“Zeke! You made it. Come, sit, sit.” Marvin waves Zeke and Quinn down. Zeke leads the charge through the rowdy pub, reaching Marvin, who, despite his old age, is one of the liveliest ones there.

  “Easy there, old timer. Keep moving like that, and you’ll end up breaking something.” Zeke snickers, grabbing hold of his friend.

  “Ahh, live a little. Not everyone gets to live past a hundred like you.” Marvin’s remark has Quinn dropping his jaw to the ground.

  “A hundred? Dad, how old are you?” Quinn asks. Zeke glances at Quinn, surprised by how long it has taken for his kids to ask.

  “Umm, I’m turning 348 this year.” Quinn’s eyes were ready to fall right out of their sockets. “How old did you think I was?”

  “I don’t know. About the same as Mom.” Quinn reasons.

  “Oh yeah, and how old is that?”

  “...”

  Quinn remains silent. He tries his best to recall any clues that could help him, but nothing is coming to mind. Am I really this clueless, or just a terrible son who can’t answer a fundamental question about the woman who birthed him, Quinn thinks.

  “She’s 33.” Zeke puts an end to Quinn's dismay.

  “Ah, don’t stress about it too much. There are a lot of kids who don’t pay much attention to the small details. All that matters is if their parents are loving people. Which I’m sure they are.” Marvin chimed in.

  “YES! I mean, yes, they are.”

  “...” Quinn is met with silence, with both Marvin and Zeke smiling at him.

  “ …Ahem, both Mom and Dad are great. They take care of my brother and me. They make sure we’re fed and warm, and if we’re ever in danger, they are the first to come running.” Quinn silences the room. His loving words put a smile on every guest there.

  It didn’t take long before the embarrassment hit Quinn like a tidal wave. His face turned red, and his fists curled.

  Then small chuckles echoed throughout the pub. Suddenly, someone raises their mug. “To Zeke, a loving father and hero of corruption.” Cheers erupt, and once again, the pub is back to its obnoxiously loud volume.

  It is then that a single word sticks in Quinn’s head. Of course, it all makes sense to him now. All those people were so friendly toward his family, especially Zeke, because he used to be someone special. “Dad was a hero of corruption?” Quinn asks, this time with sparkles in his eyes.

  “My god, Zeke. Do you even talk to your kids?” Marvin heckles, “Come here and listen.” Marvin takes Quinn to a relatively quiet corner and starts telling the tale of his heroic father. At the same time, others at the counter drag Zeke over for a few drinks.

  “Make it quick. We have another busy day tomorrow.” Zeke says over the heap of people hovering over him.

  “Alright, where should I start? Well, about a hundred years ago, a plague we now call the corruption appeared out of nowhere. Everyone was terrified, unsure of what would happen, just that it was going to kill us all if it wasn’t stopped. The corruption spread quickly, eventually reaching Amber City.

  “The corruption back then was more potent than it is today. It reshaped the land, and the monsters were popping out like crazy. When one wave of monsters died, another was created shortly after. These waves of battles left many knights and adventurers dead, fighting helplessly against them. My grandfather was one of the knights who survived thanks to your father.

  “When things began to look grim, it was your father who stepped in and defended our city alone. For days, no matter how exhausted or bloodied Zeke was, he always got back up to save as many people as he could. After the third day, four more people arrived, and with Zeke, they were unstoppable.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “That’s when they became known as the five brave heroes who fought together against corruption. There was Terissa, the bringer of life; Omar, a master of sealing rituals; Eric, the hero of Xeya; Rose, the demon lord of time; and finally, your father Zeke, the angel guardian of Amber City. These very different beings from all around fought fiercely for over two years, slowly pushing back the corruption bit by bit until they weakened it enough to seal it in the heart of the continent, Xeya. But that’s just the start. Listen closely…”

  ***

  Quinn spends the entire time glued to the table listening to Marvin and his stories. Time goes by, and the sun is getting ready to set.

  “We stayed longer than we should have. Thanks for the drinks, guys. Quinn, let’s go.” Zeke says his goodbyes and waits by the door for Quinn.

  “Looks like our time is up. Don’t be a stranger, kid. I got more stories if you ever wanna hear them.” Marvin says, then takes a big swig of his beer.

  “Sure thing. Thanks again, Marvin.” Quinn hops off the chair and hurries out with his father.

  “Damn, the sun’s setting, and we still have a long way to walk. Jennifer is going to be pissed.” Zeke sighs.

  Ignoring his father's distress, Quinn is still bubbly from moments earlier. “Why didn’t you tell me you were one of the heroes?” Quinn asks.

  “It was a long time ago. I’m no longer a ‘hero’; besides, they’re not all great stories. Some of which I wish I could forget. Those times were unpleasant to say the least. I saw many brave people lose their lives to corruption. I was just one of the lucky ones.” Zeke replies with a soft smile.

  “Even still, I think it’s incredible. I can’t believe you saved the world and knew the other heroes. Also, that you're so old, wait, does that mean Sam and I are going to live that long too? Does Mom know just…” Quinn is cut off by Zeke placing his hand over Quinn’s mouth.

  “Alright, slow down. As you know, I gave up my powers to be with your mother. Since before you were born, I started to age and have become much weaker. So whatever traces of my power that you kids may have inherited will also fade. We are, for the most part, a normal family. And I for one am most grateful for that.” Zeke says after removing his hand from Quinn's mouth and moves it to his head, ruffling his son’s hair. Although he grunts about it, Quinn still accepts the warm gesture.

  The two make their way through the city, reaching the gate and Marvin's post, where a different man now stands. He was young and stiff, clearly new. He meticulously checks everyone’s carriage and reason for entering or leaving the city.

  Quinn and Zeke’s process was pretty quick; all they had was a different quest that Zeke picked up during Quinn’s report. The young guard nods at them and lets them pass.

  “What’s this next quest about?” Quinn asks after waiting for quite a while, leaving the city gate in the distance.

  “Eager are we?” Zeke replies. “It’s a relatively simple scouting mission. We will have to survey the marked area for any signs of corruption or leaks and report back so a priest can purify it.”

  “That’s it? Ugh, how am I supposed to gain experience if all we are taking are easy quests?” Quinn lets out a huff and folds his arms in frustration.

  “I understand it may sound boring to you, but these quests are just as important. If corruption rifts are left alone, they will continue to grow and quickly get out of hand, possibly killing an unsuspecting citizen. It’s our job to protect everyone in the city.” Zeke says proudly.

  “Wow, what a very ‘hero’ like thing to say, Dad. I thought you said you were done with the whole hero thing.” Quinn smirks at Zeke, who returns the look with one of amusement.

  “Old habits die hard. Either way, just because I no longer hold the title, it does not mean my responsibilities have changed. I’m sure you’ll understand once you find something worth protecting.”

  “What do you mean? I already have Mom, Sam, and eventually you, whom I will have to protect.”

  “Yes, of course, however, that is not the same thing. Sure, you will want to fight for the family you were given, but eventually you will find a different family. One that you made yourself. Once you have that, not even hell itself will be able to get in the way of your responsibility towards them.” Zeke clarifies.

  “Sounds complicated. I think I’ll just stick to fighting corruption for now.” Quinn says, scratching his head.

  “Haha, yeah, you do that. Hey Quinn…” Zeke is interrupted by an immense pressure that shakes his core.

  From high above, three beings fly past the two. Quinn catches a quick glimpse of them before they disappear, then reappear on the ground right in front of him a second later.

  “Dad? What’s going on? Who are these guys?” Quinn asks. They all bear a slight resemblance to Zeke, with the same hair and eyes. But something is different. Something besides their looks. It is as if their aura is different, powerful. Just by standing there, holding their spears, they radiate strength that far surpasses Zeke's and Quinn's.

  “Get behind me,” Zeke instructs Quinn, shielding him from the immediate threat that stands before them.

  I’ve never seen him like this. Dad was always calm, even in the face of grade-C corruption. He would run straight into the fray, but this time he’s stepping back. Quinn thinks, shaken by the situation.

  “Viktor,” Zeke says through his teeth.

  “Long time no see, Zeke. We need to talk.” Viktor proclaims.