"Weeee," cried out Nox as the left side of his "car" skid across a worn layer of felt. One that he and his friends never truly managed to avoid, as it was the first hard turn about a metre ahead of the start of the track. It also caused quite a few more crashes than the beginning of their learning how to drive. For turning what was called the "steering wheel" was a necessary part of learning how to drive. Of which was somewhat difficult due to their developing bodies.

In any case, the Ageless had paid a visit to watch as his son and the other three zipped around the endarkened track with features full of awe and joy. Unfortunately, he did not approve of the contraption, as it brought too much change to his liking. Which also meant that he was of the Traditionalists, in that they accepted new ideas with begrudging slowness.

That is to say change didn't not come into being, quite the contrary, to be honest. It was simply a fact that the God King, and those as old as himself preferred to have things stayed the way they are. However, the only time their technologies increased was after the integration of a new world. For if they have something of worth, then a ripple would appear within the Ageless's inner circle. Of which would cause the whole of the Pantheon to be able to have access to new technologies, but even those were restricted.

These "cars" and their tracks were one such items that were going to be restricted from the public, until Sarah came to him and was able to change his stubborn mind. However, it will be many cycles before such a thing was released to the rest of the worlds. So for now, the children before his eyes would be the testers to see if such a contraption would be mass produced and released, or not.

Unfortunately, the old Kitsune was leaning towards not allowing it released, as it appeared more harmful than beneficial for children. Yes. Even if they could not be harmed due to his protections, he was still of a mind to forbid such a thing from others.

"Papa," called out Nox after his fifth crashed caused his body to rocket out of the dark coloured box, and landed safely amongst the tall grass nearby. This was so, as his small body floated gently to the ground from a height higher than two metres. Upon touching the ground, he did scamper over to his father's side. Where he was then lifted into the air, and had the helmet brushed off quickly before being embraced.

"I missed you, Papa," mewed the hybrid, who then snuggled up into his father's neck. Whereas the other simply smiled, his eyes twinkling with strong feelings of love for his son. Of which was then drained away, as that which was within his being drained away such strong emotions, leaving him hollow and aching for more.

"I missed you too, Nox," rumbled the other, as the child's back was rubbed slowly, causing him to snuggle deeper.

For a time, the pair stayed like this, enjoying one another's company and scent until the child broke away, pushing up on the older's chest with one paw, and waving the other at the track. "Did you see what Grandma got me?" This was asked with a great grin of joy, whereas the other had to quash all of his emotions which contained hatred for the contraption before them.

"I did," the Ageless nodded once, "Did your friends enjoy it, as well?"

"Yep!" came his reply, then went on to explain what had happened with great exaggeration. Such as Anasi flying out of his "car" after running into his; the twins batting at one another once they came up to their side; of how, once they became more familiar with the controls, the four friends raced until they all crashed into the wall of felt once again.

All of this, and more, was spoken of to the God King. Unfortunately, none of this, beyond the excitement in his son's voice, swayed his position on the matter. No. It would not go beyond the walls of the Midnight Castle, but would be accessible to the children who were the hybrid's friends, as well as to the hybrid himself.

Afterwards, though, the pair did enter the castle proper once more, and traversed the long hallways which led to the dining room. Where they sat down at the table in order to feast upon a small meal. Of which the child did attack with gusto, as he was still a child with beastial instincts. This led to the other, and those of whom served the pair, to smile softly whilst wondering when he will gain the proper manners befitting a noble's child.

However, before another thought was conjured within their minds, or a word was uttered, the slapping of metallic boots upon old stone filtered through the air. Of which was drawing closer, and came with enough force to awaken several Living Armour from within, and without, the dining hall. These then took up positions around a now curious Nox with raised tower shields, just as his eyes widened greatly, and his ears perked.

This led to a loud conversing of excited voices which were low and reverent to the God King before them. "My Lord High God," spoke one of these voice, which was low and gruff, marking it as a male's, "The Void Sphere taken from Azzarath has borne fruit."

"And?" The Ageless's own voice was demanding at this point, and held an odd twinge of excited expectation as the chair he sat upon crashed to the floor nearest Nox and the Armours which guarded him.

"My Lord High God," came a voice with a higher, but melodic pitch, "that which was released was a Mind Flayer, but was quite insane. To the point where it nearly killed three of the Undying before being brought to heel."

To which the Kitsune, who heard all of this, laughed uproariously at the news, "Good," his voice boomed throughout the castle itself, and summoned up nine portals, the colour of blood and madness, around his person.

"Papa," whine Nox, who was pouting behind the Armours who awoke in order to defend his person from those of whom were in the room. Which then led to such protectors to be dismissed, and once they did so, did the child see two individuals he had never seen before. Both held the skin texture of iron, marking them as Undying, especially with the pair having two pairs of arms running along their sides.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The first of the pair was undoubtedly male, and appeared as though he was a cross between a green skinned Orc, and an Ogre. However, this one was rather short for having such heritages, as an Ogre male was able to obtain heights of up to twelve metres. Whereas half-Ogre males can reach up to eight. This one, however, was around four metres, which only meant that he was rather young to be a member of the Undying.

Whereas the other was a Wood Elf, what with the tell tale sign of having a light tint of brown upon the skin, and a familiar green hue within the hair. Not to mention that this one had an etched tattoo upon the left side of the face. One which held the illusion of one that had carved out an intricate, lattice styled tree, rather than a regular tattoo. Unfortunately for many who were not well versed in the anatomy of Elves, their genders were relatively unknown. That is, until one was able to strip before your very eyes.

As to their outerwear? The pair wore a heavy chainmail hauberk with the insignia of a decayed Dragon's skull wreathed with green fumes upon a dark matte background. They also wore thick leather trousers and iron boots, and were given the basic enchantments which allowed the wearer to become used to the weight without dragging them down. There wasn't any form of helmet that could be seen, but when they were worn, each was animalistic in nature. One which depicted as their favourite animal, be it of Terra, or upon one of the many worlds within the Pantheon.

The pair were within Nox's line of sight, as his eyes widened further, his ears twitching this way and that, and his head tilting towards his right shoulder, as various persons entered the dining room. Of which quickly stretched itself to accommodate the added beings within.

"Papa?" began the child, but was interrupted as the Chosen, Zabartik, and Sarah stepped out of the portals.

"Your Chosen have come to serve you, My Lord High God," spoke aloud Sia, who bowed low to the Ageless. Whereas the Living Armour who appeared as though he was made up of armours from an ancient civilisation called Sparta, merely saluted with a hollowed thump over its left breast.

Whereas Sarah turned and lifted her child so that he may watch the proceedings with relative ease, as opposed to trying to crawl out of his high chair in order to sate his endless curiosity. "Mama?" his mewing caused her to turn towards his person, "What's going on?" This inquiry was spoken aloud, just as the Ageless clapped his paws together once, and vanished with those present.

Yes. Mother and child were also included, and soon found themselves in an underground chamber within an unknown part of the Pantheon. Of which caused even she to wonder aloud, "Where are we, Ageless?" For the area which they had appeared within was cavernous, and full of mystical runes, sigils, and spell circles. Each dictating to the suppression of something great and terrible. "I've seen these before," her eyes scrunched as she walked over to one part of the formula to her left.

"Lady Sarah," Shauu spoke aloud, gripping the Goddess's right arm and bringing her and her son back towards the group. For just as she did so, did the whole of that which was within the area activate, alighting everything with a dark, blue hue. All of it, leading towards the centre of the area which contained an impossibly large sphere which appeared to be trying to draw in everything and anything around it. Unfortunately for it, it was stopped by several hundreds of ethereal chains that kept it from moving and "eating" everything nearby.

"What?" she began, whereas Nox simply took one look at it, and whined as his tails tried to tuck between his legs. Yes. He of course shivered and tried to hide within the dress of his mother, especially when it became apparent that he was not able to run from this place, nor leave her arms to even try and do so. "Nox?" her eyes widened at his antics, as she did her best to comfort the obviously terrified child, whilst also doing her best to not allow him within her dress.

Whereas the Ageless, whose vision tunneled on that which was off to the left of the sphere, grinned. For before them was a struggling Illithid whose was bound by enchanted chains that kept it stationary as eight others of its kind hovered around the bulbous cranium with both clawed hands outstretched over it. This, in turn, led to him spinning around just in time to see his wife struggling to pull their child out of the top of her dress. Where he frowned for, but a moment, and strode towards their position in order to take up the hybrid into his own arms. There, the child calmed down enough to simply hug his father's neck-fur as he was carried over to about two metres away from the Mind Flayers.

"Papa," mewed Nox as his back was rubbed slowly.

"Did you know, Nox," came the soothing voice of the Ageless, "That I have a brother?"

"Bruh-ther?" the child stopped snuggling into the other's neck, and pushed off of it in order to stare into his father's eyes with a curious expression.

"Yes, a brother," nodded the Kitsune who grinned and pointed towards the struggling Illithid, "That one is called Melephas, and he is you Uncle." The little hybrid turned to stare with widened eyes and perked ears at the obviously crazed creature that was struggling against whatever its own kind was trying to do to it.

"Uncle?" he began, stretching out his right paw towards the individual, but was pulled away by his father.

Of who held a grinning expression full of excitement, and asked, "Would you like to hear a story about him and I?"