For next few days Flamewing left surprises for Morkana in unexpected places that even the Imperial Birds didn’t thought of, like in cupboards, desks, night tables, bathrooms, portraits, statues, specific places of the imperial library, Khaezar’s garden, Vhrutus’ art collection, etc. Morkana found fresh flowers at her office, a hot cup of instant coffee ready for her exactly at the hour she usually went to the kitchen, post sticks about exploitable weak points of the palace and even a book about how to learn Spanish.

Note (with Flamewing’s imaginary voice): “After 12 years you still don’t know how to speak it?!”

Morkana wasn’t the only person Flamewing was trying to be helpful to. He also left hidden stuff for Prince as small puzzles the kid tried to solve. For each puzzle he solved there was a reward, like a manga book, which is something Prince hadn’t seen before and it took him a while to understand that manga stories are read from right to left. The little heir saw this as a way to bond with his father without his mother noticing and even made his own puzzles for Flamewing to solve, though Prince is smarter than any human so Flamewing had trouble solving those puzzles.

Note (with Flamewing’s imaginary voice): “Games are made as obstacles that you have to overcome to win them, but remember that victory isn’t everything and you just have to have fun. If you have trouble with anything, your sister can help you.”

Flamewing had prepared different puzzles for his two kids so that they would have something to do in his absence when going back to Faeheim for humanitarian work, and Karsh was in charge of keeping them safe during these “quests”. The hero was happy with how he was managing everything, but the people that served under him became aware of his tired looking eyes since all this parenting and attempts at compensating Morkana had taken almost all his free time and part of his sleeping time.

Flamewing (sleepy): “I think I am getting the hang of this.”

Tyrant:  “You do Flamewing. You Do.”

Flamewing: “Oh shit! Who are you and why are you levitating over the floor? Are you a demon? You look kind of familiar.”

Tyrant:  “I am here to judge you. No, wait I actually judge your ex-girlfriend. And I have to say that Morkana is a gigantic asshole.”

Flamewing: “Well, she was cruel to Helen days ago, but I understand why she is angry. I ditched the woman I love just to protect a woman that attempted to kill her, and did this because of a magical oath that I shouldn’t have made.”

Tyrant:  “Sounds a bit like the plot of “Crimes of Grindelwaldorf”, Flamewing Dumbledumb. You really should think about stuff like this better. Still, Morkana should have listened to your story first.”

Flamewing: “Okay, maybe I am a bit salty about her forbidding Prince from directly interacting with me. Am I allowed to be angry about that? Feminism is complicated at times. She is his mother and I am a guy that appeared from space one day. Do I even deserve to call myself his father?”

Tyrant: “Yes, you do. You tried to protect the woman who was in bigger danger, and was in a worse place. From a logical standpoint helping Jen was the right thing to do because Morkana was in a safe place, surrounded by friends and allies and she is very powerful in her own right. You had better reasons to be unfaithful than most assholes who take a second lover.”

Flamewing: “It seems you know Jen’s tragic story, but you do remember she attempted to kill Morkana, right? Jen became too powerful and started a rampage of  destruction that killed some of the Birds, Fafnirian soldiers and civilians. She then stopped in front of Morkana for some reason and fell unconscious. If that lucky break hadn’t happened I would have been forced to kill Jen, but instead I was forced by my oath to rescue her from being captured and later executed.”

Tyrant: “You should have gotten her to a psychologist in that case. Seriously, you were the wrong guy to treat her psychological state. And why did Jen stop her attack before reaching Morkana? Sounds like an awesome boss battle is missing there.”

Flamewing: “I knew Jen was in love with me, but I didn’t think she would become so crazy. I blame her dad and the scientists of the Think Tank that isolated her from other people. Also, I don’t know why Jen… Oh my goddess I think I realized why she stopped! Jen must have felt Prince’s life essence!”

Tyrant: “Wait… Is this part of the story now? Should this be revealed in the jokey commentary section? We should probably cut that part.”

Flamewing: “Story? Commentary section? What are you talking about? Am I so sleep deprived I am talking with a hallucination? I need a better sleeping schedule.”

Tyrant: “Ehm…. I am so confused right now. Should we stop? Do you still have anything to say, Flamewing? Wait, I want to say something good: Your children are truly adorable and cute. Yes, I could go and hug Helen and Prince right now if that wouldn’t get me in trouble with the Empress, her Birds, Karsh and so forth…. Oh, well.”

Flamewing: “They are adorable indeed. Helen cares so much for others and her optimism shines like a sun and Prince is very protective of her and tries so hard to act like a big boy. The two also are very smart and creative since they are able to solve puzzles and navigate the palace’s library. Also, about wanting to hug my kids, I don’t really trust you since you look like some kind of demonic woman.”

Tyrant: “They have a demonic protector… Well, Helen has. It shouldn’t be the greatest issue. Just teach your kids that they shouldn’t end like you two idiots, especially Morkana. Well, at least when it is about dealing with emotions. Career wise you two do fantastic, especially Morkana.”

Flamewing: “Morkana isn’t usually this aggressive. She is generally kind and reasonable, though she has trouble socializing outside of work. Most of her friends work for her, are her allies, or are former rivals that became her allies, and I became her lover because she saw me as her equal.”

Tyrant: “Equal in… What? Fighting power? I hope not because a man should see no shame in marrying a woman that is stronger than him especially if that woman treats him well. Morkana really needs more silly people around her. Every jaded anti-hero needs a silly hero to not become an edgelord.”

Flamewing: “I think she means a person that has the same willpower and creative smarts as her. In my opinion, we have met many people that are as determined and intelligent as her, but she doesn’t call them her equals, so I suspect she invented that term because she is too shy about her own feelings.”

Tyrant: “Mork really needs some lessons in social interactions. In the end I liked this chapter, but nothing will stop me to rip into Morkana. Next time I want to talk with her personally!”

You will get to talk to my daughter, Tyrant, and she doesn’t have positive opinions of you either.

Flamewing: “If you want to start an argument with Morkana, be ready for a lot of emotional pain.”

Tyrant: “Oh, please I take her on. COME ON MORKANA, NEXT CHAPTER YOU MEET YOUR MASTER! And then I hug Flamewing’s adorable children.”

Flamewing: “Okay…”

Tyrant needs to calm down. See you soon, dear readers!

END OF CHAPTER 6