They say that love is a fickle thing. That it delves into so many emotions, one could go completely insane. That's something I never experienced myself. Being king doesn't exactly give you many options, especially if there's a monetary value involved. That's why I chose to stay from love's confining clutches. It would only lead to my downfall, anyway.
Just like it did to my parents. They fell into the open arms of love, and both of them inevitably perished in order to fruitlessly save one another. For the first time in many millennia, our planet had been attacked. My mother had been captured, leaving my father in a mess of emotions. His love for my mother clouded any rational thought he had, and because of that, he thoughtlessly gathered our armies in order to rescue her. Too bad our enemy was awaiting his arrival. My father was captured and killed alongside my mother, half of our army slaughtered. I was then appointed to be king, and though I was only at the ripe age of seventeen, I managed to gather allies in order to drive back the enemy.
I was pleasantly surprised when my victory was claimed, my enemy fleeing my planet and freeing its inhabitants from the enemy's murderous plots. We were finally in the clear.
After our victory, many men and women approached me in hopes of becoming my consort. However, in remembrance to my parents downfall, I turned them all down and led my people single handedly.
In present day, I was sleeping on my pod quite peacefully, until a knock roused me from my slumber. Yawning, I opened my eyes only to grimace at the sunlight blaring into my large room. It's too bright, I decided, placing my pale, nearly paper white, hand over my eyes in hopes of blocking out some of the light. The knock sounded again, making me sigh wearily as I sat up, my snow-colored hair cascading down my back.
"Come in," I muttered, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
A petite woman stumbled into my room, her white hair cut short in a bob-like style, her bangs brushed over a pair of light blue eyes. A blush stained her pale cheeks as I sat nude in front of her, making me raise an eyebrow in irritation.
"What is it, Enae?"
She flinched at the tone of my voice, then cleared her throat as she crossed her arms, her fingers against her shoulders, bowing low to me.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, but Prince Teiken from Volcion is here and wishes to speak with you."
Teiken, huh? I wondered with a frown. Surely not enough time has passed to renew our treaty, so what was he doing here? I nibbled at my bottom lip, careful to not split the delicate flesh with my sharp teeth.
"Very well. Gather my formal garments and make sure our guest is aptly comfortable. Also, have Cuban prepare a meal for us. Preferably Sycle Fish with some Bloomberry tea."
Enae nodded vigorously, hurrying to do as I told. I watched her leave with a blank stare, pursing my lips and standing up when the door closed behind her. I walked over to my balcony, pushing aside the sheer curtains as I walked onto the platform. Ice coated the world beyond, although, I felt no chill as my kind had extremely thick skin that enabled us to preserve heat.
My white eyes grazed over the pale horizon, the three suns making their journey across the grey sky. Luckily Glacion, my planet, was far enough from the blasting heat, else the planet would melt and kill everything on it. The ice trees glistened from the light, making their branches look as if they were made from crystal. To other beings, Glacion would be too cold to live on, no matter how beautiful it appeared. Even the inhabitants of this planet only added to its beauty. Most Glacic folk had white hair and white skin, their eyes normally pale colors. Sure, we often got a few half breeds with brown, or blonde hair, but those were far and few in between. Still, Glacion was definitely a sight to behold.
I heard my bedroom door open and turned to see Enae placing my garments onto my pod. I pushed away from the glass railing and made my way back into my room, unashamed with my nudity. I had nothing to be ashamed of. Most Glacic's had beautiful, unmarred skin. Not even a small blemish made their way onto our flesh.
I stopped by my pod and picked up my top, which was white with blue trim, the sleeves long and bell-like. My bottom was a simple cloth, longer in the back than in the front, slit at the sides, showing off my legs, and beaded with blue gems. I got dressed and waited as Enae did my hair into a high ponytail, placing my silver crown on my head to signify my royal blood. After I was properly dressed I made my way out into the corridors, walking until I made it to the guest hall. There I saw the tall Prince Teiken, his skin as dark as the soil from his planet, his hair a fiery red. He wore baggy brown pants and a crop top, showing off his hard-earned abs. And when he turned, his vibrant orange eyes meeting mine, a grin split his face.
"King Asurah! It's a pleasure to see you again! How long has it been since we've seen each other?"
I let a smile fall onto my lips, walking up to him and taking his arm in mine, shaking once as a greeting. "Only a couple of years. Say, you seem taller than when I last saw you."
Teiken beamed, placing his hands onto his hips. "Of course I'm taller! You've grown too, you know. I remember when you were a short little thing, only coming up to my chest. Now look at you! You're as tall as I."
I laughed and rubbed my hands together, gesturing to the hall. "Perhaps we can catch up over some food? I'm sure your journey here has you parched. I'm having Cuban make some Sycle Fish. I'm sure it has been a while since you tasted that delicacy."
"Sounds wonderful! Lead the way."
I nodded and turned, walking down the pale hallways until we reached the dining room, where the rich scent of Bloomberry filled our senses. We walked over to the large glass table and sat down, my servants placing a cup of Bloomberry tea before us. I took a sip of the hot liquid, the tea filling me with warmth. Teiken greedily drank his down, licking his full lips when he was finished.
"I still believe that Blooming tea is much better than Garash tea. Though, my father thinks not. Griping old man he is. I love 'im though. So, how are you doing? Still scaring away potential consorts? What's up with that, if you don't mind my asking."
I raised an eyebrow and leaned back in my seat, crossing one of my legs over the other. "I don't want to end up like my parents," I answered with a shrug. "They died because love blinded their logic."
"Love's not that bad, you know." Teiken said with a pout. Though, the frown did not last long as it stretched wide across his face. "Actually, that is a small part of the reason why I'm here. I have found myself a consort. I really want you to meet her, Asurah. She is the fire in my loins, and the craving in my heart. I cannot get enough of her."
I grinned. "Sounds feisty. Although, I am surprised that there is someone out there that has tamed the almighty Prince Teiken."
Teiken blushed darkly, rolling his bright eyes as he placed his head on his hand, sighing dreamily. "She is quite a catch, if I do say so myself. Dark skin, round breasts, perfect hips. Plus she is quite adamant about telling men off. It's incredibly sexy."
I snorted, not really seeing how a feisty woman could be so desirable. Perhaps Teiken was a masochist. I've had always wondered about that. Guess I got my answer. We both went temporarily silent as the servants began bringing out our meal, the scent of Sycle Fish waking our appetites. They set the cooked fish in front of us, and placed down a basket of buttered rolls, with which I quickly snatched two of. Teiken's people were known to eat a town out of their food. So I had to get mine while I could.
My thoughts scattered as soon as I saw the pickled greens from the planet Hera, my mouth watering as a generous amount was spooned onto my plate. Unlike a lot of planets, Hera never used harmful chemicals in order to grow their crops faster. Instead, everything grown on Hera was completely natural, no added flavors or sedatives. When everything was set, Teiken and I dug into our meal, the only sound being the scraping of our utensils against our plates. The Sycle Fish was perfectly salted, with a hint of Bloomberry juice. The pickled greens made me sigh happily, seeing as they were my favorite food, alongside grib, a food similar to that of the human's ham. The buttered rolls literally melted in my mouth, making my eyes close in bliss as I was finally filled.
When we were finished eating, we moved our reunion to my office, a large space filled with books and gadgets from other planets. I took a seat at my desk, a holographic icon of the company that made it, floating around the clear surface. That is until I clicked it, which made it expand, enabling me to see if I had any messages. Teiken sat down on one of the plush white chairs, his skin a stark contrast against the light fabric.
"So, my consort isn't the only reason I came here, Asurah. I actually have a proposition for you, one that might benefit us both."
I glanced away from the holographic screen, raising an eyebrow as Teiken leaned forward in his seat, his face taking a more serious tone. "A proposition?" I asked in wonder.
Teiken nodded. "Yes. As you know, Volcion is known for its profitable fashion industry. We have never expanded our business to any other planets in worry that they would try to steal the profits. However, I spoke to my father, and he agreed that Glacion is the perfect place to propose a business transaction. If you are willing, of course. It would be extremely beneficial to us both, since we've also agreed to let you collect twenty percent of all Volcion's fashion profit."
I blinked, caught off guard at the proposition. Volcion wanted to expand their fashion industry? I mean, it would seem logical to open more monetary possibilities. But to choose Glacion? Granted, Teiken and I were really good friends, but Glacion was already the richest planet in our solar system. We didn't need anymore money. Although, I could understand the dangers of opening businesses on other planets. Then again, Glacion did need to open its arms to more cultures, since admittedly, the only thing we were good at, was building computers, space crafts, and other electronic things. We didn't really have big fashion industries, or any food or music industries. So maybe we could try this out, see what other doors this opportunity opens.
Pulling myself out of my thoughts I glanced at Teiken to see him staring at me expectantly, his hands folded together over his lap. I then smiled and nodded, leaning back in my seat. "I think that is an excellent idea. Glacion desperately needs to open its arms to other branches of cultures, and since we're friends, Volcion's fashion is a brilliant place to start."
Teiken grinned like a madman, his eyes lighting up as bright as the suns. "Excellent! We will begin our proceedings in the coming weeks. Though, we will need you to come to Volcion in order to sign some agreement forms. Thank you so much for letting us do this, Asurah. My father will be very pleased, I assure you."
"I'm glad I can help you expand your horizons," I said, standing up.
Teiken followed my movements, walking up to me before he grabbed my arm, shaking it gently. "Again, I thank you, friend. I shall let my father know immediately. And as soon as you are able, make your way to Volcion. I'm sure my father will be happy to see you again."
I pouted. "Already leaving me? I see how it is."
Teiken laughed and placed his forehead against mine. "You will live, Asurah. Plus, with our expansion, expect to see me more often."
I smiled and nodded, taking a step back. "I look forward to it."
We shook arms one more time before he left my office, leaving me to delve into my thoughts. I would have to find someone to put in charge while I was gone. Sadly, my second in command was on vacation with his family, on planet Weia. Oh well, I was sure I would find someone suitable to keep an eye out for a few hours, in time.
Glancing at the holographic clock, I was astounded to see that a few hours had passed in the time of Teiken's visit. It seemed it was about time for my daily bath. Shrugging, I made my way out of my office and began the journey to my bathing room. However, while I was walking, I felt a tingle go down my spine, allowing me to know that I was being followed. I narrowed my eyes in irritation, concentrating on the person who was behind me. I could hear their feet pitter-pattering across the marble floor, their breaths coming out quietly as they followed me. I abruptly stopped in my tracks, turning and almost being knocked down by a small woman, whose light blonde hair made her stand out. She was wearing royal garments, which could only mean...
"Eumia? What in the world are you doing here?"
Eumia glanced up at me with vibrant emerald eyes, a blush staining her slightly tanned cheeks as she took a step back from me. "My apologies, Your Highness. I was hoping that you could spare a moment of your time?"
My brows furrowing in confusion, I nodded my head and crossed my arms over my chest. "What is it, Princess?"
Completely avoiding eye contact with me, she instead looked down and began wringing her hands together, a sheer sign of nervousness.
Why would she be nervous?
"As you know, once a member of the royal party turns of age, it is their duty to find...a consort. And, I was wandering-"
"No." I said, watching as she looked at me abashed.
"Excuse me? Why not? Yomi is the second richest planet next to Glacion, and it is only natural that we marry."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, giving her a look so hard, it had her gulping. "I am not taking consorts. Nor will I ever. I prefer to rule over my own kingdom...on my own."
"But eventually you will need to create an heir..."
"I still have a few centuries of life to live. An heir is the least of my worries." Eumia frowned, but said nothing as I continued to speak; "Now if you will excuse me, it is time for my bath. Feel free to use whatever facilities you like, seeing as you made the journey here." And with that, I turned and began walking away, unknowing to the look Eumia was sending my way. And unknowing to the adventures that would lie ahead.
A/N: A new story is in the making!!! This one is more Sci-fi than my normal Fantasy style, so hopefully I can do this justice! And the pic above is a drawing of Asurah I did, of him in his battle uniform.