“Um… thanks for what you said earlier,” Ami says with a small, cheerful smile.

  At first, Gadeon doesn’t register it. Then it clicks — the moment Ami almost bit Gaedric, and Gadeon snapped him out of it.

  Gadeon turns his head away, brushing off the gratitude, his face unreadable.

  “A man should never take the easy way out,” he says flatly. “That’s all.”

  Then, after a pause, he adds,

  “And besides… I don’t want Gaedric having any excuses for why he won. It pisses me off when he wears that stupid victory smile — especially when he knows he’s fighting kids.”

  Ami lets out a soft giggle — but it fades quickly, replaced by hesitation.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking…”

  That alone makes Gadeon’s eyes flick back to him.

  “…Why do you hate your dad so much?”

  The question hits harder than expected.

  Gadeon takes a step back instinctively, shoulders tensing. Confusion flashes across his face — not anger yet, but something close to it. His mouth opens, then closes. He stutters for half a second before forcing words out.

  “Hate him?” he snaps. “I don’t have time to hate another man. I focus on myself. That’s it. Myself only.”

  The response throws Ami off completely.

  “Oh… I—” he starts, then stops, unsure how to follow that.

  An awkward silence settles between them.

  Ami hesitates, then speaks up, his voice careful.

  “You’re blessed to have a dad like Gaedric,” he says. “When you talk to him… could you at least do it with some love?”

  The word lands badly.

  Gadeon’s face twists immediately, like he’s just tasted something rotten.

  “Love?” he scoffs. “Where the hell did that come from? God, you’re making me cringe.”

  Without waiting for a response, he turns and walks away.

  Gaedric steps beside Ami, resting a hand gently on his head as they both watch Gadeon’s back disappear.

  “Just bear with him,” Gaedric says quietly. “Someone like him will need a strong friend. Someone persistent enough to stay.”

  Ami frowns.

  “He’s so rude. He’s nothing like you.”

  Gaedric doesn’t respond right away. His gaze lingers in the distance.

  “Yeah…” he murmurs. Then, after a pause, “He’s more like his mother.”

  Ami blinks.

  “That’s probably why he listens to her,” Gaedric continues. “She’s the only one who can really get through to him.”

  Ami freezes.

  “Wait—he listens to his mother?” He brings a hand to his chin, confusion settling in. “So… he has a good relationship with her?”

  “I wouldn’t say good,” Gaedric replies. “But he’s never talked back to her. Never challenged her. When she speaks, he listens.”

  Ami looks down at the ground, troubled.

  “Then… what was that earlier about?”

  Gaedric tilts his head. “Earlier?”

  Ami doesn’t answer immediately.

  I swear I heard him muttering about his mum betraying him, Ami thinks.

  There was so much hatred. So much pain. There’s no way I imagined it.

  “You alright there, Ami?” Gaedric asks.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Ami looks up slowly.

  “…Who’s Jason?”

  Gaedric blinks. “Jason?”

  “I don’t know anyone by that name,” he says honestly. “Why?”

  “That’s what your son called himself during our fight.”

  On his way to the classroom, Gadeon sank deep into thought, replaying everything that had happened so far.

  Flesh and spirit…

  The words echoed in his mind, lingering longer than he liked.

  It kinda relates to things back in my old life. What those religious people preach? Christianity? Yeah, that’s it. God, they were annoying…

  But at the same time, it was always the things they said that made me feel something… flesh and spirit.

  Apparently, to them, we’re not living in total freedom. We’re slaves to our flesh. Anything I do isn’t really because I want to do it — it’s my flesh acting. But it feels like my own choice, so it’s like I’m living a life of self-deceit… at least, that’s probably how they’d explain it. And then the spirit would want the opposite.

  At first, I thought it was total bullshit…

  But there were things I used to think about.

  Like, if I masturbated — the pleasure in the moment was nice, but afterward you’d feel like a low-life. Which made no sense. And even knowing exactly how you’d feel afterward, you’d still do it again anyway.

  Or telling yourself you’re going to stick to a diet and eat healthy — but the moment you fold and eat a chocolate bar, the guilt creeps in, even though the chocolate tasted good.

  These are choices we make knowing they won’t help us. Hell, we know they’re not good for our health — yet we still do them for the sake of pleasure. Almost like, at times, we don’t really have control over our cravings.

  So eventually I started thinking… maybe I don’t have as much control as I thought. And that’s where discipline and gym life came in.

  I had to beat my body into shape. Show it who’s boss. There were days I didn’t want to go gym — but maybe that resistance wasn’t actually me. Because I knew the benefits of going. So that reluctance must’ve been the flesh… and I guess the spirit was me.

  I don’t know. It’s kind of weird how it all lines up.

  But how does Gaedric know these things?

  …

  A sudden pause cuts through his thoughts — and then he continues.

  In this life, I’m known as Gadeon… but I still see myself as Jason.

  Sometimes I still think this is a dream. Like none of this is real. I mean, I’m breathing underwater — that still doesn’t make sense — even though I’ve been in this world for ten years now, beefing with little kids…

  As soon as that thought crosses his mind, he remembers the moment he fought Ami.

  The rage.

  Remembering his mum from his past life.

  I shouldn’t have gotten that emotional… especially against a ten-year-old.

  That’s pathetic of you, Jason.

  In my old life, that would’ve gotten me arrested.

  But honestly… why did I even think about that moment? It just came out of nowhere.

  I even forgot that it happened… I think?

  If I forgot about it, that means I got over it.

  But if I haven’t… then does that mean it’s still getting to me?

  No. No, no, no. It shouldn’t. I’ve definitely gotten over it. I brushed it off. I’m too mature to dwell on that kind of thing…

  He tells himself — but still doubts it.

  Then his thoughts drift back to what Gaedric and Ami said about insecurities.

  About how no one exists without them.

  That still doesn’t make sense.

  I don’t have any insecurities…

  Gadeon thinks back to when he was Jason — younger — watching videos and listening to podcasts of older men in suits. Men who took care of their bodies. Built. Handsome. Rich.

  Alright then.

  Let’s reflect properly.

  Let’s prove I don’t have any insecurities — right here, right now.

  He reaches the classroom and slides the door open.

  Every head turns.

  Students. The teacher.

  Gadeon doesn’t notice. His hands are still in his pockets, his thoughts elsewhere.

  “Oh! Gadeon, you’re here now.”

  “Yeah,” he replies automatically, barely paying attention.

  “Alright, take your seat. And just a reminder — you’ve got detention after school. Let that be a lesson. No more fighting, okay?”

  Gadeon grumbles under his breath. “Yeah.”

  Being told you’ve got detention is so embarrassing…

  Especially when I’m actually a grown man.

  As Gadeon makes his way to his seat, the volume of chatter swells across the classroom.

  Sniggers. Whispers. Mocking laughter.

  Some students joke about how he got beaten by Ami.

  Others laugh about how angry he looked — how embarrassing it was.

  A few call him cringe.

  Some insult him outright, saying he looks down on everyone.

  And most of all, they mock the same thing over and over again.

  He can’t flex.

  He can’t use Chi-Lungs.

  Weak.

  Don’t let these ten-year-old kids annoy you, Jason. They’re just kids.

  Kids don’t know what they’re saying — or what they’re doing. Their brains aren’t even fully developed yet. Retaliating wouldn’t make sense.

  He repeats it to himself, forcing calm.

  Gadeon reaches his seat and sits down.

  Okay… where was I? he thinks.

  Yeah.

  Trying to prove I’ve got no insecurities — and that what Gaedric said was nonsense.

  Alright. Let’s break it down.

  The three things men are insecure about are money, looks, and women.

  Money?

  I was rich. End of.

  Looks?

  Guys were always asking how I kept my body in shape. Discipline. Vigilance. I had abs people thought I got through plastic surgery — that’s how good they looked.

  And women?

  Heh.

  When it came to women… let’s just say my record of rejection was non-existent. Slept with all types. Experienced all types.

  Screw this ten-year-old body!

  The thought explodes in his head as he slams his fists onto the desk.

  The sudden noise draws attention.

  There are good-looking teachers here too… but this body holds me back!

  “Gadeon!”

  His teacher’s voice snaps him out of it. He flinches.

  “What did I just say?” the teacher asks, arms crossed.

  “Sorry,” Gadeon replies smoothly. “I was reflecting on my behaviour from earlier. I guess I was disappointed in myself and… let a bit of venting slip.”

  The teacher’s expression softens instantly.

  “Ah, no worries. Don’t beat yourself up about it. We all make mistakes — what matters is learning from them.”

  “Yeah… I guess so,” Gadeon says.

  “Well,” the teacher continues, “I was just wrapping up our discussion on the Battle Royale.”

  “Battle Royale?” Gadeon repeats.

  Oh yeah… that’s coming up soon, isn’t it?