("Askyros?!") [Adam]
What seemed to be puzzling to him began to click.
("Am I… experiencing Askyros' life?") [Adam]
As if to answer his question, Askyros' voice spoke in his mind.
("When I was born, I was named Askyros. Its meaning is "Steel Heart".") [Askyros]
Strangely, his voice sounded younger and less hoarse than when he was a shriveled body.
("Eh?! Askyros?! I thought you were dead!") [Adam]
As if he didn't hear Adam, Askyros continued.
("My family was not poor, nor rich. We were a middle class family.") [Askyros]
Adam's vision blurred. His point of view changed to watching Alyk from a window. His body was now around the size of an 8 year old, but he still had no control over the child.
("What's going on?! Krino, you there?! I need answers!") [Adam]
There was no reply.
("My father was a craftsman. Everyday, I would watch him work from the windowsill as he worked.") [Askyros]
Adam observed Alyk, silently gazing at his father file down a lump of wood. Alyk worked in a small area outside the house, with stations nailed into the ground around him. A grinder, a sander, and other small tools filled his workplace, displaying his proficiency in his profession.
("On my 10th birthday, my father gifted me a hammer.") [Askyros]
His surroundings shifted, leaving Askyros in a chair at a dinner table.
"Happy birthday!" [Alyk] [Medina] [Feida]
Three adults towered over him, celebrating cheerfully. He felt a smile on his face, accompanied with excitement and joy.
("Great, I can feel his emotions too.") [Adam]
"Who's going first?." [Feida]
"I'll go first." [Medina]
Medina sauntered over to Askyros, handing him a small wooden container.
"Open it." [Medina]
Askyros lifted the box up and down, figuring out where the opening was. After inspecting it, he managed to slide the contents outside of the container.
"This is…?" [Askyros]
He spoke out, surprising Adam that he could talk.
("Oh god, it feels so weird for my body to speak without my consent... Oh, right… This isn't my body...") [Adam]
Askyros held a pen in his hand. A black and silver polish gleamed on its surface.
"Make sure you don't grow up to be as dumb as your father." [Medina]
"Thank you, I'll cherish it!" [Askyros]
Medina backed away with her arms crossed, but held a gentle smile.
"I'm going next!" [Alyk]
He aggressively approached Askyros, handing him his gift. His present was a small hammer made with remarkable craftsmanship, but had a red ribbon crudely tied to it.
"Father?" [Askyros]
"It's about time you became my apprentice. I'm going to turn you into a fine craftsman!" [Alyk]
He gave his son a thumbs up, grinning ear to ear all the way.
"Now it's my turn." [Feida]
She exited the room and returned with a large book.
"Careful, it's heavy." [Feida]
"Ugh!" [Askyros]
("She wasn't kidding! It IS heavy!") [Adam]
Placing it into Askyros' hands, he almost drops it due to its weight.
"A… book?" [Askyros]
"It goes well with the pen my sister gave you right?" [Feida]
"Thank you, mom." [Askyros]
"Mom? Are you not going to call me mommy anymore?" [Feida]
Askyros' face turned a bit red and he turned away.
"It's… embarrassing…" [Askyros]
"What? How is it embarrassing?" [Feida]
"The other kids already stopped calling their moms that…" [Askyros]
"They are they, we are we. You don't have to follow them." [Feida]
"But-" [Askyros]
"No buts! It doesn't matter how old you become, you will always be my child." [Feida]
Although she was somewhat scolding him, Askyros felt a tinge of happiness.
("Well isn't this heartfelt?") [Adam]
("After receiving my hammer, I trained under my father for 5 years. By the time I was almost done with my apprenticeship, the corpseless war began.") [Askyros]
The floor beneath him gave way, putting his position at the front door. He watched the back of his father talking to a crowd of men. The one in the middle wore a white robe while the rest beside him donned a full set of iron armor.
("Corpseless war…? I'm not familiar with that name.") [Adam]
"By the order of his holiness, the Sovereign of Faith, you are obligated to serve the military." [White Robed Man]
"I'm… being sent off to war?" [Alyk]
"Not quite." [White Robed Man]
He motioned to one of his men and they brought out a scroll.
"This is a new design for a sword. We would like you to help mass produce it." [White Robed Man]
The man smiled with his hand extended, believing Alyk would take it.
"..." [Alyk]
Without returning the smile, he took the scroll from the man's hands and inspected it.
"This is…" [Alyk]
He rolled it up and passed it back to the robed man.
"I'm sorry, I can't do it." [Alyk]
The smile on the robed man faded.
"...Is that so?" [White Robed Man]
Raising his hand, he motioned to his men.
"Seize him!" [White Robed Man]
("What?!") [Adam]
"Father!" [Askyros]
"Alyk?! What's going on?!" [Feida]
With the commotion coming from outside, she came running outside.
"Alyk Ventyk! You have committed the sin of throwing mud upon his holiness' name. Your sentence is 10 years of service in the military." [White Robed Man]
Alyk raised his hands and let the armed men arrest him.
"Alyk!" [Feida]
She tried to reach her husband, but one of the armed men pushed her away.
"Stay back!" [Alyk]
"Father!" [Askyros]
He charged at the armed men, tackling one of them to the ground.
"Urgh! Brat!" [Armed Man]
He kicked Askyros away, but he got back up almost immediately.
"Hm… quite the lively one isn't he? Perhaps he would make a fine soldier... Don't you think so too, my dear Alyk?" [White Robed Man]
He directed his words at Alyk, and fear appeared on his face.
"Askyros! Stop!" [Alyk]
Ignoring his words, he charged at the armed man once more.
"RAHH!!" [Askyros]
"Tch!" [Armed Man]
He began to draw his sword, but Askyros was one step ahead. Slamming his palm on the butt of the sword, he forced the sword down its sheathe.
"Huh?!" [Armed Man]
Askyros quickly spun around, slamming his fist into the armed man's nose.
"Gah!" [Armed Man]
"Oh ho! What vigor!" [White Robed Man]
"Askyros! Stop right now!" [Alyk]
More men began to swarm Askyros and he struggled against them. It didn't take long for them to subdue him, but the previous armed man didn't care.
"I'll kill you!" [Armed Man]
He drew his sword and pointed it at Askyros.
"Hurgh!" [Askyros]
He struggled against the armed men, trying to get loose.
"No!" [Feida]
"RRAGH!!" [Alyk]
He broke free from his constraints and charged at the group holding his son down.
"..." [White Robed Man]
"He broke free?!" [Armed Man A]
"Capture him!" [Armed Man B]
"Let go of my son!" [Alyk]
He tore through the armed men, leaving them on the ground. They drew their swords on him, but it had no effect. Alyk swung his arms into them with the drive of a bull, knocking them unconscious one by one. By the time he had finished defeating them, applause rose behind him.
"Impressive! I can see where your son got his vitality!" [White Robed Man]
While the robed man clapped cheerfully, Alyk was panting from exhaustion.
"So? What will you do now? You defeated my men, but that doesn't mean I can't bring more." [White Robed Man]
"Haah… Haah... I'll do anything you say... Just leave my son out of this…" [Alyk]
"Anything you say?" [White Robed Man]
"...Only if you leave my son out of this." [Alyk]
"Hm… Interesting… I'll give you two choices." [White Robed Man]
"..." [Alyk]
"One, make that sword for me. Second, join the military voluntarily." [White Robed Man]
Alyk seemed taken aback, the choices were basically the same as before.
"What will you choose? Pick your poison." [White Robed Man]