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Chapter Text

Their footsteps were heavy as they reconvened on Roan Castle. The group's faces were all dark as they returned from their adventure. 

Alberu couldn't keep the bad feeling in his heart and asked, "What happened?" 

Cale was too tired to deal with this and gave the job to Choi Han. 

The swordsman sighed in frustration as they told him what they found. 

"So you mean that White Star is a reincarnator that kept getting reborn thousands of years ago?" 

Cale grimly nodded his head, "That means we cannot kill him, if he dies then he'd just get reborn again in a different body." 

Alberu slammed on the table, "Fuck, how are we supposed to defeat him then?" 

The room fell into silence. 

"I think I might've got some idea" unexpectedly, Bud was the one who broke the silence first. 

"Do you have any idea Bud?" Raon asked. 

"Well, as a matter of fact, I remember another artefact from my hometown. I remember grandpa said that it could let people see their future." 

"See their future?" Erunhaben asked, "So you were planning to let one of us see the future?" 

"Yes, if we can't find the way to deal with White Star-" 

"- then we can ask those who know," Rosalyn said. "That's genius, Bud. We have to try it" 

"But who can guarantee that the people in the future know how to defeat White Star?" Choi Han asked.

Then we can gather some information," Alberu said, "we can figure out what strategy they use to deal with White Star, what kind of weakness they have uncovered, how much force does White Star have, etc" 

With an anonymous agreement, the group teleported Bud back to retrieve the artefact. 

Rosalyn inspected the artefact, "so this is the artefact?" 

Erunhaben sniffed it a few times, " he's right I can smell some magic coming out from it" 

It was an old bronze pocket watch, it was filled with scratches and rust that gives it a really old feeling. 

"This is the artefact of God of Time." Bud said, "Actually I made a mistake. Grandpa told me that it did not let others see the future, but actually, it send them to the future" 

"Send them to the future? You mean like teleportation?" 

"Yes." 

"Will they be able to get back?" Raon asked 

"Well, according to the records in my house, they did come back. It's not permanent...like it has some time limit, and once the time limit expires, you'll be back to the present. However, the time limit varies for every person so we don't know how long you'll actually spend in the future" 

Alberu hummed thoughtfully, "every second is precious hmm" 

"Alright," Cale looked at the group, "Who are we going to send to the future?" 

Alberu raised his hand, "As the crown prince of Roan I'm responsible for my people." 

"Your highness, are you planning to ditch all your royal work? You're not escaping it by going to the future. The kingdom needs you even now. We have to send someone else'' Cale rejected him in an instant 

"Cale-nim I wouldn't mind going to the future" 

"Choi Han, you're our only chance against White Star, what are we going to do if White Star attacks us? Leave it to Cale?" Alberu said and Cale couldn't help but be offended. 

Alberu just stared back at Cale with a 'You know what I mean. You brought this upon yourself. Mister I-bleed-everytime-I fight.' 

Alberu turned back to Choi Han, "We can't let you go. Besides, we're going to search for information, not fight" 

"Then let this mighty dragon!" 

"You're too young Raon, let the others do it" Cale rejected Raon's idea instantly, like hell he would let his child go to unknown places without supervision. 

Erunhaben stepped forward, "Then let me, I'm the most experienced out of us all." 

"No! Let me" Raon snatched the artefact from Bud's hand. 

"Raon! Stop!" Cale tried to snatch the artefact back from the dragon. 

He grabbed the pocket watch while Raon grabbed the pocket chain. 

"Be careful! It's fragile" Bud shrieked. 

The two stared at each other and began tugging when Cale accidentally pressed on something.

Dark blue-green willowy smoke shot out from the pocket watch. The smoke quickly covered him, covering his vision and seeping into his lungs. 

Choi Han quickly ran, "Cale-nim" 

"Cale" 

"Young master-nim" 

"Watch out!" 

And so Cale's vision turned dark. 

~***~ 

Cale woke up with a heavy cough. He could still feel the traces of the fog inside his lungs. 

As he bent over from his cough, his forehead accidentally slammed on something, hard , sending a piercing pain to his head. 

The redhead let out a pained yelp as he rubbed his forehead.

That hurts like a bitch. Fuck, he hopes it won't leave a bump. 

As he cursed like a sailor inside his mind he noticed the tight space he was in. 

It was dark so he couldn't see anything, so he was forced to use his other senses. 

He could feel he was laying down on something, it was soft, but not like a bed. 

He tried to touch it only to find his hand had hit something. 

What? He already hit something? How small is this place? 

He tried to measure the size of the place he was in. Width-wise, It was very small and he couldn't even stretch out his hand. Height was, don't even ask, he just bumped into it during his cough, showing how close his face actually was to the wall. 

Where the fuck is he? A tunnel? No, a locker? He's lucky he didn't have a phobia of small spaces or he might've freaked out now. 

He tried to search for an exit. After a lot of manoeuvring, he managed to get his hand on top of his chest. He probed around the wall on top of him and...

Oh, it moved 

If he pushed it hard enough he could push the wall aside. 

So Cale did just that. 

Slowly, he moved the lid bit by bit. The first thing he saw when he opened it large enough was the light. It was so contrasting with the darkness he was in that it blinded him for a moment. 

Then as he pushed away he could hear the lid fall to the side with a loud bam and he could finally get out. 

Cale sat up and finally saw where he was trapped. 

Cale’s breath stopped as he recognized the familiar shape.

...

It was a coffin. 

Cale Henituse was sent to the future

And he woke up in a coffin. 

Chapter Text

It took Cale a few moments...

....

...

...

..

What the fuck?

Did he really get teleported to the future? Then why the hell would he wake up in a fucking coffin out of all places?!

He quickly climbed out of the coffin, staying there really gave him chills.

Once he was out he stared at the coffin he teleported into. He couldn't deny that it was one of the most beautiful coffins he had ever seen.

It was made from black marble and it has exquisite golden engraving decorating its side. His finger traces through the golden lines, finding the familiar symbol of the Roan Kingdom on it.

He took a step back.

He saw a stone plate at the end of the coffin, made from the same materials as the coffin.

There was something written on it, also with the same beautiful golden handwriting.

[ Here lies the greatest commander of Roan Kingdom.  ]

[ A hero to others and a family to his kin. ]

[ May he lay and receive the rest he deserved.]

Fuck….

Cale closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

It doesn't look like a joke. It really was a grave. His grave. 

Seriously what the fuck is happening? He came to the future to seek answers but now he has more questions than he had before.

So he died? What happened? What killed him?

Probably it was stress. 

He hoped it was stress.

….

….

Fuck… isn't it pathetic to die because of stress? Did his family overwork him or something?

He looked at the building around him, he woke up in a beautiful small room with only his coffin inside.

If this is his grave then this must be some kind of mausoleum. He has to get out of here.

Cale walked out of the golden arch on one of the walls and came out into a slightly bigger room.

His breath halted when he saw the room.

He could see the clothes he wore when he was appointed as the commancder.

A silver sword that Alberu gave to him for the parade because it 'matches' his shield.

His favorite teacup that Ron always used for morning tea.

A familiar bottles of his favorite brand of wine. Old as gold, the best of the batches.

Even his favorite book that he read in Billos' tea shop.

This room was filled with things. His things.

This room screams Cale Henituse all over.

Cale remembered some of these things, he had some of these things in his room and now they ended up here, inside his grave.

Cale felt like a pharaoh who was buried along with his treasure

And this is his pyramid, his tomb.

Cale swallowed hard, he clenched his hand as he went to the other room

This room was different, it was wider and also didn't have the same feeling as the previous two rooms. 

The walls are covered with boxed glass and once Cale examined it he saw that they're some kind of container. So the whole wall looked like a shoe locker, except they have a glass door so Cale could see their contents.

(A familiar sword and a worn-out fountain pen.)

He recalled that they were the ones he bought for Basen and Lily

(A family picture of him, Deruth and Jour.)

It looked old yet nicely preserved, but Cale could see the torn on the edge, showing how much it was looked for before it was preserved by magic.

(A small hand-size sculpt of himself.)

It was beautiful and very detailed. It shows him in his commander suit, standing proudly with valour.

(A pair of daggers and a pair of pristine white gloves.)

Cale recalled a certain butler obsession of sharpening his dagger and a certain cook’s hobby of keeping his gloves clean

(A beautiful flower made of black bones.)

Cale didn't even recognize they were bones at first glance. Whoever made this certainly put a lot of thought and effort into doing this.

(A few orbs of the highest-grade magic stone)

Cale could see beautiful red mana swirling inside the mana stone. 

(A beautiful trinket made from soft wolf hair.)

The beautiful grey fur reminded him of a certain wolf beastman. Cale wondered whose fur is this? Is it the eldest one? Or maybe the little one also chipped in so they could make such exquisite trinkets?

(Five pieces of giant Golden scales.)

It looks sturdy like a dragon scales. Cale only knew one person who had such a beautiful golden colour like this.

(A snowglobe that instead of snow is filled with a beautiful colourful fog,its colour swirled beautifully, reminding Cale of a certain northern lights from his previous life.)

Cale recalled telling a certain fog cat about Aurora Borealis before

(A beautiful small vials that's filled with sparkling transparent water)

Cale didnt know what's in the vial, however he reckoned the vials as one he bought for a certain poison cat.

Cale's breath stopped as he saw a pile of golden plaques behind one of the glass doors. One of the kingdom's most priceless things is just sitting there like a lump of trash.

Seriously hyung-nim. How could you leave things like this laying around?

He turned around and saw a familiar black sword behind one of the glass doors. He reached out to it, his finger brushing the glass door.

It was a certain swordsman's sword. Cale remembered buying this for him when he got out of Harris Village.

Damn it, Choi Han…. How could you leave your sword here? What kind of swordsmen leave their sword behind?

But the one thing that made his heart tremble wasn't them.

It was the perfectly baked whole-ass apple pie, preserved by magic to be as fresh as if it was just out of the oven.

The whole thing made his heart quiver as if telling him, 'I know you'd be hungry when you wake up. I don't know when you will wake up but I'll keep this here for you so you won't get hungry.'

Cale couldn't help himself and broke into a laugh. The laughs sounded empty and soon it tapered off as he fell to his knees. Cale curled down on the floor, hugging his knees in despair.

Just a glance and it was clear.

They were all offerings, tributes for him.

Cale felt like he was going crazy. He thought waking up in a small space ws enough to get someone to freak out, but what about this? What should he do when he wakes up inside his own grave?

A few minutes passed as Cale felt himself breaking down a bit. 

He clenched his pants hard. This is bad, but he can't stay here forever. He took a deep breath and gathered his bearings. 

He came here with a mission. He has to find out the way to defeat White Star. 

Clearly his future self failed to do that. So he must find out how he died. 

He walked toward the entrance. He stopped as he touched the door, surprisingly someone had put an invisible barrier over the entrance. 

He pushed his finger and found that it was easy to break through the barrier. It seems like the barriers are strong enough to withstand any attack from outside, but weak to the inside.

It was as if the barrier was made to stop anything out there from stepping into the mausoleum.

But it was not made to prevent anyone inside from stepping outside.

So Cale took a step outside and he could feel the barrier shattered around him.

He has a feeling that whoever made the barrier will be alerted by it. 

That's good. He needed answers and his grave keeper might be a good place to start.

Cale was wondering how long he should wait when a loud tremor appeared beneath his feet.

The birds were cawing as they flew out of the trees, disturbed by the tremor.

Well, that was fast.

He could feel the tremor coming closer, it was rhythmic… like footsteps?

Cale felt a gust of wind sweep him and in one swift movement, all the trees in front of him had been cut down, revealing a giant black dragon standing right in front of him.

Cale's eyes widened as he recognized him in an instant.

His mind goes toward a small black dragon who loves to hang on his shoulder. 

A small little thing who would show off the tip of his sharp fangs every time he smiled. 

He looked at the majestic black dragon who was almost ten times his size with sharp razor fangs protruding from his lips. 

No… that can't be…. 

"Raon?"

Chapter Text

Raon didn't know how long he’d been asleep. As a grown-up almost adult dragon, Raon has been embracing his dragon side more. It was hard at the beginning, especially when everyone slowly disappeared one by one. The group that Cale made had slowly dispersed, everyone finding and creating their new lives outside.

Raon didn't want to admit it, but he felt lonely at that time. He thought that they will always stay together, especially now that Cale was gone, Raon didn't want to lose anyone else.

But Erunhaben taught him about it.  A dragon's lifespan is greater than any living being in the world, Erunhaben, one of the oldest living dragons in the world, told him. Humans’ lives are short and fleeting, just like how leaves fall during autumn.

That’s why it's even more tragic for those short-lived humans to have their lives cut even shorter.

Just like Cale.

There is a reason why dragons were known as solitary beings.  It's incomparable to compare a human’s lifespan with a dragon's. A human lifespan is only a hundredth of a dragon’s lifespan. As time goes by, all living beings will die.

Raon understood now, Dragon is not a solitary being, they chose to be a solitary being. They'd rather embrace the pain of loneliness rather than suffer the heartbreak of a death of a companion a hundred times over.

Cale’s death had given him a wound that still hasn't healed even now.

Raon didn't know if he could stand the pain of losing someone else.

A snap in his magic woke him up. It was silent yet clear as a day, his magic had been broken.

The dragon’s blue eyes snapped open from his slumber as he tried to find the frayed end of his magic. His consciousness travelled along his strand of magic and he gasped as he found that the one that had been broken was the magic barrier he made over Cale’s grave.

Someone just broke into Cale’s grave.

The dragon’s eyes turned cold and cruel. The cave he was in rumbled as he stomped on the ground. His majestic wings spread across the cave. He stared in the direction of the Forest of Darkness.

And without further ado, the black dragon flew over there.

Raon could never forget it. The nightmare he saw when his human fell. He screamed and cried his heart out. It felt like someone just plunged a knife into his heart and twisted it fiercely.

Raon knew about death. But this is the first time he really knew death.

Cale is dead. His human is dead. He could no longer smile and pat his head again. He cannot drink his lemon tea and spend the day lazing around on his bed anymore.

Raon still remembers the sight of his human laying stiffly in the coffin.

This… is death.

~***~

Cale died a hero.

People mourned the death of the Silver Shield Hero. As the respected hero of the Kingdom, it is his right to be placed along with the other heroes in the kingdom’s Hall of Heroes.

Yet, the group stopped it.

It was an honour to be buried along with the heroes of the past but they knew that Cale wouldn't like it. Cale would prefer peace and silence and not for his death to be glamorous as a heroic death. That's why the group worked hard, especially Alberu, to plead for the king not to bury Cale’s body in the Hall of Heroes.

Instead, they built a special house for him, right in the middle of the Forest of Darkness.

Even though it was known as one of the kingdom’s forbidden areas, Cale and the group has a connection with the Forest of Darkness. It was their home, as strange as it might be.

What could be a better place to build Cale’s final resting place than in the forest they called home?

And so the beautiful mausoleum was built. It looked like a peaceful tranquil shrine. They filled it with the things that Cale would like, his favourite tea, his favourite books. For Raon it was a bittersweet memory, he remembered his tears falling as he moved Cale’s favourite set of pillows and set it inside the memorial hall.

Alberu even commissioned a large painting of Cale to be put on the wall. The group had a laugh that time, as someone who hated being heralded as a hero, they knew that Cale would never like having his painting filled up a whole wall. But they knew that this was the only way they could commemorate their fallen comrade.

They finished up by leaving their offerings in the tribute hall.

Some people left things that Cale would like. Like Alberu, the prince didn't mind risking his position to ask for a hundred golden plaques to give to Cale’s grave. When Raon asked him for it he said, “I can only give him two while he’s alive, and he looks so happy with it. At least in his death, I wanted to surround him with things that I couldn't give to him before.”

Some people gave their most precious possessions in their place. The most precious things for their most precious person. Like Choi Han, he gave a solemn vow to be better, to be stronger, so as not to lose another person as he gave his sword away.

In the end, the group was satisfied with how Cale’s grave turned out.

It was much better than leaving him inside a dreary gloomy stony cave they called the Hall of Heroes, laying in a cold hard stone coffin surrounded by hundreds of other corpses.

However, the group soon realise the risk of having such a grand grave.

Despite being a hero who saved the world from its demise, it didn't stop any greedy people from trying their luck to rob his grave.

The Roan Kingdom’s commander was buried with a lot of treasures. Weapons, Magical devices, gold, it was a treasure troupe tempting to be robbed.

They felt ashamed. Cale always wanted to have a quiet peaceful life, yet even in his death, he has to deal with graverobbers.

The group decided to take turns in protecting Cale’s grave, Raon put a barrier over the grave to stop anyone from entering the grave. Alberu decided to punish those graverobbers heavily with fines and prison, not only to deter them from robbing Cale’s grave again but to also warn others graverobbers of the consequences of disturbing their commander’s grave.

And soon, it stopped.

People gave up on robbing Cale’s grave and Raon thought that was the end of it.

It seemed he was wrong. Someone managed to break down his barrier.

Raon swears, if someone dared to break into Cale’s grave he wouldn't hesitate to tear them apart, human laws be damned.

As he flew over the Forest of Darkness, he could see the mausoleum now with its door opened. Amidst the thick fog, he could faintly see a silhouette of a human standing in front of the door.

His blue eyes narrowed. With a loud boom, he landed down. Birds cawing as they hastily escape from the sudden presence of a predator. A loud growl dripped from his throat as Raon cut down all the trees in front of him with a sweep of his tail.

They'd better be pissing their pants right now.

No matter how many times have passed, a dragon will always be the most terrifying being in the world.

“Who dares to break through this might Raon Miru’s seal” His voice echoed through the forest, sending all the small critters and birds away from his terrifying shockwave.

“Raon?”

A small voice called out his name.

The dragon quickly flared up.

No one deserved to call him that except for his dearest family. A blessed name that this human gave him. He wouldn't let just anyone say his name.

“How dare a human like you speak my name so casual-”

His words stopped. His tongue stopped working as he finally got a look at the small human standing in front of him.

“H-human… is that really you?” his voice trembles, small and shaky as it was brimming with emotions.

Raon recalled the human who saved him from the dark underground prison where he was born and tortured. He remembered the human’s big and warm hands as he cut his shackles open and showed him the outside world.

His human, his saviour, his first family.

Raon remembered how he used to perch on the human’s shoulder. He remembered how his human’s hand trembled as he held him in his hand, his weak human, too weak to even hold him up. Yet the human didn't even complain as the dragon buried itself on his chest, basking in his warmth as he listened to his human's strong and steady heartbeat.

Raon remembered his human.

He felt so big. Like a steady rock that he could always lean onto.

He stared at the small human standing in front of him.

Was his human actually this small?

The human reached out his hand at him, the warm big hand that used to hold and pet him now felt so small and fragile.

“It's me, Raon.”

And the dragon broke into tears.

At that moment he felt like a child all over again. A small dragon hatchling who was trapped inside an underground prison, weak and helpless, wondering if he would spend his life enduring this endless torture. Until one day, a human came and reached out his hand, offering him salvation.

Just like now.

And just like what his younger self did, Raon reached out toward the human’s outstretched hand.

Dragons are majestic creatures, they are prideful beings and never cried. But for once in his entire dragon life, Raon cried like a little child.

The dragon lay on the ground, bumping his now giant snout against the human’s small palm like a child seeking comfort from his mother.

The last time he shed his tears was when he bid his human goodbye as they left him alone inside the mausoleum.

He had cried and cried and cried his tears dry.

But there was no redhead who would comfort him.

Since then Raon vowed that he would only cry for his human.

Luckily, ever since the war ended everything has been going smoothly so there was no reason for him to shed tears.

Though there were a few nights when he felt lonely, he didn't cry.

But now… he couldn't stop his tears from falling as he enveloped the human inside his grip, afraid that Cale would disappear the moment he let him go.

Cale found himself trapped between the dragon’s teeth and claws yet he didn't feel any danger as he draped himself over the black dragon’s snout.

Raon is crying,

His child was crying and it pained his heart.

So he hugged the giant dragon in front of him as he cried out his grievances.

Cale didn't know how much time passed as he calmed the dragon down.

Raon has completely pulled him into his grasp, enveloping him inside his hand. Cale felt like a doll trapped on a child’s arm. But he didn't move away, Cale just let himself sag onto the dragon’s body, feeling the warmth that seeped from beneath the scaly skin around him.

Raon has calmed down now and began rubbing his snout against Cale.

Cale couldn't believe that Raon has grown this big.

How many years had passed then?

“Raon…”

“Hmm?”

“What year is it now?” It was year 783 of the Felix Calendar when he teleported over. He didn't know how far ahead in the future he was teleported into.

The dragon hummed and Cale could feel the breeze from such a small movement, “I don't know… I never cared about humans’ calendar since I separated from the group,” Raon hesitantly looked at Cale. He didn't want to upset his human, he just got him back, after all. He didn't want to make Cale sad, “But, Choi Han might know”

“Choi Han? Not strong Choi Han?”

Cale noticed that Raon always put something in front of people’s names. That's why it was strange to hear Choi Han’s name coming out of Raon’s lips without its usual embellishment.

The dragon let out a sound that sounded like an embarrassed huff, “I’m no longer a hatchling, I've outgrown my childish ticks”

Cale patted the dragon’s snout and Raon closed his blue eyes as he relished in the touch,

“But you still call me human.”

“You will always be my human” My one and only.

Suddenly Raon’s eyes snapped open and he quickly covered Cale with his large dark wings.

It happened so fast, Cale couldn't even say a word when he felt something fierce clash against Raon’s wings. It was fast and heavy and he could feel the wind swept against him from the powerful backlash even when he was protected behind Raon’s wings.

Something just attacked Raon.

He could feel Raon’s throat growling.

“Watch where you're aiming that thing!”

And slowly the dark wings that covered him came down and Cale saw a deep gorge on the ground, heading their way stopping as soon as it reached Raon.

What strength! Who in the world has such a powerful strike?

He turned around to see their assailant.

A swordsman in black was pointing his swords toward them, a dark heavy black aura swirling around the sword.

Choi Han.

Cale looked at him and their eyes met.

Cale watched as Choi Han’s face twisted into surprise and disbelief. Then it turned into horror as he noticed what he just did.

The swordsman’s hand trembled and the sword in his hand fell with a heavy clang onto the ground. When Cale stared at the fallen he noticed an abandoned bouquet of flowers near Choi Han’s feet.

The swordsman was struck speechless as he couldn't take his eyes off the redhead nestled on the dragon’s arm.

“C-Cale- nim?”

Chapter Text

The Lone Swordsman finally jumped out of the wagon. He waved his hand as a thank you and the old driver waved him back.

The old driver was used to delivering goods from the border to Rain City and he thought today will be the usual day. He would never have expected to see the hero coming back from his journey. Everyone knew that the hero would always return to Rain City after his adventures, so he offered the hero a ride in his wagon. It's a small wagon and it was filled with goods, totally not befitting of a hero, yet the hero smiled and accepted his offer. The driver was ecstatic, this will be one hell of a story when he returned home.

Choi Han entered Rain City with ease. This time, his adventure on the East Continent took quite a long time, eight months, it's almost a year since he last stepped in the city.

He took a moment to appreciate the beautiful city, bustling with life. The children running around the street happily, people bargaining on the market, the laughter and chatter coming out from a nearby tavern.

This is what peace looks like.

Eight months is a long time, and a lot of things changed in his departure. He walked through the market, taking a sharp turn at the end of the road. A lot of things changed, did it change too?

He hoped not…

As he turned the corner he saw his destination, it was a florist studio.

He breathed out a relieved sigh. Thank God it hasn’t changed.

The doorbell rang crisply as he entered the shop.

The florist greeted him, “Welcome-, Ah, hero-nim. You're back”

Choi Han nodded, “I’m back. A lot of things changed while I was gone. I was afraid that the shop is gone too”

The florist laughed, “Hero-nim you jest. We won't be leaving here anytime soon. The usual order right?”

Choi Han nodded and he waited as the florist took out a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the studio behind. A bouquet of gladiolus and zinnia, decorated with nasturtium flowers. It was a very colourful bouquet, very contrasting with the hero’s all-black costume.

Choi Han didn't know when it all started, but It has become his routine.  His good luck charm.

Every time someone called him on a mission, or every time he wanted to explore the continent, he would stop by Cale’s grave to send him a flower. A bouquet of Sweet pea and lilac Aster with blue salvias as the base and forget-me-not filling the space between the flowers for his departure and A bouquet of gladiolus and zinnia, decorated with nasturtium flowers for his return.

Just like one would say, 'I'm leaving,' when you leave the house and 'I'm back,' every time you return. Cale is his home, he would visit his grave to say his goodbyes every time he left and greet him back when he returns.

This time, it was no different. After buying the bouquet of flowers he headed to the Forest of Darkness.

But once he stepped into the forest, his fighter instinct told him that something was wrong.

The forest was quiet. Too quiet. There were no chirps of birds nor the crickets of insects. It was as if they had been scared to silence by the presence of a predator.

Silently, Choi Han gripped his sword. It’s troublesome if a monster appeared in the forest, it'd be bad if it damages Cale’s grave. He decided to drop by the grave quickly before hunting down whatever new monster terrorising the forest.

As he walked deeper into the forest he noticed the large footprints on the ground. He recognized it in an instant. A dragon's footsteps.

He quickly thought of Raon. Raon was the only dragon who would visit the Forest of Darkness. Is Raon here?

He could see how abrupt Raon’s footsteps were, it was hurried as if he was rushing to go somewhere. As he walked further in, he noticed the broken trees around him. His heart grew wary, Raon has never made a mess like this.

Choi Han could feel the uneasiness in his heart growing stronger.

The only thing that could make Raon reckless like this was if it was something related to Cale. He remembered that the last time they rushed here, was the time when they heard about a group of graverobbers wanting to take their chance on robbing the commander’s grave.

After beating the graverobbers, the group decided to seal the grave. Raon created a barrier over Cale’s grave. As the one who makes the barrier, he will know if the barrier is being attacked or if it has been broken.

Seeing that Raon rushed to the forest, does this mean that the barrier on Cale’s grave has been broken?

Did someone manage to break into Cale’s grave?

Choi Han’s eyes turned cold. He unsheathed his sword, ready to fight.

He stared at the thick fog in front of him. Yes, this fog wasn't just a normal fog, this fog was a special illusion created by On to deter any stranger from visiting Cale’s grave.

Inspired by the fog in one of the forbidden regions, The Path of No Returns, On created a player of fog that covered a small area around Cale’s grave. Anyone who enters the fog without her permission would end up lost and come out on the edge of the forest. Of course, the fog doesn't work on Choi Han or the rest of the group, even though the fog limits their vision, they can easily bypass it by going straight to Cale’s grave.

Cale’s grave is a sacred place for them, not just Raon, everyone has put their effort to protect Cale’s grave. Choi Han could see Molan’s trap and Rosalyn’s magic mines as he walked through the fog, none of them was triggered.

That means whoever their graverobber was, not only was their magic strong enough to bypass On’s fog, but they were also stealthy enough to escape from their trap.

The more he thinks about it, the more he's worried about Raon.

Raon is the strongest dragon on the West Continent. However, compared to Erunhaben, Raon was just a fledgling. Can Raon defeat the robber by himself?

Please Raon, please be alright.

Choi Han was almost out of the fog area.

And he froze.

Because there, he saw Raon.

Lying on the ground.

Defenceless

Raon’s back was facing him so he couldn't see the dragon’s face, but he was sure that it was Raon.  

And Choi Han felt his heart drop to the ground.

Raon never put down his defence like that, not since he grew up and learned how dark a human heart can be. Raon is the strongest dragon on the western continent, he's one of the proudest dragons Choi Han ever met.

He will never put down his defence and bare his weakness like this.

Was he hurt?

From the looks of it, Raon didn't seem to be hurt. Wait no, he shouldn't assume that. He could've been hurt somewhere out of his sight.

Then should he call out to him?

No. He shouldn't let down his guard and expose his position yet. From what he knew this person was able to bypass On’s fog and Rosalyn’s and Molan’s trap. He’s also able to defeat Raon, the strongest dragon on the continent.

As the fog around him thinned out him, he could see a silhouette of a man standing near Raon. The man bravely put his hand on Raon’s head and the dragon didn't even stir.

Choi Han’s hand clenched around his sword.

This man is dangerous.

He couldn't believe that a proud and strong dragon like Raon would submit to anyone. Did he defeat Raon? No, from the looks of it, the man doesn't seem like a fighter, which means the man was probably a mage. Maybe he used some mind-control magic or other dirty tricks to defeat Raon!

Choi Han couldn't bear to see his family laying defenceless like this, forced to submit by a human.

It made Choi Han’s blood boil.

The black aura gathered around his sword.  The man seemed like he hadn't noticed him yet.

He didn't want to underestimate this man’s power, so it was better to catch him off guard like this and take him down in one powerful strike.

And with that, he raised his sword

Everything happened in just a blink of an eye. Raon the one he thought was defenceless was not when he suddenly moved to protect the man. The dragon growled and barked at him: but he didn't attack him back, that means Raon must've known that the attack came from him.

Slowly he lowered his wings, revealing the identity of the man he desperately protected.

Choi Han's heart dropped to the ground as soon as he saw the familiar young face of his liege.

"C-Cale-nim?"

The same Cale who picked him up after he lost Harris Village, the same Cale who gave him family and home to return to.

The same Cale who he just raised his sword against.

Choi Han’s body trembled like a leaf in a storm.

He couldn't believe what he had done.

He just attacked Cale.

HE! JUST! ATTACK! CALE!

His breath fastened as the panic slowly settled in. His hand felt heavy. He looked at his sword. It was the same sword he used to attack Cale.

Choi Han quickly dropped the sword like it was on fire. The heavy metal fell with a sharp clang to the ground. His breath hastened and he took a step back.

“Choi Han!”

A hand landed on his shoulder and he flinched as if it burned him. His black eyes quickly met with Cale’s brown reddish eyes.

And suddenly the world seemed to fall into silence. The firm hand on his shoulder grounded him. The worried look on the redhead’s face seems to hypnotise him. How long has it been since he last saw Cale’s eyes? Have his eyes always been this vibrant?

“Choi Han!”

And with a call of his name, Choi Han jolted back to reality.

“C-Cale-nim” He reached out his shaking hand, uncertain. He reached out until he finally touched Cale’s warm solid cheek, “Is this real?”

A flash of pain flitted through Cale’s eyes and with a shuddering breath he grabbed onto Choi Han’s hand, squeezing his hand softly as if to show him how real he was.

Choi Han’s lips trembled. It's real, the touch, the warmth, the gentleness, it was all real. Cale was real, and he was standing right in front of him now.

Alive.

He pulled the man into his arms, enveloping him in a crushing hug because he was here! Cale is here!

He thought that he had accepted Cale’s death, he thought that he had moved on, just like the rest of the group did.

But it turns out to be a lie

Because seeing Cale -here- standing right in front of him. Choi Han could feel the sadness and the loneliness that he had sealed deep inside his heart threatening to break free.

He missed Cale.

He really does.

For every second that passes, he had never forgotten of the man who gave him his first home in this world.

His grip tightened, he didn't even realise that he was shaking until Cale’s hand landed on his back.

“Choi Han….”

And just with that one call, CHi Han felt his eyes burning with tears, threatening to spill out.

How he missed his voice.

“Cale-nim…. Please…. Please don't leave…” his voice was trembling, “Please… this time… promise me. stay, please”

Cale bit his lips, he couldn't answer Choi Han’s plea. He recalled Bud’s words that the artefact has a time limit. He didn't know when his time limit would expire but he knew for sure that he couldn't stay here forever.

“I can't promise you that Choi Han”

Choi Han’s eyes were filled with indescribable pain.

“However,” the redhead touched the swordsman’s chin, guiding Choi Han’s black eyes to look at him, “I’m here now, and I promise you to stay as long as I can”

The tears finally slipped out of the swordsman's eyes. Choi Han nodded, “yes you are here, and that's enough for me.”

~***~

They took a few moments to calm down their emotion, meanwhile, Cale was stuck between a giant black dragon and a sticky swordsman.

They wouldn't let him go and it kinda bothered him. But Cale knew that they just found out that he was alive and it took a lot for them to process it all. A dead person suddenly came back to life, not to mention it was someone dear to them. It's normal for them to be a little (very) protective of him now. So he decided to let the two do whatever they want with him for now.

Maybe because he felt guilty? Judging by Raon's and Choi Han's reactions he could imagine the pain they went through after his death, and letting them cling to him was his way to apologise and reassure them with his presence.

Or maybe because he also needed this kind of reassurance. He didn't want to admit it but getting thrown into the future only to wake up in your own coffin is kind of jarring and he might have found comfort in his family (even though Raon has changed a lot)

Time passed and Choi Han was the one who broke the silence.

“Cale-nim… what happened?”

He was sure that Cale was dead, after all, he was one of the pallbearers who put Cale’s coffin inside the mausoleum. But now Cale was alive? How?

Cale sighed, “it's a long story. Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are, I never expect myself to wake up on a coffin of all places”

Choi Han didn't give up, he just kept his stare and Cale knew that Choi Han wouldn't give up until he told the truth.

“Look, I’ll be happy to tell you all about this. But can we move somewhere else first?” His eyes trailed toward the fallen bouquet near Choi Han’s feet, seeing as there's no other grave around here, it's safe to assume that Choi Han bought it for him.

Cale didn't know what to feel with that.

This place reeks of his death and it makes him a bit uncomfortable. He didn't know what he should do. He was dead and from the looks of it, everyone was mourning his death.

But he's still alive and he just saw Raon and Choi Han right before he teleported over. The difference between them really rattled him. One moment he was apprehending Raon for being reckless and the next thing he knew Raon had grown so big and was crying all over him.

Choi Han felt like Cale wasn't lying so he accepted the redhead’s explanation. It doesn't matter. The most important thing was that Cale has returned to them, and nothing is more important than that.

Choi Han slowly snaked his hand around Cale’s wrist, making sure that Cale was safe under his hand. He knew that Cale noticed him, yet the redhead didn't say anything so with a radiant smile on his face the lone swordsman held onto Cale's hand like a lifeline.

He vowed that he’d never lose him anymore.

Raon happily hummed, his tail slightly swinging back and forth behind him, “Let's go to the Super Rock Villa! We can tell everyone to gather there.”

Choi Han thought about it, “I think we should tell the emperor first about...” he gestured at Cale. “this…”

“Ah right, not everyone can gather immediately; they're busy with their own things. Hmm, maybe if we tell the emperor to gather everyone, they can gather faster.”

Cale paused, “Wait, the emperor?”

Raon smiled with eyes full of mirth, “It's the cookie prince”

“It’s Alberu-nim, Cale-nim. He’s an emperor now.”

Cale took a deep breath.

Alberu? An emperor?

Deep inside he felt happy and proud of his hyung-nim. He finally achieved his dream and ascended to the throne.

Cale paused, “Wait, shouldn't it be a king?”

Choi Han looked amused as he laughed lightly, “Cale-nim. There’s no more Roan kingdom. It goes by Roan Empire now.

Cale’s breath stuttered.

An empire. The only empire he knew was the Mogoru Empire which had just fallen under Adin’s rule. Cale didn't expect to find out that Roan has grown into an empire now.

Choi Han’s hand landed on his shoulder and Raon’s tail coiled behind him as the dragon cast his magic. Cale closed his eyes as the bright light teleported him away.

Chapter Text

When Cale opened his eyes he saw the familiar yet different look of the Roan Imperial Palace. The Palace still looked the same as he remembered. But he could see some extra buildings around it, making the whole place bigger than before. Not to mention that it became more regal than before, fitting for an empire.

Cale wondered why they didn't teleport directly to Alberu’s office like they used to. He turned around, he was about to ask Raon about it when he paused.

Standing behind them was a young black-haired boy, around seven or eight years old. His hair was even darker than Choi Han's. Where did he come from and how did he get so close to the group?

As Cale cast another glance at the boy he could see a few familiar points in the boy's face. A familiar straight nose, familiar thin lips and how the upper corner of his eyes lifted when he smiled.

He looked just like Cale Henituse when he was young.

The boy, noticing his gaze, grinned mischievously, showing rows of white pearly teeth. His bright blue eyes glimmered with mirth.

Oh…

It was Raon.

Cale's face turned into a delighted surprise, “You can transform into a human now?”

Raon puffed his chest, “Of course. I’m a mighty dragon after all. I learnt to transform when I’m ten years old”

Cale felt proud of him, transformation is a big thing for dragons. He was happy for Raon, however, he couldn't help as sadness flitted through his eyes. He felt a little bit of regret when he thought that he just missed one of Raon's growth milestones.

The dragon’s smile turned into confusion. He tilted his head.

Shouldn't Cale be happy for him? Why did he feel that Cale wasn't happy with it?

Cale, afraid that Raon will misunderstand him, quickly wiped off the sadness on his face and smiled. He patted the boy on the head. “Good job, Raon. You're always a smart one”

Raon looked so similar to young Cale, around 70-80%. If not for the hair and eye colour difference, he’d look like a child version of him. Cale wondered if he walked beside Raon like this, would someone call them siblings?

The dragon giggled happily. His eyes scrunched into an upturned smile, making cute creases on the corner of his eyes.

Choi Han just watched the conversation with a smile on his face. He didn't recall the last time he felt so… peaceful, so… complete like this. After Cale passed away he felt like the world was bleak. It felt like he was living in a monochrome world, it consists of only black, white and various shades of grey. It was lacking, but it was enough for him.

Then Cale came back

and along with his return, he also brought back colour into Choi Han's life.

Choi Han didn't know if he could live in that monochrome world again. He even started wondering, how could he survive living without Cale. Life goes on, sure, but can just be alive be considered living?

The three of them walked to the entrance.

“Cale-nim. A moment please” Choi Han pulled him back before they talked to the guard.

Cale turned around and suddenly, something fell upon his head, a light cover obstructing his vision. He stared at the black cloth on his head, it was a cloak. Choi Han had put on a cloak around him. Cale looked at Choi Han questioningly.

The black swordsman coughed, “Cale-nim. You're supposedly dead now, and we don't want to alert anyone yet. Even though it's been a long time, some people still remember your appearance”

To keep things low-profile. Cale understood. He nodded and let the two of them lead him toward the entrance.

The guards were a bit wary to see an unknown person approaching them. However, he came along with the Heroes. The emperor made an explicit rule that said all heroes can enter his palace without permission.

So they opened the door and let them inside.

As they walked inside Cale began to feel tired from walking. Why does Alberu’s office have to be located so far away?

“I was meaning to ask. Why don't we teleport directly to the office as usual?”

Choi Han and Raon stared at each other, perplexed.

“There was an assassination attempt a few years ago.”

Cale halted. “Assassination attempt?!”

“It was a close call, but Alberu-nim wasn't hurt, I promise” Choi Han assured.

Cale breathed out in relief.

“But since then, we decided to put an anti-teleportation magic over the palace for extra security”

Cale nodded in silence.

He knew that developing the kingdom into an empire wouldn't be that easy. There will always be risks.

Alberu was born with disadvantages, he had no one to support him during his journey. He had to do a lot of things to overthrow his siblings and gain the title of the crown prince.

Cale knew that Alberu had a lot of assassination attempts when he was young, and it slowed down when he was crowned as the crown prince. But that didn't mean that his assassination attempt stopped, Tasha and the rest of the dark elves in the palace were always protecting Alberu from behind the scenes.

Now that the kingdom has developed into an empire and Alberu had become an emperor, Cale could guess that there will be a lot of people aiming for Alberu’s life, after all the throne of an emperor is quite tempting.

“His majesty is currently having a council in the throne room. Will you go there? Or would the esteemed heroes wait for his majesty in his office?”

“It's important. We’ll go to the throne room” Raon said.

The aide nodded before leading them toward the throne room. They knocked on the door and the heavy wooden door slid open.

Cale feasted his eyes upon the throne room. There were a lot of people sitting at the table in the middle of the room -presumably ministers- as they debated something vehemently.

And there, sitting on the throne, right across the door.

A blond with tired blue eyes was sitting on the throne.

Cale held his breath.

He recalled the sight of his hyung sitting lazily on the couch of his office, bright blue eyes scanning through the paperwork in his hands. The cookie embedded between his lips was moving up and down slightly as the prince munched it down.

He couldn't help comparing his memory of Alberu with the older man sitting on the throne. Alberu’s hair has grown longer, yet it's still as tidy as always. He could see some creases on the blond’s face. Alberu looked different but it didn't seem like he changed much. He’s certainly older but not that old, five or seven years perhaps? Maybe he didn't travel that long to the future after all.

Cale’s tense shoulder slowly relaxed, he didn't even realize it when he breathed out in relief and the tension bled out along with his sigh. Maybe it's because of Raon’s sudden growth, he felt a sudden crisis on how far he goes to the future. A dragon can live for a thousand years. Seeing how big Raon has become, Cale wondered, what if he was thrown a few hundred years into the future? How much has the world changed? How about his friends? His family?

Cale didn't know what to do if he was sent a hundred? Two hundred? years into the future.

Then Choi Han came and Cale found that Choi Han didn't change much, he was exactly as Cale remembered. A young 17-year-old teenager. But Cale knew that Choi Han was a single-lifer and had a much longer lifespan than other people. His appearance wouldn't change because he transmigrated over. So Cale couldn't guess how far he was in the future just by seeing Choi Han’s face.

Now that Cale had seen Alberu, he felt relieved. Except for the kingdom turning into an empire (which was a good thing), the world hasn't changed that much after all. Alberu didn't look old enough to be a grandfather so maybe he wasn't teleported that far to the future. Maybe five? Seven? At most, ten, he was sure.

But on the other hand, it gave him a  sense of urgency. If he didn't travel that far, then how about the war? Have they won the war in such a short time? Or was the war still going on? If it's still going on then there wouldn't be a lot of information he can gather on White Star.

Alberu’s eyes fell upon the group. What a timely help! He was beginning to grow a headache from the ministers' endless bickering. Without any hesitation, he paused the meeting for them

“My dear companion, Raon and my instructor-nim. It's always a pleasure to have you here” ‘You came at a perfect time.’, come unsaid.

“What brought you here today?” He glanced at the cloaked figure standing between his companion, Raon and Choi Han looked protective toward them, “and this fellow is?”

Choi Han stepped up, “Your majesty, we need to have a private talk with you.”

Raon growled and arrogantly pointed at the other people in the room, “Get them out of here”

Alberu was more than happy to do that. He quickly ended the meeting. The ministers wanted to complain about it but how could they stand up against the emperor’s instructor and a mighty dragon? They can just hold their tongues and exit the room.

“Now, are we clear?” Alberu leaned on his throne.

Choi Han pointedly looked at the two guards next to Alberu.

The royal protocol insisted that a monarch should never be without a guard. Alberu wasn't used to it either, and he often left without any guard. However, ever since the Roan Kingdom became an empire, the number of people who want him gone also increased. Alberu couldn't even go out to the city leisurely again.

After one particular assassination attempt, Tasha pushed him to have someone guard him. Alberu relented and picked two of his aunt’s people to become his bodyguard. They're also dark elves in disguise and know about Alberu’s secret.

The bodyguards have become Alberu’s shadow since then. Alberu always brought them to the meetings and dealings. As the emperor’s bodyguards, they knew a lot of the kingdom’s secrets. Alberu trusted them and they were also loyal to him, never divulging the emperor’s secret to anyone.

Now, Choi Han was asking those two bodyguards to leave them alone.

‘It must be a very big secret then’ Alberu noticed, ‘Choi Han didn't even want to let his guards know’

Alberu ordered his guard to stand outside. The guards hesitated for a moment.

“Are you sure, your majesty?”

Alberu nodded, “I trust them” Alberu would never go this far without them in the first place. Choi Han and Raon have no reason to hurt him.

And so they were left alone.

Finally, left with people he trusted, Alberu stretched himself on the throne. It's hard to keep up with royal etiquette all the time. His body felt so stiff sitting on the throne all day.

“So?” he asked languidly, taking an apple from his side table and biting into it,  “What's with all this secrecy? Who is this guy?” He had completely turned off his royal mode.

Cale smiled under his cloak. His hyung-nim hasn't changed at all. Slowly he uncovered his hood, revealing his face to the blond.

He watched as Alberu’s smile turned into a shocked stupid face. The apple in his hand fell out of his hand and rolled down the carpet.

Cale could only offer him an awkward smile, “Long time no see, I suppose. Hyung-nim”

Alberu didn't answer.  He couldn't answer.

He was out of words.

“I heard you're an emperor now. So I guess a congratulation is in order. Congratulations on achieving your long-lost dream, your majesty.”

Cale greeted, but Alberu was quiet. He was still staring at him with a shocked look on his face.

Cale quirkily raised his brow. He bowed politely, crossing his arm on his chest and with his perfect soothing voice, fluently said, “As the empire’s brightest sun, may you continue to shine your blessing upon this empire. May your light continues to protect us from-”

“Okay, that's enough” Alberu cut off. He took a deep shaky breath as he buried his face in the palm of his hand. “I must be dreaming… This must be a dream”

Raon smiled mischievously as he trotted over to the emperor and bonked him on the head, “have you woken up now your majesty?”

Cale was about to stop him, but seeing that Choi Han and Alberu let Raon be, it must have been a normal occurrence for them.

“Yeah…” Alberu answered weakly. He stood up from his seat and in a few good strides, he had completely stood in front of Cale. “Only you dare to talk glibly like that to me Cale Henituse.”

“I don't deserve such words, your majesty. I’m just using your words, after all, my glibness cannot compare to yours''

Alberu smiled amusedly, “You haven't changed at all Cale”

Cale looked at Alberu. The prince that he used to know had grown older. His blue eyes hardened as if he had seen some things that changed him.

“And you, my prince, have changed a lot”

“I did, I supposed” Alberu smiled forlornly. “Damn it, I missed you so much, dongsaeng”

Alberu put his hands on Cale’s shoulder, pulled him into a half-hug and rested his head on Cale's shoulder. He let out a long, relieved sigh.

Alberu didn't react as emotionally as Raon and Choi Han, but from the tight grip on his shoulder and the small stutters of the emperor's breath that he felt on his shoulder, he knew that Alberu's feeling wasn't Any less than Raon's or Choi Han's.

Cale just stayed quiet, giving Alberu time to process all of this in silence.

Alberu let out a cut-off breath. Then slowly, Alberu's grip on Cale's shoulder tightened.

Cale quickly noticed the change in Alberu. He wanted to step away from him but Alberu’s grip on him was too strong, he could feel Alberu’s finger digging into his skin. Cale winced, he felt like his shoulder was about to be crushed.

“You little bastard. Tell me why you did that?” His voice was low and strained, barely a whisper and filled with a lot of restrained emotions. But for the keen swordsman and the sharp-hearing dragon, those words are as clear as the sky. Their faces twisted along with Alberu's words.

“When you did that, did you know that you’ll come back to us?”

The grip on his shoulder kept on tightening, chill coming from the blond's grip on his hand, either from his cut-off blood circulation or from the anger, the frustration that was radiating from the older blond in front of him

From dongsaeng to little bastard. Cale knew that Alberu was pissed off, knew that something had set him off like this. But for the love of god, Cale didn't know what it was!

With a strained voice, Cale asked, “What did I do?”

Suddenly the pressure on his shoulder disappeared. Alberu broke off the hug and stared at him with consternation. Choi Han and Raon were also looking at him with the same looks on their faces.

“You don't remember….”, Alberu’s eyes sharpened, as sharp as a sword that could skin the enemy to their bones.

Cale gulped, he could sense Alberu’s gaze boring into him.

A moment that felt like forever passed before Alberu’s gaze softened, “Or maybe you never knew about it in the first place,” he said, a confirmation rather than a question. The hand on his shoulder loosened and he patted him a few times. “And you have no reason to remember it, let the past be the past. Anyway, we’re glad to have you back dongsaeng.” the emperor pulled him into a hug,

“Welcome back, Cale”

Chapter Text

With Alberu on their side, he quickly summoned the rest of the heroes to gather back in the palace. He didn't even hesitate to send them a teleportation scroll that could teleport them back to the palace in an instant.

Cale knew that teleportation scrolls cost a lot of gold and Alberu had just sent them away like a greeting card. 

Damn, he was feeling bad when he recalled the pile of golden plaque on his grave but now seeing Alberu burning money like this Cale couldn't help but wonder how rich his hyung has become. 

He must be rich right? He’s the emperor after all. 

“All right, now that’s finished all we have to do is wait for them. It should be quick, maybe a few minutes, the longest estimation should be two hours.”

They were sitting on one of the comfiest couches in the palace. It must be new since Cale didn't remember his hyung having this kind of couch in his office. The table in front of them was filled with delicious food and snacks as if they were having a feast. Well, they are calling everyone here, after all, it's normal to serve this much food to welcome everyone when they're back. Yet Cale didn't know that almost all of the food in front of him was his favourites or at least some Rain-city speciality dishes. 

Raon was busy munching on his food as he sat on Cale’s lap. The boy was peacefully leaning on Cale’s chest as if he wanted to bury himself in his favourite human’s scent. 

Next to Cale was Choi Han, he was sitting so close to him that their shoulder was practically touching, even though there was a lot of space on the couch. 

Alberu just watched amusedly across from him. He cut off some meat from his plate, stab it with his fork and serve it in front of Cale’s mouth, “have more meat dongsaeng”

Cale’s eye twitched, Alberu was trying to feed him, isn't this too much? “Hyung, I'm not hungry”

“Eat the meat, human. It's delicious” Raon insisted. 

Cale sighed as he opened his mouth and ate the meat. 

Suddenly Cale felt the aura in the room twist. What is it? It felt like magic. Was it mana? But how could it be? He wasn't a mage. He shouldn't be able to feel mana like this. 

"This is the anti-magic spell that's implemented in the palace Cale-nim." Choi Han explained, "it will tell everyone nearby when magic has been cast."

Ah, another layer of defence from the palace.

Alberu’s lips curled upward, “The first one is finally here”

Raon’s flicked his ears, “It's Rosalyn”

A knock on the door and the aide announced her presence, “Your majesty, the archmage has arrived.”

“Send her in”

The door opened and revealed a beautiful red-haired woman, donned in a long white archmage robe. The glasses on her face glinted as she entered the room. Her long red hair swayed as Rosalyn walked gracefully. 

“What’s with the summons Alberu? I told you I’ll have the spell for the forestation ready in -”

Her words were cut off as she saw a familiar redhead sitting on the sofa. 

The woman's graceful walk staggered, she quickly held onto the couch for support and clenched her eyes. 

“Rosalyn, are you okay?” 

“Yes, I think the exhaustion finally got into me." She took off her glasses and began pinching and squeezing the bridge of her nose, "I think I just hallucinate something”

The emperor grinned. “Then maybe you should look again”

Cale silently rolled his eyes, his hyung is having too much fun with this. 

Rosalyn looked up.

It wasn't a hallucination. Cale was sitting right there. 

“C-cale?”

“Hello Rosalyn”

The mage’s breath stuttered. 

“I…. I need to sit down” Rosalyn said and she didn't even bother to search for a proper seat, she quickly fell onto the couch arm. Her face looked a bit pale as she clenched her eyes and leaned back on the couch. 

When she looked up, Cale could see traces of tears in the corner of her eyes. 

“You’re alive. How?” She asked in a strained voice, 

“Was it an ancient power?” 

She knew that Cale has a lot of Ancient power within him. Maybe he has one that he hasn't told the group yet? A special ancient power that could somehow revive him from death. 

Cale shook his head. “It's a divine artefact” 

“Was it the God of Death-” 

Alberu was about to ask him when the magic in the room twisted once again. 

Cale, knowing the drill now, looked at the door. 

Soon a figure covered in a black cloak entered the room. Cale could see dark veins that spread like black spider webs from beneath the cloak. 

It was Mary

“Mary!” Raon happily called out to her. 

The necromancer smiled at the familiar voice, she was about to reply to Raon with a greeting when she turned toward Raon she froze. 

She was looking at Raon

More especially, on the person, Raon was sitting at. 

Cale watched as Mary’s face froze in shock. However, when he was about to greet her, he watched as Mary’s face twisted into fury. 

The necromancer closed their distance in a few quick strides. She slammed her hands on the couch back, trapping Cale’s head between her arms. Her eyes were fuming as she glared at Cale. 

“Who did this?”

“Huh?”

“Who resurrected you?” Mary asked with a seething voice and Cale could hear her finger cracking next to his head. 

Mary recalled all of the years she had spent researching a spell to bring Cale back to life. Mary knew what she was doing was against the law of the universe. People die and you can’t bring them back to life. But she’s a necromancer, it was her role as a necromancer to defy the law of the universe to bring the dead back to life. After all, isn't that the reason why the necromancer was hunted and persecuted? If there was anyone in the group that could revive Cale from death, she had the most chances.

So Mary spent years researching for a spell to bring Cale back to life. All this time, her power was limited to reviving bones into a skeleton. After all these years of experiments, Mary is finally able to revive a freshly dead body into a zombie. It was a great breakthrough. 

However, it wasn't enough. 

All her zombie experiments were revived as her puppets, just a servant waiting for their master’s order. But that wasn't what Mary wanted. Mary wanted to revive Cale as himself, not as her puppet. 

And so she returned to her research.  

Her research showed that she was missing one thing, the soul. After people die then their soul leaves, leaving their bodies empty, devoid of a soul. Mary used that void and filled it with her magic, essentially bringing the zombie back to ‘life’. Mary realised that all of her research was useless when she found out about this.

Cale has been dead for years, does his body still have his soul in it? Mary doesn't know, she didn't want to know. The truth is, it was easy to check if Cale’s soul was still intact, all Mary had to do was cast her spell on Cale’s body and if it works that meant Cale’s body was empty and his soul was gone, but if the spell doesn't work then it proves that his soul is still there. 

Like a Schrodinger cat, all you have to do is open the box to check if the cat is dead or alive. 

But Mary does not want to open the box.

She didn't want to open the box because she was scared. She was scared of the probability that Cale’s soul was already gone and there was no possibility to revive him ever again. If the box stays closed, then Mary could comfort herself that there was some probability that Cale’s soul was still inside his body, waiting for Mary to revive him. 

Mary has spent years debating, thinking, and researching….

Only to see someone managed to get to Cale before her. 

All those years of work…..

Mary gritted her teeth. “I've spent decades trying to find a spell that could resurrect you. I can't believe someone did it before me. 

“Mary, wait” Cale quickly said, “I’m still alive”

“No, you were dead!”

“No, Mary I’m alive.”Cale reached out his hand and touched the necromancer’s cheek, “See, still warm.”

Mary finally calmed down, “You're…. Alive?”

Cale nodded. 

“Not a zombie?”

Cale shook his head. 

Then suddenly she used her fingers to pry open Cale’s eyes, “Bright and clear” she assessed before pulling her hand back. 

Cale promptly closed his eyes, “Mary, what in the world.”

As if triggered by something, Mary began checking every part of Cale’s body. She pried open his mouth with her fingers.

“Aaa-ry-”

“No stiff tongues”

“Mary, stop-” Suddenly Mary covered his mouth with his hand. Cale gave an indignant huff. 

“I can feel the breath.”

Then lastly, she shoved her head onto Cale’s chest. 

“And a constant heartbeat.”

She pulled back out, 

“You're alive,” she concluded. 

“Thank you for telling me that” Cale huffed, straightening the creases on his clothes. 

Mary still looked at him doubtfully, “You were not resurrected?”

“No.”

“But you were dead”

Cale frustratingly rubbed his neck, “I guess?”

“And now you’re alive.”

Mary turned her attention to the group. Rosalyn looked just as shocked as her. Choi Han and Raon didn't seem to care, they seemed like they were happy enough to have Cale return to them. Lastly Alberu, the emperor looked as calm as ever. She turned to look at Alebru, the one she judged to have the most understanding in this situation. 

Alberu shrugged, “Don't ask me, I don't know anything”

Just as Mary was about to ask Cale, the magic in the room twisted again. 

This time, Cale could hear the heavy stomping footsteps behind the door. Who could it be? Cale did not recall his friend having footsteps like that. 

The door opened before the guards could announce his arrival. 

Cale looked at the huge muscled grey-haired man with a calm yet fierce look on his face. He was wearing a thick fur coat which made his muscled body look even more majestic. He looked like a war general who had won countless battles.

Who the fuck is he?

Cale was flabbergasted, he didn't know this guy. He had never seen this man before in his entire life. So who is he and how is he here?

The man’s blue eyes scanned through the room and Cale watched as those eyes sharpened as they landed on him. 

Cale stiffened. Those eyes reminded him of a predator looking at their prey, and now those eyes are looking at him. 

“You….” the man’s rough voice called out to him and Cale felt his heart start beating fast from anxiety. An unfamiliar face, an unfamiliar voice, he really didn't know who in the world this man was. 

The man’s eyes suddenly turned soft and tears began to pool in the corner of his eyes. 

Wait… he’s… crying?!?!

Cale was completely confused. 

Then before he could make out who in the world this guy is, the man suddenly lunged at him. 

“Wait-”

Raon skillfully floated himself out of Cale’s lap just in time to avoid the man. However, that means Cale was left out defenceless and he was powerless as the man pulled him into his arms and began to cry his heart out. 

Cale’s body was completely stiff as he let this unknown man hug him out of the blue. He could feel the man’s tears wetting his shirt. His eyes were darting around the room, looking at his friend one by one, asking for help.

Alberu could see Cale asking for help with his eyes and judging from his confusion it was clear that Cale didn't recognize the man. 

The emperor chuckled, “You are a crybaby as ever Lock. No one would have ever expected the ferocious wolf king would be crying like this behind closed doors.”

Cale’s jaw dropped, and his eyes went wide as a saucer as he inspected the man hugging him tightly like he was his lifeline. 

This man… was Lock?

Lock’s cries finally calmed down and the man - the ferocious wolf king as Alberu said- sniffled and with his now red swollen eyes, looked at Cale. 

Only after Alberu told him the man was Lock, Cale could see the faint traces of the small lanky boy he knew. If Alberu hadn't told him, Cale would never expect that this man in front of him was Lock.

“Lock?”

“Cale-nim” the man’s lips quivered lightly as he called his name.

The man was Lock. Cale couldn't stop the heavy feeling in his heart. Lock had changed a lot. It wasn't a change that could be achieved in a mere two or three years. 

His calculation was wrong.

He didn't realise it but his voice was trembling a little when he turned his head to the group and asked. 

“What year is it now?”

The group looked at each other and solemnly Choi Han answered.

“It’s year 813 of Felix Calendar, Cale-nim”

Cale’s breath stopped. 

It was 783 of Felix's Calendar when he was sent over to the future. 

783… to 813…

Does this mean he was sent thirty years to the future?

Chapter Text

Thirty years?!?!

…

What the fuck!

Cale felt like he was going crazy. Thirty years?! He was sent thirty years to the future?!

A lot of things could happen in thirty years. A kingdom could have turned into an empire. A magic tower could have made two or three new grand defensive spells. A baby dragon could have grown into a giant adult dragon. A young lanky man could have grown into the ferocious wolf king.

Now that he thought about it, the world has changed a lot. The Forest of Darkness was no longer as dangerous as it used to be. At the time, he thought it was because he was with Raon -a mighty dragon- and Choi Han, that no monster dared to attack them. But now it might be possible that there were no longer monsters left in the Forest of Darkness.

And the kingdom… no, the empire. The change in Roan Royal Palace wasn't something that could be achieved by a  mere two or three years. Even if Alberu focused all of his gold and made the mages help with the palace construction.

Turns out thirty years have passed.

Why did he never think of that? Why did he think that he was teleported two or three years into the future?

He glanced at Alberu.

Especially looking at the ‘young’ emperor Alberu.

That's right. Isn't it because of this dearest ‘hyung’ of him?

Alberu, sensing Cale’s gaze, tilted his head questioningly.

Cale irritatedly pointed at Alberu, “You should be fifty-three”

Alberu choked on his tea, and the tea dripped out of his mouth uncouthly, “I am fifty-three dongsaeng”

“You don't look fifty-three?!!!”

“Should I take that as a compliment?” Alberu sighed as he wiped his mouth, “Besides, have you forgotten who I am, dongsaeng?”

Cale felt like he wanted to slap himself. He had forgotten that Alberu had dark-elf blood in him. Elves live longer than humans, even though Alberu was only one-fourth dark elves, which means he has a longer lifespan than normal humans. It was also possible that he inherited his youth from his dark elves' blood.

Cale looked at Choi Han. Choi Han didn't change much.

Choi Han scratched his cheek, nervously. “Um…. I don't know what happened. It is what it is…” he shrugged his hand helplessly. He couldn't age. He didn't know the reason why but he has never grown older ever since he arrived in this world.

Cale knew that because Choi Han was the protagonist in the novel he must've had something that made him always stay young.

Cale looked at Mary. Mary also hasn't changed much.

The necromancer calmly said, “My body is technically dead because of the dead mana. I don't know if I could even age.”

Cough…. That's true…

Cale looked at Rosalyn. Rosalyn also did not age that much, that's why he thought he was teleported only two or three years in the future. But now that thirty years have passed, how could Rosalyn stay that young? According to his knowledge, Rosalyn should be fifty-four years old now.

Cale looked at Rosalyn, asking for an explanation.

Rosalyn just smiled back at him, keeping her silence.

“Ah! Rosalyn-noona stopped her ageing with magic” Raon quipped. The dragon finally found out that Cale was distressed because they didn't look old!

Rosalyn looked like she had been dealt critical damage.

“Raoonnn” she  let out a scary smile as she pulled the boy into her hand, “you're getting really chatty today”

The dragon squirmed out of Rosalyn’s hand and floated on the ceiling.

Cale recalled the giant dragon he met when he first came out. He looked at Raon, “Raon, how old are you?”

Raon was six years old in his original timeline, so he should be thirty-six now.

The boy, a small young teenage boy, looked at him and with an innocent smirk said, “I’m thirty-six years old now!”

“Why didn't you tell me that?” if he had told him that he was thirty-six then he would know how far he was in the future!

The dragon looked like he'd been wronged, “But human, you asked me what year it was now, not my age.”

Cough… it seemed like he did ask that.

Sigh… he really asked the wrong question.

Cale let out a long sigh as he massaged his temple. Thirty years… he never expected to be sent so far in the future.

But the bright side was the kingdom-no empire- looked thriving now.

Wait, he couldn't assume that. He had just been in the future for only a few hours at most. He didn't know the empire’s condition right now. Are they still at war? Or was the war already ended?  Did they win? Or did they lose? If they win, how did they manage to win against White Star?

Cale remembered his mission, finding out any information about the war and White Star. Thirty years is a long time to be at war, but Cale knew that great wars could last for decades.

He clenched his hand and turned toward the group, “How about the war?”

Choi Han calmly drank his tea, “There has been no war in Roan  Empire for almost two decades”

ALberu just smiled at him yet Cale could see the faint coldness in his smile, “Which war are you talking about, dongsaeng?”

Cale felt that something was strange, but he couldn't find what it was. It felt like he was standing on thin ice, and taking a single step would crack the ice under him, plunging him into a sea of merciless cold and darkness.

Cale hesitated, but he was a man with a mission.

He couldn't back down.

“It’s the White Star”

Suddenly the temperature in the room dropped into a chilling cold. Cale felt like the ice under him cracked and he fell into the freezing water down below.

Everyone’s face turned cold and dark at the mere mention of White Star’s name.

A low growl echoed from the ceiling, it was Raon. his face twisted into a snarl as a low growl escaped from his lips. “White Star is dead”

“But he’s a reincarnat-”

Raon’s blue eyes turned fierce as they reverted to their reptilian form, a chilling murderous aura emanating from those black slits.

“He’s dead! His soul is destroyed, never to be reincarnated ever again!” He snarled.

Cale’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. This was the first time he ever saw Raon so furious like this. He turned toward the group, silently asking for answers from anyone else.

But everyone stayed silent as if something had stolen their voices.

“Then the war?”

“We won the war, Cale-nim” Choi Han’s voice was strained as he answered him. “We… we won”

Choi Han's strained answer sent doubt into Cale's heart.

They won? Then why did he look so sad about it?

Was it a lie?

No. Cale silently shook his head. Choi Han can't lie. He will know if Choi Han lied to him.

That means that the fact that they won the war must be true.

Cale took a deep breath and he felt the cold tension in his body slowly melted away. It felt like the weight in his heart had been lifted.

Judging by the group’s reaction, he thought that they were still at war and the war lasted for thirty years. He was relieved to learn that they won the war.

Now that he has confirmed their victory against White Star, he has to find out how they managed to defeat him.

With hopeful joy in his voice, he asked, “How do we win the war?”

The room’s temperature turned even colder.

With his unsmiling smile, Alberu answered, “It was thanks to everyone’s effort-”

Cale’s lips twitched. He's here for an answer, for a method, not a perfunctory book-like answer from Alberu.

“I mean how do you kill White Star”

Choi Han’s sword rattled next to him. The swordsman’s eyes were so cold as he asked, “The important thing is the fact that he's dead. Why do you need to know about it so much, Cale-nim?”

Cale could feel that the atmosphere was not right, so he decided to tell the group the truth.

He told them about the God of Time’s artefact and how they planned to use it to find a way to defeat White Star when he was accidentally sent to the future.

Alberu calmly listened to his whole explanation. Holding his right hand in front of his nonexistent smile, his blue eyes were glinting coldly.

“So you were sent here from the past to find out how we managed to defeat White Star?”

“Yes!” Cale knew that Alberu would understand him.

Alberu’s fingers tapping on his knees slowly, “Then dongsaeng, I assume that you would use that method to defeat White Star when you return to the past?”

“Yes?” Isn't that obvious?

The whole room fell even colder.

Alberu’s smile was brimming with murder. Raon looked hurt, he was staring at Cale in disbelief. Lock clenched his hand and gritted his teeth. Rosalyn looked pale as a sheet and Mary was silent, her hand clutching the edge of her robe tightly.

“Cale-nim…” Choi Han’s voice was as cold as ice.

Alberu suddenly stood up, “I decided, as the emperor, anyone who tells Cale Henituse about the battle of puzzle city will be imprisoned for life.”

Cale’s jaw dropped.

“Alberu!” Cale stood up from his seat, glaring at the now-emperor Alberu.

What does this mean? Why would Alberu punish anyone who told him about the war? If he did this… then wouldn’t that mean no one would dare to tell him how to defeat White Star?

Alberu returned Cale’s stare.

And Cale understood.

Alberu did this on purpose. He doesn't want him to know how to defeat White Star.

Cale gritted his teeth, “You can’t do this to me!”

“You have no more war to fight for Cale, the world is at peace now”

“My world is still at wa-”

“But you’re here.” Alberu said as if it was everything that matters, “and that is the most important thing”

Cale felt a chill running down his veins as he stared at the crazed almost obsessed look on Alberu’s face.

“You’re crazy” Cale turned around, trying to find anyone to support him. To answer his question and to agree with him that Alberu has gone too far.

Yet all he saw was the same cold-crazed look

Cale took a shaky breath.

They were all on Alberu’s side.

Cale’s face turned serious, he felt so betrayed by them.“Are you all serious?”

Rosalyn stood up from her seat, “A God’s artefact, was it? You will have to excuse me first, I have to return to my tower to do some research”

“Rosalyn” Cale almost pleaded. Rosalyn was the most rational woman he ever knew, cale was hoping that she understood his purpose and supported him on this.

Mary stood up next, “I will help you, Rosalyn”

“Mary, please…”

Lock stood up next, “Pardon me… I will have to contact Bud”

“Lock….”

One by one everyone was leaving.

Choi Han looked at him disappointedly and just left like that wordlessly.

“Guys!” Cale shouted at the door, helpless as he watched his friend leave one by one.

A hand rested on his shoulder, it was Alberu. He looked at him with an understanding yet pitying look on his face. How could he make such a face when it was his imperial edict that caused this situation?

“Alberu-Hyung, you can't do this to me” Cale rarely plays the hyung card, but this time he used it to plead with Alberu.

“Sorry Cale, I have work to do. I have to publicise my edict to the whole empire. You can stay as long as you want here.”

And he left.

Cale felt breathless. He stared at the door, watching as everyone left.

No… not everyone.

As he turned around he saw a young teenager black haired boy. Raon has come down from floating around the ceiling. The boy’s head was tilted down and his black hair was covering his face.

“Raon”

At Cale’s call, the boy lifted his head.

And Cale felt his heart stop.

Raon’s blue eyes were brimming with unshed tears. His trembling lips were red as he bit on it.

And without even saying goodbye the boy left the room.

Chapter Text

Cale let out a long sigh as he lay on the spacious bed in one of the guest rooms in the palace. The room was very luxurious, even more luxurious than a normal guestroom. It can be seen that the room was usually reserved for VIPs or a special occasion.

Cale blinked at the ceiling, one arm draped over his face.

He never expected his friend to react like that.

At first, he thought that this would be a very troublesome mission. After all, he didn't know which year he was going to and he still had to gather information about the war all by himself. However when he found out that the kingdom thrived and seemed peaceful, not only that he also found that his old gangs are still living well in Roan, Cale sincerely thought that he wouldn't face any trouble digging for any information regarding the war.  

His friends' reactions completely shattered his expectations.

Cale let out a long sigh disappointedly. However, as the gear in his mind turned, he began to wonder, what could have pushed his friends so far that they wouldn't speak anything about the war to him. What happened that his friends would rather bury it deep in their hearts rather than tell him about it?

The answer was clear.

The sight of his coffin was clear in his mind.

Did he…. Did he die then?

Did he die… during the war?

Cale doesn't know what to feel about that.

As someone who came from an apocalyptic world, death has become a common occurrence. Especially ever since his two best friend’s departure, he has also prepared his heart for the inevitable death.

However, fate sent him into this world. Into this… book, where he ended up as one of the minor villains in it.  

Cale didn't know what happened in between but he ended up befriending a bunch of people, adopting a few kids, and now he’s stuck in the future trying to find a way to save their kingdom from the war.

And apparently, he died in the end?

Despite all the things that he had done...

...he died in the end?

He… doesn't know how to feel about that.

Waking up inside a coffin was shocking, but so many things happened that he hadn't had much time to process all of this information.

Now as he lay on the bed, staring at the canopy ceiling, the truth began to dawn upon him.

He died….

In the future, he will die.

A cold shudder ran through his lungs and he inhaled a long deep breath.

Cale’s reddish brown eyes flickered.  What should he do now?

The future seemed like a peaceful time, and his -now older- friends are eager to keep him by their side forever.

But he can't stay.

Bud said so himself. The time varies between people, but in the end, they will return to their own time.

He can't stay here. Not that he won't. He can't.

The fact didn't change. No matter what they do, he will return to the past sooner or later.

Cale’s eyes slowly slid close. His breath slowly evened out as he made his decision.

He bit his lips, he knew that by doing this he would disappoint his friends. But they’re not ‘his’ friends. His real friends are still waiting for him in the past. The future Cale is dead, he could never replace his future self.

NOthing’s changed. His mission stays the same. Find a way to defeat White Star.

Knowledge is power. Just as he used the knowledge of the novel to his benefit, if he knows exactly how he died in the future, then he can avoid it when the time comes in the future.

With his newfound conviction, Cale rose from the bed.

His mission today is to gather information.

For that, there’s one place where he could find information about the history of the kingdom. An important place which is conveniently located in the same building he’s in.

The Roan Palace’s Grand Library. The library contains years of the kingdom's history, it must have the record of the war thirty years ago.

Even though the palace has changed a lot, some vital rooms never change places. One of them was the library.

As Cale walked toward the library he could see every person who passed him would bow their head respectfully. Some of them looked at him fearfully, some curiously, and some with reverence.

As a dead man who just came back alive, Cale expected that he would cause chaos wherever he goes. However, none of them approached him nor spoke to him. He has some hunches that might have something to do with this dearest hyung of his. Did Alberu say something to them?

As Cale arrived at the library, he could see a group of servants moving in and out of the library with books in their hands.

They were moving the books out of the library.

One of the servants noticed him and he respectfully bowed his head, crossing his arms in his chest politely.

“Greetings Sir Cale, Grand Commander of Roan.” Then his eyes glanced toward the space behind him, “Also Raon-nim, Protector of Roan”

Hearing Raon’s name, Cale quickly turned around. As the servant said, standing behind him was a familiar black-haired boy. His lips were pouting and as if sensing Cale’s glances, his blue eyes sullenly glanced back.

“When did you get here?”

“Stupid human, I never left,” Raon grumbled sulkily.

Invisibility, Cale recalled.

“Did you follow me from the hall?”

The pout on the dragon’s cheek inflated, “I’ve been here ever since you left the office”

Cale blinked. That means Raon has been with him all this time, and he never noticed that.

The servant glanced at the two of them, “How may I help you today?”

Cale hummed, glancing at the thick books getting carried out of the library.

“What are you doing with the books?”

“The emperor ordered us to burn these books”

Cale’s eyes twitched. “Burns?”

“Yes, apparently they contain misinformation and a new batch of books has been ordered to replace them.”

Cale saw the pile of thick books, judging by the Royal Roan Kingdom symbol on the cover of the book Cale guessed that it was one of the history books that he wanted.

He was too late.

Alberu had beat him to the punch.

Cale watched as a mage stepped forward and set the books on fire.  The servant quickly wiped the ashes away and thus years of Roan history disappeared into the ground.

Cale’s eyes twitched.

Hyung, isn't this too much?

Cale recalled the story of the sleeping beauty. To avoid the princess’ curse the king orders to burn all the spinning needles in the kingdom.

Alberu’s action was exactly how the king did.

But did burning all the spinning needles stop Aurora from pricking her finger?

No.

It was bold for Alberu to assume that this will stop him.

Even though this unexpected roadblock didn't deter Cale’s determination from finding out the truth, it shows how crazy Alberu was and how far he will go to stop Cale at all costs.

This is getting ridiculous.

Alberu didn't expect everyone to go along with his whim, right? Even though he’s the emperor, he couldn't just hide a part of history forever. But he’s the emperor now, so it might be difficult to find someone who would dare disobey his order

He needs someone more powerful than Alberu, someone who wouldn't bow down to Alberu’s threat and also knew about the war.

A light bulb blinks.

There is one person.

Someone more powerful than Alberu, someone who is not afraid of Alberu’s edict and also old enough to know about the war.

Erunhaben,

Erunhaben as the oldest dragon in the continent wouldn't bow down to a human emperor like Alberu. And he also old enough to know about the war

Now that he thought about it, Erunhaben didn't come when Alberu gathered the group.

Time to look for Erunhaben

It's a big possibility that Erunhaben would stay at the Stone Rock Villa. Maybe he could find him there, and if he didn't, nevertheless the villa is a good place to start.

“Raon, can you teleport me to the Villa?”

“The Villa? Why would you want to go to the villa?”

Cale couldn't say that he was going to look for Erunhaben and ask him about the war in front of Raon right? Especially after Raon reacted like that.

“I just want to look around the villa”

“But there's nobody there right now.”

Cale was taken aback, “No one’s there?”

“Yes, the cookie prince summoned everyone to the palace yesterday, remember?”

But Erunhaben wasn't there.

“Then how about Erunhaben?”

“Human, are you looking for Goldie Grandpa?”

“Yes” Cale swallowed

“Goldie Gramps isn't  at the Villa, he’s back at Mount Yellia”

Mount Yellia? Wasn't that the place where Eruhaben’s old lair was? Cale thought Eruhaben would never return to his old lair after it got ransacked by Arm.

“Why is Eruhaben staying in Mount Yellia instead of the Villa”

“Because it's his final resting place, Cale-nim” A voice suddenly cut him off.

It was Choi Han. Cale didn't realise how long the man stood there, so close to them. But Cale didn't focus on Choi Han’s mysterious appearance, he was focused on Choi Han’s words.

Cale felt his tongue go dry, his body faltered a bit as he tried to feint a laugh.

It was the funniest joke he heard ever since he came here…

It must be a joke….

right?

“Final resting place…. What do you mean by that, Choi Han?’

Choi Han pursed his lips, his eyes were forlorn as he stared back at Cale.

“Erunhaben-nim died two years after your passing, Cale-nim.”

Cale’s heart thumped painfully.

“Erunhaben-nim …is dead?”

Choi Han nodded. The swordsman glanced at Raon and patted his fluffy head.

“Raon-nim, I know we just visited Eruhaben-nim this year, but let's go visit him again. This time we’ll bring Cale-nim with us”

“Is it okay?” Raon asked, the pouts on his face had disappeared, replaced by  a hint of nervousness, “What if he got hurt?”

“With you and me, no one will be able to touch him.”

“You’re right!” The dragon broke into a grin and with a snap of his fingers, their surroundings started to twist as they teleported away.

When Cale opened his eyes, he found himself standing before Erunhaben’s old lair in Mount Yelia.

He never thought that he would return here

He stepped into the lair and he immediately felt an incredible aura wrapping around his body.

The lair was strangely bright, and then Cale noticed the air… it was sparkling.

No, it was dust. Golden dust.

Cale looked up and his heart trembled.

The lair was filled with golden dust.

he recalled Erunhaben explaining to him what would happen when a dragon reached the end of their life. A dragon that does not live out its entire life like Olienne would start to rot like any other living form. But those who finish their thousand years of life would have the most beautiful death, they would shine brightly before turning into dust as they return to the earth.

So… this dust must be.

“We’re here, Goldie gramps,” Raon said, “I know I just visited you last year but this time is an exception, Cale’s back! Our human is back!”

Cale didn't move, no he couldn't move. He could only stand there frozen and watch as Raon began chattering to the air. The boy happily recounted everything that had happened with a smile on his face just like it was a normal thing to do.

But for Cale, it was anything but normal.

His hand reached out to the air, grazing against the bright speckles with his fingertips and in that instant even though he isn't a mage, he could feel a large amount of mana coursing through his body through his fingertips.

At that moment he knew it wasn't just a normal human mana, Cale had felt a similar thing when he took the white crown from a dragon’s corpse in the poisonous swamp in the forbidden forest. It was a dragon mana, a powerful dragon mana.

It’s Eruhaben’s mana.

It is Eruhaben itself.

At that moment the weight of reality finally sunk into himself. Eruhaben is gone. Eruhaben is dead.

Just as he was.

He recalled the dragon’s blond hair when they first met. The dragon was so arrogant, so full of himself, at least until he met Raon. Cale still remembers how Eruhaben’s golden eyes blinked in astonishment as he watched a baby dragon and a tired human interact like they were family.

He recalled how Eruhaben first joined their party.

Maybe he joined because of curiosity, or maybe he joined because he saw himself as Raon’s guardian. But before they knew it, Eruhaben had become an irreplaceable pillar of their group.

Cale has lost count of how many times the dragon had saved him over and over again.

His golden eyes would look at him with unveiled concern. His sharp barbed tongue could not hide the worry in his words.

“Unlucky Bastard”

Before Cale knew it, the familiar insult was no longer an insult, instead, it was filled with concern and worry and love the dragon had for him. How long was it? When did he realise that the insults had slowly become a word of endearment?

“Unlucky Bastard”

Cale recalled Erunhaben’s insult/ endearment words as they gathered to talk about the God of Time’s artefact.

“Unlucky Bastard.”

He never expected that it would be the last time he ever heard of these words.

Because Erunhaben is dead,

And with that, there will be no one who would call him with those words again.

“Cale-nim”

Cale woke up with a shudder of his breath. A call of his name cut him off his reverie. As he turned around, he saw Choi Han with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand, hastily tied with a black cloth that seemed like it had been ripped out from the swordsman’s coat.

Cale didn’t even notice him breaking off the group. He must’ve gone outside to pick some wildflowers as an offering.

Choi Han put the flower by the entrance. “Erunhaben-nim… Cale-nim is back with us. I hope you can see him now.”

Choi Han’s voice was so gentle, a faint smile curled up on his lips. The swordsman closed his eyes for prayer before standing up again. Finally, he offered one stalk of flower to Cale,

“Cale-nim, do you want to…?”

An offering, Cale realised. He took the flower and knelt down in Choi Han’s previous spot. Seeing the flower in his hand, the golden dust in the air, and the piles of offerings on the corner of the cave. Cale still couldn't believe it. His mind, his rationale, accepted what had happened, but his heart couldn't. He still couldn't believe that the old golden dragon that he knew had already left this world.

“How…” the words stuck in his throat, “How could this happen?”

Sadness flitted through Choi Han’s eyes as he cast his gaze away from Cale’s eyes. He gazed at the wall of the cavern emptily. “It was just time, Cale-nim. Eruhaben-nim is so old, older than all of us.”

Cale knew. A dragon had around a hundred years for their lifespan and Cale had met Eruhaben when he had nearly reached his end of life.

“But…but we gave him the cup”

The cup of life, an ancient artefact that Cale painstakingly took from Wind Island. It was said that it could prolong people’s life, hence the reason why Cale took it in the first place. He wanted to prolong Eruhaben’s life.

So why?

Why is Eruhaben dead?

As if sensing the turmoil in his emotion, Choi Han let out a sigh.

“It was not your fault Cale-nim. It was nobody’s fault. Maybe we just… overestimated the cup’s power.” Choi Han looked sorrowful as he recalled the event from thirty years ago.

“In the last thirty years, I’ve come to learn some things.” Choi Han’s lips curled into a soft smile, his gaze was gentle as he saw Raon still chirping by himself among the golden dust. “Instead of lamenting what had happened, it is better to reminisce on the good memories.  That way we will always remember all the good times we spent with them.”

Cale pursed his lips. Rather than lamenting Eruhaben’s death… is it better to cherish the good memories he had of him?

Cale still couldn't let go of the heavy feeling in his heart. However, when he recalled the dragon’s smile and the feeling of his firm hand caressing his head, Cale felt like the heaviness in his heart lightened up a bit.

With Eruhaben’s smile in his memories, he laid down his flower amongst the pile of flowers, right next to Choi Han's bouquet.

When he stood up his eyes met with Choi Han and the swordsman was looking at him with the gentlest smile he ever saw.

“Thank you, Cale-nim” Choi Han said gratefully. ‘Thank you for coming back to us’ goes unsaid.

Cale was somewhat caught off guard by that unexpected grateful smile. The redhead fake a cough and asked. “Eruhaben… how is he… you know during his last moment?”

“Unfortunately,  none of us were by his side when he passed.”

Cale was surprised, he was out of words. What happened? How could Eruhaben die without anyone by his side?

“Eruhaben-nim… was like a cat. Do you know that a cat tends to isolate themselves when they felt their death is coming, Cale-nim? That's what happened.” Choi Han sighed, “I think Eruhaben-nim already had a feeling that his time is near. At that time, he said that he wanted to visit his friend and that it might take some time till he could return. We never suspected a thing. We all bid him goodbye and told him to return soon.”

“But he never did.” Choi Han said in a strained voice, “Three months since our last contact, we began to search for him. We looked for him everywhere. You think for a thousand-year-old dragon he would be easy to be found.”  Choi Han shook his head, “But we never found him, that is until we stumbled upon his old lair and found…this” he gestured at the floating dust around them. “At that time we realised what had happened.”

Cale watched as Choi Han pursed his lips, trying to hold his emotion in, “Well, maybe Eruhaben-nim didn't want to make us sad with his departure, maybe he didn't want to burden us to clean up after his… passing. But yeah… it happened. For some reason, he chose to spend the last moment of his life alone inside his old lair.”

“I see…” There were a lot of questions that Cale wanted to ask, but seeing how hard it was for Choi Han to keep himself in check, Cale decided to only ask one last thing

“Was he…Did he... Do you think.... he suffered?”

Choi Han shook his head, “As you can see, Cale-nim” He reached out his hand and twirled the golden dust between his fingertips,

“I believe he passed away peacefully”

Chapter Text

Alberu smiled as he twirled the pen in his hand, “So he went to Eruhaben’s lair.”

“Yes” Choi Han reported.“He must've been looking for Erunhaben-nim to ask about the war”

“As expected of him, I knew he wouldn't give up that easily.”

Choi Han glanced at the piles of reports on the emperor’s table. Amongst the he could see Alberu’s newest edict, the edict to prevent Cale from learning about the truth from thirty years ago.

“Has there been news from Lock?” Choi Han asked.

The smile on Alberu’s face faltered. He picked up a letter from the pile and shoved it to the swordsman, with a sneer on his face, he said, “He’s gone”

“Gone?! Impossible!” Choi Han’s eyes widened in shock. He quickly took the letter which turned out to be a report from Lock and read it carefully. “How could he be gone?! He was there when I visited him two months ago”

“You know how he is. He might look lazy but once he decided to hide, no one can find him”

“Are there any clues?”

“None,” Alberu said curtly, “Lock said that he investigate all of his friends, his neighbours, even his favourite places, no one knows where he had gone to”

Choi Han’s hand curled, crumpling the letter in the process. “I’ll join the search party. If I join Lock, we could-”

“No” Alberu quickly cut him off, “We need you here”

“But”

“Believe in Lock. It might take a while, but Lock will be able to find him.”

Choi Han pursed his lips, “If I join the search, we might’ve found him sooner”

“Choi Han, we need you to keep an eye on Cale”

Choi Han fell silent. He didn't have any excuse for that.

Choi Han knew that Alberu had been trying everything to keep Cale from knowing the past. But on the other hand, he knew Cale very well. Despite the redhead’s laziness, he is a man who will fulfil his mission at any cost.

“He won't give up just because you did this, you know that right?” Choi Han sighed.

“I know, but at least I can hinder his progress even just for a little bit.” ALberu’s voice trailed, “We need more time, Choi Han, you know this”

Choi Han nodded, “I know, but I can't promise that he would give up his search.”

“You don't have to worry about that,” ALberu smirked as he tapped a letter on his desk.

“What are you going to do?”

Alberu smiled, “I'm going to call that man to the palace soon”

~***~

Cale knew that as soon as Alberu called him for tea first thing in the morning that it couldn't be good.

“Come on Cale, would you stop staring at me like I murdered your wife and bathe in your child’s blood”

“You might as well be, your majesty,” Cale jabbed as he sipped his tea elegantly.

“Will you forgive me if I apologise to you?”

“Will you take your words and pull back your edict?”

“Never” Alberu smiled brightly

“Then you have my answer”

Alberu sighed. “Well, let's talk about something else. How do you find it here?”

“It's comfortable. The bed is nice. The food is delicious. The maids are respectful. There's only one thing I found regretful”

“Oh? What is it? Tell your hyung and I'll fix it immediately.”

“Well, hyung, I found the lack of history books in the library distasteful. It would be better if you replace them soon”

A;beru’s smile froze on his face, then with a sigh he set down his cup, “You're never gonna let it down aren't you?”

“Nope,” Cale said cheekily as he took another sip of his tea. It is petty and he knew telling Alberu this wouldn't magically change his mind. But for every inconvenience Alberu had done for him, he deserved this one jab or two.

Suddenly a knock came on the door and a maid entered the room, “Your Majesty, your guest has arrived”

Alberu’s face brightened up immediately, “He’s here? Great. Bring him in"

Cale lazily flicked his head toward the door, "Are you waiting for someone?"

"Yes. I've been trying to summon him to the palace for the last few days. But there was some trouble on the road so his journey has been delayed."

Cale hummed lightly, he wondered who this man that Alberu is waiting for.

Finally, there was a knock on the door and without further ado the guard announced.

"The Duke Henituse has arrived"

Cale's heart thumped loudly in his chest. The cup in his hand clinked sharply against the plate. The image of a gentle yet awkward brown-haired man flashed through his mind. A man of contradiction. A man who wouldn't hesitate to clean up all of his son's mess yet wavering to hug his child or simply said a single 'I love you.'

His father

Deruth Henituse. The Duke of Henituse.

Cale didn't notice when Alberu ordered them to open the door. His eyes were focused on the slowly opening door, revealing a brown-haired man with a noble bearing. He was wearing the familiar Henituse coat, worn only by the head of the family.

The man's brown eyes glance at Alberu first, confirming. Then it flitted towards the extra person in the room.

His eyes widened.

His lips were trembling as he took in the figure in front of him.

"Hyung?"

"Basen?"

Cale watched as Basen's face turned into pure shock. His eyes were wide and his mouth was gaped open, breathless as if the air got punched out of his lungs. He staggered as he took a step away from the entrance. His trembling hand reached over his gaping mouth in disbelief.

"Wha... hyung.. how... how is this..."

His face turned pale as a sheet and Cale noticed the signs quickly. He rose from his seat.

"Basen!"

But he was too far away. He could only watch as Basen's eyes rolled to the back of his head and his body slumped to the floor.

Luckily the by-standing guard acted quickly and caught him before he fell.

"Oh dear," Alberu said as he watched the situation turn into chaos, "I guess that was too much of a shock for him to handle"

~***~

Basen's eyes slowly slid open. A groan escaped from his lips as he woke up and rose from the bed. He winced, pressing the base of his palm onto his eye to relieve the thumping on his head.

He glanced around and noticed.

'This seemed like a guest room in the palace'

Did he... faint? He must've fainted. Why, though?

Basen tried to recall his previous memories.

That's right. I think I saw hyung

Truth be told, Basen doesn't have the best impression of this big brother of his. As a child from his mother's previous marriage, Basen was half fearful and half curious about his new brother.

He still remembered the sharp gaze his new brother cast when his mother introduced them together.

However at that moment when he stood protectively between him and his 'cousins', Basen felt like Cale was the strongest man in the whole world.

For Basen, Cale was the embodiment of a Henituse, an unwavering man, an unbreakable wall. This was proven over and over again. When he protects everyone with his ancient power during the plaza terror. When he protects the kingdom from Clopeh Sekka's attack.

Cale Henituse was an unbreakable wall, and a lot of people unconsciously began to depend on him. No one ever really thinks that he was just a normal person capable of bleeding and feeling tired too.

Cale Henituse was an unbreakable wall.

Until he wasn't...

…

Basen recalled his brother's broken body as they cried over his coffin. His brother's pale face.

His closed eyes never open again

Yes... Cale is dead. Whatever he saw just now must've been his imagination.

Basen sighed, "hyung...."

"Yes?"

Basen jumped. He jumped so quickly that he almost fell from the bed. With his thumping heart, he stared at the man sitting at his bedside.

The red-haired man that he knew all too well.

"Hyung?" His voice was small, trembling, fearful as if a mere whisper of his name would blow him away

Cale gave a helpless smile. "I'm here Basen, I'm here."

~***~

Basen’s mind was blank as Cale and Alberu explained the situation. All these things about the God of Time's artefact and going to the future thingy had completely flown past his mind.

There's only one thing he was sure of. His brother had come back to life

"You see that Cale has a lot of things to catch up on within the last thirty years," Alberu said, "So I was hoping he could return to Henituse Dukedom and readjust himself with his new situation."

Basen blinked as he stared at the emperor. He wanted Basen to take Cale back home.

In a sense, it was the best thing to do in this kind of situation. Let Cale return to his home, surrounded by his family and slowly readjust to his new situation over there.

As his brother Basen would be more than honoured to have his brother back home, alive and healthy.

However, as the head of the Henituse family, he can't.

Basen's voice was stern just like the powerful duke he is, yet it cannot hide the tinge of regret in his voice, "I'm sorry your majesty, but I can't do that."

“Oh-" Alberu blinked, not expecting a rejection

“Why?:”

It took Cale a moment to realise that the question slipped out of his lips instead of Alberu's.

Basen looked at Cale with complicated eyes. the hyung that he always admired, the broad back that shoulder the whole kingdom’s fate on him.  

He looks so young,  

Basen has grown up, thirty years have passed since his brother's death, and his body has grown bigger than his hyung’s teen body.  

Was he always this small?  

How could Hyung shoulder such a burden on those small shoulders of his?

“Hyung… you probably haven't heard of this, but…” Basen hesitated, “Father is sick.”

“What?!”

“He’s okay now.” Basen put his hands up placatingly. He gently held onto Cale’s hand and dragged him back to the seat. ”Ever since your... Cough…” he hesitated, casting his gaze away from him.

The hesitation in his words sends a pang of hurt into Cale's heart. He knew what Basen was hesitating about.

His Death…

Deliberately skipping his words. Basen continued, “Father is old now hyung, his body isn't as strong as it used to be. A few years ago he collapsed from overwork and when the doctor arrived we found out that he was diagnosed with a heart disease.”  

Basen's hand was clutched tight. As he looked at Cale he was surprised to see the concern and worry on his face. A painful thump resounded in his heart. He didn't mean to make his hyung sad, he didn't want to make him worry.

Basen quickly put up the best reassuring smile he could afford. It's a shame that he wasn't as skilful as his hyung, so Cale could see how restrained and weak the smile was.

But he’s fine now, we have doctors on standby and he also drinks his medicines. Nowadays he usually spends his time in the garden. Sometimes he would try to plant something or cut some branches, but... Basen trailed, a peal of light laughter escaping from his lips, "Well... oftentimes he ended up giving more work to our gardener"

Slowly as he retold the story, Basen's smile faded away.

"He's doing fine now. But the doctor said that he should avoid any stimulation on his heart."

Cale let out a shuddering exhale, Ahh.. everything clicks in place.  

“And this…” Basen gestured at Cale, “is quite a great stimulation"

The Henituse is the wealthiest family in the empire and Basen’s role as the duke plays a big part in it. He had learnt the way of the merchant from his mother. He was famous for his skill in calculating profit and risk. Basen has grown to be a calculating merchant, he was not greedy for big profit nor was he a coward who was afraid to take any risk. No, he would gather as much profit as he could with the lowest risk he could bear. That’s how Basen managed to increase Henituse’s wealth many times over

"I'm sorry hyung" Basen looked at him regretfully,  “I know you must have wanted to see him, but I can't let you.”

Basen is a great merchant. He knew which deal was profitable and which was not. He knew which risk he should take and which he should not.

That's how he survived. That is how he lifts the Henituse to its golden days now.

“It doesn't mean that I don't want to let you see Father”

Basen pursed his lips, his eyes were full of regret

“But it's too risky hyung” Basen’s eyes were firm as a rock as he made his decision. “I cannot risk Father’s health over you”

His brown eyes were staring straight at Cale’s eyes and Cale could see how the young naive gaze that he remembered had matured in the last thirty years he was gone. 

“I’m sorry hyung, but you are a risk I cannot afford”

Chapter Text

The sounds of horses' hooves cut through the gravel road followed by the heavy turns of wooden wheels of the carriage as it passed through the silent forest. The lush green trees on the side of the road cast beautiful shades on the golden carriage bearing the insignia of Henituse dukedom driving past it.

Inside the carriage, a red-haired man was sitting leisurely, his brown eyes blinking lazily as he watched the scenery by the window passed by. However, unbeknownst to anyone, the man’s attention isn't focused on the scenery at all. Cale was busy enjoying his hard-fought freedom.

~***~

Two days ago

Cale found himself in a little conundrum.

Alberu cleared his throat and broke the ice, "It's a mistake on my part, I haven't considered the former duke's condition."

“Was this the reason why you summoned me to the palace, your highness?” Basen’s voice was accusing.

Cale blinked. Wait, didn't they talk about this before inviting Basen to the palace, “You didn't tell him before?”

Alberu guiltily cast his eyes away, “Pardon me dongsaeng, as far as I’ve seen, your…uh… revival... Has  always been met with… a rather…. enthusiastic response.”

“Don't get me wrong hyung, I am very happy that you came back to us, but… please understand, it's been thirty years, we’ve cried, we’ve grieved, we’ve mourned your death, and finally after years passed, we’ve finally moved on, we’ve learned how to live without you, we’ve healed the wound we got from your loss…. And now seeing you here again, though it is a happy occasion, it means undoing all those things we did years ago and digging up the wound we've already buried.” basen looked pained, he looked like he’s suffering, “It needs time…. We… needs time”

Cale nodded, he understood Basen’s reasoning, though he could not deny that his rejection hurt him.

“Well, this is certainly a problem” Alberu hummed,  “Guess you'll be staying in the palace from now then”

Cale’s brown reddish eyes quickly snapped at the blond across from him. Alberu’s face looked amicable as usual yet Cale could see the hidden glee behind those eyes.

This is bad. He has to leave the palace. He couldn't make any progress on his mission in the palace, not while Alberu had his eyes and ears all over the palace.

“I believe I have a solution for that, Your Majesty” and Cale swore that he could see Alberu’s miniscule smile falter.  

“What solution?”

“I can leave the palace,” he said to Alberu, then he switched his gaze toward Basen, “while also not living in the dukedom”

“Where are you gonna stay then?”

“I believe I have a villa of my own, it's right next to the dukedom.”

“Of course, The Stone Rock Villa,” Basen said

Cale smiled triumphantly. The Stone Rock Villa is a villa under his name. There's nobody who can limit his movement there, unlike the palace.

“I believe you wouldn't forbid me from going back to my own villa would you, hyung?” Cale’s eyes sneakily glanced at the older blond and Cale swore he could see Alberu’s smile froze over.

“Of course you can dongsaeng” Alberu stiffly reached for his cup, “I am a kind emperor after all, not a tyrant. I would never clip my dearest friend’s wings. You are free to go wherever you are.”

And that was how Cale ended up here, riding the same carriage as Basen back to the Henituse Dukedom.

Cale’s eyes slowly gazed toward the man across from him. Basen’s lips were pursed tight and he kept on fiddling with the button of his sleeves.

Thirty years might have passed but old habits never changed. From his experience, he knew Basen was nervous.

Cale recalled that he left Basen alone with Alberu for a moment while he went to pack his things in the guest room. Something must've happened then.

He tried to test the water.

“Don't be nervous, Basen”

Basen stiffened, his hand froze over his sleeve button and then his shoulder sagged downward as soft laughter escaped his lips. His tense looks faded, he looked like a child that had been caught lying. Just like how Cale remembered it.

he let out a long sigh. “I can never hide anything from you hyung”

It felt weird, that now even as an adult, basen felt like a child again before his hyung’s eyes.

“The emperor…”

“He asked you something, right? Is it about the war?”

Basen nodded, “Hyung, you know about the emperor’s newest edict right?”

Cale nodded, as expected his guess was right. Alberu told Basen something behind his back.

“At first, we were confused by the edict. I mean why would the emperor hide a part of our own history? But after I met you  and heard your story, I understood….” Basen paused, choosing his words carefully, “The emperor… he told me that… the punishment will be particularly harsh if we ever told you anything.”

For someone who said he's not a fucking tyrant he certainly acts like one. Cale cursed., damn Alberu. “Did he threaten you?”

Basen grimaced, “I would say it's not exactly a threat… more like a reminder, he reminded me of the consequences for disobeying his order.”

Even outside the palace that damned blond kept standing in his way. Cale took a deep breath and slowly unclenched his hands. “Fine, I promise not to ask anyone in the dukedom anything about the war.”

Basen is now the head of the family, the leader of the Henituse Dukedom. He has many things at stake to risk Alberu's punishment.

“I swear that I will not put our family nor our land at risk of Alberu’s wrath”

Basen visibly sighed in relief. “Thank you hyung. I'm sorry…”

Not being able to help you goes unsaid.

“Also thank you”

“Thank you?” Cale blinked. It caught him off guard. Because of Basen’s defensive reaction to his revival, Cale never expected that he would thank him

“For coming back to us” Basen’s smile came purely from the depth of his heart. “I  know I said those things to you. But that doesn't mean that you are no longer part of our family. You will always be my brother and one of the pillars in the Henituse family.”

Cale felt a pang flit in his heart. He couldn't help but scrunch his eyes at the sentence. It felt wrong yet…. He couldn't deny Basen’s words.

Basen thanked him for coming back home… Yet, is this really his home?

A thriving empire, a kind emperor, a mighty dragon, a grand mage tower, for Cale, this future world is similar yet fundamentally different. Though they might have been the same thing as his world in the past, for Cale it was a completely different thing. A different kingdom from what he used to know, a different people from what he used to know.

It’s difficult for Cale to accept this future world as his home. Because, for Cale, his home was his small gatherings of family, spending a warm day together in Stone Rock Villa. They're probably worrying about him right now, looking for him.

Waiting…. For him

To come back home.

Cale looked at Basen’s smile across him. His now thirty years older younger brother. Same yet different.

Will there be a time when he’s forced to choose between the past and the future?

~***~

The carriage slowly slowed down as they went past a familiar gate and Cale didn't know if he should be happy to know that some things hadn't changed or if should he be sad that despite these thirty years, they hadn't even changed the mansion gate.

The carriage stopped at the entrance and Cale Cale felt his heart beating faster as he saw a white-haired woman waiting in front of the door, accompanied by two lines of servant and maid.

It was Violan

“I’ll get out first,” Basen said and Cale nodded.

Basen got off the carriage and quickly greeted his mother. Violan led the maids and servants to greet him back. It's a standard procedure to greet the head whenever he returns.

Basen gave a soft smile and quickly dispersed the maids and servants, leaving only him and Violan by the entrance.

Thirty years might have passed, but Violan is still a sharp-witted woman just as before. When the carriage door opened She could see another figure inside the carriage, and by how basen quickly dismissed the servants, it meant the guest’s identity was a special one.

She wondered who it was. Is this the reason why the emperor summoned him to the capital?

“Mother, I told you, you don't have to wait for me every time I return home,” Basen sighed exasperatedly.

“Nonsense, being old is no reason to disregard the rules. Anyway you shouldn't let your guest wait any longer”

Basen had completely forgotten about it. He cleared his throat. “Please don't be alarmed”

“Don't underestimate me, Basen, I've lived this long, I've seen all kinds of things more than you do,  there's nothing that can surprise me anymore-”

Her words were cut off as soon as she watched the familiar red-haired boy -as young as she remembered- step out of the carriage. Their eyes met and she felt her legs tremble.

“Mot-”

Cale moved faster than Basen. He quickly grabbed onto Violan’s waist and supported her from falling down.

Violan gasped, her eyes wide as the moon. With a trembling hand, she slowly caressed his cheek.

“You’re real”

Violan’s hair has turned mostly white, save for a few strands near her temples, wrinkles adorning her face, especially the corner of her eyes. Yet she's still as beautiful as he remembers.

Cale’s brown reddish eyes slowly closed as he cherished the touch. “I’m here. I’m alive”

Violan shuddered, “Praise the god”

Basen came and helped Violan back on her feet.  She straightened the wrinkles on her dress, quickly regaining her composure. “Are you going to stay here?”

“Uh….” Cale glanced at  Basen

‘No, he’s going to stay in the Stone Rock Villa”

“Why?” Violan quickly asked back, “Isn't it better to stay here?”

“Mother, how about father?”

Violan glared at Basen as the great Duke of Henituse shrunk,

“Mother please…” Basen pleaded, this time with a softer voice, “How about father’s condition?”

Violan resigned with a short huff, “Have you forgotten when was the last time anyone cleaned the villa?”

“I…I’ll send some people to clean it over first”

“Good” Violan nodded, “Then meanwhile, I guess you have to stay here for a few days while we’re getting the villa cleaned up”

The two Henituse boys stared at each other before Cale broke into a soft smile while Basen let out an exasperated sigh.

“Very well Mother, hyung will stay here then”

“Good” Violan smiled. She summoned a butler and Cale was surprised to see another familiar face in the mansion.

“Hans…” he greeted.

The butler had grown out his orange hair which was hanging by his shoulder with a neat braid. The golden-rimmed monocle beautifully hung on his right eye. He looked gentler than his previous self, If not for his butler suit, Hans would look just like a scholarly teacher.  

“Young Master Cale '' the butler greeted. Just like a professional butler, he didn't ask any unnecessary questions. He simply accepted Cale’s existence just like that.

Hmm… of all the people he had met since coming to the future, maybe Hans was the most normal out of everyone.

Then a single teardrop escaped from his eyes.

“Ah… pardon me” Hans quickly pulled up a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his tears, “I let my emotion overcome me.” He gave a light chuckle.

“Clean up Cale’s room. Make sure it's not a speck of dust lingers”

“Of course, Madam. I’ll get the room clean in a few minutes.”

Violan nodded in satisfaction. “Good”

Then Hans turned toward Basen, “Master Basen, Young Master Shawn is waiting for you in your office.”

Basen’s eyes twitched, “What did he do this time?”

Cale tried to recall Henituse’s family tree. As far as he knew, there was no one in the family named Shawn.

Curiously Cale followed Basen to his office.

“Basen, who’s Shawn?”

Basen halted, his hand hovering before his office’s doorknob.

“Shawn is… he’s my son, hyung”

SON?!

Cale was completely gobsmacked, his feet frozen before the door. The door opened, revealing a young boy around seven years old pouting on the chair.

“Dad-”

The boy had a similar shade of brown hair as Basen but his hair was far curlier than Basen’s straight ones. His face looked just like a young version of Basen except for his lips and the colour of his eyes which were a dark shade of green.

“Hyung, This.... is Shawn, my son.”

The little boy's eyes were wide and bright. Cale looked at those green-coloured eyes. He watched as those eyes began to tremble and glisten.

Wait.. is something wrong here?

As if on cue, the boy burst into tears, surprising everyone in the room. Fat blobs of tears streamed down his puffy cheeks. He wailed as he clung onto Basen's pants, not daring to look in Cale's direction.

“I’m sorry daddy. I promise I won't sneak bug into my cousin’s shoes again uwaaaaaaaaaa”

Basen was stunned to the core., "Shawn, what's wrong"

"Please Daddy,” The boy wailed, clutching Basen’s legs like a lifeline, “don't let the ghost eat me"

“A ghost?” Basen turned toward the door.

Cale blinked. Slowly pointing in his own direction.

“Me?”

Chapter Text

As far as Shawn remembered, there had always been a painting of a red-haired man in the mansion. The man’s sharp eyes looked as if he stared right through his soul, added with his white commander suit and a silver sword and silver shield in his hand, the painting looked intimidating for young Shawn.

But little Shawn is a smart one. Even though the man didn’t look like his grandpa Deruth or his grandma Violan, he knew that the red-haired man must’ve been someone important to their family.

So one day when he walked past through the hall with his father, he tugged on the hem of his father’s coat.

“Daddy, who is he?”

His father stopped in front of the painting. His eyes scrunched as if in pain and for a second Shawn regretted asking. But then his father smiled, even with such a tormented look on his face.

“That’s your uncle. He’s a great hero who perished in the war”

Uncle, he told him. As far as Shawn knew he only had an aunt, not an uncle. He couldn't help but wonder, how does it feel to have an uncle like him?

--

“Don't be naughty” His nanny whispered, “Or the ghost will get you”

The young boy hid under his blanket, “What's a ghost?”

“They’re the souls of dead people. Usually, those who didn't have a good death will become a ghost”

His mind flashed back toward the painting of the red-haired man.

“How about those who died in war?”

The maid hummed, “Of course. Those who die in war die a tragic death. It's normal if they become ghosts.”

--

“I swear I just saw a ghost!” His friend whispered during one of his parent’s tea parties. Shawn remembered five children huddling behind the bushes as they told their tales.”

“Psh.. there's no such thing as  ghosts”

“I’m not lying. Yesterday I snuck into the kitchen and hid a piece of muffin on my pillow. When I woke up this morning, it was gone! When I asked my mom about it, she said that a ghost must've eaten my muffin”

“You're so silly, ghost don't eat muffins”

“Then what do they eat?”

“My nanny said that ghosts like to eat the souls of naughty children. One time I snuck out of my room and saw a shadow flitting past me. That must be a ghost”

The kids gasped, “What happened then?”

“I run of course. I hid under my blanket”

“And then?”

“What happened?”

“Did the ghost chase you?”

The boy shook his head, “No when I opened my eyes, it was morning. But since that day I don't dare sneak out of my room after dark again”

“That's scary,” said a girl

Little Shawn who was listening to the conversation silently gulped. He couldn't stop thinking about the red-haired man in the painting.

Will he eat me if I'm naughty?

The boy quickly listed all the naughty things he had done. He had done a lot of things yet he never saw any ghost. Maybe… he wasn't so naughty after all? Or….maybe there's no such thing as ghosts after all~

--

“Shawn did it!”

“No, I didn't do it!”

“Liar!”

Shawn clenched his fist as he glared at his cousin. Shawn always hates this particular cousin of his. He always bullied him, his favourite pastime was wrecking something and then blaming it on him. He was out to get him.

If Shawn insists on his innocence then he would break into a loud cry, and of course, everyone would be busy trying to calm him down. That's one of his usual tricks, cry until he gets what he wants.

That day Shawn had enough. So he pulled the nastiest prank he could think of.

He put a bug on his cousin's shoes.

He relished his cousin's shrill shriek as his feet squished the soft thing on their shoes. He had enjoyed his sweet revenge. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. He couldn't hold his laughter, thus exposing himself as the perpetrator. His grandma told him to wait for punishment from his dad in his office.

Imagine his surprise when he saw the red-haired man in the painting waiting behind the door.

At that time, he knew…

He messed up… big time.

He’s crossed the naughty line and now the ghost has come to eat his soul.

~****~

“UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

The two grown-up Henituse stared at each other in confusion. Meanwhile, the boy’s cries got even harder.

Basen unconsciously looked to Cale for help. Cale gave him a confused look and a shrug.

Basen wanted to facepalm himself. Thirty years and he still looked for his brother for help. He took a deep breath. As the ‘adult’ in this situation and also Shawn’s father he must take care of Shawn.

Basen tried to kneel to get on Shawn’s level. It was hard considering how clingy the boy was.

The boy finally let go of his deadly grip on Basen’s leg and clung to his neck instead. He buried his face in the crook of Basen’s neck, shoulder trembling and crying out loud.  Basen’s collar was immediately wet with tears.

Basen immediately patted the boy’s back, while also shushing him gently, whispering gentle assurance that everything was okay.

The boy’s cries tapered off into small sobs and he finally lifted his head off Basen’s shoulder.

Only to stare face-to-face at the red-haired ghost in front of him.

Unknowingly, Cale had gone around Basen and leaned onto the boy’s face, curious about his new nephew of his.

The boy broke into a scream. The two men flinched as the deafening scream pierced their eardrums.

A rushed footsteps came from the hall and Violan slammed the door open.

“What in the world happened here?”

Violan stared at her two sons, her grandson crying heavily on Basen’s arms. From the look of it, it seemed like the two grown-up men were bullying her grandson.

“Grandma!” Shawn wriggled out of Basen’s arm and ran toward Violan’s arm. Snot and tears dripped on his face.

Violan quickly picked her grandsons up, her eyes eyeing both men suspiciously.

“Basen why don't you show Cale his room, Hans should be finished by now”

“But-”

Violan cut him off with a sharp glare

“Yes, Mother”

Basen and Cale slipped out of the office while Violan tried to calm SHawn down. As they walked down the hall, Cale broke out into a laugh.

“Hyung…” Basen groaned.

“Sorry... Sorry…” Cale wiped the tears that escaped his eyes, his stomach cramping from the laugh.

Ever since he came to the future, he had seen how people react to his return. Sadness, happiness, surprise. This was the first time someone reacted with fear. Not just someone but his own nephew.

Even though it was a bit unexpected, Cale couldn’t deny that it was a fresh brand new reaction.

“Ghost huh…” Cale felt his step lighter, “Well, I can see why he calls me that”

Basen sighed, feeling the wet stains on his collar, “I don't know who told him that. But I assure you that none of us ever told him that''

Cale shrugged, “I don't mind being seen as a ghost, in fact,“ his lips pulled into a mischievous smile, “Won't that be more fun?”

Basen halted as he saw Cale’s smile. He recalled those same smiles whenever his brother schemed something with the emperor. How long has it been since he last saw those smiles??

Basen couldn't hold the smile from pulling on his lips, “Please don't tease my son too much”

“You wound me, Basen. I only want the best for my nephew”

“Somehow I doubt that”

As they arrived in Cale’s room, they saw Hans coming out of the room, two maids following him, each with cleaning supplies in their hands.

“Ah, Master Cale, Master Basen, I was just about to call for you”

“Thank you for your work, Hans”

“It's my pleasure, Master Cale”

Cale slipped into his room. But he watched as Basen stopped Hans at the entrance.

“Bring that bottle from my office, and two wine glasses”

“Of course, Master Basen”

Basen followed Cale into the room and Cale just raised his brows questioningly, he didn't stop him nor ask as Basen sat on the comfortable sofa near the fireplace.

Then Basen motioned toward the seat across him and Cale followed, seating comfortably across him.

Soon Hans returned with a bottle of dark red wine inside a bucket of ice and a pair of wine glasses. Basen poured himself a drink, “Why don't we have a nice talk over a drink, Hyung?”

Cale hummed, taking the bottle from the ice and inspecting the label. “Oh? This is a good one”

“Of course, I only collect the best of the best”

Cale poured a glass for himself, “I didn't know you’ve come to like alcohol”

“Well, I have to find a hobby or two”

Cale sipped the wine slowly, enjoying every last drop of it. He could feel himself relaxing, a cosy warmth spreading in his stomach. From his experience, he could feel that this wine was stronger than normal wines.

“Then I assume you can hold your alcohol quite well?”

“I must admit that I’m quite proud of my alcohol tolerance”

It still felt a bit disparaging as the Basen he remembered barely ever touched alcohol.

A flash of thought came to his mind and Cale chuckled.

“What is it hyung?”

“No, I was just wondering.” He playfully trailed the rim of his glass, “Between the Count’s trash son, and the current Duke of Henituse, which one of  us has the highest tolerance?”

Basen’s brows furrowed, “You're not trash, hyung. You're never one”

“History would beg to differ”

“History would say you're the great commander of Roan Empire”

Cale was about to object, but then he recalled Alberu’s edict, “You mean the history, you decided”

Basen took another sip of his drink, “It is the truth, no?”

They continue their small talk. The red liquor on the bottle slowly decreased bit by bit as time passed.

Cale sighed, leaning on his seat.

He didn't know why, maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was because he was finally home that he found himself relaxing.

Violan, Basen, and now… Shawn.

He hasn't seen his father yet, but Basen told him that he’s doing fine currently.

Wait.. he's forgetting someone.

“Where’s Lily?”

Basen thought Cale had fallen asleep, so he was quite surprised when Cale suddenly asked for Lily.

Cale looked at Basen, they had consumed almost the whole bottle and Basen’s eyes began to droop. It seemed like his tolerance was still higher than Basen’s.

“Lily…” he trailed off, the alcohol starting to affect him too, “Lily did not stay here anymore hyung, she lives on the border now”

“On the border?” What is she doing on the border?

“She’s staying along with the royal knights.”

Ahh…. so Lily has joined the knighthood? That's good, at least she's happy chasing her dreams.

“How is she doing there?”

“Good, good” Basen’s eyes trailed off to the fire burning on the fireplace. “It's been a while since I last contacted her, but we know that it's been a busy time for her at this time of year”

Cale’s mind, though softened by the alcohol, still caught the important bits from Basen’s sentence.

Busy? At the border? What was the knight busy with, in the border? Was it a war? But I thought Choi Han said that Roan isn't at war.

“But I thought we were not at war?”

Basen tilted his head, “We’re not”

“Then what is Lily busy with?”

Basen squinted his eyes in confusion. Time passes as Basen organises his thoughts, and then as if everything clicked, he blinked.

“Hyung, Lily isn't a knight”

This time it was Cale’s turn to be shocked, “She isn't?”

“No, Lily never joined the knighthood.”

“But you said she's staying with the royal knights.”

“Hyung, Lily is a doctor. She's a Frontline medic. She stays with the knight as their medical team”

The revelation shocked Cale. As far as Cale knew, Lily wasn't the studious type. Being a doctor requires a lot of study time, that doesn't mean that Cale thought Lily was stupid, but Cale never thought that Lily had the patience and the motivation to study. She always preferred the swords over books, she even went as far as to skip his class to train. All this time Cale thought she would follow the path of the sword and join the knighthood.

“But, I thought she wanted to be a knight?”

“She did… but...after what happened….” Basen cut his sentence off, pursing his lips to prevent any words from escaping any further. It seemed that even drunk he still had some control over his words.

On the other hand, it provides Cale with more information about the past.

Whatever happens to him, changes Lily’s fate. What could've happened that would have made Lily let go of her dream and pursue the medical profession instead?

A frontline medic, they are a doctor who worked on the front line. They are the ones in charge of saving the wounded soldiers during war.

Was he… wounded during the war? Did he fall to his injury? Did Lily become a frontline medic because she realised that being a medic had a better chance of saving her brother rather than being a knight?

“She’s doing fine now hyung” Basen tried to lighten up the mood, “She’s happy staying in the border along with the rest of the knights”

“So when you said she's busy, you mean?”

“There's a small city on the border, it's very close to the knight’s encampment. When the season changes a lot of elderly and children fall sick, sometimes it's hay allergies, sometimes it's colds. There's only one old doctor there, so Lily often visits the city to help.”

Cale let out a sorrowful smile, "Is she happy over there?”

“She's fine. In her last letter, she said that she was busy helping the farmer harvest the wheat. After the harvest, they would have a three-day festival to celebrate the harvest.”

That's good. Cale thought. Lily seemed to be doing alright in this world.

Chapter Text

A knock on his door caught his attention. 

“Come in,” Cale answered. 

A brown-haired boy peeked behind his door. 

Cale’s lips curled up at the sight of his nephew. He quickly stopped whatever he was doing, prompting to lean down on his seat, playfully spinning a pen between his fingertips. 

“Hello there, glad you didn't scream my ears off this time”

“Sorry” The boy shuffled on his feet, “Grandma told me you're not a ghost”

Cale’s finger stopped, and he put the pen down. He crossed his fingers and put the most serious look on his face, “How are you so sure I’m not one?”

The boy’s eyes looked shaken, but he quickly regained his composure. His cheek puffed as he pouted from the teasing. 

“Grandma told me so, and Daddy also said so. I trust my family!”

“Oh... Shawn… You trust their words but not mine? Does this mean I'm not your family”

“Yes! Wait, No!” The boy fumbled his words. 

Cale broke into a laugh, and Shawn pouted, “Stop teasing me”

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop. So what does my beloved nephew want with me today?”

Finally getting to the point, the boy’s shoulder relaxed, “Grandma is looking for you”

“She did?”

“Yes, she said to come to her room”

Cale hummed. Violan rarely called him, so he knew that whenever she called him for something, it must be important. 

“Of course, lead the way”

Cale’s eyes glazed through the paintings adorning the Henituse Hall, some of them had changed, while some of them stayed the same. 

As they walked down the hall together, Cale noticed a new painting amongst them. It was a picture of Basen, next to him was a beautiful woman sitting on a chair and sitting on the woman’s lap was the same boy who was leading him through the hall. 

At that moment, Cale knew. That woman must be Basen’s wife. Shawn’s mother and his sister-in-law.

Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen her anywhere in the villa. Where could she be?

“Hey Shawn”

“Yes?” The boy halted his steps, brown eyes looking at him curiously. 

“Was it just you and your father here?”

“Ah there's grandma Violan and grandpa Deruth, also Hans and-” The boy took out his fingers and began counting one by one

“Let me ask again.” Cale cut him off before he rambled off every person’s name that lived in the manor. “Where’s your mother?”

Shawn tilted his head, brown eyes blinking innocently, “Mommy’s not here”

“I can see that. Where’s she?”

“She’s staying with grandma in the capital”

“Oh? Why doesn't she stay here?”

“It's because she’s Pregan..pergant... Pergenan…” he stuttered. His small brows furrowed tightly as he tried to process the word. 

“Pregnant?”

“Yes, pergant”

“Pregnant…” Cale repeated.

Shawn sighed, “She's having a baby” he gave up on pronouncing the word. 

“So she stays in the capital because she’s having a baby?”

“Yep! Daddy says that the doctor from the palace is very clever and they can keep Mommy healthy. But they can't leave the palace so Mommy has to stay in the capital instead.”

Though the Henituse family have their own private doctor, Cale understands Basen’s choice to trust the doctor from the palace. Alberu surely kept the best of the best doctors by his side and it can be considered Alberu's goodwill to lend his doctors to someone out of the royal family. 

One more leverage that Alberu has over his family.

Cale sighed and put on his fake calming smile. “Congratulations. Is it a boy? Or a girl?”

“I don't know”

“Well, which one would you prefer? A little brother or a little sister?”

“I want a little sister”

“Oh, why?”

“Because an older brother is supposed to protect their little sister! Also, my friend had a baby brother and I think he looks ugly”

Cale couldn't hold his laugh, “Ugly?”

“Yeah! He looks so red and his face is all wrinkly”

“I think that's how a baby is supposed to be, Shawn”

“No, they're not. When my baby sister comes home, she will be the prettiest girl in the dukedom”

“I’m sure she will”

Soon they arrived at Deruth and Violan’s room. The familiar door hasn't changed a bit even after thirty years. 

Cale knocked on the door but there was no answer. His brows tilted in confusion as he stared at his nephew. Shawn told him that Violan was waiting for him in her room, so shouldn't she be in the room?

“Uhmmm'' Shawn fidgeted and bit his fingers. With his small hands, he knocked on the door once again, “Grandma? We’re here”

But there was no answer. 

“Grandma?” Shawn called once again, “I’m going to open the door”

Shawn clicked the door open, and he peeked inside the room. 

It was empty. 

Besides the drawn curtains on the bed, there was no one in the sitting area. 

“Huh… She’s not here?” Shawn tilted his head, “Maybe she's still in the garden. Wait here uncle, I’ll call her over”

Before Cale could say anything, the boy had run off into the distance, leaving him alone in the room. 

Feeling awkward standing alone in his parents’ room, Cale decided to take a seat. As he looked at the sitting area he noticed that a chair had been moved. Usually, a sitting seat consists of a sofa and two chairs, one of them is missing. 

As he searched for the missing chair, he found it perched neatly next to the bed. He mindlessly went towards it. Why would they put the chair here? As he approached the chair, he accidentally brushed upon the curtain. His breath stopped when he saw that someone was lying on the bed. 

There was someone on his parent’s bed.

Who is it?

Curiously his finger parted out the curtain slowly, carefully quiet so as not to wake whoever was inside. 

And he felt his breath stop. 

Because lying on the bed in front of him was…

Deruth….

Cale stood frozen by the bed, eyes glued to the sight of the thin man sleeping on the bed, of the wrinkle on the man’s face, of his pure white hair. The soft rise and down of his chest. 

Deruth looked so far older than he remembered. 

Cale recalled his promise with Basen. 

He should've left. He shouldn't have met him. 

But for some reason, he just couldn't move. He couldn't step away. Instead, he dragged a chair and sat next to him. 

He sat down on the chair and held onto Deruth’s wrinkled hand, careful not to wake him up. He traced every wrinkle on his father’s hand with his thumb, at the same time comparing it to the memory of his younger father’s hand. 

Now that he thought about it when was the last time he had sat down and spent some time with Deruth? 

He had been so busy with the war that he rarely returned to the Henituse Manor anymore. He wondered, all the time he spent in the palace, while he was getting ready for the war with his friend, what was his family doing? 

Were they waiting for him to return home? 

Deruth’s hair had mostly turned grey, leaving only a few strands of brown near his temple. The wrinkles on his face are prominent, showing how old he has aged. 

As he stared at Deruth, he saw Deruth’s eyes twitch. Cale froze, it was too fast, too quick that he didn't really register it. Did Deruth just move? 

Before he knew it. Deruth’s brown eyes blinked open. 

It’s over. He didn't have any time to run away. 

As if sensing the hold on his hand, Deruth turned his head and Cale could see his eyes constricted in shock as their eyes met. 

“Cale…” Deruth’s voice was weary, there was no trace of the boisterous laugh that Cale used to hear from him, only deep bone tiredness. 

“Father…” Cale didn't know what to say. He should've left, he shouldn't be here, sitting by Deruth’s side, he shouldn’t have been talking to him. He shouldn't even appear in front of him. 

Cale was so close to running away when a hard squeeze on his hand broke him out of his reverie. Cale looked up and saw the unshed tears in Deruth’s eyes. 

“I miss you, Cale”

And everything… all those thoughts in his mind seemed to melt away as Cale squeezed back, “I miss you too, Father”

Deruth’s lips curled up into a gentle smile, “Did you get along with Jour?”

Cale froze. Why did his father suddenly bring up his mother’s name? 

As he stared at Deruth’s eyes he understood. 

Deruth’s eyes looked glazed and unfocused, he looked like he was still in a dream. Was this what he thought this was? A dream….? Then he must’ve thought that I’m still dead… That's why he asked for Jour. Did he think that I would be together with her in the afterlife? Somehow…. Cale felt like that was the case. 

Deruth thought he was dead and was together with Jour in the afterlife. 

He… should be relieved to know that Deruth didn't recognize him, that way he didn't break his promise with Basen. But for some reason, there was a painful squeeze in his heart that he couldn't ignore. He wanted to hold Deruth’s hand and tell him the truth. I am here. I have returned. I am alive. 

But he can't….

So he did what he did best. 

He lies. 

“We did” With his usual fake smile Cale held Deruth’s hand close to his cheek. “We’re having a good time”

The wrinkles on the corner of Deruth’s eyes deepened as he smiled, "Jour loved you so much, you guys must've so many stories to tell"

"That's right.” Cale took Deruth’s hand and caressed it gently. “She told me a lot of stories about you”

Deruth laughed weakly, “I hope she didn't tell you any embarrassing story about me”

“She didn't. She only talks about the good stuff, no matter how I coax her into it”

“You don't have to worry about that Cale. I will be telling you all about it myself" 

What?

“Soon,” Deruth whispered, a tired long whisper, “I’ll be joining both of you soon”

Cale felt the blood drained from his heart. What is he talking about?

Deruth looked at the stern look on Cale’s face and mistook it for grief. 

“I’m sick, Cale, I can feel it. The medicines are only delaying the inevitable. If I stop consuming it-”

“NO!” The word slipped out of his mouth. His panicking eyes met with Deruth’s stunned one. 

Cale felt like his heart was shattering. His father, -Deruth- has completely lost his will to live. He’s considering sabotaging himself by stopping taking his medication. He can't let that happen. He can't let Deruth die. 

“You can’t come over…”

Deruth looked heartbroken. “Why? Do you… hate me after all, Cale?” His grip on Cale’s hand tightened, his fingers digging into Cale’s skin desperately, “Was it because I abandoned you once? Or was it because I couldn't protect you at that time? ”

“No, I don't hate you. I never hated you. It's just… it's not your time….yet” Cale’s tongue felt heavy as he said those words. “Mother and I… we’re having a great mother and son bonding moment. If you come now…. Then she will undoubtedly forget about me and stay with you instead”

Cale tried to laugh it off, but it came out weak.

“I still want to enjoy my chat with Mother… that's why you can't come over here yet.”

Cale bit his lips, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. “You have Violan, Basen, and Lily with you. There’s even little Shawn and his unborn sibling. They all need you, Father.”

“But Cale, how about you?”

“Me? I have my mother here with me. Let me monopolise her for myself for a little bit longer okay?”

Deruth’s eyes quivered, “That's right, you guys must have a lot of stories to tell to each other. After all.”

“Yes, we still need a lot of time to tell our stories”

~***~

“Did you do this on purpose?” Cale said with a tired voice, still gripping onto Deruth’s hand even after the man had fallen back asleep. 

With a click of heels, Violan appeared from behind. Sometimes after Deruth fell asleep, Violan entered the room without Shawn.

Violan sat on the bed, her fingers carefully tucking the stray hair that was covering Deruth’s eyes. Her eyes were filled with a painful concern as she took in Deruth’s peaceful sleeping face. 

“I’ve noticed some signs, though it's not particularly noticeable, it's enough to rouse my concern.”

“Don’t you know that it could have been dangerous for him?” Cale bites.

“I know the risk.”

“Then why-”

“Even so, there are some things that we have to do no matter how big the risk is.”

 “Is it worth it, risking his health just to let him see me?”

“For everything that I know, It's worth it Cale.” Violan gently caressed the redhead’s shoulder, “After all, you've given him what none of us can give”

“I don't know what I've given to him, but it's better worth it.”

“It is Cale. It is. After all, you've given him closure and reprieve”. 

Cale’s lips quivered, he could feel his eyes reddening,

“He always regrets it. Your death broke his heart. I always thought that he was a hardworking man and that by marrying me he learned to wind down. but only after your death did I realise, he was never a hardworking man, work was his escape. And you know about it, don't you?”

The glimpse of Cale Henituse’s life before he transmigrated over flashed before his mind. How Deruth had abandoned him after his mother's death and drowned himself in work was something that Cale was familiar with.

“He… he wanted to stop taking the medicine.” Cale’s voice shook. 

Violan's breath sharpened.

“I stop him of course, but you should probably keep an eye on it.”

“Of course, thank you, Cale.”

~***~

The soft orange light of sunset greeted him as soon as he opened his eyes. He could feel the haziness of the medicines fade as his mind focused. 

The first thing Deruth noticed was the gentle wrinkled hand, softly intertwining with his. He gently ran his thumb over the hand, knowing full well whose hand it was. 

“Violan” he called. 

Violan smiled from her seat next to the bed, “Good evening, how’s your nap?”

“Good. The medicine wears off quicker this time, I don't feel as dazed as usual” He slowly rose from the bed, repositioning himself so he could lean comfortably on the bed frame instead.

“That means your body is recovering itself”

Deruth answered with a nod and the conversation ended. Still, he hadn't let go of Violan’s hand. 

“I think… Cale visited me in my dream today”

Violan let out a complicated smile, “Did he?”

“Yes” Deruth pulled Violan's hand onto his lips, kissing it gently and then massaged it lightly with his hand, “I dreamt of Cale, and for once it was a good dream.”

“Is that so?”

Deruth nodded.

“For once I didn't dream of him dying on the battlefield, nor did I dreamt of him blaming me for Jour's death. For once, it… it was a nice dream.”

“What did he do in your dream?”

“We… We just talk.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Did you know that he's staying with Jour right now?” Deruth's voice began to crack. “He said that he's having a great time with her. That they had a lot of talk together and that….that he's enjoying his time with Jour over there.”

Tears began brimming in his old brown eyes. “He said that it's a rare time that he got to spend alone with his mother, and… and.. They’re enjoying their mother-and-son bonding. He said that there were still a lot of things that he wanted to talk about with Jour. That's… that's why I can't come over there yet”

Deruth's words ended up in a stifled sob. His shoulder hunched down as tears began to drip from his eyes.

Violan quickly moved to the bed beside him, keeping her hand over his trembling back.

“I think... I really saw him Violan, it felt like it wasn't a dream.”

“Then it must've been not a dream. I think he must've come to visit you.”

“I'm glad… I'm glad.” Deruth sobbed. “I'm glad that he's not suffering. I'm glad that he's staying along with Jour. I am…. I'm so relieved, Violan.”

Violan slowly leaned on Deruth's shoulder. “He said that you can't come over there yet?”

Deruth lips tugged into a weak smile. “He didn't want me to steal his mother’s attention. That's just like him. He has always been Jour's kid.”

“I'm sure he loves you all the same.”

Cale’s words resounded in Deruth's heart. 

“You have Violan, Basen, and Lily with you. There’s even little Shawn and his unborn sibling. They all need you, Father.”

Cale was right. Violan, Basen, Lily, Shawn and even his unborn grandchild. He still has so much to live for here. 

Deruth looked at the bottles of medicine on his end table. 

If he stopped taking his medicine, then Cale would be very disappointed in him. No matter how much he longed to meet Cale and Jour once again, he didn't want to meet them in such a terrible way. So he will live with his family, until the end of his life-span. Only then he could face Jour and Cale proudly. 

Deruth made his decision. 

To live

For Cale

For Jour.

He will live. 

“Violan,” He called, and Violan looked at him questioningly, “Do you remember the sunflower field where we spent our first date?”

“I remember, what brought this on?”

“It's been a while since I left the house. I figured I could move this old body and enjoy some light walks with you there.”

A bright light glimmered in Vioolan's eyes. Words cannot explain how grateful her heart was. It pained her to see her beloved husband slowly waste away after Cale's death. But now, to see him stand back again, brimming with a new will to live.

Deruth…. is finally trying to move on. 

“Good that's good” she kissed the back of Deruth’s hand, "let's go on another date, shall we?"