Lian smirked, his gaze turning hollow as he locked eyes with Zigh's father. Slowly, the mist shrouding the house began to swirl, coiling around the older man's body like a spectral serpent, sending a chill that made his hair stand on end.
Zigh's eyes widened, his focus entirely on Lian, and his face was covered in sweat. "Lian, please... calm down."
Zigh's father snarled and pushed Lian, making him stumble and lose his footing.
"Lian!"
Zigh lunged forward, catching him before he could fall.
Lian pulled himself free from Zigh's grasp and stood tall, his posture eerily rigid.
"Zigh," he asked, his voice cold. "What is your father's name?"
Zigh reached for Lian's hand, his eyes shimmering. "Lian, I beg of you, don't be angry with him."
Vaston's face turned a deep crimson, the veins on his forehead bulging with rage. "Zigh Eosvile! You've truly turned into a pathetic loser!"
Zigh winced at the insult, but his concern remained fixed on the young man before him. "Lian... I'll do anything. Please, just don't hurt my father."
The General raised his hand again, swinging a heavy blow toward Lian. But before it could connect, Vaston's balance faltered. He crumbled to the floor, his legs buckling beneath him. What!?
"Father!" Zigh rushed to his side. "Are you alright?"
SLAP!
Vaston slapped Zigh's hand away. "I don't need your help!"
Zigh bit his lip and fell into silence, staring at the red mark on his hand.
A little laugh cut through the father-son drama.
Zigh and his father turned to where the sound was coming from.
Lian chuckled, the sound rumbling through the family drama like distant thunder.
"Zigh," Lian repeated. "What is your father's name?"
"Vaston... Vaston Eosvile," Zigh whispered.
Lying on the floor, Vaston fought to move, beads of sweat starting to pour down his face. Why can't I feel my legs?
Lian crossed his arms and tilted his head, smiling at the old man. "Hmm... is he military?"
"Damn you! You did something to me, you scrawny brat!"
Lian stepped forward, peering down at the crawling man with clinical detachment. "Weak..."
Zigh tried to reach for Vaston again, only to be met with a venomous glare from his father.
"Zigh, are you going to answer me or not?" Lian asked.
Zigh looked up at Lian, a long breath escaping his lips. "My father is a General..."
"You'll regret this, brat!"
"Father, enough! You're in danger…"
"Shut up, You have been a bringer of misfortune since birth!"
Zigh bowed his head. "I..."
Lian began to clap slowly. "What a magnificent morning drama."
Vaston's fingers clawed at the tiles. "I'll tear your tongue out for that!"
Zigh stood up and turned to Lian. "Lian... could you go to my room? Please?"
"No."
Zigh's fists clenched, and then, to Vaston's horror, his son bowed deeply. "Please... I am begging you."
Vaston stared, aghast. His son—an Eosvile—was bowing to this thin, strange youth.
"Even if you beg like that," Lian said, "I won't just let this weak general go."
Vaston looked up, his face contorted. "You're looking for death!"
Lian only smiled. Suddenly, Vaston collapsed face-first, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
"Ugh…"
Zigh gasped, grabbing Lian's arm. "Lian, just this once. Please don't treat him like this."
Lian patted Zigh's shoulder. "Fine. I'm going to my room. Besides, that weak general is... well, never mind."
As Lian disappeared into the house, Zigh let out a long, weary breath.
He moved to lift his father, walking with faltering steps as he carried him.
"You don't even have the spine to fight him! You loser!" Vaston spat.
Zigh didn't respond. He carried his father inside and laid him on the sofa.
"A loser like you doesn't deserve to be my son!"
Zigh's knuckles turned white. "Just rest here, Father."
He left the room and went straight to his room.
"Disobedient brat!" Vaston's voice echoed behind him.
Vaston's eyes burned. Damn, that skinny kid must be hiding some weird trick...
***
Inside the room, Lian was sitting by the door.
Zigh immediately bowed, his voice unusually low. "Thank you."
Lian looked away. "Don't bow to me again. I hate it."
Zigh straightened up but remained silent.
"Does that weak general always treat you like that?"
Zigh's hands shook. "Lian, please don't call him that..."
Lian's gaze sharpened, but Zigh only offered a faint, tired smile.
"Do you hate me now?"
Zigh shook his head.
Lian snorted. "You're usually so talkative."
Zigh rubbed the back of his neck. "I just..."
"Forget it. Take your father to the clinic," Lian interrupted.
"Lian..."
"Go. Before I change my mind."
Zigh smiled and hurried out. Once he was gone, Lian stood up.
"Outer! Get rid of that black car in front of the gate."
"Hehehe... easy."
Lian's expression darkened. "Only my debt to Zigh keeps that frail general from meeting the same end as Bhairin."
"Lian could do it right now..." Outer whispered.
Lian sighed. "Just watch them for now."
"Understood." Outer dissolved into mist and seeped through the cracks of the door.
Lian threw himself onto the bed, his right arm covering his eyes. "Zigh definitely has trauma..."
***
Back in the living room, the clip of drama continued. Vaston sprawled across the sofa, his insults still echoing through the air.
"You coward! You let that scrawny boy walk all over you!"
Outer, watching from the shadows, gritted his teeth.
"Father... his name is Lian."
"I don't care what his name is! You bowed to him!"
The temperature in the room plummeted. Zigh's eyes darted around. Outer is watching us from somewhere.
"Why are you just standing there!"
Zigh moved quickly, picking his father up. "I'm taking you to the clinic."
"Put me down!"
Zigh ignored him, carrying him to the car and placing him in the backseat.
He opened the gate, gazing at the car that was supposed to be parked in front of his gate. "The sacrifice was my father's car, all along..."
He climbed into the driver's seat, Outer sitting invisibly beside him. He glanced in the rearview mirror; Vaston was glaring back with murderous intent. At least he still has his strength, Zigh thought with a sigh.
The drive took thirty minutes. Upon arrival, Zigh carried his father into the registration area.
"I'd like a check-up for myself and my father."
"Certainly. Names?"
"Vaston and Zigh Eosvile."
The receptionist froze. "Eo... Eosvile!?"
Zigh smiled politely. "Please, if you could hurry."
"Ah, yes! My apologies!"
Zigh glanced at Vaston. At least Father is behaving for now.
"Sir, you can go straight to Examination Room 2."
"Thank you."
Zigh carried his father in his arms to the examination room.
***
In the exam room, Zigh laid Vaston on the bed. A doctor arrived shortly after.
"Good morning. What seems to be the trouble?"
"Please check my father first," Zigh requested.
The doctor turned to Vaston. "Good morning, Sir Eosvile. What are you feeling?"
"I don't know. I suddenly lost feeling in my legs and hands this morning."
The doctor performed several tests, tapping Vaston's legs. Vaston could feel the touch but couldn't muster the strength to move. The doctor then used a pen-like device that emitted a soft green light, scanning Vaston's limbs.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary... yet how could such paralysis occur? thought the doctor.
"There's no nerve damage," the doctor concluded. "It's a symptom similar to severe muscle cramping. Likely due to exhaustion and stress. You need total rest for two to three days."
"Exhaustion? I haven't done anything strenuous," Vaston grumbled.
The doctor then turned to Zigh. "And you, Sir Zigh?"
"Could you check my nose?"
The doctor noted the bruising. "Blunt force trauma?"
Zigh smiled. Why didn't he just say I was punched?
Using the same green-light device, the doctor scanned Zigh's face. The device emitted sharp beeps.
The doctor sighed. "The injury is serious, Sir Zigh. It's a good thing you came in now; your nasal bone is fractured. We can treat it, but it would have been much worse by tomorrow."
"Thank you, doctor."
After receiving prescriptions for ointments and supplements, Zigh settled the bill with his black card—much to the silent awe of the staff—and carried his father back to the car.
As Zigh started the engine, Outer appeared in the passenger seat.
"You were hit by that skinny man, weren't you?"
Zigh remained silent.
Outer's teeth gnashed, and the air inside the car turned frigid.
Zigh looked into the back seat at his father. Father... the dark creature is right here.
To be continued...