Memory

"But Father, Mother always stayed with me and took care of me every time," Maxilin said, his young voice full of confusion. He couldn't reconcile his father's harsh words with the memories of his mother's gentle care.

Xavier sighed deeply, placing a firm yet gentle hand on Maxilin's head. "The sweetness frequently turns bitter, my son," he murmured, his voice heavy with a mixture of regret and warning. "Don't be fooled by lovely words, Maxilin. They can easily deceive you."

Maxilin looked up at his father, his innocent eyes searching for answers. He didn't fully understand, but he could tell this was something important.

Xavier softened his tone and asked, "My dear, don't you want to be a great hunter?"

Maxilin's eyes lit up with excitement as he eagerly nodded. "Yes, I'd like to! I want to be like you, Father!"

Xavier smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Then remember what I've told you. Don't be fooled by lovely words. They can lead you astray, make you weak."

Maxilin nodded, trying to grasp the weight of his father's words. He admired his father deeply and wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps.

Xavier's expression softened as he looked at his son. "My son, you will be better than your father," he said, his voice filled with both hope and determination. "I don't want you to fall in love with the sweetest thing, as your father once did. It can blind you, make you vulnerable."

Maxilin nodded again, this time with a gentle smile. He wanted to make his father proud, to be the strong and wise hunter his father believed he could become.

"Now, lie down on the bed. I have something to give you," Xavier said, standing up and walking over to a large cupboard in the corner of the room.

Maxilin's curiosity was piqued as he settled into bed.

"What is it, Father?" he wondered aloud, his eyes following Xavier's every move.

Xavier opened the cupboard with a sense of purpose. He carefully reached inside and pulled out something tall and large, hidden beneath a thick cloth. 

Maxilin sat up in bed, his small brow furrowed with curiosity. He watched as Xavier approached him, carrying something carefully wrapped in a black cloth. Sitting beside him, Xavier gently unwrapped the cloth to reveal the hidden object.

"Father, it's a sword!" Maxilin exclaimed, his eyes widening in amazement as he reached out to touch the gleaming weapon. The sword was beautifully crafted, with a shining blue gem embedded in its hilt.

Xavier smiled warmly at his son's excitement. "Yes, Maxilin. It's for you, my son," he said, placing the sword in Maxilin's small hands.

Maxilin's tiny fingers traced the intricate details of the sword, his gaze fixated on the blue gem. But as he inspected it more closely, he noticed something peculiar. There were six empty chambers around the hilt, as if something was missing.

"Father, why is this empty?" Maxilin asked, pointing to the vacant slots.

Xavier's expression grew thoughtful as he explained, "Maxilin, this sword once belonged to your great-grandfather. It's a very special sword, passed down through our family for generations. But after your great-grandfather passed away, some terrible monsters stole the sword. They managed to remove six of the gems, but they couldn't take the seventh one. The sword was left behind, incomplete."

Maxilin's eyes widened even more as he listened, his imagination running wild with thoughts of monsters and heroic battles. "So, it's an ancient sword?" he asked.

Xavier nodded.

"Yes, it's very old, and it carries a lot of history. But there's something else you should know about this sword, Maxilin. It has a hidden ability."

Maxilin leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued.

 "What is it, Father?"

Xavier smiled, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "This sword has the power to protect its owner when they are in danger. It's not just an ordinary sword; it's a guardian."

Maxilin's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked up at his father. "Really, Father? Will it also help me?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

Xavier smiled warmly and nodded.

"Of course, Maxilin. This sword is yours now, and it will help you, my son."

Maxilin furrowed his brow, thinking hard.

 "But how do you know that, Father? This sword belonged to my great-grandfather. How can it help me if I'm not its true owner?"

Xavier's expression grew thoughtful as he explained, "That's a good question, Maxilin. You see, after your great-grandfather passed away, this sword lost its shine. The blue gem here," he pointed to the glowing jewel, "never sparkled again...until the day you were born. That's how I knew it was meant for you."

Maxilin's eyes widened with surprise. "So, it's a magical sword, Father?"

Xavier chuckled and nodded. "Yes, it certainly is, my boy."

Maxilin, feeling a surge of excitement, reached out to grasp the sword with both hands. But as he tried to lift it, he found it far too heavy for his small frame. He struggled and pouted, "But it's really heavy, Father. I don't know how I'm going to play with it. It's almost as tall as I am!"

Xavier laughed heartily and ruffled Maxilin's hair.

 "This isn't a toy, silly boy. This sword is a serious weapon, meant for a true hunter. You'll use it when you're tall and strong like your father. Do you understand?"

Maxilin nodded, a determined look on his face.

 "Yes, Father. I understand."

Then, with a bright smile, he added, "This is my sword now. I'm going to hunt monsters with it when I'm big enough!"

Maxilin sat on the bed, his eyes still wide with excitement from receiving the sword. He looked up at his father, who was carefully re-wrapping the sword in the black cloth. "Absolutely, you will," Xavier said with a warm smile.

"Now sleep. You have training scheduled for tomorrow."

Xavier placed the wrapped sword back into the cupboard, ensuring it was safely tucked away. Maxilin watched his father with admiration, a smile playing on his lips. However, Xavier's gaze suddenly shifted to Maxilin's feet.

"Maxilin, you didn't take your shoes off," Xavier pointed out with a gentle sigh.

Maxilin looked down at his feet and then back at his father.

"I didn't take them off, Father, because I won't be able to tie my shoes later," he admitted, his voice filled with a hint of embarrassment.

Xavier chuckled softly and sat next to Maxilin on the bed. He began untying his son's shoelaces with practiced ease.

"You must learn this little trick, Maxilin," Xavier said with a knowing smile. 

"Or how do you expect to tie up all the monsters you'll hunt?"

Maxilin giggled at the thought, his worries about shoelaces quickly forgotten. As Xavier removed the shoes, he handed them to Maxilin, who placed them neatly by the bedside. "Come on, let's sleep," Xavier said, extinguishing the candles one by one, casting the room into a gentle darkness.

Maxilin snuggled under the blankets as Xavier lay down beside him. The familiar warmth of his father by his side made Maxilin feel safe and loved. Xavier began to tell a bedtime story, but before he could begin, he paused and turned to his son.

"Maxilin," Xavier said in a serious tone, "if I'm not at home, or your uncle isn't here, remember—"

Maxilin interrupted with a mischievous grin, finishing the sentence for him, "Don't ever try to open the door, right, Father?"

Xavier smiled at his son's quickness.

"Yes, exactly. Even if you hear my voice or your uncle's, you don't open the door."

"I'll only open when you tell me the code," Maxilin added confidently.

"Yes, that's my boy," Xavier whispered as he gently stroked Maxilin's hair. He began to tell the bedtime story, his voice low and soothing, but even as the words flowed from his lips, his mind was elsewhere.

Outside, the night was thick with tension. In the shadows beyond the house, Leko, Evan's father, and his team waited in silence. The surrounding forest was eerily still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Leko blew a whistle —short and sharp — a signal for Xavier.

Xavier's eyes snapped open at the sound. He carefully shifted his arm from around Maxilin, who was now deeply asleep, his small face peaceful and untroubled. Xavier hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on his son, before slowly rising from the bed. He moved quietly, making sure not to wake Maxilin, and slipped out of the room.

Downstairs, Wyiner stood by the door, his face etched with concern. Xavier, now fully awake and focused, quickly donned his armor and strapped on his sword. He grabbed his magic book from the shelf, securing it at his side.