Chapter 67: Marriage talks

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Marriage talks

The morning training had barely begun.

The four disciples stood in the courtyard with their new weapons in hand, still getting accustomed to their weight and balance.

Tolu had the massive war hammer resting against his shoulder.

Akin held the great sword in both hands, occasionally adjusting his grip.

Temi had already started testing the movement of her twin short swords.

Ore stood a little farther away, turning the strange three-way staff between her fingers while her bow remained strapped across her back.

Folami stood before them.

"Before you start trying to kill each other with those things, there are a few principles you need to understand."

Temi raised an eyebrow.

"We weren’t going to kill anyone."

Folami looked at her two swords.

"That is exactly what someone holding two swords would say."

Temi rolled her eyes.

Folami smiled faintly.

He was about to continue when footsteps sounded from the entrance of the courtyard.

Folami glanced toward it.

An elderly man entered.

His clothes were simple but refined, and his presence carried a quiet weight that immediately made the atmosphere different.

Tolu recognized him.

He had seen him around the manor before.

Folami’s grandfather.

The old man stopped when he saw the group.

Tolu immediately straightened.

"Good morning, sir."

Akin, Temi, and Ore followed almost at once.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, sir."

The greetings came a little too quickly, almost as if they had been rehearsed.

Folami looked at them.

His grandfather looked at them too.

"You don’t have to be so nervous."

Tolu smiled awkwardly.

"We’re not nervous."

Folami raised an eyebrow.

Tolu immediately looked away.

His grandfather almost smiled.

Almost.

Then his eyes settled on Folami.

"Folami."

Folami lowered the hand he had been using to gesture toward Tolu.

"Grandfather."

"I need to speak with you."

There was something in the old man’s tone that made the others exchange glances.

Tolu immediately understood.

"We’ll continue training."

Folami looked at him.

"You heard him."

Tolu nodded.

"Yes."

The four of them quickly gathered their weapons.

They didn’t need to be told twice.

They knew better than to remain around when members of a powerful family were discussing private matters.

As they passed Folami’s grandfather, Tolu gave another small bow.

"Excuse us, sir."

The four disappeared into the manor.

The courtyard became quiet.

Folami looked at his grandfather.

"You came early."

"I did."

His grandfather remained standing.

Folami waited.

The old man seemed to be choosing his words.

Finally, he said,

"There is something you need to know."

Folami nodded.

"Go ahead."

"Your family has reached an agreement with the Oriyomi family."

Folami’s expression barely changed.

"The Oriyomi family?"

"Yes."

A short pause.

"The two families have been enemies for a long time."

"I know."

His grandfather looked at him.

"You know what happened to your father?"

Folami’s eyes remained calm.

"I know that he died during one of the conflicts between the two families."

"He wasn’t supposed to die."

The old man’s voice became quieter.

"He was caught in the crossfire."

Folami nodded once.

"I know."

His grandfather studied his face.

There was no anger there.

No surprise.

Perhaps that made the conversation harder.

"The Oriyomi family lost someone that day too."

Folami said nothing.

"Both families have spent years keeping their distance. But things have changed. We have businesses they need. They have resources and trade connections that would benefit us."

His grandfather paused.

"The opportunity is significant."

"I see."

"The agreement includes a marriage."

Folami finally looked directly at him.

"Mine?"

"Yours."

Folami was silent for a moment.

Then he gave a small nod.

"Who?"

"The second daughter of the Oriyomi family head."

Folami leaned slightly against the wooden railing beside him.

His grandfather continued.

"Her name is Omosewa."

He described her carefully.

"She is twenty two years old. She was raised within the main branch of the family and has received proper cultivation training since childhood. She is considered one of their more promising younger members."

Folami listened without interrupting.

"She is tall. Dark-skinned, with long black hair. She usually keeps it braided when training, though she wears it loose on formal occasions. She’s known to have a calm temperament."

His grandfather hesitated.

"She’s also considered very beautiful."

Folami’s mouth twitched faintly.

"That’s important information?"

"For a marriage, perhaps."

"I suppose."

His grandfather continued.

"She isn’t known for causing trouble. She has received an education in the family’s businesses as well as cultivation. From everything we’ve been told, she is respectable."

Folami nodded.

"And what exactly does this marriage accomplish?"

"Peace."

His grandfather looked toward the far wall.

"At least, that is what both families want people to see."

He continued.

"The Oriyomis want to put the old conflict behind them. We want the same. A marriage between the two families makes that intention difficult to question."

"And the business agreement?"

"That comes with it."

Folami nodded slowly.

"So everyone wins."

His grandfather looked at him.

"That is the intention."

Folami was quiet.

The old man took a breath.

"There is something else."

Folami waited.

"The elders believe this is also an opportunity for you."

"An opportunity?"

"Your position within the family can improve."

Folami gave a faint shrug.

"I’m not particularly interested in positions."

"I know."

His grandfather’s gaze lowered.

"That’s part of the problem."

Folami didn’t answer.

The old man continued.

"They believe marriage will give you stronger connections. The Oriyomi family is powerful. Their daughter will also have access to resources, contacts, and people that could benefit you."

Folami nodded.

"I understand."

His grandfather looked at him for a long moment.

Then his voice changed.

"And there is one more thing."

Folami waited.

"You haven’t done enough."

Folami’s expression remained almost unchanged.

His grandfather’s eyes tightened.

"To avenge your father’s death."

Silence.

The words hung between them.

"You were young when he died. No one expected you to do anything then."

Folami looked toward the ground.

"But you’re no longer a child."

His grandfather’s voice carried no accusation.

Only something heavier.

"You’ve become strong."

A pause.

"Strong enough that people have begun to notice you."

Folami didn’t respond.

"The family has protected you. Given you a place to live. Resources. An allowance."

"I know."

"And yet..."

His grandfather stopped.

Folami looked at him.

"You’ve never pursued the people responsible." Folami’s eyes remained calm.

"They weren’t responsible." His grandfather frowned slightly.

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

Folami looked toward the sky.

His voice remained strangely casual.

"I just never thought killing someone would bring Father back."

His grandfather’s lips parted slightly.

But nothing came out.

Folami continued.

"And if you’re talking about making the family stronger..."

He shrugged.

"I’m already doing what I can."

His grandfather looked at him for several seconds.

"You don’t hate them?"

"Who?"

"The Oriyomis."

Folami thought about it.

"No. What I feel for them is far from hate; indifference maybe, but not hate."

The answer came simply.

"They didn’t kill him intentionally."

His grandfather’s face tightened.

"They still survived."

"So did we."

Another silence.

Folami looked toward the doorway through which Tolu and the others had disappeared.

"Are we finished?"

His grandfather blinked.

"What?"

"I was in the middle of training them."

There was no irritation in his voice.

He simply sounded as though he had remembered something he needed to return to.

His grandfather stared at him.

"You just heard that you’re being married."

"Yes."

"And you’re not angry?"

Folami shrugged.

"I haven’t met her."

His grandfather almost laughed.

Almost.

"You really are your father’s son."

Folami smiled faintly.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

His grandfather looked away.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then the weight returned.

"I’ll leave you to think about it."

Folami nodded.

"I’ll think about it."

The old man turned to leave.

He took several steps before stopping.

His shoulders rose with a slow breath.

"Folami."

"Yes?"

The old man didn’t turn around.

"I’m sorry."

Folami said nothing.

His grandfather waited.

Perhaps he expected some reassurance.

Perhaps he wanted to hear that it wasn’t his fault.

But Folami didn’t give him that.

Not because he blamed him.

He simply didn’t know how to make a wound that old feel smaller with a few words.

His grandfather sighed.

"I suppose that’s all I can say."

He continued walking.

Folami watched him go.

Only when the old man disappeared through the doorway did Folami turn back toward the training yard.

He picked up the wooden practice sword lying nearby.

Then he looked toward the manor.

"Tolu!"

His voice carried across the building.

A moment later, Tolu’s head appeared from around the doorway.

"Yes?"

"Bring the others."

Tolu looked at him cautiously.

"Are we continuing?"

Folami nodded.

"Of course."

He tossed the practice sword from one hand to the other.

"We’ve wasted enough time."

Tolu stared at him for a second before nodding.

"Right."

He disappeared again.

Folami looked briefly toward the doorway his grandfather had used.

His expression remained calm.

But his fingers tightened slightly around the wooden sword.

Then he loosened them.

Whatever waited for him in the future, he would face in the future. For now he had to train his students.

And for now, that was enough.