Sol stared at Ocean without a word or expression.

The wind blew by taking Ocean’s long hair off of his shoulder and Sol turned away.

"Hey, say something." Ocean spoke after having enough of his silence.

Sol shrugged, "The Golden Serpent has sacrificed her son, there’s no way the Domina here gave her an ordinary demon. That’s why you came to ask me instead of just getting rid of it yourself."

Ocean sighed, "Well, yes. I thought Carlos was just a spoiled brat who followed his mother’s words but, I guess he’s just a puppet that she wants on the throne."

"Humans are quite heartless." Sol mumbled.

"Not all of them." Ocean corrected and Sol sighed.

Ocean observed his little face for a moment and held Sol properly in his arms before he unfurled his wings.

"What are you doing?" Sol asked feeling the invisible wings expand behind Ocean.

"Let’s go for a flight. Do you want to eat something?" Ocean asked and Sol blinked, surprised.

"Wha-"

Sol got a little imbalanced but Ocean held him against his chest as he flapped his wings taking flight. Sol clutched the lapels of Ocean’s coat and within seconds they were high up in the air.

Sol looked down without any fear and saw the people settling into their evening routine. The streets were lit up by lanterns and the people were hustling about strolling in the night markets.

"Are we going to Oasis?" Sol asked and then frowned as they passed over Oasis.

"No, let’s go somewhere else." Ocean said and turned to go towards the farther west.

After a while, Ocean lowered to the ground near an alley, it was already late enough so nobody noticed them.

Ocean turned his disguise from Ocean’s form to Ace D’Arc’s. His long blue hair shortened into pitch black and his blue eyes seemed to have gotten mixed in the red hue giving them a purplish twilight color.

Sol watched him transform and then asked.

"Why are we here?"

Ace looked down at him and smiled as he adjusted his different clothing which was now a long black designer coat with silver and ruby accessories over his blood red shirt and black dress pants with long black boots.

"We’re out here for the night market. You can eat whatever you want." Ace announced and Sol’s eyes narrowed a little.

"What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? You have a demon at hands two covens, one civil war, world destruction and you want to play around?"

Ace almost chuckled and corrected, "That’s professional business. And this,"

He pointed at himself and then at Sol, "Is our personal time. I already mix these two enough to not give you and Kai enough time, hell, I rarely show my real face to my father and brother so, I should try and make some changes, right?"

Sol was speechless listening to this while Ace hummed as if pondering something and then touched his communication brooch. The mana stone which had turned red to match his outfit glowed softly.

"Kai?" Ace spoke, "Kai, you there?"

After a few seconds, Kai’s voice slipped through, "Master?"

"Yes, it’s me." Ace answered, "Where are you? At Ryujin mansion?"

"Yes,"

"Did you have your dinner yet?" Ace asked.

"No, I was studying."

Ace smiled, "Good, come to Froish city now. Sol and I are waiting."

"Yes? Now?"

"Yes, now. And, bring along the disguise device that I gave you some time ago, also Tell Enora that you’ll be eating out and probably return late." Ace instructed.

"All right." Came Kai’s reply and Ace smiled before the brooch’s glow faded.

Ace then glanced down at Sol before the device glowed again as Ace poured his mana in it.

"Kent?" Ace called, "Kent? Anyone?"

"Master? Is that you?" Sylvia’s voice came through.

"Yes, Sylvia, it’s me."

"Do you need something, Master?" She asked and Ace chuckled.

"No, I just wanted to let Kent know that Sol will be having dinner with me outside and you guys shouldn’t wait for us."

"What?! But we even made enough for you!" Sylvia groaned and Ace smiled.

"I’m sorry, I’ll treat you all next time."

"Promise?"

Ace laughed, "Promise. And also, Sol will be back a little late, I’ll drop him myself, all right?"

"All right, Master. Have fun!"

Ace looked at Sol who stood there with arms crossed over his chest looking at Ace.

"What exactly are you planning?" Sol asked and Ace beamed before he leaned down and scooped him up in his arms.

Sol sat over Ace’s left arm with his one arm holding Ace’s broad shoulder which unlike Ocean’s was muscled and gave him a more masculine look.

"We’re going to look around, eat lots of delicious things, play and then I’ll drop you at Eldarf." Ace answered as he walked out of the alley.

Sol stared at him wordlessly and then at the crowd before he sighed and placed his cheek over Ace’s shoulder.

"I’m not going to walk." Sol spoke and Ace smiled.

"Sure."

After a couple of minutes, Ace and Sol met with Kai who teleported to Froish with the disguise dangling earstud that turned his looks to match Ace’s. But unlike Ace’s short black hair, Sol had longer black hair tied in a ponytail with ruby red eyes.

"Master! Sol!" Kai beamed as he saw them.

"All right, now we can move ahead, right? Kai hold my hand and don’t let go." Ace said and Kai smiled before he clasped Ace’s hand.

"So, what are we doing? Tailing someone? Is there a witch here?" Kai asked in a low voice and Ace chuckled.

"No, we’re here to see the night market and eat and play." Ace said and Kai stared at him for a moment before he looked at Sol as if to confirm and Sol simply shrugged.

"We’re on a father-sons outing boys, you can let loose a little. I know there are issues around but we can have one small break." Ace spoke with a smile and the two boys stared at each other again before Kai beamed and Sol placed his cheek on Ace’s shoulder hiding his small smile.

"Shall we go ahead then?" Ace asked.

"Yes!" Kai beamed and Sol nodded.

"One more thing," Ace said and the two looked at him as if expecting him to finally tell them that there indeed was some hidden agenda here but Ace simply smiled.

"Address me as Dad and not Father or Master." He said and Sol narrowed his eyes.

"You’re joking."

"What? No." Ace said.

"Dad!" Kai called instantly and Ace gestured at Kai.

"See, your older brother is so smart. Now grumpy pants, call me Dad."

Sol rolled his eyes, "Yes, in your dreams."

Ace simply shook his head while Kai beamed.

The trio moved towards the crowded area, the scent of sizzling meat and vegetables, the voices of the hawkers and the lights from the lanterns swallowed them up in no time.

"I want to eat that!" Kai pointed at the kebabs and Sol also looked like he was drooling.

"All right." Ace said and got four for each the kids.

"Here, Father try this." Kai brought up the stick up to Ace and he leaned down a little taking a bite feeling the spicy hot sauce along with the meat melting over his tongue making him moan.

"Good, ain’t it?" The shopkeeper laughed, "Want some more?"

"More, more!" Sol spoke as he’d already finished his four sticks and Ace laughed before he bought more.

"Next is that!" Sol pointed at the next stall which seemed to be selling some grilled fish.

The three kept moving from stalls to stalls tasting, eating and enjoying.

Sol mostly led them ahead as he wanted to taste everything that he saw and Kai and Ace walked around.

"Get one Prince of Flames mask!"

"Prince of Flames figurine!"

"Get your own poster of Prince of Flames!"

The hawkers shouted with Eric’s merchandise and Kai stared at it.

"You want it?" Ace asked and Kai smiled.

"I want a mask!" Kai said and Ace looked at Sol.

"You want one?"

Sol snorted, "Why would I need his mask when I look better than him?"

Ace rolled his eyes and walked towards the crowded stall where a lot of kids had gathered to buy Eric masks.

He bought one for Kai who wore it instantly, a lot of other kids were also wearing the masks with a fake sword shouting and squealing. It was a cheaply made hard mask but it didn’t matter as everyone were adored the person whom it denoted.

They moved further and Ace bought the two kids cotton candies. Sol got himself two while Kai fed Ace some from his own.

"Sol, tell me honestly, were you starved at Eldarf or something?" Ace asked jokingly.

"No, why?" Sol asked as he already finished one of his cotton candies and started on other.

"I don’t mind buying you the whole store but, won’t you share some with your dear Dad?" Ace asked.

Sol snorted, "Whose my Dad? And if you want some buy it, you have a lot of money, right?"

Ace sighed and Kai plucked another bite from his cotton candy and brought it up to Ace.

"Here, Dad. You can eat some more of mine." Kai said and Ace smiled eating from Kai’s hand.

"My older son is so filial, he cares for his Dad." Ace spoke and then added teasingly, "but my younger son doesn’t, how sad! Also, hold that a little away or it’ll stick to my hair."

Sol rolled his eyes before handing him the last bite of the cotton candy and Ace smiled before eating it.

Further they bought a sandwich and Kai offered some to Ace, Ace took a small bite and Sol who watched them also reluctantly offered a bite of his sandwich Ace. Ace smiled before he opened his mouth wide eating more than a half in one bite making Sol’s jaw drop.

"You-"

Kai laughed loudly while Ace tried not to choke on his bite and Sol tugged at Ace’s hair.

After a while of roaming around, the trio entered the restaurant which was already full. The waitress walked up to them as they entered despite the line.

"Pardon me, My Lord but we’re-" she spoke but Ace interrupted.

"I see you’re full," he said and then looked at Sol.

"Sol, can you grab the crest that’s in the inner vest of my coat?" Ace spoke but Sol didn’t move, still sulking and Kai let go of Ace’s hand so that he could do it himself.

Ace pulled out the Azurlite guild master crest and showed it to the waitress making her eyes go wide.

"Oh, oh my! I’m so sorry, My Lord. Please come inside." She ushered Ace and the kids inside.

The two were taken up the stairs to the second floor where there was the Ace D’Arc’s office. This restaurant was one of Azurlite guild’s owned establishments throughout the kingdom.

Their dinner was served in Ace’s office with the manager greeting them.

"I had no idea you were coming, My Lord." The manager spoke and then looked at Kai and Sol, "If you had informed me earlier, I would have saved a special seat for you and..."

The manager trailed off staring at Kai and Sol who had already started eating.

"My sons," Ace equipped.

"Yes, your sons." The manager beamed without thinking before his eyes widened and he looked at Ace.

"Pardon, what?" The manager gasped making Ace laugh.

"We’re not his biological sons." Sol corrected but the manager looked at Kai who looked an exact copy of Ace.

"That’s my son," Ace said pointing at Kai and then at Sol.

"This is Ocean Ryujin’s nephew." He lied smoothly and Sol rolled his eyes going back to his food.

The manager was shocked watching Ace who just dropped a bomb that he had a son when the people had no idea about his personal life.

Kai looked at Ace who gestured him that he’ll explain him later.

Their evening ran late and the trio enjoyed for once forgetting about the fact that they were Dragons or that they had the world destruction on their schedule or the Trials or civil war, all they had was each other. A family that they had made with time.

At the end, Kai teleported back to Ryujin estate while Ace after transforming back to his Ocean’s form flew over to the Eldarf manor to drop Sol.

Sol fell asleep on Ocean’s shoulder and Ocean tried not to move around a lot to keep him from waking. But the moment he landed in the clearing of the Eldarf manor Sol stirred rubbing his eyes.

Ocean looked down at his face which wouldn’t make a person believe that he was a Dragon. The little child looked innocent enough to make the Heavens sigh.

"Did you enjoy your evening with us?" Ocean asked and Sol grumbled softly.

"It was fine."

Ocean chuckled, "For someone who stuffed his mouth relentless you’re quite a miser with words, Sol."

Sol lifted his eyes to meet with Ocean’s, for a moment Sol stared and Ocean tilted his head slightly.

"You sleeping with your eyes open?" He asked and Sol rolled his eyes.

Ocean was used to this grumpy little kid by now so, he didn’t give his reaction any thought but simply ruffled the back of Sol’s head before bumping his forehead against Sol’s gently.

"Sleep tight and leave your worries to me." Ocean spoke and Sol’s eyes glistened but he quickly hid the emotions that surfaced in that moment.

"You speak too big for someone so young." Sol mumbled and Ocean chuckled pulling back.

"Then just watch over me to see if I’m doing everything right."

Sol kept staring at Ocean before Ocean gently let him down.

"And once the Trials and the Edrisyl thing are done, let’s go again to celebrate like this." Ocean said, Sol’s eyes lowered for moment a distant look on his face.

Sol hummed before he turned to walk towards the manor.

"Good night, Sol." Ocean called.

Sol kept walking but his response reached Ocean in a low voice that seemed more like a whisper that wasn’t supposed to be audible.

"Good night... Dad..."

Ocean smiled and didn’t say anything before he stepped back unfurling his wings and took off in an instant.