Chapter 261 (1/2)

Aethon Thai couldn’t deny that his instincts, which had told him right as the fight was beginning that this might happen. This was always a possibility. But he just… he just wished…

He watched his daughter fall forward, her head leaning against the boy’s chest. The boy instantly embraced her. A roaring filled his ears as his fists on the desk in front of him tightened. This… this presumptuous….!

A voice drifted over from a nearby crater in the ground, where the voice’s owner had been smashed earlier. “Kukuku…. Stop it you two, save something for the wedding night.”

The blood drained out of Claptrap’s face, and he looked deathly ill. Meanwhile, that blood seemed to drain straight out of him and into Aethon, who felt his vision become tinged with red. Still, Aethon was forced to push down his urge to once more smash his drinking partner, because several referees rushed the arena, as the Ghosthound too collapsed, after the announcement of his victory.

Because they were touching already, as they fell towards the ground, all Aethon Thai could imagine was the worthless Ghosthound taking advantage of the confusion, and-

“Wow, I truly am lucky to be a spear attendant to such a bold man… right in front of her father, kukukuku…”

With a twitching eyelid, Aethon moved at the maximum possible speed, cracking the announcer booth and sending Claptrap sprawling, appearing at the two youth’s side before the referees could get there, his hands extending to shove the Ghosthound away and grab his daughter.

To his surprise, there was an individual who was only a half step behind him, who was reaching for the Ghosthound. A bald, aged man, with soft eyes, and a firm jaw. Someone, that after a split second of surprise, Aethon recognized.

“Divveltian. It truly has been too long. Heh, I was wondering about how this Ghosthound could accomplish so much, so he was your student as well.”

Divveltian smiled, and there was something very… bitter about it that threw Aethon. “Heh… I’m surprised you remembered me Captain Thai… but no, I cannot claim responsibility for this boy. That move… was self invented.”

Aethon Thai’s eyes widened. “He… created that….?”

“A runic rarity skill set.” Divveltian answered in a very small voice.

“Hey…. don’t act like I’m not still here,” The Ghosthound boy said, struggling to stand up. To Aethon’s surprise, Divveltian stepped back and away, letting him stand on his own, and although he swayed back and forth, the Ghosthound stood straight, looking haggard but well enough.

“Congratulations, boy.” He said simply, his face becoming much more serious as his eyes scanned the youth in front of him, searching for… something. And also deathly afraid that he would bring up Ciel’s promise of marriage at this juncture, in such a public location. Although it would hurt his pride, he would simply deny it, no matter-

“It really was… a lot of fun…. But we still have much more to do...” The Ghosthound boy muttered staring fixedly at Ciel, and then fell backwards, where Divveltian was there to grab his shoulders.

If it wasn’t for both of them having served together on the frontlines for several years, Aethon Thai might have eviscerated the Ghosthound and Divveltian both. It was a lot of fun? GRABBING HIS DAUGHTER LIKE THAT? AND THEY STILL HAD MORE TO-

His chest heaving, Aethon forced himself to turn away, holding his daughter protectively. Perhaps, he thought, they would simply flee the city, running from this womanizing fool Ghosthound. No matter what promises… promise ahem, his daughter might have made… this was truly too much for him to handle.

Divveltian’s final words gave Aethon pause, but then they parted ways, with their injured charges. “Be careful, Captain Thai. There is something very bad going on in Deardun. I smell… a very familiar perfume. Something very, very nostalgic.”

****

Randidly grinned up at Divveltian’s stern face. But the older spear user continued to glower at him, before finally sighing.

“You mean to tell me…” Divveltian said slowly. “That both of those moves… were done for the first time there, on the stage? That you did them blindly, without understanding their effect on your body?”