"Welcome home bud" the projection of my father continued, after a fit of laughter..

I smiled, something about the way he’d worded that felt nice....

"If you’re indeed unfortunate enough to have received the key to this place from that stuck up guy, then it means I’d failed to truly escape my past, I can only hope that you and your mother made it out safely"

"Honey, I told you to stop saying such depressing things, you’re starting all over, I’m sure we’ll be fine"

"Hahaha.. yes, you’re right, it’s me after all, even if they do come, I’ll just send them packing, hahahahaha.."

"Jeeez"...

.....

"Father..." my gut twisted at the conversation going on..

It seems my father somehow knew that his past wasn’t going to let him live a normal life..

"Unfortunately, neither of you did, but worry not.. I shall make sure those who did this to us, pay the ultimate price" I vowed quietly, aunt v squeezing my palm gently..

I looked at her and smiled, "WE, will make them pay" I corrected myself..

"So, how do you like the place? I wanted it to be a bit shinier, but your mother couldn’t stop complaining about messing up the ambience of nature or whatever, you can blame her for not getting a mansion that lit up like a globe during the day" the man pouted like a child that had been denied toys to play with..

"This video wasn’t made to leave behind any profound wisdom or knowledge, I’m bad at things like that, I’m making this to congratulate you on finally stepping foot on the big leagues, you’re now entering the true world, you’ll see things that’ll make you doubt the world, experience things that’ll test your character"

"My one advice? Do not be a loner. I do not for once doubt your genius my son, you’re the most talented person I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen and fought with monsters beyond your imagination, yet none of them can compare to your talent my son"

An unexplainable feeling of pride swelled within me..

The fact that my old man had been so proud and sure of my exceptional qualities, despite having already been told so by my aunt, hearing it from the man himself made it all the more better..

"But, do not let that overwhelming talent, overshadow your ability to connect with people, no one man is an island my child, no one pair of hands can stop four, surround yourself with those whom you trust to carry the burden of progress, do not discriminate, do not hate on any one race, we’re all terrans, yes, even the demons, we’re all one" that made me pause..

My eyes turning red, the mention of demons dredging up painful memories..

I don’t know what made him trust those filthy creatures, I don’t know what he saw.

But it was that same trust that got him killed, that same trust that made the schemes of snakes more successful..

Hearing the words "do not hate demons" coming from my father’s mouth, only made my hate toward that disgusting race bubble forth harder..

"If you knew what they’d do to you, to mom, would you still have the face to say this to me? Hate no demons? Discriminate against no one? Until the demon race draws its last breath, until the Draken family and whosoever it is that was involved in your deaths draw their last breath, then I shall not rest, and if I should take on this burden alone? So. Be. It.."

"I know what I’m asking might seem too much, but believe me,just as there are bad souls among every race, there are good souls out there as well, all you need to do, is open up your heart and you will see"..

I kept quiet, my eyes merely focused on the display, my father’s eyes had gone distant, likely remembering something..

"Anyhoo, enough of this sappy stuff, time for the fun things.."

"What fun things? Regulus Avalon Von Draken, just what the hell did you do" my mother’s voice was threatening now..

"Hehehe.. hey, the photograph on the fire place, right beneath it, I’ll place something special for you there, use it to your hearts content, however you see fit, just consider it a gift from your old man, a handing over of sorts, after all, my son can’t go around building his legend without something legendary to identify him by, now can he?" hearing that my eyebrow rose, my gaze moving back toward the photo above the fire place..

"Hmm, I wonder what he left?" I was curious now..

"Don’t worry, you’ll love it, trust me" his voice sounded out, almost as if in reply..

I turned my attention back to the projection..

"Well, I think that’s all, I don’t believe this is a farewell video, you might never even see it, since I have all intentions of bringing you to the central continent myself and showing you off to those stuck up families and their so called "geniuses" , but you never know, besides, I enjoy when your mother is stressed out, so it’s a win-win situation regardless"..

"I hate you, Reggie.."

"Ack.. don’t call me that.."

"And what are you going to do about it.. REGGIE!!"

"That’s it, woman, get over here....."

"Hehehehe.. catch me if you can...."

The camera suddenly turned, my mother’s beautiful face filling the display, her eyes seemingly seeing through the camera itself and looking directly at me..

"Mother..."...

"My baby boy.. don’t listen to anything your dumb dad just said, especially the fireplace, make sure to ignore that..."

"Seraaaaaa!!!!"

"Hahahahaha....."

.......

The feed cut off after that....

My old man had said it wasn’t a farewell, he’d had plans to show me everything himself..

Yet, cowards decided to make sure the video was exactly what it wasn’t intended...

Another tear slid down my face before I could stop it..

"Dante... are you... are you alright?" Aunt V’s soft voice brought me back to the present..

Her worried face was right in front of me, jewel black eyes holding nothing but worry and care..

I smiled, cupped her cheeks then gave her a soft, tender kiss, the feeling of her soft lips grounding me..

"I’m fine, aunt v, don’t worry" I separated from her, hands still cupping her cheeks..

"Are you sure?" She asked once more, placing her hands over mine as she searched my gaze for any deceit.. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"One hundred percent" I replied, punctuating it with another soft peck..

"Now, let’s go see what my old man left for me, shall we" I grabbed her hand as we returned to the fireplace..

Inspecting the area below the photograph, I found what looked like a secret locking mechanism, clicking on it, a compartment opened up softly..

I grabbed the handle and pulled, a massive weapon being drawn out of the deceptively large compartment..

It was a weapon, Laid beautifully upon a rectangular display panel..

My eyes glittered like stars the moment I laid eyes on what was to be my own weapon..

"Heh.. seems my days of punching things like a caveman are finally over"...

***********

A/N: alright, it’s time for our boy’s weapon attainment, a poll Wu be created in discord, a vote will be held on which weapon you guys feel suits him best..

The vote will last until the next day, when it will be revealed in the next Chapter..

So head over to discord and vote, if you’re not yet in the TR33 House, the link is in the synopsis and and my bio, go join....

Voting starts now..

************

Thanks for reading...

(3/3)