A Brat

"Alright, let's get this over with," Kane muttered, putting the spare shirt on a rock near the stream. "Get inside the water,"

Senna only stood by the water, staring down at his reflection. His long, red hair was matted with dirt, and his tiny feet curled when he curiously dipped one in the water.

"C'mon, stop playing around," Kane snapped, frowning.

"You're so bossy," Senna rolled his eyes.

"What?! It's His Majesty's order for us to wash you!"

"So? He's just an uncle to me," Senna stuck his tongue out, then took off his tattered gown. 

"This brat..." Kane gritted his teeth, and Luther only placed his hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Calm down,"

"I AM CALM!"

After a quick bath, Senna's face and hair were clean, and the two knights were shaken by how different he looked now.

He looked like... a fairy?

His fiery red locks seemed brighter, like molten copper under the sun. His skin was milky white, soft, and unblemished. His chubby cheeks had a natural pink color, and Kane felt mortified when he realized he wanted to pinch them.

NO! HE'S NOT CUTE! THIS IS THE DARK MAGE'S SON!!!

"What? Why are you staring at me? Do I look cute?" Senna placed his hands on his cheeks, blinking up at the knights with a cheeky smile.

"OF COURSE NOT!" Kane shouted, pointing at him.

"That means yes," Luther hummed.

"SHUT UP LUTHER!"

"Whatever. Come on! Let's head back," Kane grumbled.

And when he was about to grab Senna's wrist, the boy grinned mischievously, and with a flicker of dark blue light, he disappeared. The two knights blinked, momentarily stunned. They exchanged bewildered glances before they heard a voice from above.

"Oooh! The view is so good up here!" 

The two knights looked up at the same time, only to find the red-haired boy perched on top of a tree. His hair trailing down the branches.

"Hey! Get down from there!" Kane shouted, frustrated. "Stop playing around and get back here!"

Senna giggled, clearly enjoying himself. "Why? Because 'His Majesty' said so?"

"You-"

"Are you scaaarreeed of him?"

An angry twitch appeared on Kane's cheek, like he was about to pop a blood vessel.

"Listen here, you brat. If you don't get down here right now-"

"Or what, short stack?"

"THAT'S IT!" Kane jumped onto the tree, attempting to climb it.

Luther only watched with a bored look on his face with his arms crossed.

"If you grab on that branch you'll-" 

Before Luther could finish his sentence, Kane fell after he grabbed the wrong branch and it snapped. 

"Fall..." Luther finished.

"I'M GOING TO PUT THAT KID IN A BARREL AND SHAKE IT!!!" Kane yelled out loud. 

"Good luck catching me then," Senna smiled sweetly before he vanished again, body flickering out of existence in a shimmer of dark blue light. 

And suddenly, there was a loud shouting back in the camp.

Kane blinked slowly, then looked at Luther.

"His Majesty is going to kill us,"

Back in the camp, the knights were scrambling to catch Senna. But He was clearly enjoying the attention, bouncing on his toes and giggling as if it were all a game. He appeared and disappeared in quick bursts of magic, jumping from one spot to another, finally teleporting inside Calix's tent.

Calix, who was sitting down on a chair while writing a letter he needed to send back to the palace, ignored the fact that this seven-year-old boy also had the ability to teleport so easily. 

It was considered one of the most elusive and dangerous forms of magic. Even the greatest wizards Calix known could rarely perform teleportation without severe consequences.

"I heard you're causing a commotion outside," Calix said, continued writing the letter.

Senna tip-toed closer to Calix, clumsily trying to climb onto his lap. Calix leaned back and let the boy do whatever he wanted, which was something he was not used to.

The Emperor had grown accustomed to how people behaved around him. They always act like they are walking on eggshells, always so careful with their words and actions, as if any misstep would trigger his wrath.

It was true that he was cold and maybe a bit assertive toward others, but he wouldn't just carelessly take someone's life.

That's why seeing this boy he just met, the son of his enemy that he slaughtered a few hours ago, acting so casually around him almost felt refreshing.

"What are you doing?" Senna asked, looking down at the letter.

"I need to inform the palace that we'll be returning home, and that we managed to slain the dark mage,"

Senna hummed. "I'm coming with you, right?"

"Yes,"

"Is Aelther everyone's enemy?"

Calix hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Yes,"

"Will they hate me if they know I'm his son?" Senna asked again, his big eyes wide and curious.

"They... people will have different opinions. Some might hate you forever, some might be wary but will give you a chance,"

"Hm," Senna hummed. "Well, I don't really care,"

"You don't?"

"Nope! It's Aelther who's bad, not me," Senna replied with a grin.

The corners of Calix's lips turned upward. Despite being so cheeky and intelligent, Calix almost forgot that this boy was still a child. His reasoning sounded so innocent, and he couldn't help but admit it was a bit cute.

Suddenly, the tent was open with Kane barged inside, breathing heavily from chasing the boy.

"Y-Your Majesty! We were trying to—"

"It's alright, Kane," Calix raised his hand. "He's right here,"

Senna smiled cutely. "Uncle, I think Short Stack is scared of you. He keeps begging for me to follow him back to the camp because you told him to,"

Kane's face was flushed red, sputtering. "I-I—"

Calix seemed amused. "Everyone needs to listen to what I say because I'm the Emperor,"

"You're an old uncle,"

"An Emperor," Calix emphasized, pinching Senna's cheeks until the boy whined to let him go. "Now stop causing trouble and behave yourself. Go outside with Kane and Luther,"

Senna pouted. "Now you're telling ME what to do. What? 'cause you're the 'Emperor'?"

"Exactly. Now go,"

Senna jutted his bottom lip and pouted, hopping off of Calix's lap and letting Kane drag him out of the camp. Calix sighed softly, amused at how even though Senna could do whatever he wanted with that power of his, he still listened to him well. 

Calix could already foresee the chaos waiting for them when they returned.