Armor? All chinks hammered. Sword? Given a round on the grindstone with the finest ingots.

Nevertheless, on this day relatives of the various monsters came to the castle, and everyone there had also been scrambling for the visit.

In the center of a circular room of marble, Granberia silently tapped her foot under the fall of her cape, as her mother inspected the room in front of her.

"Ah, this training room is well used!" Salamander stated, a slight grin on her face as fire billowed around her. She knelt by a wall, practiced fingers caressing cuts and marks on the stone. "Impressive, these scars on the wall appear to be both scorched and inflicted by a blade at the same time. I see you've been practicing well." She knelt down near some gouges on the ground. "A scar from a Lant forged Scythe, an impact from a Northern Dragonstone hammer judging by these shards, and a blow from a Yamatai Glass sword? Granberia, you've been finding some excellent sparring partners!" Salamander beamed, patting the swordsman on the head.

The fierce, legendary Dragonkin blushed and slightly crouched at this praise. "..Mo-..Salamander, not in public!" She half whispered, half shouted. Salamander simply nodded, smiling slightly before she grabbed a nearby spear from a rack of weapons. Smirking, she let out a few practice thrusts in the center of the training room. Granberia briefly took her eyes off her to look outside the open door.

Indeed, on this day the castle was a bit crowded; Nanabi's mother, a two legged Kitsune with three tails looked almost comical next to her far larger daughter.

Yao and a bearded man so hairy he resembled a sasquatch were engaged in a drinking contest near a table, both not looking buzzed in the slightest even as dozens of tankers piled up behind them. A small crowd of Oni, Kitsunes, and Nekomata's had formed around them, both cheering on their respective sides. "You're going down today, grandfather!" Yao slurred, showing off a toothy grin. "Keep on saying that, and it may become true." The hairy man said, eyes narrowing.

A board had been set up in the back of the dining room. Some monsters had set up a dart board, and already a new contest had begun. Imp and a kitsune with gray hair were tossing darts at the board. Already, the kitsune was racking up center shots as the imp kept missing. "Damnit!" the blonde creature hissed.

Alipheese sat alone on her throne, an inscrutable look on her face as her she watched the proceedings, a bowl of nuts at her sides.

Granberia sighed, briefly looking away."Seeing all these families together while her own is gone...I can't imagine what this is like for her."

She turned back to Salamander, who was now hoisting up a black greatsword. "Ah," she began, nearly salivating over it. "So ancient...to think a relic of the Norse Raiders still lives on." Her grin then turned slightly forlorn, Salamanders flames briefly heating down. "If she was still here, she would have loved to hold it."

Granberia briefly paused before speaking. "Who may you be talking about?" Salamander sighed, before replying softly.

"Someone I knew when I was younger-"

That's when they were interrupted by the goat.

BAA!

Both Granberia and Salamander turned their heads, eyebrows raised as they exited the training room, sword hoisted over her shoulder when they saw the source of the noise.

"Ah," Granberia said dryly, shoulders slumped with exasperation. "Of course, why am I not surprised."

Nestled in her hands, a white goat with curved black horns let out a snort as Alma cheerfully skipped around, goat held to her chest like a baby.

Alma then began to excitedly point around the room, a few residents looking up in confusion or amusement.

"Alright then!" She quickly barked out, pointing to various rooms. "That's where I eat, and that's where I train, that's where I sleep, and that's where I fu-"

"Alma what the Hell? Why do you have a goat?" Granberia finally groaned out in exasperation.

Alma paused and turned around near the throne, a look of genuine confusion on her face before beaming with recognition.

"Oh? This is my dad! I thought I'd show him my workplace! Say hi to my friends dad!" She eagerly replied, holding the goat out towards them.

"BAA!" said the goat.

Granberia blinked rapidly then sighed and sat down at a table. "...Either you found that goat in the wild, or you are genuinely the spawn of a goat. Both options make equal amounts of sense. I...need a drink."

"Second." Salamander said, taking a seat as she scanned the area around them for any alcoholic beverages.

"Awww." Alma said, a frown on her face as she held the goat to her side once more. "Come on, he won't bite! I'm sure you guys will get along with him just fine!"

At that moment, the goat craned it's neck, the tip of Alipheese's tail dangling near his head as she sat.

The goat tilted his head and suddenly lunged forwards, mouth open.

At that moment, time slowed to a crawl.

Both Granberia and Alma turned to look, eyebrows raising as the goat made it's lunge.

"Of course this happens-"

"Dad! Don't-"

CHOMP

Too late.

-END?