Royuki listened to his father's story with a mix of emotions. He felt sympathy for his father's dilemma, admiration for his father's bravery, and curiosity for his father's adventure. He also felt anger for his father's absence, resentment for his father's neglect, and doubt for his father's sincerity. He didn't know how to feel about his father, or how to react to his story. He didn't know if he should trust his father, or question his father. He didn't know if he should love his father, or hate his father.
He decided to keep an open mind, and give his father a chance. He decided to listen to his father, and learn from his father. He decided to follow his father, and train with his father. He decided to be his father's son, his father's student, his father's partner.
His father finished his story, and looked at Royuki. He saw Royuki's confusion, Royuki's conflict, Royuki's hesitation. He also saw Royuki's interest, Royuki's potential, Royuki's determination. He saw Royuki's growth, Royuki's improvement, Royuki's readiness. He saw Royuki's son, Royuki's student, Royuki's partner.
He smiled, and said.
"So, that's my story, Royuki. That's why I left. That's why I didn't come back. That's why I fought in the Endless Battle of Hell. That's why I'm here now. Do you understand, Royuki? Do you forgive me, Royuki? Do you love me, Royuki?"
Royuki nodded, and said.
"Yes, father. I understand. I forgive you. I love you."
His father hugged him, and said.
"Thank you, son. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for forgiving. Thank you for loving. I love you, Royuki. I love you more than anything. And I'm proud of you, Royuki. I'm proud of what you've done. I'm proud of what you've become. I'm proud of what you'll be."
He let go of Royuki, and said.
"But there's still more to do, Royuki. There's still more to learn, Royuki. There's still more to achieve, Royuki. You have a goal, Royuki. You have a dream, Royuki. You have a destiny, Royuki. You want to join the Endless Battle of Hell, Royuki. You want to find me in the arena, Royuki. You want to fight by my side, Royuki. And I want that too, Royuki. I want that more than anything. But it's not easy, Royuki. It's not simple, Royuki. It's not safe, Royuki. It's the most difficult, the most complex, the most dangerous thing you'll ever do, Royuki. It's the ultimate challenge, Royuki. It's the ultimate test, Royuki. It's the ultimate risk, Royuki. Are you ready, Royuki? Are you willing, Royuki? Are you brave, Royuki?"
Royuki nodded, and said.
"Yes, father. I'm ready. I'm willing. I'm brave."
His father smiled, and said.
"Good, son. Good. Then let's begin, son. Let's begin your training, son. Let's begin your preparation, son. Let's begin your journey, son. Let's begin your path, son. The path to the Endless Battle of Hell, son. The path to glory, son. The path to destiny, son. The path to me, son. Are you with me, son? Are you with me, Royuki?"
Royuki nodded, and said.
"Yes, father. I'm with you. I'm with you, father."
His father nodded, and said.
"Good, son. Good. Then follow me, son. Follow me to the forest, son. Follow me to the clearing, son. Follow me to the training ground, son. Follow me to the place where I trained, son. Follow me to the place where I became a chosen one, son. Follow me to the place where you'll become a chosen one, son. Follow me, son. Follow me, Royuki."
Royuki nodded, and followed his father. He followed his father to the forest, to the clearing, to the training ground. He followed his father to the place where his father trained, to the place where his father became a chosen one, to the place where he would become a chosen one. He followed his father, his teacher, his partner. He followed his father, his father, his father.
