Dimensional Descent

"Hey, hey, hey, watch it. Those are the money makers," James leapt back, coughing lightly.

Leonel sent him a side glance, but rather than shrinking back, James laughed.

"This is too funny."

James plopped down on a nearby piece of grass, having a good 'ol time all to himself. He had never really seen Leonel get angry about anything.

No, it was more accurate to say that nothing really got to Leonel in the usual sense. Usually, if you made Leonel mad, you were just screwed. But this time Leonel wasn't just mad, but he didn't have a counter punch to throw. He seemed so human for the first time.

It wasn't like he could continue crossing that line and humiliating his father-in-law. If he did so, he would be screwed to live a life of misery. Who knew, it might even end in him losing Aina.

Miel was Aina's only family remaining; Leonel couldn't just ostracize him. If he was a bad father, that would be one matter. But he was a man who had done his best. Eviscerating him would feel good for a moment, and then cause years of distress afterward.

The only answer to the problem seemed to be for Leonel to take a step back, but in his mind, that was tantamount to losing. He didn't want to do that.

"Just using Aina to deliver a letter was enough to piss him off even though it had been his idea. Let alone this."

"I'm glad you're having a great time," Leonel mumbled.

"Really?" James replied cheerily. "It doesn't sound like you really are. Say it again if it's true."

This, unsurprisingly, earned James another glare. To which, he, of course, laughed again.

"It's not all bad, you know. It could be worse."

"And how's that exactly?"

involved too, then

worst part was maybe that James was correct. At

a healthy relationship. So instead of doing all that, just show him you're not the person you think he is. Simple

come off as a power play to Miel. And honestly, he couldn't defeat Miel in a straight-up battle even if he wanted to. The only person who could do

away, it would definitely end in a battle. And

Leonel thought

over and found that Aina had floated by his

bittersweet smile spread across both their faces

take

"Hm?" Leonel asked.

convinced my dad. We have to move now, quickly. Or else we might

nodded somewhat

guessed that it was for the best. At least for now, Aina would

though he couldn't read Miel's mind, he was sure that he

"Let's

...

of actually

real loyalty to the land they lived in. If there was any reluctance at all, it was toward the idea that the place where they were going would be even worse. After all, even in this relatively "stable" city,

out the window after they actually

paradise, and they almost couldn't believe that they had the luck to receive such