The people of Ashfen had never been this anxious before. Almost two months ago they were in a severe drought and they had to experience their friends and family vomiting, suffering and dying painfully from dehydration and sickness.

Now a different anxiety filled them. For the first time they had something to lose, the mana vein was making their lives better, they could use their magic again—not freely but certainly a lot more often than before. The air felt cleaner even though the swamp was the same. The city was alive again.

That was until the Snake Province's General and his soldiers arrived at their city gate. Their carriage and horses were intimidating, their armor was polished and their weapons sharp.

The man dominating the lead carriage was an engine of pure terror, thirty glowing mana crystals embedded directly into the thick flesh of his arms. The oppressive aura he radiated flattened the air, sending a suffocating wave of dread through the streets that made the locals instinctively want to bolt inside and bar their doors. Dragging a heavy, scaled snake tail behind him, the towering general stepped down into the mud, sweeping his gaze across the city with absolute disdain.

There was no way his son defected to this shithole.

But he was here to confirm it and if it was true, he would drag the brat back home and teach him some proper discipline.

"Where is your lord?" He asked a passing demi-human, a familiar dryad. Akiria looked up at the general with nervous eyes and pointed to the castle. The man clicked his tongue and turned to his men.

They continued on foot through the main street because their carriage couldn't fit down the narrow, uneven path. The buildings were old and made of wood, most of them had cracks and holes in the roof. Cassandra walked next to Stamiss, her smile strained. She was here to enjoy Ori's company but this place was depressing.

She needed a drink or a handsome adorable prince to cheer her up.

They reached the castle atop the hill and were let in by four rats.

The General wrinkled his nose at the scent of the rodents, though he withheld his insults; despite his overwhelming, suffocating presence, the tiny guards exuded an unshakeable confidence. Impressive.

The inside of the castle was more to his taste. Dark, cold, and silent. The stone walls were covered in old banners, the wooden floor creaked under his feet as he walked into the entrance hall where a red haired fire-salamander demi-human waited for him. Her face was impassive but her posture was alert.

A warrior.

"Welcome General. I am Sela, the chief of the Ashfen. Our prince is waiting for you in the throne room." She greeted him and bowed her head slightly.

He nodded in return. This Sela didn't seem like a weakling but her low rank of chief in such a poor province spoke for itself.

Cassandra stepped forward and looked around the castle with curiosity. It was small but cozy. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Orias again.

"Your guards will have to wait outside. Only you and the Lady Cassandra are allowed in." Sela said, her orange eyes on the general.

Stamiss scoffed and crossed his arms. As if he needed guards against a prince who was barely out of the nursery.

"Lead the way, Chief."

Sela nodded and turned around, her red tail swaying as she walked down the corridor, the other two following her. They passed many doors and rooms until they reached a big, heavy door at the end. Sela pushed it open, the loud sound echoing in the hall.

Stamiss admired the strength in her lean arms, she must have trained hard. But nothing compared to his own physique.

Stepping inside, his eyes landed on the throne. More like a wooden chair with a red cushion.

The seat was occupied by the young Swamp Prince, but the sight that made the General's blood instantly turn to fire was the figure kneeling in absolute submission beside the wood. Corvin. His own son, a warrior of the Snake Province, was resting on his knees like a common house-slave before a pathetic, backwater royal. Raw, primal rage boiled over inside Stamiss's chest, his jaw locking so hard his teeth groaned as his fists clenched into white-knuckled stones.

Before he could storm forward, Cassandra slapped him on the chest, making him stop.

The Lady's voice was sweet, like she knew what was going to happen.

"Ori! Long time no see~" She beamed and walked towards the throne, her hips swaying.

Sela stepped in front of her and crossed her arms.

"You are in the presence of Prince Orias con Divina, show proper respect." Her tone cold and serious.

Cassandra pouted and tilted her head, looking at the prince who was observing her with a blank face. Her snake tail swayed behind her, revealing her excitement.

"Are you really going to let her talk to your favorite auntie like that, Ori?” She pouted, crossing her arms beneath her heavy breasts to push them up, flaunting her cleavage.

Stamiss looked between them. The lack of formality was disturbing, depressing. A prince should not allow a woman to act this way in front of him.

Yet Orias smiled, a hint of affection in his eyes as he nodded at Sela. The Chief moved to the side, her expression unchanged. His entire opinion of the chief went down.

Disregarding Sela entirely, the woman practically purred as she glided past the guard, her silk dress clinging to her hips before she unceremoniously dropped her soft weight straight onto the young prince's lap, planting a wet, lingering kiss on his cheek.

"My my, you haven't changed at all Ori. Still the cute boy I remember~" Cassandra giggled, her hands on his shoulders.

He made a mental note to inform Prince Basil of his mother's inappropriate behavior towards another prince even if he was the lowest ranking one of them.

Watching Cassandra act like a common harlot, he couldn't take his eyes off of his son who was still kneeling. Why was he not looking at his father? What was going on?

According to the information they received, there were three shapeshifters in the Ashfen. Prince Orias, his sister, whose name was inconsequential, and Lady Teresa.

Stamiss looked around but there was no one else in the room. He had enough of this game.

"What is the meaning of this? Corvin, stand up and come to me immediately!" Stamiss's voice boomed like a crack of thunder through the throne room, vibrating the stone walls with a command that demanded absolute obedience and promised a brutal, merciless beating if refused.

The kneeling man raised his head and finally looked at his father.