I'll Play Along

“Long, long ago, at the dawn of the kingdom’s memory, our brave ancestors crossed the seas to set foot upon this land. They sought to build a new home, but such a task did not come easily, for in the frozen north dwelt the Demon Lord and his domain. His armies wielded great and terrifying magic, destroying the settlers’ ships and slaughtering even the bravest soldiers.

Our ancestors tried fleeing to the South, but to no avail, for what awaited them there was the Beastkin forest, whose warriors bared their fangs at any human who dared to enter.

With nowhere to run and their hope extinguishing, a baby was born. Said to be a gift from the heavens, a baby born with crimson red eyes, he spoke as would a full-grown man. He was dubbed the Grand Sage. He brought the gift of knowledge to the people, teaching them to use the demon-kind’s magic against them. To the leader of the settlers, he bestowed a powerful tome, its spells mighty enough to bring down the Demon Lord, and granted him a guardian, said to be as strong as ten men.

With the people’s hearts rekindled with determination, they rallied. The army drove the demons back to the slopes of the Serpentspine Mountains, where the final battle was fought. There, the leader — together with support from his guard and the Grand Sage — struck down the Demon Lord with the tome’s magic.

In the hour of victory, the Grand Sage vanished without a trace. The leader was crowned king, the realm was named Sagia in the Sage’s honor. But soon thereafter, the writing in the tome faded away, leaving its pages blank and powerless.

The elders prophesized that, in a time of great peril, a new Sage will be born with the power to bestow the tome with spells once again.”

Angus clears his throat as he puts a small book back into his coat pocket. “Or so the legend says. Does any of that sound familiar to you, Osric?”

All the eyes at the dining table turn toward him.

Of course I don’t know anything about that. Osric thinks, still absorbing the story. The only stuff I remember is my previous life on Earth — am I supposed to be this Sage guy?

If I am gonna do this, I better get a reward.

“If I were this Grand Sage, I would expect to be compensated generously.”

“Of Course! I’m sure the King would spare no expenses, I’m willing to bet he would let you have free rein of the royal treasury. I would be willing to give you anything within my power as well,” Angus eagerly replies.

Osric's eye light up. Treasury... I like the sound of that. I'd have enough money to live comfortably — I wouldn’t ever have to work again. 

And a harem of hot cat girls! Oh, I can picture it now — sitting in my mansion, on my throne. Surrounded by cat girls ready to give me "services" at the snap of a finger...

“Would the kingdom happen to have any cat girls?” Osric questions.

“Cat girls? Are you perhaps talking about the Beastkin? I would be happy to give you any of my slaves.”

Osric nods to himself. As I thought... the animal people here are slaves. I don’t know how I would feel about owning people — I would treat them well, so I guess it okay.

“I think you’re misunderstanding, what I’m talking about is a—”

Osric stops when he notices Catalina sniffling next to him at the table. He looks over and sees tears are streaming down her face as she looks down at her plate.

“Please don’t tell me you really are the Grand Sage.” Catalina’s voice quivers.

Osric looks at the distrught Catalina. What is her hang-up on this? Wouldn’t me being this Sage be a good thing?

“Catalina, you cannot hide from destiny. You can keep him here for now, but the kingdom would be furious to find you hiding the Grand Sage.” Edith rises from her chair and rubs Catalina’s back as she sobs.

Randolf also walks over to Catalina. “Listen, I said I would help you hide him, but I do agree with your parents. We can’t abandon the Kingdom.”

“I don't want to hear it! If the demons truly are going to attack, they’ll go after the Grand Sage first. I’m sure of it,” she snaps back, her usually chipper voice now filled with bitterness as it breaks into a yell.

“I don’t want him to meet the same fate mother did!”

Catalina’s remark casts a sour expression on Angus’s face. “Your mother died how she lived — a proud mage and a stubborn adventurer. She and her party were honored as heroes.”

“Yes! The Silverfang party is the pride of the kingdom,” Randolf adds.

“Don’t give me that pride nonsense! You were ready to die with them in that battle fifteen years ago — just because of your pride!” Catalina’s fierce look pierces Randolf.

Her face then softens as more tears roll down her face. She stands up from her chair and runs up the stairs.

“Catalina!” Randolf chases after her.

“This did not go smoothly.” Angus says dejected.

“I’m assuming we can stay the night, Randolf”. He shouts at Randolf halfway up the stairs, chasing after Catalina.

“Yes, please do.”

>>>

What time is it now? I’ve been laying here forever. I’m glad I’ve got my own room now, I couldn’t imagine sleeping in the cradle during this. Osric lies in his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above him. His parents’ shouting reverberates through the walls.

“What — did you expect to just hide him in the house forever? What of playing with the village children? Are you not going to let him be a child?”

“You know how merciless those demons are! I just want him to be safe!”

Ugh, why do I feel like this again? I have that same feeling in my gut the old me had, and I can’t sleep — just like the old me. I’m supposed to be Osric, I’m gonna be some cool wizard — or maybe this sage guy. And yet here I am, lying awake, anxious over some yelling. What's wrong with me. 

The voices are drowned out as Osric covers his head with a pillow. 

This uneasiness in his stomach, the muffled sound of yelling from under a pillow, is all too familiar.

~~~

He lies in his bed, the ceiling above him white, not wooden. Shouting reverberates through the walls.

He takes off his glasses, setting them on the nightstand. He nervously twirls his long brown hair.

“And why the hell did you withdraw all that cash the other day, Randy?” A female voice cuts through the door.

“I already told you — It's for the car!” A man’s raspy voice fires back.

“You expect me to believe that? It's way too much!”

“You don’t know jack about cars, woman! The axles needed realigning!”

“Maybe I would believe you if you stopped coming home so—”

The voices are drowned out as he covers his head with a pillow. His stomach twists into knots, he clutches the pillow harder to try to ease the feeling.

~~~

Light spills across Osric’s face. Huh? I actually fell asleep through the arguing.

Someone knocks on his door. They wait for a reply, Osric lays in silence.

What do they want? Are they gonna yell at me now too? Just let me lie here. He groans as he rolls over.

“Osric, are you going to come out? It’s well past noon.” It's Catalina’s voice.

“I’d really like to talk to you.” She waits longer, no response.

Osric throws the covers over his head. Just leave me alone.

“I’m coming in.”

The bed wobbles as she plops down beside him.

“I’m sorry for yelling last night, my sweet, I didn’t mean to upset you. I know how dangerous the demons are, and I just wanted you to be safe.” 

She pauses.

“I talked about it with your father and grandparents,” she continues, her voice shaking.

Talked? You didn’t talk, you were arguing all night! I couldn’t sleep! Osric wants to agrue but restrains himself.

He feels her hand rubbing his side — it's trembling.

She takes a deep breath, "I hate this," she whispers.

"If you are the Grand Sage, we can't keep you here forever. How about you stay here until you turn ten?" She asks.

Osric pulls the cover off his head, blinking at Catalina, perplexed. What — she was so adamant about hiding me away last night.

He catches movement at the doorway, Randolf, Angus, and Edith stand outside.

Osric scans everyone’s faces, looking for the usual tension, the sharp glares he had grown accustomed to. But all he sees are slight smiles and pleasant expressions.

What is this? They’re on good terms all of a sudden? Last night, they sounded like they were tearing each other’s throats out. I thought they wouldn't talk for days. And my uneasy feeling is gone too...

Is this Grand Sage thing really so important?

I still don't really understand what I am supposed to do a the Sage. But, Angus did say I could get whatever I want.... It doesn’t seem like a lot of work either — I just have to decipher a magic book or something... Maybe I’ll play along.

Osric jumps off of the bed and strikes a proud pose; putting one hand on his chest, puffing it out.

“HA—HA!” he bellows, trying to make his childlike voice deeper and more commanding.

“Yes, it is I — the Grand Sage! Apologies for not announcing this sooner, but I wanted to make sure that you were worthy of raising the Sage in his early years of weakness.”

grinning smugly he's pleased with his performance. Slow clapping fills the room. The adults awkwardly smile at him.

Osric grimaces at himself. What? Not the time for a performance?

“Announcing my son is the Grand Sage will be a great honor,” Randolf says

“Though do enjoy your childhood in the village, we don't have to notify the King anytime soon,” Angus adds.

Edith nods in agreement.

“Just please remember this, dear, if you’re ever in danger, you can always run away. Randolf and I will be here to help you with anything,” Catalina says softly, her eyes red.

“Now that the ordeal is settled, time for a celebration.” Angus claps his hands twice and yells down the stairs.

“Girls, prepare the table!”

“Girls?” Osric questions.

A nostalgic smell reaches Osric’s nose. A smell he dearly missed. No way is that apple pie?

Osric waddles out the room and down the stairs.

Three women in maid outfits scurry around the kitchen. Osric notices tails poking out of their dresses. One of the tails, the familiar bushy, wolf-like, kind Osric has seen before. The wolf maid stokes the fire, embers spit out as she adds more wood. The other two have slender feline tails that flick while they work. The two catlike maids are holding mixing bowls, their black paw-like hands gripping spoons.

“This was supposed to be for your birthday last night, but... the mood didn’t feel right for a celebration.” Angus walks down the stairs.

“I hope you have a sweet tooth, just like your grandpa.”

“Oh, you bet I do,” Osric replies excitedly.

Osric, Angus, Randolf, and Edith sit at the table, dishes of sweets are placed in front of them.

Osric looks up the stairs, realizing Catalina isn't here.

"Wheres mother?" Osric asks.

"She says she wants some alone time..." Randolf's voice trails off.

Is she okay? I feel bad I didn't even notice... Is this my fault?  He worries, but his worries are derailed by the silver platter coming his way.

Osric licks his lips in anticipation as a maid sets some of his favorite dishes before him: A golden brown slice of apple pie, a glistening fruit tart, and a smooth bowl of custard.

Before he digs in, Osric feels the need to ask, “You said this was for last night, but this stuff is fresh?”

“Yes, I told them to hold off on baking as our dinner was interrupted,” Angus mumbles through a mouthful of cake.

“Manners, Angus!” Edith hits him with an elbow.

“Bake? You wanted to bake the desserts here?” Osric questions.

“Of course, sweets are the best fresh.” Angus again answers with his mouth full.

“Also, where did the maids come from?” Osric asks as he takes a bite of cake.

“Oh, they slept out in the carriage. I had planned for them to come in after dinner and surprise you with fresh sweets.”

Osric, still confused, eats another bite of cake.

“This is just how he is, dear,” Catalina interjects.

Osric ponders as he shovels more cake in his mouth. Guess granda's a weirdo.

Osric pays no attention to the chatter happening at the table as he scarfs down the delicious sweets.

After the meal, as the maids clean up the table, Angus walks over to Osric’s highchair, he leans in to whisper in his ear.

“I remember you asking about beastkin last night. If you’d like one of these maids, I can arrange that for you.”

“No, no, you misunderstood. I meant a human with cat ears — no fur.”

After hearing that, Angus hurriedly grabs him and the two walk out the front door. He sets him down on the grass and leans towards him.

“Are you talking of a half-beastkin?” His voice now stern.

“I guess — I am?”

“Breeding between beastkin and humans is forbidden in Sagia. Therefore, the child of a human and beastkin is taboo.”

Angus stands up and turns away from Osric. “Half-beastkin have been rumored to be sold at the Trading Province of Aurelith. Though that is just a rumor you heard from a merchant, right.”

“Yes of course.”

“Good. Anything else you might want? One of the maids, perhaps? You seemed to like the sweets — I can give you recipes or—”

Osric shakes his head. “How about some books on magic and history instead?”

“Certainly.” Angus pats him on the back and the two walk back inside.