"What do you mean 'You're too young'? I'm bloody well 100. If I was a human, I'd already be considered a relic." said Xelf, a young ,blue Iman.
"Well, luckily you aren't one son. 100 years is barely any time at all on this world. Why do you want to go so badly anyway?" responded his father, Xuku. Xuku was noticeably taller than Xelf, but Xelf was broader about the shoulders, and carried himself with nearly radiating amounts of pride and self-confidence. Too much many would say.
" Well, I want to see the Outside. I'm tired of this dark and damp world. I want to see the Sun and experience the sand under my feet. It's not like anything out there poses a danger to me if I have Victoria" countered Xelf with a smirk.
"Oh no no no, you are NOT taking Victoria with you, she is my Exoskeleton, I told you, if you want one, go build your own. It took me years to get her just perfect. I don't need you mucking her up and losing her."
" Dad, look, I'm only going to be a guard, it's not like I'll actually fight or anything, if you don't want me to use Victoria, I'll build my own in the city, I am sure they have metal of some kind. I can buy the gears and stuff at our trading post there. Please dad, I honestly don't see a future here for me in Ardys, I wasn't born to be a trader or adviser or anything of that ilk. If you only support me once in this lifetime, support me now dad. I'll make you proud. And if all goes well, I'll be back here in 5 years" pleaded Xelf.
His father ,eyes full of defeat, shrugged and said " I give in. Obviously I won't be able to persuade you not to go , I guess it'll be a good experience for you anyway . Just promise me one thing, say goodbye to your Mother before you leave."
With a whoop of excitement Xelf embraced his father . " Thank you so much dad. I'll go tell mom now and then I'll come back and pack. If I am quick I can take the next ship out of here, will that be fine?"
"Want to get away from your old man before I change my mind or something? " said Xuku , rolling his eyes with a chuckle .
"No dad, it's not that, I just really want to get there as soon as possible, I hear the Dragon Whelps think we are gods or something. I wonder if I'll be able to get my own follower. Any way, I'm off to see Mother. See you soon Dad" and with that Xelf was out of the door and disappeared into the stream of other Iman going on with their normal lives.
"Sometimes I wonder about that kid. He always seems to have some kind of thing to look forward to. It reminds me a lot of you when we just got bound. You were always rushing around and talking about discovering the outside world, but I guess you never could, with the sickness. I really wonder where you would've been today if you didn't have it, but at least your spirit lives on in our son. God I miss you, you know? It's not hard being a single father for a son like him, especially if he is almost nothing like me. " says Xuku, his eyes on a small portrait of an Iman female, on the table near him. Sighing he says " Well one day I'll see you again love, and then I'll be able to tell you all this myself. I can't wait for that day."
