Queen fidgeted as she sat on her throne. "Advisor."

"I know patience is not your strong suit, but do try," Fixer replied with a sigh.

"My King. Our King... how long must we wait?" Queen asked, she purposely emphasized the 'our' but in her heart...

"We're all looking forward to the day," Fixer replied as he looked over at her. "It can't be rushed."

"If only he didn't have a name," she pouted. "or I did too."

I can only imagine how rough my life would be if Queen had a name. Fixer shuddered.

"You just thought something rude about me, didn't you?" Queen sighed as she rose to her feet, "I'm going to the kitchen."

If it's her fate to be a terrible cook, perhaps she should be named to ease the burden on the head chef. Fixer thought as he watched her retreating figure.

"My Queen, are you here for your cooking lesson?" Chef turned pale. She ignored his reaction and nodded before she donned an apron over her regal robes.

"Let's start simple..." Chef pulled out bread, meats, cheeses, and various leafy vegetables. "Make a sandwich."

...

"Queen. Explain to me how you expect anyone to eat that? It's bigger than your own head. See this?" Head Chef pointed at his mouth, "It's much smaller than this sandwich you've made."

He demonstrated proper construction and placed it next to hers. "I think only Brawn could eat the sandwich you prepared."

Chef disassembled her attempt. "Again."

"Enough meat. Enough cheese. Enough greens. Queen..." Chef sighed, "You've doubled my sandwich, and I even told you when to stop. W-why are you crying?"

"I've got it. I finally got it! [Cooking(abysmal)]!" Queen announced proudly amidst her sobs of joy.

"Everyone starts somewhere." Chef sighed again, "Hopefully you can improve on that now."

"Wait, what does abysmal mean?" Queen asked.

"So terrible even the abyss would reject it." Chef answered honestly, "But the important thing is that you acquired [Cooking], now you just have to keep using it to improve."

"Is there anything worse than this?" Queen lost her prior enthusiasm upon hearing that.

"There is [Cooking(death)], [Cooking(plague)] and [Cooking(poison)] before [Cooking(abysmal)] so it's not like you're starting at rock bottom." Chef informed, "Next step up will be [Cooking(poor)]."

[Cooking(abysmal)]: The starter skill leading down the dark path of cooking. Provides a special boost to [Cooking], guaranteeing misery to those who consume it.

Queen rummaged through the kitchen collecting various ingredients while humming lightly. "I'm going to make a cake."

None of those ingredients are for making a cake. Chef observed in silence. Queen threw everything into a mixing bowl, worked it with her bare hands, and poured the resulting horrid looking mixture into a mold. She slipped it into an empty oven for a few minutes and pulled out... the most delicious looking cake Chef had ever seen.

"How?" he looked at her wide-eyed. "Not only did you not use the proper ingredients, but you also didn't bake it long enough."

"My skill just guided me through the process." Queen shrugged. "Want to try it?"

"It looks too good to say no... just a small bite." Chef accepted a slice of the cake and ate a fork full. He collapsed to the ground in shock, "It's delicious!"

Queen smirked, "I wonder how long it'll take for you to feel it."

"Feel what?" Chef asked fearfully, glad that he didn't eat more.

"The results of my cooking guarantee anyone who eats it will feel misery, but it's vague so I'm curious," Queen explained. "Thank you for being my test subject."

"You devil rat!" Chef exclaimed as he fled the kitchen.

"Oh, you're forbidden from seeing Alchemist. I want a full report of everything you experience." Queen called after him. Should I be happy? I can cook now... I can't feed any of it to my King though. She left the kitchen with a sigh, nearly tripping over Chef in the hallway. "Who was in my way? Oh, just you."

Chef was on the floor in the fetal position, clutching at his belly. His eyes clenched tightly shut as he suffered through the pain. He opened an eye, to see Queen looking down on him, a happy smile on her face. Fighting the pain, he moved his hand in her direction and extended his middle finger.

She simply shrugged indifferently and stepped over him. "I deserved that."

Bayne fondly watched his daughter running towards the building shaped like a potion bottle. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he put his staff down. "I wish I had just half her energy."

"What would you do with it?" Daryl asked scaring him.

Bayne sighed. "You ever stop to think about our situation, wonder how different it would be if we weren't the target of mindless execution?"

"No, I haven't," Daryl replied. "But, now that the prophecy is underway... I'll dare to hope that it will come to an end. Vivian wants to resolve it all peacefully, and she's teaching her son to do the same. I can agree with her thinking, but in practice, it's not practical."

"I can only imagine what Vivian has been through. How much blood has she seen spilled? And to top that off, all of it close family and friends." Bayne clenched his hands. "And I foolishly offered to spill more blood for her. I misunderstood."

Daryl watched as Bayne's eyes never left his daughter. "You'd do anything to protect your family. There are many paths down that road."

"Could you end the life of another?" Bayne asked.

"Standing here and now, I'd say no. I can't say my answer wouldn't change if Evan or Lulu were threatened." Daryl answered, "Taking my physical strength into account...rather the lack thereof, and I can say with certainty I'd die trying."

"You ever wonder what kind of life you'd have if not for this prophecy? Myself, I desire to tend a farm. Just living peacefully growing what I need for my family." Bayne's hands clenched. "The sphinx opened my eyes. We're nothing but ants in this life. Even Vivian as amazing as her strength is. And then there's Jaden."

"What are you getting at?" Daryl sighed.

Bayne turned to look at his friend. "He scares me... not as much as Anya, but it's a small gap. The depths of his strength, I can't even begin to guess."

Daryl patted his back and turned to leave, "We're in desperate times, our race near always was as far back as we know. Bayne, go to your family. Treasure the time we have now."

"Where are you going?" Bayne asked.

"Taking my own advice." Daryl replied without stopping, "Evan is out of my reach for now, but I can spend time with Lulu."

Bayne looked over his training area and trotted off towards his family. Anya has always done right by us. I just wish I could get that out of my memory.

Isa opened her eyes. "Hemloc! Where are you, coward!?"

"Dead," Jaden answered her flatly. "Did he hold the contracting authority?"

"I.. don't know. I never want to experience that again though." Isa lowered her head, "Thank you for coming for me."

"Save your thanks for Mother," Jaden replied and rubbed her scales.

"Vivian is..."

"Isa, how long have you been carrying the egg?" Jaden interrupted.

"... too long."

"Several thousand years? Why the change of heart now?"

"For all my mistakes and even the faults of the father... the child is innocent in all of it."

"Good answer." Jaden nodded. "Let's go home."

"...Sorry." Isa walked slowly beside him.

"Unless you got caught purposefully you have nothing to apologize for." Jaden turned a hard gaze on her.

"N-no... wasn't on purpose." Isa stammered, only relaxing when he turned away.

"Care to explain then?" Vivian joined the conversation, Brawn walked behind her pulling along a heavily laden cart.

"I was looking for more of my race." Isa answered, "The Liralau let slip that I wasn't the first mirage dragon they'd captured. I just didn't expect Hemloc to be involved."

"Who?"

"...I'd rather not dig up the past, my former lover. A traitor." Isa stated.

"He's dead now," Jaden shrugged.

"I see..." Vivian replied somberly. Is this the only path available?

"I'm sorry," Jaden said.

"You did what had to be done, right? There's no fault in that." Vivian replied.

"I wonder? He kept saying he couldn't release the contract, but after he died Isa was back to normal." Jaden rubbed his neck.

"... I wish I could help in this matter. Hemloc wasn't the most trustworthy, but not all his words were lies." Isa interjected.

"If he wasn't..." Jaden's voice trailed off as he recalled his conversation with Hemloc. "I killed him unnecessarily. And only the god would know. But why release the contract in that case?"

"Quite simple." Vivian shook her head. "To take attention away from themself, as you've assumed that Hemloc was the authority and just lying about it."

Jaden looked at his hands and sighed. If I go visit her... I'll need to draw on my full strength again.

Brawn passed his gaze over the three of them and shook his head. He shifted the weight of the cart onto one hand and pulled out his bread and cheese to take a bite. Nothing simple about any of it.

"You look like you've got something to say." Vivian scrutinized Brawn.

"Thinking isn't my thing." Brawn shrugged and took another bite of bread. "Just point me in a direction I can swing my club and I'll never disappoint."

"I still can't figure out how surrendering would have been the optimal choice." Vivian reflected.

"Brains didn't account that you'd find our captives so quickly, nor that King would defeat the mastermind so easily." Brawn shrugged.

"Okay, moving on to more important topics, why do you refer to my son as 'King'?" Vivian asked.

"He's our King. Simple as that." Brawn replied giving her a funny look. Obvious is obvious.

"I just hope he's not too attached to that fake queen." Brawn sighed.

"Fake queen?" Jaden asked.

"Ah... this is why I don't do the thinking." Brawn hit his head with his palm.

"We have enough problems of our own, don't drag us into yours," Vivian stated curtly.

"About that..." Brawn caught the dangerous glint in her eye and opted not to continue.

"And you. When were you going to tell me about this nonsense?" Vivian directed her gaze at her son. "You're growing up far too quickly. I can't even enjoy being a parent."

"Sorry. I'm not exactly happy about it being outside my control. The alternative was watching you die a second time and I wasn't about to let that happen."

"Still, there's an underlying issue here. You've fallen for a fake?" Vivian glared.

"Eh, can't blame him, it's an impressive doppelganger. Has the entire nest fooled." Brawn ate the last of his bread. "Besides... fate and all that." Brawn waved his hand lazily over his head.

"... Fate, huh?" Vivian cast a dangerous glare over her son. "Tell me about her."

"I don't have much positive to say. She sent a war party consisting of Brawn, Brains, and by the look of it all these peons, to attack us. No one was seriously injured, they fought everyone to exhaustion..."

"Where were you?" Vivian interrupted.

"...Unconscious from foolishly using a new skill in desperation." Jaden sighed. "But, they used their better knowledge of medicine to help you get better. While we were there, we were treated like royalty."

"Is that so..." Vivian fell into thought. "I should pay her a visit, give her my thanks."

Brawn nodded. That turned out even better than I'd hoped.

Ratman: Brawn(Unnamed?) Loyal to the true royal family, this rat is more than he pretends to be.

What, that's all? Sasha, did you break again?

Rude. Must I remind you I have no control over that information?

Whatever. Vivian sighed. Show me his status instead.

Are you even listening...? Name: Brawn(Unnamed?) Level: 20 Error: Aborting

Sasha...

I apologize... interference detected. Oh here's something. Race: Xelia The Xelia are a race known for their unique culture. Originally excelling in assassinations, they have expanded into culinary arts, woodworking, alchemy, and their recent addition of stone masonry. Their refusal to share their hard-earned progress has gained them the ire of most other races. Often hunted and sold into slavery; they have developed a horde mentality, never acting alone. They await the day their own prophecy is fulfilled, which the most reserved among them are starting to think will be soon. They are currently led by a puppet their god sent, thinking the true heir incompetent.

The average height of this discovered nest is four feet(121 cm) for the females and five feet(152 cm) for the males. Originally covered in short, pure black fur, it has adapted with their lifestyle. The remaining few assassins have maintained their original color, making it easier to blend into the shadows. The majority of others have developed into shades of greens and browns with some exceptions.

Xelia, not Ratmen? I wonder if that was lost to history, jealousy, or hidden purposefully. Vivian looked over Brawn with new interest. He attempted to ignore her stare. Jaden stepped on a branch that snapped under his weight, dragging Vivian out of her thoughts. "When this is over, we're going to have a lesson on moving silently."

"I want no excuses," Vivian interrupted his protest before he had a chance to start, "Brawn there is pulling a heavily laden cart and there's not a sound coming from it, him or the army of ratmen behind him."

"Yes, Mother." Jaden sighed.

Vivian continued, "Strength is not an excuse for laziness, lack of caution and awareness, or drawing unneeded attention."

Making her point clear, she drew her staff and easily tapped Jaden's forehead before he could react.

How is she so fast? Brawn admired, not just King, but his mother holds more power than me too?

"What's the point?" Jaden asked. "We already know where every hostile entity is."

"Don't bet your life on that." Vivian retorted and caught an incoming rock. She dropped it and spun her staff, twirling it around herself. I missed the good years, I'm not ready for the rebellious teenager just yet. Isa watched the rocks coming and ignored them, letting them bounce futilely against her scales.

Something's wrong. Brawn had pulled out his massive club and used it as a shield.

Volleys of rocks flew at them in waves. "Slingers fall back, Archers at the ready! Fire!"

Vivian dashed forward, Jaden a step ahead of her. "Don't kill them."

"They're trying to kill us." Jaden retorted.

"The keyword there is trying." Vivian rebuked, "Besides, they're ratfolk."

"What?" Jaden doubted he heard right.

Vivian dashed ahead. Brawn and Isa defended the cart, the peons behind looked for cover.

"For the Horde!" a hundred archers released their volley. Jaden weaved between the arrows as he approached the archers. Vivian launched herself into their ranks and spun herself in place building up momentum. She brought her staff down and swung it like a bat, knocking the archers away in every direction. Some collided with others, reducing the number of uninjured further. She kicked the ground, pushing herself into the air with a somersault. She came down on the rat barking orders and swung her staff overhead, the thunk of wood hitting bone echoed from the collision. The rat fell to the ground clutching his head.

"Fire!"

Vivian clicked her tongue, she tapped her foot on the ground getting a rhythm. She spun her staff into a blur as she pushed mana into her skill [Rising Flower] activating it. She appeared to dance through the arrows headed her way, deflecting and evading every inbound projectile with ease. She lashed out with her staff as she danced, hitting the rats within her range, and fluidly returned to spinning her staff as she maintained her forward momentum.

Jaden watched hypnotized from the mesmerizing performance. Brawn dropped his club on his foot and yelped, bringing everyone watching the scene back to reality.

That's quite an impressive display. Brawn admired as he picked up his club. He turned his gaze back to Vivian, watching as she dealt blows just hard enough to incapacitate, spinning her staff faster than necessary to deflect the arrows harmlessly to the ground without injuring herself or the archers firing them at her. And all that while moving with the grace of a goddess of war.

Vivian smacked the last archer over the head and turned her attention to the rats carrying slings.

All at once they dropped their slings and prostrated on the ground with a very meek statement, "For the Horde..."

"Completely defeated and without a single serious injury or death..." the rat looked at Vivian with awe and wariness. She turned her head and locked her gaze on him.

"What is your purpose here?" Vivian asked as she glared at the rat. Her staff held overhead ready to strike if she heard an answer she wasn't satisfied with.

"Please have mercy!" the rat covered his head with his hands.

"May I have a word?" Brawn approached.