It had been a month since Lamia started avoiding Tristan. The old head maid named Nana, was playing with Tristan in one of the big rooms in the ‘Schatten’s Castle’.

  The Shatten’s Castle had been for over eight millennia the headquarters of the Shatten clan. From there they coordinated operations in Umbra and Terra. The castle was located on top of a hill on the northern part of Obscurati.

  Nana peered over the windows down to the city. How long had it been since she joined the main clan as a maid? Was it twelve or even thirteen centuries ago? She didn’t know anymore. She had joined right after she graduated from college.

  She had taken care of the education of Lamia’s mother, Lamia, Lamia’s sister, Tristan’s big brother and now it was Tristan’s turn.

  She had helped to bring up many children of the main clan. But she never encountered a case like Tristan’s. All the parents of the main clan had been good parents. They did spend as much time as possible with their offspring and they had taught everything they could to them. She also knew Lamia and Ray weren’t bad parents. They had done a good job with Magnus; Tristan’s older brother.

  Until a last month they were doing a great job in taking care of Tristan as well. Everything changed after the ceremony. She felt sorry for Tristan. She knew the boy wasn’t stupid. Heck the voice said he was the smartest of their race! She knew he was aware something was off. He had even started to ask questions like ‘Where is mommy?’ ‘Why doesn’t mommy tell me fairy tales anymore?’ ‘Where is daddy?’

  Nana knew Ray was trying to help Tristan. She knew he was researching the prophecy and the abilities and also trying to find ways to keep Tristan in the ‘high society’ even though he didn’t have a usable passive. Although she knew all this she couldn’t help to recent Ray’s actions. Why did he care so much about the status the boy would have in the future? Wasn’t it more important to show the boy he loved him now? Was he aware what he had been doing by neglecting the boy?

  She looked at the boy, who building things with his building blocks. As the boy looked up, she couldn’t help but to be reminded of Lamia. Tristan had inherited her grey eyes what brought for Nana’s anger.

  How could her little princess turn out to be such a bad mother? How could the once so lovely and caring girl turn into a heartless woman like her? Did Lamia forget all the things Nana had taught her? No, she knew better. There must be a reason behind her actions. Nana hoped Lamia could be persuaded to be a good mom again.

  Nana had made up her mind. Tonight she would confront Lamia. She would demand answers of her. She would plead for the boy. Yeah, no child had to live without the love of her parents!

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  At the same time Ray was on his way to the ‘Castle of Zerst?rung’ on the other side of the city. He had a meeting with Laidir Zerst?rung.

  He had tried to meet the leader of Zerst?rung for weeks. But Laidir had been taking care of his business in Malitia; a city located south east of Obscurati.

  At the door Ray was greeted by a horde of young maids. From the way they treated him, Ray knew the girls fresh out of college. He knew they were Laidir’s harem. He felt sorry for Laidir’s wife. Although he had married Lamia 397 years ago and he still loved that woman like the first day.

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  Ray was lead to a big room. There was a big, like an oval shaped table in the middle. Chairs were arranged around the table. The young woman offered him a seat. Ray sat down on one end of the oval.

  After a few minutes Laidir entered the room. Took place on the other side of the table and started the conversation.

  “I hope you weren’t too bored waiting here for me. Had to discuss things with that old hag. She just keeps nagging and nagging, about shit no one cares about.” He laughed as he said that. Laidir and Ray knew each other since college. In college, they lived in the same dorm and they had always got along well together.

  “But I must admit this time she had a point” Lairdir added. “So what do you want old friend?”

  “I heard one of your whores got pregnant”- “None of them is a whore! They are all high class maidens! At least until I train them” Laidir laughed again. “So what is that you want of her? I don’t assume you came to give your congratulations.”

  “Oh, right. You know I heard pretty interesting things about your daughter. To be precise about her prophecy”

  Laidir glanced at Ray. “Has your wife sent you to steal her from me? I should have known better ever since you met her you do everything she says! What did that Schatten bitch do to you? Did she cut down your testicles or what?”

  Ray suppressed his desire to jump on Laidir’s throat. “You probably heard about my son. He has a similar prophecy as your daughter. The specialists say he is born to marry your girl. And as far as I know your whore isn’t all that happy about your bustard.” Ray smiled at Laidir who had gotten silent all of a sudden.

  “You son of a fat Wyrm! I should have known better you always do your homework before coming to negotiations!” Laidir who had been laughing, exhaled staring at Ray. “So what? Do you want me to give my daughter to your god dammed clan? Do you expect me to give someone with such a prophecy to some other clan?”

  “No, to be honest, I didn’t expect you to do that. All I can say is that your daughter won’t live long if she stays in this house. I don’t expect Lea accept someone like her.” Ray answered in a calm manner.

  “Ok, ok, I get where you are coming from, but still. I can’t! Meeting you here is already too much. You know my clan doesn’t have much in common with yours. If I went out an announced the engagement of my daughter to your son … They would kill me! Those old geezers don’t mess around. And who arranges marriages in this day and age?! Lea and I are the best example how it just doesn’t work out.” Laidir had an apologetic expression as he said that.

  “Who said you would have to give your daughter to our clan? If her prophecy is right, she will raise to the top with or without a clan. I know you aren’t a bad person and you just want the best for your child. I’m just pointing out the easiest path for her to take. Have you ever heard of ‘Guradian Academy’ in Nocturnio? I could arrange things so that both my son and your daughter enter the academy as soon as they are five instead of the regular seven” Ray smiled; he knew he had Laidir’s attention.

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  Nana entered Lamia’s office. “What brings you here Nana?” Lamia played dumb. She knew exactly why Nana was here. She knew Nana would bring up that painful topic. The topic she was trying to get out of her head.

  “Mistress, please excuse this old woman, but I just can’t stand looking at the girl I raised, doing such inappropriate things. You know that boy needs a mother! He doesn’t fully understand it yet, but he knows something is off. He keeps asking for you! Mistress you are his mother. If you keep hiding from him, he will end up hating you!”

  Tears flowed down on Lamia’s cheeks. “So what? I don’t have the right to be the mother of a child even the gods disapprove of! And ‘they’; my predecessors told me to dispose of it. Someone as powerless as that child doesn’t have a future in our society. You know how hard it is for me not being with him right now? There is nothing I can do! They have decided.” Lamia looked up to the speechless Nana.

  “What do you think Ray and I have been doing all this time? Yes at the beginning I was trying to run away from this sad reality but I’m not someone to run away from my problems! You should know me better. The last three weeks I gave my all to convince them. And guess what? They agreed on letting him alive! As long as we send him away on his fifth birthday and I don’t interact with him, they are fine with him being alive! I couldn’t care less if the boy hates me one day! All I care about is that he stays alive! There is nothing to be done. As we speak Ray is already setting everything in motion. So would you please take care of the boy a little longer?”

  Nana had to sit down. She was speechless. She just couldn’t believe Lamia’s words.