The gates rattled, and Aries raised his head to see a middle-aged man standing there. It had been a few minutes since the Tiger King stopped talking, and Aries had been feeling chills the whole time, so much that he wore a wild smile the moment they finally had company.
This new beastman was dressed in high-quality wolf skin, and his skin was without blemish or scar unlike the Tiger King, whose skin bore the testament of decades of brutal battles.
As the Archivist stepped into the room and walked forward, he suddenly stopped. He inhaled sharply, almost greedily. His eyes lit up, and his lips parted.
"What is this… this overloading sweetness? This feeling of something I have longed for…"
"What is this comfort?"
He walked closer to them and spoke quickly, almost breathlessly, "My Lord, how did a human spawn into the Tiger Kingdom? Where did you lay your hands on such a treasure? Where did you find a seedbearer? The last Seedbearer?"
"What do you mean?" The Tiger King was as confused as Aries, who blinked at the Archivist's nonsense.
"So, you agree he's human, the last Seedbearer?" the Tiger King asked, his voice calculating, his eyes scanning Aries inch by inch.
"Yes, my Lord. This is a rare find. You must keep him tightly as though he alone is a great treasure, a great trump card."
"Good, good. Now tell me, as my knowledge is failing, what is the usefulness of a human? I need to know how best to treasure him."
"Humans are coveted because they are known as the Seedbearers, a race capable of creating peace between beastmen. But suddenly, they went extinct. And now, suddenly, you've laid your hands upon one." His eyes flicked hungrily to Aries.
"With a human, my Lord, you can command the nine lives of this world. And also, he is a breeder."
"A breeder?"
The word rang in both the king's and Aries' ears. Aries' head snapped up, desperately trying to keep up with the conversation.
"My Lord, humans are known for three advantages—guidance, assistance, and breeding. One, you can keep your human for guidance in war; they know more strategies than you can comprehend. Two, you can use them for assistance, as they possess powers beyond your understanding. And third… breeding. When their bloodline mixes with beastmen, the heir produced is unmatched. You will be awed."
"So, my Lord," he continued, "I advise you to keep this human hidden. He is the first and last of his race. It will be hard to keep it from the wolves and serpents; war will erupt if they find out. Hide him, cherish him, and start with using him as a breeder. The rest can follow."
"Breeder… you say?" the Tiger King murmured while staring at Aries.
'Nah. Don't tell me they are talking about me being a breeder.'
"I'm male, not female! What do you mean breed? I don't even have ovaries or a womb…" Aries blurted out before he could stop himself. Both men turned to him, staring intensely.
After a moment, the Archivist replied calmly, "That has been sorted out by those who created you. Not all humans are breeders, but you have been marked as a Seedbearer. You can bear children. Not just one. And you are compatible with many races."
"I see…"
Aries picked at his fingernails, trying to digest everything he had just heard. Meanwhile, the Tiger King had stopped listening to anything except the word breeder.
He dismissed the Archivist, and once again, only Aries and the Tiger King remained. Aries swallowed hard as their eyes met, and he looked away immediately. He sighed shakily, breathing in and out as he tried to steady himself.
His palms were sweating as he rubbed them together. Then he felt the Tiger King's hand move toward him, and Aries jerked back instantly.
No way. He was not about to get bred.
"Where are you running to?"
The Tiger King's reflexes were faster. He grabbed Aries' wrist and pulled him straight into his lap.
Aries' eyes widened.
'What in the hell is happening!?'
'I know I've been struggling with being straight and maybe I'm bi, but what the hell is this? Before you try to breed me, aren't you supposed to ask if I even like taking it in the ass!?'
Aries felt the Tiger King's breath warm on his skin. They were so close his voice felt like it was inside Aries' mind.
"Prepare yourself. Tonight I will breed you and seer an heir into you. Do you like that?"
Aries trembled, literally trembled, his hands shaking as he sat on the King's lap. What had he gotten himself into? Did he like that? Was that even a real question?
Aries swallowed, summoned a bit of courage, and looked up slightly.
"Why are you doing this? How did you go from torturing me to wanting to turn me into your childbearing machine?"
The Tiger King's wild, calloused hand reached forward, and Aries instinctively flinched backward, but the hand landed softly on his face, caressing his cheek.
"I thought you were one of those deceitful wolf-men and treated you accordingly," he said. "But don't worry. I'll make it up to you."
He lifted Aries off his lap, stood, and added,
"Don't worry. Tonight, I'll make it up to you."
Aries sat there, scratching his head as he watched the Tiger King leave the room. Only then did he finally manage to breathe properly—otherwise, he would have died on the spot.
"This is too fucked up! Nah, hell no, I'd prefer a torture tour over this. What do they mean by 'breed' me? What am I? A layer's chicken?" Aries picked at his fingers as he brooded.