Five Little Sacrifices

Chapter 32

"I see... I want to read them too. I want to learn how to read", Felix smiled.

"Are you sure? You're still young", Freed said amused and finally he linked the runes together, hoisting up barriers that covered the whole battle arena.

"I'm almost five! Did you forget?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're right, you're almost a grown up man", Freed chuckled. "You're almost too big to carry around anymore."

"I'm not that old yet", Felix assured quickly. "Will you teach me how to read?" he smiled.

"Of course if you want to", Freed promised. "And if Chester and Vellanja want to learn as well, I can teach you all at the same time. First we have to learn all the alphabet."

"I'm sure they want to learn too", Felix smiled. "Can we learn how to read these runes?"

"No, these are different than the normal writing. This is a language no one uses anymore normally because it's so old."

"How can you then use it?"

"Because I've learned how to use it. You can learn it too after you've learned to read the normal alphabet. There are many kinds of languages around the world, some of them are languages that are no longer written or spoken. Sometimes you don't even use words to write but pictures."

"Wow! You can write with pictures?"

"That's right. They are hieroglyphs and it's called a logographic writing system."

"I don't really understand but I want to learn that!"

"One thing at a time", Freed chuckled as they stepped towards Laxus and Makarov.

"Is everything ready?" Laxus asked turning towards them.

"Yes, barriers are up and no one can enter or leave without permission", Freed nodded and he let Felix down. "Now there won't be any accidents."

"Good. I don't remember when the last time we sparred here at the guild was", Laxus said looking around on the big area. "We usually train in one of our regular places outside Magnolia."

"Well, this is not a real battle anyway", Makarov chuckled. "This is just a little show, but please make it enjoyable. There are many people here who have never seen you two fighting against each other."

"What's so amazing about that?"

"It just is, trust me", Makarov laughed. "They are going to watch this battle closely, even if they know you're not going against each other with full power."

"Who said anything about not using full power?" Freed smiled and it surprised the old man.

"We just don't fight until one of us can't continue, right? But we are not gonna do just some little dancing around", Laxus smirked.

"Dad! Are you really gonna hurt mama?" Felix asked and he was seriously worried.

"What? No, we're not going that far, I promise", Laxus smiled ruffling Felix's hair. "And you know your mama is strong, I have to be careful he won't hurt me."

"That's okay", Felix nodded.

"You brat..."

"Alright so let's start this so everyone can start eating and drinking", Freed said amused. "Felix, go with your great-grandfather."

"Okay", Felix said, grabbing Makarov's hand as they walked over to the crowd.

Freed smiled looking at the others waiting. He turned his head and looked at his husband, silently chuckling when thinking about him that way. Laxus really was his husband now. It wasn't just a dream anymore, a wish he secretly had for so long... This was reality.