Many more hours later, dawn broke. A million airships had returned home. The place where Dominus transported the Coelestians bordered Lacus, a keystone city. King Harald sighed in relief. They would have incurred the wrath of Marfa (مرفأ), a nearby kingdom stripped of glory.

He sighed again with lowered eyes. “I should never have broken our promise.” Yet, with all his regrets, he stood tall for everyone. His ship led the way back to the City of Gods. “Full speed ahead!” he exclaimed at a call. “I needn’t say much.”

All cheered loudly and followed their majesty faster. However, smiles disappeared just as quickly. The word abandoned would do their home no justice. Mother nature took over even the highest spires and skyscrapers. 500-meter vines wrapped around the four gigantic hand statues in the city’s center.

Children peered beyond windows and frowned—until happiness had caught their eyes. They smiled and giggled at the fay flying outside at blinding speeds. The sylphs shredded foliage with razor winds. Salamanders aided their job. The undines purified every body of water from its murk, and the gnomes aerated the earth and restored necessary flora.

Deciduous camels stampeded back to the central park forests. Numerous avians flew to their old nests. Lurking in the shrubs, gold-fleeced tigers emerged; their cubs played with each other. With every last four-winged mallard and matted lake shark, the city’s ecosystem returned to color. The citizens became equals par excellence and never knew strife for a mega annum.

Harald’s eyes widened upon the fairies’ remarkable assistance. Their one and only queen stood behind and smirked, hand on her hip. “Where’s your superior human genes, now?” she raised an eyebrow.

He snickered, “Hahahahahahaha!” and sighed. “Madame… If we had stuck with such barbaric views, you’d be my personal aid in bed.”

Titania smiled longingly and hugged him with closed eyes. She did not let go for a minute. “Thanks for everything before, man. I wish I never turned away.” She let go and sniffled. “I’m sure my Oberon has his endless gratitude.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t recommend it. But I can’t just cross the other side now to tell him otherwise. It’d be rude.”

They laughed together with goblets. An hour in, the queen kneeled with more smiles. Hearing her daughter, Flora, she flew to the sky alongside her subjects.

It took less than fifteen minutes for the bustling metropolis to thrive again. It would seem like nothing occurred to the citizens’ lives.

In the Imhotep Inn, life became even busier. The staff could barely keep up with people sent to the ER. The ICU did not fare better. Innumerable patients had orange vein-like lesions everywhere.

The Head of the Department, Dr. Gregory Hugh, stood with his cane and sighed. “I don’t believe it… No one’s ever seen an Icarus Folly epidemic since Fangorn George went to college. And I don’t have time for children’s authors. The ones I got here can’t handle the pain if the Gods willed it.”

Alongside her family, Kenkō stepped in. “That’s why I pray for Hagel and his brother to triumph on their mission, sir. For now, we’d like to see the boy that my eldest had saved.”

“Go ahead,” his eyes turned. “I’ve had a worse epidemic from day one. The department doesn’t want nitrous oxide in my hands.” He returned to the ICU.

The family went to the two-hundredth floor. Instead of elevators, it was instant teleportation. Still, they had to dodge many hospital beds rolling in the hallway. Yukino’s heart raced as a nurse opened the room; her mother held her close.

Inside, there was nothing but innocence. The nursery had its hands full with fifty children, but one did not smile and huddled in a corner. Yukino quickly ran, only for the nurse to block her.

“He isn’t Hayato, sweety,” she held her shoulder. “And don’t worry. His father passed away last night. We’re here to help.” As she mentioned, another nurse hugged the orphan.

She stood and gestured her hand. “This way, everyone. Your boy is as energetic as ever.”

Hokori’s family got led to the nursery’s largest room. It featured a massive simulation of a dungeon crawler. Not one child was afraid of the monsters. They had every arsenal needed to defeat all.

The largest team had their leader stand valiantly with a wooden sword. They stabbed the cavedrake’s head together and relished their victory. Moments later, the nurse accompanied the boy.

Hayato Minagawa. Eight years old and with a perpetually cocked head. Despite the odd choice of an astronaut on a block of cheese on his shirt, no one ridiculed him. He had no fear and only questions. “Are you my Mom?” he pointed at Tokino.

She kneeled and smiled. “Of course, honey. And your siblings will love you forever till the end.”

Yukino ran and hugged him with giggles. The idea of someone younger made her pulse rise. “I’m always on your side, Lil Bro. And so are they!” She presented her older siblings.

Kenkō had already thought of a nickname. It helped that she found him just as adorable as her little sister. She hugged him as well. “Welcome home, Hayataro (早たろう),” she said faintly.

“Wait a minute,” Kakunō raised a brow. “Isn’t that meant for older brothers like me?”

Her smile disappeared, replaced with lowered eyes and mouth. “Dream on, country boy,” she pointed at his chest. “Hayataro has more potential than you. He’ll be a peerless archmage.”

Several veins popped within him. “How would you even know that!?”

Hokori stepped in and chuckled. “I appreciate the notion, dude. But don’t go appropriatin’ my title.”

Hayato gasped. “Dad!” He ran with joy.

In front, Haruto immediately kneeled and lowered his arms. However, he felt no warm embrace. Eyes open, he stood dumbfounded that his brother would receive it.

“Whoa there, kiddo.” Hokori pried his hug open. “Dunno how you thought your Mom would smash someone like me.” He pointed with a thumb. “Big and soft is where I swing! Ain’t no way I’d— Ugh!” He curled into a fetal position, hands between his legs.

Tokino let go of her glare and turned to her son. “Let’s go home… You’ll learn more about your head.” She made a sudden move on the mentioned husband’s cheek.

Her eldest brother chuckled again and led the way outside. Then, she realized her sister stood in place from behind. “Something wrong, Kenkō?” she turned.

She shook her head. “Not at all, ma’am. I’ll be with you guys later. I have errands to do here.” She went to another door.

Tokino found nothing unusual and followed the others out of the Imhotep Inn.

At home, the sibling quartet had already gone full swing. Yukino and Hayato became the quintessential support class in the training hall. The latter turned out to be a Child of Athena.

Kakunō effortlessly dodged a vertical halberd swing from his Nijūshin (二重身). Such look-alike automatons could even mimic physical weapons. With Kenkō’s own, she pulled up her new device—gloves with syringe darts on-the-fly.

The glass bridge they had stood cracked and fell apart. The younger duo reacted quickly. Yukino cast runic platforms for her sister, and Hayato’s brother levitated in midair.

After the regimen, Kenkō hugged both with closed eyes. “Oh, Yukichi, Hayataro… You two are brighter than any sun.” She repeated their nicknames over and over.

Kakunō stretched his back forward. “Mind giving a thank you for your new toys, dude?”

Her smile disappeared again, and she turned with an indifferent look. “Perhaps later, country boy. That is if you stop calling me a ‘dude.’” She smiled back at her other siblings. “Run along, you two. Dinner’s almost ready, and your Big Bro needs some scolding.”

Yukino giggled while holding her brother’s hand. The massive red sliding door closes behind them. Now alone with the other sibling, Kenkō crossed her arms and tapped a finger.

Kakunō grunted and walked with heavy steps. “Would you quit that for once? You’re older than me but act thirteen. At least show me—” His body did not prepare for a hug. However, it was not warm.

She exuded nothing but uneasiness and even fear. Her heart raced a little. “They’re still alive,” she closed her eyes, not letting go. “I thank the Gods eternally for that. I don’t want to hurt you again.”

He did the honors when she could not and held her shoulders. “I suppose you need the pills again?” His eyes had lowered.

She shook her head with closed eyes. “It’s only two times a day. I’m in top shape.” She hugged him again. “Listen, Kakunō. I’m harsh because you do annoy me. But I’ll never look down on you. You’re brighter than the sun, too. Every day….”

His cheeks did not redden. All he showed was concern, and he rubbed Kenkō’s back. He could only say that dinner was ready, looking at his Every Hub. He gave her his best wishes and walked past her.

“Wait!” were the words that made him stop in his tracks. Kenkō smiled with droopy eyes. “Thanks for the gloves, Lil Bro….”

Kakunō smiled back as the sliding door closed.

Tonight’s dinner was gravlax, flying Jacob, julskinka, isterband, kroppkakor, and kalvdans. Haruto had almost burned the last one. His wife giggled at the predicament.

Hokori gulped down his final orange juice. “Hey, kiddo… think fast!” He threw the glass.

Hayato’s hands moved quicker than everyone imagined. The glass floated in the air and slowly went down. His siblings clapped.

On the other hand, Tokino’s eyes narrowed a little. “Don’t do that, brother. He has no control over it yet.”

“Maybe, or maybe not.” He shrugged, and he stood up. “Anyway, your son’s gotta prepare to register a name for his power tomorrow.” He wrapped an arm on Haruto’s shoulder. “Let’s talk outside, boy. The stars are pretty neat.”

The latter choked on his drink as he got dragged to the main door. Unexpectedly, his brother was right. Despite being a sleepless city, the cosmos had remained. Hokori sat on a bench and skipped stones to the estate’s lake. Haruto decided to lean on his back behind; he figured he had something to say.

He sighed. “I guess you thought Hayato’s innate ability was eerily familiar, huh? Don’t worry, I thought so, too.”

Hokori skipped another stone. “Yes, but it’s more than that. It ain’t his magic I’m worried about.” He did it once more. “The last time a kid became a mage was on my team, y’know?”

He smiled faintly. “Of course. It’s like you told me a billion times already.” He turned his head. “Are you unable to move on?”

He chuckled and skipped an even bigger one. “Nope. I’m just educatin’ ya to this day, boy. Even now, you’ve got that naive charm.”

Haruto looked up at the stars. “Well, I’ve only been a father for two years. And we’re both in our twenties. Hotblooded wouldn’t come close to describing our inner selves.”

He paused for a minute, skipping nothing. Before long, he recalled some friends. He could even remember the softness of his room back in Shibuya. Thirty seconds in, he stretched and yawned. “Aight, back inside.” He walked toward the door behind them from afar. Haruto followed suit.

Hokori called his family’s attention in the living room. The couple sat together, as did the siblings—except Hayato, who stood at the center.

Hokori cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Blah-blah-blah, you’re more than a kid. Blah-blah-blah, the whole world awaits us.” He had cleared the five-second mark. The others’ eyes widened. He smiled and raised a fist bump. “Welcome to the family, son. Please don’t look up where I got that line.”

Hayato smiled back wider. His heart had now matched a rabbit’s and took no delay complying. “Hm!” he nodded with sheer confidence.

Far away from the archmage estates, a man looked beyond. The cold wind made several leaves fall above the canopy. The night went darker by the minute.

He walked for a better view—only for an emerald stag beetle to catch his eye. His hand moved at blinding speed. He observed the insect closer.

“Hmmm… interesting. Quite a rare find.” He looked at its underside. “I want to know how it feels again.” His eyes glowed subtly white.

The beetle scurried unscathed and stumbled upon its species. They knew not that it would tear their legs before their heads. Continuing, the beetle gnawed on a tree trunk. Minutes later, its mandibles broke off.

The man shook his head quickly and opened his eyes. “Interesting… They’re definitely stronger than their cousins.” The next thing the hapless bug knew was a shoe.

As this story went on, a true monster failed to express excitement. It had plenty, and the tune of Auld Lang Syne whistled.