The day Percy started to walk, the world opened up for him, and they finally left the ugly old shack to make their way to their new home.
Dema. The city that the entire region of Demetria was named after. It was located in the County of Yarol, and was usually meant to be under the control of the Count of Yarol, who was appointed by a Duke.
But the former ruler of Dema had fought with the Count and was semi autonomous from the County.
None of that made sense to Percy. It was like a city deciding to fight against the entire state.
Dema was a special city though, one that made its former ruler very rich and very arrogant too. He couldn't wait to see what the land had to offer, like he seriously couldn't wait, he was so bored right now.
They were travelling in style to their new rich people home. And by style, Percy meant a shaky carriage with a bad fourth leg and a leaky roof canvas.
At least he had Hecate to keep him busy. He rested in his mother's hand, watching her twirl her fingers through the air and summon green lights.
The sun fell over her stunning white hair and olive skin in a way that was nearly blinding. The radiant green spirit stirred the winds at her command.
She swept her hand towards Thalos and playfully scattered his long, jet-black hair.
They had both been very excited for this journey. Percy learnt that the… uncomfortable way? What was the right word for calling your parents animals?
He also learnt a lot about the Kingdom of Crona, which they were in right now. It was a kingdom run by Spiritmancers.
Thalos' scarred face cracked into a brilliant smile. He was seated on the opposite bench of the carriage, wearing a dark blue robe. His sword rested against his hip.
It was a katana sealed away in its black scabbard. The handle of the blade was blood red and depicted demonic creatures being cut down.
"You're setting a bad example for Perseus," Thalos jeered playfully. "I thought Spiritmancers weren't supposed to use their powers carelessly."
"I don't think entertaining my baby is a careless act," Hecate answered. "Besides, what fun is there to having power if you can't use it?"
Hecate's bright purple eyes narrowed and a sly smile crept on her face.
"When Perseus is a Spiritmancer, he'll understand."
Thalos muttered something under his breath, smiling uncontrollably.
"Hmmmm, what was that?" she asked.
"Well, it's just that our son seemed very invested in watching me train my Arete. But I don't mean to take away from your dreams."
Hecate stood, carrying Percy over to the other bench. She plopped into the chair and began harassing her husband, hands running over his scarred body.
"Ahhhhhh!" Percy screamed to get their attention. They had gotten used to his tricks, however, and just glanced at him, faintly amused.
Very conflicted right now. I can already walk but Hecate won't let go of me.
Percy considered just leaping from his mother's arms, but his little legs weren't that strong yet. They stopped their romantic nonsense to annoy him.
"Ohhh, Perseus looks bored!" Hecate said with mock urgency. She played with his lips and made blowing sounds with hers. Thalos kept tickling his little toes.
"Ahhhhh!"
They both laughed as his small face grew very serious, nearly coming to tears from how cute he looked when he was angry.
He was busy thinking about how there was no point in 'fighting,' if you could call that farce a fight, over what he would become.
Perseus was very ready to take up the sword and still use magic. Just get him a long kitchen knife and he would get to work now.
In more pressing news though, his stomach was already starting to rumble. The sound of it nearly brought him to tears.
Hecate had insisted on breastfeeding when she returned from captivity, but that was only an option when Percy was half blind.
I will not stand for this! Breastfeeding is child abuse in this situation.
"I can feel his belly rumbling," Hecate grumbled. "You think he'll still be fussy?"
Thalos flinched.
"He's very used to the bottle. He might not want to switch to breastfeeding after so long. We can fill some bottles—"
"I don't want to use a bottle! I'm his mother. How am I supposed to be a mother if I can't feed him?"
Relax, fatherfucker. I don't hate you. I'm a freaking man, let me eat with some dignity at least.
She unfortunately was very insistent and constantly tried to bring his face to her chest till he started crying and fighting her.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Perseus." She tried to stay calm, but her jaws were so tight she could barely speak.
"I'll fill enough bottles till we get to Dema."
Nice, let us have peace, he thought smugly.
Thalos and Hecate were given a Dema, and therefore Demetria, by the king to rule. The small region of Demetria once fully belonged to the Count of Yarol, till the ruler of Dema decided he hated paying taxes.
Honestly, that was kind of relatable.
"When I was in the dungeons," Hecate began suddenly, shocking both of them, "that bastard, Viscount Sion, would come to my cell and insult and poke at me like a zoo animal."
Thalos released a low hiss that made Percy shiver.
"That pig. I'll make sure he eats my sword."
"Don't worry, we'll get our chance." Hecate smirked. "Demetria was his land."
Viscount Sion must be the former ruler of Dema, and hater of taxes. If he wasn't such a scumbag, Percy might have felt pity for the fortune he just lost.
Thalos nodded.
"I've heard a lot about it. They say children never go hungry there. I remember trying to buy some vegetables imported from Demetria in the Grey Mountains. It was so stupidly expensive that I thought the children never go hungry because they already died from starvation."
"Grey Mountains are too far, that's half a year's journey, of course they'll be expensive."
Hecate stared out of the front of the carriage. The rolling green fields and the blue skies seemed endless. Percy had never enjoyed breathing more than right now.
The air was clear and crisp. He stretched his body, feeling tired after all that fighting and eating. But he wanted to hear more from his parents.
"Dema was built on the Crean River thousands of years ago," Hecate explained. "The city and the Fortress of Dema are older than the Crona Kingdom, maybe even older than the Heracles Empire that came before us."
The Crona Kingdom was where they currently were, somewhere in the Human world that Nyx said she would send him to.
It sounded peaceful and prosperous. So, based on his memory of history, the fall of the kingdom would come from within.
"The King really took Sion's fief just because he was assisting your father?"
"He was actually what I was counting on," she said. "He crippled Neraste when he caught me, not knowing she was the King's servant. Together with the evidence I had that he probably killed Galan…"
Thalos nodded.
"That sounds bad, but is it enough for the King to take away land that Sion's family has ruled for generations?"
"Of course not. But the King isn't stupid. Even if he doesn't have evidence, the rumors around Sion are too bad to ignore. And Dema has made the pig bastard as rich as a Count."
Hecate's purple eyes grew very serious.
"Can you imagine the wealth they've accumulated in the last two hundred years? How would anyone respond to losing so much? We haven't escaped yet, all the King did was set the table for us to clash."
"And made Sion our biggest enemy."
Hecate nodded.
"The King can't get rid of Sion by himself, so he'll have us do it."
Thalos smirked.
"Fine by me. As long as I get to carve up that pig bastard."
The evil smiles on his parents' faces made Percy grimace. These crazy people need to take a chill pill.
They were casually talking about hidden murders and torture like it was natural. And it was annoying to be born and already have a mortal enemy.
Percy thought about it as he slept off. There was no way this Baron Sion left the land in a good condition.
How blessed were his parents? To have a son that is well-versed(mostly for fun) in city planning.
Well, that was a hyperbolic question. Anyone was blessed to have him as a son.