Nathan – POV

  Midnight crept over the camp like a soft blanket, the kind that muffles sound and makes the world feel smaller, quieter, more intimate. I had just finished preparing my cot on top of the wagon, my preferred sleeping spot. Where the stars stretched endlessly above me. There was something comforting about sleeping under the open sky. Maybe it was the reminder that even in this strange world, some things remained constant. Stars were stars, no matter the universe.

  As usual, Shive curled up beside me, her warmth pressing lightly against my arm. That had become our routine, one I’d grown fond of. But tonight came a surprise: Christine climbed up after us and settled on my other side. For the first time, she chose to sleep outside with us instead of inside the pavilion.

  And just like that, I found myself sandwiched between two adorable girls.

  I didn’t mind. In fact, I savored it. These were the kinds of moments I knew wouldn’t last forever. The night wind carried a sharper chill than usual, a sign that autumn was approaching. After that would come winter… and then my eighth birthday.

  Eight. The age when things start to change. I think.

  Puberty wasn’t far off. And once that hit, sleeping beside two girls, two beautiful girls, would become a problem. Biology didn’t care about social propriety or emotional nuance. Hormones were tyrants. They didn’t negotiate.

  I’d lived through puberty once already, and it had been equal parts fun, confusing, and terrifying. I remembered the awkwardness, the sudden surges of emotion, the inconvenient timing of certain… reactions. I smirked to myself. If anything, this time might be worse. Because of these two girls? Most likely because of these two girls. I am pretty sure they were going to grow into absolute stunners.

  Shive already had the early hallmarks of a succubus beauty; porcelain skin, golden eyes that glowed faintly in the dark, and long, straight black hair that shimmered like ink. Her curves were beginning to form, subtle but unmistakable. Succubi matured into dangerously attractive beings, and I had a very clear idea of what she would eventually look like.

  Christine, on the other hand, was shaping into a blonde bombshell in the making. Her platinum-gold hair caught the moonlight like spun silver, and her green eyes were bright even when she slept. Her figure was beginning to develop too, soft curves hinting at the woman she would become.

  I wondered absently how they would feel in a few years... then froze.

  Wait. No. Bad brain. Not now.

  I discreetly checked my “tool,” bracing myself for the worst.

  …Nothing.

  Good. No reaction. I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Maybe puberty would hit next year, after I turned eight. Hopefully.

  My musings on hormones and impending biological chaos were interrupted by a sudden mental ping... Krizek reaching out through our link.

  Master, we are almost there, Krizek reported.

  Finally. They were back.

  Good to hear from you, Krizek. Are the others okay? I asked.

  We are together, Master, Xander added.

  Before I could respond, I remembered that I ignored a blinking notification earlier when I was busy cooking. As I mentally opened it, Leshner chimed in.

  Master. It was a profound success. All targets were eliminated, and all wealth was liberated.

  Excellent work, I said, I then reviewed the notification I ignored earlier.

  Congratulations! Your summoned Demons have slain a Level 55 Human Fire Mage!

  You have leveled up!

  Wow! A level 53 Human Fire Mage. Must have been the count. So far, this was the highest level my minions killed. I then called my status page.

  Status:

  Name: Nathan Mayweather- Abensberg

  Noble House: Mayweather – Abensberg (member)

  Class: Shadow Mage, Warlock Demonologist, Affliction, Destruction

  Titles: Otherworldly Knowledge, Master Chef, Quaeritor Artium

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Level: 53

  HP: 1040

  MP: 7700

  Strength: 53 + 1 = 54

  Stamina: 53 + 1 = 54

  Agility: 53 + 1 = 54

  Dexterity: 103 + 1 = 54

  Intelligence: 765 + 5 = 770

  Constitution: 103 + 1 = 104

  Affinity: Shadow SSS+, Fel Energy SSS+

  Active Skills: Shadow Bolt 10, Immolate 10, Summon Imp, Shadow Tendrils 10, Corruption 10, Curse of Weakness 10, Life Tap 10, Curse of Agony 10, Fear 10, Summon Voidwalker, Drain Soul 10, Create Healthstone , Health Funnel 8, Drain Life 10, Curse of Recklessness 8, Unending Breath, Searing Pain 10 Create Soulstone (Greater) , Ritual of Summoning, Summon Succubus, Summon Incubus, Rain of Fire 8, Demon Armored Skin 10, Eye of Kilrogg, Shadowmeld 10, Drain Mana 8, Sense Demons, Banish 8, Summon Fellhunter, Subjugate Demon 8, Hellfire 8, Curse of the Elements 10, Shadow Ward 9, Detect Invisibility, Summon Felsteed, Howl of Terror 8, Death Coil 8, Curse of Shadow 6, Soul Fire 8, Detect Greater Invisibility, Summon Infernal

  Passive Skills: Mana Sense 10

  One-handed Sword Mastery 11

  Two-handed Sword Mastery 27

  Spear Mastery 13

  Dagger 17

  Mounted Combat 11

  I am now level 53. The notification faded from my vision, and I let out a slow breath of relief. Progress was progress, and every level mattered. If things went well, I should be able to hit level 60 with all the dungeons around this city. In fact, I should probably ask Father if we could stay here a little longer, just enough time for me to grind out a few more levels. The stronger I became, the safer everyone would be. Perhaps our retainers and house guards too can gain levels as well.

  Krizek, you mentioned wealth. Did you acquire a lot? I asked through our mental link.

  Yes, Master. It was a spectacular find. Gold coins, gold bars, jewels, and several works of art. There are also a few items I suspect are enchanted. They should be appraised, Krizek replied.

  I will. But how was the fight with the count?

  Leshner answered with a tone that could only be described as smug. Fun and challenging, Master. It took us a little time, but we managed to slay the human mage.

  Good. Tell me how the fight played out. I was genuinely curious.

  Xander tanked the mage’s fire spells while Krizek distracted him with knives and felfire. I slipped behind him and struck his kidney. Once he was incapacitated, I slit his throat. Leshner sounded proud, like a student reporting a perfect exam score.

  Efficient. Brutal. Very on-brand for demons.

  Any injuries?

  Insignificant, Xander replied. Shadowmeld and your healthstones corrected the damage.

  Good. They were functioning exactly as intended.

  Krizek, when will you finish the trinkets for my family to access the pocket dimension?

  A day or two, Master. These constructs are quite sophisticated.

  Understood. Thank you, my friends. You’ve earned rewards. What do you wish for?

  Xander responded immediately, reverent and unwavering. It is enough for us to serve a great master such as you—one who rivals the Old Gods, or perhaps even the Void Lords.

  I blinked.

  Old Gods? Void Lords? Those were cosmic-level beings. What did he mean by rival? Was that flattery? A prophecy? A warning? I shoved the thought aside. I had enough on my plate without contemplating cosmic hierarchies.

  As you wish. Rest when you arrive, then protect our camp and our people.

  We do not require rest, Master, Krizek said simply.

  Of course they didn’t.

  I closed the mental link and returned to my status window. The new titles were there; the stat increases properly reflected. Everything looked correct on paper.

  But something bothered me.

  I didn’t feel any different.

  A strength of 54 should put me near Anda's strength or even above Father's. Yet when I carried a bucket of water earlier, it felt just as heavy to me as it did to Mary. No difference. No enhanced stamina. No increased agility. Nothing.

  Was I broken?

  Or perhaps children’s bodies didn’t fully express stat changes until a certain age. Maybe the system was holding back my physical growth until I reached ten. Or maybe level 60 would trigger something.

  All theories. No answers.

  I’ll need to ask others about this—Anda, Father, and maybe some of the former adventurers now serving as retainers. With enough data, I should be able to deduce the truth.

  For now, I pushed myself upright and called out to a nearby guard. When he approached, I told him to spread word that the Hellblazers were returning.

  He blinked at me, clearly surprised. Probably wondering how a seven-year-old knew that. I didn’t bother explaining. He hurried off, and I lay back down, letting sleep claim me.

  Morning arrived with the usual cacophony of camp life; voices, clattering pots, the shuffle of boots. Shive and Christine were still asleep beside me; their arms draped over me like warm vines. Carefully, I extracted myself from their embrace and climbed down from the wagon.

  I washed my face at a basin near the pavilion, the cold water jolting me fully awake. As I looked around, I spotted my minions mingling with our men. It was a relief to see the soldiers no longer flinching at their presence. A few days ago, the sight of the disguised demons had nearly sent some of them scrambling for weapons.

  Of course, if their true forms were ever revealed, panic would return instantly. I wasn’t planning to show their real appearances to everyone, only to a select few. Anda and his former party members, perhaps. People who could handle the truth.

  “Nathan.” My father’s voice cut through my thoughts. “We will have a meeting after breakfast. Don’t wander off.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  That caught me off guard. He had never specifically requested my presence in a formal meeting before. I’d attended some in the past, but always as a quiet observer. What could they possibly need from a seven-year-old?

  Money? Unlikely. I’d already told them they could use the wealth in the pocket dimension freely. They only needed me to open the portal until Krizek finished the trinkets.

  Whatever the reason, I’d find out soon enough.

  I returned to the wagon and gently woke the girls. Once they were up and stretching, we made our way to the pavilion for breakfast, and whatever awaited us afterward.