The captain decided that his pupil had rested long enough, and it was time to continue pushing the boy past his limits, so that's exactly what he did. He ran the human through drill after drill, working him for well over an hour. Aster was currently finishing with a set of pushups, the bull's heavy axe resting on his shoulders as he did so. The human was feeling the effects but was actually enjoying the intense workout at this point. It kept his mind busy and felt much better now that his sore muscles had been soothed by Rust's magic, so Aster rose to this challenge just the same as usual. His steady determination was only pulled away when the bull spoke something in a more quiet tone.

"Good. Your body is growing by the day, Panther's son. A few moons ago, you would have been exhausted by this point. Do ten more, and let's move on."

As Aster dipped back down, a bead of sweat rolled off his nose. When he pushed himself back up, he asked his mentor a question between his grunts.

"Hey Captain... I'm not complaining, but why aren't you yelling?"

The bull went silent for a bit before answering his charge.

"Of the remaining few that travel alongside us, only one has not yet proven their value to me. The rest of you have earned my respect."

The human felt a bit surprised by that answer, replying with another question.

"I don't think I follow... So you only yelled because you didn't respect us?"

The captain huffed a bit, delving deeper into his explanation.

"It was something my father taught me. You spoke with him briefly, I assume you remember how he talked? The broken sentences? Yeah, that was all mostly a show for him. As long as people think you're the dumbest person in the room, they will think they are safe to reveal more than they should. My father chose to speak as little as possible, and over the years, it gained him some valuable intel. For me, I choose to speak loudly when dealing with new recruits. Keeps them in line, makes them believe I am simply a stupid brute, and that lets me get behind their defenses to see what I have to work with without the hindrance of their renown or pride getting in my way. Does that help explain it?"

Aster was struggling to finish off the last two reps but replied to the bovine through his shaky grunts.

"I guess that makes sense... But why now? I couldn't have impressed you that much..."

Captain Rix actually let out a small laugh at that remark.

"You only say that because you weren't caught in the path of that heartbeat... And to tell you the truth, I am also just so very tired, Panther's son, far too tired to hold that act together anymore."

The bull reached down and pulled his axe off the human's back, allowing Aster to recover to a sitting position shortly after. He took a moment to catch his breath before answering that remark.

"You mean Mollis, right?"

The great bovine looked away, staring up at the stars reflecting in the night sky above as he shouldered the weight of his axe. The captain took a deep breath in and did something rare for the bull. He spoke about his own problems.

"Mollis is a large part of it... I never expected to outlive her if I am being honest... I had my father's estate lined up to be inherited by her and everything..."

The bull paused for a moment to gather himself before continuing on. "But now? I just don't know. As far as anyone left back home knows, the Rixator line has been completely decimated. I have much I will have to sort out there when I return, but for now, that should be the least of my worries... I really am so tired... This will be my last mission, for a while at least."

Aster sat up a bit straighter at that revelation. He spoke with a tone of worry.

"Wait... Last mission? You're retiring?"

The captain laughed, bellowing in his more familiar, hearty tone before answering his student.

"A knight of Alora never truly retires, certainly not before their fiftieth year... But yes, I'll be taking a leave of absence, at least for a while. I need time to rebuild my team... to rebuild my home. I need to start preparing for what comes next for my house. I need something new to fight for, a future that drives me to be better... I don't know what that is yet... But I will find it, I just know it... Until then, preparing you is one of my two missions left, so, Panther's son, are you ready to try some new techniques?"

With both the conversation and the bull's emotions both tucked back away, Aster simply smiled, happy his captain had opened up to him, even if only a little. He looked up to the great bovine with a determined smile and spoke in his excitement.

"Yes, Sir... And Captain?"

The large bovine turned back to face his student, tossing a passing glance in response over his shoulder. Aster took the cue, speaking the last part from his heart.

"Whenever you do rebuild your team... I hope you'll keep a place on it open for me."

The great bull only snorted in response, turning his gaze back forward, hiding his evident smile from the Aster's view as he answered.

"As if I'd ever let you off that easily. Now, get your scrawny ass over here. It's time to see what else you can do."

___

Stahl walked a good ways off from the others. She had a decent guess as to what her nephew wanted to discuss, and it was a conversation she didn't want anyone else overhearing. After about five minutes of walking, the pair finally came to a stop near two larger boulders, well out of eyesight and earshot from the camp. Stahl hopped atop the larger one and took a seat, waiting for Rust to take the next one. The wolf began speaking just as the fox plopped down.

"So, you have my attention. What did you need to talk about?"

Rust looked down uncomfortably as he weighed his words. The fox finally spoke, surprising the wolf with the question, his voice sounding more meek than it had recently.

"Teach me how to fight."

Stahl let out a long sigh before she replied.

"You know your mother would kill me if I did that."

Rust answered in turn, speaking up just a little in his determination.

"I know how my parents feel about it... Or at least, how my mom feels about it and how my dad simply agrees with her... But I don't think it's their choice to make anymore! I'm growing up! All the proof we need to that, is my bloodskill and my prayer magic! It's time I get to start choosing what kind of beast I want to be... I- I want to fight... I want to use my new strength to help people... I want to be a hero, like you are... Like Uncle Sil was..."

Stahl closed her eyes as she thought on those words. She finally replied, albeit, in a less than hopeful tone.

"I am not a hero, Rust... I am simply a soldier. Silbern was a hero, but he died being that hero... Which is where being a hero usually lands you. I understand your desire, but I have to respect your parent's wishes he-"

Rust cut her off quickly.

"And when grandmother expressed the same concern? When she begged you to lay down your sword so she wouldn't lose a daughter, you pressed forward regardless. How is that any different?"

Stahl frowned. The fissure between her and her mother was a deep one and a sensitive subject for her.

"Well, for one, I already knew how to fight by then."

Rust replied immediately.

"I know the basics. I did watch you for years, you know."

Stahl continued after the interruption, ignoring that answer.

"Secondly, I wasn't dependent on my parents. By that point, I was considered an adult. I chose to remain at Father's estate, but I was prepared to move out entirely if need be. How could you support yourself without them on this road?"

Rust had been debating this conversation in his mind all day, ready to answer that question as well.

"I can forge things if needed. I can make weapons and armor to cover my expenses. I can't think of too many blacksmiths in Alora that would turn away an Aschefell as an apprentice. If that did fall through, I could work at a clinic as needed, and I could treat the injured to earn my keep."

Stahl accepted the logic behind that answer but pushed further, trying to sway her nephew's opinion to no avail.

"Alright... So say I do teach you. I don't think I have a technique that COULD stop your mother from having my head when she finds out."

Rust smiled, answering that merely as if it were a question about his age.

"Easy, we don't tell her."

Stahl looked away, snubbing out that path immediately.

"I won't lie to your parents for your sake, certainly not about this. That isn't an option."

Rust spoke once more, shifting to a different answer.

"Then just let me handle them. I can make them see my stance, I can convince them."

Stahl scoffed at that answer before replying to it.

"You really think they are going to give on this so easily? This isn't a game, Rust... I've known many a friend who went back home in a box... They saw what was left of Sil come back in a box... Their fears are valid ones."

Rust refused to yield.

"Maybe so... But it is still my choice! Please, teach me Auntie Stahl... Or I'll go find another teacher."

Stahl raised her voice a bit, feeling frustrated that she had to make these decisions at all in the moment.

"Then I'll simply have to persuade them not to teach you a thing! Look, I'm sorry I have to be the bad guy here... But this isn't something you go behind people's backs to do, Rust, certainly not your family's..."

Rust shouted back, his emotions getting the better of him.

"I. Am. Trying! I am trying to do this the right way... I am trying so hard to get my family to hear me, even now... I am trying to tell you who I am, who I want to be, but you won't listen! Because you still see me as some scared little cub, nothing more."

Stahl lost her own control and yelled back to the fox.

"That's not true! I see how strong you're becoming! I see your potential, and that is what terrifies me!"

Stahl lowered his voice as the words just started spilling forth. "I see who you are, Rust... You're kind, you're caring, you're a rare type in this world, and I don't just mean your abilities, I mean your heart... I can't let that goodness be taken from you. I can't let this world ruin you... You don't have to fight."

The fox spit his answer back, his words turning to venom in his frustration.

"That's a nice load of shit you're trying to feed me, Auntie. That excuse is getting pretty tired, you know? You say I don't have to fight, so I'm just supposed to let you protect me all my life? To let you do the fighting while I sit idly by in safety?"

Stahl replied in a cracking voice, her fear overtaking her as her worry was hollered back at the fox.

"YES! That's EXACTLY what I'm saying! You DON'T have to fight! You don't have to know what it's like to steal away somebody's last breath! You don't have to face such danger... You don't have to take up a sword, because I already have! I carried on the Aschefell duty so you would never have to! So Amboss didn't have to! So Lochen didn't have to! I kept fighting so the rest of you could stay safe because there must be an Aschefell serving... Because I HAVE to keep you all safe... Because if our family must ever lose another member to our service, I couldn't bear for it to be any one of you but me! Not again..."

***

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