Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage Vol 2- Descent of Darkness

Episode 59: Angels

[Some moments earlier]

I sighed I didn't get much out of my conversation with Sato. Truly, that man resembled that demonic fox, Satoru. If not for him having a teenage daughter, I would've suspected he was Satoru assuming a new identity.

"Cheer up," Koukyuu said, patting my shoulder. "We'll find out a way there. Though, perhaps the key is to ask the one with the power to seal the gateways."

"Who would that be?" I asked, turning to look at her as we walked with our kids to a nearby park.

"Nyima and her mother."

I gulped. "Ny-Nyima? Y-you mean that blue haired girl who I threatened as a kid?" I whispered, not wanting the kids to hear.

Koukyuu smiled. "So you finally remember her. Yes, her. She'll be the key to saving..."

"I got it!" a kid yelled before slamming into me. A frisbee flew past, hitting the kid on the head.

"Hey, watch it!" the kid yelled as he rubbed his head.

I grumbled. "You should be the one who should watch where you're going," I said.

"Hey, you're that guy from the festival," the kid said as he stepped back. "The one who shot that giant fox. That was so cool! Uh, though you're not as awesome as my daddy."

"Your daddy?" I asked. "Oh right, you're Eri's kid!"

The kid grinned. "Yup, sure am!"

I felt a pang of nostalgia while looking at him. Nostalgia for a time I didn't learn how to appreciate until it was too late.

"So, sorry about bumping into you," he said as he picked up the frisbee. He backed away slowly. "I'll try to be more careful from now on."

The pang intensified. He reminded me of when I was his age.

"Big bro!" a little boy yelled as he emerged from a portal. He ran on ahead of Lei who I remembered meeting during some of my visits to Nine Petal Academy. And prior to that during the Kyuu Seishinian games of long ago.

"Serein!" the kid yelled, running toward the little one.

"What bro doing?" he asked.

I chuckled. The way the kid spoke was funny... just like Dan did...

"Is mister sad?" Serein asked. He looked at me with his big blue eyes. Something about him felt familiar, but I couldn't put my finger as to what it was. Then again, the kid did look just like his dad.

"Me, sad? What makes you think that?" I asked, trying my best to look cheerful.

He crossed his tiny hands together. "Me feel suffering. Mister suffers."

Mister... his speech was closer to that of Yuko and Nori's than my brother's.

"Papa does seem to be sad," Zafi said, looking up at me with his adorable beady eyes. "Must be because of mama and uncle."