Chapter 24. "Oh, Brother"

"Charon!" I called out in joy seeing my companion enter the room. He looks worse for wear with the swath of bandages wrapped around his torso. Seeing the serious look on Father David's face behind him sent a slight shiver down my spine.

I knew I had already been awake for a little over an hour now and within that time I have been doted on nonstop by my concerningly calm father, which is never a good sign. I also divulged what had happened to most of my memory in the forest. I told my father about the hunt we attempted to model after his own and the surprising encounter with the wolves.

Although he had said nothing to me, I knew there was a silent promise that there would be some punishment for what had happened. So seeing the boy who had saved my life, and become a new friend of mine enter the room was a good sight to see.

I watched as my father's rigidness became loose at the sight of his childhood friend. I had heard some stories about the two of them when they were younger by Grandfather, and knew from these that they were inseparable at our age.

I watched as my dad rose to greet his old friend, exchanging a strange handshake between the two.

"Nice to see he's able to walk," My father, Sir Omel, commented.

Letting out a sigh of relief the kind priest, Father David, nodded and returned the greeting. 

'These two..... they don't follow the custom greeting of nobles or the military. Is it possible... do they have a secret handshake?'

"Yes, although I had to help him most of the way it should be nothing my healing can't fix with time," he admitted.

Nodding his head at the response my father gestured for the still silent Charon to sit down. 

Moving my legs to the side I made room at the foot of my bed for him to sit while the two adults pulled up chairs parallel to us. 

'Oh no, here it comes.'

My father began in the same tone he used at home whenever Master Rael told him I was lacking in etiquette skills.

"You two have made me and Father David very upset."

David took over as soon as Dad was done talking.

"That is not to say that we aren't glad to see you safe, but, you boys should know better than to go randomly wandering into the woods. Who knows what could have happened? You're lucky it was only this, and that you two came out decent enough."

"Indeed." Dad nodded.

'Hm? This isn't how it usually goes.'

"Although you two are young boys we acknowledge you were still able to hold off two young gray wolves yourself, an impressive feat for someone at your age. According to the men who brought you here they were able to confirm the presence of the two bodies due to Charon's blood trail." Dad said as he gestured to Charon. 

Nodding his head Father David started where he ended. The two were like a perfect pair when it came to talking. 

"You're lucky because if it wasn't for Blaine we would have never found the two of you. He and his men brought you two straight to our doorsteps and without hesitance went and followed the trail. According to Blaine, he found you two passed out at the entrance of the forest right outside the farm's limits and the two wolves' corpses further away near a shallow river."

"So what will you two do once you see this kind man Blaine?" Dad raised his eyebrow at me as Father David mirrored it to Charon. 

We both promised to thank the man who had saved our lives. He didn't have to do it. He didn't even know who the two of us were and yet he still brought us to the church for healing.

"Saint Thalassa help me." Father David proclaimed as he rubbed his hand over his mouth. "When I opened the door to find you two in such a state...I feared that not only did my first two students perish but that two bright souls had been blown out due to our negligence."

My heart dropped at his words. 

'Oh my god' 

Looking over to my Dad I could see a genuine feeling evident on his face. The slight reddening of his eyes as I bet he recalled opening the door with his friend.

After a minute or two of silence that allowed the weight of what happened to sink into the two of us, the adults continued.

"That is why from now on you will be staying here with Father David, Leo."

"Huh?"

What did Dad say? 

"Hm?" I could hear Charon beside me having the same confusion as I.

With a steel gaze, I realized my Dad wasn't joking. He really meant I was gonna stay here. Is this my punishment? That I can't return home? Did I disappoint him so badly that he disowned me as his son entirely?

"You did nothing wrong my son. After a long discussion, this is just what me and David decided was the best course of action."

"That's correct. We know that if we punish you for surviving we wouldn't be very good adults. The only way you two will be able to survive more is if you learn, and what's a better weapon to brave the world with than your brain?"

Silence. My mouth was open and I'm pretty sure a fly flew in there at some point. 

Finally, I talked. 

"So what does this mean for me then?"

"You will be staying with Father David at the church of the ocean god while I take care of our region. I'm sure they will take proper care of you and frankly, he is the only other person I'd trust outside of my immediate circle back at home. It'll be good for you to explore a little bit outside your home too, son."

'Oh.'

"But what about Master Rael and all my training to be heir?" 

Laughing at my serious question like it was a joke Dad could do nothing but tap Father David's shoulder as if they were sharing a joke. 

"Son, Father David here is more than capable of teaching both of you what's necessary to be a noble, a knight even. He is one of the most honorable, genuine, smart, and downright competent men I've had the opportunity to meet in life."

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. According to Grandpa, Father David was the fallen son of some noble family before becoming a man of the church. He was powerful enough to rival dad in tournaments and smart enough to be the top tactician of his year at the academy. 

I looked over to Charon to see what his reaction to all this was. 

His eyes were full of stars. Well of course they were. He had just gained another housemate and was offered to be taught ahead of the scheduled school time. 

"That settles it! I'll leave in a week after fishing out the details with Father David and Lord Ramon on the school and Leo will be staying here as a temp. I trust you'll be able to handle his swordwork and etiquette in my people's absence?" Dad asked.

"Pft. As if I wouldn't be able to. I'll make it so that these boys will be nothing compared to what they are now. Next you see them they will be well-made, combed, and honed to perfection young men ready to face what the world has to offer."

'Oh, brother.'