Seeing Vegaâs stunned expression and her subtle gaze directed toward him, Klaus simply smiled. He already knew what was going through his daughterâs mind, but he made no comment about it. He didnât bother to explain how it had happened.
Still, he believed that one day, perhaps not soon, perhaps far into the future, his daughter would understand. What mattered now was that with Anthony by her side, Vegaâs chances of evolving her bloodline to the Primordial Bloodline rank had increased drastically, and Klaus knew that with absolute certainty.
With that thought lingering, he turned his gaze toward Anthony, then took a deliberate step forward. Anthony, noticing Klausâs approach, shifted his attention toward him with a calm yet curious expression. There was no hostility in Anthonyâs eyes, only a quiet awareness, a readiness to listen.
Klaus came to a stop directly before him, and for a moment, the two stood face-to-face. Klausâs abyssal black eyes met Anthonyâs serene sky-blue ones. The hostility that Anthony had felt when he first stepped foot in this estate had long vanished, dispersed like mist before dawn. In its place, there was an air of calm reverence and unspoken respect.
Klaus did not speak immediately. His silence seemed to stretch endlessly as though the entire atmosphere awaited his next move. Then, without warning, his posture changed. He lowered himself, his waist bending deeply and his upper body following in a precise, deliberate motion until he was fully bowed, his entire frame leaning forward at a ninety-degree angle before Anthony.
The air itself froze at that moment. It was as though the galaxy had fallen still, as though the stars themselves were holding their breath while witnessing something impossible. A being who stood above all others in the galaxy, the only known possessor of the Primordial Human Bloodline, a man powerful enough to erase all life within existence if he so desired, was bowing to a mere Planetary-ranked existence.
Even Amara and Vega were frozen in disbelief. They knew Klausâs pride better than anyone. Though he was not one to flaunt arrogance, his pride was undeniable, etched into his very being. For someone of his stature to bow before another, especially before someone so far below him in existence, was beyond comprehension. To them, it was no different from watching a pig defeat a god in battle.
Amaraâs initial shock softened into a tender smile. A warmth touched her eyes as understanding dawned upon her. She, too, felt the urge to step forward and bow, to express her gratitude in the same way. But she stopped herself. She didnât want it to seem as though she was merely following her husbandâs lead. Still, she understood deeply why Klaus had done what he did.
Compared to what Anthony had accomplished for their family, what was a simple bow? What was pride before a miracle?
Anthony, however, was utterly stunned. His entire body froze, his mind unable to fully process what he was seeing. Never in his life had he imagined such a sight, someone like Klaus, an existence revered by countless beings, bowing before him. It was unreal. His first instinct was to move forward, to tell Klaus to stop, but the older manâs voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You wouldnât understand," Klaus began, his voice low yet filled with emotion. "You wouldnât understand what youâve done for my family and for me. For my wife, for my daughter, for all of us. For that alone, I can only say... thank you."
His words carried weight beyond measure, gratitude that came not from formality, but from the depths of his soul. Slowly, Klaus straightened his posture, rising from his bowed position. His abyssal black eyes, now softer, lifted from the floor to meet Anthonyâs wide, sky-blue gaze.
Anthony said nothing at first. Words failed him. He wasnât sure what to say that could truly fit this moment. To downplay it by saying something like "I was merely doing what I could" would have sounded hollow, almost insulting, as if the two decades of searching Klaus and Amara had endured were somehow less meaningful. But he couldnât remain silent either. After a moment of hesitation, his lips parted and he finally spoke.
"Iâm glad I could help," he said quietly, but with genuine sincerity.
Klaus nodded once, the faintest smile crossing his features. Without another word, he turned toward his daughter, Vega. His steps were steady, deliberate, filled with quiet emotion. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Amara moved forward too, her arms joining his as the three of them, father, mother, and daughter, wrapped themselves in a deep, comforting family hug.
"Youâve endured a lot, my child," Klaus murmured as he held Vega close, his voice thick with emotion. His grip was firm but gentle, careful not to cause her discomfort.
"Sorry we couldnât lessen the pain you felt, the horror you endured," Amaraâs voice trembled slightly, her tone filled with sorrow. Her mind was consumed by the haunting memory of her daughterâs suffering, the way Vega had screamed, her voice raw and piercing; the way each of her organs had ruptured, bursting outward like an overfilled vessel. Even recalling it made Amaraâs heart twist with agony.
"Mom, Dad," Vega said softly, her voice tender as she melted deeper into their embrace. "Thereâs nothing you could have done to stop that pain. You both have to understand that even with all your power, there are things that remain beyond your control, and thatâs perfectly normal."
Her words carried maturity and calm acceptance far beyond her years. Though the memory of her agony resurfaced, the screams, the burning, the despair, she was and will never be broken by it. The power she had gained since then had helped her forget the pain for a while, but even now, facing it again, she remained unshaken. She had endured it. She had survived it.
To her, it was a price worth paying.
She continued, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude. "I know Iâve said this before, but... thank you. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for everything. Thank you for your love, your guidance, your patience, and your protection. Thank you for the lessons, for the laughter, for the vacations, for the gifts. Thank you for every bedtime story, for every word of comfort, and for every sacrifice. Without you both, I wouldnât have known what life truly meant. Without you both... I wouldnât exist. Thank you."
Her tone was rich with emotion, every word trembling with sincerity and love.
Amara and Klaus could barely hold back the tears that welled in their eyes. Vega had said "thank you" countless times before, but those moments had always been fleeting, simple words of courtesy after receiving a gift or a kind gesture. But now, this thank you was different. It was deep, profound, and filled with the weight of her heart.
One might argue that as her parents, it was their duty to provide, to protect, and to nurture her without expecting gratitude. But that didnât make her words any less meaningful. After all, which parent, what father or mother, wouldnât melt hearing such heartfelt appreciation from their only child?
In that quiet, golden moment, wrapped in each otherâs arms, their hearts found peace. The chaos, the pain, the years of uncertainty, all of it seemed to fade away. What remained was love, raw and unshakable, binding them closer than ever before.