I was tired.
It was still early-early morning. The sun still hadn't climbed over the horizon.
My body reminded me that despite all the theatrics, I was seven.
I went all the way back to the Lightbane Manor, back to my room. I rubbed my eyes and for a moment felt very small.
I collapsed into bed face-first.
Sleep hit me almost instantly, deep and heavy.
I didn't know how long I was out before a gentle but persistent shaking pulled me up from the void.
"Master Caleb. Master Caleb, dear."
I groaned and mumbled something inaudible into my pillow, then dragged the blanket over my face.
Miss Marie was having none of it and shook me harder. "You must get up now, young master."
I rolled over, hair stuck everywhere, blinking at her. "Miss Marie… why? Don't I at least have a few hours before lessons?"
"Normally you would," she said, fretting as she smoothed my tangled hair with a practiced hand. "But we have guests arriving shortly, and you need to look your best."
"Guests?"
She smiled, but there was a nervousness behind it. Miss Marie rarely got nervous.
"Yes, dear. Very important ones. You must be on your best behavior."
My stomach dropped for a moment. Someone important?
"…Who?"
She straightened, adjusting the front of her apron like she did when preparing for royalty.
"The king," she said delicately. "King Deimos Amoon of Asolar and Queen Rhea."
"The king?"
"Yes."
I pressed my face back into the pillow. Who cares? It was just the king.
Miss Marie shook me again. "And their daughter, Princess Io, will be accompanying them."
"Oh." I scratched my head. "Okay."
No awe. No panic. Just… mild inconvenience.
Miss Marie watched my non-reaction with a mixture of relief and exasperation.
Kids my age usually asked questions.
"…Okay," I said again, forcing myself out of the bed. "Can I have breakfast first?"
"No breakfast yet," she said, ushering me toward the washbasin. "You need to be cleaned up before they arrive."
"They're not even here," I muttered while splashing water on my face.
"Caleb, manners."
I sighed, letting her fuss over my hair and hand me clothes far nicer than anything I'd normally bother with.
Whatever.
By the time I was dragged downstairs, everyone looked stiff and polished, and the staff was clearly nervous.
We went outside and waited by the gate.
After half an hour, wheels rolled up the gravel drive.
Everyone straightened at once.
And the king's carriage was plainer than what I had imagined.
Modest trim. Not a single line of gold anywhere. Not even a fancy crest.
Huh. That was… not what I expected.
But then again… maybe it made sense.
If I were king and people tried to kill me every other week, I'd probably want the least impressive carriage possible too. Blending in was smart. Practical.
It drove past the gate and stopped.
The door of the carriage opened, and King Deimos Amoon stepped out.
A few guards followed him - but even they were dressed down, not in armor at all. Low profile. Incognito.
One of the guards was Sera. She looked like the average maiden too, muscles notwithstanding.
It was just that out of all the guards, most of whom were women, Sera stood out a bit because she was a big woman.
Everyone around me bowed as if trying to fold themselves in half. Miss Marie elbowed me sharply when I didn't.
My head kept drooping forward but not in a bow, but because I was tired.
Then, I dipped my head towards the royal family. Enough to look "polite." Hopefully.
The king's gaze swept across the courtyard - assessing, calm, surprisingly soft.
And behind him stepped out a woman, Queen Rhea, and a girl, Princess Io. She grew up a bit, and her black hair was longer now.
They were all dressed in a casual manner too - simple but clearly expensive.
They looked around, taking everything in - the house, the servants, the family.
Io's eyes met mine for a moment.
She tilted her head.
I didn't think to smile. I was too tired and would rather be asleep.
And in the few hours I did manage to get some shut-eye, Catherine, Juliet, and Elizabeth must have done something already. Maybe they already had barrels' worth in the house in the Hronaya Forest?
Man, royalty showing up was not on my list of things for today.
I straightened a little.
The king stepped forward, smiling broadly, and then yelled out, "Alarick!"
And so did my father call out, "Deimos!"
They bear-hugged for a moment.
Alarick and Deimos finally released each other from their rib-crushing embrace, laughing like two men who were supposed to have grown out of this decades ago but never bothered.
Jakob stepped forward with a polished bow - he was good at that sort of thing.
Maren followed, far less graceful, offering a curtsy.
Then I followed with a bow. It was nothing special.
The staff formed their own line and greeted the royal family one by one - stiff backs, perfect bows, voices soft with gratitude. Miss Marie practically melted with pride as she welcomed them.
We moved inside, and all the formal exchanges and such washed over into the background.
Hours passed.
My eyelids sagged. My limbs felt heavy.
I slumped on a cushioned bench, trying not to pass out in front of visiting royalty.
Maybe… maybe there was a spell for this.
Something to boost stamina. Wakefulness. Alertness.
Grandfather Gregorio talked about chaos magic fueling him constantly.
He didn't really need to eat or sleep. As long as his body had channels open to let chaos magic flow through him, he wouldn't even need to breathe, I think.
He didn't tell me in explicit detail, but I imagined it was something like that.
I wondered when, or even if, he'd ever teach me to create those chaos tattoos.
I sighed and pressed my fingers into my eyes. My thoughts drifted - half dreams, half worry - until a shadow blocked my weak attempt at dozing off.
I looked up.
Princess Io stood there, hands on her hips, looking equal parts annoyed and impatient.
I didn't notice that she had walked over here, or what she had been doing the past few hours. Annoy my brother and sister, maybe the staff, most likely.
"I'm bored," she announced.
"Congratulations," I murmured.
"I want to hang out with you now."
"…Uh-huh."
"Do you even remember me?"
"…Uh-huh."
"That time we explored the forbidden parts of the castle together and then got yelled at?"
"Mhm."
She pouted and leaned in closer, squinting at my face. "Are you tired or just rude?"
"..."
She huffed but didn't leave. "Well, you should listen, because I'm the princess."
"I didn't vote for you."
She ignored me. "And I'm a great fighter. I fought Maren and I won. I even rival Sera, the guard-captain," she said proudly. "In a few years, I will have passed her completely."
My eyes cracked open.
"…What?"
Io grinned, proud and unbothered. "We sparred. Several times. And I beat her easily."
What the hell was going on? That a seven-year-old was almost as good as Sera - the woman who seemed to move faster than the blink of an eye?
Royalty were a different breed of people.
"What're you doing?" Io asked, sitting down next to me.
"I'm thinking of magic."
"Magic? Magic's boring. Like your brother. He and his teacher only ever talk about it, next to the parts where they try to kiss up to my mother and father."
"It's not that kind of magic."
"What kind is it then? Huh?"
"It's something my grandfather is teaching me, but it's supposed to be a secret."
"A secret, you say?"
That caught her interest.
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"Come on. Tell me."
"I'm sorry, Io, but I can't. I promised Grandfather that I wouldn't. I can't even tell my own father, let alone you."
She puffed up. "What's so special about it anyway? Everyone can cast magic. Look - "
She stood up and reached out a hand and spoke the words. "Sol-Aten-Xihe."
That was a grave mistake.
Sure, it was a three-word light spell, and it did cast a blinding light for a moment, but then I heard Io scream. The hand she had stretched out was scorched.
She yelped as she saw that she bled and there were black marks all over her arm.
And then she began to cry and hiccup. She seemed completely helpless, having no idea what to do.
I guess she never got hurt much, or at all, as a princess.
"Stop fussing. Come here," I said, like it was no big deal, and beckoned her over without standing up.
She came over and sat next to me, and I didn't even take a good look at her arm.
I'd done this more than once before but never was so tired.
I took her hand gently in mine and patted her head, like I usually did with girls I healed.
"Eir-Pana," I said, yawning. "There, there." And before I saw any results, I fell asleep.