The giant teenager’s legs teetered as he attempted to rise, his body was about to fall back when a hand extended beneath his back. A gentle push was all he needed and Max gave it.

John Prada, the Mind Flayer, quietly gazed upon the duo. He admired Thane and was happy that his forlorn nephew now had capable company.

John took the lead and strode outside the door. Thane finally stood on crutches, Max calmly walked behind, ready to catch the uncatchable if needed.

Thane’s room was on the very ground floor, his eyes caught a familiar figure, Hawk.

Hawk wore black shorts, similar to the ones Topda wore but with a different tone to them. The shorts looked stretchable and lightweight. They featured side slits to ensure maximum mobility, optimal for kicks.

He was stretching his body, his head touched his knees. A level of flexibility that Thane would never even dream of reaching.

Hawk caught a glimpse of the trio, he straightened his posture. Only then were the words written on the shorts espied. Diamond Head, written in bold black.

The mask he wore at Ildiem Zemonar’s party was still intact on his head, as if he never took it off.

"How have you been, Master Thane?" Hawk said, admiration poured out of his eyes.

"Messed up," Thane replied with a gentle smile.

John narrowed his eyes. "Is that all?"

"Well..." Thane jerked his shoulders. "Overjoyed, I guess. I don’t know."

Hawk gave a warm grin and looked at Max. "Master, I waited for Master Thane to wake up."

"For what?" Max inquired.

"To tell you the real story," Hawk answered.

Max took a gander at him, he had been avoiding Hawk since yesterday. Hawk noticed the sudden change but kept his lips sealed until today.

"There is nothing to talk about, Diamond Head," Max replied. He didn’t call him Hawk.

Hawk felt a lump in his throat, he tried to belch out the words but failed miserably.

John intervened and spoke on his behalf. "Max, listen to what he has to say. Be the judge afterwards."

Max always considered Hawk a family member, but learning that there was something about Hawk he wasn’t told shattered his trust.

Max still had mixed feelings when his friend hit his leg with a crutch. "Where did that geniusness of yours go, is that how you’ll raise an army? Hear his side, dumbass."

Max sighed, focusing on Hawk.

Hawk gathered his courage and uttered. "I am a misbegotten person, my father was never revealed by my mother."

The atmosphere turned grim, Max’s eyes widened. He recalled Vidu calling Hawk’s mother a whore, his gaze softened.

Hawk continued. "I was born and raised in the street of brothels, despite being a lady of pleasure, she raised me like a prince.

She always told me I am special, I have special blood running in my veins and I should never accept my fate.

She smiled when visited and wept when left alone, she cursed her existence. The only time I saw joy on her face was when she held me in her arms."

Hawk smiled subconsciously, remembering the bright face of his mother. Beautiful, smiling and talkative as if she had all the wonders of the continent to share.

Tears dropped from Hawk’s eyes, his smile curled upward but the man of diamond controlled himself.

All strong men shed their armor and become weak as children when they hug their mother. Hawk had no mother to hug, but he had memories.

Hawk sniffed, he took off the mask and wiped off the tears.

"So, I decided to give her a good life. I had no father to go back to. I stepped into the world of crime.

My mother’s teachings forced me to never stoop low. Pimps and thieves are the filth of this world. My mamma’s words."

Another burst of tears abruptly appeared as he said mamma.

He took a deep cold breath, pausing for a moment to get a hold of himself before continuing.

"So, the only option remaining was fighting. I entered the illegal fighting rings of simpletons arranged by gang leaders.

One day, I heard about a new organisation that paid handsomely, Blessed Knuckles.

I joined, my career moved fast. I was 15 when I entered, for 3 years I fought and successfully took my mother out of the brothel and moved to another town.

I was content, my mother now could walk with pride. When I turned 18, I received the blessing during one of my fights.

For any simpleton, it’s a day to celebrate. But for me, it became the day of mourning.

That day, when I was away, someone barged into my house and killed my mother."

Hawk stopped talking, allowing the weight of the words to sink in.

"Revenge clouded my mind, in that chaos, the devil came to me, Morris." Hawk’s eyes turned cold at that name, when he said it, wraith could be felt.

"He adopted me as his third youngest son and promised me to find the murderers, time passed.

I won matches and became a symbol of fighting, alongside Vidu the eldest and Teo the second.

The fame and riches hazed my revenge until I met Master Antonio."

Max’s eyes widened. "Father!?"

Hawk nodded. "Master Antonio informed me that the one who killed my mother was none other than Morris.

The land slipped beneath my feet, I deemed Morris my father, how could he?

I didn’t trust a single word and confronted Morris. He was blinded by the power he obtained through this business.

’Yes, I killed that bitch. You should thank me, you are not the son of a whore anymore, you are the son of Morris, champion of Blessed fucking Knuckles.’

His words pierced my ears, Morris saw my blessing was unique and by any means wanted to acquire me. He also did the same to Vidu and Teo’s families but unlike me, they didn’t care.

I left Morris and wandered in puzzlement.

Then one night, I received a letter, an offer to assassinate Morris sent by Antonio Goldcaster."

Max was confused, he looked at his uncle who seemed to know everything. "Father ordered an assassination! But why? They both had different businesses."

John spoke this time. "A man entered the palace, God knows how, he attempted to murder Sis Reina but was hunted by the guards.

Later, it was confirmed that he was a trained blessed fighter of Morris."

Max stood silently in turmoil, there were thousands of questions in his mind, he picked one and asked. "Why did Morris send his fighter to kill my mother?"

"I don’t know, the only people who may know the answer to your question are Master Antonio and Reginald Seraph," Hawk said and continued.

"I was given a poison, I went back to Morris, fought a few fights, got close and poured the poison into their meal. Morris and Teo died, but Vidu survived.

I changed my identity and came to work for Master Antonio who made me the personal butler and bodyguard of Madam Reina Prada.

Whenever I looked at Madam Reina, I recalled my mother. I found the warmth of my deceased mother in her eyes."

Droplets of salty water rolled down Max’s cheeks, John covered his face as he wept. Even Thane, who never met her, had tears.