The Three Reasons

I grabbed her shoulders in return. "No, we need to leave this place. Fiona, I... I can't bear to be without you..."

"Daddy," she said, touching my face. "Fiona knows. I know..." she muttered, trying to console me. I felt much better. My legs weren't shaking anymore and my breathing became steadier.

I stood up. "Then let's get out of this place. I'll carry you in my arms and not let go. We'll continue forth through Cardinal Ardor non-stop."

She stared at me, her eyes resolute. My heart tightened as words choked in my throat. I'm afraid. I'm traumatized by this place. Those vivid, horrifying images of Fiona... they were like a vision of the future that I did not want to see. So, why, why does she continue to press forward like this, insisting on moving through her?

I just want to settle down with her, in a small house out in the countryside. No enemies, no interruptions. Just a plain, simple life that I'd spend with her. We'll spend our days together, cuddling and hugging. I'd pat her head while she ate the noodles I cooked, or we'd run tighter underneath the sun, stopping to enjoy the scenery when we were out of breath.

"No," she said stubbornly. She did not even flinch under my darkening gaze, which made my heart throb. Why now, out of all places, has she refused to listen to me? Why?

"Fiona." My voice wasn't pleading anymore, as anger boiled in my chest. I gritted my hands.

She still looked at me stubbornly, her gaze unwavering. Not even a single bit. "Daddy. We have to continue through here."

"Fiona. Listen to me just this once," I said, my voice an octave lower.

"No, not this time, daddy. Let me explain—"

She did not even finish her words when I grabbed her by the waist and held her up. I experienced an emotion I've never felt before—rage. If my personality was ice cold before, I would be the complete opposite now. My eyes were blazing with flames as I tried to calm my anger that seethed throughout my body, sending me trembling.

Fiona struggled in my arms, which only infuriated me more. I gripped her even tighter, and it must've hurt her even though her cultivation was higher. A child's body would never beat an adult in terms of pure, physical strength.

She looked up, her eyes in pain as she met mine burning with anger. It must've shocked her, just as her eyes shocked me. I-I'm hurting her a-again.

She blinked.

Just that one, simple, unconscious action of hers sent me into turmoil. I stuffed her into my chest like a child with their teddy bear and cried into her shoulders.

"Why, Fiona... tell daddy why... I... I can't bear to leave you..."

She touched my face again with two hands this time, wiping away my tears. "Daddy, men don't cry."

I sniffed. "I... I'll only cry for you... I'll do anything you want.. just for you... but don't leave me! I don't know what I'll do without you alive, and in my arms!"

"This is the Forbidden Forest, daddy. It brings out the worst in your heart demons that may lead you astray one day. Conquering it here means conquering it forever, and you won't deal with it when it's even stronger later in your life."

I gripped her harder, almost as if I was trying to make her a part of me. "W-why didn't you tell me at first? I.. I thought you were leaving me."

I could barely hear her even though she was hugging me, she was so quiet. "I didn't think I was your heart demon."

Fiona lowered her head guiltily. Her breaths felt hot against my chest as I awaited her next words. "Sorry, daddy, when overcoming your heart demons in the Forbidden Land, you can't have it near you. It was Fiona's fault for causing you pain and misunderstanding this time," she apologised.

I couldn't bear staying angry at her after that, but I still questioned her forcefully. "How did you know about the pain and even grabbed Heartbreak when I was attacking you?"

She looked up at me, her eyes watery and murmured, "My old daddy was the same. Fiona made the same mistake twice."

"Fiona. I might be selfish for saying this, but he's gone. I'm your daddy now, and I'm the same as him. You're the most important person in both our eyes, so don't you dare go dying on us. We both would break."

She tried to hold her tears back in, but lost it when I smiled. We both broke down crying, then laughing, as we soaked my shirt in both our tears. It was a strange feeling, but I felt that we bonded together at that moment. We were closer together. We appreciated each other more. I never imagined that I would feel like this after we cried together in a sinister, blood-curling place that was the Forbidden Lands.

That reminded me. She wanted to leave through this place. What other dangers might we encounter then?

"Fiona. Daddy still finds this place eerie. Let's continue with our old plan, please?" I asked, seriously this time, but still considered her feelings. Yes, I was too unreasonable, too selfish before, but the thought of her death, her torture was far too frightening for me to handle.

"Fiona has three reasons for crossing the Forbidden Lands," she answered, not hiding anything from me this time. I nodded in happiness. Somehow, I wasn't as opposed to her as before now that she trusted me with her thoughts.

"One. My old daddy entered this place, but Fiona doesn't know what happened after he fought his heart demons. All I saw was him in pain before blacking out. A few days later, I woke up at Glendora, where he suffered from an unknown poison. There must be some clues left here."

"Two. Old daddy left me a talisman of his trusted people. They notify me of any important movements by the four kingdoms. They just sent out a warning that the Malindor is joining the search party for me, and the reward is double what Glendora is offering."

She paused. "Mommy must be anxious by now. We've had news that Maeriona and Cardinal Ardor are planning to start another war. She needs me and that marriage alliance between the Azure Frost fast, or else the citizens will lose faith and she'll lose power quickly. She might threaten my friends' lives for my return."

"Three. Fiona said this already. The Forbidden Lands is the fastest way to close the distance between the kingdoms. And most of all..." she looked at me with a smile and said, "This is an enormous opportunity for daddy to increase his strength."

I cursed this place, cursed her mother, and cursed Fiona! "Do you really think I would believe you, Fiona?" I snorted.

She threw her arms over my shoulders and gave me two kisses on the cheeks to my delight. "I'm sorry, daddy, I didn't mean to run... I, I won't let you worry anymore! C-can we leave through the Forbidden Lands then?"

I decided that we would as she told her reasons and opened up to me, but those kisses were the cherry on top. But since she's so cute and desperate for my agreement, this is a prime opportunity to take advantage of her.

I opened my mouth, and Fiona stopped prodding my chest and looked at me eagerly for my response.

"Daddy has conditions."