With his family around, Max was forced to bring out the clone and play the double role of Lord Ravan and Max Rajput simultaneously.
The clone took the mask and became the Lord, while he himself enjoyed some leisure time with his family as he took them on tour around the palace grounds and talked about nothing in particular.
There was a great war looking over his head, but having spent decades in isolation Max now understood better than ever that there was always going to be wars and emergencies, what he needed to do however was make the most of the moments he got between these events.
He was pleasantly surprised at how strong the children were growing up to be as he took all three of them in his lap and tickled them for fun.
Although their kicks and punches from the tickling felt light to him, he realised that the power behind them was not something children so young should have.
It could take out a tier0 warrior clean and might take out a tier1 warrior if all three of them ganged up on him.
Jake in particular was a monster and his strength made Max wonder as to how his sisters in law managed these children around the house.
Thankfully both his sisters in law were tier4 warriors themselves, which gave them the physical strength needed to control the kids, but if they were normal mother's, they would have suffered multiple broken bones by now.
Anna was back after a long time and her entire demeanour and aura felt different.
She was sharp, her eyes picking up every small movement happening around her as she seemed to have shed some of the innocence that usually surrounded her and seemed more rough.
Although she did not say anything particularly rude and was still her lovely usual self, something about her calm and calculating gaze gave Max the goosebumps, she was definitely not the naive girl that he remembered her to be.
Max also noticed the way Asiva gazed at the kids, her expression ever so kind and tender.
He still remembered her sobs when he came back, it was an extreme expression of her emotion as she let out everything that she had pent-up for months.
Now, it was the other extreme end of the emotional spectrum as she laughed so much with the kids that her stomach hurt.
While Anna had become a little rough, Asiva seemed to have become ever so gentle as the two seemed to have swapped some personality traits.
" Max- won't you show us around the city?" Ruby asked as she seemed eager to travel outside for a change
On one hand Max did have a lot of work to do, he needed to prepare for the upcoming announcement by the King making news of the war public and also deal with administrative issues, but he decided to pin all that on the clone for now as he took his family out for a tour of Dombivli City.
Initially he was planning to go alone, but then Severus, Sebastian, Anna and Asiva tagged along as well, mostly because of how adorable kartikeya was as everyone wanted to hug and hold him to themselves.
As they stepped into the city, Ruby and Naomi were awestruck by the panorama that greeted them. Dombivli was an expanse of stunning mediaeval architecture juxtaposed with modern infrastructural developments. A perfect blend of ancient history and innovative growth that resonated with the dual nature of their vampire heritage.
Max started their tour with the city library, a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. Its colossal stone structure, sculpted with intricate designs of gargoyles and dragons, appeared as an imposing fortress of literature. Inside, ancient scrolls cohabited with electronic databases, offering a labyrinth of information. Max explained how the library held an essential role in vampire education, providing equal access to all citizens irrespective of their status.
Next, they visited the city hall, a testament to the leadership of the Bloodfall clan. The Gothic-inspired building, adorned with stained-glass windows depicting legends of their clan, housed the administrative hub of the city.
It has massive Bloodfall clan banners hanging from all its walls and a huge flag fluttering in the wind at the top, but despite the strong Bloodfall clan presence, inside it did have the remnants of the previous Kingsman clan, left intact as they should be for being a part of the heritage of the city.
As they moved deeper into the city, Ruby and Naomi couldn't help but admire the dynamic construction projects shaping the cityscape. The quaint cobblestone streets were gradually giving way to smooth asphalt roads, old bridges were being reinforced, and a sophisticated sewage system was in the works. Solar powered street lamps stood tall, providing sustainable illumination that beautifully harmonised with the city's antique aesthetic.
Severus enthusiastically explained to them about the various waste management methods that were employed and how he planned on making dombivili the cleanest city in all of the vampire society.
Their tour ended in the bustling marketplace, an energetic symphony of haggling vendors and eager buyers. Dombivli's residents shopped for everything from arcane artefacts to modern vampire-friendly cosmetics under the grand canopies of market stalls. It was here that the sisters were truly touched.
Despite their fangs and pale skins the city's vampire citizens led lives not so different from their own. Laughter echoed around the square as children chased each other, and couples strolled hand in hand, while the elders shared tales under the city's ancient trees.
Ruby and Naomi shared a glance, warmth spreading across their faces as they saw the happiness of the common folks. It was clear that Max's reign was not just about power and authority but also about nurturing a sense of community and well-being. Their Max was making a good world to live in, a place where everyone could thrive in their own ways.
As the tour approached it's end, the group passed by a small entertainment district where there was a carnival ongoing with many small games and stalls.
The kids who were attracted by the bright lights pleaded Max to take them there and being the doting uncle that he was, he agreed.
Although there were many games with many prices in the carnival, the eyes of the kids seemed to be hooked to the stall of a bald old human who had a massive stuffed panda toy behind his back.
They wanted to win this panda and it was the only reason why they stopped by his stall, yet little did they know what the old man's true identity was.
—------
/// A/N - This bonus sponsored by patron Magnum932, please thank him in the comments for this one ///