Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Rena skipped along the road with her friend, Lucius. The air was still and had a relative chill to it. Without wind, it was still rather comfortable, though. The stars in the sky twinkled as usual, setting the stage for their friendly stroll.

A handful of people shambled through the streets, drunkenly trying to find their way to their rooms or homes. Some guards also patrolled the streets and alleyways holding lanterns and lighting the street lamps down the main road.

Pelith was not such a large place for many roads to have streetlamps, but the main road did in the event of night time arrivals of important nobles. The town still used slow burning candles to light the lights instead of magic since the cost of purchasing so many enchanted items was a little too costly for now.

"Thank you, Lucius, for following along with my whims."

"Of course, you tried to fight for my life…and even begged for my father's…also you are my first, best, and only friend." Lucius said. He reached his finger up to his cheek and scratched it awkwardly.

She giggled at his awkwardness. "Seriously though, it's so exciting that we are adventurers now. Next up is to get a slot on that Grand Raid in a few months…and then…" her voice continued to grow in volume and pitch as her excitement grew. Other people walking began to even take notice of their conversation.

"I go to war."

Lucius' words cut through the air like a dagger to the heart. Reality settled onto her shoulders like a sack of rocks. He was right. The only reason Rena was able to enjoy becoming an adventurer with her friend was because the kingdom allowed it.

Once war broke out, all Marked Ones would be conscripted. There was an agreement in place that the Adventurer's Guild would turn over all documentation of registered Marked Ones to the kingdoms and perform the first outreach.

Sure, the risk of creating Runners was extremely high, but they could simply be dealt with after the war was over. Really, the greatest benefit was cost free training for the kingdom's front line.

Rena knew this to be true, yet she tried to ignore it.

"You might not have to go…you could…" she began.

"Die in the dungeon."

"No! You could…"

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"Become a Runner?"

"Stop!" Rena screamed loudly.

Her anger filled screech caused a few people to look their way before awkwardly walking away to ignore two children fighting. Lucius turned to face her with a blank expression on his face.

"These are my only options Rena. You know that. I go to war, die in the dungeon, or become a Runner. I'm not going to do those last two. My only real shot is to go to war."

Lucius' words hung in the air. They left a rotten, bitter taste in Rena's mouth. She hated it. Why? Why were people so unfair to him? The adventurers did not seem to care…Jen barely noticed it…why can't everyone be like that…

Twenty minutes after their little spat, they walked through the gates of the manor. Only a couple of guards were present and doing patrols. Most of the maid staff were also asleep, though a few did have nightly duties to attend to in the event any members of the household required attending to in the middle of the night.

The moment Lucius and Rena entered the gates, he fell back and stayed two steps behind Rena, immediately returning to his position as a bodyguard.

"My lady, your father requests your presence in his office. Please make sure you attend as well Sir Lucius." A maid had approached them from the grand staircase that was directly in front of the entry doors.

"Of course. Thank you." Rena responded. She quickly walked up the stairs and followed the maid to her father's study.

The halls were adorned in various paintings of past lords and ladies of the house, each framed by fine wood and gold trim. It was a rather audacious display, even her own father hated it. Rena smiled momentarily at the childhood memory of overhearing her father whine like a petulant child to her mother about having to put his own portrait along the wall.

Rena approached the door at the end of the hall and gave a quick series of knocks before entering. "Father, I've arrived as requested, Lucius as well. Lucius, please enter."

The black-haired boy stepped inside the door and moved to the left side of it, staying against the wall and at attention. Rena kept her eyes locked on her father, but this was something they had done many times before, so she already knew by heart what Lucius had been doing.

"Thank you, Rena. Please sit." Her father ordered. "How was it? Do you still wish to be an adventurer? I am aware of you fighting Dire Rats, joining a party, and eating at…the 'Whistling Wolf'?"

"You had me followed?"

"Yes, my lady we were followed the entire time. The beginning of the day there were four." Lucius stated from behind her.

She turned to look at him and saw her father do the same.

Lucius continued, "After we exited the city I noticed that one of the four had vanished, but the other three scents remained. I imagine that the three remaining scents were tails set by your father, and the fourth belonged to a third party."

Richard sighed. "You are correct, boy. I always forget you have such a strong nose…the fourth was likely someone from one of my brothers or another branch family. I don't know who, but yes, you have the right of it."

Rena had no idea that it had happened and glared at Lucius for not telling her. He simply bowed in response.

"I am sorry, my lady. I figured that your father wished for his agents to remain unnoticed, especially by you." The boy apologized.

Richard let out a small chuckle, which earned him her glaring gaze. "Well, father. I had a great time, and I intend to continue being an adventurer. The head of the house has yet to be selected and I need to gain power. Lucius also needs to gain power…both for the house and by royal decree. Also, father, I ask your leave to leave the manor during my tenure as an adventurer."

To tell the truth, she had no idea if her father would acquiesce to her request. If she were to become an adventurer, she needed to truly fall into the life style. This had no relation to Lucius whatsoever, none at all. This was purely for being true to the adventurer lifestyle…

"Fine."

"And no agents following me."

"No promises."

"Lucius, you are to tell me immediately if you sense any of father's agents or agents of any kind following us." Rena ordered. Her father's face contorted into frustration.

"Yes, my lady." Lucius agreed.

"Belay that Lucius as your lord…"

"Sir." Lucius responded. Rena saw his head snap up. Suddenly his good natured spirit vanished and his eyes seemed to glow by the reflection of the candlelight in the room. "I follow Lady Rena's word above all. Above yours. Above the king's.

Above the world. Above the gods. Make no mistake. On my father's promise and on my own honor, I will make no concessions to this."

A long, awkward silence ensued. Rena's father locked eyes with the young teen who maintained his gaze despite the difference in strength. Yet, despite the aura of power and anger that seemed to start spilling out of her father, Richard gave in. "Very well."