Jingle Jingle

Two bells chimed as Vianna, Viktor, and the unconscious Reivan appeared within the Prince's room.

"There you go..." Vianna laid her son gently on the bed, took out a vial of golden liquid from her spacial ring, and unceremoniously sprinkled it on the top of Reivan's head.

"!" Viktor almost jumped out of his skin when he saw what she did. He dashed forward in the hopes of moving Reivan out of the way but the back of his neck was grabbed by Vianna, tightening like a vice to stop him from going any further.

He could do nothing but watch as the drops of fluid sunk into his nephew's skin.

"What do you think you're trying to do?" Vianna raised an eyebrow as she asked in a cold tone.

"What do you think you're doing!? Why are you giving Beast King Ichor to a six-year-old!?" Viktor freed himself and turned toward his sister with an incredulous expression.

Vianna scoffed. "What's wrong? Isn't that what it's for? He's my son, hence is part of our clan. Even if it was the final vial, isn't it natural to give it to our youngest?"

"That's not what I'm mad about!"

"Then what? Also, can you not shout? My poor boy's ears might burst."

"Tch." Viktor clicked his tongue in annoyance, but still calmed himself. He spoke in a calm but firm tone. "Ichor is far too potent as a healing agent for something like this. If we'd given it to him, the vial would've been a life-saving card for when he eventually ventures into the Outlands. And yet you used it for this? He didn't even actually hit his head! The old codger just knocked him out!"

"True. There's some sense to that." Vianna nodded and then raised a finger. "But did you forget that Ichor has another effect other than its healing aspect?"

"..." Viktor's brows furrowed. He did remember. "But..."

"The Outlands are dangerous. I agree." Vianna paused, taking a deep breath first. "But a healing item is just that—a healing item. If he gets killed before he even gets to use it, it wouldn't matter if he had ten or a hundred vials of this. You know how swift deaths can happen there. A person can only be extremely lucky... or extremely dead. There is no in-between."

"...hmm." Viktor stepped back in hesitation. Rather than the logic in her words, the fact that his sister was beating him in a verbal argument was a bit jarring.

"The Ichor will hopefully facilitate a sufficient amount of growth before he sets forth. Perhaps it'll even directly unlock his Beast Form? That's what it did for us, at least." Vianna smiled as she caressed her son's face lovingly.

"Hrmm..." Viktor grunted in agreement.

"When he gets enough strength and power that every enemy just dies before they get a hit in, what need will he have for healing items?"

"That's true..." Viktor nodded, fully convinced now. Though he couldn't help but feel that her last statement was a bit too muscle-brained. "But won't the Ichor's energy be too much for him?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Didn't I drink about a gallon of this stuff when I was ten? It having too much energy is just a tall tale that father told everyone so they wouldn't drink it like wine." Vianna smirked as she thought back to the past. When she was still a young pup, she stumbled upon their father's secret stash while she was out exploring. She didn't know what the golden liquid did, but it tasted delicious, so she just kept chugging the stuff like no tomorrow. The horrified look on her father's face when he walked in to find her with a bloated stomach and countless empty vials on the floor was priceless.

The vial she'd just given Reivan was the final vial that managed to remain after Vianna ransacked the place.

"Urgh..." Reivan groaned, beginning to regain consciousness.

"Oh." Vianna's eyes widened in surprise as she used her Qi to block her son's ears. She turned towards her big brother. "Nobody tells Rodin about this, are we clear?"

She made sure to send a glance toward the two maids standing silently in the corners of the room.

"Mm..." Viktor nodded hesitantly.

Sensing his hesitation, Vianna sighed. She said, "Look, I know Rodin's thoughts, and I appreciate them. I do. I even agree with some of them, which is why I haven't done any training with Reivan up til now. But Reivan isn't human. Not fully, at least. There is a beast within him, and its fangs grow duller by the day. Humans have their ways, and we have ours. You can't forget that."

"I haven't." Viktor sighed as he let the tension release from his shoulders. Vianna had now completely won him over with her reasoning.

"Good." Vianna nodded in satisfaction. "I'll still try to comply as best as I can with what he wants. I won't teach him Battle arts... though just the strength he obtains from Beast Form can already be considered a sort-of Battle technique... A-anyways! That's that. We can't delay awakening his instincts, or else he might never do so. The human side of him seems particularly dominant after all."

"Mm. He's too smart. Almost as if..." Viktor's forehead creased as he stared at his nephew dubiously.

"It's fine. Roland was smart for his age too. And I heard Rodin was the same when he was younger." Vianna waved it off casually. "Perhaps it's in their bloodline? How else could Aizen have wise Kings every single time?"

"That might be it..." Viktor's expression eased as he sighed for the umpteenth time today.

Vianna removed the Qi she used to block Reivan's ears as she stroked his head.

"My son, are you okay?"

*****

"Urgh..." Reivan groaned as he woke up.

Before he could even wonder what happened, he was startled to find a string of notification windows in his vision, even though his eyes were closed.

You have successfully endured a mental attack from a [Transcendent]! Certain conditions have been fulfilled. [Indomitable Willpower] Sub-Skill #2 has been unlocked! You have used the medicine: [Beast King's Ichor] The potency of this medicine surpasses anything you have ever used!

[Beast King's Ichor] has been [Memorized]! [Beast King's Ichor] has unlocked your Racial Ability: [Beast Gate]

[Beast King's Ichor] has increased your body's growth rate by 20% for the next (1 year and 6 months)

The Beast King's blood dwells within your veins.

All wounds will heal much faster and stamina will regenerate rapidly for the next (1 year and 6 months).

[Beast King's Ichor] has bestowed upon you its elemental affinity!

You already have [Ice] affinity. This effect is nulled. You have successfully consumed an Upper-low grade Drug! Certain conditions have been fulfilled. [Drug Memorization] Sub-Skill #2 has been unlocked!

'Woah... My Indomitable Willpower just evolved earlier, and it already did so again? Wait, I was attacked by a Transcendent?! How am I still alive then?'

Reivan was really curious about that, however, his attention was quickly drawn by the other notifications.

'Beast King's Ichor...? Oh, maybe it was given to me so I could heal from the Transcendent's attack? Is that it?'

In any case, he decided to worry about the Transcendent later. If the person had really wanted him dead, he probably would be. He was just a weak little mortal after all.

The pleasant feeling of what he assumed to be his Mother's hand stroking his head also set his mind at ease.

Let's see what changed.

Special Ability:

[Indomitable Willpower]

Passive:

My Will shall not shatter.

It shall not waver.

It is Eternal.

All attacks to the mind will be endured without suffering damage.

Mind control abilities are nullified, at the cost of being more stubborn.

Upon death, can remain as a [Soul Form](This can only be used once.).

Sub-Skill #1 - [Formless Will] Active: This unit can use its willpower to influence energy and objects around it. Creatures or objects with wills of their own are affected less. (This does not consume any energy) Sub-Skill #2 - [Intent] (New!) Strong desires and intentions affect this unit's body. Sub-Skill #3 - [???] ! This Ability Has Not Been Unleashed Yet !

'That doesn't explain much...' Reivan inwardly shook his head in exasperation. What else could he do when his [Supreme Insight] kept being vague?

Nothing. He could only cry out in injustice.

'Guess I'll just have to test it out through trial and error. Like the Sub-Skill #1 that I haven't even tried out yet.'

Cursing in his heart, Reivan looked at his other new Sub-Skill.

Special Ability:

[Drug Memorization]

Passive:

This unit gradually memorizes Drugs that it uses or ingests, whether internally or externally.

Drugs that have been [Memorized] are affected by [Drug Memorization]'s Sub Skills.

Sub-Skill #1 - [Effect Reproduction] Can reproduce the effect of any drug that this unit has [Memorized].

Can also increase or decrease the potency of its effects. Sub-Skill #2 - [Drug Creation] (New!) This unit can create drugs combining the effects of [Memorized] drugs.

This unit's blood is used as the catalyst. Sub-Skill #3 - [Effect Immunity] Passive: Gains immunity to a [Memorized] drug's effect.

Active: Select which effects this unit becomes immune to, and which will still be in effect.

'Oh!?' Reivan almost jumped from wherever he was lying down. 'Wait, isn't this actually broken?'

If he found some sort of forbidden elixir that did anything from a temporary to a permanent increase in power, he'd be able to use it anytime he wanted. He wouldn't even have to worry about the consequences since his [Effect Immunity] would nullify the negatives.

Reivan would also be able to produce the wonder drug without the consequences, all for the price of some blood!

He even had various medicines from the modern world memorized. Although they were mostly to treat his illness, they were still top-quality stuff from a technologically superior civilization. That had to count for something, right?

This would be an enormous help to Aizen! Perhaps he'd be able to ease a lot of his father's worries.

"My son, are you okay?"

Reivan was snapped out of his excitement by his mother's pleasant voice.

"Eh, ah. Yes. I'm fine." he sat up and smiled in reassurance. Reivan held his head, making it seem like he had a bit of a headache. "Mother, did someone attack me?"

""!?"" Bothe Vianna and Viktor's shoulders stiffened. But both completely recovered in an instant.

"Wh-what makes you say that...?" Vianna asked gently.

"Just a feeling."

You have used [Essence of Falsehood]

"I-is that so...?" Her head tilted in confusion as Vianna replied.

"You don't have to worry about it. It wasn't done in malice, Rein." his uncle voiced from the side.

"I see..." Reivan nodded in understanding.

'Was it the Sword Star? I've heard a lot about him, but we've never met. The first thing he does is attack me? His personality is a bit...'

"Then what about this weird feeling on my head? It's a bit wet..."

"Wh-why do you have so many questions? Huh?" Vianna couldn't help but pinch her son's cheek, a bit annoyed at how perceptive he was.

"Muverr staph..." Despite his cheeks being clutched by his mother, Reivan tried to continue his inquisition. "Ar der mor uf dat?"

"Speak properly," Vianna said as she let go of his cheeks.

"I said, are there more of that?" Reivan massaged his cheeks as he tried to ask in the cutest way he could. His mother was a sucker for his cuteness.

"H-hm..." Vianna's cheeks twitched as she tried not to smile. "There aren't. That was the last drop."

"Yeah, you're mother drank it all when she was young." Viktor piped up while smirking.

"Hey!" Vianna exclaimed as her hands turned into a blur, sending a blow toward her brother.

"Wahaha!" Viktor chortled as his form vanished and reappeared near the window. "Well, I'll be going now. I forgot that I haven't written a report yet. Vianna, I'm sure you haven't done so either, so don't dally here and get back to work."

Leaving those words behind, Aizen's strongest knight disappeared again.

"That bastard..." Vianna gritted her teeth and scowled at the spot where her brother had vanished.

"Mom, you drank it all?" Reivan asked as he tilted his head while his eyes widened in mock surprise. He was actually quite amused on the inside. The relationship between his mother and Viktor reminded him of his relationship with Kyouka. They just messed with each other in turns.

Although it seemed to Reivan that Vianna was the dominant sibling.

"Th-thats..." Vianna looked away in embarrassment, but she couldn't bear to lie to her son too much. She sighed as she nodded. "Yes... I drank a little too much when I was ten years old..."

"I see." Reivan nodded, but then he brought his face even closer, his eyes full of curiosity. "Are there other medicines like that?"

"Other medicine...?" Vianna blinked in confusion.

"Yeah! Like, ones that make you stronger, or faster, or smarter!"

She stroked her chin in thought. "Hmm. I don't think so. The only medicine I know of are those used to treat illnesses. Those people from the church might know about medicine like that, since they're really enthusiastic about finding ways to make people healthier and whatnot."

'Alright, let's make meeting someone from the church a priority when I can walk around on my own.'

Vianna continued, "But as far as I know, there aren't any weird medicine like that. Otherwise, they would've already told us about it."

"Why? Couldn't they hide it from you as, like a secret weapon?" Reivan asked.

"Oh no. They're not that secretive. Besides, if Aizen loses, plenty of people wi--" Vianna's eyes widened as she realized what she was about to say. She unconsciously covered her mouth to prevent herself from saying any more.

'Damn. I was just about to find something out...'

While cursing inwardly at his luck, Reivan reached up to hug his mother and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Mother!"

Vianna's lips curled into a smile as she turned to look at her son. His cheeky smile was cute too. Her face swooped in to nuzzle against Reivan's plump cheek. "You little!"

"Ahaha!"

The warm tickling feeling on his face made him unable to control his laughter.

Knock Knock

The mother and child were interrupted by someone entering the room.

'Huh? They're just gonna go in?'

Only his family members would do that, but since his father was busy and his mother and uncle never used the door anyway, that meant...

"Hm? It seems your big brother has come to visit." Vianna stated, not even turning around to look at the door. "He even brought his future wife and some... kids? I don't recognize them..."

"Kids?" Reivan peeled his face from Vianna's as he turned toward the door. His brother, Roland, entered. As their eyes met, Roland's face morphed into a smile as he waved in greeting.

"Hey there, Rei--"

"I heard Lady Vianna was here!" Stella pushed past Roland and squealed when she saw Vianna, but then she quickly knelt and groveled before her. "Oh my god! Where were my manners!? I-i-it's an honor to m-meet you, Your Majesty!"

"Oh? Aren't you the Mercer family's poster child? Hello." Vianna smiled with grace and poise, making Reivan's eyes widen as he did a double-take. "Come, sit. Also, you don't have to be so stiff. You'll be joining the Royal Family soon, no? When my husband retires, you shall be the queen. You don't have to do this. Please, stand."

'Who is this and what did she do to my mother!?'

"M-Mother...? What happened to yo-- mrmph!"

Reivan's inquiry was interrupted when his mouth was stuffed with his mother's tail.

"..." Roland turned away, trying his best not to laugh.

"Y-yes! Thank you! I-I've wanted to meet you for such a long time now! C-can I please sh-sh-shake your hand...?" Stella reluctantly stood while staring at Vianna with star-struck eyes.

"Fufu. Of course." Vianna held her hand out. Stella's hand trembled as she reached forward to grasp onto Vianna's.

Smiling in bliss, Stella muttered, "I'll never wash this hand again..."

"Fufu." Vianna giggled. "I like you, you're funny. Take care of Roland, okay?"

"Yeah!" Reivan spat out his mother's tail and cheerfully said, "You gotta help him out!"

"O-of course..." Stella blushed as she sent a look toward Roland. "I'll keep him in line."

"Both of you...? Am I that bad?" Roland muttered in protest, a strained smile on his face.

"So, who are these?" Vianna gestured toward the children, who'd been abandoned by the door.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Stella exclaimed as she lightly struck her forehead.

"Don't just forget about them..." Roland shook his head in exasperation as he turned toward the two children. "Hector, Helen. Don't just stand there, come in. Everyone here is nice."

"Really?" The young boy, Hector, raised an eyebrow as his eyes curiously wandered around the room.

"Mm." A young girl behind Hector nodded with an expressionless face as she walked toward Stella's side, not minding the stares from the people inside.

"These are Hector and Helen. They're twins and Stella's cousins." Roland explained.

'Oh, wow. These two would've taken the modern world by storm if they worked as child models.'

They both had the same dark hair and eyes as Stella. Just like their older cousin, both had pearly white skin. Their features hadn't fully developed yet, however one could already glimpse how beautiful they would grow up to be.

Roland knelt down and patted Hector's shoulder as the boy's head continued to swivel around. "Father said that it might be a good idea to let him play with some kids his age. So he asked me to visit the Mercer Manor to see if they were up for it."

"I see..." Vianna nodded in satisfaction, finding Rodin's actions wise. "And Sarina allowed it?"

"Oh! Me! I can answer! Her Majesty must already be aware of this, but the Matriarch is a bit.. uhm, stubborn? Stiff? However, she's the Royal family's yes-woman. She agreed immediately when Roland said it was His Majesty's idea." Stella raised her hand as she answered enthusiastically, eager for more chances to talk with her idol.

"Hm. Is that so..." Vianna's spine tingled for some reason. She couldn't help but feel like her marriage was in danger. Even though she'd known that the Matriarch of the Mercer family was very loyal to the crown, she'd never had the opportunity to meet her. Vianna had no interest in politics and would usually venture out to hunt in the Outlands.

She decided that she would investigate this woman.

Hector stepped forward and beamed as he greeted. "Hello! I'm Hector! This is my sister Helen. She's quiet but she's nice. Nice to meet you!"

"H-Hector! Where are your manners!" Stella almost jumped out of her skin at Hector's lack of decorum. Roland was somewhat fine since he was her betrothed and already acquainted with the twins, but there were two other members of Royalty here.

"It's fine, I don't mind." Vianna giggled as she waved it off. She looked toward Reivan and asked, "I don't think Rein cares either. Right?"

"Mm." Reivan nodded and then hopped out of his mother's embrace. He flashed a smile while waving his hand in greeting. "I'm Reivan, but you can just call me Rein. Let's be friends!"

"Yeah~!"

"Mm."

Hector raised his hands up and cheered as his sister meekly nodded with a small smile on her face.