"Haah!" Alex shouted as he cut down the fake dummy in front of him. He was wielding a real sword. The dummy was sturdier than he had expected, and it took more than ten strikes before he finally severed its head.
After eating lunch, he had once again run away to the training ground. The exhilaration of achieving first place for the first time in his life sent adrenaline coursing through his body. He wore a wide smile on his face and felt so powerful, as if he could do anything.
Alex's mother had told him to rest, but immediately after eating, he ran to the training grounds. It had taken a great deal of effort to persuade her to let him train. Tomorrow was the next exam, likely something testing strength. He did not want to miss this opportunity, knowing that his first position in the written exam would greatly boost his overall rank, even if he only achieved a mediocre result in the strength test.
Alex was tired. He looked up at the sky where the sun was slowly setting, painting everything in hues of orange and gold. Small birds were flying overhead, and their calls were pleasant to hear. For a moment, it felt as though they were congratulating him, but he was not childish enough to believe that. The birds were probably just returning to their nests.
Alex put the sword away in the armory and returned to the training ground. He sat on a bench in the corner, stretched out his arms, and gazed up at the sky.
A figure filled his vision. His father stood before him, radiating that familiar fatherly pride he had seen during lunch. Alex did not know when he had appeared; suddenly, his father was there, meeting Alex's azure eyes with his own dark ones.
Alex immediately stood up. "Father, what happened?" he asked.
His father slowly sat down on the bench and motioned for Alex to sit beside him.
For some reason, his father felt different to him. While that fatherly pride was still present, Alex sensed something hidden beneath it, something he could not quite pinpoint.
Alex's father slowly leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. He seemed smaller today. "Alex, do you resent us for not letting you out all this time?" his father asked. His voice was weak and as soft as a leaf.
"M-mmm, I wouldn't say I resented you, but I did not like how you never allowed me to go out. I wanted to explore what lay beyond the four walls of Drakethorne Palace. I wanted to see new people, to see what they wore, what they ate, and to make friends—so many friends. All my life, I only had Princess Eva as a friend. Before that, I was alone, and I felt lonely. After Ariana was born, I stopped desiring to go out as much. But I always disliked how Ariana was allowed to leave so easily. She went with Mother and always told me stories about the outside world." Alex answered, finally letting go of the chains he had been holding up for so long.
Alex truly did not hate them; he simply disliked not being allowed to go outside.
Alex's father did not say anything. He seemed to think Alex was still holding something back.
Alex added, "Honestly, sometimes I thought you hated me because you never allowed me to go out. But whenever your faces were filled with love and worry for me, I always realized those thoughts were wrong. I was small back then—even now, I am still small. When I was alone, I sometimes cried after being denied the chance to go outside. I wanted to explore the world so much. It was just too hard for me. It only got worse when I found out I couldn't level up. I hid my tears, feeling I would only become a burden. I prayed to the gods to heal me. I felt broken from insi—" Alex suddenly found himself tightly hugged by his father. His father's strong shoulders seemed to shake; he felt weak, like a fallen soldier.
Alex touched his cheeks—was he crying? His eyes were watery, the world turning blurry as tears poured down his face. "I-I d-don't hate you," Alex cried out, his voice choked with emotion.
"Yes, I know you don't hate us. I am proud of you for being so strong. I am sorry, son, for being unable to help you. I promise I will help you solve your leveling problem. Forgive this bad father of yours," Alex's father said, his voice trembling with emotion. In that moment, his voice seemed to age by decades.
"N-no, you... you're the best father," Alex said, his voice choked under his breath. His tears only intensified when he saw his father apologize to him.
"You are the best son in the world. I am blessed to have a son like you," Alex's father said. His words only made Alex cry harder.
Only after Alex calmed down did his father release him from the embrace. His father's eyes had become red and swollen, and he was clearly holding back tears. He did not want to cry in front of Alex.
They sat in silence. Alex wiped away his tears with a handkerchief his father handed him. His father stared at the stars as they gradually appeared in the sky. The moon was rising from the east, casting the world into darkness.
"Do your best on tomorrow's test. Don't worry about the result; you will always have our support," Alex's father said, his voice weak and fragile, ready to break at any moment.
"Umm." Alex nodded.
"Son, you should go and take a bath. Staying outside in the cold won't be good for your body," Alex's father said. He did not meet Alex's eyes, instead keeping his gaze fixed on the stars.
Alex stood up and looked at his father, who had always been a pillar of strength. But today, he seemed tired—worn down by life's cruel twists. He looked like any ordinary person, vulnerable to life's uncertainties, avoiding Alex's gaze. "What about you? Will you stay here for a while?" Alex asked.
"I want to stay here for a while. You should hurry up, son. Eat something, since it will be some time before dinner is ready." At last, Alex's father looked at him. His eyes brimmed with tears, threatening to fall at any moment.
Alex clenched his fist. He knew his father needed some time alone. He reluctantly nodded and walked back to the estate, but glanced back at his father on his way back, who stared at the sky, his face obscured by the darkness of night.
***
"I am sorry for not being a reliable father," Shane, Alex's father, muttered to himself as tears slowly began to fall down his cheeks. Today, he felt so weak against the challenges of life. He had thought that reaching paragon rank would make him powerful, but it turned out that no matter how strong he became, some problems could not be solved through brute force. He regretted never asking Alex how he felt about being confined within four walls. Shane had always known Alex wanted to go out, but he had been too afraid to ask. Today, he finally found the courage. His fears were confirmed: Alex had been suffocating, trapped inside, yearning to explore the world.
***
Hello, author here. If you are enjoying the story and want to read what happens next, then please join my Patreon. I need your support to keep on writing.
On Patreon, you can read upto 19 Chapters ahead.
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/imissmysun
Discord link: https://discord.gg/WrsCjgR7z7