AN: Sorry for not updating last week. I was very, very sick. Felt like death warmed up, which was fun. Anyway, updating a day early this week as it's my birthday XD Anyway, hope you enjoy reading~!

Chapter 26:

Staring out at the endless expanse of the Netherverse, Samuel kept the blanket tucked tightly around his shoulders as he leaned his elbows on the railing. A full day had passed, and Samuel had been permitted to leave his hospital bed and walk about freely. With a few limitations, of course; absolutely no training.

In all honesty, Samuel did not feel like touching a weapon for a while.

He reached up and grasped his shoulder; not that he needed weapons to be violent.

"Hey, Samuel."

Samuel dropped his hand from his shoulder and turned around. He idly tugged at the blanket, drawing it closer out of instinct as Zeroken walked toward him, in his arms a few pieces of folded cloth.

"Here," he said as he lifted the objects toward him. "I got the weapon shop to make you a few of your vests in different materials. I know you feel better when your back is covered."

"Really?"

He must admit he was surprised. He could not recall receiving such a gift from anyone before in his life. He had received small gifts, like little stones or small flowers from the Halflings, the children, under his care.

The kids…

Samuel forced a smile to his lips and retrieved the clothing. "Wolf Pup, thank you, that's very considerate of you."

He set the clothing upon the railing he had been previously leaning against and quickly slipped the blanket from his shoulders. He grabbed at the gift that Zeroken had so generously given him, only to realize that he had actually gifted him three different vests, each made to his measurements, and to his liken.

Zeroken had put quite a bit of consideration into his gift, hadn't he…?

Taking one of the vests, Samuel flared it over his shoulders and quickly slipped his arms through the sleeves. The material was soft against the skin that was free from the bandages, but felt sturdy, granting him some protecting in battle. Once he returned to the battlefield.

He…would return. Of course, he would. There was still a war to be fought and won.

"How does it feel?" Zeroken asked him, anxious for his answer.

"It's very comfortable," Samuel replied with a genuine smile as he did up the buckle at the collar. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

He truly did feel better, wearing something resembling his previous vest. No, it felt better than his previous piece of clothing. His first vest was from necessity, to keep his back covered, away from prying eyes. His current vest was vastly different. He could feel the quality and craftmanship in it by simply touching it.

"Samuel?"

"Hm?"

Zeroken fidgeted on his feet. "Um, I just wanted to say; I have trust in you, too."

Samuel turned to look at him, a little taken aback by his words. They came out of the blue, honestly. "Zeroken?"

Zeroken straightened his posture and tightened his shoulders, attempting to look more confident. "If someone like me can become Overlord to his heart, then you can, too."

"Oh, Wolf Pup." Samuel sighed and shook his head. Him, an Overlord? If only. "I wish I was as strong as you."

"But you are," Zeroken insisted, almost childishly. "You're stronger than me."

That was very sweet. He was wrong, but it was a sweet thing to say. Zeroken was clearly trying to cheer him up. Samuel wondered if Killia had said something to him, and the others, or if they were seeking him out on their own accord.

That was also very sweet. And much appreciated. But his heart was too heavy, in too much pain to truly accept their efforts.

"Zero, can I ask you something?"

Zeroken perked up. "What is it?"

Samuel leaned against the railing behind him. "It's…" he hesitated, inwardly debating whether or not he should truly ask Zeroken his question. It was selfish of him to ask, but it might help him understand why…why Ronny acted the way he did.

"It's a difficult question, so you don't have to answer it. But…when you were looking after Goldion, and they, the Lost were…hurting him, watching from the sidelines must have made you feel so helpless. Is that what spurred you to become his apprentice?"

As he had expected, Zeroken was taken aback by his question. "Y-yeah, that's right," he answered automatically. He fell silent immediately after, to take a moment to himself to form a proper response. Or to, perhaps, debate whether he could truly answer.

"I wanted to become stronger," he began. "Where I might…one day be strong enough to save my master, my idol. Or, at least, save someone else from becoming a victim of the Lost. Save them from having to witness and endure what I did."

"I see." Samuel hoped that his smile was both empathetic and sympathetic. "Back in Nugatory, the Wardens treated us badly as well. Punish us for the smallest things. Being the caretaker, I often took the beatings for the others. I felt it was my duty to do so."

His smile faded from his lips entirely and his gaze fell to the ground at his feet as a nauseous feeling of guilt settled in his stomach. "And yet…was I instilling a sense of helplessness in the others?"

Was that why Ronny acted the way he did? Was his anger, his…hatred of him actually his resentment of him protecting him?

"…It's not easy, standing on the sidelines and watching the one who admire and care for get hurt," Zeroken affirmed. "Especially for something you did. That kind of helplessness hurts the heart and soul. Watching, not being able to help."

So, it was true…

"I'm not saying you did anything wrong or anything," Zeroken quickly amended. "In your position, anyone would have done the same. That's what parents and caretakers do. What they will always do, no matter what."

Yeah, he supposed so. Parents, caretakers…they would do anything for their children. Elders were meant to look after those under their care. Protect them, care for them, love them. Do anything for them. Anything.

That was…just how things were.

Ronny, if only he could have understood that…

"You're right. Thank you, Zero." Samuel pushed away from the railing and crossed the short distance between him and Zeroken, and slipped an arm around his neck to rake his knuckles through his hair. "I think I understand Ronny a little bit better, now, thanks to you."

Zeroken grabbed onto his arm but did not attempt to detach himself from his grip. "Are you feeling better?" he asked, innocently.

That brought a genuine smile to Samuel's lips. "Yeah, I'm feeling better."

… … … … …

Samuel was never normally the one for sitting still. Yet, it was all he could bring himself to do. Sit still and gaze out into the Netherverse beyond the Pocket Netherworld and wonder which sparkling white dot far off in the distance was the elusive Nugatory. And if the words uttered to him by Ronny and Hellekin were true…

He did not want to believe them. His heart did not want to believe them. His Halfling kin, his kids, couldn't be…gone, could they?

They could not be gone because of…him.

He did not want to believe it.

"Samuel."

He was grateful when Usalia's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He purposely shook himself out of his reverie and sat up straight, turning his in chair in a quiet corner in the communal area to greet Usalia as she made her way over to him.

"Here," she said cheerfully as she handed him a bowl of curry. "I made some of my special sweet curry. I want you to have some. It'll make you feel better, plip."

Her consideration brought a sincere smile to Samuel's lips, and he readily retrieved the curry from her. "Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you."

Truthfully, he was not at all hungry, but he was not about to say no to Usalia. And the smell was starting to whet his appetite. Besides, she appeared to be eagerly waiting for him to take a bite.

"How is it?" Usalia asked after he did just that. "I worked really hard on it."

"It's delicious." Which was, of course, the truth. She had been working diligently since she had asked Killia to teach her how to cook curry after the recovery of her parents' crafted recipe. "I can tell you really put your heart into it."

"I made it just for you, plip."

Specially for him?

They really were trying so hard to cheer him up.

Samuel slowly placed the spoon back into the bowl and set the curry aside. "Usalia, could you help me understand something?"

Usalia tilted her head to the side. "What is it, plip?"

"It's…Killia told you what happened with Ronny, didn't he?" He received a nod in response. "Well, he…he said that he hated me. And yet, he said he did all those things because he wanted to protect me. I'm…I'm trying to wrap my head around his motives. Did he hate me?"

"Not at all," Usalia responded quickly and decisively. "He loved you very much."

"Then why-?"

"He was angry." Usalia closed her eyes as she began to speak from the heart. "Angry at himself for being so weak, at his own weakness for putting you in danger. Angry at the Netherverse for always putting you in danger, for always hurting you. Hellekin said the right things to him. Made him believe that he would give him the power. Told him that if he was able to defeat you in battle, then you would concede your role as defender, so he would be the one taking on the danger. He wanted to be you, plip."

"I…I see."

Was…was that true? Did Ronny truly care for him like that, and his actions were just that of a child in a helpless situation unsure of what do and only lashed out as it was the only way he knew how?

That…that would explain a lot. Hellekin got to him. Tricked him. Manipulated him. Hellekin himself said that he had to get rid of Samuel. He got in the way. He said that he got in the way of the Seedlings, but…he got in the way of the Halflings, too.

Ronny…he was half right. He did fail him, failed them. But it was not entirely his fault. Hellekin made sure that he failed them.

He wished his knew the exact location of Nugatory. He wished he could go back.

He wished he could have saved them.

"Th-thank you, Usalia," Samuel said. "You helped me a lot."

Usalia leaned forward and peered up at him. "Are you ok?" she asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm ok." He was going to be ok. "I'm sorry. This must be very hard on you, too."

"…I miss my parents very much, plip."

"I know you do."

Samuel pushed away from the back of his seat and leaned forward, holding out his arms toward her. She readily leaned up on her toes and slipped her arms around his neck in a comforting, familial hug.

"Children love their parents as much as their parents love their children."

… … … … …

The Pocket Netherworld was as bustling and rowdy as ever. It was comforting to see and experience. Yet, in another way, it was disconcerting, seeing everyone continuing with their normal, everyday lives, while Samuel continued to deal with the traumatic aftermath.

He just wanted to be normal again.

In his wanderings, Samuel found his way to the small exercise area. Where Red Magnus was getting in some training, using a punching bag as he went through a series of spear attacks. The last couple of days had been relatively quiet, in spite it all, the next magical spear yet to be discovered. The hardest part of war was always the waiting part.

Samuel himself was not allowed to participate in any kind of strenuous activity, but it would not hurt to speak with ol' Red Magnus as he went through his drills, would it?

"Red Magnus," Samuel called out in a form of greeting. "You've been doing a lot of training, I hear."

Red Magnus paused mid attack, glanced over at him before he hefted his weapon upon his shoulder. "Hey, S-Man. Surprised you're allowed near the training grounds."

Samuel waved his hand dismissively and sat himself down upon the steps before the training arena. "Oh no, I'm only allowed to pass by. If I so much as look at a weapon, someone is bound to pounce on me."

Speaking of someone pouncing, he felt as though he had eyes on him. They…didn't feel like they belonged to Killia. His eyes would be concerned, watching to keep an eye on him, to ensure that he stay safe, protected.

Those eyes…were different.

Odd.

"How's the injuries?" Red Magnus asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

Samuel glanced over at his right shoulder and winced. "Healing…Taking longer than I'd like. But healing."

Still hard to believe that he actually ripped out his own wings. He did not remember doing that, honestly. He was able to recall other key memories, but that? No, he did not recall reaching around and ripping them out.

He must have been buried deep in his own pain to have done such a thing.

"Red Magnus, you've dealt with feelings of helplessness before, haven't you?" Samuel asked before he had the chance to reconsider.

Red Magnus rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, but I'm no good with advice, S-Man."

Samuel had to smile. "Honestly, I'm terrible at receiving it. I'm also terrible at doing nothing."

"Yeah, that's the worse." Red Magnus removed the spear from his shoulder and oh-so casually tossed it toward the punching bag, piercing it through the middle with little effort. "Hey, S-Man?"

"Hm?"

Red Magnus folded his arms across his chest, and almost appeared hesitant. "I know this will bring up some super bad memories, but this Hellekin guy. He must have been one huge sack of shit for you to react the way you did."

Samuel felt his breath hitch in his throat. "…He…He was regarded as a warden of Nugatory. Basically, someone who ensured no one left. That no one escaped. And that he thought it was fun to 'test' some of the Seedlings out on the weaker Halflings to see what they can do. He was…abusive, to say the least."

"What?!" Red Magnus bellowed unexpectedly, bristling wildly. "Argh, he was more than a sack of shit! He's lucky he's already dead, or I'd hunt him down myself and pummel the absolute tar out of him!"

His angry, violent reaction actually startled Samuel for a moment. A mere second later it dawned upon him that he was not angry at him. No, he was furious at Hellekin. A protective anger.

He…had learnt quite a bit since Scorching Flame, hadn't he?

Realisation suddenly flickered across Red Magnus' face. "Oh right, you already did," he uttered. Equally unexpectedly, he grinned widely. "Did it feel good to finally get revenge on him? Come on, it super totally did, didn't it?"

"…A-A little," Samuel admitted.

"How'd ya do it?" Red Magnus asked, perhaps a little too eagerly. "I super want to know!"

Samuel honestly had not put too much thought into what he had done to Hellekin. "W-well…I think I…I kinda grabbed him by the face."

"Uh huh."

"Then threw him several feet until he hit wall of stone, where he made a crater."

"Nice, nice. Then what?"

"I, ah, stomped his head into the ground."

"Nice! Then what?"

"I pinned him to the ground and started pummelling him with my fists until he dissipated into the ether."

"Bwahahaha!" The laugh that Red Magnus released was boisterous and loud, filled with genuine amusement. "That's awesome!"

Thinking back on it, he held such hatred for Hellekin. So much anger. So much pain. For what he did to Ronny. For all the pain and suffering he had inflicted upon all the innocent Halflings over the years. For all the pleasure he found in inflicting that pain.

That man…He deserved every hit, stomp, and punch. Every brutal blow. He deserved it all. He deserved more.

Pity it did not last longer.

"All the Halflings that had suffered because of him can finally rest in peace," Red Magnus stated, rather sagely at that.

"Yeah. You're right."

Yet, there were two more wardens out there. If they were also involved…

He may have no choice but to face them in battle. If so, then he should face them without mercy, too. For all the Halflings that had suffered in the past. For the Halflings that still suffered.

And for all those that were suffering in the present.

Samuel could not afford to wallow in pity anymore.

"Red Magnus, thanks."

Red Magnus looked genuinely confused. "Eh, for what?"

"For cheering me up," Samuel replied. "I guess what happened, rather what I did to Hellekin wasn't so bad after all."

Red Magnus crossed his arms and nodded. "That's right, S-Man. He super deserved it."

He did. And he did not regret a single hit.

"Samuel? There you are."

A smile immediately made its way to Samuel's lips the moment he heard Killia's voice. He turned around and watched as Killia made his way down the stairs toward him. "Hey, Killia. Sorry, were you looking for me?"

"Hey Killia," Red Magnus also greeted, with a cocky half grin. "Now, we weren't training. I know better than to get on your protective side."

Hm, protective side?

Samuel turned to Killia and tilted his head to the side questioningly. "Hey, quick question; were you watching over me from the shadows a couple of times? I just felt that someone was watching me."

Killia furrowed his brow. "Where abouts?"

His protective side had definitely been activated. So, it was not him?

"Nowhere in particular. Just in the distance. Don't worry, I'm just being paranoid."

Hopefully.