The crackling ice seemed to echo against the bare stone walls of the hall, and Henry was sure that the overall temperature of the entire corridor had dropped significantly.

"I can see my breath!" One of the guards gasped behind him, sounding a bit panicked.

"Young Master, must the entire hall go cold?" another guard asked in a shaking, shivering voice. Henry didn't answer.

He watched the solid ice crawl up the legs of the kidnappers as they struggled against the heavy ice shackles that seemed to bolt them to the floor in vain. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were fists at his side.

His sisters golden scarab was hovering above the two kidnappers. Once they were unable to move, it shot into the cell.

"Good job, Keph!" Effie's energetic voice praised the scarab loudly.

Henry grit his teeth even harder as he heard his sister. Effie was a strong little girl, but kidnapping was still kidnapping. He'd be ignorant pretending she wasn't affected simply because she sounded cheerful.

The ice quickened its crawl up the bodies of the two kidnappers. The stunned horror seemed to finally fade from the woman, and she opened her mouth to shout. Instead, the ice sealed over her mouth, causing the man fallen at an awkward angle to stare at her in horror, his face freezing in that expression as the ice consumed him, as well.

"Take care of them." Henry gave an order. He didn't care who did it. He didn't have time to do it himself. He took off down the hall, leaving everyone behind as he raced towards the open door. "Effie!"

He swept past the two frozen kidnappers. Effie had reactivated her light slip and was on her feet, still holding on to Prince Muran.

"Muran!" Prince Tae cried out behind Henry, almost jumping in front of him to sweep the unconscious toddler from the little girl's arms. "What happened to him?" Prince Tae fell to his knees to try to get a better look at Prince Muran using the light slip. "Muran? Muran!"

His pale, shaking hands stroked the child's face.

Effie looked over and tilted her head to the side. "He's sleeping. They used a knockout powder on us."

"Sleeping?" Prince Tae looked at her as if she held the cure. "You're sure?"

"Yes, he's breathing evenly, his face is flushed, and he's also drooling," Effie said. She motioned at his hand. "See, he's coated your fingers."

Prince Tae looked back at his little nephew and let out choked, shallow breaths. He nodded his head, his eyes red as he cradled Prince Muran against him. "He's sleeping...just sleeping."

"Yes, he's sleeping," Effie told him again with even more reassurance. "He'll wake up once the powder gets through his system, but you should get a doctor-ah!" Effie's eyes widened and her brows shot up.

Henry sucked in a sharp breath. "Effie, what's wrong?"

She whirled around and motioned towards the man half laying on the floor. Henry looked over and realized that Talam was there. "You were kidnapped, too?"

"If that much powder was used, than we need a doctor," Prince Tae said, slowly getting to his knees. He looked towards the door, still cradling his nephew against his chest. "One of you! Call the doctor immediately! Have him come here!"

"Brother, Talam needs a doctor, too," Effie said as she raised a hand and grasped Henry's shirt, giving it a lazy tug.

"We should also check to make sure the powder isn't toxic," Henry added in a low voice.

Effie scrunched her face and shook his head. "No, he didn't inhale any powder!"

"Young Lord!" One of Talam's two escort guards reached the doorway and peered in. He rushed it almost shoving another guard out of the way so he could enter. "What happened to you?" Diyar was frantic.

"We need a doctor for the Young Lord!" Bo was shouting orders down the hall.

Aside from them, Henry had led several city guards with them to look for Effie.

"He kidnappers punched him in the stomach and then he woke up here," Effie said in slightly accented Ashtari.

"Punched him where?" Henry asked with a frown.

Effie tilted her head to the side and seemed to think. "His tummy."

"They'll need to check if there are any broken ribs or bruised organs." His list of dire possibilities made Talam pale.

"I'm fine-"

"Don't ignore the injury, Young Lord! A medical professional must see you!" Bo said as he rushed in. "Let me see the injury."

Talam waved them away. "It's not as bad as you think it is." He spread his tunic apart and then lifted up the shirt beneath, revealing a dark bluish purple and green haloed mark on his stomach.

All at once, everyone in the cell, including Effie, let out a low hiss.

Talam tried to look down, but his bunched clothes and the awkward position of his body didn't give him a clear view of his injured stomach. "Is it bad?"

"Uh...."

"It's...."

"No...."

"It looks like someone spilled ink on your tummy and it's going to create a hole," Effie said. Henry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Diyar shot the little girl a glare of annoyance.

"Henry, I'm going to take Muran up to meet the doctor and try to find a healer in the interim," Prince Tae told him with the toddler in his arms.

Henry nodded. "Go." He then looked at the two guards who had moved on either side of Talam and reached down to help lift him up. "You should also go quickly. Mars, Ram. Assist them in taking Mr. Heigoren to the upper level and find him a medic, cleric, or doctor at once!"

"There's an emergency medical center on the ground floor," a city guard with them said. "I will escort you."

The once cramped cell was emptied, finally leaving the two siblings behind.

Henry stood just beside Effie. Her little hand was still gripping his shirt. No one else seemed to have noticed, as she'd appeared so calm and had spoken so clearly, but he did. Effie's hand was gripping a portion of his shirt so tight in her fist, it had turned white. In addition, she was shaking. Subtly, but shaking none-the-less.

His eyes that had been glaring daggers at the enemy just moments earlier softened at once. The tightness in his chest loosened with relief, but still clenched with heartbreak.

"Effie."

She looked up and threw a wide smile at him. "Yes, Brother?"

Still pretending.... Henry's lips pulled up in a wry smile. "It's okay," he said. He slowly knelt down and pried Effie's fist from his shirt. He cupped her hand and met her at eye level. "Brother's here."

For a moment, Effie stared at him with some surprise, as if registering what was happening. Then, her eyes began to redden and grow glassy with tears. Her lower lip trembled, and her face flushed.

"Brother!" She threw her arms around his neck, and he pulled her towards him, cradling her sobbing body against him as he picked her up and rose to his feet.

His large hand stroked her shaking back. "It's all right," he said in a soft voice, repeating it over and over. "You are safe. Brother is here."

A painful wail echoed off the walls of the chamber as Effie clung to him, crying and struggling to breathe in between each painful sob.

"Effie is a strong, brave girl," Henry said, gently rocking her in place. "You did a good job. A very good job protecting Prince Muran and keeping Talam safe." Effie sniffled against him and nodded. "You were very fierce, but you don't have to carry it all by yourself anymore. Let Brother help with your burden."

Effie buried her face on his shoulder and continued to cry, though now her sounds were less of a wail, and more like the muffled cries of a frightened kitten.

Henry rested his head against hers and tried to calm himself now that Effie was safe with him and unhurt.

When he realized Effie was missing, it was as if the world around him suddenly shattered like glass, as if the peaceful scenario he was in was a vivid dream that ended abruptly. Effie had been kidnapped before, though it was with other children of wealthy merchants while they were on a school trip to a nature preserve.

Henry didn't know if they were being targeted specifically because they were children of wealthy merchants or if it was because they were in a Carthage Harbor caravan that looked promising. Whatever the reason, a half dozen school children had been kidnapped when a carriage was separated from the others.

The children had been taken for less than a day before he, Ash, and Nera found them. Most of the time was spent just getting to the location of the crime, as once Nera had been informed, half the birds in the sky had combed the area looking for children. Void was still little back then, but she stayed with Effie, which eventually tipped off the other birds.

The children were rescued, and the kidnappers were dead. Nera came out of those woods casually wiping off some traces of blood on her cheek.

For weeks, they carefully observed Effie. She'd claimed that it happened so quickly, she didn't realize what had happened. She had no aversion to carriages, drivers, horses, or loud noises. However, she did have nightmares, which took time to stop.

This was the first time Effie was kidnapped as she was. Talam and Prince Muran were with her, but really, what help could they give? It was Effie, an eight-year-old, who had to be the pillar of calm and strength for them.

But no one wanted their little sister to go through the ordeal at all.

He would need to talk to Ash and later Nera about this. Effie was smart and well adjusted, but she was still a child.

Henry turned around when Effie's quiet whimpering turned into heavy, even breathing. Her body must've shut down after the stress. Henry walked out the door. Several city guards were surveying the frozen kidnappers. One tried to pull them, another tried to push, but the frozen blocks did not move.

"Young Master, can you loosen them from the ground?" one city guard asked while avoiding Henry's cold, murderous face.

He sneered and a moment later, a small crack was heard from the ice. One city guard pushed against the iced kidnappers and found it slid a bit.

"Will this ice kill them?" one of the city guards asked aloud as Henry passed them with Effie asleep on him. "Young Master, should you defrost them?"

"They're lucky I didn't freeze their flesh," Henry said in a low voice. "I'm being merciful."

Someone clicked their tongue and spoke with some disparagement. "He calls this merciful?" he mocked in a low voice. "How is being frozen merciful?"

Henry stopped several paces from them. He remained standing up straight with Effie's head on his shoulder. He slowly turned around to face the city guards. "They kidnapped my sister," he said in a dangerous voice. "Frostbitten body parts, inability to move, possibly damaged flesh.... This is not enough to quell my anger." He narrowed his eyes. "I didn't kill them. This is the most mercy I can afford to give."

He clenched his jaw as he shut his mouth and turned around, walking away from the city guards and kidnappers.

"Young Master, a carriage is ready to bring the Young Miss off, and a messenger has been sent to notify the Second Young Master," one of their guards told him with pride.

Henry nodded. "Two of you stay here and ensure that those kidnappers are properly dealt with."

Two guards stepped to the side at once and saluted him. "Yes, Young Master."

Henry took a deep breath and stared ahead of him as he walked forward.

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Ash was never one to reject an offer to use an acquaintance as a test subject. In accordance with the Traceras teachings, if he was going to practice on another person, they must have that person's consent. Talam didn't seem averse to his presence, so he figured that was enough.

Talam looked up at him from the bed, appearing surprised and impressed. "I didn't know you were also a healer."

Ash shook his head. "I'm not."

The rest of the corner room in the west medical center of Shae went quiet. Several confused gazes, including Talam's, looked at Ash. The medic with them crinkled his eyes. "Are you a medic or cleric?"

"I can see why you'd ask that considering they called me here at once," Ash replied with an understanding expression. "But I am, in no way, qualified or authorized for any sort of healing or medical work."

"Then why are you here?" Diyar's face flushed red and looked as if he wanted to pull his hair out.

Ash couldn't help but light up. Now was his time to explain. "Let me introduce myself to the medic. I'm Ash Atractas and I'm here today representing Moonflower, a magic product research and development company based in Carthage Harbor," he said, extending a hand with a small card in it. "My card."

Flustered, the medic accepted the card and furrowed his brows. "Are you…are you selling something?" He raised his head to look at Ash in dismay. "This is a bit in appropriate, isn't it?"

"Not at all!" Ash said. "Moonflower has recently developed some items that could be useful for Mr. Heigoren's injury."

"Where did you have time to work on a medical device for such a specific thing?" Prince Tae's voice came from behind the curtain that separated the room. Prince Muran had woken up once, but kept crying in discomfort before falling back asleep.

The imperial doctor who'd come with the Suna royals had recommended he stay in observation in a facility with sufficient medical supplies as a precaution in case there were complications from the powder Prince Muran and Effie had inhaled. In fact, the room was theirs, but the center had few beds left, so they allowed Talam to join them.

"It's just some things Hana and I have been tinkering with in between set up and testing our Exhibition," Ash shrugged, as if the development of the item was a hobby.

"What is the device?" the medic asked with some hesitation.

Ash smiled and began to reach into his bag strapped across his chest. "They're not devices so much as supplies and medication. The first is this quick drying medicinal liquid we developed to specifically address bruises, both the kind created by impact and the kind created around a wound."

He took out a small, clear glass bottle containing a light purple transparent liquid. He handed it to the medic, who accepted it with both curiosity and uncertainty. He tried to open the lid, but found that the top pulled off too easily and there was nothing but a small tube.

"What is in it?" He shook hit and turned it upside down, but nothing came out. "How does it work?"

Stolen novel; please report.

"Let me show you," Ash reached over and took it back. He put the small cap on and then turned to Talam, who was lying on a bed with his hideous bruise exposed. "Mr. Heigoren, thank you for volunteering."

"What?" Talam's brows shot up. "I didn't- "

"Too late." Ash sprayed his stomach. Talam cried out as soon as the little droplets hit his skin.

"Young Lord!" Diyar rushed over and Bo pulled Ash away. "What's wrong?" He whirled around to glare at Ash. "What did you do to him?"

Ash stepped back and observed the bruise. "Do you sense any discomfort?"

"It's cold!" Talam said with gritted teeth. "Can you at least warn me next time?"

"Sure, the next time you get beaten, I'll let you know," Ash said with a cheeky smile. Both of Talam's guards glared at him, but Ash appeared unaffected. "The ten second mark has passed, now how do you feel?"

"It's gotten warmer…." Talam shifted on the bed and tilted his head to the side. "The pain isn't as strong."

"That would be the temporary numbing. It will last about a day, but that doesn't mean you should strain yourself or aggravate the bruise- "

"But how does this help the bruise?" Diyar demanded. "Numbing won't help it heal!"

"I didn't say the numbing facilitated healing," Ash scoffed with indignation. "The ingredients used are first, to relax the injured tissue and numb them to prevent discomfort. Then, it will act to immediately reduce swelling and rapidly repair tissue, which is the important part. While all this is happening, it will also increase blood flow to the sprayed area, reducing chances of clotting and fade the discoloration."

"How long will it take?" Prince Tae peeked out from behind the curtain, drawn by Ash's explanation.

"For a small bruise, it will be gone within twelve hours, so overnight. Faster, if the bruise was sprayed before the bruise fully formed," Ash said. "But for something as large as this…" He motioned towards Talam's stomach and shook his head. "About a week."

The room went silent again, but this time there was an air of excitement. The medic's eyes went wide, and he stepped forward. "A week? Only a week?"

"Seven days," Ash said with an affirmative nod. "That's long, isn't it?"

"Long?" The medic almost choked on his words. "Second Young Master, a bruise of this degree would take at least a month to fade!"

"Reducing the healing time to a quarter of that…." Prince Tae murmured as he rubbed his chin. "As expected of Nera's son."

"What about reapplication?" Henry was sitting on a chair by the door, midway in the room between Prince Muran's side and Talam's. Effie had camped herself beside Prince Muran's bed and was patting his belly gently as he slept. Terry and Cio went to Cio's mother as circumstances had changed, and Henry couldn't watch them. Terry clamored to stay with Effie, but Hana, who'd originally come with Ash and met everyone at the entrance of the medical center, took Terry with Cio's mother to be watched.

Ash held up the spray bottle. "For maximum effectiveness, four times a day, so every six hours," he said. "Just one spray over the affected area. You have to make sure to cover the whole area, too. Those who we've tested for sprays once a day with a bruise only half this size on a forearm, still have a shadow of a bruise after a week and a half. We still need to do some testing, which is why I'm here."

Diyar looked at Ash with horror. "You're testing on our Young Lord?"

Ash looked at Talam instead of the guard. "I am the winner of the last three Exhibitions, known for quality products that are beneficial to society. I've worked with the Federation to create lifesaving products for transport, as well as making the Invitational safer for both competitors and audiences. I came here, out of the goodness of my heart, to help you with products we've recently developed that haven't hit the market yet. Do you have a problem with that?"

He pretended he didn't see Henry running a hand down his face behind him. Talam appeared flustered and stammered a bit before shaking his head. "No…no- "

"Good! I'll be checking on you every few hours to see how the bruise has healed. In addition, I'll also tape up your torso so that strain on surrounding muscle tissue will not be aggravated with movement," Ash said. He stuffed his spray into his bag and took out a coiled, beige tape as wide as his pinky was long. It had a slight medicinal smell.

"What is that?" Prince Tae had now walked all the way to Talam's beside. Ash was not greedy.

He held out the tape and unrolled a portion of it in front of the prince. "Go ahead and touch it. It's made of incredibly breathable plains cotton and then soaked and dried in a mixture that facilitates healing by reducing inflammation and becomes sticky when water is applied."

"What do you do with it?" the medic asked, also moving closer.

"The tape, once adhered partially stretched to bare skin, will contract and stretch with movement, slightly reducing the stress on muscle tissue, allowing it to rest and heal faster," Ash said. "This is our current prototype. We've only just started seriously testing it."

Prince Tae gave Ash a confused look. "Where? Haven't you been at the Exhibition Hall?"

"At the Exhibition Hall," Ash replied, as if it were obvious. "There are so many presentations being set up, that people do get injured. The laborers assisting occasionally get bruised, cut, or strain something. Hana and I had jumped to help them in exchange for testing our products once they sign non-disclosure agreements."

"Do I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement?" Talam asked weakly.

"For the tape, yes. For the spray no. It's not easily replicated. In fact, it's quite difficult to," Ash said. "I'll get the paperwork. Here you can, try a bit." Ash took some small scissors and cut off a piece of tape for both the medic and Prince Tae before digging through his bag.

"This is amazing…. Second Young Master, can we use some for the center?" the medic asked, turning around. Ash had taken out a piece of paper and a pen.

"As of right now, most of our stock is being used at the Exhibition Hall by the medic staff there. Any additional sets had been prepared for our Carthage Harbor health teams," Ash said, distracted. "Please sign here."

Talam raised his arm to take the pen and sign. The medic frowned with disappointment. "We can use this here…."

"Moonflower is currently working on several magic-enhanced products of this nature," Ash said, smiling after Talam signed his name, as if Talam had just sold him his soul. "We've spoken to a few peers of ours from other cities who are interested in participating in a pilot testing program. If your higher ups allow, we can work something out in return for development feedback."

"Certainly!" The medic's face lit up as if he'd won the lottery. "I'll get the center head right now! She'll be interested in this!"

"We'll wait until she's here to apply the tape," Ash said. He took out something else from his bag as the medic ran out. Ash looked down at Talam. "In the meantime, let's check for any broken or fractured bones."

Talam gave him a wry smile. "I should be fine. They only got my stomach."

Ash shook his head. He took out what appeared to be a round compact the size of his fist. However, it was thicker. Instead of opening top up, it slid open, attached by a small hinge at the bottom. Ash moved up some of Talam's shirt to expose his lower rib area and then put the part of the compact that appeared to be thin black glass on the lowest of Talam's ribs.

Ash pinched the thicker metal portion and moved it slowly over the area. The edges of the black glass that met the metal frame began to glow. Something white appeared on the black glass' smooth flat surface.

"What is that?" Diyar asked. He peered down and his eyes widened. "Is that a rib!?"

"That is indeed a rib," Ash said, keeping his eyes on the glass. "Hana calls this an x-ray. It helps view through soft tissue and skin to see bone and inspect for any cracks, fractures, or dislocations. It's still in development, so we're not planning to show it off yet."

Diyar stared at Ash with a mixture of amazement and horror before letting out a low whisper. "You terrify me."

"Diyar." Talam gave him a frown before looking at Ash with concern. "How does it look?"

"Nothing broken, no fractures. You should be fine. Just the massive bruising," Ash said. He checked both lower rib cages and then slid the compact closed.

It was just in time, too, as the medic arrived with a woman in a white coat embroidered around the collar with a simple green leaf beneath the black outline of a five-petaled flower - a symbol of medical centers coming from extracting medicine from plants.

The woman had messy brown hair in a bun, glasses, and an excited smile. She immediately raised her hand and extended it to Ash. "Second Young Master Atractas, thank you for coming! My colleagues at the Exhibition Hall have spoken highly of you. I was hoping to approach you during the Exhibition."

"Director Kim," Ash greeted her politely and respectfully. "I apologize if I've overstepped applying medicine to a friend."

"No, no, I've heard of the bruise spray. If you don't mind, may I see it?" she asked.

Ash took it out once more to show her and ask if she'd apply and take note until the bruise was healed. Director Kim nodded as if her life depended on it. Next, Ash re-introduced his tape.

Slowly and while explaining each step and purpose, he bandaged strips of tape across Talam's stomach, as if giving a lecture to medical students.

"Ash is not one to hoard knowledge beneficial to society," Henry said as he observed from his seat. Prince Tae nodded.

"Which is a good and honorable thing," Prince Tae replied. "But…how much will all this cost?"

"They'll figure it out," Henry told him. "But he'll make a point to charge less than the Magic Tower, if only out of spite."

Prince Tae snort-laughed and grinned.

"Your Highness." After Ash's presentation, while the medic and center director were observing and speaking to Talam, Ash approached him. "How is Prince Muran? Did he wake again?"

The earlier amusement on Prince Tae's face faded. He lowered his eyes and shook his head once, not hiding his disappointment from Ash. "No…I worry that the powder affected him, but Effie seems fine."

"Effie is different," Henry said. "Effie is more resilient to such things, both because she is Lunapsar and snow elf. Her body purges toxins much, much faster than regular humans."

"Hana and I have recently worked on two products that work together to purge toxins without causing stress to the body," Ash said. "However, it's still being tested, so we don't know how fast it will work. It may just take as long as normal."

Prince Tae hesitated a bit. Ash didn't blame him. He didn't offer when he arrived, as the products were still in refining stages, which always posed some risks, even if that risk was simply not working. If he'd offered it earlier, Prince Tae would've refused.

However, now Ash had shown him some products that had positive results. Anyone would be more inclined to try his test products after witnessing his earlier work. Still, Ash didn't push the subject.

"What are the products?" Prince Tae asked.

Ash didn't show any excitement and approached his question calmly. "We have what is called a drip. A cylinder of a liquid designed to reintroduce fluids and minerals mixed with a compound that isolates toxins in the body. This is injected into a person with a needle. The solution drips down and into the needle." He paused and watched Prince Tae's face for any sign of rejection. The other man's face didn't change, so Ash continued. "While the drip is happening, we apply bandage-like cotton pads covered with special gel that will pull the compound and the toxins its isolated, out through the skin, like sweat."

"Is this possible?" a voice asked behind him. Ash nodded and looked over his shoulder at the medic and Director.

"The original drip is a joint project with my partner's friends. Its original purpose was to reintroduce fluids and minerals into the body that were lost from excessive heat, exercise, dehydration, or illness. Hana calls 'return sweat'." He paused as everyone seemed to make a face at the name. "We've since changed the name of Rejuvenation and Refresh Juice, or Reju, for short. We added the toxin isolating compound to Reju for this test."

"What are the side effects?" Prince Tae asked.

"Water retention and it just not working," Ash said. "There is also a very off chance that he could develop a rash due to the gel or adhesive on the cotton pad, but such a thing is rare." Prince Tae seemed to think this over and Ash continued. "Don't feel pressured to do this, Your Highness. If it does work, it'll only quicken the process."

Prince Tae looked on the other side of the curtain at his nephew. "Can you adjust the dosage for a child?"

"That's standard practice, of course, the dosage will be adjusted for his age and size," Ash said.

Prince Tae finally nodded. "Then, please." He motioned from Ash to the bed on the other side of the curtain.

The medic and director came to watch as Ash put his bag on the foot of the bed where Prince Muran was sleeping and flushed with an uncomfortable look on his face. Ash removed the items from his bag and began setting them up.

The glass cylinder was hanging on a macrame basket from a rack, then a thin tube was connected. Adjustments were made and finally a little drop of clear liquid could be seen from the tip of a needle. Effie drew her head back.

"Second Brother? Is that going to hurt Ranran?" Effie asked, worried. Ash looked at her and smiled. He wiped the back of the toddler's arm.

"It won't. The wipe has some numbing liquid on it," Ash told her. "He'll be fine." Effie nodded.

With a flick of Ash's finger, the needle went in. He used some tape to hold it down and then began to open Ranran's clothes so he could apply the bandages. Prince Tae watched the entire process, only letting out a breath of relief when Ash was done.

"How long?"

"Give it two hours," Ash said. "Then we'll check."

"Thank you."

Effie continued to pat the toddler's belly. She studied his face, relaxing a bit when his furrowed frown began to ease. "I think he's feeling better."

"The Reju should also cool him down a bit, easing his discomfort," Ash said.

Effie nodded and then shifted when Prince Muran began to fidget. Prince Tae walked closer to the bed and touched his nephew's head. His expression eased, but he still seemed worried.

"He's cooler…but still uncomfortable."

Prince Muran let out a small whimper and Effie gasped. "It's okay, Ranran. Go back to sleep. Just take a nap and when you wake up, we'll get pancakes." Hearing her voice must've relaxed the child, as his expression loosened and he seemed to allow himself to sink into bed. Effie patted his chunky leg and began to sing her favorite lullaby in Lunapsar.

Ash smiled a bit. He walked towards Henry and took a seat next to him. The two brothers listened to their little sister's lullaby. Nera didn't know any Ashtari lullabies. Her mother was born in the Celestial Kingdom, so all the lullabies she knew were in Lunapsar. As a result, all the lullabies Nera heard were also in Lunapsar.

This wasn't surprising considering that Nera's paternal side did not like her and wouldn't spare time to comfort her in anyway.

Thus, when Nera had Ash, all her lullabies to him were in Lunapsar. She'd taught Henry, as Henry was around Ash the most of the siblings, and helped put Ash to bed many times. When Effie was a baby, all three of them sang to her in Lunapsar.

"I hate that now she's the one singing it, as if she's grown up," Henry said with a bittersweet smile of a father who had just realized his daughter was no longer his little girl.

"What is she saying?" Prince Tae asked in a quiet voice so as not to disturb the children.

"It's a story about a wise turtle outsmarting an arrogant monkey," Ash replied as he closed his eyes and leaned back against his chair. "The monkey is mocking the turtle, but the turtle is clever."

"That line…that line right there," Henry said, waving towards Effie as she sang. "Is particularly violent. The turtle tricks the monkey into jumping into a volcano."

Prince Tae's eyes crinkled up. "What kind of lullabies…."

"Is that a popular Lunapsar lullaby?" Talam's voice shook a bit from one side of the curtain. Ash leaned to his side to look. Talam's eyes were wide open as he stared at the ceiling. There was a redness there and some pain across his face. For a moment, Ash wondered if the spray hadn't worked.

"I suppose so," Henry replied. "My aunt used to always sing it to Ash when he was a baby, and then Effie."

Talam swallowed hard. "It sounds familiar."

"You understand Lunapsar?" Ash asked.

"A little…not as much as I'd like," Talam said, his gaze still fixed on the ceiling, as if afraid that if he looked away, he would miss something. "I…I've heard it before."

"Really?" Prince Tae asked, raising a brow.

Talam seemed to search the ceiling for an answer. "After my parents died, my uncle and his first fiancée rushed back. My family was…falling apart. My grandparents almost never came out of their rooms. My uncle was struggling to take care of the family's duties and businesses. Many servants left when they thought our family was declining at that time, so…no one really had time to take care of a little boy." His voice tightened. "Except my aunt." He began to quietly say the words that Effie was still singing softly to Prince Muran, and then laughed a painful laugh. "When the world ignored me, only my aunt was there. She sang me that song."

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"Do not tell Momma I was kidnapped again." Effie's words were firm as she cupped a raven's head in her hands. "Look at me. I'm serious," she said with a frown. "Don't tell her and distract her from her game. We are a family of winners."

The raven seemed to want to refuse at first, but finally let out a small chirp. Effie released his head, satisfied.

"Auntie's still behind, even though she won her last three events," Terry shook her head as she paced the apartment floor. "That loss during the first event really set her back."

"It can't be helped," Cio replied. "Auntie wouldn't leave someone to die, even if they are a competitor. It's unsportsmanlike."

"She has three more events," Henry told them as he brought them the food that had been carried over from the takeout boxes they'd collected. "Unarmed combat, armed combat, and archery are the easier, shorter events. The last three will be the most tiring."

The three children all let out thoughtful hums. The longest event was the first, which was an overnight sailing event. The combat-related competitions were short bursts with long breaks in between, and it was a tiered, winner-moves-up, system. The last three were day long events, depending on how fast one was.

"Tomorrow is the equestrian competition consisting of an obstacle course in the countryside just outside the city." People had gotten lost in the past as the course went through uneven terrain, and without signposts or officials to guide them, competitors had to rely on maps.

Officials did line the course, but that was only to make sure the competitors were staying honest and to deal with any injuries.

"Momma is very good at riding and her sense of direction is impeccable," Ash said, seated with the children around a large table. He scooped some soup into Hana's small soup bowl.

Hana was seated next to Effie and wiping her hands clean. "Any event with an animal feels safer for your mom. If something is wrong with the animals, she can deal with it immediately."

The others nodded. "After the equestrian competition, the competitors will stay outside the city to prepare for their last two events, the obstacle course, and then the final chariot race," Henry said. "I heard this year's course is difficult."

Obstacle course wasn't just individuals jumping through hoops or climbing steep barricades. The Invitational had its roots in testing the abilities of merchants, so each competitor wore a bag. Inside the bag was a glass vase. That glass vase needed to arrive at the finish line not only in a suitable time and filled with the various items competitors were to collect, but also completely in tack.

Points from rank were removed with any damage on the vase. If it had shattered completely, then the competitor would get no points at all. Contrary to what was expected, this event had the least number of 'accidents,' as every competitor would not risk their vase to damage another's.

"There are seven items they need to gather before they reach the finish line. I'm sure Momma can find all of them." There were several nods of agreement around the table.

"I'm excited for the chariot race," Cio said. "I've already placed my bets."

"On the race or on the overall all-around?"

"The race."

Hana squinted at the children. "I thought they didn't allow children to place bets."

"My mother did on my behalf," Cio replied.

"Mine was locked in on Momma's at the start of the Invitational," Effie sighed. "But now, after the first event…I'm not sure."

"Even if she doesn't win the all-around because of a technicality, everyone knows she should've," Henry told her.

A knock came from the door. Henry was just about to sit down and paused. He glanced at the others. Everyone who was supposed to be there for lunch was there for lunch. Cio's other was having tea with some business partners, Hana's brother was guarding their exhibition project, and the guards were downstairs. Prince Tae had returned to his residence with Prince Muran, and Talam and his guards were still at the medical center under observation.

Henry tried not to frown as he walked towards the foyer. He opened the door and found the associate managers who managed the teahouse downstairs there, waiting for him. "Young Master, two men are here to see the Second Young Master. They said it's urgent."

Ash heard his title and pushed his seat back, rising to his feet. He walked to the door with a concerned expression. "What's going on?"

"I don't know Second Young Master, they said they're from the medical center."

Ash's brows shot up. Henry looked at the others. "We'll be back in a moment." He led Ash downstairs, just behind the associate manager.

The associate manager had entered through a side entrance connected to the tea house. He led them to the front lobby. At lunch, the tea house was packed, but two men in white coats were standing to the side, looking flushed and ruffled, as if they'd raced there.

"I'm Ash Atractas. What is going on?" Ash asked, stepping out in front of his brother. "Is it Mr. Heigoren?"

"No, Second Young Master!" The two men stood up straight and gave him quick, respectful bows. "Director Kim sent us. There was an accident and many people were injured. She wants to know if you have any additional supplies. She fears our supplies aren't enough, and we can't ask the Invitational medic teams for supplies as a precaution."

Ash narrowed his eyes. He looked at Henry. "Call Hana down. I'll get our guards to come with us," he said. Henry nodded and turned around to rush back up the stairs. Ash then looked at the two men. "Tell me what happened."

One man shifted uncomfortably while the other looked pained. "There was a fire and building collapse at the Southend," he said. "There may be people still buried in the rubble."

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