"Ughhhh I don't feel too good". Even that simple complaint reverberates through Will's skull.
" Well numbskull maybe quit picking fights with warriors when you don't have the ability to back it up." Wills father says.
The mockingly burly tone was not lost on his son.
" And maybe if you cut that hair for once you could see his fist instead of your brown curtain " Adam adds.
"My hair isn't the reason I lost !" Will claims.
"Yes you're right for once boy, it wasn't your hair, it was your inability to follow SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS!!"
Will always flinched the rare times his father got visibly upset.
And most times it was his fault ,including this one.
But what stung the most was the use of the word boy.
Calming himself down Adam begins to speak in a slow but still angry voice. "Instead of taking the money to the SMITHY on the BUS like I TOLD YOU !"
" You went and took a and I quote "shortcut" right in the middle of the WORST …. PART ….of the city !"
"And now look at you bruised, bloody, and beaten two day before your awakening ceremony."
"Here." Adam says as he opens the freezer and hands a frozen bag of peas to Will.
"You know your mom is going to kill me now right." Adam says defeatedly. His hands gripping his blond hair.
" I know." Will says quietly looking past him.
"Cough* Cough*"
"Why is my son covered in blood?" A voice so cold it snapped their spines straight. Like a demon spawned in the hallway behind Adam.
" He fell !" " I tripped !" The father and son say together . They dare not look the beast in her eyes.
They had not rehearsed their excuse for Adam's "fall" but it seemed that their lies matched up just enough to buy them some time.
"Adam when you are done cleaning up our son let's have a chat shall we."
Before waiting for a response she strides away and leaves only the chill in the air and fear in their souls.
" F..k" Adam says his breath. He wonders how she even got home this soon,she was supposed to be at a meeting.
As he gets up to talk to his wife he remembers who caused all this and turns around pointing his finger squarely at Will's chest.
"If I die I will haunt you son ." And leaves Will to his own misery.
Will looks into the mirror at what seems to be an purple swollen egg under the skin on his cheek. Lightly tapping the now mostly room temperature peas to his face he makes a mental list of all things now bruised, busted, and bloody.
#1. Nose, busted and bloody.
#2. Lips, busted.
#3. Arms, back, and legs, bruised.
#4. Ego bruised.
Will sits down lacking the energy to look at the face of a loser.
He imagines becoming stronger than anyone in the world and ruling with an iron fist.
But just as quickly as it comes it goes.
He understands how unlikely he is to even awaken let alone become some Hero or an Archmage.
Once you hit seventeen it becomes unlikely for someone to awaken. Most that do happen around 15.
However Will still clings to the hope that he will awaken soon.
This is the last ceremony that comes around for your average Joe.
" It has to happen this time!" He says.
As if determination alone could do it.