Cassie had grown up into the life of a maid. She had been raised to serve others and she was content with that. Her family had been in such services for generations. It was an honor to serve the nobility and heroes of the land. They protected them from monsters and wayward humans who wished them harm. Cassie would do anything to please them.

She was of course aging. She still looked pretty but a few white hairs in her otherwise brown hair was telling. Otherwise there weren't many signs of that. She had aged gracefully and she chalk that up to her calm visage. Women wracked with worry age quicker. She was a maid. They did not panic. They were ever calm and collected. So when she had gotten a message from her Lady that urgently begged her to come to the house, she did so ever calm. Whatever may be the problem, she was sure to handle it with the grace a hero deserved.

She knocked on the door and waited. It didn't take long for the master of the house to open it. Lady Eliza seemed relieved as she let out a breath she was holding. Maid Cassie didn't know what was going on but if she looked this stressed then it must be something serious.

"Thank the Chief God that you got here as you did," Eliza said, patting her chest. "I didn't know how much longer I could worry about this."

Cassie bowed her head, "I am happy to serve you, My Lady." She then entered the house.

"Now what I'm about to show you may shock you," Eliza said as she led her up the stairs, "So I want you to remain calm and don't lift a finger."

Cassie couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow, "One would think you thought so little of me if I were to act so rashly. You must remember how I helped raise you, Lady Eliza. I am not a maid to act so impulsively."

"I know," Eliza sighed, "I know, but this is… Rather different than just me running into the woods alone at night."

"To which I hope so," Cassie said, "Lady Sasha is much more behaved so I doubt the issue lies with her."

"She has been a very good girl," Eliza nodded as she stood by one of the doors. She took a deep breath and opened it, "Sasha, sweetie. Bring out your brother. Cassie is here to see him."

Cassie's eyes widened a bit. Lady Eliza had a second child? Impossible. She would have known if that was the case. Unless Eliza was hiding it with magic but even then she would have sensed something was wrong.

"Aunt Cassie!" Sasha cried out her own nickname for her. She came over with a bundle in her arms, "Hi, Aunt Cassie."

"Hello child," Cassie smiled, "But how many times have I told you not to call me that. I am your maid, not a relative."

"Well you're like an aunt so you are an aunt," Sasha said with an innocent smile. She then held out her little brother, "Do you want to hold him?"

"I would gladly," Cassie pulled him into her arms. She smiled down at the cute little boy… Her smile departed, "Eliza. What is this?"

"That," Eliza's posture was rigid and high strung. As though she was prepared to strike at any moment, "Is my son. I adopted him not long ago."

"He isn't human," that much was clear to Cassie from the start. Even with the blankets covering most of him, she could see the dragon like aspects on his head. As well, she could feel a tail moving about. "Dare I say, he's a monster."

"Mamono," Eliza corrected, "I've heard that is a much more appropriate term in more… neutral territories."

"The heathens?" Cassie scowled, "I don't think we should listen to them. Now as for this child-"

"Which you will help take care of," Eliza interrupted.

Cassie's eyes widened in disbelief, "What? You can't be serious? Do you know what this child could mean for your family? The Inquisition will come for your head. They will kill you."

Eliza nodded, "That they will. That is if they ever find out which I will make sure they don't."

"This is a dangerous game, Lady Eliza." Cassie scowled as she looked down at the baby. He seemed so innocent, even if he could become a danger to the whole city. "You should get rid of him."

"I am not a monster," Eliza scowled as she took the baby into her arms. She held him protectively and the baby seemed to giggle in happiness at that. She smiled down at him and kissed his forehead, "He's mine to protect and I want you to do the same."

Cassie worked her jaw. Could she go along with this? A part of her wanted to report Lady Eliza to the authorities but she knew better. Doing so would go against everything she had been taught. She was to serve heroes, not destroy them. As well, she had helped raise Eliza and her daughter. To go behind their backs and do something was worthy of death in her eyes. So she sighed, "Very well. I am going against my better judgement but I shall help you raise this child."

Eliza smiled, "Great. Oh and I'll need you to look after him while I'm at the ball."

Cassie quirked an eyebrow, "I thought you hated such gatherings?"

"It seems Norscrim wants to change that," Eliza said with a snarl, "But I'll have to grin and bear it. Not to mention Sasha is coming with me so I'll have someone I like there."

Cassie bowed her head, "I shall endeavor to care for him as I did your daughter before."

"Thank you, Cassie." Eliza said with relief.

"Yay!" Sasha cheered, "You're the best, Aunt Cassie."

"Don't call me that," Cassie quickly said.


High Priest Absolon Norscrim was in a rather good mood. Earlier today he had held his little girl for the first time. It had taken quite a bit of waiting but she was finally here. A healthy girl with the potential to be a strong hero. Just what he wanted. He was right to pick the wife he had. She had served her purpose well. Perhaps she would give him another strong child in the future. TIme would tell. It was never wise to put all your eggs into one basket but he was a Norscrim. He had enough power and resources to keep his daughter safe and well. So he needn't worry about a thing.

As well, another child had been born to the Lescatie family. They were a great asset. The ruler was a pushover with no spine. Perfect for him. He had made sure to keep it that way. It was a shame to hear that it was another girl. A boy would have been a good way to secure the realm. To raise him up as the ruler instead of hoping to find some prince of another city state who would bow to his will willingly. He'd have to grin and bear it and a girl would secure him a lot of power in other ways. Always good to look on the bright side of things.

He walked into the royal nursery, passing the guards who eagerly tripped over themselves to get out of the way. No one wanted to get on a Norscrim's bad side. He stopped when he saw the scene before him.

His wife, a beautiful woman with long flowing purple hair, was laying on the bed. She was pale and breathing haggardly. Hopefully she will make it. Priest Norscrim would find it annoying if he had to replace her now but then again, maybe the next queen could give the king a son for once. The king himself, a well built man with blue hair and a fair complexion, stood worryingly over the crib. HIs royal clothes were a bit in disarray.

"Your Majesty," Priest Norscrim bowed, "I came as soon as I heard. Congratulations on your new daughter."

The king was silent for a moment. Then he turned his head. His eyes were puffy as though he had been crying. He looked distraught, "My daughter… is sick."

Priest Norscrim frowned, "Whatever do you mean, Your Majesty? You both are fine stock. Surely your daughter would be fine as well. Need we not remember your other three daughters? All of them are incredibly fit and powerful. She must be the same."

A sick child was a useless one. Hopefully the king was overreacting. That had to be it. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed after all.

"Her body is frail and she is barely clinging on," King Louis Lascetie said with a shaky voice, "She… The doctors and mages that have been here before you say she will never get better. That she may not even see her tenth birthday. That's if she's actually lucky to live past the year."

Priest Norscrim walked over to the crib and looked down to see it for himself. His eyes widened. His senses could tell. She would be no great hero, mage, or anything. She had nothing like her sisters. In fact, her inner magical energy was so depleted that it was almost non-existent. It was barely clinging there and her body did her no favors. Yes she was a cute baby. No doubt she'd be as lovely as her mother and sisters, but this?

She would be a liability. She couldn't be a hero for him to exploit. She couldn't be a tool to bargain with. What King would allow their son to marry a worthless woman who could barely do anything? She'd be a frail woman. She probably wouldn't survive childbirth and that is if she could get pregnant at all. He wanted to smack the king. This couldn't be used by him. He stuffed his emotions away.

This could be another tool but in a different way. He simply smiled at the king.

"She may not under the eyes of lesser mages," Priest Norscrim said, his inner grin growing wider. "But I shall take care of her. She will grow up to see many dawns under my guidance."

The king's eyes widened as a smile split his face, "You will? You will keep her safe?"

"Of course," Priest Norscrim almost chuckled, "I live to serve the king."

If he couldn't use the girl to further his goals outside of the kingdom, he could use it to further the king's dependency on him. What better way to keep him on his side then literally keeping a daughter of his alive. That would mean of course he would have to keep her sick and frail. While he doubted there was a way to truly fix her, he would have to discourage any methods that could fix this mess even remotely. Three healthy girls was enough for his plans. One sickly girl would make him powerful in a different way.

"Her name, Your Majesty?"

"Francisca Mistel Lescatie," the king sighed and looked on at his ill wife in despair, "We agreed on that name if we ever had another girl."

"A marvelous name," Priest Norscrim grinned down at the girl. Perhaps he would make sure Wilmarina got to know this girl a bit. To strengthen ties of course. "You will do great things, young princess."

Great things for him, he was sure.


I hope you are all enjoying the story thus far. It's been pretty fun to explore and write more for this universe. I'd love to hear your thoughts so please don't forget to comment. Until next time, take care all.