Mrs. Jane's arms trembled as she held onto Sele, her emotions finally spilling over after everything that had happened—the fear, the helplessness, the sight of her children hurt. This hug was desperate, clinging, as if letting go might make everything collapse again.
Sele let out a slow sigh, standing stiffly in her embrace.
"Like I said," she replied, her voice controlled, carefully restrained, "I deal with a lot of people. I can't remember you or your daughter... so please, let go of me."
Mrs. Jane slowly let go of her, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes.
"No offense, Mrs. Stone," Sele said with a mocking tilt to her voice, "but you cry too much."
Mrs. Jane let out a small, shaky breath. "Well, at my age... with a wonderful family like mine," she said softly, "it's hard to stay composed in situations like this."
Sele fell silent.
"Well..." Mrs. Jane continued, gathering herself, "you've saved both my children twice now. I'm deeply indebted to you. If there's anything you need, I—I'd be willing to help."
Then her eyes widened as a thought struck her.
"Ah, I know!" she said suddenly. "Let me pay you instead! There's no need to trouble your boss!" she added quickly, almost pleading.
Sele let out a small chuckle. "Sure... why not."
She pulled out her phone, and Mrs. Stone quickly did the same. With a few taps and a soft chime, the transfer was done.
"Okay, there," Mrs. Stone said, her voice suddenly light, almost cheerful.
Sele glanced at the screen—and nearly jumped.
"That's a lot, Mrs. Stone!"
Mrs. Stone laughed softly in response. "Until we meet again, Mrs. Sele. Hopefully next time it'll just be us women, hmm?" She reached out and held Sele's hands warmly.
Sele quickly averted her gaze, dodging Mrs. Jane's radiance. "M-maybe..." she replied shyly.
Then she noticed Lara and Luku standing farther down the hallway.
"Hey, kid!" Sele called out. "Make sure you look out for the boss too—just like he's looking out for you!"
Lara simply smiled, a soft, cute laugh slipping past her lips, the tension finally easing from her shoulders.
"Heh... what a beautiful girl you have, Mrs. Stone," Sele remarked, her tone lighter than before.
Mrs. Stone's face brightened instantly. "Thank you," she replied warmly, pride and relief woven into her smile.
Luku stepped forward and bowed politely. "Take care, Mrs. Sele."
"Hm?" Sele glanced at him, then gave a small wave. "Yeah. You too, kid." With that, she turned and walked away down the hallway.
The moment she was gone, Lara rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother from behind.
"Don't scare everyone like that again, Mom!" Lara said, squeezing her hard.
"Ah—!" Mrs. Stone laughed, surprised but happy. "Okay, okay, my darling. Mommy won't do that again, I swear!" She laughed again, patting Lara's arms. "Now loosen up a bit—haha."
“No!” Lara laughed, tightening her grip. “This is punishment for scaring us like that, Mom!”
“Oh—hey! Baby, stop it,” Mrs. Stone pouted playfully, then pinched Lara’s right arm.
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“Ouch! No fair, Mom!” Lara yelped, finally letting go.
Before she could say another word, her mother pulled her back in, hugging her tightly and planting a kiss on her left cheek. “I love you so much, my little girl.”
Lara wrapped her arms around her mother in return. “I love you too, Mom. Please… don’t do that again.” Tears slipped free as she spoke.
Mrs. Stone laughed softly through her own tears. “Ah… we really are crybabies, huh?”
“Hehe,” Lara replied.
“Okay,” Mrs. Stone said gently, wiping her face. “Let’s go join them now.”
“Okay, Mom.”
As they headed back inside, the others were already standing, hands clasped in firm handshakes. Fei remained wrapped in the void-like shadow, composed and silent, as if nothing could rattle her now.
“Oh? Is everything settled, sweetheart?” Mrs. Stone asked, surprised by how quickly things had moved.
“Oh yes, darling,” Mr. Stone replied calmly. “The contract’s settled.”
Alcy looked away with a small, disappointed pout. Lara noticed immediately and tugged lightly at his sleeve. “Is everything alright?”
He answered with an exaggerated, playful pout instead of words.
Lara couldn’t help but chuckle. “I guess not.”
“So… how do we leave now?” Mr. Stone asked, directing the question to Muuey.
Muuey glanced at Fei, who was still tightly wrapped in the void-like grasp of his power, her expression calm despite the restraint.
“I’ll have to deal with her first,” he said evenly. “But I can’t leave Lara and Alcy alone either. So I guess your kids will be staying with me—starting now.”
“Hmph,” Alcy pouted. “Fine.” He agreed far too quickly.
Lara blinked, shocked, and turned to him. “Wait—” she said, tugging his sleeve. “You’re suddenly respecting him now, Alcy?”
“What!? O-of course not!” Alcy snapped back, flustered.
Mr. and Mrs. Stone couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction.
“Luku,” Muuey said evenly, “take five of your choice to assist you with the Stones’ protection.”
Luku straightened. “Okay… thank you, Master. That will really help us.”
He closed his eyes, breathing slowly, thinking carefully. The room stayed quiet as he weighed his decision. After a long moment, he opened his eyes.
“I’ve made my decision,” he said firmly. “Pardoey, Zety, Xinzin, Broen, and Zoruuin.”
Muuey’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Pardoey has already left the brotherhood,” he said calmly. “But I’ll allow her sister to take her place. Will that be acceptable?”
Luku bowed deeply, more than once. “More than enough, Master. Thank you.”
With a single phone call, Muuey summoned the five.
In the next instant, thunder tore through the room.
A blinding flash split the air as lightning struck down directly before Muuey, the explosion of sound and light forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The room shook, vision swallowed by white.
Then—silence.
As their sight slowly returned, Muuey was already seated again, calm and unmoved. Behind him now stood six figures, lined up in perfect stillness, their presence heavy and undeniable.
“Woah…” Alcy breathed, frozen in awe at the sight before him.
He wasn’t the only one.
“Sir, I’ve brought them as instructed.”
One of the six leaned in close, lowering his voice as he spoke to Muuey.
Muuey gave a small nod. “Nice entrance.”
“Thank you,” the man replied lightly. “I try. I’ll take my leave now.”
“See ya,” Zety said, lifting a hand.
The man chuckled—and in the next instant, thunder cracked once more. A flash of light swallowed him whole, and just as suddenly as he had appeared, he was gone.
“Hey, Master!” Zety called out enthusiastically.
“Hey—would you behave?” Broen snapped back. “Don’t make me look bad in front of the Master!”
Muuey ignored the exchange. Without even opening his eyes, he spoke, his voice calm but absolute.
“Listen, all five of you. From this moment on, you are completely under Luku’s command. If any one of you disobeys a direct order from him, you’ll spend one week cleaning the training grounds. Am I clear?”
The five straightened instantly.
“Yes, sir,” they answered in unison.
Mr. Stone stood frozen, shock settling deep in his chest.
Just five of them—and the air in the room felt suffocating, heavy, as if it could crush a person whole.
Just who is this Muuey, really…? he wondered, unease creeping into his thoughts.
“Well then, Luku,” Muuey said as he rose from his seat, his tone final. “This is goodbye—for now.”
“R-right,” Luku replied, forcing a smile. A tear hovered at the corner of his eye, threatening to fall.
Mr. Stone stepped forward and extended his hand one last time.
Muuey reached out and shook it, firm and wordless. Nothing more needed to be said.
Mr. Stone then turned to his children, resting a hand on each of their heads, giving them a gentle pat.
“Send me a text when you reach your school,” he said softly.
The words carried weight—part instruction, part prayer.
Alcy answered with a small, steady smile, trying to be strong.
Beside him, Lara wiped at her face, her eyes red and trembling.
Then their mother stepped forward for one last embrace. She wrapped her arms tightly around both of them, holding them as if she could pour her strength into their bones. She kissed them goodbye, one after the other, unable to stop the tears from falling.
“I love you so much,” she said, her voice breaking. “Get stronger, okay?”
Her tears soaked into their shoulders as she held them just a second longer—long enough to say everything she couldn’t put into words.
They left, their footsteps fading away, leaving only Alcy, Lara, Muuey, and Fei behind.
Fei remained seated, wrapped in the shadowy mist, trapped within it, her presence heavy in the room.
“Now to deal with her,” Muuey said bluntly.
The words hung in the air.
The room fell completely silent.
"Muuey’s elite squad has arrived! Which of the new guardians are you most curious about?"
