The commander's gaze rested on Kaeliyus for a while, silent as he contemplated things.
"That is tempting, and I'll take it," he said.
"I knew," Kaeliyus replied.
"Well, if luck be on our side, you can make it in ti to co save us both should we ever need it," the commander said, going around to take his seat.
"This child, how is he related to you?" He asked, settling down on the chair.
"He is just related to ," Kaeliyus responded, earning a blank stare from the man. Clearly that wasn't the answer to his question, but Kaeliyus' response made it obvious he didn't want to answer.
"Ok? And among multiple options out there, why ?"
"Because you're the only one I can trust. I need the child under you, to get registered under your family na."
"That's pretty suspicious but a deal is a deal," the commander sighed.
"Then would you at least tell about this boy? Where he's from. How old is he? Is he an awakener? Anything."
"He isn't an awakener. He's currently 16, and he's from here. He's an orphan, and an only child," Kaeliyus explained, slipping in lies with ease.
"He wears a mask to hide his face because he's sick, so never ask him to take it off. Let him live as he wants, and do not get him involved with the other young HS here."
At least not yet, Kaeliyus said to himself.
"He isn't just a boy but your son. He shouldn't live in the dorm like the others but with you. He's gone through a lot, and I want him to live freely as he wants," Kaeliyus continued. "You can have conversations with him but do not pry too much."
"Feels like I'm being handed a strict task rather than rely adopting a child and fathering one," the commander remarked.
"The first thing that should be handled once he cos is his ID registration. You don't have to worry too much about him being in danger because he's involved with you—as I'll always be near to fend off any threat," Kaeliyus said, ignoring the commander's remark.
"When does he co?"
"Possibly tomorrow. You'll have to show to your chambers so I can teleport him there directly. I wouldn't want to go through all that hassle again just to see you."
"And when do you start staying by my side as a bodyguard to protect ?" The commander asked, gazing straight at Kaeliyus.
Kaeliyus forced a cough like he was clearing his throat. "I won't always be by your side like that assistant of yours," he replied, making the man raise a brow in question. "But I'll always be there to protect you, rest assured."
"How, if I may ask?"
"You'll know when I bring him in tomorrow. Now, escort to your chambers, if you will."
Without another word, the commander rose from his chair, walking out the office with Kaeliyus. He t his assistant in the hallway, and when he attempted to tag along, the commander gestured for him to remain behind.
Kaeliyus and the commander walked through the large hallway leading to his chambers, and when they reached, Kaeliyus toured around.
"You've got a big enough bed. My young—" he paused, swallowing hard before he continued. "The boy will sleep comfortably," he said, eyeing the large bed that took a vast portion of the room.
The commander side eyed Kaeliyus, puzzled why a boy he's yet to know is to share his chambers with him, and that too, share a bed.
Was the plan after all to get him killed?
"Why look at like that? That bed is big enough to contain five people, clearly you can make room for him there."
The commander said nothing, now more interested in seeing the boy in question than ever. After a little more conversation with the commander, Kaeliyus left.
*****
At the complex apartnt building, inside their ho, the Korean HS, Im Seun and his assistant, sat at the dining table. They appeared to be in the middle of an important discussion.
"The plan, then, is to head to the village ntioned in the report—soti just after midnight, once the citizens and reporters have cleared out," Im Seun began, reviewing their strategy with calm precision.
"Since the association has their personnel stationed around the outskirts, observing from a distance, I'll approach the barrier and act as though I'm attempting to break it. I'll move my lips, as if communicating with soone on the inside. Just when it looks like I'm about to make my way in, I'll suddenly snap my head in the direction you indicate—staring sharply, as though I've spotted soone watching . Then, caught in the act, I'll vanish on the spot—teleporting away, as if I never intended to be seen there at all. Is that right?"
"Correct," his assistant confird. "It's a good thing you can teleport. It has never co in more handy than in this situation."
"And that is an act to show that I am the one who saved the villagers, and that I can communicate with them, and even break the barrier."
"Yes. Visiting the village so late, when silence blankets everything, would naturally raise suspicion," his assistant explained. "After all, soone trying to remain unnoticed—especially the one who freed the villagers—would choose such an hour to approach them."
"And after that, we go to the association and tell them we've decided to accept their offer," Im Seun grinned widely.
"No, we'll wait a day later," his assistant said. Im Seun's brows frowned, annoyance simring within him.
"Why? You stopped from going over to them today 'cause we have to put the plan in motion, and now you're stopping even after the plan?" He asked, evidently annoyed.
"This all plays to our advantage," she sighed. You don't want to just throw yourself at them so easily," she sighed. "Do that, and they'll start doubting whether you're genuine in the first place."
"Keep in mind the real person behind this is hell bent on keeping a low profile. Do you think he'll just run out to accept their offer after all that effort of staying hidden?" She continued. "Just get in character, relax your head, and when it's past midnight, we'll execute the plan and go to the association to accept their offer the next day."
"A new chapter is about to begin for us," the assistant remarked.
****
The next morning, within the confines of their ho, Kaeliyus and Seiya stood in the living room—Ibyu perched atop Kaeliyus' shoulder. It was the appointed ti to escort Seiya to his new residence—a place he wouldn't remain in for long, not once his ID registration was complete.
"How will you take your heart back in, my Lord? Through the mouth like Ibyu said?" Kaeliyus asked.
Starting a new life sowhere new, Seiya couldn't just let one of his ability out in the light just like that. He needed to place his heart back where it belonged.
{I told you, Sei likes taking it through the mouth,} Ibyu chid with sass. {Just tell him to open up and I'll go right in, in my liquid form.}
Knowing fully well he had always complained anyti he needed to take Ibyu back through the mouth, Seiya was well aware that Ibyu was rely teasing him.
Without a word, Seiya plunged a hand into his own chest, tearing it open and digging deep inside. Both Kaeliyus and Ibyu were shocked, taken aback by Seiya's abrupt attack on himself.
After making a hole in his chest, Seiya reached out for Ibyu with his blood soaked hand that dropped blood onto the ground, holding Ibyu gently in his grasp.
"Go back inside," Seiya said, pushing Ibyu into the open wound on his chest. Once he placed Ibyu inside, he retracted his hand, feeling Ibyu morph back in place, connecting steadily.
"Are you alright my Lord?" Kaeliyus asked, clueless how to act as it was his first ti seeing Seiya do sothing like that. Seiya looked up at him, eyes hinting at Kaeliyus to heal with his potion.
"Right away," Kaeliyus responded when he understood the unspoken words in Seiya's eyes. He materialized a healing vial, poured it over Seiya's injury and he was as good as new—healed to perfection.
"You should change then, my Lord."
Seiya went into his room, changed into a set of clean clothes after cleaning the blood off himself and ca out. Since he was now going to live with soone new to get him an identity, he needed to be vigilant.
Bound carefully around his eyes were his blindfold, and over the blindfold was a black mask. A half mask, concealing only the upper portion of his face, stretching from the edge of his forehead to the bridge of his nose. Crafted in black, it was adorned with intricate patterns—each line etched with a distinct flair that spoke of its uniqueness.
Kaeliyus extended his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Shall we go begin this new chapter of your life within the association?" he asked.
What he truly ant, however, was: 'Shall we go hide you in the very place that so desperately hunts for you?'
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