Cal and Yuki instantly shuddered in nervousness. His tone left no room for discussion about the matter. They could tell he had an idea that they weren’t really just here to visit him. They could only grit their teeth in the uncomfortable atmosphere. Yuki was the one who took the first step forward to answer her father.
“Father, we did want to visit you, but also I came because I was in need of something.”
Lazarus crossed his arms in response and nodded his head for her to continue. Yuki parted her dry lips and forced the words out of her mouth.
“Can I have my allowance in advance? I spent mine too fast since school started by accident. Please father…”
Lazarus continued to stare at his daughter with careful inspection. He noticed every single minute detail from her facial expressions, posture, and down to her fluctuating voice. He gave a quick glance over to Cal who flinched at his attention. He was able to quickly piece everything together as it was a common occurrence at this point.
“Now that’s quite hard to believe, Yuki. Not only are you stingier than me with money, but you also have my blood. The blood of a dragon! We are the greediest beings in this world! So tell me what the real reasoning is before I find out the hard way.”
Yuki was stumped and pushed into a corner. She knew this situation has played out too often. The only way out was to say the truth and have Cal take the fall. Yuki knew better than to try this but she always had a soft spot for her brother Cal. She would help him out of any situation if possible. That’s how close they were raised and he would do the same if he could. At this point it was impossible to ever attempt this again.
In truth Lazarus always knew what was going on whenever Yuki would cover for Cal or ask for things. There was nothing that could escape his sight, but he let it happen. He was proud of how close their bond was so he gladly accepted it. Eventually he realized that it continued to only be Yuki who would initiate everything. He became more and more displeased as it went on, hoping that it would change. Now that they have been sent off to start the beginning of their independent life, he believed things would be different.
His naive hope was shattered in no time as they already came home with an agenda. The only silver lining was that they brought a mysterious friend home. Lazarus did not want this to always be the case so he made a decision today to end it. He hardly showed his stern side since he had always spoiled them and loved them dearly. However they were on their way to being young adults, and in no time they would need to be on their own.
Lazarus gave Yuki enough time to think it over while she glanced over at Cal a couple of times. Cal and Yuki appeared to have come to an understanding through their expressions. Cal walked with trepidation over to Yuki’s side. They both understood that the only way out of this situation was with a sincere apology and an admittance of the truth. They both bowed at a ninety degree angle toward their father.
“”We’re sorry!””
Cal and Yuki remained bowed to show their sincerity. Lazarus watched on for a while more until he felt that it was adequate.
“Okay children that’s enough, please lift yourselves. I forgive you, but I wish to hear your explanation now.”
Cal decided it was time to finally take some responsibility so he outstretched his hand stopping Yuki from going further.
“It's my fault, dad. I didn’t have any money left from my last allowance and I had promised Damien I would treat him to a dinner celebration. I should’ve come to you honestly and not have used other means to get it done. I regret it so please don’t blame Yuki. She d…”
Tears rolled down his eyes before he could finish. Cal felt truly ashamed about the situation, now that he was finally called out on it. He felt isolated standing there in his shame as the rest of them looked on. Lazarus appeared before him in a single step. He smiled gently at his son and lifted his chin up.
“We Azurith do not take shame in admitting our wrongs! We proudly stand tall as we make the efforts to change and be better! This goes out to you too Yuki, so listen closely. I only want what’s best for you two and there will be a time you two will not be everywhere together. This is a wake up call to take on your own responsibilities!”
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Lazarus made sure Cal understood his intentions before he wiped his tears off his face. Noticing his determination radiate from his being, he embraced him tightly.
“Now tell me about this celebration and I’ll see what I can do.”
Cal began to explain to his father how they went to the Swore Guild so Damien could complete his assessment. He went into great detail of the arduous battle Damien went through. Lazarus listened on with great interest and even made some sounds of surprise at certain parts. Damien stood with great embarrassment as they all gazed at him. Eventually Cal finished his story with Damien gaining status as a Sky Realm Swordsman.
Lazarus appeared to be impressed at his achievement, but he was inwardly shocked for a different reason. He did not expect him to be accomplished as a swordsman because Damien’s core told him another story. Lazarus was confident that his talent for Dao Magic was freakish. He believed that he must be insanely advanced in Dao Magic if his swordsmanship was already at that level.
To even just evaporate his mana would require a strength that no human child should possess. Lazarus had many questions with no answers, but he wished to gather more information.
“That is quite the cause for a celebration. I offer you my felicitations, Damien. That is no ordinary feat at such a tender age. Now I wonder what you have accomplished in Dao Magic.”
Lazarus smoothly interjected his real concern as curiosity. Damien who was now in the spotlight had a surge of timidness washed over him.
‘Now I have to tell a legendary magical beast that I have only just begun learning.’
“Well the thing is, sir, I barely started learning Dao Magic. I was only taught swordplay my entire life.”
This time Lazarus could not control his emotions. A crack in his seemingly always gentle smile appeared. His smile twitched as he tried to process everything he knew about this kid. Not only did he have an inner core that even dumbfounded him but it was able to destroy any trace of his mana. Not to forget that there was a terrifying being hidden deeply inside. It was so counterintuitive that it’s illogical. However from what he could sense, Damien did not lie about his situation.
“You may be behind others, but you must take every step with conviction, no matter how long it takes. The Dao is related to everything so you will certainly catch up to the rest.”
‘This sounds similar to what Leylin told me earlier today! There’s something deeper that I’m missing, but what is it?’
While Damien was lost in deep thought in the mystery of his words, Cal nudged his father to grab his attention.
“Dad, no… Father, would you so graciously sponsor the celebration for our friend, Damien?”
Lazarus snapped out of his wormhole of theories and conspiracies that could explain Damien’s existence.
“Why you silver tongued brat. You don’t need to butter me up at this point. Of course I can help you with this. Just like how I believed your sister Yuki was noble by helping you, I believe it is noble to do something for a friend.”
Cal’s mood quickly changed back and seemed like his old self once again. The family continued to talk a while longer as Damien listened with envy. Eventually it was time for them to leave unless it would get too late and they would violate curfew. Lazarus threw a pouch of gold coins to Cal before they left. He brought Cal close to him and whispered something discreetly. Cal wore a bizarre expression, but he still nodded his head and left. Lazarus sent them off and stopped Damien before he left too.
“Damien I am quite embarrassed you had to witness our family quarrel but I’m sure you understand what it’s like. I hope you enjoy your celebration with my children as you deserve it for being such a talented human. You are a human, right?”
Lazarus stared deeply into Damien’s eyes but could not peer past his lenses. He watched for any indicator that would give him insight.
On the other hand Damien was thrown off by such a weird question. Undoubtedly he was a human and had no reason to believe otherwise.
“Yes I am. My grandfather would have certainly told me if my late parents were of a different race. I’ll be going now.”
‘Something was definitely off, his tone was different, almost threatening.’
Damien ran off with a weird feeling inside but decided to discard it so he could have fun with his friends. Lazarus watched him catch up to the others and enter the stairwell. He stood in silence with his thoughts marinating into various possibilities. He heard their footsteps disappear into the distance as they climbed higher toward the surface. Once he no longer heard them he looked up to where the entrance of his estate would be. He quietly mouthed a few words into the air.
“Will, come see me”
In the next moment, footsteps were heard coming from the depths of the cavern. A lanky shadow figure could be seen as it moved closer to the light.
“You called Lord Father?”
The emerging figure is revealed to be the sibling gatekeeper the three ran into at the beginning. He plopped down onto one of his knees in reverence of his father before him.
“Direct me as you wish.”
Lazarus was a completely different person from earlier. He was radiating an overbearing graveness that froze the area around him. Azure scales slowly appeared around his body and a tail emerged from behind.
“I need you to keep an eye on that kid, Damien. I sense something inexplicably dark, deep inside of him. Follow him and gather as much information as you can and of course protect Yuki at all cost if something were to happen. She is my true heir after all.”
“As you command, Lord Father.”
Will vanished from his spot as if he were never there. Lazarus continued to transform back into a full fledged dragon and walked back into the darkness of his cavern.