We should worry more about the king....

Dante was going over the paperwork for his son impromptu expedition, they should be able to sell that John was overzealous in choosing a quest to set himself apart from his brothers. What worried the king was those who knew him enough to know it wasn't his style to overdo anything, Asagi was the most worrisome of them all. Captain of a demons hunters unit from the guild was a very difficult position to reach, which means not only she was an accomplished warrior but also determined and stubborn.

The captain had taken a liking to John when he had decimated her team in a wargame, with Jane and the best of the royal guards he had completely dominated the demons hunters team. Using the knowledge of demons hunters tactic John had baited them in a long and excruciating chase, once they had finally managed to cut him off and catch up to him Jane and the guard was waiting in an ambush. In less than 10 seconds Asagi team had been neutralized and the captain was surrounded, John tactic had won the day without any real fight.

The captain and her team way too exhausted from the chase had no chance to win against the fresh and rested guards team, it was a very risky move from the prince because if he was caught too soon the other team had not only gained a hostage but a prince was of most value. Asagi knew that and so did John, the young strategist was certain the captain would give him chase and try to capture him. Asagi was quite impressed and started to come to the castle often, discussing strategy and when she could, coax him into a sparring session.

The king musing was cut off by the door of his study exploding, and by the guard that was standing guard at the door flying in the room before crashing in one of the bookshelves. Dante was not a man that could be scared easily, but the sight of his wife entering the room was the scariest thing he ever saw, she was surrounded by a magical aura stronger than anything he ever had seen before.

It was not uncommon to see a magical aura manifest itself when the host was angry or in a desperate situation, but it was usually faint and only for a very short period of time. This was not the case here, the orange aura was clear and seemed to lash out at anything that got close to her. It was looking like the queen was on fire, and anything getting too close burned in a burst of flames. What worried Dante the most were Eliana's face and particularly her eyes, they were pitch black and now they were locked onto him.

" There you are, dear husband. I will ask you this once and once only, there will be no lies and no omission of any kind. WHAT DID YOU DO AND WHERE IS MY SON!?" Demanded the hysteric queen slowly advancing on her petrified husband. Dante recognized that sweet and honey dripping tone for what it really was, the imminent and unstoppable doom of death and despair.

...............................................another part of the castle...................................................................

If you asked Siha Emagane what happens that day, you would notice the pale turn of her face and the tremor entering her voice when she described the terrible girlish screams she heard that still hunted her nightmares.

................................................................... King study......................................................................

" I swear that's what happened, John's the one who decided to go in the wildlands and not to tell you before he was gone. Please Eli, let them go." Dante said trying his best not to think of how his balls were twisted and crushed by his queen hand. A sigh of relief escaped his mouth when his wife finally let his family jewels go before turning around.

" Then there is still time for me to catch up to him." The mother said getting ready to leave before she was stopped by her husband.

" You can't go, Eliana, if you do then there was no point in him going at all. My son going into the wildlands can be explained, but the queen going with him can't be. If you do that the only thing you will accomplish is to throw a big part of the northern kingdom into civil war, and then our son will have nowhere to come back too." Pleaded the king to his wife.

"You ... you still call him your son? Even tho you know he isn't?" The mother asked having mellowed a little after hearing her husband explanation. She knew it sounded just like John to turn what was essentially a banishment into a quest to accomplish his goals.

" Of course I do, just because it was not my genes that were used doesn't mean the past 18 years have simply vanished." Dante said genuinely.

" But out there alone he's going to get killed, Dante. I ... I can't just stand by and let my baby die." Said frantically the queen.

" I know how you feel, Eli, But if the magical power you just displayed is anything to go by then John is probably the only one who can pull it off. It's hard for me to admit it, but if what that Calipso said is true we don't have the forces to stand against that kind of invasion. John knew that and that's why he decided that if he had to leave, then the best place to go was the only one place able to provide a real difference." Explained Dante helping the guard who had started to regain consciousness. Eliana knew all that but it didn't help her at all, John would be gone for who knows how long.

" I'm sorry for the ... mess, I need some time alone to think." Said Eliana before quickly taking her leave through the broken mess. Dante watched her leave hoping she wasn't going to do anything stupid.

" Captain you there?" Called out the king to a shadow in the corner of the room. As soon the words had left his mouth a white-haired beauty in armor stepped out of the shadow and answered him.

" Of course I am, how may I be of service, my lord?" The warrior answered with amusement clear in her voice.

" You know that as captain of the royal guard mean you're supposed to protect me right?" Said Dante pointedly. " You didn't seem all in a hurry to protect me there Ciri." Remarked Dante with a tortured look.

" Brother, if you want me to take on a horde of demons to protect you, I will. I, however, am not nearly crazy enough to stand between Eliana and her fury ... or your balls, she was already a magical powerhouse before ... whatever my dear nephew did to her ... but now it would have just been suicide. Surely you wouldn't us to both die in vain, would you Dante?" Argued Ciri while helping the poor guard sit down.

" Why don't you just say it like it is, you agreed with her and enjoyed seeing her punish me." Whined the king.

" Why would you think that dear brother? It's not like you would have relieved me of my duty so I wouldn't be there when you decided to exile my precious little nephew, is it?" Said the warrior accusingly.

" OK, I get it damn it. I swear if I didn't know John any better, I would think the brat enslaved every woman in the castle. How is he manage to get all of you to dote over him like he's the last man in the kingdom?" Asked Dante truly curious about it.

" He's handsome, calm, considerate, supportive and always ready to help. Oh, and he gives the best massages I ever got, there is nothing like a good shoulder massage after a long sparring session." Informed the captain with a small sigh realizing she wouldn't get any more of those heavenly shoulder rubs for some time.

" Right ... well, please go keep an eye on Eliana, make sure she doesn't do anything rash." Ordered the king wondering if he should learn how to give massages now.

" Will do, but if she does I'm coming to get you, She's your wife after all and I would really like my tits to stay where they are, thank you." Ciri said before leaving in search of a surely depress queen.

........................war-ravaged lands between the great scar and great forest.......................

The young incubus had been traveling at a brisk pace for almost an entire day, he was feeling better than he ever felt before.

' Either I'm in way better shape than I thought I was, or all that sex with mother made me stronger.' The prince thought while looking for a place to settle for the night. John was pretty sure it was the sex, but it also meant that sooner or later he would starve all that energy out. It wasn't that bad since he always was in good shape even before the ordeal with his mother, but at this pace, he would be at the forest by tomorrow night, a full day before what he had expected.

John was about to head for some ruin that seemed a good prospect for shelter when he noticed some tracks on the ground. The strategist got to one knee to inspect the set of tracks.......