132 Thunderstruck

Barak saw my hand on his brothers shoulder and his eyes seemed to seethe with anger. "Let go of my brother. Now." His voice growled as energy in the room spiked. static crackled off his body making every cloth fibre object in the room stand up.

I gently removed my hand and lowered it to my side as I stood in front of the painting. My eyes locked on Barak as Agni quickly moved to his brother's side and started muttering into his ear about the things I'd been saying and doing since I got there.

Baraks eyes never left me except for one moment where he seemed shocked about something. But that shock lasted only a second as he suddenly shot a bolt of lightning at me.

Some would say the best choice would be to deflect, disable, or destroy the magic before it could get close. Instead I let it hit me and absorbed the energy so fast it couldn't leave a burn.

Barak's eyes widened as he saw me standing there unscathed against his attack and sent five more bolts at me which I decided to destroy with force. My golden arm shot out catching all the lightning bolts and absorbing the power while making a powerful popping sound in quick succession of each one caught.

Now Agni was staring next to his brother. Both of their jaws were left open wide enough for a cat to roost in. I couldn't help but chuckle at my son's ridiculous faces.

I slowly strode toward them once more. No killing intent or domination eminated from me.

From Barak and Agni however. My boys had grown much while I was gone. Their auras exploded outward as two Apocalypse class auras smashed into my body. Their power washing over me but not bothering me. Like water off a ducks back as they say.

I continued in my stride till I stood tall before both of them. My son's.

"I have put you both through so much. I cannot possibly apologize enough for having left you feeling abandoned all these years." I said as my words choked in my throat. A little of it was how proud I was my son's had grown to be so strong and independent. Yet my heart ached at the thought of having missed all the important moments of their youth.

"I remember telling your mother I would be back shortly from my trip. But I never anticipated the events that followed my departure to take me from you all. As a father... I am sorry." I said as I bowed towards my son's. Tears began to move down my face as I bowed from the hip lowering my head to them both. "I should have been here for you and your mother. So I cannot expect to be treated as your father. But it warms my heart to know my son's have become strong. And are looking after their mothers and my legacy here."

I let my words sink in as I stayed bowed. My heart creaked in my chest as lonely, pained thoughts wracked my mind. Though I am not doing a potty party. But I can certainly mourn what I should have had. My body warmed slightly at the thought of avenging my losses at Mercury's expense. A cut for every year I had missed. A punch for every important moment. And a stab for every loss I had suffered due to his arrogant "gift" of a 125 year slumber.

I stood up straight once more and took a deep breath. I had to set my mind straight and looked at my son's. Tall and strong bodies with fine intellect. Learned at the hands of some of the finest people I had known. I could see Agni's aura of fire was refined and explosive. Yet it held a comfortable warmth. "Hargo taught you very good flame control. Perhaps you will be a soulsmith just like he and I one day." I rumbled out as I examined him.

My gaze then turned to Barak. His aura of focused, crackling, and unpredictable energy supercharged the room. "Lightning is a hard element to control. Just as difficult to master. Yet beautiful when put in practice. Your mother loved my lightning shows when I flew among the storm clouds. Though she would always laugh when I'd get struck by lightning." I said with a grimace. "Either that or she'd hit me with her hammer when she'd catch me swearing from getting struck." I said rubbing my head as they coincidentally rubbed the back of their heads with the same wincing expression.

Our little moment of father-son bonding came to a close as I turned and went to the door. It's sturdy wooden frame and metal handle grating against my palm as I grasped it. But before I opened the door I glanced back at my son's. My beautiful boys. And I let out a sigh before leaving.

The memories were there. Just without me. And I know I keep saying it hurt. But it dug deep.

So once I made it to the broader part of the yard I spread my wings wide. All eight of them. Their broad span reaching 30 feet across the grass covered lawn as I took a deep breath and with a flap launched myself into the cloud covered skies.

As I flew higher and higher away from Verst I felt more tears come out of my eyes. Dribbling down my cheeks as I soared. I wanted to reach above the cloud cover. A place where none but gods could see. And when I reached the place where the clouds spread like endless broken lands with a darkened star filled sky. I roared out. My explosive roar was one of pain and grief. My sorrow expanded itself into the clouds amidst a mix of rage and self critical thoughts.

The clouds began to darken and churn as my emotions seeped into them. Crackling energy churned in the bulbous dark contours of vapor and mist. Soon a bolt of lightning danced across the sky as I roared again and again. Like the cky responded to my grief every time. Till I felt a great bolt strike. It's roots in the clouds extended outwards as it's long crooked finger struck the ground as fast as a mortal blink. The power spreading out like more roots as it entered the Stony plains below.

I was left panting from my little fit. My wings barely keeping me aloft as I breathed heavily. "I will find you Mercury. And when I do even hell won't be able to take what's left of you." I growled weakly as I gently glided back down towards the ground far from Verst. From my boys. And finally rested inside a cave for the night.

(I apologize for the wait. I can't apologize enough for all the promises I've made to you all and broken. Seeing as this is a short chapter I'm looking to produce the next one over the next couple weeks. And to answer why things took so long. Well. I'm in the middle of a divorce. Not my best life at the moment. But I'm trying for all of you. Thank you for keeping my hopes up and always looking for the light in my day.)