I don’t know how I feel about this. My eyes sweep through the room for the hundredth time. My dad is sitting next to me, the perfect persona of peace and tranquillity. My grandparents are sitting a little further to the side. I met them about 2 years ago. Apparently they had been on a trip visiting the other cities.

My grandfather has long grey feathery hair and beard, with silver eyes and black slits that overshadowed the rest of his features. My grandmother looked like a slightly older version of my mother, with even paler skin and hair. Yet neither looked aged, as they both had smooth skin and naturally dominating postures.

As they sat there, they looked like two dignified owls. Brimming with wisdom and knowledge, yet splendours to behold. They are from my mother’s side of the family. My grandfather was the last ruler of Trygard, and my father married into the family, taking over his position. I don’t know much about my father’s family, just that they live in Midheim.

Ah, by now I’m also 5 years old. The last 3 years were relatively uneventful. The puppies are growing well. I got my father to hirer 3 professional trainers. They still sleep in my room and stay with me most of the time; I just thought it would be best for more knowledgeable trainers to be around.

The realisation dawned on me that I have much to learn, and many things I cannot be bothered to learn. If you do too many things at once, you’ll end up being no better than when you started. A practice I took to heart. Thus I focused on finishing my studies, training and collecting as much common knowledge as I can.

Once more my eyes sweep through the room. When I make a full round and I look next to me, I meet my father’s eyes. He strokes my head and smiles.

“You don’t have to be so nervous you know”

“Like you weren’t the first time around”

My father’s expression momentarily wavers at my grandmother’s comment and I cannot help but giggle. I can hear both my grandparents laughing as well. It isn’t that I’m nervous really. I just don’t know how I feel. I’ve never been one before.

Today, I’m going to become a brother. For the last year, my mother has been walking around with a swollen belly. Apparently, it takes exactly 17 months for a child to be born. I hadn’t even noticed my mother was having another child at first. And I have no idea how it all works anyway.

This morning we all flew towards a building in the middle of the city. We have already been here for a relatively long time in a separate room from my mother. My father and grandparents don’t seem worried at all. I also haven’t heard a thing this entire time. I guess childbirth is no big deal here.

My thoughts are blown away as the door opens and my mother casually walks into the room we have been waiting. Poor humans sure have it hard compared to this.

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Then I make an important discovery. My mother is carrying two bundles! She walks to the middle of the room and puts them down. I can’t help but make my way over as fast as possible, soon the others follow.

“Icarus, meet your new brother and sister”

My mother introduces my new siblings as I take a better look. They are struggling to get up and flapping their wings intensely. They both have very light brown feathery hair with white streaks. My sister has green eyes like my father, and my brother pale blue eyes, resembling my grandfather’s eyes. Yet they seem slightly smaller than when I was born.

“It is because they are twins”

My grandfather gives me a reassuring nod and an interesting piece of information. I see, so twins are born slightly smaller. I look at my siblings one more time as they are still struggling to stand up straight.

My father eventually goes over to pick them up and quickly moves over to the corner of the room to drop the two in a shallow pool of water. My mother follows and they each wash one.

Once that is done, they move over to the closet and put on the same clothes I had to wear when I was born. Apparently all the children that are born in Trygard go through the same procedure. The clothes are made of a special, super flexible alloy that is stronger than steel and softer than wool. Every newborn gets one. Once they grow out of it like I did they will start wearing different clothes. Once my parents finished up they each take one child.

“Well let’s go home first. Icarus, stay with your grandparents”

My mother sends me a bone-chilling look. She hasn’t completely forgotten about my little adventure just yet. I feel a hand patting my back and look up at my grandfather.

“I’ve heard the stories boy. I would have dealt with it differently. Count yourself lucky”

I try to smile up at him, but his toothy smile makes me shudder. It is official, wicked smiles are a family trait. I stand there frozen, not knowing what to do.

“Come on chaps”

My grandmother saves me from the awkward situation and I spare no time; turning around as fast I can, I run past her. Jumping into the air once at the edge of the platform going outside, I fly after my parents. My grandparents soon follow. We fly at a low speed, but make it home in good time.

“I need to talk to you”

My mother acquires my attention, as we are sitting in the main room of our house. There are three large couches placed in a half rectangle fashion. My brother is on my mother’s lap and my sister on my father’s.

“In a few days we’ll go to Midheim. All the children of the ruling houses will gather to socialise. You’ll need to brush up your knowledge on the different families… Also, try to be a normal child”

What the hell is up with that! My eyes go round and I stare at my mother for a while. I need to think of something.

“I don’t want to play with other kids or something like that. I dislike spoiled people and I want to spend time with my brother and sister.”

My mother stands up abruptly and walks over to my grandmother, she hands over my brother and walks toward me. She bends down, till we are eye to eye, keeping me in place with her stare.

“Icarus, my love”

Silence follows for a while, but my mother is still staring at me. This doesn’t look good.

“Yes, mother?”

“You are my son, yes?”

“I believe I am?”

Her brows crease a little, as silence spreads through the room. The whole situation and my mother’s eyes are making me nervous. Guess I’ll just go with the flow.

“Yes mom, I am your son”

Suddenly, my mother smiles and reaches out her hands, putting them on my cheeks.

“And as my son you have certain, RESPONSIBILITIES. We have to keep up appearances. When we go to Midheim, you will need to showcase yourself as the future asset of our family”

I look at my mother, nodding my head. She pulls me into a hug that is slightly too tight. Everyone in the room is looking at me as i hear a wisper in my ear.

“I am glad you understand”