The necessity of the farm became more than just a means of survival; it was Arion's therapy. Every weed he pulled, every row he hoed, was a physical outlet for the resentment he felt toward Kyon. The demanding routine—tending to the soil, gathering the eggs from the few chickens he managed to acquire, carrying buckets of water—slowly rebuilt the muscle the dungeon had stripped away. His soldier's discipline merged with the primal needs of a parent. He adapted to functioning on minimal sleep, his senses heightened, constantly listening for the smallest sound from the forest that might signal danger.
Aiden, though a constant reminder of the past, was also the driving force for the future. Arion breastfed the boy, the biological connection forging an unbreakable, if complicated, bond. The milk continued to flow easily, a strange physiological abundance that seemed to compensate for the months of starvation. This was one thing Kyon could never control, never touch: the private, nurturing life Arion had built in his exile.
Arion dedicated his limited energy to two things: caring for Aiden and training. While the infant slept, Arion would perform slow, deliberate exercises, rebuilding his core strength around the soft, new curve of his settled abdomen. He used heavy stones from the creek bed as weights and the towering trees as markers for agility drills. He was meticulous, patient, transforming his body back into a weapon, but a weapon tempered by wisdom and experience. He learned the medicinal properties of the local herbs, using them to heal his own body and soothe Aiden's occasional colic.
He also began to study the politics of the royal house again. He relied on the small, discreet purchases he made in the village for news—old newspapers wrapped around his vegetables, or muttered gossip overheard at the general store. The reports were consistent: Prince Kyon was consolidating power. The alliance with the West was flourishing, secured by the supposed exposure of the 'traitor' Arion. Kyon was revered for his wisdom and loyalty, having proven he would sacrifice even his personal guard for the good of the kingdom. The talk was no longer about Kyon being a potential heir; it was about the logistics of his official coronation.
The months Arion spent in the forest were not months of peace; they were years of cold, calculated preparation. He taught himself to track, to live off the land, and to fight with the devastating effectiveness of a man who had nothing left to lose. He was no longer just the Dragon Slayer; he was a silent, resourceful force, hardened by betrayal and fueled by a love he had fought desperately not to feel.
He would wait. He would let Kyon build his empire, let the foundation rise, brick by arrogant brick. And then, Arion would return, carrying the undeniable truth of Kyon's secret with him, ready to bring the entire structure crashing down.
On a sunny afternoon Aiden start making a fuss and crying nonstop, arion in a desperate attempt try feeding him, aiden keep crying , arion sigh wearily, he carry Aiden and walk back and forth with him rubbing small circles on the child back but nothing work , the baby skin heat up.
" Aiden sweetheart do you may have a fever?" Arion whispered, before placing his cheek on the baby's cheek feeling it hotness and soft baby cheek .
Aiden grab arion face and finally try suckling on his cheek, his whimpering growling louder and needy.
Arion smiled softly and gently place the crying child near his chest and he immediately start suckling and whimpering, the baby breasted while looking up at arion with those same amber eyes.
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After a while Aiden falls asleep his skin still burning hot , he clutches his fingers around arion shirt tightly. When arion finally thought he could take a rest Some old couple knocked on his door right at that moment.
•knock,knock•
Arion look towards the door he get up as he does so Aiden start whimpering again, arion shush him and open the door.
" good afternoon young man" the old lady says smiling at him.
" good afternoon" arion replied feeling drained and overwhelmed ,meanwhile Aiden start whimpering then start crying hardly , his skin turn red .
" sorry I'm trying to calm him down since earlier" arion whispered .
"Oh my, he must have a fever then"the old lady says smiling.
" I gave him some fever medicine but it won't go down" arion look at the crying enfant on his arms .
" then maybe he must be uncomfortable with something or maybe you are stress" the old man says wearily.
" right, young man, the baby can feel it parent feeling sometimes, and if I'm not wrong you must be the new guy who sells all those vegetables and fruits that everyone talks about , so you are a single omega?" the old lady speak up .
Arion nerve almost snap " yeah that it, I'm new here" he force a smile , Aiden cry louder then before.
Arion start shattering about a way to calm Aiden down with the old couple and after some times they walk away with fresh vegetables in their bags, arion had win at least some more golden coins.
Then suddenly he raise Aiden in the air . " little one , don't cry , you know my life may be hard right now but you are by my side now and I'm sure everything will be alright, you may not understand me right now" arion smile with slight tears on the corner of his eyes.
Aiden stop crying ,he coo, a drop of tears fall right on arion face and slide down, Aiden reach out his tiny arms , arion smile and pull Aiden close to his face, Aiden grab his face in tiny hand and smile with tear fill eye and a burning skin .
Arion heart fluttered at their tiny baby smile ,he grab a tissue and wipe the baby running nose,
" that my boy, with all happy smile" arion chuckle and walk in his room.
" soon my big boy you'll be one years old and then I could start some of my trip I wanted to do , will you be with me , right baby boy?" arion smile
Aiden clap hand and babble happily, arion place him in the crib and goes back down to work in the kitchen.
As time does not matter and aren't long enough, night time come by quickly, arion did what he had to do , feed the baby, it done, wash him up and feed him his medicine ,done too, arion repeat counting on his finger the number of job who are done " washing up myself is done too!, well taking my suppressants are done too, I'll certainly have to buy more soon and a heat blocker and perhaps some tape to hide this mark on my neck!" He look himself in his room mirror and start drying his wet hair with a clean white towel " sigh my hair have grown out longer than usual I should think about cut this off before it becomes one of Aiden favorite toy to pull on" he marched towards his wardrobe small then the one he had but at least it keep clothes.
Arion pull out a black boxer and a white shirt and some black pants, he put them on and goes check on Aiden whose now a sleeping baby, one less trouble for now , arion goes on his bed and put off his room lights with a weary sigh he close his eyes sleeping.
The day have been hard but now at least he could rest his body , for now his body could rest , waiting for tomorrow ordeal to do once more.