20~

Yug was asleep when there was a loud knocking on his door.

Yug got up and opened the door and when he did, he saw a very freaked-out Rafael over there.

Yug's sleep vanished, and he let Rafael in, "What's wrong?"

Rafael immediately turned back, "Simon...your son..."

Yug 's eyes slightly widened, "What's wrong did something happen where is he..."

Yug was about to leave but Rafael grabbed his hand and stopped him, " he is fine he is sleeping in my room."

"What is he doing in your room?"

Rafael yelled, "That does not matter god damnit."

Yug was shocked by the sudden outburst, and Rafael took a deep breath, "your son gave me his book, and guess what it was blank but you what he did next he slit his hand made me drink his fucking blood, and then I can read the book!"

Yug's eyes widened, as he saw Rafael rubbing his stomach, "It was nauseating... but that's not the point duke the point is..." Rafael lowered his voice and said slowly, very slowly as he came closer to Yug, "Your son is a threat to this world."

Yug glared at him, "No he isn't."

Rafael laughed maniacally, "You know what...if he gets into the wrong hands he will be used if he cannot be manipulated he will be killed and that too very brutally...and you know what else...if someday he is not able to control his power if someday...he becomes evil then do you have any idea how much destruction he can cause?"

"I know."

Rafael closed his eyes, and sat down, "You should lock him up somewhere."

"My son is not a beast...that I need to lock him up."

Rafael glared at him, "Your son isn't but this world is duke, believe me, I have seen it..."Rafael said and suddenly there was that same insanity and madness in his eyes again, that same pain that seemed to have been eating Rafael alive.

"I have seen it, duke, I have seen it with my own eyes, if someday, even by mistake the cult of Mithras found about him then..."

Rafael visibly shivered and cowered back.

Yug saw the pure horror on Rafael's face, all these years Yug had always thought that what must Rafael have gone through to change so much so be scared so much...and after what Rune told him Yug has a very vague idea, a slight doubt that he wishes never becomes true.

Yug grabbed his hand and made him sit on the bed while he kneeled on one knee in front of him and looked at him with hope, "Rafael...my son is special...and he is dying."

Rafael looked at him while Yug continued, "I took him to the temple of Nirvana, where he got that book from, and from there we found out that, his body is weak and cannot sustain his strong soul...he has to train...his body needs to get stronger or else...he will perish...please Rafael as a father I am begging you."

Rafael got up, "Duke..."

"You used to call me brother..."

"When you used to trust me...but the point is not that...there are people much, much better than me...and..."

Yug stopped him, "See that's where you are wrong Rafael but let's not talk about it...let's talk about why you...well because I trust you because Simon trust you...

If I go somewhere else to hire a teacher I can't trust them, I cannot hand over my son to just anyone, not when royalty, nobility, and temple are against me, what if some spy comes after my son.

What if someone tries to assassinate him, all these thoughts would make me worry too much, but you know Simon's secret, so you must understand why I am being so paranoid? I have the responsibility of the dukedom. I cannot abandon them. Your brother and sister have a responsibility too.

You are the only one left...please..."

Rafael clenched his fists but Yug said again, "You said that he is a threat to this world, right? But he can be a blessing too if you train him, then...he can help the people, our people..."

"This is a huge responsibility for a maniac like me."

"I would say that this is a perfect opportunity for you to make a comeback."

Rafael looked at him and scoffed, "Make a comeback? You really believe that I can make a comeback after what I did?"

Yug moved forward and looked straight in his eye, "I believe that you can come back and I and everyone want you to come back and hunt down the cult of Mithras..."

Rafael was baffled, "You believe me?"

"Yes, we do." A third voice was heard in the room and there was Rune at the door with a smile. He came forward and said, "We do believe you."

Rafael looked at him, "Did you also know about..."

Rune smiled, "My back wound is all healed and I am alive thanks to that brat."

Yug sighed, "I am sorry Rafael for not believing you back then I really am..."

"I don't think that you believe me even now, at least not fully."

"Then how about you come back and make me believe? Show me and make me believe it everything."

"How can I?"

Rune spoke, "Brother, don't you understand? You have a very great opportunity...a very great strength..." Rune paused, "Your madness."

"My madness?"

Rune nodded, "Use it,...use it an excuse, as a mask, as a disguise...as an opportunity...you can become our secret weapon..."

Rafael didn't say anything for some time before he spoke again, "I'll think about it."

With that, he was gone while Rune and Yug looked until he vanished from the sight.