“Again.”

Crile gets up and charges in. His form has gotten batter, but his technique needs work. No wonder. I had him train with weapons only for an entire year. He's not sparring against a tree anymore... It's too easy for me. I kick his leg up and he flops back on his side.

“OUCH! THAT...” He bites his lip and rubs his elbow. Uuh, he landed right on it. Maybe it cracked? He'd be screaming if that were the case. Crile clenches his teeth harder.

“Cry.”

“Don't call me that!” Huh? Call him what? Oh. Cri-le. Cri. I sigh.

“That's not...” I scratch my head. “It's ok.” Crile stands up.

“What is?”

“It's ok to cry when you're in pain. There's nothing wrong with it. It won't make you any less of a man or a person.”

“Tch! I'm not a baby! I'm fine!”

“Listen. Pain is pain. If you feel it - you're alive. So that's good. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt. Cause it does. Physical and emotional pain are equal. When it hurts - it hurts like Hell. So I'm telling you - as a person, and a man - it's ok to cry.”

“Enough! I don't need that! Let's go!” He drops into a stance again. I sigh again. Fine. We go a few more rounds. With me scoring each point. Fine. If that's how you want it. I'll force it out of you. I don't like beating up kids, but he asked for it. Stubborn ass. Crile drops to the ground again. He's though, I'll give him that. I wasn't even going easy on him...

“Again.”

“Why. I haven't scored a single point. You enjoy beating me up so much?”

“Idiot. You're close to making contact. It’d be a better end to your day with a hit, don't you think?” He glares at me. “So quit pouting and get up.” The kid stands up, wobbling to the sides. “Bring it!”

He charges me. Straight. Straight. Cross. Jab. The tip of his dagger grazes me. He spins around, goes in with a kick, I take a step back, enough to get out of range. He throws his dagger at me. I kick it to the side. He stumbles, but gets up still and charges in again, almost on all fours. He tackles my legs. Shoot. I didn't... I land on my back and feel the metal on my throat. I look to the side – the knife is over there still… He threw his first dagger before he kicked. After that he just had to knock me over next to it. I missed it. I grin.

“Point. Crile. Good job. Why the lousy look?”

He gets up. “It takes me everything I have just to knock you down on your ass, yet to you this is nothing more than child's play. It pisses me off.” I sit there for a moment longer.

“Pardon me if I can't shrink down in size.” Crile glares at me again. “If it makes you feel any better, it has been a while since someone knocked me down like that.” I get up. His look softens just a tad. Good enough. “Good work today. You can rest tomorrow.”

    “It's only been a year since she started her full-time Druid training…She’s coming along nicely.” Zarri is able to shift in a single eyeblink…

“That's exactly what worries me.” I tell him. “She's not even nine years old yet…” And she's already that skilled.

“You're worried how good she'll get.”

“The better she gets the more chances she'll get hurt...”

“Wrong.” I turn to Ira. “The better she gets, the happier she'll be. You can't project your fears onto her for the rest of your lives.”

“Would it kill you to agree with me just once! Honestly!” I turn away from him again.

“No. But I'm not about to agree to your childish fears either.”

“They are not childish! There is nothing wrong with a mother being worried for her child! It's not like you want to see her hurt!”

“I don't. That's exactly the reason why I want her to get better at it. She's not the type to sit quietly. In a way - this Beast form is perfect for her.”

“How so?” I try to mock him.

He nods down. I look out the window again.

“That smile gets bigger every practice. How can you not want to see that on your child's face?” He whispers and disappears again. UGH! HE INFURIATES ME! I watch Zarri spar. I can't help, but see a vision of a proud Wykren down there with her... My heart pounds painfully the next few beats. I place my hand on my chest. You miss her too, huh? My love...

    “Have fun today?”

“A little.” The kid has a look on him...

“Something good happen?”

“Why you ask?” His guard comes back up.

“Just a hunch. You have a different expression on you.”

“Ah. Mh.” That's all I get? “Have you ever liked someone?”

“You mean loved.” He blushes. I smile. “Maybe. What? Why the shocked face?”

“Nothing.”

“I'm human too you know.”

“So? Where is she?”

“Far away.”

“You didn’t want to go with her?”

“She didn’t choose me to go with her.”

His look changes again. “Sorry I asked.”

“So?”

“What?”

“You wanna tell me about her?”

“No.” He denies it on the spot. “She's younger... Such a brat! Gods she gets on my nerves!” He throws his shirt off himself. I wait. “But she's fun, you know? It's interesting to be near her.” I finish up changing first.

“Good. Least you're not bored.”

“Mh... She's pretty too... For a kid, I mean. That blue...” Blue? I stop hooking up my daggers back on me. “That green stone she wears around her neck... It's pretty. It suits her.” Neck? Green stone? Wait.

“Are you gonna keep her name from me forever or...?”

“Zarri. I call her Breeze though. The other one is Ammi. I call her Star, cause–” No. I grab the kid by the shoulders.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Say again.”

“Huh?”

“What's the name? Say again!”

“Zarri! She's Zarri! Get off! What's wrong with you!” Crile snaps my hands of his shoulders just as I taught him. I grab his wrist and drag him out.

“Hey! HEY! WHAT GIVES! LET GO! HEY! THAT HURTS! HEY!” I use the first evening shadow I step on and we reemerge by the Palace. She should be... There.

“Don't... Do... That... Warn me... Least...”

“Is that her?” I hold Crile by the shoulder. “Is that HER!”

“HUH? What?” He looks where I'm pointing. “Breeze!” Oh to Hell with you... “Wait. Why is she there? What's she doing? Who's that?”

“That. Is one of the Palace guards. This is her evening training session.” Zarri gets knocked down on her ass again. She's been learning the staff now. She stands up again and gets in position. She goes in first, striking from above.

“Dummy! No! Go for the legs! You're too short!” Crile smacks his forehead. Zarri jumps back and takes a running start, she sticks the staff into the ground and pushes herself up into the air. The guard knocks the staff over with one strike. I grin. Zarri had already shifted mid-air. She falls straight down on the guard. He has no other option than to defend himself, letting the kitten bite down on the staff. Wrong move. Zarri bites down and the wood breaks. Blain's roaring laughter reaches us.

“Alright! That's the way!” Crile cheers for her. “Wait. How do you know Breeze?”

“The one you named Breeze is Gazarria Stardust. The Heir of Noxanda. I am her bodyguard.” I stare at the boy. The wheels are turning.

“HUUUUH!!!! NO WAY! THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT!!! Aaahhhh damn iiiiittt!!!” He grabs his head and leans back. “Tell me you're kidding.”

“Nope.”

“DAMN IT!!” He lowers his arms again.

“What is it?”

“What do you mean what is it! I can't be friends with her! She's royalty! And I'm...”

“You're a...what?”

“Nobody.” The kid mumbles.

I sigh. “Well, we can't have that, now, can we?” He looks at me again. “From this moment on you are Crile Shadowkill. There. Now you're not a nobody. That should be enough for you to be able to stay friends with her.”

“Wait, what are you?”

“I only have one question. Do you care enough for her to become her Shadow?”

“Like you are?” He stares at me. I nod. “Yes.”

“Then you vow to protect her?”

“Yes.”

“Whatever it takes?”

“Yes.”

“Welcome to the torture.” I offer him my forearm. He shakes it.

“Look after her. Or else.”

“I don't need you telling me that. I would have done so either way.” Cheeky brat.

“Come on. We have some work to do. Gotta get you to look the part.”

    A few days later I arrange for Devona to meet the kid right around the time Zarri finishes her lessons. We picked the training grounds. I figured an informal setting would ease the pressure.

“Allow me to formally introduce to you: Crile Shadowkill. With your permission, Priestess, I'd like to include him into the Heir's security detail, allowing him access into the Palace at any time.”

Devona walks over closer. The kid bows.

“I'm Devona. Nice to meet you.” She offers a hand. The boy looks at me. I nod.

“Crile, ma'am.”

“Please look after my daughter. She can be a bit of a handful.”

“I'm aware.” Crile smiles. “I don't mind it. I promise to keep her safe! Even if she won't like it!” He declares, bowing again. Devona smiles.

“I'm glad to hear that.” Sounds of chatter and giggles reach us. The girls show themselves from around the corner with Emerald right behind them. Amana notices us first and stops.

“Ira!” Zarri runs over to us. “Crile? What are you doing here?”

“Working." The kid answers proudly.

“Huh?”

“Starting today he'll be helping me guard you when I won't be able to.” I explain.

“Wait, you two know each other?”

“Hello.” Amana nods to me.

“Yeah.” Crile hesitates. “He's my guardian...”

“More or less a father, at this point. We've been living together for the past year, I've been training him too. I trust him...”

“HUH! WAIT! WHAT!! HE GETS TO BE YOUR CHILD, BUT I CAN’T BE!!! THE HELL!!!”

“GAZARRIA!” Devona.

“NO! THAT’S NOT FAIR! I SAW HIM FIRST!” Zarri points at me. What in the world...?

“Zarri...” Amana.

“NO! I REFUSE! IT’S NOT FAIR! “Zarri shifts and tries to run away.

“Gazarria! Stop!” Devona's attempt fails. I dive under and emerge in front of Zarri, she tries to run, but gets trapped in the shadow. I catch her from behind and lift her up. She struggles, roaring, trying to get out. I tighten my grip around her body and wait. She puts some more effort in. A claw connects with my face. I manage to close my eye right on impact. I feel the stinging and the wet flow... A gasp from the ladies stops Zarri mid tantrum. She looks up at me and lowers her paws and ears. She slowly shifts back, from the legs up. I set her down on the ground.

“How bad is it?” I ask Crile.

“Aaahhh... Least your eye is intact?” That bad, huh?

“I can help!” Amana runs over. I lean down for her. She opens her water pouch and chants the liquid out of it. She rips a small portion of the floating potion off and forces it on the cut. The fluid seals up the wound instantly. She repeats it a couple more times.

“That should do it. I added a numbing spell on top, just to ease the swelling. The cuts are gone, but...”

“Thank you.” I smile. Zarri hasn't raised her head still.

“Anything you'd like to say?” Devona asks her.

The mother sighs. “I'm sorry.”

“It's fine. I've had worse.” I answer.

“Come here, let's talk.” I offer Zarri my hand. She takes it without looking at me. I pull her in, put my hand over her shoulder and we go under. We come back up on the roof. I sit down, so does Zarri.

“I'm not mad about the scratch. In case you're worried.”

“Mh...” She hugs her knees. I sigh.

“I can't be your father. To be it, I either need to become King or your Mother needs to give up her title. Neither is possible.”

“Why…”

“Your Mother and Father worked too hard to be at the top. Giving up on it would mean throwing everything away. Everything would go back the way it used to be before Wykren. Which means that everything that Wykren worked so long and hard for, everything he stands for, everything he means to Noxanda. Even the entire Continent - would go out the window... Your Mother and I have too much respect for your Father to let it happen.”

A murmur. I continue.

“Your Mother is in love with your Father still. She won't marry anyone else.” I look down at Zarri. “The best I can be is your bodyguard. Is that not enough?”

“No. No, it's not...” She pouts.

“You never complained before...”

“I assumed you kinda were... I wished for it once upon a falling star, so I...”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Mh... Just because you can't be him officially, doesn’t mean I can’t think of you as one?” Zarri carefully glances up at me.

“If that will make you happy - sure.”

“'Kay...”

“Can I get a hug now?” I open my arms for her. She leans into my embrace.

“Sorry I scratched you...”

I smile. “Thanks for saying it.”

    “She really likes you...” Crile mumbles to me.

“Who?”

“Breeze.” Huh? Oh right. Zarri.

“She considers me a friend. I have been her bodyguard since she was born.”

“Not like that!” He says in a loud voice.

“Something wrong?”

“No.” He goes to the bathroom and slams the door. It opens again a second later. “Sorry. Didn't mean to slam it...”

“Right...” I do something wrong? I stand there half naked and baffled... It dawns on me.

“If she was my kid too, you two would be siblings! Rather not have you date your sister! Thank me later!!”

“SHUUUUTTT UUUUUPPP!!!” He yells back from the bathroom. I smile. Kids...