Bones of Power The Summoning of a Time God

Wham! The bedroom door flew open with a bang. Maids and butlers streamed in, one after another. I groaned, slowly pulling myself up from under the heavy, warm blankets. My eyes fluttered open, squinting from the harsh light flooding in from the wide-open windows, letting in a warm morning breeze. After blinking a few more times to adjust, I was met with the startled faces of my staff, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. Of course, I knew why—this was because of that ridiculous power I gained during my adventure with Lisa yesterday. Mother was shocked to see my face when I asked her to heal my arms after killing that king ogre and the goblins with Lisa, although she didn’t seem too worried.

“Are you really Prince John?” one of the maids asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yes, Cherry,” I replied calmly.

“You know my name?”

“Of course I do. I know every person in this castle,” I said with a small smile. “It’s my duty as a prince, after all. Otherwise, Mother, Lisa, and the Queen would give me a scolding—and I’d rather avoid that.”

It wasn’t just their names I knew. I could recite each staff member’s personal history, their families, their skills—everything. But that was information they didn’t need to know. Someday, when I become king, knowing every detail about those in my castle will be crucial.

“Well, I heard rumors that the prince was as handsome as his father,” Cherry continued, a slight smirk forming, “but I don’t see the resemblance.”

I chuckled awkwardly. “I understand. Please, let’s not talk about that.”

Before me lay the treasure Lisa and I had retrieved from the goblins and the King Ogre during our recent battle. Among the glittering items, I reached for a mirror, its handle adorned with gold and jewels. I caught a glimpse of my reflection. My face—a disguise in itself. Even Cherry had questioned who I was. Maybe I could use this to my advantage, to learn more about what was happening within the castle. It could be a chance to observe how people were treated and uncover any unrest.

“Cherry, how long have you been working as a maid in the castle?” I asked, glancing back at her.

She stiffened, likely worried she’d spoken too casually to the prince. “About two weeks, Prince,” she answered, her voice trembling.

“Perfect. You’ll guide me through your daily duties and show me around the castle. But, as a new butler in training.”

Cherry hesitated but nodded, leading me through the various castle facilities. We walked through the grand halls, and she meticulously swept up even the faintest speck of dust. Some areas were restricted, and we couldn’t enter, but I saw enough to understand the daily flow of the place.

“Shall we have dinner, Prince?” Cherry asked, a hint of nervousness still in her tone.

“I’m starving,” I admitted. We headed toward the kitchen to request a meal from the head chef.

“Who’s this fella next to you, Cherry?” A booming voice called out as we entered the kitchen. The speaker was a towering, muscular man, the head chef.

“This is…,” Cherry stammered.

“Bong! That’s my name, Chef,” I interrupted quickly.

The chef eyed me suspiciously but smiled. “Nice to meet you, Bong. I’m Larry, the head chef. What can I do for you two?”

“We were hoping you could prepare us a meal,” I said.

Larry scratched his chin. “I’d love to, but we’re out of some key ingredients, mainly spices. The shops are all closed at this hour. You could gather them from the forest, but it’s dangerous with the monsters becoming more active at night.”

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the castle grounds. Cherry seemed undeterred. “Don’t worry. I can handle a few goblins, Larry. I wouldn’t be a maid if I couldn’t.”

“Impressive,” Larry grinned. “But what about Bong here? You’ll be protecting him, too, won’t you?”

“Don’t worry about me,” I said, matching Cherry’s confident tone. “I’m stronger than I look.”

Larry chuckled. “Alright then. Stay safe, and I’ll have the kitchen ready for when you return.”

As we ventured into the forest, the fading daylight barely illuminated our path. We searched for the spices Larry needed, but the task was proving more difficult than expected.

“Any luck, Cherry?” I called out, rummaging through some bushes.

“None yet, Prince John,” she replied from somewhere nearby. Then she hesitated. “May I ask why you’re hiding your true identity?”

“From Larry?” I smiled. “He already knows. I’m just curious how people would treat me if I were someone else. People change—they aren’t always who they seem.”

“Very wise of you, Prince.”

A few minutes later, I spotted the herbs we needed. “Here they are!” I called, crouching to gather them. “Quick, bring me the basket, Cherry!”

Silence.

I turned around, but Cherry was gone—vanished. Where she had been standing, there was only a basket with a note inside. My heart raced as I opened it. The note demanded a ransom of one million gold coins for Cherry’s return.

“Did she get kidnapped?” I whispered, scanning the area.

Suddenly, I heard the crack of a whip and the creak of wooden wheels speeding down a nearby path. I darted toward the sound, using my powers to close the distance. In the distance, I saw a carriage, and inside, Cherry—surrounded by bandits.

“How much do you think we’ll get for this little maid, boss?” one of the bandits sneered.

“I don’t know,” another replied, “but I bet that kid who found the note is crying his way back to the castle by now.”

Crying? Oh, they were the ones who’d be crying soon enough. But I had to be smart. Charging in recklessly could put Cherry—and possibly others—in more danger. No, I needed to follow them, gather information, and then strike.