Alver called Choi Han and his group as they were currently staying in the palace. He was certainly confused about his dream last night. He was half-asleep and couldn't make out what the other person was talking about. However, he was familiar with that person.

If he's truly awake, why wouldn't Youna inform me? Alver thought as he massaged his temples.

He knew his dream was real since the person left these weapons to be given to Choi Han and the others. When the heroes entered, Alver beckoned them to sit on the couch.

"The Royal Family will proclaim your group as heroes who protected the people. The citizens saw you fighting off the terrorists," Alver started.

"But we didn't capture the mage," Choi Han responded.

"It's alright. We can search for him anytime. Right now, the people need a symbol that will help them at ease," Alver explained.

"Also, an unknown person entered my room last night. I was beyond exhausted and couldn't make out what he said," Alver sighed as he recalled the events last night.

"The only thing clear for me was he was asking me to give these gifts to all of you," Alver added as he pointed out the weapons on his table.

"The greatsword is for Vicross. These daggers are for Ron. This shield is for Lark. This bag full of the highest grade magic stone is for Miss Rosalyn. Lastly, Choi Han this is for you, a black sword," Alver said as he gave them their weapons.

The greatsword, daggers, shield and the black sword came from a set. All of them were dyed black and were made of high quality materials. Choi Han, Vicross, Lark and Ron carefully examined their armory. It was greatly refined by an excellent blacksmith.

"The person who left these said that these weapons and shield cannot be found anywhere else in the world. These weapons are solely created and designed for you," Alver said.

The four men were astonished. It was true their weapons were all crafted based on their weapon choice. It wasn't heavy nor uncomfortable to use. Rosalyn was also surprised to see a bag of the highest grade magic stone, she had only seen a handful of them since they were rare items. To think she would possess a bag filled with it? She didn't even think about it before.

"Who would give us these? All of these gifts are created by high quality ores and materials and these magic stones, where did they get these?" Rosalyn asked.

"These might have come from a wealthy noble. I don't want to use something they gave and then comply with their unreasonable demands," Rosalyn added.

"No, we don't have to worry about that. That person left a letter along with the weapons, shield and magic stones. It said: These items will help you get stronger and keep you safe. Use them well," Alver replied.

The heroes still couldn't understand why. The person who gave these wanted them to be safe and not asking for more. This was too good to be true. These items were incredibly expensive, they wondered how much the person spent on them.

"It's no use racking up our brains asking for questions in the air. Let's just show our gratitude by using it well," Alver said.

The crown prince also received a dragon's dead mana and the only one who could possess something like this was his friend, Cale Henituse. However, he hasn't received any news about him waking up. Yet, somehow in the back of his mind, he believed it was Cale who gave them these precious items.

I guess I'll just have to wait for the time when you'll show yourself to me, Cale, Alver faintly smiled.

Alver told the heroes there will be a gathering in the plaza to proclaim and award the heroes and knights who did their best protecting the people the next day. Nobles will be invited to the gathering and the masses would be present as well. After that, he dismissed them and continued his work.

Inside the Henituse Estate in the Capital, Cale was still asleep. The three children in his room were jumping around the bed to wake him up. But Youna entered and scolded the three of them, saying Cale was tired so they shouldn't bother him. The three children went out of their rooms, slightly dejected. Hans just gave them food to appease their mood.

It was afternoon and Cale finally awoke. He went downstairs when he found no one in his room.

"Basen," Cale called when he found him during tea time in one of the rooms.

"Hyung, did you eat?" Basen asked as he approached his brother.

"No, not yet. Tell them to bring my food here," Cale responded as he turned to the servant in the room. They bowed and went out.

"You overslept, hyung. Did something happen last night? Youna told me you went out in the middle of the night," Basen asked.

"Well, I did go out since I couldn't sleep," Cale answered as he sat across from Basen.

"Hyung, I hope you are not forgetting you are still recuperating. You already used your powers yesterday," Basen sighed. Cale didn't answer, he knew he would be using his powers anyway. Basen noticed his brother's reaction, he just sighed in resignation. His brother was certainly stubborn as rock.

A moment later, Cale's food was delivered in the room. The redhead ate peacefully as Basen read the letter from the northeastern nobles. It was about the tourist attraction they proposed but was rejected by the crown prince. They were thinking of some alternative proposals for the Ubarr Territory.

"Is something the matter, Basen?" Cale asked.

"Hm, nothing. It's just Eric-hyung and the others were dejected having their project proposal rejected by the crown prince," Basen answered. Cale hummed.

"Is it about the tourist attraction for the Ubarr Territory? I've heard about it before."

"Yes."

"I see, I think I know the reason why the prince rejected it. If you want to help them, look around the geography where the attraction is supposed to be built, the political status of the lands near the proposed land, the nearest kingdoms from the territory and the level of security the territory has," Cale gave Basen a hint. The younger one looked at his brother after realizing something.

"Increasing our kingdom's security isn't a bad thing and it would interest our crown prince," Cale added.

"Alright, hyung. I'll suggest some ideas to Lady Amiru and if ever they need funding we could get father to sponsor them," Basen responded. Cale nodded in agreement.

Basen wrote a letter to Amiru about his suggestions regarding the matter. Basen was updated with the current events happening around their kingdom and their neighbors, it was necessary to keep the peace in their territory and to secure the place. Building a naval base in the Ubarr Territory would secure the now vulnerable seas of the northeastern part of the Rowoon Kingdom. Creating one would also capture the attention of the other nobles and would definitely do their best on hindering its creation, so utmost secrecy was needed. What Amiru needed was a great source of funding and support from the crown prince. After all, they couldn't build something without any approval from the royals.

During Cale's first timeline, both the Henituse Territory and Ubarr Territory suffered great loss due to its vulnerable defenses. Having a naval base in the Ubarr would greatly increase its defense, the Henituse territory has an absolute defense right now due to his and the dragons existence.

No one would die needlessly in the war that would occur years from now, Cale thought.

Basen sent the letter to Amiru and he received a reply saying she would speak with her mother about it then they would proceed into proposing the project to the crown prince. Basen would ask his father if they could sponsor and Cale reassured that even if their father didn't sponsor them, they could always ask him. The younger Henituse wondered where he got all his money, given he was asleep this whole three years.

After three days, the nobles and citizens were once again invited to the plaza to acknowledge the people who protected them during the crisis. Basen attended as the Henituse representative and Cale strolled around the town, in disguise, with the cat children and dragon siblings.

The King made his speech and granted the knights golden star medals for their gallantry during the attack. He named them one by one and the people applauded.

It was followed by the heroes who were granted medals of valor for their bravery and selfless act of putting the people before themselves. The person who was granted the title hero was Choi Han. Rosalyn and the others were also included but decided to keep it a secret since their existence must be in utmost secrecy.

Cale, who was watching them from the top of the clock tower, applauded. Him and the children were invisible so no one would see them.

After the awarding ceremony, the King continued his speech reassuring his people they would help the citizens restore the damage the attack left for them. The citizens cheered, thus the ceremony ended.

The crown prince also approved of the proposal of the northeastern nobles about the naval base project. Basen already spoke with their father about this and he approved of funding the said project. Cale was pleased about it. Now, the Henituse needed to build a military ship for their own army. He just needed someone who could make a blueprint of a ship.

Cale and Basen were scheduled to go back to the Henituse Estate the next day. Choi Han and his group went back to the Henituse villa to speak with the wolf children. Basen told them to find them in the Henituse Territory once they're done with their previous engagements.

Cale, on the other hand, went to the Wind Island with the cat and dragon siblings. Olienne was already there.

Upon arrival, the cat children and the black dragon were surprised to see the Wind Island. The three children hadn't seen something like this. The place was oozing tranquility. The trees were all huge as if they had stood for more than a hundred of years. The mushrooms were all big, one could even jump in there. The flowers were all blooming beautifully. The estate standing in the middle of the island was luxurious. It was even bigger than their house in the Henituse Estate.

"Human! What is this place? Why haven't I seen this before?" Raon excitedly asked, the cat children also have their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"This place is really great, Cale-nyaa!" Hong followed. Cale chuckled at their reactions.

"This place is my home. My secret base. I built this before Raon was even born and before I met you two," Cale answered.

"Too bad you didn't see how amazing Cale was when he was building this," Youna recalled as he proudly boasted about it.

"From now on, this place also belongs to you, Raon, Ohn, Hong," Cale said as he gently rubbed their heads.

He also gave Ohn and Hong a brooch which was engraved with a special spell that would teleport them to the Wind Island. Raon could already teleport in the Wind Island since he has his own magic and he knew the coordinates now.

"Once we get inside the house, choose your room. I have the whole fifth floor for myself," Cale said as they walked towards the estate.

"Oh, you're here, Cale," Olienne said.

"Grandpa, how's everything so far?" Cale asked as he nodded to Youna and brought the three children with him to roam around the island.

"Freesia and the others are all in their bases, scattered around to observe the things you asked for them. The mercenary king visits this place from time to time," Olienne explained.

"I see, have you found any source of dead mana?"

"Aside from the dead mana emerging in the Desert of Death, we suspected something similar in the Mogoru Empire. You told us to observe and not to do anything aside from interfering to some of their business."

"That's right. I am not sure how many and how strong are the enemies."

"I see. So this organization is the same organization you told me before. Those who hunt dragons to make them strong?"

"Yes, they're the same. I know all of you are strong dragons. I take pride of all of your strengths, but strength alone isn't enough to defeat them. We need to be cunning and smarter than them."

"I understand. All those years I am by your side, I grasps what kind of a person you are."

Cale just smiled.

"Will you tell the Mercenary King you're awake?" Olienne asked.

"I suppose. Just send them a message that I am back and I expect progress from their tasks," Cale answered.

"Wow, you're really making me work to the bones," Olienne commented. Cale laughed.

Youna and the three children went back to Cale. Raon, Ohn and Hong told Cale they wanted to sleep with the redhead and he just agreed.

Cale, the three dragons and the cat children went back to the Henituse Villa in the capital. Luckily, the redhead didn't bump into Choi Han and the others. He didn't want to meet them again for the meantime. He wasn't ready, most especially meeting with Choi Han. Cale knew the hero already recovered his memories. He decided to meet him in a latter time.

Cale and the children fell asleep after having dinner. Youna and Olienne also resigned for the day. Cale awoke in the middle of the night when he felt something strange. He stood and tried to look around their room but he found nothing. Raon, Ohn and Hong also woke up.

"Human? What's wrong?" Raon asked, sleepily.

"Hmm, nothing. I plan on strolling around tonight," Cale answered. He couldn't identify what's wrong but he had an ominous feeling. He felt like a friend was dying. Cale inhaled deeply and exhaled.

"We would like to come along with you," Ohn responded.

"Hm? Sure, let me get our cloaks and we'll go," Cale said as he get the things he needed.

All he could feel was something terrible would happen near the Ubarr seas. The war won't happen for another two years so he didn't understand what was wrong. 

When they were all ready, Cale carried the two cats in their beast form and Raon teleported them to the Ubarr seas. They got there in a mere second and they landed on one of the cliffs.

"It smells salty, nya!" Hong happily shouted.

"It's the sea, nyaaa!" Ohn exclaimed as she held tight on Cale's clothes. The redhead brought the two kittens closer to his face and rubbed their heads against his cheeks.

"It's alright. The sea isn't scary, I won't let you fall off there," Cale reassured. The two kittens smiled at him.

Cale walked around the cliffs and from time to time he would ask Raon to fly them off to another island. Then, they reached a cave.

"Human, there's a lifeform inside this cave though it's almost dead," Raon said.

"What? Keep the three of you invisible, Raon," Cale responded as he walked inside the cave.

There Cale found someone he was familiar with. An injured blue-haired person laid inside the cave.

"Paseton!" Cale called as he crouched down to help the halfling. Paseton opened his eyes.

"Cale?" He called, his vision getting blurry but he was glad to see him again.

"What happened to you? Who did this?" Cale asked as he helped the half-blood whale sit up. Then the redhead saw the wound on Paseton's leg, his blood was mixed with a strange liquid.

It was a mermaid's poison and the only cure for that was a mermaid's blood. Cale needed the mermaid's blood to cure him but he didn't know where to find it. Paseton couldn't answer as his pain was unbearable.

"It's alright, Paseton. I'll help you, sleep for a while and when you wake up you'll be healed," Cale reassured as he smiled.

A mermaid's poison couldn't be cured by anything, only their blood could cure it. Cale doesn't have any time to look for a mermaid and he didn't want to kill an innocent being, even though they hurt his friend. Raon, Ohn and Hong approached him.

"How will you heal him, Human? Do you know the cure?" Raon asked, the two kittens nodded.

"Yes, I know the cure but we don't have time to get it. I'll heal him," Cale answered as he started humming a song.

Cale's surroundings glowed as the three children watched in awe. The redhead focused on removing the toxins from the poison and healing Paseton's wounds. Slowly, the half-blooded whale's color returned to his face and he didn't look like he was struggling.

When Cale was done, he removed his cloak and covered Paseton with it. He stood and walked deeper inside the cave and found a puddle of special water. He didn't know what it was so he took out an empty bottle from his storage. But as soon as he filled it with water, the bottle broke. That's why, he took out his artifact bottle and filled it with that special water. After that, he hid the bottle inside his spatial bag and went back to where the whale was.

Paseton was sleeping peacefully as if he wasn't struggling before. He sat beside him and he brought the children closer to him.

"Are you okay, Cale-nyaa?" Hong asked. The redhead smiled.

"Yes, I'm alright. Just a little sleepy," Cale answered as he gently patted their heads.

"Should we get back?" Raon asked. Cale shook his head.

"We can't leave him here," Cale answered as he slowly drifted to sleep, tilting sideways, leaning on Paseton's shoulder.

Did Paseton die in our first timeline? The whales minded their business, I don't think Choi Han saw him here. Good thing, I found him. If not, he'd probably die here alone. Things will be different this time, I will not let my people die this time, Cale thought as he completely blacked out. The children looked at each other and decided to sleep too.

The next day, Paseton woke up after he felt something leaning on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder and he saw a familiar redhead sleeping peacefully.

Cale saved me. It wasn't a dream, Paseton thought as he felt warmth inside his heart. Cale woke up and stared at his face.

"Paseton, you're awake," Cale smiled, the children woke up too. The blue whale was surprised to see a dragon with him.

Cale and the children stood as they stretched their bodies in sync.

"Cale," Paseton called.

The redhead turned to him then the halfling gave him a warm embrace. Cale was surprised but he hugged him back.

"Thank you," Paseton whispered as he buried his face on the redhead's neck.

Paseton didn't know what to say. He has a lot of things he wanted to speak of but he only managed to say thank you. He knew his words weren't enough to express how much gratitude he felt. Cale gently patted his back.

"Human, shouldn't we go back?" Raon asked as he flew and looked down on Paseton. He felt a slight aversion towards the whale. Paseton let go of Cale and the redhead turned to his dragon. 

"I should go, Cale. I have important matters to discuss with my father and sister. Let's speak another time. I am glad you're back," Paseton said as he took Cale's hand and kissed the back of his hand. Then he gently patted the redhead and went back to the sea. The redhead watched the whale swim back to the sea until he couldn't see him anymore before going back. 

When they got back, Hans told them they're going back to the Henituse Estate since it was ordered by the Count. Afternoon came, they all boarded the carriage. Cale, Basen, Raon, Ohn and Hong were in the same carriage. The wolf children also had their separate carriage. Then, they went home. 

//TBC …