After the Grand Protectors' meeting—after being voluntold into becoming Emperor—Duvan headed directly to the Future Tech branch where Kieran and Cyrene were staying.

  He had a promise to keep.

  The moment he entered, a small figure rushed toward him.

  "Mister Duvan!"

  Cyrene performed her now-customary polite greeting—a slightly wobbly bow that was absolutely endearing in its earnestness.

  Duvan smiled, kneeling down to her level.

  "Hello, Cyrene. Have you been a good girl?"

  The little girl's expression became almost smug.

  "Yes! I brushed my teeth!" She grinned widely, showing off said teeth. "Two times today!"

  Duvan chuckled—genuine amusement at her proud declaration.

  "Two times? That's very impressive. Your teeth must be the cleanest in the entire settlement."

  "They are!" Cyrene declared with the absolute confidence only a five-year-old could muster.

  Duvan stood and turned to Kieran, his expression shifting back to professional.

  "We can drop Cyrene off with Hera first," he said. "Then proceed to the main branch to begin the restoration process."

  Kieran nodded. "That works. Thank you."

  The politeness between them was carefully maintained. Neutral. Neither warm nor cold—just two people conducting necessary business.

  The delivery of Cyrene to Hera's care was remarkably quick.

  Kieran had clearly already made his decision about not pursuing Hera any longer. There was no lingering, no attempts at extended conversation, no desperate grasping at what couldn't be.

  "Be good for your mama," Kieran said, hugging Cyrene tightly.

  "I will, Papa!"

  "I'll see you soon."

  "Promise?"

  "Promise."

  He kissed her forehead and stepped back, allowing Hera to take their daughter inside.

  Hera looked at Kieran with something like gratitude—acknowledging his restraint, his acceptance.

  "Thank you," she said quietly.

  Kieran just nodded, not trusting his voice.

  Then he and Duvan were back in the vehicle, heading toward Future Tech's main headquarters.

  The ride was silent. Awkward in the way things became when two people who should be enemies were forced to cooperate.

  Vivian met them in the research wing, her Archive ability already pulling up relevant files before they'd even finished introductions.

  "Mr. Brightblade," she greeted professionally. "Your contract specifications have been analyzed. The restoration process will take approximately three to five days, depending on how deeply the seal integrated with your natural abilities."

  "I understand," Kieran said, his own politeness matching hers. "Thank you for helping with this."

  Vivian's eyebrows rose slightly—she'd clearly expected the Hero to be more demanding, less courteous.

  Interesting, she noted mentally. Polite. Respectful. Not what I anticipated based on his file.

  The process began immediately. Kieran was situated in a specialized chamber designed for delicate magical work. Runic arrays activated around him, probing the contract seal, analyzing its structure.

  It would be slow work. Careful work. Rushing could permanently damage his Ascender abilities.

  Duvan watched from the observation room, arms crossed, expression thoughtful.

  "You're staying for the duration?" Vivian asked.

  Stolen story; please report.

  "A few days, yes. Want to make sure nothing goes wrong."

  "Because of the Hero's importance to humanity's defense?" She was testing him, curious about his motivations.

  "That. And, also because a child deserves to have her father," Duvan said simply.

  Vivian's expression softened slightly. "Understood, sir."

  She left to coordinate other aspects of the process, leaving Duvan alone with his thoughts.

  And with Kieran, visible through the observation window.

  After the first session concluded—four hours of careful magical deconstruction—Kieran emerged looking exhausted but hopeful.

  "The seal is responding well," one of the technicians reported. "We're making good progress. Tomorrow's session should penetrate deeper."

  Kieran nodded his thanks and moved to the recovery area, sitting heavily on one of the provided chairs.

  Duvan approached, carrying two cups of water.

  He offered one to Kieran, who took it with visible surprise.

  "Thank you."

  They sat in silence for a moment, drinking water, both aware of the awkwardness between them.

  Finally, Duvan spoke.

  "After you get your ability back, you're planning to return to adventuring?"

  Kieran looked at him, cautious. "Yes. It's what I'm trained for. What I'm good at."

  "To provide for Cyrene."

  "Exactly."

  Duvan was quiet for a moment, considering his next words carefully.

  "That's stupid," he said bluntly.

  Kieran stiffened. "Excuse me?"

  "It's stupid. But also admirable." Duvan set down his cup. "You're willing to risk your life repeatedly, take dangerous contracts, potentially die and leave your daughter without a father—all to provide financial support she could get through safer means."

  "What safer means?" Kieran's voice had an edge now. "I'm the Hero. Fighting is what I do. It's all I know how to do."

  "Wrong." Duvan's golden eyes locked onto his. "You led the Hero's Party. That requires strategic thinking, logistics coordination, personnel management. Those are valuable skills beyond combat."

  Kieran frowned, uncertain where this was going.

  "I want to offer you something else," Duvan continued. "Instead of adventuring, work for Future Tech."

  The silence that followed was absolute.

  Kieran's mind immediately flooded with questions.

  Why?

  Why would Duvan—who has every reason to hate me—offer me employment?

  What's the hidden agenda?

  What does he actually want?

  The suspicion must have shown on his face because Duvan actually looked amused.

  "You're wondering why," Duvan said, not quite a question.

  "Yes." Kieran decided directness was best. "Why would you offer this? You have every reason to want me gone. To make my life difficult. So why help?"

  Duvan leaned back, his expression becoming more serious.

  "Because being an adventurer means you'll be gone often. Taking contracts in distant settlements. Venturing into the Deep. Spending weeks or months away from home. Not to mention that dangers and as you know it, I’m also an adventurer before."

  He held Kieran's gaze.

  "Which means you won't get to spend time with your daughter."

  The words hit Kieran like a physical blow.

  Because it was true. Absolutely, undeniably true.

  He'd been planning to take dangerous contracts, risk his life repeatedly, all while justifying it as "providing for Cyrene." But provision wasn't the same as presence.

  "It doesn't matter because you’re there anyway," Kieran said quietly. "As long as I can provide for her financially, as long as she's safe and fed and—"

  "It matters," Duvan interrupted. "Trust me. It matters. Also, it’s different if its you."

  There was something in his voice. Something personal. Something that spoke of experience Kieran didn't fully understand.

  "There will be changes soon," Duvan continued, his tone becoming more formal. "Major structural changes in how humanity is governed and defended. I'm going to have more… responsibilities. And more importantly, I need those people with potential and unfortunately, you have that potential."

  He stood.

  "So I'm giving you a choice. Work under me—help build something that might actually save humanity. Be present in your daughter's life. Or go back to adventuring, risk dying in some expedition, and leave Cyrene without a father."

  Duvan headed toward the door, then paused.

  "Think about it. You have a few days while the restoration completes."

  Then he was gone, leaving Kieran alone with his thoughts.

  Kieran sat in the recovery room, staring at nothing, his mind churning.

  He's making this offer for Cyrene, he realized. Not for me. He still hates me—that's clear. But he cares about her.

  He thought about Duvan's records. Information the Hero's Party had gathered when planning the arranged marriage between Hera and the Time Prince.

  Duvan Excy. Orphan. Raised in Brighthollow Orphanage. No family. No parents.

  Someone who'd grown up without a father. Without stable parental presence.

  And he doesn't want that for Cyrene, Kieran understood. Even though it would hurt me—even though seeing me happy probably causes him pain—he's putting a child's welfare above his own feelings.

  The realization made Kieran's chest tighten.

  Because Duvan had every right to hate him. Every reason to make his life miserable. Every justification for cruelty.

  Instead, he was offering employment. Stability. A chance to be a real father rather than a distant provider. Sure, he may be using him but that’s already something he used to do even as an adventurer or the hero.

  I don't deserve this kindness, Kieran thought. I absolutely don't deserve it.

  But Cyrene did. She deserved a father who was present. Who came home every night. Who didn't risk dying and leaving her alone.

  Kieran let out a long sigh, running his hands through his hair.

  The choice should have been obvious. But accepting Duvan's offer meant swallowing his pride. Meant working under the man whose wife he'd gotten pregnant. Meant constant reminders of his mistakes.

  It would be uncomfortable. Painful. A daily exercise in humility.

  But Cyrene would have her father, he thought. Really have him. Not just someone who sends money and shows up occasionally.

  He thought about the way she'd looked at Duvan. The genuine joy when the Time Prince paid attention to her. The way she'd called him "Mister Duvan" with such obvious admiration.

  She deserves that from me too, Kieran realized. Deserves a father she can admire. Who's there. Who she doesn't have to worry about losing.

  The decision was already made, really.

  He'd just needed time to accept it.

  Duvan Excy, Kieran thought with something like rueful respect. You really are a better person than I gave you credit for.

  And I really am as selfish as I feared.

  But maybe—just maybe—I can be better.

  For Cyrene.

  If not for anyone else, for her.