Will of a Prince

The group followed Harold out to his cart after gathering their gear. All Maria needed was her dragon armor combined with her spear. Jacob had his armor but couldn’t seem to find his weapon. One thing that Jacob noticed was that no one was questioning why a dragon was sitting on top of Maria’s shoulder. In fact, the only people who seemed to care was Slimo and Lidia. They started treating it like it was their grandchild, which, technically speaking, was true.

Lidia would constantly have small slabs of meat to throw into Sheeby’s mouth. Sheeby appeared to like Lidia much more than Slimo or himself.

’Maybe it just hates guys for some reason. I guess we both did kind of have a grudge against its mom though... especially Slimo.’

Jacob chuckled to himself.

’Generational hatred! How funny is that?!’

Every one of the group members piled into the back of Harold’s cart. Enny sat extremely close to Maria, almost grabbing her arm as they sat down. Maria looked down at her confused.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes... well, no. Last time I was in this cart I didn’t have the best experience you could say."

Lidia started hollering behind them and slapped Enny’s back.

"That’s right! I forgot about that! Everyone started calling her brownie breath because she threw up the brownies I fed her after the ride! HAHAHA!!"

Enny blushed severely and covered her face.

"That’s so embarrassing! Why would you tell her that so loudly?! It’s not even funny."

Jacob couldn’t help it, but he let out a few snorts of laughter. Big mistake. Maria glared at him menacingly.

"Are you laughing at my sister?!"

This immediately straightened Jacob’s behavior. he coughed into his fist before responding.

"What?! Never! Of course not! Brownie breath isn’t even that funny!"

Jacob had to hold back another laugh saying, "brownie breath". he thought that nickname was hilarious. Almost as funny as Pop’s real name. Remembering him brought a few unpleasant memories to light which helped him calm down.

"That’s what I thought."

Abby called back to everyone in the cart.

"We have to wait for Orvo to come back so you all can talk for a little while."

Jacob nodded his head and looked at everyone with curiosity.

"Hey, everyone. Long time no see. What have you all been up to since I was a mindless beasts terrorizing the lands?"

Squabee was the first one to speak, completely cutting off Bo who was about to start talking.

"Well, since no one else wants to speak first I think I should! I have finally been able to use my transformation ability! I actually used it in the fight against you! You were totally helpless to do anything about it haha! You were all like, WOOSH WOOSH! And then you missed and were like RAHH! And then you would keep missing and get angrier! It was an amazing spectacle!"

Jacob’s face went blank hearing the story and he scratched his head embarrassingly.

"Let’s maybe not bring up what I did to you all again. I truly feel terrible for it. But, how exactly did your power work?"

"I was able to bless everyone with a little bit of my luck. It wasn’t as mine though. Most of the attacks you threw out still damaged people, but not nearly as much as they would have normally. I also grew these large wings and was able to fly! That was such a cool experience! There is actually something else we learned about the nature of my power. Apparently, I don’t get to choose what my ’best interest’ is. It’s like the world only gets to decide what is best for me."

She played with her hands a bit, refusing to meet his gaze.

"So, that technically means no one is protected by my power when I don’t transform. However, that also made me wonder what would happen if my powers were to fight each other. What I mean by that is, what if I bless someone with some luck, but my power deems them getting harmed in my best interest? Would the luck I just blessed them with protect them? Or would my luck overpower theirs and harm them? Truthfully, I have a feeling it’s the latter, but it was still an interesting thing to think about. It is also more of a warning to those I bless."

Everyone seemed to pay closer attention.

"What I’m trying to say is, don’t get too comfortable, even if you are blessed with a little bit of luck. Afterall, luck is the most unpredictable thing there is."

Jacob smiled and nodded his head with respect at Squabee.

"That was actually really useful information for once, Squabee. Good job!"

"Thank you-... hey wait! Did you say for once?!"

"Nope! Next person!"

"I got this new invisibility-"

"ME AND SERENA HAVE A COMBINED TRANSFORMATION! AND WE’RE DATING!!"

Bo was interrupted once again by Zoey this time. Truthfully, Jacob didn’t know what part of what she said was more shocking. His eyes widened and he took a moment to answer.

"Oh, wow! That’s really good for you two! And did you say you have a combined transformation? How does that work?"

Serena spoke up with her cheek’s bright red, most probably from Zoey’s loud exclamation of their relationship.

"Well, Zoey’s transformation is already a phoenix. My transformation turns me into some sort of pyro monster that can manipulate its own flames intensity. I was the one who suggested we try combining their powers because they are so incredibly similar. Zoey’s phoenix was already completely made of fire, so it would have been like giving it a suit of armor to wear while it flew."

Jacob leaned in, completely infatuated with the story he was hearing.

"It took us along time of practicing, but one day our forms sort of just... meshed together, creating an infinitely stronger version of Zoey’s phoenix. There is a small downside that we discovered though. Since we are made of such pure fire, any kind of water power that we are hit with weakens us severely to the point that we can’t even hold the transformation. So, fighting in the rain is simply not an option."

Serena looked at Enny.

"Sorry, Enny. Lidia already spoiled your power to me."

Enny waved her hand.

"It’s really okay. We can fight far apart from each other then."

"Anyway, this invisibility power I got really-"

"AND THEN I CUT THIS GUY LIKE HIYAH! AND THEN I CUT THIS OTHER GUY LIKE WAPOW! AND THEN I CUT-"

"CAN YOU SHUT THE HELL UP AND LET ME TALK ALREADY?!"

Steel put down his arms and furrowed his brow at Bo.

"I was just telling him about our teamwork!"

"You didn’t even mention me! We took out a whole Epigone camp together! You didn’t do all that by yourself! Give me some credit!!"

"Okay, fine! And then Bo was all like, ’oh no it’s so bloody! I’m going to hurl and go invisible again!’ and then I cut him out of his misery like slash slash!"

Bo wrestled Steel to the ground.

"I only gagged a little bit! Shut up and tell the truth next time!"

Slimo sighed deeply as they continued to wrestle.

"Bo’s power seemed to have evolved slightly. He isn’t simply turning invisible anymore. He is literally erasing himself from existence every time he disappears. Not only that, but he can also take a buddy with him. That’s what Steel is for. They managed to take out an entire Epigone camp almost completely silently. I couldn’t even imagine how terrifying it must have been in that place."

Jacob rubbed his chin, lost in thought,

’Completely erases himself from existence?! That’s crazy! I can’t decide if that ability is insanely powerful or not though. I assume that he simply reverts back to the state he was previously in when he makes himself visible again, so it doesn’t provide any defense capabilities if they get hit.’

He laughed to himself.

’But that sure does make for one hell of an assassin ability. That’s for sure.’

"Gabriel also got a hell of a lot stronger. He beat Miss Avala over there in a fight fair and Square. To be honest, I think he’s one of the strongest in our group now."

Jacob looked at Gabriel. The change in both his features and eyes was clear. His pupils were full of focus and determination. He was sitting next to Avala who’s silver hair was braided on her back. Jacob couldn’t help but notice that Avala kept stealing a few glances in Gabriel’s direction every chance she got, as if she wanted to talk to him but was too afraid to start a conversation.

’Who knew that the General of Paria Empire was so awkward?’

"Is this true, Gabriel?"

Gabriel looked at Jacob and nodded without saying a word. Finally, Avala found the courage to speak.

"Well, he just got lucky. I was very off on the day he won."

"If it was luck, you wouldn’t have ended our training session, I’m sure. And we both know I would not have ended it if I felt it was luck too."

"Well, why don’t we argue about it for a bit?"

Gabriel remained silent for a few moments.

"... I’m okay."

"You’re okay?! What do you mean you’re okay?!"

"I don’t want to argue."

"What?! I’m still your boss you know?! You will argue with me when I say argue!"

Avala continued talking towards Gabriel as he looked out the carriage window trying his best to ignore her. Jacob laughed to himself silently one last time.

’One thing that never changes about this group is its energy.’

Suddenly, the carriage swayed towards the doors as something heavy climbed inside. Orvo was standing tall in his dark metallic armor. He wasn’t holding a weapon, but his gauntlets were so massive they might as well have been considered one.

"I informed every military branch. I estimate their journey will take three days’ time given the charms of that Enki fellow as well as the creatures pulling everyone’s carts. Therefore, I suggest we scout for two days’ time to allow for the most amount of information possible before our final siege. What do you say, Avala?"

Avala stopped yelling at Gabriel and looked at Orvo.

"That’s a good plan. Let’s do it."

"Everyone ready up!"

Abby grabbed hold of the reigns, Harold secured his harness, and with one loud crack the reigns Abby whipped for a signal, they all took off. Without any of them knowing it, the battle for humanity’s ultimate survival had officially begun.

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