At the Ashfen Lake, a lot had changed in the past week. A large tent was set up and mining tools were scattered around, workers moving around the shore. Pyx was overseeing everything from a wooden chair, her eyes sharp.

Orias was holding a feral Vara, her legs kicking the air. She wanted to swim but he didn’t want her to turn into a salamander in front of everyone.

Isabella was sitting next to him on a log, watching the workers too. Everyone was waiting for the first mana crystal to be brought out of the water. It was an exciting day for the province. Finally, the prince would have a consistent source of mana and not be at the mercy of others.

A water demi-human emerged from the surface with a green glowing crystal the size of his head in his arms. Pyx stood up, her eyes wide.

“Quickly! Give it to me!” She ordered, her hands reaching out.

But Vara slipped from Orias’ arms and ran to the crystal, her eyes sparkling. He followed her with a sigh. The child was too curious for her own good.

Reaching the crystal, Vara stole it from the surprised worker and ran back to her dad, hugging the glowing crystal.

Bella laughed and Pyx looked at the prince with a glare.

“Control your offspring or I’ll put her to work too.” She huffed, her wings ruffling.

Orias picked up Vara and took the crystal from her before handing it to Pyx, who was still sitting in her chair, wedged in the mud to prevent her from falling.

“Looks like we got our first harvest, Pyx. Well done.” He grinned and patted the woman on the head. She swatted his hand away but her lips were twitching up, a proud expression on her face.

She turned to the other water workers and shouted.

“Get back to work! I want ten—no twenty more crystals by tonight!” Her voice loud and clear.

The workers scattered, their tails splashing the water as they dived back in with a pickaxe.

Isabella approached the crystal, her wrist touching the glowing surface, a hum escaping her lips as she refueled her mana.

Then she turned to Orias and smiled.

“Time for the next step, brother.”

Nodding, he kissed her lips softly before she shifted into a cat and jumped onto his shoulder, purring. It had been a while since he last saw her in this form.

With that they left Pyx to work and went back to the castle, Vara on his back like a monkey. A growing, heavy monkey.

Entering the castle, the sun was setting, casting long shadows in the halls. His next plan required a lot of mana and the book from the Grancraft Province should arrive any day now.

On top of the castle tower, he found a comfortable spot, sitting down on the stone roof with Vara between his legs, hugging her.

Isabella was curled up next to him, her black tail flicking back and forth as she looked at the orange sky.

The air was getting colder, the swamp smelled less awful, and the city was quiet.

Screeching broke the peace, the sound coming from a bird circling above them. A messenger bird.

Orias held out his hand and the bird landed on it, a letter tied to its leg. His breath hitched when he saw the lipsticks stain on the paper. Cassandra.

Vara tried to pet the bird but he stopped her. Messenger birds were not toys.

Taking the letter from its leg, the bird flew away into the sunset, returning to its owner.

Opening the envelope, he pulled out the note and read it:

My dear Ori,

 I hope you have been well. The news of the water issue reached me and I am relieved it was resolved. I am currently on my way to your lovely swamp. I do hope you will greet me with the same affection you showed as a child.

He let out a breath of relief, the note was just her normal annoying flirting and not some important political news. It was still weird that she was coming here uninvited.

“Papa there’s writing on the back.” Vara pointed out, her small finger on the other side of the paper.

There was indeed a small message written there.

 P.S. General Stamiss is travelling with me. He is enraged and dangerous but I’m sure as soon as he sees his son, Lieutenant Corvin, he will calm down. If not, I suggest you run far, far away. XOXO

A chill went down his spine. He looked at the note again and re-read it twice. A big fucking problem was coming his way and he wasn’t happy about it. Neither was Bella, who read the note over his shoulder and meowed in concern.

This General Stamiss was Corvin’s father? Great, just fucking great. A vengeful general of a neighboring province coming here. That was exactly what he didn’t need.

His mind started racing. There was only one option and it was risky, especially if it went wrong.

“Sis you still have Corvin’s sketch right?” He asked, looking at the cat who was licking her paw.

She nodded, her red eyes on him. Her paw on the roof and her ears twitching, listening to the crickets chirping. Then she meowed again.

Good. At least he had that.

Noticing his frown, Vara patted his cheek.

“Papa don’t worry I will bite this General for you. I will eat him and make him my snack.” Her voice serious but her face was still cute as hell.

He kissed her forehead and laughed. This was the only time he was glad to have a kid that was a monster but he still wanted to resolve this peacefully, deceptively rather than with violence.

Patting Vara’s head, he got up, his mind set on a plan. This general was going to meet his dead son, whether he liked it or not. Hopefully his mother can play a convincing Corvin and fool his father.