Chapter 8 - Family and Reunion

It has been about an hour since we entered the carriage. We already arrived at the castle grounds. Warren just stopped asking questions about me and my origin.

We got out of the carriage and was greeted by many servants; maids and butlers alike. A hundred or so knights were following us on out way here and they immediately took off to the training grounds with permission.

The large caste door was in front of us and a carpet made of quality red wool ran down to the throne. Princess Azure, or rather, Sister Azure entered through the door first and we followed.

Sitting across the room on a throne made of mostly gold, there sits a person. The King of Frostwind Kingdom. My father. I kneeled in front of him to show my respect and introduced myself.

He told me to rise and so I did. I had learned of his name and other members of his family through the history books I picked up a while ago. King William Squall Thawst or just King William III of Frostwind. I read that he has been reigning for half a decade now and the citiziens love him. He was the one who invented those totems that give off heat and light called "Star Totems" And the city's new barrier.

King William III, or father, is a wizard. But most of the time, he's an inventor or so I've read. He also is a father of four children, five including me. Three of them being girls and one boy.

Princess Azure is the oldest of us, born of father's late wife way before my mother came to his life. She's turning 17 this year. Princess Azure is a strict and diplomatic person. She helps the kingdom's diplomats on handling the papers and is doing a great job at it. She also loves balls and the way she dances so gracefully charms a lot of people.

Princess Trumea, the second princess. It's written in the book that she's a prankster, setting up pranks everywhere in the castle for fun. Though the servants don't really mind because her pranks aren't dangerous or way over the top. She has the same mother as Princess Azure and is 15 years old.

Princess Uxie, a purple-haired, shy and bookish person. She loves reading books on her free time and loves magic. Her favorite food is pancakes because it has a soft and fluffy texture. Princess Uxie also likes to draw and is very talented on it. Her mother is the current Queen of the Kingdom, Quartz Wendial. Princess Uxie is eight years old.

And lastly, there's Prince Tristan. He just turned five this year so he still hasn't figured out what to do yet. Though the people say that Tristan likes to watch the knight's practice match. There was a time that Tristan snuck onto the knight's training ground and mingled with the knights and telling them he wanted to be one too. He has the same parent as Princess Uxie.

There is also Queen Quartz Wendial. The people don't really know a lot about her because she rarely goes out, but the servants knows a thing or two about her. The book said that Queen Quartz has a reserved personality. She prefers to be alone and with the king himself, but children, blood-related or not, she's extremely caring of them. Queen Quartz has a white hair and most of the time, she ties her hair to a bun. She also is fond of animals and maybe monsters because she loves collecting materials from monsters.

The King got up, telling us to follow him and entered through a door. We quickly followed behind and arrived at a courtyard. The courtyard is large and contains dozens of different types of floras that is organized in a neat way.

We stopped in front of a gazebo. The King took a seat on one of the many wooden garden chairs and quickly told us to take a seat.

『So... Lake, is it? How is your mother, Rose? Has she been well?』

I told him about how mother is doing well and is living comfortably in a countryside. He nodded with a melancholic look to his face. I also told him how mother wishes to see him but is afraid that he wouldn't accept her anymore.

We had a long talk after that. My father told me that he was glad he found me and I did too. I told him about the stories of my little adventure and he was shocked, considering my young age. I told him that I got help from a couple of friends. I summoned and introduced them. Gray, my trusty Gryphon. Nightmare, the stealthy Void Spider. And Fögar, the mighty Minotaur King.

Everyone went wide-eyed including Warren who already saw them.

『I thought Gray was a hippogryph! And that spider! I thought he's a normal Black Spider! That Minotaur too! He's the King?! What the heck?!』

I know. I too was shocked when I learned of their origins. I replied.

Father was just sitting there, stroking his beard while staring at my familiars.

『You have the mythical Gryphon, together with the infamous Void Spider, and the fierce Minotaur King with you. No wonder your mother let you go wherever you wanted. You could raze a whole city in fire with them should they grow stronger.』

I shook my head, saying I would never do such thing as troublesome as that. I told my father that I ran away from home after learning of his whereabouts and existence. I also told him about Warren's circumstance and he said he'll do anything he can. Warren jumped with glee and apologized for his rude actions.

It was dark now and the occasional hoots of the owls can be heard outside. We decided that we'll continue this tomorrow and rest for the night. I asked for Warren and I to share a large room with separate beds. We chatted for a bit before fulling onto a deep slumber.