Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

The walls of Arcadios's capital towered over Lucius's party. Their carriages stopped before its grand gates. The guards held their pikes at the ready, threatening violence against anyone who made a single move they did not like. For his part, Lucius could only sigh. Nearly every attempt to enter the wretched place was a spectacle that felt beyond necessary at this juncture.

He had hoped that riding in carriages displaying the crest of Aedrider would provide them with some reprieve, but apparently that thought was too hopeful. Lucius felt strange as the normal annoyance at the situation rose to higher levels. Now it bordered on anger. He cracked his knuckles as he moved to exit.

"Stay here my loves." He ordered to Kalliope and Jade. The latter's face turned the color of a cherry as her eyes flitted to her brother in the seat across from her.

"Please." Desmond mumbled. "As if I didn't know the moment you began moaning in that tent. Gods, to think you didn't even check if it was enchanted for silence…"

Lucius felt a portion of his frustration subside as a smirk teased the corner of his mouth. He cleared his throat and closed the door behind him. Once outside, he found himself joined by Snow, Yue, and Corva. Corva's hair was a veritable rat's nest indicating she had only just woken from a restful sleep.

Despite being someone who was adjusted to sleeping in many conditions, he found it impressive that Corva could have such a restful experience in the horrible conditions of a jumbling and bouncing carriage. The roads were of questionable quality in many places, yet that did not matter to the elven princess.

A familiar woman stepped forward. "Halt! Lord Lucius Kane. What business do you have in our great capital? I have it under good authority that you have been banished to Aedrider."

Lucius turned to Corva and raised an eybrow. The elf woman stretched her hands into the air and yawned. "Right, that. I am princess Corva din Aedrider. On behalf of Queen Letheya din Aedrider, Lord Lucius Kane has completed his required mission. Aedrider formally dismisses him from our temporary service and verify that the terms for lifting the temporary banishment have been met. Blah, blah, blah, formal stuff. Can I sleep now?"

The guardswoman smirked. She turned back to Lucius. "You would have me believe this slob is a princess? How would I know you did not simply steal those carriages and fled the field of battle? It is no secret that your 'wife' is due any day now. As selfish as we know you to be, you could have simply fled your responsibilities to serve your own desires."

Lucius felt something snap in his head. Metal clanged against stone as the guards surrounding them dropped their weapons. A few men fell to their knees, gripping their chests. Corva's eyes opened wide. Yue began to whimper. Mana condensed around them, turning the air thick. A few of the guards who managed to maintain their wits closed in on Lucius before they cried out in pain. Their bodies shook as if fighting against some sort of invisible bindings.

Jade leapt from the carriage, followed quickly by both Desmond and Kalliope. "Lucius! Please, we just got here! Calm yourself!"

He did not answer her. The guardswoman pulled her sword from its sheath. "You dare threaten our forces again? I shall have you…"

Her words were cut short by the clacking of heels along the cobblestone. Lucius's eyes fell upon a beautiful woman with long, black hair and pale green eyes. She wore a purple ruffled dress with black trim. Her pale skin seemed to glow with power. With each step she took, the air around them vibrated.

"And who are you?" Lucius asked. A rumble began in his chest.

The woman looked upon him with a blank stare. Despite her lack of expression, there was a glint of curiosity in her eyes. She pulled a fan from a small sheath on her hip. Like her dress, it was purple with black trim. "Stand down. Now." Her words shook the world around them. Though only the guardswoman remained standing at this point, she turned her head to glance at the new party. Her eyes grew wide, instantly stowing her weapon and falling to one knee.

The woman continued. "Princess Corva. A pleasure as always."

With those final words, the Mana returned to normal, relieving the pressure from around them. Corva coughed slightly, suddenly awake. "Yes! Princess Lefae von Arcadios, it is always a pleasure seeing you."

"Quite." Princess Lefae responded with a simple nod. "Lord Lucius Kane, your deeds in Aedrider have been recognized. I do encourage you to return to the castle at once. Lady Kane is soon to bring you your first child. Come with me."

"What? Princess, may you please escort my party. I need to go to her now." Panic rose in Lucius's voice.

A simple nod from the strange woman indicated her agreement. Mana condensed around him. Lightning wrapped around his feet and legs before he launched himself through the open gate. One destination was on his mind: the Oracle's Tower.

***

Rena's cries echoed through the large room. Joined by her side were Natali and Lyrah. "Where the fuck is your mother?!" Rena shouted.

Natali's mother was supposed to use Dark Magic to assist in numbing the pain. Without it, Rena felt an unbelievable pain and pressure in her abdomen. The pain came in waves, the gaps between them lessening with time. Her water had broken only minutes ago while Mylene was away performing her duties. Rubellia had run off to fetch her, but it was a large castle and who knew how long it would take them.

Adellia brushed sweaty locks of hair out of Rena's face. "I know, dear, but this will pass. The pain is worth it in the end. Everything will be okay. If I can do it, then there is no doubt in my mind that so too can you."

A few other maids moved methodically through the room. They prepared a number of clean towels, heated water, and prepared the area for the child's birth. Normally they would not be caught dead in the Oracle's tower, choosing to remain as far away from so many Marked Ones as they could. However, thanks to Lefae, they ascended the tower to assist Rena.

She could only wonder how the emotionless princess 'convinced' the women to assist, but the thought brought Rena a small amount of amusement in between waves of pain. She turned to Lyrah, "And Lucius will be here? You promise? I don't think I can do this without him."
Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Lyrah smiled at her, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "Yes. He will arrive before she does."

"She?" Rena's tears increased in quantity. "A girl? She's a girl?"

Lyrah smiled once more. "Yes, Rena. Sorry for ruining the surprise with a slip of the tongue. You will soon welcome your daughter into the world, and Lucius will be the first to hold her."

"I don't even have a name chosen! Lucius and I never decided. She isn't even here and I'm already failing as a mother." Rena cried out.

Adellia gave her an empathetic smile. She opened her mouth to say something, but everyone halted. A familiar pressure appeared at their door. A moment later, it flew open, smashing into the stone wall.

"Rena!" Lucius's voice cut through the pain and emotions, washing over Rena like a comforting breeze. "I'm here. I am here, my love."

There was a gentleness to her husband's tone and gaze that felt unfamiliar. He was always kind and gentle to her, but his felt different. It felt more sincere. Before it was always muted, in a way. Rena dashed those thoughts away, now simply happy that her husband had kept his promise.

Lyrah dropped her hand, making room for Lucius to approach and stand by her side. His hands brushed against Rena's cheek and he leaned in for a kiss. Rubellia and Mylene appeared in the doorway next, both huffing from their rushing.

Mylene quickly approached and used a Dark Magic [Numb] spell on her. The sensation of Lucius's grip quickly vanished, leaving a small seed of sadness in Rena's heart, but so too did most of the pain. She still felt the necessary pressure to ensure that she could feel 'something' while birthing their child.

"Lucius, my love, we are having a daughter." Rena whimpered. She winced. Something shifted and she felt a phantom sensation indicating the birth was beginning. "We don't have a name." Tears rolled down her face.

Lucius nodded. "I know." He swallowed. Was that nervousness? From Lucius? "Mother Adellia."

All eyes fell on him in shock. Lucius locked his eyes on his birth mother. "Were it not for your willingness to house my wife here. To support her when all thought me gone… I owe you much. Were it not for the actions you and Miss Mylene took, I may never have made my way into Mother Rubellia's care…"

"L-Lucius, of course. How could I not try and give you a chance at life…" Adellia managed between choking down sobs.

"Can you do us one more favor? It would honor me for you to name our daughter. Your granddaughter."

The Oracle broke into cries that wracked her body. Tears roiled down her face. She looked to Rena for confirmation that it was okay with her. Rena simply nodded in agreement. Though unexpected from Lucius, she had no qualms with his decision. Adellia had done so much throughout her pregnancy and before… it was a great gift.

One of the other maids broke through the revery. "The child is coming. Please prepare."