Father and son bonding time

It feels like a month has passed since I became friends with Lilith. But really, it's actually been a years. Hell, she even came to my house for my eleventh birthday. Every day she'd approach our front gate and knock on it.

Not that anyone from the house could hear it since she'd just wait there until Gerald or Synthia come outside and notice her.

She'd come in and sit on the couch, waiting for me to get ready for the day. And once I'd come down, we'd head outside and go back to the tree we met at and just hang there. Sometimes we'd chat or sometimes I might even show her my magic casting.

Speaking of my magic, My magic has also gotten a lot better in the past year that have passed. Synthia worked me hard once she knew I was able to silently cast when I showed her. She told me to always repeat the same water ball spell over and over until my efficiency with it grew. She also taught me multiple other spells as well. And now I was able to use all five beginner spells. Lilith would also pop up when we were studying magic, eying me with wide eyes as I would chant and then silently do the casting. Synthia would pay her head and smile before looking at me with that smile.

She's gotten along with Synthia as well. Both would talk about many things like cooking and magic. It was like seeing a daughter and mother talk with each other.

However, She had gotten along with Gerald even more. She's seen him train out in the gardens multiple times and has become quite interested in his daily routine. Often asking "Hey, how'd you do that?" Or "Woah, Kota's father is amazing!" .

All of that put a smile on his face, he'd often look at me with a wicked smirk as he'd proceeded to tell her all about his training.

Which is weird, because I think he believes she has some sort of crush on him and not me. I think she's just more interested in the swordsmanship he was doing.

I'm pretty sure Synthia even noticed this as she never really reacted in a bad way to both of them. Maybe it's because Lilith was my first friend and she didn't want her to stop being friends with me.

I knew Gerald was up to something when Lilith went home today, He grabbed me and plotted me on the couch, with himself kneeling in front of me.

"Listen, kota." He'd started.

The last time we had this kind of conversation, we never finished it since Synthia was watching, but now she was outside tending to the garden. So it was me and him.

He gave me a serious face. His eyes squinted as he gave a frown.

"I'm teaching you how to get a lady."

"Uh, what?" I gave him a confused look, I mean he's telling that to a four year old?

"Look, I know you're still young. But seeing how much of a prodigy you are, you can learn all this. And quite honestly, looking at you now just reminds me of my younger self. You can probably handle a girl at this point."

I see. I guess I have been progressing a lot for a eleven year old. I don't see any other kids out here casting magic at this age, or even writing or reading. Having the mindset of an eighteen year old really fastens the progress, huh.

Though Gerald probably just thinks I'm just way smarter than others since he doesn't even know that. Thinking I'm a prodigy who is just too smart for his age.

"Do you like Lilith?" He asked, still holding the serious look.

Hm? Come again?

Well, let me think about this? Morally, it's wrong to like a twelve year old girl, so no. But then again, I'm pretty sure everyone here thinks I'm eleven years old, even her. If I said that I was into older women, I feel that would just make things even weirder. Wouldn't she take offense that she wasn't old enough for a eleven year old? What if she likes me back? Well, that just complicates things even more, I can't tell her what's up with me since Arael told me not to do that at all. There's a reason behind that most likely. I mean if I do tell her, I'm pretty sure if I explained my situation, they'd think something is wrong with me.

"Kota, It's a yes or no question." Gerald said, not even hiding a confused face as he looked at mine, which was in such focus I didn't even notice.

"It's…a little difficult to answer that." I finally said.

"Hm? What do you mean it's har-ah…hmm…" He stopped his sentence before backing off and scratching his own chin.

"…Maybe you're too young to really understand. How about I put it this way…once you both grow older…will your feelings for her change?"

I frowned at that question. How did I feel about Lilith?

Lilith is my first friend in this world, so of course I wouldn't want anything to happen to her. But to be quite honest, she does fit most of the criterias I have for a girl I'd want. Short hair, Shy, awfully cute when doing literally anything. And her amber eyes are really nice to look at. I feel in a couple of years, her body would likely develop nice as well.

Still. I'd think at her age, she probably isn't even thinking about being with someone right now. I mean, what are the circumstances for marriage here in this world? Wait, is there even a consent age here?

C'mon, Travis. You're overthinking this.

Here, put it like this for now.

Whatever happens, it happens. I'd like to think it will be all up to her for this to really work.

"Erm… I think my feelings for her will only change if her feelings for me also change?" I broke my silence with that confused response.

Gerald continued to rub his chin, still frowning before eventually it turned into a grin.

"Ha ha. I knew you were a good kid, that's a good answer, That's a better answer than what I made at your age." He let out a chuckle before patting my head.

W-what? At your age? Did his dad also ask him the same damn question? Wait, is this why he's like this??

I hope I really don't come down a family tree filled with womanizers.

"Your mother and I, We didn't hit it off when we were together in our group. She was one feisty girl." He got up from his knees and sat beside me on the couch, reminiscing.

I guess it's story time now.

"At some point though, She always stayed by my side, whether we were camping or in a dungeon. She'd always have my back. Never seen a girl like that before, and I've been with a bunch of girls. Lauren? Been with her, but she's not like your mom."

The last time Lauren came by was when I was a year old and she just learned about me. I wonder what she's up to now?

"Your mom fell for me at some point, when we asked for volunteers to join a quest in a dungeon. She immediately accepted once she heard I was part of it. Ever since, she's been with me. I never really understood why at first, but…" Gerald trailed off, looking outside at Synthia, who was still tending to the crops and plants outside.

"When an...incident happened in our group, I had the whole gang against me. They turned on me and wanted to oust me for what I did. But your mother… she didn't side with them. She held her ground with me as they turned away from us. She told me they didn't matter. And that's when I knew…" He turned and looked at me.

"Kota, when you have someone who you know respects you, even with your flaws. Stay with them. Never stay with those who, at an instance, would leave you behind. Your mother and I respect each other, and that's why we love each other."

I didn't expect such a story from Gerald, mostly I saw him just be a comedic dad who was trying to be a cool dad. But here, he was serious. His story reminded me of my old self, That me that was buried under his friends blaming and the misunderstood looks from others. Suddenly, I respected this man more.

I nodded at him, assuring that I understood what he meant.

Gerald nodded and patted my head again, smiling this time.

"If Lilith ever shows that kind of determination for you. You keep her."

"We'll see, Dad." I looked past him and noticed Synthia coming back to the house.

When she opened the door and saw us, She looked confused at first, but saw Gerald smiling at her. She looked surprised at first but realized what we were doing and happily smiled.

"My, My, Father and Son bonding time?" She was walking to the table and started to sort out some vegetables when she asked that.

"I was just telling Kota about how we met, babe." Gerald replied.

"Aw, How sweet!"

I looked at both of them, Gerald getting up to help and Synthia smiling at him still.

She really does respect him. The way she laughs when he talks to her, and the way she acts near him. All that possessive yandere act she pulls is out of love. And he doesn't even care about that stuff about her. He just sees her. Such a weird couple, but..

That put a smile on my face. I got off the couch and ran to the table to assist them both, Which caught them by surprise.

I guess it was time for family bonding time now.