~January 13th, afternoon~

  A little over an hour later, the horse carrying Brenda and Jet stopped in front of the cave door.

  “Hmmm, I didn't expect riding on a horse could be…quite uncomfortable.”

  Brenda chuckled. If Jet hadn't said that, she would have forgotten that he was the General's son. “This is your first time horse riding?”

  “Well…I did just turned thirteen two weeks ago.” Jet scratched his head in embarrassment.

  “Hehehe, right. I forgot. If you want, I could teach you how to ride. Trust me, once you get used to it, you'll love it.”

  Jet's eyes gleamed. The heroic images from past heroes he'd seen in murals came to mind. “That would be awesome.”

  He's a kid after all, Brenda thought amusingly. “Great. Now off you go. The Duke General and Duchess Admiral are waiting for you in the Major's office.”

  Jet nodded. As Brenda walked to the stable in the cave fortress, Jet placed his fist firmly to his chest. An Ottilian Army salute.

  Brenda smiled, did the same, and went on her way.

  ***

  Jet opened the door to the Commander's office. Seeing his mother and father sitting on the couch side by side, looking at him, a longing rushed his heart.

  He misses them so much. He wanted to run and hug them. But then, as immediately as the feeling came, Jet shut it down.

  His right fist went to his chest, where his heart is. “Greetings, Duke General. Duchess Admiral.”

  Aelius and Loina frowned. “Are you that grown up already, you don't even acknowledge us as your parents anymore?” Aelius spat out.

  Jet's face remained stoic. “I don't know. Am I still your son?”

  Loina dropped her head down. Her haze fell on her boots. Aelius, having had nothing to counter that spicy remark, could only sighed.

  For a moment, nobody said anything. Jet remained standing there. And his parents are lost in thoughts.

  A good while later, Loina broke the silence. “Why don't you sit down first?”

  This awkwardness was too unbearable. Given the choice, Jet would rather go back and fight the Lava Bear. But, he didn't walk out. Instead he moved and sat on the couch across Aelius and Loina.

  Silence again filled the entire office. Jet had nothing he wanted to say, nothing non rude at least. And Aelius and Loina seem like they had something to say, yet they don't know how to say it.

  “Jet.” Finally Loina began. “We know. It's not fair that we suddenly kicked you out of the house. It's not right. But we don't have a choice.”

  Jet said nothing. What can he say anyway? His heart's still hurting. Talking about it is akin to pouring salt on it. The only thing that keeping his ass on the seat is by remembering what the stranger said.

  Loina continued. “We…we're not asking for an apology. We don't have a right for one. But we hope…we hope you could at least know why we did it.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  There it is. The answer to the question constantly hammering Jet's head and heart. “Go on.”

  Aelius could not watch as Loina tried her best to choke back on the tears. So he stepped in. “What happened…is largely my fault. Or to be more precise, the fault lies on the Brandrs bloodline.”

  “You’ve heard the story about our lineage, right?The Heroic Tale of Brandr. The first of the humans to pick up his sword to fight against the Chaos God.” Aelius's face suddenly broke out into a smile before he added. “In fact, you must've been bored already hearing those stories.”

  Jet was a bit taken aback by the rare smile of his father. But he still nodded. Indeed it has been boring. Sure, the first he heard it, he was amazed. Like all children had. But when the same stories are repeated by the elders again and again, even gold becomes poop.

  Aelius continued. “In short, our family is very proud of our heritage. And like all other proud families, sought to protect the purity of its bloodline. Whatever that is. Which is why, they are so against me marrying your mother.”

  “That's illogical.” Jet interrupted. “We've married outside the family before. Doesn't the first Brandr married the daughter of the first Zander King? Uncle Birusk, Aunt Nerine, Aunt Adsila, they all got married to different duchies of Ottilia. How is it so strange for you to marry mother?!”

  Loina smiled bitterly. “Well, marrying an Ottilian is still acceptable. Marrying a Foedus…it's viewed as fraternizing with the enemies.”

  “Huh? But why?”

  “Because unlike Ottilia, Foedus tribes sided with Apep and the Furvurs. Even now, some of the tribes are receiving orders from Furvur’s Chaos Childs.”

  Jet remembered something. “Is that why I got kidnapped?”

  He regretted saying that, because his mother and father immediately rushed to his side. “You got kidnapped?!” Loina was horrified. Aelius looked like he's about to burn the entire world.

  “Oh pfft, don't worry about it. Stupid Alba Stella kidnappers. Don't even know not to sail in the Northern Sea. Especially in January. Stupid right?” Jet said, trying to sound cheerful. Trying his best to make it seem like it was nothing.

  It failed.

  “Why wasn't I notified about this?” Although Loina was the one who controlled Ice element, Aelius's voice sounded even colder.

  Jet held Aelius's hands. Worried that Sam and Brenda might be blamed. “Please don't get angry, father. I specifically told the Commander not to tell anyone. Besides, you know how potent Alba Stella's sorcery is. Who knows what they did to get inside the defense spell.”

  “Alba Stella did this?” Loina also turned serious.

  “Y-yeah. They put me in the Cloud Coffin. That's how I knew they're from Alba Stella.”

  Loina looked at Aelius. He nodded, a sign that he was also thinking the same thing.

  Jet noticed that. “What are you thinking, mother? Father?”

  “Alba Stella is just a hired dog. They'll do anything for money. So…perhaps…” Loina didn't finish the sentences.

  Aelius finished his sentences. “Perhaps the two princes have already made their moves.”

  Jet was startled. Talking about the princes cause him to remember about the stranger's warning. Is this all a plot by Doleon? But the stranger said it was Doleon and Yurena. Why are there two princes?

  “What do you mean two princes? And what has it got to do with me?” Jet carefully probed.

  Aelius placed his hand on Jet's shoulder. “Son, this is the second reason why I remove you from the family's register. Do you know about the Prism twins?”

  Jet nodded. Of course he knew. Everybody in Ottilia knew. The twins are King Alaric firstborn sons. And both have the legal rights for the throne. Luckily, right now, they are just competing for the rights to be Crown Prince.

  Although they are twins, they could not be anymore different. Character wise.

  First Prince Prief was a schemer. A politician at heart. He was the one responsible for merchants of Alba Stella to sell their goods in Ottilia. Although Ottilia also benefited from the trade, it doesn't shy from the fact that Prief had backings from Foedus. Thankfully, he managed to trick Ottilian commoners into thinking that he is kind and generous.

  As for Prince Mal…well, he should've been born a Brandr. That's what people often joked about. There's only one thing that matters to Mal. The size of one's fist. To him, strength is justice. There's only one law that matters in the world. Survival law. And to survive, you need to be strong.

  The duchies and the rest of the aristocrats did not know who to pick. Between a potential iron fist ruler, or one with no backbone at all.

  “How is it that them competing in the Crown got me in trouble? What did I do?”

  Aelius shook his head. “It's not what you did, son. It's what you are. The perfect tool for their campaign.”

  “Huh?”

  Aelius grabbed Loina’s hand. “Right now, you are not just a Brandr. You have the Ice Moon Pirate's blood in you. In short, the blood of a Foedus. The First Prince is going to use you as a bridge to connect Ottilia and Foedus, and the Second Prince will probably sacrifice you to clean up the Military of any ‘threats’. Either way, your life is no longer yours.”

  Jet nodded fervently. He understands now. Things would be good if he awakened his core. He could contribute to the army, and show his loyalty to Ottilia. He could also resist being turned into a dog.

  But he was powerless, and couldn't even defend himself. His identity as a Brandr, that enabled him to exist up until now, has turned into a burden. Poison even. Thankfully, his parents had the foresight. And he was saved.

  Jet hugged his parents. “I'm sorry father. Mother. I didn't know. And I immediately went and blamed you. I should've known that you only want what's best for me.”

  Aelius and Loina felt a few tonnes lighter hearing that. They are relieved. They are happy.

  “Well, seeing that you still got kidnapped, it was useless after all. Maybe we should bring you back.” Loina said.

  Jet immediately rejected his idea. “I don't think that that's a good idea, mother. Since they are so bold, it won't just be me who would be in danger. The family would be too.”

  “We don't care. We can fight!” Aelius sternly stated.

  “But I would be worried. And the guilt would haunt me forever. So, it is best if I stay here.”

  Loina was unconvinced. “But…”

  “Besides, Helldoor had been keeping watch. And they are good fighters. Plus, if you're worried, maybe you could ask the Connitis for a stronger warding spell.”

  Aelius and Loina went silent. What Jet said makes sense. Still, to leave their son in danger, it doesn't sit right with them. Yet, they are powerless and clueless for a better solution.

  “Fine, we shall do as you say.” Loina relented. “But, if there's a sign of trouble, you and Helldoor should immediately rush to Phoenix. Alright?”

  “It's a promise.”

  And the three of them sat together.

  A family once more.