As the attempt to kidnap me was made in the territory of Accademy. It's founder, Erumollien Household - one of the three ruling Houses, started investigation immediatly. Households of involved nobles tried to deny the claim and blame mother with the murder instead, but investigation revealed bribes of Academy patrols and other preparations to quickly transport me after the capture. This was a great insult for Erumollien House, as with this others might start to look down on their ability to protect their young.

To make an example, Erumollien used their status in the Council to punish them. I don't even remember name of that Household .. Raktomus .. hmm, maybe Rakotus .. I am sure it started with R .. anyway, they lost titles and lands, while people involved directly were immprisoned or executed. Usualy punishment for similar maters would be lighter, but they had a honor to provoke two out of three Houses holding the postion in the Council.

Half of the lands striped from them were transfered to us as a compensation and our Darkmoon House was once again in the center of everyones attention. And with a reason.

If you wanted the best enchantments money can get, you would come to the "Seal of Arcana". As of today you could find them in three cities. Power armors was the bigest sensation, and attracted everyones attention. Before others could act Newblood House finaly gave in and asked for a contract, so the power armors are sold only exclusively for their House. And with this mother was finaly free from owning a favor.

*

It's been three months since that incident.

"Kyaa, she is so cute." squeled Jun. Or was it Minori? I still coudn't tell them apart.

Fox twins Jun and Minori were harassing me for an half hour now. Too bad as baby I can't just run away and hide. 

We were in our room at the Academy and mother was having a 'girls night' with her friends. Not counting fox twins and Vivian there was also Vex, Tia and Elsa. Vex was a naga demon we saw on the first day at the Academy, while Elsa was a gorgon. Tia was a weircat of lion bloodline, she was actually a third daughter of Bianca Newblood.

All of them were friends mother made during the time she studied at the Academy. Vivian was preparing a tea at the moment.

"It doesn't hurt to touch her ?" asked Elsa while looking at me.

"Hey, I am not Minori. I am very carefull. There is no way I would hurt such a cutie." complained Jun.

"Hey !" pouted Minori.

"Err .. no, I mean .. lightning, it doesn't hurt when you touch her ?" asked gorgon again.

"Ahh .. no .. she is a good girl. Right Nina ? You would never hurt your big sister ?" said Jun and started to tickle me.

"That's enough Jun, it's my turn to hold her." said Vex.

"What ?! You like cute things too ? I thought demons like only strength." said fox surprised.

"Mostly. Besides, I am sure she will become strong in the future as well. I could then brag that I tickled her personaly and even got away with that." said Vex with a smile while gently taking me from Jun with her four arms.

".. come on Celina, you should at least meet with him. Aaron is really a nice guy." I could hear Tia advertising her brother.

"Tia .. not you too .. I know I am very tempting with my lightning magic, but I am so tired of rejecting all those wannabe husbands. I am an heir of my House, there is no way I will marry into someones elses Household. Why everyone suddenly forgot that fact ?" sighted mother.

"Lightning magic ? Girl, people would gladly kill for a chance to get their hands on your newest inventions. And latest rumors saying it is possible to inherit your lightning magic, doesn't help your cause .." said Elsa while looking at me, no, at my lightning spirit ".. It's the only chance to get you into their Household before you take the mantle as head of your House. If not for an example with Reokour House, there might have been more bold attempts on you or your daughter."

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"Well, everything will be over soon .. thank you Vivian." said mother while taking a cookie from a plate Vivian served along with the tea.

"Glad to be of service Lady Celina." bowed Vivian.

"Oh speaking of husbands .. made any progress with Mauro Vivian?" asked mother with a grin.

"I .. I don't know what you are t .. talking about Lady." blushed fox.

"Oh .. come on, don't be shy. We are all girls there. There is no way nothing happened when you both slept in the same room. Tel us everything how it go." further teased mother while others started to gather around. Seems the topic picked their interest.

"Was he gentle, rough ?" asked Minori.

Oh I am sure someone was rough. But I doubt anyone will suspect Vivian. How do I know ? Thats because I was in her embrace when she visited Jade for 'lessons'. Those lessons had nothing to do with a fencing. By the way, Mauro is a name of lycan mother bought for Vivian. I heard he isn't a slave anymore. I know I am baby, and not supposed to understand what they were talking about, but I can't just shut my ears like eyes. I heard every little detail Jade had to 'teach' her .. is it even physically possible ? No wonder Lars looked like a corpse back then. Uhh, I am still a baby, but my mind is already tainted.

*

Today was a very exciting day. This is because we were flying. We were on board of a large military airship named 'The Storm'. It's shape reminded a bit of silver octopus, only with three 'limbs' instead. The ship would land on two of them, while the third a bit larger was a main body. It was colosal, at least two thousand feet long, and if we count spread 'limbs', almost thousand feet wide.

I was in embrace of mother and she along with her guardians was standing in the middle of 'captains deck'.

The deck was a large sphere with the view all around us. Although it looked like the sphere made of glass, it was just an illusion. Everything we see was just a 'projection' of enchantments, while sphere itself is made from mithril. Those enchantments made it look so real, as if floor was made from glass. It was a scary sight to see the lands and villages from the altitude of birdflight while looking at your feets.

"Increddible." said Bianca from the side.

She was one of the Council members and head of Newblood House. Actualy all Council members were onboard, along with their elite guards. This ship was a joint project between Darkmoon House and the Council. Without their help it would take forever to build on our own, and some conflicts could arise if power of this magnitude was only in the hands of Darkmoon House.

"Target is withing firing range." said one of the crew members.

Just as he said that, one part of the floor changed and abandoned castle entered our sight. Just a moment ago it was the size of dust. Rest of the floor showed the sight far from above as before.

As mother looked at the members of Council, they just noded their heads.

"Fire main cannon !" shouted Tomas.

After command was given we could hear a loud noice increasing with each passing moment and vibration trough the floor. Finaly with a shock of entire ship we could see a large glowing ball leaving the ship.

As glowing ball reached walls of the castle, we were blinded by a bright blast. After the sight returned, half of the walls surrounding the castle were gone with some lava here and there.

"Deploy troops." said mother.

"First team, engage." shouted Tomas.

Sight ahead of us changed and part of the sphere showed our ship from the side. Metal doors opened and five power armors walked out and then jumped from the edge of the ship.

"Second team, engage." shouted Tomas again.

Now we could see as same thing happened from the other side of the ship.

View changed again and now we could see the castle more closely. After some time power armors reached the ground. Just before landing stream of fire left from their backs slowing them down.

In the mean time, orcs that survived the blast of the glowing ball, launched an attack from abandoned castle. All power armors summoned their thirty feet long water whips in each hand and started the battle.

Ten power armors with the size of fourteen feets, against four hundred orcs, but it was completely one sided slaughter. They simply had no chance to approach them. And even if they could, there was nothing they could do to harm power armors.

"Descend." commanded Tomas after getting a nod from mother.

"You really can't sell those 'power armors' ?" asked Thalion. He was an elf member of the Council and the head of Erumollien House.

"I am sorry, but I have a contract with the Newblood House that prevents me from selling them to anyone else. If they are willing to sell I could only suggest to buy through them." said mother.

"Well played Bianca." said Thalion while looking at the weircat.

Bianca just grinned in response.

"How much of starsouls could we get ?" asked mother while looking at Binaca.

"They are rare, we could probably get enough for two more rek .. hmm .. what was the name ?" Bianca looked at mother.

"Reactors. Hmm, that's not enough to finish one ship for each of us as per an agreement. Is there any way to get more so we can move on with the war ?" asked mother.

"Beaul's Empire. They have a lot of it, but It's very hard to make any deal with those Arachne." said Baldrick, a weircat of common blood and the last member of Council.

"I guess with this my plans after graduating from the Academy are decided." smiled mother.

There was an agreement, that once each of our House has an airship, Aizerus Alliance will declare war to the Zolmor Kingdom.