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Mandatory R&R

Seth was jogging at a brisk pace around the track at the Yelfritian Capital Academy. This was the first rung of his morning routine, and he would soon be taking on the obstacle course followed by target practice at the range. This was a wonderful way to start his day, every day, and it got him pumped by warming his muscles and focusing his mind. As a canine, he had a lot to prove in a military that was comprised of only 40% cien, and 60% jysar - the feline race. Cats had better eyesight, better reflexes, and were able to run faster on average, giving them a distinct advantage when dealing with weaponry like assault rifles, pistols, and sniper rifles. Cien were stronger and had better endurance and as well as a superior sense of smell, but that didn't help him very much in this line of work.

That is why he kept at the training grounds. He needed to increase his speed, focus his reflexes, and test his flexibility at every opportunity.

His chest heaved and tail gently wagged as his paw pads kicked at the dirt of the dusty track. His ears were down and flat to his skull to minimize the rushing air that could distract him; this allowed him to keep to his thoughts while also keeping a fraction of his mind's focus on the world around him.

'Fast as a feline. Quick as a cat.' He thought to himself before rounding the edges of the track. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fancy car pulling up through the open gate. He tried his best to pay little attention to it, but he did see two tiny flags coming up out from above each of the headlights. Each of those were the white, brown, gray, and black of the nation's flag, indicating this was someone important. Still, he didn't want to be distracted too much by outside stimuli, so he quickened his pace and continued his lap around the track.

By the time he reached the opposite end he was panting heavily, with his ears still down for aerodynamics. The obstacle course was in the middle of the track, comprised of ropes, low-hanging electric wire above a mud pit, tall stacks of logs, and various other implements made to challenge both feline and canine cadets. His favorite obstacles were the speed and balance themed ones, like the thin logs rising out of a mud pit. They were to hop from one to another, followed by jumping to grab on a rope. All fun.

He took in a deep, long breath before breaking into a sprint. When he hit the edge of the course, he leapt onto the first log, then kicked off it to another that was a little bit higher, then back to the first and off that onto a tall wall. There was a rope, but he was keen to kick his way up without the aid of any assistance, so he bounded forth and dug his claws into the wood to launch himself up. He was able to grab the ledge and pull himself up, but when he stood upon the wall, he got distracted once again by the flashy looking car with the Yelfritian flags in it.

Standing next to the car was the Alpha and Beta themselves, flanked by two massive ciennic bodyguards and General Kayden. Empress Yalena and Emperor Sanfrit, the rulers and namesakes of the Yelfritian nation were intently watching Seth do his daily routine, with their eyes aimed directly at him, halting his progress through the obstacle course.

At first Seth had no idea what to do next. Should he go and greet them? Just keep working at his drills? His uncertainty kept him standing tall on the wall as a lightly cool wind whipped his fur and roared in his now-raised ears. He saw General Kayden point forward, directly at Seth; his resulting panic and desire to show off launched him forth towards the rope bridge, but his distracted mind missed the mark and he fell face-first into the mud.

Rather than finish the course, he pried himself from the slop and made his way to the showers, intending to mask his embarrassment in front of the Empress, Emperor, and General. He averted his eyes and kept his gaze to the ground before him.

"What the hell was that all about?" Seth asked to himself as he stepped into the hot water of the shower. He was fully nude now, and still covered in mud from chin to toes. The only area of his body that was mostly clean was his midsection and upper thighs, where his work-out shorts covered.

The mess washed off him with ease, a brown swirl disappearing into the drain beneath him. Before long, his entire body was soaked to the skin, fur matted and flat. The military showers were equipped with soap and shampoo dispensers next to every shower head, so he put his paw under one and pumped a few dollops into his palm and stepped out of the trajectory of the water jet. Within less than a minute, he was lathered and bubbly from head to toe.

Since he was alone in the shower, he gave his sheath a sensual rub, grinding the soap suds into the fur there to ensure he was especially well cleaned in that region. His paw pushed back the sheath to expose himself, followed by a tentative, gentle stroke up and down his length. His 'rocket' - usually entombed in his sheath - was particularly sensitive to touch and heat, so he gave it a gentle stroke before rinsing off and putting it back away. Once that part of him was done, he stepped back under the showerhead and let the stream rinse him of the excess suds.

He turned the tap to shut off the shower, then stepped out of the shower area to prepare himself for the blast of hot air that was to dry him. After stepping onto a pressure plate, a heated wind came from two different devices - one in front of him and one above. He was dry within minutes, so he grabbed his brush to tend to himself before wrapping up in a towel.

Seth was clean, he was well exercised, and his mind was only marginally distracted by the presence of the Alpha and Beta. Above all else, he was just hungry, so it was time to head to the mess hall after slipping into simple trunks and an athletic muscle shirt.

The mess hall was wide open and full of hundreds of other cadets. It was still early, so many of the privates were on the tail end of their breakfast. Seth made his way to the 'feeding trough' as he called it, and ordered a basic meal. Two breakfast sausage sandwiches with egg and cheese with a side of hash browns and orange juice. Simple but delicious.

Upon sitting at his table, he heard a commotion behind him, which he ignored. After taking a bite, the commotion grew closer, but he still ignored it. He had barely been granted enough time to finish the first sandwich when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Private Seth Sheldon." He recognized General Kayden's voice.

Immediately, Seth stood at attention and offered a salute, bite of sandwich still partially chewed in his maw. Behind the general stood Emperor Sanfrit and Empress Yalena in beautifully ornate black and gold uniforms. His eyes grew wide as he realized he was about to disrespect the Alpha and Beta by either failing to address them or speaking with food in his mouth. After a three second panic, he chewed as fast as he could so he could swallow.

"At ease, private." General Kayden commanded. "This isn't a roll call. Please sit." He extended a paw back to Seth's seat.

Seth refused to sit until he'd gulped down his food and addressed the three high ranking officers - the highest ranked in the entire nation. "General Kayden. Emperor Sanfrit. Empress Yalena. What do you command?" In his mind he asked himself who he would obey if they gave opposing commands. Yelfritian military law dictated that the General was the highest ranked officer in a theater of war or on a military base, but he was flanked by the two leaders of Yelfrit!

Emperor Sanfrit chuckled a bit. "I command you to sit down and relax." He said as he and Yalena sat at the table opposite Seth. General Kayden remained standing behind Seth, hands behind his lower back and ears up in a stance of pure respect; a show of how significant the presence of Yalena and Sanfrit was to him.

"As you wish, Sire." Seth obeyed as he sat down. His heart was racing, as he had absolutely no idea what was going on or why such high ranking individuals wanted to see him. He was hungry from his early morning work out, but he was too nervous to take another bite. "So, if you don't mind my forward nature, I must ask; What is this about?"

Yalena leaned forward with a kind smile. She was built thicker than Sanfrit and had a fur coat of white, brown, and gray; her left eye was a vibrant emerald green and her right eye was a piercing sapphire blue. "It's about you, Seth. We're here to see you." She grabbed her briefcase and slid it up on the table next to Seth and opened it up, grabbing a case file from within before putting the briefcase back and sorting the papers in her paws. A photograph of Seth was paper-clipped to the top corner with his name on the pale yellow folder, and she held it up so he could see. "Do you know what this is?"

He gulped a bit. "I believe that's my permanent record. Am I in trouble?" He still couldn't eat a bite.

Sanfrit leaned in close, a tiny glow of energy emanating from his palm to illuminate the underside of his face, the stark contrast of black and white fur turning orange thanks to the magical light. His eyes were the same color as Yalena's, only it was his left eye was blue and his right eye was green. "Yes. All of the trouble. You should be very, very scared right n-"

Yalena sighed and palmed his muzzle to push him away. "No, you are not in any trouble; don't listen to this dolt. You are correct, though; this is in fact your record ever since you joined the academy here." She opened up the file and started thumbing through the pages. "I see that, in the six months since you joined the academy, you have made outstanding strides forward in regards to your speed, reflexes, marksmanship, strength, and endurance. Top of your class in multiple categories and top five in the others. Despite being canine, you have the accuracy of an avian, the speed of a feline, and the reflexes of...well, not of a cat, but close. Very close. You are an outstanding specimen and we needed to see for ourselves what you were capable of."

"Is that why you were watching me during my routine this morning?" Seth asked, then took a bite of his hash browns.

"Indeed. General Kayden has been keeping his eye on you for two months now, and has nominated you for a program we are working on. We wanted to see you in action first hand. Your demonstration was quite pleasant until your unceremonious fall into the mud at the end, there." She paused and flipped through a few more pages.

Seth felt a swell of pride that stood his fur on end; his ears stood tall and his tail wagged gently behind him. "Well, I am happy to hear that you liked what you saw, but I am curious about the plans you have for me. What kind of program are you working on?"

Sanfrit took a bite from Seth's plate and answered with a mouth full of sausage. "Super soldiers. But don't tell anyone else that. Shh." He hushed with finger on his lips.

The Emperor's behavior was somewhat off--putting for Seth, who didn't expect the very ruler of his nation to act with the maturity and demeanor of an adolescent. Still, his declaration of their plans had Seth intrigued. "Super soldiers? How so? Like, magically inclined, uh, mages? Is that what they're called?" He was growing increasingly relaxed with the two of them, though he couldn't help but be starstruck by the presence of the Alpha and Beta.

Yalena backhanded Sanfrit to shut him up. "Would you quit with your stupid....whatever. Shut up. Anyway, Seth, yes we are creating super soldiers, in a sense. We're developing a potion with the help of Saff'Raldian company NoThEn Labs and their CEO Ceylon A'Merone to amplify a soldier's existing skills and traits. The concoction is still in its first stages, but it is proving to be effective in preliminary tests, and we're finding that it works better on subjects that are intelligent and in outstanding shape, but it is mostly dependent on one's innate magic ability. The potion, in its current form, amplifies existing skills, giving better boosts to subjects by supercharging the ademane in their body. Think of an adrenaline rush, but controlled, permanent, and far stronger."

Seth narrowed his eyes and pulled his plate back from Sanfrit, who had been idly nibbling at some of the hash browns. "But I don't have magic. Not very good magic, anyway. I've barely been able to warm a mug of coffee in the past and I've not been able to practice with it ever since starting at the academy. What makes you think I have the sort of skills needed for this program of yours?" He paused. "Or is there more you're not telling me because we're in a crowded room?"

Yalena's eyes lit up and she smiled. "There are plenty of things we're not telling you here, today. But the main reason is that we can sense powerful magic within a person. You might not know it, but you've been using magic to enhance your body since you hit puberty, supercharging your body and senses to extend well beyond what a ciennic body can usually do. We can sense that, and you're practically glowing with magical energy. Here, let me demonstrate." She extended her paw to him, with her fingertips mere centimeters from his chest and her gaze focused on his eyes.

He remained confused for a few seconds, until he saw a billowing cloud of teal mist emanating from his chest, neck, arms, and belly; he felt his mind growing weak and dizzy while the cloud condensed into a tangle of wispy tendrils. "Wh-what's happening?" He asked, neck losing the strength to keep his head up.

When Yalena pulled away, the tendrils got sucked back up into his body and his energy returned. "That's the ademane in your body, the fuel for your power and the source of your skill. With this program, we will enhance your already-impressive talents to give you the strength and speed of a God. I'd ask if you're in, but I can tell from the look in your eyes and the desire in your heart that you are."

It was true. Seth was glancing down at his arms, twisting his wrists and trying to find out what had happened. He was an academic in addition to being a soldier, and he had witnessed something in his body he had no idea how to explain. If nothing else, he was keen on accepting the program based solely on the desire to learn more about that! "Yes. Yes I would love that. Will I be able to learn more about what just happened?"

"Yes, my friend. We will happily teach you everything you need to know to take advantage of our program. But please don't jump into any decisions just yet. There are more details we need to discuss and we cannot discuss them here." Both Alpha and Beta stood, bowing politely to Seth in the ultimate form of respect for a lowly cadet. "Your Commanding Officer will give you the details; we look forward to seeing you tonight, if you so chose to accept our offer."

Emperor Sanfrit balled a fist up, waiting for Seth to bump it back. "So be there, or we will be very disappointed in you. Not mad, just disappointed. You know, like your father isn't!" He winked and grinned.

Seth reciprocated by bumping fists with a distant half-smile. Sanfrit was, of course, referring to Seth's Father, a General at the northern camp. He was the reason Seth was so keen on impressing his superiors. "Y-yeah sure. I'll be there. You can count on me." He stood to properly shake hands with the Alpha and Beta both, bowing gently with his ears and tail down. He was humbled by their faith in him, and yet still had a bloated ego because of it. There were no greater compliments a superior could bestow upon him, and he had to actively keep his chest fur from standing on end in a posturing display of pride.

Yalena tossed the file back in the briefcase and bowed. "Glad to hear it. We will be waiting for you, but we must take our leave." She turned and walked past General Kayden. "I trust you will ensure Special Operations Seth Sheldon will be given the proper accommodations in the mean time."

"Yes, your highness." General Kayden acknowledged. "He will."

Emperor Sanfrit and Empress Yalena briskly walked out, with Sanfrit making a 'call me' pantomime up to his cheek and ear before they left the mess hall. Upon their exit, Seth came to see that everyone else was staring at him.

General Kayden waved them off. "Alright you lot, get back to your meals, stop gawkin' like snakes." Of course, everyone obeyed, leaving Seth alone with his thoughts for the remainder of the morning.

Special Operations Seth. He liked that name. It fit.

The rest of Seth's morning was fraught with anxiety and hope. A few others from the mess hall had come up to him and asked him what happened, but Seth had to keep himself muzzled. General Kayden had stressed thoroughly that this was not to be discussed, so Seth did as he was told by zipping his lips and focusing himself on training in the obstacle course again.

Before long, CO Krendius found Seth, still jumping from log to log in an attempt to clear his mind. Once again, he was distracted enough to nearly lose his balance and fall in the mud, only this time he was levitated before landing by an unseen force. This confused Seth, but he was grateful enough for it that he happily jogged over to CO Krendius. There, Seth was given a dossier with an address, an apartment number, and the time 14:75 hours. The instructions were vague yet simple, allowing Seth to plan his day accordingly.

At 14:50, he dressed up in his casual fatigues, met up with a military vehicle next to the gate, and happily made his way across town to the nearby complex that he was instructed to visit. The building was tall, at least a dozen stories tall with an elaborate penthouse at the top. That was where he was heading. All the while, he felt the familiar cool chill coursing through his chest that accented his every breath; the anxiety and nervousness commanding his jerky eye movements and throbbing heart.

The elevator took him to the floor third from the top, where he was greeted by a petite white female butler.

"Might you be Special Operations Seth?" She asked, offering to take his jacket.

He swelled with pride as she referred to him as that again, but he declined her. "No thanks. The jacket is comfortable and I don't feel right expecting someone else to carry my stuff. I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine."

"If you wish, sire." She conceded as she bowed. "If you need anything during your visit, please call for Arnika. I would be happy to serve you." She turned and padded away, every step a sultry wave of her rump and bushy white tail.

Seth couldn't help but admire her backside for a moment before calling out. "Actually, Arnika, I don't know where I'm supposed to go. Could you guide me to wherever it is I'm to be met?"

She turned and grinned, nodding gracefully. "Indeed, my sire. Follow me please." The young fox lady guided Seth down an elegant hall before reaching a large open room with a curved dome encapsulating the open area. The room was like a greenhouse with ferns, trees, and running water trickling throughout from atop the third story down to the level he was at. Up on the second level, a glass wall holding in a full sized pool that was trickling down into a pond below.

The glass of the dome curved up to match the top floor, and the three upper stories were layered like steps or the front of a shore-liner yacht, with each new layer a different motif. The second level - the one above Seth - was a pool with a patio and a deck, while the second level seemed to be a kitchen and dining room. Though he couldn't see it and it was mostly blocked by dark glass, he presumed the third level to be their private quarters.

"Come with me. I will take you to the Alpha and Beta." Arnika guided Seth, leading him up a spiral staircase nestled in the corner of the room that made its way past all three levels and connected to a balcony at the highest level.

Seth casually made his way up the stairs to the second level, which was the kitchen and dining room level. Every step up he couldn't help but stand in awe of this glorious abode. Clear this was the work of the wealthiest and most powerful pair in all of Yelfrit. However, the higher he made his way on the steps, the more nervous he became.

This was the home of both the Empress and Emperor. What if he made a fool of himself? Seth wasn't a fool, and he was usually good about keeping a level head, but this was different. This was far more stressful than dealing with a high ranking officer or impressing a General. The ranks didn't go any higher than this in Yelfrit.

Skies above and depths below, there may have not been more powerful people in all the world. Perhaps Saff'Rald had more influential leaders, but that was it.

"Arnika, can I ask you a question before I meet the, uh, Empress and Emperor?" He extended a paw to lightly tap her on the shoulder.

She spun and smirked with the kindest of smiles. "Are you nervous? Don't be. I know it's intimidating to meet someone like Yalena and Sanfrit, especially on such short notice, but you'll soon find them to be very agreeable. If you've spent more than ten minutes with the Emperor, you will know this to be true. Empress Yalena is a bit more stern, befitting her role, but I can assure you she's as agreeable as he is; perhaps so even more."

Seth nodded as she spoke, taking it in. "But what if-"

"There is no 'what if' scenario. I don't know the nature of your meeting - it is not my place to ask nor is it my business to know - but whatever it is I can assure you that your best play is to be yourself. They will know if you're faking or trying to be dishonest with them. They always know. It's actually a little creepy how much they know, to be honest."

The door behind her burst open as Sanfrit stepped through with hands wide in the air as though he were coming in for a hug. He was wearing simple shorts and a white t-shirt, which seemed odd. "Arnika, darling, don't go scaring our guests off!" Sanfrit declared, his voice echoing off the dome and getting absorbed by the trees on the bottom level. "Go tend to the hounds or something. Film it, put it on the net, people will like that."

Arnika bowed and scurried off before Seth could inquire about the meaning of that.

"Seth Sheldon, my favorite pup of the day. Come here." Sanfrit leaned in and gave a nuzzle to each of Seth's cheeks before holding him at arm's length. "Why so nervous. Cut that shit out and come have a meal. We've prepared something we think you will greatly enjoy!" He turned and returned to the dining room, beckoning Seth to follow.

A glorious concoction of aromas blasted out from the room, hitting Seth in the face like a rolling fog. He smelled marinara, pasta, various cheeses, spinach, ground beef, spices, and garlic bread. It wasn't quite clear, but he was pretty sure it was Lasagne. His favorite food. "What are you cooking?" Seth couldn't help but ask.

"Lasagne. Your favorite, right?" Sanfrit asked before once again beckoning his guest forth.

His casual and accurate inquiry gave Seth cause for hesitation. They didn't make Lasagne on the mess hall, it had never come up in conversation in the months he'd been there, and there was no sign-up sheet asking his favorite food in any of the applications, so he had no idea how they could possibly know that. The words of Arnika rang in his voice, paraphrasing internally to remind him that they 'would know'. Is this what she meant by that?

"Yeah, it is my favorite. How did you know?"

Sanfrit winked. "We just know. Don't think too hard into it. Seriously though, come on in, quick your hesitation! Food is ready and we're hungry." He grabbed Seth's wrist and pulled him in.

The dining room was surprisingly chic, with beautifully ornate chairs, pleasant ornaments on the walls, and what seemed like an ebony table with ivory accents around the edges. Quite modern, yet classic at the same time.

Seth shut the door behind himself and got a good look around before Yalena came out from the kitchen holding a baking pan with a whole lasagne in it. She wore a loose-fitting blouse, like a night gown made of nearly see-through fabric. To Seth's shock, she wasn't using oven mitts despite the food being very hot; as evidenced by the bubbling coming up the sides. "Welcome, welcome. Please sit, we have a chair ready for you! Our guest of honor." Yalena invited, a cool teal glow emanating on her palms.

Things were starting to get a little bit odd for Seth, but he sat anyway. These were the leaders of his country and the highest ranking officers in the army he served. He would feel rude if he failed to obey. "Yes Miss." He pulled a chair out and slid into it, tail resting in the slot on the backrest.

The Empress crossed her arms over her chest. "And why are you wearing your fatigues, cadet? The note was supposed to insist on casual wear. Not formal, not military. Kind of ruins the whole point of having a simple conversation." She sighes and tossed her paws up before returning to the kitchen.

"Do you cook your own meals?" Seth asked, slowly taking off his jacket to reveal a loose-fitting black athletic muscle shirt underneath. It was a rather silly question, one of dozens that were flashing through his mind.

"Indeed, my love." Yalena called from the other room.

"Don't you have, you know, slaves or servants for that? What does Arnika do other than greet guests?" It was an honest question, but Seth regretted asking it before the words left his muzzle.

Sanfrit laughed. "That girl is wonderful, but she's no cook. Naw, we may be wealthy and powerful, but we like to cook our own food. We're better at it than anyone we know. Why would we hire someone to cook for us when we can do it ourselves and save money? How else would we be so rich?"

"I can't disagree with the logic. I thought it was more about a matter of time, though. With you two running....well, a whole nation, how do you find the time to cook your own meals?"

Yalena came out of the kitchen with a huge bottle of old looking wine. "Truth be told, we're mostly just figureheads. We look good, declare things and sign executive orders every now and then, but the government we've established mostly takes care of itself. We have a lot more time than you'd initially think. Wine?" She popped the cork and leaned over the table, eager to pour some in Seth's wine glass.

He hesitated for a moment, since he wasn't the one to drink except for special occasions. This was a special occasion. "Sure, but keep it light please. I'm a lightweight."

She poured a tiny bit in the bottom of his glass, then filled both hers and Sanfrit's in such a way that Seth could see down her shirt to catch a glimpse of her modest breasts. Before Seth could look away in respect, she caught him mid-gaze and winked seductively. Still, he averted his eyes and used his drink as a distraction, taking a small sip and wrenching his facial expression at how powerful it was.

"So, I think it's about time we got down to business." She declared as she sat down and re-corked the bottle of wine. "Would you like to know more about our experiment?" After asking, she grabbed a spatula and carved out a generous portion to give to Seth.

"Yes, please. I'm curious what it entails, and if you don't mind delving into the minutiae, I'm also curious to know how this came to pass. Why me? Forgive my forward nature, but I'd like to know everything there is to know about this collaboration with NoThEn Labs. I want to be a part of it, but I want to be sure that I'm doing so for the right reasons and that I'll be safe."

Sanfrit and Yalena both looked at each other and nodded.

"Very well." Sanfrit Started. "Then we will start at the top."

Yalena leaned in close, eyes trained on Seth as she served herself some lasagne. "So, let's start with some basics. As I'm sure you know, not many cultures rely on magic anymore, nor have they for the better part of a century now. Ever since our technology caught up and surpassed what our bodies can naturally do, Magic has been left by the wayside. Well, some of our scholars and leaders have been striving for a way to return to the ways of old, to give our soldiers an edge in battle. Naturally, this meant that we needed to, as a nation, lead the charge forward in the development of magical weaponry and amplification.

"This all started about ten years ago; that was when we began focusing our funds and research on magical history and rebirth. As one of our first expeditions to uncover the secrets of the past, a group of students from one of our academies went on an expedition to a North Arrenthen Temple, where they stumbled upon something significant that helped us redefine our understanding of magic and how it can be amplified.

"These crystals that were stored in the temple, adorning the walls and various ornaments, gave the students immense power at the cost of their sanity. Our finest researchers and generals did eventually step in and eradicate the threat, but the crystals unlocked something, triggering self-improvement in a way not seen for the better part of a century. With great care, we were able to unlock the power of the crystals without the negative effects, and our magical division has been growing in the shadows ever since. With the aid and support of Saff'Rald, as well as Ceylon's NoThEn Labs, we were able to reverse engineer the magic that had been stored in the crystals."

Seth had been eating his lasagna since she started, intently focusing on her while she spoke. During her introductory tale, he even took a sip of the wine, an uncharacteristic move of him. "So, now you want to use me as another experiment to see how well it works on one without any magical talent at all?"

Sanfrit shook his head. "No, just the opposite. In our studies, we found that the crystals and the magic within react more powerfully to people who were already adept. The two of us had an immense reaction when we first held the crystals, and others from Arrenthen were also heavily impacted. We came to you because you have that innate, subconscious ability, borne of your discipline and desire for self improvement."

"Your test scores were well above average in academics, and your physical ability is pretty much exactly what we were looking for when we started Project Cradle." Yalena explained.

"What's Project Cradle? Is that the name of this experiment? What else does it entail?" Seth asked, too curious and interested to carry on eating.

Yalena bowed gently, once again doing so in such a way Seth managed to see down her blouse. Sanfrit glanced over as well, as if he knew Seth was stealing the occasional peek. "Yes, since this endeavor began, we have been calling it Project Cradle. The intent is to find a dozen immensely talented, disciplined, and intelligent soldiers to apply what we've learned, creating a special ops team in order to keep the peace before it's dismantled."

"Hence the jovial tag of Special Operations Seth." Sanfrit added. "You're the fourth to be invited to the program, and our goal is to test fifty applicants, with twelve being granted the highest honors in the Yelfritian Army."

Seth took in a long, deep breath, calculating his options. "I still feel like I need to know more before I agree to be a part of this. What would I be sacrificing in order to be part of this? What will I be given in return? Can I have a life or will this be my everything?"

"It's natural to be cautious, I understand that." Yalena acknowledged as she stood up, her light blouse lightly ruffling. "You would be expected to dedicate as much of your life to this project as you would as a career general, with your help being one call away at any given time. It is a huge commitment, but it also grants you a freedom well beyond what the standard operations military would grant you. More money than you'll know how to handle, and complete autonomy when not training or on an operation."

"Are there vacation hours? How busy would I be? I'd love to be a part of this, I think, but not at the expense of my spirit and soul. Money sounds good, and I like autonomy, but I'm worried this could consume me." He cocked his head to the side, catching the very slightest glance of Yalena's panty bulge, her lady parts clearly defined in the shape of a fortune cookie. His mind was a little distracted by that, and he could smell the faintest aroma of aroused female, but he was a respectable sire and had no interest in being so crude with his Empress.

Yalena padded her way around the side of the table to stand next to Seth. "Well, it has its demands, that's for sure. We expect that, once you've been selected and subjected to the crystal amplification, There will be one or two covert operations per month, each lasting about a week. This gives you about half the year to do what you will with free access to the military's equipment and grounds for training and social purposes. Plus, you'd be a rank just below General, yet would answer only to Sanfrit and I." While she spoke, she leaned in very close so that the aura of her warmth could be felt on Seth's shoulders.

Up this close, he could clearly see through her blouse and smell what could only be described as canine estrus. Her behavior was baffling to him, as she had done so much in the previous day to establish herself as kind yet professional. Now, she was mostly naked and practically grinding up against Seth's arm, clearly flirting with him in such a way it couldn't possibly be anything else. The only explanation he could extract from the situation was that she must have enjoyed a bit too much wine. "Wh-what's going on here? Emperor Sanfrit, could you-"

"Could I what? Stop her? Naw. This is an audition." He explained, still casually eating his lasagne. "But let's be honest, I don't think you have any interest in saying no to an Empress, do you?"

No. Seth did not want to say no to anyone as pretty and as well groomed as Yalena, but having her so blatantly showing off to him was more than a little off-putting. He didn't know how to respond to such a situation and Sanfrit had described this as an audition. Was he only going to be considered if he declined? Did he need to show his dedication to the cause by refusing her? Or was it the opposite side, and he needed to show his servitude by doing as commanded?

It felt, for a brisk moment, that this was a no-win scenario, so he simply gulped down hard and returned to his meal and took another bite, washing it down with the powerful wine they'd left in his glass. "So, uh, why exactly do we need to have a special operations unit? Isn't the military effective enough? We have weapons - I've used them - and aside from Saff'Rald, no other nations have an army to rival us. Considering Saff'Rald is an ally, with NoThEn Labs aiding us in our...uh..." He paused a moment as Yalena slid her hand up under the thick for on the back of his neck. "Uh, in our endeavors, I don't really know why we'd need a super-soldier program."

She leaned in close so her muzzle was mere centimeters away from Seth's ears, her warm exhalations tickling the fur there. "This isn't about active, armed conflict. This is for covert operations, assassinations, coups, spy work and terrorism eradication. Imagine, if we had a specially trained group of twelve people just like you, amped up and virtually invincible against the shredding power of a suicide bomber. No cave-dwellers would dare compete with a soldier wielding the power of a god in their hand. If this project works as it should, we could truly instill peace in the northern realms." The Empress leaned in to give a gentle nibble at the tip of Seth's ear. "You want that, don't you?"

He dropped his fork on the plate and tried his best to stay composed. "Of course I do. Everyone does."

"So why hesitate? We didn't come to you at random." Sanfrit informed. "We know your skills, we know your level of obedience, and we understand your personality. You're as respectable a 'yote as we could hope, and there are literally only three other candidates in all of this great nation we would seek before you. We have the technology, we've developed the magic, and we possess the knowledge needed to make this a reality, all we need is for you and eleven other like-minded solders - no, warriors - to take up the mantle of Project Cradle."

While Sanfrit spoke, Empress Yalena slid her hand over Seth's thigh, pulling his legs apart while walking her digits up towards his sheath. As a sire of respect and honor, he tried his best to resist her wiles without actively dissuading her.

"We certainly don't expect you to foolishly accept our offer, especially not when your mind is clouded by this peculiar situation." She cooed at him, her hand finding the bulge in his shorts. "But as you may have figured out, I can feel a person's intent and emotions, and there are no better times to scan your mind than when your guard is down. Furthermore, there are no better ways to lower your guard than through arousal." She winked and licked at his cheek.

At this point, Seth was having a difficult time resisting her. He could feel the swell in his loins as his member ballooned out against the inside of his sheath, creating a notable bulge in his pants and the lower bit of his shirt. "So, this is just you trying to get to know me. Intimately?" He asked as he turned to her; his eyes met hers, and he licked his lips in anticipation. If he was going to go for it, he might as well go all-out.

"There's no better way to build trust, is there?" She asked as she slid her hand up his lower belly, pulling back the waist band of his shorts as well as his sheath, exposing the underside of his member to the inside of his shirt. "If you can think of a better way to let me in to that mind of yours, I'd be happy to hear it. In the mean time...." She squeezed him gently, stroking up and down his length while pressing her lips to his, tongue eagerly exploring his maw.

A tinge of panic overcame Seth at first as his eyes widened and he shot a glance over to Sanfrit. He wanted to make sure that there was no hard feelings that Seth's tongue was dancing with Sanfrit's mate's; It seemed that the Emperor was more interested in his lasagna than he was with the tryst happening before him. Perhaps he liked this as a cuckolding fetish, or maybe he just had a very liberal view on what was happening; either way, his disinterest fueled Seth's boldness. While leaning back into Yalena, Seth slid his hand down the Empress' body, cupping her rump and pulling her in close before poking his fingers up under the waistband of her panties, slowly pulling them down.

Upon feeling his digits so close to her sex, she pulled away from the kiss and gave him the most needy expression he'd ever seen, with maw partially open and tongue lolling out. "Glad to see you're willing to play." She commented before leaning into him.

Her shift practically forced Seth's fingers to slide down in the cradle of her panties, tips lightly caressing the soft yet moist flesh of her plump lips. He couldn't believe what was happening; he was so close to having part of himself inside the Empress herself. Had he not trained himself to be composed, he might have passed out due to how swiftly his member throbbed to full girth within his sheath. He stared her right in the eyes as he angled his wrist, sliding two fingers between her folds with the aid of her natural fluids.

Yalena's eyes met with Seths as she arched her spine, urging his fingers into her. "See? Not so sacred after all." She grabbed his wrist and forced him in deeper, her walls clenching around him as a gooey strand of her lubricant trickled over his knuckles. "Now, the rest is up to you." Afterward, she released his hand and slowly pushed her panties down to her knees, revealing her loins in all their regal glory.

Seth broke her gaze to once again see what Sanfrit was doing. Same as last time, just casually nomming on some lasagna. That seemed odd to Seth, but he wasn't going to let that dissuade him from the Empress. Upon regaining his vigor, he leaned in close and wrapped one paw around her hips, pulling her in while he curved his fingers up into her, the tips tugging on her flesh inside the tight sphincter of her knot lock.

"Hmm, yeah. I love thaaat. Pull harder." She urged him, hips grinding against his hand. "Reminds me of what it's like being knotted."

He did as commanded, tensing the muscles in his hand to widen the berth of his digits; the flex made his fingers feel more solid, yet her pussy walls opened up for him with ease. She was so tight, yet malleable and stretchy like she could easily fit more. He didn't want to do anything too outlandish, so he slipped a third finger in and curled all three to tug on her flesh from within, thumb pressed down against her clit.

Yalena wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into him, her cheek pressed against his while she whispered in his ear. "You know, you don't have to be gentle with me. I've seen what your body can do, and I want to feel every bit of what you can offer. Go ahead and don't be shy; if it's too much, I'll be sure to tell you."

Seth's jaw gaped open a bit as he started to imagine the possibilities that he could do with Yalena. How many fingers could he get in her? Could he do a fist? No, he wasn't interested in that, but she definitely felt like she could comfortably handle such a thing. Her depths felt strange to him, in that she was tight and snug, but also loose and malleable. Perhaps that had something to do with her magic skills, or maybe it was a lifetime of being coveted and likely taken by potential suitors.

Or maybe Sanfrit was just incredibly rough with her.

Either way, Seth knew that he wasn't going to be able to properly pleasure her while sitting at a kitchen table's chair. She seemed into his finger-work and was eagerly grinding against him to rub her fluids into his palm, but he could be doing so much more. "I was thinking, do you have a more comfortable place to proceed? Would Sanfrit like to join us?" He couldn't help but feel a touch of regret acknowledging that he was fingering and making out with his mate. The empress.

Sanfrit shoveled more food into his maw and swallowed. "I'll join you two when I'm done eating. Go. Have your fun, pup." He winked and took another bite.

Yalena and Seth parted from each other - with his fingers still inside her - as they got a good look at one another. For a moment, Seth forgot why Yalena was so willing to play with him, but he immediately shrugged it off when he came to realize that it didn't matter. This was an audition, to see his true nature before asking more of him. He was okay with this. "Care to guide me to a more appropriate locale?" He asked, one ear flopped and head cocked to the side.

"Come with me." She stepped back, her lips tugging his fingers before being yanked away. The Empress grabbed her panties off the floor and twirled them around her fingers as she stepped out of the dining room back to the open area. Seth followed, idly sniffing his fingers and hoping Sanfrit didn't see; the scent was sweet and powerful, urging another swell in his sheath.

The two of them both went over to the spiral staircase to make their way up to the next level - the top level - with Seth a few steps below, his head right at her waist level. She kept her tail high to show the chestnut colors of her lips, shining with the gloss of her arousal. He couldn't help but lick his lips and thank the skies for this opportunity.

Upon reaching the top level, Seth was pleased to see that the room was more open, not requiring a door to enter the bedroom. Their personal quarters were quite homely, simple, and cozy. He wasted no time tackling her onto the bed, his arms wrapped around her waist and snout pressed in tight between her breasts; in response, she gave him a rub behind the ears and wrapped her legs around him. He bit at her cheek, then slid back until his muzzle was up between her thighs, lips near hers.

"Well now, I see exactly what kind of a pup you are, Seth. Eager to please. A very good personality trait if I do say so myself, especially for a military mutt." She parted her legs and wagged her tail between them, her plump lips parting on their own to reveal the bright cherry pink within. Her front paws were folded on her chest, mostly covering her breasts as she looked down at him; a royal flush of color could be seen on her cheeks to match her depths, a stark contrast to the dark brown of her vulva and fur.

Seth fervently kicked off his shorts as he felt his member force itself out of his sheath, the end of it bobbing and dripping thin streams of precum on her sheets. He cradled her hips in his palms and leaned in, gently lapping her folds in one slow, loving lick. His ears folded and he paused mid-lick, enjoying how tangy and sweet she was. Truly a royal bitch, to keep her loins as fresh as this. Once he had taken a moment to relish in the flavor, he nuzzled in and kept at her, using the soft slaps of his tongue to pleasure her even deeper.

Empress Yalena gently laid her head back on the pillow as she panted gently. She was still wearing the blouse so she peeled it off and threw it to the side, then brought her hands back down to rub at Seth's ears and the back of his neck, urging him to continue. "So good with your tongue, Seth." She said, grinding her hips up against his muzzle.

"Anything for the Empress." He declared as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her thighs, his fingers gently clutching at either side of her pussy to spread it open and expose the soft skin within. She gaped open with ease, so he plunged his tongue in as deep as it would go, feeling the clench of her knot anchor around him. This made him smile, but quickly tired him out so he pulled out and swallowed.

"Mind if I join in, you two?" Sanfrit said from the top of the spiral staircase behind them.

Seth whipped his head around, maw open and tongue lolling as he panted. "I don't mind, as long as she doesn't."

Yalena grinned and whimpered a bit. "The more the merrier!"

Sanfrit crawled over the bed and nuzzled into Yalena while the two shared a passionate kiss and Seth returned to Yalena's lips, deep tongue kissing down there. Upon glancing over, Seth saw that Sanfrit was already hard, with knot fully formed and glistening in the dim light of their room. In response, he reached out to give a gentle tug, the natural lubrication soaking his palm.

"Careful now, don't wanna overdo it." Sanfrit cautioned Seth as he crawled over Yalena. While there, the Empress grabbed his cock and wrenched it back between his legs so she could suckle on the tip, leaving Sanfrit splayed on his back with legs spread and cock in Yalena's maw. "Or just go right into it. That's fine, too!" He reached over and grabbed at Yalena's paw, nuzzling into it and lacing his fingers between her toes.

Seth remained between Yalena's thighs, gently lapping and staring up at the two mates, curious as to how he would proceed. He was plenty happy with enjoying the company of males and females both, even if he greatly preferred the sweetness of Yalena to the muskiness of Sanfrit. Regardless of his personal tastes, being in bed with Emperor and Empress of Yelfrit was a story he'd not soon forget. Of course, given the confidential and covert nature of this meeting meant he could likely never tell anyone.

He was a coyote of honor, he would never reveal a secret such as this.

As he thought these thoughts, he glanced up at Yalena to see that she had an odd expression on her face; at first it was one of concern, then approval, as if she was reading his mind and tracing his thought process.

Good. Let her. If that's what she was doing, she'd know better than anyone else what kind of pup Seth was. "Hearing something you like?" He inquired, staring her in the eyes as she gave a suckle at Sanfrit. Seth gave her pussy one final tongue-kiss before sliding up next to her, covering her with his cock dangling just inches above her loins. He could feel her heat emanating off her folds to tickle his shaft. "May I?" He requested, grabbing his length to aim it close without actually touching her. She was an Empress, he wouldn't dare intrude on her temple without her invitation.

She nodded, spitting her mate's cock out while he slid off her. "What sort of ruler would I be if I demanded pleasure but refused to reciprocate?" She asked, feigned offense in her voice. "Go ahead, and don't be gentle."

As she spoke, Sanfrit shifted from where he was to sidle up next to her, his member oozing lubricant on the sheets as Seth's body pressed against Yalena's.

Seth refused to break eye contact as he squeezed himself tight, holding his member firm while leaning into her. He gasped a bit as he felt the heat of her flesh slowly envelop him, the tightness of her knot anchor just inside that squeezed tight, stroking him right to the top of his knot. Her snug depths clenched around him, suckling him gently in the process. "Divine..." He said in a huff, gulping deep.

His intention was to mount her, but he wasn't going to knot her. If they tied, well, that could be disastrous. He wasn't prepared to be a father, and he was pretty sure that wasn't the position he needed to be in. Condoms worked, but simply pulling out without knotting was almost as effective and felt so, so, so much better. He would be rough, but he wouldn't finish in her. At least that was his intention.

Yalena squeezed tight around his waist, pulling him in close as she grabbed at his cheek fur to pull him into a kiss. He resisted just a little to glance over at Sanfrit - still terrified that he might not be all that into watching his wife mating with another despite all evidence to the contrary by this point. He got a nod of approval, so he leaned in and let Yalena's tongue explore his maw, his own tongue joining in the dance.

Eventually, she pulled away by tugging lightly at his ears. She licked her lips as she smiled at him, "I taste wonderful. No wonder you didn't want to leave that part of me."

Seth thought it was a little narcissistic, but there was nothing wrong with enjoying oneself. "Of course, Empress." He said with a buck of his hips. His power made her shuffle along the bed sheets and gasp out in pleasure, the bulge of his knot slapping at the tender flesh of her vulva. When she clenched her pelvic muscles, he knew she was primed and ready for more, so he started pumping with increased vigor and speed, always careful to hold back so his knot didn't slip between her folds. If it did, it'd swell up instantly and he wouldn't be able to pull out.

Yalena's brick panting accented every one of Seth's aggressive grunts and huffs; his tail curled up high while his knot slapped at her, squirting juices all over the bed between them. As they were really getting into it, She grabbed him by the neck and body to slam him down on the bed, with her riding him in cowgirl position. "I said to be rough, don't hold back." She commanded with a sly wink.

"Y-yes Empress." He whimpered, his paws gripping hard on her hips while he arched his back to force his length into her. While he watched, he could see her dark flesh swallow his bright red member while the bulges of his knot squished against his belly and the end of his sheath. He was careful to not push up too hard, but she was grinding pretty roughly against him.

Yalena leaned back onto his knees, using each of his legs for balance as she shifted on top of him. When she was in position, she was on her feet squatting over Seth, slamming her hips against hers with increased vigor and speed. "This is a bit more like it. An empress demands the best of her subjects, you know." Her motions grew even more aggressive, forcing her lips to part wide and slide over Seth's knot lobes.

He could feel this, so he pulled away a bit, relaxing his pelvic muscles so that his shaft shied away from her pussy; he wasn't prepared to knot, and he would not be tricked into it. Even if that's what she wanted, he'd have to deny her.

"What's the matter, private?" She asked, leaning down with her palms on his chest and her breasts nearly touching his pecs. "Don't want to knot with the queen?"

Somewhat of a trick question, in reality. Of course he wanted to, but he knew better. "I wouldn't say that I don't want to, just not sure if it's appropriate, is all." He gave her rump a squeeze and he faked a smile. Just as he was about to start grinding back up into her, he felt the warmth of hot breath tickling his footpads followed by the moisture of a tongue sliding from heel to toes. Must have been Sanfrit, having slipped out from beside the two of them and now on the ground at the foot of the bed.

The pleasure from his foot being caressed made him throw his head back and subconsciously arch his back, a long drawn out whimper escaping his muzzle. He didn't even notice - at least not for a few seconds - that he was pushing up hard against Yalena with his knot grinding roughly against her pussy.

In response, she erected herself and started bouncing back on him, the copious juices from her nethers soaking his sheath and trickling down his belly. Her loins loosened just enough to have his knot lobes part her lips and slide into her, but not enough to have it pop into her depths.

Seth noticed this and pulled away again, still unwilling to go that extra bit. That was, until he felt the throbbing girth of Sanfrit's knot rubbing against his foot pad, the shaft slipping between his two big toes while a tongue lapped at the underside of his other foot. He had no way of knowing if Sanfrit was just freaky or if he was reading his mind, but Seth melted at the ouch and shuddered in delight, his whole body quivering as his member throbbed and swelled to maximum, untied capacity.

There, in the brisk moment of intense pleasure, Yalena slammed her hips down against his and gyrated her entire lower body. Her pussy stretched and distended around the rim of his knot, swallowing him up and sucking it in with one powerful lurch.

Instantly, Seth's eyes bolted open in a look of shock as he realized that, despite his best interests, he'd got locked into her. He tried to pull out, but his knot lobes had all exploded within her, filling up the reservoir within and getting stuck past that knot anchor. It felt absolutely divine, but he needed to pull out before a full tie had been completed, otherwise he would be stuck together for an hour!

As he tried to tug and twist, Empress Yalena gently flopped down onto his chest, soft breasts against him as she snuggled up, tail wagging contently. "There we go. Was wondering what it would take to have you in me like this."

Seth froze with maw agape and eyes wide. He didn't want to say anything, but he was actually a little angry with her! How dare she so callously tie with him without his permission? She said she could read minds, did she know that he liked his paws being played with? They manipulated him for this, but why? Why would they-

Again, his thought process was cut off as he felt a gentle nuzzle and lick against his balls and the thin neck of his member between sheath and knot. He could feel Sanfrit's tongue pulling at Yalena's plump folds with every eager taste, cleaning up the area between them before lapping at Seth's rump hole, then pausing to do the same to Yalena.

"Everything okay?" She asked, smiling gently.

This was another instance of a question that had no right answer. Either he lied and was found out by her apparent mental empathy, or he told the truth and offended her. Being the diplomatic type, he struggled to find the right words. "Well, I don't think so. No. We're tied, and this is something of a problem, isn't it?"

"How so?" She asked, acting as if she were ignorant to the problem presented. At the same time, Sanfrit's muzzle returned to Seth's sheath and paws to his balls, further distracting him.

He curled his toes up and gritted his teeth, stifling a growl. "I can't afford to be a father, especially not...with an Empress."

She pushed off his chest with an innocent look. "And what's so wrong with me? Am I not attractive?" She asked with a giggle, the wagging of her tail gently tugging on his knot from side to side. Her flesh was constricting and twitching around his member every few seconds, coaxing more and more precum from his balls.

Seth opened his maw to speak, but then halted himself as he felt a sudden shot of pleasure rock his body, followed by a warm eruption of seed deep into Yalena's depths. When he regained his composure, he gulped deep and tried to explain. "You're beautiful and you know it, but you're an Empress, married to an Emperor. You shouldn't be carrying the pups of some military grunt like me, r-right?"

Yalena looked back at Sanfrit and shrugged after he gave some sort of approval; Seth couldn't see so he wasn't sure. "You're not wrong, but that's the glory of the situation, isn't it? I'm out of season right now, you won't be getting me pregnant for another month or two at the earliest." She leaned back down in close, her spine undulating in waves to grind and tug against his knot. "So just enjoy it. I know what kind of a sire you are now, and I am confident in my decision to approach you for this program."

"O-oh. Well I guess if that's how it is, then I suppose it's okay." He let out a long sigh of relief, idly stroking at the fur behind her ears as he matched her motions, grinding his hips up into hers as pump after pump of warm seed flooded her womb, never to fertilize an egg.

It really did feel a lot better than the untied method.