Chapter 552 - Beer & Bonding

“Is it lunch time yet? I'm starving!”

Hanna's cool look turned to a heartfelt smile, even if Eric had only said the word to fit in the moment… and maybe because her look had been super motherly, right then.

“Lunch is the plan, though we’ll have to go to the school cafeteria, since you still have two more classes today, along with your sisters.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Unlike your fellow finance majors, it seems.”

Eric smirked. “I know, right? Somehow, my intro to finance became an accelerated final year sink-or-swim start your own business course.”

Hanna paled. “Oh Eric, I’m so sorry. That’s terrible!”

“No it’s not. It’s awesome!” His smile became strained. “Honestly, I’d far rather be out in the world running a business and learning hands-on than hearing endless lectures all day. Though now I have to think of a cool business idea, something that I get the feeling most of my classmates have been mulling over all semester break so… yeah, there’s that!” He said brightly. “Now let’s get some dumplings. I’m famished, and maybe I can shoot some entrepreneurial ideas your way?”

Hanna nodded, the twinkle in her eyes making it damn clear she knew something had been happening between him and Rachel but she would let it go, for now. And Eric was happy to fill his belly with tasty pork and cabbage dumplings while his sisters chirped away about their day by their foster mother’s side with the one family member who could understand them comfortably. Louise was taking another class, and the girls were super excited for the next class which a bemused Eric learned they’d all be taking together.

And of course, he would be translating for them.

“Good afternoon, class!” Declared a chipper-sounding young woman dressed in a finely made silken kimono covered in pearls. Her hair was done up in silk ribbons and carefully woven back as she gave a curtsy to the class. All the boys gave gentlemanly bows while the girls curtseyed even lower than the teacher.

Their teacher nodded her approval before turning to Eric and his foster family.

“And these are our new students, Eric, Ella, and Marta!”

Eric bowed with his name, gesturing for the girls to curtsy, both of them trilling nervously.

Their professor smiled. “Our new friends have just recently escaped the perils of the underworld to start new, happy lives here in the real world. Isn’t that wonderful?”

The entire classroom full of children who couldn’t have been older than ten, politely nodded.

“And I’m sure I can count on all of you to help them adjust as we explore the culture and history of our rich and wonderful homeland!”

“Yes, Mrs. Ming!” The entire class dutifully replied.

“Excellent!” She gestured to several seats. “If you wouldn’t mind taking a seat… oh my.”

Eric forced a smile. There was no way his 200+ pound frame of pretty much pure muscle was going to fit in that chair, however sleek and athletic he looked compared to 7-foot tanks.

So instead he sat cross-legged at the front of the class, Maja and Ella of course joining him.

Mrs. Ming traded a look with Hanna.

“I’ll be right outside, if anyone needs anything.”

“Of course, Mrs. Carpenter. Now class, please turn to page 27 of your geography book and we’ll go over the founding of our great city. Timmy, would you like to read the first section for us?”

Eric forced a smile as he gently passed his foster sisters beautiful leatherbound tomes filled with braille writing and zero pictures. Fortunately, there were a handful of exquisitely rendered maps on the walls radiating trace amounts of Spiritual Energy that Mrs. Ming pointed to as Timmy haltingly went over a very concise history of the founding of this city. The ancient saga involved a number of feuding clans that intermarried, intermingled, and eventually allied together and founded a trading empire. Of course, all the blood and chaos and backstabbery and general intrigue that Eric suspected was the city’s real history was glossed over pretty thoroughly.

Mrs. Ming opted instead to keep the focus on the city’s glorious emergence, the remarkably beautiful wall paintings she pointed to showcasing an early NanDushi filled with grand buildings, trellised gardens, ivory white walls and happy healthy citizens.

Fortunately, Eric found it no trouble at all to translate Mrs. Ming’s story-like explanation of the city’s founding, sprucing it up with his own cynical take just enough for Maja to look captivated and Ella not too bored, for all that she flashed Eric a weak smile, whistling that she’d far rather be learning how to garden back home, and Eric couldn’t help but wink in agreement.

Still, spending his time translating what turned out to be both of his afternoon classes in one combined history and social studies period helped distract him from the dichotomy of hopping from a graduate business course to an elementary school level intro to world history.

But who cared? At least in this period they got to enjoy not just one but two snack breaks, which Maja and Ella both approved of, and Eric as well.

“Thank you for offering to translate for our newest students, Eric,” Mrs. Ming had offered with a sympathetic smile at the end of their second hour.

Eric grinned. “I’m happy to be there for my sisters. And let’s be honest, I should probably know all this myself.”

“Yes, you should,” his final teacher of the day declared. “So I’m glad you’re here with us. Did you have any questions for me?”

Eric was about to shake his head before thinking better of it.

“I don’t suppose you have anything about the historical background of stompers and culturally sanctioned mercenaries in general?”

Mrs. Ming blinked, taking a step back. “That’s a rather militaristic aspect of our culture, Eric. May I ask why you would learn more about that topic?”

Eric flashed a deprecating smile. “Believe it or not, I’m a finance major when not helping my little sisters, and this year we’re learning all about the entrepreneurial path to success. And as it seems that journey might be just a bit more perilous here than where I’m from. So I’m best off learning whatever I can about any obstacles I might face.”

Mrs. Ming’s gaze turned strangely pitying. “That they’d put a newly arrived boy in that position…”

Eric blinked, before realizing she had barely uttered the words under her breath. At least the smile she gave him was encouraging.

“Yes, Eric. I do believe I have a few books regarding the origins of stompers that you might find interesting reading… when you have the time. I’ll see if I can dig up a copy for you this week.”

Eric bowed his head. “This one would be most grateful for your assistance, professor.”

She smirked at that. “Not a professor yet, but one day!” Declared the young woman who was probably just a handful of years older than he was. “Now class is over and I do believe your mother is waiting along with the others.”

Eric nodded, gathering his happily trilling sisters and carefully making his way through hallways filled with rambunctious children and more than a few parents who were clearly waiting for their offspring, Eric having no trouble sensing the presence of the woman who had claimed them, turning around the corner to catch sight of Hanna beaming happily with Louise by her side.

Louise didn’t hesitate to wrap her sisters in a big hug that they happily shared.

“How are you two?” she said to their excited trills. “Did my big brother make a disaster of your shared class?”

“Ouch. You wound me,” Eric declared with a hand over his heart.

Louise snorted. “Sure I did. So, Casey told me that you share a class with her sister, and you guys are actually expected to start a business this year?”

Eric blinked. “Wow, word gets around fast.”

Louise flashed a wicked grin. “Well, yeah. When exotic hornless supermodels are making out with the scion of one of the richest clans here in NanDushi, word gets around quick.”

Eric blinked, carefully saying nothing before Louise’s smirk and Hanna’s suddenly cool gaze.

“What did sister say?” Ella asked, her gaze shifting between Eric, Louise, and their foster mother.

“That I’m far too handsome to be her brother, and she’s super jealous.”

Ella nodded. “Of course. We’re commoners, and you’re a faerie prince!”

Louise frowned. “What are you whistling to our sisters?”

“Nothing.”

She crossed her arms. “You better not have been teasing me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

She smirked. “Mother and father have very strict rules on dating, by the way.”

“I see.”

“That will be enough, Louise,” her mother warned, before giving Eric a motherly smile that nonetheless sent chills down his spine. “And perhaps tonight would be a good time for a family chat, Eric.”

Eric dipped his head. “Of course.”

“You’re in so much trouble,” Louise silently mimed.

Eric, arch-Dreadlord and hero of New York that he was, was of course far too elite, aloof, and distinguished to let himself be needled by a teasing younger sister who had never had to dodge cannon fire a single day in her life.

“Am not.”

“You are so. Isn’t he, mom?”

“That will be enough, Louise.”

“But he was making out with a girl during class!”

Eric cleared his throat. “Technically, class had already ended, and I was just explaining that Elves don’t have horns the way you do.”

“By kissing her?”

“Well, she wanted to know what elves did, since we don’t have horns, and you had to have been there to understand.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

“Enough, you two,” Hanna snapped. “We’ll discuss this later. Now let’s see if we can get some shopping done and dinner prepared before your father gets home.”

Eric stumbled, which was of course sheer impossibility, but somehow there he was, swallowing an awful tight lump in his throat, rubbing eyes stinging with some irritant or other... and there Louise was, suddenly looking so worried. And why did she have to stand so close when she was so fragile?

He had to be careful, so very very careful ,and he couldn’t even describe the weird hot melty feeling in his heart. Such a strange contrast from the sheer frigid perfection his birth mother had expected from him at all times.

“Eric, what’s wrong? You look distressed.”

Eric was momentarily speechless as they left the campus, having to take a deep shuddering breath and collect himself, Hanna’s obvious concern making everything so much worse.

All the more so when she gently lifted his hand, a hand that could shove aside a dreadnought, but somehow not her as she gazed into his eyes with such tender worry.

“Eric, is everything… look, I’m not mad, and neither will your father be. We’re just worried about you taking on too much too soon, and getting over your head. And there are customs you don’t understand. There is so much we haven’t had a chance to explain, and I’m in such a rush to get you squared away, so you don’t lose out on the opportunities that should be yours and…” she paused, shaking her head, her own eyes misting up. “I’m making such a mess of this, aren’t I?”

“No!” Eric said. “You’re doing everything perfectly, Mom. Hanna.” He forced a smile. “I just… too much grit in the air, maybe? Anyway, this just might be one of the best days of my life, so let’s go home and celebrate!”

Louise’s look of concern turned mischievous. “Because you kissed a girl?”

Eric laughed. “Because I have such awesome company. And who knows? Maybe if we get home in time, Hanna will show us hot to unlock an evening peripheral.”

Eric conveyed the joy he felt to a worried-looking Maja and Ella who both trilled with surprised happiness, giving him heartfelt hugs.

Loiuse’s eye widened with excitement as she did a little pirouette, heedless of the busy-looking professionals flowing to either side as they headed to the L-line. “Can you, Mother? I felt so awesome all day and Casey was so jealous when she found out about you-know-what, and she was going green with envy! Greener than Maja! Well, not really. But anyway, can we, Mother?”

Hanna looked horrified. “Louise, you did not tell your friend about—” her words cut off, frowning at the crowd rushing too and fro and paying them no heed at all. “Come on, children, let’s go home!”

“It’s okay, mom. Casey’s like a sister to me. She won’t betray me. And she could tell something was up… she said I had a glow about me!”

“Well to be fair, you do,” Eric conceded. “I’m surprised she could sense it with just one peripheral channel open.”

“Or maybe it was your sister’s boundless energy that makes me wonder if she has the discipline for any further practice at all,” Hanna huffed, before sighing and shaking her head at her daughter’s horrified expression. “Sorry, love. Our morning practice is a very… time sensitive exercise. It’s how I was taught, and the technique I know best. And with my condition, I don’t dare stress it with unorthodox techniques.”

Louise paled, squeezing her mother’s hand as they ascended the stairs leading to the L line as a fresh train rolled to a stop, a which point the doors opened and they all poured in.

“Sorry, Mother,” she said at last, voice soft with so many strangers around them. “I’ll make you proud, tomorrow morning. You’ll see.”

Her mother flashed a tired smile. “I believe you, darling. Now lets head home. No need for shopping, tonight. We have everything we need for dinner in the ice box, and it will do us all good to enjoy the sunset and a home-cooked meal, together with your father, as a family.”

Eric suppressed a worried wince. For some reason, Hanna was looking quite drained. Nothing like the ebullient 20-something so filled with energy and life as she had been, earlier that day.

That’s when he remembered her odd flinch, the pallor that had come over her features in the heartbeat that the wujen had been beside himself, after Eric had ruptured his artifact.

He now couldn’t help but wonder if his poorly timed utterance, just a whisper of an abjurer’s true power, might have done something to jostle the bindings squeezing so tightly about his foster mother’s major meridians. And considering how fragile he feared she was… how her stabilizing morning meditations was so vital to her, relying on her peripherals alone to restore and rejuvenate her body every morning, having sensed it wick away at least a tiny portion of the foulness that had tainted all the trapped spiritual energy within her… sufficient at least to roll back the clock for her every morning.

So just how badly had he set her back by jostling those awful bindings that she had spent who knew how many years just coming to terms with? Or worse, had he permanently injured this woman who cared so much for a wildcard idiot she had only known for a handful of days?

Already treating him like a trueborn son.

Already treating him with more warmth, more affection, than his birth mother ever had.

Eric squeezed his eyes tightly shut. The awful spike of horrified guilt he felt at the very thought struck him far harder than any blow since he had last tangled with an insanely powerful werewolf Contender.

Pain he would accept, for the only defenses to a pained conscience was making amends or being a psychopath like his...

He angrily shook his head. “Nope. Not even going to go there.”

“Eric?”

Hanna further shamed him with the concerned look in her eyes against the backdrop of pristine forests and fields streaming past. Such a picturesque view that even included bucolic little towns and the crashing waves of the ocean, a strip of blue just a few miles distant that he could so easily make out as he gently held Maja’s hand while they raced home once more in a train far more sleek, high tech, and efficient than any he had ever ridden back home.

A home that only now had trains worthy of the one he now rode in every day.

“Sorry, just… it’s been a long day.” He met Hanna’s drawn features, heart filled with painful warmth. “A wonderful day. Just…”

“You’re first day of school in a brave new world and now you could really use a nap?”

Eric grinned. “Exactly.” He smiled at the pair of green-skinned girls trilling happily at the thought of going home.

“And your latest additions were wondering if it would be okay if they made a tree house?”

Hanna blinked before breaking into a thoughtful smile.

“Mom, that would be an awesome idea! You know how much the twins loved to—” Louise broke off, her enthusiasm turning to a look of pained regret as she lowered her head.

Maja trilled in concern.

“I think that would building a tree house is definitely something we can do over the weekend,” Hanna quickly assured, smiling down at the two worried-looking girls. “In fact, your father is something of a tree house expert, among other things. He did design and build our home, he and his friends, back before we had our first.” Her thoughtful nod turned certain. “Yes, I’m quite sure John would love to bond with the girls and build a sky home that they can all enjoy together.”

Eric happily conveyed the message, and the girls were in high spirits through the rest of the train ride and the bike ride home. Though they didn’t meet farmer Long again, they did see a number of other farmers with carts or wagons fastened to the remarkably docile giant beetle mounts. Both Maja and Ella trilled greetings to the farmers who didn’t understand a word… and to the beetles, who, much to the farmers’ wide-eyed consternation, uniformly rumbled back.

Eric was surprised by the warmth swelling in his heart when he caught sight of the slate-tiled, rustic-looking manor that held such warmth and love in its bosom, and dinner was everything he could have wanted.

Even if Louise had burned the rice and Eric’s burgers had just a bit too much onion… the teasing and laughter made it one of the best meals he had ever had.

Even the way John had given him a pat on the shoulder and a fatherly smile had been just what Eric would have hoped to experience from a father who actually cared.

And he didn’t even give Eric a lecture! Just measured Eric with his gaze before cracking a smile. “I’m betting that with your healthy physique… you could really use a workout.”

Eric blinked in surprise, lips curving in a smile as he cleaned himself with a napkin. “I really could. These are the calmest handful of days in I don’t know how long. And as much as I’m absolutely loving it…”

John gave a sympathetic nod. “Your body craves action, even if your mind and heart could use a break from the past.”

“Pretty much,” Eric admitted, surprised by just how much he meant it.

“Good,” John said, giving his smiling wife a nod as Louise looked his way and grinned evilly.

“You’re in soo much trouble!” she silently whispered.

Eric curled his bicep and kissed it. “Only thing in trouble is these guns,” he declared to the sound of ripped fabric and the glare of Louise.

“I can’t believe you just ruined another one of your shirts! We’re not made of money, you know.”

Louise’s words were followed by the giggles of his younger sisters who somehow understood the gist and knew enough to whistle at his arms—and Eric hadn’t really expected to burst his shirt again—before they were led off by Hanna for evening lessons.

Louise was now giving him a very odd look that Eric happily ignored as he went upstairs to change after his foster father’s remark of, “Louise has a point. We should both change into our gym clothes,” before following his foster father down stairs that went down quite a-ways before opening up into a grand underground gym with wide sloping walls, all sorts of high tech looking training equipment, and what Eric could only think was a blaster shooting range.

Eric whistled. “Sweet setup. Exactly the kind of secret underground training bunker I’d expect of a retired Bronze merc.”

This earned a snort from John. “And there’s the cocky, too-confident grin I’d expect of a White-tier Contender who did quite well swimming with the minnows… and is hopefully smart enough to learn a few lessons from friends and family before plunging headfirst into the deep end.”

Eric chuckled softly. “Fair point.”

His eyes then widened as he caught sight of what looked like some extremely high tech exercise machines. Before immediately curbing his enthusiasm, knowing there was no way in hell they were up to his Strength. All he would do was bore himself or risk damaging the equipment and revealing way too much of himself, using them.

Yet John was the farthest thing from blind. “Nope, we’re not using them. Not today, at least.”

Eric blinked at this. “No?”

John shook his head. “You’re not ready. But more to the point… I’d like to show you a few exercises you can do anywhere, anytime. At least enough to kill the restless itch twinging in my thighs, by giving the muscles a good workout at least a few times a week, like me and my corpmates have needed to, ever since we left System space. And let’s be honest, nothing beats a good workout that strengthens the entire body for burning excess energy, grounding yourself, and feeling like you’re still growing. Still moving forward.”

Eric couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “I agree. Mostly, I’ve just been doing sword katas to generate enough resistance that I actually feel something of a burn.” He winced internally at John’s too discerning look. “Not that I’m presently carrying a 49 pound mithril blade bound to my soul that I can pull out at any time to practice with, ha ha!”

Words that were technically absolutely true.

The blade was fifty pounds if it was an ounce.

John gave him a curious look, before chuckling. “I’d be pretty impressed if you had managed to smuggle any sort of blade past customs, without declaring yourself a Contender or a licensed and bonded mercenary who had achieved a certain status and reputation. And you would have still found yourself sans all your favorite toys… or back on a ship outbound at the Prolus IV station hub, like as not, since the next gauntlet hasn’t yet been formally declared. Regardless, if that was your main means of exercising back on your home world, it’s a sound one. Muscle memory and weapon mastery are probably the best exercises you can embrace, at least up to a point. But let’s assume you actually do see Bronze Tier Strength and Vitality one day… and most weapons feel like feathers in your hands. Then you’re going to need to take the next step to get a good workout.”

Eric dipped his head. “Makes sense.”

“It does. So take off your socks and get on the mat.”

Eric, dressed casually in one of the cotton shirts and shorts a smiling Hanna had declared fit for exercising in and clearly not an issue to replace, did just that. Because of course he was still wearing socks. Socks were comfy and the essence of a snug family home, even if your feet no longer had to fear sublight-speed shrapnel or chilly floor tiles.

Eric looked up from his sad and now unclothed toes to gaze curiously up at his foster father who got to enjoy the 6’5 life, which was so unfair when Eric was still 5’11 for some insane reason, and wondering if maybe it would be a yoga session he’d practice today? And he was fine with that. Even if he’d be doing sprints when everyone was asleep later.

Mach 5 sprints and to hell with any consequences, because he was itching something fierce for a good workout… or any kind of workout at all.

Eric blinked when John solemnly placed his left fist in his right palm, now looking like a martial artist paying respect before sparring. Yet Eric knew it was more than that, when the man’s muscles popped, his face reddened, and his breathing rate spiked.

Eric blinked when John moved his fist in palm up and down, then left to right, pretty sure he understood what the man was doing.

It was like using all your force to crush an object between your hands… only it was his fist smacked into his palm and his pecs were popping and no doubt getting a great workout.

Eric didn’t hesitate to copy the man, and was now so glad he had.

“Why the fuck hadn’t I been doing this days… even weeks ago?” He wondered with some bemusement when he squeezed an imaginary egg between fist and palm… tensing his muscles to the point he was definitely feeling the burn, now moving his arms back and forth, up and down, and feeling that burn across his entire chest. Best of all, since it was only against his own resistance that he was training… unlike any high tech machine, he could actually go all out!

His heart rate increased and his breath quickened, Eric awed and surprised to find that he was well and truly feeling it, by the time John stopped.

“Great,” John said, with an approving nod. “You understand the most basic, easy to emulate strength training exercise. Which is great for your chest and shoulders, but isn’t doing nearly enough for your legs, core, and back.”

Eric couldn’t help but nod. “It’s so obvious and I can feel the burn right away. Why didn’t I think to do this, long ago?”

Johns shrugged. “Because we’re used to manipulating the environment to effect change in ourselves. Not in being forced to strictly rely on our bodies alone. That, and burning energy achieving absolutely nothing is utterly counter-intuitive to any creature needing to hoard limited calories to survive, which was us, through most of our ancestral history.”

Eric grinned. “But now we have calories-a-plenty after burger and rice night, and all the time we need to better ourselves and our physiques.”

His foster father nodded. “You got it, Eric. So, let’s do something harder. Those quads itching for something? Let’s give them a good burn. Stretch it out first with both hands locked together on the ankle. Now slowly try to extend your leg against your clenched hands while at maximum stretch… can you feel that?”

Eric couldn’t help but nod, definitely enjoying the burn.

John gave an approving smile. “Good. Now hook that leg behind your other knee. Now we’re going for a burn with it near maximum extension.”

Eric nodded. “So we’re developing strength at the beginning and end of the range of motion, assuring maximum strength for our muscles.”

“Good. You understand. Of course, we’re best off with five differently positioned isometric exercises to develop strength along our muscles’ full range of motion. But our tools are limited and two is a hell of a lot better than one. Now let me show you the rest of the exercises you need for a full body workout and I warn you now, Eric, your hands and wrists might be getting the most intense training of them all.”

“Which is good for soldiers who fight with weapons in their hands.”

“It is indeed. Now focus on me.”

John slowly went through a whole regiment of training exercises. Eric was both surprised and pleased to find that by the end, he had managed to generate the burn of a good workout not just in his arms but in his back, torso, and legs. And most definitely his hands as well, all while using just a little bit of added insurance to make it was truly safe for him to do so.

Finesse check made. Speed Racer means you’re sitting and standing just a sliver above the training mat, without being obvious about it! No jerky movements destroying the concrete and durasteel foundations of your new family home!

Eric couldn’t help but chuckle gamely as he slowly sank to the floor mat at the end of it all. “You were right. I’m definitely feeling it in my wrists.”

John nodded, though he did stare down at Eric’s sweaty form for long seconds before cracking a grin. “Good. You weren’t holding back. You’ve earned yourself a refreshment. Care for a protein shake?”

“You know it!”

John then got up, cracked his neck, went to the chrome plated refrigerator giving off the tiniest of hums before handing Eric something cold, tart, and sparkly.

He blinked and grinned. “This is good!”

John tapped Eric’s bottle with own as he sat down beside him.

“How do you feel, Eric?”

“Pretty damn good. Thank you, John.”

John flashed a too knowing smile and for just a heartbeat Eric quailed. He had thought he had hid both his strength and possible quickness so damned well! But what if he hadn’t? What if John now understood that he had been training with a monster?

But all John said was, “So, did you enjoy you first day of classes?”

Eric smirked. Of course he knew where this was going. “I did indeed.”

John winked. “And a sweet kiss from an even sweeter girl isn’t a bad way to start your academic adventures at Westwind.”

Eric forced a chuckle. “No, I guess it isn’t, sir.”

John raised a polite brow. “Sir again?”

“Pretty much mandatory, when I’m about to get politely dressed down from my favorite drill sergeant,” Eric admitted with a smile.

John laughed. “I don’t think there’s really any need for that, do you?”

Eric shook his head. “None whatsoever.”

John nodded. “It’s something I don’t think my wife will ever fully understand. How different life is beyond the ideals of the high plateau above, where she grew up. Orr the orthodox expectations you’ll find in a millennia-old culture like NanDushi, which might be glossy and futuristic-looking on the surface, enjoying their high tech imports, but our lowland friends and family take after their highland cousins in more ways that one.”

Eric blinked at that while John continued.

“But things were different where we were from. Because you have to grow up damn fast in an ascending world or a war zone… and steal what moments of solace and happiness you might, in a world gone to hell, when your life could end with one wrong move, a single mistake… just a bad roll of the dice. So, why not savor what moments of happiness you can?”

Eric stiffened at the words, before forcing himself to nod. “Pretty much exactly that.”

John chuckled. “I can appreciate that, Eric. I know the sweet exultation, the heady euphoria of escaping what seemed certain death, only to emerge victorious, or at least alive. And if there’s a rescued town celebrating… well, who hasn’t made fast friends on those celebratory nights?”

Eric flashed a smile for a certain girl who’s scarred beauty and gentle smile had touched his heart on just such an occasion. He could only pray that Susie Sue… and any precious angel he had left behind… were safe and well, no matter how chance, circumstances, and cards of fate had separated them. Even if he had little hope of ever seeing her again. Assuming her beautiful brief life hadn’t already passed, over two thousand years ago.

Eric swallowed the unexpected lump in his throat. “I’m glad you understand.”

“I do.” John clapped his shoulder. “I spent over a century seeing firsthand just how sweet, bitter, and perilous life could be for those who dared to live on the edge of it all, pushing for power that would have been the envy of all those they had left behind. Power hardly worth the memories and pain we suffered. But sweet enough, when we learn to balance our gains with a life actually worth living.”

Eric smiled at the man playing mentor to him.

“I’d say you managed to shape just such a life for yourself. A beautiful family. A happy ending to your own life’s adventures.”

John snorted. “Hopefully an ending that will last another century at least… maybe two, with all the wonderful Spiritual Energy cleaning all the gunk in our pipes… or so I’d like to think.”

Eric nodded agreeably. Certainly John still moved and acted like someone in his prime, even if he looked far closer to 40 than 20… it was an exceedingly muscular and fit 40. A professional athlete’s 40. He hardly looked like the century plus that he so clearly was.

“Up for a fizzy to chase down your protein drink?”

Eric grinned, happily catching a bottle of the local carbonated beverage. “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, popping an old school bottle cap, enjoying the taste of lemon, peppermint, ginger, and yes, it was definitely fermented. Not that such held any meaning with his resistances and Vitality… but it was certainly refreshing.

John nodded, sipping his own drink. “I won’t be preaching any gospel to you that I willfully ignored for over a century, but I’ll say this. People take relationships very seriously here, Eric. And if you’re someone that the family head doesn’t approve of…” He smirked, raising his bottle. “That can be a headache and a half, right there.”

Eric couldn’t help snorting at that. “Let me guess. Stompers and a knuckle sandwitch?”

John nodded. “Stompers, a polite warning, and then most definitely a knuckle sandwitch. And if an eager boy’s too many rungs down the social ladder…”

Eric’s jaw clenched, after-workout humor turning hard and cold. “Understood.”

“Not that you have to worry about things turning that extreme, Eric. You’re a handsome youth I’m proud to serve as guardian, counselor… and friend.”

Eric swallowed that annoying lump he felt when John gave him that too fatherly smile.

“I’ll do my best not to shame your family, sir,” he softly said.

John nodded, clasping and Eric’s hand while handing him something that brought a flush to his cheeks. “Because if you’re going to… just know that the only thing that will get you in more trouble than a disapproving family head, is if someone decides you’re a catch, nets herself a prize… and then you refuse to follow through and join her clan, when your child so clearly will.”

Eric winced and dipped his head, the obvious condoms popping right in his ES space. “Understood.”

“Good. And Eric?”

“Yes, John?”

“Always keep your own strength in mind. Understand?”

Eric forced a nod under John’s pointed gaze, never mind the flush he felt crawling up his cheeks.

“Understood.”

This earned a snort. “You’ve made it clear you wish some things kept discrete. And you’ve given me no reason to doubt your integrity or self-control… so I’ve accepted it. But if your Strength is at all above 40… and we both know damn well that it’s several times higher than that… you risk obliterating the love of your life with a single restless night. And if you told me your nights are free of all night terrors, all regret…”

“I’d either be lying or a psychopath. I know,” Eric whispered.

John leaned back on his elbows, gazing pointedly at Eric. “Almost all the girls at Westwind are mortal, Eric. That means that even if you do win their hearts, and their greatest prizes, you need to be as gentle as a Wind cultivator embracing the softest of breezes. And no matter how sweet the night, you need to slip completely free before you dare shut your eyes with any girl in your arms.”

Eric closed his eyes and sighed. “Don’t I know it.”

This earned a snort. “I’m glad that you do. So. Who’s the lucky girl?”

Eric shrugged. “Just a girl I met in class who took pity on me fumbling for a seat. She found my lack of horns both troubling and fascinating and declared me cuter than the average over-stressed student.”

“So that’s when you kissed her.”

Eric chuckled. “After I made it clear there was no horn foreplay for Sylvans… kissing was the only option.”

“And that’s when your mother knocked on the classroom door.”

“Yup.”

John chortled. “A lucky save, I think.”

“Well, if nothing else, I got the offer to serve as the face behind a would-be fashion mogul’s up-and-coming clothing line.”

This earned a curious look. “Really. And she has the capital to launch a clothing line? What clan is she?”

“She’s a member of the Domini clan. I think Louise is friends with her sister Casey. Both of them majoring in communications? And that reminds me, I definitely need to secure some funding for my own future business venture. Whatever the hell that might be.”

“Eric!”

Eric blinked, pulled out of his brooding thoughts. “Yes?”

“Let me make sure I understand you correctly. You were making out with Rachel Dominus?”

Eric nodded. “Yup, that was her name… and ooh, that’s a serious look. Are you saying I was snogging someone important?”

John chuckled softly, rubbing his temples. “I think you’d better keep a low profile, Eric. That warning about stompers I gave you?”

“Yes?”

“Is more than a metaphor with that clan.”

“Really.”

John nodded, and there was something hard and cold in his eyes when he gave Eric a father’s protective smile. “Don’t worry, Eric. I’ll make sure there are no serious misunderstandings. But an apology might be in order, and you might need to switch—”

“Nope, sorry, not happening.”

John blinked at this. “So you feel tat strongly about this finance course, even though your mother made it clear that you were ambushed by an advanced curriculum you weren’t expecting and that politics might be in play.”

Eric snorted, taking a final sip of his fizzy… then going to the ice box for another, tossing a bemused-looking John a fresh bottle as well. “Yeah, maybe. But honestly, John, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do… besides what I’m best at, ha ha, than starting a business of my own and maybe being less of a lazy schmuck than I was, growing up. Maybe actually make my business work with my own efforts without throwing the mess on anyone else’s lap. Sure as anything, that sounds like a better use of my time than listening to endless droning lectures.”

John chuckled. “Good man! Sounds to me like you’ve put in a hell of a lot of mileage in your 16 years. Kudos to you, Eric,” he declared, clinking bottles before taking a pull. “Alright, I’ll make it clear that dropping courses isn’t an option.” He frowned, a thoughtful look coming over his features. “Though one of her brothers might issue challenge.” He peered thoughtfully at Eric. “I already know that your skills as a sniper are nothing to take lightly. But how skilled are you at combat, Eric?”

Eric couldn’t quite hold back a chuckle. “Skilled enough that I don’t mind a bit of face slapping and putting certain arrogant young masters in their place.”

“Even if they’re experienced body cleansing cultivators, with the equivalent of Journeyman weapon skills and weapon feats… and physical attributes pretty damn close to a hundred?”

Eric traded stares with the professional mercenary working so hard to be a good father, before saluting the worried-looking man with his bottle. “Noted. Thank you for the heads up. I’ll be careful.”

John smirked, finishing his drink. “Sure you will. Just remember where you are, and that there’s always a path forward that doesn’t rely on brute force alone. And if you find yourself in a rough situation or could just use an experienced hand to talk to… Hanna and I are both here for you.”

“Thank you, John. That means more to me than you know.”

“Good. Now toss these bottles and freshen up! You stink, kid, and your mother has a very sensitive nose.”

Eric chuckled. “Sure, pops. Good chat.”