After Luciel came out of the shower and got dressed, before he even had a chance to dry his hair, Uncle Phill herded him back to the scanner platform. He shoved Luciel to the centre and activated the scanner, after the scanner finished, he looked at the crystal that contained the results. He stood there motionlessly. Luciel raised a brow, stepped in front of Uncle Phill and waved his hand.

“You Ok there Uncle Phil-!?” Luciel wasn’t able to finish his sentence before he was hugged tightly by Uncle Phill.

“Hahahaha!” Uncle Phill was trembling in excitement. “It took 60 years, but we did it! You’re completely healed! 100% healed! Well, the scars can’t be erased, but that’s trivial compared to the internal damage you’ve been suffering….hic…. I’m sho glad…hic…you’re bedder now…hic…”

By the end, Uncle Phill was crying with emotion, over the last 60 years Luciel and Phim had long stopped being just his patients, they were his good friends. He was even the Godfather to the children he helped Luciel deliver. They were his important family.

Luciel hugged Uncle Phill back. With the relationship between them, it would be too distancing to just say thank you, but he’ll never forget what he and Phim owed Uncle Phill. The hug lasted until Uncle Phill calmed down, and he took the initiative to release his hold.

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask for a while, but can you not call me ‘Uncle Phill’?” Uncle Phill lowered his head in embarrassment. “ I don’t mind the children calling me that, but after so long, I see you more as an older Brother.”

Luciel was stunned, and for a moment his mind stalled. Once he processed Uncle, no, Phill’s words, he laughed so happily and hard that the corners of his eyes dampened.

“Ok then, Phill.” He wiped away the tears from his eyes. “Would you prefer it if I called you that?”

“Yes!” Phill nodded his head like crazy, but then he got a bit shy again. “ Um… can I call you Brother Luci?”

For a second Luciel was in a daze, his eyes flashed with sadness as he recalled the last person who called him that, but it was too quick for Phill to notice. Luciel smiled warmly at Phill.

“Of course, you can.” Luciel ruffled Phill’s head. “From here on you’re my little Brother, it does mean that Phim will be your Brother-in-law mind you.” Luciel winked mischievously at Phill.

Phill was ecstatic and it took him a while to calm down.

“So, what are you going to do now Brother Luci?” Phill asked.

“Hmm? Ah, I was thinking of going to see Ikol.” Luciel remembered his other purpose.  “There’s something I tasked him with, and I need to go pick it up.” Well, that and to confirm what I thought of this morning.

“Ah, yeah, his class should be over by now, and he hasn’t got another one until later this afternoon, at least that’s normally the case.” Phill recalled.

“In that case, I’m off.” Luciel smiled at Phill. He was about to leave the room when he paused and turned around. “Also, Phill, don’t forget to come home to play on the weekends, we have plenty of rooms.” He strode out the door as he left those words behind.

Phill stood in a daze, staring at the door that was once more closed. Home? Never thought I’d have a home with a loving family in my lifetime. A tear ran down his cheek as his heart was overflowing with warmth. I wonder if Phim would prefer to be called Brother-in-Law or Brother Phi?

***

In the corridor leading to the Chancellor's office, a tall man was spritely walking down the corridor with a spring in his step, clearly in a good mood. Despite how much Phim always grumbled that this man was an old fossil, the man clearly didn’t appear to be. He had a pair of mischievous sparkling hazel brown eyes, shiny waist long black hair that was neatly combed back revealing his forehead, he also had a rather trim and handsome beard. The only signs of ageing on his face were the subtle crows’ feet at the corner of his eyes and the silver streaks that were only just starting to appear at his temples.

This man, in a large billowing robe, was Ikol Natit, the High Chancellor of the United Academy of Magic and Sera's history teacher. As he reached the end of the corridor he tapped on the wall with his mana and the wall opened up revealing an empty small square room with runes engraved around the edges of the stone floor. He strode to the centre of the room and using his mana he activated the lift, that is, the stone floor with runes carved. It was more like a floating platform than a lift though. The runes glowed as the platform rose at a moderate pace, all the way up until it reached the Chancellor’s office, which was located in the highest room of the entire Academy.

Ikol hopped off the platform and sent it back down. He walked to his desk and brought out a wad of papers from his magic bag, his mirthful gaze landing on the paper on top. Sera's homework. Remembering what was written at the bottom of the last page of her history homework, Ikol couldn’t help laughing. A fine young lass worth teaching! It had been a while since he saw someone with such great potential, he admitted that at that assembly his pride took a hit and he might've been a little petty, but who isn’t petty?

As he sat down, he used his mana to manipulate the tea that was always brewing, into a cup and brought it to his hand. He narrowed his eyes in content as he sipped his tea.

As he was leisurely drinking his tea, he heard the platform he sent back down coming back up. He raised his brow, who could that be at this unusual time? He looked to the doorway to see who was coming up.

The first thing that came into sight was the top of a head filled with golden curly yet fluffy hair, followed by a pair of bright amber eyes, a gentle smile on his lips. As more and more of the slender figure was revealed, Ikol was stunned and nearly dropped his tea. Once the slender figure stepped into his office, Ikol leapt to his feet eagerly.

“Luciel!” Ikol exclaimed. “What a pleasant surprise! I thought you were coming in two more days!”

“Phim had to go back to work, so I had a change in plans.” Luciel chuckled.

“Hm? You returned to your peak state!” Ikol was overjoyed when he noticed that Luciel’s former state had returned. “You're fully healed!?”

“Yes, just now thanks to Phill.” Luciel beamed from ear to ear.

“Good, good, that's good.” Ikol was emotional when remembering how long this man in front of him had suffered silently over the last several centuries. “So, what brings you here today?”

“Two things actually.” Luciel stretched out two fingers. “First is to pick up the enchanted fabrics and yarns I requested from your wife. Second... Did Sera get caught doing some tricks?”

Ikol:... Only you would class it as a trick... then again, in scale comparison to you, what Sera did really was just a trick.