KIHO finally arrived at the North with Winter and Julian using the portal that Wong and Kelsi made for them.

The two Keepers had to stay in their estate because they had to be there to connect to the Keepers in the North. That was the only way that they could create a portal that would allow them to travel that fast. Since Flint was injured, they left him in Wong and Kelsi's care.

"Welcome back, Lord Winter and Lord Julian," Roarke, one of Tilly's Keepers, greeted the children while only giving a curt nod at his direction.

He heard Jameson curse under his breath but he ignored it.

As soon as they arrived there, they already witnessed a heated war. Their allies were fighting off the ice puppet that the "North King" created.

He saw Blake and the Golden Tiger leading the fight so he wasn't that worried.

First, I need to find Tilly.

He closed his eyes and tried to locate his wife's location. It wasn't easy to do because her Mana closely resembled the Golden Tiger's. But of course, he had been with Tilly for many lifetimes already. He couldn't possibly mistaken her Mana with someone else.

"Roarke, Jameson, where's our mother?" Winter asked worriedly. "Uncle Wixx's overwhelming Mana is messing with my senses."

Julian nodded in agreement. "I also can't sense Mother's Mana because of it."

"We can't f*cking locate the Supreme too because of Lord Wixx's f*cking Mana," Jameson said in a frustrated voice. "We can't f*cking follow her because of our boss–"

"I found Tilly," Kiho declared, making his sons and the Keepers turn to him with questioning eyes. He shrugged as an initial response. "What can I do? We're soul mates."

***

"ARE YOU okay, Luna?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Luna answered Wixx's question while sitting on the ground. When the Red Phoenix arrived, the snow in the huge part of the area had melted. Even the trees with ice leaves around them started to melt just because of his Mana. "I need to rest for a while to gather my energy." She turned to Thaddeus Nystrom who just stood up while rotating his head left and right. The prince looked pissed, and it was definitely because Wixx kicked him in the face a while ago. "Lord Wixx, can you deal with that bastard."

"Oho," Wixx said in an amused tone. "You rarely cuss, Luna. You must really be angry…" He trailed-off when he saw her face and realized that the corner of her mouth was bleeding. Yeah, he could be this slow despite his overwhelming divine power. After all, his "instinct" was only sensitive when it comes to Tilly. "Did that bastard hit you in the face?"

She just nodded as a response.

The Red Phoenix's deep blue eyes turned into the shade of deep blood. "Can I kill him?"

"No," she said. "He was the one who killed Lord Prescott, Tilly's father in this lifetime."

This time, the Beast God looked angrier.

"You can burn down a few more of his limbs," Luna said with a shrug. "Just make sure to bring him to Tilly alive."

Wixx smirked at that. "I will try."

***

KIHO was devastated when he found Tilly embracing her father…

… while she was literally burning him alive.

He knew that it was the right to do. Their father had already suffered for too long. But he also knew how his wife must be suffering right now for having to kill her own parent.

Tilly…

She must have been using the coldest and the weakest flame that she could muster because if she used her Black Flame, his father would have already burnt to ashes by now.

To be honest, he thought that burning Father the fastest way would be less cruel. But he realized that it would hurt more even if it would only take a few seconds. And Tilly probably wanted to savor the last moments that she had with her father.

If he was hurt, he was pretty sure that the pain Tilly was feeling at the moment was immeasurable. So even if it pained him to see his wife being stabbed by his father-in-law, he held back. It wasn't his place to ruin that moment between Tilly and Lord Prescott.

"Julian, Winter," Kiho said to his sons. Winter stood on his right side while Julian stood on the left. "Let's give our greetings to your grandfather."

"Yes, Dad."

"Yes, Father."

Kiho kneeled and bowed to until his forehead hit the snow-covered ground. His children did the same thing. "Father, I'm back," he said in a cracked voice. When he closed his eyes, he wasn't able to stop himself from crying. "We brought our children with us. I'd like to introduce your grandchildren. You already know our Winter. And now, we also have our oldest. He's called Julian." He paused for a while to swallow the lump in his throat. "Children, introduce yourselves to your grandfather."

"Greetings, Grandpa," Winter said in a cracked voice. "I was still a fetus inside Mommy's belly when we "met" before. I was able to come out of the world safely, Grandpa. Thank you for protecting our family."

"Greetings, Grandfather," Julian said politely after Winter stopped talking because of his uncontrollable sobs. Julian sounded calmer than Winter. But nevertheless, his oldest still sounded devastated. "I'm Julian, the oldest son of Mother and Father. Thank you for being kind and generous to our parents. You've influenced them to become better parents themselves."

Hearing that from his oldest son was both touching and sad to hear.

It was true that his father-in-law inspired him to be a better father. Lord Prescott's strictness, kindness, and selflessness taught him how to be a proper parent. Of course, he still had a lot to learn before he could be half as good as his father-in-law.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Father," Kiho said, his voice still cracked from sobbing. "I'm sorry that you had to suffer for so long because of my incompetence. I'm really sorry for being an inadequate son-in-law…"

He trailed-off when it became hard for him to speak because of his sobs.

By that time, even Winter and Julian were crying. Winter was sobbing hard just like him, while Julian was crying silently like Tilly.

Oh, Tilly…

"How long are you going to apologize to me?"

He was surprised when he heard his father-in-law's voice.

When he raised his head, he was greeted by the soul of Lord Prescott.

The flame that was currently burning his physical body took a form of his spirit. He didn't know why or how it came to life but he was grateful for that miracle.

"Father," Kiho greeted Lord Prescott, then he stood up. The tears that he was able to suppress a while ago rolled down his cheeks once again. "Father, we're home."

Because home was where their family was.

***

"HOW LONG are you going to apologize to me?"

To say that Tilly was surprised when she heard her father's voice would be an understatement. When she stepped away from the burning body of his father, she saw Wixx standing on the top of a tall frozen tree. Based on the blazing red flame in his hand, she could tell that it was his brother who summoned her father's soul and infused it with her flame.

She didn't know how her brother did that, but it was probably because of his power as a god. She wouldn't lie– she was still upset at Wixx. But at that moment, she was grateful to him. But before she could even mouth 'thank you' to her brother, he already disappeared.

Thank you, Brother.

"Father," Tilly greeted him with a sad smile while wiping her tears with her hands. "We're sorry we're late."

Lord Prescott's soul was made from her flame that had an orangey shade. Despite that, she could still clearly see his strict and yet gentle face. Even his voice sounded as what she remembered.

Whatever form her father takes, she would accept him with open arms.

"Welcome home, daughter," her father said gently, then his gaze went past her. "I see that you're no longer fighting alone."

That statement alone made her cry again.

She knew that her father wasn't only talking about Kiho and their children. Even without looking around, she could tell that they were surrounded by their allies. She could feel the Mana of her Keepers, the Golden Tiger, the lazy saint, and Luna.

All of them were standing far away enough to give her family privacy with her father.

"Yes, Father," she said, her voice cracking because of the lump in her throat. "I have allies now. And more importantly, my family is finally complete."

At that moment, she felt Kiho behind her as he put his hands on her shoulders gently.

Winter then held her right hand, while Julian held the left one.

That made her smile despite the tears flowing nonstop from her eyes. Of course, there was still a void in her heart that would never be filled. It was the space that were reserved for her mother and father.

"Father, I'd like to introduce your grandchildren to you," Tilly said in a clearer voice this time. "These are Winter and Julian."

Her father, despite only being aware of Winter, didn't question her about Julian.

Instead, Lord Prescott looked at both of her children gently.

"Grandpa, I'm Winter," Winter introduced himself to his grandfather in his usual cheerful voice. Even though he spoke casually, his voice was still laced with respect. "I'm a big boy now."

Her father chuckled at that.

"Grandfather, my name is Julian," Julian said in a shy voice. "It's an honor to meet you."

"The honor is mine," her father said. "Winter, Julian, I'm glad that I was given the chance to meet you before I leave the earth for good. Thank you for coming into my precious daughter's life. Please help Kiho protect your mother from now on, hmm?"

"Of course, Grandpa."

"Yes, Grandfather."

She bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying again.

"It's a huge regret that I wouldn't be able to watch you grow, gentlemen," her father said. "But I'm not worried. I know that Kiho is a good father and he will guide you accordingly. I'll leave this world in peace because I believe that Tilly and Kiho will raise you well."

She felt Kiho gently squeeze her shoulders. Ah, her husband was definitely was emotional as she was. She put a hand on top of his hand for support.

"Grandpa, please watch over us," Winter said in a clear voice, the hope in his voice overwhelming the sadness that he had a while ago. "We will make you proud," he promised his grandfather. "So please rest in peace with Grandma."

"Please send our regards to Grandmother," Julian said in his usual gentle voice. "And please reassure her that we will take good care of our parents, Grandfather."

Tilly smiled at her boys' heartfelt words. She turned to Kiho and was a little surprised to see him looking at her already. Just like her, her husband looked very proud of their children. They grew up so well, hon.

Kiho seemed like he understood what she wanted to say because he nodded, then he kissed her forehead as a response.

"Thank you for the assurance, my little gentlemen," Lord Prescott said in a gentle voice. "I will make sure to send your regards to your grandmother. And of course, we will always be watching over you. Just promise me one thing: don't follow us too soon, hmm?"

Winter and Julian both shook their head respectfully.

"We're going to live past 100 years old, Grandpa."

"I apologize but it seems like we're going to make you and Grandmother wait for us for a long time, Grandfather."

"Good boys," her father said, then he looked at her. "Tilly, I don't much have time left."

She sobbed right away. "Father…"

"You'll be fine, daughter," her father said softly. "You are surrounded by good people."

She could only nod as a response.

"I'm glad that you're still with Kiho, daughter."

"I listened to you, Father," she said, her voice cracked again. "I chose to believe Kiho and Kiho alone."

"Thank you for listening to me," Lord Prescott said, then he turned to Kiho. "Son, you're looking well."

"It's thanks to your daughter, Father," Kiho said in a cracked voice. "She's my savior."

Her father smiled at that, then, he turned serious. "Kiho, before I died, I discovered that the one pulling up the strings for all the tragedies in your life is Kyro, the Moon God himself."

"Yes, Father," Tilly said while nodding. "We recently confirmed that Aku Moonchester's master is none other than Kyro."

"His secret lies in the North," her father said, then he turned to her husband. "Kiho?"

"Yes, Father?" Kiho responded right away. "I'm listening."

"I discovered your father's real body in this place," Lord Prescott said in a very solemn voice. "Kiho, I believe the Moon God needs your blood and flesh to revive his own body."

***

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