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?"

there could be a mother-in-law involved too, then you'd be really

the fact Aina's mom was dead? The worst part was maybe that James was correct. At the very

akin to a healthy relationship. So instead of

power play to Miel. And honestly, he couldn't defeat Miel in a straight-up battle even if he wanted to. The only

city away, it would definitely end in a battle. And unless

Leonel thought

over and found

bittersweet smile spread across both their

take the

"Hm?" Leonel asked.

to move now, quickly. Or else we might not get another chance

Leonel nodded somewhat

At least for now, Aina would just have to be the mediator so that things

least, he appreciated her approach, and though he couldn't read Miel's mind, he was sure that he

stood. "Let's go

...

of

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, the living conditions were horrible. They barely got enough food and water, and

the window after they actually saw the land they were moving

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