Finally, after a few minutes of winding through the maze-like castle, the group halted in front of majestic golden double gates. The shining metal reflected the dark decor of the hallway. Not long after, the gates moved, and a throne room appeared. An announcement, loud as rumbling thunder, reverberated all around.
"Greet Her Majesty, Vespera Velrath, first of her name, the Abyss Empress of the Myriad Demon Empire, Goddess of the Demonic World, the descendant of the True Demon!" a rough woman's voice reached the boy's ears.
"We greet Her Majesty!" the servants shouted and knelt to the ground as low as possible, trembling from a mix of fanatical excitement and fear.
A broad and long carpet led to the pedestal raised above the floor, surrounded by coiling dark green vines and colourful exotic flowers. One could see giant snakes hidden inside, merging with the surroundings.
Behind stood a giant black crystal throne, with bright red liquid flowing down from it to the floor. Sitting on it was a young woman, with long dark crimson hair curling over her shoulders, dressed in a royal dress with black shoulder armour and a icy blue crown, made out of bones with sapphires. The eyes, of the same colour, hid a mysterious light inside. Her sharp features and pale white skin bore a striking resemblance to the boy.
Below the throne stood a girl. For the first time, the boy saw how diverse demonic species was. She was very tall, almost two and a half meters tall, with two heads, having one eye on each. Dark brown skin, with battle scars all over.
"Your Majesty," the boy said softly, bowing his head.
"Hmph." One of the woman's two heads beneath the throne snorted in displeasure.
A wave of pressure struck the boy. It seeped into his skin but was stopped by a mysterious power awakened in his blood. The force dissipated and rebounded. A second later, the woman felt a terrible headache and a metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
A look of surprise appeared on the Empress's face.
"We are pleased to see you, Our son. It is a historical moment for the whole Empire," Vespera Velrath declared, her voice resonating with authority and power.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the boy replied, his tone respectful yet firm. He could feel several gazes scrutinising him, especially someone's hidden in the shadows.
"What was this power inside?" He wondered, remembering all the talents and their description he had merged.
"We have much to discuss," the Empress continued, her gaze softening slightly as she regarded her son, "But first, you must be formally introduced to the court and take your place within the Empire. We will be granting you your regal name as well, a sign of Our love for you."
The two-headed woman, still recovering from the backlash of her failed intimidation attempt, stepped forward. "Your Highness, due to your unexpected birth, several members of the court are away, so we will be performing a simple ceremony for now."
The boy nodded, while Aisha and the other maids remained kneeling next to him.
"Please stand up, servants. You will be witnessing the demonic rite," the second head of the woman said, "Today, we welcome our First Prince, born of the bloodline of the True Demon, into the fold of the Myriad Demon Empire. May the celestial phenomena that heralded his birth be a sign of the great destiny, awaiting him. Let us honour him with the blessings of the Abyss."
The Empress continued, "With the power given to Us by the True Demon Bloodline, We grant you the name of Kael, the First Prince Kael Velrath! The future ruler and protector of Our realm."
Young Kael felt a connection like a thin, fragile thread reach out from his royal mother towards him.
"Your journey begins now, Our son," she said. "The fate of the Myriad Demon Empire rests in your hands. May you bring glory to Our name and lead the demons to a future of unparalleled greatness."
Kael bowed to the throne. "I thank you, Your Majesty, Royal Mother."
"Now, Myria, proceed with the cultivation qualification test," the Empress ordered the twin-headed girl.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Prince Kael, please step forward and look into this mirror."
A large crystal mirror appeared in front of the girl out of nowhere. She placed it in front of the child and pointed it towards him. Kael took a deep breath and looked at his reflection.
He looked noble, yet childish. Immediately, the crystal surface started flashing in different lights. Strange symbols floated out of it and then broke into pieces.
Kael looked at it mesmerised, subconsciously understanding what each character meant. They changed from Legend to Mythical and finally to Transcendent. The Transcendent character levitated above Kael, shining brightly, almost illuminating the whole throne room.
The Empress squinted, investigating the character closely. The servants didn't know what the symbol meant and remained silent, while the two-headed woman's faces turned to shock.
"Transcendent Immortal Root..." she whispered finally, breaking the silence.
"Transcendent grade indeed," the Empress said. "What a joyous day for Us. The new prince of the Empire is the greatest talent in the world! The true inheritor of Our bloodline. Listen closely! No word of what has transpired here should ever escape your lips! This is a royal edict. The one who breaks it will be charged with treason by the Demon's court."
"Yes! Your Majesty," everyone shouted and knelt down to the throne again.
"Good, now let the young Prince rest. Aisha and Hisha, you are now assigned as the personal maids of Prince Kael."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! We are honoured."
"Go take him to his new chambers and then to the bathhouse. Others, follow their orders."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please, Prince Kael, let us help you," the two girls said in unison.
"Thank you, Royal Mother," Kael bowed to the Empress. "Let's go."
The trio left the room, and only then did the other servants follow after them.
As the gates closed behind the First Prince and his attendants, the Empress Vespera Velrath turned her attention to Myria, the twin-headed woman who had conducted the cultivation qualification test.
"Myria, what an achievement, don't you agree? A Transcendent Immortal Root!" the Empress exclaimed, her voice filled with both pride and wonder. "Our son is truly extraordinary. I am eager to see what other surprises he will reveal as he grows."
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Myria replied, both heads nodding in unison. "The power and potential he exhibited are unparalleled. Such a talent has never been seen before in the Myriad Demon Empire, no the whole continent and the world. If one of the ancient eggs hatched, others can too."
"I agree, all these years were not in vain. Regarding Prince Kael, we must ensure that he is nurtured and protected," the Empress continued, her gaze thoughtful. "His abilities will attract attention, both within and outside Our realm. We cannot afford any threats to his safety."
"Of course, Your Majesty. We will put the finest guardians and teachers at his disposal," Myria assured her. "Every resource of the empire will be available to him."
The Empress nodded, satisfied. "Even without cultivation he was able to protect himself against your pressure. He should build his foundation as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we must inform the other members of the Demonic Court about the birth of Our son. They need to be aware of his importance."
"I will see to it immediately, Your Majesty," Myria said. "Shall I convene a meeting of the court, or would you prefer individual notifications?"
"Convene a meeting," Vespera decided. "It is essential that they all understand the gravity of the situation and the significance of Prince Kael's birth. We should also introduce him to the elders of Our family."
"Very well, Your Majesty. I will gather them at once," Myria said, bowing deeply.
"And Myria," the Empress added, her tone softer, "ensure that the news is delivered with the utmost discretion. We must control the flow of information to prevent any premature leaks. Only those who need to know should be informed for now."
"Of course, Your Majesty. I will handle it personally," Myria responded, both heads bowing once more before she turned to leave.
As Myria exited the throne room, the Empress leaned back on her black crystal throne, her mind already planning for the future. The birth of Prince Kael heralded a new era for the Myriad Demon Empire. His unprecedented talent promised great things, but it also brought new challenges and potential dangers.
"I should prepare for the bathhouse... It was hard to restrain myself from hugging him right on the spot," Vespera murmured to herself, a faint smile playing on her lips.
The giant snakes hidden in the vines approached the Empress and gently rubbed their heads against her cheek.
"You also wanted to tease him, am I right? My first son, it is so hard to maintain royal dignity in front of others. I want to play with him and read him stories, just like those human mothers do!"
If anyone else heard Vespera's words they wouldn't believe their ears, an ice-cold, merciless Abyss Empress talking about reading bedtime stories to her child. Nobody would ever believe such nonsense.