"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more..."

― William Shakespeare, King Henry the Fifth

"You're some alarm clock..." Ven hefted Ooulin up as he rubbed his reddened nose. "You've got quite the bite, for someone so small."

Ooulin shook his legs, tiny oars that batted at the air. His little eyes were wide, as if terror had stolen his heart.

"Ok, ok," Ven shook his head and place the turtle on his shoulder. "We'll get up."

Ooulin burrowed into the folds of Ven's silver cloak. He tugged and pulled, until the fabric formed a cocoon. Limbs retracted, he nodded his head and withdrew into his shell.

"So you get to sleep, huh..." Ven's eyes rolled to the sky. "Whatever..." Ven had stuff to do, and Ooulin was welcome to come along. "Let's visit the palace, I've got a proposal for Jun."

Ven flipped up his hood, yet another layer between Ooulin and the world. He strode from the room, his target the young dragon-kin prince. The boy's father might have written him off, but Ven sensed something from the child. The makings of a king.

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"Come on, Jun!" Huan begged her brother. "That's enough training for today, let's walk around town!"

"Not yet..." Jun paused, the sword in his hand a mountain of lead. "I can go for another hour, at least." He adjusted his stance, and raised his arms up, to the side of his head. "If I can't compete with raw power, I need to master my technic."

"But it's so boring..." Huan slashed her hand through the air like a sword. "Swish, swish, swish, over and over..." She rubbed her eyes. "I'm falling asleep and it's barely noon!"

"Haaaa.... fine!" Jun lowered his blade. He thrust it into his scabbard and turned to face his younger sister. "Let me wash up and we'll visit the markets or something."

"Yaaah! Greatest brother ever, better than all the others!"

"Don't let any of them hear that..." Jun smiled at his sister's carefree nature. "I'm the family disappointment, after all."

"Those smelly idiots are a bunch of useless wastes," Huan stomped her foot. "All they do is plot and squabble, they never have time to play." She seized Jun's hand and dragged him forward. "Let's go, best brother! We've got to make it in time for the food stalls!"

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"Come on guys, I was here yesterday..."

Ven eyed the pair of dragon-kin guards, who blocked his entrance to the castle. They were expressionless and resolute in their work.

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"Sorry, sir," The younger, clean-shaven soldier turned his lifeless, blue gaze to meet Ven's. "Without an invitation, all access to the castle is restricted after noon."

"Come back tomorrow morning, when the King has an open discussion with the public." The second guard mumbled through his beard.

"What about Ooulin here?" Ven dug the tiny turtle from his nesting place and dangled him before the guards. "He was the previous Grandmaster of The Knights of the World..."

"Hmmm..." Blue eyes leaned forward. "Looks like a turtle to me, and isn't Grandmaster Ooulin dead?"

"Dead as a doornail," Beard chimed in as he picked his teeth. "I was at the funeral, fell asleep during the procession, and got left behind."

Ven erupted in a frustrated sigh as he shoved Ooulin back under his hood. He glanced at the wall around the castle. I bet I could just leap over... Ven ignored the guards and sized up the distance.

"HUSBAND! You've come to visit me so soon!"

Ven turned back to the gate.

"Hey, Huan... Jun," Ven nodded at the siblings. "These two say I can't visit after hours, so I was just about to hop the wall."

"OH?" Huan rounded on the confused guards. "You dare to deny my future husband access to his bride-to-be?"

"Uhhh..."

"Of course not, little miss." Beard shoved blue eyes behind him and bowed his head. "We just didn't know his face, maybe you could post a notice to the guard's quarters?"

"Oh... great idea, beardo!" Huan turned to Ven, the pair of guards forgotten. "Come with us into town Ven, we can get your portrait made to show the soldiers!"

"I'm sure Master Ven has business with Father," Jun patted his sister on the head, a question in his voice. "Here for another spar with the old man?"

"Nope," Ven's head shook. "I'm looking for you. You asked me for help, so I'm here to do what I can."

"You're willing to protect the country while Father breaks through?" Jun's face lit up.

"Not a chance," Ven swatted aside Jun's idea like a fly. "I'm here to make you into someone your father will consider for the crown."

Jun stood, stunned into silence. Huan, however, burst into laughter.

"Bwahahaha! Father would make ME king, before he looked at Jun!"

"That's mean, Huan..." Jun's shoulder dropped and he looked into Ven's eyes. "She's right though, I'm the weakest of his children, even Huan can push me into the ground."

"It doesn't matter," Ven shrugged. "You're a dragon, right?"

"Half-dragon, yes..."

"Well then, it's easy, isn't it?" Ven pointed his thumb at the labyrinth fortress, framed against the city. "We'll go down there and stuff you full of quality food, until you've overtaken everyone else!"

"But, Father always said you had to grow using your own power..." Jun's brow furrowed. "It's a sign of weakness if you consume the hunts of others."

"A sign to who?" Ven grinned. "Carried, or on your own feet, you'll still be at the top. Who'd dare complain if you're the first Semi-Divine to appear in recent history?"

"I guess, but..."

"Look," Ven seized the young man's shoulders. "Everyone has their own morals, the lines they'll never cross." Ven looked into the young man's eyes. "Is a dishonorable rise enough to stop you from grasping the power to protect your family?"

"I..." Jun fell silent, eyes glazed.

"As for you," Ven turned to Huan. "You keep calling me husband, but to me, a husband and wife are equal." He poked the girl's nose. "Before you talk about marrying anyone, focus on getting stronger than your father."

"Me?" Huan pointed to herself. "Stronger than Daddy?" Her face scrunched up, as if her thoughts were too complex for her young mind to process. "You think I can?"

"I've been on this planet less than a month," Ven pat Huan on the head. "And I've seen several beings that could turn your old man into a paste."

"But Daddies' the strongest!" Huan protested, even as she clasped his hands with her own. "If I get stronger than him, I'll be the most powerful tyrant alive!" Tiny fires lit behind her widened eyes. "I could do what I want, and eat cakes every day!"

"Well..." Ven hesitated. He'd planned on training Jun, and Huan had appeared with him. He'd offered her the same so she wouldn't be left out, but... "You have to promise you'll only be a tyrant to bad guys, ok? The people should be treated with respect by their leaders."

"Oh, I know," Huan smiled. "Daddy always treats the people better than he does the nobles." She nodded, her finger pointed toward the city. "They're the reason we're here, Huan... That's what he always says!"

"Alright, well let's get going," Ven grabbed the quieted Jun and hefted him up by the collar. "We're burning daylight, and my turtle keeps nipping at me to get going."

"Gaaa!" Ooulin's head sprouted from Ven's hood, a determined look on his little face.