“Don’t worry, the village is in peace now and the demons decreased in number drastically,” Zairus added. “We can start living a better life now and I am sure she will feel better if I give her another child.”

Gaius wished that he didn’t have to hear that… a disturbing image appeared in his mind and it was the type of image that he wouldn’t be able to forget no matter what. Maybe he should spar with his father for real and show his mother who was the strongest to make her less worried and to make his father pay for traumatizing him with that image.

Unfortunately, Zairus left his wife’s side since more people were returning to the village and since a lot of families lost their heads, he had to deal with some problems. While he was doing that, Kaira woke up and just stared at the ceiling for a while. It was better than seeing her crying soon after waking up, but that was still worrisome in many ways.

“Thanks for watching over your father, Gaius,” Kaira suddenly said. “I should have known that something like this had happened considering the other things that I heard. Well, I guess this village is already too small for you. I guess I also can't monopolize you forever. Don't try to get too many girlfriends in the city, bring just one here and I will vet her. Or else.”

“Sorry for hiding this for all this time,” Gaius said. "I am not sure what image you have of me, Mom, but it must be some serious projection from father."

“You are an abnormal kid, in a good way, so I am sure you will be fine on your own, but I won’t deny that this will make me sad,” Kaira added. “Still, this is probably for the best, go and see the world while knowing that your home will always be here waiting for you.”

“Maybe not… but I accept the fact that my home is here.” Gaius forced a smile.

“Anyway, it looks like you didn’t show your magic to anyone yet, your father didn’t mention anything aside from your skills with a bow and a spear,” Kaira said and then got up. “I don’t know how you learned that, but maybe you can learn more… there are some people further East that can use magic as well, but they are extremely selective with whom they share their knowledge. Leaving your home now will definitely make you a greater person… it would be unfair of me to hold you back from your true potential.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Gaius said and then smiled.

“Just remember, be sure to come to talk to me if you find one or other girl that you might be interested in, all right?” Kaira said while messing with Gaius’ hair. “There are many temptations for boys like you in the city, and you are too young to tell what is good or bad for you when it comes to women.”

“Maybe I will,” Gaius said while smirking and his mother understood the meaning behind his words and messed with his hair even more.

It was a pity, but Gaius in the past was like a magnet for crazy chicks. Whenever he would find one himself, she was either crazy or a hoe… or both. That is why he started to ask his friends to help him with that. He didn’t get much luck in that aspect either, though. Maybe he brought that karma to that world, no one can tell yet.

Regardless, Gaius solved things with his mother and then he began to prepare his travel back to the main city of Ekirenton’s state. In the end, he decided to rest for two weeks before leaving and relax a bit… he deserved that much after seeing so much bloodshed. Still, he had some unfinished business in the village as well, and it was with his father.

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“You did well in the war, although few people recognized that, I think you did more even than me,” Zairus said and then tossed a wooden spear to Gaius while he grabbed a wooden sword for himself. “Despite that, I am still your first teacher, so if our lessons are about to end, we should do it properly. With a real duel.”

“That is fine by me,” Gaius said and then he left the house.

Gaius knew that his father was a bit old-fashioned and he didn’t dislike that part of him. If you were a man, you had to finish what you started… no half-finished business. When he saw Zairus fighting, it was different than facing his father directly and it looked like Zairus was serious for a change.

Gaius lowered his stance and pointed his spear downward a little… he had trained a bit lately with a stance that would increase his first attack in a fight. Zairus just put his sword in front of himself and then separated his legs a bit… he was also going for a complete and total first strike. Gaius didn’t have the upperhand in that scenario… but that didn’t bother him.

Even without a sign, both of them stepped forward and swung their weapons…

Gaius didn’t feel right in holding back against his father in their last lesson, so he went all out. Gaius enhanced his whole arms with one-third of his mana and he felt his muscles almost burning… when that happened, his weapon suddenly gained a lot of speed and power and when the weapons touched each other, the spear blew away the upper half of the sword.

Zairus twisted his neck to the side and avoided the part of the sword that flew backward for dozens of meters, but he still was pushed for several meters as well. His arms were vibrating and his muscles were hurting… Zairus never felt a blow like that. It looked like he underestimated the strength of his son.

"... Very impressive," Zairus said while looking at his wooden sword. "I guess I don't have to teach you anything else, maybe I should learn something from you actually, son."

"You still have some years on you, Dad, you can still improve as well," Gaius said and then pointed at the tip of his spear that fell into pieces.

"Anyway, I don't think that you need it, but I can accompany you back to the city," Zairus added while throwing away his sword and then jumped to grab it when he felt Kaira's eyes on his back. "You will be safe on your own, but traveling alone is boring."

"I will be fine, don't worry," Gaius replied.

That was for the best since Gaius was planning to use his summons to speed up his traveling speed… anyway, Gaius finished packing the few things that he had. He still had some money left, so he could buy other daily necessities in the city. After almost nine years, Gaius was finally leaving the village. It felt like he stayed there for a longer time, but he didn't have many things for anyone aside from his parents.

Still, when Gaius prepared to depart the next day, he saw a bunch of people early in the morning joining his parents to say goodbye… it looked like it was something that always happens when kids leave to be trained in the city. He didn't know those people's names, but he was thankful for that.

"Be careful, Gaius," Kaira said while sniffing. "You are still learning how to write, but send some letters whenever possible."

"Roger that," Gaius said and then hugged his mother.

Although he was only eight, Gaius was already 1,4 meters tall, in a year or two, he would become taller than his mother who was just 1,6 meters tall. Although he didn't have any weird thoughts about it, Gaius felt that he would miss being hugged by his mother while feeling her chest.

"Good luck, son," Zairus said and then messed with Gaius' hair. "You probably won't need it, though. I hope to hear good things from you soon enough. Don't tell anyone that you bested me. Tell them that it was a draw."

"Until a later time, Dad," Gaius said and then smirked. "I will be fine in returning to see one or two siblings, not like the five that you had mentioned."

Kaira elbowed Zairus left side… he never said that, so he felt a bit bothered that Gaius would lie at such a time, but he eventually understood that his son was more of a joker than he had imagined. After that, Gaius jumped on his horse and then made him gallop while having his hand over his shoulder. He stopped once when he got some distance to look behind, he felt a hard-to-describe feeling in his chest. He never did something like that before, but as expected, he was bound to experience new things in his new life and he had to learn from them as well.