C15 Even If You Are Old, You will Still be Lonely!

"Why... why are you here?"

Igrel gaped at the imposing figure before him, his voice cracking with overwhelming surprise.

"Grandfather, why are you here?"

"Igrel, aren't you overjoyed to see me? Are you not moved?" Renafam asked, his smile wide as he looked at Igrel.

“...”

Igrel was frozen in place, speechless.

"It seems Igrel is so touched he's at a loss for words. That warms my heart," Renafam said, nodding to himself.

"Father, I think that Igrel might..."

Carrick began tentatively from behind Renafam, while Garcia stood by, her face an unreadable mask.

"Hmm?"

Upon meeting Renafam's gaze, Carrick promptly shut his mouth, his words left unspoken.

"Grandfather, didn't you promise me a month's vacation?"

Igrel's voice trembled as he looked down, asking the question.

"I've changed my mind. My intuition tells me that what you need for your future isn't rest, but rigorous training!" Renafam announced with conviction.

"Intuition?"

Igrel was learning for the first time that the Dragon Clan's intuition could predict the future.

"Whatever you're thinking, it's clearly not beneficial. I need to shape your values properly," Renafam stated solemnly, lifting Igrel onto his claw.

"Wait, grandfather, are you taking my brother away right now?"

Oliveira exclaimed, watching Renafam lift Igrel.

"Yes, Oliveira. Igrel's life should not be derailed by frivolity. To attain great power, one must make sacrifices. Seeing you now, I'm glad of the choices I've made."

Renafam looked down at Oliveira, his chuckle softening his words.

"You've been quite lenient with Oliveira this past year, not much different from when I first met her. I fear Igrel would end up the same if he stayed," Renafam observed, casting a meaningful glance at Carrick and Garcia.

"Igrel and Oliveira are my children, and how I raise them is my business. Father, you're crossing a line. I've already agreed to let Igrel train under you. Isn't that enough?"

Garcia finally spoke up, her voice laced with frustration as she addressed Renafam's doubts, "By any standard of teaching, you haven't done anything wrong."

Renafam watched Garcia's anger simmer down before he finally broke the silence. "I've waited too long. For centuries, I've looked among my offspring for one with the talent I seek. Iger is that one. Carrick, you had potential, but there's no point in dwelling on what might have been."

"I'm deeply sorry, Father," Carrick said softly, his head bowed in contemplation.

"You might be uncomfortable with my decision, but I stand by it. Think of it as a whim of mine. The one thing I can promise is that Iger will be raised to be an extraordinary dragon," Renafam stated, holding Igrel as he addressed both Carrick and Garcia.

Garcia, after a long stare at Renafam and realizing her protests were in vain, let out a sigh of resignation.

"Father, since I've been with Carrick, I don't think we've ever had such a frank conversation. Our interactions have always been tense."

"Yes, to put it bluntly, I didn't like you, and then you married my least favorite son. Frankly, my impression of you both wasn't good. My only connection to you was through Carrick being my son."

Renafam didn't mince words as he spoke candidly.

"Your disdainful attitude still manages to infuriate me as always."

Hearing Renafam's assessment pushed the hot-tempered Garcia to the brink of exploding.

"But, I've been doing a lot of thinking over this past year..."

Before Garcia could lose her temper, Renafam continued.

"Seeing little Igrel, I realize that I've reestablished a connection with you both. I could easily take Igrel away from you, but what about when he grows up? I want to raise Igrel as my heir, and that means I can't avoid dealing with you."

"I've always subjectively thought that you two wouldn't be happy together, but seeing you now, it seems I was wrong. Since you're content with this life, I won't interfere too much."

"Though it's late, it's better than never. I didn't give you my blessing before, but I'll give it now. Carrick, Garcia, I hope you continue to be happy."

Renafam's sudden formality caught the fiery Garcia off guard.

"Uh, no, Father, your sudden words, well, they're quite surprising..."

Garcia gestured wildly, her words tumbling out in a fluster.

"Don't take it to heart. It's merely a formality, really. While my views have shifted somewhat, it doesn't mean I fully endorse your union. Our relationship remains strained."

Renafam's nonchalance was palpable.

"Ever the one for sharp commentary."

Unable to release her frustration, Garcia resigned herself to let it go.

"As for Igrel, I'll be taking him with me. Once he matures into a young dragon, I'll ensure he visits you both."

With his wings unfurled, Renafam ascended, his gaze lingering on Carrick and Garcia.

"For us of the Dragon Clan, a few years are but a nap's duration. There's no cause for sorrow."

Renafam remarked.

"And Carrick, Garcia,"

He paused, mid-departure, a moment of hesitation before he added,

"If you wish to see Igrel, come to me. Bring Vera along, consider it a visit. You're welcome to."

With those words, Renafam soared into the heavens with Igrel, vanishing from Carrick and Garcia's view.

"Was that his way of inviting us to visit?" Garcia mused, cradling a tearful Oliveira in her arms, turning to Carrick for his take.

"It seems so. Father lives in solitude; perhaps loneliness has set in. He could have just asked us directly. It's rare to see him show a bashful side. I must admit, his words earlier took me by surprise."

Carrick couldn't help but chuckle as he responded.

"You too, huh? I was taken aback for a moment there myself."

Garcia chimed in.

"Dad, Mom, is brother going to come back? I barely got to spend a day with him. I had even planned to introduce him to a friend."

Oliveira looked up with a forlorn expression, posing her question to Carrick and Garcia.

"Don't worry, it won't be long. If you're missing Igrel, we'll just pick a time to go visit him together, okay?" Carrick reassured her with a warm smile.

"Okay!"

Oliveira's spirits lifted instantly, and she enthusiastically waved her claws in agreement.