Of Monsters and Men [4]

Once again, I was back in the same old room, sitting on our old bed with a book in my hands, while Aksel sat on a chair, reading a newspaper.

"Hey, Aksel?"

Upon hearing my voice, Aksel promptly put away what he had been reading and looked at us with a smile, "Yes, Zero?"

"What is love? In a lot of my books, they talk a lot about it, but they never explain what it is or how it works..."

Rubbing his chin, he took a second to think about the answer he would give, not wanting to accidentally confuse the small us.

"Hmm... That's a very good question. To me, love can be anything you want it to be. For example, I have a lot of people that I love but aren't in love with. Like the pope, Theia herself, and, most importantly, you. I cherish the fact that I get to spend time with you, though I am saddened by the fact that I get so little time to do so."

"Then...! Then you can spend more time with me!"

His face twisted into sorrow as he heard my words, fully aware that he couldn't do so. "I'm sorry, Zero. I swear to Theia herself that if I could, I would. But if I did, there would be a lot of people that wouldn't get the help they need. People in very dire situations."

Even if we got sad by his response, we weren't surprised. We knew that Aksel had a lot of things to do and that he was always trying to help as many people as possible. Still, his words awakened another question in us, a question we desperately needed an answer to.

"Then... when it's time..."

"Hmm?"

It was excruciatingly hard to keep my words flowing, as the question I had was something I didn't want to think about. Yet, I still needed an answer.

"When it's time... will you stay by my side...? Sniff...! I mean, when I... Guh...! Will you..."

The two familiar, sturdy arms quickly enveloped my small body, and it didn't take long until a wet sensation could be felt on my shoulder.

"I...Of c-course! Of course! No matter what, I will be at your side! I promise!"

****

[Zero's Pov]

"DAD!"

Seeing his body flying through the air, his arms twisted in different directions, I already knew what the future now looked like. But I couldn't accept it.

Quickly landing by his side, I felt a bit bad for the tears that fell on his face, tears that I just couldn't stop.

"Zero...?"

Still holding on to the life that was about to be snuffed out, the smile that he gave us only served to increase the anguish we were feeling. Even as his blood was flowing freely, following the rules of this world, he was still smiling warmly at us.

"Y-yes! I-it's me! I'm here, Dad! I'm right here! Sniff! I'm finally here..."

"I see. I'm glad. I'm happy that I got to... cough! See you... one last time..."

"N-no! Not one last time! I-I-I-I c-can f-fix this! Sniff! I can fix this!"

"Zero..."

"T-trust me, Dad! I-I can f-fix this!"

"I know you can, Zero. But I don't want you to. Cough!"

As another splatter of blood escaped from his mouth, our minds couldn't understand what he was saying. If he knew we were capable of saving him, why would he refuse?!

"Dad...?"

"Ah, don't misunderstand me. There is nothing I want more than to keep living, and to see you grow up... To see you live your life... That's why..."

*ROOOARRR!*

Not caring about our conversation, the surprised Chimaera had finally found its footing again, now walking up right next to us, its massive size enough to just kill us by merely crushing us under one of its paws.

But right now, I wasn't scared.

Turning my head upwards, making sure the monster could see straight into my eyes, I just slowly opened my mouth.

"Scram..."

A wave of blue mana surged outwards from us, with Zero having instantly activated our ability, fully intent on massacring the beast in front of us if it chose to stay.

Not even the giant Chimaera could withstand its urge to cower as it felt the pressure of someone on the edge of divinity.

*Growl?!*

And even with that, it stood its ground, for some reason intent on not letting its prey go now after coming this far.

"Zero... run away..."

A muddled voice was heard from our father, but we weren't in a state to listen. Instead, we stood up after gently putting our father down to the ground, our uniform flowing with the winds produced by the massive amount of mana that our body had started to gather.

In the end, we had to end this as soon as possible if we wanted to get a chance to save Aksel.

Seeing us stand up, the Chimaera took a step back and inadvertently started trembling.

It couldn't understand what was happening. Though the human in front of it was stronger than anything it had ever faced, it wasn't to the point where it should be scared.

However, even with that, it was scared. No, it was terrified. Even more so as it could feel the power inside of that small being further increase for every second that passed by, growing stronger and stronger as if he had an endless supply of power.

"Zero, stop!"

Hearing our father scream out and feeling a hand on our ankle, we turned our back to the monster and started to reign in our power. On the ground, Aksel had somehow managed to drag himself toward us, now holding on to our leg with the last bit of his life.

"Dad..."

Seeing its chance to claim the life of the small human, the Chimaera didn't hesitate and lunged forward. But just as it was about to land, something absurd happened.

*BAM!*

A man surrounded by orange energy had somehow managed to get there in time, using his shoulder to send the monster flying backwards. Following him, a woman clad in red electricity flew by, now also quickly engaging in combat with the monster.

Still, I didn't care. All we cared about now was to make sure our father was alright.

"D-Dad?!"

Quickly getting to our knees, we carefully fixed his position, making sure to keep him as comfortable as possible.

"Foolish son... Did you think I would be happy to see you use your power like that? To see my one and only son use his life for mine?"

And right there and then we understood. We understood why we would never be allowed to heal our father, why he would more than gladly die if it meant that we didn't have to use our powers.

"Dad... Sniff!"

Lying in a pool of his own blood, it was absurd to see that he was still alive, and even more absurd to see that he could still carry that loathsome, warm smile on his face.

"It's going to be alright, Zero... Everything's going to be fine..."

"B-But! But you promised! You promised, Dad! You promised you would stay at my side! You said that you would stay by my side when...!"

"Son..."

"No! Shut up! You said you would always come back, and you said you would stay by my side! Y-you a-are a liar, Dad!"

There were no more thoughts in our head anymore, just pain from knowing that nothing we did now would matter.

"Ah, I did say that... didn't I... Sniff! I-I'm sorry, Zero..."

Finally letting go of his smile, our father's face turned into one more suitable for a person about to die. A face filled with grief. Yet, it wasn't because he was dying.

"I-I c-couldn't k-keep my promise... I-I'm sorry!"

"D-Dad?"

"B-But don't w-worry... Because I... will still stay with you... I will always stay by your side..."

Out of nowhere, our father managed to put one of his arms around us and lifted himself up while embracing us.

"W-what are you d-doing...?"

"This... is my gift to you, my son... A gift that I have been wanting for you to have for a long time..."

Suddenly, a blue light enveloped us both, and a stream of warmth could be felt entering our body, a warmth that did nothing to stop our tears from falling. Even more, as we quickly realized what he was doing.

"Dad! Stop! Please, stop! We don't want it! We don't need it!"

"But I want you to have it. I need you to have it. Even though it isn't much, it should at least be enough for you to live a bit longer..."

Even while desperately praying that he would stop, we couldn't move. We could only stay where we were, feeling our father slowly disappear in front of us as he gave us the greatest gift he had to give. Life.

"STOP!"

"I love you, Zero."

Yet time wouldn't stop. No matter how desperately one prayed for it.

And just like that, our father was now gone, only replaced by small glimmers of lights and a white robe.