Riding Fate
David, a knight of the Mayor Duke's household, could confidently say he had no shame in his training. He'd swung his sword countless times without ever stopping his study of swordsmanship. By day, he practiced his swings; by night, he read manuals and restructured his theory. And so, he earned his place as a knight of the Mayor Duke's house. He took more pride in being a knight than in serving the duke.
A knight. He pursued justice, of course, but above all, it was a position that let him know his own strength. The sight of his sword made others tremble in fear, allowed him to mediate disputes, and even earned him reverence. That was why David had absolute confidence in his abilities.
He was strong.
But that confidence was shattered right now.
"Urk... guh...!"
He stared at his broken arm. He couldn't even comprehend what had happened. A child had flashed before his eyes like lightning, and the next thing he knew, he'd lost his balance and hit the ground with a snapped arm.
"This... you...!"
Before he could get the words out—
Wham!
"Gahk!"
A kick to his temple sent his consciousness plummeting into darkness.
*
"Th-this is..."
The Mayor Duke muttered in bewilderment, watching his other knights crumple like fallen leaves. Clue, meanwhile, stretched casually as if she'd done nothing out of the ordinary.
"Did you think I wouldn't need to warm up just because I'm not human? Homunculi have joints too, you know."
"Never crossed my mind."
I answered calmly and met the Mayor Duke's gaze.
"P-Prince! What is the meaning of this?!"
"What do you think?"
How could he speak so brazenly? I locked eyes with the Mayor Duke, who averted his gaze when it shifted to me. He knew exactly what he had coming.
I held the orb in my hand as Tina positioned herself behind me.
"...Princess, you don't mean...?"
"..."
The Mayor Duke's words made Tina look away, and his eyes widened in shock.
"Even so, to borrow foreign powers to enter the Cassius Kingdom... How could you...!"
"That's enough."
People needed to know when to shut up. I raised my hand, signaling Clue.
"Oof!"
"Untrained humans can die if you hit them too hard, so I went easy, Master."
"Good work."
I praised her and turned back to the Mayor Duke.
"We already know what you're plotting."
"..."
He squeezed his eyes shut, lips sealed. He wasn't going to talk, then.
"Clue."
"Yes, Master. Shall I torture him?"
"..."
I'd meant it as a light threat, playing along with her, but she jumped straight to it.
Clue twirled her arm.
"You're insulting the empire's torturers. Let's start with the skin—"
"If you dare imprison or torture me!"
The Mayor Duke finally blurted out in panic.
"His Majesty King Cassius won't stand for it!"
"..."
"His Majesty cherishes me!"
Desperate words from the Mayor Duke. Was he an idiot?
I stared at him, and Clue did the same before glancing at me.
"Are all humans like this?"
"Sometimes they throw you off beat."
"This isn't a joke!"
As Clue and I bantered, the Mayor Duke shrieked hysterically.
"His Majesty will lead the army here any moment! Even for imperial envoys and royalty, this diplomatic breach—"
Boom!
Before he finished, a crash echoed from outside, followed by rumbling footsteps.
"Your Highness!"
"Are you all right?!"
"Any injuries?!"
Gordolf led the ministers' chorus.
"Just as Your Highness predicted, we've barricaded the doors!"
"But King Cassius's reaction is sharper than expected...!"
"It doesn't seem like he's thinking diplomatically!"
Figures. I nodded.
"I'm fine."
"Pardon?"
"..."
I quickly assessed the situation. We'd secured the orb-like item somehow. King Cassius was trying to force his way in from outside, held back by our side. He was probably still partially brainwashed. Coldly speaking, it was only a matter of time before we were overwhelmed.
Of course, that assumed no asymmetric forces.
"Just wait it out."
"Prince Theodor...?"
The ministers stared at me in confusion. Even the Mayor Duke looked at me like I was mad.
"...N-no, surely you're not calling Her Majesty?"
Gordolf's face hardened first.
"P-Prince! I know it! This Mayor Duke deserves punishment for his crimes, and he'll get it once this is over!"
As I stayed silent, he poured out words like a machine gun, sweat beading on his brow.
"I agree he deserves due punishment! But...!"
"Yes?"
"If Her Majesty comes... it'll be a disaster for Cassius...!"
Genuine terror filled Gordolf's eyes.
"It'll lead to countless diplomatic catastrophes...!"
He shouted as if foreseeing the fallout, and the other ministers nodded frantically.
"W-we'll hold her back if we must!"
"Right! I know some magic...!"
"Please, not Her Majesty...!"
"..."
What image did they have of my mother? Look—even the Mayor Duke stared at us in utter confusion. But I understood. I knew full well the catastrophe of summoning Mother lightly.
"I never planned to call her in the first place."
"Pardon?"
Gordolf gaped at me, as did the others.
"Then, shall I handle the magic here...?"
"Master, like I said, let me use my power this time...?"
"Prince Theo, stay behind me."
The ministers, Clue, and even the silent Lucy spoke with grim resolve, but...
"No. I called in someone who's just been bored."
"Someone bored...?"
"One of the princesses?"
"My sisters are busy."
They were all abroad right now. But I had someone nearby with unmatched skill and way too much free time.
Fwaaah!
A brilliant light spread, visible even through the windows.
"Ugh...!"
Everyone shielded their eyes—except Clue, who stared at me in shock.
"No way... when did you contact them, Master?"
"Just one word: 'Help.'"
"And they came this fast?"
Clue muttered incredulously, glancing outside. Moments later—
Fwaaaah!
Another burst of light, followed by screams from beyond. Then, silence fell like a lie.
"..."
Clue rubbed her forehead slowly, Lucy's face twisted in bewilderment—until the door creaked open with steady footsteps.
A familiar face appeared, beaming brightly.
"Theo!"
The former saintess, a walking miracle—Isfil—waved and ran to me.
"I came right away when you called."
"Knew I could count on you, Isfil."
I nodded to her, and she nodded back—until...
"..."
"..."
Her eyes met Tina's, and they stared for a beat.
"This the... Cassius princess?"
Isfil muttered, and
"Theo, who's this?"
Tina asked in a flat tone.
"I'll explain later. Isfil, I need you to break through here."
"Oh... sure. Where to?"
"Can you punch through to King Cassius?"
"Yeah. Where is he?"
"Tina'll guide you."
"..."
"..."
They exchanged glances again.
"Okay, I'll lead."
"Got it. I'll clear the path."
The two took the lead.
"Let's go."
Time to move. I followed them.
The plan was simple: Isfil erected an unbreakable barrier. Arrows, magic, weapons rained down, but she deflected them effortlessly as she walked.
"I could've taken them all out."
"Clue, you already broke that guy's arm."
"That was me holding back for safety!"
She protested, hopping mad, but I just shrugged.
Whatever. My goal was the king. Thanks to her, we bulldozed through the Cassius royal guard with Isfil's barrier, pulling off the impossible.
"R-release me! Even if you're from the empire...!"
Before long, King Cassius dangled helplessly, arms pinned by one of Clue's hands.
"...Father."
Tina murmured bitterly, and the king shrieked at the sight of her.
"Tina! Help me!"
"Just a moment, Father."
She approached slowly—
Wham!
"Guhk!"
And punched him square in the solar plexus. He crumpled.
"..."
"..."
"..."
We all gawked at her.
"...Aren't you gonna do it?"
Tina tilted her head at me. I opened and closed my mouth before nodding.
"R-right. Yeah."
I hurried to the king, gripped his forehead, and pressed mine to it.
Time for the brute-force method. Mother and Lily had warded me against mental interference. So if I linked into it too...
I cast the spell Lily taught me and met the king's eyes.
Our gazes locked. A soft shiiik sounded, like someone tugging my navel.
And then...
"What the...?"
I stood in a fog-shrouded void. A chill seeped into my body—until
The child of the star must ride fate.