“It’s more than just my mother. I aim to protect all that are a part of my family”, he corrected but then nodded at Episcia, “But you are right; my mother does have weaknesses, and I think the greatest of them is her children. That’s another reason why I want to be strong, so that she doesn’t have to worry as much. I don’t need coddling, despite what many people may think of me.” It wasn’t hard to imagine that people thought that he was a pampered prince that didn’t do anything, but he was so much more than that.
“It doesn’t matter how big one’s family is. Family is family, there’s all that is to it. You have a noble reason regardless, Episcia.” The apple was finished before long and he tossed the core aside like the others. “Well, you definitely aren’t like the other women here. From what I understand, the females in my race mature around our age and before long start having children and such. My older sister is one of the exceptions to that rule, along with a few others I am aware of.” He was in agreement with her on not wanting to start a family now, even with his sister’s engagement having been announced and one of his cousins recently having twin babies herself. Lucian was in no rush, plus he had goals that could be compromised if he did.
“Maybe you will get lucky. For mother, well there was no choice really. She had to raise many of us without the fathers involved. Some were only around for a little bit before disappearing and others had perished. Nerezza and me were lucky that ours was not only still alive, but wanted to be involved, and Rohan has his father. I think there’s a reason why there’s typically two parents for a child, and they learn different things from each. Don’t get me wrong, my mother did right raising all of us, but there are some things that can only be gained from a father, just like other things can only be from a mother.” He ceased talking about, not sure how she would respond to it. After learning what happened to her mother…he felt guilty about it despite not having played a hand in her death.
“I apologize if I was disrespectful, I wasn’t trying to be, honestly.” Glancing at the charms, he reached out and felt one of them. “They are well made. Melina did an excellent job.” Speaking of which, Lucian sighed a little before relinquishing the charm. “Honestly I know that she is a good woman and she is good for my father to be involved with. He is much happier with her from what I’ve seen. I am glad for the two of them, even if he won’t be around as much. I doubt that he will be absent from our lives completely. He wasn’t the same person he was back in the past nor does he have to worry about his clan possibly hunting us for what we are.”
“I think you are selling yourself short- you seem to have people that care about you as well. The knights, for one thing. My mother and Melina surely do as well, and even your father, though he has his own way of showing it, I suppose.” He retrieved his sword and tapped at her feet with the blunt side. “Well, if you want to be a knight so badly, you are slacking off. Could have been practicing instead of lecturing.” A faint smirk came onto his face as he tried to trip her off with the sword. “Gotta keep yourself focused and balanced. If not, then you will surely be doomed.” Lucian went to try another attempt of throwing her off her game, this time determined to actually make her fall over.
