Episode 2

I went straight home and prepared myself for college. I was a tad bit exhausted but I had to carry on. Especially since that was the last day of college before graduation.

As the day passed, I couldn't help but think back to my conversation with Barakia. There was only one person that I even enjoyed talking to, and that was my best friend. He was the only one who stuck up with me and broke through all of the walls I put in between us and we have been inseparable ever since.

Compared to him… I'm mediocre. He always was better than me, no matter how much effort I put in. His grades were always better. He always learned things faster. His mind was always working. Every move he did wasn't without a purpose…

It was a new experience for me. I thought I was good. I thought I was a genius, as egotistical as that sounds, but he was the real deal. What was more unexpected is that I enjoyed the competition. I enjoyed doing my best and drawing every last bit of talent I had whenever we competed. Ever since then, the sight of progress filled me with joy and hope.

It could be said that it had become an obsession to me. To give everything I had to whatever I was doing. My life is so much better now because of him and I treasure him deeply.

The day passed without a hitch. I was far more excited to converse with Barakia again than the last day of college. I think Barakia would love to talk with my best friend, Johan, far more than he does with me.

I headed home again and picked up some supplies that I thought would improve the night such as some drinks and some of the books I've read that he might enjoy. Before I pulled the knob to open the door, I looked behind me.

The memories of me and my parents flooded back in. The memories of playing video games with my dad. The memories of helping mom in the kitchen with whatever I was capable of at the time. The memories of us laughing and smiling in the living room. The memories of us crying whenever we watched a sad movie…

A knot materialized itself in my throat and I felt like I was about to cry. One wrong move and the tears would start flowing. I couldn't let myself do that. My parents wouldn't want me to cry about their deaths but try my hardest to move on and enjoy my life. That much I was completely and absolutely sure of.

Still. It's been 10 years and I still get like this sometimes… huh.

I smiled to myself and opened the door and whispered his name. "Barakia."

Then the environment around me blurred, the street lights that had turned on earlier turning into streaks as I was transported to his Silent Garden.

The same sight as last night greeted me. Barakia even stood in the same chair as last night as well. I began approaching him when his gaze turned to my right hand.

"... Is that a table?" I looked at the extendable table in my right hand and then back at him.

"Yes?"

He didn't say anything but his gaze then moved to my left hand in which I held a bag. It contained a few

"You know this is not some kind of picnic right?" His tone sounded slightly aggravated.

"What are you talking about? You said this is a place where you come to relax. I brought some tea and some food I made this morning. The table was necessary. Oh I also brought some books as well for you to read that I think are pretty realistic and show how humans are and can be." I said as I set everything up.

I let Barakia hold the bag as I set up the table and put the flasks of tea I made on the wooden table. I then pulled out the casseroles of spaghetti and creamy tomato soup. He did look at me in a funny way as I set everything up.

He remained silent for the entirety of that duration.

"I didn't know what kind of tea you'd like so I made all kinds. From left to right it's as follows: green tea, passion tea, black tea and minted green tea. Take your pick." He was still a bit dumbfounded but picked the minted green tea and poured one glass into the lid which you could use as a cup.

He was a bit hesitant at first, but took a sip and made a sound that you would not expect a leader like him to make.

"Is it good?" I said as I poured a cup of black tea.

"It's good. Even though it's still piping hot, it's refreshing." He said as he fanboyed a little.

"That's the mint doing its work." I said, full of pride.

"Mint, you say? Is that what it's called?" Despite his old looking face, the look on his face was one of a child who discovered an entire new world. It was adorable in a way.

After that, we spent about an hour savoring our drinks in silence and eating. The ratings he gave on the food were as raving as the tea ones.

"You know, we vampires don't need to consume food or drink water but it was more enjoyable than I thought. Thanks."

I just hmphed him with pride.

"Didn't you say you wanted to talk about your daughter the other day?" I said as I sipped from my 4th cup of black tea.

He seemed to tense up a little.

"Yeah."

"Go ahead then. I'm all ears."

He stood silent for a few minutes until he sighed and relaxed.

"My daughter's name is Karia. The problem I'm facing right now is that she seems to have distanced herself from me. For her first 300 years of life, we were inseparable and maintained a good father-daughter relationship. She would always tell me if something bothered her and asked me for opinions on various things but now…" He seemed to have gotten sadder as he said that.

"Maybe it's her rebellious phase?"

"Rebellious phase?" He was pretty confused when he asked that.

"We humans have this period in our lives when we think that our parents are embarrassing or 'uncool' so we distance themselves from them. Then we think that our parents are wrong or we dismiss their words when they are actually right and we make the same mistakes they did when they were our age."

As I talked, it struck me that my parents didn't live long enough for me to experience that. All of this came from the stories I've read.

"I don't think that's the case. She is not the type to do that. She is smart and responsible. Much more than any kid should be. As the heir to the Rodnes clan, she was put in a position where she had to be aware of everything from a young age. I even asked her if it bothered her, but she said that it didn't and was proud to be able to carry that responsibility, but…"

"It still bothers you that her childhood was taken away from her just because you're her father." I completed his sentence to the best of my ability.

He nodded silently, his gaze stuck to the ground.

If it's not a rebellious phase…

"I might have an idea of why she is acting like that…" He turned roundabout again. It must've been something that didn't come easy to him to talk about.

"Barakia." I shot to him in a completely neutral tone.

"Sorry. It's just that it pertains to things that are happening inside the clan and if I spoke about that with you…"

"I'm the best person to talk to for that. A third party will always give you an unbiased opinion that is often much more helpful than what any of the two sides might give you."

He chuckled. That chuckle turned into outright loud laughter.

"Sorry about that Ogen. You're right."

"We're friends, right?" I said to him.

The smile on his face seemed genuine that time.

"Our society is still at a level where yours was hundreds of years ago. We vampires don't change or if we do, we change slowly. We don't have the adaptability you humans have."

That was a bit of a thought provoking question.

"How do you know that for sure?"

Barakia looked confused.

"We humans have had to adapt through every single historical period. There wasn't a time where we didn't adapt and even in our daily life, when it comes to learning a new skill or working a different job, we adapt. For others it's easier to adapt and for others it's harder."

Barakia was listening intently.

"I can't speak with absolute certainty, so I'm sorry if I offend you. From what I can pick up, vampires haven't had to adapt. I suspect your long lives also play a role in that. Since our lives are limited, we are pushed to give everything our all, to pursue the best we can from ourselves, to get better and learn as many things as we can."

"I agree with that." His gaze then locked into my eyes. I could see he became more serious after he said that.

"The problem is that very few of my peers do. That goes double for the bastards in the Elder Council. Our relationship with this one clan has never been good. We have had countless skirmishes over time and now, the situation has gotten to a point where the first one that strikes is going to win."

"Keep going." I said to Barakia.

"What I think is that there is another way to go about this than fighting. We don't have to spill blood and kill each other just for territory and resources. I treasure my subordinates far more than those things. I can always get more territory and resources by doing the same thing they are doing to us to another clan, but good underlings and the people I came to treasure are irreplaceable."

"That's very respectable and the outlook a good leader should have, in my opinion. May I assume that your subordinates do not agree with you then?" I said as I put the empty flask of tea down on the table.

He shook his head.

I started drinking from the passion tea flask and poured a cup. It very much warmed my body and soul in the cold swamp. It wasn't uncared for, though. The waters were clear and the air was pleasant. It was a very nice place.

"It is a naive standpoint, though. People that are obsessed with power and raising their status in society will never play fair. Even if you did work out a deal, they could stab you in the back and raze your clan and territory into the ground."

When I looked up at Barakia as I was sipping tea, he had a yet another different smile on his face.

"You know, my daughter said something similar." I stopped sipping from the cup and looked him in the eyes.

"That's why you think your daughter has distanced herself from you? Because of your naive views that might kill the entire clan?"

Barakia chuckled.

"That was brutal, but yeah. She must feel exasperated to have a father like me…"

What I say next is crucial.

"Barakia, I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but have you talked to her about it?" He remained silent.

I cringed so much it turned into physical pain.

"Oh. My. God. You live for over 2 millennia and you still make that kind of newbie mistake?!"

The smile he had on his face then was a bit sadder.

"I'm a really incompetent father, huh?" I could only nod my head in approval.

"The truth is, Barakia, that you will never know exactly what's bothering your daughter unless you talk to her about it. People that expect you to figure out what is going on without talking first are morons. It's fine if you can't pick up on these kinds of subtle differences. What's not fine is not talking first and then coming to the wrong conclusion and making your situation even worse."

I felt like those words were aimed more towards myself than Barakia…

"You're quite right my friend." He said as he extended his hand to go for another flask of tea.

The only one left was the green tea flask. We shared that one as we continued to discuss into the morning.