Atonement's Path

Chapter_5: Father

The air was still, and the crowds were speechless, their breath catching in their throats as they watched this play out before them. In that moment, not an ounce of noise was to be heard, save for the rustling of the trees as the wind blew through them. "You foolish daughter! I am your father, your only father. You are my daughter, my only daughter. Do not treat me like a stranger in front of a crowd. I took care of you and protected you, yet you treat me like this!" Mr. Smith shouted and pointed at his daughter with such a bad temper.

Tears streamed down her eyes, tightening her fist. "You are right, but I want you to treat my husband like you treat me. He also protected me and took care of me."

Ragnar, disappointed in himself, still kneeled at Mr. Smith. His face was still covered in blood, and his nose was broken.

Zach was shocked by what happened in front of him. "Sister, treat your father better. He was just worried about you." He's worried about what might happen next. Another voilence? Or will my sister's noble status be removed? Overwhelmed by the situation, he left the circle and went to the nearby forest to find peace.

"See, Zach even knew what was happening. Ana, you should never treat me like a stranger, for I will treat you like a peasant. Ana, after you met this coward here, you acted like a different person. What have happened to my daughter? The daughter that was smiling and laughing at everything. The daughter that was kind to his father." Mr. Smith worriedly looked at his daughter, filled with memories of the past. 'When my wife was alive, Ana was happy and kind; as we went to the flower fields, our family was filled with joy. Until this coward stole my daughter and treated her like an animal, why did she have to die like that? '

'I remember Ana picking up those flowers with a huge smile on her face, but that was gone now. Everything that was once happiness was gone; it only remained as a memory.'  Mr. Smith felt dead and empty inside. "Everything has to change; as time passes, everything changes and remains as a memory. The girl you knew was only a memory, but not me. I have matured as a woman." Ana felt more confident as she unclenched her fist. She felt more calm than before.

"Matured? You call this matured? Treating your father as a stranger is an act of a matured lady? You have never matured, Ana. You are still a kid. Do not identify yourself as a person you are not; identify yourself as a person you are right now. And the person you are right now is a foolish daughter, who treats her father as a stranger!" Mr. Smith showed anger to his daughter as he gripped his fist tightly. While it may appear to an outsider that he is villainous or opposed to his daughter, he is merely fulfilling the role of a father, one who offers guidance, discipline, and lessons that are essential for one's personal growth. Despite the difference in perspective, Mr. Smith's actions are ultimately founded on love and concern for his child.

Ragnar sat still as his gaze stayed fixed firmly on the floorboards in front of him. How am I this useless? Despite my name meaning "warrior strong", I'm now nothing more than a helpless burden to Ana, the only one who truly believed in me. I just don't know what to do at this point; I'm useless' Ragnar said, still gazing at the floor filled with self-hatred. "Ragnar" Ana said softly, helping him up, "you should stop kneeling. There's nothing to worry about now."I don't know what to do, Ana," Ragnar muttered, "I am so useless." Ana was shocked hearing those words from a man who was once filled with confidence. "You're not useless, just stay calm, and I'll handle this, alright? "Even though Ragnar was full of self-doubt, Ana confidently comforted Ragnar with ease. Ana looked at his father again with pride. "I will promise this to you that Ragnar will be the man that will protect me when I'm in danger someday, so please believe in me." Ana stood there as she said those words with confidence.

'I don't know why she doesn't get it," Mr. Smith thought to himself, shaking his head in frustration. "Him punching her...how can she think it's not a big deal? He claims to be a man of honor; how can he look himself in the mirror after that? And how can she ignore it too? It's like she doesn't realise where we are or what he really tried to do. Or maybe she's just in denial.'

"Don't you see, Ana, the gravity of this situation?" 'Perhaps I have been too soft in my approach to your situation,' Mr. Smith thought to himself. 'My kind words haven't seemed to resonate with you. A bit of tough love may be required for you to truly comprehend the severity of the situation.' Mr. Smith was now determined to take a stronger stance with his daughter. While he had no desire to hurt or anger her, he was now more focused on conveying the importance of the circumstances.

"Father, I understand, but I just can't leave Ragnar here, for which he may think that I was the one that saved his life. And that's the same for me too; Ragnar is the one that changed me." Ana showed more anger as the conversation passed by. "He changed you?" Mr. Smith turned his gaze at Ragnar. "You changed my daughter to a worthless and foolish human being! You! Yo--" "Take her now; you should take Ana back to the south." Ragnar is still gazing at the floor, showing no emotions. "Yes, I'm the one that changed her into a worthless and foolish daughter; I made her act like a peasant. I'm sorry." The crowd was stunned into stillness, unable to comprehend what was unfolding before them. As tears streamed down her face, Ana pleaded with the unmoving man: "What do you mean? I told you I would handle this! Ragnar, please!" She was desperate to find some hint of humanity behind his emotionless facade. But her efforts were in vain, it seemed, as Ragnar just continued to stare straight ahead, as if her words bounced off of him. "Yes, you heard me; take her back to the south" Ragnar responded in a flat tone. His coal-black eyes bore into Mr. Smith's own, utterly devoid of life, like two empty pits in the ground.