The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Powerful magic burst out of King Jaren. Raven was flung out of his seat and crashed painfully into the wall behind him.

"You dare to take my children away from me?!" King Jaren thundered.

"It's better than letting them stay here and get killed!" Raven replied, standing up gingerly. His right shoulder throbbed, probably dislocated.

"You little thing – you think you can protect them?" King Jaren sneered. "You are but a child – don't overstep your limits!"

"If even I, a mere child, can see the truth, why can't you, Your Majesty? Your promises to protect Jules and Mana, and to seek justice for your late Queen Dora – are they anything more than empty words?" he retorted.

"Mana and Jules won't go with you!" King Jaren declared.

Raven smiled slightly. "I'm not above using dirty tricks to deceive them into going with me. I'd rather that they be alive and safe enough to hate me for my deception than be die while still caring for me."

King Jaren glared at him.

Raven's eyes flashed black again as he looked straight at King Jaren. "Neither Mana nor Jules are hungry for power or riches. They care far more about their Papa than the throne their Papa sits on…and this is their strength as well as their weakness. They would rather let themselves get hurt than allow you to feel sad or face danger."

The older man staggered. "I know that…" he whispered.

Before he could say anything further, the door to the study burst open and Mana and Jules flew in. Azar leapt from Mana's arms towards Raven with a distressed cry.

"Raven!" Mana's voice trembled as she rushed to him.

Jules quickly closed the door behind them.

"What the hell is going on here?" Mana cried furiously, glaring at King Jaren. "Why is Raven injured?"

King Jaren blinked in confusion, and finally noticed the awkward angle of Raven's right shoulder. Guilt flooded his heart. How could he hurt a child?! He gestured with his fingers to include Mana, Jules and Azar within the sound barrier and approached Raven.

Mana and Jules immediately blocked his way, protecting Raven.

"I'm not going to harm him," King Jaren said sadly. His face was full of regret.

Mana's eyes flashed angrily. "Aren't you the one that injured him in the first place? How else would he get hurt in a room with only the two of you?!"

"I didn't realise…" King Jaren began, but then stopped. "I'm sorry, it's my fault…I lost my temper," he whispered. "Raven, dear child…why didn't you hit me back?!"

The three children looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.

Anxious, he peered at Raven. "Let me take a look," he murmured. "Do we need to call Physician Kale?"

"No need," Jules said coldly. "I'll heal him myself." He put an arm around Raven's waist, supporting the younger boy. "Mana, Azar, let's go."

"Wait!" King Jaren called.

"It's ok, don't be angry," Raven said softly to Mana and Jules. "I was the one who offended him first – and he didn't mean to harm me. His magic just burst out involuntarily."

"That's no excuse to harm a child, especially not from a parent figure," Mana said sternly.

Raven shook his head. "It's not like that at all," he said. "Anyone would react like this if someone threatens to take their beloved children away. It really was just an accident."

Mana was startled. "You…threatened Papa?" she asked in disbelief.

"We can discuss the details later," Jules snapped. "Let's take Raven back first."

Raven shook his head stubbornly. "I want to finish the conversation with His Majesty and hear his decision," he stated.

Jules sighed. "At least let me heal you first," he muttered.

"Thank you," Raven said gratefully as Jules concentrated his magic upon his dislocated shoulder and set it right.

"Are you injured anywhere else?" Mana asked worriedly.

Raven shook his head.

Mana turned to King Jaren. "What happened?" she asked.

"Raven came to scold me," King Jaren said, scrubbing his face despondently. "Rightly so, since I have jeopardised your safety over and over again. He also offered to 'take care' of things for me in various ways."

"And what is your decision, Your Majesty?" Raven asked.

King Jaren stared at the young boy pitifully. "Raven…you won't even call me Papa anymore?" he asked sadly.

That startled Raven. "Do I still have the right to?"

King Jaren was taken aback. "Why wouldn't you?" he asked. "I know I behaved despicably right now and injured you inadvertently – and you can hit me back for that if it'll make you feel better. But that doesn't mean I won't care for you anymore. I've told you before, haven't I? That you're as dear to me as any of my children?"

"Even after what I just said to you?" Raven challenged.

"I'm not happy with what you said, naturally," King Jaren replied bitterly. "We had a disagreement – but…that isn't going to stop me from thinking of you as one of my own." He bowed his head. "I know I've failed as a father figure and that I've disappointed you terribly…but if possible…could you forgive your old Papa and give me a chance to redeem myself…?" He knelt on the floor and opened his arms.

Raven burst into tears and ran into King Jaren's arms. The older man apologised over and over again while hugging him.

"It's ok, Papa," Raven whispered tearfully. "I'm sorry, too."

"You have nothing to apologise for, my boy," King Jaren told him, wiping his own eyes. "It took great courage for you to stand against me to protect Mana and Jules…and you have my admiration as well as my gratitude for it."

Raven flushed.

"And, at the risk of being presumptuous…I'd like you to promise me something," King Jaren said quietly. "In the future, no matter who tries to harm you, you must retaliate and protect yourself."

Raven looked away, unwilling to respond. He knew that he would never be able to retaliate against the ones he loved.

"Papa is right," Mana said quietly.

"Yes, Raven," Jules agreed, too. "You must protect yourself."

Raven shook his head. "I won't let my enemies go," he said softly. "But…I can't hurt the people I love. There's only a handful, anyway…and if I have to hurt them…I'd rather take on the damage myself."

"Not acceptable," Mana snapped.

King Jaren sighed. "Raven," he said seriously. "You mustn't do to Mana what Dora did to me. It…destroys a person in ways you can't imagine."

Raven held the older man's gaze steadily. "I don't intend to," he said firmly. "And this is exactly why I came to you with my offer."

Looking at the befuddled expressions of Mana and Jules, King Jaren summarised their conversation and Raven's offer – leaving out the part about Mana's split soul. That subject could wait for another day.

Mana and Jules exchanged a meaningful glance.

"Big Brother and I had a similar conversation just now…then Azar suddenly woke up crying that his Daddy was hurt," Mana said, rubbing the little dragon's head.

"I'm sorry," King Jaren said miserably.

"Since Raven is willing to forgive you, we can let it go just this once, Papa," Mana said. "But there won't be a next time."

Jules nodded in agreement. "Raven has already suffered enough at the hands of his biological family," he said quietly. "You are the first parent that cared for him, and he gave you his whole-hearted affection. I'm very disappointed that you hurt him, Papa, even if it was accidental."

"I know," King Jaren whispered. "I've failed all of you terribly."

"We don't want to cause you pain, Papa," Mana said gently. "And we don't like seeing you cornered like this…and we don't want to force you into making a difficult choice." She took Raven's hand and held it. "Perhaps…it really is better for us to disappear."

"No!" King Jaren cried. "Absolutely not!"

"I wouldn't want to leave our citizens at Astra's mercy," Jules said. "But other than that, I agree with Mana. Our presence here is causing you too much trouble."

"No, please, no!" King Jaren broke down into sobs. "Don't leave me alone again, please!"

Alarmed, Jules, Mana and Raven moved close to the older man and patted his broad back.

Azar nuzzled King Jaren's cheek with his small head. "Grandpapa sad?"

King Jaren calmed down miraculously and stroked the little dragon with gentle fingers. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"Don't be sad, Grandpapa," Azar said cutely.

"We won't leave," Jules said. "But Papa…things really can't go on like this."

King Jaren nodded. "We will go to meet Sora tomorrow and confront her about the past as well as the present crimes," he said with a heavy sigh. "As for Astra…please give me some time. I still believe that she is not entirely malicious. And I…I don't want to lose a child. Let me speak to her…and if she still doesn't mend her ways, I will lock her up until she can marry Mars and go to the Amber Kingdom."

Mana, Jules and Raven looked at each other.

"All right, Papa," they said finally.