In an instant, I woke up in bed. What? My hand shot to my throat, feeling my still attached head. I looked at my hand. That’s a child’s hand. It worked. That monster really did it. I shot out of bed, looking at the mirror. I’m somewhere between five and six. What was today? I quickly got ready regardless. I did a quick inventory of my body. My is so low. Where am I? When am I? I heard a tentative knock on the door. I sprinted over, throwing the door open. Zein, you’re alive; he really sent me back. I immediately hugged a very confused Zein. She looked exactly how I remembered. Quartz colored skin, her sapphire eyes, and Zein’s addax like horns. Zein was a bit taller than I remembered, but I didn’t care. I’m sorry I wasn’t better to you. It felt good to hear her voice again. I can’t believe how much I missed you. I’m so sorry. You deserved better.

“Y-you’re awake, Lady Luna?” Zein checked, caught off guard by my hug.

“What’s today?!” I asked excitedly. Zein looked like she was questioning reality. Was I that bratty of a child? It’s hard to remember.

“You had a free day, but your father was visiting the Imperial Family.” Zein informed me.

“Can I join him?” I requested.

“He’s going to discuss some new policies for nobles.” Zein told me. That sounds boring, but irrelevant; I have a tyrant to be to meet.

“I want to meet the Crown Prince!” I demanded.

“I’ll inform him you want to meet the princes.” Zein stated as she left.

Princes? There was only one: Nil. Or did something happen to his brother when they were younger? A few minutes later, Zein brought me to my father. Dad. I nearly broke down crying seeing him again; I happily ran up and hugged him. He’s alive! He’s still alive! I got to see his smile again. He looked just how I remembered. Slate skin, elk horns, and dark grey hair. I missed you so much. He had his normal parenting face going as we approached. I’m sorry I wasn’t a better daughter. I hugged Dad tighter. Lords, I missed you; I should’ve spent more time with you. This was not a chance I was going to waste. I guess thank you, Nil. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him currently.

“Luna, darling, are you sure you want to meet the princes? You have to be on your best behavior. You can’t try a tantrum with them.” Dad warned me.

“I’ll behave!” I insisted. I might have been bratty when I was this young.

“There’s also a chance they’re busy today and you won’t be able to meet them. If that happens you will have to read quietly.” Dad threatened. I didn't care, I loved having Dad back.

“No problem!” I replied. I need to see what Nil is currently like.

We had breakfast, where Dad and Zein gave me the oddest stares. I might have been a bit of a spoiled brat at this age. I glanced at the newspaper my dad had. I’m currently five. It should be possible to catch that monster. After breakfast I went with Dad to visit the Imperial Family. He lectured me on etiquette with the Imperial Family the entire trip there. It was boring, but I was thrilled being able to hear him talk again. There were a few amused stares, as I was brought to a receiving room. A few minutes later, the sense of death was palpable. What? Crown Prince Nil walked into the room, emanating an oppressive deathly aura. On his shoulder was his . He already has her. Instead of the usual amber eyes I was expecting, were two pure black eyes surrounding the amber. What? His appearance is different. The Emperor definitely altered events. First, I need to act like a child. I noticed one of his aunts followed him in.

“Fluffy!” I chimed happily, pointing towards Lumen.

“You can see her?” his aunt chimed, looking surprised. Her voice is a tad deeper than I’d expect.

“Is Lux in again?” Nil checked. Lux? Things were different. What all is different?

“I am Lady Luna Odeus Dawnsfield.” I introduced myself with a polite bow.

“I am Crown Prince Nil Sathanas Crowthorne.” Nil replied with a polite bow as well. No wonder he was confident; his is easily ten times mine. Superior knowledge would do little to overcome this difference in abilities.

“Let’s play!” Nil cheered excitedly. He seems normal. How did he become the monster of the Eternal Emperor?

“Remember Nil, not everyone can play like you can.” His aunt warned him.

“I’ll behave Uncle Nez.” Nil sighed. Uncle? Wow. His uncle might be prettier than me.

“Play? That’s vague.” I teased.

“Hide and seek.” Nil suggested.

“Can you show me ?!” I requested. Let’s see where this monster currently is. He looked at his uncle.

“That’s fine Nil. Just don’t hurt yourself.” Nez lectured him.

I thought his blood uncle Nox was a bachelor. He never married. Did the Eternal Emperor save Nez? I could feel the radiate off Nez. He’s clearly an Archmagus. Nil excitedly began showing off his . I instantly realized he had a for . The major breakthrough for isn’t for almost a decade. Its benefits were not considered worth it until Argranz stunned the world. Why does he have one? Who is Nez? He’s talented enough to teach the monstrous Nil . I was clapping along, acting impressed. It was chilling seeing the precursors of his later . He’s five. How on Tenebrae was he already this talented with ? This is unnatural. Even if he altered parts of the past, it wouldn’t explain this. I saw a proud smile on Nez’s face. Why don’t I know you? It was bugging me. Nil decided wasn’t enough as he began showing off some . He summoned a pure black sword, doing a set of rapid pivots and feints with his swings. That sword is also new. I never imagined that fighting style of his would develop since he was forling five. I recognized anywhere. I’m already staring down a monster.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Nil finally took a break, looking at me. I was clapping excitedly. He took a few deep breaths, and I felt him replenish his almost instantly. That’s how he did it. It wasn’t he could cast infinite . He can just refill his that fast. Even knowing I had to catch up to him, it felt like I was staring at an insurmountable mountain. He’s five. I took a deep breath. How is he this naturally obsessed with getting stronger? I used to look at Nil; my took a massive hit. Are you kidding? This was so basic. Nez raised a curious eyebrow but said nothing. How much did I slack on training as a child? It was embarrassing; I let out a deep sigh. Of course, this is going to a challenge. I looked at Nil, seeing a vibrant gray. He’s a child. Why is he gray?

“Want to do something else?” Nil checked.

“Let’s have tea!” I chimed.

Nil scrunched his nose and looked at his uncle. Nez dragged him with me to a small room with nice couches and a seat. As expected of the Imperial Family, this room is nice. Nez left us alone probably to request a tea platter. The Eternal Emperor really wanted to change what happens. It was weird seeing him as a child. I guess he wasn’t born a monster. His extreme confidence in sending me back was unfortunately justified. How is he already as strong as he is? He also was an impressive gray as a child. That’s unusual. Also, what is television? What was that? I thought of some of his most terrifying and . Which one was that? I wanted to say it and see his reaction. We’ll hold off for now. If I wanted to avoid the events I knew, what would be my best course of action? He asked I be his friend; if I recall his only real friends were Ekard and Julius. Nez concerned me. Why don’t I know someone as talented as him? I thought his uncle Nox was a drunk who never married. I’m also assuming Nez is married to Nox. I think that’s a safe assumption. It was scary to think of what a more skilled and trained Nil would be capable of. Or get more skilled faster. Should I do what he requested? He’s giving me a chance to live a better life too. For now, let’s see what young Nil was like. Why are his eyes black? What all changed? I had a lot of questions. I looked at him, who was shifting around. Does he have no idea what to do?

“Why are you shifting?” I probed.

“I don’t know what tea entails.” Nil answered. He’s probably just been having and combat lessons. He looked a tad embarrassed.

“You’re the Crown Prince. Isn’t this one of the most basic etiquettes?” I taunted him.

“You’re a noble, should you be wiped by a basic ?” Nil shot back. He did notice.

“I’m sorry, I was trying to look at something. What I lack in in I make up for in etiquette.” I defended myself.

“ is way more fun.” Nil replied. Of course the nerd would say that.

“But etiquette is needed when interacting with others or friends.” I retorted. His face shifted slightly. I hit a nerve.

“So, what do you do instead of training?” Nil asked.

“Talk with friends.” I answered innocently.

“How do you have friends?” Nil checked, glaring at me.

“Talking with others.” I told him with a smirk.

“I heard you just throw tantrums when things don’t go your way.” Nil taunted. Unfortunately for you Nil, I’m not child me.

“That was immature of me.” I replied. Nil looked a tad confused. The gears were visibly turning in his head.

“I see.” Nil quipped. His eyes were glowing slightly as he clearly used for something.

“My friends forgave me. I think I’m going to hang out with a few tomorrow; I’m awfully busy keeping track of them all.” I teased. His eyes stopped glowing as he decided something.

“You might have more friends than me, but I at least have my mother.” Nil taunted. Oh, you cindelrock.

“That’s uncalled for.” I spat as the most infuriating smug smirk spread across his face.

“What do you mean?” Nil asked with a smirk. Still a quick-witted dilwaul. Even as a kid he has the smug smirk.

“I apologize for taunting you about your lack of friends.” I told him through gritted teeth. Nil was glaring at me still.

“What? You apologize and I’m going to reciprocate? That’s woefully naïve.” Nil informed me. Wait; he should be five. How is he using words like that?

“I realized I went too far. I feel bad.” I explained. Nil’s gaze not any less intense.

“I don’t even know why you started.” Nil spat. He was polite in his eyes before I began taunting him for no apparent reason.

“I was trying to get you to relax. You seem awfully tense.” I told him.

“What do you mean by that?” Nil inquired, seeming a bit caught off guard.

“You give off this air like something is bugging you.” I clarified. Gray lets me know that for a fact.

“I’m fine. I just have been practicing a lot.” Nil retorted.

“Why have you been practicing a lot?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Just felt like it.” Nil answered with a shrug. I don’t think he’s lying, but he’d have to have trained like he was possessed to reach this point. I don’t care how talented he is, there’s no way he hasn’t put in serious effort.

“I just think you’d have a reason for training so hard.” I pointed out. Nil still had a good glare going as Lumen, I mean Lux, was napping on a couch.

“Do I need a reason?” Nil checked, looking nonplussed. Let’s think. Those pivots. I remember practicing a similar technique. I broke bones from the rapid shift in .

“How many bones did you crack or break with those pivots?” I inquired. Let’s dig.

“What are you fishing for?” Nil snapped. His eyes were starting to glow again. He is five. Why does it feel like I’m talking to more of the Eternal Emperor than a kid?

“That was ; you are currently gray.” I informed him. Nil made a face as he shifted a bit. What’s that face?

“What does that do? What does gray mean?” Nil probed, looking away. Even now he’s a massive nerd. It was one of his more terrifying traits, being honest. His obsessive desire to learn made him insurmountable.

“It lets me look at the mental state of a being; gray typically means anxious.” I explained. Nil made another face.

“I see.” Nil quipped as his eyes were shifting back and forth a bit.

“What’s that face?” I probed.

“You don’t talk like other kids.” Nil pointed out.

“Neither do you.” I retorted. At this point, his uncle returned to us glaring at each other. Nez smirked.

“Wow, you two seem tense.” Nez joked as he looked at us.

“We were hungry.” Nil lied. Oh? That trait is still the same.

“How long for the tea platter?” I checked, making sure to sound polite.

“It’ll be done in about twenty minutes.” Nez told us as Nil was clearly debating something.

“Okay. What’s Ein up to?” Nil probed. His brother; I thought he only had a sister.

“He has lessons today; they’re important so he can’t be taken away.” Nez informed him. Nil pouted a little. Still loves his family immensely.

“I’ll go see if we can speed up that tea platter.” Nez said, leaving the room again. Nil’s eyes immediately shot to me. I should check. If I don’t know about Ein, it’s safe to assume he died young. Nez was likely similar.

“I thought your brother died.” I tried. Nil’s face gave me the information I needed.

“He didn’t die. I saved him.” Nil snapped. This is probably one of the things he changed, saving his precious family.

“That couldn’t have been easy.” I stated, gauging his reaction.

“It was do or die. Easy didn’t matter.” Nil snarled. His gaze was incredibly unpleasant. That death aura; he actually met Utol. That would motivate anyone. But how did a kid beat a Lord in a game?

“You met Utol. You nearly died.” I replied, trying to contain my surprise.

“What are you getting at? You’re obviously scheming.” Nil demanded, giving me an intense stare.

“Did you want to talk about it?” I checked, sitting on the couch. That’s what the Eternal Emperor wanted.

I felt an odd catharsis. That’s why he was so spiteful. It was odd. The differences and similarities between Nil and the Eternal Emperor were interesting. But I can see how the traits become the vengeful monster I know. It was hard to forgive the extreme he went to, but I could see how it got to where it did. Nil looked absolutely baffled as he stood there, keeping his eyes transfixed on me.