One More Task

Mael stood still, his presence quiet yet commanding, his golden eyes watching Khalia closely. The glow from his summoning had faded, leaving the room in its usual dim warmth. He waited a few moments, observing her as she remained lost in thought, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the polished wooden desk.

"I will take my leave." He finally said, his voice smooth yet formal.

Khalia blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. Her gaze lifted to meet his, realization flickering in her hazel eyes. "Wait, Mael." Her tone softened, a hint of guilt laced within. "I'm sorry. I've just been caught up with everything."

Mael's expression warmed as he offered a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "I understand, young Miss. No worries."

His kindness brought a small smile to her lips, and she leaned back in her chair. "Tell me, how are you? How have things been?"

Relaxing at her shift in demeanor, Mael moved toward a plush armchair in the room, his movements graceful yet effortless. He lowered himself onto the seat, his broad frame making the chair seem smaller than it was.

"Well." He began, resting one arm casually on the armrest. "Work as usual. I have to keep everything up and running."

Khalia's brows lifted slightly. "That's good to hear, but don't forget to take a break once in a while." She said with a pointed look. "You know what? After this task, I want you to go on a vacation."

Mael chuckled, his deep laughter rich with amusement. "Oh, young Miss, this is a vacation for me. I do less work here than I would if I were home."

Khalia's eyes narrowed playfully. "I don't want to hear it. You will take a vacation from work, and that's final."

Mael smirked but shook his head in surrender. "And who, may I ask, is going to run the companies in my absence?"

"That's why we have staff, Mael." Khalia countered with a knowing tilt of her head. "The company won't go bankrupt in a couple of weeks. You, on the other hand, regardless of your infinite stamina, strength, and immortality, need to relax and rest."

A flicker of appreciation crossed Mael's face, and after a moment, he inclined his head. "I understand, young Miss. I'll get this task done and then take my vacation."

"Good." Khalia said with satisfaction, flashing him a victorious smile.

With a casual wave of his hand, a golden light flickered in the air, swirling like a delicate ribbon before solidifying into a sleek black folder. The moment it fully materialized, Mael caught it effortlessly and extended it toward her.

"I almost forgot." He said, his tone taking on a graver note. "Here is the information on the young man you asked about. It's… quite disturbing. Humans can be very cruel."

Khalia took the folder from his hand, her fingers brushing against the cool leather. Without hesitation, she flipped it open, her eyes scanning the first few lines. A shadow crossed her face, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Yes." She murmured, her voice quiet yet firm. "They can indeed."

Her focus shifted completely to the documents in front of her, absorbing every word. Mael studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, standing gracefully, he inclined his head.

"I will get on to the next task." He said.

Khalia looked up, meeting his gaze, and a genuine smile softened her features. "Thank you, Mael."

Mael's lips curled into a soft smile, but Khalia's focus had already shifted back to the folder in her hands. Her sharp eyes scanned the documents, absorbing every piece of information as though preparing for battle.

Mael, however, remained still, watching her with a quiet intensity. He was more than just an ordinary protector, he was what one might call a guardian angel, bound to her from the very moment she had entered this world. From infancy to adulthood, he had been by her side, unseen by most yet always present, shielding her from harm.

To avoid alarming her in her younger years, Mael had ensured that he grew alongside her, blending into her world so seamlessly that she would never question his presence. Yet, despite the youthful appearance he had chosen to maintain, the truth was far different. Mael was over three thousand years old, a celestial being with knowledge spanning millennia. When he had first been assigned to watch over Khalia, he had considered it an insignificant task, one far beneath someone of his status.

But time had changed him. The girl he once viewed as merely another human to protect had become someone he cherished beyond measure.

His golden eyes softened as he watched her, lingering for just a moment longer than he should. 'I wish you could see me. The real me. But until then, I will continue to protect you and serve you, my queen.'

With that unspoken vow, his form dissolved into a mist of golden light, vanishing from the room without a trace.

Khalia looked up just as the last flicker of his presence faded. She sighed, her expression unreadable. 'I see you, Mael. I do. But it's just not possible.'

She had long since gained the ability to hear his thoughts, an unexpected gift, one she had developed over the years, courtesy of Mael himself. She knew Mael knew she could hear his thoughts and wondered he released those thoughts for her to hear, she however, never revealed how deeply she also cared for him.

But reality was cruel. Their past, their differences, the sheer weight of everything that separated them, it was too much. No matter how much she cared for him, it was a bond that could never truly be.

Forcing the thoughts aside, she inhaled sharply and returned her attention to the files before her.

Two days later, a familiar voice echoed through Khalia's mind, breaking her focus.

'Young Miss, I have the information you requested on your father and Logan Smith.' Mael's voice was smooth, unwavering, yet tinged with something unreadable.

Khalia, sitting alone in a quiet hospital room, answered him telepathically. 'You may appear. The room is cleared.'

A bright golden light flared into existence, illuminating the dim space for a brief moment before fading, leaving Mael standing beside her. His presence carried a quiet authority, his tailored dark suit pristine as always. His gaze briefly flickered toward the unconscious man lying in the hospital bed.

Sean Kaci lay motionless, his breathing steady but shallow. Khalia had been visiting him, a book in her lap that she had been reading aloud moments before Mael's arrival.

Mael moved forward, his footsteps soundless as he handed her the folder. Khalia set the book aside and took the folder from his hands, flipping it open with precision. The moment her eyes landed on the contents, her expression darkened.

The tension in the room shifted instantly. Khalia's grip tightened, her hands curling around the edges of the folder as a sharp, seething rage burned through her veins.

"He wants to take everything." Her voice trembled with fury before it burst into a sharp, venomous snarl. "That bastard."

Mael, standing ever composed, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Young Miss, please calm down. I won't let that happen." His voice was steady, gentle yet firm, a grounding force against the storm brewing inside her.

Khalia exhaled sharply, forcing herself to release the anger that clawed at her chest. She closed the folder with a measured breath, turning her gaze to Mael.

"I know, Mael." Her voice softened, gratitude flickering in her eyes. "Thank you."

Mael gave a slight nod, but he didn't miss the lingering frustration in her posture.

After a moment, Khalia spoke again, her tone carrying a mixture of determination and reluctance. "I know I said you could take a vacation, but I have one more task for you."

Mael's golden eyes glimmered with quiet amusement as he bowed slightly. "Anything for you, young Miss."

Khalia's lips curled into a knowing smile. "You are so sweet." She teased lightly before her expression turned serious once more. "I need to know everything about my father, Rueben Austin. I want to know everything from the day he was born. Leave no stone unturned. Dig up all his skeletons and I want to know who they were."

A solemn understanding passed between them. Mael met her gaze with unwavering loyalty. "I understand."

Khalia leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping idly against the armrest as she considered her next steps. Her sharp gaze remained fixed on Mael, who stood before her with his usual poised demeanor.