***Midhold, Royal Embassy***

***Angrod***

I zap the glass-orb on the pedestal next to my throne with another spark of lightning and listen to the sweet screams of over four dozen souls. Chuckling, I ready another spark of magic to ignite the improvised soul-trap which I used to imprison the crown's enemies.

It was a genius move of mine to trap the entire throne room with a large warding glyph, catching each and every poor soul who was unfortunate enough to die that day in the room.

The little motes of green light which represent the captured souls flare in frightful anticipation of sweet agony, but Celes catches my hand before I can unleash the magic.

“Just stop it. It has been three days. I think it's enough.”

“Aw, come on!” I gesture at the orb. “What do you care? You didn't say a word up until now.”

She sighs and takes the fist-sized orb, hiding it in one of her pockets. “I was willing to turn a blind eye while you were interrogating them. But since yesterday, you aren't even asking them questions. You are just using them to release your pent-up stress, zapping them for fun.”

“No, I don't. Do you want to imply that I am a sadist!?” I survey the room, searching for help from the rest of the gathered family. Their expressions tell the tale, making it clear that none of them believe me. As a last resort, I try to find at least some support in the eyes of the present guards, but they avoid my gaze.

Damned traitors! I thought that they would show at least a little worshipful zealousness after the battle for the throne! Didn't I demonstrate once and for all that challenging me will end very unfavourably for my enemies?

Celes rolls her eyes. “Just admit that you like hurting people.”

Seeing that I am on my own in this, I grudgingly admit defeat. “Maybe a little bit. If they deserve it.” I like it when they scream. And their expressions are just hilarious when they realize that they wagered not only their life but their very soul.

My mother takes the initiative. “Good. Hearing their screams every ten minutes got a little distracting. Can we get back to the topic at hand?”

“Right.” I clear my throat. It's our first big meeting after my coronation, and we have to decide how to proceed after everything that happened.

We learned quite a bit about what's going on inside the City of Light, and how the rebels got through our blockade.

The City of Light is located directly at Mount Seria. A long time ago, it started out as an old mining town with a long history of providing metal to the surrounding area. During those days, it grew to the height of its glory and its origins were forgotten when the ore-deposits became too hard to access to be profitable.

A little bit of research from our side could have prevented the whole fiasco that went down during my coronation.

Apparently, one of the old mining tunnels goes straight through the mountain, bypassing all of our military forces. It isn't large enough to transport a meaningful amount of people, but sufficient to smuggle out a few people here and there.

It goes without question that we immediately dealt with the problem. I even tasked one of our generals to explore the possibility of using the tunnel against our enemies. It would be too convenient to simply bypass their shield. Sadly, the tunnel is long and not very wide. Fighting our way through it is almost impossible if our enemies used just a little bit of their grey brain-matter. If I were them, I would have posted enough guards to protect the tunnel and rigged it with explosives. At the first sign of an invading force, I would collapse the whole thing.

“You have that expression again.” Ireth looks at me questioningly.

“Nothing.” I dismiss her concerns with a gesture. “I was just thinking about that tunnel. Alas, I see no easy way to use it against our enemies, nor am I willing to waste the lives of good men by sending soldiers in.”

The rest of the assembled family relaxes a little.

What did they think I would do? Send a platoon of elite warriors down that manhole for them to get buried under tons of rock?

Actually... I may have done it if I had thought that they have even the slightest chance of success.

It's too bad that Tongord's interrogation didn't reveal anything else that's useful to us.

By his account, the Meltheims used their forced isolation to create something like a miniature kingdom with them as the rulers and their followers as their faithful subjects. Our only consolation is that I got confirmation that they used up all their sacrifices. Which means that the summoning ritual will finish at a much slower rate than I predicted in my worst-case scenario.

It doesn't mean that we are safe, but it's at least a bit of a reassurance that not everything is lost. Even knowing that Seria is planning for Tjenemit to succeed, I might be able to stop him from entering the Void Zone at all.

Assuming that my dream was a real communication with Seria and not just a really convincing delusion.

“Anyway.” I make eye contact with my mother and my grandfather. “I would like to give you two governing rights in my absence. I have to oversee the project to break the shields which protect the City of Light. What we've learned is reassuring, but it doesn't mean that we are safe. Our enemies gambled some of their gathered power to attack the coronation, but it can't have been more than a drop in the bucket.”

I scratch the broken tip of my left horn. It broke during my fight with Markorn and it still itches. Thankfully, the healers think it will regrow because I have pure blood, but it will take a while without the use of a lot of magical power.

It would have been possible to regrow it quickly, but my organic enchantment wouldn't be able to keep up with this rate of regrowth and there is no easy way to speed it up. Given the power enhancement which it gives to the rest of my body, it would be like having a bone made out of glass, fragile compared to the rest.

There was no question in my mind that I would rather opt for the solution of natural healing, instead of a more or less cosmetic replacement that's prone to breaking.

My attention turns to my grandfather. Nicosar's broken horn didn't heal because he has mixed blood, but now that I think about it, how did it get broken in the first place? Couldn't Nicosar just have healed himself?

I also never realized it, but the horns must give my family some sort of additional sensory input. Now that I lost one, the world seems somehow duller, but maybe that's just an after-effect of my injuries.

“Don't do that. The healers said it wouldn't regrow correctly if you disturbed it!” Celes snatches my hand and pulls it away from the itching stump.

“Haaaah. You have no idea how annoying it is,” I complain.

“Just make that no-pain-thing of yours then.”

She is much too concerned about me. Not that I am opposed to having a pretty woman look out for my well-being. It's just that Celes doesn't strike me as the nurturing type.

“I don't want to do that.” I will probably have to explain why. “It works by cutting my nerves and healing them afterwards. It would be a pain in the ass if they healed on their own in the wrong way.” I may end up disabling myself. “The technique isn't a long term solution. I also know a form of meditation which kind of achieves the same effect, but it's more suited to combat because it allows the basic instincts to take over.”

“Then deal with it like an adult.” Celes huffs.

“In any case,” my mother interrupts our banter. “If you think that you need your time to concentrate on your project, then Father and I will do our best to rule in your stead.”

“I will prepare the paperwork,” Nicosar offers.

D... did I just imagine it, or did the guards just sigh in relief?

Arthur crosses his arms in front of his chest, looking a little stressed. “Though, your horn isn't why you called us all to remain here for an important discussion. I have to manage the other part of the continent, you know? There aren't any fewer idiots there. So if it's nothing important, I would like to do some real work.”

“Oh, sorry. Guards!? Please leave the hall and make sure that nobody is listening in on us.” Waving a hand, I gesture for them to leave in order to give us some privacy. There are things that shouldn't be public knowledge.

Once they are gone, I continue, “I just wanted to inform you about the end of the world.” I nod and smile, while everyone looks at me with shocked faces.

“From the beginning, please?” Nicosar massages his temple, looking like he is developing a headache.

“When I was unconscious, Seria paid me a visit. She told me that she has a little rebellion going against the Council. You remember, the rulers of the multiverse?” I massage my chin, trying to figure out where to start.

“Because of certain circumstances, they can't visit this world easily. It lies within a Void Zone. That's a part of the multiverse where even gods can't leave and enter as they please. It seems that Tjenemit, one of the Council members, managed to get information to this world about a summoning circle for him.

“The stupid Meltheims found it and believed the promises that came with it. Seria is unable to come here in person because using a pathway would give Tjenemit immediate access. She sounded like she is preparing to fight him on this world as soon as he is summoned.

“In a way, her plan is brilliant. There is a good chance for her to catch a Council-member on his own and without the hope of reinforcements from the others. It would be the first time in living memory since the Great War for one of them to fall.” I take a deep breath.

“But... but... That will be Armageddon all over again!” Celes screams at me.

“Can you explain why Seria should want to rebel against this Council? I still don't get the gods' politics.” Arthur asks with a pale face, so Celes and I take turns to explain the real issue of existence and reincarnation in as few words as possible to avoid confusing the mortals.

“So the Council dictates what every god is allowed to do? And they punished you, because you killed each other?” Katrine asks with a surprised look. “It wasn't about wiping out a whole world, but about their authority?”

Both Celes and I nod.

Seeing her mortified expression, I feel the need to clarify our reason for destroying the world back then. “But you see, we were stuck with each other for over a thousand years. The Council's assignment practically forced us to butt heads with each other. If we had been allowed to abandon our jobs, either of us could have just left and gone to live in some other part of the multiverse. The Council is largely at fault for our fight. I myself would have never meddled with mortals if they hadn't forced me to play god. Forgive me, but my perspective back then was akin to yours towards ants. You don't give a shit about ants, do you?”

My mother glares at me and I immediately know that I said something wrong, so I turn to Celes. “Please translate!”

She only rolls her eyes. “Don't worry. She has known you long enough to know that something went wrong up there and that you don't mean it as it sounds.” She points at her head.

Now, that's just insulting. I may be the smartest person on this planet.

“To think that being a god is so problematic. One would think that people who are that powerful would be a little more reasonable.” Katrine shakes her head in dismay while playing nervously with a strand of hair.

“Well Seria will fight Tjenemit on this world and that will most likely cause serious destruction,” I sum it up.

“What scale are we talking about?” Arthur asks.

“When Angrod and I got personal, we wrecked a world. No point in hiding anywhere,” Celes grumbles. “Seria and Tjenemit are at least as strong as we were back then.”

“I can't be certain, but I don't think that Seria would risk letting Tjenemit in if she thought that the destruction would be too outrageous. It would make the effort of creating this world pointless. Nonetheless, I still consider evacuating as much of the northern region as we can. And we should keep trying our best to stop Tjenemit from being summoned in the first place.”

“We should evacuate the north... just how many people are living there?” Ireth whispers to herself.

“It isn't too bad.” I shrug. Our enemies already did a great job at thinning out the population. Then there is the siege-zone around the City of Light and the little fact that not many of the rebellion's refugees settled back into their previous homes after the rebellion.

I am sure that it's a manageable affair.

“Maybe we can stop the summoning?” Katrine asks hopefully.

I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe, but Seria was pretty sure that I wouldn't manage it. According to my latest estimation, we still have a few years to put our stuff in order.” I straighten my suit.

“How long exactly?” Ireth asks.

“At least three years if I interpret the newest readings correctly. In five years the summoning should be done for sure. It's hard to tell without any data directly from the source.”

“So we will have three to five years. At least that's enough time to prepare,” Arthur talks to himself.

“I will have my project finished in three years,” I inform them. “It will be a close call, but in three years we will have a weapon which is able to break the shield. It would be nice if you could plan an offensive assault for that time, Arthur.”

“Hoh, breaking the shield? Would you explain how?” Nicosar chuckles nervously, knowing very well that I am prone to drastic solutions.

“I would rather not risk revealing anything outside my innermost sanctum. I have it sealed up inside my facility and all my employees took a magical oath to keep the secret. It's not that I don't trust you, but it's better if everything is uncovered at the last moment, lest there might be a chance for our enemies to take countermeasures. The Meltheims have already proven that they are capable of setting up disturbances for us and their city-shield and this empowering technique show that they aren't entirely without imagination.” I jump out of my throne.

“If you want to make it a surprise that badly, then I hope it will be a really good surprise.” Arthur pats me on my shoulder, showing that he expects me to come up with a solution.

“Don't worry. I think it will be quite a show.” I grin at Arthur. “I will go now and read a good book, I have found a pretty smart author.”

“No, you can't! You need to come with me.” Celes suddenly grabs my arm and pulls me towards the exit.

“What, where are we going?” I ask.

“Surprise!”

Celes leads me outside the palace, where Rose is waiting with the car. The maid bows when we arrive and opens the door to the vehicle. “Get right in!”

We get in and Rose settles in the driver's seat.

I try to find out where we are going, but no matter how often I ask, she won't answer my questions until I finally decide to change the topic. “That reminds me... did you take care of the mess I made?”

Rose tenses up. “Which mess?”

“The undead uncle kind?” I clarify.

The maid sighs in relief. “Oh, no. Ghost did that.”

“Ghost?”

“Yeah.” Rose grumbles in disgust.

“Didn't you notice his new toy?” Celes asks. “It took us a while to take the rest away from him, but he simply refused to let go of that particular piece.”

I blink and purse my lips. “I honestly didn't see much of Ghost while I was recuperating. Could you mean that bone he is carrying around? It looked like a human thigh-bone, but I wasn't certain.”

“Yeah... let's just leave it at that.” Celes shudders. “You likely know how hard it is to take away a cat's toy.”

“Ah.” I don't know what to say. I am kind of relieved that my familiar stopped the zombie... but I am also a little disturbed. “How did he manage to get the bone so clean? I wasn't out for that long.”

Rose shudders. “He licked!”

I bite my lower lip and consider this. Ordinary licking wouldn't be enough to clean a bone from any residues of meat, but Razorclaws can transform their fur. Could it be that the transformation isn't restricted to the fur?

I shudder at the thought of a tongue with countless tiny needles, scraping away the flesh.

Minutes later, we stop on the Cygnus property and I am led inside. After a few corners, we arrive at a big room where a few familiar faces shoot confetti at me. The whole room is styled for a party.

“Congratulations on becoming king!” Celes hands me a box of chocolate and I immediately feel giddy at receiving such a thoughtful gift. All of our friends are there to congratulate me.

“Oohhohoho... I could make a habit out of becoming king.”

The Cygnus siblings, Tanja, Gabriel, Iris, Sven, and Sandra congratulate me in turn, adding their own gifts of brown sweetness. Everyone from our circle is present.

“They all wanted to get on your good side after they saw the coronation,” Celes whispers to me.

“Hey, hey, Angrod, can you teach me that soul-thing of yours. I have to learn it! You can still interrogate the bastard after you killed him! Can you? I have to learn that!” Tanja looks at me with sparkling eyes.

“Maybe I will teach you the training basics during class, but it takes a lot of time to master it,” I answer.

“Really? Yay! You know, I always hated that torture stuff to get information! All the blood and body parts, it's too dirty in my opinion. If I could learn that, everything would be much cleaner!” Tanja nods to herself while talking aloud.

I take a good long look at her. “At some point, you have to tell me the story of how your parents brought you up,” I mumble.

With the congratulations out of the way, I dig into my presents while I have small-talk with the others. It's nice that my coronation didn't change that much in our relationship. At least I hope that's the case.

That is... until Iris suddenly decides to burst the bubble by kneeling down and grovelling in front of me.

“I know, it's not my place to ask, but please release my father!”