"Even after three years, I still can't get used to teleportation," Anya grumbled to herself, her feet firmly planted on the ground of the hunting grounds.

  She got down from the podium and started her search. "What are you waiting for?" she yelled over her shoulder, her voice echoing in the cave. "Get down here and tell me exactly where you lost it!"

  Her eyes widened in horror. "Don't you dare tell me it washed away in the waterfall!" she shouted, spinning around, expecting the little prince to panic.

  But the Azuma she saw was completely different.

  He was still standing on the podium, his posture straight, the childish panic gone from his face. She felt a chill run down my spine. The moment they had arrived, his playful demeanor had vanished, replaced with an unnerving maturity that was completely at odds with his age.

  Anya's shoulders tensed. This wasn't a child's game; it was a psychological battlefield, a final showdown with her most formidable adversary—a three-year-old prince. The familiar sting of defeat, a sensation she'd only ever felt at his tiny, manipulative hands, ignited a fire within her.

  Not this time. She would not fall for the "lost toy" ploy again. Her eyes narrowed into slits, her jaw set with a grim resolve worthy of a general facing a dragon.

  Let's see who breaks first, she challenged him silently, knowing the fate of her entire night—and, by extension, the world—rested on this moment.

  "Aunty, I'm sorry for lying to you. The pendant is safe inside my house," Azuma said, bowing deeply.

  I figured as much, kid. What are you up to? Anya smirked inwardly. She didn't say a word, just watched him, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She stared, long and hard.

  A knot tightened in Azuma's stomach. Will this work? This feels so stupid. But I'm grounded anyway, so why not try? His resolve firmed, and a quiet fire returned to his eyes.

  "Before I explain what this is about, I want to ask you a few questions, Aunty. Please, humor me."

  Anya remained silent, an internal battle raging within her. Say no! Say no and get him back to his parents! But her body betrayed her. She gave a single, cautious nod.

  "Who is my father? Who are Leo, Sou, and Mike? Who were they before they were exiled? Who were they to the empire and to the continent?"

  Anya had been bracing for something far more dangerous. Her shoulders relaxed as she answered.

  "Together, they were known as House Hammer. They were a force so respected that even Emperor Orion felt threatened by them. The sovereign himself acknowledged their power—not their power to destroy, but their power to change the world."

  A sad smile touched her lips. "It's said the sovereign himself chose your father. We heard rumours he had great hopes for him."

  A flicker of irony crossed her mind. The most promising youngster in the empire was exiled to the very land he helped seal. She looked at the three-year-old boy who stood before her, a boy who should be living a carefree life, not fighting monsters in the Cursed Lands. Her resolve softened.

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  "It's not an exaggeration to say they are the reason the empire was created, is it?" Azuma asked, his voice low.

  Anya nodded slowly, lost in thoughts of what their lives could have been.

  "Then... who are Anya, Rufe, Dhruba, and Virkam in the empire? How powerful and important are they?" he asked, his voice growing sharper.

  She chuckled, a flash of her old pride returning. "Haha, young prince, you should know. We five held the top ranks in the Royal Guard. We were the shining stars of the Crimson Empire."

  "And what happened to the shining stars?" Azuma asked, his voice raw with emotion. A single tear escaped his eye. "What happened to the pillars of the Crimson Empire?"

  Anya's heart fluttered. She took a step toward him.

  "I... the fallen star... have brought both the pillars and the shining stars down with me. And I... I can't live knowing this, Aunty. I want to do something. I want to change our fate. I don't want us to live for food and hide in a shelter under the rocks. I want us to live under the sky, like the world belongs to us."

  He took a shaky breath, his voice catching in his throat.

  "Leo, Sou, Mike... the three pillars of House Hammer. Anya, Dhruba, Virkam, and Rufe... the four great generals of the empire. My father, the greatest inventor. And my mother, the first champion of the Crimson Empire. We are the elite of the empire, yet we are treated like second-rate criminals. All because of me."

  "Because of me, we are living under a rock like insects. We are the rulers of this land, yet we hide ourselves."

  Then, his voice, which had been crumbling, grew sharper. The determination in his eyes blazed, and with the voice of a man far older than his years, he roared.

  "My father, the Emperor, should not live under a rock! He should live under the sky! My mother, the Empress, should not fight to survive but live in a peaceful environment! My uncle Leo should not forge with scrap material; he is a legendary forgemaster who will one day craft god-class items! My uncle Sou should not dig a hole inside a cave but build an empire on our land! My uncle Mike should not inscribe on waste paper and rocks; he should paint the world with his skill! And you guys... you are not foot soldiers but Royal Guards!"

  "We forgot a very important thing when we arrived here... We are here to rule this land, not to survive in it. We are doing nothing more than the monsters that live here. I want to change that!" he bellowed. "I want to change everything!"

  "Aunty... this is my last request to you. Come with me. Let me do things my way. If I fail, I will never ask for anything again. It's my promise to you."

  Anya stood silent and stunned, her mind reeling.

  Azuma's POV

  Crap, why isn't she moving? I can't read any emotion in her eyes. Did my speech even affect her? Say something, damn it! Oh god, I've risked everything. If Mom or Dad finds out, I'm done for.

  I played the speech back in my mind. It sounded so good, but my childish voice probably made it comical. Damn it, she still hasn't moved. What should I...

  "What do you want?" Anya's voice was flat, emotionless.

  Yesss! Azuma thought, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. He quickly composed himself and said, "Our first part of the plan: make a deal with the daemons."

  Anya's eyes widened. She wanted to say no, her entire being screaming at her to refuse.

  Damn, she has beautiful eyes. They're big and round and shiny... wow... Okay, back to strategy number two. I will kneel and plead with her one more time. Then, I'll hit her with the puppy-dog eyes. I don't think she can resist that. It's one of the perks of being a child.

  Anya's Inner Turmoil

  Damn it, say no, say no! It's too risky! Even if the daemons aren't hostile toward us, I can't be sure they'll be the same toward a child. How did I end up in this situation? Why is this happening to me? I should have never left the city.

  Calm down. Just say NO and take him back... But... everything he said... it was right. Damn it, how can a three-year-old kid talk like that? Who wrote this speech? 'King of the sky'... pfft. It has to be Dhruba.

  Okay, the decision is made. I have to say N... wait, what is he doing? No, no, NO! Don't kneel. A prince should not kneel! Wait, wait, wait... Oh, NO... NOT THAT! Anya, don't look at his eyes, it's a trap! Don't say yes, no matter what.

  If we say y...

  "Okay, we'll go," Anya said, defeated.

  Great... you stupid idiot. You are so dead. She though

  Azuma's Inner Thought “Yay! It worked. Step two completed. “