The Prince of Demons

Nil

Krahinn was still nowhere to be found. It's odd for him to vanish for a few days without saying anything about it in advance. I checked Ygdazi a few times, but I was told curtly by several <Eternals> that Krahinn was not there. Where did he go? I kind of wanted to check Phestia, but I had no idea how to go there safely nor how to Realm hop other than between Tenebrae and Ygdazi. I was kind of concerned about where he vanished to. What is this important for him to vanish like this? Krahinn might've liked being a jerk, but he was pretty good about making sure I knew when to not bother looking for him. Papa seemed quite distressed by his sudden disappearance, but didn't clarify what had him on edge. He also asked me to check on him before I noticed he vanished, so he clearly talked to him before it happened. Why wouldn't he inform me of what transpired before my <Totem> vanished?

Whatever happened motivated Papa to train me personally for the last few days. I informed him I had been working on <Warping Ward> which is what got me where I currently was. The training room we were in was hanging on for dear life as Papa conjured <Spell> after <Spell> to test my <Warping Ward>. Was his casting getting faster? Crap. It was a deluge of something similar to the lance <Spell> the Void King used; at his current pace it was only a matter of time until I couldn't maintain this <Technique>. The speed of the lances made why this <Technique> was so useful obvious because there was no way I was moving them with my <Space Magic> before they hit me. How many times was Papa going to repeat this <Spell> before I got a break? We had been at this for eleven minutes and twenty-nine seconds at this point. There was so much dust and debris in the air it was getting difficult to breathe.

Time after time Papa launched lances at me; it felt like he kept repeating a loop on me ceaselessly. Hold on, was it possible for me to make a time loop? Theoretically I possessed the <Magic> capable of it. I should ask Krahinn when he returned, as he would know if I managed it before. My concentration slipped, so one of Papa's lances got uncomfortably close as the space relaxed a bit. That was too close for comfort. My ability to see the oncoming attacks was completely gone at this point. Papa, being the ever benevolent being, decided to throw a mix up in, launching a massive blast of fire at me. Shiza. I switched from <Warping Ward> to <Dark Nebula>, feeling the heat skyrocket the temperature around me. Maintaining this defense was exhausting. I get why I need to be able to do it, but his lessons are brutal. Papa was being much stricter than usual which was putting me a bit on edge. He's usually like this if I'm in trouble, but this is unprovoked and Krahinn is missing. Something told me that the reason that Krahinn was currently missing in action was why Papa was being so strict in training me at the moment; he wanted me to be ready for something. The issue was what did he want me to be ready for? If it could sideline Krahinn for over a day, what could I possibly do?

"Your control slipped there for a moment, is there a reason?" Papa inquired in an unusually strict tone. He may have been trying to keep a calm façade, but his nerves were seeping through enough for me to notice.

"I had an idea I wanted to test later. I am not sure if it is possible, but it might be a <Magic> worth seeing if it is possible." I explained. Papa had a complicated expression as he looked at me before he sighed.

"What is the idea?" Papa probed. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he took a few composing breaths.

"Is it possible for me to create a time loop? Or maybe capture a moment in time and repeat it over and over again?" I asked. I knew I had been able to replay Mahdi's assault with my <Arcane Eye>, but was it possible for me to do more?

"Could you elaborate?" Papa requested, sounding intrigued by the idea I was discussing. Hopefully it could distract him from whatever had him so tense.

"I am able to somewhat replay events I have seen to look at them as many times as I want, but as you were attacking me it occurred to me time loops are a concept. If I hit someone with an attack, can I use my <Spacetime Magic> to repeat the event several times to inflict even more damage? In theory it should at least be possible, but I am unsure of how difficult the idea would be to implement." I elaborated for him. Papa mulled it over for a few moments.

"I am unsure; the idea sounds feasible at least. For now, simply note the idea as it is not what we will be practicing today." Papa instructed me. Fair enough.

Before I could try to discuss it a little more before resuming my torturous lessons, an upset Uncle Nox appeared in the training room. He seemed a bit dismayed I was currently here, but had an expression that made it obvious that he wanted to talk to Papa. Papa looked between us with a heavy sigh as he debated which took higher priority. After a few moments, Papa gave me a gesture that definitely meant to train on my own as he helped Uncle Nox. I wonder what my uncles have been fighting so intensely about? I know Uncle Nez was unofficially offered to be dean of the new Institute of Mages Academy if it gets built here. Something about it had the two of them arguing almost nonstop. It seemed like such a good opportunity for Uncle Nez, so what was causing them to disagree so vehemently over it?

The two of them left me to my own devices as they vanished with a <Warp>. What should I practice? Papa seemed to be focusing on defensive <Techniques> and <Magic>. Why? Should I try to find Krahinn again? Something told me that my luck on that front wouldn't overly improve. With nothing better to do, I decided to practice my <Toughening>. As I focused on my <Toughening>, I wondered about my next date with Luna. She seemed a lot more relaxed after her encounter with Utol; part of me found that odd as I know my encounter with her motivated me to train like a demon possessed. I guess her meeting was more of an accident rather than nearly getting collected by her. I shook my head a little bit because that was not relevant. I mean, it was relevant just not to planning a date with her.

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What was there to do? There was a festival or something in a day or so, right? I had no idea what it was for, if I recalled correctly it began after Temple, but Luna tended to like that kind of activity more than anything else. Maybe have a song or two to play for her on backup just in case the festival was boring? It wouldn't hurt to learn a few more songs. I needed to ask Mom about it when I was free in a bit to see if it was possible to arrange for that. That didn't take me anywhere near as long to plan as I would've hoped. Where's Krahinn? Something about his sudden absence was eating at me. Vanishing into thin air like this was uncharacteristic of him; Papa also seemed extra tense with his mysterious disappearance. What could the two of them discussed before this happened? Papa clearly took over training for Krahinn in the meantime. What event did the two discuss? My mind went to Magus Supreme Praecan as she was the only new thing in recent memory. Well, there was also Luna accidentally meeting Utol, but intentionally seeking out Lords did not strike me as something Krahinn would do or overly care for.

So, what about Magus Supreme Praecan got Krahinn's attention? There was a litany of <Magic> that old bird could do that might have given him information that piqued his interest. Which one did it? Was it something about her offer? But Papa wanted me to check Ygdazi for him, not search on Tenebrae. What was on Ygdazi that would concern her? That was the part I was struggling to grasp the most as Ygdazi had <Eternals> and pretty much nothing else. Wait, wasn't the compendium Krahinn refused to let me see on Ygdazi? If Krahinn went to check something in the compendium, why would that sideline him for so long? The time dilation between here and there should have taken him two hours on Tenebrae tops to do some cursory reading. Was he looking for something buried deep? What was he researching? Was he hoping for some note or insight left behind? I failed to see how her offer was the first step in some nefarious scheme. She seems awfully desperate for it to be a ruse; the Void King also exterminated everything he touched just to be safe. Maybe I was just being naïve?

Reading people was never a strong suit of mine, which let me know Papa had to be severely stressed by Krahinn's sudden disappearance. The only issue from here was what to do? Just hope Krahinn resurfaced all on his own? I highly doubt anything short of the Void King or Hoggdin could even minorly inconvenience him. Which only increased my concern as to why Krahinn was suddenly nowhere to be found. What could he have been looking into? Did he get into a spat with Papa and was just hiding somewhere to cool off? That didn't sound like him as Krahinn so far proved to be highly confrontational whenever something or someone annoyed him. Was I thinking about the issue wrong? I just assumed Magus Supreme Praecan was what Krahinn and Papa wanted to discuss for some reason as she was the only real difference, but technically speaking Ryker was with her too.

But Ryker was a kid like me, or at least physically the same age as me. His <Mana> control was bizarrely prodigious for his age; I guess mine is too. Ryker's control and fighting ability almost felt abnormal for his age. I kind of wished I was better at judging that fact. Did being able to make me try and use my <Magic> make him abnormal or just really talented? Ekard was able to compete when he was here, and no one batted an eye at that. According to Luna, Ekard originally won that first duel of ours, so it wasn't like I was invincible. A fact numerous beings have unfortunately been unable to prove. Was Ryker just talented in that area and slacked on his training as a result? Has he been slacking? He was able to put up a valiant fight. Did he have the resources I've had? If our starts were more equal, would I have been able to defeat him? Maybe it was the influence and teaching of Magus Supreme Praecan? I had no idea, it was just speculation.

Could Ryker have been the issue Krahinn went to look into though? From what Luna told me the two of us were bitter enemies that ended in me brutally killing him, after evaporating Modinar. Krahinn wouldn't care about a speed bump that needed to be overcome though, only focus on the part that mattered, the Void King. So what on Tenebrae did Papa ask Krahinn to investigate that caused him to be missing in action? Well, not missing in action but vanished in the wind? Knowing Krahinn he would return and act like nothing was wrong. Just because he's so strong and nothing can overly threaten him, he acts like it isn't terrifying for the rest of us. Tomorrow was Temple after all, maybe I could pray to Kron for some insight or at least know where my <Totem> currently was. That seemed a bit excessive, but I was at a loss for what else I could do on that front. Improving my <Bases> was so boring, but it at least gave me time to think.

I guess ask Mom or Dad if it was okay to take Luna to the festival tomorrow after Temple was my current move. I stood up, scanning the castle to see where each of them were. Judging by Dad's location, he was in a meeting with Cesar and some other officials I couldn't remember the name of. I met them when I was a baby, but I cannot remember their names all that well. I just don't interact with them all that much yet. Mom seemed to be moving between places, so she would be my better bet. I used <Warp> to reach her, where she was smiling as she clearly sensed that I was coming.

"Hey Mom." I started, giving her a hug hello.

"What do you want?" Mom teased me while hugging me back.

"I don't always want something when I come talk to you." I retorted as I gave her a look of mild annoyance as we stopped hugging.

"The scan of the entire castle followed by a few seconds of thinking convinces me you are not wanting to ask to do something." Mom taunted with a smile.

"Okay, this time I do want to ask something, but not all the time." I defended myself.

"I know dear, I was just lightly teasing you." Mom replied while ruffling my hair a bit.

"What's the festival that starts after Temple tomorrow? And would it be something I could take Luna to?" I inquired. Mom gave me a complicated expression in response.

"I might as well start giving her Empress lessons." Mom muttered under her breath.

"What was that?" I asked, as I wasn't ready to hear her mumble something.

"Nothing dear. It's the Festival of Renewals that starts tomorrow, and it celebrates a season of change and new beginnings. Going on a date with someone you like to the festival is fairly common." Mom explained for me. She had an odd half smile going.

"Thanks Mom! So I can go with her tomorrow?" I checked. This sounds like a perfect date idea, and she will never see it coming. Wait, did I just insult myself? Her face was hard for me to read, but she seemed a bit amused by something.

"Yes, Nil. Now come on, I have a perfect opportunity for you at the moment." Mom informed me.

"You're the best, Mom! And what is the opportunity?" I replied ecstatically.

"Filling out a law proposal. We are finally going to propose your new sanitation laws to be made into actual law now that everything has been settled." Mom answered as her hand anchored on my shoulder.

"Why did you suddenly get a solid grip on me?" I deflected while feigning stupidity.

"We both know you would try to flee to avoid paperwork. Come on, it's the perfect time to learn." Mom chuckled as she began escorting me to her office. Minor victory overall, I guess.