Talon stared at his dad with slightly widened eyes. He didn't know why, but seeing his father crying and blaming himself in such a manner hit him hard.
His entire life, he knew his father to be a strong, energetic, and optimistic person who always looked at life in a positive manner. Even in the darkest moments, he would never bend or break. Life wasn't particularly kind to him and yet it never succeeded in changing his nature.
Yet, that same man was now on the ground, apologizing profusely. All of his normal glamour and positivity was gone as if it was never there in the first place.
Realization hit him hard at that moment. His father had completely taken the blame for what happened. He continuously told himself that he was the problem and the reason for their family's bad luck and the ultimate disaster that befell them.
Then, it hit him again. If his father had reached such a state, it meant that he was on the verge of self-destruction. Heavy guilt and endless grief were a quick recipe for demise.
At that very moment, it got to him that he was on the way to losing his father too. Perhaps it might not be through death. But, if Talon lets him on his own, he will never be the same father he looked up to and respected his entire life.
'I can't lose him too.' His fear of that possible future snapped him out of his daze as he shifted his gaze back to the monster beneath him.
'I can't let that happen! I can't!' Clenching his teeth, he turned around to his dad again.
"Do you think blaming yourself will make mom happy?" He asked.
"What?"
"My mom sacrificed her life out of love for you. It didn't come to her mind that you were wrong. She would've never cared. But, she had given you her entire life. She dedicated herself to this family, even throwing away her dreams for us. I don't know what you're thinking of by blaming yourself for it!"
His eyes flickered with complicated emotions. His son's words took him by surprise and he found himself completely speechless.
"Talon..."
"You're a good father, Dad. I have never met someone that inspired me more than you did. You have taught me everything I know." As he spoke, Talon's grip on the monster increased.
"I don't want to see you like that and neither does she. So, pick yourself up, we aren't going to break here. Not now!!" Talon yelled with an angry tone.
Even through his pain, he still forced himself to pretend like he was fine, just so that he could pull his father out of the pit he was falling into.
Surprisingly, his last attempt at salvaging their relationship seemed to work. He could see his eyes that were slowly drowning regaining some light.
"Son..." Through his tears, he stared at his son in disbelief.
"I have lost my mother. I can't afford to lose you too. I won't allow that to happen, not when I'm alive." He said as he clenched his fist tightly. "Even if it breaks me, I won't let that happen."
Eventually, the two dug a hole deep enough to fit the dead monster. Then, the two carried it slowly and put it in the hole. They stopped for a second to take one last look at it. They silently said goodbye to her in their own ways before they started putting the dirt on top of it.
A few minutes later, the entire hole was completely covered. The duo stood in front of the grave for a while. At some point, Acrypha joined them secretly. An unknown amount of time passed that way before Talon broke the silence.
"Let's go." He said in the same cold, terrifying tone he had.
His father stared at him before he nodded his head and turned around. The two walked outside the house.
"... Where are we going now?" His father asked in a tired voice.
"Back to the base. It's a safe place." Talon replied. "Do you have something you need to bring with you?"
"... No, I have everything with me."
Pointing at his back, Talon noticed the backpack his father was carrying.
"Son."
"..."
"This... It's something that your mother wanted me to hand over to you in case... Something like this happened."
Taking the item from his dad, Talon inspected it. "A letter?"
"We have both written letters for you in case one of us... *Sniff* Didn't make it... She said that I can't read it. So, I don't know what's written in it." He explained.
Talon nodded his head silently as he put the letter in his pocket. Even though he wanted to read the letter right there and then, he realized that monsters were going to simply get lured toward them.
So, instead, he decided to read it once he got back to the base. With that, Talon led his father to the car outside the town. Before he got inside, Talon stood for a moment to stare at the ruined town.
'I can't let this place remain ruined... My mom deserves a proper grave... I will rebuild this entire place in her honor.'
Talon was unwilling to say goodbye forever. He simply couldn't handle such a thought at that moment. So, even if it really didn't do much, he wanted to return this place to how it was before. He didn't want her to be all alone, in such a dark place. That was the least he could do at that moment.
Staring at the letter in his hand, Talon exhaled a small breath and got inside the car. Then, under the heavy rain, the car left the town.
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