Chapter 2: I'm sorry.

"Mother?” called a 12-year old boy with blond hair and deep dark emerald green eyes with very adorable facial features.

“When can I leave? I have to go meet my friends, I promised them we will go to the dream forest to have some fun today.”

This 12-year-old boy was Dez. Dezion Selklor is his full name, but everyone Just calls him Dez. The prince of Leven city the capital of the Selklor empire one of The three empires of Tybalt, one of the continents inhabited by humans. One Fairly young That has 6000 years of history.

“Son, Did you finish your training? Did you finish your studies and beast dissections session with your father? Did you Visit your grandfather already? Don’t you think that there are so many things for you to do and stay here today?”

Questions after questions kept coming. all the things he had to do and didn't do are listed one after the other. In her own way, she was telling Dez that she disagreed, but Dez didn’t give up and tried to persuade his mother.

“But mom, I already told the other heirs I’m on my way and they are waiting for me. Dad told me that he agreed. And to have fun, but Blyana doesn't allow me to leave the mansion because my punishment isn't over.”

Alicia Selklor, the mother of Dez Selklor, the Empress of Leven city clearly understood her Husband is very forgiving when it comes to his son. Unless it's related to his experiments, the Empire, or his enemies he's a very easy-going man.

“Come on mom, I've been inside all day. I’m sorry I will not do it again. I already told you it wasn’t my fault."

"That maiden she's just too naïve, and actually, my sister told me to scare and trap her in a room full of insects, we just happened to forget about her for a few days. Mother, I'm truly sorry, but isn't she alive and well, and also shouldn’t we both be punished.”

Dez held the hands of his mother Looked her in the eye and pleaded

“Scare her? you traumatized her. Did you think about the family name, our reputation, what would people say about us? You locked a poor girl in a room full of insects for 5 days. No food, no water, no light. She even had to eat those insects to stay alive. You call that a joke?" Empress Alicia was genuinely displeased.

"Do you want rumors out there that we let our kids traumatize young little maidens, is that the way we treat our servant? our people! We are rulers, not tyrants!”

“I’m really sorry mother, I was really just playing. I promise I will never do it again. I did behave foolishly. Mother, This is the last day they will be here before they leave for their own city. It'll be ages before I see them again. Allow me to go this once.”

After looking for a while at her son she said,

“OK, you can go but don't cause any more trouble, and be safe. remember don’t stay there the whole day, If you dare come late you will have a personal training session with me.”

Dez after hearing his mother speak about training with her, Dez remembered how brutal her mother can be during training sessions. He was so scared a shiver went down his back, besides that he still held a happy smile on his face.

“Yes, mom I’m always safe and well-behaved.”

After Saying those words Dez took off running at his highest speed to the door.

Inside his mind, he was screaming of happiness. "Oh yeah, the dream forest! I’m going to the dream forest."

Shortly after Dez left.

“Blyana, follow him.”

After that, a voice responded.

“Yes, your majesty.” A shadow quietly moved and disappeared from the room.

The dream forest is a place owned by Lord Kaihen. Not only does he own it, but he also infused a domain on it. Most of the soul Emperor humans have the ability to open domains either in battle or as a landmark. They are called battle domains and land domains which the latter are declarations of ownership. This particular domain doesn’t affect its surroundings or the land itself like the battle domain. It mostly lets the owner know what's going on. If someone enters his domain, how powerful they are, and if they have any ill intention. This is one of the most basic uses of the land domain. This land domain can also fuse into an item and be left for the later generation.

Kaihen being the rank of soul Emperor also has very powerful soul companions that He left in charge of the dream forest, and most of Emperor Kaihen's soul companions are related to nature.

Dez took out an emerald leaf pendant that had golden wings. And was marveled by its beauty.

“Dad even gave me his Crest, which represents his authority. As long as I have this crest everything inside the forest of dreams will obey me.”

Looking at the emerald green leaf insignia with golden wings Dez was extremely excited.

Empress Alicia is more of a strict mother; she grew up with harsh times ruled by constant wars and killing. Leven city was at its lowest point. The Selklor family had no soul Emperor rank powerhouse And they were under constant threat of invasion. Kingdoms defected, famine hid the land. Trades were broken and the empire was pushed into isolation. Poverty and death were at their highest. But everything changed when She met Kaihen.

He changed everything.

Kaihen is a scholar genius he is a specialist in Biology, Chemicals, and bioengineering, psychology, literature, ancient literature, alchemy, natural science, environmental science and is recognized as the youngest plant grandmaster or botanical grandmaster. Owning the Title master of nature. He also pioneered the field of artificial life creation. Kaihen’s background was massive; he came from the holy continent. He was a genius prodigy meticulously cultivated in the holy Academy and later was part of a select group of individuals that were in the management of the union of governance. He was also part of the secret department That worked in the dark doing specific tasks Against other races. He was the mastermind behind all the planning that had to be done to secretly achieve their goal. it may have been manipulation Of other races, kidnapping, massacring other races, or disposal of unwanted trouble. everything that was dark or had a controversial viewpoint on it had to be done by them. But after some internal disagreement, he left. And after marrying he decided to leave that life behind.

Some of the plant lifeforms that live in the forest of dreams are the result of Kaihen’s experiments and power. Emperor Kaihen is a special person. A chosen one and he had his own unique ability.

The dream forest was created by Kaihen after separating the land. This place is used for another of his experiments. He’s trying to use the plant to genetically evolve small and normal animals by letting them eat the plant and fruits he created.

Kaihen has been studying the grafting and Cultivation of magical plants, and also how to incorporate some magical herbs to create new types of magical plants.

All this is to study the effects of Magical plants and spiritual fruits on living creatures. Seeing if the animals’ potential can be manually triggered and can evolve into a beast and gain power and abilities. Studies have shown that some normal animals or even beasts have evolved by eating rare or legendary plants.

Why would Kaihen do something like this you will ask.

Well, the same way you have magical plans and you have a normal plant.

You also have an apex beast that has great power and you have a normal beast at the bottom of the food chain.

The same goes for humans. you have normal humans that can’t awaken. Not every human can become a soul fighter. This in turn limits the power of your empire. During the war, an emperor cannot be everywhere, at the same time fighting on every front. He needs his army to be capable and strong. Strong not only to attack but to defend and protect the conquered lands and resources.

If evolution can be triggered in animals it may open a whole new path for humanity. Something that may not only help humans awaken but go even further and reach greater powers. But till today the result is far from acceptable.