There were over two dozen items neatly spread out in a half circle around a lithe figure of a tall man with silver hair that fell over his broad shoulders like a gentle waterfall.

A batch of recovery potions… check, he marked a page in the book laid out in his lap with a sharp end of a golden feather.

Enchanted camping set… check.

Spare…

"How are the preparations going, little brother?" Asked a smooth voice behind him after barging into his chambers and making him jerk back in surprise.

"What do you want, Iranas'al?" He asked with a defeated sigh.

"Nothing. This is about, what you want."

"I've got things to do, please… just leave me alone."

"Tsk… tsk… It is simple, swear to join my side, and I'll make sure you will be safe there. I'll even let you have the first pick among the captured slaves, that's a promise."

"No… I am not going to join anything. Neither you nor the others! Now, if that is all, I have important stuff to do."

"Oh, that was a bad decision, Melis'ar. If you thought that not picking a side would make you safe, you couldn't have been more wrong. You see, father was very clear in his decree. The one who becomes the most successful among us earns the title of 'ak' the crown prince and your refusal to submit makes you another contender."

Straining his ears, Melis'ar picked up on the sound of his eldest brother's soft steps as he walked out.

Why can't they just leave me be?

He sat there, lost in thought about the upcoming event. His father, the great ruler Virtras'ah, never expected him to become a crown prince anyway. Being a royal bastard sucked, but it also gave him a lot of freedom, sadly ever since the announcement of a new planet undergoing integration, everything has gone to shit.

His father believed this was a perfect opportunity to test his children's mettle and strengthen their Fate. He paid an exorbitant price to buy out all five available slots inside some native territory called Czechia, and the worst part about all this… his father was right. The density and quality of monsters there were incomparable.

The problem was the limitation to attributes, cards, equipment, and location which severely crippled all incursions and posed a significant risk of death. Discounting that, there were also the natives who were usually not happy with other races invading their little planet and of course, the politics amongst the other races.

Yesterday, he overheard his brother talking about the planned alliances with neighboring territories and who would be allowed to challenge the dominion boss first.

Whatever… Where was I? Yes, spare clothes… check.

He was going through the list for the fourth time, packing and unpacking everything to reassure his frayed nerves when he was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"You may enter."

Seeing his personal maid slightly lower her head, he gestured with his hand for her to speak.

"Your Grace, please forgive the intrusion. I bring important summons to your presence."

"May I inquire as to the identity of the one who summons me?" Melis'ar asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "If it is one of my siblings, please let them know I am currently indisposed."

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"No, Your Grace. It is His Majesty, Virtras'ah, who requests your presence. He awaits you in the War Council Chamber."

"I'll be right there. Thank you," he answered with a light nod of his head and turned toward his enchanted wardrobe.

Listing through the dozens of dresses and uniforms, he picked the one best suited for the occasion, dressed up, and placed his hand on the blue crystal embedded into the wall next to his door.

[Welcome, Prince Melis'ar

1: Call for your personal maid

2: Call for your personal aide

…

…

9: Local teleportation network

10: Global teleportation network]

Selecting option number nine, he was presented with all accessible locations throughout the royal palace, and after selecting the War Council, he pushed his door open. Before him was the familiar imposing hall with a large circular table in the middle around which stood eight people.

This was his favorite place when he was growing up because he would love looking at the massive tapestries depicting historical battles and magical sigils that were paying homage to their race's martial prowess and rich magical heritage.

Feeling a powerful hand clasp his shoulder brought him back to reality, but the familiar grip painted a large smile on his face.

"You always loved this one in particular, haven't you?" Asked his father's gentle voice.

"I… Apologies, Your Majesty. I got caught up in…" he was interrupted by a soft laugh.

"Come now, we are amongst family and there is no reason for formalities. As I always keep reminding you, call me Virtras, and there is no shame in venerating Her Holiness Tarasil'ab."

Melis'ar always admired the absolute devotion of his father when they were talking about the triumphs of their progenitor, Her Holiness. They used to…

A polite cough brought him back again, and he rubbed the back of his head in shame.

I need to stop getting distracted. I am only making myself a fool in front of my siblings! He chastised himself and tried to walk toward the table with as much dignity as he could muster, but the hate-filled eyes of his brothers made him feel a pang of sadness.

"So, this is the place?" Asked Ulian'al, his younger brother.

"It is indeed my children. I have secured you a monopoly over the whole territory. But remember what I taught you, conquest is not the only path to success."

"Come on, father," Iranas'al interrupted, "I've seen the reports, they are just a bunch of savages living in giant blocks of stone. You can't expect…" Seeing his father raise one finger made him fall silent and apologize.

When will you learn to think before you speak, brother? Melis'ar thought as he watched his brother's outburst.

"Perhaps… Perhaps they are savages," Virtras'ah acquiesced, "but there might be a few who would pose a danger. Even to you, my son. There are always outliers, and it is not impossible for some of them to reach E grade Fate by now."

An annoyed grunt was as far as their father would get from his son, and he continued with his explanation until finally, it was time to choose their spots.

Each would be granted shelter in the place of their choice, and from the excited faces of his siblings, they had everything already planned out. They were all standing around a holographic map of Czechia that was filled with over a hundred red spots.

"I want to take over the ruins of this shelter called 'New Hope'," Iranas'al grandly gestured with his right hand to a red spot on the eastern side of the largest city called Prague.

Going by their age, next was his sister.

"I'll take this one," she pointed to a city in the northwest of the territory called Ostrava.

Now was Melis'ar's turn, and he quickly deliberated on his choices.

I could pick a random spot in the middle of nowhere, but that doesn't fix anything… No, I'll go here, he thought and pointed at the northern part of the second-largest city called Brno.

"No! That was supposed to be mine," whined Ulian'al. "I'll… I'll take it as well and make you pay!" He pointed at an eastern spot in the same city.

Finally all eyes fell on their youngest Peron'ar, who was also a royal bastard.

"I… I will choose my place here," he also pointed to Prague, on a red spot right next to his oldest brother's base."

"Very well, my children. Finish your preparations and get ready to depart. I have deep expectations for all of you," their father spoke out and then dismissed them with a wave of his hand, teleporting all five back to their chambers.

O great Tarasil'ab, please grant me your favor and guide me on my difficult path, he prayed before getting into bed.

Tomorrow will be a very important day.