Timeless Assassin

Chapter 1010: Confrontation

(7 days later, Planet Ixtal, Leo’s POV)

"No, no, no, no, no... NO!"

Amanda screamed, as she bit her lips hard and tried her best to hold back her tears.

"You have been disappearing everyday for an hour, an hour and a half, going off only God knows where, and I know it in my bones, that you’re off someplace training.

I know it, because every time you embark on a training adventure, even when you’re not busy training, you’re constantly thinking about it, and I see those same patterns in you all over again."

She complained, as Leo stood mute in front of her, shaking his head in casual denial.

"We had a deal, Leo.

You promised me you will be a family man once the war was over.

YOU PROMISED!"

Amanda said, her voice breaking as the tears finally started to roll down freely across her cheeks.

"Darling, listen to me...."

Leo began, as he raised a hand to place on her shoulder and console her, however, Amanda immediately swatted him away, as she refused his comfort at this moment.

*Slap*

"Don’t!"

She warned, lifting a single finger up, as despite the tears, the redness around the whites of her eyes depicted a fury unlike no other.

"Don’t darling me today, Leo, or I’ll really snap."

Amanda warned, as Leo reluctantly backed off.

"Do you even understand what you did today?

Do you even know?"

She asked accusingly, as Leo simply stared at her in confusion, feeling clueless on what went wrong?

"Of course you don’t. Because in that head of yours, the only thing that’s happening in the background is training.

Whereas human emotions, and family values have no room!"

She concluded, as Leo felt attacked for no reason whatsoever.

"When was the last time you met your brother Luke?

When was the last time you asked how your sister in law Alia was doing? Or how their son Leonardo is faring?

Did you know, Leonardo is a Transcendent Tier Warrior now?

That he made Lieutenant?

Of course you don’t, because the last time you asked about them was over two months ago!"

Amanda scolded, as Leo simply shrugged his shoulders, as if unable to connect this to what specifically he did wrong today?

"Oh, so it’s like that huh?"

Amanda said in disbelief, as she shook her head in disappointment.

"Today when Mairon came up to you with a crayon drawing of our family, what did you do eh? Leo?

What did you say to the little boy?"

Amanda asked, as Leo recalled the interaction he had with his youngest son Mairon this morning, where Mairon brought up to him a crude family portrait that he had made.

"What?

I told him it’s such a good painting.

I said ’Good Job Buddy, but daddy doesn’t wear armor.

And even if he did, it would be black not red.’ "

Leo replied, as Amanda felt her blood boil all over again, as her face reddened even more.

"And....? Do you still not see what you did wrong?"

Amanda asked, as Leo scratched the back of his head in utter confusion.

This seemed like a perfectly normal conversation to him, and he could not understand what the fuss was all about.

"Leo, you’re ridiculous!

Do you even understand why Mairon likes to draw and paint?

It’s because he thinks his daddy loves to draw and paint!

Because that’s what I’ve told him.

The kids idolize you.

For them you’re the greatest hero of their life.

And that’s precisely why I need you to be a better example for them...."

Amanda began, as she shared with Leo a perspective that his warrior self could never see.

"The painting that Mairon painted had both you and Caleb wearing armor. While I held a hammer, and Mairon held nothing.

That was his way of telling you that he’s feeling lonely.

And that with Caleb busy training, he’s feeling left behind as of late.

He will turn 4 in a month for God’s sake, Leo, he’s just a child.

And he needs more emotional support from you than a ’Good Job Buddy’ or POINTING OUT THE COLOR OF YOUR ARMOR!"

Amanda screamed, as Leo felt goosebumps arise all over his skin.

Never in his life had he heard Amanda be this angry before, and now that she had finally snapped today, he could not help but feel frightened.

"What can I say babe? Maybe I’m not as empathetic as you?

I would never knowingly ignore my children’s feelings, however, I can’t draw inferences from art like this, like you.

I don’t understand what you want from me here, but I can assure you, I’m already doing the best I can."

Leo replied, as although he regretted the current situation, he absolutely refused to make any concessions here, as he firmly believed that the hour a day training that he had started to do was something absolutely necessary for the future of the Cult and the long term security of the family.

"No Leo.

You’re not doing the best you can for this family.

Maybe you’re doing the best you can do for yourself, and the Cult.

But not for this family.

Because the Leo I fell in love with, could do much more than this....."

Amanda said, as Leo involuntarily scoffed at her words.

"Amanda, do you realise how big of a target I have on my back here by being Cult Master?

Do you realise how big of a target our children have on their backs, just because they share my blood?

If I don’t continue to grow stronger, sooner or later there will come a foe that will take our kids away from us.

And I’m just working hard to ensure that such a future won’t come to pass."

Leo argued, as Amanda shook her head in disagreement.

"But what about today, Leo?

What about Mairon’s feelings today?

What about being present for them today?

Not just physically, but also emotionally?

When will you stop being a security guard and start being a father?"

She asked, as yet another tear slid down her cheek.

"With the way you are.

The children will surely grow up to detest you

Or grow up without feeling emotionally connected to you.

And I’m not going to have that.

I’m going to wait for a few more days Leo, for you to get your act together.

If you do, great.

If not, I’m going to leave Ixtal with Caleb and Mairon, and start a new life in some corner of the universe where you won’t have to worry about our safety and security anymore.

I’ll raise them alone.

Just the way Mama Elena raised you and Luke, and you can meet them again once they’re of age.

But no way in hell are you going to be a part of the life of my kids, with the way you are right now."

Amanda concluded before storming away, as she left Leo at a loss for words.