Chapter 206

[Third Person's PoV] 

After his playful time with his 2x sister, Cid rejoined the others for some much-needed relaxation. As he arrived where everyone currently sat, he found most of them lounging around, engaged in casual conversation. The scene before him was a heartwarming one: Celeste, his young daughter, was rolling around on the floor, laughing as she playfully grabbed at her feet. Her puppy, Sirius, mirrored her movements, rolling and chasing after her with the same infectious joy. Surprisingly, Delta was also on the ground with them, leading the two in a playful, childlike romp as if she were one of them with a large smile on her face.

Cid couldn't resist a teasing greeting. "Well, well, hello ladies~," he said with a smirk.

Aurora, who had been watching the playful chaos, narrowed her eyes and pointed accusingly at Cid. "You!" she snapped.

"Huh? Me what?" Cid responded, tilting his head with confusion.

Aurora crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Did you really think it was a good idea to get Celeste a puppy? She's still a child! How is she going to take care of it? She won't be responsible enough."

Cid rolled his eyes, clearly amused. "Love, you're barking up the wrong tree. I didn't get Celeste the puppy."

Aurora blinked, taken aback. "You didn't?" She turned to the others, suspicious now. "Then maybe one of you? But I doubt that, considering I've been with most of you all day."

The others all shook their heads, denying any involvement. Just then, Eta floated into the room on her signature pillow, settling down on Cid's lap. Without a word, she rested her head there and closed her eyes, ready for a nap.

Cid absentmindedly brushed Eta's hair away from her face as he explained. "Celeste didn't get the puppy from anyone here. She made him herself."

Aurora looked even more puzzled. "What do you mean she made him? That doesn't make any sense."

Cid smiled as he continued, "Her monarch abilities have awakened. She can turn constellations into familiars. That puppy you see? Sirius? He's not just a normal dog—he's made from the stars themselves."

Aurora's eyes widened in shock. "What? But... she's just a baby! Should she really be able to wield such power at her age?"

Cid's smile turned into a proud grin. "Well, she is my daughter, after all."

Aurora let out a long, exasperated sigh. "That's not what I meant. I'm worried she might not be able to control it. What if it becomes dangerous for her?"

Cid gently shook his head, his tone softening as he reassured her. "She's safe, love. And as she grows, we'll be here to guide her. We'll help her learn to control it, and she'll grow stronger for it."

Aurora seemed unconvinced, but she sighed again, conceding. "If you say so..."

"You're forgetting something," Cid added with a knowing look. "She's not just my daughter. She's yours too. Do you think it's a coincidence that the first familiar she conjured was a wolf with blood magic powers?"

Aurora blinked in surprise. "Wait... you're saying there's a connection between her being my daughter and... Sirius?"

As if on cue, Celeste came crawling toward Cid on all fours, giggling as she made her way over. She stretched her little arms out, signaling she wanted to be picked up. Cid lifted her with a smile and set her on his other knee, patting her head gently.

"You're a powerful magic user, Aurora," Cid said, looking up at her. "With your guidance, there's no doubt Celeste will be one of the most powerful magic users to ever exist."

Aurora's expression softened as she stroked her daughter's hair. "I suppose you're right... I just can't help but worry. She's still so young."

…

Hours passed, filled with laughter and time spent with their family. Eventually, as the night gave way to dawn, Cid found himself returning to the human base. Just as he began to settle in, there was a rapid knock on his door, almost frantic.

"Minoru, it's me—Akane," came a voice from the other side, tense and urgent.

Cid snapped his fingers, changing into more casual attire before opening the door. Akane rushed inside, her expression fraught with anxiety. She immediately began pacing back and forth, running her hands through her hair in frustration.

"It's Saejima… he's dead. He was found this morning, and people think I did it," she blurted out, her voice bordering on hysteria.

"Huh? Why would they think you did it?" Cid asked, his voice calm but his brow furrowed in confusion.

Akane stopped pacing, her breath quickening. "Because Saejima and I never got along. Everyone knows we didn't see eye to eye. And... I was the last person to see him alive. Now they think I had something to do with it," she explained, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to maintain her composure.

Cid gently pulled Akane into his arms, wrapping her in a reassuring embrace. She clung to him tightly, pressing her face into his chest, seeking solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her body trembled slightly, as if on the verge of breaking under the weight of her thoughts. After a moment, she tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty and fear.

"Do you think... I really could have done it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cid shook his head without hesitation, his response firm and certain. "No, you're not the type. If you know you didn't do it, why are you so worried?"

Akane didn't answer immediately. Instead, she posed her own question, her voice quieter still. "Do you ever... sometimes think you'd be better off dead?"

"Never," Cid replied instantly, his tone unyielding.

Akane let out a soft, almost bitter laugh, burying her face back into his chest. "You didn't even hesitate… Not even for a second."

They stood like that for a while, the silence stretching between them, heavy but comforting. Akane's grip on him tightened as if she feared letting go would mean falling apart. When she finally spoke again, her voice was low, a mix of vulnerability and something darker.

"I've had those thoughts before… Wishing for death, hoping for an end. But the thing is... I don't even remember why. There's this... gap in my memory, this massive, terrifying void. And I'm scared, Cid. I'm scared that whatever's in that gap, whatever I've forgotten, is something so horrible it made me feel like I didn't deserve to live."

Her arms squeezed him even tighter, as if his presence alone was the only thing keeping her grounded. Cid could feel her fear, her need for reassurance. He held her closer, letting her know that whatever she had done, she wasn't alone in facing it.

Akane took a deep breath, as if gathering the courage to ask what came next. "Hey… Can I ask you something else?"

Cid gave a quiet hum in response, a signal for her to continue.

"Have you ever... killed someone, Minoru?"

His answer was as calm and unflinching as ever. "Yes."

Akane pulled back slightly, enough to look up at him with wide eyes, shocked by the bluntness of his response. "Really?"

"My death toll is in the hundreds," Cid said matter-of-factly, his voice steady. "Probably more."

Akane's breath caught in her throat. "I'm not talking about monsters, Cid…"

"Neither am I," he replied, his expression unreadable.

A long, tense silence settled over the room, the weight of his confession hanging between them like a thick fog. Akane's heart raced, her mind spinning as she processed his words. There was no judgment in her eyes, only quiet acceptance, as if the revelation had only deepened her understanding of him.