Amidst the lavish festivities, Emperor Fireburn sat at the head of the grand table, flanked by his three wives— the lavish feast spread out upon tables adorned with fine linens and shimmering silverware, an array of delectable delights beckoned to the guests. Towering tiers of cakes adorned with fresh fruits glistened under the soft glow of chandeliers, while platters of succulent meats, both human and animal, tempted the palate with their rich aromas. Glasses brimmed with the finest wines and spirits, their golden hues catching the light as they were passed from hand to hand.
Thalia Fireburn, Silverskin Fireburn, and Aurelia Fireburn. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces as they indulged in the finest wines the realm had to offer, their laughter mingling with the lively music that filled the air. Some top rank officials also filled the high table satisfying their appetites.
As Fireburn raised his goblet to his lips, prepared to savor the rich bouquet of the vintage wine, a shadow fell over the table. Monte Fireburn strode into the room with a weighty air, his gaze haunted by the horrors he had witnessed. Monte, the battle-hardened commander of the imperial forces Southern squad and his son from a human concubine, approached with a grave expression etched upon his face. The fact that he was born of a human mother he was only half a prince and half slave. "Father," Monte's voice cut through the merriment, his tone urgent and commanding, "I must speak with you. I have news from the Southern lands" Fireburn's brow furrowed in concern as he set down his goblet, his attention fully captured by his son's demeanor. "What is it, Monte? Has something happened? Follow me to my meeting chamber!" They walked quickly towards the chamber followed by the wives and Magnus Highflier the royal wise sage who were part of the Emperor's advisors.
"Your Highness," he began, his voice a low, rumbling growl that seemed to reverberate off the very walls of the chamber, "Rebelde has rebelled." Monte nodded solemnly, his gaze unwavering. "Rebelde has rebelled, Father. The fourth camp of the southern squad was overwhelmed by human forces, and our defenses crumbled before their onslaught. "Emperor Fireburn's expression darkened at the news, his jaw tightening with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Fallen? How could this be? How can humans defeat a whole camp?"
Monte's words spilled forth, each one heavy with the weight of tragedy. "The humans, aided by their dark allies, launched a merciless assault on our forces. They wielded weapons imbued with forbidden magic, tearing through our defenses with a ferocity that defied reason. The dragon wings air-force squad, our finest warriors, were overwhelmed before they could even draw breath. I watched as my brothers and sisters in arms were torn apart by the savage beasts the humans had unleashed upon us. Our dragons and flying horses, our pride and strength, were taken from us, along with our most powerful arsenals, star-worms, camouflage skins, guns, fire balls and other weaponry."
A collective gasp rippled through the chamber, the air heavy with shock and disbelief. Thalia's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. "The horror of it all..."
Monte's voice cracked with emotion as he recounted the harrowing scenes he had witnessed. "The humans fought like demons possessed, their weapons cutting through our ranks with merciless precision. And their beasts... Creatures of nightmare, twisted and malformed, their very presence striking fear into the hearts of our bravest warriors. They tore through our lines like a tempest, leaving naught but death and destruction in their wake."
Emperor Fireburn's eyes blazed with fury, his voice a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the chamber. "We cannot let this stand!" The roar was followed by deep silence. As the weight of Monte's words settled upon the council like a heavy shroud, Magnus Highflier, the wise sage with the keen eyes of an eagle, stepped forward, his voice measured but resolute. "Your Highness," he began, his words cutting through the heavy silence of the chamber, "Rebelde's actions cannot go unanswered. We must neutralize this threat with force before it spreads further."
Emperor Fireburn's gaze narrowed, his jaw set with determination. "You speak wisely, Magnus. The time for diplomacy has passed. We must show Rebelde—and any who dare to defy us—that the might of the Fireburn Empire is not to be trifled with. We will hunt down those responsible for this treachery and exact vengeance upon them. No one defies the might of the Fireburn Empire and lives to tell the tale."
Thalia Fireburn, her eyes alight with a fierce resolve, nodded in agreement. "We must strike swiftly and decisively, lest the flames of rebellion spread and consume us all."
Silverskin and Aurelia voiced their assent, their loyalty to the Emperor unwavering. "Indeed, Your Highness," Silverskin remarked, her voice as smooth as the waters she called home. "With your guidance, we will crush this rebellion and restore order to the land."
But Monte, his brow furrowed with concern, interjected with a note of caution. "We must tread carefully, Father. The humans have proven themselves formidable foes, and their alliance with dark forces only adds to their strength. I fought the battle thus I know the wrath of the humans We cannot underestimate them."
Emperor Fireburn's expression hardened, his resolve unwavering. "Fear not, my son. We will meet their strength with strength of our own. Rebelde will fall, and those responsible for this treachery will face justice. Take some men from your southern squad and go back to that little village and bring me the head of every male and bring the women and children back as slaves. The slaves should come without their toes. Cut off their toes before driving them to the slave land. They should be a lesson to the other towns which might think of trying such a thing. "
And with that, the council of humanimals began to plan their next move, their hearts heavy with the weight of the task ahead. For in the face of rebellion, they knew that they had to put their subjects in place.
With a solemn nod of agreement, Monte turned to leave the chamber, his heart heavy with grief and resolve. As he disappeared through the doors, the council of humanimals was left to contemplate the horror of what had transpired—and the even greater horrors that lay ahead.