"Old lady, where are you? I brought a friend," Akira announced as he stepped into the tailor's, Hus voice low—a little too low.
"Lord Akira..." Frill said as she turned her attention to Akira, her eyes slightly swollen and nose red.
"Crazy weekend, right? How's the old lady?" he inquired softly.
"She's still unconscious from the medicine she took," Frill replied. "I'm worried... What if she doesn't wake up?" Frill said as she began tearing up.
Akira walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Can we see her?"
Frill nodded and lead them to the back room. She opened the door and they found the old lady sleeping on a bed with a towel over her head.
"Granny Vilgrat doesn't look too good," Ruri noted, her heart sinking as she glanced at Frill, who was seconds away from crying again.
"Ruri... Hold her hand," Akira ordered.
"Huh?" Ruri said.
"Lord Akira... What are you...?" Frill inquired.
Akira smiled at her and said, "Sorry, but this is important. Don't worry. No rituals will be involved."
Frill momentarily paused until she stepped back, allowing Ruri to stand beside Vilgrat's resting body.
Then, she reached in and held her hand. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it.
"It's warm..." she said.
"Good. Now..." Akira faced his palm towards Ruri. "Feel my hand. This is how it feels without me regulating my temperature, mind you."
Ruri curiously looked at Akira's palm and felt overwhelmed. But, she reached in and placed her palm on his.
Then, a sudden jolt of frost and cold traveled throughout her entire body.
She began shivering and felt her entire body tensing up. On top of that, her heart beat was losing its pace and speed. Her fingers twitched in response to the cold and she began breathing out cold breath.
Quickly, Akira removed his hand, which allowed Ruri to quickly return to her normal body temperature and state.
As she shuddered, she rubbed her hands together and blew warm air onto them.
"Cold... So cold..." she mumbled under her breath.
Akira removed his jacket and placed it over Ruri's shoulders. "Do you now understand how a dead body works in comparison to a living one?" he inquired.
"Unless you want the same body temperature as mine, you're going to stay put and keep yourself safe. Unlike Asahi, I have nothing positive to say about my parents.
"The boy needs you. If you act irrationally because of your friend's stupidity, you'll be abandoning the boy."
Ruri nodded slowly as tears flowed out of her eyes. "You're right... But, I'm not much of a parent to him. So when he returns, I should do better, right?"
Akira smiled softly and hugged Ruri, placing one arm around her shoulder and comforting her. "He'll be back. Count on it."
Akira then turned to Frill. "Thanks, Frill. Let me know once she's awake," he said as he held Ruri's shoulder and walked out beside her.
"Lord Akira... Why did you come here?" Frill queried.
"Simple. I like Vilgrat, and if she were to kick the bucket before her time, I'd destroy every single minotaur in the world," he replied. "She fixed my favourite suit, afterall," he added as he turned his head and smiled at Frill.
Frill smiled, her hands trembling as she wiped her tears. "Thank you..."
***
Akira and Ruri sat on Akira's lawn as the Sun began to set.
Ruri looked at Akira and wondered why his hands were extremely cold. Unbeknownst to Ruri's staring, Akira looked at the horizon as the wind slowly blew his hair.
His golden eyes looked similar to the Sun and they were just as intense. The longer Ruri looked at him, the longer she felt the intensity rising.
"Mh?" At long last, Akira noticed Ruri staring at him and he returned her gaze.
In response, Ruri looked away in embarassment and covered her eyes.
"Ruri, is Asahi actually your son?" Akira queried.
"Nope..." Ruri replied as she looked at the horizon. "Actually, he's the son of my friend who was taken away by the minotaurs."
Akira blinked. "Really?"
"Yep. She was completely useless. She couldn't cook, clean or even do basic things such as taking care of kids. And yet, Asahi loved her with all his heart. He was broken when she was taken away. All I remember from that day is Asahi's crying. His voice, cracking and heartbreaking.
"Because I loved my friend, I took Asahi in and he did not adjust well to my parenting. I am absolutely terrible at being a mom," she continued as she placed her head on her thighs.
"And yet, I love that little piece of trash like he's my own. He gives me a purpose and taking care of him makes me feel... Happy..."
Akira watched Ruri and said, "I'm sure he adores you as much as you do him."
"Yeah right. He hates me..."
"You really should refrain from bringing different men into your home. Asahi is a young man and seeing that might affect him psychologically."
"If you say so..."
Akira sighed and stood up. "Bring me my jacket once you've washed it," he said as he walked away.
"Huh?! I can't keep it, your lordness?!" Ruri exclaimed as she raised her head.
"Of course not," Akira retorted as he opened his front door and walked inside, closing the door as soon as he entered. Ruri sighed and stood up.
"I suppose I can wait for Asahi and Obarihime to return..."
***
[Thunderbolt Hideout]
Kurtis threw Obarihime on the floor.
"Teacher!" Asahi exclaimed as he reached in to help her, but was held back by one of the minotaurs.
As she lied on the ground, Obarihime caught a glimpse of the person seated on the throne of bones.
A tall minotaur with a long, black beard with braids and beads tangled within it.
He was far bulkier and muscular than his subordinates. And yet, one could tell that he was the oldest.
His black eyes pierced the souls of those who dared to gaze at him and he wore that fact with a proud expression.
As he rested his head on his arm, he looked at Obarihime and noticed the tribal earring on her left ear. "The village chief's granddaughter... I've been expecting you..."
"Zurgast...! Grandfather has warned me about you...!"
"I found the boy in the forest and decided to bring him here. As for the woman, she was following me. So I thought, why not bring her along?" Kurtis said as he smirked, prompting the other minotaurs to laugh obnoxiously.
Releasing the air from his snout, Zurgast said, "Is that so? Where are the others?"
Kurtis paused for a moment and ceased smirking.
Zurgast noticed the change and said, "That's why you returned early..."
"... There is a demon ruling the village of the goblins now. I assume he's the one responsible for the changes in the village."
"Changes?" Zurgast inquired as he raised an eyebrow.
"These low level species no longer stay in huts. Rather, they have homes similar to those of the city people. Also, there's a large gate and wall surrounding the village, for some reason."
Zurgast rubbed his chin and grunted. "It'd be quite odd for the demon to be assisting the goblins and improving their quality of life. Demons are the world's most viscous race and they wouldn't settle down in a village just to help the goblins."
'You're not wrong about that. Akira is using us for his own benefit afterall...' Asahi said as he refrained from looking at the minotaurs.
"What's more vexing is the fact that he looks like a human," Kurtis continued.
A second after he said that, Zurgast crushed his throne's arm, the energy swirling around him now murky and desthly.
His mana began rising, causing the entire building to rock in response to his sudden shift in aura.
"A demon that looks human, aye?" he said as he stood up. "So... he's settled at the village of the goblins...."
"Captain?"
"Gather everyone. We destroy that village tonight. My grandfather will finally know peace once he's gone...!"
Kurtis nodded and left the room. Zurgast crouched in front of Obarihime and grabbed her chin roughly, his fingers digging deep into her skin.
"I will have my fun with you once I've killed Akira Mephistopheles. The man will rue the day he murdered my grandfather in cold blood," Zurgast whispered.
"Don't touch her!" Asahi charged, only to be forcefully grabbed once again.
Zurgast brought his face closer to Obarihime, his lips touching hers. Then, a jolt of electricity courses through his veins as he quickly backed away.
His lips were now bleeding and Obarihime was glaring daggers at him, her eyes now crackling with an otherworldly power.
Golden streaks of lightning swirled around her, her breath hitching and brows furrowed as the energy danced across her entire body.
Zurgast backed away and chuckled. "An aptitude for lightning magic? Perfect."
Through the confusion, Asahi managed to break free and stand in front of Obarihime, extending his arms to defend her.
"This is Akira's wife! If you do anything to her, you will pay dearly for it!"
"Asahi!" Obarihime exclaimed, her cheeks flushed from Asahi's choice of words.
'I hate using his name like he's some sort of hero, but at this point, I have to do everything I can to protect the teacher! Even if it means risking my life...'
Suddenly, Obarihime grabbed Asahi and embraced him tightly. Then, she placed her arm on his stomach and hid him behind her.
With a determined look in her eyes, she defended Asahi and stared right at Zurgast.
"You can do whatever you want to me, but if you touch the boy, I will end you!" she exclaimed.
Asahi watched her in admiration. Then, he stared at the floor and clenched his fists, slowly succumbing to his own weakness.
'Asahi is still a child... He shouldn't even be here...'
"Akira doesn't scare me one bit. But, I suppose I should have some leverage when I face him. I'd hate to lose to him after I've waited for this long to kill him," Zurgast retorted. "Take them outside and have the women watch them."
A minotaur grabbed Obarihime and Asahi's arm, dragging them out of the room as they resisted. Zurgast wore a serious expression and felt his entire body raging.
'Since father couldn't do it, I will! Grandfather, I will finally let you rest in peace!'