(Alex, 17)

I hate this outfit. Formal clothes ain't my thing, but they forced me into it for this lunch with King Zachary. I ain't even allowed to have my weapons on me. It doesn't matter if they're in a spatial storage or something, but as long as they aren't on my body, that's all that matters to them.

The pat-down they made me go through made me want to cut off their heads. Their more thorough search than my brother and Richard got pissed me off, too, because it was obvious they were doing more just 'cause I came from the streets.

Now, Connor, Richard, and I wait for His Majesty to grace us with his presence. We are in a smaller room with a table set up for lunch. A throne-like chair sits at one end of the table, while a more normal one sits on the other end, plus three more regular chairs on either side.

Richard stands behind the more normal chair on the end, Connor behind the chair to his left, and me behind the chair to his right. Four Royal Guards stand against each wall, half warriors, half mages. They're all eyeing me like they think I might cause trouble.

Just 'cause I punch Prince Jacob sometimes doesn't mean I'm going to attack the king. That would be stupid and suicidal. Well, technically, attacking Prince Jacob was as well. I committed treason there, and am lucky he fought against my execution.

After a few more minutes of waiting, King Zachary enters the room, wearing a golden circlet atop his head. He wears a formal outfit as well, a sword on his hip. Princess Lina follows behind him, wearing a beautiful green and yellow dress, a silver circle atop her head to denote her status as princess. I've seen both of those before.

What I ain't having seen before is the man who follows them. He looks a couple of years younger than us, and wears a silver circlet as well, more similar to Prince Jacob's than Princess Lina's in appearance, other than the metal it's made of.

Who the heck is he?

"Welcome, and thank you for coming this afternoon," King Zachary approaches the throne-like seat, Lina moving to his left to beside Connor, the other man moving to his right to beside me. King Zachary pulls back his chair and sits, and the rest of us sit as well. "While Connor and Alex know my daughter, I would like to introduce you to her formally, Richard."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," Richard tells her, and gives him a smile and dip of her head.

"This is one of my nephews," King Zachary indicates the young man sitting beside me. "Franklin. He arrived here in late autumn to study here in Varil."

"A pleasure to meet you," Prince Franklin responds, and we return his greeting.

I earn a slight glare from Richard and Connor because mine wasn't that enthusiastic, and partially-mumbled, but they'll deal with it. The last thing I need is to sit right next to another prince. I ain't needed here, so why am I here?

King Zachary makes small talk with Richard as wine is served, then dinner. He asks about the barony and the company, how the home life is, and various other things. He even asks if Richard has found a potential future wife, which Richard declines, saying he ain't been looking for love again.

I never did find out what happened to Connor's mama, though it probably ain't as much of a secret as the events surrounding the queen's death.

Lunch drags on, and I wish King Zachary would just get to the reason he wants us here. I know he's waiting until after we've eaten to discuss the real reason he wanted us here today. Because I sure as heck know it ain't to eat with some small-time baron.

Connor says that we have nothing to worry about, though I know he's got a feeling about what this meeting is about. He seems to be at home here, too, talking with Franklin. It seems the younger prince wishes to be a slayer once he's old enough, and that reminds me about Captain Enlin's words to me. I still haven't figured out what they meant, but am still looking.

"I hope you enjoyed the meal," King Zachary says once dessert has finished.

"We did, thank you," Richard tells him.

"Excellent," His Majesty smiles. "Now, I do have some official business to discuss with you and your children, Richard."

Children? Not son? He's including me in this? Blech. I bet this is his way of getting at me for Prince Jacob finding a way to relieve me of my treason.

"You have committed several crimes," King Zachary tells Richard. "The first, you knowingly and willingly used the services of a sex slave. The reason it took me as long as it did to say something regarding this was because of the investigation into it to find out the full details. You not only used her services, but you knew about the illegitimate child born of the encounters."

Encounters? It wasn't just one night? How many times did Richard use my mama? I feel my blood boiling as I think about the events again, then feel a foot meeting my shin. The expression on Connor's face tells me to cool it, so I do my best not to let my anger out.

Here, anyway. It'll come out later.

"You also," King Zachary continues. "Allowed the illegitimate child to live on the streets. According to the investigation, you even paid a small sum of money to some of his rival gangs in an effort to have him killed, to erase signs of your indiscretion. This payment included some equipment as well, what you could manage to supply them with without drawing attention to the source."

Connor and I both look at Richard in shock, and the baron looks rather uncomfortable. He tried to have me killed? It would have been easiest to erase signs of it by having a rival gang come after me, except that such a thing was doomed to fail from the start. I'm one of the Magi.

Now that I think about it, every couple of years, one of the gangs would suddenly have an enchanted weapon or two and an increased desire to kill me. But we always thought they had just managed to nick something. Everyone wanted to kill me, and enchanted stuff would increase their arrogance.

"Third," King Zachary continues. "You intentionally prevented Connor from attending university last term and had plans on preventing him from attending this term as well, due to him not worshiping the gods. Under the laws set down by kings and queens past, intentionally preventing someone from attending university or interfering with their attempt to attend it is a great crime. Our kingdom is built upon having our young men and women educated in their pursuits, so that they may serve us as best they can in the ways they can and wish."

Hailey's mama and papa did that with her, too. Will they be summoned as well.

"Under normal circumstances," King Zachary tells Richard. "I would strip you of your title and land, leaving you as just a wealthy toy-maker. Instead, I am offering you an alternative. Acknowledge your wrongs, pay a fine, and step down as baron, passing the title to your heir."

I snap my gaze to King Zachary, whose own gaze is fixed on Richard, Lina and Franklin looking at him as well. There ain't a doubt in my mind he knows that's me right now.

"This does not mean," King Zachary says, and I look at Connor, whose expression is as full of surprise as I feel. "That you need to step down as the head of Amarxik Toys, Richard. The title of nobility upon your family was for services performed, not just for the company. Connor and Alex each hold merits warranting titles of nobility. Alex, for his protection of our kingdom and this city on multiple occasions. Connor, for his protection of our kingdom against Vellan forces last weekend."

What happened on Connor's training mission that he earned enough merit to be titled a noble himself? I never did ask what happened, and he never did say. He was at the Vellan border? I know Jason and Niko both dealt with forces from Nelem at their borders because of who they were, but why did Connor have an issue that would warrant such a title?

Wait.

Crap.

Please don't mean what I think you mean, King Zachary. I really hope you ain't meaning that.

Richard turns his gaze to me, a baffled expression on his face.

"When did you protect Varil?"

"On several occasions," King Zachary states. "He has slain, at minimum, two ogre lords who wished to attack this city. He also slaughtered nearly the entire horde of ogres and corrupted which attacked Varil during the food exhibition.

"Connor, on the other hand," King Zachary continues. "Performed a rescue of a fortress seized by Vel, then pushed their forces back home, in a single day. Both of your sons are talented fighters, and each have served this kingdom in their own way, and in ways which go above and beyond the normal call of duty."

Which means that even if Richard were stripped of his title, we would remain nobility. Or rather, King Zachary would title us nobility. Earls, most likely. Landless titles, but still nobles nonetheless.

Richard looks contemplative for several moments, then nods.

"Very well, then," he slips off his family crest ring and hands it to me. "I step down as the Baron Amarxik, and pass the title on to my heir."

"Can I pass it to my brother?" I blurt out before I can stop myself, and Connor kicks me under the table as Lina does her best not to laugh, Franklin snorting beside me.

King Zachary, meanwhile, gives me an amused look.

"That would not be advisable," he tells me.

"I know," I mutter as I turn the ring over in my hands. "It ain't exactly best for the image if the newest lord passes the title on immediately after taking it. It came out 'fore I could stop it."

"Now that this has been settled," King Zachary looks at Richard. "Richard, the fine you owe amounts to twenty million varru. You have six months to pay it off."

Because Richard is no longer the baron, he cannot use the family's wealth to pay for it. An expense that large would have to go through me. He will need to pay using money which he has from other sources, such as Amarxik Toys.

Which generates most of the income for our family. Most of the crops generated in the barony go into feeding the small barony, and it doesn't produce much in the way of goods other than toys through Amarxik Toys.

King Zachary effectively killed our nobility status anyway. We will not be able to continue to supply the nation with things, as Richard ain't going to consider Amarxik Toys to be a part of the family, and thus, we won't have any income anymore.

"Now," King Zachary looks at me. "As the title of Amarxik came from the company owned by your ancestors, and that company belongs to your papa and not the family, a title change is in order."

He produces a scroll from somewhere, along with a family crest ring. Where was he storing those? Because I most certainly didn't see a dimensional space ring or spatial storage ring appear. His Majesty stands and indicates for me to approach as the rest of us stand, so I do, rather reluctantly and annoyed.

"Alex xan Richard xal Varilar," he holds out the paper and the ring. "This is the official changing of the title of your family and the barony. Rather than Amarxik, you and your land are now the Baron and Barony Levirar."

Could you be anymore obvious?

I accept the scroll and ring, and note the annoyed looks on several of the Royal Guards. His Majesty doesn't say anything, so I ain't sure why they have an issue, because they're acting like my response was wrong.

King Zachary dips his head to me.

"Welcome to the ranks," he tells me. "I hope you serve it well. Your brother, Connor, will no doubt be able to assist you in things you need."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I mutter, earning more glares, including from Connor this time.

"Now," King Zachary says. "As there is nothing further, you are all dismissed. Alex, a word?"

Richard bows and leaves, and Connor remains behind. Our papa looks furious, and I doubt my brother wants to be near him right now. Plus, he probably wants to reprimand me for all of my errors during dinner. Ain't my fault I slipped, though, considering I wasn't prepared for what happened.

"Alex," King Zachary says. "I heard you were looking into the requirements to be a Royal Slayer. I believe you will find what you are looking for in Code of the Slayer in the palace library. As long as Franklin accompanies you, no one will bother you. He knows its location."

"I've already read that," I do my best not to roll my eyes.

"You read the condensed version," King Zachary tells me. "We have the full version here."

His Majesty leaves, Princess Lina following him out, and I look at Prince Franklin, who has a grin on his face.

"I could tell you what you are looking for," he tells me. "But I would rather see your face as you read it from the source. Come."

Prince Franklin leaves, and I follow him, though I ain't sure I want to do this. Connor follows me, and once we leave the room, there are two more men, both around Franklin's age, accompanying us. His personal guard, I presume. Now that I think about it, Princess Lina and King Zachary ate without guards as well. They must have stayed in the hall for the lunch.

But why does Prince Franklin have ones our age? I though the Royal Twins were the only ones who didn't have older, more experienced Royal Guards as their personal guards?

It takes us almost ten minutes to reach the library, and Prince Franklin talks the whole way, talking about his training, his studies, his goals, asking me about my time working with the Royal Slayers, the fights I've had against ogres and corrupted, and just generally being an annoying, hyperactive prince.

The library itself is massive, taking up four floors total, and it's full of rows upon rows of shelves packed full of books. Several servants move about, returning books to their shelves, dusting things off, and just keeping the place clean and tidy in general.

Prince Franklin leads us to the fourth floor, past several study areas, and straight to a shelf in what has to be the most difficult section of the library to find because of its maze-like setup. There, he pulls a much thicker Code of the Slayer than I've seen before off the shelf. He hands it to me.

"Section One," he tells me. "Under the requirements to be a member of the Royal Slayers."

I read through, seeing the same things as usual. This book, however, also includes information for how to be a servant of theirs. Apparently, there's an entire code and rule list just for that.

I'm about to give up when I find the next part of the requirements to enter. They're not for servants.

"Part Three," I say. "'Alternative Requirements to Join the Royal Slayers of Varil'. First one's to assist the Royal Slayers in an official hunt, under official orders."

As I was under royal orders to work with the Royal Slayers, that counts under official orders according to one of the bullets under that point. I assisted them in two separate hunts, officially.

"Second one's," I say. "To prove capable of slaying mid-level ogres on my own, which is a minimum requirement for the normal route, anyway."

Which I've proven. I've killed two ogre lords, after all, and the battle to protect the city proved those weren't flukes.

"Third one," I say. "Is to be officially knighted as a Grand Knight for services performed in combat. Well, that one hasn't happened, so I'm disqualified from joining them early."

(Jason, 16)

"What?" Jacob asks, trying not to laugh, as we wipe our torsos down with towels after our training. "I cannot imagine Alex being too pleased with that!"

"He's not!" I laugh. "According to Fox Alpha, as soon as Alex returned from the lunch, he had the stuffie open a gate to the training grounds to go blow off steam. Last I checked, Alex was still releasing high-level spells and attacks one after another. He left the grounds and went troll hunting, mostly because they can take quite a few hits."

Jacob laughs again. Alex did not take being named Baron Levirar that well, especially because of his hatred for nobility, but it is funny. And ironic. I'm glad Alex didn't see me when I found out what Uncle Zach was planning, because I started laughing uncontrollably at the news.

"The best part?" I ask. "Is that Alex doesn't know it yet, but he's getting knighted as a Grand Knight."

I don't really know how knighting works on Earth, or what the requirements for it are. It's probably different, just like our nobility system here, since I know the ranks function a little differently on Midlaris from Earth.

Here, knighting can be done for exceptional service in protection of the family one is knighted for, or in exceptional military service. It doesn't matter if one is a noble or commoner, either – even people with titles can be knighted.

In Varil, it's essentially a badge of honor showing that they have done something great. While it holds no actual benefits from the title itself, many places give discounts to knights, and several organizations make exceptions for accepting Grand Knights outside of their normal requirements.

"He is?" Jacob looks at me in shock. "Why?"

"Military service," I answer. "Alex has killed two ogre lords. His presence alone changed the tide of the battle to protect Varisly a couple of weeks ago. The only reason he doesn't know yet is because how long the process takes to actually approve of someone being knighted."

"A lord's knight," Jacob says. "Is someone a lord personally knighted for services to them. They can have up to four knights at a time. A Grand Knight, on the other hand, is something different. Only royals and a select group of others possess the ability to nominate someone for Grand Knighthood. Since I named him my Royal Rival, I did not want to nominate him for Grand Knighthood, and I doubt someone else in the family would."

"Captain Enlin did," I tell him. "After the battle to protect Varilsy during the attack from the ogres and corrupted. He said that Alex's skills were exemplary, and that he went above and beyond what was required of him."

"Captain Enlin?" Jacob asks, then nods. "He is a Grand Knight himself, as well as one of the Captains of the Royal Slayers. Both of those allow him to nominate someone. It's been two weeks, too, so if you are telling me this, then Papa already approved it?"

"Yes," I answer. "Alex will be informed next week, and the knighting ceremony will take place a week after that."

The week is given to allow Alex himself to prepare for the knighthood ceremony. He will be given a rundown of how to act during it, what to say, when to move, how to move, and so on. Every day leading up to it.

It will drive him crazy. But considering it's necessary for him to join the Royal Slayers before graduating from the Royal Knight University, I know he's going to do his best not to screw it up and ruin his title.

What's also been driving him crazy was not being able to figure out what Captain Enlin's words meant. I knew what they meant, since we have a full copy of Code of the Royal Slayers at home, and there's a copy at both of our universities as well. But Alex wouldn't really believe it if I just gave him a copy of it.

So I told Uncle Zach what Alex was looking for after he informed me that Alex was going to be named as a Grand Knight. The reason I was told is because I'm apparently supposed to be there. It seems me being adopted into the royal family, even if my papa sort of left Varil, makes me qualified to attend the ceremony.

It seems all Varilan royals in the city are supposed to be present for it, and we find out the week before the one nominated does.

"Well," Jacob says. "I am happy for Alex, even if it will annoy him to no end. Joining the Royal Slayers is his goal, and now that he has had a taste of work with them, he wants it even more, from what I know."

"He does," I nod. "So this will make him happy."

We stop talking there to get a drink of water, then return back to the center of the sparring ring. I meant to show up this morning, but got focused on the enchantments for Niko and forgot. I guess it's fortunate I did that, since it gave Jacob a much-needed laugh.

Alex would probably think Jacob was making fun of him, but really, my cousin just thinks it's funny. I do, too, and I know that once Alex has time to calm down, he'll probably laugh it over. In a year or two.

Jacob and I lift the wooden training swords, then both of us jump back as a griffin cub and baby dragon decide they want to practice, too, jumping right between us and starting to wrestle. My cousin and I look at each other, then crack up laughing.

(Niko, 16)

"What is this?" I ask Belsar, indicating the strange bread I picked from the basket.

While the slice of bread possesses the darker coloration of most breads baked in these mountains, it also possesses a swirl of a darker substance, similar to the cinnamon bread Adam makes, but there also seem to be pieces of something in it as well. Small chunks of something.

"Henzika bread," the servant answers. "We knead in a blend of diced fruits form the region, then roll in a special blend of ground, dried berries. While it may be eaten alone, most either spread the butter in this dish on it to eat with it or use it to mop up their stew. I hope it is to your taste, Great Benefactor."

I glance at the dish of butter, which seems off to me, even for butter made of the stock here in the northern kingdoms, as it is slightly darker than normal butter, such as the butter they served with the rolls at dinner last night and lunch earlier today. They likely mixed it with a special seasoning to compliment the bread.

First, I tear off a small piece of the slice of bread and try it by itself. It actually tastes quite nice alone, the flavor just enough to take away the blandness of the bread, but not enough to overwhelm me. The fruit baked into it does not ruin the texture, either, the pieces cut small enough to be fine.

Then, I use a butter knife to apply a small amount of butter to one corner, which I then try. The butter does, indeed, compliment it quite nicely, and I can taste the seasoning they added to it.

I resume eating my meal, using the bread to mop up the last of the stew once I finish that. The food here tastes better than what I usually ate at the castle. The Marran royal castle, that is. There, I only ate with my family for dinner maybe once every week or two, which made it the only time I ever ate the same thing as them. They did not wish to have their disgraceful son dining with them.

Here, though, they have made sure every meal is worthy of royalty, even with their limited supplies. I made sure they do not hinder themselves with it, and I do not eat alone. Several of the elders and prodigal youth and adults dine with me right now, and they made conversation with me as we ate.

That is a change from Varil as well. There, I would either dine with King Zachary at the palace with a handful of other important people, or at the mansion, alone. I could only put up with my people being nervous of me for so long and chose to start eating in my room. Eli did start eating with me after we began drawing close together.

While he did seem to accept my leg, I know he still viewed me as broken, damaged, because of it. That is simply how people are, unable to accept those who are not whole. I still allowed his friendship, though, because it gave me company from home. But I know at the same time that he only viewed me as a pity case.

Anticipation rests on Belsar's face, and I know she wants my thoughts on the food. As the Head Chef, her desire to know their Benefactor's praise is obvious. I suppose my expression has not changed much, even though I know they accept me here.

"It was quite good, Belsar," I tell her, then take a drink of my ale. "I enjoyed it much."

"Thank you, sir," her expression lifts, happiness on her face.

With dinner finished, I stand and leave, one of the younger boys following me. Kyron, I believe his name is, and he is around eight or nine. I hadn't met him until a little before dinner, and he seems fascinated with my arm. He is one of the three most talented when it comes to magic here, and his fascination extends into wanting to be able to perform gargoyle and golem spells.

Because those are my specialties, it seems he has taken a fascination with me as a whole, and I told his mother to not stop him. She does not wish for him to offend me, but his attention makes me happy. It only adds to the feeling that I am accepted here. In Mar, I would be looked at with disgust by kids who saw my hand, the only part of my arm visible right now due to the sleeves of my tunic. But that small bit is all that is necessary, and I would have to wear a glove in Mar just to hide it.

"Benefactor?" Kyron starts his questioning up again as soon as we are away from his mother. "Is it true you can turn any part of your body between flesh and stone?"

"No," I tell him. "I didn't turn my flesh to stone, but replaced what was missing with it."

"How does the spell work?" He asks. "I read the ancient lore, and know that you made the gargoyles. They say that all you had to do was touch someone, and they turned into one. But you said you made the arm, even though it's a gargoyle's arm. Is it more like a golem's arm? Oh! I've been practicing making golems! Can I show you?"

"You may," I tell him, and he looks around. "We can go outside if you wish."

"Okay!"

We leave the castle and make our way a short distance from it, then Kyron places both hands on the ground. I sense his magics flowing into the ground, then watch as a golem rises up. It stands as tall as him, and is roughly formed of stone, gold lines marking it.

As I examine the golem, I notice a distinct similarity to my own golems. In fact…

I raise a hand and release a blast of force at the golem, and the spell impacts it, but barely does anything to the creature. The cracks formed by my attack disappear, the golem repairing the damage immediately. The lines are just like on my own golems – magical reinforcements to make it stronger than stone.

Kyron beams at seeing his golem weather my attack and quickly mend from the damage.

"Kyron," I look at him. "Where did you learn to make a golem like that? I doubt the texts here contain the information on it. Not even the gargoyles know how to make my golems, and yours resembles mine quite well."

"I came up with it!" He beams at me, chest puffed out in pride. "I read the stories about your golems from the war, Benefactor! Then I thought 'how could I do that' and tried it! They're nowhere near as good as yours, the gargoyles say, but I'm making them better! I only got them to fix themselves last week!"

"Really?" I ask, and he nods. "That is most impressive, Kyron. Why not make a deal with me?"

"A deal?" He asks.

"Yes," I smile. "A deal. You have a most impressive talent there, Kyron. Very few full-fledged mages could create a single golem that size after twenty years of practice. You are only what, eight or nine?"

"I'm ten," he mumbles, looking down. "I'm just a little small."

"I'm small, too," I put a hand on his head and ruffle his hair. "It is nothing to be ashamed of, Kyron. In fact, when I was your age, people often though I was only six or seven, I was so small."

He looks up at me in shock, and I grin at him as I pull my hand back.

"So you are bigger than I was when I was your age," I tell him. "As I was saying before that, Kyron, you are only ten, yet can perform complex spells most advanced mages cannot perform. Golem spells are difficult to cast, requiring many steps if you wish for them to function properly.

"Which is why I want to make a deal with you," I tell him. "Well, more like a contract."

"A contract?" He asks.

"Yes," I answer. "A contract. How would you like to become my apprentice? I will need an assistant for some things as I adjust to living here, and in exchange, I will help you better your golem magics."

Kyron smiles at me so wide, it is as if I just handed him the world. The past day has shown me just how different this society is to everywhere else. They accept me, even though I am not a whole man. To a child like Kyron, being taught by the Benefactor would be the greatest thing ever, regardless of how whole or broken I am.

"I accept!" He responds.