Chapter 4: Meow (I)

Alex and his mother used to always play a game.

She would cup her hands and cover the top with her thumbs, forming a hollow diamond. Child that he was, he would scramble around eagerly as she waved her arms far above where he could reach, curious to uncover the 'secret'.

"Come, you've almost got it Alex." She giggled.

Of course, he never was quite able to succeed and would always tumble to the floor, huffing in frustration. However, that's when the show started. She would release her grip, and creatures carved from light would spring free, dancing through the air.

Sometimes it'd be butterflies circling his head, or miniature horses galloping over his feet, but one thing stayed the same: at the end, she would pick him up, smile warmly, and embrace him.

His mother. Sylvia Elsher, the royal princess. Archmage of the Human Army.

Killed in the Great Demon War.

"Young Master," a voice broke him out of his reverie.

A man in a black suit bowed towards him. "Your cousin, her Royal Highness Victoria Elsher is soon to arrive." A small, brown pouch dangled from his waist.

"Thank you, Alan." Alex grinned. "Shall I go greet her?"

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Alex strolled down the stone path, stopping at an enormous dome. Light streamed out from an arched entrance, and he walked through it.

The Luncan Garden was here, the walls lined with multi-coloured foliage, some leaves sparkling a mana-blue, while others radiating a verdant glow. The ambient light shined onto a spiraling, pure white path, the spaces in between spirals scattered with swaying, rainbow flowers, until it stopped at a circular clearing. In this space, crystal steps rose from four sides to connect a square platform to the ground, and at its center emerged an oval-shaped structure.

It was hollow in the middle, and the edges were carved from a glowing blue stone, etched with unknown shapes and symbols. Men in dark, billowing cloaks dashed around, while two girls stood at the bottom of the steps. One was taller, dressed in a monochrome maid uniform, while the other was in a light pink dress.

"Elena. Sera." Alex walked up next to them.

"Young Master."

"Brother."

A surge of anger rose up inside of him. Sera Luncan, a half-demon child adopted into the Luncan household. Alex remembered the day she appeared. The news of his mother's passing had come days in advance, but he hadn't believed it. Not until his father came marching through the castle gates, alone. And then, that's when she had peeked out from behind his father's leg, crimson hair flowing like a river of blood.

"I don't recall being birthed from filth."

She stared up at the stone structure. "Why must we argue?"

"You filthy demons were the ones who began the war," he replied.

"You know I have no memories from before I was brought here."

"Is that supposed to absolve you of guilt?"

Sera frowned. "Alex, I-"

An elderly man in a black robe scrambled towards them. "Little Lady Sera, the preparations are finished. Shalll we activate the warp-gate?"

"I.." Sera looked at the man. "Yes, please do so. Thank you Hallyne."

"Oh, why of course Little Miss!"

Hallyne hobbled up to the platform, and began to chant. Lightning-blue lines streaked from the edges of the portal across the hollow space, and the air began to thrum. The chanting sped up as the lines sliced quicker and quicker, until they merged into a vibrant pool of blue. Finally, the noise stopped, and all that was left was a low buzz.

Alex clutched his head. 'The light..' he thought. The warp-gate had never bothered him before, so why was it doing so now?

Sera noticed. "Alex, are you-"

"I'm fine," he spat.

Alex couldn't ponder on it as Hallyne rushed down the steps with wild eyes. "Little Miss, Little Miss! The portal is on!" He glanced around, and began to yell. "Men, to your positions, - her Royal Highness is coming, be ready to greet her!"

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Hallyne glared as the men who had been scrambling around the portal before ran and lined up along the steps, their black cloaks hanging still.

Then, as if on cue, the portal vibrated and a group of people emerged from the light. Four tall knights, each in a different colored suit of armor, flanked a girl in a sky-blue dress who barely came up to their chests.

However, Alex knew to not judge her by her stature, for she was an Elsher, and just like his mother, Victoria had onyx hair and eyes.

'The key characteristic of the Royal Family,' he thought. An all-encompassing black that devoured whatever laid before it - the mark of a conqueror. Victoria had inherited the strength of her bloodline in full, and he had once admired her, looked up to her even. But that was before she had betrayed her heritage. Before she had consorted with her.

Victoria glanced around, as if searching for something, until her eyes hovered down.

"SERRAAAAAAA!!" she leaped down all the steps in one go, soaring through the air.

The two collided and tumbled to the floor in a heap of limbs.

"Princess!" "Lady Sera!"

Victoria jumped up. "I was too excited! Sera, are you-"

"It's good to see you as well, Princess Victoria." Sera got up, laughing softly.

"Are we so distant that you'd address me so coldly?" Victoria pouted.

"Uh.." Sera blushed.

"Yes..?"

"It's good to see you.. Victoria." She hid her face in her hands.

Victoria squealed and went in for another hug, until one of the knights caught her by the scruff of her dress.

"Princess, please refrain from such behavior," the knight in fiery red admonished.

Alex walked to them. "Cousin, I must agree. Sera here is quite fragile."

Victoria's eyes cooled the second they laid sights on Alex. "I wasn't told that you were going to be here."

He chuckled. "Harsh words. One would think that I'm not welcome in my own family's garden."

"This was supposed to be a tea-party between maidens," she stressed. "Have you skipped out on your etiquette classes?"

"I missed the memo, unfortunately," Alex said cheerfully. "But now that I'm here, might I tag along?"

Victoria's dark eyes narrowed. "What games do you think you're playing at?"

"It's okay Victoria," Sera interjected. "Just let him come."

She glanced at Sera, and her gaze loosened. "Let's move away quickly then, I smell something rotten."

The two turned around and began walking back towards the entrance. Victoria's knights trotted behind, their armor clanking with each step.

Elena, Sera's maid, started to walk as well but stopped next to Alex. "Young Master, if I may ask, where is your servant?"

"Ah, Alan is.." He paused. "Running some very important errands."

"I see." Elena continued walking.

Alex stared at their backs, and for a moment, he stood silently under the shifting rays of light.

Then, he started to move.

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