Finally, after a couple of minutes traveling through the maze-like castle, they arrived at a majestic golden double door. The group didn't wait long when the doors opened, and an announcement, loud like a rumbling thunderstorm, reverberated throughout the throne room.
"Greet Her Majesty, Vespera Velrath, the Abyss Empress of the Myriad Demon Empire, Goddess of the Demonic World, the first of her name!" 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 excitement and fear.
A broad and long carpet led to the pedestal raised above the ground, surrounded by coiling dark green vines and colorful flowers. One could see giant snakes hidden inside, merging with their surroundings. Behind all of that stood a giant black crystal throne with bright red blood flowing down from it to the floor. Sitting on it was a young woman, not more than 30, with long crimson hair curling over her eyes. Her eyes, the same color as her hair, reflected a mysterious glint. 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 what a demon species was. She was very tall, almost 2 and a half meters tall, with two heads and one eye on each head. Dark brown skin had scars all over it.
"Your Majesty," the boy said in a gentle tone and bowed his head.
"Hmph," one of the heads of the two-headed woman suddenly harrumphed.
A wave of pressure struck the boy; it seeped into his body but was stopped by a mysterious power originating from his blood. It dissipated and hit back. The next second, 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. This is a great day for the Myriad Demon 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 scrutinizing him, especially someone hidden in the shadows.
The boy also wondered what the power that protected him a second ago was.
"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 your place within the empire. We will be granting you your 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 rite," the second head of the woman said. "Today, we welcome our prince, born of the bloodline of True Demons, into the fold of the Myriad Demon Empire. May the celestial phenomena that heralded his birth be a sign of the great destiny that awaits him. Let us honor him with the blessings of the Abyss."
The Empress continued, "With the power given to Us by the True Demon, We grant you the name of Kael, Prince Kael Velrath! The future ruler and protector of our realm."
Young Kael felt a connection like a thin, fragile thread reach out from the Empress 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 Us 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 the girl's hands out of nowhere. She stood 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 mesmerized, subconsciously understanding what each character meant. They changed from Legend to Mythical and finally to Eternal. The Eternal 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.
"Eternal Immortal Root..." she whispered finally, breaking the silence.
"Eternal root 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 leave 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.
"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 honored."
"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 doors closed behind Prince Kael 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? An Eternal 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. 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? Our first son, it is so hard to maintain Our 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.