"Dad?"
Kayden was stunned to see his dad's youthful appearance, however he recognised him immediately. Whereas Mr Jones was also startled upon witnessing his son's weirdly charming aura.
"Kayden? What happened to you? You look….different and amazing, haha."
The old man chuckled in amusement, he was well aware possibly what caused the freshness over his face.
"What do you mean by that, dad? I always look good, don't I?"
Kayden pouted and tucked his right palm with the wall, Mr Jones wore a poker expression upon his son's mischievous actions. He chuckled and pulled him by arm into a strong hug, Mr Jones was elated that Kayden had dropped all the grudges against him.
"I love you, son. You need to know that I can't live without you."
Kayden nodded upon his words and reciprocated his warmth and verbal love. They both parted and chuckled when Malcolm appeared from the lounge. His unkempt attire and injured body made Kayden suspicious, recalling about those thump noises he figured out what might have happened.
"Dad...did you?"
He could clearly see the difference in their appearances, Mr Jones was unscathed other than the slight cut on his lower lip. Whereas Malcolm was having a black eye and multiple bruises over his face, neck and shoulders. Kayden had always known about the strength of his father but did not know he could be this powerful. Considering the old man was just a mere civilian and did not have any access to the special training.
"Yes, I just intended to test his capabilities as your bodyguard."
Mr Jones tried to divert the topic from him beating Malcolm, towards his incapability to land a single blow at him. Kayden immediately grasped what his father was trying to do, however he did not want to take part in the verbal bullying. Kayden required his help along with Medusa, no matter what they both were a good team together.
"And? Are you satisfied with the protection? He is capable though, his skills are amazing."
Kayden raised his one eyebrow and descended the staircase, he sprinted closer to Malcolm and wrapped his arm around his shoulder. Mr Jones was inwardly surprised at the sudden friendly mannerism of his son, which contrasted from his earlier treatment towards them.
Malcolm waited to hear the remarks about his prowess but it seemed Mr Jones was not going to let him off the hook. Kayden shifted his gaze from Malcolm towards his father, and could easily feel the cold war between them.
"Of course, he is capable. But compared to the most species outside you all have to train harder. You three have to venture and learn from other realms too before standing up against Evilrite. There's no way his army consists of elven kind only, the situation doesn't seem to be as simple as it appears."
Mr Jones explained them carefully according to his knowledge gathered from his late wife. Kayden's mother narrated him numerous stories and things about her homeland, which was the main source of Mr Jones' knowledge.
Both of the young boys became silent regarding the facts, because something was definitely suspicious about Evilrite' attack on Beelzebelle. He only had a few tropes and didn't kill the inhabitants, instead he made them prisoners. Malcolm and Medusa were well aware of it but couldn't understand why the people did not chose anyone for the throne, instead they insisted on Kayden's comeback.
"Okay, enough of the talks. You both have to clean up this mess, don't leave any spot. Also, leave Medusa out of this task."
Kayden and Malcolm were engrossed into thinking something, when Mr Jones smiled upon seeing their closeness. But there were things which were supposed to be done first, thus he raised his voice and ordered both of them before heading towards his room.
"But why just we should do the cleaning?"
Kayden tried to protest whereas Malcolm had already begun picking up the big chunks of the broken table. Mr Jones halted at the exit of the lounge and gave his son a 'you know it all' look and left. It was expected that Medusa would have been exhausted after all the sexual activity, not to forget she let Kayden drink her blood too.
As soon as the old man reached in his room, Mr Jones closed the door behind him and leaned against it. A strange black smoke began to appear from his hands, Jones could not bear the pain in his left arm which nearly paralyzed him.
"No, I can't let anyone see me this way. Especially not Kayden."
He somehow managed to lift his right hand up to his mouth and bit himself, his appearance had already begun to return to normal. Mr Jones drank his own blood and slumped on the floor against the door while breathing heavily. Sweat beads were visible on his forehead as he took a few moments to calm himself.
"I have to help them get stronger, it needs to be done faster. Or else Kayden would stop believing in me as his father."
Mr Jones mumbled while staring at his strangely split arm muscles, which were cut due to some thorns popping out of his body. The muscles sewn themselves causing Mr Jones an immense pain as he laid on the floor whimpering.
The thorns were pushed inside and the muscles began to repair themselves, the strange smoke died soon and his appearance along with the hand returned to normal. The old man got up from the floor and staggered towards the bed, Mr Jones threw himself on the bed and tried to sleep.
-*-*-*-*-
A special thanks to [Puremichigan] and [Jache] for gifts~