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?"

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

he supposed to take solace in the fact Aina's mom was dead? The worst part was maybe that James was correct. At the very least, he could exchange some fists

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

he couldn't defeat Miel in a straight-up battle even if he wanted to. The only person who could do that

in a battle. And unless he was willing to kill

thought

He looked over and found that

bittersweet smile spread across both their

can take the people

"Hm?" Leonel asked.

have to move now, quickly. Or

nodded

was for the best. At

and though he couldn't read Miel's mind,

"Let's go

...

However, the process of actually convincing everyone

any reluctance at all, it was toward the idea that the place where they were going would be

went out the window after they actually saw the land they were

they almost couldn't believe that