Breeding for the King

Dark Energy

🖤🩸“I have always wondered what my destiny was. This vampiric witcher believes it’s to bear his pup, and to drink from me.” – Frida King🩸🖤

…

“Now listen ladies,” Maria the fox woman said. “This is the third phase of the Games. With just 9 of you left, the chances of winning are slim,”

“The Masters have met you, but the Game result proves your suitability,” she continued, crossing her legs as she sat on the grass. “Knowing this, please rise,” she said.

The girls followed what she said and so did I.

She stood up too with a smile on her face.

“Yes ma’am!” they chorused.

Each girl's face was written with a smile. I looked around but couldn’t find Lisa. Strange. The last time I saw her, she slipped into her dressing room with the fairy girl.

I hoped she was safe. I noticed she wasn’t around, after I got back yesterday. Her spot in the bed was empty, and the remaining girls were sleeping.

Although, someone slipped into the room yesterday from what I recall. But it was hazy, I only saw a shadow glimpse of a girl, and assumed it was her.

Where was she? I had to find out, to make sure she was safe and came to the Games. They hadn’t counted us yet but if they did and she wasn’t here, she was going to be in big trouble.

“Now to the Games,” Lady Maria let out. “As you all know, this Kingdom is excellent in training, when choosing a breeder she might settle as the wife of a high rank.”

“Our training has given us an advantage over centuries. This is why the Masters need an asset, someone excellent in fighting, who defends the pups while he’s away,”

“So,” she continued, “I’d be introducing someone to you all today, he is going to take charge of the training section. You should take whatever training he gives you seriously because he has travelled around the world.”

“Elder Zu is currently ranked S-level because of his experience in swordsmanship. With a legend of being unbeatable in battle, he was blessed with immortality by the Moon Goddess, attaining this stage after he reached the highest fighting peak fighting,”

Confusion wrote on my features as Lady Maria said those words. By mentioning our Kingdom’s best swordsman, it made me wonder what was going on.

Somewhere within my head, I silently prayed it wasn’t him. That perhaps, it was another person.

But when the door opened, I widened my eyes as he came walking through. In his eyes was a confident expression, with his chin up.

My hands shook my body trembling as I looked at him.

No way. There was no way he’d be here if he followed my parents on the ship. Unless he... did he betray them?

“Welcome to the Kingdom of the Shrekers, Elder Zu. How was your journey here?” Lady Maria asked, lending him her hand for a handshake.

“Fine, sorry I’m late. I had to deal with a few noises on my way here,” he said shaking her back with a confident expression.

“That is fine, we understand how the others react to travellers outside our walls,” she said, only for him to reveal something behind him.

I noticed it was in a cage and roared with dark energy emanating from it, making the girls gasp. I stood, looking at it with a stern expression wondering what game he was trying to play.

“What is that, if I may ask?” Lady Maria let out.

“I had captured it on my way here, it won’t stop babbling something about the world so I brought it here to know more.” Elder Zu said, “These creatures sometimes speak truths,”

“I see, it must have put you through some trouble then. Please do let me know if it’s something we should be worried about so I can relay it to the right authorities,”

“Of course, I will,” he said.

A couple of snaps resonated from the cage making the creature shape shift into a bird. That instant, the dark energy was no longer visible unless in little parts that came from its mouth.

But something built within, I could feel it and in a few seconds it let out, “The world is coming to an end!”

“Burn… burn… all districts will be burnt to the grounds and there will be nothing left!”

I narrowed my eyes at the shape shifter’s words.

“There will be-“

Elder Zu extended his sword emanating his peak energy, which slashed through the shape shifter leaving him silent. It fell on the floor of the cage, passing out.

“My apologies, I knocked him out,” Elder Zu said, “So he’s unable to escape, I do this to contain him. I’ve been noting the words he speaks till now,”

“You should,” Lady Maria said staring at the creature, then at him, “But this is quite fascinating, isn’t that a shape shifter?” Lady Maria asked.

“Yes, it is, milady,”

“They are quite rare I must say such great skill to be able to contain one,” she replied.

“The honor is indeed mine,” Elder Zu responded, putting a black cloak over it. “Can I have this taken to my quarters while I train the girls?”

“O-Of course!” Lady Maria said, clapping her hands, and just as she did her assistant came forward with a guard. “Here, Master, we’ll take it to your quarters,”

They said and Elder Zu nodded at them.

“Very well then, hold it from above. They are quite feisty,” he said making them nod.

“O-Okay, Master!” they said with a bow. Gathering courage, the guard took the cage from the top with shaky hands but was quick to stabilize himself.

They walked away, and as they did, some servants walked in with trolleys. I noticed some large boards on top and directly on them, were several weapons.

“For the training, here are the Kingdom’s finest weapons. I had our best warriors select it.” Lady Maria added. “Please let me know if you need some adjustments at any point,”

“Of course, milady,” Elder Zu said, running his hands through his dark and grey beards which were now a length to his stomach.

“I’ll leave you to them then,” Lady Maria said, curtseying as she walked out of the grassland.

“Good, because we have a lot to cover,” he said, rubbing his hands on his beard.

Once Lady Maria left, Elder Zu stared at the girls. Before he noticed me, I let my hair down with my Lycan speed. I kept my hair at a pool on my face as Elder Zu walked through the girls.

Just as he did, something cold touched my shoulders.

I put my hands on it, bringing it low to my gaze only to see snow. And that instant, more fell from the sky.

“Master!” The fairy girl said with a rage filled voice. “Shouldn’t we leave now that the snow has begun? We are going to catch a cold at this rate!”

A rumble of laughter exploded from Elder Zu and it went on for a while. I heard the girl grunt in confusion.

“Leave? You have no idea. The snow is your advantage, you’d be smart to embrace it!” Elder Zu exclaimed. I sighed, only to hear footsteps pace in.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Thank goodness. It was Lisa. I had been really worried. I was glad she was safe. As I thought of these, she patted me whispering,

“Are you okay? Why is your hair covering your face?”

“Allergies,” I replied, demonstrating with my hands that my face wasn’t in good condition.

“I see,” she replied, observing the previous scene.

“How is it our advantage if we die from it?” the fairy girl asked Elder Zu, once more.

“The snow toughens your skin,” he answered. “And, if you master the right techniques, healing won’t be difficult for you,”

“Impossible,” she said, “How can a cold be healed by a fighting technique?”

“If you’re not willing to and you’re scared of a mere thing called death, you can leave,”

Elder Zu added firmly and I heard someone sneer. It was her, the fairy girl. From the direction it came from and the voice it was surely her.

“Scared? I’m not scared,” she seethed. “But what I hate is when someone talks me down!”

I widened my eyes at hearing a leap from someone. A couple of hits came through and the next thing I heard was a thud. Someone fell on the ground, and I heard groans of pain which made me realize.

It was like she advanced towards Elder Zu and tried to attack him. I shook my head at this, wondering why she did that. Today was going to be a long day.