After Math
The desperation in Doren's eyes was almost overwhelming, the sense of pain and impending loss palpable on Joseph's tongue.
"I have won this duel on your behalf sir," Joseph began, He spoke calmly and low so that only Doren could hear him, as much as so that he would understand what was being said.
"That means, sir, that you have the right as the victor to set the punishment conditions yourself."
It was several moments before the truth of the statement dawned upon Doren's nearly broken mind. As the truth washed over him the relief and joy on his face was both immediate and intense.
He sprang to his feet wrapping Joseph in a hung crying "Thank you! thank you! thank you!" He was practically dancing while tears rolled down his face.
The moment was spoiled slightly by Olsen chiming in with a defensive, "What are you so happy about?! I lost to this peasant and now he's going to demand everything from me! Why are you thanking him?!"
Pausing in his celebration, Doren, rounded on his son with a furious retort.
"Why am I thanking him? Because he just saved your life you ignorant fool!!"
This was the first time in his life that Olsen's father had spoken to him in this manner. The shock was so intense he didn't know how to react to it. It was fortunate for him that his father wasn't done or he might have embarrassed himself with his inability to respond.
"I know you didn't hear what he said to me as you were unconscious at the time, but he gave me the victors rights. Meaning, Olsen, your punishment conditions will be set by ME." The bone deep disappointment and anger was on the surface for everyone to hear and see, the only issue was no one could tell if it was Doren's disappointment in his son or himself that was greater.
"I have indulged you for too long," Doren continued his heated rant, laying bare all of his feelings about the current state of the precious gift his wife left him. And how sorry he was for failing in taking proper care of it. "I will set your conditions later, after I have time to thoroughly consider what would best fit. But believe you me son, both you and I will change from this moment on."
Olsen still couldn't believe it was his own father that was speaking to him this way. It was as if his mind was simply incapable of comprehending the current situation. Seeing the stunned look on his son's face Doren shook his head once more and turned back to Joseph.
"I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me and my son." He said, a broad smile on his face. "Perhaps now I can be the father she would want me to be."
Joseph could see within the smile a faint bitter-sweetness that spoke of how much Doren blamed himself, as well as a steely determination to do things the right way this time.
"No need to thank me sir," Joseph replied humbly. "If you want to thank someone thank Aden, it was his idea all along."
"I know." Doren replied, a faint hint of amusement playing across his face before quickly disappearing. "But I've known that old coot for decades, and I know that he wasn't the one to tell you about the victors rights. You made that choice by yourself and I can't help but see the same morale fibers in you that I saw in your parents. They would be proud of you Joseph."
A wave of emotions threatened to overcome Joseph as he listened to this honest praise. He knew very little about his parents due to Aden's reluctance to talk about them. But he could tell that this praise was genuine, and being compared to his parents affected him much more than he thought it would.
"Thank you sir." Was all he could manage to say without loosing control. He quickly turned around and moved back to Aden's side, head down so he missed the enormous smile plastered from ear to ear across Aden's face.
When Joseph arrived next to him Aden didn't say anything, just patted Joseph on the back reassuringly and allowed Joseph the time he needed to get himself sorted out.
Turning back to the loving but irate father, Doren, Aden began to address him once more.
"My friend," He began. Drawing Doren's gaze towards him. "It will take time, Don't give up on him...or yourself."
Doren's gaze shifted between grateful and sad several times before finally landing on focused determination. Nodding his response he helped his son stand and together they left the dueling hall to return home.
At this point the others who had come to spectate were rather confused as the the series of events. They had expected Joseph to exploit the conditions of the duel, as was customary, but instead they got a strange feeling that this was all for Olsen's benefit. It was a strange sort of confusion that left them wanting and yet satisfied.
The crowd slowly shuffled away after Doren had taken his son home leaving Aden and Joseph alone in the hall.
Aden turned to Joseph saying, "You did well boy, you've given them both a chance at becoming much more than they could ever have been otherwise."
Joseph was rather confused. "How do you figure I did that? didn't I just destroy him? Wont he resent me?"
Shaking his head Aden stated calmly, "The only thing you've done is destroy who he was. Now, perhaps, they may grow into who they CAN be. Good things grow from adversity and pain, if we allow them to change us."
Frowning Joseph responded doubtfully. "Don't bad things also come from adversity and pain? People don't become bad because things are going super great for them."
"Pride cometh before the fall." Aden replied cryptically, lightly thumping Joseph on the forehead. "Remember this if nothing else. Things only go good for so long, eventually something will come along to humble us even when we do what's right."
Joseph knew this of course, his parents being a prime example of bad things happening to good people.
"The problem," Aden continued. "Is that when things go good for so long we take them for granted, and we fail to see the lesson for what it is when it comes. Pride clouds our thoughts and we end up hating anything and everything that caused us pain. We fail to be humble, to be grateful, and to grow in the midst of adversity for no one has ever become strong without going through the grinder I promise you that."
Joseph understood this on a personal level, he had trained relentlessly for years to achieve his level of combat prowess. Not only that he was far more emotionally mature than his peers by virtue of his experience. He was still young and made mistakes but he could tell he was far advanced from those he shared the field with.
"The challenge then," Aden had begun to slowly walk away signaling that this would be his final point, to which Joseph paid rapt attention. "Is to allow yourself to be thankful for the challenge, because it is IN the challenge that we grow."
The door closed behind Aden as he finished the last word, leaving Joseph in a retrospective silence pouring over the events of the day. After Aden's explanation he could now see why he said those things about Olsen and Doren becoming who they can be. The events of the duel had basically forced them into a position where they either change, adapt, and grow...or they fail and end up in a worse position than before. Joseph could only hope that they did what they needed to do to come out of this on the positive side.
Joseph spent several minutes alone thinking about his past, his parents, his blessing, his training, and how they all culminated in the man he was today. And unusually enough he did find himself feeling a bit of gratitude for all he had gone through. The pain of losing his family was still a bitter sting, but now he could see the only reason he had learned his lessons so well was because of that driving pain. He had filled his heart and mind with purpose to change the war and world so that others would not suffer as he did, and he was prepared to go to any length to achieve this.
Just as he was finishing his thoughts he heard the door behind him open once more. Thinking it was Aden coming back to check on him he turned slowly saying. "I just needed a min..."
His final words were never spoken as instead of Aden walking towards him, it was Rufus.
Rufus took slow deliberate steps towards him, his face fixed in a mask of pain and determination.
"I am sorry about this boy," he said. His deep voice carrying a sense of deep reluctance and helplessness. "I don't have a choice."
Before joseph could reply he felt an explosion of pain in the back of his head, and then his world went black.