*Flashback*
*At the orphanage Chloe and Alex had just finished orientation from the clergyman and were now given permission to explore the premise and meet the children. Chloe grabbed Alex by his shirt sleeve and dragged him out into the playground*
(Alex): *Chuckles* Chloe I know you’re excited but what’s the rush?
(Chloe): There’s a certain boy out here I saw earlier I want you to see. He’s a bit naughty but adorable all the same.
*Chloe began scanning the playground looking for Kai but couldn’t find him anywhere. While Chloe was searching for him, Alex spotted a group of kids picking on a shark girl demihuman with rose red hair and purple eyes. The group consisted of three boys. Two humans and one elf. One boy was slightly dark-skinned with black hair that was tied into a short ponytail and red eyes. The second boy had grey hair and blue eyes and the elf had dark green hair cut into a bowl and red eyes. They had a doll and were playing keep away from the girl who was trying desperately to get it back but to no avail. The boys were taller than her. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes as she tried to get the doll back and the guardians on the playground were busy keeping an eye on other kids and hadn’t notice the bullying. Seeing enough, Alex decided to step in but before he reached them, Kai came charging in. He tackled the elf with the doll trying to rip it from his hands. The other two boys jumped on Kai trying to pull him off, but Kai managed to fight them off so that he could focus on tearing the doll away. Kai managed to get the doll while fending off the other two boys and stood triumphant with dirt all over his clothes. The other boys also had dirt on the clothes and ran away now that Kai had the doll. They knew Kai was one of the strongest kids in the orphanage and could handle all three of them in a fight. The three boys retreated, deciding to do something else while Kai gave the doll back to the girl who thanked him and went off to go play. Kai could feel Alex looking at him and turned around to face him*
(Kai): Hey.
(Alex): Hello there.
(Kai): Appreciate you trying to help but I had things under control.
(Alex): It would seem so.
*Alex squats down to be at eye level with Kai to see his name tag and smiles*
(Alex): That was pretty brave of you, Kaiser. So what are you going to do now?
(Kai): Just toss the ball into the basket over there.
*Kai points to the basketball lying on the ground*
(Alex): Mind if I join you?
(Kai): Do you know how to play?
(Alex): No. But I’m a quick learner.
*Alex knew how to play basketball but decided to lie to make Kai feel as if he was in control*
(Chloe): Got room for one more?
*Chloe came over to join the two after finding them and smiled happily that Alex was drawn to the boy, she had been looking for all this time*
*Flashback ends*
***
*Present Day*
(Silvi): I’m the true heir to the Rushalia throne? No, that can’t be right.
(Kai): It is. You’re the daughter of King Regal.
(Silvi): That’s impossible. My dad was a passing mercenary who had a one-night stand with my mom and died while on a quest.
(Kai): Yes, quite the convincing story your mom told you. I’m sure she showed you a picture of the man as well. Let me guess, big, muscular, blue eyes, red hair with a few grey hairs and beard?
(Silvi): Yes. How did you-
(Kai): Guy’s name was Geroy. Died about almost 30 years old ago. While it’s true he was a mercenary he was nowhere near Rushalia during the time of your birth period. He was in the west fighting Eclipses. Here’s another tidbit, your mom would regularly receive a large sum of credits into her account at the end of the month from RRF Finances. That’s a cover for the checks written by the royal family of Rushalia. Now why would your mom be receiving credits from the royal family?
*Silvi stood there processing everything she just heard and couldn’t find any flaws or lies in logic or statement. Which means it was true, her dad was really King Regal and she was the first princess of Rushalia*
(Silvi): So the rumor was true? King Regal did have an affair.
(Kai): Not entirely. The story was exaggerated to some extent. In truth, your mom was a handmaid in the palace. Before King Regal married Queen Kaela he had relationships with your mom which wound up with her getting pregnant. With his marriage to Kaela set in stone, Regal knew it could affect the alliance between kingdoms if word got out that the king slept with a handmaid. So your mom left the palace and gave birth to you in the countryside away from prying eyes. Only a few within the kingdom knew about the affair.
(Silvi): Until today.
(Kai): Yeah, you have your half-brother, Marco, to thank for that. The court mage Malcolm spilled the beans to him about you being alive. When he heard about you he panicked and put a hit out on you.
(Silvi): Why he’s trying to kill me?
(Kai): You’re a threat to him. According to the law, the firstborn child has a right to the throne in the event of the king’s death. No matter their gender. Which means, by right, you are the true heir to the throne. Not Marco, and everyone couldn’t be happier. The kingdom can be ruled by someone who truly cares.
(Silvi): Sorry, but I’m not fit to be a ruler. I’m just a traveling songstress from the country. Why not just let Marco take the throne?
(Kai): Marco is a selfish narcissistic idiot. He only cares about himself and if he takes the throne this country is screwed. I know it. You know it. The people know it. Between the two of you you’re the better choice. What you lack in nobility you make up for by understanding the people and knowing what they need and want.
(Silvi): So what happens now?
(Kai): I get you to the capital before Marco’s coronation so that you can take the throne.
(Silvi): And turn me into a puppet of the court?
(Kai): You have allies within the palace who want to help you lead this country for the greater good. Besides, you’re too smart to be their puppet. It’s either you come with me to the palace, or you can stay here and die by the hitmen. It is a good bounty.
(Silvi): Then why aren’t you going for it?
(Kai): Because your allies in the palace are paying me more to keep you alive. Now, let’s get you to the capital.
*Kai picks up Silvi and throws her over his shoulder as he begins to walk down the street*
(Silvi): Wait! At least let me get my luggage first before we go!
***
*Back at the palace, it was early in the morning where Marco was sitting at a table alone enjoying his breakfast in white robe when all of sudden Malcolm came bursting in*
(Malcolm): Your majesty. I bring urgent news.
(Marco): What’s so urgent that you would interrupt my breakfast?
*Marco began to drink a glass of apple juice*
(Malcolm): Our scout has reported that Kazarian and his men failed to kill the girl.
*Upon hearing this, Marco chokes on his apple juice and spits it out*
(Malcolm): Apparently, he was defeated by another mercenary.
(Marco): What! You told me that elf could get the job done. How could he have lost to one mercenary?
(Malcolm): I assure you, sir. If Kazarian and his men lost, then we are dealing with a skilled mercenary here.
(Marco): If he’s protecting her then that means he knows who she is and most likely headed to the palace as we speak.
(Malcolm): Not to worry. I have already alerted our knights. They’ll take care of this for us.
(Marco): For your sake, they had better. Ugh~, my appetite is now ruined.
*Marco gets up from the table*
(Marco): I’m going to spa to relax. Have good news when I come back.
*Marco storms off*
(Malcolm): Arrogant child.
***
*Now out on the open road in a red pick-up truck, Kai and Silvi were driving and heading to Rushalia’s capital*
(Kai): Alright, we got a full tank of gas and plenty of food. At our current rate, we should reach the capital in 2 ½ days.
(Silvi): I still don’t see why we couldn’t take the train.
(Kai): Too risky. Last thing we want to do is put other people in danger.
*Kai looks out of his rearview mirror and sees a bunch of people on motorcycles gaining on them*
(Kai): Right on time.
*Kai presses a button on the steering wheel*
(Truck voice): Auto drive initiated. You are now on the fastest route to your destination.
(Silvi): What’s going on?
(Kai): We’re about to have some bad company.
*Silvi Looks out the rearview mirror and sees the people on motorcycles fast approaching. Meanwhile, Kai takes off his seatbelt so he can reach the back of the truck*
(Silvi): He sent knights after us?
(Kai): You didn’t really think he was just going to count on the mercenaries to get the job done did you?
(Silvi): Look at them all. There’s at least ten of them out there.
(Kai): You’re right. I was expecting more.
(Silvi): How can you joke at a time like this? This is a huge problem.
(Kai): Not for a good mercenary. I suggest keeping your head down. It’s going to get loud.
*Kai made it to the back of the truck and was standing with his sword in hand as the motorcyclist got closer*
(Kai): I’ll only say this once. Get out of our way.
(Motorcyclist #1): That’s our line!
*The motorcyclist pulls out an SMG and begins to fire water bullets at Kai who blocks the attacks with*
(Kai): Well, it was worth a shot.
*Kai swings his sword unleashing an air slash of fire. The first motorcyclist screams in terror and steers out of the way to avoid getting hit. The other motorcyclist do the same thing but slash hits one of them. The motorcycle catches on fire and the motorcyclist begins to panic. Blinded, by his panic, the motorcyclist crashes into another motorcyclist and causes them both to fall over into the dirt and snow. As the motorcyclist returned to formation, Kai transformed his sword into a rapier*
(Kai): En Garde you heathens!
*Thrusting his sword forward, Kai fired a ball of fire at the motorcyclists who once again steered out of the away to avoid getting hit. Kai shot out more balls of fire at the motorcyclists who avoided the attacks*
(Kai): Okay. Let’s be unpredictable.
*Kai thrusted his sword upward into the sky and shot off multiple fireballs. The fireballs came crashing down hitting three of the motorcyclists directly. One of them lost their balance while trying to avoid the fireballs and fell over and two got blasted into a ditch of snow. With only three motorcyclists left, they sped up to get close to the truck as Kai continued to rain down fireballs. The vehicles were approaching a bridge. Kai’s truck made it across as did two of the motorcyclists. One of them steered out of the way to avoid a fireball, missed the bridge, and drove directly into the water. The remaining two motorcyclists gained speed with the first one jumping off their bike and landing in the truck. The motorcyclist pulled out a steel bo staff to fight Kai. Their weapons clashed with each other as the second motorcyclist was closing in on the passenger’s side of the car. Kai’s rapier struggled against the bo staff, but he quickly transformed the rapier into a shotel. Using the hook sword, he hooked the bo staff and pulled the motorist toward him to deliver a kick. The motorist tripped backwards and fell out of the truck hitting the ground and rolling backward. As Kai was fighting the last motorist reached the passenger’s side of the truck and made eye contact with Silvi. He pulled out a gun getting ready to shoot her, but was picked up by Kai who slammed him on top of the drop causing him to drop the gun. Kai then tossed him on the side of the road. With all the motorists defeated, Kai crawled back into the driver’s seat and shuts off autopilot*
(Truck voice): Autopilot has been disengaged.
(Kai): All clear now. You can stop ducking now.
*Silvi returns upward amazed that all of the motorists were defeated and they were unharmed*
(Silvi): How did you do all of that?
(Kai): I’m a good mercenary.
*Kai continues to drive down the road*
***
*Flashback*
*At the orphanage Kai was playing horse with Alex while Chloe cheered them on from the side. Alex had just banked in a jump shot*
(Alex): Ha! Try and make that shot. Have to bank it in as well. It takes a sharp shooter to make this.
*Alex moves out of the way allowing Kai to step in. Taking a deep breath, Kai manages to bank the shot in much to Alex and Chloe’s surprise*
(Alex): How did you make that?
(Kai): I’m a sharp kid.
*Kai smiles smugly*
(Chloe): *Chuckles* And a cute one as well.
(Alex): *Under his breath* Cheeky brat.
*The three were really enjoying each other’s company*
(Kai): So, why are you guys looking to adopt? Don’t you have a child at home?
(Alex): No. We’ve had some difficulties having one. Which is why we came here and I think we found the one who is right for us.
*Alex and Chloe stared at Kai who looked at them, confused*
(Alex): How would you feel about coming home with us?
