"Haha... Very well then. Now, where do I begin..." Rodin thought about it for a bit. There were plenty of events that pushed him into being a ruler, but most of them weren't quite appropriate to tell a child. They were very bloody after all. But he quickly decided where to start. "You know, Rein. Life wasn't as convenient during my childhood as it is now."

"Hm?" His son tilted his head to the side, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Uhm... how?"

"Hmm... Well, we didn't have all these Magitech light orbs installed in the castle, for one thing." Rodin pointed toward the glass spheres embedded into certain parts of the walls and ceilings. There were plenty of other things that became much more convenient when they learned how to harness that place's resources, the wanton use of energy to power magic items was one of them. Teleportation gates, Sky Arks, nationwide barriers. Even small things that the citizenry used, such as streetlights, trains, and the crystal broadcast systems. However, he didn't need to point those things out to tell his story, so Rodin intentionally left them out.

"Oh..." Reivan gazed at the crystal orbs on the walls for a moment before he nodded. "I see. So you used candles?"

"Yes, correct." Rodin smiled as he ruffled his son's smooth, ivory-colored hair. But he started, realizing something. "Hm? How do you know about candles...?"

Candles had been out of use except for extremely poor families in remote areas bordering the Empire. Naturally, the Royal Castle, the center of the Kingdom's wealth, was anything but. There hadn't been a candle in this castle for decades. How did his six-year-old son know about them?

"Oh!?" Reivan jumped. He quickly replied. "I saw them in a picture book!"

"Oh..." The King nodded twice, not thinking much of it. Rodin didn't remember any particular picture book that featured candles, but where else could his son have seen one? "I see. Picture books are quite nice. They even educate children about the technology of the past."

'The Grand Minister of Education has been complaining about not having a wider array of books to teach the new generation. I guess I should take a better look at that.' Rodin mused as he stared into empty space. 'Oh, speaking of children, there were those bastard twins from the Mercers. Conveniently, they're the same age as Rein. I should push them together, so he stops pushing to get combat training.'

"Y-yeah! They're pretty great..." Reivan secretly wiped off a few beads of sweat when his father wasn't looking. "So, the story! Continue!"

"Mm? Yes, when I was a child, the castle would be illuminated with nothing but candles. It was much darker at night compared to what you're used to." Rodin began.

"I see. Candles aren't very good light sources after all." Reivan nodded in understanding.

"Indeed. I was a bit of a mischievous child, being the youngest of five siblings. So I would sneak around the castle even at night." Rodin stroked his chin as he stared into the air while reminiscing.

"Oh, you had siblings Father? Where are they all now? I've not met any yet." Reivan innocently inquired.

'Fuck!' Rodin cursed inwardly. He only realized his mistake too late. Even though it was only in his head, he even used a curse only the more rough and uncouth knights said as they fought in battles.

"Th-that's..." Rodin racked his brain. Death would be something that a Royal should get used to seeing and hearing about, but his son was too young. He ultimately decided to lie for now. "Th-they're... busy. That's why they haven't gotten to visit yet."

"..." Reivan stared at him for a moment, making Rodin feel extremely uncomfortable. It was like his son's eyes stared deep into his soul, seeing through his lie in an instant. Then, Reivan smiled and said. "I see. That's too bad. I would've loved to meet them."

"Yes... I'm sure they would love to meet you as well." Rodin suppressed the grief and longing that surged out of his chest from showing on his features as he smiled warmly. When he felt that he couldn't do so anymore, he cleared his throat to change the subject back. "Ehem. Let's get back to the story, shall we?"

"Yes... sorry for interrupting. It won't happen again." Reivan held his head low, as he guiltily said. Rodin stroked the child's back as he kissed him lightly on the forehead.

"It's fine. If you have questions, just ask. There are plenty of things you wouldn't understand since you're young." Rodin consoled. He tried to appear more spirited as he continued his tale. "Now, on my little evening adventures in the castle's dark halls, I noticed something odd."

"Odd...? Like what?"

"Like the candles," Rodin said, amused by the memories of his childhood. "When I was going around at night, there would just be this long procession of candles shining in the hallways."

Rodin thought back to those times. In hindsight, there didn't need to be so many candles, since all the guards in the castle were Ascendants. A little darkness wasn't going to hinder them. The candles were there for the servants, as well as the younger Royals, like him.

"What about them?" Reivan asked curiously.

"Well, when I would look at the candelabras the next morning, they would all be put out already. Every single one."

"Hm?" A furrow returned to Reivan's brows. "That's it?"

"That's it." Rodin nodded while he grinned. Amused by his son's lackluster reaction.

"Well... that's not very interesting..." Reivan muttered, but how could he escape the hearing of someone like Rodin? The man naturally heard.

"Hahaha, well that would be the normal reaction." Rodin nodded understandingly. "But when I was a child, I was oddly bothered by it. So, I went to investigate a bit."

"Hm..." Reivan nodded along, listening intently.

"It felt like a secret mission, just staying up all night, guarding the candles to see how they went out." Rodin turned his eyes inquisitively towards his son. "Rein, what do you think I believed was putting out the candles?"

"What you thought, huh..." Reivan tapped his chin for a bit, making Rodin feel moved, thinking his son was copying his mannerisms. "Fairies, maybe?"

"Close!" Rodin exclaimed in amusement. He momentarily wondered where his son learned about fairies, but the culprit was most likely one of his picture books again, so he ignored it. "That's not it."

"Then what was it...?" Reivan asked with a hint of Impatience.

Rodin grinned warmly at his son's eagerness. "I thought it was God doing all of that."

"God...?" Reivan's eyes widened as his mouth gaped. "What God...?"

"Oh, I suppose you don't know about the Church. We're not a very religious country after all." Rodin nodded understandingly. "They're called the Church of Sormon. And they worship what's called the Sun God."

"The Sun God..." Reivan echoed.

"Mm. Well, you don't need to know much about them. They mainly keep to themselves as they do volunteer work." Rodin explained. "They're good people. Good at healing magic, and they even do plenty of research on medicine so they can prevent the spread of disease. They are a great boon to the Kingdom."

'Well, the Saintess Faction are like that. The Pope Faction can burn in hellfire.' Rodin cursed as he thought of the two opposing factions within the church. One threw themselves into service, rarely even proselytizing their faith, just being happy that they can spread the love of their God. And then there was the other faction, who was equally, if not more powerful and plentiful in members, but has thrown the scriptures into the latrines. It did not take a genius to tell which Rodin liked more.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Oh..." Reivan stared blankly as he tapped his chin in apparent thought.

Rodin interpreted his son's expression as the lad not understanding what most of the things he said meant, so he just smiled and stroked his child's head for a bit, then continued with his tale. "Although not a major influence within our Kingdom, all those who get sick, will eventually meet with a member of the church."

"Mm." Reivan nodded, showing that he was still listening.

"I was a sickly child, so I saw them quite frequently." Rodin said as he thought back to those times. His first meeting with the Saintess. Because he was a Royal, the church felt that it would be too disrespectful to send anyone else but the highest-ranking person available. And that meant the Saintess, who was still an Ascendant at the time. Rodin thought fondly of her gentle eyes as she gazed at him, her kind features that put his soul at ease, and her smooth hands as they caressed his ski--

'Wah!' Rodin snapped out of his trip down memory lane. He felt a chill. Vianna couldn't read his thoughts, but he still felt scared. At least, he didn't think she could read his thoughts. In any case, Rodin decided to stop thinking about the beautiful Saintess.

"Father?" Reivan nudged Rodin. He felt that his father was staring into space a bit too much today, so he decided to snap him out of it.

"O-oh. Right, so anyways..." Rodin cleared his throat and then continued. "Because of that, I was actually quite religious when I was young. That's why, I thought it was the Sun God putting out all the candles."

"I see..." Reivan nodded as he leaned into Rodin more, finding a better position on his father's lap.

"I thought that he was being really nice to us, by helping us extinguish the candles so they don't go to waste." Rodin smiled as he shifted, trying to help his son get more comfortable. "But when I stayed up all night, watching those candles, what do you think I saw? What was actually putting out all the candles?"

"What...?" Reivan asked, a curious glint in his eyes.

"It was an old man." Rodin smiled as he said.

"An old... man...?" Reivan echoed haltingly.

"Yes. It was just an old man all along." Rodin said, his tone a bit deflated. "I came there, expecting to see God, but then all I saw was an old, hunched-back, hook-nosed old man, who could barely see in front of him. He didn't even hear me when I accidentally bumped my elbow on a candle stand."

"..." Reivan stayed silent, sensing from his Father's distant gaze that there was more to this story.

"But that moment, that was the start of everything for me, Rein," Rodin said, excitement started to stain his voice as he explained, "From that time on, I began noticing all sorts of things."

Rodin stood up slowly, his son held in his arms. He walked silently towards the window and faced Reivan towards the cityscape that could be seen below.

The castle was built on top of a flattened mountaintop. There was an even taller mountain behind it, but the city below could be viewed from most of its rooms. A forest of stone buildings and vein-like roads sprawled outwards, encased in thick walls that towered into the sky. Knights in armor could be seen flying across the city from time to time, as well as massive boats that floated amongst the clouds. People, who looked akin to ants from this high up, bustled around here and there. The city was quite a lively one.

"I began to question so many things after that, Rein. Our food, our clothes, shoes, weapons, and armor. Where did all of those come from? How were they made?" Rodin recited emotionally. "Who created them?"

"..." Reivan quietly listened.

"That was when I discovered, that all of these things that we always use. All the food that we always eat. They all come from people, Rein." Rodin turned to look at his son. "Not Gods. People made them."

Reivan unconsciously gulped at the intensity of Rodin's emotions, and he noticed that he couldn't take his eyes away from the man. The beating of his heart echoed loudly all throughout his body, as he clenched his tiny fists tightly.

"The bread that we eat was made by bakers, who get their wheat from merchants. The merchants get their wheat from farmers. The farmers can only farm so well because they are protected by knights, and because of the research done by scholars. The knights and scholars, who are the most highly respected professions in our country, cannot do their jobs if they have to worry about food. They cannot do their jobs if they are naked. They cannot do their jobs if they do not have a home to return to. Bakers, Tailors, Carpenters. There are plenty of them, and others call their jobs simple." Rodin took in some air, his breathing had grown ragged. "But is it really? Others look down on them, but most people never realized that even we, the King of Aizen cannot do his job without them."

"..."

"They aren't irrelevant at all... Everyone is connected somehow." Rodin clenched his fist as he stared up into the sky, gazing at the sun hidden behind the clouds. "That night, when I saw that rickety old man, who looked as if he'd keel over if you pushed him even slightly hard, that night was where it all began for me."

"...haaah..." Reivan clutched his chest, struggling to breathe, but his eyes still didn't leave his father's face. They couldn't leave his face.

"It was the beginning of how I lost God..." Rodin turned his eyes away from the sun and then turned to look at the city below. The city where all of its people worked together, like cogs in a machine. "And gained a Kingdom."

Rodin smirked wryly, realizing what he'd just said. Perhaps because he'd been overcome with the emotion of remembering those moments, he didn't feel that he'd worded it correctly.

"Well, I suppose I didn't gain a Kingdom..." Rodin scratched his cheek. "I just realized, what it truly was. And that I wanted to do my part in it too."

"What do you mean...?" Reivan asked in between taking deep breaths.

"Hm." Rodin nodded, inwardly satisfied that his son was still listening, even though he'd ranted quite a bit. "I just realized that a Kingdom is... hm. What's the word..."

Reivan silently watched as his father looked for the words to say.

"Ah, I know..." Rodin pumped his fist, finding the term he was searching for. "It's like a monster, Rein. A Kingdom is like a Monster. An incredibly massive Monster."

"A... Monster...?" Reivan repeated without thinking.

"Mm." Rodin nodded, gazing intently towards the city again. "Just think about it, Rein. The scariest monsters aren't the largest, nor the strongest. The ugliest nor the meanest."

Reivan tilted his head in curiosity.

"The scariest monsters are the ones you just can't seem to ki-- I mean, defeat." Rodin amended in time. "No matter how many wounds you inflict it doesn't bleed out. No matter how many times you cut its limbs off, they grow back. And even when you cut its head off, a new one sprouts to take its place."

"Hm..." Reivan nodded. Rodin hadn't even realized that he'd just failed to censor certain words, but the child didn't seem to mind.

"And that is precisely what a Kingdom is. Everything is replaceable." Rodin gasped out in amazement. "Even if a cook or a craftsman retires of old age, they could train apprentices. And even when Knights valorously fall in battle, more will step forward to take up arms against enemies. And its head..." Rodin clenched his fist tightly, almost drawing blood. "Even a King is replaceable."

'After all. I was supposed to be fifth in line, but here I am.' Rodin thought of his brothers and sisters. Their memories were all he had of them now.

"You're not replaceable Father," Reivan said, his voice filled with stubbornness. "Not to me."

"...!" Rodin stiffened for a moment, then he started laughing as he hugged his son tightly. This son of his really knew what to say to get to him. "I'm glad you think so, Rein."

'But it's true. That is what a country is. Everybody is equally the most worthless, yet equally the most important.' Rodin thought. He obviously wouldn't say that though, lest he make his son upset.

Most people wouldn't think positively of his vision. They would feel that their profession was a little better than this or that profession.

Especially those at the top. They would even be infuriated, feeling like their pride was being trampled on.

But not Rodin.

He'd accepted long ago that he was just a small part of something bigger. At most, a slightly shinier cog in a machine. A somewhat longer hair on the mane of a giant monstrosity called a Nation.

Even if they understood him, perhaps most people would feel complicated seeing themselves as something of such little importance.

But Rodin felt comforted instead.

Even if he did a horrible job being King, there would be countless others who could take his place or advise him. Even if he died in battle, one of his two sons could inherit the throne.

It didn't matter what he did, since the Kingdom would always survive.

He felt free of restraints.

Of course, he intended to do his best. Just because his failure was irrelevant, didn't mean that he would neglect his duties.

"The people. From the bakers to the farmers. The tailors and the carpenters. The knights and the scholars. All of them." Rodin once again glanced below. "Even though it's isn't actually their intention, they all work so hard so that I can do my job. Even though this isn't a position that I wanted, I don't want to let them down. I'll try to do it well. For as long as I live."

"Mm..." Reivan nodded in understanding.

"Oh, I seem to have stayed a bit too long." Rodin checked the time on the device on his wrist. A crystal embedded on a bracelet. "Anyways, that's why I work so hard. It's not because I don't want to spend time with you, okay?"

"I know." Reivan nodded as he beamed. "I love you father."

"Mm." Rodin nodded as he held back a tear. He pulled his son into another hug as he replied, failing to hide a bit of tremor in his voice. "I love you too, Rein."

'That is why, you have to stay safe here for now. Just be a child, while Father does his best to protect you and the Kingdom.'

Rodin looked far, far into the horizon. Where the Kingdom's enemies lurked. Then into the direction of the Royal Castle's Warp Gate.

As he lovingly embraced his son, his expression became overcast.

'I'll do it. I will protect everyone.'

The father held his son a little tighter.

'No matter what it takes.'