Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Alex shook his head. ”I initially thought it was meant to veil our origins, but I doubt that now. From what I’ve read of our forebears—and from what I’ve seen of our family today—we’re far too proud to hide our roots in such a way.

”We simply don’t speak of it to those unworthy of knowing, rather than pretending it’s something else.

”It just isn’t in our nature to deny our nature. The world may call us mad, but we’re proud of our madness. So the answer must be something else—something I haven’t quite figured out yet.”

”You’re correct. We’re far too proud to deny our nature,” Esmond nodded. ”The Furor Bloodline drives its inheritors to the very extremes of emotion—but also with a kind of potent clarity. Put bluntly, it makes us indulgent in our feelings. But viewed another way, it makes us very true to ourselves.”

Alex listened quietly, deep in thought.

’Indeed... Calm Madness is a state that pushes its user toward a kind of irrationality. Yet within that irrationality lies clarity. The two opposites blend together, allowing one to act as needed—rationality or consequences be damned.’

’It truly pushes the user to be faithful to their convictions... to be true to themselves, even when reason, laws, or the social constructs that govern behaviour say otherwise.’

Esmond continued, ”In every generation, our family has always been led by those who bear the Furor Bloodline. And those people would never allow the family emblem to remain what it is if the reason behind it was merely to hide our origin—or our nature.”

He paused, then gave a small, knowing smile. ”But you know, Alex... even though that’s not the reason, none of us—except our progenitor who first chose it—actually knows the truth behind the Lion emblem.”

”Really?” Alex blinked, genuinely surprised.

”We all just assume,” Esmond said with a light laugh. ”Each of us invents our own reason. But thanks to you, I’ve finally found mine.”

He turned toward the morning sun cresting over the horizon, a faint glimmer softening his stern face. ”It came to me when you told the story of the Tiger and the Fox.”

Then, meeting Alex’s gaze squarely, Esmond said, ”You’ve got it wrong. Your father isn’t a tiger, and you’re no fox. Both of you—and every single member of our bloodline—are lions.”

The middle-aged man’s eyes held Alex’s firmly, making sure every word struck deep.

”You are not a fox who needs to borrow the strength of a tiger. You are a lion—a cub, perhaps, but still a lion nonetheless. Just like your father.

”You’re Fury, just as he is Fury. And names carry power. Our family name, no matter who bears it, carries that same power—just as a lion’s prestige remains unquestionable, whether it’s a cub or a full-grown beast.

”Every Fury—each and every one of us—is a lion. We all seek to carve out a throne for ourselves in this world. That’s why we rebel. We rebel against anything that would make us mediocre... even family if we must.

”Yet despite our infighting, our rivalry—there is one thing we all protect with every fibre of our being: the Fury Pride.

”Pride—whether it’s our nature or family—we’ll always defend it. Especially when the hyenas beyond our lands begin to circle.”

Esmond paused, his expression softening into a faint, reminiscent smile.

”Your father, for all his strength and flaws... could have chosen to grow alone. He might have already reached the rank of Marquis—or even Margrave—by now. But he didn’t. Instead, he returned to Fury lands and ushered it into a golden age.”

Esmond’s gaze grew firm. ”That’s because he carries the heart of a Fury... the heart of a lion. And that—” he placed a hand over his own chest, ”—is his Pride.”

His eyes settled on Alex once more.

”You must be wondering why I’m telling you this,” he said, laying a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ”It’s because you’re going places, kid. I can see it in your eyes. So listen well—never forget what matters most: your Pride.

”You don’t have to be like your father, bearing the weight of the entire House upon your shoulders. In truth, I believe you’re different from him, and so is the path you’ll walk. But no matter how high you climb, never forget to care for and raise those around you. They are your Pride.”

He clenched his fist lightly against Alex’s chest.

”They are the source of your lion’s heart... your Fury heart.”

Alex met his uncle’s gaze silently, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

’I guess you’re quite the scribe, huh,’ he mused.