Note: (8/8) of the mass release.
March 27, 1096
A day before Ghost had to leave, he walked about the dark market area, collecting the items Prince Cyn needed. He was more than halfway through the list when his master left one of the shops.
He paused, wondering if he should speak with his master. It has been three years since he last saw him. After he decided to keep Kiyt, Ghost started exclusively working for Prince Cyn instead.
He left Silent House and moved into a home for himself and Kiyt. Ghost made sure no one knew about his son except for Mrs. Adair and Prince Nabu.
On the day Ghost left, he left his master a note, saying he fixed the problem and would no longer stay at Silent House so that his master couldn’t feel disappointed every time he saw him.
Deep down, he did miss his master.
A seven-year-old River sat on the edge of the pouch, swinging his legs as he sharpened his knife. There were bruises on his body while someone wrapped his hands in bandages. Even his right eye lay shut; it was swollen due to his training from earlier.
As he continued sharpening his knife, enjoying the windy air, a body sat next to him. He shot his weapon towards the new body, only for the person to catch his wrist. “River,” the person called.
River pulled his wrist away since the person barely used any strength. He went back to sharpening his knife, not saying anything as he kept his face down. The person reached over, cream on their fingers, as they touched River’s swollen eye.
Looking up, River held back from leaning towards the tender touch. Assassins were not supposed to display emotions, so why did the person before him have to do this? “Father,” he called with a whisper. Assassins were also not supposed to have kids.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“What did I say about calling me that?” His father—no, master—reminded. He continued rubbing the cream onto the swollen eye without pause.
“I apologize, master.” River tried holding back the sadness in his tone but failed. That is all he has been doing, failing. Maybe, this was not for him. Perhaps, his father should have gotten rid of him like he was supposed to. Being an assassin isn’t for River.
His master’s hand moved away as the man let out a tired sigh. He rested his hand near River’s cheek, never touching it as an indescribable emotion slipped through his eyes as he took in his son’s face. He looked too much like his old love he should have never fallen for.
River wanted his master to show him care, but every time his master takes in his face, the air between them grows stale. His master pulled his hand back, standing up as he said, “Get stronger and never make the mistakes I have.”
Did that mean he, River, is his father’s—no, master’s—biggest mistake?
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His master surveyed him before saying, “Even though you left, you still could have come to visit.”
“Who would I be visiting? They tell us to build zero close relationships, even with each other. Not even a master-discipline relationship could change that.” Ghost replied, stating the facts that he, and silently his master, failed to follow.
Like father, like son, huh.
“I know,” were the only words that left his master’s mouth. They both knew what unspoken words rested in the air. His master secretly missed him the same way River covertly missed him.
Then, his master’s eyes rested towards his stomach with hard-to-read expressions. “Did you do better than me?”
Ghost clenched his bag’s strap, glancing down as he questioned instead, “Tell me, master, if I was such a mistake, why did you keep me?”
He saw his master’s feet starting to move until he stood by his side. His master softly touched his arm before letting go as he whispered, “Because you looked too much like her for me to let you go.”
Quickly snapping his head up, Ghost turned towards his master, only to see the man was already gone. He held the bag’s strap tighter as he gritted his teeth. His master never spoke about his birth, and hearing those words made him crave more.
Shaking his head, he knew it was something he had to investigate later. First, he needed to finish his shopping for Prince Cyn.
March 28, 1096
River awoke with Kiyt tightly holding onto his waist. Since he told his son he would leave for almost a week, Kiyt held onto him every time he came home. He did not mind the attachment and made sure to keep reminding Kiyt that he would return.
He knew that Kiyt feared he would do the same as Prince Nabu; he understood how his son felt.
Lying back down, River ran his hand through his son’s hair as he did not want to leave either. His son wasn’t the only one dealing with attachment issues. River held them too—he has been with his son every day for three years.
Yes, he would leave for a few hours, but he never disappeared for 24 hours or even more. But, he told himself he could do this, especially since the territory he was entering was Prince Nabu’s.
It has been a long time since he has been there. The last time he went to Espal was to tell Prince Nabu that he was pregnant. He remembered ending up with a fever that caused him to stay there for three days.
He did not get to see anything since he stayed hidden in Prince Nabu’s room. And before that, when he ended up injured (their first meeting), River fought in the forest.
So, it would be his first time actually seeing Espal.
Feeling movement against him, River glanced down, seeing that Kiyt was beginning to wake up. “Papa,” Kiyt yawned, rubbing his face on River’s waist, “stay in?”
“No, love,” River shook his head, “remember, I have to leave soon.”
Kiyt remembered. And he was scared of his father not returning. It was the same fear he held for his dad not returning to them anymore. All he wants is both his dads to stay.
Guessing Kiyt’s thoughts, River’s heart broke, “Kiyt, I will return to you, okay. I promise, love.”
Kiyt looked up, putting his pinky out towards his father, “Pinky promise?”
River caught Kiyt’s pinky with his, wrapping them together. “I pinky promise.” Kiyt rewarded him with a beautiful smile before complaining about being hungry. River laughed, swearing his son could eat a house if he tried.
“Okay, let’s get you some food.” He picked his son up, getting off the bed as he walked to the kitchen. While he did that, he kissed his son, thinking about how much his son meant to him.
Even if River were close to dying, he would go through hell to see his son’s face and hold him one last time before passing. He will always return to him.
The action is coming real soon.
How is everyone liking the story so far? Any overall comments? Also, is me writing the dates annoying? Since I am doing four different perspectives, I did not want the days to be confusing for y’all.
Kiyt is a real treasure, he better stay safe 🙃
Aiy Kiyt is too cute… And the dates are fine…
Thanks for the chapters ♥️♥️
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Thank you! Loving it so far. I’m hoping not tragedy.
The dates are great. The character building is going great. Great work please keep weaving words into a not to be put down story.
I’m enjoying this so far! Thank you!
It’s easier to follow with the dates since sometimes i get lost in the timelines and the dates always help. I love the novel, it’s very interesting and well written and the characters are well delevoped and unique.