Chapter 28
…
Tai was alone.
In his room, sitting on the edge of his bed. His back slightly bent over, most of the weight supported by his left elbow, and his eyes fixed on the letter.
He wasn't reading it. Moreover, he'd only read the whole letter three times ever since he'd first receive it. And right now, he was merely looking at it. His blue unfocused, and his mind wandering to aplenty of scenes, which didn't really exist outside of his own imagination. Namely, he was wondering with a heavy heart on what sort of trials and tribulations she's had to go through ever since she left. Moreover, ever since she'd realized the true essence of a huntsman.
Heh…She really is just like you, isn't she, Summer?
His lips a ghost of a smile, bittersweet memories of his late wife momentarily flashing before him.
He could still remember her. And everything about her. Her appearance, her demeanor. Her unyielding passion towards this world. Her love, or rather, the way she loved. And of course, he also could never forget her heroic nature, or unrivaled will and determination that she possessed. And the more he was dwelling into the memories of his late wife, the more he realized that Ruby was shaping to be very much like her. Something, which he both greatly adored, but also feared.
After all, Summer lost her life due to her heroic nature. Namely, her unyielding sense of responsibility as a huntress, and her burning passion to help better this world.
And Ruby, she's…He exhaled. A deep, heavy breath. His lips pursing into a stiff, straight line, and his eyes closing for a moment.
I knew it. I knew you were meant to be a hero. Not because I wanted you to be one, but because you yourself wanted to be a hero more than anyone else. I mean, this letter itself proves exactly just that.
He contemplated, and then let out a wry hum. His closed eyes open now, and revealing a blue, which just perhaps was nostalgic in nature.
Honestly, I think I knew you'd be a hero the moment you expressed your desire to be a huntress. No, actually, I might have known the moment you opened your eyes for the very first time.
He thought to himself, and then let out a tremulous breath. His lips a wry smile for a moment.
Honestly, being a father is harder than being a huntsman has ever been or will be.
He mused, and then let out a voiceless, dark chuckle. Thereafter, reading the letter again. Slowly. And briefly stopping after each sentence.
When he was finished, he quietly sighed, but his features seemed to relax, if at least slightly.
"No matter what I'd say or do, you'd always find a way to do what you have to do, wouldn't you-" He stopped himself short.
He wanted to say Summer, and this realization led him to muster a brief, but also an honest smile. However, behind his warmly curved lips, and his blue which was somewhat relaxed now, an unyielding worry lived within him.
He was worried, and he'd always be. However, he also knew that Ruby was doing what she was supposed to do. Or at the very least, what she wanted to do.
"Oh, I'll give you a harsh one when we'll see each other again. Trust me, I will, Ruby," He quietly said, and then nodded to himself a couple of times. Thereafter, him setting the letter aside, and he then rose to his feet, and slowly walked himself up to a window. And let his gaze wander about.
I wish you all the luck in the world, Ruby. And I know you have what it takes to accomplish even your biggest goals. It'll be harder than you can even imagine, but not impossible. At least not for you.
He mused, and then let his mind wander just like his gaze did. Or at least so he figured he'd do, but his mind didn't wander at all. It remained at a single piece of memory, and until after he recognized what that piece of memory was, did he fully indulge himself into it. His eyes closing, and he was lost to the world. Just like the world was lost to him.
…
"She's beautiful. So incredibly, incredibly beautiful."
"Yes. Yes, she is." He quietly uttered, and was so mesmerized by the tiny miracle before him, that he didn't notice how striking his wife's smile really was.
Even if dead tired, it didn't hinder at all her incredible expression to portray the purest joy she felt at the moment.
"She'll be brilliant, our daughter. She'll do greater things in her life than both of us ever could combined," She said with a perfect conviction, and then gently, lovingly kissed her newborn daughter's cheek.
He snuggled closer, and then hugged them both.