Fiona's Identity

It's been a week since our discovery of the cave liquid. I've been 'body tempering' as I claimed every day, and the results are showing. There's real muscle, but my body feels lighter and more toned. I'm still thin, though. In people's eyes, I still don't look like a father, comparably.

Either way, with the progress I'm making, I'm still very satisfied. The weird liquid even helped a lot with my recovery after the exercises, I noticed. My bleeding calves and the terrible soreness in the first few days have all disappeared after my meals.

Fiona has been swapping the food that I cooked with drops of liquid. You can tell that shocked me when I first found out. My baby girl cares for me… sniff. I wiped a tear of my eye, and gazed at the sunset, blocked by the dense trees.

"Today's the day she promised to talk about herself... ," I muttered.

It's been 9 days since I've arrived in this world with Fiona. Everything I know about this place is superficial, especially about things regarding Fiona.

From just looking at my surroundings, it reminds me of Ancient China. Just Windholt City's architecture alone spoke my words. They built houses with courtyards in the middle, with thatched woods. The poor either lived in small, muddy, feeble houses in droves, or shared courtyards with a landlord. As usual, the rich lived extravagantly, with decorations of elegance and nobility, showing their power and authority.

Windholt City was like that.

Apparently, the market that Fiona and I strolled through was just what the rich deemed 'peasant gathering area,' which explains the lack of items there.

They weren't all peasants, though. More like commoners.

That's where I found clues on Fiona's identity. Her ability to discern the quality of the items there, her spiritual ring and the things stored within, her high cultivation and the fact that she traveled through a spatial transmission formation all screamed of someone influential.

The incident at the city lord settled it.

The princess of the Glendora kingdom.

"I wonder why she was so hesitant about telling me?" I muttered, scratching my head with confusion written all over my face.

"Err… maybe she's afraid of the issues that me, comparable to an ant of those in the royal palace, being around the princess will bring?"

"It seems highly probable. Mhmm. Yes." I nodded my head.

I smiled at the thought of that. She seemed pretty scared when we were with the city lord… hehe.

Hmm.. or maybe she's afraid of her mother. That woman sent her off alone just to gain experience… or was it just a lie to conceive the truth that she's abused at home? Maybe that's why she wasn't afraid of the traffickers then… cause she's been through times like that!

And she's looking for her father, who was the only person who cared about her! I thought, as my killing intent soared at Fiona's mother. Humph, even though you're her birth mother, you have absolutely no right to hurt her, especially on my watch!

That situation seems highly probable too. I mean, she sent a bounty on her head. Her own daughter. Ridiculous!

My poor Fiona… What type of horrible things have you experienced in the internal strife of the royal family? Her trauma with her birth father's passing as well… How do they connect? Aiya, such a gigantic puzzle for me to solve… well, if it's for Fiona's wellbeing, I'll give it my all!

"The promised time to talk has come…," I said while looking up at the darkening sky.

"Tonight will be the night where I know my plans with Fiona!"

_______

Fiona's POV

Daddy's such a funny guy, hehe! His acting is very good, and it is very fun to act alongside him.

He seems cold and angry when people talk about me…. Weird.

Daddy's also very good at fighting! His cultivation base doesn't seem to affect him all that much, even when we almost fought with the city lord. He even fought with the two guards that night, and won, though they equipped 3rd grade swords on themselves!

I was very nervous when we entered that space portal… he was just a normal person with a weak body… What can he do in this scary world?

Killing is an everyday thing here, and I didn't know if daddy could survive it. With his weak body, I thought he had never fought before… looks like protecting him is the least of my worries. It's more like he's protecting me, now…

I don't know what to think of that.

I thought I had forgotten this feeling of protection. His chest looked so frail but felt so firm. His back was so thin but felt so wide. I never thought I would feel that warmth and security again. It felt good. Fantastic.

At the same time… I hated my uselessness. I wanted to protect daddy from the wolves, but I just stood there, like a fool. What if he got bit? What if he lost his arms, his legs, his limbs, his… his life...?

Not again.

Even before daddy died protecting me.

I watched as the enemies drew swords, screams unfolded, and blood spattered. I watched as daddy dashed behind and exploded in red. I watched as extended as I reached out to grab something, but it wasn't there! I wATcHed aS I, MYSELF, cry, cry on the battlefield! I watched… as daddy's chest… who I love to lie on… stop rising.

I'm… I… Wasn't I a genius? A prodigy from the heavens? A generational talent?

I vowed and cultivated with all my might in this useless Nascent Realm when daddy fell ill one night. I swore to protect him, like how he protected me! He was my umbrella from the rain, my medicine for pain, my shield from harm, my everything…

Protect him from this cruel world. Protect him from being killed. Protect him from mommy… She's crazy.

I know she had something to do with daddy's death. That night, daddy had spent the entire day with her. He was reading my bedtime story after and vomited out blood. Then, a few days later… she… she went to war! With the other four great kingdoms! And… daddy… he fought. There was no choice.

…

Mommy wants power… and so do I. She knows that, and that I will probably go back to her… the experience trip was something I brought up. I needed time away from her. Mommy arranged a marriage with the crown prince of the Azure Frost Kingdom of the North. It was one term he demanded if mommy wanted his cooperation. He said something about helping me… but I don't remember how. But I'm sure it will make me a lot stronger!

"This marriage will help both you and me," she said, so she's been patient with me… so far. She knows I will never agree unless I can cultivate! This bounty means that she's tired of waiting… and so I have to go back, no matter what.

I looked up, only to see daddy with an expression that I couldn't read. The flames flickered, changing the color on his face, but I still couldn't tell if it was anger, sadness or disappointment.

I broke into a sweat. My heart pounded, and my hand felt clammy against my bouncing knee. Watching him not moving and tender as usual was hurting my eyes, and my heart was still threatening to burst forth from my ribcage.

Finally, he said something, with a mix of emotions.

"You know this will be dangerous, right?"

I stared into his unwavering eyes head on and replied decisively. "Yes."

Daddy stood up abruptly as the flames flared out of control. He stood like that, with shadows fleeting across his eyes.

Something caught in my throat. He's angry. Furious, even. I stammered. "Are… are… you angry?"