"You need a battle? Go fight Lucius," Anna said casually, tossing a grape into Resker's mouth like she was feeding a mildly intelligent pet.
Resker blinked. "I know, but it would've been better if he were a mid-tier Life Knight. That way, I'd at least break a sweat."
"Oh, right," Anna said. "Forgot to mention. Lucius broke through to mid-tier, too."
Resker choked.
"Lucius broke through—HOW?" he spat, eyes wide as if the ceiling had just collapsed. "This is the third time this guy's pulled something like this!"
Anna leaned back, unfazed. "Yeah. I noticed. The first time was when I hit expert-tier Apprentice Knight. I figured it was a coincidence—maybe Father just handed over a lucky charm disguised as a servant."
She paused, peeling another grape.
"Second time was when I became a beginner-tier Life Knight. I thought, 'Wow, that's convenient. Probably just hard work and plot convenience.' But now?" She popped the grape in her mouth. "Now I'm starting to think he's a hidden expert faking his power level like some insecure cultivator trying to keep a low profile."
Resker looked like he was about to throw himself off a balcony.
"HOW THE—HOW THE HELL IS HE DOING THIS?!"
Anna shrugged like she was discussing weather patterns. "As long as he's not secretly plotting to stab us all in our sleep, I don't really care."
As the adults spiraled into paranoia, Void, the chaos baby himself, lifted a pudgy hand and smacked Resker across the face.
"Yaayy yayas yayaya ya yyyaaa yayayayay hagadudud fott!"
Both parents froze. It was the first time the baby had spoken outside of that one forced cry at birth.
"Did… did he just say something?" Resker asked, stunned.
Anna blinked. "Except for that one time he cried like a broken kettle, he's never tried talking before. Honestly, I was starting to think I gave birth to a mute deity."
Void gave them both a look so drenched in contempt it could've been bottled and sold as a luxury perfume. He raised his hand again, smacked Resker again, and declared with authority:
"Yaj yajga rudurudut fott!"
Resker rubbed his cheek, stunned. "I think… I think we should've named him Fott. Why does he keep saying Fott?"
Anna's eyes narrowed like knives. A chill swept the room.
"Your name," she hissed, "shall henceforth be known as Fott. How dare you."
Resker shrank down like a child caught lying about homework.
Void smirked. The world had been restored to its rightful imbalance.
⸻
Later that Day
Clang!
Clang!
Shrrr-KLANG!
Steel screamed against steel in the training courtyard. Sparks flew, sweat dripped, and egos were bruised.
Lucius ducked, pivoted, then parried with one arm.
"My lord," he said between breaths, "you're still the best I've ever sparred with."
"Don't butter me up," Resker growled, blade pressed forward. "Tell me how the hell you keep breaking through like it's a seasonal allergy."
Lucius exhaled. "It's… difficult to explain. I feel my breakthrough whenever you are about to reach yours."
Resker lowered his sword. "That sounds like some spiritually-attuned nonsense and I hate that it makes sense."
He stared at Lucius a moment longer, then sighed. "Fine. I don't care. Just don't betray us."
Lucius straightened. "My loyalty has always belonged to the Rame family, my lord."
Resker nodded. "Then I have one request."
"Name it."
"When the time comes… take care of Void."
Lucius blinked. "Yes, my lord. I'll protect him with my life."
"Good. Now less talking, more sword-smacking."
The clang of steel resumed—each strike echoing louder than the last, sending white shockwaves through the courtyard as the two knights traded blows with real intensity.
⸻
Two Hours Later
Resker returned, freshly cleaned and bandaged, hair still damp from his post-fight wash.
He spotted Anna by the window.
"My dearest Anna," he said with a theatrical flair. "I've spoken to Lucius. From today on, he'll be Void's guardian."
Anna exhaled softly. "At least if something happens to us… Void will be safe."
Resker smiled, proud.
Then.
"Fott," Anna said sweetly.
He froze.
"Honey… why are you still calling me that… that horrible name? Shouldn't Void be the one—"
Wrong move.
Anna flew at him like a storm with teeth, grabbed his arm, and sank her teeth into his skin.
"AHHHH!!!" Resker shrieked like a goat meeting a blender. "I'm sorry! Dearest Anna, I'm sorry!"
Void, curled in his cradle like a tiny villain-in-training, closed his eyes and let his father's screams lull him into a peaceful nap.
It was, in its own twisted way, a lullaby.