CHPT 23: A Fathers Wise Words

"GAH!!"

Claude shot up from his bed in a cold sweat with his fists clenched and teeth bared. His usual nightmare seemed more intense than usual. He regained his composure and looked at his clock noticing it was 4:45 in the morning, nice and early just how he liked it.

Claude looked out his window to his right and was greeted by a lupine shaped head and large deadly teeth that shined white in the pale glow of early morning light.

"Morning Frosty, I'm sorry you had to see me like that buddy." Claude said as he got out of his bed and opened the window to scratch Frostys densely muscled head.

After greeting Frosty Claude put on a light and breathable pair of pants and headed out the window he previously opened for Frosty.

Claudes bare feet hit the cold morning dew covered grass sending a boost of natural energy coursing through his body and waking up his muscles.

The moon was still out but the sun was also steadily rising giving the early morning sky a cool looking uneven glow.

Frosty was hopping and spinning all over the place excitedly as he waited for Claude to head into the forest and begin their usual run.

After Claude finished warming up he looked at Frosty and asked, "Ok buddy, you ready to run?"

"WOOWOOUHHH!"

Frosty let out a deep and excited howl that made Claude laugh.

"Alright let's move!" Claude said as him and Frosty began their run.

About an hour later and Claude completely finished his morning training and cleaned off. He was now in the cabin with his father eating eggs and oatmeal.

"Hey, Claude." His father said from the kitchen behind him.

Claude turned around in his chair while he scraped up the last of an egg off his plate,

"Yea dad?"

"I want you to remember this, it'll become increasingly more important as you get stronger. You're a hero, not a hunter, do what's right even if nobody else will and I know you want to get strong, but don't let that thirst become all that you are."

Claude listened to his fathers words and couldn't help but feel like they were a warning of sorts, he still took his fathers words to heart. Despite not really understanding the first statement about heroes and hunters.

"I won't let greed consume me dad, but I will get strong. Then one day I'll be assigned to assist you in a Tangent and you won't have to work with battle hungry meat heads anymore." Claude said as he threw his father a thumbs up.

Gil laughed at Claudes response as he watched him get up from the table and head to the bathroom.

Claude went to the bathroom and splashed his face with water. He then grabbed a wash rag to dry his face, as the wash rag came away from his dark brown eyes and further down his face he became more and more surprised until his heart felt like it almost stopped completely.

He looked over his face, finding it difficult to recognize himself. His bronze skin was interrupted by a scar under his eye that was light beige in color and his ear was missing a chunk reminding him of a sewer rat. He looked almost barbaric. He brought his hand up to his ear causing him to remember the painful splinter blast he endured.

"Holy hell." He said as he looked down at his sun tamed upper body, light scars made tiger-like markings along his lean muscled shoulders, forearms and sides. He suddenly felt uncomfortable realizing his rugged appearance would draw unnecessary attention to him at the University of the Phoenix.

"Fuck it, I'm not going there to make a good impression." He said as his face morphed into its usual scowl. Claude exited the bathroom after he felt he was done observing the damage the snake did to his appearance.

"Hey Claude! The carriage will be at the entrance of the forest circle to pick you up in half an hour so get ready." Gil said from his metal work desk.

"Alright."

Claude headed to his room and packed his bag. After it was packed with a depressingly low amount of clothes and his book on Tangent Heroes he started to put on his light armor.

Claude left his room with his short sword and bag packed full, as he headed for the door he stopped and said to his dad,

"Alright dad, I'm out of here."

"Hold on now, where the hell is my hug at?" Gil asked as he jokingly started looking under and around his desk.

Claude closed the distance between him and his father and received a tight hug. After a while Gil released Claude from his embrace and then held him by the shoulders while looking at him with the admiration of a proud father.

"Hahaha, you look like such a tough guy theses days, kid." Gil said after letting out a laugh.

"Hehe, now I know why you were looking at me so funny yesterday." Claude said as he remembered his face in the mirror.

Claude was released from his fathers grip so he headed out the door.

The morning suns heat hit his face like a calm blast of heavenly warmth, he stood and bathed in the sun for a moment wondering what this new part of his life had in store for him.

After a minute or so Claude began to head towards the forest. He stopped and turned after hearing the cabin door open and his father call out to him.

"Hey Claude! Remember what I said?"

"Hero, not hunter." Claude said before turning and heading towards the forest circle.

On his way out he saw Frosty looking down at him from a higher part of the forest.

"Hey buddy, I'll see you in a week alright?"

"WROOF!"

Frosty barked in confirmation before dashing off deeper into the forest happily.

Claude exited the forest and headed towards the dirt road to wait for the carriage as butterflies began to flutter intensely in the pits of his stomach.

"God dammit I hate waiting!"