“So, you want me to hand myself over to them? But I will die if I do so. And I don’t want to die, I have my whole life ahead of me.” I started to spew my entire mindset out of frustration.

“Prince, I am sorry that you are going to have to face your family like this but I assure you, I will not let you die.” Lord Lang spoke out.

Lord Lang is the god of the Wolf Empire and various smaller tribes in the country, and to think I am putting my faith in a God that is sending me to my death. I looked at my hands then glanced at my legs that swang off the edge of the bed.

“Please Tsu, you know I wouldn’t ask for something this desperately from you and in this tone without being serious. All you need to do is hand yourself over and make your way to your empire- we will follow you and when your god shows up, I will connect your god and my god to each other-..” Eden started.

“Then I will take the lead and convince your god to calm down- she is simply in a bad mood and I need to do this before she gets angrier than she already is.” Lord Lang finished.

“But what if they kill me before time?”

“Oh, I doubt they will kill you,” Lord said.

Both Eden and I looked at Lord Lang as he sat on a window ledge interacting with a spirit sparrow. He seemed so unbothered by the whole ordeal- he wasn’t the one that has to face a father that will behead you if you ever misstepped during training.

“You do realize that we are talking about your cousin’s empire right? You are the one that is going to calm your cousin down, your cousin seems to can’t control her emotions, the same thing with Tsu’s father. And Tsu is being targeted by both and you think that they won’t kill him?” Eden whispered-screamed. 

“Yea, I have experienced my father’s wrath multiple times before- it isn’t very pretty, it is quite scary when his bloodlust is directed to you. And now my brother’s anger is fast approaching too, I don't think I will survive, especially in the state I am in.” I scanned my fleshless arms.

Lord Lng smirked and adjusted himself on the window ledge, “Because they will lose the power if they ever kill you. You are in the process of receiving the power which means both your father and you are at your most vulnerable states. If you die- the powers that you already received will be lost and your father will go through a sort of depression stage which would kill him off way too quickly. And that means that your empire would lose the royal powers and crumble apart. So they won’t kill you until after they switch the powers from you to whosoever your father thinks should be the next heir.” 

I was shocked that he knew all that when I barely knew the process that a crowned prince has to go through to become emperor. I sighed a bit- I was still afraid that my father was coming but for now I won’t die. I felt Eden sat beside me and gave me a small side hug- it wasn’t like his usual ones where he tries to squeeze the life out of me but one where he wants to convey that he cares. I felt like breaking down into tears until I heard Lord Lang groan looking me in my eyes with sorrowful emotions.

“They’re here.” he silently said. 

I froze and my breathing started to be less frequent than normal- I felt a finger touch my forehead and I looked up to see Lord Lang simply raising his head. That small action meant, “It will be fine, just lively up.’ If only it was that easy doing than saying. A maid came inside, requesting that I and Eden walk towards the throne room. Eden helped me onto my feet and I placed one decent garment to greet both my father, Empress Annabelle and my brother. I leaned into Eden’s hold as he guided me towards the room- if my god’s mood changes for the better and the powers I am receiving goes to my brother then this may be the last time I see Eden or any of my friends. And if my god’s mood changes for the worse, I might end up drawing my last breath of air. Either way was horrible to me but I smiled and wished that it was better. The latter of the two- memories are better when alive even if it might hurt.

When we reached the large door, I could feel the tense energy coming from the other side. I watched as Eden shifted his appearance to hide that he was interacting with his god. And I felt like crying, but I took a long breath and exhaled. I eased off Eden, straightening myself and my clothes- going into an acceptable presentation pose. The doors swung open and Eden and I entered- bowing.

“Greetings Empress Wolf Annabelle, Emperor Hun Kairu and Crown Prince Hun Pan-An. It is a pleasure to be graced by your presence.” Both of us bowed towards the thrones with respect.

Eden and I knew that my father was a traditionalist perfectionist, so whenever he was around we always had to be on our best behaviour and mannerisms. Eden then raised and walked towards his throne- sitting on it, I raised as well and waited- I didn’t speak nor did anyone in front of me. Then I saw my brother move and he looked at me with his menacing glare- that look always made me feel small and inferior.

“I see that you aren’t even trying to hide the fact that you are taking the royal powers for yourself and not giving it to your big brother who has been training his entire life for this moment in his life only for it to not come.” Pan-An started.

I quickly lowered my head even more than before, I kind of forgot to hide my hair and eyes. 

“I’m so-..” I began.

“Are you Tsu? Because right now I don’t see you sorry enough.” Pan-An interrupted.

I gulped as I got on my knees, giving a respectful bow towards them- I felt so embarrassed, a prince having to bow to his own family for something he never chose to happen. In a matter of seconds, I registered that someone was in front of me, and by the shoes and the end of the clothes- it was my father. I could suddenly feel his bloodlust being directed towards me again and I shook with fear.

“Why boy?” he asked. I didn’t answer. 

“Hun Tsubaki, tell me why you would do such a despicable thing to your own family?” he asked again.

“I- I didn’t-” I was kicked across the face making me fall flat on the ground, bleeding from the mouth.

Eden’s Pov

I clenched the handle of my throne as I watched as Tsubaki’s father repeatedly kicked him, raising his feet into the air then carrying it down on his flesh and blood without having a care in the world if his son gets bruises or concussions. I wanted to help so badly but if I didn’t it would ruin the plans, at least Tsubaki knew this but it still pained me to watch. I glanced over to Tsu’s brother and I grew even angrier when he sported a sadistic smirk. He was enjoying watching his brother get beaten up and for what because you didn’t get your family’s royal magic just because it was meant for you. I thought for a bit wondering if I would be the same way if my younger brother was to be in that situation- would I have stood aside and laughed or helped. I would have helped, no innocent person deserves beating. 

“Oh father, please have mercy on my poor little brother, he must have not remembered who you are. I plea for his mercy.” Pan-An said wickedly.

“I can’t believe that my eldest child must have felt after learning that his brother betrayed him only to plead for your life. You are disgusting, first, you say that you don’t want to get married to a female because you didn’t feel comfortable doing so, then can barely fight when placed in a sparring match, always miss behaving with your so-called friends and now this. How many times must I tell you, change your ways, you despicable child.” his father continued to kick him but more aggressively.

“I’m sorry father. I really really am, I'm sorry. I won’t do it again. I will change, please forgive me. Have mercy.” Tsubaki yelled.

I felt a tear fall down my cheeks as I heard how Tsubaki sounded so broken and hurt. I looked at my mom and saw that she was in the same state as I was but she simply just closed her eyes. Maybe trying to imagine everything else that wasn’t happening in front of her at the moment. After about 7 minutes of the screams, there was silence- I looked once more and saw splashes of blood on the floor, Tsubaki laid unconscious on the ground, I guess his weakened body gave out on him. His father turned around to the throne- gesturing for Pan-An to come towards him- which the man did. Tsu’s dad turned towards his body raising his hands and seemingly blood bound his son in chains while growling.

He cleared his throat, “You will ignore what happened here today if this ever comes out then I will make sure that this empire falls to the ground god or not. Rong’an comes here and carries this with you, we are going home”  pointing at Tsu.

‘He dared challenge a god, the nerves of that man- now I see why Fenix wants him gone.’ Lord Lang spoke in my head.

I felt the same but sat still as I watched Rong-an pick Tsu’s unconscious body bridal style walking out behind Emperor Kairu and Prince Pan-An. When they left, I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I stared at my mom as she let her tears run down her face.

“Poor child and his siblings were neglected and abused by their father. It is a pity I can’t help, but I know you can.” She turned towards me and smiled. “I know that our God has chosen you to help him in this situation to help your friend. I am proud of you my son and I wish you luck on your mission.”

“Mother.” I didn’t know what to say to her.

I felt her hand on my neck and I was pulled into a forehead link and I relaxed a bit shedding small tears of my own. 

“I am so glad that I am not as bad as that man but I was still awful towards you, I’m sorry,” she said.

“No mother, I am sorry I didn’t understand you better,” I replied. 

With that, I got up transforming into the half-deity form Lord Lang gave me and slowly started to float in the air, calmly waving to my mom- I flew through the window of the throne room and camouflage myself as I followed the carriage towards the Hun Empire to carry out the plan I was assigned to complete.

~Somewhere Else~

I quickly raised my head as I stared off into the flowery meadow and suddenly froze in place.

“What just happened to my vessel?” I asked myself.

I mentally searched for the new emperor vessel I was going to have taken over my main nation. I grew angry when I felt the vessel’s small flare of energy, examining that he was bonded physically and magically to his own body. I screamed as I raised my feet and walked towards the end of the meadow to the entire mortal world. As I stepped my anger turned the meadow into a bloody nightmare garden, I didn’t care I will fix it later.

“Mess with the Blood Phoenix and you get drowned in a pool of your blood.”