Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain-Chapter 400: Reunion - II

"So _what do you have to say?" Agnus asked, once they were both alone. Holding a fishing rod and just sitting down at the makeshift wooden table.

Rio joined him and sat beside him, "I'm sorry about the whole soul travel thing, but mother knew I had this skill, so I thought…"

"I'm not talking about that." Agnus cut him off with a raised hand, "You and Rebecca, _ are you serious?" He asked clearly.

"We are just _uh giving it a try. See if it works out or not." Rio replied, mildly explaining the talk he had with Becca before making anything official.**

—-(Ps- I know it sounds like why is he discussing such a small thing in detail at first sight, but considering their identities, public relationships can't be ignored as just puberty things. They matter, and they stick like a scar, lifelong.)

Agnus took in Rio's words, nodding as if mulling over what he said. He didn't respond right away, letting the silence speak before he did. "Your mother likes that kid, don't break her heart."

Rio blinked, unsure of whom his father was referring to — Becca or his mother. But he nodded his head nonetheless, they were both very important to him after all.

"How's the academy?" Agnus asked, changing the subject so naturally it caught Rio off guard.

"Same as the last time."

"Well, that's what happens when you choose to repeat a whole year." Agnus said, his words choking Rio's thoughts.

"..."

[Phumm muha haha here we go again.] System started laughing, hearing the beginning of the same talk they've had a couple of times before. And every time it was Rio just listening like a good kid who made a bad decision, with Agnus still having the same expression that says, 'You're an idiot.'

Rio shutted down the system's voice quickly, his focus returning to his father, who had now moved into full rare 'dad lecture' mode speeches, before ending it with the same sentence he does every time. "I still don't know how you convinced your mother to let you waste a year."

"It was important for me, father, plus I'm in the same class as Amy, so I can keep her safe." Rio replied in a sincere tone.

"She would've been safer at Sunshine, with your grandmother looking after her." Agnus replied and shook his head.

"..." Rio stayed silent for a moment, knowing this was another discussion they had gone over more than a few times already.

He felt a pang in his chest, he wanted to tell Agnus everything, things that he told his mother years ago, and things he never did too - but he simply couldn't. Not with the majority of the Egyptian pantheon hovering over his head.

…

Though unspoken, but Agnus also understood that he may have his reasons, so he never pushed him for answers. Anyway, Artemis knew him better, and she trusted his decision, so…

"Coming back to this dungeon, I heard she lost control and used that crown again." Agnus said, his face for the first time turning to see his expressions.

".... She's safe, father. She can do it. I know she can. She just needs some practice. And I'll be there to help her, _ ."

"You were the one who told me about the dangers of chaos, of that crazy cult following her goddess, and about what could happen if she lost her control completely."

"And I will do Everything in my power, so that that never happens." Rio met his gaze and answered confidently. "You can trust me."

Agnus looked at him for a few seconds, before turning his attention back to the river, "Good. So tell me, what exactly happened?"

Rio exhaled slowly, and to answer that question, started explaining everything from the very beginning, from the principal's intention to train freshies, to the elders guiding them, him learning about the association's real goal, and then what they saw or went through in the dungeon, before finally solving the godmother with Nyx's help.

"Saisha? That's the elven princess, right?" Agnus asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes, father," Rio replied.

"And she managed to calm Amy's anger and bring her back?" Agnus' voice had a note of surprise, though it was subtle.

"There are some things different, but yeah, that's what happened. She managed to get through her chaotic state." Rio replied.

Agnus chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "She beat our Amy, huh? Guess she's as strong as the rumors say."

"She is chosen by Gaia, father." Rio said as a matter of fact.

Agnus' eyes flickered with interest. "Is she a friend?" He asked, this sudden question catching Rio off guard, who himself hadn't figured out this answer yet.

".... I_uh_ I don't think_ know, I mean, I don't know._ We're just_ batchmates, yeah_just that…"

Seeing Rio stutter a dozen times in a single sentence, Agnus raised an eyebrow and then changed the topic. While making a mental note to ask the Alphas to get him everything they can on that girl.

"Well Ravens have had a cooperative relationship with the elves since ages, I guess I'll send a word, what do you think?"

"As you wish, father." Rio replied, glad for the change in topic. He always felt just not thinking about that girl was the best move for his heart's health.

"You've grown taller." Agnus said, ending the questioning session / 'interview'.

"Have I? Maybe it's cause I'm getting thinner, so it may seem like that." Rio replied, holding up his wrist to show it got slimmer. How he has to tie the watch on the 4th hole back now. His actions just making Agnus smile in response.

"So 2 weeks, want to come by the guild?" Agnus said suddenly, "We can have some training together, you can show me your sword technique, see how much you improved? Maybe take on a mission together."

"Mother probably wouldn't let me leave." Rio replied, instantly refusing the offer.

"I don't think she'll let me leave either. Let's just train at home."

"Fair." Rio replied, and took the initiative to ask a question. "How are things at the guild?" He said, his voice casual but his eyes focused, searching for any reaction.

Agnus didn't glance away from the river as he reeled in his line slowly, as if giving the question some thought.

"Same as always, busy, not much has changed." He replied.

"Any news from grandpa?"

"Father's still at the border, according to the reports, and the intensity of attacks, he'll have to be there for a while." Agnus explained, making Rio sigh at the repeated response.

"I haven't properly seen him for years." He said.

"Yeah, me neither." Agnus said, throwing some more baits and flipping the reel even longer.

For a moment, they both stared out at the river, lost in their own thoughts, before Rio coughed and asked something else again.

"_ um, any news about Warzy or Sin guilds, or something?"

"Nothing much. The Sins are still in the shadows, as they always do. And Warzy, is recovering_ steadily."

"They may attack Damascus when they're ready," Rio mused, "A show of power after the damage they took, plus revenge now that I'm back and all."

"Your mother can handle them." Agnus replied confidently. Showing no doubt for the safety of the city, with his wife ruling over it.

Rio nodded in agreement, though he planned to make some back ups. Just in case.

"About the churches we couldn't get before," Rio began, the words tumbling out before he could stop himself. "I've made some plans, and I've been working on some more potions. We could try to buy their loyalties now. Expand our—"

A sharp slap on the back of his neck cut him off mid-sentence, jolting him forward with such force that his brain rattled in his skull. Rio winced, rubbing the spot where his father had just whacked him. It wasn't the first time Agnus had done this, but it always caught him off guard. And it always freaking hurt.

"How many times have I told you not to worry about things above your age." Agnus said, his voice filled with reproach. "We are your parents, and we're still alive and fine, so stop always acting like a grown-up, and just be a normal kid, for once."

Rio opened his mouth to protest, to explain himself out of habit, but the sharp look his father gave him made him pause. "I was just trying to help, _ sorry, I won't do it again."

Rio turned his head and saw Agnus raise his hand slowly again, so he instantly changed his words, faster than the flash, and further added. "I promise."

"Good." Agnus nodded his head with a satisfied smile and looked at the sky, "So, you made any new friends?"

"Some." Rio replied, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Enemies?"

"Some." Rio repeated, his grin widening in response.

"Good."

… .

"Your aunt's here," Agnus said suddenly, his eyes still fixed on the river, though Rio noticed the tiny dot in the sky, getting bigger the closer it got, until it turned into a large ship, steering the clouds. "Let's go back." Agnus said, already starting to walk on air as if it were solid ground.

Rio stood up, stretching his arms and legs, which had grown stiff from sitting for so long. He glanced back at the river and the basket of fish they'd caught. Well, technically, only he had caught.

Rebecca's magic was still keeping them alive in a shimmering ball of water, each fish darting around as if they were in their natural home. Her words, "Fishing is all about catching them, not killing them."

He smiled again, thinking about how seriously she said that line.

Then his eyes fell on his father's basket, still dry and empty as it was over an hour ago when they first started talking. He couldn't help but smile as he added under his breath, "Who'd believe the genius sword saint can't learn fishing even after a decade."

A split second later, he yelped as another sharp pain shot through his skull. "Ow!"

'System, you bastard, it's all your fault.' Rio said in his heart, putting blame on the innocent silent system for his loose mouth. 'Stop spreading this habit of speaking nonsense.'

[....] At this point, the system just gave up explaining itself. Though it started wishing everyday, that it would very much like to leave this body. For nothing serious, but just to slap some sense into it.