“Who the hell are you? How dare you enter the palace without permission? Guards!”

“You dare attack your future king?” Alastor shouted with an imposing voice, stunning all the guards.

Svelt who had no idea who this kid was, being a coward he was, instinctively kneeled down in fear. Then he asked himself why did he do that? To bow to this brat without even knowing him. Realizing that the others were looking at him strangely, he immediately stood up and tried to avert the attention to this new stranger.

“How dare you claim to be king?”

“I am the Empress’ son so of course I am the heir you dimwit! ….Ah here you are mother. I have been looking for you!” Alastor ran clumsily to Morrigan and hugged her tightly in front of the whole court. No one understood the scene. Even Morrigan herself was left with no words and froze for a bit before Alastor whispered. “Play along!”

“Oh…Ah….I am sorry my son! You were sleeping so mommy didn’t want to wake you up.” Morrigan quickly regained her composure. Years of exposing herself to the lies around her has turn her into a professional actress, capable of improvising in any kind of situation.

“What? Who is this kid?”

“Mommy, why is this guy so angry? I have said it two times already and still he doesn’t get it and keeps shouting at me.”

“You will have to forgive him! Minister Svelt is at that time of the month…Actually he was always like this. Legends said he has been on period for thirty years straight till this day.”

The court could not hold their laugh while listening to the ridiculous conversation. Especially minister Sinclair who was rolling on the floor giggling hysterically. As for the person in question, minister Svelt’s head has started to become red swollen like a tomato, so much it seemed he was about to blow at any moment.

“STOP LAUGHING! Empress Morrigan, what does he mean by that?”

“Aie aie…do I have to spell it out for you? I have chosen this boy as my next heir. Just as you want it.” Morrigan proclaimed.

“Hi! Looking forward to be your supreme leader!” Alastor waved his hands at the crowd of nobles.

“But..but this is…outrageous. We know nothing about this boy. How can we let him be our king just like that? How do we know if he is qualified? I demand a test to be done at the utmost urgency.” Svelt spoke to the crowd. While what he said sounded reasonable and convincing, the man had no idea what he has just gotten himself into.

“You dare question my judgment, Svelt?” Morrigan scolded.

“No mother! He is right! If the ministers have doubt about my qualification, then I must prove it to them. There must be no uncertainty among the people, especially when it concerns the heir to a royal family with a long history like Magnolia.” Alastor said. His words shocked the aristocrats in the room. It was simply too mature for a kid at his age.

“If that’s what you want then go ahead.” Morrigan sighed.

“Alright! What will be the test, Minister Svelt?” asked Alastor.

“I commemorate your confidence, boy! Unfortunately, we have not expected this situation so right now I can’t give you any test. I will need two days to discuss with the council so an appropriate test would be given.” Everyone knew that Svelt would not even ask the council but rather would spend those two days crafting some impossible test for the poor boy. For most of them, this boy’s fate was already sealed.

“I have no problem with that. Take all the time you want.”

“The court is now adjourned for the day. The Empress is tired from her journey.” Sinclair said to all the court.

As Svelt was leaving, Alastor approached him.

“I must apologize for my previous behavior, milord! In no way do I intend to dishonor you in front of everyone like that. But words have been said that could not be pulled back so I would like to make a peace offering, if you don’t mind.” Alastor humbly apologized for his behavior.

‘So this kid knows who is actually running things around here. He he if he actually goes to my side then things would be even better.’ Thought the idiot Svelt who actually believed what Alastor just said.

“I am not that much of a small man to hold a grudge for something that trivial. But if you are indeed sincere then it would be impolite to refuse your present.” Svelt tried to keep his calm. In his mind he was over excited by someone who seemed to respect or at least see him as a superior.

“Here is it. From where I come from, we have a special medicine that I believe is the perfect thing for you.”

“Really? What is the medicine for?”

“For women on period”

“…..”

“…..”

“ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME? How dare you ???”

“Oh God no! In no way I want to fuck with you. That’s just…just disgusting. I don’t swing that way, no matter how feminine you are! And you admit it yourself, milord! You are no small man. To be honest I don’t think the man part is really that impressive, both physically and mentally. In fact it’s so mythical I am questioning its very existence.

Now if you excuse me, I have to bring my mother back to her chamber!”

…..

“Ha ha ha! Did you see his face when I said he was on period? Oh my god that was golden!” Morrigan laughed loudly.

“Indeed it was amazing. But who is this boy, your Majesty?” asked Sinclair. Together with Catrina, the four were having a conversation in a chamber of the inner palace.

“Just like I have said before, this is Alastor and apparently he is my heir. Please don’t worry, minister Sinclair! Alastor has my utmost trust and will be a worthy ally!” Morrigan reassured the minister.

“If your Highness say so then I will also put my trust in him. But the danger has not passed yet. Svelt is a dangerous man. He would not let this go, especially after such humiliation. I am afraid he will tamper with the test for the boy.”

“That’s certain. Do you think you are up to it, Alastor?” asked Morrigan.

“Well we just have to wait and see right? But I promise that I won’t let Svelt get away after what he has done.” Alastor said.

“Well said, master Alastor! Now if you excuse me, I will let your Majesty rest. It has been a long day!” Sinclair left.

“Catrina, would you leave us alone please?” the empress told her knight. At first she hesitated a bit but when she understood her master’s intention, she quietly left the room, leaving only Alastor and Morrigan inside.

“Come!” Morrigan signaled the boy to come sit on her laps. Strangely he did, without complaining like the previous times. Embracing his small body and resting her head on his, the empress asked.

“…Why did you do that?”

“No reason. I just feel like it.”

“Ok then.”

“You won’t ask further? That’s new.”

“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you to. I already have what I want.”

“Really? What is that?”

“You as my son. You won't believe how happy I am when I hear you call me 'mommy' "Morrigan kissed Alastor on his head. "I don’t have any experience of being a mother but I will do my best. So you can have a family, a place to call home.”

“…..ok..mom”

“Are you crying?”

“No…dust got into my eyes. I hate dust!”

* * *

“What the…Stella?”

Back at the room where Noroeth accidently found himself into, Lilith could not hide her bewilderment. Inside this secret chamber were at least a dozen of bodies of dolls that looked just like Stella. All of them had the same face, the same hair. However, their bodies were either not complete or broken. Unlike the real Stella, these dolls did not have any skin aside from their head. Some were hanging on the ceiling, others sitting on the ground or a chair.

The fact that the head was identical meant that it was the first thing that was created. Whoever did this wanted to make sure that these dolls must have the same exact face. On the glass cabinet in the corner of this dark room, there were heads of Stella arranging tidily on the shelf, all with their eyes closed.

“What is this creepy place?” the sage uttered. Despite being an undead, he could feel a sense of dread and a great despair residing in this room. It sent shiver to his frail bones. Were these the emotions that stacked up years after years of a mad man? His obsession to create the perfect doll.

“I knew he was a fucked up man but this….” Lilith said. She was surprised but unlike the lich, a part of her expected something like this. She herself was so familiar with the story behind this infatuation of the Artificer to the point one might wonder if she actually had a role in it.

Aside from the creepy dolls with their opened eyes looking like they were alive and would jump at them at any moment, Lilith noticed a table at the end of the room with a single piece of paper on it. This paper was embedded into a piece of glass, perhaps to preserve it. The text on it was written in an old language and Lilith recognized this. It was the language used by the first demons before the Exodus. Not just demons but any prime race also used this but this was thought to be lost forever. Time has erased everything. So how come such an ancient text would be here?

Lilith could feel a very powerful magic residing in this yellow piece of paper. Whatever it was, this thing was important. Yet it has been so long that even the Goddess has forgot about this language. But at least there was a few words she still remembered.

“….Pact…..Demon…..Guardian…..till the end of time……crown” in addition from these words that Lilith knew in the old text, she spotted a signature at the end of the paper that dismayed her. “Primos, First of the Demon Lords”

* * *

Somewhere in the Whispering Forest

“So where is this Great Spirit you spoke of?” Viviana asked the beastman Garrick who was leading the way.

“At the center of the Whispering Forest, there is a great archtree. Legends said that this is the first tree planted by the God Eden when he created the world. It was also from this very tree that life began. Because it has been living for so long, spending thousands of years absorbing mana, the Great Tree became a sentient being called Yggdrasil.” Garrick explained.

“You spoke of the Primordial God Eden. I thought in your culture you don’t believe in him?”

“It’s your culture too, little cat! Just because we believe in something else doesn’t mean we reject other races’ religion. When Eden created us, he never said anything about worshipping him. And even if he did, who cares? People are free to believe in what they want. As long as it provides them comfort.

Us beastmans only believe in things we see. And we have seen spirits but never have we seen any of your Gods. So no I don’t believe in Eden but at least I don’t kill people for believing in him. That’s what humans do.”

“Does it mean that you don’t believe in Baldo, the God of Beastman either? Your own race?”

“Baldo is a legend among us. Sure I believe that he existed but he was just a very powerful man, that’s all. Legends often get exaggerated as time goes by.”

“I see…Can you tell me more about Yggdrasil?”

“Over the years, many have attempted to make a pact with Yggdrasil but so far none has succeeded. To be honest I am not convinced that you will succeed either but we never know. At the very least I can use this to ascertain your level. If you fail then we can just find another spirit. That’s if you survive of course.” Garrick said.

“…I am prepared!”

“Ha ha ha good girl! Now you look more like one of us than those wimpy humans. I will increase the speed here. Try to keep up!” Garrick quickly dashed through the forest, jumping from one tree to another in an instant.

Possessing her cat eyes and reflex, Viviana could easily track him down. With only two people, the journey didn’t last that long.

After two days with very little stops on the way, Garrick and Viviana have finally found the Great Archtree of Yggdrasil. Inside the dense area filled with vegetation lied a large empty field with nothing but grass. A great tree stood majestically under the brimming sunlight. The trunk of the tree was pure white, a tribute for having lived for thousands of years. The area was bathed in an aura of serenity and tranquility. The birds calmly rested on the tree’s branches. A couple of deers was sipping from a puddle. Life has clearly flourished in this place, separated from the rest of the world. Just when was the last time someone was here?

For a moment, Viviana lost herself in this place. She felt calm and peaceful just by being here. Her worries from the outside world vanished in an instant. Not just that, Viviana could sense the massive mana concentrating on the tree. Its roots have traversed the entire land and continuously sending back the mana it found to where it originated from.

“Go in! I will wait for you outside!” Garrick spoke, wakening the girl.

“What? You won’t go with me?”

“This place is sacred. Only one person would be allowed an audience with Yggdrasil at a time. And just in case you die, someone has to go back and inform the rest no?”

“Do you have to say that? Now I am even more nervous!”

Suddenly a strong wind passed through the dense vegetation toward the Great Tree. The animals, sensing the change in the atmosphere, fled the place.

“It knows we are here. Well good luck, kid! I am out of here!”

Now by herself, that cat girl slowly and carefully walked up to the white tree. A voice rang in her head as she was in front of it.

“Who dare trespass this holy land?” a dignified and pompous voice echoed in Viviana’s mind. She could not distinguish whether it was a man or a woman. Instead the voice seemed to be a mixture of an old man, a woman and a child’s voices.

“My name is Viviana. I come here to seek audience with the Great Spirit Yggdrasil” the girl spoke in a respectful manner.

“For what purpose do you seek me, child?”

“I want to make a pact with you. Only you can help me in my quest.”

“So have many before you. They all said the same thing. And so will I. No!”

“Haven’t you seen what happened? The world is in peril. War is coming and the demons are attacking mercilessly. The Hero is no one to be found. You must help us!” Viviana implored.

“You misunderstand me, child. As much as I want to help you in your quest, I too have been given a task to stay in this place.”

“What? What could you accomplish by being here?”

“To fulfill the prophecy”

“What prophecy?”

“The child of Destiny will shatter the order of the universe. Wielding the Sword of Fate and accompanied by the Dark Lord, the child will relieve the eternal curse and free the world from the Absolute One.”

“Child of Destiny? Dark Lord? Absolute One? I have never heard anything about this prophecy.” Viviana retorted.

“This is a prophecy given to me by the Goddess Fate herself before she left for Celestia along with the other Gods. She entrusted me with the task of assisting the child when I meet him or her. And so I stayed here for thousands of years, waiting for the day the chosen child would come.” Yggdrasil spoke.

“I don’t know who you are talking about nor do I believe in this ridiculous prophecy. But if you are just going to sit there, there won’t be a world left to save.” Viviana shouted.

“Do not underestimate the will to live of the people of Astora! What happened recently was nothing compare to the first two calamities ages ago. At that time, many also came to me saying the same thing. I refused them and look around: we are still standing. Therefore I will stay! Leave, child!”

No matter what Viviana said, Yggdrasil retained his initial position: turn down her plead. It seemed that Yggdrasil only cared about the prophecy and the task that Fate entrusted to her. If so, perhaps Viviana could slightly alter the words.

“The Goddess Fate has told you to meet this child of Prophecy but she never said you would meet that person here, right? Have you ever thought that Fate actually wanted you to go out there and find this person?”

“…..”

‘Did that fool the spirit’ thought the cat girl. She didn’t really know any way else to convince the tree. And it would be ludicrous for a spirit with thousands years of experience to fall in such a trick. It seemed she failed.

“YOU ARE RIGHT! How could I miss this? That explains why I have never met them! I am supposed to find that person!”

Well shit she actually tricked the Great Spirit Yggdrasil.

“But how am I supposed to go out there? If only there is a way….”

“Make a pact with me! I will help you find this person and in return you will help me in my quest!”

“Hum….a reasonable request. Very well, the Great Spirit Yggdrasil will make a pact with you! Take this!”

From the great tree, a white branch fell off to the ground and transformed into a wooden white staff.

“If you keep this with you, I will be able to observe and come to you at anytime and anywhere whenever you need me! Do not forget our promise!”

“I won’t! Thank you, Yggdrasil!” Viviana shouted with excitement. The first step, making a pact with a Great Spirit, was a success. Now time for her to go to a tournament.