5 Chapter 5: Lucius and Moon

Lucius's brain was completely blank. His right hand was still outstretched in the dark water of the lake. His limbs as if had been frozen in a particular moment. The lake water continuously pressured him to drown into further deep. His breath had stopped long ago. His face was turning pale, then gradually a little bit of bluish shade invaded on his angelic face. But it was as if Lucius couldn't feel it. His Echo was just a breath away from him yet he couldn't grab a hold on her. He again lost her. He again couldn't protect her. Echo had disappeared but it was as if his soul had also disappeared with her. Again a wish to put an end to everything slowly invaded his soul. It was just like when his queen, his Echo died.

Lucius knew he was a cruel, cold blooded man. He knew he couldn't be called a human. If someone called him a 'blood soaked monster or demon' , he absolutely couldn't refute him. From his early childhood because of his complex family background and the countless conspiracies of the royal family, Lucius had grown numb to any kind of emotion. He had killed his own family, his own parents, siblings to make a path for himself towards the throne. But the path was constructed with the blood of his own kins. It was impure, dirty and full of disgusting resentments. Sitting in the throne Lucius was like a broken man, although steel hard on the outside but as fragile as a glass mirror in the inside. And the glass mirror had long been broken into pieces. So, at that time he also decided to end all of his pains by ending his life.

Lucius still remembered the day when he drowned himself intentionally deep into the sea. But he was saved by a certain beautiful mermaid, who later became his other half. From that day onwards his life as if had taken a completely different course. Echo was like a mysterious flame, burning intensely in the water, igniting sparks after sparks when Lucius was indifferent towards life, mending his mental scars, soothing his wounds, hidden deep in his mind, also burning all of his negative emotions like a holy light. The meaning of his name 'Lucius' is light. But it only became fruitful when she came into her life. His impure, cold, blood soaked palace became pure and full of life when she stepped into it. Echo was his life's salvation. Without her....

Lucius was slowly drowning in the lake. All type of negative emotions flooded his mind. He mocked himself. He had again reached to the day when everything began. The day while committing suicide he was saved by Echo. So this time who would save him? Lucius laughed in his hearts. ' So, losing my Echo is my punishment for all of my crimes?'

Lucius was preparing to die when he heard a vague cry of a child from the upper surface. The child was choking from intense sobbing. Lucius felt a little pain in his heart. His mind slowly cleared. The negative emotions slowly faded. Lucius suddenly see a little bit of light in his life again. His rationality returned.

' Right..Echo hasn't died. She just disappeared. She might be alive somewhere...'

'I will search for her.....I will wait for her...'

'The child....' Lucius's heart trembled. He remembered that his father-in-law spoke about his and Echo's child would also be transported to another dimension with Echo. Then this child..... Lucius rushed to reach the surface of the lake. Inwardly his mind was a mess.

' Again you saved me.....this child....no...our child, I will protect her until you come back.....'

Lucius was so absorbed in his thoughts that he absolutely forgot about the sirens, who dragged Ethan to the water. But the sirens didn't let him go or more specifically they unknowingly rushed to their own demise and obstructed the path of Lucius, awakening the sleeping demon inside him.

' Stop him! That one man mysteriously disappeared. But if we tell the queen about it, she definitely won't believe us...This man is also equally beautiful! Let's just grab him'

'Fine.....'

'Just capture him....a ordinary human won't be able to fight with us inside water..'

' How bothersome, above water we would have easily mesmerized him by singing.'

'Ah Freya stop complaining! The man will die out of breath soon'

Lucius narrowed his eyes dangerously. In the dark lake water his eyes glowed with a cold and intense golden light. The sirens at last perceived danger. One of them screamed. To ordinary humans it might sound somewhat muffled but Lucius wasn't a ordinary human. He had already achieved the ' divine stage ' in cultivation. So he could clearly heard them in water.

One of the sirens spoke,' You...you are a cultiva-'

She couldn't finish speaking when she felt a intense pain throughout her limbs. To her horror she found out that her limbs were rapidly disintegrating into light particles. She screamed. But she was not alone. The other sirens were also screaming. From above the lake, one could hear some muffled heart wrenching screams of women. Beside the shore of the lake Moon trembled. After all she was just a six year old child.

The sirens whose songs were like a hypnotism drug, was rendered into broken cries as if their true nature had been revealed. Inside the water the sirens were rapidly disintegrating into light particles, which were entering inside Lucius's heart in many beautiful curved lines. The scene was very beautiful if judged based on the light show. But the fact that the price of the light show was the lives of the living beings themselves was very frightening and nerve wrecking.

And the man responsible for all of this, didn't move a muscle from beginning to end. This was the war god Lucius. He was frightened for his ability to disintegrate the living beings into light particles and absorb it. His unique ability made him reach divine stage at a very young age but this didn't bring him any respect or honour but only isolation, jealousy, hatred, resentment and fear.

After all the sirens were completely disintegrated Lucius rushed towards the surface. At first he had given up on living. So he deliberately chose to close his magic veins which usually helped him to maintain his blood oxygen level when he didn't breath while underwater. But now that he opened his magic veins he had no physical inconvenience. So his pace quickened. Soon he reached the surface and hurriedly jumped straight out of the lake water in one go and stepped on the shore. Under the dim street light from afar Lucius immediately faced a cute about five or six year old little girl in front of him. The little girl was crying silently. Because she tried to suppress her sobs, she would choke sometimes, resulting in small coughs. Her eyes were red from crying and had swelled up. Her nose was also red. And it was particularly evident on her snow white face. Such a expression made Lucius very distressed. But he didn't know how to console her. He really didn't have any experience with children.

Lucius tried to remember what Echo told him about parenting while she was pregnant.

' Lucius, you must remember while talking to a child you must be gentle, soft and very very kind. You mustn't shout at them. '

' Lucius, when you speak with a small child you must try to smile, then kneel down to match their height and then talk'

' Children are very sensitive...they may not understand your words sometime but they can perceive your emotions. So always be true in front of them.'

.....

...

Lucius, ' too complicated'

He looked at sky and then looked at Moon and then tried to smile. Only then he understood why Echo always told him to practice smiling before the birth of the baby. He always thought smiling was an easy task. But now that he tried it, he found smiling was an extremely difficult task.

Up to which angle should he raise the corners of his mouth?

Wouldn't the increased raise of his mouth create a crease alongside his mouth and wrinkles along his eyes?

Wouldn't his eyes be narrowed down? Then would the child be frightened?

Should he show teeth while smiling? Would he look frightening then?

' Wait, I hasn't even brushed for several days now. Right I must not let my daughter smell my stinky breath. But I have to talk to her...'

" wu..wu....cough...cough..."

Lucius's thought was disturbed by Moon's continuous coughing. Lucius cautiously approached her as not to frighten her. But Moon still stepped back a little. Lucius kneeled down in one leg in front of her. Moon saw that and thought he meant no harm. So she stopped stepping back.

Lucius, was rejoiced inside, ' Indeed, what Echo said was true...then next smile....'

Lucius with very difficulty drew a distorted arc with his lips. He smiled as such his eyes still remained in natural state, there was no sign of narrowing of his eyes due to smiling. He did that to prevent appearing wrinkles on the corner of his eyes.

Moon stopped sobbing. She dazedly looked at the peculiar man in front of her. Moon couldn't help but remember her best friend from kindergarten who had incurable facial paralysis. One time when she told him to smile he also had this same kind of expression. Moon knew she should worry about her dad, who was currently missing but she couldn't help it. Afterwards she bursted out into laughter.

Lucius was again rejoiced, ' Indeed Echo's method was really effective. My daughter is not crying anymore.'

When Lucius was inwardly praising Echo, Moon spoke between laughter. Her voice was like a fresh spring, pure and lively but the words she spoke, wasn't pleasant at all.

" Big brother, just don't smile if you don't want to. I can understand. You have a facial paralysis...ha...ha..."

Lucius's face darkened. But he spoke in a very gentle and soft voice, so soft that it could nearly be heard.

" Child, don't call me big brother..."

Moon didn't hear his overly 'soft' voice. She said worriedly, " Big brother, what happened to your voice? Did the sirens break your vocal cords or maybe you are hungry. Big brother, you should eat more to regain your energy, so that you can speak."

Lucius, "....."

Moon again asked, " Big brother, have you seen my dad? The sirens took him. He has blue hair. But I know they won't kill him so soon. Can you help me rescue my dad? I will give you my ...my....my cream bread!! It's super tasty.....and....and it's from another world."

Lucius frowned. He emphasized on the word, ' dad ' and ' another world ' and then said, this time a little loudly, " Your dad? Shouldn't she be your mom?"

Moon sighed like an adult aunty, as if she had experienced so many hardships in life for protecting her child.

" Big brother, my dad is very beautiful. So everyone mistook him for a girl. But he is a genuine male. You understand?"

Lucius blanked out. The two words ' genuine male ' continued to repeat inside his head. He even forgot to protest about him being called ' big brother' by his own daughter.

Suddenly a thunderous laughter rang out from deep inside the lake. And a muscular healthy man got out from the water. Lucius didn't have to look to know this man's identity. It was his father-in-law, the seaman king. The seaman king's bare feet touched the land as he approached Moon. His eyes were very affectionate when he looked at Moon. But when he turned to look at Lucius there was a silent mockery hidden in his eyes. And Lucius clearly saw it. He suddenly had a very bad premonition. He gave a questioning gaze towards his cheap father-in-law.

The seaman king saw it and he was pleased. Before because of his darling daughter he couldn't speak anything towards his 'dear' son-in-law, who stole his daughter!! How infuriating!! But now.... heheheh....He was about to speak when Moon spoke," Mister, shouldn't you cloth yourself properly. There is a full fledged lady here!"

The seaman king who had been scolded by a five year old child,"..."

Lucius snickered. Inwardly he praised,' good job, my daughter!'

He really wanted to clap. But Lucius didn't feel happy for long as soon afterwards Moon again sighed like an old lady.

" Big brother, before you couldn't even smile properly, but now you are snickering happily. So black bellied. Ah...why are all the guys who have facial paralysis, so black bellied?"

Lucius,"..."

The seaman king wanted to sneer but hurriedly stopped himself. He didn't want to be termed as black bellied by his own grand daughter.

Moon then restlessly said," Can you help me find my dad, mister?...I have no one besides him.... Although..... although..you like to be wear less like a pervert but I still think you are a good guy." Moon didn't forget to flatter him though it sounded like an insult.

The seaman king,"...."

The seaman king vowed to always dress from head to toe before appearing in front of his granddaughter.

The seaman king coughed and said," Child, your dad has returned to your previous world for a period of time. But, don't worry he will again come back when it will be the time."

Moon was frightened. A deep fear surrounded her. She was completely alone now. Her dad broke his promise. He said he would come back soon. But....

"wu..wu...I have no one now....Dad abandoned me....."

The seaman king and Lucius were both distressed by looking at her. The seaman king hurriedly said," Child, your dad didn't abandon you. It's just that if your dad stayed in this world for this certain period of time he would have died..."

Moon stopped crying. Lucius also looked at his father-in-law wide eyed.

Moon said," Then, can you send me to my dad's side?"

The seaman king helplessly sighed and shook his head," Child, you are about to go through mana awakening. If you leave this world now you will die....."

Moon was confused. But the word 'die' cause a huge fear in her tender heart. She clenched her fist and said," But where will I live?"

The Seaman king said comfortingly," Don't worry, your mom...I mean your dad know us. He said us to take care of you."

Moon hesitated and muttered under his breath, " But you clearly look like a pervert."

The seaman king,"....."

Lucius,"...."

Moon thought the two didn't hear her and said to Lucius," Then I will stay with this big brother."

Lucius was very happy and slowly caressed Moon's golden hair. Slowly Moon felt very comfortable and sleepy. After a few moments she couldn't hold back and fell forwards. Lucius hurriedly caught her in his embrace very carefully, as if it was the most precious treasure in the whole world. Then he stood up and asked the seaman king," Father, please explain."

The seaman king laughed," Echo has been reincarnated as a man in the different world by the sea goddess by mistake."

Lucius's face was black," By mistake? Really?..... Doesn't matter. Whichever form Echo takes I will never let her go."

The seaman king was slightly stunned. He knew Lucius would accept Echo in her 'male' form but he didn't expect Lucius would accept Echo's this version without any hesitation. Really such love....

The seaman king then said mysteriously," And.."

Lucius,"And?"

"And Echo doesn't remember a thing about you. More specifically she doesn't remember a thing about her previous life. So, you might accept her....no....him, but do you think he will accept you as a male?"

Lucius gritted his teeth and said," Doesn't matter. If he doesn't remember me I will make him remember. If he doesn't acknowledge me, I will persistently pursue him, If he abandons me, I will still follow him, If he..." Lucius's lips trembled," If he decides to follow another, I will just watch him being happy..."

Lucius lowered his eyelids. The turbulence under his eyes couldn't be seen. Then he suddenly said, " Wait, if he is a male, then this child....."

The seaman king shrugged, " The sea goddess gave him a special physique to bear child.....oh....and I forgot to mention you, he went back to another world to bear your other child"

Lucius blankly said," Huh?! My other child?!"

The seaman king," Yes your other child. Today the goddess informed us through my wife's dream that Echo previously was pregnant with twins. As Echo's male avatar is without any mana particles, to reduce pressure the goddess made him pregnant with one child at a time. Now it is the second child's turn. You see reproduction between a mermaid and a human is against this world's law. So the goddess could only send him back to the other world to give birth first. And your first child is already at the age of mana awakening. If she stayed in the other world any longer she would have died. So she had to be transported here. Echo will return after his second child turns five year old.....sigh..... let's go...take your child back to palace. We have to arrange her awakening ceremony soon."

Lucius gave a simple "hmm" in reply. No one knew what he was thinking. Then he stopped. The seaman king looked back," What?"

Lucius," My daughter said she will give me a cream bread."

The seaman king," cream bread?? What is that?"

Lucius," Don't know. She must have brought some other things from her previous world. I am going to collect them. Otherwise she must be sad after waking up. After all this will be the last things she would have from the other world."

The seaman teased," Oh, you are acting like a father this early. Good. Good."

Lucius didn't say anything. He just embraced his daughter and went to the direction where Ethan left his soul signature before being dragged to the lake. Although Echo had reincarnated, her soul signature didn't change a bit.