Chapter Ten- Confrontation and Revelation

Ryuu's Study Room

Ryuu's father sat in his chair, a calm smile on his face. Ryuu stood still, his emerald eyes filled with fury. The air between them was thick, heavy. Neither spoke.

Then Ryuu broke the silence. His voice was sharp. "Why have you come?"

His father looked at him, something almost gentle in his gaze. "Why?" He chuckled softly. "Why ask me that when I just wanted to celebrate my grandson's birthday with my family?"

Ryuu slammed his fist against the desk. His voice shook. "Family?! Stop with the lies!" His anger burned. "Now you remember you have a family? Now, after everything—"

His father's voice remained steady. "Why do you despise me so much?"

Ryuu's hands curled into fists. His voice was low but dangerous. "You should know by now why I hate your guts. Why I don't want you near me, near my household, near my family."

"Hating me won't do you much good when you haven't been a good son yourself."

Ryuu's breath caught. His rage flared. "A good son?" His voice rose. "Now I'm not a good son?!" He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "A good son wouldn't be shouting at his father? That's what you mean?" His tone turned sharp, filled with venom. "A good son wouldn't be furious that his father abandoned his wife to die? Wouldn't be furious that his father chose to save some mere beastmen instead of his own family?"

His father's smile faded.

"Is that how you see it?" He stood, walking toward the window, looking up at the moon. "I did what I had to do."

Ryuu's voice dropped, but the pain in it was unmistakable. "Do what you had to do… And what about my mother? She needed you."

His father closed his eyes for a moment before exhaling. "I am deeply sorry for what happened to your mother… son. What I did… was something I had to do. I have always regretted leaving both of you. No amount of time can erase it. I have replayed that moment in my mind over and over, reliving the same day, the same pain. It is truly heartbreaking." His voice softened. "Do you think I don't regret it?"

Ryuu clenched his fists, looking down. His voice wavered, but only for a second. "Before coming here, did a little digging in your so-called nation," his father continued. "And I noticed… your kingdom doesn't have any beastmen."

Ryuu's jaw tightened. "And then what?"

"But it harbors them as slaves." His father's voice was calm but sharp. "Which you know about. Yet you choose not to take action."

Ryuu's face didn't change. He acted as if the words meant nothing.

A sigh. "You already know why I came," his father said. "I came to take Kibo."

Ryuu's head snapped up. "You can't just walk back into my life—into my family's life—and say you want to take my son!"

His father met his gaze. "It's not my decision. It was your mother's wish."

Ryuu's breath hitched. "My mother's… wish?" His mind reeled.

His father stepped closer, his voice steady. "As I've seen for myself, I understand why she made that choice before she died. Kibo… isn't an ordinary child. And you know it."

Ryuu looked away. He clenched his jaw. "Yes, I noticed. But I had to ignore it…" His voice turned to a whisper in his mind. *But knowing Mother's abilities… I can't just ignore it.*

Ryuu spoke again, unwavering. "When will you bring my son back?"

"When it's time for him to enter Weinstone Academy."

Ryuu's heart pounded. "And when will that be?"

"That, I do not know," his father admitted. "But when he's ready, he will return."

Ryuu felt his legs weaken. He gripped the desk to steady himself. "Why… why would Mother tell you and not me? Her son? Why tell you, when you weren't even there for us?"

His father looked at him, sorrow deep in his eyes. "That, I do not know." He sighed. "Son, I know you hate me. And I don't blame you. But don't blame the beast people for my mistakes… they are human too."

Ryuu didn't look at him.

His father walked toward the door. "I'll take my grandson tomorrow. And be careful of the Imperial King. He has spies in your nation." He paused, glancing at his son one last time. Ryuu still refused to look at him.

A quiet sigh. Then, with a voice filled with something Ryuu couldn't quite place, his father said, "Son… I do hope you will find it in your heart to forgive this old man before he dies."

Then he left. The door closed behind him.

Ryuu stared at the door. His fists clenched, his breathing heavy. The silence pressed down on him.

Then, his voice cut through the stillness. "Get me information on the spies the king sent."

A shadow shifted in the corner. A voice answered. "Yes, Master." Then, nothing.

Ryuu slowly sank into his chair, his mother's wish echoing in his mind.

Outside the Satoru Nation – A Moving Carriage

Inside, the priest sat stiffly, his face contorted in anger. In his hand, he held an orb used for communication. His fingers tightened around it.

A voice crackled through, smooth yet filled with interest. "How was the celebration, Priest?"

The priest's jaw tightened. "Nothing in particular."

A pause. Then the voice spoke again, quieter but dripping with menace. "Don't forget how you got to your position, Priest. If you prove useless… you will be cut off."

The transmission ended.

With a furious growl, the priest smashed the orb against the carriage floor. Shards scattered across the wood. His voice, barely above a whisper, burned with hatred.

"Damn you, Reaper."

Kibo's Room

Mother tucked me in, her hands gently tapping my back. She looked sad.

"Mama is sorry that your birthday wasn't a good one," she whispered.

I blinked up at her. She didn't need to apologize. This was the first time I'd ever had a birthday with a family—my family. How could I be upset?

But she still looked sad, and I didn't like that.

"I wuv you, Mama... Papa," I mumbled.

She froze for a second, then pulled me into a tight hug. I could feel her warmth, the way she held me like she never wanted to let go.

"Papa and Mama love you too," she whispered.

That was the smile I wanted to see.

"Okay, it's time to sleep," she said, pulling away. She kissed my forehead softly. "Goodnight, Kibo."

She left, closing the door behind her.

But I wasn't sleepy. My mind kept going back to Grandfather. The way he moved—it was fast, but I saw it. Like everything slowed down for me.

Could I do that?

I sat up, slipping out of bed. The floor was cold, but I ignored it.

I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath.

Mana—I could feel it. Like a small current flowing through me. I just had to move it. If I could send it to my legs, maybe... maybe I could move like him.

I focused, pushing the energy where I needed it.

Then—pain.

Thud!

My leg cramped up so badly I tripped and slammed straight into the wall.

I groaned, rubbing my leg as I sat on the floor. That hurt. A lot.

At least I did it.

And then, everything went dark.

On the Mansion Roof

The Reaper sat alone, his cloak shifting slightly in the breeze. In his hand, he held a small picture, his fingers tracing its edges with a touch far gentler than anyone would expect from him.

His emerald eyes, always sharp, always unreadable, softened as he gazed at it. There was something in his expression—something distant, something heavy.

He wasn't looking at the present. He was somewhere else, trapped in a moment long gone.

The wind whispered around him, but he didn't move.

For all his strength, for all his power, there were wounds even he couldn't heal.