"Who is your master?"

"I cannot say."

"Cannot, or will not? Will you take me to your master?"

"That is agreeable."

James nodded.

"Okay, where do we need to go?"

"Coordinates L5694, W6947, S5974."

James calculated the location and concluded that the location was only about five thousand miles above the atmosphere. Great. He wondered though if he would survive; if it was in the cold vacuum of space. Perhaps he could distort space around him to keep a breathable atmosphere an inch from his body? But to do that, and travel to the coordinates given, would be incredibly taxing. Perhaps even impossible.

Thinking of the problem, James realized he couldn't rush it; to give himself time to level up and grow stronger. Plus it would give his sore heart time to grieve the divorce with his wife. James couldn't blame her; he knew he was at fault. But no matter how much he thought about it, he always came back to the same conclusion, one he had thought long before he met Jessica in his hatred for politicians that left their countries when threatened by invasion. That a king was nothing without their people. And while he did not consider himself a king, he knew that his strong sense of justice would never allow him to abandon the people he had taken in. It hurt, but he didn't want to place his own life higher in value than the people around him.

He asked the System if it wanted to come back with him to Unyielding Night. The System agreed, to which James told the construct that he would address it as Leandra to not alert the other fortress residents to her true identity. No need to cause a panic.

There was no problem when she arrived, as many saw Leandra simply as another golem. Albeit one with an amazing ability to think and reason. Over the next several days, James quickly fell into a routine helping his people, whether it was the students in their studies, Thistus with his cargo and introducing him to financial statements, or even simple everyday tasks. And little by little, days turned into weeks which turned into months. Slowly, he found that his earlier unwavering drive to discover the truth was replaced by a joy in helping and introducing Leandra to normal everyday life.

It was during one of these days while he was hauling in a catch of fish on the docks that he heard a voice he had thought he would never hear again.

"Here."

James turned and saw his now ex-wife Jessica. In her hands was a bundle wrapped in a soft material that was similar to clothing and seaweed.

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"Jessica!"

Startled to see her, James quickly gave her his full attention but she only handed him the bundle, refusing to look at him.

"Here, take our daughter."

Daughter?!?

James looked with shock at the tiny figure in his arms. She didn't cry, and only shifted quietly in her sleep. Using analyze, he learned that she was a half-mer; a child of both land and sea.

"What's her name?" James asked her in awe.

"She doesn't have one. Name her yourself."

"Shouldn't we name her together?"

"I don't want her. You take it and raise it."

His eyes went wide when he looked at his former spouse. And for the first time he felt something ugly in his heart towards her. Thinking quickly, he pulled out a piece of paper and began writing.

"Wait, hold on a minute."

He quickly scribbled, then handed her the paper.

"What's this?"

"A piece of paper saying that you are surrendering your parental rights. Also, here."

He took off her wedding ring that he still kept around his neck.

"Do with this as you like."

She scoffed and grabbed the ring, tossing it out without a care into the water where it sank. Grabbing the pen, she quickly signed her name on the document before turning to leave.

"You sure you want to do this? You are her mother after all."

"My boyfriend doesn't want kids. You take it."

James restrained himself, knowing he couldn't impose his moral viewpoint on his ex-wife but unable to comprehend her thinking. It still took great restraint on his part to not angrily tell her off. Without another word, the mermaid flipped her tail and swam away, leaving James holding their daughter. As he looked at her, he felt overwhelmed at the idea of fatherhood, but overjoyed knowing that what he held was his most important and precious treasure of all. Remembering that she still didn't have a name, James gently kissed her forehead as he felt his heart explode with love.

"I think I will name you...Hope. Because I hope for the best and brightest future for you, my beautiful treasure."

She woke up and looked at him with his eyes. Rubbing her eyes, she started to cry and James realized that he might have to find her a diaper and some baby food. As he walked back to the fortress, he felt for the first time an appreciation for their new world that had given him his daughter. Moving forward, he felt the spark of hope.