I stood outside the doors to the meeting hall, my heart pounding as I hesitated outside the door. I could hear some of the court members already talking in the room and I took a deep breath as I finally stepped into the room. 

It had been a few days since The Goddess had led me to receive the memories of my predecessors, and the physician merely said I was likely fatigued from the festivities. Valerian seemed relieved that nothing magical seemed to be wrong with me, but we didn’t have another chance to speak once Rael thanked him and shooed him out of my room. I had been confined to my bed in the meantime, although both Azriel and Lucilla had come by to visit me.

The memories were still difficult to make sense of, but it seemed the more I looked into a person’s eyes, the more I could look into the past memories of them. I was surprised when I realized that Lucilla had not existed in the other timelines, just Azriel and the summoned as Kozani’s sons. It made me happy that she had not had to suffer, but what did it mean if my attempt was already so different? I was starting to wish there was someone I could talk to, but I doubted that anyone in this world had experience with memories of past versions of themselves.

I shook my head as I closed the door, glancing around the room. Emperor Kozani had yet to arrive, but I could see that Lady Thalassa, Sir Barelle and Sir Illmen were already seated at the table and they both bowed as I moved into the room. The seven Royal Families of Ikeapis: seven families that ran and governed the empire, including the Emperor’s family. While the ruling family of Ath’tal oversaw the capital of Oxyne and had the last say on any decision, it was the other six families that ran the empire, keeping the various dukes and merchant families in their region in line. 

Normally, only family heads and the Emperor would be present for meetings, with chosen successors learning their role and duties at their family's own palace. However, considering my role as Crown Prince and my lack of experience in Aesatia, Kozani had decided I would start sitting in on meetings as soon as my status was announced, allowing me to start learning more intuitively. 

“So pleased you could join us, your Highness,” I looked up as Sir Barelle spoke, his smile bright as he turned away from his companions. He was a man of robust build, with broad shoulders that seemed to bear the weight of his responsibilities with ease. His hair, a rich chestnut hue, was neatly trimmed, framing a face that often wore a genial smile. His eyes, a warm hazel, sparkled with intelligence and kindness, giving him an approachable air that endeared him to many. 

“Thank you, Sir Barelle,” I nodded respectfully in response to Sir Barelle's greeting, trying to steady the nerves that seemed to dance in my stomach. “I am honored that His Majesty is willing to let me sit in on your meetings.”

“Oh my, I wonder if that means you’ll be leading them yourself soon,” I glanced up as Lady Taz'garis walked into the room with Lady Gineze and I nodded as I realized we were only missing Kozani and Sir Heskel. “Kozani is getting up in age, maybe that’s why he waited for an older heir. Someone who could take over sooner.”

“You know that’s not how things work, Ava. It’s more likely Kozani was waiting until a demon with enough magical prowess appeared,” Sir Illmen answered, his voice dripping with a mix of condescension and arrogance as he leaned back in his chair. His hair, a sleek ebony, was meticulously groomed, not a single strand out of place and his piercing blue eyes seemed to assess everything with a critical gaze. “Wouldn’t put it past him to simply have hidden this one away until he was old enough.”

“And I see you will never tire of your wild theories, Sir Illmen,” Kozani’s voice was light as he finally walked in the room with Sir Heskal and I couldn’t help my frown. Valerian was almost a spitting image of Sir Idris and it seemed too accurate to be a coincidence. What were the chances that Sir Idris had managed to find the perfect child that just happened to look like him in every way? My stare eventually drew the man’s attention and I quickly looked away, waiting for the pair to take their seats. 

To my surprise, Aldrin followed in behind the pair and I felt the hairs on my neck immediately stand on end. The elven ambassador wasn’t even looking at me, and yet it felt like his magic was probing me, trying to find any weakness it could exploit to snake its way in. It was so uncomfortable that I shifted in my chair, taking a deep breath as I fought to keep my expression neutral. How was I supposed to sit through an entire meeting being attacked like this?

"As always, we start with updates from each family on their affairs," Kozani continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembled members. "Would anyone care to begin?"

Sir Barelle cleared his throat before responding. "Indeed, Your Majesty. As you know, there have been reports of crop failures in certain regions and we were unable to determine the causes. After working closely with Sir Heskel's family to investigate the matter, we’ve determined the cause to be magical."

“Magical?” Kozani repeated and I looked up, unable to help my interest. This… sounded familiar.

"Indeed, Your Majesty,” Sir Heskel spoke up, sitting forward in his chair. “The magical anomalies appear to be localized and sporadic, but we're actively researching their origins and possible solutions. It’s too late for crops that have already been lost, but for now, I have advised Sir Barelle to have the farmers avoid and mark off infected areas."

"It's imperative that we get to the bottom of this," Kozani mused, his expression grave. "The stability of our food supply is paramount. Do you anticipate any further complications?"

"For the time being, Your Majesty, the dukes and I have managed to redistribute resources to compensate for the losses,” Sir Barelle answered confidently, his approachable attitude on full display. “However, if these magical disruptions persist, it could pose a significant threat to our agricultural output."

"I trust you and Sir Heskel will keep me updated on any developments," Kozani said, nodding to both of them. As Lady Thalassa spoke next about the maritime affairs, I couldn’t help the way my head started to hurt. Magic tainting the land and ruining the crops… this had happened before too. It didn’t have anything to do with the calamity, since the Goddess was still alive and so the other summoned had ignored it. 

“It gets worse,” I muttered, closing my eyes as the memories swarmed in my mind. I could recall the way the magic began to spread, poisoning more and more of the land until most of the farmland was unusable. It would lead to a food shortage in the long run, forcing Kozani to increase imports from the surrounding kingdoms. If we could stop it now…
“Is there something on your mind, Javier?” I looked up as I heard Aldrin address me, and I noticed all at the table had their eyes on me. I had instinctively begun to hold my head from the pain of the memories swimming in my thoughts and I didn’t like the look on the elf’s face. He seemed to almost be taunting me and I took a deep breath before I spoke.

“Apologies, Ambassador Aldrin,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the discomfort. “I was just… considering the implications of these magical disruptions on our overall stability.”

“Indeed, Crown Prince Javier,” Aldrin answered, his voice smooth as silk. I resisted the urge to bristle at his words: he was mocking me! “The stability of Ikeapis is of utmost importance, especially in times of uncertainty.”

“If I may be so bold, Your Majesty,” I made it a point to look past Aldrin, meeting Kozani’s green eyes evenly as he held my gaze. I didn’t really want to talk to the elf anyway. “I would like to visit one of the affected farms.”

“Do you not trust Sir Heskel and Sir Barelle to handle things?”

“I fully believe in their abilities, but I also believe this situation requires more immediate attention,” I answered coolly, surprised by my own confidence. Had receiving the memories also affected my own demeanor? “I simply want to see the disturbance for myself.”

Kozani regarded me thoughtfully for a moment, his gaze assessing. "Very well, Crown Prince Javier. Your eagerness to address this matter is commendable."

I nodded, grateful for the opportunity. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best to assess the situation and assist in any way I can."

With that settled, the meeting continued, each family providing updates on their respective affairs. I did my best not to look at Aldrin, not wanting to give him anymore of my attention. Neither of the other summoned had ever visited the farms, so I had no idea what to expect there but if I was supposed to do the opposite of what they did, then I couldn’t ignore this. Wasn’t there some sort of principle or saying about how small things could build into larger things? By ignoring this issue, it caused instability in the empire at a time when it needed to be at its strongest. Even if my magic was needed to stop the calamity, I certainly couldn’t do it alone.

As the meeting drew to a close, Kozani addressed me once more. "Crown Prince Javier, may I have your ear?"

“Of course,” I answered, remaining in my seat as the rest of the court stood to leave the room. Kozani gestured for me to join him at the head of the table, and I approached, my footsteps echoing softly in the now-quiet hall. As the others filed out, Aldrin lingered for a moment, his gaze lingering on me before he finally departed, leaving just the two of us in the room.

"Javier," Kozani began, his tone more serious now that we were alone. "I sense there's more on your mind than the disruptions in our agricultural sector."

“I…” I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I should reveal to him. Kozani knew I wasn’t of this world and was meant to save it, but how could I explain to him that he had done this all before and failed? That there was no guarantee that I would be able to do any better. 

“Speak freely, Javier,” Kozani’s soft tone made me smile and I took a deep breath, trying to clear my own worries as I spoke.

“I am worried that this is being done intently, Father,” I said honestly, meeting the emperor’s worried gaze. “I merely want to see and feel the magic for myself.”

“You can feel magic already?”

“I… yes. I can sense the magic of certain people and things,” I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to yet. “It’s part of the reason for my headache a few days ago. I was touched by strong magic and it caused me pain.”

“Hmm,” Kozani replied thoughtfully, stroking his chin as he considered my words. Watching him reminded me of the stubble Rael had finally shaved off my face, and I resisted the desire to touch my own chin. “I suppose this is the power of a living demon, to be able to sense magic before your revealing ceremony. Alright, I will trust your intuition on this Javier.”

A wave of relief washed over me at his words, grateful for his understanding and willingness to listen. Just like my own father before he left, the only one willing to believe in me. "Thank you, Father. I won't let you down."

"Good," Kozani said with a nod of approval. "I suppose now is a good time for you to start training."

Kozani's suggestion caught me off guard. "Training?"

"Yes, training," Kozani affirmed with a firm nod. "It's crucial for you to be able to defend yourself, especially if you're venturing beyond the palace walls. You never know when you might encounter danger, and it's best to be prepared."

“Alright,” I agreed, following behind Kozani as he finally stood. I followed closely behind as he led the way out of the meeting hall and through the sprawling corridors of the palace. My mind buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty at the prospect of training. I had no experience wielding a sword, but surely at least one of my predecessors must’ve trained. 

Well, hopefully I won’t embarrass myself too badly. I thought, trying to swallow my apprehension.