Child of Omens Ruination: Aftermath

Chapter 22: No Rest for the Wicked

Hawk slowly opened his eyes, the light of the midday sun prayer him from his sleep. Sitting up, he wines in pain as he looks to see he is in a bed he's never been in. Looking around, he sees Omen in its sheath leaned up on a small end table next to him as well as his clothes which looked to have been cleaned and restitched. Putting on his clothes was difficult as whoever had brought him here also wrapped his chest with gauze where he had been stabbed. Limping his way down the set of steps that directly connected the room he slept in, he hears voices speaking with one another. Still confused, he makes it to the bottom of the steps and is genuinely surprised by what he sees.

Ace: "Hey! Look, whos finally awake! And just in time for breakfast."

Hawk looks on as Ace, Summer, Nero, Velvet, and Falke. Ace and Summer are inside the open kitchen cooking something that causes Hawk's stomach to vocally let him know its hunger. Nero, Velvet, and Falke were sitting at the counter next to the kitchen.

Hawk: "I assume I have you all to thank for not waking up in a holding cell?"

Falke: "Well, for your information, asshole. I saved your life since you decided to collapse after hitting Cinder with an execution straight out of medieval times. But if you have to know, you have Ace to thank for having someplace to sleep for the past two months."

Hawk: "Two months?!"

Ace: "You're welcome, by the way." Not stopping to look as he continued to make breakfast. "When your BFF carried your practically lifeless carcass out of the crater, we decided to set you up at my place until you woke up. And don't worry about repaying me. I believe letting you keep the knowledge that you slept the same bed me and Summer did the nasty in is payment enough." Hawk was just about throwing up as the others laughed at his expense.

Summer: "Breakfast is served. Enjoy." Setting plates full of food down in front of the group as they begin to dig in.

Velvet: "So? What's next for the great universe hopping, Hawk Branwen?"

Falke: "He'll probably want to see his Pyrrha."

Hawk: "You need to stop reading my mind, but yes, I do want to see her. After being in a coma for two months, she's most likely worried sick."

Falke: "You think yours is worried? I told mine I was only going to be gone for a day. This might be my last meal ever."

Nero: "Oooh. Good luck with that, my man. What about after?"

Hawk: "Unfortunately, this would be my last trip to a different world for a while. Once I get back to my place, I won't have much time until school starts." Falke chokes on his food in stunned surprise.

Ace: "School? I was under the impression you were well...kind of above school."

Hawk: "Nope. I realized that I never actually got any form of formal education. Homeschooling from bandits isn't going to get me rather far if I ever plan on settling down and living a normal human life."

Falke: "Okay, but have you seen yourself?! You look like you're twice your age, no offense. What school would let you in, let alone allow you to stay enrolled." Hawk sighs as he uses the Yamato to open a small portal, from which he pulls a small envelope from it.

Hawk: "You do make a strong argument. Not a lot of schools would actually let me enroll due solely to my age. But this Academy accepted my application rather quickly." Handing the group the envelope.

Velvet: "Well, that's a weird name. What do you think, Nero?" Showing the envelope to the half-devil.

Nero: "Honnōji Academy? That's... a bizarre name."

Hawk: "Different world. They probably say things differently there. But like I said, it was the only one that didn't care for my age."

Summer: "Well, I think it's nice your looking to better yourself in a way that isn't through violence. I always wanted actually to become a teacher, but back in my time, there wasn't a significant need for teachers compared to those of Huntsmen and Huntresses."

Falke: "Whelp. I think that is enough to keep filled up when I have to sleep on the couch tonight. Thank you for the food and the bed to sleep in for two months. Hawk, I'm ready whenever you are." Falke says, setting his utensils down on his empty plate.

Hawk: "I think it's time I send this bozo home." As Hawk stands up and creates a portal with the Yamato. "How mad do you think she'll actually be?"

The two Branwen dodge a mug that flies through the portal shattering on the countertop.

Pyrrha: "FALKE BRANWEN!! THAT BETTER NOT BE YOU, OR I SWEAR TO THE TWIN GODS YOU'LL WISH YOU WEREN'T!!!"

Nero: "I think she's mad."

Falke: "You think?!"

Hawk: "Good luck, and take it easy. At least you aren't dead."

Falke: "You stay alive, Hawk. And good luck with school...heh, school." Falke pats Hawk on the shoulder before taking a deep breath and walking through the portal, closing behind him.

Ace: "You got yourself a genuine friend right there."

Velvet: "Sad though that his only friend is literally himself."

Nero: "Finally!! Someone said it! I thought the same thing but didn't want to sound rude."

Summer: "Quit it. Hawk, Falke is a really nice person."

Hawk: "Yeah. Yeah, he is. Too nice, in my opinion. Believe it or not, he wants me to be his first child's uncle."

Ace: "Really? That's great, man."

Summer: "You'll be like their own Raven, but their uncle instead of aunt."

Velvet: "You'll have no shortage of stories to tell them about your adventures."

Nero: "And don't you ever forget about your real home, okay?"

Hawk: "I...I won't...Thank you for trusting in me."

Ace: "Look if I learned anything from V, Summer, these two goobers, and Wolf. It's that everyone deserves a second chance. A second chance to have freedom, to do right by those they've wronged, to live a life stolen from them, or just to try again. And you, Hawk Branwen, have earned your second chance from us." Holding out his hand. Hawk smiles as he shakes Ace's hand, a sign of genuine respect between the two.

As Hawk turned and opened another portal for himself, he was hugged from behind by Summer.

Summer: "Stay safe, okay. We're family, even if not by blood; you'll always have me. Okay?" Her words stabbed into Hawk's heart like a dagger. His thoughts filled with remorse and pain for what he did to her family.

Hawk: "Summer. I want you to know Ruby...she..she was a hero, and there will never be a day that passes where I don't miss her."

Summer: "It's okay. If I know my little girl...she has already forgiven you and will forever cheer for you on every step of your journey. You've made me and my family proud of you." Hawk smiles as he hugs Summer.

As Hawk breaks the hug, he walks through the portal, leaving behind his old world. Content with the good he did and with a newfound sense of purpose and determination.

That's it. This is the pseudo-end of Hawk's story. What I mean is that I'll definitely be writing mire stories where Hawk is the main character, but his character development is over. I want to thank everyone who supported me with comments and feedback, such as @Shamfulreader, @DustinMelton8, @BradyTurner8, @XScarWolfX, @DarkAngelJonathanCro, and @MasterRose88.