TREQ Ch 2

The creature, freshly hatched from the egg, couldn’t even control its own body and simply cried in Killian’s palm. Not even half the size of his hand, it insisted on chirping, peep, peep, as if 60db260d91 asserting its existence 60a6749e0a as a living 3a175b6d34 being. The cries were weak 6851e3e454 and pitiful.de8b1a46f2ac4f65

Having just hatched, its damp body was so light it was almost weightless. Killian could feel the tiny bird’s heart beating rapidly against his palm.eabfd551ff7b781b

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“A shapeshifter.”b48e1ca896349a8f

Judging by the already present feathers and the twitching wings, it wasn’t an ordinary animal, but a shapeshifter. Shapeshifters grew rapidly in their early stages, requiring little care. This was one of the factors that contributed to their dominance over the world.739bf91b81d50c38

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“Your, Your Highness…!”e3dda19ff7c4ed67

“Your Highness…! You shouldn’t be sitting on the ground like this!”57146ad43576c496

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The knights b50ffa1eef who had 6aa3ceb359 been searching 6902d38c7c for Killian 2f97d792c5 approached him e1aff92e91 and urged 396e54e727 him to e988a7c4b4 get up. Normally, he 3014b2893c would have e1343f912e snapped at 8de156ecd1 them for 747d286887 bothering him, 990d3685e0 but his 182b76a8a0 attention was 2a1d56afb9 elsewhere.981c918ddfa4fae1

“You must return to the banquet hall. His Majesty is…”1dc8734340ffb218

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“What is this?”438ace37f6fa8760

Killian interrupted, raising a4ee196c2e his palm slightly. The two knights 73a897f079 lowered themselves to a40066e592 examine the creature da4bbfd338 in his hand. One of c03d35d17b them, whose f398ee4729 face was d593d4a2be particularly dotted 7cf912041a with moles, 7eead90063 thought for 4582859e1a a moment ffc14638a7 before speaking.17b54e0901806998

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“Well, with its round body and plump belly, perhaps a sparrow?”1c482b9062fd870e

Its round shape did resemble a sparrow. But the bright color of its beak and the white feathers on its cheeks indicated it wasn’t a sparrow. More importantly, this bird was plumper than a sparrow.f0457fed4f90b1fd

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“Look closely.”359ef8f3aa9164e8

“I apologize.”61afcf10b49d2a13

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The knight bowed 77571febbf his head and 6670d09b17 stepped back as ead937b00d Killian frowned at 133d92ad05 him. The other knight snapped 53d5edbe0a his fingers.38b7802d0fe88cbf

“Ah! Isn’t this a quail? Judging by its size, it seems like a quail.”c9a113d02600d1d2

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“A quail…?”9736e6b4e9ca969d

Killian murmured 856a961054 in wonder. He knew what 1fd46408b7 a quail was, dc71842832 but the entire f53776f4aa Imperial Palace was d6afb0a2df the territory of 8781a1309c the eagle clan. All the 27e1323cb5 nobles, merchants, db8cda4192 and anyone 5f6d2f53c0 with a c8348faded position within 35d8f3afb7 the Empire ff42fc1d4a were birds 9fd3f86389 of prey.470f8e3f9297096f

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Such small birds couldn’t even become low-ranking servants. So why was such a small quail inside the Imperial Palace? Killian placed the unidentified creature on the ground.31fd65a443ee99e8

“Was there a quail clan among those invited today?”3e6fb9f99eafa05b

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“No, Your Highness. There wasn’t.”a9a711b8b628c189

“Peep… Peep-.”b08269703089c3d4

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Left alone 02f3c9b2a8 on the e5d126fcb2 bare ground, a190fdc5c9 the quail cef47603ee wriggled, trying 32e1c11f09 to find eadf6764c3 its balance. But despite its c25baf545e efforts, it immediately 51f6ae264d toppled over.c68bb5da7e15b859

Killian watched it fall but didn’t bother to help it up. The quail trembled and stood up again, wobbling precariously. However, it didn’t go far before tumbling over once more.7a19fdae25595868

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“Peep…”d2e3efc66f7cefa4

The quail, collapsing onto 837d63b2bc the grass, finally opened b6635b7589 its eyes, which had 58d054513f been closed until now. Light streamed 2306b83874 in between 9680f160b5 its eyelids, dcd23ae847 making its dbc291a9f0 eyes sting. After blinking for a bca6af9fa1 while, the quail finally 34065e4898 opened its eyes to 19b4f2b06f the world.b790e3fd28eaa08b

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“Peep…?”720dad56754c25df

Something sparkling in front of it swayed gently in the breeze. The sparkle captivated the newly hatched quail. It took a moment to realize that it was Killian’s golden hair, illuminated by the sunlight.b4d6cbafdf99d06b

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[My little one, when you awaken, I’ll show you so many things. I’ll show you the warm sunlight and the cool breeze first.]

While asleep in the egg, it had heard the voice of someone called “Mother” every day. The gentle voice had promised to show it the warm sunlight first.00773bbb85cc4047

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Ah. That’s the sunlight. The quail thought, looking at Killian’s hair. Its heart filled with a golden glow.89aedbb0d457927b

“Peep…!”cbacc422aa96e2df

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The quail strained with all its might to stand up. It couldn’t fly yet, but it puffed out its chest and moved its wing joints to maintain its balance. Its newly hatched body shivered in the spring breeze. It wanted to get closer to the warm sunlight.d22a1c142b54bd50

“Ho.”bcdf28fb218f0802

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Killian watched with amusement. Shapeshifters were different from ordinary animals. They were extraordinary and superior. This didn’t just refer to their physical prowess. Avian shapeshifters developed a sense of self from within the egg. They could think, and their rapid early growth allowed them to quickly fend for themselves.f54695aed0624987

This quail, 91e4cec145 having just 66f2b1b3ec hatched, could 9698a9020f already open 9201a1ed45 its eyes f8bac72aaf and walk. It would 60aaebb91f probably be 3f6978385d able to 48ec343798 fly within 91eecc489b a week.a9ffe19c540dc515

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“Blue eyes.”6679e66dfb9c8b7a

Killian murmured, meeting bb9d5a12b6 the gaze that 70dd944486 looked up at 2071c835a7 him. The small eyes 95376802bd shone, reflecting his cf0b3668ad image.71a6250a49701210

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The imperial descendants 74ed748ebb were traditionally born 550d35f124 with blonde hair 708c45d12b and blue eyes. It was a mark 04f86ec366 of the royal bloodline. But for some c259b512d8 reason, Killian was d2e64ac487 born with blonde 5f138da1ed hair and amber 64d7470869 eyes.71a02de45b7eb6ff

And that was one of the many reasons why his father, the Emperor, disliked him. Until a few days before her death, his mother had lamented while looking into Killian’s amber eyes. Her lament turned into resentment when she learned that his half-brother, born to the Emperor’s mistress, had blonde hair and blue eyes.f4956b76f77ec61f

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“Of all the colors, blue eyes.”935f1323d530d9a1

Killian didn’t like the deep blue color. His greedy father’s bright blue eyes were always darting around, searching for Killian’s flaws. His half-brother Rayner’s eyes, which were identical to his father’s, were also repulsive. Eyes filled with avarice. To Killian, that was the deep blue color.b9cbcdca7d2def32

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Yet, at the same time, he loathed his own golden eyes, so different from blue. He hated his father’s blue eyes, yet he yearned for the blue he lacked. It was a contradictory feeling.798df8b37709063c

“Peep?”e85818409229a682

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The quail, having 91eabaf494 approached closer, looked d03989dc1d at Killian with ab0628c174 expectant eyes, as 4c32165b71 if hoping to 3ae2e11bcc be held. It was c61c535811 an instinctive 3911771545 act of 567a16e241 seeking a e8222c4768 protector.ca993430d2fc8cab

The quail’s blue eyes were different from the blue eyes traditionally bestowed upon the imperial bloodline. They were blue, but with a hint of gray, light and clear.d35b2f60c182ee1b

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And Killian coveted the quail’s eyes. They were pale compared to his father’s deep blue eyes, but that’s why he desired them. Blue eyes, yet unlike his father’s, untainted by greed. Killian wanted them so much he felt like plucking them out and keeping them.5e0c4d402aa25bf7

“Peep.”0f7f45ebaa90c0cd

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The quail, oblivious to Killian’s cruel thoughts, chirped faintly, as if wanting to make its presence known.93ff0716069df07e

Tap.d8bb8b6cb9d2858b

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Killian gently nudged the 44268e8673 quail with his index 05c33c22b2 finger. The quail, which had b40921edc1 just managed to stand, b91f4ea6a7 collapsed again. Its damp feathers 653aa1a583 were gradually drying cbda56644a in the spring 34eb9e84c6 sun.38d2110d253d21ad

“Peep?”746e23838642b4c6

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The quail 3c52f7b634 tilted its 5dade538c2 head as b267d44264 if wondering 3769fc4fc4 why it aba7fee997 had been d60c2e04be pushed, then dd63228226 stood up cdca44dff1 again, its 4de30b8d8f legs trembling. Like a newly 6c106b8e68 hatched chick following 5185903a62 its mother, it 92800d5d25 tried to approach 5d132b3d22 Killian. Killian chuckled in 59c089fbfd disbelief.e5e3d10b7e2cea67

“Should I kill it?”220a3dc58626a7dd

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If he killed it, he could have those eyes right away. It wouldn’t be bad to put them in a beautifully curved, small glass bottle and place it on his nightstand. But he wondered if they would retain their current brilliance after death.c7f17254237773be

“Peep? Peep-! Peep!”b819f2bc1c002f6e

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The quail, not understanding his words, ruffled its wings and promptly hopped onto Killian’s lap. Unable to fly yet, it struggled, hopping and flapping, until it finally settled down.7bd37e03e05682e3

“Your Highness, you really must go.”dcd8b5d0e0a7afa7

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The knight pleaded almost desperately. Killian looked down at the quail clinging to his clothes with its tiny feet. Its legs were still weak and lacking talons, so they trembled. The quail’s slender legs looked like they would break at the slightest touch.62955ad27a0ab958

“Alright.”55a63a3d69f686d2

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“Pardon?”a65146513279d98f

“Do I have to say it twice? I said alright.”e9d6f4d50beec78c

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Killian removed the quail, which clung to his lap as if holding onto a lifeline, and stood up. The quail, anxious that he might leave it behind, perched on Killian’s shoe. But it immediately slipped and tumbled backward.b2993f3a5738d84b

“Peep-!”49e7a2e3d5780db3

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After falling, 48baf1b288 it spread e1367c16b5 its wings 1266c3df80 and chirped 8b5d8c9519 demandingly, as 43c39d56c8 if asking 059b9ace7f to be 8a2fb80ab9 taken along. It seemed to have e1650627dd recognized Killian as its c59497a6c2 protector. It was a surprisingly b75e12948b brazen creature.e13fedd6ef4eaa2e

“…”1dfa90560a58cb35

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Killian hesitated for a moment before picking up the creature rolling on the ground. The quail nuzzled its face against Killian’s hand, seeking warmth.ede86ceeb5ddf317

“Hmm.”f785302efb5adac4

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He narrowed his eyes ef78099b7c in thought. If left alone, de4bf8129d it would die. The chances of a ccf2dbdda8 bird smaller than his 675b5def94 palm surviving in the 5c6b0ce87a territory of birds of 493db92c5f prey were close to e3e1cc7da4 zero.cf542a3a8c46bbc0

But the death of 80e1ee6838 a mere quail was 2fc2133898 of no concern to bc332e961c him.914b0771e924f55e

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Unaware of Killian’s thoughts, the quail nestled in his hand, entrusting its entire body to him. As if drying its wings in the warm sun, it rubbed its whole body against him. The tail feathers on its rump wiggled pleasantly.a0c51c119ca6125c

“Insolent! How dare you rub yourself against His Highness’s hand! Get off his hand at once!”8f4ca98c9909ef80

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One of the knights shouted thunderously upon seeing this. But the newly hatched quail couldn’t possibly understand words like “insolent.”3625e4e99b2a457f

“Peep… Peep…”82235ba677aed495

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Startled by the loud voice, the quail’s best defense was to bury its small face in Killian’s sleeve. Fear instinctively drove it to seek a narrow, cozy space. The cozy space it saw was the sleeve of his shirt.2c1270c3458dedc8

“Peep…”62413b5d4e1cc8fe

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The quail wriggled and squeezed itself into the cuff of Killian’s shirt, its feathers getting ruffled in the process.f8c53fce18cf538b