"What do you want to do?"

That red-head, namely Cale Henituse, asked to his three children.

It has been a few months ever since they're done dealing with the war and every other annoying things.

To fulfil his words to his ex-team leader, Lee Hyuk Soo, he build a small farm, to which these children average ten years old have been helping him on taking cared of it.

It was something that he was supposed to do as it is a promise.

And though neither of them complained on the matter, Cale doesn't feel right to keep them just doing this to follow his will, therefore he asked.

The two cat tribe children and black dragon looked at each other as their father figure has been asking them this particular question for the second time this week.

'We want to be with you!'

'Travel together?'

'Let's farm more fruits!'

Those were their replies before. But Cale shook his head and answered them back with—

"Not that. Naturally we will do those. What I mean, is there anything you want to do regularly? Like, a hobby that you want to pursue for yourself? Something new you want to learn?"

a Hobby to pursue.

After exchanging glances, the children grinned.

"I want to learn how to paint!" Raon chirped, 'I want all of these memories we have to be captured for forever'

"I want to learn to write stories and poetry~" Hong grinned, 'I want to write and record everything we experienced together right now' 

"I want to learn how to play piano, please" On smiled, 'I want to be able to express my self and my joy'

The children knows for a fact that there would be a future where their happiness falls apart. Humans has the shortest life-span, everyone knows this. And as sad as it is, they realized that some of their family members would likely to grow old and might even pass soon, whether they like it or not.  

Which is why, they've been discussing among themselves. With this chance, they would like to learn stuffs that would keep these bitter-sweet memories they have to be preserved for as long as they could. 

Pictures, Writings, and Music.

These are the three ways that they chose to keep their happiness in tact. It was a plan for their future.

—Meanwhile, not knowing any of their intention, Cale simply take it that these children's requests were heavily influenced by the fact that they lived in Henituse territory which is rich not only in term of wealth but also various cultures and the home of many artisans. 

Either way, being a doted father he is, Cale arranged their requests as far as meeting their soon to be instructors personally. He made sure that these instructors won't treat them differently whether in bad or good light.

After all, his goal is to make these children experience normal childhood as normal as he could make it despite their race and their status as heroes...

Two days after making that request, a brand new grand piano could be found in the living room of the villa.

Though On's practices would be held along with Lily's at the Henituse duchy, Cale bought one that's light blue in color so she can leisurely play and practice whenever she wished. 

"Do you know how to play it, human?" Raon, whose eyes sparkling at the instrument, asked when they saw how Cale traced the keyboard with a nostalgic look on his face.

"a bit" And that's the truth.

Both this body of Cale Henituse and the soul of Kim Rok Soo has memories of playing piano in the past.

"Really?"

"Can you play something for us then, nya~?" 

The cat siblings asked enthusiastically, yet the red-head simply waved his hand, dismissing the idea.

"I'm only here to make sure that it is tuned correctly. I still have so many things to do"

The children average ten-years-old pouted at his reply but let him go this time knowing that he's indeed busy at the moment.

Though war has ended, there are still some minor stuffs that he needs to take cared off— Including making sure the Henituse Museum that was about to be built won't be as crazy as he feared.

The three had thought that Cale would be stubborn and won't ever show them his skills since every time they asked for it, he always make excuses such as...

"It's been so long since I played it. I'm not good"

"My skills are rusty, maybe one day"

"Sorry, not now."

But they know...

At late hour ever since their first request, Cale would sneaks out to the living room every now and then to play a short song and practiced.

Their human has always been like that, so they're not all that surprised. 

If anything, they made it their personal mission to take a peek without him knowing and watched in silence.

On the first week, they were caught by Ron, who only permitted them to stay awake if they promised to get back to bed as soon.

Two weeks in, Choi Han, Eruhaben, and sometimes the others would join them on their stealthy mission. By the third week, it's their little secret from the red-head himself...

"He always play the same song" Hong finally noticed after realizing that the short songs that they've been hearing is actually one song that got cuts into four.

"It doesn't seem like a classical music though?" On tilted her head.

"The song doesn't seem to be something that I've ever heard either." Rosalyn, who was visiting and currently joining their late rendezvous, commented.

Of course, their voices did not reach the red head who's currently playing some melody. Thanks to Raon's magic, they're currently invisible and couldn't be heard by Cale.

"Do you know about this song, Choi Han?" The young dragon asked the single-lifer that came from the same world as their human. The Korean shook his head briefly in silent reply.

"Could it be that this unlucky bastard actually writing a new song and simply memorized them?" Eruhaben was genuinely amused if that was indeed the case.

Ron was about to comment as well when they heard something that has never happened before...

You know I'm really truly grateful to have met somebody just like you

But life, it goes along and from what I know that means we'll have to part soon
Now, carrying these memories which pain me with a smile
I walk away from yesterday to our fated goodbye

Realizing that it's not their language, Raon used translation magic as soon he realized that Cale was singing in a language that he believes introduced as Japanese.

If I were to go through life living just take someone else's place
Then I would rather have been born as a pebble, living out my peaceful days
Then maybe we could then avoid misunderstandings too
And then maybe I would never have ever gotten to know you

Raon and Choi Han who understands instantly what the other is singing about has their eyes rounded in disbelief. 

"Choi Han, Human is..."

"Cale-nim..."

All I ever wanted was for you to hear my thoughts
All my dreams and fears, just to say them out
Yet I go and lie to you and say I'd rather not
Even though you never found me out

I'm just so much weaker than you thought I ever was
Than you ever would've wanted to believe

So why? Tell me... Tell me!

"W-What's with this song...?" On gasped softly.

No one can utter another word afterward as they listen the crack in his voice, especially as he keep asking to the empty space.

With this endless pain in my heart, tearing me apart
But also you beside me...

Can't you see how happy I'd be?
I'd smile and I'd say, "It was all for the best, you see"

As the world in front of me melts and fades away,
I only have one thing to say:
These miracles flooding me, won't make it go away
Because I can still hear your voice calling out my name

A small frown formed on Cale's face as he let the music flows, still not aware that he has audiences listening not so far away from him.

If you're just going to get lost and never find a place where you belong
Deep in my heart I wished you'd let someone else do that, but I knew all along
Pretending not to understand, we turned the other cheek
I'm sure one day we'll laugh again as the cycle then repeats

'a place where I belong' This mini crowd had asked themselves this question at least once in their life time.

The red-head in front of them is the reason they now have a place to return to. Cale was the person who created this home where they finally belong...

So why?

Why does it sounds like he's asking the same question that they've long forgotten in this time of peace?

Did he not know that this is the place where he belong? with them?

'What's going on here...?'

All that I can do is beg as hard as I can,
but the nightmares keep on haunting me
Even though I've seen you leave a hundred thousand times
I can only watch you disappear

I'm just so much weaker than you thought I ever was
Than you ever would've wanted to believe

So why? Tell me... Tell me!

"Young Master Cale..." Mary who was also present can only hold onto Ron's sleeve as she bit her lower lips.

They all knows that the young master would have mental damage due to the heavy experiences he had for the last two years. With everything that has happened to him during war, it's honestly a shocking feat that Cale remained indifferent as if those events are nothing but annoying breeze.

They had seen him cry once. 

And though he had claimed that he was not sad back then, but as he sings sorrowfully, they could tell that this moment is exactly like that time.

'...a nightmare? was it really just a nightmare?'

For the nights I won't make it through,
I spend beside you, while holding onto your hand
Telling me I will and I can,
I pray every night that days like this will never end

Painting colors vivid and bright I see every time I go ahead and close my eyes
Just what should I do so everything remains the same?

Hey, is it alright if I keep calling out your name?

"He is just like us..." Hong gulped thickly as he tried not to shred a tear like his younger brother who's already sniffling onto Choi Han's embrace.

What Cale just sung aloud is exactly their fear. Precisely their reason wanting to pursue these new hobbies.

To think that their ever so calm human would have the same anxiety as they have. This really shouldn't have been such a surprising discovery, yet it did.

Cale closes his eyes as the melody continues...

In the moment I was born, I wouldn't stop screaming
Saying that I wanted to fade away and disappear

"No! Idiot Human! Stupid Human! If you disappear I will destroy the world! This great and mighty dragon will really TRULY destroy it all! So don't... don't say that...!" Raon's voice is naturally silenced with the voice cancellation magic that's now managed by Eruhaben instead.

Ron on the other hand, he could no longer maintaining his smile or displayed a fake one as he normally would. His gaze is cold.

Ever since the day I stopped, I had always been searching
For the one I'd someday meet

For the you that has to leave...

"I will never... NEVER leave, human. So please stop. Don't be sad anymore..."

That young dragon wanted to console their human so badly, but Choi Han prevented him while saying, "Not yet"

The song hasn't finished.

There are still more of these unknown words for them to listen.

With this endless pain in my heart, tearing me apart
But also you beside me...
Can't you see how happy I'd be?
I'd smile and I'd say, "It was all for the best, you see"

As the world in front of me melts and fades away,
I only have one thing to say:
These miracles flooding me, won't make it go away
Because I can still hear your voice calling out my name

Hey, Is it all right if I keep calling out your name...?

As he finished, Cale went silent for a moment before then letting out a heavy sigh as he put his hands on his eyes with a single thought in his head.

'Ahhh! I knew it. I can't do this'

He's currently mortified by his voice.

Though Kim Rok Soo knows how to play piano and did some little performances throughout his high school days, he has never liked his own voice when he sings.

He had thought that that opinion would change since it should sounded  different now as Cale Henituse.

But the more he listens to himself and paid attention to all the cracks in his voice, his frown just got deeper as it gets more and more embarrassing although no one else should be listening to him at the moment.

'But the children asked me to play AND sing!'

He had nonchalantly agreed to their request one day.

And as he doesn't want anyone to know the song that he's been practicing on, just in case there would be someone who woke up to get water in the middle of the night and listen to him or something, he choose a Japanese song. A language that so far he had only taught Raon since the young dragon seems to like it to have a secret that's just between the two of them.

"Haa... I should just tell them" He let out another sigh, "I can't do it"

'I can't sing!'

But of course, despite saying so, he wouldn't actually tell the kids and instead thinking of a way to find himself someone who'd taught him how to sing without ANYONE ELSE knowing.

Meanwhile...

The crew is having a hard time witnessing the scene of their red-headed friend being this desperate all alone in the middle of this suffocating night.

It was that moment.

"I'll end it..." Choi Han muttered, taking their attention to him.

"This misery of his. I'll end it here." His eyes is as clear as his goal.

"Cale-nim could be dense sometimes, but I did not know that he'd suffer this much. As someone who gives me hope, I will not let him be in despair any longer."

That black haired swordsmaster is determined to free their beacon of hope from this agony.

And this words of his soon becomes the spark needed to lit up the fuse...  

"Me too! Choi Han, I'm going to do that too!" Raon insisted while erasing his tears forcefully.

"Our weak Human is always so stupid, we need to remind him that we're here too!" Such a vigorous voice with not even an ounce of hesitation resounded for them all to hear but the red-heas himself.

"Our youngest is right, nya!" Hong agreed to the black dragon.

"Let's do it together," Even On nodded to the statement.

Choi Han and Rosalyn glanced at each other before sharing a simple nod while Mary clasped her hand together with the same mission engraved in her head.

All the while, Eruhaben found himself leaning to the wall behind him muttering to himself on how this unlucky bastard just keep getting himself in trouble. 

'I told him that he could always tell me if there's something bothering him, yet he still bottled all of these to himself? Huu...'

He's contemplating on having a one-on-one talk with the red-head about this matter.

"Yes, yes. We can do some planning in the morning. For now, however, it's better for all of you to get back to your bed. You three especially" Ron, who finally schooled his expression, told the children average ten-years-old.

"But grandpa—!" Raon was about to protest, but Ron cuts him off.

"You don't want young master-nim to worry about your disappearance right?" That old servant gestured to Cale who's standing up as he said so. Nobody said otherwise after that.

"I'll distract him, you guys return to your bedroom now"

And with that, their little rendezvous ended with a silent agreement...

.

.

.

Later as his day officially started, Cale Henituse nearly found himself screaming in frustration as he got dragged left and right by people that loudly shows their loves to him.

And as he can't refuse the requests of these vicious individuals that happens to be his family— especially the request of his children— all that he can do is cry internally as he pleased them for the rest of the day and more...

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

《The link above is for the sake of the voice. The one bellow is the record plays as this story started》