Calus gazed at the empty teacups in front of him and sighed.

The years had passed so quickly… and now, it was time.

The organization had begun to move again. This would likely be the end of their peaceful lives as mortals.

Now… they had to return to duty.

Calus stood up. The table and teacups turned to dust, scattering across the low grass.

He walked back into the house and saw the table already set, with Mabi and his daughter waiting for him.

"Are you done?" Mabi asked.

Calus smiled and nodded.

"Yes… Come, Eva. Let me feed you," he said.

His daughter beamed, jumping off her seat and running toward him. He lifted her up and placed her on his lap.

And so, they began to eat.

"Open up… the spaceship is about to land," Calus said with a wide, playful smile.

"Ahhh…" Eva opened her mouth, receiving the spoon with a cheeky grin.

"Mayday! Mayday! The spaceship has been hit!" Calus laughed.

Mabi rested her chin on her palm, watching the father and daughter play as they ate.

"I wish this would never end…" she muttered softly, her gaze filled with warmth.

They were the most precious things in her life. Mabi didn't know what she would do if she lost them… but she knew she would never be the same again.

---

Soon, the sun set, and darkness fell.

Eva had already fallen asleep, tucked safely into bed. Now, only Calus and Mabi remained in their room.

Calus lay back, staring up, while Mabi rested on his chest.

"It's time… huh?" Mabi asked, her voice low, laced with disappointment.

"Yes. The man who came earlier was in the same batch as us. The King called. He said it's just a discussion… but I'm sure we may be called into war again at any time."

Calus paused.

"I'll go see the King. You stay with Eva. Let her enjoy her childhood… at least for now. Let's keep this simple life for as long as we can."

Calus felt Mabi's grip tighten around him.

She understood what this meant. Their peaceful life might soon end. They might have to leave Eva behind and return to war… against that organization.

She didn't want to leave her daughter.

"You're right… my love," Mabi said softly, listening to his steady heartbeat.

"Be safe, okay? And come back soon," she added.

Calus chuckled.

"I'm a peak King Realm expert just like you. Who could possibly harm me?"

Mabi rolled her eyes.

"So cocky," she said.

She lifted her face slightly, and Calus kissed her.

Soon, the covers wrapped around them as the night quietly passed.

---

Early the next morning, Calus had already set off to his destination: the palace.

Along the way, he kept glancing back at his small house within the vast forest. He felt the urge to turn back… but he knew he had to answer the King's call.

With a sigh, he accelerated toward the palace.

---

"Hahaha, Calus! You've finally become a married man. Look at you, you even look better now. Mabi must be taking good care of you," the King said with a wink.

Calus stood there, momentarily speechless.

Sometimes, despite his wisdom, the King behaved like a child. Still, it eased the tension and made things easier.

Calus bowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You may rise," the King said.

Calus stood.

What followed was familiar. The King asked about Mabi and their daughter, Eva, how they were doing and how life had been.

Eventually, they arrived at the true reason for the meeting.

"You should already know why I called you," the King began.

"Traces of the organization have been found… but—"

He paused, his expression darkening.

"They're not operating in one region. They're everywhere. And they're using ordinary humans. Once controlled, those people are completely taken by the organization. As for how they control minds… we still don't know."

Now it was Calus's turn to frown, his mind racing.

The organization was clever. This method forced them to hesitate because those they would fight were no longer truly enemies… but victims.

Killing them would mean killing innocent people.

Yet letting them roam free wasn't an option either.

"Your Majesty… this is difficult. But Mabi and I will find a way. If we can't kill them… then we'll incapacitate them instead," Calus said.

The King's eyes lit up.

Yes… that was it.

He had overlooked such a simple solution. As King, he had been too focused on saving lives completely… never considering controlled restraint.

If they incapacitated the victims, they could prevent harm without killing them.

And with healing pills capable of restoring even limbs, the damage could be reversed later.

Once a cure for the mind control was found… those people could return to their normal lives.

Brilliant.

"Calus… you never cease to amaze me. That is a thoughtful solution. I'm impressed," the King said with a hearty laugh.

Hearing this, Calus bowed once more.

"I'm just doing my part for the betterment of the people," Calus said with a light laugh as the King applauded.

Soon after, the King called in his ministers and several members of the Genius Academy. Together, they gathered and discussed the plan in detail, refining every step to ensure it could be executed effectively.

After hours of discussion and back-and-forth, they finally reached a conclusion.

Calus was free to return to his family for now.

However, he could be summoned at any time. And when that happened, he and Mabi would have no choice but to go to war… leaving Eva behind.

"Calus… you can bring your daughter to the palace. She will be taken care of, I promise," the King said.

Calus nodded.

Yes… the palace was the safest place for her. She could grow up among nobility, and even if she lacked talent as a fighter, she could still live a comfortable aristocratic life.

Besides, the King was truly grateful. Calus had solved a major problem that had troubled the council for a long time.

After all, the way fighters saw the world was different.

To them, a missing limb was nothing more than a minor injury.

How could ordinary mortals truly understand that?

---

"Oh, Calus… you're here."

A graceful female voice echoed.

For a moment, Calus was stunned.

Standing before him was a familiar figure yet far more mature than he remembered.

Arie.

She was dressed in fitted attire, clearly on her way somewhere as well.

"Oh… hi," Calus replied, snapping out of his thoughts.

Though surprised, he quickly regained himself.

They were old friends, after all.

Soon, the atmosphere between them warmed.

"Would you mind checking on the academy? Maybe give a speech?" Arie said thoughtfully.

"I would have asked Mabi, but she isn't here. You're both legends anyway… although you're a bit lacking compared to her but you'll do."

Calus's face twitched.

"Hey, what do you mean by that? She was only a bit stronger than me back then. Now we're equals," he argued.

Arie laughed.

The moment brought back old memories, and the two of them laughed like they used to.

"Alright, alright...I'm just teasing you," Arie said, waving her hand.

Then she tilted her head slightly.

"So… would you like to come?"

Calus nodded.

"Sure. Why not?"

*******

5/10