Chapter 2: Ao

The Empire of Ao was quiet and peaceful as usual. The Ao Empire was famous for its royalty since their bloodline is said to be cursed, the legend said that the first ao royal was given a gift by the god of peace cause he was the hero who single handedly defeated the demons attacking the land of humans. That hero said to restore the serenity of the land and the gods acknowledge that and gifted them. That hero also created the empire and became the first ever emperor and named it after his last name Ao. Little did his people know that gift was also a curse to him, for he is now immortal and would need to find a partner and leave an offspring to inherit the power. After he leave an offspring his power will slowly transfer to the child and eventually he will die after 5 yrs. The royalty can choose a partner in any gender for he was also gifted the ability to give birth and to give child to the partner which means they are genderless. In additional they can't have more than one child or there will be consequences.

The Ao Empire was peaceful for millennium and the Ao bloodline has been living with this curse and gift. The peace was broken when the 12th heir was born, it was a large commotion since there was a rumor that got out from the palace. Rumors circulating that the heir was twins but as time pass by they only see 1 prince running around freely.

Ao Zyanya the 12th emperor who is the kindest but also the most brutal emperor for he have deep hatred with the gods who cursed his bloodline and hatred with demons who keeps making his head throb despite him being born half demon. His father was a demon and his mother was the previous cursed child. He succeeded in the throne when he was 5 yrs old cause his parents died at the same time, two hearts connected as one that means they will die together. Zyanya didn't cry nor mourn for the death of his parents for he knows their fate. His features are like god/goddess you cannot tell whether he is a man or a woman for he have long straight silver hair with a black blindfold covering his eyes for some reason he doesn't wanna take it off and a moon like tattoo in his right neck while his whole body is full with different markings indicating the different curses inside him, he also wears a moon shape earrings in his left ear only and always wear black robe. Zyanya's youthfull appearance can deceive people thinking he is just the emperor's secret son.

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"Your Highness Zyanya! You cannot do this!" The secretary of the emperor suddenly barge in the room of the emperor. While Zyanya was putting up his hair in a ponytail he lazily look at his secretary

"Shut up, I've long been waiting to do this who are you to stop me?"

"But your Highness if u do this.. "

"What are you worrying about? I'm immortal due to that stupid god. I want to see how much I can challenge their bottom line" Zyanya sneers.

The secretary can't do anything but obey since he have no power to disobey his emperor. The emperor's plan was to deceive the gods who curse them by leaving his body in this world and reincarnate his soul to a different body to find the solution of breaking the curse that was placed in his bloodline.

A young boy with long silver hair wearing a white robe is standing in the middle of thousands of red roses and currently looking above the moon. His eyes which is covered with a blindfold didn't even hinder his admiration to the moon as if he can see everything with those eyes.

"Brother yan.." a soft voice called out from behind making the silver hair boy turn around his head to where the voice came from.

"Ulysses" zyanya smiled at him, the man who called out to him have a long jet black hair similar to his swaying in the gentle wind.

"Do you have to go?" Ulysses begins to take a step forward and stops in front of Zyanya, his eyes lingers on Zyanya's hand which is currently bleeding from holding a thorny rose. "You're hurt again.." Ulysses furrows his eyebrows and reach out touching Zyanya's bleeding hand.

"This rose is for you" Zyanya have no intention to argue with him instead he removed the remaining thorn in the rose and tuck it on Ulysses ear carefully. "I knew it! red looks good on you."

Ulysses:....

Suddenly Ulysses grabs his hand and a gentle warm light emits from his hand healing Zyanya's wounded hand. "Brother…you have to be careful on your journey. If you get in trouble please call my name." Ulysses embrace his brother gently as if he is afraid of breaking the person in front of him.

Under the moonlight a man lying down in the middle of a thousand roses slowly closes his eyes,his white eyelashes trembles as his vision blurs and the last thing he see is the blue rose that is placed in his chest.

At the age of 17 years old, the emperor of Ao Empire went to a deep sleep.