Lloyd Glader POV:

Nothing is as it seems in this world. No matter how close you think you are, reality is, you couldn’t be further. You are either at the finish line, looking down at everybody from above, or you never reach it.

Sometimes, you will make it, but when you make it, it’ll all be too late. This is a very rare occurrence, but something that of course happened to me.

Even whilst I fight this battle against this young up and coming adventuring prodigy and he tries to snap me out of my past failures, my disappointments and my sins, I can’t seem to wake up. I remain frozen at the top of the mountain. A trophy carelessly paraded as false hope to others who try to reach out.

I distinctly remember wanting to be like the heroes of the present day. Like the ones I heard about in fairytales when I was young and the ones that actually manifested in the time I underwent training in the capital. Soon after finishing my three years of academy life, I was given a one time offer to join one of the most elite assassin squads. I say join, but they meant train until I’m ready. Apparently they saw that much untapped potential in the meagre lad straight out of school.

Of course, being the deluded young man who strived to bring justice to the world. Uphold the balance and peace. I accepted. I remember telling my fiance that I met in the academy the news. She was just as ecstatic as I was. Not for herself, but for my sake. We met in the first year of the academy and later became a couple. On graduation, I naturally proposed to the love of my life.

Her features still play back in my head so perfectly. A perfectly kept, pristine image that would revolve inside of my empty head, in the toughest of times. Wild red hair, golden eyes, long lashes, beautiful dark skin that shone like glistening diamonds under the brilliance of the sun. Her personality was arguably even more beautiful. Kind, caring, thoughtful, selfless, loving, independent, strong, smart.

She was…my everything.

So with the both of us straight out of academy life, after my first few paychecks, I bought us a comfortable house in the outskirts of the capital to settle down in. She, on the other hand, became a professor at the academy. The best one is well. I wouldn’t be able to return home much, but she didn’t mind. She patiently awaited each of my dismissals from the training squadron. Every night before I’d arrive, she would never go to sleep and instead sit with a blanket, rocking on her rocking chair with a cup of tea in her hand and a book by her side. Most of the time, I’d return home and she’d be peacefully sleeping there with her round reading glasses slipping off her face. She desperately needed glasses for reading, but fortunately I didn’t.

I remember coming back that one night thought, the night where our lives would slowly take a turn to something we’d never be able to recover from.

Knock, knock!

“Come in!” A booming noise searched from behind the door. I quickly took a sigh of relief and patted myself down before pushing the squeaking door open.

“Ah, cadet Glader! Good to see you, I assume Lance told you to see me like I asked him to, right?” His hoarse voice croaked in a pleasant tone. The old man’s face was littered with scars yet his undeniably bright smile never faded. He was almost a father to all of us in this squadron. We all deeply cared for him and our connection with him. Especially I, as I never grew up with a dad.

“Lance? No, sir. Riddle had told me about coming to see you.”

“Khhhhh! That damned lazy bastard Lance! He’s always leaving his work until someone else has to do it. I’m going to have to scold him again.” His hand curled into a fist and he slammed his desk sending tremors through the room. I could only laugh awkwardly at the fate of a soon to be fallen comrade.

“Well, anyway, let’s get into what I called you here for. You know what time it is. Lloyd Glader, you are hereby dismissed from the training squadron until next called upon.”

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“Thank you sir.” I deeply bowed, the corners of my mouth lifting.

“Good thing, ey? Finally get to go see that girl of yours. Say, when are you finally hosting the wedding?”

“Actually, we were supposed to do it when I’m next off work. So it seems like, in the next couple of weeks.” I announced, scratching the back of my head.

“Zehahaha! Well good on you kid! You owe it to that girl. She’s been with you for three years now? Now is as good a time as any! Go get her son!” He now grasped my hands in his. His grey eyes deeply searched mine.

“Actually, on this topic…I was wondering if you’d be my father for the wedding?”

“Ah…seriously?” His jaw dropped open.

“Of course. I don’t actually have a father, or well I do, but I’ve never met him. And you have been the closest thing thus far for me, so I was wondering if you’d be my father at my wedding?”

His grip tightened on my hands. His old, large and gruff hands, that looked frail all at the same time. His body shivered and tears began flowing from his eyes.

“Of course I will! How could I reject such a proposal!?”

A couple hours had passed and I finally arrived at home. Comfortably, to the usual sight of course. Sung sat there wrapped in her blanket, her mouth hanging open and sleeping with a cute face plastered on her expressions. I quietly giggled to myself and grabbed her off the chair and carried her upstairs to our bedroom and then set her aside in it.

“Sleep well, honey.” I whispered before giving her a compassionate peck on the cheek and dozing off to sleep myself.

The next morning I had woken up to a pleasing aroma wafting from downstairs. A fragrance so enticing that it wrapped me in a sung solace of comfort and joy. The sun brightly seeped through the panes of glass and the sound of the rustling grass outside eased in the calm atmosphere. I carefully pushed off the stuffy blanket and headed downstairs.

“Would you look at this sight? This is something I’d love to see everyday?” I began speaking, resting my body on the wall and looking at my girlfriend operating in the kitchen.

“Huh? Is that so? Well, you’ll have to bust your ass for years until you can spend everyday at home. Sometimes, think about a quieter life in the capital. I know you always wanted to do this, but it might be nicer, you know, for the two of us.” She gently spoke back to me, her hips still moving back and forth as she carefully poured her devotion into breakfast.

“Well…I’ll think about it, okay? Anyway, how is my soon to be wife anyway?” I continued our pleasant chatter, making my way over to the b=table she was now setting.

“Great as always as you can see. Maybe even better than always.”

“Is that so?” I replied, grabbing the mug of coffee she placed by me.

“Before we continue this lovely chatter, I have a surprise for you!” She excitedly tiptoed behind me and shielded my eyes with her gentle hands. I carefully twisted my arms behind me and grasped the back of her endearingly and started rubbing her scalp.

“So, what is it? I’m getting really nervous now.” I nervously laughed as she still remained close behind me.

“Fine. Close your eyes and promise not to look.”

“I promise.”

I could barely finish my sentence before she pulled me to her stomach. I heard the usual, as I let this moment sink in. Apart from one normal abnormality. My eyes tore open and looked up. Kala’s gaze tightly embraced mine and tears fell from her heavy gratitude filled smile. As soon as I saw her reaction, I knew what this was.

“I’m pregnant!” She stuttered under her fumbling breath.

I was left completely speechless. I was going to be a father. At twenty two years of age, I would become a father and a husband. Funny how life dispels these events to you at the most unexpected moments. And a gift was now bestowed upon us. A symbol of our love and our connection. The symbol of something greater and longer.

The rest of that day was spent in comfortable silence, by each other's side and comfort, awkwardly holding the other's hand and grinning crazily. This was news I had certainly never had hoped for, but glad it arrived at such a time.

Some more time passed and wedding preparations were a go. Within a month, we arrived at this special date.

The looming iron bells in the tower struck out in harmony on a blistering hot summer day. The cornfield behind the church weaved and whistled in a calming tone. Chatter inside the building had now settled, and a beautiful white altar decorated in illustrious flower patterns drew the attention of the ones present.

The priest gleefully watched over the crowd and looked to the maiden in pure white. Her fair features and wild red hair hid behind a veil of semi translucent bearing and her puffy outspread white dress flowed down to the clean sweeped floor. A natural decoration added to her as her belly slightly plumped oozing an unexplainable charm.

My lovely and beautiful wife stood in front of me on this special day. An occasion that would be only available to the two of us.

“You may now…kiss the bride!” The priest announced, shutting the thick, hard covered book and raising his arm upwards, as Kala and I embraced each other in euphoria. A passionate kiss followed, her plump lips unforgettably warm and her face heated a rose pink.

“What a wonderfully lucky man I am. To have a wife as beautiful as you. It truly is a gift.”

“Hahaha. You flatter me too much.” We exchanged a few brief words as everyone erupted in cheers. Tears falling from the man that was my father on this special occasion. We triumphantly made our exit into the carriage awaiting outdoors, the masses following us calmly, until Kala threw her bouquet of flowers into the crowd. The pure maidens behind her all dashed to the suspended decoration, crazily wafting at the air to claim it.

“Kala.” I spoke.

“Hmm?” She replied briefly.

I looked her dead in the eye and grasped her hand before pulling in close and leaving a delicate sensation on her lips. “I love you.”

Her golden eyes glittered and she confidently spoke out. “I love you too.”

After our one month honeymoon, I returned to the squadron as usual.

I casually stepped to the same doors as a few months back ready to meet my “father” again and start up.

“Huh? Who are you sir?” Those were the first words that came out of my mouth upon entering. In the place of old man Rondell, a new person sat. A stern gaze, but a youthful face that held glamour.

“I am the new training squadron commander.” He replied matter-of-factly.

“Ah, I can see that. But what happened to old man Rondell?” I nervously asked, my eyes bearing down on the sight of him. His features only darkened and he loosened his stiff shoulder.

“Old man Rondell, huh? He’s dead.”