Chapter 96 - Play House

The next few weeks, Caelum remained at Heartfilia Estate fixing Layla's soul while at the same time getting to know her along with Grammi who had decided to stay by her friend's side for now. She started to regain her strength and the wounds sustained from the Spatial Curse began to heal after being nourished by the [ Soul Warming Lotus ]. Speaking of, Caelum's soul showed signs of growth where his Divine sense was expanding even further than before and can see through virtually anything. 

He continues training using the [ Hercules Method ] seeing some changes from just using it for a few weeks having more control over his body allowing to survive any wound even without magic merely using the method to control every part of his body. Caelum was also getting close with the two children treating them like his daughters playing dolls and other imaginative games. 

Lucy often asks for stories and happily gives her one since she would be a writer and a mage in the future. He taught them magic methods like how to utilize their Ethernano and make a magic core helping the two get stronger. Layla and Grammi watching the scene of the three playing in the garden having a flower crown on top of Caelum giggling and laughing. The two had the same thought just watching them. 

'He's really great with kids….I wonder if he's already married. If he isn't then it would be difficult since I can Grammi have her sight on him…'

Layla thought since she didn't want to let her daughter be fatherless for long and Caelum seem to be the perfect man even thought they only known for a few weeks was already confident that he was a perfect man and a father but she's reluctant to be more intimate and know more about him without hurting her friend. 

'... it's unfortunate that Lady Layla also has sight on him.'

Grammi thought silently watching her daughter treated by Caelum with care and patience allowing her to see a smile that Brandish never had before making her realize how important a father figure was for her daughter.

After a while, Caelum was training the [ Hercules Method ] where his body didn't sweat and barely felt pain having subconscious control over his flesh without even using magic and nearly assimilated his mind to his body where he tells it to keep going then it will. He literally can push himself even further to the point only death or his choice would stop him. 

He started to notice changes from the using the Method namely his ability to predict things before it happened similar to Observation Haki where the more he concentrated gave him the certain path in his action. Caelum felt that it was the start of gaining Ultra Instinct since the prediction of movement and letting his body and mind move to take action could eventually give him access to the perfect state of ultra instinct.

Unlike Saiyan transformations, Ultra Instinct is a technique similar to Kaioken and the only reason why it is difficult is because thoughts are always faster than movement. Therefore, Caelum needs to increase his battle instinct in the future. 

Another thing that he acquired was to see through people seeing every fiber of their muscle and ways to murder a person in the most brutal way possible. It is similar to Yoruichi Transparent world where he can see through their enemies body but that needed a demon mark while Caelum didn't need it since his method is different.  

"Working hard, I see? Don't you ever take a break?"( Layla )

Caelum heard a voice turn to see Layla while Grammi beside her walked into the back garden to find him training, seeing them bring a basket filled with food. Caelum was doing a handstand using one finger without much thought nor struggle. He flipped to stand back into his feet letting them see his bulging muscle and well defined body that the thirsty Milf couldn't help but stare. 

"Come, we've prepared you some snacks. Hope it suits your taste."

Grammi said as they sat down on the grass and opened the basket to reveal some pastries and sandwiches grabbing one started to munch on it. Layla asked how it tastes and said that it tastes amazing making her smile in delight. 

"I'm glad to hear that. I was afraid that you wouldn't like it."

"Well, I'm not a picky eater. I've eaten a lot to survive and can survive days without eating. Though, when I do eat it would be a large quantity like you saw a few weeks ago."

He took another bite enjoying the meal but it still left him unsatisfied. Still Caelum didn't want to let the food go to waste and it's likely the two were the one who prepared since the maids were hiding watching them. 

"Can I ask why you train day and night?"

Grammi wondered since what she could see Caelum was already powerful at least in an S class. Though it isn't strange for mages to keep training, Caelum could always be seen training when not doing any errands or playing with the girls. He is always working and doing something.

"Well, I believe It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."

The two intently listen from his profound words having quoted Socrates wisdom. This had been in his mind ever since he heard it back when he was still a swimming enthusiast.  

"I want to see how far I can go and challenge myself everyday. Not to mention, I need the power to reach someone important to me."

Caelum looked into the sky thinking of his first lover, Sapphire, who was still in her home waiting for him. Though, time in her dimension is vastly different to his but still it made him feel so far yet so close to her. The two women looked at him thinking that this someone was a rival and determined to defeat. 

"I see, thank you for answering. We are going to cheer on whoever that person is." ( Grammi )

"From what you're doing, I believe it will be a long time until you finally reach that person." ( Layla )

"Hahaha being cheered on by two beautiful women makes my blood pump!"

The two seem to blush from his sudden words but hide it rather well and try to shrug it off. 

"Hahaha you are quite the charmer but I doubt we can still be called beautiful." (L Layla )

"We already have children, I doubt the two of us could contend with the young girls." ( Grammi )

"What? I'm serious, the two of you are beautiful, especially when Grammi has her hair down."

If they aren't beautiful then what is? People might as well be blind if they can't see how beautiful the two charismatic women are. 

"When I say a woman is beautiful then I'm not lying."

"Ara~ at this point we're not surprised if they're a flock of women wanting to be yours."

Caelum didn't say anything letting their imagination go wild and just reassured them his words were serious. They continued to chat until the children found them and began to play. 

"What do you two want to play?"

He asked Lucy and Brandish sat on his legs. 

"Play house! I want you to be my papa."

Lucy said, making his mother flinch and inwardly became flustered since she couldn't help imagine being his. She can't believe it's only been weeks and this how she's acting to someone she barely knows. 

"What!? I also wanted Caelum to be my papa!"

This time it was Brandish who complained to her friend refusing to let her have Caelum while Grammi was in the same state as her friend becoming flustered from the thought.  

"Hold on hold on, no need to fight. I can be both your Papa."

Caelum stopped the two from arguing even though it was fun seeing the two girls fight for the role. 

"Does both mean both our mommy is your wife?"

"That's great! Then we can be sisters! Then mama Grammi is also my mama and my mama is also your mama!"

The two mother's looked at each other for a moment  and seemingly having the same thought and contemplated it while Caelum just watched things unfold.

'boy….that escalated quickly.'

After they had agreed to share, the two children began to play, taking up the role as the father and the two treating each other as sisters. They played for a bit until Brandish asked for Caelum to kiss her mother, surprising everyone.

"I read that papa always kisses their wife. Since Caelum is my papa, I want him to kiss mommy."

"Brandish, we can't do that."

"Why not, Mommy? Papa is Caelum. You said that a papa often kisses mommy?"

Grammi couldn't blame her daughter's innocence looking at Caelum apologetically shaking her head.

"Yeah, Mama you too!"

They saw their daughter eager to see them kiss him unsure if they should do it but Caelum just laughed it off and went closer leaning towards the two making their body tenses up.

'Gaaaah is he going to kiss for real!'

Both thought getting closer were only inches closing their eyes only to feel a peck on the cheek making them extremely confused.

"There, I kiss your mama. Are you two happy now?"

"Yehey! Me too Papa!"

Caelum laughed, kissing their cheek while the two blush for having impure thoughts and felt disappointed that he didn't actually kiss them. 

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Few days later Caelum finished treating Layla and told everyone his plan to head back making the two children refuse to leave, making them extremely mad and crying for him to not leave them. 

"Now now, It's not like I won't visit you two once in a while. I promise I'll play with you two when I have time, alright?"

He reassures the two since they had started to grow attached to him and Caelum is still unsure about it and decides to leave since he still needs to train himself. Lucy suggested that he rmothers hire him but she shook her head telling him that they would be forcing him to stay which is wrong. 

"In the meantime, continue training on how to use magic and be kind to your mothers, okay?"

They cast down crying but accepted receiving a pat in the head. He then turned to their mothers who also felt reluctant to let him go since he had been quite reliable in manpower and been well received by the maids and butlers.  

"Can't you stay a little longer?"

"I would love to but I need to continue my journey. However, I assure you that I'll be dropping by often."

In the end they gave up and let him go but before Caelum left, he took out something from his pocket and handed a bracelet to each of them. They were perplexed seeing the jewelry and told them it is a just small parting gift making the two admire it then smile thanking him before he turned walking away waving goodbye. 

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A few days had passed after he left Heartfilia Estate, Caelum had been occupied in his continuous training and was advancing further in the [ Hercules Method ]. It was truly a treasure like no other having near impossible blind spot from his 360° Clairvoyants provided by the [ Tensei Rinne-sharigan ] and the added effect of instinct from the method and new physiology. 

He was confident that he was close to reaching Super Saiyan form and only needed time until that step was achieved. Caelum finishes training existing the [ Godly Grimoire] with his Guardian Beast having promised to take them to the children. 

Mio was excited to see them knowing that they'll become a beauty and added into her master's harem resulting in a snack from Mia scolding her sister for thinking something like but Mio just shrugged it off. Caelum first arrives in the guild hall to report his quest finding Makarov talking to his grandson who notices him arriving.

"You! I heard you're strong!? Fight me and I'll show you I'm the strongest mage in fairy tail!"