Other than that I had someone to visit.
It took me a while to get courage but I was able to finally take a step into the place where the loyal soldier of my father had rested.
He left the Archduchy after seeing that I was no longer 'honoring' the legacy of my father and mother. His name was Rudy, a master swordsman, and the only one who survived during that day. His loyalty belonged to the 'Ortiz' name. So seeing that I dragged that loyalty and honor that the Archduchy had. He left quietly without a word and returned to his ancestral home.
I knocked on his ancestral home. Her wife looked at me with a peculiar expression. "Who are you?" she said while looking at the carriage that I got out of. I tried my best to be low-key as possible, but I couldn't hide my shame, my hesitance to enter their ancestral home. "Is…Sir Rudi around?"
"He is, who are you?"
I placed a hand on my chest, "I am Hadeon Ortiz, Archduchy of Ortiz, and would you be so kind to inform Master Rudi that I have come to visit?"
"Eh, Master…Hadeon?"
"Aunt…Mei," I squeezed out a voice. "Forgive me, I know that I have no right to talk abou."
"No, I don't know what you are here for, and I heard rumors…" she looked at him up and down. "Young Master."
"No, just call me, Hadeon, Aunty Mei. I don't deserve you two's kindness."
"Come in, Young Master."
I was led into the courtyard where Rudy was practicing with his son and daughter. He was busy teaching them only when Aunty Mei was close that he noticed. Then, his eyes naturally drifted to me. The smile on his face vanished, leaving only a dull expression. He planted his practice sword and allowed me to stand next to him.
"Master Rudy," I said to him.
"I recognize your eyes, Hadeon. So you've come here, you have guts to show your face, after all, that you did in staining your family, do you not know that I might just cut your head off?"
His anger was real. Aunty Mei tried to appease her but seeing that look on her husband's face, she couldn't do anything. No matter what Aunty Mei would side with her husband first before else. She might like me a bit, but even she sure had heard the rumors of what I had done. The Archduchy was afloat because of my documents, and the actions Micah took. But to Rudy, it was more of a joke. He didn't care about anything other than the honor of the family.
"Yes," I said quietly but resolved that I must at least apologize. "I know that, but at the same time I won't let you take it," Hadeon released the physique that he has. The Wraith's Essence alongside the fifth-level physique made him pushed back on the aura that he had released. It didn't lose, no, it was starting to overwhelm him.
"Master Rudy," I began. "I do not deny that I had ruined the honor of my family. I had stained it. Trampled on it by my factions. But that stain only belongs to me. Even then, had my family fallen? Had it crumbled? No, it had no because Micah was there to patiently wait for my recovery and he did. I was stuck in this pit of despair, heartbroken, and turned to the evil of men."
He snorted, "Are you asking for my pity, boy!?"
"You insult me," I roared. "I did not ask for your pity or forgiveness. All I want is…to apologize. Nothing more and nothing less. I do not forget, the Ortiz never forgets and I too as well. I may have been a stain, but I respect you, Master Rudy. I do. That's why I can only here and show my sincerity, and even if I have not changed completely. I think you have the right to know that I have strayed back to the path. That's all I have to say."
I calmed my essence and started to walk out of the house when my instincts roared. I suddenly turned and caught the sword that Master Rudy had pulled somewhere. Sword kinesis was a popular move for masters like him. I twisted the sword and managed to flip him over.
Master was a master so he recovered mid-air, landed on the ground, and stabbed his sword at me. I was not a proficient master at combat, I was never and yet I had the essence of the wraith in me and the physique that allowed me to use those movements and techniques. So even though Master Rudy thought that I was foolish for raising my right leg.
I parried down his sword and then slammed my right palm on his chest. I sent him flying on the wall and yet I saw no unpleasant expression on his face.
"Boy, have you taken the sword?"
I summoned the sword. Not even the sacred sword of Ortiz could change anyone. I was only able to do it because the wraith essence had a method to do it. The sword was merely a tool that allowed the wraith's essence to accomplish what it had done and shredded my body to a form that allowed the wraith to take form.
"Hah!" he laughed suddenly. "I had thought you had come here to be slain. I did expect that you have the ability now, showing yourself in front of me like this. It seems the blood of Ortiz is strong as ever. I shall not insult you with my forgiveness or pity. Nonetheless, it would honor this old man to be back."
"I did not come here to recruit you, Master."
"I know. But I made a promise to myself. What if the young master regains his footing. I shall come back. Do you think so little of your family's honor that the young master could ruin it? No! They would not dare to spit on the House that saved this Empire. You have run the Archduchy well alongside Lord Micah and thus I have no complaints about it!"
"That is…are you sure?"
"Of course. My honor belongs to House Ortiz! It shall stay that way until I lost my hopes on the young master!"
"Would…you have served my daughter?"
"Of course. If the young master had not regained his sanity, then I would have alongside my son and daughter!"
I didn't expect this. Not all and yet I could only nod my head and presented the sacred sword to Master. The mark of Ortiz had been rebranded on the back of his left hand. I came to realize that I was still insignificant compared to the honor of my family.
Master Rudy then told me that after this they would go back to their homestead in the Archduchy. Aunty Mei was rather delighted about tending to her garden once again there.
I didn't stay for too long them.
I left when the night slowly crept in.