"Aurelion, we have to speak about something. It is about marriage." Aurelia said as she drank some juice. They were outside in a luxurious hut. This was her hut in specific, one that fit the status of the princess.
"Is it about a date, Aurelia?" Her fiancé asked as he fiddled with her hair, to her great annoyance. In the past, she would scold him and mock him, while he would fire back...now, he would just shower her with affection and watch the flames in her eyes rise more and more, while her cheeks flushed.
"Not our marriage. Your marriage with another woman." She was smiling as she was saying that, not seeming to mind it at all.
"No. You are the only one for me. I don't want another woman. Are you not in love with me?" Aurelion was decisive as he looked into her eyes, slight anger arising inside him as he questioned her.
'Does she not feel for me as I do?'
"No, idiot. I love you with all of my heart, and I cannot wait for our wedding. The Rovan Empire, your cousin Alexstraza. They might propose a marriage; someone from our country would have to accept." She grabbed his hand and put it close to her lips, kissing it, even if it was scarred with burns and cuts.
"Well, Alexstraza does not feel for me, as for the Rovan Empire's princesses, let them marry your brothers. You have plenty, even if most are younglings." Aurelia laughed at that, but she did not overdo it, as her fiancé was a tad...emotionally affected right now.
"Listen, you are Aurelion. You are the bright star of this generation. My father and the emperor entered an alliance; my brothers will definitely be married; however, they will want ties with you mostly. You are a brilliant strategist and the strongest Expert in this world! If you wish to rebuild this city, you will need allies, just as you will need them when reconquering the Great Wall. I said that you are the only one for me, and it makes me so happy that you feel the same... however, you will have to, if it comes to it. I am the only Aurelia." Her words made sense; however, Aurelion still shook his head.
He was an Earthling, and he did not wish to have more women than one. He might be noble, but that did not change anything; he had his own principles and morals. For him, nobility was not in birth, but in deeds. Aurelion understood very well his political situation, and even if he was stinky rich, he would still need more money to rebuild the city and gather allies.
This argument was just a display of different upbringings. One was raised to lead armies, to understand men and to know duty and honour. Another was raised among women who were mostly used for political moves. The fact that she was not married off earlier was a testament to her ambition as a woman who wanted to choose her own man and chase her own dreams, yet now that she was to marry a brilliant star, she had long ago committed.
"You silly goose, men would fight in wars to bed a princess, not to mention two at the same time, and you're here, refusing it" Aurelia blushed as she said that, trying to cover her mouth.
"Well, I actually fought in a war, and I have my princess, one that I love." His reply was funny as he was basically saying, I fought my war, and I got my princess.
"It is exactly because of the war you fought in that you will have to do it. No worries, I will not be jealous, ever. I am Aurelia, and I hope you remember that as well. Remember your duty and oaths." She pushed him, hitting a soft spot. It seemed like so far, only the princess knew how to dominate him. Once at 'Maker's Night' and now here.
"Ah...You are at it again. Fine. However, you are Aurelia, but I am Aurelion himself. I decree and order you that you will sleep in one bed with me every night, until we die. I outrank you now, princess!" He agreed with great struggle but fired back nonetheless. Usually, wife and husband would sleep separately unless they were at it; however, as an Earthling, he wanted to be by his wife's side, even in sleep.
"Bah...you're shameless! So what if you outrank me? You're gonna push it in my face now?" She kept blushing and hiding her face, yet she felt relieved at such an order from him.
Aurelion pulled her in his embrace hard, making her lie in his lap as he stared her down. Nothing was said until he leaned in and kissed her, not letting her go until she was out of air.
"You belong to me. My heart belongs to you."
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30 years ago, Western border of the Rovan Empire, past the Great Wall gifted by the God of War and Dominion.
The Hive
"How long will we tolerate this? There is so much food, yet we cannot lay our hands on it because of their God's Wall!" A lizardman spoke as he threw a patch of sand on the ground.
Across from him stood the Chittara Queen - a towering, elegant horror of the Hive. Her face was almost human, framed by a crown of layered chitin that rose like a ceremonial headdress, each plate shifting softly as if alive. Eight limbs unfurled behind her in a slow, deliberate arc, jointed like a spider's yet moving with the grace of a dancer.
Her torso was slender and armoured in living carapace, patterned with symmetrical ridges that pulsed faintly with amber light. Chains of hardened silk draped from her shoulders to her waist, swaying with every breath she took. Beneath her, the gown‑like mass of her lower body tapered into horned protrusions that anchored her into the sand, as if the earth itself was her throne.
Her eyes - four of them, arranged in a perfect diamond - watched the lizardman with cold intelligence. She was neither beast nor woman, but something in between: a queen born of instinct, hunger, and ancient cunning.
"Quiet. The Rattaking is coming. He is bringing humans for my experiment. Good. My plan will succeed, but I need time. I have found a flaw." The Queen said as she pointed towards the entrance of the underground cave they were in. A gigantic Rattakin came and sat beside them, his blade reeking of blood, human blood.
"What flaw have you found? The God of War and Dominion is playing unfairly, giving them such a wall! Raah!" He raged as he threw more sand, causing the Rattaking to narrow his eyes. Unlike the Lizardmen, he seemed much more collected and calm. Tempered, one could say.
"It is exactly because he is the God of War and Dominion that we can exploit the Wall, Lazakesh. Remember - Any warrior may challenge dominion if he stands alone. This is their chant." The Queen spoke calmly as her belly was moving in an unnatural, wild manner.
"As if they would let any of our warriors stand on the wall and challenge! They would be cut down! Our presence alone there is a challenge! Are you insane, you crazy who-"
"Calm yourself, Lazakesh. We are allies; show respect. It is for that brainless behaviour that the humans look down on us while the Elves breed some of our tribes and lead them." The Rattaking spoke as he gave a sigh, his hand reaching for the blade and causing the Lizardman to swallow his next words.
"Haha...it is true, however...what if our warrior stood on the wall in human skin? We have some of their armour...we just did not have an intelligent lifeform that could wear the skins of their enemies and take their shape...until now!" With a push, the queen hatched an egg. It was disgusting to the eye as liquids were still wrapped around it, yet there was something inside that the rat and the bug queen seemed to treasure a lot.
"I will need thirty years to raise it and strengthen it. Lazakesh, Duvarum - prepare for war, amass armies on their wall. After the time has passed, you will launch an attack to draw their attention. My son, he will carry my essence, challenge the wall alone and detonate all the energy that I will store in him. I will be weakened, Duvarum. I will need your protection from the Elves, my sisters and this dumb lizard over there!" The queen's limbs trembled as she seemed exhausted; however, there was relief on her face. She was the one that will exploit a god's strength against him.
"I will protect you, I swear it. Salerion's Wall was breached, and they say that the Rovan wall cannot ever be struck... They call us dumb, they call us lesser...We will show them the price of their arrogance." Duvarum, the Rattaking, spoke as he rose to his feet and sat down cross-legged in front of the Queen. His sword rested on his knees, ready to cut anyone who dared come close.
He was to guard her for 30 years, and he would give commands to his ratkin only through his voice. Nobody was to enter.
Lazakesh was about to leave; however, suddenly, he heard a voice.
"Lazakesh. Give an Oath, or become nutrient for the life inside the egg..."