The night air was still, cool against the skin, the faint chorus of violins drifting faintly from the grand hall behind them. The gardens outside the building were bathed in silver from the semi-moon, its pale glow painting the marble columns and manicured hedges in soft light. At the edge of the secluded terrace, a tall figure stood unmoving.. his hands buried in the pockets of his trousers, his silver hair catching the moon's glow like strands of liquid starlight. His presence alone was enough to bend the silence around him.

Penelope's heels clicked lightly along the stone corridor, her long gown trailing gracefully as she strode into view. Her lips curled into a half-smile, her eyes glinting with that familiar mixture of amusement and defiance.

"I didn't expect you to show up," she said, her tone light and teasing as though she were greeting an old friend at a casual dinner rather than one of the most formidable men alive.

The man did not move at first. His gaze remained fixed on the half-moon above, expression solemn. His voice, when it came, was low and deliberate, each word carrying weight.

"I didn't want to at first..." His words hung in the air before drifting off, as if carried by the wind. "...But what kind of father would that make me?"

Penelope let out a short scoff, folding her arms with that fiery defiance only she could pull off. "The kind I'd wanna punch in the face."

That earned a chuckle from him... a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the air around them. Slowly, he turned his head to face her, his amber eyes glinting with both sternness and fondness.

"I see you're still... mirthful as always, Penelope." he said.

She shrugged, her smile tinged with weariness. "Being jovial is the only way I can deal with the cons of being a single parent."

The man's lips quirked faintly, though his gaze softened, thoughtful. "Yes, there are cons to it. And sometimes, it can be... frustrating. But it gets easier every day, doesn't it?" His voice lowered, touched with something almost tender.

Penelope's expression softened for a moment, her eyes studying his profile against the moonlight. "I guess it does," she murmured. She opened her mouth as if to say more, but before she could, he cut across her.

"I know what you're really here for, Penelope." he said.

Penelope exhaled. Her lips pressed together, her playful façade slipping away. Her voice was firm now, all levity gone. "Well, in that case, let's cut to the chase. Tell me what I want to know so we can both get back to the party." she demanded.

The man smiled. He chuckled softly, turning back to the moon as though it were the only thing in the universe worthy of his gaze. "And what exactly is it you want to know? Is it the When or Where? Who or Whom? What or How?" he asked, his words holding a deep mystery behind them.

Penelope frowned. Her jaw tightened. "Don't act cryptic with me, Castor. I'm not in the mood for riddles." she said sharply.

The man.. Castor, remained calm, his face unreadable, but there was something ancient in his voice when he replied. "Neither am I. But you have to tell me what it is you wish to know. And if it's within my power to speak of it... I will. You have my word." he assured.

Penelope held his gaze, her eyes sharp as blades. "I only have one question, and it's the same one I've been asking you for a long time now..." Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "When do you plan on telling him?"

The weight of her words pulled the silence taut. Castor inhaled slowly, as though bracing himself. And though her question wasn't specific, he understood perfectly.

His expression, however, was unchanged. "My answer will always remain the same, Penelope. The boy will know all that he needs to know... when the time comes. It is not mine, nor your duty, to tell him anything yet." he muttered. The last sentence carrying a note of warning.

Penelope's eyes hardened, her fists clenching at her sides. "And why's that? Why can't we tell him now?" she asked.

Castor's chest rose and fell with a sharper breath. "Because that would be too soon. And I'm afraid if you tell him what he should not yet know... his journey will be altered. And his destiny might change." His amber eyes flickered with grim finality. "And if that happens... our realm will be lost forever."

Penelope wasn't satisfied. Her jaw trembled with anger, teeth clenched. "You've been saying that for years, Castor. And I'm sick of it. I'm sick of you telling us how to live our lives. I'm sick of you holding the truth hostage, sick of you sitting back while we stumble through the dark. You know things that could change everything, and yet, you do nothing. How could you be so cruel?" she expressed.

But Castor remained unfazed, he did not flinch. His voice was steady, quiet, yet sharp as steel. "I do not dictate how you live, Penelope. Nor did I claim to know everything. What I do know are the things that must happen to ensure the survival of the universe. That knowledge is a burden, not a gift." He finally turned to meet her eyes, his expression grave.

"But that doesn't mean I can change those things. Even if I tried, the same outcome would claw its way back to reality. The universe will always... restore balance." he added.

Penelope narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying even if you told him now, even if the truth came out, the same destiny would still play out?" she asked, her brows raised.

Castor's jaw tightened, his gaze briefly breaking away. "...Yes, if the boy is told the truth now, his journey might carry on as written." He exhaled, his voice heavier. "But there will be a disruption in balance. And you would not like the way the universe restores that balance."

Penelope exhaled sharply. Her defiance faltered. For once, she said nothing, torn between her anger and the truth she feared to accept.

Castor continued, his voice softer now, almost sorrowful. "Everything happens for a reason, Penelope. Every life lost, every strength gained... it is part of a greater order. An order woven by the universe herself to ensure survival. If that order is disrupted... we invite the wrath of Chaos."

The name hung like a curse between them.

Penelope exhaled sharply, her eyes darkening with memory. "Chaos, huh. As if we don't have enough enemies already. Sometimes I wonder whose side she's on." she scoffed.

"Chaos has no side," Castor replied firmly, his gaze unshakable. "She is neither ally nor enemy. She exists only to preserve the balance. And when that balance is threatened... she intervenes in ways none of us can predict. In ways that leave scars across the whole of existence."

Penelope's eyes grew distant, heavy with a nostalgic ache. "Yeah... like the Schism."

Castor finally turned, his gaze piercing. "So you see why everything must remain in order. Because without order, there is only Chaos." he said.

Penelope shook her head, tears threatening to form though her voice remained steady. "I get it, but... it isn't fair to him. He wakes up every day believing he has no family, when in truth they're alive... and some right here, in this very party."

Castor sighed, his shoulders weighted. "I will reveal myself to the boy when the time is right. For now... he has found a new purpose. I will not strip that from him." he said.

Then his lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk. "And from what I've observed... he seems to be doing quite well with his new family and... beloved ones like yourself."

Penelope turned away sharply, her cheeks betraying a faint blush. "You cannot tell anyone. Not yet."

Castor chuckled softly. "My lips are sealed." he muttered.

Penelope exhaled, somewhere between relief and unease. "...What about his sister?"

"The girl is alive. And well," Castor said. "But she walks her own path now. Neither I nor the EVA can control her anymore."

"That's... good." Penelope muttered, though her tone carried both relief and worry. "Do you think they'll ever meet?"

"If fate wills it," Castor murmured, "Then yes. And something tells me... it will be sooner than you expect."