The End of Innocence: Book 3 of the Kinstone series

A few minutes later, Silvi lands onto the back veranda, with my mother already standing there. She smiles, opening her arms as my sister gently lowers me onto the deck. I wobbly step over and hug her tightly. I feel her tightly wrapping me up into a tight hug, stroking my hair.

“Sweet child. Sweet, sweet little child.”

I blush, smiling, “Sorry for running out on everyone like that.”

She shakes her head, “Think nothing of it my love,” planting a kiss onto my cheek, “come, let us get some food into that little stomach of yours.” I nods, hearing Fenris padding onto the veranda. I smile, and then walk inside with her.

“Were you able to clear your mind my love?”

I nod, “Yeah, with a little help from Tariel and Savero.”

She looks to me, “Savero? What on earth was he doing here?”

I blush softly, “He came with a royal entourage. He and I finally straightened things out.”

She holds me closer, “I know that must not have been easy.”

I nod.

Silvi steps forward, “The man he came with threatened us out of some sense of spite towards her and the gossip. But our little girl managed to scare him into backing down.”

Rachel looks to her and then back to me, smiling, “My wondrous little girl.”

I lean into her, “In the end, he and I are possibly gonna become closer friends.”

She grins, “I possibly might have created a monster of a diplomat.” I giggle.

As we pass by the parlor, I see both of the knights still sitting there, who apparently had been waiting for me to come back. I stop for a moment and turn to them, I felt guilty for snapping at the people who saved my life just a few hours ago. I let go of my mother and quietly walk into the parlor.

The couple looks up and quickly rushes over, both bowing to me, “Your Highness, we are both grateful to see you once more,” speaks Orga. I look up to them as they stand up.

It was now my turn. I bow low to them, “I hope you can forgive me for snapping at you like I did. This is just all so new to me and I really didn’t know how to handle any of this.”

The couple stood in shocked silence, seeing their “princess” bowing to them.

“It…it is quite all right Your Highness,” answers Kateryna. “We took no offense. We understand the gravity of all of this.”

Being called “Your Highness” didn’t quite feel as bad as it used to, but I know that it’s still going to take some time to adjust to it.

I stand up, looking at them both, and then remember something. I looked back at my mother, “Is Mr. Titalos and Arcturus both still here?”

She nods, “That they are my love. Why do you ask?”

I lower my head and stare at the floor for a moment, then look back at her, “Got something to show everyone.”

She tilts her head for a moment, but then nods, knowing what I'm talking about. “Very well love. I’ll have both men return to the parlor, dinner will be served soon.”

I nod, scooting out of the door and across the foyer and up the stairs, making a beeline for my room. I know that I’m running on fumes at this point, but I still have something that must be shown to everyone.

I enter my room and walk into my closet. In the very back I notice that the seals that I placed on the wall were still intact.

Stepping towards the hidden door, I kneel down and run my hand over the seals, disenchanting them. Each tag slowly falls away, landing into my hand. After I showed this thing off, I was going to seal it right back up.

Once the final seal was removed, I run my finger along the wall, watching as faint seamlines come into view. It took a lot of effort to seal it up, and just as much to undo it. But it all had to be done.

I pull open the hidden door, revealing the silver chest that I received back in mid-December. I stare at it for a moment, brushing my hand over it, knocking off some of the dust which has accumulated over the past few months. I pick it up and carry it out of my closet.

I then gazed at “Study”, seeing the journal that I written and drawn down the strange dream I had after opening this thing. I hop over to the desk and pick it up, placing the notebook under the box and leave the room.

When I return to the parlor, everyone who was involved in today’s events is now present. I slowly walk inside, seeing their heads all turn towards me. I look to them, taking a short breath before walking over the table next to the couch, and place the box onto it.

I gaze up at Viktor. Given what he’s told me, he would be the person who needed to see this thing the most. I look over to the knights, once more taking their places against the chairs. I take a deep breath and return my attention to the master of House Titalos.

His eyes grow large as he stares at the box, “A Ze’criesch. No one has seen such well-preserved piece in centuries,” looking up at me, “where did you get this?”

I stare at it, “It was sent to me near the end of last year. But…what’s important is what it holds.”

I lift the lid and reach, pulling out the cloth-covered contents and place it onto the table, quickly pulling the cloth away.

Viktor’s eyes grow wider as his jaw drops to the floor, “The Xur’canah. It…it’s real,” his eyes blink a few times. “I shouldn’t even be allowed to look upon it.”

I tilt my head, “Why's that?”

He cranes his head to me, “Because only those of royal blood were allowed to view it this close. If this were Dewloura, I possibly could be put to death for being in arm’s reach of the artifact.”

I glance over to the knights who while just as stunned, made no moves towards the man. I look at him, “Well good thing this isn’t Dewloura and I couldn’t care less if it was.”

Arcturus stares at it, “So this was what Andriy was talking about.”

I also hand Viktor the journal, watching as he takes it. “Right after I opened this thing, I had a really crazy dream. In it was a city. The dream was really detailed so after I woke up from it, I wrote it all down and drew what I saw.”

He opened the book and pours through the pages. His eyes once more grow massively as he examines its contents. “This…this is incredible Your Highness. This is a perfect depiction of the several districts within the capital city. You even describe where your ancestors lived, and their crest.”

I plops onto the couch, leaning forward and folding my hands, “Anything you can tell me about either things?”

His eyes crane up from staring into the book, and then at the lantern, “I will say that I am in awe that such a historically significant artifact is sitting mere feet from me. But…if my may?” motioning to it.

I look to Rachel, who nods to me. I turn back to him, “Sure.”

He leans forward, moving his hands over the lantern, pressing the crystalline portions, watching them glow. “While only being the subordinate house to yours, we were privy to certain secrets that not even the other houses were aware of.”

He presses a few more sections, which glow even brighter, until the room is soon filled with light. I stare into it, seeing images and maps displayed, to where I snatch back my journal and open it, jotting down as best I can. The images then quickly vanish with everyone rubbing their eyes.

I look to them, “Y’all didn’t see what was there?”

They stare at each other, shaking their heads. I look at them, raising an eyebrow in confusion, before handing the journal back to Viktor, who shook his head, “No, Your Highness. There are secrets that I must not be allowed to see.”

I lean back into the couch, studying my notes. Guess I have some homework to do.

Viktor carefully places the lantern back into the box, closing it. He then looks up to me, “Your Highness,” standing up and stepping aside from his chair.

I watch as the man drops to a single knee, placing his right hand over his chest, and bowing his head, “I, as head of the noble House of Titalos, solemnly swear my allegiance to you, as dictated by ancient right and custom.”

I look to him as both knights also did the same, “We too swear our lives and honor to you Your Highness.” I blush, looking away from them, staring up the combat maids and Sebastian, who thankfully aren’t doing the same.

I turn back to the kneeling trio, “P-please stand up,” gripping my shirt over my chest. They rose from the floor and looked to me. I take a few short breaths, “You don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness’. It’s a little too embarrassing for me. Just call me ‘Aria’.”

Viktor smiles, “How does ‘Lady Aria’ sound then?”

I looked to him, smiling slightly, “I can live with that. May I call you ‘Master’ Titalos?”

He chuckles softly, nodding to me, “You may.”

I glanced over to the knights, who both shook their heads. “We in good conscience could never call you anything less than ‘Your Highness’,” spoke Orga.

I sigh. Well it was worth a shot.

I look to Viktor, “I have a question for you.”

He smiles warmly, “I pray to have the answer.”

I chuckle softly, giving a smile in return, but sigh, “How will the rest of your family take this? I know they’ve been waiting a really long time, so won’t there be some that will resent the fact that you have sworn to serve me or something?”

He bows his head softly, “I thank you for your concern my Lady, but as I stated, we have long hoped and prayed for this day. I do wish for you to meet them in the future.”

I nod but look away, “So are you expecting me to do what, resurrect the city? Restart the empire?”

He shakes his head, “Nothing of the sort. I will admit that the idea of Dewloura returning is tempting, having long wanted to see my ancestral home. But I desire that you live a long and happy life, and that we will be of service to you if needed or wanted.”

I smile, “Okay.”

With the moment of excitement over, my head begins to swirl and grow fuzzy. I collapse back into the couch, feeling dizzy.

Rachel looks to me, stroking my hair, “Why don’t we get some food into that stomach of yours?”

I smile faintly, watching as she motions towards the door. I wheel my head around to see Lyra and Abigale both push in carts full of food. Both maids then place several trays onto the table behind us, setting several wine glasses as well.

I giggle, “A party huh?”

My mother smiles, stroking my face, “Not quite, but we are entertaining guests are we not?”

I roll my head until it rests onto her shoulder, “Yep.” She grins helping up onto my feet and over to the table, sitting me into a chair.

This really has been one hell of a day and now I need some food. I watch as everyone takes their seats and begins plating themselves. My body leans forward and pulls some food onto my plate and started to eat.

I lean back and ponder the roller coaster of events. Just how much could you really pack into a single day? I grin, thinking about Savero. I legitimately want to see him again, now that I basically told him that I thought of him like a big brother.

I look over to everyone, watching as the knights stared on in horror as my sister devour a huge smoked ham. I grin, knowing that no matter what, she can always make me smile. I plop another piece of food into my mouth, slowly feeling better.

My eyes glance over at Viktor, who sat quietly as he ate. I get the impression that him seeing a dragon eating wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Rachel glances to me, giving me a soft and tender smile. As much as I hate the fact that our day together had all gone to hell, there still is the never-ending truth that she is here. Her hand reaches over and takes hold of mine, stroking the top of it. I smile to her, kinda still wishing she and I had a day together.

After dinner, I carried the box back up to my room and reseal it into my closet. Rachel had taken the knights around the Manor, showing them to a room they could use, seeing how they were going to living here with us.

I know my mother and Arcturus were going to be spending some more time together, not that I don’t mind at this point. Viktor had retired to his room, apparently relaying the day’s events to his family. Both men were leaving in the morning. I guess even spending one day away from the shitstorm that was occurring back at the Court can’t be avoided for much longer.

I plop onto my couch and stare out the balcony door. The sun had already begun to slowly set, seeing it in the corner of my window. Fenris had taken his place on my bed, resting peacefully on top. I glanced over to him, giving the wolf a big smile. The adrenaline finally began to wear off and all to the fatigue and exhaustion from the day hit me all at once.

I lean over onto the cushions, feeling my body become heavy as if someone had turned it into stone. I wanted to sleep forever, to just completely fade away from the world. My eyes slowly grow heavier, finding it harder and harder to keep them open. I could feel my breathing slow as the cushions begin to consume me.

A knock on the door shocked me back into life, causing my heartrate to skyrocket. “Your Highness?”

I recognize the voice on the other side of the door to belong to Orga. I groan quietly. Can’t I just get some freaking sleep? I sigh, slapping my face, waking myself back up.

I sit up on the couch and stand up, walking over to the door. I glance at Fenris, whose head is up, watching me. I smile to him, giving the wolf a small nod.

When I reach the door, my hand rests onto the handle. I take a deep breath and open it, seeing both knights standing before me. They both gave me a small bow. “We hope we are not disturbing you, Your Highness,” greets the man.

Are you kidding me? Of course you are!!! After the day I’ve had, all I want to do is just crash and hibernate for the next couple of days.

I shake my head, “No, you’re fine. Would you like to come in?”

The couple nod as I step back and open the door more. The pair looks over to Fenris, giving him a nod, who in turn does the same.

The couple slowly examines my room, seeing all of my wall scrolls dangling on the wall and swaying from the fan above. Kateryna becomes enamored by the various figures I have displayed on my shelves. A small grin rises on my face as she lightly taps on a few of them.

Orga looks over my models, gently picking up a few of them and moves the limbs. Needless-to-say I am extremely nervous when the man lifted the arm of one of my more fragile kits. My hands gripped the back on my couch tightly, watching him manipulate the limb before carefully putting it back.

Orga turns to me, “You constructed all of these?”

I grin proudly, “It’s one of my many hobbies.”

He nodded, returning to looking over my hundreds of tiny plastic robots. Orga then views my bookcases, eyeing the dozens upon dozens of books that rest on it. I giggle to myself, thinking my room is filled with too many wonders for them.

His wife then steps over to where I had my weapons displayed. She turns to me, pointing to the top sword. I nod. She then carefully lifts the sword and unsheathes it slightly. “This…is of elven make.”

I nodded, “Yep, bet you can’t guess the material.” She looked to me, and then examined the blade. The elf’s eyes dart over the blade, fingers gently tracing over it, but then stare at me, obviously having not found the answer.

I giggle, “It’s made from a dragon’s fang.” She looks to me surprised.

I smile to her, lifting off of the couch, “My sister had this made for me before my first birthday here.”

Kateryna then sheathes the sword, placing it back onto the stand. “You have many wondrous things here Your Highness,” she says, walking over to me, obviously having eyed the kodachi and masks.

I smile, “I tend to collect things,” tilting my head as I look up at her.

Orga picks up the Han Kote, and strokes the plates, “If I might ask Your Highness. You have many here you call your family. A dragon for a sister, an alraune for an aunt, and a mother who is not your birthmother.”

I giggle, “I actually have two more aunts and a grandmother in Japan, as well as one here in the country. In fact my aunts only claimed me just recently as their niece. I also have another sister, this one a human.”

The pair looked to each. “Strange ties,” says his wife. He nods.

I rub my arm, “Although you could say that my mom and I more tightly related than anyone. After a duel with a vampire, she gave me some of her blood. I also share a mana-bond with her, hence why I look a bit like her.”

Their eyes widen slightly, examining me once more. I don’t mind. I smile to them, glancing off slightly. I know they’re just asking questions. If they are going to be living with me, might as well lay out the finer details of who their new princess is.

I motion them over, watching as they round the couch and sit down. I walk over and plop into a chair, looking at them, sitting with my legs crossed. Both sit straight and exude a level of professionality that I would expect from the staff.

I smile to them, “So…what’s on your minds?”

Orga rests his hands onto his knees, “I suspect you know reason behind our visit.”

I lay my hands into my lap, “You want to get to know me.”

He nods, “Precisely Your Highness. This is a strange new era that we have awoken to and a princess who is vastly different than the last one we served.”

I nod, lifting my up my legs up and hugging them tightly to my chest, “I assume my mom told you the rules of the Estate?” Both nod. I smile, “They’re simple to follow, and really pertain to those that don’t live here.” Again both nod.

Kateryna leans forward, staring into my eyes, “She looks like her, if only the barest amount.”

Her husband also examines me, “I concur. They do share the same eyes.”

I tilted my head, “Who and what do you mean by eyes?”

He smiles, “Princess Celestine, the last princess of Shyair. One might say your ancestral mother.” He then leans in closer, gazing directly into my eyes. “A deep shade of sapphire with specks of ice-blue, a hereditary trait belonging to those of House Shyair. But as of right now, the colors appear to be muted.”

Kateryna looks on as well. “I agree, it’s as though their true essence is being blocked for some reason.”

I sigh softly, thinking I may or may not know the reason for it. To be honest, I’ve never really taken notice of my eyes all that much. In fact no one’s really mentioned them to me up until today.

I push those thoughts from my mind, hugging my legs tighter, “What was she like?”

He smiles, “The most treasured child of our House. She was charming, gracious, intelligent, possessing a wit sharper than any sword. She often would be found sleeping with the wolves, which all seemed to congregate around her from all over the city.”

I smile softly, “Was she my age?”

The elf shakes her head, “Our princess was older than you, by more than a decade at least. She also was beloved by many within the city, often sneaking out from the family grounds and venturing into the city proper, mingling with the citizens.”

I grin, somehow she reminded me of me. “She also hated having to give away the wolves to the other houses,” she continues. “Often refusing to let them go to the point of tears. But they eventually would find their way back to her in the dark of the night.”

I giggled, “They must’ve really loved her.”

Both knights nodded, “They did, far more than any other member of the house. She also was a bit more mature than you, more than likely given her upbringing and the time in which she lived in.”

I smirk, almost thinking the remark was more a jab at me.

Fenris hops off of the bed and wandered over to us, sitting down and resting his head into my lap. I grin, leaning over and hugging him. The knights smile, but look curiously at him.

“Your wolf seems vaguely familiar,” notes Orga.

I glance at him, “Are you saying you’ve seen him before?”

The man shakes his head, “Not sure, but there’s something…something that I cannot place my finger on.”

I rake my fingers into my bonded’s fur. “You said something about foxes and Shyair. Did any ever come near the family?”

Kateryna nodded, “Not necessarily, but the members did possess many of the same qualities as foxes, being clever and cunning in their lives.” She then smiles, "I too saw those same qualities within you."

I lay my head onto my bonded’s, smiling, “Well, my affinity towards my kitsune form is extremely high. As you both saw earlier today. My aunts might say that I’m more kitsune than human, which I have to agree with. While at the same time holding a doubt or two.”

Again they nod. “If…if we may see it again, Your Highness,” asked Orga.

I smile, feeling my body change as my tails emerge from my body, my hair turning a pinkish-blonde, with my ears growing and shifting to the top of my head. Both knights look on in awe as my tails sway and swish about the chair. I giggle as Fenris wrap his tails around mine, remembering when Yukari and Kenji would back in Japan.

“Truly remarkable,” exclaims Orga.

I smile, looking to them, glancing off slightly, “Did you both have any children?” Orga and Kateryna’s faces grew sullen as I gazed at each other.

I feel like kicking myself, knowing I struck a nerve and bringing up some painful memory from their past.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to upset either of you.”

Orga shakes his head, smiling to me, “It is quite all right Your Highness. My wife and I did have a child, a son, Tobin. He was a loving boy, whom the princess herself adored as a younger brother.” He smile, lowering his gaze, “I can still picture them riding around the grounds on the backs of wolves. With him held tightly to her chest.”

I smile, but then watch as sadness strip away his, “He was only ten when he passed away, taken by illness. Our princess wept as bitterly as we did, holding his lifeless body to her chest. I remember hearing the wolves howling in sorrow, having lost one of their own.”

A lump grows in my throat as tears begin to well up in my eyes, looking away. “I lost my family a year and a half ago, murdered as you learned earlier. So I know how painful it to lose family.”

I buried my face into Fenris’ fur as tears stream down my face. I keep forgetting that no matter how advanced any society is, disease and war can still claim anyone.

I feel a hand gently stroking my shoulder, looking up to see Kateryna kneeling before me and smiling. She cups my face, wiping away tears with her thumb, “You mustn’t shed your tears for those who passed long before you were born.”

That’s easy for her to say. From their perspective it might as well have been just a few months to years when their son passed away.

I stare into her seemingly glowing emerald eyes. Her smile brightens, “Will you smile for us, Your Highness?” I smirk, smiling as I leaned into her warm hand. The elf grins, “Your mother was right, you truly look your best with a smile.”

I giggle, “She always says that.” Orga smiles, watching his wife comfort me.

I glance over the elf, seeing my mother standing in the doorway, smiling as she leans up against the frame. This day may have been hell, but it looks like I gained more family in the end.