When I woke, I was being cradled softly by my mother, who was rocking softly. I was now in an expert burrito folded blanket, so movement was nigh impossible. Who folded this cloth prison? Why is it folded so tight? Wait, I can wiggle my feet. Does that help me though? She was just looking down at me, her wolf eyes just seemed to peer into my soul. Now that I was a bit more clear headed, I got a good look at her.

She had two, elegant gazelle like horns that started at her forehead and went a little past the back that were a deep obsidian color. Her skin seemed to be made out of porcelain. My mother’s hair was slightly curly, jet black, and down past her shoulders, to the point it draped over my tiny body.

“Look who finally woke back up. You must be hungry.” she whispered softly to me. As if on command, my stomach growled.

Then a stark reality hit me as she shoved her breast in my face. Oh this is humiliating. This feels wrong. If I don’t I will likely starve though. I internally wept as I fed.It is necessary to survive. I rationalized to myself. After I was full I abruptly stopped. I need to get onto real food as soon as possible.

Turns out, being a baby sucks. My control over my body was terrible. The best sounds I could make were intelligible cries. When my body needed to go, it just simply went. It wasn’t all bad, my mother sang lullabies to me. Her voice was oddly angelic. It had this calming, sing-song quality even as she spoke.

After about an hour of listening to her sing, she undid the cloth prison to let me move around a little. There was a maid nearby, as well as Cesar if I recalled his name correctly. They both looked extra alert once my arms were free. My mother carefully set me down, and moved over about two feet away. She looked at me and gestured for me to go to her.

“Your Imperial Highness, are you sure it is a good idea to encourage the Crown Prince to use his <Magic>? The <Backlash> last time was a bit difficult to fix.” Cesar asked.

“It’ll be fine. I think it is better let him do what he naturally wants or is prone to in a controlled way than stop him completely.” my mother retorted. A strange feeling welled up inside me. What was this? Mothers could be like this?

I focused on her. Was the hand motion a necessary component to <Warp>? I focused on her, trying to get that anchor sensation. It was coming nowhere as quickly as when I used my hand. I focused a bit harder, on a point right in front of her. After a few seconds, I felt the similar anchor sensation, then the world twisted around me. I felt drained, just nowhere near as bad as before.

“That was great! Who is the best Prince?! What a great use of <Magic> Nil!” my mom praised. It felt genuine. It felt a lot better than any of the awards I ever received.

I looked at her, then around a little. She looked happy as could be, while the maid and Cesar were slack-jawed. I tried asking why did they look shocked,as per usual however, all that came out was intelligible baby noise. I am going to keep trying to speak at least, eventually it will work. My mom copied me, and responded when I made noise. She backed up a little more, about a foot and a half this time, and gestured at me again.

The trick seems to be a specific point when using <Warp>. I again focused right in front of her, and the anchor sensation came much more quickly than last time. The similar sensation overcame me, and I was there. I could tell, one more and the horrific nausea and pain was going to come back.

My mom started playing peek-a-boo with me. I tried acting like a baby there. I honestly have no idea how well I imitated a baby. Don’t appear strange. Please be close enough. Didn’t want her to worry her child was off. Cesar and the maid looked on, watching me and her play.

“Your Imperial Highness, I hate to inform you, there are duties you must attend to. The maid Helga will watch after the Crown Prince.” Cesar chimed. My mom shot him a look, like she clearly did not want to go, but knew he was probably right.

“I am assuming you vetted her thoroughly?” My mom asked.

“Helga is my sister, your Imperial Highness.” Cesar informed her while motioning to his sister. I could tell she looked more relieved.

“I will watch him with my life your Imperial Highness.” Helga tensely replied while formally bowing. Her form was right, and her phrasing was right, though her nervousness was clearly showing.

“I order you to make sure he doesn’t leave your sight.” my mom snapped, with a level of ferocity and authority she hadn’t shown previously. Helga snapped up and shook her head vigorously.

Cesar escorted my mom away to perform her duties and Helga walked over to me. She was clearly younger than my mom and Cesar. She had more ram-like horns, green hair which was tied tightly in a bun, burgundy eyes, and clay colored skin. Helga took a few deep breaths and sat down next to me. She pulled a parchment out of her sleeve and reviewed it.

“Address Empress Senna as her Imperial Highness, check. When I bowed did I remember the left foot behind the right leg? Remain by Crown Prince Nil’s side at all times, check. Her Imperial Highness fed him about an hour ago so it should be another hour until he is hungry. Why did I have to become the personal Maid of the Imperial Prince?” she muttered to herself while reviewing the list.

My parents rule an Empire, and this was the maid they went with? I thought to myself. Was this nepotism at its finest?

She tried playing with me, and every so often she would shoot up and look around. I did notice the sound of other staff a ways off, and whenever one made a sound she snapped to attention and looked around. How tightly wound is this lady? I thought to myself. I am not too familiar with customs and how the nobility act in this world, but shouldn’t there be more staff? Or are they simply not allowed around me? I definitely hear them.

After thirty minutes of her being the worst playmate in the world, something moved in a nearby shadow. Without a second of hesitation Helga threw something at it in the blink of an eye, a barrier instantly formed around me, and she was between me and the shadow. She managed to produce a sword from absolute thin air and looked ready to kill whatever made that move.

“Attacking his Imperial Highness? How bold.” my father’s voice rang out from the shadow as he stepped out, clearly smirking.

“I am so sorry your Imperial Highness! I am sorry, please don’t let this affect my brother!” Helga begged as she slammed to the ground.

“It is fine Helga, I should not have snuck in here like I did. It is good to see how quickly you leapt to protect my son.” my father apologized.

“I am not worthy of you having to apologize to me your Imperial Highness!” Helga replied quickly while remaining in the same prostrating position.

“Do not make me repeat myself. I apologized, and praised you defending my son. I am not one to say something I do not mean. Get off the ground.” he growled, which she immediately shot off the ground to an at attention stance.

It didn’t help that my father had an intense aura; he just exuded authority and power. Then again, I am pretty sure attacking him even if she was defending me might be punishable by death. Wasn’t too sure about that, though it wouldn’t surprise me. Then something hit me: She was making sure there weren’t any assassins. That was a chilling thought.

My father’s stern exterior soon melted into a smile when he saw me. He picked me up and lightly tossed me in the air. Something gripped me as I went up and down that kept my head from flopping around and made the motion ridiculously fluid and gentle.

“Why is his <Mana> supply so low?” my father asked.

“Her Imperial Highness encouraged him earlier to use <Warp>. He did a <Warp> of about three feet and one and a half feet, both with no gesturing.” Helga answered.

My father grimaced for a second, then lit up. He put a hand on my back, and I instantly felt that odd void that was slowly refilling was back up to the brim. Father took about two steps, sat down, and motioned at me. Now I looked at him clearly.

He had the same bone white skin I did, with incredibly sharp features. His eyes were a vibrant purple, which was accented by his golden color hair which had the darkest color I have ever seen horns. Unlike mom, his horns were more dragon like, that were more similar to daggers at the end with a much sharper point than any other being I had seen at this point. What am I now that I think about it? Clearly not human, but I don’t think it is a type of beast person.

I sat with my pudgy baby body looking at him. He was sitting with his arms wide open motioning for me to go to him. Last time I did this I ended up outside a window. Granted, he caught me, I was still a bit hesitant to try this again.

“How long did it take him to cast <Warp> without his hands last time?” my father asked.

“Less than five seconds on his last one. He should have used <Warp> by now your Imperial Highness.” Helga replied.

My father grimaced again. I just sat and made baby noises. I am not some dog who is going to come on command. I thought internally. I do really want to use more <Magic> though. I need some semblance of pride though.

“It’s okay Nil. You won’t go out a window this time. I promise.” he cooed. He was looking pretty desperate at this point. You could see the light in his eyes dying a little.

Okay I have held out long enough. I focused on him, and felt the anchor almost immediately. I am getting better at this. Within a blink, I was there. His face was flooded with relief. Again, I felt a drain from that pool, just not as bad this time. He took a few steps back, and waited again. Why do both of my parents like this so much? What is the big deal? I wondered. Again, I used <Warp>.

“What’s the earliest you can test <Affinity> in a child?” my father asked. He looked so pleased with the <Magic> I was using.

While Helga clearly thought about it, he picked me up and did a few more light tosses. It was kind of fun, but the extreme gentle and fluid nature of it was unsettling. It didn’t feel like I was going up and down. It felt like I was being floated then cautiously set down. There was nothing physically touching me though. There was definitely some <Magic> at play here.

“Accurately would be a year sir. It would require better instrumentation and a more experienced and skilled <Surveyor> than a standard evaluation.” Helga said.

“That is pretty easy to get. I would like a few moments with my son alone if you do not mind.” he ordered. Helga clearly looked uncomfortable.

“Um, your Imperial Highness, I was, uh, ordered to-” Helga stammered.

“Empress Senna ordered you to make sure he never left your sight I am guessing?” he asked as she nodded her head. So if the Emperor and Empress give conflicting orders it ties, or puts you in a lose-lose situation.

My father snapped his fingers, and a cone materialized around us. What the hell? What was the point of this? Why did he feel this was necessary? I was a day old. At least physically. He picked me up and cradled me. He laid his back against the cone and let out a large sigh.

“Lords of Tenebrae being Emperor is so exhausting. Just want to spend some time with my son, see him use some <Magic> but noooooo, that merciless taskmaster Cesar is all you have your duties your imperial highness. You got this meeting your imperial highness. Emperor Azzeck you need to go over these new policies that the Senate wants to implement. I JUST WANT A DAY OFF TO SPEND WITH MY SON!” he vented.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I thought. I made some baby noises to see if that would cheer him up a little.

“Yes Nil, I do work hard. Thanks for agreeing with me.” he replied to my nonsense. I made some more noises and he seemed to love that.

“I am gonna level with you son, being part of the Crowthorne family isn’t easy. We are the leaders of the Demonkin. We have to act proper and honorable whenever we are out, and we have a duty we must uphold. Of course I am rambling to a baby who has no idea what I am saying, but I do want you to be happy. And strong. Hopefully strong enough no one considers the idea of ‘testing the borders’, man do I hate that human king what’s his face.” my father, the Emperor of Demonkin apparently, ranted.

I just stared at him silently. I want you to be happy. I think that was the first time I ever heard those words. I was much more used to I expect you not to embarrass us or It was expected for you to win that trophy. That strange emotion from earlier came back up. What was it?

“I wonder how long I can hide here before that monster finds me with that infernal list of crap to do.” my dad said out loud.

Maybe I could throw him a bone. I made some more terrible attempts at speaking, which he lit up again for. A few of the things he said did stick with me. I truly was a prince in this world. He said Lords of Tenebrae. Is Tenebrae this world? And he said Lords, is that referring to a power above him or perhaps some beings of religious significance?

“Alright let’s see if you can <Warp> behind you.” my dad excitedly declared as he set me down and walked from what I could tell, two steps behind me.

There had to be something to this <Magic> that made them want to test this. Aptitude? <Affinity>? Clearly something was up with it. I tried sensing or making whatever that anchor was appear. Nothing. It was hard when I couldn’t see. Where I could focus my gaze, no problem. I tried visualizing behind me. Nothing.

The anchor would not appear. I could not feel it. My <Magic> was not forming in any way. After a few minutes of my dad encouraging me, an idea hit me. I can feel my <Mana> reserve. What if I tried sending a feeler made of <Mana>? Getting it to cooperate was a challenge. After struggling for a few minutes, I made what could only be described as a lump of <Mana> slowly crawl behind me. It was exhausting, and extremely uncomfortable. It felt like I was flexing a muscle I never used before.

The oddest part was, I could sense and feel what was around the <Mana>. After I got it near my dad, I tried making that anchor appear. I felt the familiar sensation, and cast <Warp>. In an instant, I was there, feeling completely drained. Like a large void was in me again. No waves of nausea or pain though. So that is what <Backlash> must be, probably some punishment for using a spell that requires more <Mana> than I possess at the time of casting. Given that the <Warps> that triggered it were not much larger than the ones I did today, it must get pretty bad if you are severely short on <Mana>. Then I noticed two more things. The cone was gone and my dad wasn’t praising me. I couldn’t exactly control my body enough to turn to face him better. Was something happening?