Cale was no longer really aware of what he had said or done in the last few hours. All that had been burning in his mind had been Fengari's statement.

<"Caleb, we have a huge problem. The second prince of Sylve is a Thormod!">

Instinctively, he dropped everything and sprinted to the window before the dragon could even explain herself further. He merely shouted to his colleagues to immediately send Luc to Sylve and jumped out the window. At a speed he had never covered before, Cale shot into the sky and flew south.

<"It carries Chioni's mana, I can feel it very clearly.">

As if in a trance, Cale flew over the cities, forests, and meadows as the sun rose to his left. The High-Magician did not even remember what time it had been when he had left the Magistrat. 7:00, maybe 8:00? He rarely really paid attention to the time anyway, especially after a night of just working. He just felt the chaos of his emotions as he followed the one his heart inevitably felt and rushed to William without a second thought.

<"Did you just notice that?">

<"Yes, the second prince was out of town and just recently returned. When I realized whose mana this was, I immediately let you know.">

<"By the Eldest's beard, I don't believe it. William's brother is a Thormod?">

<"Yes, I'm sure of it. I've already informed Velence and Palaios is on his way too.">

<"Keep a low profile, and don't let Palaios...">, Cale was about to let out before he could sense the large dragon overhead. Fengari must have informed the leader of the eastern dragons only after the High-Magician, because he was just about to reach his flying height. Simultaneously as the mage noticed the dragon, Palaios spotted him as well.

<"Caleb!">, the gigantic dragon spoke up, seeing Cale in its full glory for the first time.

<"Can you give me a ride, Palaios?">, the mage quickly replied, which the dragon confirmed. He approached him and the moment Cale had taken a seat on his back, the dragon shot forward. Only after a few moments did Cale realize how much he was actually shaking. With divided attention, Cale felt the dragon decrease in size and hurry over the sea of clouds like a bird in a swoop.

<"Keep me updated, please, and keep William safe, Fengari">.

<"I was planning to that anyway">, the dragon on the spot brought to word, but there was nothing at all of her usually easy-going manner. She was taking the situation just as seriously as Cale, and was eagerly careful not to blow her cover.

<"Aaron...">, Cale finally began, after allowing himself to get quiet for a moment.

<"I was just about to check in. What by the beard of the Eldest happened?">

Cale connected all thoughts together at the statement. Fengari, Palaios, the Eldest, Luc, and Aaron as he nervously held his hand in front of his chest.

<"Prince Marion of Sylve is a Thormod.">

He could hear the unknowing speak up in surprise, Luc leading the way.

<"What?">

<"Fengari is in Sylve and has noticed it. I'm on my way to the capital right now with Palaios. Luc, please follow me.">

<"I am just about to leave the Magistrat. Aaron is accompanying me">, announced the mage whose Igrikum is the Shadow. The only reason Cale wanted him to come to Sylve was for this ability. While he was sure he could take out a Thormod on his own by now, it was better to be save. Risking William's life was not something he would dare do, under any circumstances.

<"Be careful, Caleb. You don't know what you're getting yourself into"> the Eldest spoke up.

<"I know, I'll be careful.">

As Palaios moved across the sky, Cale let his gaze slide over the ground. Not in his dreams would he have expected a Thormod to be right under their noses, and then in proximity to William. The question arose in his mind whether Marion had always been a Thormod and why he had never noticed anything in his previous lives. Why did a Thormod live a life as a prince? By the fact that neither Leonhardt nor Edward nor William were Thormods, he called to mind the face of the Queen, who had died a few years after William's birth. He had never met her, and since she was also of noble birth, Cale doubted that she was a Thormod. The only thought which he therefore considered realistic was that the Thormod had taken the place of the second prince.

But when and if this was true, where was the real prince?

After a good hour, in which Cale had time to sort out his thoughts, they had almost arrived in the capital. Aaron and Luc had just left the mountains behind, while Fengari updated everyone on the current state of affairs. She informed Cale that the royal family was gathering for breakfast and she was just trailing William on the ground. King Leonhardt and Crown Prince Edward were traveling together and were accompanied by Loys of Freigoud, but were quite a distance away from her. Only the Thormod was traveling alone with two companions, whose mana source she did not recognize and consequently could not assign names to.

"If I fly any lower, people will recognize me, Caleb", the dragon's words snapped him out of his thoughts. He stopped in midair and looked down at the capital, which stretched below their bodies.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Sorry, I'd forgotten. Would you like me to give you another form to come with me?"

"I kindly request it", the dragon formulated politely, abruptly shrinking its body, which is why Cale was now flying under its own power again. For a moment Cale looked at the small body of the dragon in front of him and then turned Palaios into a marten.

"Please hide under my clothes and suppress your presence completely", Cale decreed, lifting his cloak. Without argument, the dragon carefully clung to the side of his stomach. As Cale flew down to the palace, he changed his appearance and his clothes so that Palaios completely disappeared under his shapeshifting.

When he was several meters above the roofs of the palace, he used his mana to check where the people were. He spotted some familiar soldiers from earlier and also personalities from his time in the tavern. William and his family, including the Thormod, he discovered second. They were in a large dining room inside the main building. Duke of Freigoud was also present, but Ben did not seem to be there. He spotted even Julius Venlan in the hallways, followed by three unknown people. A few guards seemed to notice his arrival, for they started moving and approached the uninvited visitor. But Cale had no intention of speaking to them. The moment he touched the ground, he transformed his appearance into that of Ben's father - Loys of Freigoud - and walked towards the main building without hesitation.

Thanks to his mana, it was easy for Cale to avoid people and arrive at a side entrance without incident. The men guarding the entrance bowed politely and opened the door for him, so Cale entered without a word. Once inside, it was all a matter of time and attention. He followed the stairs to the higher part of the palace and briskly, but not unnaturally, walked towards the dining room. He passed some soldiers and servants without hesitation and followed the corridor. At the same time, he could feel his path intersecting with that of Sir Venlan and after he again encountered some female servants and turned at the next corner, he immediately took the form of one of the women. Accordingly, he changed his gait and now walked more smoothly while holding his hands in front of his chest and lowering his head slightly. When Sir Venlan finally came into his field of vision, Cale found that he would not walk straight ahead. Instead, the swordmaster was walking in the same direction that Cale was also walking. He was about ten meters behind him and his companions, who also turned out to be servants of the royal house. Instinctively, Cale changed his plan. He took over the clothes of the women who were silently following Sir Venlan and quickened his pace somewhat. Even as he walked directly behind the four people, no one noticed his presence, so Cale followed them without comment.

As suspected, Sir Venlan was on his way to the dining hall, where William, Edward, King Leonhardt and Sir Freigoud were staying. The soldiers at the door, who were keeping watch, greeted Julius Venlan politely, opening the way and announcing him.

"Julius", Cale could perceive the voice of the king.

"Your royal majesty, Crown Prince Edward, Prince Marion, Prince William. I bid you good morning", the light-haired man greeted him politely and stepped to the left beside the door while the women took their seats on the right. Wordlessly, Cale followed them and stopped unobtrusively between Sir Venlan and the last servant, who was the only one to cast a surprised glance at him. She must be aware that there were only three of them, but in front of the king and as a royal servant she was allowed to speak without permission.

<"I can feel it, too. That's definitely Chioni's mana, and not just a little">, Palaios reported moments after Cale took his place.

<"Share your eyes with Velence, please">, Cale instructed his companion while trying hard not to attract attention.

"Good morning to you, too. Is it time for our meeting?", the king inquired simultaneously of Sir Venlan.

"In ten minutes, yes."

"I'll be ready in a moment", King Leonhardt replied in a calm voice.

<"It's a leader>, Velence called out contemporaneously between them, so that Cale could hear not the king's reply, but the dragon's. <"Caleb. This is most definitely one of the leaders you have informed us about recently.">

Fengari, who could also hear this statement, did not hesitate. She jumped down from the chair next to William, on which she had taken a seat, and climbed onto his lap in the same move.

"Fengari, I know you like my lap, but please be patient until it's just us", all present could hear William say, while the youngest prince slid back a bit and looked down at the cat. Cale immediately took advantage of this moment of inattention and raised his head. The Thormad was sitting next to Edward and facing them were William and the King. About two meters behind them, Duke of Freigoud stood against the wall with his arms folded behind his back and, like almost everyone, cast a puzzled glance at the little cat, which made itself comfortable on William. All except the king. His friendly gaze was still fixed on Sir Venlan, but when Cale raised his head, his eyes wandered to Cale, who pretended to be one of his servants and was standing right next to Sir Venlan.

Without warning, Cale made two barriers appear. An obvious one that completely surrounded the fake prince and an inner one that blocked his mana in a split second.

"Cale's barrier?", William muttered as he felt the magic, looked to his counterpart and immediately recognized the Igrikum. Edward also moved aside, somewhat shocked, and looked to his brother, who remained seated without comment, looking down at his hands. Cale could feel him trying to access his mana, but the barrier blocked it.

"I apologize for my unannounced appearance, but I would ask that you distance yourselves from Prince Marion", Cale raised his genuine voice, immediately drawing attention back to himself. He dropped his disguise as a servant and appeared in his were form, which is why he gained some height and changed into his black uniform, in which Palaios was hiding. Sir Venlan immediately drew his sword and held it sideways against the mage's neck, while the women on his right simultaneously kept their distance.

"High-Magician Leuen?", the king stated the obvious and stood up. Sir Freigoud had leapt in front of King Leonhardt and held one hand protectively in front of his body while in the other he reached for his sword at his waistband.

"It is my honor, your royal majesty King Leonhardt of Sylve. I apologize once again for my unannounced appearance, but circumstances being what they are, I was unfortunately unable to do otherwise", Cale stated matter-of-factly, bowing to them even as Sir Venlan held the tip of his sword next to his head.

It was as if the whole room took a deep breath for a moment and Cale also tried to remain calm. His attention was completely on the Thormod, who continued to try to access his mana, but in vain. He remained calm and did not let on how he suddenly became nervous. Actually, Cale had expected his disguise to fall immediately, but he must still have some remnants in his blood that kept the shapeshifting going, but could not be used for teleporting. Or this Thormod simply couldn't teleport, Cale wasn't that sure on that point.

"If I discern this correctly, this is your barrier enclosing my second son. Would you explain to me what is going on?"

"Before that, I would ask you again to distance yourselves from this... creature", Cale repeated matter-of-factly and straightened up again. Inadvertently, his gaze landed on William, who was looking at him with a puzzled, yet partially pleased face. He held Fengari in one arm until he realized what Cale was actually asking them to do. Quietly, he straightened up and turned backwards before raising his voice and speaking calmly.

"Father. Ed", William indicated, taking a few steps back while being watched by his family and the Thormod. Only after his statement did the Crown Prince finally straighten up and walk around the table, until finally the whole group had distanced themselves from the Thormod.