Unfolding the paper, elder Shen carefully looked at it. The material was thick, old, but besides some creases, nothing was wrong with it, its whole length was still dark with ink, and the content, still very much legible.
“The future isn’t something set in stone. It’s quite hard to see. The danger is still very much present but there may be hope.”
She looked at that parchment for a long time. Not really reading the words, rather mentally reciting them and comparing it to the seer's words. There may be hope. Her heart shook as she really considered its meaning. To judge it maybe, she did something she didn't do in years now; she held the paper above a candle and watched it being devoured by the flames emitting a slight crisping sound. The matriarch held, withstanding the heat until the flame touched her fingers, before letting go. In front of her eyes, as that last part was released from her hand, the ashes that crumbled and started falling disparately on the floor went against gravity, levitating and assembling in the air, turning now into a brand new parchment with the same scribbles on the previous it replaced. The paper then flew and stopped above matriarch Shen's hand, folding itself as it once was, before softly landing on the opened palm. It stayed still, like any other ordinary paper.
Far from being satisfied with this result, elder Shen was now a little anxious. No matter how she looked at it, it definitely recuperated faster than it used to do. Was it because the time was approaching? Her unease grew a little more. Calling for the servants, and disregarding the time, she ordered,
Far from being satisfied with this result, elder Shen was now a little anxious. No matter how she looked at it, it definitely recuperated faster than it used to do. Was it because the time was approaching? Her unease grew a little more. Calling for the servants, and disregarding the time, she ordered,
“Send for the oracles. Urgently.”
Even though they had been called in the Shen residence the day before, elder Shen suddenly needed to be told once again that there was indeed hope.
***
Shen Ai was in her bath, soaking her back without remorse even though it had been advised against it when she heard jingling sounds in the dead of the night. Calling for the servants waiting on her at the other side of the door, she asked,
“Answering, ...it should be the invitees of the matriarch.”
“Answering, ...it should be the invitees of the matriarch.”
She pursed her lips, not making any comment but her brows furrowed. 'Again!' she thought.
Its been so long since the last time she heard the sound of their instrument that she actually forgot it. The matriarch had gone as far as taking in those two people who were certainly banned from their country in this residence, almost every day listening to their nonsensical things about future. Who exactly was being foolish now?
Its been so long since the last time she heard the sound of their instrument that she actually forgot it. The matriarch had gone as far as taking in those two people who were certainly banned from their country in this residence, almost every day listening to their nonsensical things about future. Who exactly was being foolish now?
"Come" she shouted and the servant entered to help her rebandaged her back. As mistreating it as she had been, the injuries were still healing and would be but something of the past in a couple of days. No matter what, one still had to sigh at the Jing family's medicines. It may not be something of the imperial family but it was quite impressive.
Her bandages done, the captain just directly wore a middle robe then jumped on the roof, to look toward her matriarch's place, imagining inside it the young woman and her small boy talking to her great-grandmother.
***
The night changed into a day. Huang had actually really cultivated, accompanying the woman in the room who also did so. The moment she had closed her eyes she didn't open them again until now. The small bird knew it had peeked. What made her opened them was when the chiefs came to check on their patient, asking through one guard if they could enter.
Their prognostic was actually good. His skin's color was better, it looked less sickly, he still didn't wake up but at least when opening his eyes, they could still see his irises. They were quite long-winded actually and vocal about his recuperating state.
As they were so active in this room, their departments' members were whispering in the others, some discussing the cure used, others wanting to understand the cure's choice and a great majority, talking about the crown princess; after all, she really did spend the night here.
"And when is he to wake up?"
"... This, can't be said with certainty." responded the flesh's department chief. "But it should be in a couple of hours."
"Leave then."
They didn't really want to be there so they retired in polite words but after them, it was elder Shen that came. Seyran's who had already closed her eyes to continue cultivating opened them to this name, looking towards where the doors had once been, giving her consent.
The woman who came was old; her hair was completely gray, and her face creased in many wrinkles to attest that, but she looked far younger than those three times less her age in Unzu, if the books in the manor by the forest could be trusted. Seyran noted that she held some resemblances with that captain of the same name too. Elder Shen, the matriarch of the Shen family, member of the bearers of tradition.
“Welcome back crown princess. Your loyal subject pays her respects to the crown princess. May the crown princess lives a thousand years.” The voice hadn't trembled and was almost ringing in the vast room.
The person approached closer, but the little rock on the bed had no reaction. Not an enemy for the moment Seyran thought, extending her hand and taking hold of the small rock.
Coming here first thing in this morning, was for elder Shen to see the one she thought with great conviction -or maybe she wanted to be with great yearning- the 'hope' they needed. So far, she liked what she saw and could almost write it herself on the other person's front.
"Asking your majesty to forgive your subjects' incompetence for not recognizing. We deserve a thousand death..."
Seyran had little to no consideration for what she was saying and when the other marked a pause she said with genuine curiosity,
“The four principals clans. Bearers of tradition. I’ve read a little about you.”
Seyran had little to no consideration for what she was saying and when the other marked a pause she said with genuine curiosity,
“The four principals clans. Bearers of tradition. I’ve read a little about you.”
“…” Elder Shen was silent, not knowing if she was supposed to comment.
Huang tilted its head, taking in the elder's appearance as Seyran put her chin on her hand with the other having no reaction at all. So submissive manner, just because she happened to be the second princess, daughter of the late queen Xian Xie? That, Seyran still had yet to believe. She rather held onto those whispers and think of that capricious giant wolf as the main reason.
“Why bearers of tradition though? Why not guardians, not keepers, why the need to bear them?”
With no change in her flat expression, elder Shen replied, “It is but a simple denomination, since our ancestors like this one, why the need change it?”
With no change in her flat expression, elder Shen replied, “It is but a simple denomination, since our ancestors like this one, why the need change it?”
"Indeed, why the need."
A puppet for a princess. Unreasonable rules. Angry people all over the little she got to see of this country. Wasn't it because there was no need to change the direction of the ongoing things. Yet here are those same previously indifferent people ready to defend the crown princess’s legitimate rights.
Elder Shen words were measured as she let the crown princess know of the measures taken to lighten the second princess burden of reaffirming her identity and to appease the population anger and explained their disbelief. No contradicting words came from Seyran. She had already said so, she was going to finish what her good family had started. So, when matriarch Shen finished and the princess just said things like "it was alright to do so", "training?... That's fine too." she found herself at a loss for what to say. She didn't want to go yet, so she let her eyes lingered a little on the bed before asking
A puppet for a princess. Unreasonable rules. Angry people all over the little she got to see of this country. Wasn't it because there was no need to change the direction of the ongoing things. Yet here are those same previously indifferent people ready to defend the crown princess’s legitimate rights.
Elder Shen words were measured as she let the crown princess know of the measures taken to lighten the second princess burden of reaffirming her identity and to appease the population anger and explained their disbelief. No contradicting words came from Seyran. She had already said so, she was going to finish what her good family had started. So, when matriarch Shen finished and the princess just said things like "it was alright to do so", "training?... That's fine too." she found herself at a loss for what to say. She didn't want to go yet, so she let her eyes lingered a little on the bed before asking
“How is fairing estimated consort?”
Seyran had to raise a brow at that,
“Consort?” she echoed, tasting the word she never uttered in two lifetimes.
“Isn’t this young master LianYenaigai, of the Yenaigai clan?”
Seyran's mouth twitched.
“I wonder about that. Physicians collectively said he was going to be alright." She glanced a littlez at Yenaigai, and returning her eyes to elder Shen, said, "I seem to have trouble with my memory, do help me remember, will you?”
It was elder Shen's mouth's turn to twitch, although the bearers of tradition were aware of the second princess collapsing, they never knew she could actually lose her memory. That if it still continued, would be problematic.
It was elder Shen's mouth's turn to twitch, although the bearers of tradition were aware of the second princess collapsing, they never knew she could actually lose her memory. That if it still continued, would be problematic.
***
Time was steadily continuing its course and it was the moment for paying respects were almost passed. Bai Ming's, the fourth princess's servant urged her master to hurry. The royal advisor had already left her youngest daughter be absolved of paying respect yesterday, considering how she returned not long ago. It wouldn't do good to not go today too. The real reason why she didn't go the day before though, was to avoid her eldest sister, the first princess. However, she couldn't shy away from the other forever.
Nonetheless, as the servants were preparing her, Bai Ming's mind was on her poison. She slightly regretted using the whole bottle? But that aside, what was really bothering her was if the physicians of this country could find a cure for it.
Nonetheless, as the servants were preparing her, Bai Ming's mind was on her poison. She slightly regretted using the whole bottle? But that aside, what was really bothering her was if the physicians of this country could find a cure for it.
***
Yenaigai woke up. Huang, who was close to him immediately noted his eyes opening -it was no longer white- and started chirping in excitement quite loudly, interrupting elder Shen who was about to go into lengthy explanation.
“How weak can you be? A little beating and you’re already in this state? Really a child that was born yesterday! Still stinking of his mother's milk!. You even dare to make this great one searched for you, how are you going to pay me?”
The little bird continued incessant reproaches, flying around the man, who was struggling to sit. One guard immediately went to look for the physicians.
As the bird kept raising its voice, Seyran's brows slightly frowned. ignoring the animal, the man directly looked at her, straight into her eyes. He seemed normal enough she noted, but somehow, there was something odd about him. As to prove her point, he opened his mouth to speak in an almost disappointed voice.
The little bird continued incessant reproaches, flying around the man, who was struggling to sit. One guard immediately went to look for the physicians.
As the bird kept raising its voice, Seyran's brows slightly frowned. ignoring the animal, the man directly looked at her, straight into her eyes. He seemed normal enough she noted, but somehow, there was something odd about him. As to prove her point, he opened his mouth to speak in an almost disappointed voice.
“I am still alive,” he said weakly, nearly inaudible and Seyran's frown deepened frowned.
***
As she was walking towards her mother's yard Bai Ming smiled and shook her head at her unfounded worries. What was she bothered with, this kind of poison wasn’t something that could be detected? It had no trace whatsoever and worked directly on the mind. Something that the alliance's academy's physician's made herself was something that was safe with.
***
Huang had suddenly shut up, almost collapsing with disbelief on the bed. What was this ungrateful human spouting?
Without any real expression, his weird voice not that of a human anymore, so ghostly and otherworldly was it he pleaded. “Won’t you kill me?”
His eyes were directly focusing on her. Huang actually shuddered and flew a little farther from him. Let’s it should stupidity be contagious!
The other kept on rambling, using his feeble hands that he had trouble raising to help get his point.
“Just a slice in the neck can do,... or maybe a sword through my heart, ...or why not setting fire on me..." His finally took his eyes and lightly looked at elder Shen, before returning to his mistress. "Wasn’t it the same method used to kill my family?... Let me rejoin them.” He made a gesture that ressembled a bow. "I begged crown princess"
Seyran's blue eyes got a shade darker and with a cold voice she asked,
Without any real expression, his weird voice not that of a human anymore, so ghostly and otherworldly was it he pleaded. “Won’t you kill me?”
His eyes were directly focusing on her. Huang actually shuddered and flew a little farther from him. Let’s it should stupidity be contagious!
The other kept on rambling, using his feeble hands that he had trouble raising to help get his point.
“Just a slice in the neck can do,... or maybe a sword through my heart, ...or why not setting fire on me..." His finally took his eyes and lightly looked at elder Shen, before returning to his mistress. "Wasn’t it the same method used to kill my family?... Let me rejoin them.” He made a gesture that ressembled a bow. "I begged crown princess"
Seyran's blue eyes got a shade darker and with a cold voice she asked,
“Are you aware of what you’re asking? What is your name?"
“Yenaigai.” he answered in a soft voice
“Your family?”
“...I don’t have a family anymore.”
“What was your family name?” she still persisted.
“Lian.”
“Why do you want to die?”
“To be filial.”
“Why did you stay alive until now then?”
"..."
The silence rang for what seemed like a great amount of time but had actually been just some few seconds. Huang long felt the change in that woman before the piece of rock she was holding turned to dust. It had, it seemed, exceeded what it could contain as mana by far too much.
"..."
The silence rang for what seemed like a great amount of time but had actually been just some few seconds. Huang long felt the change in that woman before the piece of rock she was holding turned to dust. It had, it seemed, exceeded what it could contain as mana by far too much.
Her frosty words like a death sentence reverberated in the room.
“Then let me send you off and avenge you.”
Elder Shen felt the wind by her side before seeing what appeared to be one the guard's sword fly in the second princess's hand. It had unsheathed itself, letting the scabbard by the door with the guard.
Holding the slightly heavy weapon that she had never favoured previously, it was more the control of wind and levitation that made the long knife aimed deathly and without pity. As the sword shone and decended, it clashed in a wall of fire.
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