
“yes. Father collected all his letters and called it a journal.” Keith, his gaze never shifting to Ever, continued flip through the journal. it was as though a lifetime of memories was etched upon every sheet. and truly, memories were etched across each and every one. “quite romantic, isn’t it?”
“quite romantic, indeed.” a sudden downpour of emotion seemed to drench her very soul. Ever forced her gaze away from the young man before her. she did not wish to let her feelings overflow –least of all before this young man who carried himself with such strength. “perhaps Your Highness requires something, if you do not mind me asking?”
“there is nothing.” Keith replied, placing the journal down. “before Father passed, he would often read through these pages every time he missed Dad.”
the air in the room thickened. although Keith appeared perfectly composed, could not deny that the deep-rooted longing in his heart always managed to shake him to his core. Ever, who lacked Keith’s talented for hiding true emotions, fought to keep her stay grounded –she's a leader, after all. they both subtly shifted their glances, avoiding each other’s eyes in a quiet attempt to shield their vulnerabilities.
“but he is with him now, isn’t he? they’ve reunited.” his eyes looked distant, lost in memories as he did whatever he could to avoid staring at the woman before him. he spoke again, “and yet, here I am, missing them.”
those last word from the Prince, drew Ever’s gaze back to him entirely against her will. this boy –how much grief and longing had he silently keep hidden from the world? Though he had to stood as tall and proud as the Crown Prince, his desire to simply stand by his parents’ side must have been absolute. did he mourn them in the dead of night, so silently that even the passing wind remained unaware of his tears?
though her voice trembled slightly, Ever forced the words out once she recovered her speech. “Your Highness may stay the night if you wish. the Commander’s quarters is regularly cleaned, yet I assure you, everything remains excatly as it was.”
though she now held the position of the Commander, Ever refused to relocated to the Commander’s quarters; she chose to remain in the very same room she had occupied back when she was still a deputy. truth to be told, even taking over the Commander office was something she only did under the direct orders of the former commander himself.
“there is needn’t. I went to see them before stopping by here.” the sun was slipping toward the west, signaling that the Cavalry’s afternoon training session had likely over. Keith rose from his seat, clutching his Father’s journal in his hand. “well. I have taken up too much of your time, Commander. it is time for me to return to the palace.”
Ever stood, giving a formal salute to the Crown Prince before the young man turned to leave. “Please take care of yourself, Your Highness.”
***
as made his way to the ground floor of the Cavalry, Keith encountered Gakane and Jimmy standing near the training grounds. it seemed there was still a bit of free time before the final training of the day. despite their disheveled appearance from grueling practice, both men offered their finest salute to greet the Prince. “Your Highness.”
Keith nodded, smiling as he stood a few paces away. “Hello.”
“this isn’t your usual training schedule, isn’t it?” Gakane asked.
as a fellow awakened, Keith had always trained under the Cavalry. before he was named Crown Prince, back when he still lived at the Cavalry’s headquarters, his training schedule was no different from any other member. but with his ascension to the Crown Prince, his training with the Cavalry had to be rearranged to accommodate his royal responsibilities.
“it is not. I’m just here to retrieve Father’s journal.”
catching sight of the book-like in the Prince’s hand, which he assumed was the journal in question, Gakane ventured to ask, “what is the journal about, if I may be so bold to ask, Your Highness?”
“it’s actually Dad’s letters that Father gathered. it includes their personal letters as well.”
“wow! the Commander truly was a romantic.” despite having completely matured into manhood, Jimmy’s cheerful nature remained unchanged from his days as the youngest recruits of the first-generation Cavalry.
Keith smiled, “right?”
“not staying over, Your Highness? we could train together tomorrow morning.” every time Keith was scheduled to train with the Cavalry, Jimmy and the twins never failed to be the very first to propose a sparring match. though every single member wanted a chance to spar with the Prince, the trio always outpaced them. usually, Keith would indulge them during their morning free time, outside Cavalry’s training hours.
Keith gave a small shake of his head, “I can’t. I have appointment with His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow morning, as well as dinner with Their Majesties.”
“that’s too bad.”
“but I’ll be able to attend my next practice session. we can have a one-on-many match then,” Keith offered.
before Jimmy could voice his excitement, a voice behind them caught their attention. it was followed by the sudden appearance of a cat, immediately nuzzling against the Prince. “Nippy!”
Keith smiled, petting the creature that never failed to stick to his side every time they crossed paths. this cat –in truth, another awakener– was the very same one who had been permitted by his Father, had kept him company in his room back when he was just a babe. ”hello, Nippy. it’s been quite some time.” Keith replied, reciprocating Nippolen’s greeting.
the man who had been chasing Nippy stopped when he noticed the cat was with keith. catching sight of the Prince, he immediately offered his greetings. “oh! greetings, Your Highness. it’s great to see you.”
Keith nodded in return, “good to see you, Elle.”
“is Nippy run off again, Brother Elle?” behind him, the people who had apparently been helping Elle chasing Nippy arrived, completely unaware of the Prince’s presence. the second they realized the Prince’s presence, they immediately offered their salutes. “Your Highness.”
“hello, it has been a while.” Keith nodded. noticing that the people surrounding him were in a similarly disheveled state from their practice, he asked, “is today’s practice finished?”
“it’s break time, Your Highness.” replied the tall, winged man, Elpokins. the other one, Fay, couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity since the Prince was visiting the Cavalry outside of his usual schedule. “did Your Highness come here for practice?”
Gakane replied, “no. His Highness is here to pick up a journal.”
the prince nodded. “have the new recruits not arrived in capital yet?” Keith asked. it had been nearly a month since the Cavalry recruited new member from all over the country through each of its branches. however, those presently visible to him were only the faces he was already familiar with.
“most likely next week, Your Highness. it seems the eastern branch will be the first to arrive.” replied the winged man.
Jimmy nodded in agreement. “that’s right. they set out right after they received the official orders from headquarters.”
“it’s always a pleasure to see new faces, new talents.”
“indeed, Your Highness.”
“it’s been nearly two years since the last recruitment, hasn’t it?”
“yes, Your Highness. we’re hovering around four thousand members at this point.”
as a first-generation member, the Cavalry’s Walking Rose gazed into the distance, lost in thought. “quite a number, it is.”
Jimmy nodded, agreeing his fellow veteran. “true. we were 330 back then.”
“and 580 when we joined.” Fay chimed in, a member of the second generation.
their memories drifted back to the time of the Cavalry’s second recruitment. “Your batch was quite brutal. there were too many rats crawling that Yuder and the Commander had to deal with.” Jimmy remarked.
“was it?”
“it was, Your Highness.” Elle replied. “back then, the Diarca Duchy still held considerable power. they joined hands with the southerners – the bad faction of the past, not the current ones. it caused quite a lot of trouble.” Although he had officially became a member in the second generation, Elle had already been living with the Cavalry as temporary member before the formal recruitment. thus, he possessed a clear and vivid understanding of that era.
“I nearly ended up as one of them.” Fay murmured. even though a long time had passed, his voice still laced with deep regret.
“no, you didn’t!” the others chimed in, refuting his words. those present in the room knew the details of Fay’s incident all too well. although Fay was originally recruit from the northern branch, the incident itself had unfolded while all the new recruits were gathered right in the capital.
“yeah. it wasn’t your fault, Fay.” Keith said, echoing the other’s sentiments. “you didn’t betray Father and Dad. nor did you betray the Cavalry.” he patted the man’s shoulder, assuring him completely.
“thank you, Your Highness.” his simple words carried the immense weight of his gratitude.
the sun rolled lower in the western sky, a silent reminder that their break was drawing to a close. “it’s almost time for another training, isn’t it?”
“oh, Your Highness. don’t remind us.” one of them groaned.
“exactly.” another added. “we actually intended to stay to keep you company.”
“what is there to keep company? I lived here during my childhood.” the Prince chuckled. the Cavalry members’ fondness for playing around was just as fierce as their passion for training. “if Dad were here, he would definitely double your training. an excuse like that wouldn’t work on him.”
“it definitely wouldn’t.” Gakane agreed. “now, all of you, get back to the training grounds. I will escort His Highness to his carriage.”
“so unfair.” they grumbled. still, they offered their farewells to the Prince before heading back to the training grounds. “take care, Your Highness.”
“yes. see you on my next training session.” Keith replied. after the others left, Kith, accompanied by Gakane, strolled through the Cavalry corridors toward where his carriage was waiting. “thank you for the escort, Gakane.”
“it’s no trouble at all, Your Highness.”
Keith offered a warm smiled as he gazed at Gakane. “it’s always good to see you, Gakane. you were one of the members closest to Dad.”
Gakane offered a soft smile, his gaze fixed straight ahead. “I was incredibly lucky to call your dad a friend, Your Highness. Yuder was a dear friend to me, and a great mentor.” his thoughts wandered far into the past, the memories they had shared stacking one over another in his mind. then, turning to meet the Prince’s eyes, he added, “seeing you in such good state always brings warmth to my heart.”
“aren’t I look much more like Father than Dad?”
it was an undeniable fact. one glance was all it took for anyone to trace his physical traits back to his alpha sire. golden hair, ruby-like eyes, bone structure, Keith was a perfect mirror of his Father. only the subtlest details, such as the shape of his eyes and lips, were passed down from his Dad.
"it is indeed undeniable, Your Highness.” Gakane said. “it’s just that… seeing Your Highness never fail to bring Yuder to mind.”
“you miss him, don’t you?”
“all of us, the Cavalry, miss him dearly, Your Highness.” it was an absolute truth. time might have passed, yet the hero’s name was never absent from minds of those who servef. even within casual small talk, his name lived on as a cornerstone of the Cavalry’s history. “even with his hellish training, he remains our respected and beloved Assistant Commander.”
“funny, isn’t it? Commander Beck never appointed an assistant, even though Father had one.” Keith let out a low chuckle, recalling his Father’s old stories about making his Dad the assistant. “that position was just an excuse to keep Dad close to him.”
“you’re entirely right, Your Highness.” Gakane smiled.
“once again, thank you for escorting me.” as they came to a halt right in front of the parked carriage, Gakane offered his salute to the Prince. “please give my regards to Kanna. it’s been quite a while since I last saw her.”
“I will, Your Highness. take care of yourself.”
“you too, Gakane.”
la Orban, few hours before
“hello, Father, Dad.” after bowing in greeting, Keith laid out the mat he always brought along for his visits. “it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”
settling himself comfortably on the mat, Keith brought out the highlight of today’s visit. “I brought a fruit pie. Dad’s favorite.” he said as he sliced the pie, arranging three portions onto three separate plates and setting them down.
“the Empress brought me her tea. shall we enjoy it together?” he meticulously brewed the Empress’s tea in a teapot. while waiting for the tea to steep perfectly, Keith set out three teacups.
once the tea was poured, Keith began to enjoy the feast he had prepared. “being the Crown Prince is no joke. there is so much to learn, and much more to do.” he began the conversation by sharing his own circumstances. “yet, it’s enjoyable enough. which is exacly how I’ve made it through to this sixth year.”
as he feed himself a forkful pie, Keith resumed his update. “there’s a new swordmaster, Father. a woman from Peletta – you might already guess it. she’s the same girl who used to observe sir Zuckerman from afar every time he trained me.”
that female knight, despite having served in the Peletta Knight for a long period, remains rather quiet and reserved, barely speaking even to her peers. nevertheless, her growth has been highly significant. before the Duke passed away, she was already capable of producing an aura, albeit not potent enough to dub her the title of swordmaster. it was only recently that she displayed a powerful aura, earn her the title of master.
“speaking of sir Zuckerman, his training is incredibly harsh. I didn’t realize it before, since Dad’s training methods were far more insane. but watching him train that new swordmaster, I can’t help but feel a little pity for her.”
sipping his tea, Keith found its fragrant aroma and faint bitterness pairing beautifully with the sweetness of the fruit pie. “oh, right! I met Uncle Enon, coupe weeks ago. I’ve sprained my wrist when returned from monster subjugation in the west with Gakane and the twins.”
“he grumbled about inherited the same recklessness.” Keith chuckled at the memory of how Enon, without ever stopping his nag, yet treated his injuries meticulously. “he did accept the lemons I brought him, though. hehe.”
even though he had become the Crown Prince, Enon kept right on nagging him in the exacr same menner as before his ascension. typical Enon. his uncle Enon, though not bound by actual blood relation, treated him priecely the way he had treated his Dad.
“I’ve gotten taller, you know. I’m even taller than you, Father, when you were my age. Uncle Keilusa and Sir Zuckerman told me.” having manifested as an alpha much earlier than his Father had, Keith felt certain he would eventually outgrow him.
“my ability to control my power had also getting much better. I bet sparring with you would be a lot of fun, Dad.” while he always found joy in sparring with others, that satisfactions couldn’t compare to his desire to test his skills against this one specific person. “I was actually talking about this with the Cavalry, last time. about your legendary match with sir Zuckerman.”
“they truly spoke so highly of you. it felt as though I could vividly picture your match right before my eyes.” Keith laughed, remembering how the Cavalry eagerly interrupted each other to tell the story of that legendary match from their respective points of view.
“well, he uses your method to train me. which is exacly why I say Dad’s methods were pure madness. the Cavalry’s training regimen had, in fact, been fundamentally designed by Yuder. naturally, there had been slight modifications following his departure. however, guided by the meticulous records in the Commander’s archives, Keith had studied and personally applied his Dad’s methods. “it was the only method that proved effective for me. it is that exact routine that made me into who I am now.”
despite the short time he spent in his parents’ embrace, Keith had ultimately grown into the person they envisioned, following the path they laid out even without their direct guidance.
a long silence fell, until he finally aware of the warmth wetting his cheeks –though he couldn’t tell when it had begun.
“I miss you both.” Keith brushed at the endless stream of tears with the back of his hand. “sometimes I find myself imagining how proud you would be to see me where I am today.”
“please visit me in my dreams. I’ll be waiting.”