" My Lord!My Lord! Dark... I mean Lord Calex, look what I brought! "
Layla yelped from afar.
Calex was relaxing inside his cave.
His day was spent in hard labor and meticulous calculations.
He rolled his eyes at Layla's yell.
" That b*tch knows too well that she is not allowed to bring any visitors here! She might have a death wish! "
He stood up before coming out of the cave and straining his eyes to look at her.
With his powers gone, the only difference between him and an ordinary human was that he could still breathe without an oxygen cylinder on Chemora.
His eyes popped as Layla gradually came into view, dragging poor Mira by her waist.
"Mira! "
Calex gasped.
Layla literally threw Mira at her father's feet as she went inside the cave.
" Mira! Mira? Goodness gracious! How is she with you?"
He asked as he held Mira by her shoulder and made her stand up.
" You don't look surprised! " Layla yelled again from inside the cave.
" Of course I am " Calex looked at Mira just as she looked at him.
They looked very similar in ways that were difficult to explain.
" I mean you don't look surprised that she is alive. "
Layla said.
Calex did not reply. He held Mira's hand and brought her inside.
" So you knew all along that she was alive? " Layla sulked. " I thought I was finally doing something to make you trust me again. "
Calex smiled. It was rarer than a blue moon to see Calex smile.
Layla crawled forward and gaped at his face.
" Stop doing that! Don't force me to throw you out! " Calex said with a straight face.
" Now tell me, where did you find her? " He was still looking at his girl as if she was the most interesting picture.
" She was roaming alone in the wastelands. She was lucky that it was me who found her! Had she gone to some rogues... "
" Stop talking about what never happened. " Calex then turned towards Mira.
" Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel hungry? "
He asked, patting her down.
" No... "
" I fed her well! "
Layla did not let Mira finish her sentence.She was too proud of herself.
" Does he know that you escaped? "
Calex asked Mira.
It was Mira's turn to be surprised.
" Who? Uncle Kilian? No. I sneaked out. Escaped, huh! You make it sound like a jail... "
She tried to smile. Then her smile suddenly dropped as the realization hit .
She lifted her arm and touched Calex's face.
" Are you really my father? " She asked, as her lips quivered.
" Your senses should tell you. You can sniff me properly if you want. "
Calex spread both his arms apart.
Mira's eyes glistened as she kept looking back and forth between his face and his outstretched arms.
She could hold it back no more as tears spilled from her eyes and she embraced her father.
It was a deep passionate hug. A hug so tight that it was enough to suffocate Calex.
" Why would uncle Kilian lie to me? I always listened to what he said. Why would he say such horrible things about your father... "
Calex pulled her away and looked at her face.
" What did you say? " He asked.
" Why would uncle Kilian lie? " Mira looked confused and answered between her sniffs.
" No, after that! " His voice was unsteady.
" He said horrible things about you? " Mira did not understand what he was getting at.
" No! No! What did you call me after that? " He was losing his patience as she waited eagerly.
" Father? " Mira looked unsure.
Calex nodded and pulled her into an embrace.
" Yes! Say it again, my love! "
"Father! " Mira felt more confident as she smiled while calling him like that.
Calex had never known peace greater than that moment, his whole life. How could a single word bring him so much joy?
Suddenly Calex broke off their embrace once more.
" Layla, did anyone see you bringing her here? "
Layla shook her head, " Not a soul. "
" Good! Good! But we need to leave Chemora before they come looking for her. Can you arrange for a ship?
Preferably from the black market?
We will go to the outer galaxy substation. From there we will take another ship to Earth. "
Layla stood up with excitement.
" Really? We are going back to Earth? Why? "
Her excitement turned to confusion pretty soon.
" She is not safe here. He has grown strong because of the power of the Heartstaff. It will only be a matter of time before he sniffs her and snatches her back again."
He looked at Mira with concern.
Mira looked scared.
" Where are we running? Why? I am sure Uncle Kilian will understand if we explain things to him. He is strict but he loves me. He will never harm me. I am sure he will realize that spreading those lies about you was a wrong move... "
Calex smiled at her.
" I don't care about my reputation, Mira. I have done worse than the worst things in my life. But I know what you don't know. And there are many things that you apparently don't remember.
I will try to explain everything in due time.
Give me a chance to right the wrongs that I did.
I will deal with Kilian later for ruining my life.
But as for now, your safety is more important. "
Mira did not understand what he meant.
Calex held her hand as he prepared to walk out.
" Umm... wait! Those memories that you were talking about, does it have anything to do with three boys? "
Layla stared at her.
Calex looked back.
" I want to remember everything. I know they are important. Will you tell me who they are? "
Calex heaved a deep sigh.
" No! I cannot tell you anything. What was taken away from you shall only be returned when you work for it. Nothing is easy in life Mira, we need to pay a price for everything. And there is one for your memories. "