"In ancient Orcish lore, it was often told the Dwarven Kings and Queens were the first to lend aid when the first raids by the sea elven menace started, and while the cultures usually had clashed, the bond formed by the brutal reality of war and slavery was strong as dwarven-steel and in both capitals of their respective countries one can find numerous statues, parks, and museums in honor of the many who lay down their lives in the first conflicts of this dark period of our history"

The History and Tribulations of the Orcs, omnibus edition.

The day had started early for Lucrezia, way too early if she had anything to say about it. Still, her Maid had played a devastating prank on her and Richard for once, enrolled into what was essentially a class for child-rearing! quality time away from blood and gore, or matters of state that required her presence...Richard was up for it at the very least so even if it was time lost she would likely enjoy it.

Hopefully, that is.

"Very thoughtful of Miss Saa'ryu I must say, my plan was just to ask Mother and Father about it, maybe Grandmother if she was willing which whenever it's about you, the venerated old woman is more than happy to oblige!" he smiled at the thought "It's quite the topic with the other families if you can believe it Lu, there's no small amount of jealously by the more senior cousins and aunts directed at you" Richard poked her in the ribs with a laugh.

It was a sobering thought, her better half had a horrible family, and her own family had become despot and despoilers of all the good in her Duchy. The fact she had managed to somehow claw out of that pit and secure a brighter, better future for herself and those she cared for had done much to forge her into the woman she was now, watching Richard's family be a normal, or at least as normal as possible given their particular realities put things into perspective.

He picked up on her thoughtful mood and spoke, his voice kinder as it whispered solely to her ears "Worry not, we will always be here for you, you have my word, I swear on the name of the All-Father himself" while gently squeezing her hand, a small gesture that managed to quell her fears as they entered the room, which was quite full and Lucrezia found herself nearly stopping at the doorway.

Of course, these people would want to have kids. After all many houses and even the merchant clans need more heirs plus they get to enjoy having the means to raise the infants with strong security, be it from their family, or the crown which takes children deathly seriously.

Finding a place to sit was not hard, even with the class as full as it was. Shamefully she had to pick a place further in the back which was not ideal but the room's acoustics would make sure she heard what the Professor would be saying, and if that failed she had magic to fall back on it. As did Richard as far as she was aware, waiting for the aforementioned Professor took a while and she started picking up stray conversations around her.

"...Indeed, my parents work in the department of Finance and Banking and the funds allocated for Hospitals and even solo doctors who deliver children at home is nothing short of impressive, nevermind the benefits if you are a Priest or even a Mage that has a specialty on it, or have a particular good blessing..." spoke a duo of young women with stern faces as they checked their notes.

"...Ancient Elven tradition my ass you sleazy cur! I did not sign up for a non-monogamous relationship! You will speak with these poor women at once and set this right for I am the sole woman you are allowed to court and by the All-Father you will abide by that unless you are willing to suffer the consequences of Oath-Breaking!" Lucrezia's head tilted towards the rant as she beheld a true specimen of a Dragonkin woman who towered above a demure-looking elf young man, red up to his ears as she glowered towards anyone daring to stare.

"Not everyone has it easy like us huh?" Richard spoke without looking, but she knew he meant the bickering couple "Indeed, we have it pretty easy" Lucrezia replied and smiled, as she did the Professor finally entered the room and silence fell over everyone, it was time for class and even the hot-headed Dragonkin near them had enough reason in her to go silent, glowering in rage but also in silence.

Class started with writing and a series of rapid-fire questions by the stern-looking Birdkin woman, who was grilling and prodding everyone in class about what Lucrezia thought were personal details about themselves and their family, for much of this early "interrogation" She was puzzled as for why the Professor was doing such a thing with total disregard of the usual etiquette the facility had in regards to such topics.

Raising that question with Richard earned her a good enough answer "Think about it, you don't raise a baby alone, do you? all the people here will have family, both close and extended members close to them, and thus to properly teach us how to raise the wee ones, she must then learn as much as she can about our family, I'd assume given your repute she will spare you the interrogation, not me of course" Richard smiled as the Professor finished grilling the couple that was fighting before the class started.

"I think she's glaring at you, get ready" Lucrezia elbowed Richard as he straightened up under the watchful gaze of the woman in front of him "Mister Silverbrand? and...Duchess Wulfgrem, it's an honor having such esteemed individuals in my class" she did a slight bow as her feathers shone a bit "Now Mister Silverbrand, how would you describe your relation with your parents?" she asked.

What followed was a long conversation rather than one-sided telling by Richard, often the Professor would interject, or even ask questions of her own. Sometimes even other classmates would pose questions over some of the answers Richard gave out, or a particularly interesting interjection and before Lucrezia knew it she was also engaging with this show, positioning herself plenty of times whenever particular issues came up.

"...Surely you can't equate a relationship to warfare! there is no love in war" spoke a young man after Lucrezia went on a long-winded rant "M'Lady with all due respect that is frankly absurd!" some agreed with him, others didn't and the class went on and on, with the Professor often guiding the class with a deft hand. Lucrezia took notes whenever she had the time; before she knew it, it was over.

"Well, that was fun! woe is you Lu because Saa will be smug for ages after she learns about this!" Richard said as they left the classroom, pecking her on the cheek as Lucrezia felt the heat flare up, Godsdamned he was right, the maid would be incredibly smug now!

"Not much I can do, sometimes it's best to admit defeat eh?" Lucrezia spoke with mock despair, the couple moved on towards the gardens where Lucrezia had set up a meeting shortly after getting the news she was enrolled in these classes, Kaine would be fighting today and she couldn't come to his fight so getting the aftermatch report was the best she could do.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

----------------------------------------

Kaine Antewood was panting and heaving as the sheer adrenaline of the engagement washed over him, to his side he saw Kaede resting upon her Magi-Tech staff, a cool breeze blowing out of the weapon as both let the sounds of cheers and music? washing over them, of course, there was music and the Acdemy's band involved, Lucrezia was pouring no small amount of coin and goods towards then for a good while now.

What was with her and music anyway? Another odd thing he would ask is if time would grant him the opportunity.

"That was harrowing, I've never been so effectively countered before, not counting mother-in-law of course" Kaede spoke as they departed towards their chambers in the arena, the duo had opted to fight just like that, a duo, and their opponents took the time to ask if they could deploy a sixth member. Kaine saw no issue and after a quick talk with the Judges, it was allowed.

What followed was a combat scenario that saw the couple having to deploy spells and techniques they rarely used! the opposition had prepared to the utmost degree to eke out a win and it was nothing short of inspirational, for every spell and ward Kaine threw they had a counter, for every big zone of effect spell Kaede would lob they either dodged or spell parried it!

Seeing a goodness spell parry made Kaine whistle, and that was when the sixth member showed his true colors, a Mage-Hunter and likely the one who trained the others in how to fight Kaine and Kaede, the tempo went up after the rather dramatic reveal, Kaede now with rage in her eyes after getting a nasty Ki bolt right in her chest flowed upwards and with a mighty crack of her hands throw a spell that was likely to kill anyone not versed in the arcane arts of getting out of dodge.

Pillars of red-hot fire erupted and the Mage-Hunter was caught by one as he tried to get the rest of his team out of the blast zone, his cape and hood burning revealing a bald man with a shiny tattoo across his face, marking him as a member the elite task force.

Not on his mother's orders he guessed, this had the stink of Malphas all over, Kaine was already done with the crazed Queen, and had Arthur not been so against it, the talk of Kin Slaying would've already been in the works, he just knew she would be a long term issue and it was high time he would put measures in place in case she tried anything, especially now that the talk of the group was children.

The battle grew fierce from then on, Kaine's tempo went up and so did Kaede, and with ample use of high-level Chronomancy spells they methodically slayed each foe, it was grueling work as the Mage-Hunter was keeping up with them even with the Time spells, this man was too good for some random noble to hire! that was it he was in league with the Queen for sure!

Kaede sacrificed her left arm to pin him and the remaining opponent down, Kaine went out with a showy beam spell that turned into spirals right at the end, piercing the Aegis the Mage-Hunter had, Kaede didn't even flinch as Kaine grabbed her fallen arm and mended together with healing spells "Make sure to check with a doctor later love, just to be sure" he spoke and she nodded "Will do"

It was a wonderful thing, watching a master at work when it came to medical magicks, Miracles, and Priests often took the lion's share of the work but in the name of proper balancing, or at least as much as the Divinities in charge of caring for the well being of the mortals would tell you, there was understanding that the Sorcery Inclined Divines would also have a fair chance at it.

And so Kaine watched with a keen eye as a pair of doctors worked around him with hand gestures, sometimes a few chants, and tons of reagents to restore his arm to working order, they looked austere and focused, and very few pleasantries were exchanged between staff and patient. Kaine didn't mind if he had to be honest with himself, after all, they had a job to do and he wouldn't be the one flapping his gums distracting everyone.

"...An impressive display of Quick ritualistic blood magic Mister Antewood, anyone else would've liked blown through their ribcage and fair few critical organs..." one of the doctors spoke "Would you be so kind as to allow me and my colleague here use your case for a few classes? tis rare to find such unique damage outside of battlefields and some less civilized corners of the world"

"We would keep your identity secret but I doubt anyone with a working brain wouldn't put it together" the other doctor spoke with a grin, Kaine nodded and said "There's no need for it, you can share my name if it comes up" the pair nodded happily and with a few more chants the sea of mana snapped into place, and Kaine felt the phantom pain disappear as his Limb was recreated.

I wonder why Lucrezia refuses to regrow her arm, I guess she does enjoy lugging that piece of crystal about Kaine thought to himself as he made his way to the outside of the arena, quickly checking where Kaede was and sending her a message asking what was in the schedule today, the reply he got told him the Duchess as mentioned earlier wanted to talk with them now and so he went.

"Hopefully she doesn't demand anything crazy" Kaine smiled knowing he had just cursed himself by saying that out loud.

----------------------------------------

Lucrezia's room was a ruckus as the gang and other outliers congregated there, together with Saa'ryu and Kaede prepping food in the kitchen while the others got her quarters ready for the feast, Kaede spied the dwarven man and his vampire companion among a few other faces who she was familiar with, the last living ancient now professor of the academy, that one heir to the Demoness Queen...

"Quite a few high-profile individuals here tonight, I wasn't expecting a party Lu" Kaede spoke as she watched the woman heave a massive disc of dough in the air, sometimes she would catch herself watching Lucrezia work the kitchen like a master chef, it was quite the sight for someone so noble, for the lack of the better word. Deciding to enquire about it given the preparations were still happening

"If you don't mind me asking Lu, why the interest in cooking and food? from what I understand you have put a considerable amount of research, coin, and manpower into the foodstuff industry, both in your lands and across the kingdom right? It seems odd given the focus you have on warfare" Kaede spoke without pause, feeling her shyness would halt her words if she gave it an inch.

"Ah, It is, isn't it? true even members of my inner circle back at home have told me to slow down a little and focus on our manufactories and the base up on the moon. But dear Kaede I love good food! it is life's simplest pleasure and the best way to tie together people, imagine then when we are off to crusade in All-Father's name, the worlds we will visit will likely have life in them isn't it? Faith does not flow from dead souls unless you are specifically tied to it, even this can be turned to the future war effort!" she giggled a little as Saa'ryu sighed.

"The Fair Lady spins a yarn dear Kaede, but really she's a glutton, and her consumption of the stuff is legendary. You should ask Richard later for some of the stories because Gods be good she has drunk half the pubs under! and the recipes Gods the recipes! I've had to deal with a legion of cooks, chefs, and innkeepers who after visits of this would be Food Demigod, demanded her dishes...I swear I could go on for a good while about this..." The maid sighed but Kaede saw a smile bloom out of it.

"Kaine often speaks of your future Crusade you know, he sees dreams of it and has to consult Gwennarius about it..." Kaede spoke as she brewed coffee and tea "The Goddess is afraid, and that's not even accounting for that spell you asked him about" Kaede smiled at the memory, seeing him getting that angry was always something else. A side that rarely got shown.

Lucrezia hummed, a faraway look in her eyes as she finished the pizza toppings "We are sailing towards something outside of her domain, outside of All-Father's hold in all that is magical in this reality we live after all, and Gwennarius is an old Deity. Fear and trepidation are par and parcel for Her as it has likely saved her once and will so again, still I wished I didn't have to bully her so, weaving Hope like a stick at her" There was a wolfish grin on her face as she spoke that.

"Alas, sometimes we do need a big stick, and Hope is more than happy to play the part, a bit too happy I would say. After getting that Godslayer Spear she's itching to put it to use I imagine, such a powerful weapon would stir even the meekest of warriors after all" Lucrezia moved with precision across the Kitchen, getting the ale cups ready as Saa'ryu worked on more dough "Is he still having dreams about my child Kaede?" Lucrezia asked, her voice trembling a bit.

"No, but I am" Kaede replied, freezing the Duchess on the spot.