“Dad? DAD…!”

The boy’s voice cracked the somber night as he shouted, his wide eyes fixed on the figure standing in the distance. His breath hitched, and for a moment, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. But the figure didn’t disappear. It was real.

He leapt off the carriage before anyone could stop him, stumbling but catching himself as his legs carried him forward as fast as they could.

“Dad! It’s really you!”

Maber barely had time to react before his son collided into him, wrapping his small arms tightly around his waist. The boy buried his face into his father’s chest, his sobs muffled but heavy with emotion.

“I-I thought… I thought I’d never see you again…” Ethan cried, clinging tighter, afraid that if he let go, his father might vanish again. His old enough to understand what's really happening here, that his father would charge to a battlefield.

Maber knelt, pulling his son into a firm, protective embrace. His hands trembled as he held the boy close, his own tears slipping silently down his cheeks. He stroked his son’s hair, whispering softly.

“I’m here now, son. I’m here,” Maber said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry. I’ll never leave you again, I promise. It’s okay now. Everything’s okay… We'll be together.”

Behind them, Miss Lina stood frozen, her hand covering her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold, her heart torn between disbelief and relief. Slowly, she stepped forward, her steps hesitant but drawn to the man she thought she’d lost forever.

“Maber…” her voice was barely a whisper, her hands trembling. “What… what happened?”

Maber lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers. The weight of their shared grief, their pain, and their longing melted in that moment. He stood, gently pulling his son up with him as he turned to face her.

“I won't go, Lina,” he said, his voice breaking. “I won't leave my family.”

She hesitated for a moment before rushing forward, throwing her arms around him. She clung to him as if afraid he might disappear again, her tears soaking into his shoulder.

“I thought—I thought we would lose you forever,” she sobbed. “I told myself to be strong for him, but I—Maber, I can't take it, I need you so much…”

“I know,” Maber murmured, his voice low and soothing. “It's only been so short but I missed both of you more than words can ever say. I’m so sorry, Lina. For everything. For leaving, for making you go through that pain… I’ll never leave you again. Never.”

Their son stood between them, his small hands gripping both of theirs as if anchoring them together.

“Promise?” Ethan asked, his tear-streaked face looking up at his father.

Maber crouched again, placing his hands on the boy’s shoulders. His gaze was steady, filled with love and regret.

“I promise,” he said firmly.

The boy sniffled, his lips trembling before he lunged forward to hug his father again. Maber held him tightly, and Lina knelt beside them, wrapping her arms around both of them. The three of them stayed like that, their tears mingling as they held onto one another.

Listening on the sidelines, Cia leaned her head on Kaiser’s shoulder. She murmured softly.

“Told you, you’re a really good man… Daaade—hmp!”

Kaiser’s reflexes were sharp as ever; his hand clamped over her mouth before the vile word could leave her lips.

“Don’t,” he said flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Cia’s stifled laughter against his palm was her only response before he let her go with an exasperated shake of his head. He turned his attention to Ariella, who sat in the carriage. Her eyes fixed on the reunited innkeeper’s family outside. The joy and relief on their faces seemed to light up the night. When Ariella finally noticed Kaiser’s gaze, she smiled brightly, her silver eyes gleaming with a light that rivaled the moon above.

“Let’s get going,” Kaiser said gruffly, breaking the moment.

They wasted too much time already.

Before long, the group boarded the carriage. It's noticeably well crafted, designed for speed, too small for large cargo and could only fit six people within. Ethan and Miss Lina sat further in, on the right side, sitting beside Kaiser. Across from him, Ariella and Cia shared the bench, with Maber beside them, his hand resting protectively on his wife’s shoulder.

The driver called from the front, “Is everyone aboard?”

Maber confirmed with a nod. Only then did the carriage jolt forward, its wheels creaking against the gravel path.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kaiser leaned back, his posture relaxed, but his eyes betrayed a storm of thoughts as he stared out of the small window. Ariella noticed his distance and kept glancing at him, puzzled by his choice to sit apart from her and Cia. Meanwhile, Miss Lina stole occasional, shy glances at Ariella, clearly captivated by her ethereal beauty every woman dreamt of, at the same time, Maber struggled to only look at his wife, forcefully locking it on her to avoid accidentally seeing Ariella. However, Ethan had it worse, he couldn’t hide the awe in his stare as she looked at the goddess raw beauty without her shrouding mask.

A the wheels picked up speed, the soft hum of the rolling carriage filling the silence. Kaiser’s eyes opened as he turned his attention to Ariella, meeting her silver gaze.

“Where’s your mask?” he asked.

She tilted her head, her expression feigning ignorance as if to say, *What mask? That ugly thing?*

“Where did you put it?” His voice carried a note of mock sternness.

In response, she pointed out the window, completely unrepentant.

Kaiser sighed heavily. “Be thankful you’re cute…" he muttered, shaking his head.

It's really hard to get angry at her.

Then, he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, I almost forgot about it."

Kai reached into his bag, pulling out two carefully crafted masks. Ariella’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the bunny mask, her expression shifting to pure delight. She reached out eagerly, her hands trembling slightly with excitement. Aware that her guardian was an overprotective meany, all it took is a single glance to know the full mask as for her and would be stuffed on her gorgeous face one way or another.

Kaiser chuckled and leaned forward, handing the masks to both Ariella and Cia.

“What’s this?” Cia asked, running her fingers over the elegant contours of her own mask.

“A face-ware, Ariella needed a proper one for her own good," he said that while giving the goddess a knowing look. Then added. "And… well, I thought you might like one too. It’s nothing fancy, but…”

Ariella, already fastening her mask, turned to Cia, helping her put on the elegant face-piece. The result was striking, Cia’s mask gave her an air of quiet mystery, while Ariella’s bunny mask made her look endearingly playful. The sight of his own creation on display, equipped by two beauties rendered him speechless.

He didn't have much expectations on his craft, rather, he had been insecure of showing it, thinking a creation of a novice craftsman would look good. But to his surprise, it actually turned out pretty well.

Kaiser’s lips curved into a rare smile as he studied them. “Nice, it... it looked nice on both of you” he said, his voice full of quiet pride.

Ariella tilted her head, clearly fishing for more compliments.

He relented with a chuckle

“All right. You’re adorable.” which is clearly a lie because her beauty is masked by his creation.

However, without warning, Kaiser suddenly leaned forward, pulling both of them into a firm, unexpected hug as he said those lie. They froze for a moment, startled, before melting into his embrace.

The rhythmic sound of the carriage wheels on gravel softened as he whispered, “I’m sorry…”

“What?” Cia asked, her voice almost inaudible.

“I have to leave,” Kaiser said, his words heavy with both pain and determination. “But I swear to you—I’ll come back. Like I always do. Trust me, there’s nothing in this world that could stop me from returning to your side—not even death.”

Cia tightened her grip on his shoulders, her voice trembling. “I trust you…”

She knew Kaiser's character too well. He acts brave but in truth, his coward at heart that only fought battles he could win. Kai's tone was firm, too, hinting at his confidence. Additionally, his self-healing ability wasn't a secret. Even in dire situations, Kai doesn't need a miraculous healer for he is his own aid.

Reluctantly, he let them go gently, his hands lingering for a moment before standing up. Then flicked a sharp gaze to Maber, who had been close enough to overhear, and shifted it to the direction of the oblivious driver. It took the man a second to understand. With a subtle nod, Maber silently acknowledged the weight of his intentions.

Turning toward the carriage door, Kaiser prepared to jump. However, Ariella’s grip on his cloak stopped him. He looked back to her, only to see her silver eyes, reflecting the moonlight as if she held the stars themselves within them. As if pleading him not to go, despite being the only one in Greenland that knew his immortality. Once again, he failed to fathom this goddess. So, he just said.

"… I’ll miss you, too.”

Hearing a pained yelp, followed by someone falling before rolling on dirt. Kaiser pulled his cloak free from Ariella’s grasp and leapt from the moving carriage.

The sound of his boots hitting the ground echoed faintly, then the scrape of gravel as he rolled gracefully to his feet.

Ariella leaned out of the window, her grey eyes scanning the darkness, her silver hair fluttering in the wind. Finally, she caught a fleeting glimpse of her guardian as he turned back briefly. Bathed in moonlight, his silhouette was dark and unwavering.

The figure raised a hand in a casual wave with an unreadable expression. Then, without another word, he disappeared into the distant shadows, swallowed by the night.

Left alone on the road, Kaiser stretched his stiff limbs, a low groan escaping his lips as he yawned, his bones cracking from the tension. The cold night air bit at his skin, but he didn’t mind. It was a welcome reminder of his decision... Granted, he felt more alive than ever.

"Great. Another act of stupidity added to my list," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with dry amusement.

The village authority had given him a clear choice: escape, survive, and live to see another day while those around him sacrificed their safety for his. A simple, logical decision. But did he take it? No.

He had the chance to flee, to walk away with the ones he cared about—Cia, Ariella, and the others—and yet, here he was, standing alone in the road like a fool. A laugh, hollow and bitter, bubbled up from his chest, echoing through the quiet night.

Nevertheless, Kai had No regrets. No fear.

And yet, something inside him had changed. He knew it. He could feel it. This wasn’t about bravery or honor. Hell, it wasn’t even about proving anything to anyone. It was about something more personal. Something he had been running from for so long.

He wanted to prove to himself that he could be better, be someone he could be proud of, maybe then he would stop viewing himself as a piece of sh*t. That could choose a path without letting the past or his survival instincts dictate his every action.

Cia had been right, probably. He never wanted to be a bad guy, to be a nobody. He never wanted to trick, lie, or be trapped by the cycle of emptiness that had defined so much of his life. But the circumstances had pushed him. No, the world forced him to become what he became, to do what was necessary for survival, nothing more. Forging him into an empty bastard without dreams, relationships or goals.

Perhaps that's why he felt dead, instead of alive on Earth.

He could have sat on that carriage, knowing he was safe, knowing the people he cared about were on their way to safety as well. Kai would be happy to ascertain his interest in the cost of many others which he had little to no chance of helping for fate had destined calamity to come, thus choosing the most rational path in saving their most valuable individual before fading under the onslaught of disaster.

But in all honesty, that wouldn’t sit right with him—not anymore. Because peace for him would mean suffering for others. And that, that was the burden of survival he'll regret forever. Kai was done bearing regrets, he was done letting the world decide for him.

Kaiser wasn’t interested in living a life of ease anymore. He wasn’t going to run, or take the easy way out. He wanted to *live* with the decisions he made—*live* with his own sense of truth. To be forged by himself, not what's around him. Not in words, not in promises, but in action. Only then will he hopefully, and truthfully live for who he really is, find himself, instead of continuing on as a lost soul.

He has become a better person now. And would rather live than simply survive.

He chuckled like an idiot. Thinking that his becoming a heroic character with bright smiles that he despised.

A hero? Maybe. But he wasn’t some shining knight, and he sure as hell wasn’t doing this for glory. He wasn’t even sure what he was fighting for, except the hope that, the traveling villagers would reach their destination safely.

Was this how the Hunters and the volunteers felt? Their inspiration, the motivation that fueled their determination.

He didn't know about that, but his immortality supported that ideal, that stubborn ego of his. The endless healing that allowed him to survive pain, failure, and death. It fed his resolve, making him believe he could withstand whatever may come. That's what differs him from a hero, for his no selfless fool to forsaken himself and those that needed him for strangers completely.

When he said he will come back, he will come back to Ariella and Cia.

A voice broke his reverie, cutting through the stillness of the night.

"Wait! Sir, Kaiser! You can't do this!"

Kaiser turned to the fallen carriage driver hurrying toward him, out of breath, his face pale with panic. "They made a sacrifice for your safety! If you don’t go, our lives, our choice to forsake ourselves—it’ll all be for nothing! Please, chase after them and live in our place."

Kaiser’s eyes locked onto the driver, his expression cold, hard as steel. He didn’t flinch, nor hesitate.

“Tell Alfred and the others to f*ck themselves,” he said, his voice low and final, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.

The driver recoiled as if struck, mouth agape and speechless, but Kaiser didn’t care. He turned away, not waiting for any more protests.

There was nothing more to say. This was his choice, his battle now. Besides, why did he even practice the blade for? surely it's not to run.