Recovery.

2 Weeks Later.

"Tap. Tap. Tap."

Lucian walks down the hall towards his room. His cane taps against the stones as he hobbles onwards.

Lucian's wounds are slowly healing, even with his heightened regeneration as a Demon. New bandages are wrapped around his wounds, changed daily. The strain on his body from the fight with the Armoured Bear still resides in his muscles, especially those in his legs. The explosive increase in power from his lightning enhancement tore several of the muscles in his legs.

His days are monotonous but also fulfilling. His lessons have been put on hold until he is fully recovered. In the meantime, he has spent almost every moment with his family. Especially Talia and Lilith, in an attempt to mend the hurt he caused his mother and create a brotherly bond with his sister.

Talia has responded well to Lucian's attention. To the extent that her loud cries can be heard throughout the castle when she leaves his arms.

Lilith has been a tougher nut to crack, still holding slight resentment to Lucian for acting so recklessly. Though still savoring the surplus of time Lucian now spends with her.

Aside from fixing the problems, he's caused with his family. Lucian's nights are spent training Iris. She now understands some commands for Basic Obedience, such as sit, stay, and come.

To Lucian's surprise, even with Iris being a beast, she has extremely high intelligence. Causing her to understand what a command means after around 3 tries.

...

4 Weeks in recovery.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

Lucian's blade crashes against Harald's.

Harald sidesteps Lucian's next swing, striking towards his neck.

Ducking under the blade, Lucian feigns a strike towards Harald's legs.

Harald's blade goes low, attempting to deflect his blade.

However, Lucian's slash turns to a stab as he pushes off his legs, darting forward.

"Clang!"

Lucian's blade stops mere inches from Harald's nose.

Harald smiles.

"You're getting better. You've changed since acting like such a reckless idiot."

"At least it's taught you to strike with a plan."

Lucian withdraws his blade and slashes towards Harald's chest.

"Clang!"

It's deflected to the side.

"Your Apprentice had to do a lot of strategizing to survive."

Harald slashes back at Lucian.

"I would hope so. Fighting an Armoured Mountain Bear at your age is suicide. I doubt most of the soldiers here could accomplish such a feat and live to tell the tale."

Harald's eyes dart to the side of the fighting square.

"I see you're training the pup well. I can feel its killing intent from here."

Iris sits on her hind legs, bearing her fangs towards Harald. A low snarl erupting from her chest.

Lucian chuckles.

"She won't do anything. Iris is incredibly smart, and she's never disobeyed a single command."

Harald deflects another strike and steps back.

"Sst." He sheathes his blade.

"That should be enough for today. I look forward to your progress in the next few years."

Lucian smiles.

"So do I."

Harald walks back to the keep. While Lucian sheathes his own sword and walks towards Iris.

"Good girl." He says, patting her on the head.

"You're gonna be a real killer someday. Maybe I should teach you some commands for that."

'She's already learned nearly 50 commands in the span of a month. I'd be surprised if she couldn't learn more. She already knows how to patrol better than the Guardsman. I wonder how much better she is at fighting. She is a Legendary Beast, after all.'

"Erk." A spurt of pain causes Lucian to groan.

'I'm still not totally healed yet. I got too excited for my first day back. I'll have to change the bandages when I get back to my room.'

...

Lucian lays in his bed pondering his existence in this world. Something he has done every single night since that night in the cave.

Iris is fast asleep in his arms, purring as he unconsciously strokes her fur.

His mental conflict finally comes to a climax as his streams of thought continue their endless argument.

'Am I really going to give up on the possibility of going back to my life?'

'Why would I want to go back? What's the point of leading a pointless life, as a cog in a world that could care less about me?'

'But I'd be leaving behind Julie and the possibility of saving her from that tragic life.'

'But she's the one who chose that path. It's hard to say, but even with all the shit I went through, I never made the terrible choices she did. Who's to say anything would change if our childhood changed. She could still end up the same way.'

'Would she even be my sister if everything changed? None of our memories together would be real. It would all be an illusion for her to live life as a dream. I would always know the truth.'

'For all the traumatic things we went through, it still made me who I am.'

'Will I really sacrifice the happiness of everyone I've grown close to here for the slim chance that things will turn out differently?'

'Will I really sacrifice my happiness for a bullshit pipe dream?'

...

Lucian's thoughts hit a standstill as a life-changing decision is presented to him.

...

"I choose this world."

"I should try to forget."

"It's all in the past."

"I can be truly strong here. I won't let the same things happen again."

Lucian's whispers echo in his mind as he comes to the realization of what he truly wants.

'I'll train hard. I'll make something of myself and protect what's important to me.'

...

"If I'm strong enough, I can be happy."