“Shall I kill the wyrm or not? Should I go or not? I understand what Mommy Vyvyan was getting at . I never thought about it, though,” I contemplated .

“Your Majesty,” called Nier . She returned to my side after her bath . She grabbed her long hair that had water trickling off and sat down next to me . Her scent was more prominent after just bathing . After sitting down next to me, she said, “You appear to have something on your mind . What are you thinking about?”

“I’m wondering if I should go kill the wyrm or not . ”

“Do you want to hear my opinion, Dear?”

Nier checked to see that there was n.o.body around before addressing me as “Dear”, which she used when we were alone . However, she didn’t look relaxed and happy as she usually did when alone with me . She licked her lips as though she was in a bit of a dilemma: “If I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t go and pick a fight with the wyrm this time . ”

“Why?” I asked .

Nier solemnly answered, “Because it’s meaningless . Dear, I hope you listen to me this time . My husband, Daisy’s father, I hope you listen to me . Let’s not pick a fight with the wyrm this time, and just take Ying and Xia . Yes, it’s all right to bring Ying and Xia . I just hope you’ll listen to me and not challenge the wyrm . ”

“Are you a scared, Nier? Is it because you’ve never fought on water before?”

“No… Mm… I would say, yes,” answered Nier . She clasped my face in her hands and gently ran her fingers across my face . She was sad and eager to convince me . In a soft voice, she said, “My husband, Dear, to be honest, I’m not afraid of fighting even now . I’ll take up my sword without hesitation if it’s to protect you and Daisy . I will fight them regardless of how many they number or how strong they may be . I won’t be afraid in that situation . ”

“Aren’t you protecting me this time, too?”

“But the risk that you’re taking this time is meaningless!” retorted Nier, voice loud . She sternly thundered, “For what reason are you taking a risk to slay the wrym? Do you want to protect us, your children or Her Majesty? None of them . You just want to challenge the wyrm . You’re doing something utterly meaningless this time!!”

“I want to bring Ying and Xia!” I argued .

“Then, bring them!! I won’t complain or refuse anymore . I’m fine with anything as long as you give up on picking a fight with the wyrm,” shouted Nier, on the verge of tears . She choked on her words as she continued, “My husband, Dear, you’re now Daisy’s father and my husband . You don’t need to take this pointless risk… I beg you… Please… Don’t let Daisy be without a father… I don’t want to be without a husband… I’m now honestly scared . I’m honestly afraid I’ll die . I’m afraid Daisy will be left without a mother for a completely meaningless reason, and the same goes for you! You don’t want Daisy to be without a father, do you?!”

“I don’t… I don’t want to, either…” I stammered .

I grabbed hold of Nier’s hand . I leaned over and gently touched our heads . Nier softly sobbed then let go of my hand to hug me . I hugged her back and stroked her wet hair . I looked at the wall behind her . Behind the wall was Ying and Xia’s room .

I debated with myself: “Should I go and kill the wyrm or not? What significance would I derive from it? I want to kill it so that Ying and Xia can leave with peace of mind . Will they leave with us if I tell them we’re not going to kill the wyrm and just leave? I don’t think Ying would . Killing the wyrm is their mission . They probably won’t leave until then . But Nier isn’t wrong . She’s right . I can still leave, even if Ying and Xia don’t leave with us . I insist that I don’t love Ying, so I can by all means leave her . I have my own wives and children . I’m now a father, a ruler, a husband, and I have a family .

Vyvyan and Nier are right . I need to have my own new life now . Maybe I should live for the sake of my children, because they were born a little soon . I never felt I had another factor in my life – by that, I mean that I’m now a father .

I can’t let something happen to myself . Inard lost his life when he went to slay the dragon . He didn’t need to go to the dragon’s den, but he lost his life just because he wanted to slay it for its head, leaving Troy without a father . Vyvyan can be considered a very n.o.ble mom . With her, whether or not I had a father, made no difference, but what about Daisy? Even if losing her father doesn’t affect her, it doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing all of a sudden . How much sadness would Nier have to bear, as she takes care of Daisy? I think that’s why Nier and Vyvyan are stopping me .

Nier’s father pa.s.sed away when she was young, while Vyvyan experienced the aforementioned scenario . The two of them understood how the person left behind felt . They knew that pain .

When I was out risking my life, Vyvyan and Elizabeth were always worried for me, for I’m their son . Lucia, Nier, Ling Yue and Luna worried for me, because they love me . Now, not only do my wives and mothers worry, but my children, as well . There are so many people worried about me now . How many people would be sad if something happens to me?

I can no longer be without concern as I did in the past . I have to take numerous people and things into consideration . I can’t break the hearts of those who love me . I must think about how the people around me are going to live on if something happens to me . How much would my wives and children suffer? I can’t behave the way I did in the past . I can’t .

I should go back now . I should return with my moms and wives . Ying and Xia can follow if they want . We’ve still done all we can, even if they won’t come with me . I have no reason to insist on staying with them . They have their own lives, while I have my wives and family . We all have people we want to protect and be with . ”

Since I didn’t respond, Nier went on: “Dear, I beg you, don’t go . Don’t go . Let’s go home . Let’s go home . I want to see our Daisy . I want to go home . Let’s go home together…”

“Mm… I know . I know…”

“You don’t know!!” exclaimed Nier, clutching my face and looking at me with a gaze on the border of insanity . “If you understood, you’d cancel our plan, and go home tomorrow . We can go home tomorrow!!”

I didn’t respond . I just gently hugged Nier and tried to calm her trembling down . It was the first time that Nier was so emotional in front of me . She just wanted to return home; that was all she asked for . I stood up, and then patted her on her shoulder . In a soft voice, I said, “I need to go and speak to Lucia . ”

“What do you want to say? Are you letting her know we’re leaving?” asked Nier .

I answered, “No… Sometimes, when I can’t decide on something, I need to go and ask Lucia…”

When I couldn’t make up my mind, when I lacked courage, I always had a desire to consult Lucia . She knew me best and was the person who could best help me gain clarity . As long as she was by my side, I’d be able to regain my courage and my direction . I suppose it was the power of childhood friends, ordinary, yet special…

“Shall I kill the wyrm or not? Should I go or not? I understand what Mommy Vyvyan was getting at . I never thought about it, though,” I contemplated

“Your Majesty,” called Nier . She returned to my side after her bath . She grabbed her long hair that had water trickling off and sat down next to me . Her scent was more prominent after just bathing . After sitting down next to me, she said, “You appear to have something on your mind . What are you thinking about?”.

“I’m wondering if I should go kill the wyrm or not . ”.

“Do you want to hear my opinion, Dear?”.

Nier checked to see that there was n.o.body around before addressing me as “Dear”, which she used when we were alone . However, she didn’t look relaxed and happy as she usually did when alone with me . She licked her lips as though she was in a bit of a dilemma: “If I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t go and pick a fight with the wyrm this time . ”.

“Why?” I asked

Nier solemnly answered, “Because it’s meaningless . Dear, I hope you listen to me this time . My husband, Daisy’s father, I hope you listen to me . Let’s not pick a fight with the wyrm this time, and just take Ying and Xia . Yes, it’s all right to bring Ying and Xia . I just hope you’ll listen to me and not challenge the wyrm . ”.

“Are you a scared, Nier? Is it because you’ve never fought on water before?”.

“No… Mm… I would say, yes,” answered Nier . She clasped my face in her hands and gently ran her fingers across my face . She was sad and eager to convince me . In a soft voice, she said, “My husband, Dear, to be honest, I’m not afraid of fighting even now . I’ll take up my sword without hesitation if it’s to protect you and Daisy . I will fight them regardless of how many they number or how strong they may be . I won’t be afraid in that situation . ”.

“Aren’t you protecting me this time, too?”.

“But the risk that you’re taking this time is meaningless!” retorted Nier, voice loud . She sternly thundered, “For what reason are you taking a risk to slay the wrym? Do you want to protect us, your children or Her Majesty? None of them . You just want to challenge the wyrm . You’re doing something utterly meaningless this time!!”.

“I want to bring Ying and Xia!” I argued

“Then, bring them!! I won’t complain or refuse anymore . I’m fine with anything as long as you give up on picking a fight with the wyrm,” shouted Nier, on the verge of tears . She choked on her words as she continued, “My husband, Dear, you’re now Daisy’s father and my husband . You don’t need to take this pointless risk… I beg you… Please… Don’t let Daisy be without a father… I don’t want to be without a husband… I’m now honestly scared . I’m honestly afraid I’ll die . I’m afraid Daisy will be left without a mother for a completely meaningless reason, and the same goes for you! You don’t want Daisy to be without a father, do you?!”.

“I don’t… I don’t want to, either…” I stammered

I grabbed hold of Nier’s hand . I leaned over and gently touched our heads . Nier softly sobbed then let go of my hand to hug me . I hugged her back and stroked her wet hair . I looked at the wall behind her . Behind the wall was Ying and Xia’s room

I debated with myself: “Should I go and kill the wyrm or not? What significance would I derive from it? I want to kill it so that Ying and Xia can leave with peace of mind . Will they leave with us if I tell them we’re not going to kill the wyrm and just leave? I don’t think Ying would . Killing the wyrm is their mission . They probably won’t leave until then . But Nier isn’t wrong . She’s right . I can still leave, even if Ying and Xia don’t leave with us . I insist that I don’t love Ying, so I can by all means leave her . I have my own wives and children . I’m now a father, a ruler, a husband, and I have a family

Vyvyan and Nier are right . I need to have my own new life now . Maybe I should live for the sake of my children, because they were born a little soon . I never felt I had another factor in my life – by that, I mean that I’m now a father

I can’t let something happen to myself . Inard lost his life when he went to slay the dragon . He didn’t need to go to the dragon’s den, but he lost his life just because he wanted to slay it for its head, leaving Troy without a father . Vyvyan can be considered a very n.o.ble mom . With her, whether or not I had a father, made no difference, but what about Daisy? Even if losing her father doesn’t affect her, it doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing all of a sudden . How much sadness would Nier have to bear, as she takes care of Daisy? I think that’s why Nier and Vyvyan are stopping me

Nier’s father pa.s.sed away when she was young, while Vyvyan experienced the aforementioned scenario . The two of them understood how the person left behind felt . They knew that pain

When I was out risking my life, Vyvyan and Elizabeth were always worried for me, for I’m their son . Lucia, Nier, Ling Yue and Luna worried for me, because they love me . Now, not only do my wives and mothers worry, but my children, as well . There are so many people worried about me now . How many people would be sad if something happens to me?.

I can no longer be without concern as I did in the past . I have to take numerous people and things into consideration . I can’t break the hearts of those who love me . I must think about how the people around me are going to live on if something happens to me . How much would my wives and children suffer? I can’t behave the way I did in the past . I can’t

I should go back now . I should return with my moms and wives . Ying and Xia can follow if they want . We’ve still done all we can, even if they won’t come with me . I have no reason to insist on staying with them . They have their own lives, while I have my wives and family . We all have people we want to protect and be with . ”.

Since I didn’t respond, Nier went on: “Dear, I beg you, don’t go . Don’t go . Let’s go home . Let’s go home . I want to see our Daisy . I want to go home . Let’s go home together…”.

“Mm… I know . I know…”.

“You don’t know!!” exclaimed Nier, clutching my face and looking at me with a gaze on the border of insanity . “If you understood, you’d cancel our plan, and go home tomorrow . We can go home tomorrow!!”.

I didn’t respond . I just gently hugged Nier and tried to calm her trembling down . It was the first time that Nier was so emotional in front of me . She just wanted to return home; that was all she asked for . I stood up, and then patted her on her shoulder . In a soft voice, I said, “I need to go and speak to Lucia . ”.

“What do you want to say? Are you letting her know we’re leaving?” asked Nier

I answered, “No… Sometimes, when I can’t decide on something, I need to go and ask Lucia…”.

When I couldn’t make up my mind, when I lacked courage, I always had a desire to consult Lucia . She knew me best and was the person who could best help me gain clarity . As long as she was by my side, I’d be able to regain my courage and my direction . I suppose it was the power of childhood friends, ordinary, yet special….