Chapter 38: Decisions

Sera got up and went to check on Noah. The baby was awake, moving his arms while staring at the small toy hanging above his crib. She checked his diaper, adjusted his clothes, and picked him up when he began fussing. After holding him for a while, she brought him back to the living room.

Kael watched her settle into the armchair with their son.

"Did Marcus tell you anything useful?" Sera asked.

"Yes. He said I need proper training before I even think about entering a dungeon," Kael replied.

"At least someone there has common sense," Sera said.

"He also said my physical ability was better than expected, but my fighting skills were terrible," Kael added.

Sera glanced at him. "Was he wrong?"

"No," Kael admitted.

"Then you should listen to him," Sera advised.

"I intend to," Kael assured her.

Kael shifted carefully on the sofa before continuing. "The Association has a beginner training program. I’ll start once I’m cleared to train again. They’ll teach me weapon handling, combat basics, monster behavior, and emergency procedures."

"How long will it take?" Sera asked.

"They didn’t give me a fixed timeline. It depends on how quickly I learn," Kael explained.

"And after that, you’ll be allowed to fight monsters?" she asked.

"Only after I pass the required assessments. Even then, I’ll need more training before taking dangerous assignments," Kael replied.

Sera nodded slowly. "That sounds better than going straight into a dungeon."

"That’s what I thought," Kael said.

She looked down at Noah, who had started making small noises against her chest, before continuing.

"I don’t want to stop you from becoming a hunter, Kael. I meant what I said before. I know you want to become strong enough to protect us, and I won’t tell you to abandon that goal just because it’s dangerous."

Kael listened quietly, allowing her to finish.

"But I need you to understand something," Sera continued. "You can’t protect us if you keep pushing yourself until you collapse. And I don’t want Noah growing up with a father who is always injured because he thinks he has to prove something."

Kael looked down at his hands. "I don’t want that either."

"Then don’t make decisions based on what other people say about you," Sera said. "Those five men insulted your family, and you reacted. I understand why you were angry, but what if they had been stronger than you? What if one of them had a weapon?"

"I know," Kael replied.

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Kael looked up at her. This time, he didn’t try to defend himself or make excuses.

"I could have handled it better," he admitted. "I should have walked away when I had the chance. And I shouldn’t have kept going when I realized how badly I was being beaten."

Sera nodded. "That’s all I’m asking you to understand."

Kael glanced at Noah before speaking again. "I want to become stronger. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life worrying that I won’t be able to do anything if something happens to you or Noah. But I don’t want to put you both at risk while trying to get there."

"Then we need to find a way to make it work," Sera replied.

Kael looked at her in surprise. "We?"

"Yes, we," Sera confirmed, adjusting Noah in her arms. "You think becoming a hunter only affects you? If you start training regularly, we’ll have to adjust our schedule. If you eventually take assignments, we’ll need to discuss how much time you’ll be away and what happens if you get injured."

Kael nodded as he considered her words.

"And if you decide to take a dangerous assignment, I want to know why you think it’s worth the risk," Sera added.

"All right," Kael agreed.

Sera gave him a warning look. "Don’t just agree because you want me to stop talking."

"I’m not," Kael replied.

Sera raised an eyebrow again, and Kael gave her a faint smile.

"All right, maybe a little," he admitted.

She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth lifted. "You’re impossible."

"I’ve been told that too," Kael replied.

=======

By the time they finished talking, the food Sera had prepared was ready. Kael tried to get up and help her, but she immediately pointed at the sofa.

"Sit down. You can barely bend without making that face," Sera ordered.

"I can still carry plates," Kael protested.

"And I can carry plates without looking like I’ve been hit by a truck," Sera replied. "Stay there."

Kael obeyed and settled back onto the sofa.

Sera brought the food to the table and placed a plate in front of him. She had made a simple rice dish with vegetables and chicken, using what they already had in the kitchen.

Kael took a bite and smiled. "This is good."

"You’re saying that because I’m feeding you," Sera teased.

"No. I’m saying it because it’s good," Kael replied.

"Then finish it before it gets cold," Sera told him.

They ate while Noah rested in his crib nearby. Every few minutes, one of them looked over to check on him, making sure the baby was comfortable.

After dinner, Sera took the dishes to the kitchen. Kael followed her, carrying his own plate.

Sera turned when she heard him enter. "I thought I told you to rest."

"I’m putting a plate in the sink. I’m not lifting a truck," Kael replied.

"You’ve already done enough lifting for one day," Sera reminded him.

Kael placed the plate in the sink and leaned against the counter.

"Sera, I meant what I said earlier," he told her. "I’ll tell you before I make any major decisions about hunting. I won’t take an assignment without making sure I’m ready, and I won’t push myself to train when I’m exhausted or injured."

Sera rinsed a spoon before looking at him. "And if something goes wrong?"

"I’ll tell you. I won’t hide it because I’m afraid you’ll worry," Kael promised.

"Good," Sera said.

She turned off the tap and faced him. "I’ll also try not to assume the worst every time you want to do something new. I know what it feels like when someone else keeps making decisions for you. I don’t want to do that to you."

Kael smiled at her. "Then I suppose we’re both making promises."

"Don’t make it sound like a business contract," Sera replied.

"Would you prefer a written agreement?" Kael asked.

"Kael," Sera said, giving him a look.

"All right. No written agreement," Kael said, raising his hands in surrender.

Sera laughed and handed him a towel to dry his hands.

When they returned to the living room, Noah had fallen asleep. Sera checked the blanket around him while Kael carefully lowered himself onto the sofa. She then sat beside him.

"How long before you can start training again?" Sera asked.

"The nurse said I should rest for now. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow, but I’m not going to work out if my chest still hurts," Kael answered.

"Good," Sera replied.

"I’ll contact the Association about the beginner program once I’ve recovered," Kael added.

"That’s fine," Sera said.

Kael reached for her hand, and she let him hold it. For a while, neither of them spoke. The television was playing quietly in the background, but neither was paying much attention to it.

After a few minutes, Sera glanced at his face again.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked.

"A little," Kael answered.

"Do you want another cold pack?" Sera offered.

"No, I’m fine," Kael replied automatically.

Sera narrowed her eyes at him, reminding him of the trouble his earlier decision had caused.

Kael quickly corrected himself. "Yes, please. I’d like another cold pack."

Sera got up to fetch it. As she passed the crib, Noah stirred and began to fuss. She stopped to check on him and gently rubbed his back until he settled again.

Kael watched her from the sofa, feeling a little guilty about how much worry he had caused her that day.

When Sera returned with the cold pack, he accepted it with a quiet thank-you.

"Kael," Sera said as she sat beside him, "next time you go somewhere like that, tell me first."

"I will," Kael promised.

"And don’t come home looking like that again," Sera added.

"I’ll do my best," Kael replied.

Sera gave him a stern look. "That wasn’t a request."

Kael caught sight of his bruised face reflected faintly in the dark television screen and sighed.

"Yes, ma’am," he answered.

Sera laughed before leaning against his uninjured shoulder. Kael relaxed beside her, glad that they had finally talked things through.

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated on the table. He picked it up, expecting a message from the Hunter Association, but the notification on the screen was different from what he had expected.

Hunter Association: Your preliminary registration has been recorded. Beginner assessment status: Pending.

Beneath the notification was a message from Marcus Vale.

Rest properly. Once you’re cleared to train, report to the Association. We still have a lot to discuss about that appraisal stone.

Kael read the message twice, thinking about the strange reaction of the appraisal stone and Marcus’s continued interest in it.

Sera noticed his expression and turned toward him. "Something wrong?"

Kael locked his phone and set it aside. "Nothing urgent. Just something I’ll have to deal with after I recover."

She studied him briefly before nodding. "Then deal with it after you recover."

Kael smiled at her. For once, he intended to listen.