Chapter 477: The Hunter Family
As Serah stepped into the cabin, the warmth of the hearth embraced her like a gentle welcome. Billy, ever the composed host, turned toward Marcus with a small motion of his hand.
"Take the lady’s things to one of the rooms," he said calmly.
Marcus gave a lazy salute. "Aye, aye, old man."
Serah watched as Marcus carried her luggage down the hallway, his wolf, Loki, padding behind him like a silent guardian. Once he was out of sight, Billy gestured toward a cozy corner where a small table sat beside the fireplace.
"Please, sit. Make yourself comfortable."
Serah nodded politely and lowered herself into one of the soft cushioned chairs. Her gaze flicked briefly across the room—the polished oak furniture, the shelves lined with books and maps, and the soft crackle of the fire casting golden light across the walls.
"Tea?" Billy asked, his tone courteous yet warm as he held a small wooden tray with two cups of steaming brew.
"Yes, please," Serah replied, accepting the cup with both hands. The faint aroma of wild mint and forest herbs drifted upward, calming her senses.
Billy took the seat across from her, his own cup in hand. "So," he began, voice steady and laced with quiet humor, "how has my idiot of a son been treating you?"
Serah blinked, caught off guard by the question. She sipped her tea before answering softly, "Good. He’s been treating me... good." The uncertainty in her tone surprised even herself—though it was the truth, it still sounded strange aloud.
Billy’s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turning serious. "My dear, you don’t have to be polite for my sake. If Marcus has been a fool, say the word, and I’ll have him realigned properly."
Serah’s eyes widened, and she quickly waved her hands. "No, no! Please, believe me—he’s treated me well. Very well, in fact." A small, knowing smile curved her lips. "And even if he were being a jerk, I’d deal with him myself. You have nothing to worry about."
Billy chuckled, setting his cup down with a satisfied hum. "That’s wonderful to hear," he said, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Seems someone finally knows how to keep him in check."
As Billy took another slow sip of tea, Serah glanced at him quietly—and then, curiosity took hold. She exhaled softly and let her Mystsense awaken. The world seemed to shift in her perception; light dimmed, and the subtle hum of mystical energy filled her awareness.
Her gaze drifted toward Billy, and his core revealed itself—a calm indigo hue, glowing steady yet faintly dim at the edges. He was a Mid-Tier Seven-Star Mage, an impressive level by any standard... but something about his mystic core felt off. The indigo light was fading ever so slightly, like a flame that was slowly but stubbornly dying.
’That’s not normal,’ she thought, her brow creasing. ’His core seems to be fading, but a a subtle rate. I’d like to think it’s due to old age, however father’s growing older too, yet his mystic energy remains stable. This is... something else. Something eating away at him.’
Before she could ponder further, Billy began coughing—suddenly and violently.
"Billy!" Serah exclaimed, instantly rising from her seat. She rushed to his side, setting her cup aside as she knelt beside him. "Hey, are you okay?"
He tried to wave her off, but his coughs only worsened. Serah’s eyes darted around until they landed on a wooden barrel in the corner. Without hesitation, she ran to it, grabbed a clean cup, opened the lid, and thankfully found it filled with water. She filled the cup quickly and hurried back to him.
"Here—drink this."
Billy accepted it with trembling hands and took several gulps. The coughing gradually subsided, his breathing evening out again. He leaned back against the chair with a tired exhale. "Ah... thank you, my dear. Seems I owe my life to you and not that useless son of mine."
At that exact moment, Marcus emerged from the hallway, alarmed. "Old man, you good? I heard you hacking like a dying goat."
Billy looked up with mock offense. "I was fine—thanks to this lovely lady. Not you."
Serah’s cheeks warmed slightly, and she turned her gaze away.
Marcus blinked, feigning disbelief. "Wow, already playing favorites? She’s barely been here twenty minutes."
Billy gave him a flat look. "Favorites? She just saved my life, you fool. You, on the other hand, were too busy breathing air for free."
Marcus’s eye twitched, but he only smirked and walked away toward Loki, who was lounging near the fireplace. "Maybe if you didn’t chug tea like water, you wouldn’t be dying in front of guests," he muttered, kneeling to ruffle the wolf’s fur.
"Thank you for the wise advice," Billy said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Serah couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, the sound small but genuine. Watching the two of them bicker back and forth, she saw not tension—but familiarity, the kind born of years of shared silence and loud affection.
Yet as her laughter faded, a quiet thought crept in. Marcus had spoken of his father many times since she met him, yet never once had he mentioned a mother—or even a sibling. The way they lived, alone in these woods, surrounded only by peace and ghosts of the past...
’So it’s just the two of them,’ she realized, her gaze softening as she looked between them. ’He grew up like this—with only his father and the wilderness. Yet despite his psychotic ways, he is still far more gentle than he looks.’
Billy and Marcus continued their light argument, their voices filling the cabin like music. And though a small part of Serah found it sad that this small family was missing a piece, another part of her couldn’t help but admire the quiet bond between father and son—rough around the edges, yes, but undeniably real.
For a fleeting moment, the warmth of that bond wrapped around her too, like a reminder that even in a world torn apart by demons and violence, there could still be moments that felt like home.
"By the way, Serah," Billy said at last, once the playful war between father and son came to a close. His tone shifted from teasing to something more grounded—more deliberate. "There’s actually a reason I had Marcus bring you here. I wanted to talk to you about a few things. However..." he exhaled softly, leaning back in his chair as the firelight danced across his face, "I think that discussion can wait for another day."
Serah blinked, curiosity instantly flickering in her eyes. "Oh?" she said, setting her cup down carefully. "And what would that be about, if I may ask?"
Billy’s lips curled into a half-smile, the kind of look that carried both warmth and a touch of secrecy. "You’ll know soon enough," he said simply. "For now, you can make yourself comfortable. Think of this place as your home for the time being. I’ll come to you when the time’s right for that talk."
Serah tilted her head slightly, amused by his cryptic way of speaking. "Well," she said, her voice playful, "lucky for you, I’ve got plenty of time on my hands. But don’t keep me waiting too long, Billy. I might just die of curiosity before you even tell me."
Billy let out a hearty chuckle that filled the room like a warm breeze. "Ah, no need for dramatics, young lady," he said between laughs. "You won’t have to wait that long. I promise."
As the laughter faded, Serah couldn’t help but notice the faint glimmer of something thoughtful behind his eyes—as if there was far more to his words than he let on. Whatever it was Billy wanted to discuss, it clearly wasn’t something small. Yet for now, the old man had chosen to keep his secrets to himself.
Serah leaned back in her seat with a quiet sigh, deciding to let the matter rest. "Alright then," she murmured softly, her tone carrying both intrigue and calm acceptance. "I’ll hold you to that promise."
Billy smirked faintly. "Good," he said, taking another small sip of his tea before adding, "besides, you could use a bit of rest. The days ahead might prove... interesting."