After a week, my parents were loaded up and ready to leave for the capitol, which took us nine days due to weather and not wanting to be stuck in the snow during a storm. Blizzards in this world are just as bad as the ones from my old life. Ice, snow, and death seemed to go hand in hand. I will say that I am happy that snowstorms do not happen much in the kingdom, but when they do, it’s always nasty.

As we were traveling, my mother started to get sick in the mornings. Every day it seemed to get worse, until the archmage who was in the carriage in front of ours would use some kind of magic to sooth my mother’s illness. She said she needed to talk to my parents the day before we arrived at the capitol. To my parents surprise they were going to have another child.

The next day we arrived to a group of soldiers preparing to depart from the capitol. Their mission was immediately successful. My uncle didn’t know what had happened and had sent out a search party to make sure we were okay. As we arrived at the castle, my uncle’s family was coming out of the main door and looked relieved. As Thalia exited the carriage, she gave my uncle a rather pointed look. One that made the king cringe. I made a note to myself, never make the archmage mad.

My parents exited the carriage next and gave a hug each to my aunt and uncle. Shortly after they hugged, I noticed my cousins coming out of the main doors. With two maids in tow, my cousin Valentina was being carried even though she was only about three months older than I. As they came in closer, they noticed Ellen helping me out of the carriage, and after she and I were out, I asked. “Ellen, can you put me down please?”

I walked over to my uncle and aunt and gave them a simple bow, as I still really hadn’t learned how to address royalty, I erred on the side of caution. As my cousins approached, I gave them a simple bow as well. Valentina must have been upset and asked the maid carrying her to put her down. Maybe I had shown her up.

After a few moments we were led inside by my uncle’s family and our servants started to take my parent’s luggage inside. I watched this for a second as my pet shadow wolf’s, Jethro, cage was lowered down. I went over to it and opened it without thinking too much of it. Jethro must have been tired of being cooped up as he jumped out of it and tackled me to the ground.

After I got up and petted his head. We hurried inside and I noticed my father was looking at me with somewhat disapproval. I gave an apologetic look to him as we walked further into the castle. After a few short turns we entered a room and my father turned to me and said. “This is the room your mother and I will be staying in. He picked me up and brought me to the door next to theirs and opened it for me. “This will the room you are staying in during your time here son. Jethro will have to stay here until dinner is over.”

The room was just as large as my own back home. Only this one was furnished in dark oak furniture that had been treated. There was a weapon rack and a bookshelf with several books already placed there. The carpet was a deep blue with yellow accents. The curtains were in the same shades. The key feature was a dog bed sitting at the foot of my bed. Which was big enough for me to lay down from head to foot about three times.

After my father showed me my room he whistled and Jethro took off towards the dog bed and made himself at home. We left and headed towards the dining room, my father had the look of a ravenous beast as he spotted the food on the table, then again, I was not much better as he sat me down, I almost started to dig into my food.

It took me a few seconds and the astonished looks of my uncle, aunt, mother, and father to realize I should have waited. Or at least I thought it did until my uncle started to laugh. “He eats just like you George!” My uncle exclaimed as my father shot him a dirty look. “Well, he is my child. And speaking of children. It looks like we will be adding another one to our family.” My father said as he gave my mother a loving look.

“George! We were going to wait and tell them tomorrow!” My mother nearly shrieked at him, while the rest of us covered our ears. My uncle stood up smiling widely. “Congratulations Bethany, George! When did you find out?” He looked at them wanting an explanation.

My father replied to my mother then looked to my uncle. “My love, why should we wait? And we found out yesterday.” My aunt looked at my mother and gave her a bright smile. “Yes, congratulations Beth, George! I am so happy you will have another child in your lives.” She looked at me and gave me a loving smile. “How do you feel Alex? You are going to be a big brother. Do you want a younger brother or sister?” She asked like most adults would ask a child, not realizing that I would not give her the answer she was expecting.

“Personally, it is exciting to get to be a big brother, but honestly if it is a boy or girl I won’t really see much of a difference. They will be my little sibling and I will try my best to care for them.” I spoke in a semi adult-like tone. My aunt’s jaw dropped as she looked at me, then I noticed my uncle and cousins were also letting their mouths catch flies. I looked at my parents who were used to my way of speaking and they just shook their heads.

“George, Bethany. Is that his normal way of speech?” My aunt asked, her eyes never leaving me. My father just sighed as my mother responded. “Yes, we are used to it. He is smart for his age. And talented.” My mother looked at my uncle, “So, are we going to eat or not?” I started to dig into my food with a vigor befitting a hungry man. Which managed to earn me a few stares.

After dinner my uncle and my father asked to be excused with my father carrying me in tow. We headed down a hallway and eventually entered a room that looked like a study. Complete with a fireplace and chairs. My father sat me in a chair as he and my uncle sat down in the chairs opposite me. My father ruffled my hair as he smiled at me, earning one from myself in return.

My uncle looked at me and smiled as well, before turning somewhat serious. “Alex, I have already told your parents this but it is time to tell you as well. Regarding your training, I have asked four mages to remain on standby in the capitol while you get used to using your magic. Seeing as you only have about half a year until you are three, your parents have agreed to a training regime that will take about three to four years. And by the time you enter the academy you will not have to take magic classes like every other mage. Mostly you will be learning things like history, etiquette, money management, laws, governing and arithmetic.”

I looked at my uncle and nodded. “Okay, who are my teachers for my magic? Can I meet them soon?” I asked happily, as I was excited with learning new magic. “You will meet them all in about a week. Two of them are coming from the far side of the kingdom, one is coming from his post on the border, and the last one you can meet in a few minutes. As he is usually stationed here in the capitol unless we have an incident he needs to oversee.”

“Emanuel, you don’t mean...” My father started to say as a knock on the door interrupted him. “Come in James.” My uncle said towards the door. A hulk of an old man opened the door and shut it behind himself as he approached my uncle and knelt down. “I am here as requested your majesty.” The man spoke in a formal tone with his booming voice.

“At ease James. You remember George, yes? This young man is his son, Alexander.” My uncle’s words set James at ease and he motioned to an empty chair, in which my uncle nodded. “So, George, how is your arm after the last time?” James asked my father, who looked at James and sighed. “Well, I can feel it again. If that is what you asking.” My father gave James a look of discomfort.

“Um...” I started to speak as the three of them remembered I was in the room. “Hello, I am Alexander. Pleasure to meet you sir. I believe I will be in your care for my training. At least partly.”

All three of them looked at me and James gave me a look of astonishment. “Uh, hello Alexander. I am Mage-General James Kelthos. And I believe you are extremely well mannered for a young noble. I am a bit shocked at the way you speak. Most younger nobles all whine about status and things of that nature.” He looked at my father and smiled. “Isn’t that right milord?” His smile reached from ear to ear as my father groaned.

“James, stop antagonizing George.” My uncle said as he sighed. “I called you here to introduce my nephew and let you take a look at your new apprentice for the next few years.” James looked at me with a gleam in his eyes that spoke of torture, which I was sure the next few years were going to be. “Alright, I will train George’s child. He seems like he at least has proper respect for his elders. Unlike a brat I trained a long time ago, he said as he looked at my father.

The conversation after that point revolved around topics I didn’t fully understand, and I was already tired from traveling with my family and soon found myself asleep. I am not sure when, but my father must have either had a maid take me to my bed, or did it himself. I woke the next morning to Jethro licking my face and a knocking at my door. “Come in.” I uttered trying to avoid Jethro licking my mouth.

All three of my cousins were at my door as I sat up and looked at them. I have never really talked with them, but I knew their names. “Tatiana, Lucille, Valentina... Why are you here?” I asked still in a daze. Jethro looked at them and started to run towards the door. They each shrieked a little as he ran towards them and then as he passed them by, they seemed to relax. “You have a pet? Tatiana asked me looking jealous. Lucille and Valentina stared at me as I started to climb out of bed. “Yes, his name is Jethro. He is one of my mother’s Shadow Wolf’s pups. I got him for my birthday this last year.”

They must not have been allowed pets from the look they gave me. Then Valentina’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, not that it is a thing in this world. “Do you think we can get one of our own too?” She asked me while bouncing up and down like a kid with a sugar high.

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask my parents and yours. Now, please get out of my room. I need to get dressed.” I said as I shooed them out of the door. After I managed to kick them out, I got myself dressed in clothes that were lain out for me. I finally managed it a few weeks ago and asked Ellen to only lay out my clothes for me so I could try to dress myself. The first time was a mess, but I had gotten better since then.