Sarius chuckled when he noticed that Feya had fallen asleep on his arms. Seeing as the girl is already in a slumber, he slowly descended, heading back to the palace. The wind in the sky was strong and felt really cold however, thanks to his flame that was protecting the girl, she didn’t feel any discomfort during their flight.

When the two finally arrived in the palace, he brought the girl back to her room and gently laid her down on her bed.

“Sarius…” The boy looked at Feya to see if he had woken her up but it looks like that wasn’t the case. She was very much asleep and was just muttering in her sleep which earned a gentle smile from him.

“Good night, Feya.” He caressed her head for a second and left her room soon after, going somewhere in the palace.

Feya’s face from earlier as she gazed at the city crossed his mind. He can tell that the girl was really sad. He doesn’t want to see her that way. He wanted the girl to be happy always and if he can give her that happiness, then he will gladly do so to the best of his abilities. After all, Feya is his precious friend.

His warm, kind and gentle face is now gone, replaced with seriousness as he headed towards that place.

“Your wish… I’ll make it come true.”

•《☆》•

Metheus frowned as he looked at the figure standing before him. “What did you say?”

“I’m here to ask you to allow Feya to go outside the palace with me.” Sarius said, looking at the king fearlessly.

“No.” was the man’s immediate reply. He then glanced at the people within the throne room and slightly nod his head, gesturing for them to leave in which they complied.

“May I ask why? Why won’t you allow her? Can’t you see how sad she is always staying within these walls, not being able to go outside?”

“Feya is my daughter, I naturally know that.”

“Then why? Why do you treat her like a bird trapped in a cage?!”

Metheus clenched his fist, “Shut your mouth boy.”

“Do you even care for your daughter?! Do you really love her?!” Sarius raised his voice as he glared at Metheus.

The king’s face darkened as he finally snapped. “How dare you! You have no idea how dangerous it is for Feya to go outside these palace walls!”

No matter what Metheus faced, he would always remain as a calm and cool person, unperturbed by any disaster he encounters. Even if the sky falls or the world burns, he could care less. However, when it comes to his family…

“Why is it dangerous for her?” Sarius narrowed his eyes. How is this related to her leaving the palace?

“My daughter is right. You ask too many questions boy.” Metheus regulated his breathing and forced himself to calm down. Sighing, he said right after. “Leave and I shall forget the offenses you have committed here.” He couldn’t believe he lost his composure against the brat.

“I won’t. Not until I get what I came here for.”

His blood began to boil once more but unlike before, he was able to suppress his anger quickly this time albeit barely. “Boy, why do you even care? What is my daughter to you?”

“Feya is my friend and I’ll do whatever I can to make her happy.”

Metheus was taken aback when he heard the boy’s response. His eyes became gentle for a second but it quickly turned into a cold steely one before Sarius noticed. “Fine, I’ll allow her.”

“Really?!” Sarius beamed, expecting that it would take more convincing to finally make Metheus agree.

“But in one— no, two conditions.”

All happiness within Sarius faded as easily as it came. As he had expected, Metheus wouldn’t give in that easily.

Metheus stood up from his throne as he walked down the stairs. He gazed coldly at Sarius with his hands clasped behind himself. “First condition…”

Sarius directed all his attention to the man, listening to every word he said. This concerns Feya’s happiness so he was much more attentive than he usually is.

“It’s simple really…”

Sarius’ body tensed up. His heart started beating wildly and his breathing became erratic. He felt every part of his being screaming for him to run and stay far away from the king.

Sarius saw Metheus’ lips slowly form into a smirk.

“You just have to win against me.”

His eyes widened soon after when an oppressive force coming from the man crashing into him in full force.

Sarius’ hands quivered in fear in the presence of the being in front of him. In his eyes, Metheus for a moment had become…

A god!

Sarius panted heavily not being able to breathe properly from the suffocating aura of the man. He’s dangerous! He has to do something! He had to get away from him!

Run…

Run…

RUN—

Sarius punched himself in the face heavily. The pain from his own fist effectively suppressing the urge within him to flee. Although his hands were still shaking a little and the fear within him is still there, his condition is much better than before. It wouldn’t take too long for him to calm down.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The beating of his heart slowly returned to normal as he kept thinking to himself, ‘Calm down… this is nothing. How can I even win against him if I’m already like this before fighting him? This is nothing… this is nothing…’

‘He had managed to overcome his fear this quickly…’ Metheus was impressed by Sarius. The man can tell that the boy still feared him greatly but he didn’t let his fear control him. He prevailed over it.

“Hmph.” Though he was impressed, whatever emotion Metheus felt at the moment was not shown on his face. He just continued to gaze at the boy coldly.

Sarius finally opened his eyes. Taking a deep breath once more, he asked coolly. “What’s the second condition?”

“There’s no using knowing it if you can’t even do the first one.”

“I see…” Sarius tightly clenched his fist, narrowing his eyes on Metheus. The flame surrounding his body had gotten hotter and hotter, gradually melting the objects and the walls within the throne room.

“Come.” Metheus beckoned with the sole purpose of taunting the boy.

Sarius’ figure quickly disappeared from Metheus’ sight, leaving not a single trace of him behind. Metheus narrowed his eyes as he looked behind him. The moment he did so, he saw a blue flame flash right before his face. It was Sarius with his hand pulled back, gathering his strength into his fist.

“Don’t underestimate me!” He then threw the same fist, hitting right directly onto Metheus’ face.

An explosion coming from the palace was heard all over the kingdom right after.

•《☆》•

Feya woke up the next day, feeling extremely refreshed and energetic thanks to the good night’s sleep she had. Not only is she refreshed and energetic, she is also in a bright mood for having experienced the best night she ever had last night. She is going to thank Sarius for what he did later since she didn’t have the chance to do so because she fell asleep.

The girl left the comfort of her bed and stood up, stretching her body.

“Good morning Feya.”

Feya brightened when she heard that familiar voice. She turned towards her friend, Sarius and responded. “Good morning, Sariu— wait! Why do you look like that? Are you okay?”

She immediately came to his side, worried at the well being of her friend. Sarius had multiple bruises on his face; his right eye, cheeks and the corner of his lips. He was even limping a little while walking and she can tell that he probably have more bruises on his body hidden by his clothing.

Feya noticed that the boy was in a lot of pain judging from the expression on his face. It was none surprising though with all those injuries on his body. That begs the question as to who did this to him and why?

“I am fine, Feya… this is nothing. No need to worry.” Like usual, the girl was greeted with the boy’s signature smile.

“But…”

“It’s really nothing to worry about. I promise you.”

Feya wasn’t one to give up. She scowled at her friend and was about to respond when…

“Good morning you two, it’s time for breakfast.” Calista opened the door and said to the two.

Sarius’ eyes glinted for two things at Calista’s arrival. One, seeing an opportunity to escape and two, “FOOD!”

The boy dashed towards the dining area, leaving the mother and daughter pair staring at him in amusement.

Calista frowned when she saw the bruises on the boy’s body. She already knew how the boy had gotten it since her husband had told her of his deal with the boy. Now that she had seen what her husband did to Sarius, she is going to have a word with him. Although Sarius is a god, he is still a kid and she finds Metheus’ action unacceptable.

“Let’s go honey.” The two then left to the dining area leisurely.

Feya just sighed in defeat. She’s going to concede for now but she wouldn’t let Sarius off later. She would have her questions answered whether he likes it or not.

Meanwhile on the dining area…

“Erk, you shitty old man!” Sarius pointed at the king who had just entered the room.

“Oh? Why do you look so beat up, boy? Who did that to you, I wonder?” Metheus’ face lit up with an impish glee when he caught sight of Sarius. ‘That will teach the brat for making me angry.’ was what he thought in his mind.

“I’ll make sure to pay you back double you shithead.” Sarius muttered under his breath as he glared at the king who just laughed at him.

Suddenly, the two shivered a little as the figure of Feya and Calista came into their mind, a bad feeling coming over them.

The two fell silent and slowly went to sit on their respective positions, no longer in the mood to talk shit to the other. Not long after, Feya and Calita finally arrived.

“Good morning Father.”

“Good morning Feya.”

“Sarius, what happened to the throne hall? I saw it completely destroyed on our way here.” The little girl asked her friend innocently.

The throne hall was destroyed when the two fought yesterday. Most of it was Sarius’ fault though. His uncontrolled attacks completely obliterated the hall to the point that only small bits of rubble remained behind.

“Err, that…” Sarius fidgeted and turned his gaze to Metheus who shrank back and made himself as small as possible! How the mighty had fallen.

Feya just looked at the two in confusion.

“Dear, have you seen the bruises on Sarius’ body? I wonder who’s cruel enough to do this to him? Do you have any idea who did it?” Calista took a note from her daughter and looked at her husband with a smirk on her face.

“Uh, I don’t… I wonder who did it? Hehe… he.” Metheus was sweating buckets under the watchful eyes of his wife.

He was angry at the time and he may had gotten carried away for having something to release his stress. That something being, Sarius.

“Are you okay father?” Feya asked worriedly. First Sarius and now her father. Seriously, the two guys who she are close to are all weird.

“Y-Yes, I am.”

•《☆》•

Sarius and Metheus stood opposite to each other. The two had learned from their mistake last night and now faced off at a clearing far away from the palace.

It was already night time and Feya was with her mother, spending time with her. Sarius sighed when he recalled how persistent Feya had been this day. Every chance the girl got, she would ask him who beat him up to which he painstakingly thought of acceptable excuses he can find.

“Hmph, boy… you sure don’t give up. Looks like you had completely forgotten how I trashed you last night.” Sarius’ eyebrow twitched at the man’s provocation.

“I learned a lot from that fight. I certainly wouldn’t go down easily this time.”

“Fight? Don’t you mean a one sided beating?”

“You shitty old man! I’ll beat up that annoying face of yours!”

“Hmm, let’s see if you can back up your words…”