Chapter 53 – Does it?
Third Person’s POV (12 yrs. and 3 months old)
“Calm down Wilbert, please, calm down first.” Ken reply.
Wilber took huge breaths and exhaled them in a controlled manner, Ken knows much that when Wilbert is emotionally attacked, he’ll get very angry, so Ken follows him in the breathing exercise.
‘I don’t know where the trait came from but I’ve observed it right from the very start it manifested itself in the form of Wilbert smashing a sword on the ground in frustration of not improving, luckily I was there or more like ran over to him whenever he had such episodes, and helped him throughout, with Celine of course.’
“Okay, I’m calm.” Ken narrowed his eyes. “Okay I’m not calm, I’ll just be quiet here now.” the other said, Ken nod in appreciation. He looks at his other friend.
“You know that it’s okay to break down sometimes right Celine?” He said, out of all of them -the old disciples-, Celine had always had it worse when it comes to self-confidence, she would timidly stand idly by not really much participating in the class when the three of them were first introduced to the four magical beasts disciples of the Masters.
It would be quite possible that her timid self got influenced when Ken started forming friendship bonds with the other disciples, almost in a way of leaving her out, Wilbert might have also had a part in this too, albeit unintentionally.
Was showing her how to be strong in faltering days that detrimental? Ken should have heeded his own warnings of being physically active in things concerning one’s growth, for it has and always will come naturally.
He won’t need to push them now? Is that it?
“Yeah I know, but I’m more concerned for you.” she stuttered over some of the words she spoke.
“I’m fine, having you guys know about this, is more than enough for me.” Ken said, softly smiling. “The pain I’ve kept in store on myself must have affected you both gravely, and I’m more concerned of this for you guys.” he added, worry evident on his tone.
“Why? Why would you be more concerned about us? You’re concerned that we would be in pain?” Ken nods at that. “Of course we would be in pain, and it hurts that…” Wilbert stopped.
“That?”
“It hurts that you didn’t tell us sooner!” he exclaimed. He looks so…
“I’m sorry, it’s not that I didn’t want to tell you guys, we were still young then, and like I said, I didn’t want you guys to know I carry such a heavy burden, it would only worry you both.” Ken explains. The two lowered their head, it breaks Ken to see them like this.
“Do you not trust us?” Celine asked after a moment of silence.
“Of course I trust you, both of you.” She looked at him angrily, asking for answers.
“Would you let me explain?” Ken asks. She nodded her head repeatedly, Wilbert wanted to say something but got stopped by Celine holding her arm in front of him, giving him a stern look, before looking up at Ken.
‘Why does it feels like I’m being interrogated.’
“I don’t mean to offend the trust that we all have for one another, I could say that the reason why I kept it a secret was because I didn’t want you guys to worry about it, and especially me, but I know that both of you will be upset since we’ve all promised that we’d tell everything to one another anything that bothers us.” The two nodded.
“But knowing of this big subject, I could not just throw it in front of you two and expect that the both of you would accept it right at the get go.” The two nodded again, but this time, weakly.
“I had to prepare you both, that’s why at every other turn I would talk about deep topics, even at the most cliché times, and I wouldn’t give up if the both of you did not give me satisfactory answers.” They both smiled at the memory. “Or at the very least, your answer from your heart.”
“I could not accept or even begin to think how our friendship would have become if I have told you guys about this, I treasure you both so much, and I wouldn’t do anything risky if it wasn’t for the betterment of everyone, especially for the two of you, remember that.” The two nodded again, thank goodness they understood.
“Then, what about you now? Are you okay with this?” Celine asked.
“I’ve learned to accept it bit by bit, you know what I’ve said in the past, there is no use in obstructing, changing, oppressing, or hindering the things that are within us, let’s accept those things, for our greatest treasure is what we have, not what we don’t have,
and I don’t wanna go on and on about how we can take advantage of such things since I’ve already told about this to you guys in the past, what are we gonna do, have a history lesson?” Ken exclaim, making them laugh a bit.
“How? How did you learn to accept it?” asked Celine.
“I had you guys, and my family and everyone, so I was okay through it all.”
“But, how about us?” she said.
“I’m sure you’ll both get used to this, I’ll be with the two of you every step of the way.” added Ken. This kinds of makes him wonder if they’re all just gonna be nodding and smiling all through-out our talk.
“Does it not hurt? Not telling us?” asked Wilbert
“It did, but now that you guys know, I feel like a heavy load was lifted off my shoulders.” Ken replied, making him pout.
“Still, not telling us makes me grumpy.” said Wilbert. That made Ken chuckle.
“Right, although I do understand now why you did it, I kind of wished you had told us sooner.” said Celine.
“Why?”
“So we could have been there for you, helping you.” She explained. Ken smiled even wider.
“Like I said, having you both at my side we’re more than enough encouragement to hold on.” he exclaimed. The atmosphere turned silent.
“Do you guys still trust me?” Ken asks softly, making them abruptly turn their gaze towards me.
“OF COURSE.” They shouted simultaneously.
“*Chuckles* awww, thank you.” he said, stood up and hugged them both, meeting halfway.
“Thank you.”
“This is nothing.” said Celine.
“Yeah, what are friends for.” said Wilbert.
“Just know that despite what happened, I’m glad you told us.” Celine said, and Wilbert nodded.
“*GRINS* Mm!!! *nod*” Ken released the hug, wiping some of the excess tears on his face. “Shall we go home now?”
The two nodded and he returned the makeshift chair and cushions.
“Can you believe it? A four year old, undergoing all of that?” said Wilbert to Celine.
“Yeah, it almost feels so unreal.” She exclaimed.
“Yet here we are today, even though we were influenced by its magic in the past, it honed us to what we are today.” Ken said and look at them. “Strong, determined, and most of all, trusting of one another.” they smiled together, to savor the moment of each other.
“You know I’m proud of the both of you.” He adds.
“How can you say?” asked Celine.
“It’s because not only were you both matured enough to understand, your decisions were also influenced more by your thoughts other than your feelings, I’m very proud of the two of you.” Ken grins, as they smile, Wilbert’s blushing.
‘awwwww, so cute.’
“Stop being so sappy, and what’s with you and always monitoring us, are you like our father or something.” He says jokingly while crossing his arms and pouting.
“You can call it like that *chuckles*” Ken replies, finishing up reshaping everything and got ready to go.
“Do you guys want to have dinner at my home?” he asks.
“YES PLEASE!!!” they said simultaneously.
“Okay, hold on, we’ll teleport home so I can prepare the food in advance.” the three held hands as Ken slowly envelop his magic through the three of them before teleporting away to, leaving no trace of where they were.
‘I thank this day to have come, at least now my heavy burden has been lessened.’
-Quest, “Tell your friends the truth” completed, here is your reward-
‘White since when did this quest pop out’ -Ken-
‘Since when you didn’t look at it.’ -White-
‘Huh?? Then why hadn’t I noticed?’ -Ken-
‘You just scrolled the quest bar, remember?’ -White-
‘Oh, yeah right, ahehe.’ -Ken-
‘Geez.’ -White-
‘Gomenne nya’ -Ken-
‘I’m glad to have passed this hurdle in life, what would be waiting for us in the future? Guess I’ll just have to wait and anticipate, anticipate every possible outcome whether it be good or bad …’ continues ranting.
‘Can you stop that?’ -White-
‘Oh, hehe, okay I’ll stop.’ -Ken-
‘Paranoid as always.’ -White-
‘*GASP* I am not.’ -Ken-
‘Not talking to you.’ -White-
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