Chapter 188 - For the Better

Rynold's heart shot up to his throat.

His current standing in this conversation was highly irregular. Rynold was now trying to convince a Water Spirit to follow what he had said. Luckily, the Undine didn't seem to mind Rynold's behavior as it turned its head onto the child.

However, the kid seemed to have fallen silent. He was staring directly at his mother, who was trying to wait for the child to say something.

"Kid," Rynold said with a genuinely sincere smile, "Better say your stuff now. Otherwise, you might not get the chance again."

As Rynold called out, the child snapped out of his daze. His expression showed determination as he would soon confront his mother. As it stands, Rynold had no idea how things would go.

"I'm sorry, mother," his tone genuine, "But... I think it's for the best. I need to know what's out there for me. I'm not going to find it while I'm stuck here underground."

Nodding in agreement, Rynold could sympathize with what the kid had just said. Although unconventional, Rynold thought the child would have been better off. As to accompanying whom, though, Rynold had reservations about that part.

With that said, Rynold then turned to the Undine. It was about time the creature would say something substantial. Something definite that would ease the child's troubled thoughts.

Or, supposedly, that is.

"No. I won't allow you to go outside without my supervision. The outside world is dangerous, my child. Your condition would only deteriorate without my presence. Without this safe environment."

It wasn't wrong. The kid managed to recover only with the help of the Undine. Rynold wasn't unaware of something as trivial as this. The Undine was a catalyst to the kid's overall condition. Once the creature was out of the equation, who knows what might happen?

"What purpose is a safe environment when the person living in it isn't? I ran away because I grew tired of this place," the child declared with great emotion, "This isn't living, mother. I don't even know what the word means anymore. Maybe I never had."

Once the child said that, the air in the room turned awkward. Rynold sighed and shook his head at the naivety of the child. He was slightly envious of the kid's sense of wonder and hope. It was something that he had long lost.

Although, being a realist isn't all that bad either.

"Oh, child," the Undine seemed to share Rynold's sentiment in the manner. "You shouldn't be so eager to jump at every opportunity in front of you."

As it appeared, the Undine still wasn't convinced. The child was determined to leave, but his mother won't let him. Maybe the situation couldn't change at all.

"I don't get it," Rynold turned to the Undine and spoke without prompt, "Why can't you go with him, then? I suppose a great and powerful Water Spirit such as yourself could do that without a problem."

"No. Unfortunately, I cannot do that," the Undine turned to Rynold and answered defeatedly. "Us Water Spirits must stay near the sources of our power. Otherwise, we shall cease to exist."

"I guess not all Elemental Spirits are the same, huh?" Rynold casually mentioned in passing. He was thinking about solutions for this particular problem until the kid suddenly spoke up.

"You don't have to watch over me anymore, mother," the kid announced all so suddenly. "I was fine before, and I will be fine in the future. I can take care of myself, mother. I ran away before and got back home without any problems."

"Without any problems?" the Undine asked in a hysterical tone, "You lost all your memories once you succumbed to your condition. If it weren't for this human, you wouldn't have found your way home! You dare mention that you hadn't had any difficulty?"

Rynold sighed. In the current direction the conversation was going, the situation would only get worse. The turmoil wasn't something neither party wanted, but, as it stands, it seemed inevitable.

"Calm down, both of you." Having no other choice, Rynold interrupted once again. Spending time trying to work out family problems wasn't what he had planned. And, right now, this whole mess was getting on his nerves.

"Kid, you gotta understand where your mother is coming from, what she's trying to say to you. You have to understand she's worried about your well-being. You might be okay now, but what about the future? What promises can you make that you could keep? To stop your own mother from worrying about you? It's not that simple, alright?"

Having said that, Rynold didn't mean to pull down the kid's spirits. Even though it might not look like it, Rynold was trying to trick the child into saying the right thing. He wanted the kid to stick to his guns and stand up on his own.

"But, I need to do this," the kid answered as his eyes glistened with determination. He had even seemed more determined than before.

"Mother, I cannot promise you that no harm will come my way. I can't promise you that I will be able to take on whatever challenge that might come up. However, knowing all these risks, I still want to do it. Go to the surface. Meet new people. And find my purpose. I understand your concerns, mother. But believe in me, and I promise you I will try my best to live."

"Don't worry," Rynold added, "I'll try my best to watch over him. You have my word."

Choosing this time to show support made things clear. Rynold would take any responsibility in taking care of this child. Even though he might not show it, Rynold would be more than glad to do so. Well, not that Rynold would be alone in taking care of him anyway.

Turning to the Undine, Rynold waited in anticipation. As of right now, Rynold thought the answer could go in either direction. However, he had done what he could.

Whether the creature would let its child run along with him or not, Rynold would have to accept the outcome.

As Rynold stared at the Undine and waited for what the Undine might say next, Rynold couldn't help but notice a hint of sadness in its eyes. It was odd, Rynold thought, as he didn't know that two blue pearls could express emotion like that.

But, expressing that emotion wasn't a bad thing either. It had appeared that the Undine was now changing its mind. For the better, Rynold hoped.

"Human," the Undine suddenly turned to Rynold and asked, "Tell me about the surface world. Is it as I remember it?"

It was a loaded question. Rynold had never really explained what society was like before, especially not to some spiritual creature. The only other Spirit he's ever come across was uninterested in things society had to offer.

"Well," Rynold struggled to find the words that would best describe it. "I'd say humanity is still the same from the memories that you hold. Whatever that may be."

Answering vaguely, Rynold thought it wouldn't have been enough to convince the Undine. Hell, he didn't even know what the Undine had remembered about humanity. Rynold admitted he could have thought things through more but ultimately failed to do so. His exhaustion seemed to have gotten the better of his judgment.

Despite that, however, Rynold's answer worked. The Undine nodded in confirmation as it turned back to its child. The kid still sported the same look on his face. He was relentless, much like his slime-like counterpart.

"Alright," the Undine sighed and nodded in defeat. The creature was still unconvinced, but it appeared that its child would do anything to get what he wanted. "You can go. However! Promise me that you will behave and listen to what this human says. If you can promise me something like that, then you are free to go."

The kid didn't notice it, but Rynold could sense the subtle fluctuations in the Undine's tone. It was barely noticeable, Rynold observed, but he was sure of it. The Undine was in pain. For what reason, though, Rynold could accurately guess.

However, as the child heard this, he instantly felt elated. He quickly nodded his head with great enthusiasm and promised to do what his mother had just said. Whether he would keep those promises or not has yet to be determined. But, the kid still seemed eager to fulfill it.

"You sure about this?"

Rynold turned to the Undine as he asked. He felt like he needed to confirm something like this before leaving. But, the child was too enthusiastic as he was the first out the door. Rynold merely stayed behind for this one thing.

"Yes," the Undine answered defeatedly. "Unfortunately, my child is correct. He would leave this place eventually. However, I certainly did not expect it to happen so soon. He's only a thousand and six years old."

Upon hearing this, Rynold's eyes widened. The kid was older than he was. Much, much older. It wasn't anything shocking, Rynold thought, but it sure was unexpected.

"You must promise me one thing, human," the Undine added and with a look of seriousness on its face, no less. "You must promise me that when the time comes, and my child has lost it all. Promise me that you will do what's right. And..."

The Undine trailed off, and Rynold immediately knew what that had meant. He frustratingly let out a sigh and shook his head in great dismay.

"I'll make sure that it won't come to that," Rynold turned and started walking towards the exit. "But, if it does... I'll do the right thing."

He wasn't trying to fill some Water Spirit with great hope or lies. Rynold was trying to make sure he was trying to stay truthful in all of this. That said, if the worse came to worst, Rynold wouldn't hesitate to do the right thing. He was more than up to that task.

But, before he walked out of the cave, Rynold turned around and faced the Undine one last time. He then lowered his head as a sign of deep respect. "It's been nice knowing you, great Undine. Thank you for your hospitality, and I will do right by your child."

With that, Rynold headed out of the exit and met up with the kid. The two then walked down the same dark cave as Rynold led the way.

"I never got to ask your mother this. But, don't you have a name? Something I can call you by?"

It would've been awkward for Rynold to keep calling the child "kid" or something along those lines. That nickname would've been derogatory at best.

"Not really," the child answered as he kicked a pebble, "My Mother only ever called me "child." Is that my name?"

Rynold scoffed and shook his head. Even though it was pitch black, the child could still see Rynold's reaction as bright as day.

"It's not your name. You might not even have one, judging by how your mother called you. So, I'll let you in on your first task. Think of a name that you think is fit for your person. This isn't really that important, so, you know, take your time."

Instead of thinking a name up for the kid, Rynold thought it would've been better if the kid thought of one himself. Doing so made Rynold think about X all of a sudden. His Mech Knight was the first thing Rynold's ever named. And, now that he thought about it, he screwed up in naming him.

"I see," the child nodded as the two continued walking. "Where are we going now?"

As they wandered through this dark tunnel, Rynold didn't give any indication as to where they were going. It was then that Rynold had realized that the kid had trusted him now.

"To meet up with a friend," Rynold casually answered.