3 FATHER FIGURE

<<URION'S POV>>

BEDRIDDEN FOR two days; rested for another three days. Movements were disabled due to the tearing of muscles and shattering of bones. I was left in my empty room at oracle Fyero's timber-framed family house in his courtyard; staring at the ceiling days and nights while trying to remember what happened to me after entering the punishment chamber.

All I remember was Vice-principal Ayre and a suspicious torturing guard were escorting me downstairs. Then, I was whipped on my scarred back for a couple of times before my eyes blurred; knees trembled; and consciousness faded.

Next thing I knew, my eyes opened, seeing the familiar white ceiling and a hanging lamp above me. That time, I still cannot move and my voice was hoarse. Last time I felt that pain was when I was caught sneaking out five tomatoes for Uncle Makabe that brought me to be punished with the slashes of energy-materializing flames.

"Do you still try to remember the pain you suffered?" the croaky voice of the oracle reached my ears. I did not notice his presence two meter away from my mattress while I'm asleep. "Why does a man keeps tracking the bad memories? Isn't it better to relive the happy ones?"

I pushed myself to a sitting position, feet still covered by a red blanket. I turned my sight on the oracle who is in meditation stance: legs loosely crossed and both feet resting below the opposite thigh and knee. He is cultivating his soul energy. He was concentrating in his inner body but he still sensed my rising. He surely is an expert platinum-ranked bishop.

((A bishop class' ability masters buffing other's fighting capability either being physical or magical.))

"I had been missing the academy lectures for five days. My fellow disciples might be leaving me miles away already," I said frustratedly. It is better to change the topic. Oracle will only lecture me with the same words for the 56th times. "When will I get off this bed? This is worse than a prison cell."

I had been here even when I am not in the mood to lie down. I already recovered enough strength to stand up; to attend classes. Yet, the oracle insisted me to stay on bed and rest. I never imagined that sleeping and resting will be this boring.

"For your age, you must be someone enjoying the outside world than thinking of your studies," oracle calmly uttered. Really? I am not even allowed to roam at the courtyard. "And it's your rest day. Yet, you are thinking of going to the academy?"

A cold breeze snapped me into a realization. Crap! I almost forgot that it is the sixth day of the week. What kind of a man am I? Getting myself in trouble in my first day in the academy. Worst: I failed to endure the punishment, keeping me on bed for almost a whole week.

"Do not trouble yourself anymore," oracle uttered, colliding both of his palms amidst his chest. His body was covered by a gleaming blood aura rising like flames, warming the ambience. "In two days, you will be going back in the academy. Do not be hasty. You have plenty of time to rest."

If I am not resting nonstop, I'll be celebrating like a warrior who just came back after a successful expedition. However, doing nothing right now will only weaken my body. Wasting hours is a grave sin.

I must train now!

"If that's not enough, you can go out to breathe fresh air at the courtyard," oracle suggested. "Your body might need some walk after all."

I sighed, examining myself. I shook head as I stated, "How about teaching me to cultivate my soul sphere, oracle?" My fellow disciples are already doing cultivation since their childhood for sure. I might fall in terms of power if I won't start cultivating at this very moment.

Oracle entered in his deep concentration, disabling his sense of hearing. Talking to him is now futile. Tilting head forward. Putting pressure on the nape. Sigh. How disappointing it is when no one is there to listen to one's words.

The wooden door creaked as it slid wide open. Hand covered in a crimson gauntlet grasped its edge. Immediately, I knew that it was Master Gideon. Last time I saw him was when he escorted me to the academy. His armor clanked as he walked forward, eying me before the oracle. His expressionless face tells me that I am in quite trouble.

"Are you okay now?" Huh? He will not punish me after putting the clan name in shame? I do not understand. "You are still speechless. Do you want me to call for a priest to finally heal your body?"

Since I stayed here, it was only the oracle who lay hands on me to cast healing magic. I know that buffing people is the primary ability of a bishop but oracle Fyero studied basic healing spell when he was a cleric. His power to restore broken bones and muscles is enough just to suppress pain, and bring slow restoration, taking four days to completely restore my brokenness.

I looked down but rolling my eyes upward to see a glimpse of master. Words are at the tip of my tongue but my mouth won't open. Cold sweats dripped on my forehead.

I have no face to show on master.

"Is it the oracle's cultivating aura steaming you? Why don't you order your feet? Stand up, and let us have a short walk," master commanded, extending his hand in front of me. Inviting the likes of me? How undeserving am I for such mercy? "Won't you take my hands?"

"I am unworthy of your grace, Master Gideon." I kneeled on my feet, both hands on the mattress. "Let me be punished for the shame I brought to the clan. My blood is not enough but I will do what I must to pay for my sin."

The ambience stacked up loads on my shoulder. Master's silence speaks louder than ordering a punishment. His face was unseen but I sense that he's looking down on me. Pitying me.

"After barely recovering from a poor state, you have the heart to redeem yourself by seeking more destruction," Master Gideon uttered in monotone. "If you want to redeem yourself so badly, grab my hands now. Learning to be obedient is much satisfying than repenting through pain."

With persuading command, I reached to his hand without showing face. Master pulled me up. As I stood, I turned my sight away from his.

Forgive me master for having no courage to face you. You are kind to me but I already owe a lot in you. I'm no more than your porter.

"Can't you at least be a man? You want to redeem yourself but you are ashamed of yourself," Master Gideon commented, raising his chilling tone. "I tell you, Urion. If you will do something, do it with your head held high! Walk in the path of manhood!"

Master's words slapped me on the face. It almost deafened my ears... And it casted an electrifying charge in my heart. He surely knows how to wake a sleeping person with his scream.

Early in the morning, he is shooing away the birds. Though, it was amazing that the oracle did not budge even for an inch. His concentration is simply impenetrable.

So, I must learn to be calm as unmoved water to enter cultivation.

Waking up to my senses, I stood firm and looked on master's hawk eyes. I bended my back forward, giving respect, and said "From now on, I will listen to master! Thank you for your grace that I still able to live with pride and honor. I shall pledge my loyalty to master until my body be buried six-feet beneath the ground."

"You're being too loud," master uttered, swinging his punch to my head. Ouch! That hurts more than banging on the wall... And for someone who screamed first, he still dare to reason that.

Scratching my head, I still feel his heavy punch... But, the aching vanished as I heard master laughing loud, facing up the ceiling. Laughing, he said, "You're such an ignorant brat. But I am honor to serve as your guardian. I won't take you as servant but as a disciple."

The clouded thought of fear was cleared after seeing master's smile. We laughed together like nothing happened. I do see Uncle Makabe in how master treats me as a younger brother. Somehow, he and Oracle Fyero relieve my longing for my friends and family.

"Urion," Master Gideon called me in a serious tone. Aren't we getting over the mess I stirred? I frowned in confusion. "Are you willing to shoulder my trust again? Will you be able to keep a promise now?"

The previous life I had will never be erased. It fills a huge part in my heart. Yet, it is not impossible to set a portion for the present. Besides, I will live my life, remembering the oath I swore to the heavens and earths: That once I, Urion, become stronger... I will bring just for my friends, family and people.

"I promise," I accepted. "It is because of master's kindness why I can still fulfill the mission I carry. As you said before, I must grow stronger first if I want to overturn the system and bring fairness in the kingdom."

Master nodded twice as he grabbed me on my right shoulder, saying, "There are people who realize how unfair and cruel the system is. However, they remained silence for ages because they lack power to fight... Remember this, Urion: It takes more than courage to change this kingdom."

The bridge that connects me and master was his support on my stand. He condones my mission as long as I can carry myself in the cause. Somehow, master might be one of those who had no authority and power to resolve the cruel governance.

I shall shoulder that burden of him someday.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!" Oracle Fyero escaped his inner focus, laughing loud as he pushed himself up to stand. The red aura slowly enters his pores. We did not disturb him right? "The two of you seemed to get along."

Master moved one step backward, pausing for a second before bowing head and saying, "Father! Forgive us for disturbing your cultivation. Shall we go out for you to keep going?"

The oracle continued his weird laugh. His 'hohoho' bothers me a lot before but hearing it multiple times helped me to get used to it. Though, master was really startled even if we both know that loud noise will not break oracle's concentration.

"I'm actually finish with my cultivation," oracle replied as he put his hands on his back. He walked towards the exit and took a deep breath. "But you can bring Urion for a walk. The young man needs a sunshine."

"Will do, father," Master Gideon replied, flicking a brow on me. Asking me to follow without speaking? That's Master Gideon for me. He then walked out the room while I am tailing him in a meter distance.

Every time the oracle requested something on Master Gideon, this humongous commander obeys with no objection. Anyway, at least, I will be able to stretch my muscles and joints. Being bedridden only brought the worst of me.

"Gideon! Since you behave like a father, why don't you give your father a son-in-law before I die?" The oracle makes everything awkward when he mentioned marriage and having baby to master.

Heating up his head, Master Gideon melted his temper like succumbing to a child's taunt. Master turned his face to the oracle and screamed, "You asked me to make baby but I am not even married! Do you think I can impregnate myself?"

When the two continent collide, they fought each other, forming tall mountains that reach the sky. But this father-and-son collision brings laughter. "Hahahaha!" I cannot resist the tickling in my stomach.

"You stop laughing, Urion!" Master's effort to restrain the joy went in vain as my laugh only became louder. He tried to stop me more, stretching my cheeks like rubber. Yet, he only fell tired until he joined me in expressing the comedy. "You arrogant boy! Wahahaha!"

We continued our loud laugh without realizing that the oracle already vanished into thin air. It went for another half-minute until Master Gideon started to resist.

"Okay, let's stop laughing now," master asked, embracing himself. "My stomach cannot hold on anymore. Please, stop that."

I only wanted to laugh more after seeing the poor state of master. A commander being defeated by a silly laugh is the true comedy. With him being weak in this matter, he will surely be upset by a clown in the battlefield.

"So-so-sorry, master," I uttered, holding off my laugh. Pinching my belly. Holding my breath for a handy seconds. Thank God, I finally suppress it.

"Did that worth the boredom you endured for nearly a week?" Master Gideon asked, still grinning that showed his white strong teeth. Master surely knows how to take a break sometimes.

Shaking head, I said, "Laughing hard almost kill me. It doesn't pay off, master."

A swinging punch almost banged my head again but I quickly hopped backward to dodge. The same move will never capture me in dead end. I stick my tongue out and pulled my right lower eyelid, making fun of master.

"You learned quickly," master commended.

"Life is like a book. Words in pages are like experiences. We read. We experience them. But the discovered knowledge will be a waste if we choose to not apply it," I remarked.

"How about I give you a wish? Anything!" Master Gideon said, folding his arms open. "This will be your gift for recovering. So, do you have something in mind? Want to eat? Want to do? Just ask and I'll give."

To think that master will throw bread on me instead of a rock, I am really blessed. I want to pass on his offer but it is too good to refuse. Maybe... Just maybe, today.

I smiled back to master, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I closed my eyes; took a deep breath of courage. I bridged our eyes and asked, "How about training me to cultivate, master?"

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