While Kiyan had a somewhat safe landing, the same couldn't be said for Raten.
While falling, he hit his torso hard on a tree branch. Fell onto another branch with his face, broke another with his back while being slapped around with leaves. Finally he fell to the ground.
"Umph!"
"Ow.. that hurt," he groaned and writhed on the ground in pain.
After a short while, he stood up and took off the leaves, twigs and dirt that were on his body. He did miss a few twigs that were in his already tied up hair.
He stretched his back but flinched as a certain part hurt. Instinctively, he placed his hand over his torso.
"Why didn't I try to land safely?" He regretted just letting himself fall.
"Did Kiyan land safely? Is he okay?" Raten wondered while taking a good look at the forest. He couldn't even remember which direction he fell from.
"Why did I end up alone?" He groaned.
Raten looked around. There was nothing but nature, nothing but greens and brown.
"What am I supposed to do now?" He wondered, scratching the side of his head.
He couldn't think of anything and decided to just start walking. Hopefully he will make it back home without encountering anything too dangerous. That was nothing short of wishful thinking, he knew.
********
After being told somewhat nicely to leave their home, Lecter headed downhill and made his way home. Surprisingly, he bumped into Jarett. Jarett had begun. hanging around these parts of the city more often than usual.
"Hey Lecter!" He called out with a wave and a smile.
"At least this one remembers my name," Lecter smiled back with a wave. Jarett made happy strides towards him.
"Ah yes, he still thinks the twins will meet him tomorrow. Should I just tell him now?" He wondered.
"Is there anything you want?" Lecter immediately asked as Jarett neared. They weren't exactly friends, so he thought Jarett wanted to ask something.
"Nothing really, I just saw you and thought to say hi." He answered. Lecter looked up at the towering figure.
"Uhm, so about the twins, th-they won't be meeting you tomorrow." Lecter said.
Jarett's smile immediately vanished. He looked a bit disappointed but his smile soon returned as if he expected Lecter's words.
After that day he hadn't once seen the twins, and Lecter did say they hadn't left home since then. Rather, they just hadn't stepped into the city again.
They did go to places Agnar often dragged them to and would always return badly wounded.
Jarett had doubts they would suddenly show up because he wanted a rematch. But, other than that, there was something that made him interested in them.
"I don't know if it's right, but can you tell me where they live so I can go there myself?" Jarett asked pleadingly. He said every word rather gently as if Lecter was going to explode at him.
"I don't think their father would allow it." Lecter answered truthfully. He then stopped for a while and placed his hand on his chin. His eyebrows pierced forward. He was in thought.
'From what I have seen, those three are very interested in strength and other great feats alike. They might be interested in Jarett if they meet him. I can just bring him with me and say I had to hurry off with a friend.' Lecter gave the idea a thought.
'But…'
He sighed.
"I can't tell you where they live, sorry."
"It's okay. I understand." Jarett said. "Goodbye then," he waved and left.
Lecter resumed walking home. He whistled on the way when he noticed a group of teenagers about his age and some of them, a bit older. He stopped as they also noticed him.
After a brief moment of stares, whispers and murmurs, they moved away giving him distance. Lecter's shoulders dropped and he looked saddened a bit.
Keeping his chin up, he carried on till he got home. He reached out to the doorknob when a familiar enraged voice startled him, stopping him from opening the door.
"And just where is that useless son of yours?! How could he go ahead and awaken that stupid mana thing inside of him after I said he would be a knight?! He defies me!" The harsh tone from the manly voice shook Lecter.
"He, he.. he's home?" Lecter slowly backed away from the door. But hearing the man continuously yell at his mother, he bit his lower lip, swallowed his saliva and shakily opened up the door.
"Tell me, where has he gone?!"
"I'm here, father."
Lecter opened the door to meet the back of the chief commander of Mulgard's royal army, Roland Ackerman.
"Lecter." His father said and turned to look at him. He was a bit on the big side. His hair was dark and curly, just like Lecter's, but was fuller and longer.
He still had his chief's cape on, making Lecter deduce he had just returned. He looked down at his son and began taking small steps towards him.
"Calm down, don't do anything rash." Anna, Lecter's mother, hurriedly held her husband's arm and looked up at him pleadingly.
"Let go of me, woman!" Roland shouted at her. She flinched but didn't let go of his arm. Instead she held on a bit tighter, stopping him from getting closer to Lecter.
"It's because of you this overgrown cricket had the guts to defy his father!" He then turned to look at Lecter. "Close that door behind you and get over here! You are going to be punished for this!" He commanded.
"Punished?" Lecter bit hard on his lower lip. He dug his nails into his palms. He couldn't move forward or backward. He couldn't even lift his head to meet his father's gaze. He was frozen in place, but decided to speak… eventually.
"I, I didn't mean to defy you f-father." He stuttered. "I just wanted to walk the path of my dream, I don't want to be a knight, but a wiza--" Lecter's words were cut short by a tight slap across the face.
Roland had pushed his wife away and moved to hit Lecter in an instant. The slap was so hard, Lecter almost flew halfway across the room. He placed his hand on his cheek that stung with pain and looked up at his father. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Not only did you defy me, you can now talk back, huh?!" His father kicked him in the mid section. He skid across the floor. Lecter gagged and placed his arms over his abdomen as he crouched in pain.
"Roland! Stop it!" Anna ran forward and stood in front of her son. Blocking her husband from hitting him again.
"Move woman!" He wanted to push her away but she knelt in front of him.
"Please, don't hit him again. It's my fault, my fault." She lifted her head and looked at him with teary eyes. "I encouraged him, I told him to carry on. Take your anger out on me! Don't hit him again, please." She pleaded and placed her head at his feet.
"M-mother..." Lecter watched her in front of him. She didn't even know that he had awakened his mana. Yet, she was taking the blame. He was surprised his father even knew.
She was protecting him from his father again, like she always did. Ever since he said he wanted to become a wizard, Lecter became his father's punching bag. He only had rest when Roland wasn't home.
Now, he is seeing his mother on her knees once more.. for his sake.
"Stop touching me!" Roland moved his legs, kicking her hands away.
"If they hadn't put the academy on hold, this would not be happening." Roland hissed and stomped off into his room.