“Well, I’d learned more about my parents than I ever wanted to know.” I sigh as I put down the giant book on an ornate table. Most of my siblings are still in the family reading room, despite the fact that it was way past midnight. The miracle of electrical light- a miracle that I took for granted all my life- keeps the room well-lit. Gods, what a marvelous city Dad has built for us.

My younger siblings have already all retired to bed. So fortunately, my job as the smut censor has ended for now. Only Aubrey, Braxton, Chloe, Dominic, Fiona, and I remain.

“Oh, don’t be such a prude, Ethan.” Aubrey mischievously grins as she replies. “It’s the truth, so we might as well enjoy learning about it!”

An exasperated Chloe cut in. “Oh please, you’re just looking out for additional seduction techniques for your harem.”

“‘Don’t hate the player, hate the game’, as Dad would say~” Aubrey shamelessly shrugs. “Besides, he was fully supportive of my harem dream. He even called me his ‘adorable Yuri Harem Protagonist’.” I see a hint of uncharacteristic sadness in her usually cheerful eyes as she casually flicks her shoulder-length dark-blue hair to the side.

Dominic, who is a man of few words, wistfully speaks up. “I miss him too…”

The atmosphere got a bit somber, as if everyone is suddenly reminded that Dad is gone forever. I clear my throat and change the topic.

“You guys getting the implication behind this book?” I ask in a hushed tone.

Braxton and Chloe nodded. Of course our Chief Military Engineer and Chief Scientist would get the implication.

Aubrey, who was more of a shooter than a thinker, cluelessly asks. “Get what?”

“Aubs, how long did you think writing and printing this book would take?” Chloe socratically asks.

“Dunno, at least a couple of moons? Maybe even a winter?”

“Right, and did you remember how Dad mentioned how he didn’t want to tell us about the family secret until he passed?”

A surprised expression dawns on our eldest. “Motherfucker! They knew Dad was gonna kick it.”

Braxton joins in. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. But they prolly suspected that his life was somehow linked to the Pantheon or the Empire since they’re the ones who brought him here. Made sense to think that he could potentially die when the Imperial Capital and the Pantheon fell.”

As expected from my smarter siblings. I add. “I suspect that was also why they kept all of us in Pridwen when they got news of the civil war spiraling out of control. They recalled Aubs and Chloe from their survey mission west of the river, Fi from her fortification project in Carnwennan, and Dom from his chemistry research project up in Mt. Fae. It all made sense now.”

Fiona gasps. “I knew it! I knew their excuse of ‘mandatory family time’ was bullshit!.”

“Either way, the days of their pretty white lies are over.” I hold up my copy of the book. “Our moms chose to tell us the truth. So whether we like it or not, we just got invited to whatever world-ending crisis they're facing. We’re all in it now, fam.”

All of them grimly nod. Aubrey snorts as she complains. “Dad is one lucky bastard. Dude started a harem of hot chicks and knocked them up multiple times. Then right before it all hits the fan, he clocks out.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Braxton counters. “Well, it’s not like he left us completely defenseless. Those Flaks on the battlements would make any sane dragon think twice before fucking with our city. Once I finish upgrading the RADAR system, we'll have ample time to mount an effective defense no matter how many of them come.”

Fiona joins in. “So that’s why I was asked to upgrade the Carnwennan walls- they probably wanted a couple of Flaks there too.”

“That’s a great point Fi! Why don’t we all share the projects our parents asked us to do? Maybe we can see a pattern in these projects?”

“Hah! Do you have a project, little brother?” Aubrey playfully teases.

“Nope, but if you want to take over as the Lady of Pridwen, be my guest. After all, you’re the oldest~” I smirk.

She makes a gagging motion. “Ugh, I’d rather fight that Tiger Tyrant again than to sit through another budget meeting. I dunno how you and Mom could stay awake at those damn things.”

Chloe giggles a bit. “It’s called responsibility, sis.”

She scoffs. “Fuck that! I just wanna shoot things and eat pussy.”

I groan a bit as I rub my temple. “Anyways, why don’t we start from the younglings up. Dom, what did they want you to work on recently?”

Dominic shyly ponders a bit, then replies. “I was knee-deep in bat shit up in Mt. Fae before I got pulled back. Dad wanted me to work on an alternative to using dust for all of our weapons. I’ve been trying to think of a way to mass-produce nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose since I was back.”

Chloe joins in. “The three major ones for me are to survey the atmospheric mana for the west bank of the Acheron, to work with Gabe to reduce the need for mana crystal use across the city, and to expand the mana crystal farms. Brax?”

Braxton nods. “Well, other than the RADAR upgrade project, I’m working to scale up the production of the Flaks and the rail-car compatible versions of Flaks.”

“Hah, compared to you guys, my project looks super simple. Dad told me to compare the average size of the mana-crystals from the mana-beasts on the west bank against the east bank.” Aubrey adds.

Braxton serenely smiles as we all realize the obvious. “If it wasn’t obvious before, it is now. The strategy of our parents for dealing with this crisis is to detect and reduce the atmospheric mana of our domain through any means possible. And if all else fails, pound the shit outta the dragons with stationary and mobile Flaks.”

“Not a bad plan if you ask me.” Aubrey casually remarks.

“No, Aubs. Dad expects us to do all of that while coming up with a better plan.” I reply.

She sighs. “Damn, what a pain.”

I wryly smile at my impatient sister. “It’s the apocalypse, sister dearest. It’s gonna be a pain in the ass for everybody.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She shrugs. “Alright, time to turn in. I’ve kept my sexy elf waiting in bed long enough.”

I groan again. “On that wholesome note, let’s bring it in.”

All 6 of us got up for a group hug. Chloe playfully asks. “Is there something you’d like to say, Dom?”

Dom spitefully glares at us as he refuses. “No. Dad’s not here, so I don’t have to say it during group hugs anymore.”

I teasingly taunt. “Say it, Dom. That’s what our father would’ve wanted.”

“Ugh! Even to this day, I don’t know why he insisted on me saying that cheesy line.” He halfheartedly complains.

Aubrey could barely control her snickering. “Dude’s from another world. Who the heck knows what bullshit reference he was thinking of when he made you say it. So just do it~”

“Fine!” Dom clears his throat and lowers the tone of his usual voice, then he declares. “I don’t have friends. I have family.”