Aloe had thought of all the things he would say if he ever saw his son again. Those emerald eyes didn't twinkle like they always did. They were hardened, tougher, and hiding in shadows. Nocturnis sat down and looked up at Arin and Aloe, waiting for the two humans to talk it out.
Aloe released a ragged breath and loosened his hold and the spear. "You've returned home, finally. I was… beginning to worry about you. Are you alright? What happened to your clothes and your… spear?"
"Oh this?" Arin plucked a part of his shirt and lifted it up for a second before letting it go. "It's nothing too worrisome. I did some training and ran into some Tunnel Terrors."
"Tier 3 monsters?" The leader gasped.
"It's nothing to worry about. I got some help from some Psychic Bats that killed them and I was able to get out just fine with some help from some people I met."
"You met adventurers?" Aloe asked. He was baffled by the words that came out of his son's mouth. He expected his son to disappear for a bit and come back like he always did. "Were they trustworthy? You didn't easily just let your guard down around them, hm?" Father stepped over and reached for Arin. He stopped short of Arin's wrist and hesitated. He pulled away and tried to contain himself.
Aloe watched his son's face fade of whatever he was hiding. For a moment, he could tell something was wrong with his son, but Arin quickly braved a smile and shook his head.
"They're fine. I only stayed with them for a short time. I came back after being healed and wanted to grab some fresh clothes, my armor and some weapons for the journey ahead." Arin explained.
"You're leaving, again?" It felt as if Aloe was punched by his own son. Behind that smile was someone who most likely resented Aloe for what he did all those years ago.
"I will leave you two to it." The leader cleared his throat, turning. "Arin, whatever choice you make, you are an adult in the eyes of Thornwood. Whatever decision you make, may it be the one you are content with." He began to walk away and stopped. He turned, saying, "Also, if the words of the people from your Father startled you… I do apologize. It seems the Beast Wave from thirteen years ago is still fresh… Goodnight."
Arin instinctively bowed the Leader as he left, leaving him with his father. Aloe let out a sigh and ruffled his hair and turned.
"Let's talk inside, hm? There's something I… must talk to you about before you leave." Aloe looked at his son over his shoulder. Arin hesitantly nodded and followed his Father home.
The home was earthly. It was left with Mother's touch. This was the space that both haunted and kept the two Drakhar men calm. Arin closed the door behind them while Aloe took his shoes off and took a seat at the table. He poured a glass of water from the crystal for himself and then his son.
Arin wandered over and took a seat across his father, leaving the seat to his right for his Mother.
"Here." Aloe set the cup of water to Arin. Aloe bowed his head and took a sip of the cold water. Silence masked the two awkward father-son duo. Arin wondered what he would say and how he would say things. He needed to follow this 'remnant of Ash.' If he could figure out what happened while he was asleep, it would possibly allow him to face Rolan and Tessa.
"We should talk about that night thirteen years ago." Aloe cleared his throat. Arin lifted his head and looked at his Father. He could tell his old man didn't take care of himself like he used to. His greying hair was messy and grew too long. "Thirteen years ago you might've remembered being taught many things by us. We were once a different people… Thornwood… was a place where Beasts, Beastlords, Hunters and regular people could live together in harmony. We favored the Beasts, understanding that there could be harmony with them as well as sustaining ourselves hunting them.
"Our village was built on these principles for as long as we remembered. Thirteen years ago changed all of that… The Beastlords and Hunters had noticed a disturbance in the Beasts around. All signs were leading to a Beast Wave… who knew it would take more people than we thought…"
"Where do… I come into all of this?" Arin asked.
Aloe let out a sigh and lifted his head to look at his son. "Your mother was putting you to bed and then the bells rang. You know what those bells mean. It's one of the first things you're taught as a child."
"'If you hear the bells ring, be prepared to be called to defend the village.'" Arin repeated the repeated words.
Aloe nodded, continuing. "Your Mother and the other Beastlords knew this day was coming. She put you to asleep and headed out with the other Beastlords to protect the village. A lot of hands were on deck that night. I was one of the few that were left behind because someone needed to protect you if anything were to go wrong.
"I'm not sure what happened but those stories we told you… Those stories your Mother insisted on telling you… It must've brought you outside and I don't know how you weren't caught but you got out of the gates and…" Aloe stopped. He could feel the feelings choke him, so he grabbed his cup of water and washed them back down into their place.
Even if Aloe finished the story, Arin got a good idea of what happened. That dream he had wasn't a dream. It was a memory unfolding in front of Arin, telling him about that night. He couldn't help but wonder what happened and how he got out but that wouldn't solve anything. It wouldn't make the hurt go away. It wouldn't bring his Mother back. It wouldn't repair the strained relationship he had with his Father.
Nothing would fill that hole. As time went by, Arin navigated around the hole. As much as he tried to fill it, he pushed himself to be the son his father wanted but ended up falling short.
"That's why I trained you so hard." Aloe cleared his throat. "I didn't put you out there because I was afraid you'd realize yourself as a Beastlord and…"
"But I eventually did anyways." Arin finally spoke. He shifted in his seat. "Mother and you always used to say that 'Fate will always have its way. Avoiding it will only hurt you more.' Why were you so persistent in making me train so hard for no reason if you had no intentions of ever putting me out there with the rest of the Hunters?" Arin's voice swelled louder and louder. He slammed the table, shaking some of the water out of his cup and pointing. "Why did you subject me to bullying from the other kids then?!? Do you not understand everything you did only hurt me more?"
"I did it to protect you!" Aloe shouted, standing.
"But did you really protect me?"
Those words sank into Aloe like hot knife. Arin's emerald eyes shook, drawing something out of Aloe he hadn't felt in a long time. He was so much like Nora, even down to how he talked back to Aloe. It was just like her.
"Your protection only hurts me, Father!" Arin's eyes filled with tears. He quickly wiped them away before continuing. "I've tried all these years to be a good son. To be a good Hunter. To be a good resident of Thornwood that could contribute to our ways. Every time I tried to go out there, you stopped me. The other Hunters, do you know what they say about me? They call me useless, a horrible memory of thirteen years ago, a stain on Thornwood, a, a, a everything! Do you not know that hurts? I'm supposed to be the son of a Hunter and now a Beastlord but my own Father didn't trust me to come back alive."
"Arin…" Aloe whispered.
"You never cared enough to see how I was doing. You never asked me if I was okay. You were so… You just… You cared only for your own feelings because you lost someone but I lost someone, too! I lost a Mother! I lost the woman who would tuck me in, read me bed time stories about the Beasts and Ferrowilde! I lost someone, too, Father! Why is it that you get a pass but I don't? Most of the people around here lost someone or multiple people that night! Why is it the adults get a pass on their hurt and the children are just neglected and left to pick up the pieces? Why must I do that when I didn't know better, hm? Why must I be the one the kids pin it on? I didn't know! I didn't know!"
Tears and snot spilled from Arin's face. He broke into a sob, turning and covering himself for a moment. Life was unfair and he clearly got the short end of the stick.
Aloe moved over to his son and reached out to him. Arin moved backwards, knocking his chair over. "Arin, I…"
"You always said when I'm of age I could do whatever I want so I'm leaving this village and never coming back. I just came to collect some things and leave. I got more pressing matters to deal with than a wound that has long scarred over." Arin stepped away, moving past his Father and heading to his bedroom, alone.