"Talk"
'Thought'
"A 1, and a 2, and a 1, 2, 3, 4."
A older man, with long grey hair and dressed nicely, quickly started to play on the piano, which was located on the top of the balcony, the music he played was beyond flawless and perfect, no key was missed or accidentally pressed, this elderly gentleman was known as Timothy James Curry, though he prefers to be called 'Maestro Forte: The Soulful Pianist', as the name implies, he was a very well known great pianist, though while he continues to prove that title with music that was both calming yet very fast pace epic, two certain individuals could be seen below the balcony that the performer was on, and they seemed to be in the middle of having some kind of dual between one another while the pianist played his music in the background, one of the two fighters was a young man, who seemed to be slightly shorter compared to the person he was fighting, but he was absolutely no push over, as he was able to keep up with his opponent with pure skills and talent alone, this was Paul Reubens, 'Forte's Musical Guardian And Apprentice', now, as for his opponent, he was not only taller and more strong looking, but was also familiar, it was Nero, and seemed to have grown a lot more than the last time anyone saw him before, no longer the little boy everyone used to know, now he was someone who was more mature, more serious, and much more stronger and faster, which was not only shown by him holding a very large sword, which was called 'Red Queen', but was able to move the heavy blade with enough speed that always nearly hit Paul and forced him to keep on moving, not only that, but also had enough strength to effortlessly cause small crators on the ground or easily slice trees like melted butter, at first glance, the son of Belladonna seemed to be one with the overwhelming advantage, and while that was obviously true, there was one thing that he lacked compared to his shorter training partner, 'Control', now, this doesn't mean he isn't a untrained amateur, but his way of fighting involves him using his full strength and speed in a instinctual and even reckless behavior, something that Mr. Reubens was able to take full advantage of, like predicting what his next attack will be and using that to both dodge and make his powerful opponent trip up or lose balance, again Forte's Apprentice was no pushover and can very well handle himself in this dual, unfortunately, even with all his skills and better control in how he fight, it would not last, even if he managed to momentarily distracted his training partner, that was all he was able to accomplish, he wasn't fast enough to land a counter attack, he wasn't strong enough to push back, and he didn't have any special abilities that would give him any kind of advantage, and in the end, despite having a strong beginning, the grandson of Sparda was the real victor in the end, pinning down the short man by placing a foot on his wrist that held his shirt sword, while also aiming his 'Red Queen' above his face, once the fight was done, Tim was also done and stopped playing his piano
"Hmph, a slight improvement since last time, maybe enough to go up from F- to just normal F."
Forte was very blunt with his opinion on what he just saw in the duel, more specifically on what he saw from the son of Belladonna, which annoyed him as he steps away and helped his training partner up
"What's the problem this time you old fart, hm?"
After helping Reubens back to his feet, Nero looked up at the balcony and had his arms crossed
"While I must praise your increased strength and speed, not to mention you no doubt polished your already great talent."
Forte ignore such insults, as he was already used to hearing such bad mouthing from the teenager, not to mention he was too mature to respond to childish provocations
"But your method of actions is left to be desired."
Forte stood up from his seat and looked down at the two, wearing a cold and stern expression
"You fight like a child, thinking all you could do is swing a sword wildly with enough power that you'll win."
The faunus demon boy scoff at Forte criticism
"But I did win-"
"You won because my apprentice was weaker than you. Tell me, how many times has he tripped you up during the duel, and how many times has your own superior abilities saved you against his own slower and weaker attacks."
Forte quickly silence the hybrid before he could answer, while also saying something that made him look away with a somewhat upset look on his face
"I wish to make something clear, I know you have the capability and potential to do more, so much more, but you need to actually 'WANT' to improve, to have the desire to do better, and try to earn a new level of perfection… You do want to be perfect, don't you?"
The only answer Forte got from the young teen was a simple 'Hmph' as he turns away and started to walk off
"Whatever…"
Nero had no desire to stick around and continue with his training, which made Tim sigh and decided to wave away his apprentice, who understood that training was over, the short gentleman bows before leaving to relax and recover from his spar, the Legendary Pianist rubs his temple in annoyance and let out a slight tired sigh
"... Your son is such a handful, Blake."
Without even looking, Forte was able to notice Blake Belladonna standing behind him, who no doubt saw the whole thing unfold
"He's just going through a phase, he is a teenager after all, so young and unsure, if not a bit rebellious."
Blake didn't seemed bothered by him knowing her real name, both since Circe wasn't at her side at the moment, and because she knows the type of person he was
"Something tells me that he gets it from both of his parents."
Forte looks back with a slight knowing look, which made her look away and tries to avoid his gaze
"Probably…"
Blake turns away and was about to leave and check up on her son, though before she could open the door
"So, when do you plan on leaving Fortuna for good?"
Forte didn't ask this question with any kind of spite or anger, just simple none caring curiosity, which definitely made her flinch slightly
"After making my daughter the new head Priestess tomorrow."
That was all Blake had to say before going back inside and left Maestro Forte alone on the balcony, who sat back down on his piano and started to play on it again, this time playing a more soft, comforting song
"Good luck on actually doing that."
Meanwhile, back with the Belladonna child, he was in the middle of laying on his bed, wearing his headphones that played rock music, twirling his large revolver on his finger, which was called 'Blue Rose', and just aimlessly looked at the ceiling with a deep thinking look on his face, he didn't look conflicted or particularly upset with anything, though his expression shows someone that is, 'Withdrawn', if that make sense
"Nero, are you in there, I would like to talk to you?"
The Sparda Grandson was able to hear the voice and knocking of Blake, which made him sigh a bit, as he wanted to be alone.
"It's open."
Nero, not really wanting to make his mother go away, lets her know that she could enter, to which she does, after letting Circe know to wait outside
"Hi Nero, is everything ok?"
Blake closed the door and stood by the side of the bed that her son was laying on
"I guess."
Nero tries his best not to worry his mother about anything unnecessary, he was not in the mood to be cuddled and cheer up
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, I wanted to make sure."
"I'm fine."
"I know you're reaching the age of, well, confusion to put it lightly, and I know it could be difficult to be in that type of position."
"I said I'm fine."
"Especially since when you're living a life of expectations, I've noticed people saying low opinions of you and I understand if that bothers you, I will try to-"
"THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, SO STOP TRYING TO HELP ME!"
Nero couldn't help but get frustrated by his mom asking what's wrong and trying to help fix a problem that wasn't there, he couldn't help but get so annoyed by this that he crushed his iPod in his demon hand, which made her flinched from this
"I'm sorry…"
Blake looks down and felt guilty to cause her son more stress, this made him frowns when he saw this, so he got up from his bed and just hugs his mother
"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that, I'm just overthinking things, I really am fine."
Nero was trying his best to reassure his mother, who just hugs her son back
"What are you overthinking about, was it something Forte said to you?"
Blake stilled wanted to know what was troubling her son, even if he says he's ok, she couldn't help but just think that something is wrong
"No, nothing he says bothers me, especially since I know he's right about certain things."
Nero then lets go of his mother, who couldn't help but look him a bit confused
"Then why do you act so, 'distant', if not from him?"
Blake just watched him, who just sat on a open window, with a somewhat lost expression
"... I'm thinking of leaving Fortuna."
This sudden bomb that Nero drop made his mother go wide eyes in unexpected shock and slight disbelief
"L-Leaving Fortuna?!"
Blake couldn't help but panic, clearly she was not ready to see her own son leave her yet
"Yeah, I have no reason to be here, and to be honest, I kind of don't want to be here, it's so restricting and small, despite being such a large island."
Nero just watch the outside, seeing it's city, people, and the sun that was passed afternoon and will soon become night time
"Plus, it would be nice to be somewhere that doesn't have people that expect better and more from me."
When Nero explained his reasoning, his mother couldn't help but momentarily pushed down her emotions, as she couldn't help but realize that he was sharing her own thoughts and desires
"... Does that mean you want to live and become a Devil Hunter with your Uncle and Aunts?"
While Blake has high opinions of her former teammates, she couldn't help but worry at the thought of her son living with such an adventurous family.
"Being a Devil Hunter is a fun job I would do, but I want to do more than what they're doing."
Once again Nero surprised his mother with what he said
"What do you mean by that?"
Blake was now curious on what he was actually talking about and what he had in mind of what he wants to do
"I want to do my own thing, I don't want to force myself to choose either Fortuna or Devil Hunting, I want my own options, my own freedom of choice, and my own way of living."
Nero than looks at his mother, which allowed her to see him make a face that can be best described as 'Desires' and 'Wanting More Than He Has'
"Though, in all honesty, I don't know what I really want to do with my life, I don't even have a plan after I leave Fortuna, but whatever I do fine, it will be better than what I have now."
There was little to say to change Nero's way of thinking, even though he has a family he loves to death and fond memories of him growing up in such a place, he still wants more, he still craves more, which is something that his mother could not ignore or deny, no matter how upset it would make her in the end
"... Have I ever told you of my own dreams of what I wanted to be? That didn't involve Fortuna or becoming a Hunter?"
Blake took a seat on the bed, and lays the 'Yamato' on her lap
"No?..."
Nero fully face his mother, now curious on what she had to say, she lets out a sigh as she pulls out the broken blade and looks at her own reflection
"My dreams, before becoming the person that I am today, was just to live at a home full of books."
Once Blake said this, there was a moment of silence between the two
"... Wait, that's it?"
Nero was now beyond confused to hear that his own mother, someone who accomplished so much and could do so much more, wanted to do something so unbelievably mundane and simple
"Yes, that's all I wanted to do with my life, maybe work in a library too, or be a teacher if I wanted something exciting."
Blake's simple wishes were honestly mind boggling to her son, who just couldn't understand her doing something so boring and simple
"I'm so lost right now, why are you telling me this?"
Nero had no idea why his own mother brought this up or what it had to do with his current situation that he was in
"Because unlike you, I never had a chance to choose what I wanted to be."
Blake's son went eyes wide to hear that, he stayed silent while she put blade back in the sheath and stood back up to her feet
"You have the right to explore the world and yourself, and understand what you want to be, I won't stop you, I never wanted to take away your own ability of choice and freedom."
Blake then walks up to her son and used her free hand to both hold his head close to hers, while also gently rubs his kitty ears
"But as your selfish mother who wants her kitten to stay with her forever, can you at least not think about this for now? At least until after tomorrow, please?..."
Nero could hear the conflicted tone and expression of Blake that wants to see him grow up, but also wants him to be her kitten a little while longer, and no matter how much he wants to move on from being her small kitty cat and be his own man, he couldn't resist giving in, nor deny wanting to experience his mother's kindness a little bit more, using his own demonic hand to hold her normal one
"Don't be so dramatic…"
What do you think Nero would like to do that isn't just Devil Hunting or Fortuna stuff?~
(Next chapter I will reveal something, if you didn't get it yet~)
/Blake's Royal Guard Member #5 and 6\
Timothy James Curry: He prefers to be called 'Maestro Forte: The Soulful Pianist', he's the oldest of the Nyx's.
(Unlike the rest of the Royal Guard, his powers, while still somewhat soul base, is not a semblance or aura, it could almost classify as magic, but isn't, his ability it pure support, but can still can offensive, as for weapon, it's a conductor stick with a hidden poison blade)
Paul Reubens: Also known as the 'Soul Apprentice', he is technically in Nyx's because of his teacher, Forte, but is part of the family none the least, also he's the 2nd youngest, but older than Circe.
(He has no aura or semblance, wanting to be more like his Teacher, but he is very skilled and talented with just a simple short sword)
/Blake's Children #3\
Nero Belladonna Sparda: He has no nickname since he thinks they're dumb, it's just Nero, though his last name is Sparda and not Belladonna or Beradon'na.
(Weapons and most abilities are the same, but he has two new add on, just like the others, he was also given a gift from his mother, he was given a coat, that can not only easily hide his cat ears, but give him some stealthy properties, and also for abilities, he has the power to take away or give away Aura, Semblance or any Soul base abilities, though can only do those by using his demon hand)
