Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

"You all seem to be enjoying yourselves." A voice broke the chatter amongst the trio who seemed to have started fishing for some time now. "Left something for me, or did Amy finish everything."

Rio turned his head and smiled upon seeing a large ship hovering in the air, not artistic like the one academy had, but more majestic. There was this aura of danger lingering around it, making the first instinct of those who saw it to not appreciate, but turn tail and run away.

There were guards stationed at a few places, a flag of house Blake and sigil of Shade guild carved onto the wood outside, indicating who this ship belonged to.

A man stepped out of the ship, two swords hung at his side: one heavy, strapped across his back, and another slimmer, sheathed at his waist.

He didn't wear any armor, or those shiny fancy suits of elites, just plain clothes, a white loose shirt tucked into beige pants and a long black overcoat, fluttering ever so slightly in the wind. Yet that simplicity couldn't hide the aura of superiority or nobility oozing out of him.

There was something about him, like a palpable aura of danger that just rolled off his broad shoulders like mist. The kind that made people instinctively step aside, avoid his gaze, and shrink back in reverence--or fear.

"Father," Amelia shouted, her voice thick with joy, giddy even, as she immediately dropped the fishing rod in her hands and raced toward him. The space crackled and sizzled as she opened a portal in her excitement, disappearing from her spot only to reappear in the next instant, throwing her arms around the man. "I missed you." she said, her voice muffled as she hugged him tightly.

"I missed you too." Agnus replied, gently patting his daughter on the back. His face,

showing a rare sunny smile that millions in Schilla could never imagine the scary sword saint, a man known and feared across the whole continent for his cold behavior and cruelty, to have.

Agnus always had the straightforward personality, a man of few words, who showed his emotions by his actions, not by some sweet promises or anecdotes. The only time when he lets his soft side show is when he's with his family, especially his wife Artemis, and daughter Amelia. The two were the stars of his eyes.

Everywhere else, he was simply a sword, a deadly weapon in a human form.

He walked by following Amy who grabbed his hand and pulled him, nodding his head in soft hums as she kept talking about various things.

Rio saw the familiar scene, and couldn't help but smile sweetly. Behind him, Rebecca stood awkwardly, her body stiff as a board. She shifted uneasily from foot to foot, her fingers tugging nervously at the hem of her sleeve, her gaze locked onto the ground as though the lines in the dry leaves were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.

Her usual sharpness, her confident, no-nonsense demeanor, cheery personality, they had all evaporated the moment Agnus appeared, leaving behind a young girl who was clearly out of her depth.

When Amelia caught sight of her best friend's discomfort, her lips quirked into a mischievous smile.

"And it was brother who ate everything, not me," she announced with a mocking tone, eyes twinkling as she released her father's hand. Her complaining words earned a soft chuckle from Rio, who took it all in stride. Rebecca, on the other hand, seemed to retreat further into herself.

Her eyes followed the path of an ant scurrying across the leaf, anything to avoid meeting the piercing gaze of the Sword Saint.

Rio noticed her sudden change in demeanor and, with a sly grin, leaned over and lightly slapped her hand. "Relax," he whispered, his voice full of teasing warmth, though the amusement in his eyes couldn't be any more clear.

"Hello, Father," Rio greeted, his tone respectful yet warm. He dipped into a small bow, but before he could finish, Agnus had stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.

"Don't do that again," Agnus muttered in a low voice, his arm firmly around his son's back.

For a moment, Rio felt a pulse of mana course through his father's hand, scanning his body, checking for injuries or anomalies.

He didn't ask or refute, after what happened last time in the dungeon, he pulled the dead body and soul travel thing this time, probably scaring everyone outside, so he just gave a soft response and held the broad back with his hands. He could finally do that now. Closing his eyes as all thoughts cleared in a calm sense of safety.

[Aww my baby host finally grew up. I'm sooo proud.] System chimed in, speaking with the mock sentimentality.

'STFU system.'

Though after hearing the system's words, the peaceful moment Rio felt in his heart, disappeared, being replaced by that awkwardness, as he gently pulled away from his father.

As despite everything, he still couldn't be fully open or comfortable around his father. It wasn't anything bad, or lack of love, trust, or respect -but just his own stoic personality.

He had never been open to emotions neither here nor on earth, nor did he have an overly expressive father both times, so the relationship was kinda like, you ask him to take a bullet for his dad he'll take it, ask him to sell his kidney, donate the house, heart and head _ he'll do it.

But ask him to hug him in public and say how much he loves or looks up to him, now that's something he'll start hesitating about.

It just wasn't him.

But gladly neither was it Agnus.

It wasn't that they didn't care--it was just that neither of them were the kind of people who openly expressed it.

"Well, are you coming with us?" Agnus's voice was directed at Rebecca now, pulling her out of her silent stupor.

Rebecca blinked in surprise, her mind still fogged with nervous thoughts. "U-uh, yes. I mean, no! _uh Athena_ My mother--she's coming to pick me up." The words stumbled out of her like an overclocked machine, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Before stopping the rattle and looking down again, frowning as even the little ant disappeared from there.

Before she could recover herself, she heard the light chuckling sound coming from beside her. She glared at Rio, pinching his hand to cut it out, only to be stumped as Amy just broke out in a much louder laughter while holding her stomach and pointing to her face.

"What's gotten into you, Becca?" Amy teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's not like this is the first time you've met my dad. Or is it because you two are--" she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"N-no, it's not like that," Rebecca mumbled, her voice barely audible. She glanced around nervously, hoping the ground would just swallow her whole.

"Really, I mean, it's no secret in academy, I'm sure father_"

"Shut up!" Rebecca hissed hearing Amy's words, her face growing redder by the second. Without thinking, she reached over and covered Amy's mouth with her hand. "If you don't stop right now, I swear, you won't live to see tomorrow." she said telepathically, warning her.

She was already nervous enough thinking about what to say when her mother comes, or when she reaches home,- now if you add Rio's parents on top, her silly heart probably wouldn't be able to handle so much embarrassment in one day.

"Since Athena hasn't come yet, why don't you wait on the ship." Agnus asked, looking at the duo of girls just messing around.

"N_no, uncle, I'm fine. You can go, mother should be here any moment now." Rebecca answered, but Amelia didn't listen and just pulled her away. Leaving a squeal behind as she teleported them both to the ship.

Rio looked up, hearing the excited tone from his sister, reporting various events in a fancy manner, as she met the few accomplices of their father from Shade or Duchy.

People whom they would both see at home, or people who were their instructors or guards when they were young.

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