A cold chill went down Thalers' back.
'That was close,' he though to himself as he snuck away from the guards.
He slowly crept towards his palace and briskly hopped over the wall and entered through the semi-closed window. He quickly shut the window afterwards and closed all the blinds in the room before carefully unwrapping the injuried animal he had hidden in his robe.
The animal was small, no bigger than a plate and had a multitude of black, white and golden stripes that swirled around the animals body intertwining together like an artist's colour palate. It had two small canines sticking out of its mouth but had long ears that stuck out of its head like a lynx. If this was not strange enough it had two small tails. They were both in same stripe pattern as the rest of the body but one tip was black and the other was a golden in colour.
Thalers had never seen an animal like this before, but his shock only lasted a second as he gazed at the deep gash on the animals underbelly. The rest of the animals body showed signs of bad beating and its breathing was weak. Thalers quickly applied first aid and applied the necessary ointment before carefully bringing the animal to the following room and laying it down.
The room was bare and consisted of a bed, with protective covering, a dresser with a cushioned chair, some plants and a table with two chairs by the window. Thalers had placed the animal on the table before running to the bed and swatting away the net. On the bed lay a figure with brunette hair and blonde tips. She layed in peace on the bed painting a serene image of a heavenly beauty and a son lying together. The woman had an hourglass figure and her ample chest and curvaceous bossom were clear for all to see. She had four wings coming out her back, which were translucent and folded into her back nicely. Moreover, she had sun kissed skin and came across as quite lackadaisical in her rest. Thalers gripped the woman's arm waking her up from her slumber.
'Umm what?'
'Mum please help heal my friend, he is hurt'
'Fine, lead me to him'
Saying this she rose from the bed lethargically and strolled over to the table, where her son pointed her. There lay a mutated celestial beast. She was shocked inwardly but soon a surge of pride filled her. She expected nothing else from her offspring, and realised he'd need strong companions, beast or human, to support him. The past years were peaceful but it had been a month since his 11th birthday and she realised he'd need to know some crucial details now in order to survive the imperial training he shall go through on his twelfth birthday.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
She injected some energy into the animal and its wounds closed at a visible rate. Thalers always gawked whenever she did this and today was no different. She giggled lightly at the sight of her sons face, but she proceeded to pickup the animal and laying it on the bed before taking a seat near the animal and beckoning her son over. She looked at him and sighed before telling him the inevitable truth she'd wished she didn't have to.
'Thalers my dear, it is time we have a chat'
'What is it mum', he responded
She then told Thalers the biggest thing in his life he'd ever heard so far.
His mum told him that the Emperor was entitled to five wives in the Empire. One was of his own choosing, the other was of the former Valerian Empires lineage and the other three were part of three big families in Royal family. The Jadesky Family, The Soltain Family and The Caelestis Family. His mother was part of the Valeria Family and was the first daughter of the Patriarch. Any of the emperor' sons could become Emperor theoretically but nearly all the time it was one of the scions of the three families with a few exceptions such as the son of the Emperor and the Princess of the Valerian Empire to unite the two warring kingdoms and finally unite the Valeria Solar System under one ruler. And even then there was great turmoil, as the three families only backed down because of the condition that the next emperor was not allowed to have a wife of his own choosing or of the Valerian bloodline and had to come from the three families.
However, this year was weird to put it mildly. The Emperor was a feeble man from the Jadesky family who'd been bullied and ostracised his whole life for his figure and his below average talent in cultivation. His mother was killed at an early age by palace schemes and his family gave up on him when the Patriarchs step daughter was chosen as her replacement and birthed an heir. She went on to give birth to three more children throughout the course of his childhood. This led him to be bullied by all and he was looked after by the commoner woman his father chose as his fifth wife. She only birthed a daughter and on her deathbed he vowed to marry her daughter and become Emperor. This has led to the precarious situation where all heirs from the four families are in tough position for the inheritance due to the Emperors spite and the commoner woman's birthing an heir which may become Emperor making them the first commoners in history to do so.
The situation in the palace is unstable and the Emperor is a man of few words. This is the situation Thalers will be thrust into when he turns twelve as he will be the first candidate from Valeria family this year, fighting against all the other scions from the other families in order to become emperor.
Thalers gulped. His mother looked at him with pity but it was the trials he must endure to survive and become Emperor, even if shall be against all odds as failure meant banishment from the galaxy. Her son could only survive if he became Emperor and she'd ensure that at all costs. Even at the cost of her life. She steeledher heart for the times to come and looked at her son determined to do her best.