***The World***

***Angrod***

What do smart mortals do when they are confronted with a perverted god-like entity?

They freak out and run for the hills!

And that’s exactly what my parents decided to do after Seria’s departure, once the shock had worn off and their brains started working.

My progenitors didn’t speak. Ireth bent down to pick me up, carrying me like some pirate abducting an unwilling female, much to the protest of the priestess who had more than a few questions. Nicol deflected the woman’s questions with an authoritative ‘No comment!’.

Then we beat a hasty retreat, Nicol and Ireth sharing a silent understanding on what had to be done.

Followed by Rose, we rush out of the temple while the bodyguards run interference on the few witnesses. Dashing out of the temple, we quickly enter the car and Ireth dumps me into the seat, sitting down next to me. Nicol sits down on my other side, while Rose starts the mana engine. And off we go with screeching tires!

Being pressed into the seat, I marvel at the car’s power. Given this world’s state of technology, I didn’t expect the acceleration.

“What the fuck was that!?” Ireth half shouts once the door is closed.

“A god?” I reply with a questioning tone, trying hard to keep down my breakfast. Oh, I forgot, I didn’t get any over this whole ceremony business. Then I realize that I slipped into my adult, sarcastic persona, so I try to counteract my slip up with childish innocence. “Aren’t they supposed to be all shiny and lightly dressed? You said that she could show up.”

“That was a joke!” Ireth snaps. “What do we do now, Nicol? There is no way that we can keep this under the lid. There were just too many people in the vicinity and I doubt that they would shut up about the Goddess showing up! I mean, there are reports that Seria showed herself in physical form, the last reported appearance was three hundred years ago!”

Dad raises his hands to calm Mom down. “There is nothing we can do about it at the moment. I am sure that our people are doing everything that’s possible to mitigate the damage…”

After a moment of thoughtful silence he adds, “Aside from silencing them.”

Eyes widening, I look up to him. Eventually, I have to remedy my opinion of him. So far, I know him only as the foolish, slightly irresponsible rollercoaster-dad. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that he has a dark side. An iron rule I learned long ago is that everyone who has power also has one or two secret coffins in his cellar.

“Mitigating the damage won’t do us any good. I was confident that we would be able to shut up a priestess and a few nobles regarding the ceremony. But once the word gets out about the Goddess showing up, people will request details. It’s only a question of time until word gets out that we were in the temple. Anyone with a brain and the pieces to the puzzle will figure out that we have a secret heir to the throne.” Ireth pulls a face. “The patriot faction will freak out once they realize that the royal bloodline is unbroken.”

“Leave those warmongers to me.” Nicol turns his attention to me and I shrink back into the seat, looking down at my dangling feet. Intellectually, I know that I shouldn’t be intimidated, but there is something about Nicol’s gaze that sends goosebumps down my spine.

“I think that there is something you have to tell us?”

“I do?” I look towards mother, hoping that I might be able to play the two of them against each other, but something in her eyes tells me that it is only wishful thinking of mine.

Ireth snorts and holds out the metal plate with my name on it. “Don’t take us for fools, young man.”

Damn! I didn’t even notice when she swiped that damned thing! I bet those inscriptions will haunt me for the rest of this life.

“The ways of the gods are unfathomable,” I mumble, hoping to sound mysterious. “How should the ‘little me’ know the thoughts of the most powerful of all nippleflashers.”

Ireth raises a finger. “Don’t talk like that about the Goddess!”

Ignoring Mom, I search for Dad’s assistance. “But I am right. You saw it too, Dad. She didn’t even have underwear.”

Ireth gasps and Nicol just presses his lips together. “It’s not within our ken to judge the ways of the gods, even if we are the rulers of this land. I suggest you quickly forget what you’ve seen today.”

“Nicol! Angrod knows something!” Ireth protests.

My father just shakes his head and closes his eyes. Then he massages the bridge of his nose with both index fingers. “I believe in Angrod. We haven’t raised him to be stupid, at least I hope so. If he knows something that could help us, he would share the information.”

I nod towards my father, feeling suddenly a lot more respect for Nicol. It isn’t often that you meet someone who is willing to extend unquestioned trust towards another person, even if it’s a family member.

“That being said,” he continues. “The situation has clearly changed, leaving us no other choice but to accelerate our timetable.”

Why can’t I shake the feeling that an accelerated timetable sounds ominous?

“We have to contact the rulers of Stricc and ask them to go along with our plans. Ireth, I’ll leave that to you. On the same account, I’ll use all our assets to strike out as hard as possible against the patriot faction. Everyone who we have hard evidence against goes into the bonfire. Nicosar didn’t waste the last five years hunting down those bastards. Even if we won’t get all of them, it might as well buy us the time we need until Angrod is old enough.”

Again this patriot faction. “What’s going on?”

As far as I know, the patriot faction is a group of people within the house of nobles. They are actively supporting the idea of restarting the war with Stricc, even after my parents bent over backwards to stop the conflict. Nicol is always complaining about the Patriots causing trouble.

Ireth pats the top of my head, smirking. “Don’t worry that young head of yours. If you are unwilling to explain this tablet, you also shouldn’t worry about what the adults are planning.”

I purse my lips, thoughts racing. “If it’s about that foolish prophecy, then don’t worry. Haven’t you read Sage Plio’s scientific paper on divination and time travel? Such things are per definition not to be trusted.”

Nicol chuckles. “We know. But that doesn’t change the fact that Ireth and I have been working towards a permanent peace for a decade. With you, it’s finally within reach. We were planning for you to marry the first princess of Stricc since you were born. That’s why we hid you from the public eye for as long as possible. Preferably, we would have continued to do so until we are ready to announce our alliance with Stricc.”

He shakes his head. “The Patriots have been dragging their feet because it looked like the royal line would end with me. With my death, they could have forced Ireth to take another husband, or taken over as soon as our power base was sufficiently weakened. By hiding you, we forced them to focus their attention on manipulating me. But once the nobles find out that there is no chance for any of them to take the throne legally, they will do anything to kill us.”

Ireth continues. “If we honour our treaty with Stricc and reunite the two bloodlines, both Tirna and Stricc would be under one political power. It’s why both the Striccs and our family have hidden the fact that we have two kids of fitting age, both first in line to the throne of their countries. This alliance won’t only offend anyone who is in favour of war, it will also alienate those who were hoping to eventually match their kids with a prince or a princess.”

“Stricc also has its issues with people who would rather have total war than being ruled by what they think of as the enemy.” Nicol sighs. “We have to move quickly and make this whole affair public before the vultures gather. I think I can sell this with Nicosar’s help if we present the nobility with a done deal.”

I think my jaw dropped halfway through the conversation. What’s this madness supposed to mean? Arranged marriage?

“No.” I shake my head. “I am too young to marry!”

“Of course you are, silly!” Ireth runs her fingers through my hair. “We will just draft up the contract and then you'll have all the time you need to get to know her. Given today’s prophecy, I am sure that there is a way to make things work out.”

Did you listen to me? “I am not going to marry the princess of Stricc!”

Ireth turns her head, looking down me. “What was that?”

“I-”

Nicol clears his throat.

I look at him.

“Son, I know that I didn’t have the opportunity to teach you, but there is a time for everything. A good ruler knows when to argue.”

I blink. “I don’t understand.”

“Let’s think this through.” He scratches his chin. “You are about to oppose your mother in something with which she won’t budge a millimetre.”

Furrowing my forehead, I nod. Where is he going with this?

“This is an enclosed space, and you are sitting right next to her.” He looks around. “You always should have an escape route.”

I nod again.

“So there is no way to run once negotiations don’t go your way.” He closes his eyes and nods gravely. “Negotiations won’t go your way.”

I look back to Ireth who is just smiling at me. There is no doubt that they are playing ‘good cop, bad cop’ with me. At the same time, it’s undeniable that he has a point. My current position is undefendable and I have no ace up my sleeve. Playing the petulant child will get me nothing. First, I have to find a bargaining chip if I want out of this deal.

“I need time to think about it,” I answer diplomatically.

“Do that,” Ireth replies sweetly.

۞۞۞

Things calmed down after the temple incident and for a short while everything was good. Life almost felt like the old days when I was sequestered away with my mother and Rose, reading books and playing magical games all day long.

Looking back, I might’ve had a serious case of denial. Instead of planning my escape and living on my own, I lazily wasted time inside my comfort zone, waiting for the slaughterer to come. The years of being taken care of by a maid and a motherly figure had made me soft before I knew what was happening.

Another problem was that the whole affair would have taken more time than I had available. There was also the little fact that I was kind of anxious about the dissidents and whether Dad would manage to pull off his coup against the enemies of his rule.

My parents also didn’t exactly bother with keeping me in the loop regarding hidden operations and negotiations. While I had insight regarding the regular politics of the kingdom, Ireth never exactly took me to secret meetings with the high and mighty.

So it kind of came as a shock when, one day, my parents suddenly packed our seven things and boarded a private plane to Midhold, a major city at the foot of Heaven’s Peak. It happened to be located right at the border between Tirna and Stricc.

During the war, it was practically ground to dust, conquered by one side, then by the other, until there was nothing left to fight for except the strategic location. After the war, it was rebuilt bigger and better than ever. The plan is for it to become the central trade point for the continent. Over the last few years, both countries had channelled enormous resources into the city and the surrounding countryside.

Trying to profit from the policy of their leadership, nobility from both sides had taken holdings in Midhold, assuming that both Tirna and Stricc wished to control the place as it always was a strategically important location. Due to this, the city of Midhold had experienced an economic boom like few cities in the region.

Nobody truly understood that the ruling families of both Tirna and Stricc were building up Midhold as a future capital city for both nations.

Right after our arrival Ireth and Nicol ran off to have negotiations with the rulers of Stricc. They wanted everything to be perfect when they introduced me to the princess.

That left me in Rose’s competent care, joined by a heap of bodyguards.

“To say the least, I am more than a little surprised that my parents allowed us to go just like that,” I mumble as Rose helps me out of the car. The wind blows her brown mane into her face and she uses one hand to tug the strands behind a pointy earlobe.

“Ireth wants you to get outside once in a while. She is afraid that you might become disconnected from society. That’s also why you will be going to a private school here in Midhold – once everything is ready. The rulers of both countries are setting everything up so that youths from both sides can learn and work together. The point is to learn seeing past the cultural differences.”

She takes me by the hand, guiding me towards the zoo’s entrance while the bodyguards form a circle around us. “First, we have to assure that the property can be defended against a terrorist attack. This is also a completely new city, so there is quite some work to do regarding dissidents. We have to figure out their networks before they can use their advantage and hurt us.”

“That sounds like an excursion to the local zoo is a really bad idea,” I comment while we leave the car park and enter Midhold’s famous zoo through the main entrance.

“You are partly correct.” Rose nods and smiles at the elderly cashier as we pass. “This is actually an operation to make things a little easier in the future, but I wouldn’t complain if nothing happened. I am not getting paid enough to be right in the middle of it.”

It takes me a few precious seconds to digest Rose’s words. “You mean that we are being used as bait to draw out the enemy!?”

“In a sense. If they are reckless, they will try something. But don’t worry. Ireth and Nicol have seen to it that we have more than enough backup, should we need it.”

She looks down at me. “What surprises me more is that you seem completely fine with it.”

“With what?” I ask, not getting her meaning.

“With the fact that they are negotiating for a future wife for you. Arranged marriages aren’t unheard of among the aristocracy, but nowadays the practice is pretty much outdated,” she explains calmly, guiding me by the hand towards a fenced area.

“Hah!” I snort. “You know, at first I was pretty miffed, but the more I think about it, the more I hope to turn this into an advantage.”

“How so?” She raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Well, I was pretty worried about being forced into a marriage with someone who I dislike, but this princess will be a little girl.” I shrug. “So I thought that it shouldn’t be a problem for someone with my intellect to ‘educate’ her. Who knows, I might even be able to turn her into a decent wife. Have you seen the pictures of Stricc’s queen? She is a looker. If her daughter inherited even half her mother’s looks, then I am pretty much set once I take care of her personality.”

Rose purses her lips. “You are aware that no normal person your age would have such thoughts, right? Not to mention, what you just said is creepy.”

Right! I think I got a little too comfortable for a moment. “Let’s just say that it’ll be years before anyone can truly talk about this marriage. Maybe there will be unquestioned peace by then, so we can sweep the whole matter under a carpet and forget about it.” And if not, there is still the little fact that I’ll have a lot more options once this body has matured.

“I am sorry for being bad at adjusting to your peculiarities, my prince. I know that the Goddess’ appearance must mean that you are special and important. The whole thing really shook me up and I am not entirely certain how I should act around you,” Rose apologizes. “You realize that talking to you isn’t anything like talking to a child?”

“It’s not?” I ask.

“No, your mind is just too mature for your age. You are also able to concentrate far longer on something than any of your peers.” She presses her lips together. “You slip up from time to time, and I think you are far from knowing everything, but it’s pretty clear that, given what the goddess said, you are an adult soul inside the body of a child.”

I decide not to comment on that observation. Rose isn’t stupid and she is around me at least as much as my mother. “Its fine, just treat me like you would any other person.” That would be the least awkward way of dealing with the situation.

“Oooh? Then let me ask for an explanation of the “fallen God” title on your graduation plate? Which God were you before? And why did you fall? I never really believed in gods before that incident with Seria herself.” Rose sends me a sharp look.

“Ahaha! I am no god, no idea what you are talking about. The Goddess must have made a mistake there.” My smile freezes again. I had this stupid conversation already several times with mother and father. There is no way that I would explain the multiverse and reincarnation to them. Even if they knew, what would they do?

If a deity from the Council shows up we would all be crushed within an instant.

“You are a bad liar. Don't smile while telling lies, Angrod. You can be seen right through when you do that.” She mumbles something to herself, unhappy at not having her curiosity satiated.

“Being the prince of this country is obviously a great punishment from the standpoint of a god. I will make sure to observe your actions very carefully from now on. If you are unwilling to share details with me, that’s fine, but don’t come back later and expect me to put my hand into hot water for you. I have my own suspicions about your former self, and I think your torment hasn't begun yet.” Rose has a devilish look on her face, her red lips curling upwards.

“Rose, you are frightening me! If I were a normal child, I would cry just from seeing that face of yours!”

Though, she has a point. She is thinking without a doubt that I am one of the figures who was fighting in that scene of the apocalyptic war. After the incident, I researched the matter, but there wasn’t much aside from religious hocus pocus that’s not even close to the truth. Something that really irks me is the war scene on that window and how this world came to be.

Did Seria rebuild the old world? Somehow, I can’t believe that. The effort must have been enormous… and the continents are all wrong. There are also two completely new moons in the sky, and apart from the blue sun, there are no other stars visible in the night sky.

A mystery.

“Anyway. Look at that monster.” Rose distracts me by pointing at the creature on the other side of the fence.

Wahaha! What’s this? They have a Hippogriffin here! The horrifying creature is a mixture between a hippo and an eagle. I take a look at an explanatory sign.

Hippogriffin:

The Hippogriffin may look funny, but it's an efficient hunter. While it isn't very fast on all fours, it can fly and is very robust.

The Hippogriffin hunts by flying as high as possible while searching for proper prey. As soon as it has found something appropriate, it takes careful aim and lets itself fall, smashing the prey from above with its whole bodyweight.

Being caught unprepared to evade, there isn't much chance of putting up any resistance. Whole parties of adventurers were reported to fall prey to a single Hippogriffin. If travelling by foot in Hippogriffin territory, it is advised to always have someone watch the skies.

…

“Okay!? That's one nasty method of hunting.” I study the creature, wary of an attack. The thing has to weigh at least five tons. “Shouldn’t there be some sturdy metal above its enclosure to prevent the monster from flying?”

“Oh, no worries.” Rose waves a hand. “Its wings are clipped, otherwise it would be way too dangerous to keep such a creature in a densely populated city. What do you think, my prince? It's a cool animal, right!”

“Ahem, yeah.” I am honestly not sure what I think about that. It might be a dangerous predator, but clipping its wings also isn’t nice.

The Hippogriffin turns towards us, sizing up Rose through the fence, then looking at me with hungry eyes. As if I was just the right size for an afternoon snack.

Actually… forget what I said. Clip the wings and cut its tendons! “Can we continue? I don’t like the way it’s looking at me.”

Rose laughs and we continue the tour, slowly exploring every part of the zoo.

The creatures get stranger and stranger with every specimen. I was already acutely aware of the strange bugs and plants in the palace garden, but most of these things are chimeras in the truest sense of the word. This world is crazy!

“Let's go for the next one.” Losing interest in some sort of zebra, I point towards a circular pen that was lowered into the ground, feeling strangely excited. At some point, Rose fetched a map of the area, and we are about to get to the felines. I always liked cats.

At the next stop, about five meters below us, there is just a lot of sand in the pen. There seems to be nothing inside.

Having the wind taken out of my sails, I study signboard. Maybe the cats are being fed and we can come back later.

Razorclaw:

A dangerous predator of the east. Relying on its shape-shifting abilities for camouflage, it lies in wait and attacks everything that moves, as soon as the prey is close enough.

Its natural habitat is the sandy dunes of Southern Hemalise, where it often hides beneath the sand or between rocks.

Hemalise Mages often try to bond with a Razorclaw, as it brings much prestige to their family if the mage in question manages to achieve the feat on his own. The high magical resistance of a Razorclaw makes it extremely dangerous towards anyone who attacks a family member. Unfortunately, bonding with a Razorclaw takes time, and having two hundred kilograms of angry Razorclaw right in your face isn’t an experience many survive.

…

“Fireball!” “Windblade!”

I felt the spells a split second before their casters could shout out the incantations. Just by reflex, I put up a barrier.

“Area Shield!”

*BOOM!*

There is an explosion as the unexpected attack hits my weak barrier and breaks it effortlessly! But it was enough. Instead of the spells exploding right among us and our ten bodyguards, they are set off early. Still, two of our men are engulfed by fire and a third is cut down by the Windblade as the shock wave sends people flying.

The world is spinning as I am thrown backwards by the gust of hot air! Given my immaturity, my hasty barrier couldn't stop both spells.

“Iron Skin!”

Switching tactics, I rely on what I know of internal magic and channel everything I have into the outer layers of my body. I am far from being an expert, but even I learned the basics of using Ki.

I hit the ground with my head and tumble, remembering too late that I should have curled up into a fetal position. Luckily, my landing area is softer than expected!

Checking whether I still have all my appendages, I sit up and search my surroundings for the attackers.

Hmmm... this is sand between my hands? And the walls… was I blown into the Razorclaw pen!?

I shudder, as something breathes hotly down my neck.

“Fuck!”

Slowly, I turn around.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuckedi Fuck!

I am so dead.

“Ahem, those are really big teeth and sharp claws.” Maybe complimenting the thing that rises out of the sand behind me is a possible way for coexistence?

The creature shakes off the sand, revealing a ridge of sharp spines along its neck, much like a porcupine. Which idiot labelled those things as felines!? Even the fur seems to consist of countless little needles. The Razorclaw doesn't seem to consist of anything other than claws, teeth, and pointy spikes!

“Hi?” I wet my lips, ignoring the noise of fighting outside the pen. “You are a nice, big kitty. We can be friends, right?”

The Razorclaw seems to think differently and growls at me.

***The World***

***Rose***

Getting to my feet, I draw my daggers and plant myself between the Razorclaw pen and the rushing attacker. I should get Angrod out immediately, but if the attackers aren’t dealt with, I would just turn my back on one threat to face another.

If I haven’t already failed my duty.

How did these bastards manage to set up this ambush? I thought our mages were divining every possible angle of attack.

I am barely back on my feet when the first of the assassins reaches me. There are several of them rushing me and our bodyguards. Two veer off to intercept me, while the others run straight past towards where Angrod was pushed over the railing of the Razorclaw pen.

There are too many to stop them all, even the guards have their hands full.

“Everyone who doesn't need to hold down the guards, go for the prince!”, one of them screams.

“Bastards!” I scream and probe the defence of my opponents.

One of my opponents turns around and heads together with others for the pen with the Razorclaws.

“No!” Having only one enemy to hold me back, I rely on my bloodline trait, straining my muscles to come at him with supernatural speed.

Hacking at his face, I simultaneously bring up my knee to kick his groin.

No time for fairness!

Jerking away from the pain, he manages to slice my cheek with his dagger, but I ignore the surface wound.

As he folds, I drive my long, slightly curved dagger through his left ear and into his brain.

Pushing the cadaver to the side, I channel my mana into my other dagger and throw it into the back of the assassin who turned his back on me. I realize with a sour feeling in my gut that these people aren’t even properly combat trained, and that we were overwhelmed only thanks to their numbers.

Within the next second, I and four of our bodyguards are the only ones left standing.

“PRINCE!” I rush for the pen and take a look over the fence, fearing the worst.

Amidst the artificial dunes is a scene of carnage! Everywhere are bodyparts and blood – and I sink to my knees, searching for a child’s body.

Then I see the prince, sitting beside a Razorclaw which is gnawing on a dead assassin, pulling the guts out of the dead man’s belly, slurping them up like noodles.

A litter of baby-Razorclaws is bumbling around among the corpses, almost cute in a terrible kind of way as they try to get their own piece out of this feast. Only one of them, the smallest, doesn’t seem to have any interest in food. Instead, it decided to roll up into a little doughnut on the prince’s lap.

“Get me OUT! These things are fucking scary!” he screams with tears in his eyes and blood all over him.

I hold out my hand to stop him from doing something foolish, like running away. “D- Don't move! They only attack moving prey or anything that’s running away! We will get you out as soon as possible!” I shout. Oh by the goddess thank you, he is alive!

Maybe the Queen will not rip off my head today!

“I know! I read the fucking sign! That doesn't change the fact that I will have nightmares for weeks!”

***The World***

***Angrod***

I am back at the royal embassy where my parents set up quarters, and surprisingly enough, I am alive! By the River of Souls! I thought I was a goner when I looked down the throat of Mama Razorclaw!

But then all those brave assassins jumped down into the pit and distracted the thing with their bodies as they came at me. After they drew its attention, the big Razorclaw mowed them down like grass.

I will be sure to give them a memorial for saving me. They are true heroes! Had they just stayed outside the pen, I would have been so dead!

Trundling along the embassy’s hallway behind Rose, she suddenly stops and turns around, eyeing me warily. Or rather the thing in my hands.

Stretching out her hands, she gestures with her fingers. “Give.”

“No!” I press the kitten to my chest. “He is my familiar.”

“I won’t even ask how you got to learn a Familiar-Bond spell, but you can’t meet the rulers of Stricc like you are looking now. I’ll take care of your familiar and you quickly make yourself presentable. You can have it back afterwards.”

I caress the soft, white fur of the albino Razorclaw, hesitant to give him away. Or maybe her? I have to check before I choose a name.

Rose shudders. “How can you pet that thing if it could turn its fur into needles any second? The queen will hang me once she finds out what happened.”

I grunt, feeling bad for Rose. She is right that Ireth and Nicol will sever a few heads when they learn how badly their operation went. I doubt they would have set up my excursion if they believed that there was a real chance of me coming so close to dying.

“I am sorry, Rose” I hand her the little monster and run off to clean myself and put on new clothes.

When I return barely five minutes later, Rose is already playing with my familiar, offering it a finger to play with.

I want to comment on her awfully quick change of opinion, but she immediately compliments me on my speed and ushers me onwards towards the embassy’s living room where we greet my parents.

Ireth gives Rose a deadly glare, apparently having somehow heard of the minor disaster.

At least she didn't see me in my previous state, covered with blood and guts. She would have freaked out.

Ireth gestures for us to stay put. “Wait here. We will go and get the Striccs. And a little present for you, Angrod.” She smiles at me.

So we wait.

“Do you know what they meant by ‘present’, Rose?” I ask.

“No... hic,” Rose answers with a miserable voice while petting my familiar. “I’ve seen that expression on her in the past. Ireth only looks like that when people are about to get fired!”

I pat her back. Mother can be really scary sometimes. Rose didn't get beheaded physically, but mentally she was chopped to pieces just by eye-contact.

“It will be okay. As soon as I get the opportunity, I will tell her the heroic story of how you saved me from those things!” I point at the kitten in Rose’s hands. Then I wince. “Okay. Maybe not that one. We will show her its mama.”

Aside from my parents, Rose is something like family to me, so I won’t let her hang over something that was planned by my parents in the first place. “If you get fired over something that Father made you do, it would be a dick move.”

Rose smiles at me, thankful for the pep talk.

Then the doors open and my parents enter the room, interrupting my moment with Rose. They are followed by the rulers of Stricc, who I already know from pictures and magetech recordings. I was also present when they greeted each other at the airport, but everything was just hush-hush, and I got led away by Rose and the other servants right away.

Arthur Stricc looks older than my father and leaner, but his face shows a confident expression. There is a little scar above his right eye, hinting that he isn’t above violence. Unlike my father, who has just two little stumps above his ears, a single horn is jutting out of Arthur’s forehead, showing his demonic bloodline.

Katrine Stricc looks very similar to my mother, just that her horns are blue instead of obsidian black. She is small, but incredibly beautiful, with a lean face and curves in all the right places. She also shares her hair-colour with her daughter.

A little redhead of a girl of about my age is with them, led by Katrine’s hand.

Ireth takes the lead regarding introductions. “Let me reintroduce you. This is my son, Angrod, the first Prince of Tirna. And these are the rulers of Stricc. Arthur Stricc and Katrine Stricc.” Mother pulls me in front of the girl so that we have to confront each other.

Halting in front of the girl, I narrow my eyes, stretching out my senses. That aura seems so familiar. I also know those eyes, but from where?

“And this is the First Princess of Stricc. Celes of Stricc, your fiancee!”

A heavy silence falls on the room as Celes and I lock eyes with each other, neither of us willing to back down or look away. Tilting my head, I study the strange absence of any mana around the girl. She could as well be a magical dud, but given everything I heard about our bloodlines, that’s practically impossible.

Unless… a master practitioner of internal magic would be able to pull in all his energy, conserving all of his power.

Then I remember.

“Myrm!” “Ascathon!”

We call out each other’s identities at the same time, only to have silence settle onto the room once again.

My eyes wander over Myrm as I try to make sense of the situation. Myrm, God of Order is now a little girl.

Opening my mouth, I point at him… her… but nothing intelligent comes to mind.

Then I crack and start laughing from my heart. “Bwahahah. HAHA, AHAHAHA!” I can't hold it anymore.

I stand there and laugh as I point at the princess who was dressed up in a pink princess-doll-dress.

Seria really pulled a stunt with this one.

“AAARRRRRGGH!!!” Myrm screams, her voice pure humiliation, as he/she? Tackles me with her whole body.

Both of us go to the ground with her on top.

Still laughing, I notice something shiny in her hand, as she raises the h… h… HAIRPIN!?

*STAB* *STAB* *STAB*

“OWWWW!” I howl in pain as both pairs of parents separate us. But not before I got a fistful of Celes’s red hair ripped out.

“I will get you back for that!” I scream. “You are dead! You hear me! Dead!” Myrm did more damage in five seconds than twenty assassins which couldn't even scratch me!

Someone holds a hand in front of my mouth and I bite!

Then my mother howls, while a similar scene happens across from us with Arthur and Celes, only that she buried her hairpin in his thigh in her attempt to get to me.

“Enough!” Nicol bellows, giving me a slap strong enough to return me to my senses.

Ow! It hurts! I am bloody all over again, but this time it's my blood.

What a day!

Slowly, with both Celes and me subdued, the room returns to normal with Ireth nursing her hand and Arthur delicately pulling a hairpin out of his flesh, then studying the thing like it was a murder weapon.

“I think your torment has begun,” Rose whispers from her spot at the entrance, eyes wide after witnessing two toddlers laying down the carnage.