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“The kind that states the children are to be sent abroad. Homeschooling is good and all, yet, how society works outside the manor is a must for growth. There will be no argument on the matter, Ina, Evans, do I make myself clear?”

“We’ll be apart?” wondered the boy.

“No, I’m not so cruel. You and your little sister will stay and share the same house or room, depending on how you perform. From today on, you are to become the best at what thee does. I won’t promise a life of luxury – I promise a life where freedom matters.”

“Freedom?”

“My responsibility is to make sure the children make it to adulthood, afterward, the roads are open, venture forth.”

“What about me?” fired the lady.

.....

“Adult must work for their stay,” he called onto éclair.

“Yes?”

“Was I too harsh?”

“Not really, the intimidation seems to have worked.”

“Right... have arrangements made to accommodate them three. Their qualifications should be enough to get into a renowned academy. The mother can find work in town or something, focus on the children, ignore her.”

“Stop whispering,” her makeup encircled eyes intruded vehemently, “-what sort of fate doth thee hath for a lady such as myself?”

“Oh quit it,” sighed Igna, “-work the restaurant or find a job in some office somewhere. The nobility of Alphia must have a good education, I presume, lest thou art but enticement for lords.”

“I-”

“Good, head to the airport, I’ll ask for a butler to escort thee to Hidros, is it enough?”

“Sir,” said the girl, “-can I ask a question?”

“Go on.”

“Why are you sending us overseas?”

“I see,” he smiled at her slightly telling expression, “-worried about getting kicked out?” he leaned and patted her head, “-you children have nothing to do with what the father has done. The blame lies in thy father’s court, he decided to take on a stronger foe. If this had happened a few decades ago in Dorchester, thy mother would have been abused, the little sister taken as hostage, and boy thrown in with the slaves. War is a nasty thing, Alphia’s lucky to not have experienced the cruelty of greed and thirst for power. Ready the belongings, a car should be waiting.”

“Yes sir,” the tiny feet scurried, whereas, the lady’s cruel glare shifted between Igna and éclair.

“Have something to add?” inquired Igna.

“You bet I have,” a great stride, ruffled by her long dress, halted short of his visage, a tinge of perspiration gleamed, the little display which ought to have been a show of power ended into a dubious display, “-you...”

“Out with it,” returned he running out of patience.

“What’s the true intentions here. My husband was wrongfully convicted, I know someone erected a scheme to trap both my husband and I. How do you plea in the greater picture, I doubt a young noble from Hidros to be so shrewd.”

“Sadly,” he moved close to her ears, “-I am the one responsible.”

“I knew it!”

“No need to blow a blood vessel. You bite off more than could be chewed, my companions did most of the work. I have to say, the electoral campaign made thee rather lax in judgment. Never suspected those thee fought to have an ace up their sleeve.”

“HA-HA, you fell for it,” she took out a recorder, “-with this I can clear up my husband’s image.”

“Are you serious,” he paused and stared, “-heh,” a chuckle escaped, “-what exactly is there to incriminate. Words alone isn’t sufficient, the context applies,” a glance over the shoulder returned a nod, “-thing is,” he smiled, “-my butler’s amazing.”

*Clap,* the device fried by éclair’s action, two big strides forward, “-allow me,” he plucked the gray rectangle from her fingers and shuffled to the side all the while she followed his action speechlessly.

“Heed me well, Lady Oathtall, I’ve decided to take in the boy and girl. Tis similar to one sending his child to another lord’s estate for education and growth. I’ll foster till they are of age and able to make their own decision. If the boy is talented enough, the option to stay and study Magiology will secure a stable future in researching the unknown. As for the girl, we’ll decide what is to become of her when I return, she’ll pursue education till a decent level. My concern is you,” fingers shy of her elbow, “-don’t expect me to grant thee any help, financially or otherwise. Follow them to Hidros or return to thy parent’s abode. The family’s quite rich, could have returned home, well, what will it be?”

“If I follow them to Hidros, what will I be asked to do?”

“Nothing, I said it before, you’re grown enough to make thy decision. I’ll strongly advise staying away, let them grow. The loss is pitiful, I understand; the real world is stern. I’ll assure one thing as a parent myself, the children will have a good life, no lack of basic necessities, they’ll live a life of comfort if they choose so. I’ve offered the children a stable future.”

“Do I have your word?” she grabbed his hands, “-promise me!”

“Why promise,” the grip broke, “-I’ll officially take them in, a contract should suffice?”

“Yes.”

The burning whirlpool of fire set sights on the horizon, Igna, vested in plain shorts and an opened shirt, waited beside a crystal clear pool. “-Evans and Ina have boarded the plane and are off to Hidros. They should land in Rotherham.”

“What of the lady?”

“She decided to move in with her parents,” said he with tablet in hand, “-forgive my asking, is there a reason why you take to children so easily?”

“Force of habit, ever since Eira and looking at how she turned out, part of me thinks anyone, especially children, can learn to become great players in the world of tomorrow. Perhaps tis to quell my consciousness or perhaps the three devil children of mine, I wonder what they’re up to?”

*Art of Chaos: Rleome,* the charred land of Dorchester buckled, a shockwave of tempest proportions blew sand and rubble alike, a mass of cloud rose to the sky, “-Is that all you got,” said she pulling back long black hair, “-Draconis?” down to the firm ground, the boy was nowhere to be seen, ‘-I might have overdone it.’

“GOT YOU NOW!” the outline of a dragon’s head flashed from above.

“Not today,” fist to the sky, the forehead landed squarely on her knuckles, the outline exploded, *pouf,* down on his bottom, “-not fair,” he pouted, the forehead shone bright red.

“Still a long way to go, kid,” she held a hand, “-ancient demon or not, thou art truly a child.”

“Leave me alone,” an embarrassed gaze to the right, “-I’m going to get strong soon.”

“Training’s over!” hailed from above a sandhill, “-come on.”

“It’s Lady Intherna,” thrill energized his step, “-WE’RE DONE!” he jumped and hailed.

“No we’re not,” a chop to the head, and he fell down to his knees.

“-This is abuse,” he murmured, “-child abuse.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” *gulp,* ‘-sharp daggers...’

“Stop bulling the kid,” muffled over the distance, “-the curse of Akina’s complete,” the outline of a giant creature swooped onto the sand, grabbed Draconis, and left. “-No more training today,” fired Saniata, “-aunt Gophy!”

‘These kids,’ wind swallowed and carried her feet, “-stop spoiling Saniata.”

“Stop abusing Draconis,” she returned, “-we ought to teleport.”

A dungeon, or so what was expected turned out to be a peaceful room in one of the apartments in Rosespire. Though technology was in its infancy, the constant stream of information from the overworld greatly affected the populous’ mentality.

“Greetings Generals,” nodded a group of students stopping at the corridor’s walls.

“Greetings,” they replied.

“Took long enough, didn’t it?” sighed a tall Miira, “-were you two at it again?”

“No, we’re not children,” looks of bafflement exchanged, “-whatever,” returned a spark of animosity.

‘Hopeless,’ exhaled heavily, “-Lilith’s already by her side.” Clean bedsheets spoiled by extreme conditions of the curse, even the ceiling held pieces of torn body parts, the opposite wall and floor slathered in blood, Lilith held a look of confusion, “-she’ll be fine?” returned a ‘-I want to go home,’ type of feel.

“What a mess,” tiptoes around the bloodbath led to the bed. Cleopatra’s feline expression bordered on the edge of insanity, “-no more...”

“Should have been careful,” shrugged Gophy, “-the stronger the cursed entity, the greater the pain. Not to worry, the body will be healed, the curse deliberately left a sliver of the life essence.”

“Sure...” plants grew around the bed, “-enough to not be of use...”

“The Queen of Demon has greater healing powers out of us four,” winked Intherna in jest.

“I swear,” her cheeks bloated, “-I’ll have my revenge soon.”

“Jokes aside, who did the curse revive?”

“Oh, Asmodeus is going to be pleased,” grinned Lilith, “-arise, my son, Mammon, representer of greed and wealth, thy sentence for eternal imprisonment has been lifted, WAKE!”

“Huh?” a black-colored wisp fluttered to closely examine those who stood, “-mother?” a burst of golden sparks landed on her lap, “-was I reborn?”

“Yes,” she smiled, “-released and freed from gates of Sarple.”

“Oh, sure,” the infant levitated into a slender framed man in a suit, frameless square glasses, gelled back hair, golden watch and rings, and a savvy mustache. A dot underneath the left eye seemed to add to the intensity of the personage.

“Intimidating,” added Gophy, “-care to explain?”

“I should perhaps go into more details, hell, as is currently known to man, has four rulers; Lucifer, Satan, Belial, and Leviathan, the strongest beings to reside. Obviously, depending on what belief one follows, the names are changed and swapped around – our purpose doesn’t involve them. Under them are the seven princes of hell, who also have offspring and demons of their own. Tis parallel to the king and their lords, the closer one is to the founder, the stronger their powers. Draconis, an ancient demon is part of the realm. Asmodeus referred to being one of four princes of hell, in reality, there are seven – the numbers can go as high as one would imagine. Mammon here is one of the seven strongest, representing wealth and greed, below the four kings.”

“On closer look,” narrowed Miira, “-he looks identical to Asmodeus, I think?”

“They’re one of the same, greed, lust, hand in hand,” said she in a chipper tone.

“Mother, might I ask why there are three goddesses in our presence, art thou captive?”

“No, no,” she smiled, “-don’t worry.”

“I’m confused...”

“How so, Intherna?”

.....

“Aren’t you the wife of Lucifer... by my knowledge, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and Mammon here represent fractions the seven sins – how can they be sons if the rank is same to Lucifer?”

“Allow me to enlightened thy clouded judgment,” voiced Mammon, “-all demon, regardless of rank or prestige, have sworn to refer to the Queen of Demon as our mother, we care for her without prejudice. Lucifer dared to trample over her during the climb to King of Demons, I swear, he’ll pay for the pain he caused.”

*Clap,* a blind flash and they teleported to the judgment room. Mammon stood strongly in the center, “-Prince of Greed and Wealth, lady Lilith will surmise current events.”

Hands clasped respectfully, ‘-brother Asmo and Beelzebub have sworn to serve the inheritor of Death, Time, and Origin. Draconis and Vanesa are here as well. I can’t believe the Queen of Demon was freed by the actions of the Watcher. Goddess Gophy, Intherna, and Miira, whoever is at the top must be strong, very strong. I’ve been trapped for long, everything’s changed.’

“The information has been given,” proclaimed Miira, “-what will it be, Prince of Greed and Wealth, will thy action conform or shall we end the trial?”

“Where’s brother Asmodeus?”

“In the overworld, aiding the watcher of the Shadow Realm,” replied Lilith, “-he’s unlike the ones who betrayed us,” said she, “-believe in my word, forget the past, the future is bright.”

“Last question, what side is he on, gods or demons?”

“Neither,” added Intherna, “-we’re independent, unbound by either power. The will is do all that we wish, the only requirement is to serve, betrayal equates to a fate worse than death.”

“Understood,” knee to the ground, “-I, Mammon, Prince of Greed and Wealth, swear on my name to serve the founder, Igna Haggard.”