It had been a week since the Ilgiz, Cernunnos, and Salacia left the house.
Since then, Reginald can finally crawl from one place to another.
When Hera and Halger saw their child moving about, they couldn't help but praise their baby.
Hera couldn't believed that the baby is healthy enough to be able to crawl around the house. This worries her, as she didn't want Reginald to wander about without supervision.
Halger, on the other hand, see this as a sign. He started dreaming that his own flesh and blood, who will one day grow to a man, will have the strength of twenty wild griffins, and become unrivaled throughout the land.
"What are you thinking, Halger?" Hera, who was holding Reginald, was staring at Halger goofy face.
"Heheh, sorry dear. I was just thinking how strong Reginald will be. He would make a fine warrior." Halger proudly raised his belly.
"Indeed… he'll learn it from me." Hera proclaimed.
"Yes, he should- wait what?" Halger was nodding until he heard that statement. He took a quick look at her.
"What do you mean? I thought I was going to teach him?" Halger lean forward as he point his finger at his face.
"Isn't it obvious? You get to teach Bjorn when he was an infant. Shouldn't it be my turn?" She smiled.
"B-But Hera, a women like you shouldn't train children to fight!"
Hera threw a menacing glance at him.
It took a moment for Halger realize his hubris. Had the room not gotten colder, he wouldn't notice the tense aura in Hera's eyes.
"You should focus on being a mother figure for our son! Otherwise, how can Reginald recognize you as his mother?" Every single brain cell Halger have, had worked up to this point. Should he fail, not only will she explode upon him, he'll also lose their 'nightly activities' together.
Even so, he refuse to back down without a fight.
Hera sighed as she placed Reginald between them.
"If our son is truly gifted as you said, then it wouldn't be a problem either way. He's still strong, so it wouldn't matter who trained him." Hera closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
It seems Halger is in the clear as he smiled at her.
"But, wouldn't you agree that Reginald should choose his teacher?" Hera looked at Halger, as he was caught off guard.
'So this is what you're aiming for, Hera.' Halger thought.
'Don't think I let you off the hook this time, Halger.' Hera put a friendly smile as she opened her arms.
"Come here little Reginald! Mommy wants a hug!"
"No Reginald! Come to papa, I got something for you!"
Reginald, who was stuck in a predicament between a hawkish redhead and a ambitious grizzly, had to turn and look at the two. Though they're focus on him, he couldn't but imagine a rivalry standoff between the two.
'Daaaammmn, is this one of those interactive choice scenario? This wouldn't impact my development, does it?'
Reginald decide to play along.
He approached his mother as she smiled.
"That's it Reginald, it's mommy's turn to train you to fight."
"Noooo, Reginald! Would you really rely on a she devi- I mean, fight your mother? Follow papa's voice!"
Reginald sat as he stared at Hera. She was smiling, trying to get him an inch closer, so that she can grab him.
Reginald turned around and approached his father.
"Yes! Good Reginald! Come to papa, I'll train you to be a proper warrior! My children should inherit their my legacy!"
"Don't go for that brute, Reginald! You'll make mommy sad if you do! Think of all the fun times we could have!"
Reginald stared at Halger. He tried to lay down on his belly so that his face is at the same level as Reginald's. Pretty sure he's trying to lure him.
Reginald then return to the spot on the middle as the couple tried to encourage him to be on their side.
As they continued arguing, a knock on the door was heard.
The door opened as Garth entered with scrolls made of ragged cloth.
"Halger, Hera! I have some instructions that will help the baby growth!" Garth enthusiastically said.
With the confirmation of his patrons existence, he made every effort to assist the boy.
Garth, who stood there, made a perplex look.
"What are you two doing?"
Reginald was staring at Garth. If he had to choose one of his parents, not only would he deteriorate their relationship, they'll probably send him to a meat grinder, given that their focus is on training.
Garth on the other hand, won't just act as a scapegoat. He seemed pretty experienced, given his profession as the village senior clergy. Given his age, he must have known some history regarding the people of the land. And most importantly of all, Reginald might get a clue where he's at.
Ever since the deities left, Reginald tried to get a better glimpse of his location.
Although he's pretty confident that he ended up in Fire Emblem, in which part is he really in?
He couldn't be in Fódlan, simply because the people worshipped different gods. It can't be Almyra, since there were no horses or atleast a patch of desert to speak of. It's definitely not Bridged or Daga for that matter, since Reginald is fairly certain that those areas are well developed.
Just where in the world is he?
Reginald quickly crawled to Garth as Halger and Hera were shocked.
"Wait! Where are you going!? Come back here!" Halger head turned to Reginald as he continued to Garth.
"Little Reginald? Mommy needs you! Please come here!" Hera panicked.
Reginald ignored them. As he approached Garth leg, he grabbed the bottom of his robes and try to show them that he choose him.
Color drained from Halger's face as he witness his extraordinary son at someone else's care.
"NOOOOOoooooooo!" He cried.
Hera frowned as she stared daggers at Garth.
Garth on the other hand was too immerse with Reginald behavior. He wasn't sure if he's being a baby or intentionally done so that he escaped his parents grasp. Regardless, Reginald has jumped to his ship, so now he was satisfied.
He picked the baby up after putting the scrolls on the ground.
"Just what in the hell are you two doing?"
The two who had a sorrow expression, frowned at Garth.
"We were trying to play with Reginald!" Halger said.
Reginald knew why he said so. He's trying to avoid the subject of tutelage, so Garth wouldn't be none the wiser.
"Awwaaagh" Reginald was tugging Garth's robe as he tried to reach his other hand for the scrolls. Garth was surprised by the baby's curiosity. When he was assisting Hera in pampering Bjorn when he was an infant, he was solely focus on Hera's hatchet when she just returned from patrolling. Not once did Bjorn bat an eye on his scrolls.
Garth took a good look at Reginald's face to see anything odd. Reginald stared back as he leaked saliva from his mouth. Reginald tried to wipe it off.
"This child is a genius…" Garth eyes widen.
"Reginald is a genius." He repeated again.
"Wot?" Halger, still has a sulking expression, seem to regain his vigor.
"Garth, what do you mean Reginald is a genius?" Hera asked.
"Forgive me, my lady, but in all my experience in nurturing children, never have I seen eyes that craves knowledge as much as I do." Garth place Reginald next to the scrolls.
Reginald grabbed one of the scrolls as he open the parchment, he trying to read the contents.
He had no clue what these words mean, but he could at least show them that he understands how to read.
Garth muses as Hera giggled. Halger took a peek of what Reginald was reading and laughed.
"HAHAHAHA! Little Reginald is reading it upside down! Indeed, our son is smart!"
Reginald looked at the three when they laughed. A small glint was shown in his eye as he turned the scroll upside down.
Silence filled the room, as Halger mouth dropped.
Although it was shocking that Reginald turned the scroll correctly, his father was shocked by the angry look of the baby.
"Ahem… It seems we may have nearly deteriorated his interest in reading. I suggest that we try to avoid embarrassing his feelings if he were to become an invaluable member of our tribe." Garth coughed.
"Sorry Reginald, mommy didn't mean to hurt your feelings." She picked up Reginald as she placed him on her lap.
"Yes, sorry son… Didn't mean to mock you." Halger tried to get close, but Reginald whacked the scroll to his face.
He stick his tongue out as he blows a raspberry at him.
"*GASP* Betrayal! How could you son?! I only messing with you! All I ever wanted is to be your teacher!"
"Wait, is this what you two were arguing about?" Garth asked.
The two slowly turned their heads slowly to Garth.
Garth was staring at Reginald, who was laughing happily.
"I see… So that's what's going on? You two tried to make the baby choose! Thank the gods that they blessed him with a brilliant mind, otherwise his parents will surely make him a barbarian. Don't worry Reginald, I'll be your mentor!"
"Now hold on a second!" They both screamed.