CHAPTER 13
Muwon stood with the overseer, children bustling around joyfully. He turned as he spotted Sihyun approaching.
"You changed?"
Muwon asked, frowning slightly.
"What happened?"
Sihyun paused, then gave a light chuckle.
"Some drunk spilled his drink on me… ruined everything."
"You didn't fight him, did you?"
"No, I let it go,"
Sihyun lied smoothly, the weight of truth heavy under his smile.
Muwon reached out and lightly squeezed his hand, clearly relieved.
"I'm just glad you're okay,"
he said warmly.
"Come. You have to meet him — the boy."
Sihyun hesitated, glancing at the children playing in the garden.
"What if he doesn't like me?"
he asked quietly.
"Everyone knows what I am. What if… he does too?"
Muwon stepped closer, brushing a loose strand of hair from Sihyun's cheek.
"Then we'll win him over together,"
he said.
"But you're wrong, Sihyun. Not everyone sees what you were. Some of us see who you are now."
Sihyun swallowed hard, moved but trying not to show it.
"You always talk too much."
"You always listen,"
Muwon smiled.
Hand-in-hand, they walked toward the garden — toward their future.
The courtyard was dappled in afternoon sunlight. Children played under the watchful eye of the orphanage overseer, their laughter echoing faintly across the stone walls. Muwon gently tugged Sihyun's hand as they neared a quiet corner, where a boy stood with perfect posture, watching them approach.
He was around seven years old, with curious, sparkling eyes, and a face too serious for someone his age — but there was something undeniably warm about him. He bowed politely as Muwon stepped forward.
"Sunny,"
Muwon began,
"this is Sihyun. He's… someone very special to me."
"Sihyun,"
he turned with a soft smile,
"meet the boy we hope will become our son."
Sihyun opened his mouth but… no words came. His palms were oddly clammy. Why am I nervous in front of a child? he thought.
Sunny, however, had no such trouble. He squinted, tilted his head, and then with all the boldness of a sunbeam, blurted out:
"You're the Demon Sorcerer, right? The one everyone talks about?"
Sihyun blinked, caught off-guard.
"I—"
"The one who saved the kingdom!"
Sunny interrupted excitedly.
"And stopped the scary man with the red magic! And you made the moon shine gold that night, didn't you?! I heard all about it!"
Sihyun stared. Muwon had to cover his mouth to hide a laugh.
Sunny took a step forward, eyes bright.
"I've always wanted to meet a real sorcerer! But not just any sorcerer… you. You're cool. I want to be like you when I grow up!"
Sihyun's heart squeezed. Something flickered inside him — not pain, not power, but something… gentle.
He knelt down slightly, voice soft, almost awkward.
"It's… nice to meet you too, Sunny."
"Really?"
Sunny asked, beaming.
"You're not scary at all."
"Not usually,"
Sihyun muttered under his breath, smirking.
Muwon leaned close, whispering playfully.
"Well?"
Sihyun smiled faintly, still watching Sunny babble to a nearby guard about wanting to learn how to levitate a spoon.
"I like him already,"
Sihyun whispered back.
"Told you,"
Muwon said smugly.
And in that moment, surrounded by a laughing child and a quiet future, Sihyun — the last Demon Sorcerer — felt something new.
He felt like a father.
The sun dipped slightly, casting a warm hue across the grand palace gates as Muwon, Sihyun, and Sunny returned from the orphanage.
As they passed through the corridor leading to the courtyard, three familiar voices echoed.
"There they are!"
"That must be him!"
"He's smaller than I imagined!"
Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin practically rushed toward them, excitement lighting up their faces.
Sunny blinked up at them, wide-eyed.
"Whoa... are you all giants?"
The three men froze… and then burst into laughter.
"I like him already,"
Dohyun grinned.
"What's your name, little one?"
Taejin asked, crouching down.
"Sunny!"
he said proudly, lifting his chin.
"Well… that's my new name now."
"That's a good name,"
Yuhyun said warmly, ruffling his hair.
"I'm Yuhyun, Sihyun's elder twin."
"Whoa"
Sunny exclaimed.
"You both look alike."
Sunny said, looking from Sihyun to Yuhyun as Yuhyun and Sihyun chuckles lightly.
"I'm Dohyun,"
said the flirt.
"And I'm Taejin,"
said the calm one.
"Cool!"
Sunny beamed.
"Wait… are you all gonna be my uncles?"
The trio exchanged glances. Dohyun's eyes widened.
"No. Better. Godfathers! I'm obviously the best choice—"
"Excuse me?"
Taejin interjected.
"I saw him first!"
Yuhyun joined in playfully.
"You were born his uncle,"
Dohyun snapped.
"That's cheating!"
Sunny tilted his head as the three grown men bickered over the role. Then he tugged on Sihyun's sleeve.
"Are they always like this?"
"Yes,"
Sihyun replied dryly.
"Unfortunately."
"I like them,"
Sunny whispered, grinning.
Eventually, Muwon cleared his throat, motioning toward the main hall.
"Time to meet the king, Sunny."
Sunny's smile faded slightly. He clutched Muwon's fingers as they stepped into the grand throne room.
The King sat in his ornate chair, eyes fixed sharply on the small boy approaching.
"So this is the child?"
he asked plainly.
"Yes, Father,"
Muwon said with a respectful bow.
"This is Sunny."
Sunny looked up, hesitated... and gave a quick bow. But unlike with the others, his words were few.
"Hello, Your Majesty…"
The king studied him, unreadable.
"He's quiet."
"Not really,"
Sihyun muttered under his breath.
Sunny stood very still, his smile faint and unsure. Something about the king's gaze felt heavy, like a mountain pressing gently against his shoulders.
After a long silence, the king simply nodded.
"I hope he'll live up to the name given to him."
"He will,"
Muwon replied firmly, glancing proudly at Sunny.
But Sunny said nothing more. As they exited the room, he whispered to Sihyun:
"He's… a little scary."
"You'll get used to him,"
Sihyun replied, giving him a small, reassuring pat.
"Do I have to?"
"Not today."
They left the hall with a boy full of potential, a family forming around him, and a future waiting to be written.
The air inside the palace's ceremonial hall was still — filled with quiet anticipation.
The long table set at the center bore the adoption scroll, stamped with the royal insignia and flanked by ink pots, brushes, and red wax seals. To the side stood Sihyun, dressed in soft silver and midnight blue, standing slightly behind Muwon, who wore royal robes with his crest embroidered on the chest.
Beside them, Sunny looked tiny yet proud, his hands held together tightly in front of him as his wide eyes scanned the majestic hall.
The king sat elevated above them, his expression unreadable. The five elders stood like stone — silent observers:
Elder Minister Hwan Baekjin with his hawk-like gaze.
General Nam Gunho, arms crossed.
Elder Lady Seo Miran, composed and regal.
Elder Yoon Jaesuk, unreadable as ever.
And the High Priest Sangwook, gaze sharp, robes pristine.
To one side stood Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin, all three watching Sunny like doting uncles. The orphanage overseer — a gentle woman in her later years — stood nearby, her eyes a little misty.
"Let this day be recorded,"
the court official announced.
"Prince Jin Muwon and Sorcerer Moon Sihyun formally adopt this child into the royal line."