Raphael looked at her drawing and laughed.
"Is that me with a sword in my body?"
Marika nodded
"And is that you standing on top of me?
And she shook her head
' si yu hur yuu.'
"Do you need me to translate that for you?"
Raphael nodded, "How in the world is anybody understanding a word she is saying" he toughed.
"What she meant is that sister Yume is the one who will hurt you. The girl you are coming for next week."
Raphael came closer to Marika and stretched out his hand to her. Marika felt uncomfortable, his eyes looked murderess at her, and she started to cry and scream.
hu ri! cinshi! canshi!
Richard picked Marika up and held her close to his chest, "Mari sweetie, it's alright he can't get to you now."
Ferox and Agrius were alarmed by Marika's out bust and stood next to Richard snarling and growling at Raphael.
Canus and Cinis heard Marika scream and burst in to the room.
"Mari!" Canus looked at Marika but she was uncontrollably crying. Cinis looked at Raphael who still was looking murderess at Marika.
"Canus you choose, beat the crap out of that vampire or hold your sister." Cinis asked Canus.
"Isn't that obvious, I'm going to kill him."
Cinis walked over to Richard.
"Let me take her out of here so you and Canus can do something about him." he whispered to Richard.
Richard handed Marika over to Cinis.
Cinis held Marika close to him, "Let husband Richard and brother Canus deal with the bad guy."
"We go down stairs to daddy Derick he has snack's ready for you."
Marika was still crying, but she just couldn't stop, it was probably from the aura's that were emitting from the 3 man. It's not that she couldn't handle it, but her natural infant instincts was something she had no control over.
Ferox and Agrius fallowed Cinis and Marika out of the room.
All the way to the kitchen Marika didn't stop crying, Cinis asked Derick if there was a place not too far from the mansion but far enough from the pressure that was in the mansion.
Derick packed up the snacks and some tea and told Cinis to fallow him. After a few minutes' walk they arrived at the greenhouse garden.
Marika slowly stopped crying and then fell asleep in Cinis arms.
Derick looked at Marika who was sleeping. "Let me take her from you for a bit, you must be tired."
"Yeh children who are crying have the ability to take all your strength away."
"What happened?" Derick asked Cinis.
"Honestly I don't know but Raphael was in Richard room and I spotted drawings on Richard's desk, I know for sure that Marika was the one who drew it, I took it with me so I could ask her about it after she calmed down."
Cinis showed the drawings to Derick and he started to laugh.
"Well this one would not be the problem, but I guess this is the drawing that is the problem."
Cinis looked at the drawing where Marika had drawn a sword in a person who laid down on the ground and another person was standing on top of the stabbed body.
Both Cinis and Derick started to laugh, "How could an adult lose his temper over something like this."
Marika woke up, half a sleep he looked around, she knew she was not in the mansion.
"Did our little princess had a good sleep?" Cinis asked with a warm smile.
Marika looked at Cinis and nodded.
'da de me wite'
Derick took a small notebook and a pen from his pocked.
Marika again was first getting comfortable to holding the pen. After a minute she started to write something.
Derick and Cinis looked at it when she was done.
They read wat was written down 'I'm mentally alright but I'm trapped in this body. So I can only communicate properly through writing.
They both sighed in relieve.
"That good to hear, so why were you crying just now?"
Marika started to write down 'I can't help it, my infant instincts kick in when a treating aura is around. I can't control it'
Then she started to write again, 'I'm going to Ignis Kingdom, so the little sister act is more believable to Raphael.'
"That's a good plan, but what about your awakening?" Derick asked.
Marika wrote down 'We have to do it there, but we have to think of an excuse for Richard to come over to Ignis Kingdom without raising any suspicion from Raphael.'
Cinis was think "There is a meeting between the 3 kings next week but Richard didn't know for sure he could make It because of your awakening. But since your coming with us he has the perfect excuse to leave without any suspicion."
Marika looked at Cinis with a questioning look on her face.
"King Caedis of the Blood Kingdom, King Lunam of the Moon Kingdom and King Ater of Ignis Kingdom."
Than Marika pointed at herself. She knew somebody was spying on their conversation and Cinis and Derick had picked up on her behavior so the changed the way they spoke to her.
"Well we would have invited the Queen of Virtus, but she hate's politics. We were thinking of inviting her and asking if she wanted to observe the meeting and at least make her acquaintance with King Caedis."
"Mari you like the Queen of Virtus, you see her as your big sister right?"
Marika nodded.
"Would you like to join them as an representative of your big sister Queen Yumaria if she doesn't come?"
Marika nodded again.
Marika started to sigh a sigh of relieve, the presence she felt earlier has left.
Derick than asked Cinis "Yumaria?"
Marika was writing down some thing down. 'I like that name, Yumaria in the human world and Danish language means Gift from God.'
Derick and Cinis looked at wat was written down.
"Really?" Derick ask Marika
She nodded.
"Although your current name fits you, this name would also suit you." Cinis said.
"Mari!!!!"
Marika looked in the direction to where the voice was coming from and she saw Canus running up to her as he was covered in blood. Marika tighten her grip on Derick and wanted to hide. But just before Canus could touch her he was already stopped by Cinis.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cinis asked him.
"What else, I want to hug my sister" Canus said.
Cinis slap his brother on the back of his head and sighed "You are covered in blood, no person in their right minds wants the be hugged by you right now."
"Your right, I'm sorry Mari."
"But the good news is your husband Richard an me defeated the bad guy"
Marika waved at Canus to come over, he knelt down and Marika touched his head and patted Canus.
'bo canshi gu.' as she smiled.
Marika was writing again 'Go and wash up and change you cloth please before I start to cry again.'
"Mari your so cruel with your word, but your right. I should not walk in the stench of a vampire blood."
Derick stood up and handed Marika over to Cinis.
Marika then pointed to the notebook and pen 'da de me eep'
Derick nodded and then dragged Canus away.
Richard came in to the greenhouse garden and saw that Canus was dragged away by Derick.
"I told you so." Richard said to Canus when he passed by him.
Marika was writing something when Richard came over.
When she was done writing she showed it to Cinis.
'What kind of person is King Caedis?'
"Well I don't know much about him since I don't attend the meetings of the 3 Kings. You should ask Richard about it, he knows him better."
Richard looked over the things Marika had written down.
"My little wife is very smart, in this way Raphael can't bother you during your awakening, but is it no problem to do your awakening in Ignis Kingdom?"
Marika nodded
"But your husband feel's a bit hurt."
Marika looked at him 'hu ri?'
"You're asking about another man, your husband is hurt and jealous right now."
"Even though she is held by other man, you're getting jealous over a question about another man" Cinis sighed.
Marika giggled over Cinis words.
"Well he is 10 years older than me, so I don't have to worry about that she will fall for him." Richard said teasingly.
"You should be more concerned that he won't fall for her and try to kidnap her if she were at her normal appearance ." Cinis said seriously.
"Your right, that would be troublesome for me."
"Sweetie you can change to any age as long it's under 16 years old. Redder don't change for the time being."
Marika started to pout 'hu ri, cinshi mean!'
Suddenly a pair of hand came from behind her and picked her up.
Canus said "Let's leave your mean husband and brother, I'll tell you wat you want to know."
Canus picked up the pen and notebook and walked over to the big tree in the middle of the garden.
"Are you really oké with it?"
"You mean having her go to Ignis Kingdom with you guys?"
Cinis nodded
"Well I won't deny that I'm not worried, her body is very unstable now and I redder have her close to me. But the current situation with Raphael is also a big concern."
"So why did she decided to have her awakening in Ignis?"
"Well for starters I'm needed in the process, if we get disturb during the process , my hands are tied."
"But wouldn't Dante and Kevin be able to defend you guys?"
"According to Marika he is not yet strong enough to handle 5 plus enemies and Kevin is mainly ranged attacks but his skill's need to be polished more, and multiple enemies range attack is something he can't do at the moment. As for close combat he has almost no experience so that would be a problem."
"I see, she is well aware of the situation around her and the possible problems that may come to her when she react to these situations. She planned so far ahead and that if one path is blocked it wouldn't be a problem because the only thing she needed to do is just head on a different road."
Richard nodded. "By the way when this is over do you like to watch a show produced by Marika?"
"I'll accept the invitation."
Canus and Marika arrived at the tree and he set her down.
"So what do you want to know sister?"
Marika pointed at the line she had written down earlier 'What kind of person is King Caedis?'
"Do you know how he became the king?"
Marika shook her head.
"Well it's a long story but I won't bore you with that."
"Fist let me explain a bit of the monarchy of the Blood Kingdom. The Blood Kingdom has 3 types of ranking"
- King/ Queen
- Grand Duke/ Grand Duchess
- Duke/ Duchess
"Everything below Duke/ Duchess are called common nobles and there are no ranks amongst them. The title Grand Duke or Grand Duchess can only be given to the members of the royal family like the brothers and sister and children of the ruling king."
"The title of Duke or Duchess can be earned by nobles, like their wealth and/ or achievements. Do you understand up until now?"
Marika nodded. She than stood up and climbed on top of Canus legs and set down.
"25 years ago there was a King in Blood Kingdom who didn't do a good job of ruling over his kingdom. His brother Dantis the Grand Duck at that time was taking care of the Crown Prince Ray Caedis. Ray Caedis thought his father did what he did because of the Duke at that time the Sanguis family. Since Ray couldn't watch how the people suffered in the kingdom he wanted to rebel against his father. Ray was smart enough to know that his uncle Dantis was in a position where his hands were tied. So Ray took it on himself to rebel and kill his father. But his uncle Dantis secretly supported the rebellion. In a matter of 3 months Ray succeeded in killing his father and a month after that he was crowned the King of the Blood Kingdom, Ray Caedis was only 12 years old at the time."
"Under his ruling the country improved and the people aren't suffering. He upholds justice but doesn't meddle with the other countries. He has no alliances with The Moon Kingdom or Ignis Kingdom. He wants his country to be neutral and independent."
Marika wrote a sentence 'Why does he come to the meeting of the 3 Kings?'
"Oh that because of the trading laws in each county's."
Marika nodded and yawned.
She than wrote one more sentence. 'So he is a good person, and won't be a treat to me?'
"I doubt that he will threaten you, he will probably take an interest in you since Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi was established not long ago, and since your lands hold precious herb and other rare metals, he would be more interested in trading."
Marika was getting tired and fell asleep in Canus arms.
"Good idea sis let take a nap."
Canus closed his eyes and also fell asleep.
Derick walked in to the greenhouse and told Richard that it was already late and Marika should get to bed.
"Well that's going to be a problem" Cinis said to Derick.
"How so?"
Richard then pointed to the tree in the middle of the garden, "They are both sound asleep right now."
"Bring over 2 blankets. The temperature in here is not cold so let them sleep here. If there is an intruder or danger Agrius and Ferox will make noise to wake them both up. Cinis you leave your sword here for your brother just in case."
"After a few minutes Derick returned with two blankets, Richard took them from him and brought them over. He left on folded next to Canus and used one to cover them. He stroked Marika's head sweet dreams sweetheart. Richard picked up the notebook and the pen. Just in case there would be a problem they wouldn't leave anything behind."
Cinis laid his sword on the other site "I leave my sword here, if there is trouble you better protect our sister even if it will cost your life."
Richard, Cinis and Derick left the greenhouse Garden.
In the middle of the night Canus was woken up by the sound of growling. His eyes flew open and he was wide awake, he saw that he was covered by a blanket and that Marika was sleeping, he looked around but there was nobody around.
He looked at Agrius and Ferox. He saw the were growling and had their gaze fixed at the door.
"Sis wake up there is trouble", Marika woke up and saw Agrius and Ferox growling.
Canus took the blanket and tied it diagonal around his chest. He then took the second blanked and fold it in such a way that it looked like there was a small child in it.
"Sis who is the fasted of those two?"
'Ag'
"Would they listen to a command of mine?"
Marika nodded.
"Alright, is there another way out?"
Marika shook her head.
Canus picked up his brothers sword and tied it to his waist.
"Whatever happens hold on to me very tight sis and stay in here."
He put Marika in the blanked he had tied around him, he then call Agrius and Ferox.
Agrius you be a decoy just in case they are after her just run as fast as you can to the mansion and wake everybody up. Agrius set down so Canus could tie the decoy to his back.
"Ferox you stay close to us if something bad happens to me just take her and run."
"Howl!"
Agrius and Ferox howled at the top of their lungs.
This triggered the intruders to come in and rush at them.
"Run Agrius! Take her to safety."
Agrius started to run out of the greenhouse and in the direction of the mansion.
"Fallow that wolf and don't let it get to the mansion." A man wearing black commanded the two others who were with him.
During his run Agrius howled one more time.
Richard and Cinis who were already awoken by the first howl rushed down stairs and saw Agrius running up to them fallowed by two man.
Richard waited till they were close enough and with one strike struck them down.
Cinis checked the blanked on Agrius back but it was empty.
"She is still with Canus, Agrius was a decoy."
Richard smiled "Well your brother always had a neck for deceiving the enemy."
"But he is at a disadvantage since he probably have Marika tighter to his body."
Halfway to the greenhouse they saw Canus and Ferox, and Canus was dragging something.
"Brother are you alright?" Cinis asked him.
"Yeh just peachy."
"How can you say that your bleeding!"
"There just a view scratches, I'm not dying or anything."
Richard asked Canus "Where is Marika?"
"Sis, show your husband and elder brother that your fine."
Marika then pop her head from out of the blanked.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Richard asked her.
And she shook her head.
'bo canshi hur, me pats up bo canshi.
She then pointed to the man who was dragged by Canus
'ba'
Derick waited at the front door for them to return. When he saw them walk up to the door he saw the most cutest thing. His adoptive daughter with her head sting out of the blanked like that.
Just as they wanted to go inside the hear the flapping sounds of wings. Luca and the others had returned from Blood Moon Mountain.
"We are back!"
"What took you guys so long?" Richard asked.
"Well we had some trouble on the mountain and this idiotic vampire who had no drop of blood in who know how long was badly injured. We had to wait a few hours for him to heal enough so we could go back."
Then Luca spotted his sister "Oh… my…so cute! I need to take a picture"
Marika then popped her head back in to the blanked
"Is that thing your holding dead?" Luca asked Canus.
"No just out cold, we need to tie him up and torture him for information."
Marika popped her head back out again and nodded.
Richard then said, "Luca you go treat Arthur, Dante and Kevin you take care of this assassin.
"Doesn't Canus also need treatment?" Luca asked.
"Your sister said she will do that"
"Derick you go with Marika."
Canus dropped the leg he was holding he walked upstairs with Derick to Marika's room.
Richard then said, "Your sister will be leaving with Canus and Cinis tomorrow morning and the awakening will be held in Ignis Kingdom. I fill you in on the situation later, oh and one more thing."
He showed what Marika had written down.
"That's a relieve."
"Let's go Arthur your still in bad shape."
Up in Marika's room she instructed Derick witch medicine to get and she helped cleaning the wounds and placed the bandage where she was cable to reach.
'don'
"Thank you sis, and he gave her a hug."
'yu nap her'
"But don't you want to sleep with Richard?"
'yu nap her no'
"Pfft, don't argue with her Master Canus."
"But in a few hours she'll be leaving here, don't you think she would redder sleep with Richard instead of me?"
"Master Richard will probably not be sleeping tonight since he has to fill in Luca and the others that the situation has changed"
Marika nodded.
"Plus she is comfortable enough with you and Cinis that she can sleep peacefully, if you don't believe me I can show it to you"
'da de?'
Derick show him a picture before Richard had put a blanked over them.
Marika looked at it 'eep!'
Canus looked at it and smiled "I want a copy of that picture"
I have 2 more, one was Cinis holding her and the other where her head popped out of the blanket.
'li eep!'
"Mari just one question? Why did you hide when your brother Luca want to take a picture of you?"
'ba no li'
"haha, well your right best pictures are taken when you don't know when their taken."
Marika nodded.
'Nap!'
"Alright, alright!"
Canus lay down in bed and Marika climbed on top of him. Derick covered them up and turned off the lights.
Marika fell instantly asleep while Canus was stroking her head. He thought that have a sister this age wasn't a bad thing.
After a few minutes Canus also drifted to sleep.
Before Richard went to Luca he checked on Marika and saw she was sleeping soundly on Canus chest.
Richard knocked on Luca's door.
"Come in"
Richard walked in and close the door behind him.
"Brother in law you look like a complete mess in my eyes, don't worry too much she can't control her infant instincts. She probably went for the 3rd best option for her own safety, because her first and second safety option will probably not be sleeping tonight or at least that's what's she thinking."
"I bet if she turns in 7 year old she would probably act independent and do dangerous stuff."
Richard laughed at Luca's comment "Your right."
"So what's the deal with her leaving to Ignis Kingdom?"
"Well that's because it's not save for her to stay her, just before you arrived there was an assassination attempt on her. And if that happened when we hold her awaking here you and I can't protect her, because we are in the middle of her awakening process."
"Fair enough. Let's go with her plan to change the location, how about the medicine she was supposed to make?"
"Well that would be left up to you, Genus and Azurite."
"Alright, we let her write down the recipe before she leaves and each of us make it. So that if one of us encounter a problem there will be 2 more people who have it."
"Now go and get some rest. Your just like my sister, not taking care of your self's properly."
Richard left the room and went to his own, on his way he encountered Dante standing in front of Marika's room.
"Are you guarding her room?"
"Yeh, I know Canus is with her, but he is also injured so better to be safe than sorry."
Richard nodded.
"You go with them tomorrow, you played the role of personal guard before it shouldn't be too much of a problem to handle her."
[Next day]
Canus had already woken up, but Marika was still sleeping. He didn't dare to move so he just laid there waiting till someone would come and check on her.
After a few minutes Richard came in to the room, and Canus gestured to come in and take Marika from him.
"What you don't like having your sister sleeping on top of you?" Richard said with a teasing whispering voice, while he carefully picked her up.
"I'm a stiff as a plank for sleeping in one position, because I don't want to give you a reason to murder me. " Canus said.
"By the way she was pretty restless in her sleep. She probably had a nightmare."
Richard looked at Marika and saw she was frowning in her sleep.
"She probably has one now to."
"Get dressed and I bring her to her brother Luca first."
Richard walked to Luca's room, when he entered he saw Genus, Azurite, Lenis and Caelum were also there.
"Hum… she hasn't changed back jet" Genus said.
"What do you mean?" Luca asked.
"Well normally she would have changed back or at least changed her age already."
Luca walked over and took a look at Marika, "Well she is probably trying too hard, look she is frowning in her sleep."
"If a child wants something but can't get it they get frustrated and try to harder to get what they want."
"When she wakes up I tell her she need to relax and enjoy herself a bit more. That should fix the problem for her."
"Well let's wake her up, she still need to write our assignment." Luca said.
Richard woke her up carefully and Marika slowly opened her eyes.
'hu ri…'
"Good morning princess, your leaving today and everybody wants to say goodbye to you."
Marika looked around and saw everybody standing there looking at her with a smile.
' med pi, wite'
Luca took Marika from Richard and walked over to his desk and set her on his lap.
Marika again started to find her way to comfortably holding the pen and write down the ingredients and steps to take to make it.
While she was writing Genus looked over their shoulders, again he was amazed by what she had made. But the concerning factor was it would take 2 to 3 days before it was finished. It would barley be in time for her when she needed it.
When she was done writing Luca gave the paper to Azurite and told him to copy it 2 times.
"Let me have a word in privet with my sister."
Marika looked questioning at her brother while everybody left the room.
"Sis do you hate being a 3 year old?"
Marika nodded
"Is it because you feel vulnerable and hate the fact you can't do anything to defend yourself?"
Marika nodded again.
Luca then hugged Marika "Sis don't try too hard and change your appearance, enjoy it and relax a bit more. You won't stay like this forever. Since you're going to Ignis there is no need for you to be on edge you have people there who will protect you. And me and brother in law will be there in 3 days.
Marika nodded, 'po mis? bo lu, hu ri.'
"Yes we promise."
"Now let's eat first, you didn't have dinner last night and it's bad for you if you skip breakfast to."
Marika smiled and nodded at her brother.
Everybody was at the dining room to eat breakfast, Marika was sitting on Richards lap, she really enjoyed her breakfast. She was even stealing Richard food from his plate. And acted cute whenever he caught her doing it.
But in reality he didn't mind, because it was actually the first time since she came her she really enjoyed her meal and was eating properly.
Everybody was finished with their breakfast, and walked outside Derick gave Canus a few things for Marika while she stayed there, disguised as a snack basket.
Marika noticed someone was watching them she then tapped with her hand on Richard chest 3 times and started to cry.
'hu ri, me no go, me sta.'
Cinis walked over to Marika, "Mari you can't be selfish, Richard need's to prepare for a meeting."
Cinis then took Marika from Richard.
"Mari don't cry, I'll see you soon I promise." Richard said to her.
'pomis?'
Richard nodded.
William opened a portal , She still looked sad but waved at everybody.
'Pomis hu ri!!!'
Richard smiled at her and waved.
William and Dante also went through the portal as it would be normal for two prince's to have an escort.
[Ignis Kingdom]
Then the five of them arrived the King was there to welcome them. But the reaction Canus and Cinis got wasn't one they would expect from their father.
"You brought me a granddaughter!?"
"Which of you two is the father of this child."
Marika couldn't help herself, and stated to giggle.
"Father… You remember the girl who has an alliance with me right?"
The King looked at Cinis "Yes I remember her, is she the mother of this child?"
Canus then shook his head, "This child is her!"
The King looked at Marika who was in Cinis arms. "What happened to her?"
"Well it's a long story, but she ended up like this. And now somebody is after her life so for her own safety we brought her here." Dante said to the King.
Marika stretched out her arms to the King.
Dante the said "She wants you to hold her.
"Really?"
Dante, Cinis and Canus all nodded.
The King carefully took her over from Cinis, and Marika instantly killed his anxiety with a hug.
'un ki'
"Ah that's right I never properly introduced myself, so you call me uncle king."
Marika nodded.
Dante, Canus and Cinis looked shock at the King.
"What, you think your speech was any different when you were her age? I have experienced it twice already, how hard can it be a 3rd time."
Marika giggled in the arms of the King.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Cillus Ater King of Ignis and father of Cinis and Canus."
"You want a tour of the castle?"
Marika clapped her hand's happily.
"Father, before you go show her around, please don't go to the medical wing." Cinis said.
"Why?"
"It's because she was traumatized by doctors. Make sure they are at least 10 meters away from her."
Cinis looked sincerely sad.
"What about herbs?"
"That's fine as long as there is no doctor in the vicinity there should be no problem." Dante answered.
"Alright I take your word to heard, you brat's rest up for now."
The King took off with Marika and started his tour.
"Is it really alright to leave him alone with her?" Canus asked his brother.
"He should be fine, even thought it had been over 20 years a fatherly instinct will not die down. And you saw his face when he saw Marika, he looked over joyed. My bet is he will be over protective of her." Cinis answered
I'm in my room finch up the arrangement of the meeting. You take care of Dante and let the staff prepare the rooms for them." Cinis said to his brother
Dante then said to Canus, "While you go and make arrangements for our rooms, I'll be at the training grounds."
"You see the stable over there?" Canus pointed in a direction, and Dante nodded.
"Behind it there are 6 training areas, when I'm done let's have a sparring match."
"Alright."
"Oh as for sisters room keep it simple, she likes that the most."
"Thanks for the advice brother." And Canus went inside to make the arrangements.
When they were don with the interior tour, the went outside and walked to the medical herb greenhouse.
"Angel what is your name?" The King Cillus asked her.
'ma ri ka!'
'bo cinshi an bo canshi ca me ma ri.'
"Then I call you by your nickname Mari if that's alright with you?"
Marika nodded
'un cil, we go wer?'
"First we co to the herb greenhouse, after that there is the stables and the training grounds left. An the last place is a holy place for us but I think they don't mine you visit it."
When they arrived at the greenhouse, King Cillus asked the guard if there were any doctors inside?
"There is only one nurse inside at the moment Your Majesty" The guard replied.
King Cillus asked Marika if she was bad with nurses, but she shook her head.
When they entered Marika's eyes light up like stars, "You want to walk around on you own for a bit?" He asked her.
Cillus put her down, "Take your time and don't fall down. There will be tea in a bit."
Marika hugged the King 'un cil res.'
"Enjoy yourself Mari!"
Marika straight up walked over to the nurse.
The nurse got surprised by Marika 'Oh my where did you come from?'
She looked up and saw the King sitting at the stone table.
And she bowed to him.
'nus seepy?'
The nurse looked at her and nodded, 'I'm a bit fatigued, I was looking for some herbs that I can use to help my fatigue, since the head doctor won't give any of us nurses any medicine when we are over worked or sick, and the other doctors who want to help us can't because of the head doctor.'