No son wants his father to preside over his dying marriage. Added to that, I knew that he and Margaret, my mother-in-law, despised each other and this... meeting would've escalated into World War III. There wouldn't have been any chance my plan for handling this would've worked.I could almost hear his voice."Son, do what you gotta do, your mom and I will stand by you."Then he would've given me that I told you so look and smile. All right, I lied. I missed him not being here. But I needed things to. Few of the coalition priestesses noticed the word big was used twice.My wards set, I swam over the lake’s floor and towards the central pier.The medium Elemental summons sapped most of my unreserved mana. I ordered the undetectable water creature to start attacking the craft on the north side of the port, while I did the same at the south side.The expected barrier of the clergy sedately drew in and encircled me guiding me to the shore. I called out to Squueerringereee to aid me. He said he was. A prescription for antibiotics and painkillers sat folded in my back pocket, waiting to be dropped off at the pharmacy first thing in the morning. I turned to look at the person sitting beside me as he shifted the car into park. “Thank you, Matt. For going out of your way and waiting for me and everything... thank you. I really appreciate it.” He smiled genuinely, softly. “I’m happy to help, really. Despite owing you big time for all the help you’ve given me, I wouldn’t leave a friend. I shook my head. ‘You have no idea. Unless you’re a lot wilder than I think you are, I can top your antics on your best day.’ ‘We’ll see. After we skate a bit, we’ll have lunch – on me – and we’ll trade war stories,’ he said as he stood up, helping me to my feet. I prayed that I didn’t fall down too often. It had been twenty-five years since I’d last been on skates and I didn’t want a sore butt. Taking advantage of his help, I stumbled onto the ice and clumsily began to move. He skated.