Chapter Three: A Genius

Zirian walked into the meeting hall of the silver and red castle, carrying Alice. Light shone through the windows and almost blinded her. He sat down opposite of a man, clad in gold armor, with dark skin and a black beard. He had no hair.

"Hello, King Lucifer." He spoke. The man had a deep raspy voice, full of confidence and power.

"How are you, Emperor Stravos?" Zirian said. "This is my daughter, Alice. Say hi, Alice."

Alice stared at Stravos, before raising her hand and waving at him.

"What is this about, Lucifer? Just a month ago you were hellbent in taking my Empire to Hell itself! I wouldn't be shocked if this was a ploy to do just that!"

Zirian shook his head. "I no longer wish to fight. I just want to spend time with my daughter. You understand, right? You have kids."

Stravos leaned back. "Yes I do, but the people won't take this easily. They've been asking me when your head will be delivered."

Zirian laughed as he felt Alice tense up. "She can understand you. I haven't even taught her how to speak my language, but she understands all speech for some reason. Maybe she's a genius."

They both laughed. "I'm fine with a peace agreement." Stravos said. "But we must take this carefully over the next few years, is that fine? My people will be most difficult to convince. It will definitely take a while."

Zirian nodded. "Yes. Maybe you can have your Empress speak to them, they love her." They both laughed again as Zirian called in a maid. "Take Alice and help her to learn some things please, Cecile. We'll be discussing these matters frequently."

"Yes, my King." The maid bowed, taking Alice to the library. It had bookshelves upon bookshelves, and the guards positioned outside were nothing to scoff at. They wore Dryconian layered steel plate armor with long swords made of the scales of a dead dragon.

Cecile, a human refugee, began teaching Alice to run. She picked it up pretty fast which shocked Cecile. "I've never seen a baby learn something so quick, it must be in your nature." Cecile was a pretty young woman. She had medium length brown hair and green eyes. Her skin was tanned and had no blemishes. She wore a decent maid outfit, and had a sweet, older sister voice.

"Well of course it is. Can you speak? Say Daddy or Zirian." She said. She explained how to do it, and quietly waited for Alice's response.

'I should slow down a bit. This baby body is just over a year old. If I begin talking to early, they might treat me too nicely...' a smile appeared in her mind, but not on her face. 'Ah hell, who would it hurt anyways!'

She acted like she was trying to say Zirian.

"Zi... Zir... Zirian." She apparently fooled Cecile.

Cecile was ecstatic. "You have spoken six months earlier than most babies your age! Your first word was also the king's name! When the king hears this, he'll soar through the roof!"

She decided it was time to feed Alice and let her take a nap.

After a few hours, Alice woke up. 'This is so stupid. Why couldn't I have just started with a low power level and worked my way up? I hate being a baby again! Especially since I'm not a guy!

I just want to learn about this world! Is that too much to ask for?'

- Unknown -

She saw Zirian laying down in his bed, so she began to 'cry' in order to wake him.

Zirian eyes opened at the sound of whining. He looked over to Alice's crib and realized she was awake. "You certainly had a good day. Don't take naps for granted..." It seemed like he was going to cry.

Alice opened her mouth. "Zirian!"

Zirian's eyes lit up. "Cecile wasn't lying! You really are learning to speak!" He lifted Alice into the air. "Say Papa or Dad though, not Zirian."

He taught her to say Papa, and she quickly picked it up. "You're going to do great things in the future, my daughter! I can feel it!"

Three years passed as Alice slowly became used to the world around her. She was the princess of the last Demon kingdom, Lucifina. The world, known as Astrea, contained Humans, Elves, Demons, Orcs, Ogres, and other types of creatures. The Humans, Elves, and Demons are known as the "High Races" because they have built societies like kingdoms and empires.

The Orcs, Ogres, and other sentient beings like them are known as the "Tribal Races" as they have created tribes, clans and the like.

Anything lower is known as a "Monster Race". They have yet to develop full sentience and still almost fully rely on instincts.

Zirian learned that Cecile was one of the few people who got along well with Alice, so he instructed her to teach Alice about the world, how to use magic, etc. She could not teach Alice the Magical Arts, as you needed to be five years old.

Despite that, Alice learned quickly other things and became known as a genius to everyone in the palace, while outside she was still a rumor to the people. Zirian felt it would take a while to explain how he had Alice. He was never married before. It went on this way for years, but finally, five years after Alice's summoning, something big happened.

Alice used the Magical Art for the first time.

BOOM!!!

Zirian and Cecile ran into the library. "Alice! Are you okay?" Zirian saw Alice covered head to toe in soot.

She coughed as she heard the Sytem.

- Magical Art learned: Explosive Fireball -

"What were you doing, Princess!?!" Cecile ran and began wiping the soot off Alice.

"I was just trying to cast a fireball... and I wanted to touch it..." She looked at Zirian. "Sorry, Papa!"

His two hearts skipped a few beats. "Oh it's fine, Alice. Everyone fails every now and then, even if they're a genius! That was also your first time casting the Magical Arts!"

Alice's face lit up. "Okay, then I'm going to try it again!"

"No no no!" Zirian yelled, but it was too late.

BOOM!!!

The three of them, covered head to toe in soot, stood there silently as bookshelves crumbled to the ground. Luckily, Zirian had multiple copies of all the books that were destroyed.

Zirian looked sternly at Alice. "Go to your room now, young lady!"

Alice bowed her head and ran out of the library. 'If I don't mess up every now and then, they'd get suspicious... right?'

Cecile bowed to Zirian. "I'm so sorry, my King. I'll teach her to be more careful." She left and chased after Alice.