Six-Hundred-Seventeen Years

"Returned to the Uncharted Lands? For what?" asked Arthur, confused. His father had always been a mystery to him. Most people had awesome dads who always had their backs, but his father was just… pathetic, in his opinion.

"I have no idea, but I knew he was unstable. It happened a few months ago when I was patrolling the mountain. I found him roaming the place, looking for me. I never thought he could look this broken."

"What did he want?"

"He asked me for a way out," said Benjamin with a frown. "I didn't understand what he was saying, but Seref believed he needed to be a horrible father—a father who wouldn't choose his son, but the world, every time."

"Well, he succeeded."

"I understand how much that affected you, Arthur," said Benjamin as he placed his cup down and looked at his grandson. "I'm really sorry for what happened to you. Every last bit of it—it was too much. To awaken wrath, one must be struck by calamities time after time."