The four fathers sat on one side while the mothers carrying their children are on the other side. Most of the talk consisted of the four fathers reminiscing their youthful days and their encounters. They also talked about improvements in their skills with occasional boasting. It soon then led to them having a small competition.
"Fair ladies, would you please excuse us four for a moment? We seem to have reached a misunderstanding regarding our combat skills. We decided to spar for a bit to clear the misunderstandings. Would you like to watch?" Fritz stood up and asked the wives.
"What's up with you men? You got your pride hurt so you decided to deal with fists?" His wife, Auretta, sneered.
Fritz scratched his head.
"You jest, my fair lady. By sparring, we could also call it part of our training. You see, it's hard to find opponents nowadays who could equal us. Us four met today, don't you think it's a good chance to spar today? We're absolutely not sparring just because our pride got hurt, not that it did anyway. It's just our tradition as sworn brothers, to always..."
Before Fritz could finish, Auretta interrupted him.
"I got it, I got it. It's totally for training and not for boasting. I'm fine with this, and I'm sure they are too. It's also a good chance for me to befriend fellow beauties, so I won't watch. Just make sure not to soil the food." The other women seem to have the same thoughts as Auretta as they too nodded.
"That's for sure. We're going to a nearby arena here. Alc already paid the place, so we could play around for some time there. Could you ladies wait here? We promise we'll be back before you know it."
"I got it already. Go on!"
The four fathers went out and soon the four wives were left with their babies.
The four of them chattered about girly things while Zeke sat there feeling sleepy. He didn't have any interest in their topic. The only good information he heard was that the town they were in was called Clearsky Village. He also heard that they were going to be transferred to a place where the four families would be close. He didn't hear any specific details about it but Grad's wife, Meryl, said that the transfer would likely be next month or so and that the four families would then be together. The women also talked about their experience giving birth. An hour has passed and the four husbands came back. They all looked haggard but with a smile on their faces. It seemed like they settled their 'misunderstandings'.
"Well, I'm sorry but we need to go back home now. The trip back home would probably take us a few days, and I want to take a rest first in our room before setting out tomorrow morning. Fritz, you wanna travel together? We both head in the same direction, so it's better to stick together so the trip won't be boring." Gradavar smiled and stood up and so is his wife.
"We're going too. Let's see each other in the next month, then?" Auretta said and dragged his husband back with him.
As the two families started to leave, a pendant fell off and made a thud sound. Meryl looked behind and saw the pendant her daughter wore in the ground. As her daughter, Gaia, left her embrace and tried to walk to pick up the pendant, the mother and daughter saw Zeke go down from Catherine and picked up the pendant. He then clumsily walked towards Gaia and gave it back, before clumsily going back to Catherine. All of them were surprised. They were surprised because the half a year old son of Charles can already walk, and what's most surprising is his action. He seemed to have the mindset of someone older than his age that he picked up a pendant and gave it back. It almost seems like Zeke was... flirting?
'Shit. Why did my body act up?'
Zeke was also a bit surprised. He only thought about it but unexpectedly, his body started doing what he thought.
Gaia, who stood there dumbstruck, looked at Zeke. She didn't know how the boy who was even months younger than her can walk to that extent. She learned how to walk when she was 7 months, and after endlessly trying for the past 3 months, she could only barely do what Zeke did.
"Wow. Charles my friend, you didn't tell us that your son is a super genius. To think he could walk at that age? If I didn't see it with my own two eyes, I won't even believe it." Alcazar seemed very impressed by Zeke's action. Even his daughter, Rosaline, still can't walk and could only balance herself for a couple of seconds before falling down, but the son of his friend, who was almost the same as Rosaline's age, could walk already!
Charles knew his son could walk, but he didn't expect his son to do something like that. He realized that his son might really be following the steps he and his friends made back then. At a young age of half a year old, his son could already flirt with women! 'Did he inherit it from me? If that's so, then I'm proud of you son! Catch them all!' even though he was also secretly worried that his son might meet his 'Catherine' later on, Charles still supported Zeke's flirting attitude. He also found it unbelievable, how could someone this young be this conscious? But then, he didn't bother about it too much as he knew his son and he already vaguely realized that his son seem more mature than his age. He learned how to walk without his or his wife's help, and that alone proves his theory.
"I forgot to say. After all, he only learned how to walk a couple of steps last week, and I didn't expect him to be capable of what he did today. I didn't even teach him how to, he just suddenly tried standing on his own. Even I'm impressed by my son's progress."
"L-last week?! He only practiced for a week to be able to do that? Jesus, how talented is this kid?
And you said you didn't teach him? Maybe your wife did?"
"No, I didn't either. Ezekiel just suddenly tried to stand and we didn't even need to tell him step by step. We just gave him some tips he did all that." Catherine replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"So you're telling us that your son is self-taught? Wow, I don't even know what to say anymore. Grad, your daughter could walk, right? What do you think about Zeke?"
"Isn't it obvious? Of course I'm also impressed! my daughter started walking 3 months ago and since then, she's trying everyday. Yet, Charles' son, who only started walking a week ago, could walk to the same extent as my daughter. Isn't that enough proof that Charles' son is a bona fide genius? No, calling it genius is an understatement. My daughter was already deemed a genius when she started walking 3 months ago, but the two aren't on the same level of genius. If you only place Ezekiel in the genius category, then I'm afraid all other infants are trash!"
"I agree. We've also taught Viola how to walk just recently, and I'm afraid it would take at least 2 to 3 more months before she could start walking. She could also be called a genius by that. Charles' son is just on a whole new level."
Charles and Catherine had prideful look on their faces. It's as if they're saying, 'Yes we made this guy'
"Alright alright, let's not talk about this any longer. Let's stop undervaluing your children, alright? We all have genius sons and daughters here, let's not place them on different levels of pedestals!" Charles said in a humbling tone, but the three fathers seemed to take it as shameless boasting.
Fritz snapped.
"Huh? We're not undervaluing our daughters here, it's just your son who's too good! Also, don't get smug this early, who knows, maybe our daughters will excel more in the long run! Maybe, maybe your son.."
"Alright alright stop talking now, hun. We're going to be late, am I right, Meryl?" Auretta and the 3 other wives seem to have gotten close with each other, almost like sisters.
"Yes. We should take a rest early so we could set off early. Cmon, Grad!"
"*Sigh* Yes, yes I'm going. Hey Fritz, stop whining and go on now. Charles' accomplishments are as much as ours, no need to have a competition."
"That I know, my good dude! But we all know that friendly competitions spark the challenger within people, right? Ouch.."
"Stop talking and let's go. Or do you want me to drag you?"
Fritz didn't rebut but instead left quietly. He seemed determined to guide his daughter even more to catch up to Zeke.
After the two families left, Mediula, who was sitting silently, stood up and gestured at Alcazar.
"We're also going now. Charles, I gotta admit, you gave us all a big surprise today. I hope to see you guys next month!" Alcazar also stood up and left with Mediula.
They also left shortly after the three families.
"What did Alc mean when he said next month?" On the way back, Charles asked Catherine.
"Oh? Didn't your friends tell you? We're going to get transferred to another place. Us four families will start to live in the same place from next month on." Catherine said softly.
"Really? That's great! I'll need to guide Zeke in forming his mana core now. I'll let all of them know of my son's potential!" Charles' eyes blazed with determination. He seemed determined to win Fritz's little competition.
'Is father really a parent? Why does he and his friends act like young masters? They're so childish when they're together!'
Zeke felt interested in his father and his friends' backgrounds. For all of their families to be transferred, it seems like their status are equal and also a very high one. Also, after hearing about what his father said, he got excited. It's finally time for him to start doing his quest.