Vicross immediately returned the unconscious Cale to the Viscounty. There's something wrong with him. He's not responding. His eyes were tightly closed, and his face became paler.

When Cale was brought before him unconscious, he rushed back and met Deruth, who had rushed back after waking up. Rok was nowhere to be found. Ron went to find his eldest son, and Vicross quickly followed after returning Cale to him.

Cale, on the other hand, is unresponsive. He remained unconscious after developing a fever that night. There's nothing wrong with him. He was cured the next day, but he is still unconscious.

He was struck by dread and loss once more. His twins are in a difficult situation as a result of his carelessness.

He kissed Cale's hand and turned to face the priest he had summoned.

"There's nothing wrong with his body," said the priest in front of the Sungod Church.

"He didn't... but there's something wrong with his soul," said the priest from the Church of God of Death. "It's clear, but I see death looming around him; you mentioned he was one of your twins?"

"yes..."

"I assumed the other twin was nowhere to be found?" the priest inquired, adding, "It'll be better to save the other."

Deruth was befuddled. He tried to deny the complexities of their lives subconsciously.

"Their souls are bound; the weaker soul will suffer in the absence of the other," the priest explained.

Deruth clenched his teeth and swallowed all of his tears. He kissed his son on the forehead while holding his son's hand.

If only... if only I had trusted them.

"What about... the other soul?"

"That soul, despite being the strongest, will be weaker."

Deruth sighed as the priest delivered their report and gazed at his son, who was fast asleep. What happened now will not be altered by his mistakes. The only thing he can do now is request assistance from the crown.

Golden Turtle... He's ashamed that he couldn't even protect his own children. Cale's face had become even paler, he noticed.

"COUNT! LORD DERUTH!" he exclaims, seeing gold and platinum arrive in the worst-case scenario.

He looked at them, while both of them gazed at Cale, who remained unperturbed in his sleep.

If a mere count can't move on his own, he'll use these bastards to save his children.

.

.

.

— Rok, wake up.

Rok awoke when he heard the glutton's voice. He sat in a cold cellar with few children around. He shifted his weight and assessed the situation calmly.

— Rok, this is not the time to be calm! Cale's soul will be in danger!

Rok became terrified when he heard that. Cale should be with Deruth now and be safe.

— Your souls are bound together. Cale's weaker soul will suffer.

His face had turned pale. He attempted to stand, but couldn't feel his feet. Something is wrong with him.

— If you can't move, we're in big trouble.

— Rok, you aren't aware, are you?

He was aware that their minds communicated with one another, but he was unaware that their lives and souls were intertwined.

"How could I possibly know?"

As he was saying this, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. It was so potent and powerful that even without using the ancient powers, he coughed up blood.

A man in a black robe entered the room. Rok looked up and raised his head. He locked his gaze on the magician, who was smiling viciously at him.

"What a fine specimen the Sten Marquessate brought me."

Sten? Sten Marquessate.

Rok was well aware that they were dealing with the underworld. He was well aware that they were communicating with Arm and a few other dangerous beings.

"Haha."

The magician looked at him confused.

"You're in a tight situation, but instead of crying and begging, you're laughing? What a very peculiar child."

His unbound hands are the only saving grace in this situation right now. While his mana was limited by this filthy cellar, he possessed another type of power that could not be sealed even with the most powerful spells.

Rok raised his hands and summoned a powerful whirlwind. He coughed blood and felt excruciating pain inside his chest, but his only objection was to return home.

Destruction it is!

The silver shield materialized, crushing everything in its path while allowing the kidnapped children to enter the sphere. He's alone, and there's no one to stop him from wreaking havoc.

Let's fuck them over and screw them for good!

He smirked viciously and continued to wield power and expand the silver shield. The dark magician curses his inability to stop the expanding silver shield that is destroying his tower.

When the tower began to crumble, Rok smiled. He saw the flag outside and noticed Whipper Kingdom's insignia on it. There's another Wizard's Tower that stands taller than this blasted black tower.

*badumm*

He crouches but does not let go of the silver shield.

He curses the brewing pain, but he was only thinking about one thing.

He has to return home.

The kidnapped children began jumping outside the collapsing tower. Rok continued to destroy them, but he was soon overtaken by a boy with blue hair, forcing him to let go of the silver shield.

The Whale's armed song echoed through at that point.

He looked down and noticed whales attacking the black tower. Not only that, the Mogoru Empire's chivalry came into view. Adin must have sent them. He pondered. What a useless Alver Crossman. That wife of theirs is so useless. Is he really just going to let Adin take the credit for saving him?

"Are you alright?" the boy with blue hair asked.

"Not fine," he whispered. He coughs up another mouthful of blood. He suddenly felt he searing pain inside him. He violentlys trembled.

— You're going too far, Rok!

The ancient powers began calling out to him.

"Back..."

"Huh?"

"Rowo—"

But he wasn't able to finish his sentence.

.

.

.

Violan, who was keeping an eye on Cale, nervously held his hand. The child has been coughing up blood, but he is not gaining consciousness. His hands were becoming even colder. His face became even paler.

"What should I do?"

This is the first time she has felt these emotions.

They may not be her own children, but she is terrified of losing them.

"Hmm... Rok..." says Cale. He's crying his brother's name.

She rose and summoned the priest. His face regained some of its colors.

"He must be quite close."

Violan sat down again, this time looking at Deruth's men.

They're rushing, and Deruth is using every resource he has to find him.

"Mom..."

She looked at Bassen. Her son looked really terrified right now. "Hyunnie..."

"He'll be alright." They'll be alright. She believed that they'd really be okay.

The pain will leave once it has finished teaching you.

But isn't it too much, after all the misunderstandings and falling apart?

[*****]

Rok had been out of commission for thirteen days. The Whale, who had brought him out of the black tower, gave him a look. His energy was jumbled, and his face was pale. He appeared vulnerable as he cried out someone's name.

"We should put him back where he belongs," Shickler, the Whale King, told his son. Whitara has already destroyed the black tower where children are kidnapped. While looking for someone, the hostile Mogoru Empire gradually took control and cleaned the area.

"We can't put our trust in them," Whitara said. She is grateful that this child was able to assist her brother in some way. While carrying out some nefarious plans, that black tower stood out like a sore thumb.

Rok soon awoke. His half-lidded eyes look around at the hazy image of people.

"Ho...me..."

He whispered. He got out of bed slowly.

The value he placed on his family. There was nothing for him in his previous residence.

He believed he was making a difference in people's lives.

He desired happiness.

And yet...

"Back.... there..."

He requires Cale just as much as Cale requires him. He yearned for the days when he could relax in nature and watch the sun set in orange hues.

Now he had to endure this damnation, this curse. Even though everything disgusted him, he had to put on a brave face. He wasn't prepared.

His grandfather was right.

You'll rely on one another and strive for happiness.

He was almost ready to give up. He wanted to get away from this torture, this insanity, the fear in his chest about what would happen next to him. It's excruciating... The agony is too much to bear. Cale might be suffering even more if he feels this way.

The little brother he had.

The little brother he so wanted to protect.

He had no choice but to live in this hell. His sword-trained hands have gone numb. Instead of a bow, his hands were curled into a fist, as if praying.

He's had enough, but he lacks the courage to tell anyone. In this life, he is unable to express his true conflicting emotions to anyone.

A son from a great line.

And...

The only consolation he had, was family that will never leave him behind.

Naive... Fool... Youth...

He can't hold himself back.

His eyes were filled with tears.

This is the first time, he ever wished for something so bad...

"I want to go home..."

Back where everyone was. Back where that family was.

He collapsed on the floor, curling up and coughing up blood once more.

His insides churned, almost as if they were escaping from his body.

He squirmed, determined to get back to where he belonged.

"Lady Whitara, a ship has approached and requested passage!"

A ship bearing the name Ubar Viscounty appeared in the distance. Humans and the sea have an unwritten rule that they must never interfere with each other.

"Dad..." Rok murmured as he slowly rose to his feet. They were all staring at him, dragging his frail body behind them. "I'm here, Dad..."

This desperate pleading...

Paethon took the child in his arms and led him to the location of the ship. Whitara soon followed.

A man with brown hair and reddish-brown eyes stood in front, waiting for the entrance.

The man looked weary, but there was hope in his eyes.

"Rok..."

The child flinched. A blonde boy also came into view.

Rok squirms from Paethon's arms. Hopping into the ship, Paethon looked at the man who was about to cry.

He let Rok down and let the boy approach the brown haired man.

The man wrapped his arms around the child and looked at him with longing.

"You're alright..."

Rok leans on his father and smiled, "I'm sorry..."

"Why are you sorry? I'm supposed to be the one asking for that."

The child finally melted into the man's arms and slept.

"Then, I've brought him back. I shall visit when the time is right." Paethon smiled and jumps back into the sea.

Deruth bowed his head deeply and looked at his sleeping son.

"He looks pale."

Rok peacefully let himself be embraced by this warm arm.

TBC