The Ark Of What's A Father?

"I hope I don't end up in the Void if I walk through this door..." said Raiyen as Tomoe followed behind in fear.

"Then pray hard that I'm not senile now," spat Gillian, shoving the two boys closer to the exit.

"Good luck, and bring back some trinkets while you are there, alright?" asked Mavislin, waving goodbye.

As the two men went through the portal, Mavislin and Gillian went upstairs and into the Valkyrie's room.

"I've got some time with you before I create the exits for Z and Ysabeau. I'm slightly worried about my wife going on such a dangerous trip, but I won't survive an angry Bahamut," said the Headmaster.

"Thanks for the information and company, Headmaster Gillian. I will be asking you to send my Pillars to the different locations for ease of combat to engage our targets directly. We won't need five days but let's hope nothing goes wrong," said Mavislin as she lay down on her bed.

"Sometimes, I wish you would call me Father for once..." sighed Gillian as he conjured up a chair to sit.

"I don't even call Ysabeau 'Mother,' so why would I be calling you that? At most, I would address you as a mentor, but I can't see you as a father figure..."

"Why not? I raised you for the past hundred years and taught you the combat moves of a warrior... Don't I deserve to be called a parental figure?" asked Gillian, sounding hurt.

"No... It's just awkward calling you that since I never had a father before..."

Gillian felt his heart leap to his throat as he heard the truth from Mavislin. The thought struck him like a bolt as Gillian remembered that royal Valkyries do not have fathers since the male partner of the Empress would be killed.

It was a disturbing ritual of killing the father for the firstborn's first meal. But it was required as only the most potent male Valkyrie can marry the Empress, and that gruesome ritual solidifies the next generation's toughness.

"What does a father do? Do they work all day? Because I've heard the human children complaining once about their fathers never home because they were always at work..."

"And Raiyen's father is a vanishing one, so are fathers supposed to help the family or not?" asked Mavislin as Gillian tried his best not to tear up.

"They have the same roles as mothers, but fathers are supposed to prepare you for the outside world. A mother protects their children to the ends of the world while a father readies you to face the world. A mom will bandage your wounds while a dad will ask you to get back up."

"Fathers are harsh, but it's because if both parents are too soft, the child would be spoiled," answered Gillian as he gave Mavislin a stuffed toy of a tiger.

The Valkyrie held the toy as she processed Gillian's explanation. Mavislin smiled as she threw the toy away and hugged Gillian, scaring the poor Aki.

"Thank you for being my father for the past hundred years..." whispered the Valkyrie as the Headmaster returned the hug.

Gillian couldn't hear Mavislin's voice anymore as she spoke those words. It sounded like someone else essential to Aki's life, but the Headmaster couldn't grasp the person's name.

Gillian sighed as he silently thanked Mavislin by patting her head. The Valkyrie tucked herself back into the bed and took a nap.

"It's been a while since I saw your fatherly side, Gil," said Ysabeau, leaning against the door frame.

"Yea... Don't expect too much of it unless that baby is born," answered Gillian as he got up and brushed past his wife.

"Oh? I thought talking to Mav would be great for you? Why do you sound as if you are sad?" questioned Ysabeau, walking with her husband.

"Remember all those years ago when you asked me if I was okay with starting a family with you despite your past?"

"Yes, you told me you aspired to build a family that would last to the end. I laughed at you because it didn't seem like a very plausible vision."

"Yes, and the next thing was that I truly wanted someone to see me as a father. I don't know why or how I've got that wish, but it's there. As for Mavislin, how could I force that title upon a child who never had a father? She didn't even know the purpose of having a father was..."

"Are they supposed to procreate and ditch the family? Or are they supposed to be part of their children's lives? These are things that Mavislin thinks about a father. I told Mav what I thought a father should be, but it still feels wrong to force it upon her to see me as a dad..."