The trip to the Capital wasn’t anything to write home about. They rolled through plains and forests, and the worst they had to deal with was one wolf pack. There weren’t even bandits, which was surprising to Wonder. However, he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Mids was also pretty cool. He was friendly, kind to the kids, and honored his end of the deal. He either helped out in the camp, or watched the kids while Wonder hunted. He also taught Wonder a few of his survival spells.

They mostly bonded over both being isaeki’d here, though. They were able to use common Earth terminology with other that caused the others to look confused. They talked about the shitty state of things back home, how calm and peaceful Hoseki was in comparison, the differences, and… just life.

Wonder enjoyed these conversations. He started enjoying Mids’ company. There was a strange warmness in his chest too. However, he just put it off as finding one of his kind, so to speak… it wasn’t like Mids was gonna stay forever either. He was a Prince at the end of the day.

Why did that hurt him?!?

Wonder spent the rest of his day playing with his kids to distract himself from these stupid confusing emotions that wouldn’t come to anything.

***************************

Today, they reached the city.

Wonder had to hold his neck as he craned to look upwards. The walls of the Light Capital were about as high as a skyscraper back home. In fact, Wonder wasn’t surprised at all to see windows farther up. There was probably some swanky restaurants, apartments, and security the farther up one went. The walls themselves were simple, though… white with some gold-colored ornaments at the top and around windows.

Wonder looked at Kat. “The Dark Capital look similar?”

Kat said, “Similar. We have to deal with giants on random occasion, so…” He waved at the ridiculously-high walls.

Wonder nodded. “Though you probably don’t have to clean them.”

Kat laughed. “Thank the Dark for window cleaners and heavy downpours!”

Mids groaned. Wonder looked at him. “You okay?”

Mids said, “Just… mentally prepping myself. You guys will probably get rewarded for saving me, but I’m about to get into some political shit.”

Wonder shushed and pointed at the toddlers. Luckily they were in awe of the giant city, and did not hear the cussing. Mids blushed, and chuckled. “Uh… sorry.”

Wonder said, “Yeah… but I gotcha. I hate politics. Especially since it seems all major politicians are scrappy beepity-beeps.”

Mids chuckled. “Yeah… but I can say the King and Queen are good parents. Well… kinda.”

Wonder raised an eyebrow. Mids smiled softly. “Dad’s always been a bit absentee. I’m guessing he’s too busy. And Mom’s all business. Not that different from home, I guess…”

Wonder said, “I’m sorry.”

Mids said, “Not your fault.”

Mids looked at the kids. “Honestly, I wish that I could just come with you. Have a normal life. But no… I’m the Prince. I have to stay in court, be pretty/handsome, and eventually get an heir.”

Mids shook his head. “I don’t know what to do… and I’m offloading on someone who probably can’t help.”

Wonder said, “I didn’t sign up to be an assassin.”

Mids nodded. “Don’t want you to be, either. They aren’t bad people. And they did give me a place to stay, it’s just… yeah.”

Wonder looked at the massive city. “Yeah.”

The closer they got to the city, they reached basically where everyone else was also coming into the city. In other words, they were in the middle of a massive traffic jam.

Wonder groaned. He suspected that Kat’s presence might get them stuck in a security checkpoint, but he was a dummy and forgot that cities had traffic jams. Even when the cars were magical, apparently.

Wonder called his kids. “Come on, you two, let’s have lunch inside.”

Both kids got up, being careful since they were on the top of the wagon, and Wonder kicked the ladder down so they could get inside. Fun hidden function of the closet.

Suddenly Izuku spun. He tilted his head. Wonder said, “Kiddo…?”

Izuku looked at Wonder. “Daddy… there more.”

“More what, sweetie?” Wonder walked over and rubbed his back. Tiny tentacles waved. Izuku wasn’t scared, luckily. Usually when he was scared, his tentacles were grabbing Wonder or retracted.

Izuku looked at him, seeming to struggle with the words with what he was sensing. He pointed to himself. “Me.”

Wonder blinked, and looked at the city. He tried to mentally push a general search for Forest Spirits. All he got is: Error. Your search is too broad.

Wonder smiled warmly at Izuku. “It is a big city, kiddo! Maybe some other Forest Spirits are on vacation?”

This seemed to satisfy Izuku. He smiled, nodded, then climbed up Wonder. “Lunch! Lunch!”

Wonder laughed. “Lunchtime!”

Still, Wonder had to wonder why there were Forest Spirits inside a city of the opposite side.To be fair, maybe there were parks. And maybe they were on vacation or visiting family. But…

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

After what happened to Mids?

Coincidence a little too big.

After lunch was over, Wonder spent some time teaching his kids. Schooling in Hoseki wasn’t as intense. But Wonder figured he could at least get reading and writing down, since it seemed required for many Adventurer jobs. Also: the kids loved him reading to them. Maybe was his added sound effects.

By the time “school” was over, it was nearly dinner. And no, they were still not in the city. Wonder climbed onto the roof to peek. He could at least see the gate now. But it was starting to close as the sun went down. Wonder groaned, “Come oooooooon.”

He climbed back down. Izuku said, “Daddy, bunnies need munchies!”

Wonder smiled warmly at him, opening the door. “Watch your step, kiddo.”

While Izuku went to his nearby wolf-bunny pack, Wonder looked for Kat. Kat was talking to what looked to be a Knight with armor that matched the city walls. Wonder walked up. “Hey… mind if I interrupt?”

Kat looked at him. “Hey. Yeah, we already did the security stuff. What’s up?”

“Izuku got freaked out. Apparently there are a lot of Forest Spirits inside that city. And no offense… that makes me suspicious.”

Kat blinked and squinted at the city walls. “OK, I’ll assure you right now, there isn’t a lot of Forest Spirits in there. I’m picking up 4.”

The Knight nodded. “The Adventurer Guild Master is a Forest Spirit. He’s probably who your son is picking up, since he’s the most powerful. I’ve also checked in a few over the last 2 weeks who were visiting family in the city, or bringing to the amusement park.”

Wonder perked, “Amusement park?”

Kat laughed. “I guessed that was going to grab your interest. Yes, the Light Capital has an amusement park.”

He frowned. “But… it’s not cheap to get into.”

Wonder sighed. “Not surprising. Oh well, something to log in the future.”

He stretched. “Well, sorry to bother you guys. But I’m guessing we’re not getting in until tomorrow?”

The Knight said, “Unlikely. We are gonna let a few more people in, but you’re still pretty far back in line.”

Wonder said, “Yay for modern magic and RVs.”

The Knight said, “RVs…?”

Wonder said, “Live-in carriages, basically. Anyway, Kat, dinner’s soon.”

Kat said, “Thanks, Wonder.”

Wonder walked back into camp. Lil had climbed out, and seemed to be debating something. She looked at Wonder. “Are we stopping for the night?”

Wonder said, “We may budge a little more, but the Knight doesn’t think we’ll reach the Capital tonight.”

Lil sighed. “Fair enough.” She jumped down. “Does mean I’ll have to wait to set up the campfire, though.”

Wonder said, “Gotcha. Think any of the nearby caravans have kids who will want to give the tots social time?” He winked and looked at Izuku and Sakura.

Lil smiled. “None of the nearby caravans look like egoheads. Something can probably be arranged.”

Wonder smiled and walked to his kids. But suddenly Sakura ran for Wonder, and Izuku spun around. His tentacles were stiff and at attention.

Wonder quickly scooped Sakura up and jogged to his son. Izuku pointed before Wonder could ask anything. Wonder looked up in the general direction, and saw Izuku’s future.

The Forest Spirit was taller than the carriage. They wore a suit, though with silvery embroidery of tree limbs and leaves throughout the sleeves and top. Its head was blank, with only the thin outline of the mouth. Its tentacles were like dark tree roots, and nearly limb length. Wonder thought he also saw some leaves hiding underneath the long sleeves, but it was hard to tell from this distance.

Wonder fought every impulse every horror game taught him to do: run like hell. Instead, he shifted his pose and summoned his bow. He said loudly, “Who are you, and what do you want?!?”

The blank face tilted its head, and mouth appeared to morph into a curious gesture.

Then it was gone.

What the freakin’…

Wonder quickly took his kids back to the carriage. Mids emerged from the restroom as they were getting in. “What’s wrong?”

Wonder said, “I don’t know, and that worries me. We got a Forest Spirit scoping out the camp. He hasn’t played hostile yet, but he’s acting super-sus!”

Mids said, “Wonder, breathe! I think you forgot something.”

“What?”

“Saplings are beyond rare.”

Wonder froze, then looked at Izuku. The blurb from… was it only a month ago?… ran through his head. Especially the fact that most saplings were killed or died from exposure to the elements. He groaned and whimpered, “Right.”

Wonder sat on the couch. Izuku sat on his lap, seeming to understand his father’s nerves were frayed. Mids sat on Wonder’s left. Wonder said, “The guys are probably picking Izukuup on their radar like he’s detecting them, and going ‘Ooooo baby! I must see!’ Still rude of them not to ask permission, though.”

Mids smiled gently. “And probably doesn’t help with the whole ninja thing.”

“Nooooope.”

Wonder stroked Izuku’s head, earning a smile from the kiddo. He smiled gently. “This war needs to end so I don’t have constant panic attacks.”

Mids chuckled. He then seemed miserable. “You won’t have to worry about it soon. Once you get rid of me, there will be no reason to worry.”

Wonder said, “You sound sooooo thrilled with the idea.”

Mids smiled gently. “It’s just painful to think about. I know you and the others don’t mean anything by it, but I know my presence here is causing issues.”

Wonder shrugged. “Not your fault. Politicians.”

Mids chuckled. “Yeah, understand. But still get hit by the status effect.”

Wonder looked at Mids. “How did you get adopted? As I understand it, Malchon just summons people in the middle of the woods.”

Mids pouted. “I was an exception. My mother hired Malchon to summon a child to ‘raise’. He summoned me in the Castle Garden. This was 10 years ago.”

Mids sighed. “I still don’t fully understand why Mom did so. She didn’t really raise me. The castle staff did. Tom… my butler was my lover. To give Dad props, he did try and take an interest in my life. Bought me dress shopping, even undercover. Took me to Beast Tourneys. Even tried to join in my self-defense classes… though he constantly falls on his face.”

Mids laughed at the thought, and Wonder had to smile. Mids then said sadly, “But he’s the King. He keeps getting summoned places. I doubt he’ll even be there to welcome me home or… comfort my loss.”

Mids shook his head. “Mom will probably not even care. She wants me to marry royalty.”

Wonder suddenly sat straight upright. “Mids. Does the Dark Kingdom have a heir?!?”

Mids said, “Yeah, two. Twins. I’ve met them, and they’re friendly enough. Why?”

Wonder looked in horror. “You are a pawn. I’m betting your mother is from another world too… and probably a historical major or something!”

Mids blinked, and then it seemed to dawn on him too. “She wants me to do a political marriage?”

Mids shook, probably in an emotion not appropriate for royalty or kids. He got up and paced back and forth. He said, “But… I… they’re both nice, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not in love. I’ve…”

Wonder nodded. He got up, and said, “Mids… you shouldn’t have to marry someone you don’t want to.”

“Wonder, it’s worse.” Mids looked up in fear. “Tomu was acting weird. He conceded this trip too easily. I presumed then it was because we’d only be a few days away. But… what if…”

Wonder got it. “The Royal Dark Twins are visiting. And your mom wants to throw you under the bus.”

Sakura raised a hand. “Bus?”

Wonder said, “Big carriage meant to carry lots of people, sweetie.”

Wonder looked at Mids, a wild idea coming into his head. Maybe too many romances. He said, “Mids… did your mom know about your relationship with your butler?”

Mids shook his head. “I mean… I think she knew we were close. But we didn’t declare our love or anything. The castle staff probably knows more than Mom in that respect.”

Wonder said, “Then I’m sorry, but I got a wild idea, and it may be the only way to get you out of here. Kiddos, you need to listen too, because I’m gonna need your help on this one.”