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Billy had truly been waiting for Theo to understand. In fact, he had been wandering on the outskirts of Capital City, for two whole days and nights, waiting for his student to have a change of heart and come find him. The other surviving bounty hunters had long since returned to where they came from to report and claim their rewards.
It was such a simple truth, Billy thought. The strong prey on the weak. Lose a fight, you get ban. The winner takes all. That had always been Billy's rule, and the very foundation of the Unstable smp. This was exactly how he had how taught and raised Theo, wasn't it?
Just look at the student he had produced. Among the top fighters in Unstable, mastering the instant carting to perfection. Theo had fought in several thousand-player battles, leaving unscathed and killing without hesitation just like Billy himself. Even in their recent fight, if Theo hadn't been protecting that damned king, he could have held a equal fight Billy.
Billy still remembered cornering Theo like a little bird on a wooden beam high up in a building, watching Theo chirping and yelling at him, until Billy threatened to go kill the king first.
Billy wandered over to a high vantage point, gazing into the distance at the gray silhouette of Capital City on the edge of his render distance.
That king — Parrot, was the real problem. What kind of poison had that damned, merciful, colorful little bird 'Your Majesty' been feeding his dear student? Why was Theo so dead-set on following him around? Charity, treasure hunting, protecting new players. Everything they did ran counter to Billy's teachings. Theo should be opposed to all of it, too.
Billy watched the sun slowly sink below the horizon once again, right in the direction of Capital City.
But it was fine. He knew the student he had raised with his own hands. He had to admit, Theo wasn't particularly smart outside of combat. It was entirely possible he had been led astray by some smooth talk, acting against Billy. That wasn't Theo's fault.
Billy realized he should probably fulfill his duty as a teacher a little better, like bringing a wayward student back to the right path.
"We're the same, Theo. You and me, we're born killers."
So, for Billy's one-on-one temporary mini-lecture to officially begin, the first obstacle to deal with was that king who always stuck to Theo like glue.
_
"Parrot, go far away. I'll handle Billy!" Theo locked eyes with Billy, ready to fight.
"Theo, I'm leaving it to you! I'll wait for you in Skymore!" Parrot knew he would only hold Theo back in this fight, and wisely chose to leave the battlefield.
Billy watched Parrot slowly disappear into the trees, then turned to meet Theo's tense gaze.
"Alright, Theo. It's been a long time since I taught you anything new. No fighting today. Let's catch up a little, and have a long-overdue lesson."