The Seren bird. A bird so extraordinarily vibrant in color, people say that it looks as though its wings are alight with flames. So enamored with something so ethereal, they even attached a legend to it. When a new Seren bird is born, so too is a child of nearly unbreakable will.” The man stood at the window, overlooking an expansive garden. His heavily lidded eyes made him look bored and his thin lips seemed permanently fixed into a line. Though his gaze did seem rather fixated on a bird that had just lighted on one of the benches outside. It was red in color, until the sunlight peeked out from behind a cloud. It seemed to send the little bird up in a blaze of orange and gold hues.

“Your majesty?” Behind the man stood a rather boyish looking servant.

The emperor didn’t even glance in his direction. He pulled one arm out from behind his back, the silk of his shirt rippling with the movement. “Fetch me my bow.”

The servant immediately dipped a bow. “At once, your majesty.” Then he took off. He didn’t run, but it was certainly a very quick walk. Within minutes, the bow was being held aloft for his majesty to take.

His majesty opened the window and nocked an arrow. “Remember this, Leonard, the myth of the Seren bird is just that, a myth.” He aimed at the little bird, preening itself in the brief sunlight. “Though, on the off chance that it isn’t a myth, I wonder who’s life this bird would be attached to. Do you suppose they’ll die too?” He drew back, his fingers tensing in preparation to release the arrow.

The little bird looked up, straight at him, startling him into loosing the arrow early. Quick as a whip, the seren took off into the sky with a trill, as if laughing at him.

“Stupid bird.” The emperor grimaced. His eyes narrowed, lines creasing his brow. For a second, he could have sworn-but of course it was just a trick of the light. He nodded to himself, passing the bow back to Leonard. After all, birds didn’t have green eyes.