As the golden light enveloped the Duskmarch Ant Queen’s Egg, the transformation began. The brownish part of the egg started trembling before it started dissipating. The light brown colour spread all over the egg, overpowering the white, but it didn’t end there.
Once the entire egg was light brown in colour, the golden energy around it started becoming denser and denser, making it difficult for Kael to even see the egg.
Kael frowned for a moment. He could sense that this transformation, for some reason, required more energy than usual.
He turned towards Igni, who was standing near the window, watching the sky. Yes, once again, the birth of Kael’s child had changed the entire sky. The night sky had somehow turned brown. That brownish shade, however, seemed to be changing, and as if everything about the Duskmarch Ant Queen had disappeared, the sky turned purple.
Just then, as if absorbed by it, the golden energy surrounding the egg disappeared, revealing the egg that now looked nothing like before.
All of its surface had turned light purple, with some deep purple marks here and there, and then,
[Ding!]
[Ancient Awakening completed]
Kael saw the message.
The transformation was complete, and the sky had returned to normal as well.
[Ding!]
[Skill <Blood Bond of the Ancients> can be used.]
[Would you like to use <Blood Bond of the Ancients> on the target?]
[Y/N]
Without waiting, Kael pressed yes as he dropped his blood on the egg’s surface.
Bzzz
The egg trembled, absorbing the blood.
Ba-dump
Kael then sensed his child’s heartbeat and clenched his fists.
He realized that all of this was happening very quickly. He was in no position to take care of four children. He needed to be much stronger than he was if he wanted to protect his children. For now, however, he settled his uneasy yet excited heart and stared at his child.
Bzz
The egg trembled again. Vita, Cirri, and Igni got close, surrounding the egg, and then,
Crack
The egg cracked.
Crack
The crack continued to widen as Kael and his children waited for their daughter and sister to appear. Even Vita had abandoned her usual playfulness and was staring at the scene in front of her with a mesmerized look on her face.
Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump
The child’s heartbeat got stronger, a sight that made Kael smile.
Crack
The crack widened like a web, and finally, the shell fell, slowly revealing a small, absolutely adorable creature.
Her tiny, round body, barely 3 cm big, was covered in soft, fluffy fur that made her look like a living plush toy. Her legs were small and delicate, moving in a wobbly yet determined way as she curiously explored her surroundings.
Her eyes were enormous, sparkling like polished amethysts, filled with curiosity and innocence. With those big eyes, she stared at Kael, almost giving him a heart attack. Her tiny antennae curled at the ends, twitching cutely as she sensed her surroundings. Her little mouth moved slightly as if she were trying to understand the world, making her even more endearing.
She blinked slowly and gently, like a sleepy child. Yes, she wanted to sleep, but instead, she extended her limbs toward Kael, showing what she wanted.
Kael gently placed his finger next to her, and the little girl quickly climbed on top of his hand.
“Father…”
She called out.
Her voice was light and adorable, yet it was filled with a strange maturity. She looked around, staring at her siblings, and blinked slowly again, as if trying to perceive her surroundings.
She turned towards Igni and,
“Brother.”
She greeted, making even the mighty Igni feel weak. The not-so-little Igni grinned adorably and nodded at his newest sister.
Cirri narrowed her eyes at that sight. It seemed like she had to keep her brother safe from yet another sister. But then, the little fellow turned towards the Sky Dragon and,
“Sister.”
She greeted her as well, and the moment Cirri looked into those big, beautiful eyes, she couldn’t say anything.
She was mesmerized.
“Sister.”
The little fellow greeted Vita as well. Vita frowned. She didn’t know how to react to such a polite greeting. She was planning to prank this sister of hers the moment she got the chance, but for now… she decided to hold back.
“I am…”
The little fellow started, her eyes feeling heavy.
“Sleepy…”
She completed her sentence.
“You should sleep.”
Kael smiled, wanting to open the Sanctuary, but then,
“With Father…”
She muttered in a low voice.
“Hmm?”
“Sleep… with Father.”
The little fellow muttered as she made herself comfortable atop Kael’s palm and started snoring.
“…”
“…”
Silence fell over the room.
Kael and all the others stared at the little fellow who was sleeping peacefully, scared to let out even the slightest voice, not wanting to disturb her.
This silence continued for a few minutes until finally, Igni, unable to control himself, turned towards his father.
“Father.”
He called out, his body fidgeting.
“You want to name her too, don’t you?”
Kael smiled, knowing exactly what he wanted, and the embarrassed Igni nodded.
“Go for it.”
Kael nodded, open to suggestions.
“Imperia.”
“Imperia, eh… Sounds grand.”
Kael commented.
“It comes from the word Imperial. Since she is a mother of all ants, she is supposed to rule over them. It is a name that suits her the best.”
Igni explained, and Vita chuckled.
“I agree. We can also call her a Imp in short.”
Kael stared at the fox with a deadpan look on his face. The little fox just tilted her head in a playful manner, feigning ignorance, and Kael couldn’t help but sigh.
He could sense it already. His future would be anything but peaceful. Vita would make sure of that.
“We will call her Ria in short.”
Kael spoke up.
“That sounds so ordinary. No fun.”
Vita pouted, and Kael just gently nudged her cheeks with his two fingers as a punishment.
Yes, that was all he could do.
Soon, however, he sighed and shook his head, shifting his focus to something he had been curious about all this while.
He turned towards his daughter, and his eyes turned golden.
…
*Imperia*