"You have called for me father?"

"Luc, come here, sit down. I heard you're getting close to a rather interesting woman."

"Yes, it's true."

"Do you want some help with her?"

"No, I'm fine father."

"She would make a nice wife for our family. With the right guidance, she would become one of our best..."

"Father please, you know I don't like getting involved in that part of the family business."

"Yes, yes. You do what you do best. Still Blow has asked for some help on a particular chaotic individual, could you...?"

"Of course father."

As the young man moved away from the mahogany desk, ready to leave the magnificent golden room, he suddenly stopped.

"That's an interesting object you have there father." He was looking at a strange coin, of roman origin, but entirely made of iron.

The illuminated room suddenly darkened, the light from the sun blocked by a rain-filled cloud.

"You shouldn't bother with that, Luc."

"Oh but I insist, how long ago since you played chess, dad?"

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"Luc, I have heard enough of your impert..." But the middle-aged man couldn't speak another word, as if gripped by an invisible hand.

"Sorry, father, but you know the rules, even though you thought I didn't. It's the only reason why you let the coin in such a visible space isn't it? How long are you going to underestimate me for?"

So prideful and pitiful, he thought.

"Luc..." Jean-Paul Jourdin managed to say.

"One game of chess father, if I win, the Lance is mine by right of Tet."

"S...s...o...B...e......it." Said Jourdin senior, as if he was being strangled by an invisible force, before finally breathing again.

"You're weak dad"

"I have no time for these kind of childish things. Have the coin."

"Thank you."

Once again, Luc Jourdin headed out for the exit, rain beginning to drizzle down, then quickly pouring down the angry sky. This time it was Jean-Paul who stopped him.

"What are you going to do with that? No one knows how to use it, it only has this strange rule to it."

"Oh father. This is so much more than that. You just have to use it without greed, it has to be given."

"Given? Who are you going to give it to?"

"Oh, I met such a promising woman, you know. I really love her dad."

Usually those words would have angered the middle aged man beyond belief. But the way his son talked about love.

Thunder cracked the sky open.

Light illuminating the young man's face, so similar to the one his son would have all those years later.

"I'll have her. And with this, I'll make our family the greatest one on earth."

Jean-Paul Jourdin, maybe for the first time of his life, shuddered. Fear gripping his heart. But he wouldn't admit it, never.

"If it's for the family son, go ahead." He said instead.

"Of course father. Please, have a nice day."

And silence reigned in the Jourdin mansion. Only broken by the thundering of summer's weather.