(Alex, 17)

"Do ya know which hall Sage Elena's cooking is in?" Jeddy asks as the crew and I enter the exhibition hall.

"She should be in the same one Jason did his exhibition in," I answer. "Since she's a top chef."

We're all really interested in what her more professional cooking is like, since we all know what it's like when she's cooking to feed a bunch of hungry teens.

The seven of us pass through the entrance hall and into the big one, the smell of the many different foods already flooding our senses. There are dozens, maybe more than a hundred, stalls set up in here, each chef having their own kitchen station. If I remember correctly, they were given the choice of old-style wood stoves and ovens or new-style mana-powered ones, so it'll be interesting to see how things are now.

We approach the nearest stall, which made a thick stew with some bread, and we take the sample dishes and try the stew. I'm not sure what meat they're using, but it's juicy and tender, and melts apart as I eat it. The vegetables do as well.

The dishes are discarded into a bin, many of which are located throughout the halls. All of the dishes are being supplied for this event, so the chefs don't have to worry about someone stealing their own or bringing them as well.

Some people probably will nick theirs, but we ain't into that sort of stuff.

Continuing our trip, we try many different foods. Pastries, stews, soups, briskets, steaks, roasts, breakfasts, rolls, breads, even a few wines. It takes us more than an hour to make our way to where Sage Elena is, mostly because we stop at every food stall on the way. We're starting to feel full, too, and I'm glad we managed to find hers before we became stuffed.

We ain't got the self-control needed to resist trying other foods on the way to her station, which is likely why it's all the way at the far end of the hall – so that people stop by others before they get to hers.

Sage Elena has her hair tied up, and is wearing a simple dress, a brown apron over it, decorated with red and black dragon stitching, and I'm willing to bet Jason did that. Sage Elizabeth doesn't strike me as the type to do such things.

Speaking of Jason, he's here, too, wearing a shirt rather than a vest, a black and purple apron over that with a grey dragon stitched onto it.

His mama is the one making the food, while Jason is the one plating it and serving it to customers with a smile on his face and a stuffie tiger on his head.

"He brought Tiger Alpha," Sarah laughs as we see them.

"Yeah," I chuckle. "He did."

It takes several more minutes for us to reach their tables and examine their delicious-smelling food. Of all the things for Sage Elena to make, she's doing kebabs. It alternates with a piece of meat, two vegetables, then a piece of meat, then two vegetables. The end meant to hold has a piece of meat, while the end meant for us to pull the food off of has two pieces of vegetables, making it easy to tell that we're supposed to pull two veggies and a meat off.

"Hey, Jason!" We greet him when we reach the table.

"Hey, guys," he gestures to the tray of kebabs. "Mama Elena's making kebabs using sonna rabbit meat and four different vegetables. The meat has been marinated in a sauce made with a special blend of herbs, spices, and juices, while the vegetables have been seasoned lightly with a gentler mixture of herbs and juices, each vegetable receiving its own blend."

"Kebabs?" I ask as he hands each of us one.

"Mama Elena was going to make cookies," he starts.

"But you accidentally killed a bunch of rabbits and realized you didn't want to just waste their bodies?" Peter asks.

"Not this time!" Jason laughs. This time? That has happened, then? "Actually, a dragon came to Mama Elizabeth yesterday and told her that the predators in his region seemed to be a lot lower than normal, and he had way too many rabbits waking up for his liking. So they pulled me there to help them hunt them down after university and training yesterday, and we spent most of the night preparing the rabbits."

"Jason?" Jeddy asks. "You have done that before, haven't you?"

"When I was eleven," he nods, and we laugh.

"He came home, then dumped around fifty rabbits out of his spatial storage!" Sage Elena tells us. "Told us he got carried away!"

We try the kebabs as we walk away and Jason serves others, and the seven of us agree that they are delicious beyond delicious. Now that I think about it, Sage Elena hasn't really been seasoning the food we've eaten at the training camps, and that can make a huge difference. Here, not only is she seasoning it, but it seems like she's taking care for each skewer herself.

After we finish the kebabs, we continue walking around, checking out the exhibition as we stuff ourselves, eating more only once we feel we have room for it. Good thing they have bathrooms here, too, because we spend most of the day here.

Strangely, when we get to the stall where Adam said he'd be, he ain't there.

"Excuse me," I say as we approach the tables. "Did Adam get sick? He said he'd be here."

"Prince Jacob sent for him," the chef shakes his head. "He left around an hour ago. I knew they were in a training group together, but didn't realize one of my chefs was a friend of his."

Prince Jacob wanted Adam for something? What did he want?

(Adam, 17)

"You're not going down there and fighting."

"Please, Adam?" Elise asks. "You'll get to hog all the glory."

I sigh at her request. She happened to be there when Jacob came to speak with me, and she offered to come with me. One of the royal spies contacted His Majesty during university today and revealed that a fortress on the border of Varil and Vel was under siege by Velan forces, with some of the former Duke Jakor's there as well.

The army surrounded the fortress completely, including on the Varilan side.

"You," I say. "Are just itching to test out your full skills, Elise. To get to fight without restraint. It's not about glory, and you know it."

She smiles, then gives me a peck on the cheek, taking my right hand into her left and leaning against me lightly. Most people would likely shy away from fighting people, especially killing them, but I suppose that our memories from our time as the Magi dulled us to that. By now, we have grown used to the memories of slaughter and bloodshed, even if they aren't our own experiences.

Yet, anyway. Once we reach grey magical power, they'll become those as well.

"They're the enemies of our kingdom," she says. "And they're trespassing militarily."

She pauses for a moment, then squeezes my hand.

"You said the Jakor Duchy is no longer under the control it was before?"

"Correct," I answer. "The former Duke Jakor was assassinated by his own staff after I created the Sun of the Phoenix and he refused to surrender to the crown to have it lifted. It's staying up until tomorrow as a continued warning against attempting to seize Varilan lands, even for natives."

The truth is, I lack the power necessary to undo the spell right now, so it has to stay up until it fades away on its own. I can't say that at the moment, however, as we aren't alone. Elise and I are standing atop the wall of the fort, facing the Velan side, and there are soldiers and mages with us.

They weren't too sure about us, and I can tell they still aren't, but I came with a letter from Jacob verifying that we're here on royal orders. The siege made it clear that the fort's soldiers refused to give up to traitors and neighbors.

So Jacob asked me to come as backup and deal with the forces. After presenting the letter, we were informed of the full situation. They are loyal to Varil, and refuse to acknowledge a traitor's attempt at claiming power. They also refuse to acknowledge the necessity of killing our Crown Prince because of an uncertain assassination on a foreign princess.

"It has been three hours," Elise says. "Are you sure I can't go down there and target at least a batch of them? I'll feel like I came out here just to watch a fight rather than participate in defending our border."

"I can handle this," I tell her as I begin shaping my mana into a spell. "Remember, Elise, that I am blue. An army like this is nothing to the King of Summer, even as weak as I currently am in this incarnation."

The guards and mages give me uncertain looks, but I don't mind it. Jacob's letter said I was the Magus of Energy, the King of Summer. The rumors of our reincarnations have reached out here, but that doesn't mean they'll simply accept us on the claims of their prince alone.

"There are what, five thousand forces surrounding us?" I ask. "Even if half of them were mages, they won't be able to defend against this."

As I finish speaking, I finish shaping the spell, my first time creating a combat construct this large in this incarnation. A bird of flames twenty feet in height, hovering in the air behind me.

It lets out a screech as it extends its fiery wings, then soars up, before soaring down. Spells are flung from the army below as they attempt to shield themselves and stop the phoenix. What attacks miss splash off the fort's barrier, and what attacks succeed in striking their target are burned away.

It takes less than ten minutes for my phoenix to burn through all of the troops. There was a blue-level mage down there, surprisingly, but Jason's taught us the difference between others and us. He might have been blue in magical power, but he lacks the magical control to utilize the full extent of his magical power.

I, on the other hand, can use nearly all of my magical power.

As a result, his defenses barely manage to last a few seconds against my phoenix, before they are destroyed and he is turned to ash with the rest of the army below.

By the time my phoenix finishes, there is nothing left but ash and charred land. The phoenix flies back up to me, facing me as the guards and mages here stare in shock. None of the Varilan mages could dream of being able to ever manage something like that – nor know of any mages who could, even if stories.

At least, not those living now. Such power and techniques are beyond what even the top Royal Mages know.

With a snap, I point towards Vel, and my phoenix takes off, flying low to the ground. It will follow the path, incinerating everything in its wake until it runs out of power. Fields, villages, farms, people – everything. Its fires burn indiscriminately, consuming all things.

"Was that necessary?" Elise asks.

"Of course it was," I state. "Our enemies must be shown that we are willing to kill anyone. They have slaughtered our innocents simply for refusing to join them. Now, we are slaughtering their innocents along with their soldiers, for being our enemies."

Elise sighs, but knows that this is how war works. We aren't fighting gods, we're fighting humans. We must make a war against Varil as costly as possible for our enemies to ensure it ends as quickly as possible. In war, that is the necessity, that is what must be done. Civilian or soldier, they are killed to ensure the protection of our people.

Were this the war, the entire force of Magi would have come out here, butchered the soldiers surrounding this fort, then head into Vel and destroy every settlement there. We might have killed only the soldiers and nobility, replacing them with Varilan ones, except that with Vel, that's not really a logical point, even if Jacob wishes to.

Their civilians would fight us to their last breaths, resisting the control of those who slaughtered their soldiers and mages. To them, that would make us enemies, even if it was done in war. They believe too strongly in the blood for blood policy of their people.

Which is why acts like this are necessary. They might want blood for blood, but we can show them how foolish such a policy is. They've already lost an ally because of Niko's actions in the northern kingdoms, and now they've lost five thousand soldiers and are about to lose resources and people.

My actions here will also send a message to the other nations bordering them, which might have supplied assistance. Mess with Varil, and get burned.

Literally.

"You should be able to bring resources in again," I look at the captain of the fort, who was standing only a few steps away the entire time. "The Jakor Duchy is back under Varilan authority, and Jacob has already sent instructions for them to bring supplies here. It might not be much at the moment, as my Sun of the Phoenix makes transporting goods difficult, but it should be enough to last you until we stop the foolishness in this region as well."

"Thank you," he says, his voice shaky. "The letter said you were the King of Summer, and while I'm not sure if that's true, you certainly displayed powers beyond what I'd have expected of someone your age."

"I have more than seven hundred years of experience," I smile at him. "Just not all in one life. And Elise here is the Queen of Winter."

Elise raises a hand, then snaps, and a frosty wind swirls around her, then descends to the fields below, putting out the flames smoldering in the ground from my attack. Her spell isn't actually all that impressive from a basics standpoint, but the scale of it shows off her great magical abilities, despite her being a warrior and not a mage.

"Anyway," I say. "We should return back to Varilsy. Use the comm plate if something else comes up, and assistance will be sent as well. For another large-scale thing, it will be another Magus."

I open up a gate, then step through, Elise following behind me.

(Jacob, 16)

"Jacob," Papa stops me on my way out of the palace, and look at him. "I just receive a message over the comm plates from one of our intelligence agents in the Jakor Duchy that a giant, flaming bird was just spotted soaring from a certain fort into Vel."

"Was there?" I ask. "That is news to me, Papa."

"Jacob," his tone is stern.

"Well," I say. "I did send a Varilan Magus to a certain fort on our border with Vel, after finding out five thousand soldiers were laying siege to it, and asked him to deal with the situation and send a message to Vel of what will happen, should they choose to continue this war of theirs. How he chose to interpret the orders is not to my awareness. If that is what he did, then it truly is news to me."

"And when they retaliate for it?" He asks. "Because we performed the first strike?"

"Correction, Papa," I say. "They attacked first. Not only did they lay siege to one of our forts, surrounding it on all sides, they also raided several villages along our border. They crossed the border in hostility, and the estimate of deaths I received numbered roughly six thousand Varilans.

"Right now," I say. "I can end the war in a day or two. All I need is for you to give the approval, Papa. Jakor Duchy is already back under Varilan authority rather than a traitor's, and the former duke of Varilsy has been slain as well, most of his forces taken care of. Our land is ours."

I sent Kayla and Kyra out to deal with that situation. They might be among the weakest of the Magi, but their talents are real. Using fewer people, but with each one having much more power and ability, decreases the odds of casualties. When those people are Magi, the chances become even lower.

Papa sighs as he understands my point.

"We are not doing what you suggested," he tells me. "We will continue to speak with Vel, and hope the other nations do not decide to join up and declare war."

"And if they do?" I ask.

"Only then," he says. "I will authorize the Magi to act on a large scale."

"Okay," I say, then turn. "I will see you later, Papa."

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"To meet with Tasha at the food exhibition," I anticipate his response to that. "I have already arranged for more than just my two guards to be present, Papa. There will be a force of Royal Guards watching over me there."

I leave, entering into a carriage, then ride it to the exhibition hall. There, I step out and am immediately surrounded by Royal Guards. We enter the exhibition hall, and I spot Tasha immediately. Today, she wears a simple, green and blue dress, the colors pale and shimmering. Light touches of silver accent it, and she wears silver on her eyes as well. A necklace adorns her neck, a bracelet each wrist, the three pieces of jewelry made of silver and set with green and blue gems. I recognize the piece as one her mother wore to a dance a few years ago, and it looks just as good on Tasha as it did her mother.

"Hello, Tasha," I greet her, then give her a kiss as we lightly hug. "It is good to see you here in health."

"Thank you, Jacob," she smiles. "You look handsome in that outfit."

"Thank you," I dip my head to her, then open up my spatial storage and pull out an object, a silver ring with a pale green stone with a pale blue stone to either side of it. "I had this made for you, to go with that jewelry. My intent was to present it to you the next time I saw you wear it, and I see you in it now."

"Thank you, Jacob," she holds out her hand, allowing me to slip it onto her right index finger, then take her hand. "It is beautiful."

"Thank you," I say. "Let us make our way inside."

Tasha seems to be excited about something, as if there is big news I should hear, but does not say something. When it is time, she will tell me.

We walk around the exhibition halls, sampling any food which catches our interest. I have to be careful and monitor my responses. Me sampling a food alone tells guests it has caught my interest. How I react to tasting it will tell guests how to view that stall. A compliment from the prince means a lot, as does criticism.

Especially here.

So I keep my face as neutral as possible, though I know that might break when we reach Sage Elena's stall.

Tasha does not need to keep herself as restrained, and performs compliments at nearly every stall she tries something at. By the time we enter the fourth hall, there is a group of people who follow us, and they have taken to sampling anything the two of us sample. It seems they noticed that I will not sample anything Tasha has sampled which she does not compliment.

Other than as we sample things, Tasha holds onto my left arm, which I have properly hooked. Part of my reason for coming here is to show that I do not fear those who still wish to deny the gods' claims, as well as to remind people that I am their Crown Prince.

As we enter yet another exhibition hall, a familiar head comes into view. Brown hair a little longer than how we wear it in Varil, with blue eyes to match. A lean, tanned build, even in the winter, a sword on his hip. Rather than the casual clothes I saw him wear last time, he wears formal dress like myself, a light circlet atop his head, though not one as status-claiming as mine.

I approach him as he claims a glass of white wine from a server walking by, and he glances over, then smiles.

"Jacob," he reaches forward, and we clasp arms in greeting. "It is good to see you here."

"It is good to see you as well, Casper," I greet the prince of Anotis.

"Thank you," he smiles, then looks at Tasha. "You look lovely, Tasha. Would you mind sending word to my staff of who created such a beautiful dress? My mama would love one made by her."

"I can do that," Tasha smiles. "Thank you, Casper."

"How is your mama?" I ask Casper. "Last I heard, she had recovered well from the illness after Jason and Sage Elena treated her, but I know she must have still been quite frail after having suffered for as long as she did."

"She has recovered her strength nicely," he answers. "There is still some progress to be had, but the Crown of Anotis is a powerful artifact, so progress is plenty. If you wish to see for yourself, we will be visiting the palace after dinner tonight."

"She is here?" I ask in surprise.

"Yes," he smiles. "Jason and Sage Alyssa visited Anotis after my mama was cured of the illness and made a request."

"A gate," I say in Anotis.

"Yes," he responds in Anotis. "My mother granted their request after hearing of its purpose. Anotis and Varil have never been enemies, and she wishes to further the friendship our two nations enjoy."

He laughs.

"Have you been to Sage Elena's stall?" He asks. "They are using a few ingredients which they purchased from Anotis."

"I have not," I answered. "We had hoped to wait to visit their stall until last."

"I understand," he nods. "I have delayed visiting it as well, though Sage Elena and Jason seem to manage well. Most stalls had to send out for more ingredients they had brought with them, yet they simply continue to produce."

"Jason is helping?" I ask.

"With a tiger stuffie atop his head," Casper nods, and I laugh. "It moved! That startled me, when its tail began to swish and its head turned to look at me as Jason dealt with someone else!"

"Tiger Alpha normally protects their house," I say. "Though it appears the golem wished to visit the exhibition."

"A golem?" He asks. "That was a golem?"

"Yes," I nod. "A very advanced version of them. Let us return to sampling shall we?"

"Yes," he nods. "Let us."

We return to sampling foods as Casper informs me of what has happened since he left here after the performance last year. Those wishing to claim the throne from him have been forced into submission, and the Anotisian royalty are in discussions with Sageson Magical Technologies to bring some of their technology to Anotis, to help ease their lives.

Casper explains that what they want the most, at the moment, is plumbing and mana batteries, along with the necessary enchantments to connect the mana batteries to light crystals. Those two things alone will greatly affect common life there.

Plumbing is the most important one. Being able to draw up fresh, clean water in their towns and cities will be a major step forward towards decreasing illness and increasing treatments. It also affects alchemy. Prices will drop for many potions, and even the common man will become able to drink fresh water without fear of turning ill from it.

We eventually reach Sage Elena's station, where Jason is, indeed, assisting, serving the kebabs to guests as Sage Elena grills them. The fire appears to be magical, as no fuel feeds it, but that is to be expected of one of the Sages.

The three of us try the kebabs as Jason explains to us how they were made, and they are pretty delicious. Delicious enough that my neutral expression slips, causing Tasha to chuckle. Even Casper, who had kept up a neutral expression, slipped when he tried them.

I doubt anyone around us needed my slip to know these kebabs were delicious, though, as this stall was no doubt the most popular one so far.

"I think I have sampled enough for today," Casper tells me as we discard the skewers into the bins. "You two enjoy the rest of your day, and I shall see you after dinner."

Casper leaves, then I turn to Tasa.

"Was there anything you saw that you wish to go back and sample?" I ask. "Or should we head to the palace now?"

"There were a few more things I wish to sample," she tells me.

"Lead the way," I tell her.

(Jason, 16)

After scrubbing myself down and rinsing off, I dry off, then pull on a nightshirt and head to my bed, collapsing onto it. Today was exhausting. Mama Elena and I were up at five this morning, and form there, it was work, work, work, with only a brief break for the bathroom when needed.

Tiger Alpha jumps onto my chest, and I stroke his fur, feeling its softness under my hand. He's not coming with me tomorrow, he says he experienced enough of the exhibition to know his stance on them.

When I asked him what he meant by that as I was undressing for my shower, he told me that it's the perfect place for me. So I tossed him through a gate back into my bedroom.

I would allow myself to fall asleep right now, but am forcing myself to stay awake because Alex showed up while I was in the shower, and is currently talking with Mama Elena. A few more minutes pass before they likely figure that I'm out of the shower and dressed, so Mama Elena and Alex come up here, and Mama Elena knocks on my door.

"Come in," I call as loudly as my exhausted body can manage.

She opens the door and enters with Alex, and I sit up on my bed, Tiger Alpha moving to sit on my lap.

"You look exhausted," Mama Elena tells me with a light smile.

"I am exhausted," I tell her. "You used to do that when you were younger?"

"Quite often," she confirms as she and Alex sit on the edge of my bed, facing me. "I am exhausted as well, so I'll be heading to bed in just a minute. Alex wanted to check on you, though."

"Hey," I greet Alex with a sleepy smile.

"Hey," he chuckles. "You looked like you were having fun."

"I was," I nod. "I didn't get to sample anything today, but tomorrow, Mama Elizabeth will be here to help, so I'll get to try a few things as we take turns serving up."

"Not for too long, though," Mama Elena reminds me. "Ten minute breaks at most. You saw today what it's like to man it by yourself."

"Yeah," I cover a yawn. "Shame she got caught up and wasn't able to come help us today."

Some ogres decided to attack our home, so she stayed behind to deal with them and clean up the mess. Otherwise, she'd have come here this morning to help us.

"That sucks," Alex says. "I just wanted to say goodnight to ya, Jason, since I know ya probably got exhausted from all that."

"Thanks," I smile at him again, and he leans forward and gives me a kiss, which I return as I give him a half-hug. "Good night, Alex, and enjoy your dreams."

"I will," he tells me. "Ya do the same."

Alex leaves, and Mama Elena gives me a half-hug as well, before kissing me on the forehead.

"Sleep well tonight," she tells me. "I'll make sure you're up in time to get to work, in case you sleep through your alarm again."

"Thanks," I cover another yawn. "I've asked Tiger Alpha to wake me up, so hopefully you won't need to come."

"Good night," she tells me, then leaves, shutting off my lights as she does.

I climb under my covers and hold Tiger Alpha against me as I finally get to fall asleep, my exhaustion enabling me to pass out immediately.