***Aarus Empire***

***Aarus Imperial Chamber***

“Could you repeat that?”

“Yes your majesty, reports from our spies throughout the Hyperion empire state all of nine of the Houses have given birth to children within the past year.” stated a tall but scrawny looking man wearing red and black armor embroiled with the Aarus Empire insignia.

A man seated atop a chair seemingly made out of gold and silver went silent. His now greying brown hair showing signs of countless years experience leading his Empire.

A few minutes passed. But to the messenger of the report time seemed to have stopped. The Emperor of Aarus has always been known as an emotional person, and with the recent death of the Queen Consort his emotions and subsequent actions often went unchecked. The scrawny looking man knew he could lose his life if he made even the slightest move.

“Leave me.”

“Yes, your majesty.” The man turned around and made a beeline to the door as fast as he could without looking like he was running away.

The Emperor sat in silence for another ten minutes or so. He now had a chance to really consider the possible consequences of nine House families all giving birth within the same generation. Those that carried the bloodlines of what could be considered Clan or House abilities were few and far between. Most kingdoms and empires were considered lucky to have more than one.

In bloodline terms, Emperor Gregory Aarus the Second can be considered the luckiest ruler throughout the Mavaos continent. His Empire had ten different bloodline Houses within the Aarus ranks and all contributed greatly to the Empire’s current power. His empire’s greatest rival and enemy, the Hyperion Empire as far as he knew only had nine. He had the numerical advantage.

Not anymore.

Bloodline users were always considered far from ordinary. Even if one had the most basic of House bloodlines, they could still be considered far superior to those who didn’t. The main reason being, all bloodline users always had an extraordinary mana pool and lived far longer than ordinary mortals. That wasn’t to say they would always make the best warriors or mages, but bloodline users were born with an innate talent that puts themselves ahead of others.

Adversely, mortals that carried House or Clan bloodlines also had their own problems. The main being, compared to ordinary humans or beastkin, the birth rate throughout a House averaged at one birth every thirty to forty years.

At an age of 182, Emperor Aarus and his late wife Melanie Aarus have had three heirs. Two sons, and most recently one daughter. He considered himself very fortunate to have at least one son who would be ready to lead the Empire should he meet his demise.

Unfortunately, during his wife’s most recent child birthing, a complication occurred and the Queen Consort passed on after giving birth to his daughter. Even with most of the Empire’s greatest healers present, no one could save the Queen from death.

Emperor Aarus did not accept that. He believes that somehow foul play was involved and his wife's death was not an accident. Driven by grief and anguish, Emperor Aarus personally executed all those nobles he knew were plotting against him or were against the current regime.

To this day, the twenty-seven bodies of those who plotted against him and their families hang from outside the walls of the Imperial City. A reminder to would be conspirators that there is only one fate for disloyalty.

Including his own newborn daughter, the Aarus Empire has had four House births in the new generation. Any other day he would consider himself blessed by Falios himself, but the gods seem to have other plans.

I think I will train my daughter personally as she grows.

“Thomas”

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Summon the spymaster overseeing operations in the Hyperion Empire and contact the guildmaster of Aarus’ Assassin’s Guild.”

“As you command, your majesty.”