Most of the ti, conversations between Leon and Freya—especially in the early mornings like this—always circled back to one thing: the ga.
Outside of Immortal Legacy, there wasn't much they really talked about in depth. It was always about what's happening next, what to prepare for, or who had just made a move.
And Leon was fine with that.
As for the café and the building? He only gave them a glance-over. Everything was running smoothly. The renovations were progressing well, the staff were excellent, and Freya had kept it all functioning like a well-oiled machine. He couldn't ask for more.
"The sea journey is long, Leon," Freya said. "It's going to take ti. A lot of it. You'll lose opportunities, miss events. If you fail to find Ivana, you'll have wasted that ti."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "You're not… trying to talk out of it, are you?"
Freya shook her head. "No. More like… I want you to understand what you're stepping into."
She leaned forward slightly, voice gaining a spark of intensity. "The North Continent isn't like the rest of Yunatea. Most of it is unexplored. Only a tiny western section has any real info available online. You'll be diving into unknown territory."
Her eyes glinted with that familiar energy when she started theory-crafting.
"And the giants? Their culture is completely closed off. No one's ever seen one leave the North Continent. If you do this, you'll probably uncover more than just Ivana. Just…" she paused, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, "don't stir up a war, okay? Last thing we need is a diplomatic ss with an entire race of ancient creatures."
Leon gave her a look.
"Why do you always talk like trouble follows wherever I go?"
Freya blinked once, then smirked. "Because it does."
Leon let out a long sigh… and then laughed softly, shaking his head. There was irony in it all.
Because despite his best efforts to play the ga casually…
The ga never seed to let him.
***
Broken logged back into the ga and opened his eyes to the soft glow of his private chamber. The gentle lighting, the warmth of the room. It was familiar, comforting. But this ti… it was also oddly quiet.
Too quiet.
Alora wasn't there.
Nor were the two tiny whirlwinds that usually filled this space with their laughter and boundless energy.
He stood, stretching his shoulders lightly, and stepped out into the corridor beyond the chamber. Two knights stationed outside straightened instantly at the sight of him, startled but swift to salute.
"Your Majesty."
And then.
"Papa!"
"Papa!"
Two small voices echoed down the corridor.
At the far end of the hall, two tiny figures ca bounding toward him with all the chaotic grace only children could carry. Elaris, red-haired, wild-eyed, and fast, was in the lead, her steps quick and surprisingly agile for soone so young. Caelum, just a half-step behind her, ran like a shadow, clearly keeping pace not just to race her. But to guard her.
Broken's expression softened into a quiet, genuine smile.
Without a word, he stepped forward and knelt just in ti to open his arms.
The children flung themselves into his embrace with all the force of tiny storms. Arms wrapped around his neck, soft laughter bubbled from their chests, and for a mont the world stood still.
This was peace.
He held them both close, breathing in the mont, their warmth, the sound of their happiness.
Eventually, he let them go.
Only because Elaris was already squirming with that barely-contained spark in her eyes, the kind that ant she was about to explode with words.
He chuckled under his breath.
"Alright," he said gently, "go on, tell everything."
"Papa! Papa! Cael ate a bug!" she declared dramatically.
Caelum, completely unbothered, blinked up at Broken with wide, innocent eyes and said, "Bug crunchy…"
Broken held back a laugh. "Crunchy, huh?"
"I say noooo, but Cael say yes yes!" Elaris huffed, arms crossed like a tiny empress. "And then he say it taste like cookie! That's not cookie, Papa! That's bug!"
Caelum looked very proud. "Bug not bite back. Good bug."
Broken raised an eyebrow, trying to stay serious. "You two were playing outside the herb garden again, weren't you?"
"Noooo," Elaris replied quickly, eyes darting away. "We was… um… adventuring! Like you!"
"Oh?" he smiled. "Adventuring where, little adventurer?"
"To the grass place! Where the flowers yell and the frog fart!" she announced.
"The frog what?"
"Fart!" she nodded very seriously. "Cael poke the frog and it say prrrt! And then Cael fall! In the flower mud!"
Caelum blinked again. "I sinked."
"You sank?"
"Like rock. But soft."
Broken let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You two…"
Elaris clutched his arm and looked up at him with her brightest smile. "Papa, next ti you co, you bring sword? I want one! I want to stab the wind!"
He blinked. "The… wind?"
"Yes! The wind is sneaky! It blowed my hair like whooosh! and I say no! I stab it next ti!"
Broken could only laugh as Caelum nodded beside her like it was a perfectly reasonable plan.
"Papa is going on a journey soon," he said softly, brushing a few strands of hair from Elaris's forehead. "Across the ocean."
That single word, ocean, imdiately lit sothing in Elaris's eyes.
"The ocean?!" she gasped, her voice a blend of wonder and outrage. "Why can't we co too?! I want to see the fish! And the big waves! And the… and the sea dragons!"
Caelum folded his arms with a tiny frown. "If Papa goes, I go. I have to protect you." He glanced sideways at his sister. "And you would just fall into the water if I wasn't there."
"I would not!" Elaris shot back, stamping one tiny foot. "I would fly! I'll grow wings and fly over the ocean if I have to!"
Broken laughed. "Wings, huh?"
She nodded furiously. "Yes! Like Auntie El!"
"Who is Auntie El?"
"Auntie Elinta."
"Elincia you an?"
"Yes. Elinta"
Broken reached out and pulled both of them close again, just for a mont.
"You'll both stay here," he said gently, "because the sea can be dangerous. And I need soone to look after the castle while I'm gone."
"But." Elaris started, already pouting.
"Only you two can do that," he added, giving her a knowing look. "Who else can make sure the guards are behaving?"
Caelum straightened. "I can do that. If there are monsters, I'll fight them. I've been practicing with the wooden sword."
Elaris crossed her arms dramatically. "Fine. But only if you promise to bring back sothing."
Broken smiled. "Deal. Sothing cool. Maybe sothing alive."
Their eyes went wide in unison.
"Like a baby kraken?!" Elaris squealed.
"No kraken," Caelum said quickly, deadpan. "A sword is better."
Broken laughed again, rising slowly to his feet. "I'll see what I can do."
Then. "You always make promises that get you in trouble."
The voice ca from behind him.
Broken turned his head just as Elaris and Caelum spun on their heels.
"Mama!!" they cried in perfect sync.
Alora stepped into the corridor with the grace of soone who always moved like she belonged in every room. Her long red hair swayed gently as she approached, dressed in soft royal blues that marked her both as queen and mother.
She knelt just in ti to catch the children as they flung themselves toward her.
Elaris clung to her like a vine, already talking about sea dragons again.
Caelum, quieter, simply leaned into the hug, as if making sure Alora hadn't vanished in the few monts she'd been gone.
Broken watched them for a mont longer, his gaze soft.
There were wars to be fought. Kingdoms to build. Mysteries to chase across continents.
But right now?
This was his peace.
"So, papa promised to bring you sothing?" Alora asked, her voice warm as she held the sibling close.
Elaris puffed her cheeks in thought. "Sothing cool… but I don't really know what cool ans."
Alora laughed softly. "Well, I'm sure whatever your papa brings, you two will love it."
Broken stepped closer. "Alora," he said gently.
She looked up at him, a teasing spark in her eyes. "So… is everything ready?"
He nodded slowly. "Almost. I'll be leaving soon."
Alora rose to her feet, her expression shifting just slightly. "Take your ti, complete your mission, no need to worry about us here."
Broken gave a quiet chuckle. "Not when I've got sothing this important to co back to."
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