As I carefully lifted the gift, my curiosity got the best of me and I began to shake it gently, trying to guess what could be hidden inside. But my father's firm hand quickly stopped mine, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Don't shake it, Favian," he advised. "Trust me, it's better not to." He gestured for me to open it instead.
With my father's words in mind, I brought the gift close to my mouth and tore away the paper with my teeth, revealing the box within. As I eagerly opened it, sure enough, there was something inside that would greatly ease my daily life - a prosthetic.
"Thank you, father," I said with a grateful smile as I took the prosthetic out of the box and examined it closely.
Just as I was admiring the craftsmanship of the artificial hand, my father turned and called out a name. In response, a healer from our household came running towards us, bowing deeply to both my parents.
"You may proceed," my father stated with authority, prompting the healer to come closer to me.
"May I ask for you to extend your hand- arm, I mean arm " the healer corrected himself nervously as he noticed his mistake. Thankfully for him, I was in a good mood and decided not to punish him with an old case of a sword through the bowels
Extending my arm as instructed, the healer carefully unwrapped the bandages around it before inserting the plug of the prosthetic into my flesh. The sudden sensation caused me to flinch slightly, but I knew that this new addition would greatly improve my mobility and daily chores.
As soon as the plug slid inside my arm, the healer deftly took hold of the smaller hooks and began to insert them along the sides. I could feel his intense gaze on me as he gave a small warning, "This may cause some discomfort, young master." With steady hands, he inserted four hooks into my arm, each one pricking like a sharp needle. The pain was sharp and biting, but I knew it was necessary for the thing to work , so I stayed put and waited for the operation to end .
The healer finished securing the hooks and stepped back, his expression a mixture of relief and pride. "There you go, young master," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Your new prosthetic arm is now fully attached and functional."
I flexed my fingers experimentally, marvelling at the dexterity and range of motion I now had. It wasn't perfect, but it was a vast improvement from the empty space that had been there before.
I looked up at my father, who stood there watching with a mixture of anticipation and hope in his eyes.
"Thank you, father," I whispered, my voice sincere and filled with emotion.
He nodded, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're my son, Favian," he replied softly. "Also it will be a decent replacement until the one commisioned by the royal court will arrive, in the meantime I think it will be more than enough though''
As I flenched the numerous fingers and even let a bit of mana pass through, I came to see that even though it was not the best, as the conductability of mana was pretty low, it was decent enough to live with.
''Now , I believe it is time to eat'' Father said as he wrapped his hand around me
The tension from earlier seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief and newfound understanding.
As we took our seats, the servant placed a plate filled with roasted chicken with a side of steamed vegetables. The aroma wafted up to my nose, triggering a growl from my stomach.
We began to eat, the clinking of cutlery against plates filling the air. The silence was broken by my father, who spoke with a touch of vulnerability in his voice. "Favian, I want you to know that I'm truly sorry for what happened," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "I promise to do better, to make things right."
I looked at him, studying his face for any signs of deception. But all I saw was genuine remorse and determination.
With a slight nod, I replied, "Father, it was not entirely your fault. You couldn't have known." But if you truly want to show your remorse, there may be something you can do."
His questioning gaze locked onto mine, as he asked eagerly, "What is it?"
"I would like to take leave for today and tomorrow," I explained. "I have some important matters to attend to."
Mother's eyes bore into mine, filled with worry. Father paused mid-bite and turned to me again. "Is it something dangerous?"
"Of course not, Father," I reassured him. "Just some urgent business that needs attending to. I will be back by tomorrow night."
"Do you really have to go?" Father's tone became serious as he asked, "And can I send some people with you?"
"It is of the utmost importance, and I would prefer to handle it on my own," I responded before taking a bite of chicken.
He let out a sigh before conceding, "Very well. Just please be safe. I trust you to handle whatever it is you need to do."
As we continued to eat, I could see my mother growing restless. She toyed with her untouched plate, pushing the food around as her thoughts seemed to consume her. "How are your lessons going, darling?" she asked, attempting to make small talk. But I could sense a tinge of worry in her voice. Was something troubling her?
"They're going well," I replied confidently, determined not to show any signs of weakness. "Sir Caer is pleased with my progress and believes that soon I'll be ready to train independently."
"That's wonderful!" chimed in Father, his smile forced and his eyes betraying a hint of concern. Something was definitely off.
"Do you need anything from me?" I asked bluntly, cutting to the chase. My parents exchanged a quick glance before Father spoke up again.
"As a matter of fact, yes," he began hesitantly. "You're sixteen years old now Favian, and it's high time that you find someone to be betrothed to-" But I cut him off before he could finish.
"It's too soon for that," I interjected firmly. "And besides, I will choose my own partner when the time is right." My words hung heavily in the air and my parents' faces showed their disappointment and frustration.
They knew they had little power over me now. After all, I was not the same boy they used to control with such ease. Now, I was a young man who had slain a demon and held the potential to become a war saint. They may try to appeal to my love and respect I should have for them, but ultimately, my own desires and ambitions would guide my decisions - even if it meant going against their wishes. Sure, I cared for them after all they only showed support , but I wouldn't let their expectations dictate my life choices.
As I looked into my father's eyes, I could see the longing and hope he held for a grandchild. "Just please know that I would like to hold some grandkid before I turned fifty," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice, looking down at his plate.
I assured him with a smile, "I promise, Father. I will not leave you and Mother without any grandchildren." Deep down, I too wanted to start a family. A lonely life was not for me , as I craved the warmth and chaos of a household, it was always my dream to have a family...
A sense of relief washed over my father's face as he heard my words. He nodded gratefully and said, "Thank you, Favian. That means a lot to us."
I couldn't help but smirk at his words, knowing that deep down he needed some cautionary heirs . With my duties as a noble , there were always risks involved; battles to be fought and campaigns to lead. If something were to happen to me, who would inherit the county?
As our meal drew to an end, I couldn't shake off the weight of our conversation. The tension between us had lessened, but I knew that the topic of my future would not be forgotten. In my father's eyes, I was still the young boy he once raised. But I was growing into a man with my own ambitions and desires, apart also from the fact I was not his son... I wonder how he would react if he knew the thruth