The glass of water was cold when Greyson first grabbed it. Now, all of his gloves absorbed the moisture, and he hadn't even drank the water. He only stared at it during the entire service. Once it finished, he lifted his head from the glass of water and looked around. Unsurprisingly, his mother was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, he finally drank the water and placed it on a table.

Everyone's voices became muffled as he stared at Viktor's casket in front of him. Like the past few days, Greyson didn't have any strength or energy to do anything. Even if he would break Viktor out of his casket, the phone was already broken beyond repair, and nothing inside it could be saved.

He moved closer to the casket and placed a hand on the glass. Just like when he died in the abandoned lab, the smile on his face was still there. Except this time, Greyson could see that he truly was dead. No amount of makeup placed on him could hide the fact that he wasn't asleep anymore.

At least there wasn't a mark on his face now. At least now that Zeus was dead, Viktor was going to be buried without any mark of his past remaining on his body.

A small whine made his ears twitch. Greyson turned around, watching as Embers flew towards the casket. Her wings folded down once she landed on the glass, and her claws scratched the glass. When nothing happened, a small howl left her, then she lied down on the glass.

Greyson hummed, and he patted her head. Next to him, Anthea picked up Embers from the casket and wrapped her around her arms. "I miss him too, Embers," she said, her voice hoarse and dry. Greyson wasn't sure if her voice truly did crack or if he was just hearing it.

"Since..." His ears flopped down, and his throat dried as he thought of his next words. "Since Kuya Viktor's... not coming back, what's going to happen to Embers?"

"I'm going to take her in," Anthea replied. She patted the dragon's head again, and a small chuckle left her.

"I remember seeing Viktor ten years ago," she continued as she leaned on the casket. "Sedah asked for assistance from the Medical Team, and I just happened to be the free one. After I patched him and his dragon up, he acted as if it was the kindest gesture anyone's ever done to him. I thought that, since he looked like a beaten up kid from the lower areas of the city, it really might be the kindest gesture he received. I didn't... I never thought that he would be from the Underworld."

Greyson chuckled. His mother said that she had been in the Investigation Squad for ten years now, but the only memories Greyson could recall about Viktor was from when he already joined the DUO. He must have looked completely different ten years ago. Maybe if he saw a picture of Viktor as a teenager, Greyson wouldn't even recognize it was him.

"It is weird that we never noticed it for ten years," he replied.

Anthea shook her head. "Not really. Viktor's really secretive, even more so when he was younger. I didn't think of prying because I thought I should respect his privacy." She chuckled again, this time her voice really did crack, and she hung her head.

"I should have pried more."

Greyson's ears twitched once again, and he looked away from the casket. Would things have been different if Anthea did ask Viktor? Would he still be alive if they just asked him? Or would he have tried to hide it more?

A sigh left his lips. It was a shame that he would never know the answer.

"You know," Anthea said, making Greyson turn to her again. "I'm glad that you decided to leave the DUO. It's not a job for twelve-year-olds like you."

"It's weird, but I'm glad that I'm leaving it, too." He returned the smile and nodded. "I don't know what to do afterwards. Mom might make me continue school, but I still want to work. Maybe I'll work in a café so I'm near coffee everyday."

"That's good to hear."

"Doctor Anthea, Greyson."

Greyson lifted his head and turned to Ciel. Azul followed right behind him, his gaze on the ground while his hands were inside his suit's pockets. Ciel waved a hand at Greyson before standing in front of Anthea, while Azul stood near him.

It was strange seeing them like this. Not just because they were still clearly grieving that a friend was gone. But for the past five years of his life, Greyson saw them as his coworkers. Sure, they were years older than him, but they were still his coworkers. They were people he worked alongside with, investigated with, and sometimes fought alongside with. He might be younger, but in a sense they were equals.

This was the first time he could remember not seeing them as his coworkers.

"Where did your mother go this time?" Azul asked as he looked around.

"She's probably just... trying to assess things together."

Greyson bit his inner cheek, then his tongue. That wasn't a lie, but at the same time he wasn't sure what to say, either. He wasn't exactly sure why his mother didn't like funerals, and he never thought of asking her why. She never mentioned why, and the thought of asking never crossed his mind.

"The one time we all get a break together," Azul continued, "and our superior isn't with us, our strategist is off probably committing crimes, and our kid's not part of the squad anymore."

"Technically speaking, you're the superior now," Anthea replied with a chuckle. "I guess that means Lucinda and I are going to be fighting for second-in-command."

"God, don't remind me." He scoffed and brushed his hair back. Then, a sigh left his lips. "Once I die, I'm going to punch that shithead in the face for leaving me alone. Then maybe throw him in hell."

Ciel chuckled. "What makes you think you're not dragging him to hell with you—ow!"

Azul lightly smacked Ciel by his nape, then crossed his arms. "Because I'm a good brother and the Guardian has given me my place in the afterlife. Now shut up. I don't want to fight for my place again."

The sound of footsteps reached Greyson's ears. He turned to the source of the voice, and he felt his ears perk up at the sight of his mother. Greyson stood taller and headed towards her, making her place a hand on his head.

"Finally," Azul said with a sigh. "I  was wondering where you went off to."

"It's nothing important," she replied as she shook her head. "I must apologize, but Greyson and I will be going now. We have somewhere to be."

"Understandable." He grabbed his phone from his pocket and flipped it open. "Ciel and I have to go, too. There's someone we have to meet after this, and we're already running late."

Ciel furrowed his brows. "We are?"

"Yes, Shee, we are. Anyway, we have to go. See you in a few days, Doc, Lucinda." Then, Azul turned his gaze to Greyson. A smile managed to form on his face, and he ruffled Greyson's hair. "Enjoy your freedom, kid."

Greyson chuckled at the gesture, and he felt his ears flipping up and down. "I will."

Ciel waved a hand. "See you, Grey."

Greyson waved a hand as well. Then, he turned to Anthea. "Well, see you, Doctor Anthea."

Anthea smiled. "Don't look so down. We'll still see each other in the apartments. Now go and have fun, I'll wait for Sedah to come back."

With a nod, Greyson grabbed onto his mother's hand and followed her. The two of them were silent when they walked, with only their footsteps being the only noise that followed. Even the winds were quiet, and it spooked him a little. Maybe this was why she never liked funerals. It wasn't the funeral itself, but more on the fact that she was in the cemetery.

"Greyson."

Greyson lifted his head as he turned to her. "Hmm?"

"Are you sad that it's just the two of us at home all the time?"

Greyson's ears flopped down, and he shook his head. "N- Not really. What about you?"

"I'm not either," she replied as she crossed his arms. "But I feel like you missed a lot of things with just us being there, you know? I thought I could make it up to you by making you work in the DUO with me, but instead, you missed your childhood. I'm sorry about that."

His hold on her hand tightened, and he shook his head. "It's- it's fine, Mom, really. I know you did what you can. And I appreciate you for that."

As soon as they were out of the cemetery, Greyson's eyes widened, and he stopped in his tracks. Instinctively, he reached for his waist, but his heart dropped in his chest when he couldn't feel a gun near him. The thought of even reaching for his gun made him shake his head, and he mentally slapped himself.

There was no need for a gun. It was just Deimos entering his car.

As soon as Deimos opened his car, he lifted his head and froze. His eyes widened as well, and his hands dropped from the door. "I... I didn't expect to be seeing you two here."

"Neither did I," Greyson's mother replied. "I thought you would have left by now."

Deimos's silver eyes flicked to him, making Greyson step back and hide behind his mother once again. He felt his mother's hand on the back of his head, and a soft laugh left her lips. "Don't be afraid, he won't hurt you."

Somehow, Greyson doubted that.

"Do you two need a ride?" Deimos asked. "I have to be somewhere, but I can give you a lift if you need—"

"There's no need!" Greyson jumped up from his own tone, and he placed a hand over his face. "I- I mean, there's no need. We're fine, Mom and I can walk. Or take a taxi."

"O- Oh." Deimos scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat. "That's- of course. I understand."

"Yeah."

Silence passed between the two of them for a while, and Greyson wasn't sure how long it lingered. He didn't even know why he and his mother didn't move or why Deimos didn't get back in his car. Didn't he say that he had somewhere to be?

"Greyson..." Deimos cleared his throat. "Greyson, there's something I want to ask you. If that's alright, of course."

Greyson lowered his eyes. He was hesitant, but he replied, "S- Sure..."

He heard Deimos close the car again, followed by his footsteps as he walked towards him and Lucinda. Internally, he sighed in relief when Deimos knelt down to his height, though he still jumped up when Deimos placed a hand on his shoulder. Deimos must have noticed, as he immediately removed his hand.

"Greyson," he began. "I know that we didn't start on good terms. And I know that it's probably too late. You're already twelve, and I missed so much of your life already. But I was wondering... will you let me be a part of your life? Will you let me be an actual father for you?"

Greyson's ears flopped down, and he took a step backward. "Deimos," he began. "I'm... I'm going to be honest with you. You're not wrong when you said that I'm still scared. In- in fact, I don't think you apologized to me after throwing me in the control room."

Deimos blinked. Then, he sighed and lowered his head. "I... I don't think I did."

"I really want to give you a chance. I really do. It's just..." He looked down and wrapped his arms around himself. "I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen, and I'm- I'm really scared. I want to say yes, but..."

"I understand." Deimos nodded as he stood up. "It's not going to be easy for all of us. But please know. Whether it's two days or two years, I'll be waiting for you to open up and be comfortable. Alright?"

Greyson nodded back. 'Thank you for understanding."

"Of course. Do you two still need that ride?"

His mother shook her head. "I think we'll be fine walking for now."

"Alright. Take care, both of you."

"Take care as well."

Greyson waved a hand, and he watched as Deimos entered the car. While he and his mother kept walking, his ears picked up the sound of the car engine turning on, then driving away.

He turned around, casting one last glance at the cemetery behind him, before continuing walking. He would miss everyone in the Investigation Squad, and he had to admit he would also miss working in the DUO.

But he was at his crossroad. And for now, he was content with the path that he took.

And it is completed. At least, for now it's completed. It's still going to be edited, and the word count might be reduced. Since we're at the last chapter, I feel like we deserve a fun fact.

Fun fact: Originally, the last lines of the book was supposed to be in Viktor's POV back in Chapter 12. Just before he goes off to fight Zeus, he tells that to himself as a way to lift his spirits. But since I already said that he never had a choice in his life, it felt contradictory for him to say that. So I removed it, then decided to add it to the final chapter instead.

I have a lot more to say, but I'm going to leave it for the postface, which should be in the next chapter. I'll see you all there :D