Chapter 1062 - Trickery (continued)
Both the boys raced down the hill and started running in circles around him.
"YAY! FATHER IS HERE!" they screamed in unison as loudly as their little bodies possibly could, alerting the others that were still playing under the tree.
The rest of the group stood beside Praesul waiting for him.
The one they called father was a middle-aged man with short dark hair. He had a handsome visage but not one that would make him stand out in a crowd. He was neither very tall nor muscular, or at least it was difficult to tell under the loose white robe he was wearing.
He smiled at the two boys hanging from his legs trying to pat them on the head.
"Shh, not so loud," he whispered, and only then did the boys notice there was a child in his arms. A 4 or 5-year-old sleeping boy.
Both the boys stopped and pointed at the child, "Father, who is that?"
"From now he will be your youngest brother," he answered.
One of them that had blonde hair frowned and started shaking his head in annoyance, "NO! I don't want a new brother! I want to be the youngest! I DON'T WANT HIM!" he screamed and ran back up the hill.
The other boy was left speechless and didn't know what to do.
"Go after him, make sure he doesn't do anything bad," the man said softly.
The second boy who had long dark hair nodded and bowed lightly, "Yes father," before chasing after him.
"Lemmy wait for me!"
As they were heading back Praesul was making his way down. His earlier smile was nowhere to be seen and was replaced by a deep frown.
"Father, this is...?" he asked looking at the child.
"He is someone very special," the man responded as the child began to snore lightly.
"But...how is that possible? There were not meant to be any others."
"I know but the situation has changed. I didn't expect to find him either."
"How can that be? We are the chosen ones, it is not fair to the others to add another one to the mix."
The man looked at Praesul in surprise. He obviously didn't expect to hear such a comment from him.
"Praesul, you are the oldest of your siblings. Although each one of you was able to receive a portion of my power only you could digest it fully. You are their leader and as such there are some things you will understand with time, things that are not in your control."
Praesul scoffed, "Not in our control? Father, you are the Emperor of the greatest empire the universe has ever known. How could there be ANYTHING not in your control? We are the chosen ones, the select few that stand above the rest just as the prophecy foretold. How could we let a...mortal into our ranks?"
The Emperor could do nothing other than sigh in response.
"Things are not always how they appear Praesul, you will know this soon enough. We are not gods, we are not immune to the plague of the common man. Do not look down on others just because of your status, it is your duty to protect them. For great power always comes at a great cost."
"But-"
"Enough. There will be no more talk of this. I have been far too lenient on you. Prepare yourself, you will head out with the first fleet and clear out the surrounding sectors one by one."
"C-Clear out sectors?! But that the job of a grunt soldier, not a general's!"
"And how will you become a worthy general if you don't know what your underlings have to go through? What kind of hardships they have to endure on a daily basis? You have learned enough in books, it is now time for experience. Go now!"
The emperor walked past him without saying anything else, leaving Praesul trembling in anger and shame.
Mr. Hyde who was watching the scene unfold was forced out of his stupor upon seeing his ugly expression.
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW ME THIS NONSENSE!"
He slammed the cane onto the ground, sending out a 10-meter tall wave of flame in every direction. But it passed through everything and everyone without doing any damage.
Mr. Hyde looked around for clues as he spoke, for perhaps a figure that didn't belong in the scene.
"SHOW YOURSELF! You dare try to trick me?! I know my brother better than anyone else, Praesul would never say such a thing. He was a good and honest man and an even better leader. He never dismissed anyone or looked down on the common man...let alone me..."
He said looking at the child sleeping in the Emperor's embrace. It had similar features to him even at such a young age.
"DO YOU HEAR ME! ENOUGH WITH YOUR TRICKERY! Do you think you can contain me with such minor magic?!"
As he said the words his figure began to expand and change.. His face deformed into that of a beast and short, stalky horns sprouted from his forehead to create a crown of thorns.