Ian stepped forward and hugged Rio like he was meeting a long lost friend after a long time. Since most people there were creeped out by his presence or at least on guard, it was a scene that came as a total shock. Even people with moderate amount of mana could detect Rio's origins and his nature. So there was no way that Ian, the person most sensitive to mana didn't know. It was also one of the reason's why none of his teammates were showing hostility or negative reactions. If Ian was okay with it, then so were they. And the way he hugged him so tightly with such a happy expression really left no room for discussion. It was a presence Ian very much welcomed. So his teammates decided to do the same as well. Of course, none of them could understand what they were speaking about since it sounded like a different language. It was a language that not even Arthur had any idea about. Monster-tongue, the language of the monsters. "Seriously.. I never thought I'd get to meet you again,
A session of calm and quiet befell the village as Ian drove out the remaining monsters and ended the long and tiresome battle. Avoiding the fact that Ian grew a pair of fiery wings, everyone was trying to focus on their own role. Since Ian's party members weren't showing any public reaction of curiosity or shock, others didn't have much of a say anyway. "What are you doing?"Ian asked Arthur, the only guy who stubbornly kept sticking to his side. Everyone else was, at least trying to mind their own business. But this guy kept following Ian no matter where he went.Even now, when he was finally done with everything and decided to sit down and have a proper talk with Rio, that guy was still following him. It got on his nerves. "I'm keeping an eye on you, young master."He replied, shamelessly. Ian stared still at his direction for a while, wondering what the hell he was talking about. "For what? I'm not going anywhere. And even if I did, you don't have the right to stop me."Ian sai
"I followed your scent."Rio said casually, munching on the snack in his hand. "My scent...?"Ian asked back, a little baffled. He almost felt an instinctive need to sniff himself at that moment; which he didn't, thanks to his godly self-restrain.Unlike Ian's huge reaction, Rio seemed pretty unbothered. He made it sound like not a big deal. He simply nodded his head and confirmed Ian's doubt, even adding some extra information along the way. "Yup.""It's very sweet."Rio added, taking a big bite out of the candy apple he was holding in his hand, confusing Ian even more. 'Which one is he talking about exactly?''Ian thought to himself.'Better left unknown.'The Phoenix shared a portion of his knowledge he collected from thousands of years of living a peaceful life. Ian, after a long time, found something in common between himself and the Phoenix as he nodded his head in agreement. "So.. What are you doing here? I mean, how did you- ah.. this is really hard to put in words.."Ian
"I've decided."Ian said with a solemn voice while Ash, Arthur and Rio gathered around him. The three looked at him with great anticipation, wondering what kind of grand decision he may have made.Ian took a deep breathe and spoke words that none of them ever imagined in their wildest dreams. No, those words were more like nightmares rather than dream. "I'll become a saint.""What?""Sorry?""Excuse me?"They all reacted dumbfoundedly as they looked at each other and then back at Ian once again. "I'll become a saint and go up the mountain to live there, away from all worldly matters."Ian said all those words while maintaining a solemn voice as if he was already practicing sainthood in his behaviour. "Brother?""Young master.. you're joking, right?""Sounds fun. Can I join?"Ash, Arthur and Rio all had their different take on the matter. Rio looked curious and was looking forward to what Ian was trying to do while Arthur had a hard time taking Ian seriously.Ash, on the other hand,
Arthur was the protagonist of the novel. The world circled around him. As he travelled through life following his predestined path, he managed to create a separate path for himself thanks to Ian's intervention.The mere presence of Ian changed the course of his destiny and gave him the power of choice. Living his life while switching between his destined path and the new one that Ian gave him, he was now at a stage where he could finally get involved in Ian's life. And this was all thanks to Miller and Olivia. The two of them were part of the reason why Arthur was here, and how Arthur was able to come this far. "-we want you back.""This also includes your parents, the Duke and the Duchess."Arthur said those words while trying to convince Ian to go back home. And just as he had expected, there was a visible ripple in Ian's emotion the moment those two people were mentioned. "Fa-... The Duke.. ? And Duchess?"Ian asked, his lips slightly trembling. The feelings he had hidden deep i
"So you know...?"Ian asked Arthur, wondering if Arthur already knew everything about his dual identity and all those things he did behind their back."Yeah. It was a cool mask."Arthur replied as he shrugged. The mask that Ian used while he pretended to be Noah, the identity he used to help Arthur and return him his sister, Arthur knew all about it now."Fuck.."All of Ian's hard work trying to hide his identity and wanting to not get involved went down the drain just like that. "That's why-""Wait."Arthur wanted to start again, no, he actually wanted to deliver the finishing speech, feeling as if he had successfully manipulated Ian into going back home this time. But sadly, he got interrupted midways."I still have work left to do.""Important.Work."Ian's words left no room for discussion. But it also gave them hope. Definite hope. Hope that he'd return back home once he was done with his 'important work'. "Then let us help."Arthur offered, looking almost desperate. Another per
After Ian's fateful encounter with Rio, Arthur and the rest, he decided to stay there in Erza's village for a while and help the villagers out. Rianne and the rest of her group members also wanted to stay and help him out but Ian refused. He learned that they were there for business and asked them to not mind him and continue their journey.Rianne had a look of disappointment at those words. But she didn't voice any complain or argue back. At least to her, it was pretty clear that Ian was avoiding her; or at least trying to do so. It made sense. "Well then.. I guess this is goodbye?"She said those words while mounting her ride. Her interest in Ian was clear and so was her reluctance to leave him behind. Ian wasn't a child either. He was aware of the interest he was getting from her. Although he couldn't understand why she would feel that way after so long while she ignored the original Ian so strongly. But feelings were just like that. They couldn't be explained, neither could th
Days passed. And then weeks. Ian left Erza's village with his people after camping there for three days. It was the time he took to think things over. And in the end, his decision was quite unexpected. Arthur was sure that he'd go back with him this time. Afterall, the only issue keeping Ian away from his home was finally resolved. There was no more reason for him to wonder in the wilds like this, like a homeless person. "You should go back."Ian said those words while looking Arthur straight in the eyes. There was no hesitation in his voice. Arthur, in the middle of sipping his tea, was frozen still in shock and disbelief. "Why?""I don't understand.""They're all waiting for you.""You should go back home. You need to go back home.""Back to us."Arthur said those things, pausing after every sentence, with a confused tone. He wasn't even trying to understand Ian's point of view at this point. He just knew he needed to take Ian back, back by his side. "I'm not going. Not right n