A hard lesson to be learned

[Ignis Kingdom]

Lenis and Nova arrived at the caste and were greeted by Cillus and Cinis.

"Uncle King! Uncle Cinis!"

"Nova! What brings you here today?" Cillus asked him.

"Mommy let me spend the day with uncle Canus here in Ignis."

Cillus looked at Canus "You better not traumatize him with your killer intend and blood lust."

"Let's go to training ground uncle Canus!"

"Nova before we go there I need to take Lenis to the kitchen fist."

"Why is that brother?" Cinis asked.

Lenis bowed to Cinis "Well that's because I have a liver daisies and I need to take medicine and fallow a specific diet in order to recover, Your Highness Cinis."

"Princess Mari asked me to make a few design's regarding a shrine and was told to visit the mountain behind the temple."

"You don't need to be so formal with us" King Cillus said to Lenis.

Cinis smiled "A friend of Mari is a friend of us, so treat us a such."

Lenis smiled "Alright."

"Now let go to kitchen."

Lenis and Canus arrived at the kitchen, Canus was a bit worried for Lenis but his worries were in the end ungrounded.

"Excuse me, I need to talk to the chef here."

The chef looked at Lenis "I'm the chef, what do you want?"

"I'm here regarding lunch, the food you'll be preparing can't be the same for me because I need to fallow a stick diet."

Lenis gave the chef the paper that stated what he could eat and which ingredients were to use.

The chef threw the paper away and said "I'm not going to prepare a separate lunch just for you because you have to fallow a diet."

Lenis smirked "Alright, then you leave me with no other option."

Lenis made a video call to Marika.

"Princess Mari I'm calling you because the kitchen staff refused to prepare my lunch according to my diet."

'Alright let me speak to the chef.'

Lenis walked over to the chef and whispered to him "You brought this on yourself."

Marika started to rant on the chef, Canus, Nova and Lenis had to keep in there laugh.

'Are you an idiot? You refuse to prepare a separate dish for a royal guest who need to fallow a strict diet? Do you want to kill him with your food just because you're to god damn lazy?'

"But.."

'No but! Do I need to come over and kick you out of the kitchen and cook it myself?'

"No…"

'If you still refuse I'll come over and you can all pack your bags and leave the castle because I will ask uncle Cillus to fire all of your asses.'

"Yes princess, we will do as it's written on the paper he gave us."

The chef looked angry at Lenis.

Marika saw this 'You all get out of that kitchen now and I'll be there in a few minutes!'

And she ended the call.

Canus came in laughing "You really had to look at him angrily while you were still on the video call with her. May you rest in pieces."

Marika asked William to send her by portal to Ignis because there were a few cooks who needed to be enlightened.

Marika arrived and stormed down to the kitchen, Cillus and Cinis saw her and fallowed her because she looked like she was going to murder somebody.

'It seems you all want to stay ignorant for the rest of your life's! Now get out of this kitchen!'

'To even dare to look angry at a royal guest, you should be imprisoned for this rude behavior.'

"Uhm princess we the student's didn't oppose it."

Marika looked at the 3 young cooks.

'Then you 3 can stay and help me.'

'Uncle Cillus go find yourself a new chef cook, that man over there is too arrogant for the kitchen.'

"Sure, but who can I ask at such a short notice?"

"We might know somebody." One of the student's said.

'Who and where can I find him?'

"He is a great chef and currently teaching at the Night Fall inn in Favilla District."

'I'll be right back!'

Marika rushed out of the palace and flew to Favilla District, she ran down the door of the inn and greeted the owner.

"Yume? What's up?"

'I need to barrow your chef's teacher.'

Marika ran in to the kitchen and saw two man standing, she recognized the chef she met the day before yesterday and asked the other man 'Are you his teacher?'

The man nodded.

Marika grab the man by the wrist and pulled him out of the kitchen. Don't worry he'll be back at the end of the week. And you're doing a fine job so be confident and I'll visit soon again.'

Marika dragged the man out of the inn and transformed again in a dragon and flew back to the palace.

Once she landed the man told Marika he couldn't cook anymore and showed her his hand.

'Don't worry! I'll fix that for you.'

"How? No doctor could help me in the past, how are you even to be able to that?" The man said agitated.

'Simple, because most doctors are incompetent. And I poses an ability that they don't.'

She then dragged the man to the medical wing. And yelled for Lilly.

Lilly saw Marika and asked what was wrong.

'I need all the doctors to stay in their rooms until I have left this wing.'

Lilly then told Marika to wait a few minutes.

"The man then asked Marika "Why do they need to stay in their rooms?"

'Well I've been traumatized by doctors when I was a child, there is currently only two doctors I can stand in this world and two doctors in training.'

'So to prevent me from killing other doctors I need them to stay put.'

After a few minutes Lilly came back and said everything was done 'They said you should come by more often.'

Marika then looked at the men and said 'See what did I tell you, incompetent.'

The man started to laughed.

Lilly brought them to an empty treatment room and Marika took a look at his hand.

'Hmm, did you get any treatment for this?'

"To tell you the trued I have worked here in the palace before. But the currents chef busted up my hand because my skills were better than his."

'Ohh… well he is fired now!'

'Lilly could you get the two princes for me and that incompetent doctor for me.'

'Are you sure…'

'Yes I'm sure, don't worry.'

Lilly went out to get the people Marika asked for.

Marika asked the man 'How long has it been since the incident?'

"It's been 2 years."

'Alright, I'm going to give it straight to you, if it was treated when it happen there wouldn't have been much of a problem, worst case scenario your ring finger and pinky would have been stiff but not unusable with some rehabilitation. And your dislocated fingers would have recover within 4 weeks if they were put back in to place, all in all you would have rest and recovery period of at least 4 to 6 months.'

But why do the two princes need to be here?

Canus and Cinis arrived at the room Marika was in. "To keep the doctor safe form her." Cinis answered the man.

"Are you sure about this?"

'No… but the unjust of this man weighs heavier than my trauma. And if worst case scenario comes to pass just use this on me.' She smiled.

"You want us to sedate you?"

Not sedate, just immobilize me, and call Genus and Luca over.'

"Alright, but please don't push yourself."

'Don't worry, Richard will probably get really mad at me.'

Lilly arrived with the doctor and Marika noticed, she took a few deep breaths and whispered 'Just treat him as Genus, he is just like Genus, just ignore the coat, nothing bad is going to happen to me.'

Lilly came in with the doctor, and Marika blew up.

'You are the doctor who told this man his hand could never be restored and function again?'

'Are you!?'

'You call yourself a doctor? Get the hell out of place before people get killed by your sh*tty diagnoses.'

'You're not qualified to call yourself a doctor!'

"Princess please… I beg you, it was the chef who told me not to treat this man."

Marika was so angry she slapped the doctor across the face.

'Who cares what a lousy cook has to say, treating a patient is your number one priority!'

'Get out of my sight!!!'

Nova and Khai both climbed up on Marika's shoulder and nuzzled her to calm her down.

Marika had calmed down and asked Canus, 'Where is that chef cook?'

"He is in the dungeon."

Marika pointed on Canus hand what he needed to do to the chef cook.

'You dislocate this, this and this finger at these point's and break this and this finger here and here.'

'The only thing he is allowed to take is pain medicine and nothing more.'

Marika then turned to the men and said ' Your treatment is going to hurt a lot but with my healing ability after the treatment your hand is and will be back to the way it was.'

'And to be frank, I need to break your ring finger and pinky in order to do this correctly.'

'I redder not give you any sedatives, but if you know you can't bear the pain I can give you an anesthetic.'

The man thought for a few minutes and said "I will bear the pain one again, because I trust you and your word that I'll be able to use my hand again."

Marika gave the man something to bite down on and she stated with the thumb, index finger and middle finger.

After she was done with those three she asked the man to move them. 'How does it feel?'

And he gave her a thumbs up with his healed thumb.

Then she started to break the last two fingers on the man's hand. Again used her healing ability's.

It took her 15 minutes to heal every finger on the man's hand.

Marika then asked again to if he to move all of his fingers 'Is there any pain or discomfort while moving them?'

The man started to cry "It's a miracle I feel like this is just a dream."

'Why don't you change that thought, that your hand before was just a nightmare.' Marika smiled at him.

"How can I ever repay you."

'By doing what you love to do… to cook and create new and existing dishes.'

'Now let's go to the kitchen, there are 3 students waiting for you, because they need your help with a dietary dish that need to be made for a guest.'

Marika left the medical wing and told Canus to go play with Nova and Cinis to take Lenis up to the mountain, while she will handle the kitchen.

When Marika and the man arrived at the kitchen she explained how to prepare the dish.

'You think you can manage?'

"Yes Miss!"

"Miss can I ask you something?"

'Sure.'

"Are you a doctor?"

Marika smiled 'No…I just have the knowledge because of experiencing similar situations.'

'I'm leaving the kitchen in our cable hands.'

Marika left the kitchen and told Cillus she was heading back.

[Moon Castle]

Regina was still training with the soldiers when Richard came over to have look on how she was doing.

But he saw her selfish behavior emerges again, as the soldiers were taking a break to catch their breath Regina insisted to keep going.

"REGINA!"

She flinched at Richard shouting.

"Taking a break and catching your breath if the situation allows you to do it, than you take it."

"But it seems you have no idea of your own physical state then let me teach you what can happen in a battle."

"Now attack me."

Regina did what he said but her attack's weren't landing a hit on Richard. And he moved in and pinned her down.

Regina was exhausted and couldn't free herself from her position.

Richard then asked the soldiers "What is the most dangerous situation on the battle field next to your enemies?"

"Exhaustion!, if we are exhausted the chances of surviving an sneak attack or any other attacks are very slim." A soldier answered.

Richard then looked at his daughter, "Your selfish behavior has also other consequence's, It can endanger or even cost the life's of others around you. Do you understand?"

'Yes daddy…'

Richard let go of Regina and told the soldier to go and eat lunch.

"You're coming with me Regina."

And the left the training rounds.

[near Lunar Cave]

Marika and Khai landed in a forest near Lunar Cave. Khai asked his mother why they were coming here.

'Well this one of the three caves I once saw on a map once. And since I already have visited Mystic Cave, I wanted to come here and explore. And when I have done that there is still one more left.'

"So that's why you like to travel, you want to explore and learn about new things"

'My son is smart, that's right. New experiences good or bad are experience's nonetheless.'

"Are we going in to the cave?"

Marika shook her head 'No… something is telling me not to go in there, even though I want to it's not wise to do so, since nobody knows where we are at the moment. Staying in the forest is a better option since escaping a forest is much easier for us and if something happens it would be easier to search for us in the forest.'

"So it's not that you are scared, but you are careful until you have a better assessment of what you could expect in the cave by looking around in the surrounding area."

'Correct.'

'And just so you know, the first time I went in to Mystic Cave your daddy was with me and the people of the mansion knew where we were.'

"Then let's go explore the forest!"

Marika smiled at Khai.

As they were walking through the forest Marika found good herbs and some poison's plants and fruits.

"Mommy why do you take things that are poisons?"

'So I can make an antidote to it. And you can even make effective poisons.'

As they kept on walking, they came across beautiful birds and other wild life what Marika thought only exist in fairy tales.

Marika spotted a high hill and said to Khai 'Let's go up there, the few maybe beautiful and we can take a rest.'

As they climbed the hill and made it to the top she took Khai in her embrace and said 'At times like this, your mommy want's time to stop and not go home.'

"Is that because your always busy or fighting?"

Marika chuckled 'Something like that.'

'Khai do you know what mommy's desired before she died and became a being of this world?'

"You wanted to do things you couldn't do in your life before you came here?"

'Yes…playing the violin and learning to play the piano was on of very few thing.'

"What else did you wanted to do?"

'Traveling, and the most important thing living an happy and peaceful life.'

"Are you unhappy?"

'No…I'm very happy, I have you kids and Richard, you all are my happiness.'

"Then the only thing that's missing is peacefulness?"

'Yes…but that is… something's that can only be obtain over time.'

Marika laid down in the grass, closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze that was blowing.

"Mommy?"

'What is it?'

"Am I still cute?"

Marika saw Khai's 16 year old form.

She hugged him 'Yes and very handsome.' She smiled.

[Ignis Kingdom]

Nova was on the training grounds together with Canus, and they both were taking a break.

"Nova can I ask you something?"

"What is it uncle Canus."

"Why do you want to become stronger so fast? You know your mommy always tells us to take our time."

"That because I feel I need to get strong fast so I can protect her, because something inside me is telling me not to forget a promise."

"Ohh…but don't push yourself to hard, or else your mommy is going to break me."

Nova laughed "Yeh mommy is very strong."

"Uncle Canus can we go to the temple for a bit?"

"Sure…but what do you want to do there?"

"You'll see."

As the two of them arrived at the temple they were greeted by the guard. Nova guided Canus to a side building and showed him a secret passage.

They went down the tunnel and came to a room, Nova opened it and lighted the room.

"Wow I never knew this was here."

Nova looked at the book's that were on the bookshelf and fount the book he was looking for.

"Uncle Canus this book can be useful for you.

Canus flipped through the pages and saw it contained ancient battle magic in the fire attribute.

When Nova wanted to pull another book from the shelf a few came falling out.

He picked them up and saw the title that was written on it. "The eight Dragon Clan's"

"Huh…"

As he flipped through the pages he discovered that there were three more Clans that excited but disappeared during the great war. The Blue Dragon Clan that resided near water and oceans and The Brown Dragon Clan that lived in frosted and cave like areas and the White Dragon Clan who was recorded to live on the moon.'

Canus held on to the book about the eight dragon clans.

Nova picked up the book the wanted to pull out but dropped it.

"What's that book about?"

"Well mommy can cast bonding spell's but she wanted to adjust it a bit. But she needs a written version so she could maybe pinpoint on how to block certain emotion or feelings."

Canus had a quick read threw the book and also saw a few spell regarding healing magic

"Well let's take these book's for now so we can study."

Nova was happy "I'll ask uncle king if we can barrow these for the time being."

Canus patted Nova and said "He won't mind, he dotes on you and your mommy a lot."

They both left the secret room and went back up again.

"By the way Nova, how did you know there was a secret passage and room? Have you been there before?"

"No…I just know."

"Are there any more secret entrances and rooms in the or around the temple?"

"There are two more, do you want to go there?"

"Why not…It's interesting and fun to discover these thing don't you think?"

"Yes very fun" Nova smiled happily.

"Then where is the next one?" Canus asked.

"Inside the temple behind the great dragon and there is one at the castle too."

"Then let's go to the great dragon first."

"And the one at the castle we save for your next visit." Canus said.

"Alright uncle!"

[Moon Castle]

Regina was in Richards office while he was doing some work.

'Daddy can we go out and play?'

"No."

'Why do you need to work, I'm bored.'

"I can't play with you because your mommy helped me with a big problem and now I need to finished this or else all mommy's hard work will be for nothing."

"And if you're bored why not read a book."

'But I want to play!, play with me daddy!'

"Regina! Stop it!"

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Dantis came in and wanted to ask something but Regina kept on nagging Richard.

"Regina can you be silent for just a minute?"

Regina stopped nagging because Richard was getting angry.

"Where are the other children?" Dantis asked.

"Nova is with Canus in Ignis Kingdom, and Khai is with Marika."

"Regina is with me because she acted spoiled and selfish and didn't listen to Marika. We are here to reflect on our behavior."

"And what do you need to reflect on?"

"I'm not firm enough with our daughter so…"

Dantis laughed. "And what was the ultimate cause of her punishment?"

"She is over protective of Nova, and when Canus came to visit Nova she wanted to stick to Nova the whole time, and when Marika was fed up with her behavior she told me that Nova would spend the day in Ignis and she was throwing a temper tantrum when she heard she couldn't go with Nova."

Dantis looked at Regina who was pouting after everything was revealed.

Then there was another knock on the door.

"Enter."

William came walking in and saw Dantis.

"Your Excellency I was looking for you."

"What's the matter?"

"Would you mind and take little Regina with you fo a few hours, and then send her to Genus?"

"I don't mind."

"Great!"

William looked at Regina and said. "I heard you still haven't reflect properly on your behavior, so you go with Dantis for a few hours, he is your uncle Dante father."

Richard then asked Dantis "Why did you come?"

"Here is the final schedule for you and Her Majesty on the Moon Festival that will be held in 10 days."

Richard looked it over "Well I can live with this."

The content on the paper stated.

Schedule for His Majesty and Her Majesty

His Majesty giving an opening speech

Do whatever you want

Closing ceremony of the festival

Regina then perked up by hearing the word Festival.

'Daddy can I go with you and mommy? It sounds fun!'

"No you can't"

'Why not?'

"Because I and your mother, up until now haven't really had time to relax together ever since she came to this world."

'That no fair! Mommy spend a relaxing day in Ignis two days ago'

"Regina! Stop being selfish, do you have any idea under how much stress your mother is?"

"Ever since she came it's nothing but fighting, solving problems one after another and she even had to deal with the constant stress of possibly dying."

'But mommy is alright now…'

Suddenly Marika called.

"Sweetheart!"

'Don't you sweetheart me, it seems you both haven't reflected on what you should have.'

Richard looked at William with an annoyed face, but William shook his head and raised his arms telling Richard he was innocent.

'And don't look at William like that, I put a spell on the both of you so I know what's going on.'

'Regina! Not only do you have a hard time to listen to my word but you also refuse to listen to your father. When does your spoiled and selfish behavior ends?'

'But mommy I…'

'No but Missy, I'll give you two choices, you better start listening to your father or I send you up to your brother Solis until he gives the word that you are ready to go home.'

'For now you go with Dantis and Dantis just show her what happens to people who are selfish for too long.'

And with that she ended her call.

'This is not fair!!! Khai and Nova are out and have fun, while I'm here being punished!'

Dantis picked up Regina and said in a firm voice. "Well little one life isn't fair, and it's not only you who is getting your mothers anger, your father is also being punished."

Dantis excused himself and took Regina with him.

Before Regina left she saw the dejected face of her father, because mommy scolded him for her unchanged behavior.

After a short walk Dantis arrived at a group of ministers, "You see those people over there?"

Regina nodded.

"Those people are being kicked out of the palace very soon."

'Why?'

"Because of their selfish opinion and not listening to your father."

He then walked over to his room and ordered a servant to bring over some tea and snacks.

Now little Regina, let me tell you something what the worst case will be of a selfish person."

Dantis told Regina the story of his brother and that the selfish action turn his own son against himself and eventually the son killed his own father.

After that he told the story of how his son was kidnapped and that her mother reunited him and his son and didn't want anything in return. And said that seeing them finally happy and reunited was the biggest reward to her.

"The second story is a person who is selfless and doesn't want's anything in return for their action's and helping hand."

"To tell you the trued, if you keep being selfish and demand things should be the way you want. People eventually will turn away from you and walk away. And in the end you are left with nothing but yourself."

"Well I'm not knowledgeable with your mothers past, I think the reason she teaches you and her brothers the way of taking your time, is because she didn't have that nor the support she needed when she needed it the most. Why don't you ask your father or your uncle Luca? I bet even your brother Solis knows a thing or two about her past."

"Maybe in that way you can understand why she is mad at you for your behavior and wants you to reflect on it."

Then there was a knock on the door and Genus came in to the room.

"So this is the little trouble maker who is giving her mother more stress and her father a splitting headache."

"Genus."

"Alright, alright… Regina you come with me and let me tell you a bit of what I know of your mother."

Regina walked over to Genus and he picked her up.

"Don't show her to many cruel things…"

"Sometimes you need to face cruel thing so to understand the harsh reality of life."

Genus walked out of the room with Regina.

Regina looked at Genus and asked 'What did he mean by that?'

"You'll see little one. But just so you know I already have permission from your mom to show you so you better not look away from what your about to see."

Regina and Genus arrived at his office and started to tell her about how they met. On how much pain she had felt when she lost someone dear to her in the first battle in Faber Village.

"Your dad got affected by when he saw your mom cry for the old man in her arms. Even to this day it will send chills down his spine."

He then showed her when Marika try to kill a doctor in Ignis Kingdom for the first time.

"To be honest here little one I only got a small glimpse of what had happened to her when she was only a 5 year old child. Now as for what she did the second time when she met the doctor all I can tell you it won't be pretty."

Regina saw the incident in the greenhouse in Ignis Kingdom. She started to cry when she heard her mother speak those words on what they did to her.

And then he showed her the last set of footage, "This is footage of assessing on how much she had progressed in overcoming her trauma."

Regina looked at it and saw she was struggling with the second person, but by listening to Marika he was able to get close to her and even hold her hand and praised her for doing such a good job and she doesn't need to rush it and take her time. Even if it meant to take two steps back on the way, those could be gained again and then take another step forward.

When Regina saw how her mother reacted at the 3rd person and heard how arrogantly the man spoke to her and treated her while she was changed up Regina got pissed.

But she saw her mother calmed down by Richard hug and told the guard to take him away and lock him up.

And stopped the footage there.

"Now little on for what your mother has been through at such a young age and constantly being attacked by the Sun kingdom, it's a miracle that she didn't turn out to be an ice cold person who distrust everybody."

"She still somehow remained her kindness to other people and lend them a hand when they needed one."

"She never saw her brother Dante or Kevin as weak, but people who have potential to become stronger.

"When she adopted you and your brothers and sister, she wanted to make sure you all can stand on your own feet and live your life's."

"She already admitted she needed a vacation after she beat up Raphael the first time. Because that one day she spent in Ignis wasn't nearly enough to help her relax."

'I understand.'

[near Lunar Cave]

'Khai? How is your healing magic coming along?'

"Hmm good I think, I can heal Nova and Regina just fine without depleting my inner energy."

'That's good. Then do you have any battle magic? Like attack spells?'

Khai shook his head "I'm pretty much defenseless in battle."

'Do you want to train in my sword art? Or your father's sword art?'

"Can I learn both?"

Marika laughed 'Sure you can, so which one do you want to learn first?'

"Can you teach me fist?"

'Sure, we still have some time before we have to go home.'

Marika pulled 2 pare of wooden swords and showed him the first move set.

Khai practiced all the moves she showed him and she was amazed by how fast he learned them.

After an hour she said 'Alright assessment sparring match.'

Khai went all out on his mother and didn't held back what so ever. After she beaded him she said 'I don't know if you just have a talent or that apart of your soul that is inside me somehow can passage the knowledge to you but…you mastered the first move set under an hour.'

'Khai before I teach you the second move set do you mind testing my theory and learn a move set from your dad?'

"That's alright, I'm curious too."

'Alright let's fly back, they all just arrived home.'

When the mansion was in sight Marika then said to Khai 'Fallow me.'

Derick was on the ground and greeted everybody.

"Is Marika home yet?"

"No not yet."

Marika made a nose dive from the sky towards Richard, just as he heard the flapping of wings and wanted to turn around Marika scooped him up from the ground and took off again.

"Sweetie!?"

Derick fallowed where they were going and saw she flew to the training grounds.

Marika landed and changed in to her human form and looked at Khai 'Fun right?'

Khai and Marika were laughing because of the bewildered look on his face.

"Alright you two, what's going on?"

'Teach Khai a move set of your sword style, because he mastered one of my move set's in less than an hour. So want to know if it's because I share his soul or he has a talent for it.'

"Alright." Richard sighed in relieve she didn't seem angry anymore.

Richard showed Khai a move set. And again he mastered it in less than an hour. He then sparred with Richard for a bit and then stopped after he was defeated by his father.

'Our son has a talent for the sword art!'

"If we train him tomorrow with all the move set's he should be able mastered them both by the end of the day."

Khai then said "First I want to master my body, and when I'm done with that I'm going to learn the rest of both your sword style."

Marika hugged Khai 'Alright then start by training your breathing and your stamina.'

"I will mommy, and thank you dad for teaching me." And he hugged Richard.