Chapter 8. The New Life.

  As the two days spent in Limbo came to an end, Kael decided to return to reality. He quickly focused on his heart to make it go back to its original beating speed, he succeeded and the blinding light appeared again signalling he's going back to reality. As he woke up he felt sudden warmth by his side, when he opened his eye he saw Katrine laying beside him. She was still sleeping, he realised she was probably so scared that he passed out again she didn't want to leave his side. He clumsily pushed himself up to sit on the bed, this didn't cause him as much pain as moving his hand before. It meant his injuries were healing and he was regaining his strength. When he looked down he saw that the training in Limbo had effects in reality, his muscles were more defined and sharp. It seemed that even though he was just training in place between life and death, it had its effects in real life as well.

  He took a sigh of relief, today was the day the scarred warrior would intrude on his dream again and would fight him. Kael tried to stand up from the bed, his legs wobbled and he was clearly still weak. Even though he could move without issues in limbo since it was a world that technically didn't exist, it didn't mean he could move the same way in reality. As he wobbled his way to the door Katrine suddenly woke up and rushed to Kael wrapping her arm around his chest to support him. As she did so she said to him.

  -"You should be still resting, you know? And there's no need for you to go anywhere, your dad constantly changes your bandage's everyday. So where are you going?"

  Kael thought about it for a while, Katrine was right. He had no reason to go anywhere so he had to come up with an excuse. Then he quickly thought of one, with a weak and hoarse voice he said to her.

  -"I just got... Thirsty, I need some water..."

  Katrine hearing this quickly made Kael sit down on the bed, she did so carefully as to not overwork him. He still was in a physically fragile state. He was frustrated with his weak state, it was so annoying that every seemingly normal move caused him loads of pain. But he decided to endure it, he had something else to worry for today. Katrine returned a few moments later with a glass of water for Kael, he took it carefully and drank it down. He hasn't drunk much for the past 5 days and that single glass of water was extremely refreshing. He decided to lay down and rest for now while Katrine went to the living room. Kael, finally being alone, asked Tenebrae.

  -"Will it even work? The strategy you made...? I mean... The plan is stupid..."

  He was talking about a strategy Tenebrae came up with while he was training in the past two days in Limbo. This strategy seemed stupid to Kael, but Tenebrae was convinced it'd work, after all she came up with it. Tenebrae hearing Kael's question answered him.

  -'Don't worry kiddo, it'll work... Even if it's stupid and dangerous it'll work... Also try to train sometime in reality with "The Dual Cursed Swords of Darkness", after all you took them back then.'

  Kael, hearing her statement, looked over to the side where the swords were resting on his desk, when he was reborn in her darkness he summoned them from nearby shadows. But since then they've been constantly rejecting him as their wielder, when he tried to swing them, they'd burn his hands slightly. It means he truly needs to defeat the scarred warrior to gain the right to wield them, but he still wonders about the ownership... He didn't understand that part, since he wasn't sure about ownership of what or who. But he knew it was something that he already experienced or knew about but didn't know about the need for ownership of that. For now he decided to rest, he didn't want to train in Limbo today since he didn't wanna risk it. Slowing his heartbeat to near death state was still new to him and he didn't acquire full control over it, and if he lost control he'd either die or wake up.

  As he was resting time has passed in silence, he still was thinking about the plan Tenebrae provided him with. It was too stupid and dangerous to pull off, but since he'd fight in his dream anyways, he'd risk it. He already was killed twice in his dreams and knew the feeling of it, the pain and agony it caused even if it was just a dream. He also thought about going back to school soon when he felt better and regained some more strength, he was scared that nobody would recognise him due to missing left eye. As he thought about it he subconsciously touched the bandage covering his left eye, his body still didn't accept it was gone and he felt phantom pains from it. It was endurable, but still painful nevertheless. As noon was approaching Katrine walked into his room again, holding a bowl with steaming soup. Since Kael was still weak and his injuries were healing, he had to preserve as much strength as possible. Meaning he'd only eat liquid foods like foods, and he'd have to be spoon fed like a little child. Which annoyed him. But he decided not to argue as it was pointless, he knew they were doing everything in their power to help him. He was thankful for that but frustrated from the other side, his injuries were severe after all. He got shot back in the head losing his left eye, and while Tenebrae controlled his body to escape the mag-tech structure she got shot in his body multiple times as well.

  His father even thought about signing Kael up for rehabilitation but Kael refused arguing he could still move normally even though it caused him severe pain. As Katrine sat on the bed next to him with the bowl of soup she started to spoon feed him like a little baby, he couldn't argue because he wanted to preserve his strength. Katrine, seeing his grumpy face, started chuckling. It was funny for her that Kael, despite his severe injuries, still found strength and time to complain. When Kael realised Katrine was chuckling he raised an eyebrow while looking at her. When she saw this she chuckled slightly before explaining.

  -"It's funny, seeing you complain and pout like a child... I know you like when someone cares and worries about you, but you also think this is too much... Hahaha... ти милий..."

  Ukrainian once again, Kael was getting frustrated every time Katrine talked to him and threw in some Ukrainian to the mix. He never understood what she said in it, but he suspected it was some teasing or making fun of him. He decided to not press further and let himself be fed. As he finished eating he laid back down in bed, he was growing tired and his eyelids felt heavy. Since he got injured, he started sleeping earlier and for longer even though he didn't want to sleep like this his body forced him to. Katrine seeing this decided to stand near him as he was falling asleep, the last thing he heard before sleep took his embrace was.

  -"На добран?ч, моя любов..."

  He didn't understand any of it, but it was too late. He suddenly woke up in the same god damned plain of grass. He quickly rushed up the hill to the battlefield where he usually fought with the warrior. He passed his second body then the first, both were in the same state he was killed in. But now Kael was stronger, relying on technique and strategy rather than instinct. But he noticed that even in his dream, his left eye was still gone. But it didn't matter, the strategy for the scarred warrior was the same. He quickly picked up two swords from the ground and got into a stance, he tried sensing the warrior's position... Behind him, Kael quickly turned around using one sword to block the attack and the second one to strike from the left. The warrior was missing his left eye as well. Successfully, he blocked the attack and managed to nip at the warrior's side, drawing some blood. Tenebrae strategy worked, for now. Suddenly the warrior jumped away from Kael. Kael seeing this got into a defensive stance again, he was ready for another strike of the warrior. Warrior rushed forward again, Kael saw that he used more strength now so he had to focus on defence. Kael successfully blocked the dual wielding strike of the warrior. But suddenly "The Dual Cursed Swords of Darkness" that the warrior wielded set on pitch black flames. Kael tried to jump away, but his shirt set on fire. He thought none much of it and tried to pat the fire down, but it didn't work. The fire didn't extinguish, he felt sudden pain shoot through his side, his skin... His skin was burning, Kael dropped to the ground in agony. His body was set on fire not soon after, the pitch black flames burned with more pain than he ever experienced. Even though it was just a dream, the agony was real. Suddenly the warrior approached Kael and raised his swords high. And he said to him in a low voice.

  -"You blocked two strikes today, even though you lost your eye... You're stronger, I'll come back soon… Then we’ll see again if you’re worthy enough…"

  As he finished speaking he struck both swords into Kael, killing him. Kael suddenly woke up in his bed in cold sweat, even though it was just a dream it felt real. He swore he could feel his skin melting and falling off his body, exposing muscles and bones. It was unexplainable agony he suffered. When he woke up he decided to check on his own injuries, when he stood up he felt less pain than yesterday. When he unwrapped the bandages around his body he saw that most of his wounds miraculously healed, even though it was 6 days from being shot so severely, it still was too quick for them to heal. He also noticed he was slightly taller and his muscles more defined along with his hair growing longer. He looked completely different from what he looked like before, he also unwrapped the bandages around his left eye and put a medical eye patch over it instead. He tried to put on his school uniform but it was too tight, so he decided on some casual clothes. He decided to go to school today, he needed to catch up anyways and apply for a bigger size of his school uniform. When he walked out the house and closed the door. Walking to the school was rather quicker than usual since he got taller due to training in Limbo and his strength was also better.

  But the pain from his healed injuries was still there. When he finally entered the school he heard whispers from people around him calling him a supposed transfer student or some practitioner for a teacher. Some even wondered what hid behind his eye patch or what his name was. He also heard whispers from girls around calling him hot and handsome despite his eye patch and messy hair. When he entered the classroom he saw Yuuto and Adam standing near his empty desk, he thought they were probably missing him and decided to include him in one way or another. When he walked to his desk he immediately sat down in it, Yuuto and Adam seeing this quickly went quiet. They didn't recognise Kael at first, he was taller, his muscles more refined and his eye patch covering left eye. Yuuto, seeing this "strange man" sitting at his friend's desk, quickly stood up and stood in front of Kael.

  -"Oi, who the hell do you think you are? My friend sits here, he wasn't there for some time, but still it's his seat."

  Kael hearing his friend talk to him that way laughed, it was funny for him to not recognise him. Yuuto seeing the supposed stranger laugh he got fed up and slammed his hands on the desk ready to argue, Kael seeing this said to Yuuto.

  -"That's how you greet a friend after a long absence? Huh? It's me dumbass, Kael fucking Riggs..."

  Yuuto, hearing this, squinted his eyes, then he noticed. It was indeed Kael, but his physical changes altered him so much he didn't recognise him. Adam, seeing this, quickly stood forward examining Kael with a keen eye, he also recognised his friend. They haven't seen him for a week and he looks like a completely different man right after. Suddenly Artyom pushed both Adam and Yuuto away. Kael saw Artyom as his "enemy" not so long ago, but since Tenebrae gave him a second chance at life, he decided to change it.

  -"Hey Artyom, long time no see..."

  Kael stood up to shake his hand, Artyom was already regarded as a relatively tall person and Kael currently was as tall if not taller than him. Artyom was so shocked he stumbled backwards, if he didn't know it was Kael, he'd be extremely scared. He looked completely different, more refined muscles, taller, and the longer hair and eye patch over his left eye made him look way more mature than he was. Artyom didn't know what to do so he shook Karl's hand while slightly trembling. He didn't expect that the guy that tried to stand in the background and be "ordinary" had changed so much over the past week. All of them didn't know the reality of what has happened in the past week. Kael knew exactly what caused him to change so much but he decided to not say it. Suddenly Yuuto asked Kael.

  -"By the way, Riggs... What the hell happened to you? I mean you're like fucking tall and slightly jacked now... And your eye? What the hell happened!?"

  Kael, hearing his friend's question laughed slightly, he decided to colour the reality a bit. He knew explaining the break-in into mag-tech, Limbo, Tenebrae having him be "reborn", and everything else would overwhelm his friends.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  -"I just decided to work out at home, I bought some equipment and stuff... And I lost my eye because I had a small accident with a knife, don't worry..."

  What he said was hardly believable, but his friends along with Artyom had no choice but to believe it. It seemed out of the world that he changed so much in the past week but since they had no other explanation about it, they decided to believe him for now. They also saw that Kael was moving stiffly and was wincing when doing certain things, they thought it was probably from him overworking himself in his home gym. It was a poor excuse but only one he could currently go with. The bell signaling the lesson rang soon and everyone got in their seats, as the teacher walked in, he didn't recognise Kael at first.

  -"Uhhhhh you back there... Do I know you? Is it your first day or...? I don't see you wearing the school uniform..."

  Kael seeing this got shocked a bit from the teacher's reaction, he thought that at least the teacher would recognise him. As Kael was about to explain, Adam interrupted him.

  -"Teach... This is Kael, Kael Riggs... He's changed a bit as you can see..."

  The teacher, who quickly opened his computer to check the student list, he often heard that Kael was always in the back. Practically hiding between people, and him changing that way was something he never expected. As he confirmed it was indeed Kael comparing his old picture to his current looks he tried to calm down, which didn't work that well. He was constantly stealing stares at Kael as he was about to lunge at him, he just had a strange feeling about Kael. Like something was malicious and dangerous about him, but he couldn't pinpoint why. Suddenly, Kael heard Tenebrae speak up.

  -'It seems like humans have found a way to revive magical power in this world, your teacher seems to sense me. But he doesn't know what he senses exactly, he probably blames it on his instincts.'

  Kael, hearing that nodded his head, he also decided to change his attitude towards her as well. After all, he was "reborn in his darkness" and saved his own life. As Kael was writing notes he couldn't help but notice and hear whispers of people around him commenting or theorising about his new look, the most gossips he heard were around his eye patch. Only he knew that he had lost his eye, besides Katrine, Mark and his father. His friends and Artyom believed his excuse with the knife. He just couldn't focus on the lesson, the constant whispers, glances and talks about him drove him crazy. He wished he could go into his Limbo but it'd be too dangerous to do it in class, not because he didn't master it yet, but because he'd suddenly pass out which could spark panic. He just had to endure it. And Tenebrae wasn't helping as well, she was constantly humming or teasing Kael.

  -'Well Kael, when so many woman are talking about you it means one thing doesn't it? You're quite popular, you could use that popularity for some things you know?'

  When she said that something snapped in Kael and she gripped his pen so hard it snapped in half spilling ink all over his desk and his hand. He quickly noticed that stood up and excused himself to go to the bathroom and grab something to wipe the ink with along the way. Tenebrae on the other hand was laughing as a maniac when Kael snapped, in her mind it was incredibly hilarious that such a small teasing line made him snap.

  -'C'mon Kael, relax a bit. You're always so tense when it comes to such topics and act so up right when you can literally just do whatever the fuck you wa-'

  Before she could finish Kael clenched his fist. It was clear he was telling her to shut up but not openly, because nobody else besides him knew about Tenebrae's existence in this world. He upped his speed to go to the bathroom to wash his hand, as he finally arrived he quickly washed the ink from the hand. Suddenly he got flashbacks from the first time when the scarred warrior appeared in his dream, it was a similar situation. But now it's different, he knows the warrior will come every week only in his dreams to fight him. Suddenly he felt a dangerous presence nearby, he could swear it was a malicious one. One that oozed with the intent to kill, he tried to ask Tenebrae about it.

  -"Oi, Tenebrae you feel that too? That disgusting intent to kill, it makes me wanna puke... Have I become more sensitive to such stuff since we became one along other stuff?"

  Tenebrae hearing his question went silent for a while, as to trying to sense the thing Kael did at first as well. She then started laughing, Kael getting fed up with it decided to check it out for himself. When he got out of the bathroom he saw a strange girl outside, she was shorter than him and quite petite. The killing intent was clear from her, it made Kael want to puke on the spot, but he held it in. He also tensed his muscles as to defend himself if it had come down to this, although he wished not to. Since Tenebrae saved his life, she also gave him some of her original strength and access to few of her abilities. It wasn't much, but he knew that it was enough to kill a normal person. Suddenly the girl bowed to him, to show her submission. Kael was so shocked he had his jaw drop down. Why did she bow to him? Who is she? Why the hell is she oozing the intent to kill? Suddenly the girl spoke up.

  -"So you're the next Heir, huh... I see, I shall assist you. Heir born in darkness, my name is Mediae. And from today onwards, I'll be your Royal Guard... Shall I refer to you by 'Heir of Darkness'?"

  Kael hearing this got startled a bit. Royal guard? Heir born in shadows? Lady Tenebrae? Kael was asking himself so many questions about who this might be he wanted to just think about it slowly, he was still getting over the shock of being revived by Tenebrae, and now this girl Mediae was supposed to be his royal guard? Kael wanted to ask the girl so many questions but Tenebrae started explaining.

  -'This girl here was a part of my Royal Guard and my right hand when we were alive. I saved her from being the "fuel" for mag-tech and she swore her life to me... And she's goddamn good at killing too, besides she won't mind if you ask her to do lewd things with ya, "Ohhhh heir born in darkness" hahahah...'

  Kael hearing this had his face go scarlet, he remembered that beast-people were used as fuel by "elves" for mag-tech, and the girl before him didn't look like any of that kind. She looked like a normal human, Kael also quickly took a few breaths to calm down. It was all happening too fast for him to process everything. Suddenly Mediae pulled out an injector with calming medication, it was the same one he usually used. He got the intention crystal clear and shook his head, her seeing this nodded and put the injector back.

  -"Heir of Darkness, if you need anything I'll bring it to you. Even if you require my body I'll offer myself without question, Lady Tenebrae already filled me in."

  Kael hearing this banged his head on the wall, that perverted woman probably told many lies about him and his likes. Kael, finally calming down, said to her.

  -"First of all, stop with the heir of darkness stuff... Second of all, I don't want your body for myself... And third of all, just call me Kael or Riggs it's whatever, understood?"

  When he said that Mediae nodded her head letting him know she understood everything. Kael finally took a breath of relief. Suddenly Adam, Artyom and Yuuto appeared, it seemed as if Kael was gone for too long and the teacher sent them after him. The first one to speak up was Yuuto, his voice slightly venomous.

  -"I thought you dated Katrine, Riggs... Do you want to meet other girls behind her back? What's so wrong with Katrine, she has a nice personality, figure and looks along with other stu-."

  Before he could finish Adam smacked him over his head signaling him to shut up, Kael thanked him with the nod of his head. He straightened up and began trying to explain everything.

  -"This is Mediae, she just moved schools here and I'm not cheating on anyone for fucks sake. And besides Mediae is my-"

  Before he could finish Mediae intruded his explanation.

  -"I've been a young Master's Riggs maid since we were kid's, pleasure to meet you all. It seems you're all friends of the young master, so I shall treat you with respect."

  As she said so she bowed down politely, Kael thought about thanking her later. But also scolding her about calling him "Young Master". For now Adam, Yuuto and Artyom seemed to accept this little eye, the first one to speak up afterwards was Adam.

  -"Mediae right? Well I didn't know Riggs could afford a maid, especially one that serves since her childhood. Besides, are you free? You look cute."

  Mediae seeing this looked up to Kael and then looked Adam dead in the eye. She was annoyed because she offered her life to Tenebrae and her "heir", not some random teenager that tried to hit on her. When she reached a nearby shadow Kael quickly grabbed her shoulder and shook his head, signaling her to not do anything stupid. Mediae seeing this got flustered a bit but nodded her head and quickly answered Adam's question.

  -"I've already swore my life is to serve the young master and his family, I'm not interested in a romantic relationship. Besides you probably wouldn't be able to satisfy my needs, I reject your proposition for a 'date'."

  Her voice was cold and calm, it struck Adam like an arrow made of ice and he quickly shut up and looked aside. It was clear that such quick rejection hurt hims slightly. Kael thought about apologizing to Adam afterwards for his "maid's" behaviour. He was embarrassed about her act, but was thankful from the other side. He was embarrassed about her act, but was thankful from the other side. Kael took a deep breath to calm down, now he had a Royal Guard that acted as his maid too. This wasn't on his checklist in life, especially not the strange one after being revived by Tenebrae. He had questions to ask her especially about where she lived or where she suddenly came from, but that was for later. For now he had to deal with Artyom, Adam and Yuuto. He decided to quickly use a small diversion as an excuse to get out of there.

  -"Actually guy's, Mediae is here to pick me up because my dad called me in for something to discuss..."

  Following his words he nudged her with his shoulder, Mediae quickly getting the signal nodded her head. She understood that Kael needed to get out of here and discuss something with her so she decided to play along.

  -"Young Master is right, I was indeed called by his father to pick him up. Young Master, we'll get going now."

  As she said this she grabbed Kael's arm with surprising strength and started pulling him away, Kael not knowing what to do decided to wave good-bye to them. Yuuto, Artyom and Adam were left shocked by this sudden interaction. Kael's family had a maid? Since childhood? And she came here to pick him up? It all didn't make sense in their minds since it was the first time that something like this happened, besides Kael's family didn't seem the type to own any type of servant whether it be a butler or a maid. The first one to speak his opinion was Artyom.

  -"Well damn, Kael comes back, slightly jacked, taller and with a missing left eye. He suddenly snaps in the middle of the lesson for no reason, and now he has a maid to pick him up...? Strange as fuck if i do say so myself..."

  Adam and Yuuto agreed with Artyom, the Kael they knew wasn't him. He seemed like a completely different person from what they remembered, but nevertheless it was still their friend. Although he might have changed, he still was the same Kael Riggs. On the side of Kael, Mediae finally pulled Kael out of school and they both stood Infront of the school gates. Kael quickly took a deep breath and closed his eye, and then slowly exhaled while opening his eye and beginning to question Mediae.

  -"Okay I get that you and Tenebrae have fought and lived alongside each other thousands of years ago... But that's for another time, for now. Do you have anywhere to live, and how did you come here and find me?"

  Mediae hearing him quickly looked around as to make sure no one was around, after she made sure nobody was around she started dragging Kael further away from the school just for the extra safety. When they finally were a fair distance from the school she began answering his questions.

  -"Yes I get that my and Mistress's Tenebrae meeting and similar is for another time. As for your other questions, young master, I have nowhere to live. I was what seemed to be reincarnated in this world with my original body and memories, and I sensed the magical power of Mistress Tenebrae. When I was close she quickly explained the situation to me."

  Kael, hearing this nodded his head. In his mind it all made sense, she got reincarnated with her body and memories, she sensed that Tenebrae magical power was nearby and she was homeless. It all made sense... Suddenly Kael realised she was homeless. It hit him after a while and took him a longer while to process, he had no choice but to take her to his home. But how will he explain this situation to his dad? Kael quickly buried his face in his hands and closed his eye. He needed to think quickly, this cold emotionless girl was his servant and royal guard now. And foremost, she was homeless. Meaning Kael had no choice but to take her in, he wasn't happy with the idea as explaining everything to everyone was frustrating. Suddenly Tenebrae spoke to him.

  -'It seems like you'll have to reveal the truth about everything to your dad, kiddo, nowhere to hide it anymore. Besides, he'd probably have found out anyways, sooner or later.'

  She was right, his father had to find out sooner or later, and if he had the chance to break this it to his own father. He'd take up this responsibility. He had to, as the son of Xavier Riggs, had no other choice. He decided to start walking back home, Mediae picking up on it started following him. The walk was short to his house so it didn't take long for him to walk back there, as they arrived Kael opened the door. Nobody was home yet, he still had time to prepare for the inevitable. He made his way to his room to rest a bit while Mediae was following him, when he laid down in bed she stood over him. It unnerved him slightly but he decided to ignore it for now. He had to prepare for the inevitable, explaining everything to his father. He didn't know how to tackle it without a showcase since saying all that would make him sound crazy, suddenly Tenebrae gave him an idea.

  -'How about you summon me? I mean I'll be in my wolf form and all that, but in my opinion it's more than enough evidence that what you say is true. And if you wanna know how to summon me, just stab the "The Dual Cursed Swords of Darkness" into the ground and I'll come out of your shadow. M'kay?'

  It sounded simple enough and Kael decided to go through with her plan, it would be enough of a showcase to let his father know he wasn't crazy or delusional. He unconsciously touched his eye patch, he still had phantom pains in his missing left eye. He can't forget that night when he was shot in the back of the head which made him lose his eye, he just can't forget no matter how much he tries to. Kael decided to lay in his bed for longer while Mediae still stood over him seemingly keeping watch in case of everything. He didn't want to push her too much, even though she seemed extremely loyal to him. He was worried she might avoid the truth and answer questions just like Tenebrae did. So he decided to not try for the meanwhile, for now he had to wait for his dad to come back. He thought about how he should approach this, as to not startle his dad. Although he knew his dad would believe him regardless, he still needed to know for sure. Suddenly Mediae spoke up with an idea.

  -"Young Master, if your father will not accept your truth. I can do a showcase of myself, after all I served Mistress Tenebrae and I am more than capable of doing tricks to make people believe me."

  As she said so she reached into a nearby shadow. What she pulled out was a huge spear made of darkness that was easily bigger than her petite figure, Kael seeing this got startled a bit and nearly jumped off his bed. Even though he pulled out "The Dual Cursed Swords of Darkness" of the shadow himself beforehand, it was still shocking to him seeing someone else do it. Mediae decided to show off, slightly spinning the spear around as if it weighed nothing, as she did so she accidentally knocked over some things from his desk. Seeing this she quickly unsummoned the spear and knelt down to pick the stuff she knocked over, she did it automatically without any sense of anger or sadness. Like she didn't care and it was only her duty, it startled Kael a bit, but he didn't think much of it. She saw so many battlefields and death that she probably didn't care. It sounded simple enough and Kael decided to go through with her plan, it would be enough of a showcase to let his father know he wasn't crazy or delusional. He unconsciously touched his eye patch, he still had phantom pains in his missing left eye. He can't forget that night when he was shot in the back of the head which made him lose his eye, he just can't forget no matter how much he tries to. Kael decided to lay in his bed for longer while Mediae still stood over him seemingly keeping watch in case of everything. He didn't want to push her too much, even though she seemed extremely loyal to him. He was worried she might avoid the truth and answer questions just like Tenebrae did. So he decided to not try for the meanwhile, for now he had to wait for his dad to come back. He thought about how he should approach this, as to not startle his dad. Although he knew his dad would believe him regardless, he still needed to know for sure.