3 Finally, back home

I easily blocked a right hook aimed for my head, the impact wasn't as rattling as I thought it to be. I blocked the low left kick as easily as the punch, this is a sparring match; I guess it shouldn't really capture the authenticity of a real combat game match... Though it's getting quite lacking.

He was still looking at me smugly, I am this close from irreparably bashing his face in, but using deadly force is forbidden; adhering to the rules is hard with combat, particularly this game.

Any technique or attack considered as A-class meaning "lethal" is prohibited, in using such attack will render disqualification and possible suspension.

Understandable. It's not like they're training to kill, this is for entertainment and should be treated as such, it also comes with a shitty scoring system.

I lightly tapped his face with my fingers after a left hook, easy five points right there and his look of confusion was priceless. I ducked under a jab and slapped his ass, 2 points. He was about to turn around when I kicked the legs from under him, he fell flat on his back, 10 points.

At this point he looked infuriated, embarrassed even.

Practically jumping to his feet he started over-swinging from anger, I mean I would be angry too if someone was humiliating me like this. Seeing a chance I decided to do a real attack, quick jab, not too deadly; but he's a bonafide athlete, he'll be fine.

The sound it made when it landed, like when you belly flop on to water, it sounded painful. He dropped dead to the floor immediately. The whistle came and I was disqualified for using Lethal force, the shitty win has gone to Mr.Young the person who won without landing a single punch.

I got two things from this match.

One, it was boring as fuck.

Two, Combat Games is going to be boring as fuck.

------{ chop chop chop }----------

"Stop complaining about it." Roy said walking back home.

"I just hit him with a jab, the most basic punch there is, IT WASN'T EVEN THAT FAST!" It was true, I didn't even punch hard enough to break bone.

"It was fast.' He said matter-of-factly.

"You know I could punch way faster."

He looked at me for a moment, "Yes, I've been in the receiving end for the past four years."

Ever since I could remember, his first arrival at the manor with Tryn, he always tried to join my sparring sessions; though he rarely won. It was nice having someone as a kid being locked in a house, looking at him, a friend of sorts-- weirder sorts.

"You were trained by soliders, all your moves are geared to kill or incapacitate, everything you do is too much for Combat Games." He continued barreling on without giving me a chance to reply. "So if I'm correct, by saying 'I haven't officially come home yet', meaning you haven't visited the manor?"

"Yea?"

"You went straight to school for the Combat Game tryouts? I thought you hated school and sports." He raised a suspicious eyebrow

"It wasn't like I had a choice, as soon as I got down from the mountains there was already an escort waiting for me with orders from Tryn to head straight here."

He paused for a moment, "That must explain your attire."

"Why what's wrong with my clothes?" It made me subconsciously look down, I was just wearing a plain red shirt and slacks.

"Zack, you hate pants, you abhor them."

"Excuse you, I hate denim jeans, not pants and I adore slacks. Jeans are just so tight and uncomfortable."

"So Aries of you."

I stuck out my tongue at him. "I can't be all Leo like you."

"It must be hard being such a late-bloomer in the age of selection."

"Yea, yea, my body is just taking its sweet time choosing if it wants to be a Leo or Aries."

"You could be a Sagittarius or Aquarius for all we know, your lineage has a history of mixing."

"That's from my mom's side, there's little to no chance considering my dad's a Leo, you know how most Leo's hate interbreeding with other signs."

"True, though I cannot wrap my head around the idea."

"You, my friend, are weird for a Leo, trust me." I got a little jab on my side from that joke

"You never did say why your father married your mother, considering the whole Leo anti-intermingling," Roy said.

"So formal." He looked annoyed that I didn't answer him, "Jeez, okay, I don't know the details but the gist of it was to end the Great Zodiac war."

"That doesn't make sense, they could've written a treaty or come to an agreement without marriage. Surely you know more about this?'

Okay, his sudden interest in my family is starting to irritate me. "This is a confusing for me as it is confusing for you okay?"

He raised a suspicious brow.

"Don't ask." I barked.

------{ chop chop chop }----------

The red spires were already peaking out as we rounded the corner, it was still the same home a year ago. The maroon shingles on the roof with its dark brown brick walls, a balcony was towering over the front of the house, a wolf stalking the woods was carved in its face, the insignia of the Ira clan, beautiful sculptures of Lions and Rams littered the mural of walls and pillars. The stark white mountain fits as the background for the house perfectly, I was now looking through the black gates of my house, I and L stood at the ends of the gate. Ira and Leander.

"Why is the old house so far from Aurora city again? It's always a shitty hike in cold weather." Even though I complain I know I have fallen in love with this place, ever since I came here four years ago.

"Because your mother always said that this place felt like your home back at Capriss, as did yo--" I didn't get to hear the rest as something pounced at me from behind. It was all a blur of fur and rough tongues as two gray wolves hounded me down, I let out a huffed laugh as they started licking the length of my collar bones.

"And for the dogs." Roy finished with a soft smile.

I had to make an effort to get myself up, knowing fun time was over both dogs sat patiently, tails wagging. They grew even bigger while I was away, their heads were already at my waist.

I softly patted the fur of the wolf that pounced me, her gray mane was tinged with brown; soft and warm to the touch. "Nala." It meant huntress.

The other one was pitch black, his fur gleamed in the light. "Damien," this one meant lone wolf, my favorite between the two; even though he wasn't keen to petting.

"Let's go," I said to Roy who was patiently watching from the side.

"You know your dad hates letting the dogs inside." The wolves were trailing silently behind them.

"They'll go back to playing in the fields once we're at the manor." I waved him off with a hand as if wading the topic away.

"You've seemed to have gotten a tan while you were away."

"Hey, I can say we're the same color now."

"You're still white compared to my light-brown."

"Then I'll be the vanilla to your mocha."

"Vanilla that isn't ice cream is black Zack."

"Oh shut up. Can't a man joke?" He was about to reply. "Ah-ah-ah don't you dare say shit, plus, we're already here."

We stopped before an ornately carved door, the polished oak gleamed from the setting sun. Engraved at the rims of the door was the Leander dictum, our motto, "Bow your pride to no one" typical elitist Leo bullshit.

I didn't even get a chance to ring the doorbell as the door was opened by Butler. He has his way of knowing uncanny information, I don't know how, but he's the one who thwarted most of my mischief. I never saw him wearing anything but his butler uniform, black swaths and clean whites, always looking professional.

Clapping him on the shoulder, he stood half a foot shorter than me. "Welcome home Sir Zachary, we truly missed you so." He said that all in his usual unsurprised monotone. He eyed me up and down, "You have gained quite a few pounds Cen Zachary." Cen was master in Aries.

"Yea, I need it for my condition."

He looked at me silently, I didn't reassure him; leaving all of it to his imaginations.

Checkered marble floors and brown lacquered Nara, of the finest quality, welcomed me first. I was in the living room surrounded by two curving stairways purchasing entrance to the second floor, a magnificent hearth in the middle having the twelve zodiac signs masterfully carved into its face, with velvet furnishings under a warm large rug that helps keep the place cozy, I could also fancy myself a book in the bookshelves that were engrained into the stairway.

The place was delightfully empty being only a family of six and a handful of servants living here; Butler as the head-servant of course. I tossed my heavy bag to the assistant servant with butler, I was too tired to carry my own things. Finally, I was home.

"Did anything interesting happen while I was away Butler?" Still drinking in the familiar details of home.

"By interesting, something like Miss Lynnette's ascension then yes, something interesting happened" Roy answered for him.

I whistled, "She's a Leander now, huh."

"Through and through, young master."

Soon after the short catching up, Butler led me to my room, it was exactly the same as I left it a year ago. It was plain compared to my siblings, but I like it that way, the less things that are inside the easier it is to clean. Plain white walls and lacquered wooden floors, a queen-sized bed in the corner, I was a messy sleeper, and a bookshelf filled with fiction and some academic articles, mostly fiction though. A wardrobe only containing my favorite clothes, of course, speakers for music, an upright piano that could be my makeshift desk.

It was my little humble abode. I flopped down to my bed, it was good to be back home I thought with a smile.

I didn't notice the click of the window until it was too late, accompanied by two silent footpads.