"Hacor Aeternus!"
-Members of the Great House Macri as they rallied their once-scattered forces against the vile, grotesque abominations of the planet HB-0981.
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"You learn quickly, my prince."
"Such a charmer, and handsome too!"
"This one has the potential to lead, so it seems."
"You'll make a fine soldier!"
Those were the kind of things that people kept telling Aurelio since his earliest memory. Waking up in the morning, the boy had a fixed schedule. He would eat, study, train, bathe, and sleep. There would be days when he would be able to play and enjoy life alongside children his age, but those moments were rarer than having a day off from the regular routine.
"Take this!" A voice rang out in the training grounds.
Aurelio glanced to his left and saw his training partner attempt an overhead strike. The boy merely sidestepped to the right and knocked him down with a swift elbow to the face, followed by quickly disarming him of his weapon. Aurelio was careful not to hit him that hard this time. His movement and reaction time were flawless as if he were already a seasoned combatant, yet his seniors always paired him with his peers who were clearly leagues below him. Maybe they hoped that sparring with Aurelio would help the other younglings with their training.
"Oi! That wasn't fair!" Timaeus complained, grunting as he looked at Aurelio with a slightly bruised face.
The golden-haired boy chuckled at him. "At least I didn't hit you as hard as last time, right?"
"Nothing's ever fair in a real fight son, You either do what you can to survive or die like a fool." A commanding voice boomed, grabbing both of the young men's attention. Captain Aquila walked up between the two to deliver the final assessments.
"Alright," he continued. "Aurelio, perfect as always. Timaeus, work on your dodges. Dismissed." Aquila then turned around and left the grounds to attend to other matters.
The two then motioned towards the gear rack, and Aurelio spotted Timaeus mumbling as he touched his nose, trying to check for any damages. Aurelio was a kind-hearted person. That trait of his was also his biggest weakness, as the boy was easily swayed by his emotions on matters relating to such. Aurelio then attempted to lighten the mood, albeit, in a somewhat awkward manner.
"Psst...hey," Aurelio called out to Timaeus. "Good fight."
"Oh yes--good fight," Timaeus replied in a sarcastic tone. "Next time, could you not aim for the face? I'd prefer a knee to the gut."
The young man, still annoyed at Aurelio for beating him yet again, sat down and muttered to himself. Aurelio then felt bad for his sparring partner and came up with an offer he knew Timaeus couldn't refuse.
"Okay fine--to make it up to you I'll fetch for you some sweets and a few slices of roasted meat for supper." the boy offered.
"A few slices, you say?" Timaeus looked at Aurelio with an intrigued face. Aurelio knew he was getting conned but nevertheless gave in anyway.
"Alright, I'll add some more for your sister as well," he replied. "Though I think she'd rather eat the sweets."
"Good. More meat for me then." Timaeus smiled as he picked up his gear and dashed towards the barracks' exit, knowing that at the end of the day, despite losing the fight, he won the war.
"See you tomorrow Aurelio!" screamed Timaeus as he turned to face Aurelio."Add some wildhuckle juice, would ya!?"
The two exchanged waves as Timaeus ran and ran on the stone pathway until he disappeared from Aurelio's sight. Looking at where the sun was, Aurelio then deduced that it was already time for his bath, and quietly entered the castle.
As he stripped and entered the already-prepared bath, thoughts immediately came rushing to his head, and Aurelio calmed himself by closing his eyes as he slowly lay down in the emerald bathtub.
Due to being the only son and heir of Petyr Macri V, the current King of the planet Hacor, Aurelio Macri was always put under the spotlight and the constant pressure of being greater than his father. The boy had a talent for literature and was certified to have intermediate-level skills in the field of medicine, but what stood out was his natural affinity for the art of war, an art form that was culturally and historically significant for the citizens of their kingdom.
People from all around would flock just to see a glimpse of what they considered a "prodigy".
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
A "once-in-a-lifetime talent", they claimed.
But for Aurelio, the boy never felt that way. As a matter of fact, he despised fighting.
The hot bath helped in easing any tension he had from such thoughts. Minutes passed, and he then heard footsteps, which were followed by a knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" the boy asked in a calm tone, clearly relaxed due to the warmth of the water.
"Your majesty," a lady's voice responded. "It is almost time for supper. Your father is calling for you." the voice continued.
"I'll be there in a minute!" Aurelio politely replied as he rose from his bath and dried himself up in preparation for supper.
The banquet hall was as lavish as ever. It was decorated with the finest silk, furniture, and gems found across the galaxy. The centerpiece of it all was a majestic fireplace, a trophy case, and a banner that was decorated with the sigil of House Macri. All could agree, whether one was a commoner or royalty, that it was truly a sight to behold.
"Ah, Aurelio--come now child," King Petyr called out to his son as he entered the hall, fresh from his bath. "We were waiting for you." he continued.
Assembled around the table were the members of the Hacor council, and behind them were their respective stewards and personal guards.
"Let us now eat. Please bring the delicacies." spoke the king to everyone present in the hall as he motioned everyone to sit. Servings of food carried by the royal staff immediately came out of the kitchen doors in a single-line formation, marching without missing a beat, as if they were an army of their own.
The minutes passed, and everyone was done feasting to their hearts' content. Aurelio, full from the supper, called for a few staff members and spoke to them regarding the gift he planned on giving Timaeus. They quietly nodded and motioned to see that it was done.
"Thank you for attending the meal," Petyr addressed everyone who was present. "You may leave. We will convene later at midnight." he continued as he signaled for the staff to clean the table. The council gave their thanks and left alongside their attendants.
The boy then stood up and motioned towards the door, preparing himself for a good night's rest.
"Aurelio, my boy," King Petyr called out to Aurelio. "Not yet. Stay for a while. For I have something important to discuss with you." he grabbed hold of two chairs, walked toward the fireplace, and sat down in one.
"Please, sit." the king continued as he warmed himself by the flames.
Aurelio walked towards where his father was, somewhat confused at what he could be discussing with him at this hour. As far as he knew, all he did was donate food to his sparring partners. He then sat down and looked at his father.
"Yes, Father? What is it that you wanted to speak of?" Aurelio spoke with genuine curiosity.
"Aurelio," the king replied with a concerned, distant look on his face. "You do realize the dangers our great empire might face in the near future?" he continued. "News has spread amongst the great houses, saying that our reigning High King has been inflicted with the Bracklen disease." Petyr delivered the news with a sad tone in his voice, to which Aurelio could distinctly notice.
"At best, he might only have a few years left to live--the Almighty be merciful," said Petyr as he looked up, citing a quick prayer to their deity. "Thankfully, the citizens do not know of this yet. With that we are still spared from any chance of total anarchy." he continued.
Aurelio was taken aback by this sudden information. "The High King himself? Inflicted with Bracklen?" Even the boy could not believe what he had heard, as he had always believed that the ruling monarch was well provided and highly protected--whether it be from any form of illness or from the dangers of assassination or war.
Aurelio then returned to the question his father had asked him. He thought and thought, and as the king was patiently waiting for a reply from his heir, Aurelio had already begun to piece together strings and ideas to form a conclusion.
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'It was established by High King Odysseus that the line of succession for the throne was to be decided by a direct heir and if the ruling monarch were to have none, the 13 Great Houses were to send their representative, and the next monarch was to be decided by the citizens themselves.
The reigning High King had no more direct heir after both his sons died in an ambush somewhere along the eastern quadrant of the galaxy, and tensions were rising amongst the houses as rumors broke out that one of them issued the order. The rumors spread throughout the empire, and a majority of them were conflicted, as now they had three things to be concerned about.
One of which was the disease that had already afflicted a noticeable percent of the population, the second was a possible fall of their great empire due to internal strife from the houses themselves, and the other was the impending war looming on the horizon by a rising force in the neighboring galaxy.'
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Aurelio summarized his thoughts and explained his opinion on the matter to his father, who responded with a proud smile on his face.
"Good! Magnificent thinking my child!" said Petyr. "You understand our situation better than I expected. Perhaps I underestimated you a bit, and for that, I apologize. With such talent, you could already replace me as king." he continued as his eyes glimmered with a happiness that only a father could understand.
"You flatter me too much, and there is no need to apologize, Father." the child responded. "I understand the situation well enough. If there isn't anything else to discuss, may I have your permission to leave and head for my quarters?" Aurelio asked.
"Actually--there is one more thing I haven't told you." Aurelio noticed that his father's voice shifted into a more serious tone.
"What is it?" Aurelio asked the king--curious to know more.
Petyr stood up and walked slowly, past Aurelio, towards the banquet hall doors. The floor was made of the finest marble, and each step of the king echoed with power and authority. He then stopped at a window and looked out towards the distance.
"I have been informed by the council that the rebels who have been responsible for all the attacks on our trade routes and people these past few years are to gather somewhere in the desert tomorrow." The king explained as he turned to face his son, still standing near the fireplace.
"Apparently, a majority of the higher-ranked members were given summons to attend. We believe this is an opportune time to strike them down to cripple, and soon after, put an end to their schemes." he continued as he picked up a decorative gem, gleaming underneath the moonlight.
"My child, I believe this is also the time to show me what you can truly do. I've already seen how your mind works based on our brief discussion, and you are wise beyond your years. It is now time to show me if you are capable of leading our armies into battle." Petyr looked at Aurelio with an expression that showed a sign of concern, but the king could not falter now.
"We will be sending 10 platoons to address this threat. As suggested by the council, you are to join Captain Aquila's platoon. I believe his experience in the field is enough of a threat to the enemy." As the words left the king's mouth, the room fell eerily silent.
Aurelio's jaw dropped. He could not believe what he had heard. Honored as he was for being given a role to play in the mission, his emotions consumed him. As is his nature, he could not stand the idea of killing another living being. But alas, Aurelio could do nothing but reply, albeit hesitantly, and follow orders, as was the directive of every citizen of planet Hacor.
"I-I'm honored, my king. I will try my best not to fail you." said Aurelio.
"Good. Now rest well, my son." King Petyr replied. "You leave at daybreak. Make me and our proud." The king turned around and exited the banquet hall.
Aurelio, on the other hand, sat back down the chair and breathed slowly, still attempting to process what had just happened. Not a minute later, the boy stood up and headed for his quarters as the embers of the fireplace quietly flickered.