99…

I drew in a breath.

My arms shook as I held myself up.

My feet remained pointed up in the air.

I exhaled as I lowered my legs. I made a human L-shape and then turned my body forward.

Once I was upright, and my legs pointed forward, I began to use my arms to lower myself, and then raise myself.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

I breathed.

Then I reversed my form, tipping myself forward, and raised my legs back into the air.

Once I was doing a handstand again, I took a few breaths to steady myself.

I began the push-ups in my new stance.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

Each push burned. My muscles complained.

Yet I held steady.

100…

If there was anything I learned in life, it was that self-discipline was a skill that kept on giving. I allowed myself to turn upward, but this time I let my legs dangle.

The world rushed back into clarity as my trance broke.

My fingers complained extra hard as I had been ignoring them for the better part of an hour. I was perched on two tridents had been driven into the ground. Made of marble, and were spoils of a border conflict.

A conflict I won. With sword in hand, and my opponent unconscious.

On the tip of each trident, was my fingers, and that was what held me aloft. They were not happy with me, my weight, or the daily morning exercises.

My hands relaxed, and I dropped the ten meters onto the soft ground below.

Upon which two thin arms immediately wrapped around me. I was powerless to resist as my body hurt. Finishing my morning exercises always left me exhausted. She was always smart like this.

The two arms were followed up with her pedipalps. Her human-like legs hugging my waist and holding me in place.

She smiled like a Cheshire cat as she used her towel to rub me down. Made from her own silks, I didn’t understand how her silks worked.

She could use her silk to make waterproof clothing or water-absorbing clothing. She could also somehow make her silk as stiff as wood, or as soft as cloth.

I have seen her make a canteen that was watertight. Or those times she made a sponge wash us.

I relaxed and leaned into her as she dried me from top to bottom. She kept special care that her sharp claws didn’t cut into me. She was always good like that.

“You have lunch. Lady Anastasia will arrive around that time,” Racherna said. She switched from toweling, to shoulder rubs. She also had a very good knack for finding knots and rubbing them out.

I moaned as I leaned into her hard hands. Her species exoskeleton had evolved to protect their fragile hands. Now they had claws that could easily slice open flesh.

It had taken a lot of practice, but she now knew enough to stop her claws from cutting into me. She had also taken to wearing silk gloves to soften and sheath her claws.

“You also need a thorough rubdown,” Rachnera purred as she nibbled on my ear. Her hands began to slide from my shoulders. I had long since surrendered to her insistent advances.

She let the tips of her claws drag down my chest. Then she was at my waist. Then she went a little lower still.

—

The deep taste of smoked meat and hints of sweet and salty assaulted my senses as I ate the last bite.

The warm feeling from the soup and sandwich left me satisfied. I felt a fullness fill my body. It radiated from my stomach, and I let out a burp as I grabbed the cup of mead.

I lounged as the simple soup and sandwich combo was excellent. An extra platter of sandwiches was prepared for my little sister and her two little monsters.

“Uncle!” a shrill cry of delight echoed across the field.

I turned my head and spied the little blond dash across the field.

I laughed as I put down my untouched cup, and instead grabbed the little five-year-old and hoisted her into the air.

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I tossed her up, and she shrieked in delight. She was growing so fast!

“Higher Uncle! HIGHER!” Rebecca commanded as I added in a twirl as I threw her back up.

Her world spun, and her screams when up and octave.

I spied a little girl trying to sneak up behind me.

I grabbed Rebecca into a one-arm hug, moving with her fall as I scooped up the tiny ninja trying to kill me.

Selina screamed at my surprise hug.

The two girls broke into giggles as I twirled them around. If there was one 'best' reward from my daily work out, it was this. The ability to carry the two giggling girls like they weighed nothing.

Round, and round we went. My world became their laughter. Our laughter.

My smile was etched in the sunshine as they clung to me in delight.

Eventually, we slowed down. I only stopped because I was getting dizzy. Unlike these little monsters, I had only a small reserve of energy.

“Suu!” I yelled, and a pale blue slime girl ran over.

Rebecca and Selina yelled as they wiggled from my hug, and ran over to their best friend.

Suu was amazing. She could change forms, and play any games they wanted.

Rachnera kept an eye on them, as the girls made their way over to the wooden playhouse I had built for them. Inside was various chairs, hammocks, and a table. It held their snacks, drinks, and sandwiches.

“Already tired of them?” Anastasia teased me as I began to guzzle my mead.

“Which is why you also come visit so often,” I shot back.

Anastasia sniffed as she chugged the soup down. I wondered when she last ate a proper meal.

Life with the two girls was rough. I watched in amusement as my baby sister began to stuff her cheeks with the sandwiches.

A mother did not always have the luxury of time for things like eating. Or grooming. Or even sleeping.

Even with maids to help, those two were a handful.

“Hmph, and here I was visiting to do you a favor,” she pouted.

I laughed as my baby sister. I recalled a little girl who loved being spoiled by her big brothers.

“Define, favor,” I chuckled as I tipped the last of my mead into my mouth.

“Alex is heading over today,” Anastasia said with a somber tone.

I fell out of my chair in a coughing fit.

“Master!” Centorea said as she galloped forward and knelt at my side. Her shadow loomed over me but I allowed her to help me sit up.

I coughed out the last of the mead and looked into my sister’s innocent smile.

Bah.

Mother or not, my little sister was still evil. Which explained Rebecca and Selina so well.

“Cerea,” I began as I used my most faithful servant’s nickname. “Have Miia make a pot of tea as soon as my brother arrives.”

Centorea gave me a salute, and her mission would be successful.

One pot-of-poison coming right up!

—

High Mage Douglas gurgled as he rolled onto his back, and passed out.

Foam frothed as he struggled to breathe.

Saintess Candice sipped at her tea as she watched her know-it-all teammate begin to die. Die slow.

Sure she could have cured him, but he also needed to learn his lesson.

Douglas was dumb. This was his tenth case of poisoning. Miia's tea was never safe!

All because a pretty, buxom lamia offered you tea with a smile…

Candice rolled her eyes as she drank from the other teapot. The one that the host was using.

Alex however, glared at me.

Alexander Bright. Son of the famous war Hero, Alexender Bright senoir.

The chosen one. The Hero of the allied kingdoms.

On the other hand, there was me. Andrew Bright.

Andrew, because it also started with an ‘A’.

I slurped at my tea. I did it because it annoyed Alex.

The man growled as he downed his ‘special’ tea in one go. To his credit, the Hero Alexander only winced once after drinking it.

“Stop this evil trading, Andy,” Alex snarled as he tried to hide his sudden, hoarse voice.

“Stop what?” I asked as I poured myself another cup.

“Your defiling… ruining the trade of the western kingdoms!” Alex said as he accepted Miia’s offer for more tea.

The lamia was grinning as her tea was proving popular today. 3 cups from her pot! The fact that one of them was passed out on the grass didn't even register on her mind.

The fact that the other pot, made by Mero, had been refilled 3 times went ignored. This was proof that she was improving!

Next stop, marriage to Lord Andrew and the security of the western Mytherian lands with it!

“Define ruin,” I asked as I quirked an eyebrow.

Trade was going well for me, and my small territory. I was rolling in gold. Merchants were bidding on what goods I imported from Mytherian clans.

Spices, silk, food, and other exotic items. Seashells, pearls, and ocean gems were very popular as well.

“You have caused chaos in four kingdoms! The Western Merchant guild has started a petition to raid you!” Alexander growled as he glared at me.

I stared at my brother and narrowed my eyes. What?

“You mean the same guild that demanded I sign that stupid contract, or else?” I retorted with a frown.

They wanted all those goods at a tenth of the price, or else I would receive no support from them. Which included food since they held sway over vast farmlands here.

“That explains why I am almost a season behind on food requests,” I mumbled as I leaned back. My territory had a massive influx of foods. Which I then used to feed my neighbors. My very hungry neighbors.

In retaliation for their demands, I sold only to smaller merchants. Small guilds, or independents.

Which worked in my favor. Even if the Western Merchants wanted to buy the goods, they would have to pay a middleman. This would shrink their profits.

“The King has heard of your nefarious schemes Andy, and he will send me to stop you,” Alex growled out.

“You. You will stop me?” I said as I straightened.

My dear brother, trained from birth since he was born under that shooting star. A prophecy foretold by a dozen prophets.

My dear brother, tutored from birth.

My dear brother, a Hero of the people.

I scoffed, and that made Alex somehow frown more.

“We are no longer children Alex. You will not find me lacking like when we were young,” I warned him.

I was given this small fiefdom as the child of a general. A broken territory in which bandits roamed. A land the Mytherians guarded with intense vigilance.

Now, I had treaties with twelve clans. It was important enough that they had sent representatives. to ensure that we maintained good relations with them.

“You are not a Hero Andy. You are no match for me,” Alex snarled out. A good sign of his mood, and his childish anger.

“We are not children anymore Alex. You will not find me wanting,” I replied with a smile.

It would drive him up the wall. Alex began to growl.

I leaned back and chuckled. I stared at Anastasia from across the yard.

She was playing with Rebecca and Selina. Centorea stood guard between us and them. Though she looked like she was standing in attention towards us.

Centorea was strong with a sword and a spear. Who had trained me daily since I had ‘proposed’ to her by finally defeating her in honorable combat.

Centorea who was more skilled then Alex. Her noble lineage focused on the art of close quarter combat.

Alex, a man who relied on his equipment to fight.

I stared at the mirror image of my face. Yes, we were no longer children.

He was no longer casting a shadow over me, and I was no longer weak.