15 A Man's Worth

The next morning when Orion woke up he started revolving the Heavenly Demon Sacred Art but as he did so he couldn't seem to clear his mind which effected his morning practice.

[What's going on with me today? I can't seem to focus, I have a nagging feeling something bad is about to happen.]

Seeing as he couldn't focus properly, Orion decided to go downstairs for breakfast. When he reached the top of the stairs he heard his mom and dad talking to his Aunt Rouge.

"Rouge don't do this. You don't have to forfeit your life as well!"

"Mark, I know you just want to protect me, but I've already made up my mind. If Roger, the father of my unborn child couldn't talk me out of it then neither can you."

"Why are you doing this though, you and your child are safe here!"

"This is the only way to keep the fact that Roger had a child a secret. You know as well as I do that if the world was to figure out the child's identity then they'd automatically be seen as public enemy number 1, not only by the government, but Rogers enemies as well.

It's the job of the parents to do whatever it takes to protect their children. Roger decided to give himself up for the sake of our child. As the mother, if delaying the birth of the child by a few months will give them the chance to live without having to hide in the shadows to survive then I'll do it, even if it costs me my life!"

"Rouge wh…"

Just as Marcus was prepared to argue with his sister once again, he was cut off by Mira.

"MARCUS! That's enough!"

Marcus, startled by Mira's outburst, turned around to look at her. As he did he was shocked to see her face full of tears. Mira continued.

"Even if we don't want little Rouge to go through with her plans, it's not our place to stop her. She made her choice out of love for her child, as a parent you should be able to respect her decision!"

When he heard that despite his inner struggle, Marcus couldn't find the words to refute the words of his wife.

For the first time in a long time he was truly furious. He was angry with the world government for driving two people who he cared about to an early death, but above all he was angry with himself.

He looked down at the ground as tears started trickling down his face uncontrollably. He was clenching his fists so hard that blood was starting to drip from his palms.

[What kind of man am I if I can't even protect the people I care about?!]

Without saying a word, he walked out the house. Neither Mira nor Rouge stopped him.

"DAD!"

Orion ran towards the door in an attempt to chase after his father who was clearly hurting.

Seeing Orion running towards the door, Rouge tried to grab him to stop him.

"Ori your dad needs to be alone fo…"

As she was trying to grab hold of Orion to prevent him from going after Marcus. Orion dodged her hands before increasing his speed. His movement was fluid and fast just like the wind, managing to catch Rouge by surprise.

Just as Rouge was about to try harder to stop him, Mira put her hand on Rouge's shoulder.

When Rouge turned around Mira shook her head as she said.

"If anyone can help Marcus right now it's Ori!"

As Orion was dashing in the direction Marcus left he finally saw Marcus standing at the shore looking out to sea.

Marcus drew his sword and a truly terrifying aura erupted from him. This aura was like nothing Orion had ever felt before. It was cold, sharp and overbearing but the aspect that truly caught Orion by surprise was the anguish he could feel coming from the aura. Even though it wasn't directed at Orion, he still felt it pressing down on him like nothing he had ever felt before!

Despite being pressured by this horrifying aura, Orion didn't take his eyes off his father for even a second.

The next thing he saw was Marcus raise his sword and swing his sword forward as if he was attempting to split the world in 2.

A giant white sword light shaped like a crescent moon that seemed tall enough to reach the sky shot forth cutting everything in its path in half. From the clouds in the sky to the island in the distance and even the sea itself.

It was a shocking sight, but Orion wasn't paying attention to that. All he could think about was the pain his father was in right now. He was still feeling the pressure of Marcus' aura pressing down on him, but he forced himself to walk forward to the source of that pressure.

Step by step he got a little closer, but as he did the amount of pressure he would face would intensify dramatically!

He finally managed to reach Marcus' position. When he got close enough he was petrified by what he saw.

"Dad, you…"

This was the first time he'd ever seen his father crying but what shocked him wasn't that he was crying but that his tears were red.

[Dad's crying blood?!]

Seeing that, he felt as if there was a knife piercing into his heart. He couldn't even imagine the pain his father was feeling.

Without thinking, he grabbed hold of his father's free hand.

Feeling someone grabbing his palm, Marcus looked down and saw his crying son looking up at him. He looked down at him and smiled but Orion didn't see the same goofy carefree smile he normally would, all he saw was pain and suffering hidden behind that smile.

Marcus looked back out towards the sea which was still split in 2 as he asked.

"Can a man who can't even protect those that he cares about still be called a man?!"

Although he posed it as a question, he wasn't actually expecting an answer.

Orion looked out to sea as he replied.

"The measure of a man is Not - How did he die? But - How did he live?

Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?

These are the things that measure the worth

Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart?

And – What did he do to play his part?

Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer?

To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed?

But - Had he done all he can for those really in need?

Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say?

But - How many were sorry when he passed away?

These are the things that measure the worth

Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

My father is the manliest man in the world."

That was a poem that stuck with Orion from his previous life but this poem shocked Marcus down to his core.

He looked down at his son who was staring out to sea and the look in his eyes turned from one of anguish and despair to one of resolve as he stared back out to sea.