“Someone from my family?” Paragon Tsurugi asked.

“Yes,” Gaius replied. “The Tsurugi family had been chased out of Seireiden, and were running a small town stricken with the famine that occurred a few months ago. Long story short, he came up to me after I slaughtered a bunch of monsters, wanting to purchase their corpses. He decided to give me his old family home to pay for it.”

“Sundown Residence? That’s one hell of a good deal,” said the Paragon. “Don’t worry, I won’t get you to return it. My descendants have their own circumstances. But you said something about them being chased out of Seireiden earlier?”

Gaius nodded. “Paragon Sasori…or Scorpio, had conspired to exile the Tsurugi family from the capital. And, well, they haven’t really returned yet, despite the fact that Scorpio has vanished from the face of Orb.”

“They might have found a new calling,” said the Paragon. “After all, my family used to be a snobbish bunch. They always threw my name around to get what they wanted, but from your words…I think they might have changed. The Tsurugis I know wouldn’t have let the others share their spoils.”

“Paragon Tsurugi, do you—”

“Saito. Please call me that, friend of my undeserving family,” he replied, a smile on his face.

In that moment, Gaius could see the visage of an old man, one contented with his lot in life and concerned only with his family, smile at him. Gone was the middle-aged warrior, and in its place was an aged man, whose face was lined with the burdens of life.

And in all that, was a hint of death. Paragon Tsurugi was dying.

That realisation coloured his eyes as he stared back at the old man in shock. “You—”

Paragon Saito made a shushing gesture, before turning to Paragon Ying Xin. “He’s a good chap. Take care of him. And Gaius…if you can, do look out for my family. I’m too old to be looking after them.”

“Saito?” Ying Xin asked. “You’re behaving oddly. What’s wrong?”

“Just settling my last wishes. You know as well as I do that the battlefront is about to get a lot more chaotic in the next few months,” said Paragon Saito. “Gaius here has his own family to worry about. I’m just asking him to take mine along if the Human God decides to crush the East.”

“You’re pessimistic about our chances?” Marie asked.

“Yes.” Paragon Saito shook his head. “Do not be fooled by the success of the Mortal Light Dynasty. They have the full backing of at least one Demigod, and an incredible administrative structure to back up their military might. The other three continents, put together, is unable to overcome the North if push comes to shove.”

“Probably the work of the North’s otherworlder,” said Marie. “Aziz and I went there to see their new military innovations. What we’ve come up with is a down-scaled, adapted version of their own doctrines. The battle of Centoria demonstrated the power of their new doctrines, something the Republic is still trying to make use of.”

“Which is why the Plenum requested for Thunderbolt’s help.” The Paragon shook his head. “But I fear it might not be enough. Of the four elemental great gods, the Lifespring has proven himself to be one of the most combative, even more so than the Worldshaper.”

Ying Xin sighed. “The Plenum will not give up Feng-Lang, this much is for certain. If push comes to shove, I believe the East will raise arms against the Human God himself, rather than to accept such a loss.”

“Which is why I ask of you to bring my family away safely,” said Paragon Saito. “Can you do it?”

“If they don’t come asking why a little boy is ordering them around, yes,” Gaius replied. “And if they don’t listen to me, it’s not something I can do much about either.”

Paragon Saito tossed a small gold plaque over. “This is something that represents me. You can use it to command my family to follow your orders…within reason, anyway.”

“Is it even alright to give something like this to a child?” Gaius asked.

“Precisely because you’re a child, that I’m willing to give this to you.” He shook his head. “If I gave this to Ying Xin, she would command the family to gamble with her the whole day. They’ll be ruined in days.”

“That’s not me,” Paragon Ying Xin said.

“Really?” Didn’t you lead that chap Jing Xian down the gambling path? He still has a debt to most of the Lords in Mi-Zu, to the point he doesn’t dare to show his face there. The Information Brokers there have been paid to inform a whole cohort of Lords and Knights there if he ever shows up.”

“That has nothing to do with me,” Paragon Ying Xin replied smoothly.

“Right. Totally. And I’m a Demigod too.” Saito shook his head, and once again the air of a middle-aged man laughing at life returned to him. “But if you could, bring them over to the North. There’s a good stash of items there. I suppose you could pick and choose some items from the family vault.”

“Treasure, eh?” Gaius’ mind wandered. “If it’s yours, I guess there has to be nice things inside. Weapons, artefacts…do I get to pick any?”

“Well, be reasonable about it, I guess,” replied Paragon Saito. “The location and method to open the vault is in the seal itself. My son will know what to do when you show him the seal and tell him to go North. He’ll settle the rest for you.”

“So my job is to protect them. Got it.” Gaius rubbed his little chin. “It would be better if you guys put in your hundred percent in forcing an end to hostilities, though. A long flight to the North is going to be tough on your family. Can some of them even fly to begin with?”

“Fly?” Paragon Saito tilted his head. “Was there a misunderstanding about the nature of this escort? They’ll be on a ship. It’ll take two to three months for the seaborne voyage. Why else would I let you rife through my vault otherwise?”

A two-month voyage at the very minimum? Gaius raised his head, and was about to return the plaque to Paragon Saito when he caught sight of the latter’s face. His heart trembled slightly, and the words that he was about to speak out died in his throat.

It would seem that Gaius’ own instincts were partial towards people who put their family first and foremost. The boy couldn’t bring himself to reject Paragon Saito, and chose to mutter something about steam propulsion.

“Thank you.” Saito’s smile was brilliant.

The others, who had been watching silently from the side, finally saw it fit to open their mouth. To them, it would seem that the Paragon was laying down contingency measures for his family, a solemn affair that they didn’t want to disturb. Now that it was over, the others seemed to have regained their liveliness…but the boy wondered, briefly, if they would feel the same if they knew Paragon Saito’s days were drawing to a close.