Ceres and Wura sat at a table with Cordelia as they discussed the state of the world, rising clothing prices, the number of classes Kyrion skipped while attending the academy, and how many of his teachers were worried that he was falling behind in places. When Kyrion arrived, he’d have a lot of explaining to do. Sadly Kyrion was still hopping around the city looking for his mother and had not been able to explain himself.

“Ah right and that’s when he skipped his water manipulation class to go cheer on his friend Max who was participating in his tamer’s tournament. He only got number two, but it was a success given his previous showings. Shakalot proved to be a good partner for combat. A chipmunk that accidentally ate a magical walnut and gained the ability to channel lightning mana.”

“A walnut that gives animals magic. Where would a chipmunk find something like that?”

“Oh right. Kyrion can create nuts that give animals powers. Though he keeps him for himself. Max has to pay a hundred Academy Points, to use them.”

“A hundred sounds like a lot.” Cordelia crossed her arms.

“It is. But it’s to make sure that Max takes good care of the creatures he does have at his disposal.”

“Hopefully he has a family discount available. He missed Six to seven birthdays afterall.”

“Kyrion does not bend, even to family.” Ceres stated.

“He’s flexible. On a serious note if Kyrion can make monsters stronger then he’ll probably be able to stop the bottleneck tamers tend to face early on. Guess I’ll have to speak with an old friend.” Cordelia tutted.

Wura looked at Ceres suspiciously. “Are you trying to get Kyrion in trouble?”

“Master in trouble? I’m just informing his mother of all the fun he’s been having at the academy.”

“You mean how he’s been doing the bare minimum and hiding from anything that would give him more responsibilities?”

“I don’t see it like that. A lot of people want him so the weaker he seems the less they care about chasing him down before he’s worth capturing..”

‘“Do you think he’s learning anything at that school?” Cordelia asked.

“He’s learned how to lie.” Ceres shrugged.

“He could always lie. But he had a tell he’d get a familiar look in his eye. Almost as though it was shining.”

“Yeah. That eye was replaced by a prosthetic hence the eyepatch.” Ceres squirmed.

“I know. It’s my fathers eye. He never told me what it was for, he just called it annoying.”

“Sounds familiar. I guess it was just a replacement.” Ceres shrugged.

“I really thought he’d get another affinity from it given what the others said.” Wura seemed surprised.

Cordelia sighed. “My father had a lot of secrets. Most of which were things he didn’t get around to speaking about. Mostly because they were questions I didn’t know to ask.”

“How did your father lose his eye? I only know the bits that Charles told me.” Ceres asked.

“To a sword wielding maniac with a thing for collecting unique eyes. The way my father told it, the two fought for five months straight without rest and it was a stalemate before they made a deal.”

“What was the deal? And why does that sound familiar.” Ceres asked.

“He laughed whenever I asked that question. Still don’t know what it was about.”

“Five months straight. I know who you’re talking about but still it shouldn’t be possible.”

.

“Your dad was there. He’s also the reason why….”

Boom

“Found you. Mother, we need to talk.” Kyrion said as he landed on the road with a loud crash. Many looked his way and went the opposite direction choosing not to be near the leaping spirit master.

“Where Illanda?” Cordelia squinted.

“Here.” Said a weak voice from behind Kyrion. A small hand reaching upwards could be seen.

A few ragged breaths later, she pulled herself over Kyrion’s shoulder. “I thought I was going to die. Horses don’t move that fast. They also don’t leap through the air like a mad man!”

“You can fly already?.” Cordelia stated.

“Jumping off platforms of wind. Flying traditionally is a bit sketchy. I have two speeds. Fast and not moving.”

“That’s good and all. But why are you here? You want something don’t you?” Cordelia’s gaze softened.

“I want you to tell me the truth. You’ve lied to me about a lot of things.”

“No, there are very few lies I’ve told you, most of which isn’t your burden to bear. Bill Jr was actually in his early thirties when you were born. Though he didn’t want you calling him old like you call everyone else old. You did it anyway….” Cordelia stopped herself from going further.

“Will you answer my questions?” Kyrion asked, his focus not letting him get distracted.

“Depends on the question. You’re old enough to make your own decisions, more or less.” Cordelia nodded as Kyrion didn’t bat an eye at the blatant attempt to warn him away.

“Now, don’t lie. This sounds good but no more tricks.”

“I’ll tell you. A chance meeting like this may not occur again in my lifetime.” Cordelia pulled out a flask and poured a good amount of brown liquid into her tea. Not altering its color in the slightest.

Kyrion eyed his mother suspiciously before asking. “Is father dead and if not do you know where he is?”

Cordelia took a sip of the liquid before a tired gaze looked up at Kyrion. “No he is not dead. His current whereabouts are unknown to most. I do know that he brought the refugees into the forest of dreams. Everything after that is a mystery. We haven’t spoken since the attack began. I know he is alive because this is still intact.” Cordelia flashed her wedding ring.

“What’s so special about that?” Kyrion looked at the piece of bronze.

“My wedding ring. There is an enchantment on it. Till death do us part. If one of us were to die the ring’s gem would split in half, until then the gem is unbreakable and the ring can’t be lost.” Cordelia threw the ring across the street, and it disappeared, reappearing on her ring finger.

“Huh. That makes a lot of sense. Very practical.” Kyrion was dumbstruck as he realized how he could use something similar to a healer to check vitals.

“It’s a common enchantment that also works as an object that can’t be stolen. Technically it’s a form of curse.” Cordelia rubbed the gem in the center.

“Why haven’t you looked for them? Dad and the villagers I mean.”

“Kyrion. I’m weak now. My body is stronger than a normal humans but without mana making a trip like this alone is suicide. Going onto hallowed ground in my state is beyond even that. He probably didn’t go too far as it seems the Northern Orc tribes haven’t been conquered.”

“Where were you?” Kyrion asked.

“I won’t say.” Cordelia said quickly.

“Why?” Kyrion raised an eyebrow.

“I won’t say.” Cordelia took a long sip.

“Why did we live as commoners when we’re technically nobles?”

“Oh that? Because I was supposed to be executed and since I did a favor for the empire I was forced into political hiding.” Cordelia seemed nonplussed.

Kyrion’s eyes bulged. “Executed? What did you do?”

“Kyrion, what do you know of the Dancing Skeleton?” Cordelia steepled her fingers.

“It was a contagious plague that spread like wildfire and caused many on the eastern side of the continent to decompose while alive and unaware. It infected millions of people in the republic and led to a combined effort to contain those affected. Apparently the plague was created by the Death Tyrant.”

“So you are learning things in your school. I’m glad to hear. Ceres made it seem like you skipped all your lessons.” Cordelia steepled her fingers.

“I only attend when they have something to teach me. Why would you bring that up? The plague died after a few years. That was over thirty years ago.”

“When my brother was killed during the war. The republic sold his body and used it in a ritual to place the soul of an ally inside the corpse and bring them back to life. That man in my brother’s body killed my sister in law and caused the distraction that led to my father losing his arm. My brother was my twin and his death shook me in a way that drove me insane for a while. Life lost its weight on my conscience as I worked to end the war as quickly as possible. And as recompense the republic ordered my public execution on grounds of a ceasefire. Of course I’m not dead. That’s a story you’d need to ask your father for.” Cordelia finished the mostly brandy at this point and poured some more from the flask into the teacup.

Kyrion didn’t say anything. Instead, Kyrion’s eyes seemed to be saddened at the tale.

“This world is flawed. The strong prosper and the weak face a fate worse than death.If you aren’t leading your being used as fodder. I will never regret my actions that day. I will never forgive the king of the Beastblood Empire that wears the flesh of my brother. I devoted the years before you were born on creating a weapon that could tear souls from a body. Under the castle of Necropolis should you make it there you should find the schematics for the rune work on such a weapon. But thats in a long time from now.”

“That’s the same person that was after my body.” Kyrion’s gaze sharpened.

“After your body? Are you sure? You may need that weapon sooner rather than later then.”

Kyrion explained his involvement with the agents sent by the beast blood empire.

Cordelia was unsurprised. “for you, anyone attempting to do so would have to take your body would have to break through two lines of defense.”

“Why is that?”

Cordelia shrugged. “Just repeating something an old friend said.”

“Ok. Does it have something to do with the hobo in my head?”

“A hobo?”

“Freeloader. Menace. Crazy man. Whatever.” Kyrion reiterated.

“Oh that’s you. Do you know about alchemy?” Cordelia asked.

“More or less. I’m not an expert.” Kyrion shrugged.

“Do you know the difference between a compound and a mixture?”

“Yes. The first can’t be reversed while the latter can.”

“Right. The person in your head is a like oil while you are water. While both wet in degrees, something is preventing you both from mixing properly. When you reach a certain level of power you will slowly become similar in make-up and eventually become a compound but until then you are two souls mostly inhabiting a body.”

“So I can’t kick him out.”

“Why would you want to kick yourself out?”

“He’s different. I bet he’s the type that enjoys tearing the wings off butterflies.”

“You know us so well,” Psycho whispered in Kyrion’s head.

Kyrion’s visible eye bulged.

“You did do that once when you were around four. That was when your hair turned black. You also started acting like an angsty teen huffing about. Had me thinking you got a hold of Curella’s old romance novels and used it as reading practice.”

“I don’t remember that.” Kyrion searched his memory.

There was nothing but a whistling sound in his head as the memories were being kept away from him.

“I was a bit confused back then.” Psycho said shyly.

“So he’s active right now?”

“Too active. He keeps trying to fight my battles or make me do stupid things. I can feel him clawing for control at times and cringing when I do something he doesn’t agree with.” Kyrion said, his eyebrows scrunched up.

“Stupid things like what?” Cordelia asked.

“He wanted me to leave the kids out of the picture when I had lunch with Nicole. My brain is too tired for all the things she’ll try to fill my head with.” Kyrion admitted.

“He’s talking about a date right?” Cordelia asked Wura.

“It could go either way with those two. Both are a few minutes short of a baked cake.” Wura shrugged.

“Who is this Nicole to you?” Cordelia asked.

“We’re friends, she helped me remember how to read.” Kyrion said with a monotone.

“You mean to learn.” Cordelia corrected.

“It didn’t feel like I was learning something new. Like something I’d already spent time doing and was just regaining memory of. Anyhow I’m thankful to her and glad we’re friends but I don’t know if I can trust her. I get that she was in hiding and I didn’t bother to ask. But it would have been nice not to be the last person to learn that one of their good friends was a princess. Or a girl though that aspect doesn’t change much.” Kyrion seemed a bit bored by the conversation.

“Everyone lies, Kyrion. That’s just the way things go, princesses have a responsibility and hers involved staying hidden you can’t fault her for doing what she needed to do.”

“She also keeps a few strands of my hair in a box that preserves freshness. Apparently it was to track me down when I get lost but… It kinda creeps me out.”

“So she’s a little creepy?” Cordelia asked.

“Hmmmm… The hairs on my neck stand up when she’s nearby and my heart beats irregularly. Like I need to escape the jaws of a predator. At least that’s what it feels like when she’s staring at me for two long.”

“Kyrion, do you have a crush?” Wura asked, aghast.

“I didn’t crush anybody. Well not lately.” Kyrion proclaimed.

“No… that’s either fear or confusion. When hunting a gazelle, if you startle it, it isn’t thinking about who you are, it’s getting to the safest place it can find without turning back. Nicole startled Kyrion and now he’s running for his life. Acting like a prey animal. Honestly, If you’re not overthinking this then she sounds obsessive which probably means you should be careful. No harems you got that.”

“I think that’s too late. I’m already in one.” Kyrion said unabashedly.

“You already have a harem? With who? Please explain.” Cordelia wasn’t sure she knew her son anymore. When did he become such a fiend? I mean, he still had her looks and his grandfather’s stature.

“Let’s see. There’s Max, Tiffany, Bella, Ceres, Cecil, Ander, Brion, Raven, and Freya.”

“Isn’t Brion the son Vicount Forest? You’re including boys in your harem? I’m not against it its just a bit progressive.”

“My harem? No, it’s Cecil’s harem. I don’t run anything. I’m trying to get Bella and Bastion in on it as well.”

“Ceres? Are you really apart of this harem?” Wura asked with worry.

“I think so.” Ceres tapped her chin.

“Kyrion for the love of all that is holy. Do you know what a harem is?”

“It’s a group of people who get along. Almost like a team and since Cecil kept complaining about it I got my friends to join his harem as well.”

A sigh passed over the table as Cordelia temporarily pushed her empty cup away.

“Why was I even worried?”

“Did you run out?”

“Back on topic. This Nicole seems to be the obsessive type. Many tragedies begin or end with obsession. I won’t tell you to stay away from your friend, but you should be clear on where you stand.

“Uncle Kyrion you just had to say that the lady was scary. We would have saved you.” Illanda patted Kyrion on the back.

“Uncle? That’s. Why does she keep calling me uncle?”

“Oh that. It’s because she’s Jr’s and Samantha’s daughter.” Cordelia said unbothered.

“But the’re siblings!” Kyrion’s jaw dropped in surprise.

Cordelia slapped herself on the forehead, which hurt, so she smacked Kyrion on the forehead.

“This wasn’t a lie. You just don’t listen. Samanta and Jr got married, she became your sister in law. A year later Illanda was born while they were away on their honeymoon.”

“Oh. Ohhhh.” Kyrion remembered calling Samanta his big sister, and she used to correct him by saying in law. Then he kept getting on her nerves when she corrected him, so she stopped doing so.

“Wait. Why didn’t they get their own room then?”

“They did and then Illanda was born and well she was a bit clingy.”

“Hey!” Illanda said, still clinging to Kyrion’s back.

“You were a baby. To be fair you didn’t like leaving your mothers side for a while and Kyrion needed someone to keep an eye on him after he started sleep walking and falling off the bed.”

“I don’t sleepwalk.” Kyrion stated

The teacup was empty again, and Cordelia pulled out her flask, which was also empty.

“What are you drinking?” Kyrion asked.

“Burning Liver brandy. But I’m out now. So I guess you should get your last few questions over with.”

“What do I need to do to help you?” Kyrion asked with a straight face.

“You can’t help me, Kyrion. I no longer have a core for mana. It was put into you hence your dilemma. You have too much mana for someone your age and rank and it’s only been growing. Don’t worry about a villain like me who would only use their reawakened powers for bloodshed and vengeance.”

“How would I help someone that isn’t you in a similar situation?”

“There is a sealed tomb that can only be entered by practitioners under the age of twenty in Clomonis. Inside there is a slate known as a reawakening tablet. It allows the user to reawaken their spirits and evolve them but it sets them back to the beginning of their tier. For someone like me it would bring me back to the start of the expert rank. But it would be a waste. It shines for those who are young and in need of it most. The tablet can be used six times before it becomes inert for ten years. There are multiple but each participant in the trial may only take one in their lifetime. You don’t need something like that.”

“So It can be used to make my friends stronger. And I can use it as an excuse to get out of class!” Kyrion hugged his mother and stood up.

Ceres shook her head. “You need to return to school first, let’s use the transportation shrines!”

Kyrion winced. “Fine. Let’s go talk to Gamodren. He should be about done.”

Before leaving the area, Kyrion handed a note to a seamstress with a red scarf around her neck.

“Mark has a weird mole under his nose. I told him that it needed to be lanced but he didn’t listen. Now the mole seems to have grown and is in dire need of a surgeon. It’s a shame there aren’t that many who can accomplish such a job.” Kyrion said in code.

“Poor Mark. I’ll ask around and see if we can find a surgeon suitable for the job.”

“Good good.” Kyrion smiled and left.

“What did you do? That made no sense.” Illanda asked.

“Why aren’t you with grandma?” Kyrion replied.

“She’s boring and you’re up to something. You sure took to calling her that fast.”

“A slip of the tongue. I may end up in a fight sooner or later so you’d be in the way.”

“Doubt it. I can help”

“No you can’t. It’s been serious. Everywhere I go I can sense people watching me.” Kyrion said honestly.

“...uh.” Illanda mumbled as she looked for the words.

“What?”

“That’s crazy. You should go see the doctors.” Illanda ordered.

“I’ll consider it. In fact, I’m headed toward a hospital right now. Noah should be up now.” Kyrion vanished from his niece’s sight.