Chapter 4: Snap Back to Reality

Liam stood to the side grumpily, allowing his wife to sooth his son's worries. Deep down though, he was engraving the image of the two embracing each other in his very soul as to never forget his reason for choosing the path his family and he himself now walked.

Belladonna sensing her husbands inner thoughts, backed away from embracing her son and smiled warmly at Liam.

She had delayed this 'sparring' match for as long as possible. Liam was adamant about having this training done a year ago for reasons only known by the couple, but Belladonna firmly rejected this notion and instead convinced her husband to postpone this particular training for at least another year. Choosing once again to not anger his wife, Liam conceded and only stuck to the basic training he'd been putting Marcus through already.

Growing tired of being ignored, Alicia tried to reinject herself into the family moment.

"Daddy can't I come with you this time too. It's funny watching Marcus. Hehehe"

Marcus's face scrunched up as he started scowling at his sister.

"Sorry sweetie, Daddy has some things he has to talk to Marcus about and you're not old enough just yet."

"But Daddy-"

Growing tired of the father-daughter duo's 'soap opera', Belladonna decided to intervene to save her husband the trouble of explaining himself and disciplining her spoiled daughter at the same time.

"That's enough Alicia. Your father and brother will be going to train alone. You are not to follow the two or ask your father later about being brought along. Do I make myself clear young lady."

Startled by her mother's firm tone, Alicia backed down but not before making eye contact with her father in hopes of gaining his support on this as well. Sadly, Liam was also being stared down with a cold glare from his wife. He knew trying to take his daughter's side here would lead to serious repercussions later on. Plus, happy wife equals happy life, or so the saying goes. With that in mind, Alicia knew that if even her father couldn't wriggle out of this situation then she stood no chance either.

"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry mommy."

Satisfied with her daughter's response Belladonna let the matter go and went back to her normal motherly persona from earlier.

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

This time Marcus didn't smirk or make any outward expressions for that matter, but in his head he was praising his mom to the heavens above for interfering in the matter. Gods knew only a woman like his mother could deal with the likes of this obnoxious father-daughter duo so quickly and efficiently.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to his son's thoughts, Liam decided to comfort his daughter and ease her worries like any other doting father would.

"Aww don't be sad sweetie. Daddy may not be able to take you along this time, but he'll be sure to bring back one of those flowers you love so much. How's that sound?"

Alicia switched gears almost too fast and her previous downtrodden expression was nowhere to be found.

"Really?! Can you bring back the purple ones with the little blue balls floating around them?"

Belladonna, who was listening to the duo, eyed her husband suspiciously after the mention of the flowers her daughter asked for. Liam noticed her gaze and started to sweat a little bit because he knew his wife wouldn't like her children anywhere near those flowers. Not because the flower itself was dangerous but because the guardian beast who protected it was quite.... troublesome to say the least.

"O-Of course sweetie. Anything for my 'little white-rocket'."

Almost as if to prove why she had been given that name. Little white orbs started to form all around Alicia's body as she flew like a rocket towards her father and into his arms. Liam was a little caught off guard by the speed his daughter was coming at him but readjusted himself accordingly to catch her.

Belladonna could only smirk at her husband's surprise because only she new just how much Alicia had improved through there own personal training. After all, her father may have spoiled her rotten but Belladonna made sure that her daughter realized the importance of training as well.

"Oof."

"Hehehe."

Liam and Alicia both laughed as he swung her around in his arms and they spun around in circles. At the same time, Marcus and his mother only rolled their eyes at the two. Noticing each others reaction though, he and his mother started giggling as well and together the family of four headed inside to get some rest and retire for the day.

***Back to the present***

*cough*

"Uggh..."

Marcus woke up to his head pounding like a drum in a steady never ending rhythm. His body also felt dull thumps of pain all over, mainly around his chest and back. He was dangling from the ceiling of the small room by what seemed to be makeshift cuffs his captor, Geralt, made while he was unconscious. They gripped both his wrist tightly enough to cause chaffing on both his wrists where the cold stone touched.

Overall, Marcus was in an absurd amount of pain and was only brought out of his daze by sudden footsteps approaching him.

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

"Hmm... you're still alive huh? Tough little bastard huh."

Geralt, one of Marcus's captors, casually inspected Marcus's body as if he was a looking at a used car he was deciding against purchasing. Looking at Marcus's body, even Geralt stoic expression couldn't help but flinch even if it was only a little bit.

Marcus's already emaciated body was full or burns and deep gashes. His chest had multiple lacerations from whatever weapon James started using once he fell unconscious. His back also shared the same lacerations which seemed to be from some type of whip-like-weapon. The blood from his cuts had all dried up and formed scabs to some extent. Those that didn't were forming grotesque looking blisters that looked like they would pop at any moment.

"Hmmm. looks like that sick-freak held back if only a little bit. He quite literally left you in a half dead state. Although, I don't think anyone's gonna want to buy a half dead slave and nurse it back to full health. That'd just be a waste of coins."

It was sickening at how unconcerned Geralt was about the youth's deteriorating health and more so concerned about filling his pockets. You'd think after seeing a fellow human being mutilated and left to hang by a pair of stone chains, one would feel something. However, it seemed Geralt was not included in that number and only sought out personal profit and gain, even at the cost of a thirteen year old's life.

"...W.....er.."

Marcus tried to utter something but it was too incomprehensible for Geralt to pick up, so he leaned in closer to see just what the kid was on about.

"Hmm..."

"Wa...ter"

"Water?"

Geralt looked at the kid hanging from the cuffs, he himself made, for a solid minute before turning and walking out the door.

Marcus didn't know where Geralt was going, nor did he care. The only thing on his mind right now was to get something to drink. Even throughout the horrible aching his dilapidated body was in, he still only had one thought on his mind, which was to quench this unbearable feeling of thirst.

Shortly after hanging there for a few minutes, Marcus's eye lids started to grow heavy and he fell unconscious again.

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