[GIDEON]
"I'm sorry," Gideon suddenly said, the sincerity in his voice making Criselda take a pause.
"What?"
The high priestess wasn't sure she had heard Gideon well. It wasn't because Gideon never apologized, no. It was because an angry Gideon was like a stone block, one that wouldn't respond to anything unless the person was important to them.
There had been instances when he had stonewalled Criselda and apparently, the high priestess thought that it was happening again. What she didn't expect was for him to be apologetic this early. maybe they needed to bring him to Acrod more often, right?
"I'm sorry I blew up like that. I shouldn't have done that with the foolish Lycan king, I'm sorry about that. I know I keep telling you I have control but he just pisses me off. He makes my blood boil so much. But I didn't intend to make you look bad in front of them.
"I can make it right, just tell me how. I could erase their memories of what happened. Everyone except the stupid lycan king. I would love to see him go crazy for thinking he was hallucinating. All you have to do is tell me what you want me to do to make it up to you, Iā" Gideon ranted, making Criselda smile.
The young man always ranted whenever he was sure he was wrong. His rants were always an admission of his sins and a request for forgiveness and right now, even though he wasn't going to go deeper into his apology, Criselda understood him.
She knew there was just no way to keep the lycan king off of his mind so the least she could do, was let him learn to live with it. maybe then, he would find solace and love what he did.
"Sleep, okay? I just need you to go get some sleep and rest. No more causing trouble tonight. I need to go back in there and hear what the lycan bastard has to say. And I can't do that if I have to worry about you breaking bones and out on a murdering spree.
"Promise me you will behave Gideon. I can't handle another chaotic appearance by you, and go take a fucking shower, you reek. Goodness!" Criselda scowled at the protege whose face lit up at her statement. It was as if he was planning something.
"I understand mother, and I promise. No more trouble from me," Gideon said as he reached out to pull her into a hug, but she wasn't having it. She had seen how Gideon had been disappointed in the forest earlier, and she didn't want him to experience that again.
He shouldn't have been put in that position in the first place, but they would talk about that at length and at a later time.
"You try that and you will be taking the long road home," Criselda said and Gideon instantly pulled back. he knew Criselda wasn't kidding. The woman had the power to make him walk from Acrod to Greroth, and it was a really long distance, that he did want to go through.
he would probably turn into a zombie before he reached Greroth, and the women wouldn't want him anymore. that was a risk he wasn't ready to take. So listening to Criselda was smart. A really smart idea.
He wasn't even in the mood to portal home, let alone walk.
"Noted mother. And don't let them walk all over you there. If they try anything, just call onto me. I will be there no matter what state I am in. I will show up for you regardless. If they try to make you bow to them, remember you are my mother and you are not allowed to bow to anyone.
"I forbid that. If they insist, then I'm just a whisper away from you, never forget that," Gideon said sternly, his voice full of power. Criselda just smiled at the young witch, happy that he was finally calming down.
She knew it would take a while, but they would both be okay. Criselda also knew she could handle herself. She had been doing that over the years, but having Gideon beside her all this while, made her feel like she was a good mother. That was all the assurance she needed.
"I know, now go on," Criselda said as she pushed Gideon in the direction of the guest rooms. He needed to get some rest and revamp his energy. He had used way too much today and if this went on without him recharging, then he would be a weakling.
And Gideon of Greroth hated being a weakling.
"Don't miss me too much mother," Gideon said, a smile craving his handsome face.
"Goodnight kid."
"Goodnight ma," Gideon said as he watched Criselda walk away from him.
Gideon wasn't sure what was happening right now was okay but maybe he just wanted King Eddison's blood more than anything he could ever think of, and this was supposed to be the best moment.
He had been so invested in his anger for the man, that he hadn't realized that he was putting himself at a point where he would lose. Then again, losing was a stage of life, and people would bounce back, always.
Maybe there would come a day when he would find his chances, but for now, he would go shower and get some rest.
The young witch of Greroth watched till Criselda disappeared from his sight, before deciding he also needed the shower and sleep that Criselda had suggested. So walking towards the guest rooms, he hummed a slow familiar song.
A song that his parents would always hum to him when he was young. The sound reminded him of who he truly was and what he was fighting for. This song helped him through the many occasions when he had wanted to give up.
So he loved it, because his parents loved it, and because it gave him hope.
As he hummed, he was alert to his surroundings. He knew he wasn't liked by the people of Acrod or even the faction warriors for what he had done to King Eddy. He knew there was going to be one fool who would try to take him out, but then he was Gideon of Greroth.
He was only scared of the deities and nothing more.
Not mere wolves, or lycans, or even hounds and vampires that thought they were better than him.
He was expecting it, so he wasn't surprised when he felt a movement behind him, an action that was supposed to shock or even scare Gideon, but had miserably failed, because the witch just continued humming his childhood song.