Everyone was staring at the child Amer was holdings in her hands, shortly before Queen Aenith had finally given birth to Triakiths heir. A very healthy girl as it appeared, Amer was the midwife, she held the girl from the moment it exited her mother's womb.

Then quickly washed her in the warm water and dried her off just as she was trained to do and had done many times before as the royal midwife she was always called when a child was born in the palace.

Afterwards, she quickly wanted to inspect the child looking for any deformities yet before she could do so she finally noticed what was different with this child from others.

She let out a loud gasp which drew the attention of all others within the room who also began to stare at the child. The baby had a whiteish hair color, so unlike any other people in Triakith or the surrounding city-states. Their hair color was black. Always.

But what drew their eyes, even more, were the tattoos on the baby's skin. Elegant and elaborate red lines were on her skin all over her entire body, forming many delicate shapes. On her face, her hands, and feet, the back, belly, and chest they were everywhere and quite mesmerizing. They appeared beautiful giving the newborn a very exotic and precious look.

What only the midwife could see at this moment were the baby's red eyes with golden flecks. Eyes had many colors, blue, green, black, brown, but red? No never red. It was an eye color never seen before. Especially the golden flecks moving around. They gave her eyes a divine appearance.

Amer was carefully wrapping the baby in a blanket, which must have been blessed by the gods, how could it have been otherwise? The Queen was barren for a long time, they prayed and sacrificed, worshipped the gods with the greatest sincerity and their prayers were answered.

Amer moved to the Queen and carefully handed her her daughter.

“She must be blessed by the gods, Your Majesty,” Amer said reverently, slightly shocked still to have held a holy child. To be the midwife who helped give birth to it.

The blessing of the gods was more of a myth, a thing made up to give a true heir more legitimacy but to have a child actually blessed by the gods. This was something that never happened before.

Queen Aenith looked at the baby in her arms, she could hardly believe what she was seeing, the little red eyes staring at her with an odd intelligence in them.

She traced some of the thin red lines on her baby's skin, wondering what they were made of, could it really be a blessing of the gods? She was happy to finally have a child now she would be a true queen no longer being looked down upon by the King's mistresses.

Even more so since she had given birth to a blessed child, the King would be even more elated than she already was. This day would become a new holiday in the history of their Kingdom, they would celebrate it for centuries to come. Countless scrolls would be written and everyone would speak of her as the mother of a holy child.

It may not even be only a blessing, her daughter may even be the reincarnation of a god. This day may mark the beginning of a deity walking amongst them once more as they supposedly did in ancient times.

There would also be much envy, her daughter would need even more protection and the best teachers they could make available to her. Once word spread many important figures would volunteer for a chance to teach a blessed child that may even be a god.

Others would start to worship her, but some would certainly wish her harm. Who would want a god as their neighbor? Her childhood would be perilous but she could not be hidden, many would want to see the true heir and they would draw their own conclusion.

Some would certainly claim her to be a demon or question the legitimacy of her markings, even the queen's faithfulness saying the king is not the father. The Royal Court was a pit of snakes and schemers.

The more Aenith thought about this the more she began to worry.

“Yes, you're right. This is a wonderful day. Inform the King at once he must come and see.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Amer replied with a bow and hurried out to Inform the King of the good news.

Aenith continued to carefully inspect her child who was trying to wave her little limbs around.

The red lines on her skin looked sharp with pointed ends, forming strange symbols everywhere on her body. There was a strange one on her upper back that could be mistaken for a bird. Three pointed lines under her eyes and cheeks, with more symbols on her temple. Others looked like V’s were starting on her fingers and toes.

—

Amer was moving quickly through the palace, the King was currently holding an audience in the throne room despite his wife giving birth to a true heir right now. A city was not governing itself. There were always people that wanted something. Problems that needed solving. Being a ruler was not an easy job, many interests had to be balanced.

Noble families or their representatives, merchants, envoys from other cities, builders, and resources needed to be managed, and many cases be adjudicated.

A man murdering his neighbor for his land or wealth. A wife who betrayed her husband. A stolen sheep. A guard who abused his authority. A minister who accepted bribes. Almost everything was done by the King as was his divine right of rule.

The current king Elrest who was the true heir and firstborn son of the late king rose to the throne with little trouble as almost everyone accepted him. Only his younger brother whose name had been struck from history and the late king's second son had to be killed as he tried to revolt.

As Amer entered the throne room King Elrest was just listening to a petitioner kneeling on the ground a little away from the throne. His voice echoed across the hall.

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She moved quickly to a guard and whispered into his ear, the guard then moved to the king's side and relayed the message.

The king nodded and rose from his seat.

“We will adjourn the audiences for today, everyone is dismissed,” he said and then moved swiftly out of the throne room. His many guards surrounded and escorted him together with a few attendants.

They moved through the palace the king visibly elated with a smile on his face. He finally had a true heir. The gods finally choose to bless his union with his wife. He was also happy for Aenith she had long been wishing for a child of her own. Watching his mistresses give birth to almost a dozen children while she had none was hard on her.

It was also a politically very delicate matter for her family was one of high standing and very rich. They wanted a child of their family to sit on the Throne, he suspected some of them might even try to take the throne by force if no heir had been born or such plans had at least been made.

Elrest and his entourage finally arrived at the royal bedroom and he went right in Amer followed him together with his two attendants while the guards took a position outside.

—

When Elrest entered the room everyone bowed to him, Aenith was smiling. She wondered just what reaction Elrest would have when he saw his child for the first time. Aenith instructed Amer to only tell him that the child was born but nothing more. Her blessing was to be a surprise to him.

“We greet the Sun.” everyone said.

Elrest quickly moved to Aenith taking the baby right out of her arms. Once he took a look at the baby's face he froze, he was completely stunned.

“What is this?” he asked while touching the delicate red lines on her face. He then also noticed the whiteish hair and the red eyes that were staring at him.

Many thoughts were running through his head. Aenith was beaming at him pride visible on her face.

“It must be a divine blessing my love, she may even be the reincarnation of an ancient god, just like in the myths where they once walked amongst us mortals,” Aenith told him.

He just continued to stare, he was a King, eloquent and skilled in the way of the words but even he was speechless. He did not know what to say he was floored, thrilled and excited.

The eyes of the king's attendants had also grown immensely but everyone was already thinking of the implications of this child's birth. Even if it was not a blessing and she was not a god's reincarnation there was no doubt that she was special and others would see this as well.

Everyone would have their own thoughts and make their own plans to use this to their benefit.

This child, the young sun, would surely upset the balance in the palace, the city, and even on the entire continent. There would be those wishing her harm, those trying to curry favor and use her. But none would ever truly be her friends. There would always be a chasm. His heir was destined to be great or die like a dog but either way, her life would be lonely.

The newborn looked, unlike her parents who had black hair. King Elrest was still looking for words the gears in his head turning at lightning speed. Just what changes would this child bring, what was she blessed with? Could she perform miracles? He needed to increase security and limit the number of people who met his daughter until she was older.

She was beautiful like the songbirds that inhabited the surrounding lands.

Nothing good would come of it if they showed her off to everyone now, she was too young. Too defenseless. Their city was weak they needed a greater army as many would feel threatened.

Those who were here now were trustworthy enough. His wife's attendants followed her from her family they had the most to lose if the child was harmed. His own servants had been carefully selected they were loyal. The midwife was also not of great concern and no one else was yet aware of how special this child was.

His mistresses would no doubt be the greatest threats within the palace, they would want one of their own children on the throne and their families would help them he needed to have an iron grip on them.

Guards would be needed, he made the decision to make the captain of the royal guard his daughter's personal protector.

“Those here in the room are all who know of this? There is no one else?” he questioned into the room. He wanted to be absolutely certain that nothing threatened the plans he was already formulating in his mind.

His daughter would rise to greatness and so would he as her father. Her little eyes were studying her surroundings almost as if she understood everything but he dismissed the idea that blessed or not she was far too young just newly born.

“Yes your Highness, I was the only one who left and I only informed the guard who gave you the news that The Queen had given birth safely and the child was healthy. No one outside this room knows.” it was Amer who replied to him with a bow.

“Good, very good, well done. Hahahah” he said elated and laughing.

“What are you going to do?” Aenith asked afterward.

Elrest looked at his wife while still holding his daughter.

“There is no doubt she is special. There are many who would see her dead, we will hide her away until she is older, dye her hair black and cover the marks as best as possible. I will also assign Helmear as her personal guard he will select trustworthy subordinates but only he will know the truth.” he explained and then continued his eyes shining.

“There is nothing we can do about the eyes, unfortunately,” Aenith replied she was well aware of what fate her daughter awaited and she wanted her to be happy she would do her best to give her a good childhood sadness apparent on her face but she regained her composure soon after.

“Let it be known to all those here that this is a secret that must be kept on the pain of a most excruciating death. There will be no forgiveness for those who endanger our heir,” he said with resolute steel in his voice.

“Yes your highness.” everyone but Aenith bowed and replied some a little shaken.

He then turned to one of his servants looked and looked him deep in the eyes.

“Bring Helmear here right away, explain nothing simply say that the King wishes to see him at once and guide him here speak with no one else”. Elrest ordered.

He was well aware of the graveness of the situation there could be no mistakes. His Bloodline had been blessed by the gods and his child was proof.

The other city-states would see this as a declaration of Triakith’s ambition, they would have concerns, they would fear, and they would ally together. There would be sanctions. Assassinations he himself had survived a few. They needed to be careful, to do this slowly.

Luckily there had a very good strategic and defensible position. So long as they held the valleys only entrance they would be safe and they could survive a siege indefinitely. Trade was good but it was not a necessity. He would have to order additional granaries built just in case and stock up on some resources.

He was smiling at his daughter using one hand and trying to play with her while he contemplated all this. She already had a place deep in his heart.

“Have you decided on a name for our child?” Aenith asked.

Elrest thought for a few moments but he already had an idea the moment he saw her.

“Yes, Nashakra, her name will be Nashakra,” he said.

“Named after the firebird that lives in the sun whose brilliance shines upon the world and grants it life and prosperity. A good choice, a fitting name for our future Queen.” Aenith replied truly happy.

She could not wait to introduce her little sun to her own family they had long waited for an heir of their blood who would sit one day on the throne.

After a few more minutes there was a knock on the door and the attendant entered together with Helmear who bowed to the Majestys in the room.

“Your Majestys, I am here as instructed. How may I serve you?” Helmear in a deep voice. He was over forty years old and an accomplished sword fighter as well as a skilled general having served even the previous King. He was trustworthy and loyal. The son of a lesser noble, well educated, and fought in several wars.

“Come Helmear and take a look at the next Ruler of Triakith,” Elrest said and Helmear approached he was shocked when he saw what the King held in his hands.

“W-What?” he stuttered his composure shaken, his mind clearly understanding all the implications of what he was seeing. King Elrest gave him a few moments to compose himself and then continued.

“From now on you will be Nashakra’s personal guard, you will ensure her safety against all threats, select suitable and loyal guards to serve under you, and recommend a replacement for the Captain of the Royal Guards.”

To be chosen for such a role filled Helmear with great pride, and although it stung a little to lose his current position and become a mere personal guard, he would lose prestige but understood the honor of the task he was given.

He was looking at the little sun just as she was looking at him, apart from her hair color and the markings on her skin the red eyes were the most unsettling thing. No human he had ever seen had red eyes.

Once this child was revealed to the world there would be an earthquake and his prestige restored, even greater than before. He could suffer a little humiliation for now. He had suffered enough already as the fifth son of a noble who had to seek his own fortune because he inherited nothing but his name.

He was always rewarded for it and for his hard work. Now the gods of fortune smiled upon him once more. This would be his legacy, his name would be remembered for centuries if not millennia to come.

His excitement almost threatened to spill over but he kept himself, he was in the presence of the Majestys after all, the Sun and the Moon and now the little Sun had finally been born.