Angry Camel.

Amara was never one for dressing up as obvious as she made it. However her mother could be very pushy about what a Noble Lady should wear. Amara only listened to not be annoyed so she sometimes listened.

Grayfia considered this a good turn of events as Amara did not fight it as hard as she used to. Grayfia wanted to smile as she looked at her daughter looking at herself in the mirror.

Amara looked at herself carefully in the dress.

"It's not terrible."

Grayfia crossed her arms.

"I designed it."

Amara glanced over with her icy silver draconian eyes.

"No wonder."

Amara smiled as she saw her mother's eye twitch. The maids all backed alway to the entrance as this was not up to them.

"Excuse me?"

Grayfia's blue eyes were squinted as she looked at Amara in the eyes. Amara shrugged.

"It's a good dress, but it's not my style. I would look better in my armor."

Grayfia covered her face.

"Are you still on that?"

Amara shrugged, this time a bit miffed.

"Well it's always what others think and not what I think. So what if Nobles are coming here. I am a Noble as well and strong. Strong enough to not care what others think. Isn't that what power is for?"

Grayfia sighed and walked toward Amara. She placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"It's just for today."

Amara walked away.

"Yeah, ignore what I say. Not like I have thoughts of my own."

Grayfia decided to not engage and just followed Amara as they left the dressing room. As for the maids they went to do other duties and to get away from the drama.

As for Amara and Grayfia things for awkward. Not for long though as Amara was over it already.

"Mom. Before we go see dad, can we pick up King?"

Grayfia agreed as she now felt bitter about not letting her daughter dress as she wanted. Amara was right. She had power and the right to decide what she wanted to do with herself.

"Alright. Still, You still have not told anyone where he came from. Care to tell me?"

Grayfia squinted her eyes as her daughter had kept up her story that he came from her shadow. Her husband, Sirzechs had given up trying to figure it out and believed her. While Grayfia still wanted to know.

Call it a mother's intuition, but she never trusted King. He gave her the creeps like he looked down on everything. Except Amara.

Speaking of Amara, she smiled which just as Grayfia thought was not common. Most of the time when Amara wore her helmet her face was cold as ice, but she was happy to be with home. After living two millennials with no parental love, having it was nice.

"I was not really lying. He was made from my shadow, but King himself has been with me since I was born."

Hearing that made Grayfia curious.

"If what you said is true where was he when you were born?"

Amara pointed at her head.

"I used a spell to fuse his mind and soul with a shard of my shadow to give him form. Impressed."

Grayfia was not and had a dark sad thought.

"Amara, do you think that King could be your twin that never formed?"

Amara did not know where that came from.

"Nope. Not possible."

"How do you know?"

Amara shrugged.

"I just know. King is not your child."

Grayfia decided to just think about that herself and led her daughter to find him. When they did find him he was currently going through the Noble treatment.

He had over 20 servants doing a number of things for him. Some cleaned his teeth, and others shined and oiled his claws. Some combed through his dark fur while others put his jewelry on.

An expensive jewel-encrusted collar, bracelets on all his legs, and even cleaning his ears. King had his 6 eyes closed as he was being treated like his namesake. As a King. When he felt Amara he opened his eyes and saw how she was smirking at him.

"So, someone is enjoying themselves."

King snorted and began to explain himself. He was the ruler of the Abyss to which world after the world fell. He deserved to enjoy himself now and she was no better. He glanced at her dress and began to laugh in an unsettling way.

It caused the servants around him to feel a bit unsettled. Even Grayfia was not spared as being around King always gave her chills. The way he looked at everyone except Amara was like they were nothing but lambs he allowed to live.

Her earlier thought surfaced, but as she looked into King's eyes she gave that thought up. He was just so alien that she did not even know what he truly was. Why was he with her daughter when she was born? Was using a shard of one's shadow safe? So many unanswered questions.

Amara walked up to him and shoved him a little.

"Oh shut it."

King got up as his preparations were done. Now he has been covered in rare magical gem-encrusted jewelry and rubbed clean. He looked like a true Noble.

Well, in a way at least. Amara walked up to him and placed her head against his.

'Come, brother. Let us go.'

King closed his eyes as he returned the greeting. They were friends, partners, brother and sister. The only beings who they could relate to.

Grayfia watched as they shared this moment and felt that as long as King stood by her daughter. No matter what he was. Finally Grayfia spoke.

"Can we go now?"

Both King and Amara separated as they walked side by side.

"Yes. Let us be off."

Once he was with them, Grayfia began to lead Amara to meet with her dad. Grayfia had a question for Amara.

"So, why is it that you are the only one who understands King?"

King and Amara looked at each other.

"I got no answer for that. We always just talk."

King nodded.

Grayfia glanced at King before looking forward.

"Well then, look after her when I am not there King. You are the one being who she trusts with her life."

King did not respond, but he got the message. Amara patted King on the back as she was glad to truly have a friend. King looked away as it was nice to have a equal and rival.

Only by pushing each other would they surpass their old selves. After following Grayfia they were led outside. A story told among the Gremory clan was that the Ancestor and Founder of the Gremory clan loved Camels. So, the Gremory clan keeps many in thier territory in memory of her.

While she was growing up, Amara had ridden her fair share and they were always so sweet. To her at least as many could be assholes of provoked. If it was Rias' 5th birthday, she must be outside with the camels.

One thing Amara noticed was that as she walked some people looked at her shocked at how much a change of clothes could effect someone.

Most of them were servants that knew her well and did not expect her to look like that. Both after three years without seeing her and seeing what she was wearing. Amara glanced at her mother with a question.

"Is there something on my face? Why are so many people looking at me?"

Grayfia rolled her eyes.

"Daughter, have you seen yourself in the mirror?"

Amara nodded.

"Yeah, like a couple of minutes ago. Why?"

Grayfia felt she was being messed with.

"You have no idea why they might be looking at you?"

"Nope. no idea. Is my hair messy? Or is it so unique it's weird?"

Amara created a ice mirror to look at her hair. It looked fine to her. Should she have asked for some make up?

Grayfia rolled her eyes and pointed at Amara's face.

"No, your hair is fine. They are looking at you because you are beautiful. Simple as that. You will have to get used to those stairs as it comes with being a woman."

Amara waved her hand and turned her mirror into ice dust.

"More reason to wear my armor and helmet."

Grayfia hoped that did not become reality, but it was possible.

"Just be ready for the states to not go away. When you get older the attetion will go to your chest and rear."

Amara shrugged.

"Glad I will be tall then?"

Grayfia was curious about that, but decided to ask later. Either way, they had made it outside and to where the camels were. However, Amara really underestimated the amounts of people who would stare at her so she ignored them.

A short walk later and Amara saw her father with Rias in his arms. In from of them was a certain Camel named Camelot. He was a particularly nasty camel because he was not an Earthen camel. Rather he was a special breed of Demonic Camel which was native to the Gremory Domain.

The breed was already mean, but Camelot was a step above that. She had ridden him before and she had no issue with him, but Rias was different.

She and King looked at each other ready for a laugh.

'This will be good. Watch'

Now that would be funny. While Amara thought of how funny it would be to see Camelot chase around Rias, Sirzechs sensed her and Grayfia.

He turned around suddenly when he felt his only child's presence. He was the one who had agreed for her to leave home, but he never realized how hard it would be. He put down Rias who was too focused on Camelot who was calmly eating. A rare thing for that angry camel so she snuck toward him to pet him.

Sirzechs rushed to Amara and gave her a tight hug which she returned.

"You're finally home. I never knew how long it would feel."

Amara just patted his back.

"Well, I will be staying for a few months before leaving again. It is still good to see you dad."

Sirzechs released the hug and patted her on the head.

"Souji, Second, and MacGregor all told me you never wasted thier time and learned everything they tried to teach you. Though, I am not very happy those three brought you to the border of the Forbidden Realm."

Grayfia did not know that which made her shoot a glance at her daughter.

"They what?"

Amara did not hide it.

"I asked them to take me and they did. I plan to head back with Souji soon. Why?"

Sirzechs covered his face.

"It's dangerous there. Even the border of it is a place teaming with dangers. Whatever you do, do not go inside. No one knows what goes on in the very depths of the Forbidden Realm so don't push your luck."

Grayfia was not pleased with that.

"No, I do not think we should even allow Amara to go back."

Sirzechs smiled.

"I trust them and Amara's strength. They would not bring her there if they did not believe she would not be safe."

"Even still, she is 10."

Amara knew that they would argue about this but she and King ignored them. They both were looking at Rias who got into Camelot's pen. The moment the giant red flaming camel saw her he bellowed and began to chase her.

Rias began to shriek in terror as Amara's favorite camel chased after her. His body was burning in dark black flames and he chased after Rias like she killed his family. She was already in tears as her short legs ran as fast as they could.

Amara and King began to madly cackle while Sirzechs and Grayfia rushed to help Rias who had just fallen over her stupidly long dress. Sirzechs yelled out an order.

"STOP!"

Camelot stopped and retreated at the order as Sirzechs had used his aura in that yell. He rushed to his sister's help and scooped her up in his arms. She was crying and her new dress was a total mess. As it was so long it had dragged around in the dirt so it was rather dirty.

"Mean camel."

Sirzechs tried to console her while Grayfia shot a glare at Amara and King who were cackling.

"AMARA! Not funny."

Amara stopped laughing as she walked toward Camelot who was scared of Sirzechs

"My bad."

Once she was in front of the camel, he rubbed his big fluffy face. His flames did not faze her.

"Not your fault."

He nuzzled her close and sat down for her. She hoped on his back and once she on he rose up.

"See. He is just fine."

Grayfia and Sirzechs were not happy she just laughed while Rias almost got hurt. Sirzechs and Grayfia looked at each other and thought of a cruel punishment for a battle junkie.

(Next time. I quit my job and am back to having free time. Who knows for how long though.)