The Prince of Demons

Praecan Celver

I walked out of the throne room with Ryker where servants were waiting to escort us to the guest quarters. Having a ten-year-old try and guilt trip me was not something that I expected to happen today. The fact the Emperor and Empress let it slide let me know they were giving Crown Prince Nil some experience at dealing with negotiations and people of influence. King Krahinn's amusement let me know that tactic was rarely employed. I guess he thinks it is effective, but he looked so guilty about it. I would wait to see what followed before judging them too much given that they did not tell me to hit the road. What are <Eternals>? He so easily dissipated around Crown Prince Nil in some form of aether cloud, which made the Crown Prince's right arm glow as whatever contract the two held left some form of <Rune> markings on him. There was something peculiar about it that I was curious how the mechanisms behind it worked.

Never thought I'd see a child stronger than Ryker. I heard through rumors that Crown Prince Ekard began training heavily after a humbling defeat at the hands of Crown Prince Nil, and that both of them were strong for their age. I am glad I never took the offer to teach Crown Prince Ekard, as I never imagined I would end up raising a child of my own. I ruffled Ryker's hair as we walked along; Crown Prince Nil would be difficult for Ryker to catch. Lady Luna was no slouch either; she likely was stronger than Ryker currently as well. It was impressive that not just one but two children were at a point where I doubt Ryker could win against either of them. Lady Luna being that strong was surprising. Speranza might have a powerful Emperor and Empress in the future. I did not think the two were in an arranged marriage, but there was always a possibility that could happen in the near future. Unless something catastrophic happened to Crown Prince Nil, Speranza was going to have a powerful Emperor regardless when he was old enough at minimum. It was amusing thinking that kid was eventually going to be a force to be reckoned with. We arrived at the guest quarters of the castle before the servants politely bowed and left us.

"Can we speak now?" Ryker checked, looking around the room.

"Let me check dearie." I told him as I scanned the room with my <Mana>. There was nothing as I suspected, but better safe than sorry.

"We can." I informed Ryker who still had a sour expression.

"That bird is really strong." Ryker observed. King Krahinn was not good for my mental health. Just how strong was the Void King? King Krahinn had this bitter expression when he talked about him, and the <Magic> he used was quite concerning. King Krahinn was the strongest Magus I had ever seen.

"King Krahinn is. Speranza has a lot of strong <Magic> and knowledge. It is part of why I was hoping to reestablish the Institute of Mages here." I explained. Ryker clearly thought about the beings we just met.

"If I wanted to see where I am, should I duel Luna or Nil?" Ryker asked. Crown Prince Nil I imagined would end horrifically for Ryker; his <Mana> was monstrously beyond what it was supposed to be. Lady Luna was also well beyond where she should be as well, but she did not have a contract with King Krahinn and seemed more reasonable to duel.

"That is Lady Luna and Crown Prince Nil; they are nobility so you must remember their titles. As for your question, Lady Luna would be wiser." I answered. Ryker's face twisted in annoyance.

"I have to use fancy words because they were born to a random family?" Ryker pouted. I fought the urge to sigh. He may not have liked it, but some people were born with privilege that others did not.

"Some beings are born to families with power, status, and wealth. You may not like it, but it is a fact of life." I lectured Ryker. I hope I'm doing a decent job. Wesla, I know I agreed to be his lordparent, I just never thought it would happen. It was such a sudden, senseless murder.

"It's not fair." Ryker grumbled. I at least got us out of Modinar before all the civil wars erupted.

"I know it may not be fair, but that is a part of life. Let's go to the courtyard so as not to slack on your training." I told Ryker, who nodded with understanding.

We walked out of the room, where the staff immediately leapt to greet us. Ryker and I were escorted to one of the exterior courtyards where I could see the sun setting as it was later than I would have liked. Time just kept slipping away from me; I wished I could turn back time to somehow prevent the tragedy that happened three years ago. I could feel King Krahinn nearby, or more accurately, he was watching us from the top of the castle from one of his eyes that was projected and glowing nearby observing us carefully. How does he do that? Seeing a being like King Krahinn only solidified my decision to try and reestablish the Institute of Mages here. Please tell me Archmagus Nez has talked to him, gotten some knowledge from what I imagine is a vast resource. King Krahinn emanated a form of might I had never seen before. There was so much here that I wanted to take notes on. I needed to focus. Ryker thankfully was working on his <Tempering> as I was lost in thought. Good, he was always a hard worker. Archmagus Nez walked out of the nearby shadows with a polite bow. He did quite well for himself; married a prince and is the tutor of the Crown Prince. The amount of knowledge he has had access to is unparalleled.

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"Hello Praecan." Nez quipped with a smile.

"Hello Nez, it's been a while." I replied. It was good seeing him again. Maybe he could give me some insight.

"It has. So, what brings you and this little one here?" Nez inquired. I guess the Imperial Majesties hadn't told him yet. It likely wouldn't hurt to tell him unofficially.

"I came to ask for the funding and support to reestablish the Institute of Mages here. I wanted to establish an academy to help sweeten the deal, hoping you could be the dean." I answered. Nez nodded a bit like he suspected something along those lines.

"That will need to be discussed more officially." Nez stated. Fair enough, I was giving him more of a heads up.

"The knowledge here must be incredible." I added, trying to gauge his response. Nez smirked at my shameless probe.

"I guess the situation in Modinar has been quite tense if you are that shameless." Nez teased. It had been a long three years, cut me some slack.

"These last three years have been tumultuous with a lot of changes." I defended myself. Nez chuckled a bit more.

"Do not underestimate Nil. He may need experience with dealing with others, but he might have ideas that surprise and help you." Nez told me. Hmmm. Was he trying to help his nephew, or giving me a helpful insight?

"Really?" I checked. Nez seemed amused by my skepticism.

"Only hint I will give you." Nez informed me. I did not want to put him in an awkward spot, so I shouldn't press.

"Fair enough. Is the, what was the term, <Eternal> King Krahinn a topic you could tell me about?" I requested. The <Magic> he demonstrated was so foreign and different.

"Yes. You can talk to him yourself if you'd like to. He's prickly on the outside, but once you get to know him, he's a softy." Nez suggested. The eye nearby glowed in annoyance.

"I do not want to impose." I replied. Nez gave me a slight wink.

"But who else could give us such grand insight other than the magnificent, great Krah-" Nez started before Krahinn materialized next to him. Wait, Krahinn was taller now, and his bird features were more pronounced than earlier. Was it some form of <Spirit Magic>?

"I hate you taught Nil to do that." Krahinn snarled at him.

"To express your grandeur and compliment the pinnacle that you represent?" Nez teased. Krahinn gave him an unamused stare back.

"If you wanted to introduce me to your friend more than earlier, you could just ask." Krahinn snapped. Nez just kind of shrugged.

"But then we have to do the entire song and dance of you acting like you won't and it just saves so much time." Nez joked. Krahinn's eyes were floating around us at the moment. How does this <Magic> of his work?

"Fine. Hello again, mortal." Krahinn sighed. Nez smiled at the turn of events.

"Why do you call me mortal?" I asked Krahinn. Is he implying he's not mortal? Some form of Lord? That would be blasphemous, but I think he meant it in a context I wasn't understanding just yet.

"If she's going to ask me stupid things I will just leave." Krahinn informed Nez. He seemed so pleasant to deal with.

"I have no idea what to even ask you. Your <Magic> is so foreign and unique I do not know where to start." I explained to Krahinn.

"Nez, you can bridge the level of understanding somehow I imagine." Krahinn prodded. Nez thought it over for a moment as Ryker was looking like he was getting distracted.

"Ryker, continue your practice. Let's go slightly away so Ryker can practice in peace." I stated. Nez and Krahinn both looked at me a bit disappointed.

"What is that look for?" I checked, not grasping why both of them looked at me like I said something ridiculous.

"Someone practicing <Tempering> should not be so easily distracted." Nez answered. Krahinn looked at Nez like he grew a second head.

"How could someone so clearly idiotic understand your point when you sugarcoat it that much?" Krahinn shot at Nez.

"Rudeness doesn't always have to be your approach Krahinn." Nez retorted. What was Krahinn talking about? Was I doing something wrong in raising Ryker?

"Can you clarify?" I requested. Nez looked at Krahinn and motioned for him to go ahead.

"Ryker should be able to focus even if we were shouting at each other. Also, his rate of practicing his <Tempering> is way too slow. He should be getting lectured and chided, not coddled." Krahinn clarified for me. Ryker immediately looked away and began practicing harder.

"You would make a great dean." I quipped to Nez. He also confirmed Krahinn gave his immense insights to Nil as well.

"Please do not discuss that at this time." Nez replied. I shook my head. I really needed to rest; these last few weeks of travel were weighing on me.

"Sorry. Here, to move subjects, what is an impressive <Spell> you could show me, King Krahinn? Something to help me understand what I should be trying to ask." I deflected. I could really use a win here, even if it wasn't immediately.

"No problem." Krahinn replied with a villainous smile.

Krahinn made a small orb in his hand, as the temperature began rising around us. Everything began swirling and condensing as the orb started glowing brighter to the point it was getting difficult to even look at. Krahinn launched the orb high into sky, well above the castle as I could feel the <Mana> Krahinn condensing more space and <Mana> into the orb, which continuously glowed brighter the higher it got. Nez quickly cast a <Sheltering Veil> that encompassed the entire capital, but the small ball Krahinn made only radiated so much light my eyes hurt a bit despite the darkness shielding me from it. Suddenly, in one glorious burst, the ball exploded, making it look like day for a few moments as a sweltering explosion rocked the entire city of Umbra. The radius of the explosion could have easily reached passed the edge around the entire capital. What? A single <Spell> that could destroy a city like Umbra that could be cast that quickly? It took maybe ten seconds for Krahinn to cast it; what a frightening <Spell>. Ryker looked up in a mix of awe and terror as Krahinn waved his hand and made it all vanish in an instant.

"How did you come up with such a <Magic>?" I inquired. What a staggering display of <Magic>. Just what other insights did Krahinn possess? That <Magic> truly felt like it was from another Realm.

"I didn't; Nil came up with that <Spell>." Krahinn informed me with a massive smile. WHAT?!