"Do you love my son?"
The question cut through the room like a blade. Tyson choked on his drink almost instantly, his face turning red as Nancy froze in shock.
Seraphina sighed quietly, closing her eyes as if bracing herself. Uncle Edward's bluntness was legendary—delicate matters were never spared from his no-nonsense approach. To him, there was no time to waste on subtlety.
"Master?" Tyson managed with embarrassment.
"It's Dad," Edward corrected without shifting his unwavering gaze from Nancy. "Well? Do you love him?"
Nancy's breath caught, her hands clenching in her lap as she refused to meet anyone's eyes. The weight of his question—and the silence that followed...
"Yes," she said finally, "I do love him."
Tyson's eyes widened, and his gaze darted to Nancy, who remained focused on the table. The air between them grew thick, emotions swirling beneath the surface, but Edward didn't so much as blink.
"Why?"
Nancy's head began to spin. Why does she love him? The question caught her off guard. The truth was, she didn't have a clear answer. It's already hard for her to admit that she loves him but how could she say that out loud, especially to his father, when she hadn't even discussed it with Tyson?
Before she could gather her thoughts, Seraphina stepped in.
"Uncle, I think you're pushing a little too hard. She might feel like you're trying to force an answer out of her."
Edward's gaze flickered for just a moment before he shrugged, as though not bothered by Seraphina's intervention.
"Right! Dad, she's not a Ranger," Tyson added with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension. His smile was weak, but it was enough to soften the atmosphere, even if just a little.
Edward's eyes never left Nancy. "It's not because he has your father's Meta-bot, is it?"
The words freezing the table in stunned silence. Tyson, especially, was caught off guard. How did his mentor know about that? He hadn't shared anything about the Meta-bot with him, and Nancy hadn't confided in anyone. So, how did Edward know? And why would he think she came closer to Tyson because of the Meta-bot?
Nancy remained quiet, she felt the l weight of his question.
Tyson's voice hardened, more serious now. "Father, it's better if you stop here."
But Edward didn't relent. "She came all the way from Babylon to Elria. She joined the same school mid-semester, the same class as you, and even befriended Emily. I wonder why?"
"Have you done a background check on her?" Tyson snapped, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Unbelievable."
"It's okay, Tyson," Nancy interjected,"He's just making sure his son doesn't go astray."
"Thank you for understanding," Edward replied, disregarding Tyson's protests. "So?"
Nancy hesitated, casting a glance at Tyson before answering. "I told him why I came to the city, he knows." She looked at Tyson now, her words almost a whisper. "I told him why, and I was planning to leave after I saw the Meta-bot but..."
Tyson's breath hitched at her admission. She was planning to leave After she saw the Meta-bot but then why was she still here? Why had she stayed?
"I stayed because I fell for him," Nancy murmured, her voice barely audible but the sincerity in her words clear.
Tyson blinked, stunned. "What?" he stammered. "What did she just say?"
Edward chuckled softly, a rare moment of levity in his otherwise serious demeanor. Alex leaned back in his chair, a small grin playing at the edge of his lips, while Sera shot him a knowing look, raising an eyebrow as if trying to confirm she'd heard correctly. Alex simply nodded, confirming that this moment was indeed happening.
"I don't know why," Nancy added, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "I don't have an answer to that."
Edward gave a light shrug, his gaze flicking between Tyson and Nancy, before settling back on his son. "Fair enough," he said, his voice carrying a mix of understanding and finality. "But it's up to you two to figure things out."
Tyson stared at his plate, still trying to process everything that had just unfolded. Something fluttered inside his chest, but he couldn't quite put a name to it. The air between them fell into a quiet lull as they continued eating, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I knew him," Edward spoke up again, his tone quieter, almost reflective. "Victor, a quite Nerdy fellow"
Nancy looked up at him,curiosly. Did he know my father?
Tyson's mind raced, the pieces falling into place. Of course, Edward had been part of the last tournament—he was one of the eight survivors, out of hundreds. He must have crossed paths with Victor in the battle room.
"When I first saw Tyson's Meta-bot, I suspected it was related to him. But I wasn't sure," Edward continued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke with a mixture of acknowledgment and revelation. "But now... I'm certain. It's his Meta-bot."
"So it's true that Meta-bots can change hosts?" Sera asked, her voice edged with both intrigue and concern.
Nancy nodded slowly, her gaze flicking between the people at the table. The weight of what had just been revealed settled around them.
"He had some strange theories," Edward continued, his voice filled with nostalgia. "And some predictions"
"Like what?" Alex asked, curiosity creeping into his tone.
"Like the second-time summons?" Tyson said, and the room fell into a heavy silence.
Edward remained quiet, clearly lost in thought,
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, confused.
"Nobody survives their second time in the tournament," Tyson said, his words hanging in the air like an ominous warning. "And most likely, the survivors from the last tournament get summoned for the second time."
The whole room fell silent. Alex and Tyson kept their eyes locked, a realization dawning on them both. Their father, Edward, had survived the last tournament. If he were to get drafted again, the odds were not in his favor. He could be sent back into the deadly arena, facing the same fate as the others before him.
Edward seemed to sense his son's dilemma, and his voice softened. "It's just a prediction, not the future," he said, meeting Tyson's gaze. "And warriors are always up against their fate."
"That's how it is," Tyson said grimly. "We're fighting the impossible."
"Everything is impossible until it's done," Alex reminded him, a glint of determination in his eyes.
Tyson couldn't help but smirk. Just like Nancy's father had written about humans—their resilience, their sheer willpower. And now, he had a living example of that force sitting right next to him—Alex Rogers.
"Anyway, how's your preparation going, Sera?" Edward asked, his tone shifting to a more casual one. "You're about to become president yourself."
Sera smiled, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her expression. "I'm not sure I can," she said, her voice soft. "After all, it's up to the people to decide who they want as their leader."
"You're running for the elections?" Nancy asked, her surprise evident. She wasn't aware of the news, like most civilians. "My god, we're about to have a young and beautiful president!"
"Oh, come on," Sera laughed lightly, her cheeks flushing. "I think I'm still far from winning the election."
"You will," Alex chimed in confidently, offering a reassuring smile. "Since I'm helping you, things are sure to move fast."
Edward smiled but said nothing, watching as his son took matters into his own hands.
"I'll appoint Alex and Tyson as your personal guards this Friday," Edward said, his tone matter-of-factly. "Since I won't be there with you at the event."
"What? Why?" Sera asked, eyebrows raised. "I want you there, Uncle, not them!"
Alex and Tyson exchanged a bewildered glance, both stunned by the idea.
"What?" Alex exclaimed, caught between feeling offended and oddly relieved that Sera seemed to agree they should avoid the political drama. "You want us to guard her? You're serious?"
Tyson just blinked, still processing what was happening. "I have a school to attend."
"You come to school just to take long naps, nothing important," Nancy replied, smirking. "It's better if you're with her."
"Hey! That's a trade secret!" Tyson shot back, sensing Edward's gaze on him.
Why did Tyson still attend school, even though trainees like him barely needed to be there? To learn? Of course not. He just wanted to get away from Master's training. And Alex? Well, he seemed to have joined in the bunking once his father started pushing them nonstop.
"Oh, did I hear that right?" Edward chuckled.
"Sera, I will be your personal guard for the day!" Tyson almost shouted, saluting her. "Just say the word, and I'll be there!"
Alex crushed a cookie in his hand, glaring at Tyson. He was fine with them both opposing the idea, but this guy had switched sides faster than a politician after the Election results.
"Then it's settled," Edward said, his voice final. "Boys, please escort the ladies back to their homes."
"Yeah," Tyson muttered, standing up, as Nancy waved goodbye to the others.
"Thank you, Nancy, for the cookies!" Edward bellowed from the hallway, his voice carrying. "They're delicious!"
"Wait, you brought cookies?" Tyson asked, his eyes wide as he opened the car door. "Why didn't you tell me about that?"
Nancy slid into the seat with a sly smile. "Nothing for you."
"That's not fair!" Tyson groaned as the car's engine roared to life and they pulled away.