Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 190: The Backpack of Infinite Snacks

Months Later... The sun had not yet risen over the capital city, but the palace was already awake.

Today was The Day.

The opening of the Unity Academy.

Primrose stood in the kitchen, surrounded by seven lunchboxes. Her nine silver tails were twitching anxiously, knocking over spice jars.

"Okay," Primrose muttered, checking a list. "Vali needs extra protein or he bites people. Clover needs carrots cut into stars or she gets sad. Orion needs... water? Do Mermen bring water bottles or just a sponge?"

Caspian walked in, looking calm and regal in his Kingly robes. He kissed the top of her head.

"Breathe, Headmaster," he soothed. "It’s just school. They aren’t going to war."

"It’s worse than war," Primrose argued, shoving a ham sandwich into a box. "It’s socializing. What if someone pulls Clover’s ears? What if Vali eats the class pet? What if Arjun declares martial law during recess?"

"Then we handle it," Caspian smiled. "Besides, they have the best equipment in the Empire. Speaking of which..."

He pointed to the workshop door.

In the workshop, Jax was in his element. His rust-colored fox ears were swiveling back and forth as he welded a final seam on a small metal backpack. His bushy red tail was wagging in time with the hammering.

The Seven Heirs stood in a line, waiting for inspection.

"Alright, listen up, cadets!" Jax announced, flipping up his welding goggles. "School is a battlefield. You need the right gear."

He handed a sleek, black backpack to Arjun.

"The Tactician Pack," Jax explained. "Reinforced Kevlar weave. Waterproof. Fireproof. And it has a hidden compartment for your maps."

Arjun put it on. He adjusted the straps. "Weight distribution is optimal. Excellent work, Fox."

Jax moved to Jasper. He handed him a bag that looked small but hummed with mana.

"The Archive Satchel," Jax said. "It has an Expanded Space rune. You can fit the entire Royal Library in there. Just don’t lose your homework in the void dimension."

Jasper’s eyes lit up behind his glasses. "Infinite storage? Theoretically, I could smuggle a dragon."

"Please don’t," Jax sighed.

He moved to Vali. He handed him a rugged, leather backpack.

"The Meat Locker," Jax grinned. "Insulated. It keeps steaks hot for six hours. And it’s bite-proof."

Vali sniffed it. "Smells like leather. Good."

He moved to Clover. He handed her a pastel pink backpack with a bunny charm. "For you, tiny one. It has a panic button. If anyone bothers you, press this charm, and Rurik will come running."

"What does it do?" Clover whispered, hugging the bag.

"It summons the Wolf Pack," Jax winked.

Finally, he came to Orion.

Jax handed him a bag made of iridescent blue scales.

"The Hydro-Pack," Jax explained. "It keeps your lunch moist. And if you trip—which you will—it deploys a water cushion to catch you."

Orion beamed, showing his gap-toothed smile. "Thanks, Uncle Jax!"

The Unity Academy was built on a hill overlooking the capital. It was a beautiful campus of white stone and glass.

The Royal Carriage pulled up.

Primrose, Caspian, Rurik, Rajah, Leonora, Cassian, and Lucien all stepped out.

It looked less like a school drop-off and more like an invasion force.

"Remember," Rurik told Vali, gripping his son’s shoulder. "If they challenge you, establish dominance. Pee on the tallest tree."

"No!" Leonora slapped Rurik’s arm. "Vali, do not pee on the trees. You use your words. Or your inside voice."

"But if they push you," Rurik whispered loudly, "bite them."

Rajah was kneeling in front of Arjun. He was adjusting Arjun’s collar.

"You are the ranking officer," Rajah said sternly, though his eyes were wet. "Keep the squad together. Watch your six. And for the love of the Founders, do not correct the history teacher. Even if she is wrong about the Battle of the Red Ridge."

"I will try, General," Arjun promised.

Cassian was lecturing Jasper. "Do not correct the science teacher either. They are sensitive."

"I cannot promise that," Jasper adjusted his glasses. "Errors must be rectified."

Lucien didn’t say anything to Silas. He just nodded. Silas nodded back. They understood each other perfectly in the silence of the shadows.

Caspian walked Orion a little way apart from the group.

Orion was clutching his Hydro-Pack straps tight. His eyes were wide and watery. He looked very small next to the massive gates.

Caspian knelt down on one knee. He didn’t care that the grass stained his royal velvet trousers.

"Hey, Bubble," Caspian said softly, using his old nickname for his son.

"Papa," Orion whispered, his lip trembling. "I don’t want to go. What if I fall? What if I trip in front of the Sharks?"

Caspian smiled. He reached out and brushed a lock of hair out of Orion’s eyes.

"Do you know why the ocean is strong, Orion?"

Orion shook his head. "Because it’s big?"

"Because it always rises," Caspian corrected gently. "Waves crash. Tides fall. But the water always comes back up."

He placed his hand over Orion’s heart. A faint blue glow shone between them—the shared blood of the Jaoiren Kings.

"You are a Prince of the Deep," Caspian said, his voice filled with fierce pride. "If you trip, you get back up. If you fall, you laugh. You are my son. You are made of stronger stuff than gravity."

Orion sniffled. "Okay. I’ll rise."

"And remember," Caspian whispered conspiratorially, pressing a small, smooth sea-glass stone into Orion’s hand. "If the Sharks give you trouble... just remind them who owns the ocean."

Orion gripped the stone. He took a deep breath. He stood a little taller.

"Okay, Papa. I’m ready."

Caspian kissed his forehead. "Go get ’em, tiger. Or rather... shark-bait."

Orion giggled and ran to join the others.

A loud chime rang across the courtyard.

Primrose knelt down. Her nine tails spread out on the grass. The kids gathered around her one last time.

"Okay," Primrose said, her voice shaking slightly. "Go have fun. Learn things. Make friends who aren’t Warlords."

She kissed Clover on the cheek. She high-fived Vali (carefully). She hugged Orion tight.

"Go!" she shouted.

The kids turned and ran toward the massive doors.

Vali and Clover held hands. Arjun marched in front. Orion tripped on the bottom step, but the Hydro-Pack deployed a bubble, bouncing him back to his feet.

He looked back at Caspian and gave a thumbs up.

Caspian waved, swallowing the lump in his throat.

The parents stood there, watching them disappear into the building.

Rurik sniffled loudly. He wiped his nose on his sleeve. "The den is empty. Who will I wrestle?"

"You can wrestle the paperwork," Leonis said, appearing behind them. The Emperor looked amused. "Come on, Warlords. The kids are safe. Now we have a Kingdom to run."

Primrose didn’t leave. She walked into the school, heading straight for the Headmaster’s Office. She sat behind the desk. It felt big.

"First day jitters?"

Jax leaned against the doorway. His red fox ears were perked up.

"I feel like I abandoned them," Primrose admitted. "What if they get lonely?"

"They have each other," Jax said, walking over. "And they have the backpacks. I put a tracker in all of them."

Primrose looked up. "You did what?"

"Just in case," Jax grinned, his sharp teeth showing. "I’m a Fox, Prim. We like to know where our kits are. If Vali wanders off campus, I’ll know in ten seconds."

Primrose laughed. She felt the Ophelia-impulse humming in approval.

"You’re a good uncle, Jax."

"The best," Jax agreed. "Now, come on. The cafeteria is serving Mystery Meat. We need to go identify it before Vali eats it."

Primrose stood up, her tails swaying with renewed purpose.

"Right. Operation: Lunch Lady is a go."