Chapter 10: Finding Focus and Unspoken Truths
Wicked lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The morning sun filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over his cluttered room. With a heavy sigh, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the familiar weight of distraction pressing down on him. Today marked the beginning of a new training arc, and he needed to get his mind right.
After a quick breakfast, he headed to the forger's workshop, where he found Isabel, Junior, and Autumn already hard at work. The forge blazed with bright flames, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The forger, an older man with a thick beard and hands toughened by years of work, welcomed Wicked with a nod.
"Just in time! We're about to start a new round of training. Grab a hammer and get to it!" the forger called out.
Wicked picked up a hammer, feeling its weight in his hand. As he swung it down onto the anvil, he exchanged glances with Isabel, who was working on shaping a piece of metal beside him. Junior and Autumn were nearby, each focusing on their tasks. The sounds of clanging metal filled the air, but Wicked's mind was elsewhere.
"Concentrate, Wicked!" the forger shouted, noticing his distracted demeanor. "You need to put your heart into it or you'll ruin the piece."
"Yeah, I know," Wicked mumbled, trying to refocus. He hammered the metal again, but his thoughts kept drifting back to T. The more he tried to concentrate, the more his mind jumbled. He struggled to get the rhythm right, messing up a few times, much to the forger's dismay.
"Step back and breathe," the forger advised, raising an eyebrow. "You're letting your head get in the way. What's bothering you?"
Wicked paused, glancing at Isabel, Junior, and Autumn. They were all so focused, but he felt out of place, his mind tangled with confusion about his relationship with T. "I just... I need to talk to T. Something's off," he admitted, frustration lacing his voice.
"Then go," the forger said with a knowing look. "Clear your head before you get back to work. The forge will be here when you return."
With a grateful nod, Wicked set the hammer down and made his way out of the workshop. He needed clarity and knew T was the person to help him find it.
When he arrived at T's house, she was lounging by the window, her posture relaxed yet watchful. "You look like you've been through the wringer," she said, smirking.
"Yeah, well, training didn't go as planned," Wicked replied, dropping into a chair. "I've got a lot on my mind. Can we talk?"
"Of course," T said, leaning forward with interest. "What's going on?"
Wicked took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his thoughts spill out. "I've been thinking about our talk on harems. I just don't think I'm ready for that kind of relationship. It's too complicated for me."
T's expression softened, but she didn't interrupt.
"And I need you to be honest with me about why you got kicked out of school," he blurted out, the question hanging in the air between them.
Her eyes widened slightly, then she sighed, looking away for a moment. "Fine. It's a long story. I was involved with some of the professors. They started fighting over me—arguing about who had the right to teach me and spend time with me. It got so chaotic that they ended up choosing me over their jobs, and eventually, the school had to let me go."
Wicked blinked in surprise, absorbing her words. "So, they were literally fighting over you?"
"Pretty much," she replied, a hint of pride mingling with her frustration. "It was a mess, and I didn't want to be the reason they lost their jobs. So, I left."
"Wow," he said, shaking his head. "I had no idea it was that serious. But you've got to start being upfront with people about it, T. You can't let them find out the hard way."
T nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You're right. I haven't wanted to scare anyone away, but I realize now that being honest is the best way to handle it."
As they spoke, Wicked felt a shift in his own perspective. "You know, if I ever consider being in a harem, I don't want to be just another guy who loves one person. I want to be someone who can give love to multiple people—be a part of something bigger. But I think I'd limit myself to maybe seven women at most. It's just too much otherwise."
T raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You've really thought about this."
"Yeah, but it's not just about the numbers. I realize I'm not ready for the emotional complexity of it all. I don't want to hurt anyone or cause chaos like you did at school. I want to understand what it means to lead a harem, not just participate in one," he said, his voice growing steadier.
"Leading is definitely harder than it looks," T admitted, her eyes reflecting a hint of regret. "I've caused enough chaos already. I didn't think about the consequences of my actions then, but I see it now. I've put myself in situations that hurt others, and I don't want to keep doing that."
"Yeah," Wicked replied, a sense of camaraderie growing between them. "It's about more than just feelings. It's about being responsible for those you care about."
"I get that now. It's something I need to work on," she said, her tone sincere.
Wicked leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of clarity wash over him. "You deserve to find someone who understands what you need, even if it's not me. Just be honest about it."
"I appreciate that," she said softly, her gaze steady. "Thanks for being honest with me."
As their conversation wrapped up, Wicked stood to leave, feeling lighter after sharing his thoughts. He had learned something important—not just about T, but about himself as well. He was ready to face the complexities of his world and the relationships that came with it.
When he climbed up to the roof later, he found Isabel gazing up at the stars, her expression thoughtful. "Tough day?" she asked without looking at him.
Wicked flopped down beside her, letting out a sigh. "You have no idea."
"Let me guess. T?" she said, glancing over at him.
"Yeah," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "We talked about the whole harem thing. I told her I'm not ready for it."
Isabel smiled faintly. "I figured as much. You're not exactly the 'multiple relationships' type."
Wicked chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I guess I'm not. But I told her she needs to start being honest with people about it. That's something she should've been doing from the start."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the stars twinkling above them. Wicked felt the weight of the day's events settle into a strange sense of calm. He had learned something important, and that was more than enough for now.