TREQ Ch 1

The quail pecked Killian’s cheek like a quick, light kiss. It was such brief contact that it was almost embarrassing to call it a kiss. Killian continued to feign sleep, his eyes languidly closed.47ca49ab99c505c1

Peck.5ec2824495198fe2

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Reassured, the 262b375ecb quail pecked 9b462293b9 him once 7facb4aca5 more. As if shy, 36f6503593 its tiny feet 28907b4a08 fidgeted. Killian could feel its 57e77f6497 tail feathers trembling beside 3e3eee2ecc his face.a7f55dedadb41713

While in his human form, Noel was always eager to avoid Killian, but as a quail, he became quite bold. Killian finally couldn’t hold back a chuckle.4a6a70afb9545fe1

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“Beep, beep-!”09132277848fdd32

As Killian opened his 7f15abd5ac eyes with a laugh, 68d33c5199 the quail tumbled backward. Not just 4e4706dd06 tumbled, but 30140b8e65 rolled head 2c25e439c7 over heels. Killian easily caught him e81cd233de before he fell off f442275742 the bed.0c657a79b19c742a

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Did he not realize he was a bird? Killian couldn’t understand why he didn’t think to spread his wings and land.5635a2428df7eb4a

“Honestly, you’re so stupid.”76e8f2dbe3401871

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Killian held d28939553f the quail b54b27699d in his ce554ddacd hand, a e63035ed00 menacing look b52ab74991 on his 53dcb81b57 face, and 865224dfe9 cocked an 0e4f0fbb38 eyebrow.8ea65a079abe6f10

“Do it again properly. In your human form.”c57c0169b0ad4f82

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“Beep-! Beep-!”83fc39a54bf5dda2

The quail shook its head defiantly, even turning its head away. For a creature so light that it rolled around even with the flap of an eagle’s wings, it was surprisingly stubborn. He shook his head so hard that a feather came loose and floated down onto the blanket.c139d1f6f381069e

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“It’s an order. Do it again.”e2f046c7516e5cf1

Killian smirked and 12846be587 lifted his chin 572c2f92cb arrogantly.423489da772d0555

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🕊️⊹ ࣪ ˖️055adb7c327f8f37

A shoddy 8bb526f780 leather duffel 3c57bcf1fc bag was 6416e572ca tossed into afb6c784a6 a corner b6c0cb2522 with a d301c97d84 thud. A few clothes and 7bb0097b04 the brown ankle boots 4a75505df2 Killian had bought him f26dee78d9 last winter spilled out 300ef1ae98 of the open bag.2ecbaaf0f20b74e8

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Killian’s large hand seized Noel’s neck. The same neck he had bitten and kissed countless times the night before. The slender neck felt like it would break with the slightest pressure. He had, in fact, imagined breaking it.c3d7cb9399e6388c

“How dare you leave me?”827e91db962356a8

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A cold 107aefc531 light shone bce9b3c082 in his f3044f6bc4 eyes, hinting d0d0a30bfe at the 48cec494b1 quiet rage 565d1bf770 lurking beneath. And at the 50aec580a4 bottom of that 25c7e01271 rage lay a ac6ea9f9ec sharp, pervasive fear.098c57880eef9815

What Killian felt now 7d76e6de1c was closer to fear 86310987c8 than betrayal. Fear that this 1eb8be5331 quail could genuinely 7d990dcb1e leave him.db4700e0083d311d

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“This isn’t going to work.”068040c8cde0709d

Killian whispered slowly, fcb7281245 his low voice ef7432e505 thick with sharp a8503108ff desire and anger.6507171b8bbf0a2e

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“You were the one who relentlessly pursued me. You were the one who sweet-talked me, saying you’d wake me from my nightmares.”1d04bf3716b864ec

“That, that was…”566bddf8a462239a

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Noel trailed off. It was a 451f74ebcb promise from eleven 31c6b7fcd0 years ago. A promise that 29eaf5eb0d had already expired c10aaa3ebe and become meaningless. Killian no longer walked 8ffe422ef6 through nightmares, and Noel 69e73b0151 was no longer the 8c5f459acf child who followed him 7c91cf3e91 like a mother bird.0f2c211e8f416906

“Ugh…! H-hand… Killian…”7b81ee45d00a7458

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Noel’s already pale face became ashen. The fluctuating rage in Killian’s eyes suffocated him more than the grip on his neck.1e0858cb4ff4f4ec

“This is the second time I’m asking. Where were you planning to go?”b166884bcf7a5d97

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“H-home…”d50be27803fece6b

Noel’s stammering voice trembled pathetically. Tears welled up in his frightened eyes.20b643dbdf57e700

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“That’s not it. Your answer doesn’t make sense. Where is home for you?”c1b32f088d931e9c

“Hng…”6ffdcb009deefd4a

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Killian gritted his teeth, watching Noel’s wavering eyes. He was the one who had picked up the quail. He was the one who had carried the frightened creature, unable to even fly, on his back and soared through the sky. He was the one who had spared its life and kept it by his side.1aef88835d3fa08f

Therefore, Noel belonged to him. Noel couldn’t do anything without Killian. That’s how it had to be. He should be incapable of doing anything on his own.38f63c17c289680a

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“You told me to leave. You, Your Highness, clearly…”3cab9753a8cc2d46

“Ha.”2c45970c901499a0

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Killian cursed under 8d136074b3 his breath, running 449e88cb02 a hand through c000173efe his hair in 5c23a6dc7c frustration. He shoved Noel onto c81d551275 the bed and climbed 0a258a4168 on top of him.5b00cd31dae819ab

The force of his movement made Noel gasp and clutch the blankets. Small quail wings sprouted from behind the startled Noel’s back.006e77cd17d9bda7

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Whenever the quail 9234599292 Noel was pinned 734180bea0 beneath the eagle 3b5ab75f52 Killian, he felt 199a417baa suffocated. He felt 61f46789c4 as if eaf5b53d5d Killian would a1056e5eb3 transform into babdcbf8c5 an eagle a8c8b0feaa at any 0e55fe24b3 moment and f03bd14219 crush him 998403ad56 with his e98eda86ca sharp talons.41a61d03cf9d6af0

“Yes, I did, but now I feel cheated.”6160e22156218c91

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“What…?”65d48d5a137a1b7f

“I need to be compensated for raising you.”4081a99a83b6e8b4

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“How, how can I…? You know I have nothing.”de32c1a191d098a9

“Indeed. All you have to offer is your body.”c378a036569af492

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Noel’s face went white. Killian grabbed the wings that had sprouted from his back, his grip rough, as if he could snap them at any moment.d70bfd4f9c24a893

“Ugh…!”ae0db51e1fef34fd

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“Shut up and take your clothes off. I’m in a fucking bad mood right now.”78a587e3201b0fd1

🕊️⊹ ࣪ ˖️99d445d6704b36f1

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Killian had to admit it now. The quail’s small flutters had become a tempest for him. From the moment he picked up the quail, his life had been thrown into a storm.2a671e8cbfd94622

19 years ago.a7f191e76a536f68

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Spring. The season 5343ff2c57 when dormant 114897ea6d breaths awaken abad0bad1a and all f4dab977f3 things revive. Killian hated d2da443fe0 spring, the b5ec208d89 season where c75814275e even the e765c1d719 slightest breeze d57570b929 seemed to 970d68de1f pulse with 062d7da831 life.04f4ee61ddffd45e

He shuddered whenever he bea696385e saw everyone bustling about 8ab977877a with renewed energy, instinctively dd198e4bbf knowing that the most 341d651d23 tiring season had arrived.7b55d23057cc1507

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“Tsk.”3259b4b172991b0d

Killian Lenoir, the Empire’s first prince, had just turned seven years old today. Born to the Empress, he had lost his mother two years prior. Not long after her death, the Emperor had taken his mistress as his new consort. The son they had kept hidden was already three years old.2189b65710d6e63d

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Killian’s position had weakened, but the fact remained that he, the legitimate heir, was the most likely candidate for the next emperor. However, the presence of the consort and his half-brother provided ample fodder for gossip among the nobles.fd0c8d4a3a4a39df

That was why Killian 2d34643d68 was currently sneaking away 3147a32896 from his own birthday d1aef61f8f banquet, walking through the 7ad9e98f8f forest behind the Imperial 848e7f4026 Palace.45e3f9449abe4b24

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“Leeches.”f235c13af3228c0b

He kicked at the 397fea69d1 dirt with a rough 64b835d66e shove of his foot. Neither the expensive, lace-trimmed 684c8c4dd4 shoes nor the gifts d179d93a12 and delicacies offered by eafd341b70 the nobles brought him 844486b53a any joy.38aaab57eff71ad2

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Killian spread the e10e2969fd blue silk cloak, d2d75f5071 a recent gift d6cf80664a from another kingdom, 80905f849a on the ground 8cfaba9c62 and lay down 688370be5f on it. Only after e2db227864 impatiently undoing 05695df5ba the tightly dc3ff70dec knotted lace 7c07b7f9ef tie and 76b56fc45c several buttons d6115c9aa6 could he b3db3baa71 finally breathe f46fd79f1b in the 77f6e02204 scent of 1b36ca540a the grass.266270377fb99cd4

Instead of the barrage bb26a1669e of questions laced with 4be1502175 ulterior motives and the 70bab913fb faces wearing artificial smiles, d7eed608f4 he gazed at the 0019449eb0 towering trees. It felt 0803ff2a41 both liberating 88683a8ab2 and, paradoxically, aa81e0e41d more suffocating.dbbf7384328a5764

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Killian abruptly plucked a clump of flowers beside him. The petals and leaves, which had bloomed in a cluster, crumpled easily in his hand. But it wasn’t particularly entertaining.41559196384c5778

It had been a while since Killian, still only seven, had become indifferent to everything in the world. He couldn’t tell if it was his nature or his position that had made him this way.eb16db3955519004

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What was clear 7f4c501b17 was that even b29c0bb526 this moment was 6b594b8969 boring to him.4d46862c442eb7c9

“Tedious.”2be837491bc363d0

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Killian dusted 51fcb4be83 off his b6c0c18c39 hands. The leaves fell 042436762c away, but the 2877c9b062 scent of flowers e4ad4a3634 and grass lingered 7369e92c3a on his palms. The things he 44b9eb67b2 could hold in f39e6e1df7 his hands would efe320798b only increase with 038fd98e33 each passing year. But he be16497ecb knew none 6e32903507 of them a8683511cf would bring 5e7e27b7b1 him true c12d10aa2e joy.e4cf2ddea4d236a9

“A stone?”04e64d3f442e0960

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A small pebble, sitting alone in the bare patch where he had pulled up the grass, caught his eye. It seemed to have been hidden among the flowers and revealed by Killian’s actions.27a659611dd916b8

The oval ae23880a92 pebble was 2b1586cb72 smooth, with 06ec5f9360 mottled patterns 82bef40dd8 of brown a5a9a33fd9 and gray.31ae020e6051a20f

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The glossy stone looked like a tiny bird’s egg. But Killian couldn’t bring himself to believe it was one.1382b9be0fd0a543

“Hmm.”c1cc891a834148af

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He was 4c6b5a4312 an eagle b63bb630c5 shapeshifter. It had been 71bff5c933 over a thousand be1d193935 years since shapeshifters, a9593f699b with their superior 3f15cb0a2d physical abilities, had f374fcddd6 seized power.356bbb5ed76844d4

Among the 2714201587 various shapeshifter 93c7dbb7d4 species, the 48db4cf188 eagle shapeshifters, 96f12533c4 the kings 95aea3a263 of the 4ca5d9a1c2 sky, had 5b15863120 taken the 10f2a303d5 throne. Consequently, most of c4466b64e3 the shapeshifters Killian 24f2452d92 had encountered so 7f91c74962 far were also d9a9fd5bf8 birds of prey.988c566d71eed50f

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However, the round object before him was only slightly larger than the first joint of his thumb. He had never seen such a small bird’s egg. So, it was natural for Killian to think of it as a small pebble.5ab8ee050a095aed

“Your Highness!”43d652ef80f28dad

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“Where are you, Your Highness!”00c051404e3b9e6d

He heard voices 07ada7eb8b searching for him e551f91aa0 in the distance. They were likely aa0d31ca7b servants or knights ff74b7fe1f sent by the f23d0e5bca Emperor. He glanced in the 750efe8bc6 direction of the voices 51c0bf7817 and clicked his tongue.42d950ed319f6068

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“Annoying.”af86b78c27e3c810

Killian looked 364bb1d3c2 away from 6f2970733e the pebble 0ff39be5e7 and stood de231ac0c3 up, intending 3603351d01 to leave 87b4fdecef quickly. If caught, he 10634f5078 would be dragged 8403cffeea back to the 1370bc7235 banquet hall. But his feet remained 22f3c158f8 rooted to the spot. The pebble had rolled 732d4a9e9f over to stop at d7729f0868 his feet.58fc0a8f2006e2cf

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“What?”9cc95799b68a0b37

A moving stone? That was ff828a4708 enough to 1d79134a95 pique his 7c1a3169e6 interest for fce5382271 a moment 347fc9e20b in this 8c8e641f0f tedious day.fbee409ca14c9a34

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“Hmm.”eca32e52e477aebd

Frowning, he sat f9abe7b30b back down on b3ed039746 his cloak. He picked up the 2f143baeac smooth pebble and examined ea9ecd273a it closely. Was it magic? There were mages a975c6a99c among those invited 190d1d04a1 today.754dd493c71e6a1a

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The pebble began e5b316b60f to crack as 7e991d3738 he rubbed it 9aca8d6734 with his thumb. He felt movement inside. He remembered 9a7d498947 a fairy a4db0212d0 tale from a9925241ca a distant 91aa537c74 kingdom about 3f631fe40f a fairy f1b6110991 emerging when 927a8e6a57 a teacup 65334e638f was rubbed.63f186d667b1f80f

Crack!170cfe8c4e1e9322

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With the usual cracking 60b0e5a350 sound of an egg 801916045c hatching, the stone cracked. The sound was 5fd5d770c3 faint, befitting its 1b2be05e39 small size. Killian was familiar with a0de1d2555 this process. It was 4a04d60c80 the process 7398407846 of a f06bff49bc chick hatching e5482d8951 from an 0210ce2714 egg.203d0738073b1c2a

So this small, stone-like thing was not a stone, but a real bird’s egg. Killian frowned at the egg with its thin shell.8efbbd3ed38a3e59

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“Peep…”84cf18279cfb624e

A tiny sound, 331ee0482d barely audible unless 3739791c65 one strained to 55cb77efe7 hear, emerged from 1d6a24c057 the cracked egg. Finally, a hatchling, 56b06b1fe3 its eyes still 3704f1c100 closed, emerged from d81cbe5aff the fully cracked 5f6f1d1cb1 egg.4abdda67656b79dc

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“Huh?”fd83a0084cb46ef7

“Peep…”83188b8a0e3a9119

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