Chapter 128: Well of Memories

Hubris didn't quite trust the monkey King, so when Kiro entered the meditative state, he didn't immediately go into his mental world. He wanted to train his astral body, but also wanted to protect his lord from potential dangers.

The monkey King looked at Hubris like he was a party. He was thoroughly entertained with how the hound was carrying himself. It was still quite unbelievable that this hellhound, was hellbent on protecting the boy. It was unheard of, so naturally, it intrigued him.

"You don't have to be so on guard. I can quite literally feel your anger, I'm not going to do anything to your master. Even if I did, there's nothing you could do."

"I don't care, I'll die before I let you do anything to him." He spoke for the first time in a long time, that's why his voice came out raspy and hoarse.

"You know, I knew your father. Bright kid, brave too."

"So?"

"So, you can trust me. We had a healthy rivalry, your father and I. Me, the only one from my tribe to ever exist, him, being the next in line for the crown. We both had our burdens, maybe that's what we bonded over, despite being natural enemies."

"If you were such good friends, why did you let my uncle win, why didn't you help, why did you let his only son to be tossed aside in a foreign land."

Hubris was out of breath when he finished talking, he was clearly very angry. The monkey King looked at this erratic behaviour with pitiful eyes. The kid in front of him wasn't like his friend at all, he was too much of a hothead and a stubborn one at that. He wasn't letting out any hostile aura, yet the hound was restless.

"We met at the river lephe, the rumour back then was that, the river lephe harboured the strongest monster in the Underworld. So as a youth who loved fighting, we gathered there.

"We were the only two who had the guts to go all the way. A monster did make itself known, it came out of its home and faced the intruders, who were us."

Hubris was happy hearing all of this. As he was being told, the images were also planted in his head. It was as if he was watching a slideshow of his dad, and his then best friend. The way he fought was also different, it was quick and concise.

He didn't waste any moves, every move had a purpose which it achieved. He was entranced by his fighting style, he wished he could pick it up. But he knew it would take him a few good years to be as good as that. Seeing his father fighting only set to solidify that his uncle cheated somehow.

"We defeated the monster together, from then on we became inseparable. Of course the elders in your tribe didn't approve of our relationship, but your father was a stubborn one. Without a good reason, he refused to cut ties with me.

"I think that's even why his position was questioned. A lot of the elders weren't on his side to take the crown, they favoured your uncle.

"It came down to fighting for it. Naturally, your father won it. He didn't think anything of it, it was natural for leaders to be challenged. His first mistake was not letting his trust for your uncle waver even after that."

Hubris wasn't even angry at the accounts of things, it was as if his heart was cleansed of the anger that clouded his judgment, his resolve just continued to to be strengthened as he listened to the tale he wouldn't have known about had it not have been for the man in front of him.

Just then, a violent glow came from Kiro.