A newly born Crown Clan cub is different from a newly born human infant.
From the moment of birth, they are already exceptionally fair and pretty, able to open their round eyes and utter sounds that carry some faint meaning.
Especially after eating and drinking their fill, the young Crown Clan are brimming with energy—their vigor must be thoroughly expended before they abruptly “power down” and sleep to “recharge.”
Therefore, raising a young Crown Clan requires an enormous amount of care and attention.
At this moment, the little one has just eaten to contentment, clinging to his parent’s shoulder, his tiny hand hooked onto Amos’s epaulet. Finding the metal ornaments on Amos rather uncomfortable, he grips the epaulet with one hand and pushes at the metal chains with the other, emitting sounds of disgruntled babbling.
Amos finally moved. He reached out in silence, gripped the chain the little one was pushing away, and with a tug—there was a soft crack—the chain came off in his hand.
“Ya-woo—”
The little one, who had been watching Amos’s movement, was startled, his attention instantly shifting from the stranger behind Amos. With wide, bewildered eyes, he stared at the chain that had suddenly vanished and at the hand Amos had used to break it off.
“Yi-ya—”
A gentle, warm breath lingered near his face.
Perhaps it was blood kinship—or perhaps Amos, having watched over him here for such a long time, would probe his condition with his psionic sense from time to time, allowing the pup to become familiar with Amos’s presence early on. Thus, he was particularly affectionate and natural with Amos. Even though Amos displayed little expression and, known far and wide as the dark tyrant, had long since shed the earlier instability of youth for an increasingly unfathomable and intimidating presence—yet this fragile little one was not afraid in the slightest.
He even flapped his little wings, slapping them as a matter of course against Amos, babbling and chattering.
At this moment.
Little Chu Zao poked his small head over to look at what was in Amos’s palm, placing both of his tiny hands there too, seemingly eager to pry open Amos’s hand out of curiosity.
Such a soft, small hand.
Amos felt as if he were holding a tiny bomb, stiffly lowering his gaze to the little hands laid on his own.
Both tiny hands clasped his pinky finger together—only by joining both could they just barely wrap around his pinky, and even then not quite cover it wholly.
One could imagine just how small this cub was for the already tall Crown Clan—of course, he was indeed a touch more delicate, charming, and exquisite than other newborn Crown Clan cubs.
Perhaps this was due to unfortunate circumstances before his birth.
“Do you want to see this?”
Unconsciously, Amos softened and lowered his tone. He slowly opened his hand, sensing the change in pressure from the little one’s grip, that warm little hand almost propped against his. The small head peeked inquisitively, then those little hands fiddled with the metal chain.
“Yi-ao—”
Chu Zao gave it a few pokes, lifted his face to Amos, and in the next instant exerted a bit more strength. The chains clashed dully at his prodding, startling the cub again.
Newly born and curious about everything, yet cautious, the pup immediately recoiled, suddenly hugging Amos’s neck.
He mumbled inarticulately, making vague and soft sounds.
“…Amos.”
It was Solan who finally broke the silence by speaking up.
“That, that is—”
Amos finally took a step, holding the little one as he turned around, allowing everyone to see just how small and adorable this cub was.
“Yes.”
He nodded lightly.
“This is my child. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the Habitat named him—Zao. He can be Zao Dwight, and also has a surname, Chu.”
Of course, however he was called made no difference.
Seemingly hearing Amos call his name—
The cub suddenly lifted his head and made a noise—
Zao Zao is here!
Amos was gently cradling the cub, raising his hand to shield him from the wind with his cloak—it was rare for him to wear one, but it proved unexpectedly useful.
The surroundings abruptly dimmed for the little one, who dazedly glanced about.
Seeing that Amos was shielding him, but still looking at the people ahead, the cub grew unhappy.
“Yi-ya—ya—”
He stretched out his small hand and grabbed Amos’s garment, using all his strength to tug, babbling for his attention—Zao Zao is here, why call Zao Zao but not look at Zao Zao? Of course, with a newborn’s strength, he couldn’t even wrinkle His Majesty Amos’s clothes.
Finally, the cub could only look suspiciously at his own little hand, flutter his wings, and with some effort, used his golden, gleaming circlet to light up this shadowy space completely.
Even with the cub now in front of their eyes—it was still so fantastical as to strain belief.
Most of all, it was all so abrupt, with no warning that a cub was hatching at the Habitat. They had just arrived—and Amos was already holding the cub in his arms?
And this was—Amos’s child?
This is just—
“Too, too, too adorable, isn’t it?”
Solan’s voice rose instantly.
Baby, you are a little baby—
She quickly approached, her eyes fixed longingly on the little one.
“Zao Zao, is it? What a lovely name. Zao Zao, I am Grandma, Grandma—come, say Grandma—”
Chu Zao blinked his large eyes, and after eating his fill, puckered his lips to form a bubble that quickly popped. He babbled at Solan, his eyes narrowing with delight as he smiled.
“Say Grandma.”
“Yi…ya~?”
“Grandma—”
“Yi-ya~”
“She’s Grandma, Zao Zao.”
“Yi-ya!”
Even newborn, coaxed to say Grandma.
Amos was briefly silent, but his attention was elsewhere—he hadn’t even been called Daddy yet.
Moreover.
“Mother, he can’t speak yet.”
Not to mention, your current attempt does seem a shade odd, as if urging this little pup to call you—Grandma.
Let’s pause for a moment, just a moment, don’t waste effort on impossibilities.
“Oh yes, a newborn can’t speak.”
Solan, caught up in the cub’s cuteness, spoke again, slightly dazed.
She turned to the frozen Clansis and Frey.
“What are you two standing over there for? Come have a look.”
It’s a cub!
Our Dwight Family’s cub!
Clansis finally moved, walking over with a solemn face to the little one’s side. He glanced down, appearing sternly to scrutinize the cub. “No problems, I hope?”
He said, looking over at Morlo.
“He wasn’t quite the same at birth as Amos or the others—”
Or rather, not the same as any other Crown Clan cub—
Though cubs are always adorable, beautiful, and to be treated with care, after raising five children, Clansis had never felt quite like this—he looks truly tiny, and Clansis didn’t even dare to reach out and touch.
“There was indeed a small incident during the process—”
Morlo started to explain.
But just then, the little one chirped, reached out, and poked his grandfather’s nose.
Even though Emperor Clansis had abdicated, his aura remained, and he was perhaps the strictest and most solemn leader in Crown Clan history. None of his five children had softened him much. His severity differed from the arrogance of other Crown Clan—only Frey’s temperament somewhat resembled his, but not quite as cold or purpose-driven from such a young age.
Thus, even now, most Crown Clan members held this former leader in awe.
Everyone around them fell instantly silent; even Morlo flinched, pausing his words—the little pup clearly wasn’t cowed at all.
He kept poking while laughing gleefully to himself.
“Oo-ya—yi-ao—”
Tiny mouth babbling meaningless sounds—whether it was mischief, or the fun of poking Grandpa’s nose, he poked, withdrew, then repeated.
Clansis: …
Clansis suddenly took a few steps back.
His expression was briefly shocked but quickly recovered.
He reached into his spatial ring for a long while, fished out a pack of tissues, and carefully wiped his nose.
Solan: ?
“Really, isn’t that excessive?”
After raising five children, did he become this reactive?
Others longed for a poke from a little cub and never even got the chance, and here he was—disdainful?
Disdainful?
Clansis finished wiping his nose, then leaned his face right up for the cub to reach.
Those deep, amber eyes calmly fixed on the little one, as if wordlessly inviting—Alright, Grandpa has cleaned up, go ahead and poke.
Clearly, he wasn’t listening to Morlo’s explanation.
At this point, to Clansis, explanations weren’t so important anyway.
Solan: …
Solan: ………
“Ya-oh?”
The little one made an enquiring sound, reached out again, and poked Clansis’s nose.
The strange fellow shut his eyes in satisfaction, and his face seemed to twitch—startling Chu Zao’s hand back.
Oh, that certainly wasn’t a twitch.
It was just that, never one to smile, Clansis was suddenly trying to display a gentle and kindly smile, which appeared more as a spasm.
Solan’s brow twitched fiercely. She grabbed Clansis, who was getting a bit out of hand, and pulled him back.
“Let’s return to the palace first.”
Amos spoke, carefully shielding the little cub from the wind, as he quickly walked toward a certain area of the Habitat planet.
The Habitat planet also had a Dwight palace—
Or rather, every Crown Clan member’s home was on the Habitat planet.
The Habitat planet embraced every Crown Clan born from its bosom with equality, always providing a final haven.
“Yes, yes.” Solan slapped her forehead. “Can’t let him catch a chill, this little one’s so soft and tiny, even more delicate than you all were at birth, he must be carefully raised and made strong.”
Solan nudged Clansis, then looked at Frey—who had gazed longingly at the cub the whole time, but never dared to touch.
Indeed, Frey was smitten with his newly born nephew, but as this was his first time, he didn’t dare lay a finger.
Solan gave her eldest son a gentle push.
“Go on now, let’s look at him again in the palace—”
Then Solan paused.
“Frey, you’re walking with both arms swinging the same side—”
“Ah…”
Frey snapped back to adjust how he walked.
“…” Solan was silent for a few seconds. “Still arms and legs on the same side—you didn’t notice?”
But thinking more on it, she laughed aloud.
She was simply overjoyed.
“Alright, Mother understands your excitement.”
Solan took out her communicator to contact the grandfathers—including Ebinino and Desmond.
Those two were, to this day, somewhat at odds.
They ran two small circles in the universe, playing their own games.
Right now, they should both happen to be nearby, just passing by the Habitat planet.
“I’ve told them to drop by the Habitat planet—should we tell them about Zao Zao’s birth? Never mind, let them come see for themselves.”
Solan walked briskly, following after Amos, operating the communicator with a smile.
At this moment, her heart was entirely on this little one, completely disinclined to face the fearless “bombardment” from the grandfathers that would erupt after she informed them. In short, she had no time to explain or talk at length.
Up ahead, a soft vine dangled gently down from the Habitat planet, drifting as if born on the wind to the child in Amos’s arms.
The cub curiously tugged it, and the leaf detached, glowing slightly as if soothing the child.
Little Chu Zao babbled, inspecting the leaf in his grasp, then held it high to show Baba. His tiny hand was so close to Amos’s face that—even for His Majesty, proud and reserved—he couldn’t resist gently nuzzling the infant’s hand with his cheek, eliciting a peal of laughter from the cub, who joyfully clung to his neck again.
At this moment, the breeze blowing across the Habitat planet was likewise gentle.
Arriving at the palace.
The little cub was placed on a soft bed.
After eating and drinking his fill, he was still full of energy.
His limbs not very strong, but his wings were unusually so. He flapped mightily, lifting himself into the air for a few seconds, then plopped down onto the mattress.
Eyes round, he seemed to find this game fascinating. He beat his wings vigorously to fly up, fell down with a “biu,” his plump body bouncing gently on the mattress like a tender milk pudding.
A whole group of Crown Clan sat goggle-eyed, barely speaking, watching the cub entertain himself for ages.
“Heavens—this is just too cute—” Solan exclaimed. “Frey, Amos, neither of you were this cute as babies.”
Newborn Frey always had a dour face and seldom made a sound, while Amos was lazy, usually with his eyes shut. Even then, his arrogance and disregard could be seen, never deigning to be bothered by others.
They never played about so adorably.
Clansis nodded appreciatively, wholly in agreement.
Amos glanced at Solan, but decided not to comment; he simply held out his hand to the little one—”Zao Zao, come here.”
The cub, just a bit tired from playing, especially after flying and falling, which burned much energy—his freshly replenished strength was quickly ebbing, and he’d soon “power off.”
He slowly pushed himself up with his little hands, babbling as he crawled and rolled his way toward Amos—until now, he’d been at the bed’s edge, but while playing had bounced to the softest, most elastic center.
Solan wickedly extended her hand, too: “Come here, Zao Zao, come to Grandma.”
Eh?
“Yi-ya?”
The little one paused, his little mind unable to process such complexity—though he didn’t understand, both sides were stretching out hands, calling his name.
Which… to choose?
He froze on the spot, looking a bit dazed, tilted his head, looking at Amos, then at Solan, torn by indecision.
But after a moment, he nonetheless very resolutely “rolled” toward Amos while babbling.
“Seems he likes Daddy best after all.”
Solan kept smiling, she noticed the little one’s hesitation, but soon withdrew her hand, still beaming.
She couldn’t help gazing at Amos—
Just too adorable.
How could her son, with that awful personality, possibly have such a cute child?
Solan simply could not fathom.
Solan decided to slander.
As they drew near, Clansis, standing beside Amos, cleared his throat and also reached out: “Zao Zao, come.”
Amos glanced at his meddling parents.
Yet faced with Grandpa’s hand, the little one merely glanced at it, not even hesitating before continuing to “roll” toward Amos, until he finally flopped into Amos’s embrace.
“Yi-ya!”
Destination reached!
The cub lifted his little hand high, reaching for Amos’s chin.
Defeated Clansis: …
In that instant, a rare contented smile appeared—even Amos could not suppress a smile as he hugged the little one closer.
“Ei—woo-ah—”
The little one seemed to be expressing something, meaningless syllables tumbling out.
“What is it? Hungry already?”
Amos asked softly.
Little Chu Zao continued to babble.
But this time, Amos realized what he wanted.
He babbled while yawning twice.
His bright honey-colored eyes brimmed with reflexive tears.
Sleepy now.
Time to “power down.”
Amos picked him up, awkwardly adjusting to a comfortable position.
The little one found a cozy spot on his own, then quickly curled up in Amos’s lap and closed his eyes.
At this age, a child can eat and sleep endlessly.
In less than half a minute, gentle, even breathing reached all the Crown Clan holding their collective breath, ears intent.
Too tired from play, he had drifted off.
Amos cradled the little one protectively.
“Everything needs to be readied. At this stage, Crown Clan cubs grow very quickly.”
Clansis kept his voice to a whisper, almost inaudible to anyone normal, but distinct to the acutely sensitive Crown Clan.
He was not wrong; mythic long-lived species were always formidable, even at their weakest just born, and this stage would last only a short while. Within a month or even a few days, the little one would likely start toddling, soon understanding what his parents said and beginning to acquire language.
Once the most basic powers of communication emerged, the pace of growth slowed, not unlike a human’s path up to age eighteen.
“I’ve prepared everything.”
Amos replied in a soft voice.
Although this little one’s arrival was unexpected, Amos was fully prepared.
He’d even planned for the worst—that the cub, due to the mishap at birth, might be frail and require special care.
But seeing him now, all seemed well.
Lowering his head, he gazed at the soft, mottled pink cheeks of the sleeping cub in his arms.
Even in sleep, the little one smacked his lips, as if savoring the delicious memory of cub milk.
Then, with a babyish, utterly tender murmur, he burrowed even deeper into Amos’s bosom.
It was no exaggeration—Solan’s eyes looked ready to pop out.
Wishing it was she holding the little one instead.
But she quickly spoke.
“I’ve already messaged your grandfathers. They’re nearby, so I’ve had them come land on the Habitat planet. By the way, when do we announce the little one’s birth? The clan still doesn’t know.”
If they did, who knows how crazy they’d get. They’d been hoping for a cub for more than a decade—ever since the last cub’s coming-of-age, they began to hope.
“No rush.”
Amos lightly tapped the armrest of the chair beside him, lowering his gaze to the small, soft bundle in his arms.
“We’ll announce it when he grows a bit more and we’re sure he’s alright—otherwise, those people will end up worrying in vain, slowing down their work even if they know but can’t see him.”
Solan:…Truly, His Majesty Amos does manage to wring every ounce of imperial “labor” out of the Crown Clan.
No worries; it’s not her they won’t get to see.
The little one stirred uneasily, babbled a sound, whimpered, then wriggled cutely, reaching to hug his own head, then falling fast asleep again.
Everyone fell instantly silent.
“Alright, quiet, please—”
Clansis lowered his voice even further.
“But I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. He’s very strong.”
Judging by those acute senses.
Who knows—perhaps at his peak, he’ll outmatch Amos.
Frey had stood aside the whole time, shyly watching, now even more reluctant to speak.
Amos said nothing more, and none of them did anything at all, but waited quietly as the little one slept off his exhaustion.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the stars, Ebinino and Desmond, having received Solan’s message, were both puzzled.
But still changed course—what was to be a mere pass-by of the Habitat planet became a plan to make landfall.
“What has happened to my dear Solan?” Ebinino muttered, standing at the special observation window, gazing distantly at the Habitat planet. “Nothing should have happened.”
What could have prompted Solan to call him back like this?
On the other side.
“Desmond, did something happen at the Habitat?”
Someone on the starship asked.
The first emperor of the Holy Cas Empire, sporting a prideful air, lounged back in his seat with his cheek in his hand.
“Who knows, let’s go have a look. Haven’t been back for quite a while—”