The boat was rocking slightly. There was no resistance between its bottom and the sea. All that could be heard was the smooth paddling of the man rearing the boat towards the shore and roars from the nearing island.

I nodded out of consciousness and the blanket covering my face moved gently.

“So, you’re finally awake, boy. Take a look towards the shore. That is your new home.” Gillius said coldly. He looked at me straight in the eye without remorse.

As I turned around, all I could see was the stillness of the sea, and the island in the distance. This place… This is…

Before I could finish my thought, Gillius’s large hand grabbed my collar and threw me off the boat.

Many people would have cursed the man that instant, but Belial did not. Looking towards the island before crashing into the sea and resurfacing to catch his breath, Belial only stared blankly with eyes of sadness and betrayal.

“… Why?”

Gillius lost his composure. Standing with his arms crossed, he clutched it with so much strength that his arms began to bleed. Blood trickled into the still sea, breaking the silence.

“You know why. You will have to pay the consequence… But know this,” Gillius got down on his knees and hands. “I will forever be indebted to you.” Unlike the blood from before, tears started to stream down his eyes. His chiseled face contorted, his biceps trembling.

I had finally understood. Gillius betrayed me out of duty, to protect his real family. I was not born with a family, but I understood. As Gillius bowed before me in apology, I panicked , waving my hands fervishly to deny him.

“No! It is I who should be grateful. If not for you, I wouldn’t have even lived this long and experienced so many things.”

Coming from a five-year old boy, Gillius was furious. Not at Belial, but himself, for his cowardice and weakness. The ‘so many things he experienced’ were only eating with his family, babysitting his many children, and sleeping in his barn, as there was no room for him. Though he never told Belial, in the few short weeks they had stayed together, he regarded him as a son. Seeing his kind nature, he was hoping to see Belial grow up, point him towards the brothels to become a man, marry and see his children. All that gone in a few moments.

“For me who had never experienced family, I thank you… Can I call you father?”

Belial looked up towards him, seeing his pained expression.

“I am undeserving!” Gillius shouted. He pounded his head on the boat, almost destroying it. ‘How will a boy as he survive!?’

“Please…”

‘Even in this situation, this is all he desires…’ Gillius thought. He began grinding his teeth, as if to punish himself for letting this happen.

I knew this was the last time I might ever see Gillius before I die on ‘that’ dreaded island. I pleaded him with my eyes. To me, he was someone. No, his family, was something I can give my life up proudly for.

“That name… it means worthless in our ancient language. Allow me to rename you… son.”

I was breathless as I choked up inside. For the first time in my life, I cried. My face did not change. But, water streamed down my cheeks. I bowed my head to him. With this, I was prepared to die.

“Yes… father.” I gave him a small smile… with this. I can die happily—

“Do not resign yourself to death!” His voice rang through the sea, causing ripples and birds above them to shriek in defiance. “You will survive! For you are the son of the Knight Commander Gillius!... Ares.”

I shuddered in response to my father’s words. Lightning struck my spine and revitalized my consciousness. To the me that resigned myself to death, a glint appeared in my eyes as I stared back at my father.

“I will return.”

Dispelling the grim atmosphere between them, Gillius was the first to leave and Belial turned towards the island, swimming with all his strength. As he reached the shore, and entered the forest, he did not look back. In the distance, Gillius could only be proud of Belial… no. Ares. A name truly befitting of the boy he called son.