Heitr Alexandros, the Domain Observer. A man feared by nations. A man whose mere presence made enemies yield before blades could ever cross.
And yet, here he stood, awkwardly clearing his throat as he approached his eldest daughter.
"Luna," he said, almost hesitant, "would you… accompany me on an outing today?"
Luna blinked. Then blinked again.
"An outing? With you, Father?"
She reached instinctively for her sword. "...are we going to a battlefield?"
Heitr froze, stunned that her first assumption was war.
"No, Luna. No weapons today." Then, with visible effort, he forced a smile.
"Today is…a father–daughter day."
Luna stared for a full minute, utterly unable to process the idea.
"Go get dressed for a proper outing," Heitr added, "we leave in an hour."
Exactly one hour later, Heitr stood before the Alexandros estate, checking his clothes for the tenth time.
"Oh gods… I hope I look alright," he muttered. "This is so out of character for me…"
"Father!"
He looked up, breath catching.
Luna approached gracefully, her silver hair gleaming under the sun, earrings glittering like stardust. Her black dress contrasted perfectly with her golden eyes.
"So?" she asked, twirling once. "How do I look?"
"…Amazing." Heitr said without hesitation.
He cleared his throat. "Let's go. The carriage is ready."
For hours they explored the bustling heart of Dunnar.
They admired towering spires, tried street foods from every stall, even donated to the poor who approached them timidly, too shocked that the Heitr Alexandros was handing them bread and coin with a humble nod.
Laughter gradually replaced the earlier awkwardness.
For the first time in years…they felt like father and daughter.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the carriage rumbled homeward, Heitr finally spoke.
"Luna…there are things I wish to understand. About you. About your siblings."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean, Father?"
He looked down at his hands.
"Just that I…failed you all."
Her breath caught.
"I barely know what you like. What frustrates you. What pains you." His voice softened. "All I truly know are your Numa and Resonance types."
"Father…" Luna whispered.
"That," Heitr cut in sharply, "proves my point. You call me 'Father.' Never 'Dad.'"
She pursed her lips, guilt flickering in her eyes.
"Fa–Dad…I'm sorry. I didn't realize you felt this way."
He swallowed hard.
"I've been a poor father. And a worse husband. Your mother was my first wife… and I still married again and again until I had nine in total." His voice cracked. "I love them all. I love all of you. But I know what the world thinks of a man like me."
Tears welled in his eyes, something Luna had never seen.
"I know it's shameful. But it's the truth…"
He finally broke.
Luna immediately reached across the seat and held his hand tightly.
"Dad…you're not a failure." Her voice was steady, unwavering. "You push us to grow. You protect us even when we're wrong. You've never turned your back on a single one of us."
She dabbed his tears gently with a handkerchief.
"You're the strongest man I know. And my dad."
For a moment, Heitr could only stare at her, lost, vulnerable, human.
"Master Heitr, Lady Luna," the coachman called from outside, "we've arrived at the estate."
The carriage halted. Luna stepped out first, then looked back with a warm smile, not at her patriarch, but at her dad.
Heitr Alexandros, rumored to rival gods, feared across the continent…had just revealed a side no one else had ever witnessed.
His power was immense, but today proved something even greater, the strongest man in the world was still human.