Chapter 1. The banquet

From early morning, there was turmoil in the Realm. The servants entered the Empyrean Cloud Palace, carrying ornaments, curtains, cutlery, tables and trays full of sweets. Taiwei, the Heavenly Emperor, ordered that everything must be perfect for the banquet he will offer in honor of Lóng Wáng, The Dragon King, divine ruler of the ocean. Nothing could go wrong, because the purpose of the visit was to reinforce the power of his empire.

The nannies of Zifangyun Palace had instructions for the princes to be bathed, dressed and ready at 7 o'clock in the evening. This would be their first official banquet. But the servants weren't enough to keep an eye on the restless children.

-Why do I have to wear these stupid clothes? - Xu Feng turned to stare his red robes in the mirror. -I don't want to go to that silly party. I want to play.

-These are orders from our father. - Run Yu answered adjusting the small silver crown that adorned his hair. - We must be the hosts of the Dragon King's children. I understand that they will live with us, as our friends.

-I'm bored! Xu Feng said - Can you do something to distract us while the night comes?

It came up to Run Yu that they should learn to drink wine. -They will make fun of us for being inexperienced - he said to his younger brother. -We'll show that we had grown up.

At that time Xu Feng admired his eldest brother and followed him anywhere. The idea seemed good to him. -Where are we going to find wine?

Run Yu told him to follow to the gardens and there they found Chen Hao, a servant who rested under the shade of a tree. He was drinking wine he had stolen from the kitchen. His face showed signs of drunkenness and he would soon fall asleep.

Run Yu waited for the right moment and took Chen Hao's bottle. Xu Feng drank a little shot first, and then Run Yu drank one shot too. When the wine took effect, the children felt possessed by a state of euphoria. They began to laugh and run uncontrollably around the garden. -Catch me if you can!- They shouted taking turns to drink from the bottle. When the liquor was finished, Xu Feng felt angry and began to throw a tantrum. -I want more! - He cried out in a voice distorted by alcohol. Raising his hands, he used his powers to make fire and burn a tree and the grass around him. He placed on top of the bonfire and hugged himself.

Run Yu was scared. -Little brother, don't be afraid, I will save you. – He summoned his powers of water and prevented the fire from spreading. Xu Feng, ended up in the middle of a puddle of water, wet and shivering from cold. The tantrum was on the rise and the boy began to cry scandalously.

At that moment appeared the Heavenly Empress Tuyao, followed by the both Princes' nannies.- "Xu Er!" Xu Er! - She screamed in distress.

-Your Highness! - The nannies helped the second prince to get up. -Are you hurt? Who ruined your clothes? - Xu Feng pointed to Run Yu and continued crying. He didn't have time to explain what had happened. Therefore he could not stop his mother from punishing his older brother.

-You! - The Empress grabbed Run Yu by the arm. She dragged him back to Zifangyun Palace and threw him into the middle of his room.

-Mother. Please, I didn't want to ruin Xu Feng's clothes. I just wanted to protect him from fire. Please don't lock me up. I promise to take care of my little brother.

-Liar! -The Empress said, casting a glare of contempt.

The boy crawled on the floor and grabbed her by the sleeve. -Mother, please. Don't leave me here. I don't like to be alone. Please. - Run Yu pleaded crying. Tuyao pulled him away from her and went out, closing the door with a thud.

-Mother, please. Don't leave me here!

At the appointed time, the great hall was resplendent and full of high-level Immortals and fairies. All spoke animatedly. Some enjoyed criticizing the clothes and behavior of their colleagues, while others shared gossip. When the herald announced the arrival of the Empress and the Second Prince, everyone stood up to make the respective reverence.

-Where is Run Yu? - Asked the Emperor, upset

Tuyao took the opportunity to throw her poison -Your son behaves very badly and I grounded him. He convinced Xu Er to drink wine and then ruined his clothes with a water spell. If I don't arrive on time, I don't know what would have happened.

-It's okay. We will tell our guests that he is sick. Tomorrow I will talk to him. -The Emperor didn't want to start a discussion with his wife. He knew what would be the consequence of contradicting her and that day he didn't want to get angry.

-HORRIBLE WOMAN! -He thought annoyed -If I could get rid of you...- But his thoughts were interrupted by the herald's announcement.

-His Majesty, The Dragon King and his honorable family!

The crowd was surprised. A tall, elegant and handsome man entered the Hall. He was more dazzling and imposing, than the Emperor himself. Although he looked young, in his eyes was a sign that he had lived many centuries.

His wife, Queen Su Liang, was a beautiful immortal from the Star Realm. Her hair was like silver, she had blue eyes with reflections of stars, her silhouette was slender and her face radiant.

Although the King and Queen had eleven children, this time they were accompanied by their two youngest son and daughter. Prince Xióngxin Bai Sheng, 900 years old, the same age as Run Yu, and Princess Luan Bai Xing, same age as Xu Feng, who was 400 at that time. The prince and the princess were elegant as their parents; they had the beauty and the brilliance of the stars. Their hair was dark like their father. The fair skin, blue eyes and bright aura were like their mother.

Taiwei and Tuyao moved nervously on their throne. They felt overshadowed by their guests and deep down, they both felt envious.

After the exchange of greetings, the Emperor offered his guests a toast for the goodwill and friendship between both Realms.

The children were placed near the Second Prince. But Xu Feng was still in a bad mood and was indifferent to them. After an hour, he decided he was bored and talked to Bai Sheng.

-We live in a crystal palace in the ocean.- Lóng Wang's son said. -My sister can tell you about mermaids. She knew lots of tales.

The girl nodded and smiled, but remained silent staring her surroundings and the characters that populated the banquet hall.

"The King is so handsome. It's a pity he doesn't accept concubines. "

"Queen Su Liang is a shooting star that fell into the ocean ..."

"These children are not dragons like their nine older siblings. They are stars that were born in the Azure and Vermillion constellations."

The princess Bai Xing was born with the ability to read minds and hearts, but she was still a child and she had difficulty controlling her gift. It bothered her to be in a room full of strange people, because she could not concentrate with so many thoughts and feelings around her. The weight of all that energy was overwhelming. She began to breathe slowly to relax her mind, until she managed to concentrate on a distant whisper, a childish voice that resonated in her head.

"Mother, please get me out of here! I promise to take care of my little brother. I don't like to be alone in the dark. Please!"

The voice belongs to a child and his plea was constantly repeated in her head and the feeling of sadness echoed in her heart.

"Who are you? - She thought - Where are you? Can I help you?"

"Who is there?" - answered the child's voice with fear. - Are you a ghost?

"I am just a girl. My name is..."

Bai Sheng noticed the puzzled expression in his sister's face and asked her telepathically -"Xing Er What's wrong with you?"

Her brother's voice distracted her and the mental bond with the sad boy was lost.

- Tell me about the mermaids. - Xu Feng demanded, shaking the Princess' sleeve.

- Your Highness, I feel very tired and I have headache. Tomorrow if I can, I'll tell you all the stories you want. – She replied, trying to be nice.

-You're so boring. - Xu Feng declared - If my older brother was here, he would entertain me, but mother put him in quarantine because she says he is sick.

"The voice belongs to the first prince"- Bai Xing smiled when she discovered it and the desire to meet him increased. Her intuition told her that she must help him. - "In all the stories the prince always saves the princess, but what would happen if she was the one who saved him" - She thought with a mischievous look in her eyes.

-You have not eaten or drunk anything. Try at least the pomegranate cakes and stay with us. - Xu Feng insisted.

-"You are an annoying spoiled child"- Thought the girl and kindly declined one more time the cakes, and went to talk to her mother.

Queen Su Liang and Bai Sheng were the only ones who knew the secret gift of the girl. -Mother there is a lot of noise in this place. I cannot concentrate with everything I feel and listen. I have a painful pressure on my head. Help me, please.

The Queen caressed her daughter´s hair and nodded. Then she turned to the Emperor -Your Majesty. Please excuse my daughter. She is still a little child and this is her first trip away from our Realm.

- Oh, these children! Also the eldest son of his Majesty is sick and could not come to the banquet. - Tuyao smiled at Su Liang, giving the appearance of being a caring mother.

Bai Xing looked at the Empress and knew that she was a liar, evil woman with bad feelings.

- Don't worry; the Palace of the Nine Stars is ready for her. The maids can take the princess and serve her dinner, in the comfort of her room. - The emperor said giving a warm smile to the girl. Behind that kind gesture, a dark thought was also hidden -"Little star. You will get used to the Heavenly Realm. This will be your home for a long time. I will not miss this golden opportunity."

A shiver ran through the princess and she trembled. She could not decide who was more disagreeable, whether the Empress or the Emperor. However, she gently bows and thanks.

In the Nine Stars Palace, the maidens assigned to Bai Xing, fluttered around her trying to make her feel good with compliments and attentions. The girl thanked them and ordered to let her sleep. When she was finally alone, she slid out of bed and took a silk bag filled with food. Then she opened a small window and transforming herself into a sphere of light, she went out in search of Run Yu.

"Boy, can you hear me?" - Bai Xing thought -Guide me to where you are. I want to help you.