*****“His awareness had been active all these years.”The words sounded almost lazy, as though the speaker were commenting on the weather instead of dropping a revelation powerful enough to overturn common sense.However, as soon as the words echoed, the room froze, no one reacting for a full second.Then, almost mechanically, everyone turned toward the source.It was Xavier.Their hearts skipped at once, and in the following moments, they slowly turned their gazes back toward Paul.But Paul did not speak. He didn’t even deny it.Yet, his silence… was answer enough.“You…” Sage Myron stuttered suddenly, his eyes widening dramatically as shock slammed into him. “You had been hearing and aware of everything going on around you for more than twenty-five years?”The old man looked utterly shaken, his worldview cracking apart in real time. But he was far from alone… everyone present, except Xavier, shared the same stunned disbelief.In response, however, Paul smiled faintly.I

*****The murderous intent inside Sage Myron’s voice was so intense that everyone except Xavier and Paul physically trembled.The pressure alone felt suffocating, like standing before a raging beast ready to devour prey.Ellen turned pale instantly, terror flooding her face.Sage Myron glared at her with such fury that it genuinely looked as though he might tear her apart with his bare hands.But then…“Father,” Paul called out softly, once again placing a hand on his father’s shoulder.The gesture was weak, yet it carried astonishing calming power.Almost immediately, the old man froze, turning to his son.But Paul wasn’t looking at him. His gaze never left Ellen.If anything, it was gentle now, brimming with understanding.“I don’t blame you,” he said quietly, his voice noticeably stronger than before.Everyone stared at him in shock.Paul smiled again, warmth appearing in his expression. “In fact,” he continued, “I owe you appreciation… and an apology.”“This…” Ellen’

***** Sage Myron had taken both parental roles for Lyria as best as any man could, but there were places in a child’s heart that only a mother and father could occupy. And now… The person Lyria had always dreamed about, prayed for, and cried for… was standing there. It was overwhelming to the point of paralysis. Suddenly, however… “Daughter,” a voice called out, raspy, weak, and brimming with unbearable emotion. It struck her like thunder, and upon hearing it, Lyria trembled violently. She had heard that word before… but only in dreams, where her father woke up and spoke to her. Even then, it had never felt as real as this moment. Before she even knew what was happening, her entire body shook as though lightning had crashed through her veins. Then slowly and painfully, the lifeless haze in her eyes began to clear, her gaze finally focusing on Paul with true awareness. And the expression she saw there… It was brimming with love, agony, longing, regret, and a fat

*****It took Paul a few seconds that felt like an eternity before he finally managed to react, and when he did, his body trembled faintly, appearing as though the overwhelming emotions surging through him had temporarily stolen control of his limbs.Then… a smile appeared.It was gentle, tender, and overflowing with love and care… the kind of smile that carried years of longing, regret, and devotion all at once.Without even the slightest tinge of hesitation, his arms wrapped around his daughter instinctively.They trembled as they tightened around her back, holding her with a desperate protectiveness, as though he feared someone might suddenly snatch her away again if he loosened his grip even slightly.Then, following this, silent tears slid down his cheeks, soaking into her hair as he pressed his chin lightly against her head.‘I owe you so much, daughter,’ he thought, his chest tightening painfully.And with this, countless memories… or rather, the echoes of memories he h

*****The onlookers’ breath escaped in silent, stunned exhales, and their eyes widened, a look of unmistakable amazement spreading across their faces, mixed with a faint shiver of awe that crept up their spines.But Xavier…He merely stared down at Paul with that same casual, relaxed, and almost lazy smile, as though what he had just done was nothing worth mentioning… like someone brushing dust off their sleeve.Then suddenly, he lifted his head and turned his gaze toward Sage Myron.“You recall earlier that I told you there is something else you can pay me with other than becoming my servant, no?” he asked lightly.Everyone, “_”Sage Myron, “_”For a brief moment, they all stared blankly at him, their expressions blank with confusion, their minds trying to connect the moment with his question.But then realization struck them.“Yes, sir,” Sage Myron responded quickly, stepping forward without hesitation. His tone carried both respect, reverence, and urgency. “Please, what i