Difficult Week

Pale considered himself to have lived a sheltered life. 

He might have lost his father at a young age, but he was well-fed (most of the time) and was surrounded by people and horses and the one Demon Queen that he could look up to. 

And... he might have come home with bruises and bite marks every other day-- or suffered starvation, second-degree burns, or broken bones every week or so... but at least he had a bed to sleep in. 

But despite him growing taller, increasing his strength and magic power, and being taught how to file his taxes in the Holy Country... Pale felt like he was only pretending to be grown up. 

It still felt like all the *real* adults had everything figured out. They had real, adult goals, while Pale was still focused on the past. 

A long time ago... he remembered confessing something to Tycon that still embarrassed him to that sun. 

He... admitted he was afraid of being left behind.