Day 5 of the Games pt 1

Sairaorg Bael POV

Today is a weird day for me. We decided to not participate in todays matches. Apparently it's an aerial rotating maze. But i can't help but feel empty. Im walking through the central park just looking at everyone running around. A fallen and an angel who seems to be reuniting after decades, a yokai and a magician talking about manga, there's even a young blonde witch wearing a Serafall Tshirt.

All this joy around me, yet i feel so empty. I sit back on a bench and release a sigh. Im just bathing in the sunlight, head back and eyes closed, when a shadow blocks my light.

"Saira, you cant wallow in a public park" said a soothing voice that brought nothing but pure joy to the young adult "Whats wrong son? What has you so weighed down."

I open my eyes to look at my worried mother. Haaah, c'mon Sair, you can't be worrying her right now. "It's nothing mother, im just focusing myself for the remainder of the tournament." I put on my best smile to keep my mom in high spirits.

She just smiled and squeezed in the bench pushing my leg over to make room. "You know Saira, when you were a kid you used to hold your head so high when people addressed you as Lord Bael. ..(tone shift to a darker slower theme).. the day you learned your body couldnt handle the power of destruction was the first time you stopped smiling the same. The day when you learned your younger cousin Rias was able to weild it, that was the day you stopped holding your head high" she took a break as tears threatened to escape her eyes.

"I was supposed to be there for you. Be there to hold your hand and tell you its going to be fine. But i wasn't even able to do that. All that time you needed me, even if for a minute, but i was asleep....Sleeping peacefully while my son hurts and continued hurting alone."

I feel my heart tighten and clench as my eyes could no longer stay dry "....mom" i managed to choke out "it's okay."

"But its not Saira," she said with her head in her hands "I just slept. All that time, i wasn't there when you needed me. And now im awake but so what? My son has grown into a fine young man, my ex husband never glanced my way upon hearing about me waking up..... maybe i should have stayed asleep."

"MOTHER! Thats not true and you know it. Times have changed yes, but that doesnt mean we don't need you here. That i don't need you here..."

We sit there on the bench for a few minutes in silence and melancholy. A mother and a son both hurting for different reasons. We just need

"A fresh start." My mother looked at me curiosly "Thats what we need mom. A fresh start away from the Underworld. A place where we can choose our own paths. We just need to immigrate and we can be rid of the weight of Bael."

The world really has changed huh. Im not the same kid who had to dig his nails deep and be scorned by everyone. But now i stand on the same field as them but is it because they respect me?

No they only respect power. When i didnt have any i wasnt worth their attention, but now that i have some their mouths run full with false bravado and lies.

Time passes as we sit there in a calming silence as the sun's warmth dances overhead. The clouds drift as people move by around us. Life really isnt so set in stone huh? Since this year started he's been met with surprise after surprise and each one has been bigger than the last.

Maybe coming to this magic academy is just what i need. We can move here and start over. I wont be Sairaorg the sad son or Sairaorg the heir of the Bael. Ill just be me and ill do my best to protect what little slice of happiness I've managed to collect for myself.

My mother sits on the side and just watches me and smiles the entire time. Later on she will go on to tell me that this was the first moment since i was 4 that my head was held high and i could smile freely.

My broken world may have been stitched together sparingly, but its up to me to make a home for myself. Im not sure if i want to be the leader of the Bael clan, but I'll figure out something.

"Mom, ive decided. We're staying here. Ive seen the residential area with Kuisha yesterday and even the school is doing a grand tour during the last day and sign up. begins that day after the first games. Im going to attend. Ill create a name for myself that will make people remember me. So please. Watch me mother, watch the man I'll become."

My mother smiled and shed a few tears before replying "Of course Saira, I'll always be the one in the front rows cheering for you. Whatever you do, do it with your back straight and head held high. Show the world you're not someone to ignore."

With a new determined gaze i head back to the arena and call my peerage. They all take a few minutes to gather together before i hit them with rhe announcement.

"I've decided to withdraw my claim for the heirship of Bael. Im going to attend the magical academy here for a bit before experiencing the real world. I know this may sound selfish of me, but i ask all of you. Your dreams, please hold on a bit longer and i promise I'll gain the strength to make them come true."

Kuisha stepped forward and just hugged me, leaning her lips to my ears she states "We're not going anywhere Sair. Forever and always remember." She brings the edges of her lips into a gigantic smile that sends my heart racing 100km/h.

My peerage all looks ready with newfound determination so as a last words of encouragement i muster up my authority and tell them "Alright then guys, lets show them our all for the last few days. We'll make sure the world remembers us."

They all cheer and it ends in a laugh as my stomach growls from lack of eating all day. Hehe oh well some things wont ever change.