"Oh dear." Damian sighed softly. "Daddy really is sorry, come, why don't you give me a make-up hug?"
"Stop treating me like a child, I'm fifteen-years-old!" She complained as she pouted.
A soft smile emerged on his face, as he got up, approaching his daughter.
"Congratulations on winning the Martial Contest." He smiled affectionately as he caressed her brown hair, patting her softly. "I'm proud of you."
Fiona didn't respond to those words.
"Unsatisfied?" He asked with a knowing smile.
"...Maybe." She replied.
"What do you feel?"
"I want to know..." She said.
He waited for her as he continued caressing her head.
"...I want to know what drives him and his kind down their Martial Paths."
She closed her eyes as she recalled the intense determination that sparkled his bloodshot eyes even as he lost consciousness.
"Is it really worth a path walking down?" She asked, as her intense curiosity coloured her eyes.
"Who knows?" He smiled. "Is it?"
knitted in surprise and
"Isn't it?" She asked.
that upto me?" He asked, amused. "Can you truly know
remained silent at that
* * * * *
back to the Martial Academy immediately. The first thing he did was reunite with all of his
back." Fae said.
Ian." Kane threw him
performance was admirable." Hever
Nel
close." Dalen told him.
time interacting with them, catching up and bantering back and
good job
glared at him. "Thanks,
Kane's eyes widened as he
could keep it hidden
member called out to
Quarrier?" She addressed. "The headmaster wishes to speak
as he got up to leave. "I'll catch
bade him goodbye, heading to the headmaster's office. He quickly reached the giant doors, waiting for them to open and entering
who had reached a certain height of Martial power. The immense weight he felt on his mind only made that gesture easier
admirable. You have done not only yourself a favour but this branch
headmaster."
coming
thought. "I may have lost, but I've never been someone who chases after victory first. Victory and loss are consequences of my pursuit of my Martial Path. And I intend to continue doing that. The Martial Contest has expanded my vision of Martial Art. I intend on expanding my Flowing Void Style until it has matured and reached a shape resembling what my ideal vision of it is. In doing so, I will have become a Squire Candidate, and I will have travelled deeper
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