Hello everyone!
Welcome to a new chapter, sorry for the delay but I'm getting better at balancing my life at the moment.
Anywho, I hope you all enjoy!
Natalya took a deep breath, her eyes closed and she felt the scattered streams of the sun that peeked through the trees. The quiet steadiness of the Black Forest brought her comfort, although they were nothing like the large winding forests of her lands, she appreciated the beauty. Her hair flowed behind her as her Indrik walked at a steady pace, unknown birds chirping in the distance, She could feel eyes watching her. But, she did not fear, for she knew that she was the most dangerous being in the Forest.
"We're here, Your Majesty," her Indrik said as they reached the edge of the small town that was hidden deep in the Forest. She opened her eyes looking at the people that passed in the village, but they slowed down upon seeing her.
Elizaveta had been walking in the streets, holding a few groceries she got from the market. She came to a stop and joined the large crowd that had gathered around Natalya as she gracefully climbed down from her Indrik and looked among the crowd. "Hello," she began and then pulled out a slip of paper from a small pouch around her waist. "I've gone to visit the Duke, and have gotten the paper for anyone who wishes to follow me." The crowd around her eagerly begins to chatter amongst themselves and she gives a half-hearted smile staring at them. "Anyone who wishes to join me shall be ready by dawn tomorrow. We leave at first light."
While the rest of the crowd stared at the Princess wearily and unsure of how to take the news, Elizaveta stepped forward. "Princess," she said catching Natalya's attention, "With all due respect, what is this all about?"
"As I've stated previously I need competent magic users to come work for me. Of course, housing will be provided, and the pay will be to your liking," Natalya said as she folded the piece of paper and slipped it back into her pouch. Her eyes took on a stare as she looked the snake over curiously.
"Yes, but what is this really for?" Elizaveta asked. She pushed her groceries to sit on her hips as she stood right in front of the Princess with an unwavering stare. The crowd had fallen silent, watching. "Surely, there must be another reason. Centuries of exile, only for you to come back and request we help you? Don't take offense, Your Majesty, but I don't exactly trust your words."
Natalya withheld a chuckle, the snake was out of line. Speaking to her like that would have certainly gotten her killed in her homeland, but she needed to gain their trust for now. "Of course, I understand your concern," Natalya began, "The truth is, we have been attacked by the same group that has attacked the Duke. Although our magic is strong, it isn't like yours. We have been refined and constricted to stick to the same teaching of centuries ago. But you," she stared at the crowd of budding creatures and magic users, "You all have harnessed magic to a different degree. You use it without fear. You can use it without care, and that has led your people to a different level of magic than mine. We need you." Elizaveta didn't respond and nodded quietly. "Are you thinking about leaving with me, snake?" Natalya asked.
"I…" but Elizaveta closed her mouth, pondering on what to say.
Natalya walked closer to her, "I can see your potential." She reached out to gently touch Elizaveta's loose hair that sat gracefully on her shoulders. "You have the potential to become a great and powerful dragon."
Elizaveta scoffed, "Princess, please, a snake hasn't ascended to such levels since the ban of magic."
"Ah, so you know," Natalya nodded with a smile. "A snake who lives long and becomes strong turns into a dragon. I'm sure with my help, I can get you there."
Elizaveta parted her lips, "Excuse me," she whispered bowing her head slightly and then walked away from the Princess. She could feel her eyes bore into her back and she quickly made her way home.
"I think I'm going," Elizaveta whispered staring down at her table. She looked up and glanced around the table, Gilbert stared at her and furrowed his eyebrows.
"You're just going to go like that?" Gilbert asked.
"Clearly this is something serious," Elizaveta said and cleared her throat sitting up straight. "If it means protection for our town, then why not do it?"
"This could also be a trap," Ludwig said sitting across from her. Feliciano sitting beside him looked at her with a worried expression.
"Yes, it could be," Elizaveta began, "But if we can gain her trust, we will have another ally on our side."
"An ally that could kill us with just her words," Gilbert scowled.
"You won't change my mind."
"Then you're not going alone," Gilbert declared. Now Elizaveta scowled at him, but before she could say anything Gilbert continued. "This could be suicide, and you think I'm going to let you go alone?"
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," Elizaveta objected.
"But that isn't what family is about," Ludwig smiled at her from across the table. "We're family, and family protects one another."
"Exactly!" Gilbert laughed, a large grin spreading across his face. "Since my brother here has gone off and gotten married," he threw his brother a glance that Ludwig brushed off. "I will be the one to graciously accompany you." He reached across the table and took her hand, and she held onto his tightly.
"You don't have to," Elizaveta murmured looking away from him.
"But think about the adventure!" Gilbert declared excitedly. "Plus, I've never been to Serdtse, it could be fun."
"Gilbert this is serious," Elizaveta huffed.
"I know, besides if you died who would pester me about my feathers?" he chuckled.
"Your feathers are always uneven," she chuckled.
"I swear some grow longer than others," he frowned as the table collectively laughed. Elizaveta could feel her hand being squeezed and she squeezed back just as tight. Of course, she was scared, but with someone by her side, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Nikita landed at the base of a hill. Bamboo grew every which way with a large winding river flowing wildly beside it, but atop of the hill was what took her attention. There laid a large dragon, nearly double her size; the dragon shifted its long winding serpent-like body and poked its head out looking at the smaller dragon. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Qui Niu," Nikita began and bowed her head, "Eldest son of the nine dragons, Queen Mother Svetlana has sent me here to find you."
"Ah, so you're here on their bidding?" he huffed out and turned his head away coiling back into himself. His light gold scales reflected the sun, and Nikita walked up the hill a little, but still kept a distance from him.
"Yes, and she requests you find a mortal. 'With a voice steady and calming like a gentle flute. Hair as dark as a raven's feathers. Skin as white as porcelain and as soft as silk. This will be the one you seek'."
"I'm not fond of humans, but a human who can sing?" He uncoiled himself again, this time unwinding the rest of his long body, blue fur lining down his back with large horns sticking out of his head. "I love a good song.'
"You are just to locate him and nothing else. Queen Mother will deal with the rest."
"Oh?" His mouth opened slightly, revealing the large sharp teeth that lined his jaw. He slowly coiled himself around the smaller dragon, "I'm not under orders from any human or mortal. They cannot simply command me to do whatever they please. Especially not the Serpent King."
Nikita was completely surrounded by the much larger dragon, but she did not falter at staring him in the eyes. Her golden scales reflected the sun as she spread her wings. "Then I suppose this is what you wish me to say to the Queen Mother? Unless you would like to tell her yourself."
Qui Niu hissed, "I'll do as she asks. But she is now indebted to me." Nikita didn't respond and watched as he slowly pulled away before disappearing into the clouds above.
"You will be fine," a young man whispered as he pulled his younger sister's hair back and clipped it in place. "You've trained long and hard, this is what you've always wanted." He stood back from his younger sister, her broad shoulders holding her long brown hair back. She ran her fingers through it, but he could see the worry in her eyes.
"I'm not worried about the physical part," she admitted and turned to her older brother. "I'm worried about the written exam. What if I don't pass? I have to be in the top ten to even qualify." She leaned her head back running her fingers through her hair roughly until she winced and stopped.
"Liên," he sighed and took her hands. "We all believe in you, we know that you can do it."
She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes, then standing straight and opening her eyes again. Pieces of her brother's raven hair stuck out and hugged his face, but she smiled. "Thank you, Yao. I know I can always count on you," she whispered and hugged him.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek, "You should leave before you're late," he said pulling away from her. She nodded pulling away from him, they both walked out of the room where a woman stood in the corner of the much larger room.
"Look at you," their mother beamed from the corner of the room and walked over. "You look stunning," she whispered and pushed her ponytail to her back. "I know you will make us proud."
Liên nodded, "I'm off," she said and headed for the door, grabbing an old wooden stick beside it. "I'll be home tonight!" she said and slipped on her sandals before making her way down the dirt path from the home.
Yao watched her, his mother standing beside him and he smiled. "She'll pass," he said confidently. "Then, before you know it, she will start leading the Emperor's armies to defend our land."
His mother smiled warmly placing a hand over her heart, "Blessed be the Emperor," she whispered. She then sighed and turned to Yao, "Well you have to get out there and tend to the goats," she said pushing her eldest son out of the door. "Your father and the rest of your brothers are already out in the field."
He chuckled, "I'm going," he said as he headed to the side of the house where a group of goats was already gathered impatiently by the gate. "I know, I know, I'm late," he cooed to them. "But, I already told you I was going to be late. Today is a big day." He opened the gate and the herd of goats walked out in a hurry, but all Yao did was whistle low and quick and they gathered around him. The bells around their neck were clinking loudly and Yao led them off to another part of the field where his brothers weren't working.
The goats followed him eagerly, never straying too far ahead or behind as they climbed over a small hill, several trees grew large and strong there and he took a seat underneath one. The goats then relaxed as they began grazing lazily along him. He hummed watching them, mindlessly, picking up a fallen twig and tapped it on a rock, slowly creating a rhythm with it.
"Old memories are like a window; once they have been pushed open, it is difficult to close them."
He sang softly closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the old tree. His voice carried softly with each note, like a gentle breeze in the wind.
"Who treads over the withered twigs causing them to lightly crack? The wan light of fireflies is drawing out the aroma of the painted screens."
The goats came closer to Yao, a few even settling beside him and laying their heads down to listen to the melody.
"Whose voice lightly, lightly sings?
Whose tears quietly trickle down?
All those years are entrusted to the past.
They lean against one another, agreeing to face the storm that is to come."
Yao opened his eyes staring out into the open fields. A wind rolled through picking up fallen leaves and grass. One of the goats pressed its head against Yao's waist and he couldn't help but chuckle petting his head.
"Yet again the ground is full of withered yellow.
The maple leaves have turned red, their face covered entirely in autumn frost.
In this old dream, life is performed like a drama.
Who else is going on stage?"
He inhaled deeply, but the very next moment the goats scattered away from him. He quickly stood up, had a predator gotten near? He turned looking at the tree, only to be face to face with a large serpent-like creature. "My, what a beautiful voice you have," said the creature without moving its mouth. Its sharp but warm blue eyes stared longingly at him.
"Mighty dragon," Yao barely was able to whisper seeing the dragon draped along the tree, with the rest of its body settling lazily on the other side.
"No need to fear me," Qui Niu said as he slowly slithered down from the tree and settled at the base of it. "I'm sure you know who I am."
It took Yao a moment, the golden body and blue hair, the face-this was a mighty dragon. Attracted by song, from what he knew this could only be one creature. "Qui Niu…" he whispered. He was certain that this was him, but in case he had gotten it wrong he didn't want to offend the mighty creature. The dragon seemed content with this as he laid his head down, staring longingly at the goats that were now just at the bottom of the hill. "Wh-what are you doing here?" Yao asked trying to gather confidence in his voice. But it faltered as soon as Qui raised his head looking over him.
"I was floating over, attracted by your voice," he replied and extended his large paw. Just the mere size of it was already half of Yao, "Sit. Sing me the rest of your song." Yao hesitated, but he took a seat beside the large paw. He still had the stick in his hand and he cleared his throat as he slowly tapped the stick once again and picked up where he had left off. Qui watched him, silently studying the young man. It had been several days since the meeting with Nikita; he had traveled far and wide over the vast countries that were in the East, listening to the song one after another, but there always seemed something missing.
As he stared at Yao he remembered the riddle he was given. The boy had long black raven hair, his voice was soft and carried like a bamboo flute. His skin was as white as porcelain, and even for a human, Qui Niu had to admit he was rather beautiful. A soft reddish tinge had spread over Yao's face once the song had finished and Qui huffed out, satisfied. "You have a lovely voice."
"Thank...you…" Yao whispered, but he didn't look up at the dragon anymore.
Qui Niu knew he was supposed to simply locate him, but he laid his head down over his other paw. "Will you sing me another?" he asked looking out at the large fields.
Yao hesitated, "Mighty Dragon," Yao began hesitantly, "Are...you okay?" he whispered and extended his hand out cautiously touching Qui Niu's paw.
Qui Niu glanced at him, such an odd question for a human. "You're asking if I'm alright?" Yao nodded and looked up at him, his eyebrows knitted with worry over his face. Qui Niu couldn't help but chuckle and opened his mouth slightly, baring his teeth. "How can you ask if I'm alright? I can eat you whole if your song doesn't please me. Shouldn't you worry about that?"
Yao stared at the large teeth, they were as white as ivory and he swore he could see his reflection upon them. "I think...if you were going to eat me, you would have already." Yao looked away from the teeth meeting the dragon's eyes as he closed his jaw. "I don't mean to pry, or bother Mighty Dragon," he said softly and ran his hands over the paw again. Qui Niu noted that indeed his skin was as soft as silk, his touch calming as well.
"Just sing me another," Qui murmured as he rested his head once again, this time settling just a tad closer to Yao and closed his eyes. Yao watched the steady breathing of the dragon as he cleared his throat once again and began another song.
"Flowers of the rainy night,
Blown to the ground by the wind and rain
There is no one to feel my daily grief
Just like the flowers on the ground, never to revive
The heartless wind,
It does not care about my future
It has no pity on my soft heart
It took away the brightness of my future."
The goats have slowly climbed up the hill, attracted by his song and once again settling beside him and the large dragon. Qui Niu opened his eyes only for a second, but the goats only settled beside him. Yao smiled as he continued his son,
"The flowers that dropped to the ground,
Who wants to care about them?
The heartless wind and rain ruin my future, dropped flowers cannot blossom anymore,
What else can I do when the flowers are dying on the ground?
The raindrops that keep falling,
They drown me in a pond of suffering
The flowers, breaking off from the leaves and branches,
Will never be seen again."
Yao carried out the last few notes with his eyes closed and his hand running over the paw of the dragon. Qui Niu slowly opened his eyes, his ears having fallen flat against his head, and he stared out into the distance. The wind rolling through causing the fields of rice to bend to its will. He wondered, what could they possibly want with a human like him? Such a startlingly beautiful human with a voice he had never heard the likes of before. It was soothing, yet reassuring, something he had never experienced before. "Tell me, human, what is your name?"
"Yao," he replied and was petting a goat that had laid its head on his lap. "I do hope you enjoyed my song."
Qui Niu huffed, "It was fine." He then moved away from Yao stretching out his body one limb at a time. "Thank you," he said after a few more moments.
"Mighty Dragon wait," Yao said and Qui Niu glanced down at him. "If you would like to hear another, please come by," he smiled.
Qui Niu was silent, and he stared at the goats that no longer seemed startled by him. "Perhaps," he replied before a large gust of wind blew in and he was off into the air as gracefully as anything Yao had ever seen.
The goats scattered once again when he took off, and Yao chuckled. "Come on now, do you know what this means?" he cooed to the goats that seemed hesitant to go upon the hill and join him. "It means we have many blessings coming our way. We should go and tell mother," he happily hummed as he led the goats down the hill and towards the humble home.
"We have to get this shipment out by tonight," said a man with a rough voice. He was staring at himself in a mirror, trying to calm down his hair but it wasn't working with him. He was slender with defined muscles, but his eyebrows were to thick for his face and his nose seemed to be cursed with an unnatural crooked shape. An injury from years ago that never properly healed.
"Yes, yes," another man replied as he was staring down at a notebook. Glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose, he was bald with a small amount of facial hair on his upper lip. He stared at the notebook filled with numbers, writing in more by the light of a small window. "Do we know how many we have?"
"Four and four," the other man replied finally giving up on his hair with a huff. "We should go inspect it before we leave."
"I'm sure it's fine." When he didn't hear a response he glanced up seeing the other man, his eyebrow raised and his arms crossed. "Fine," he sighed rolling his eyes and closing the book. "Let's go take a look at it. But I'm sure it's fine."
"You know how I am with merchandise," he replied.
"Yes, but apparently not with your looks, Barbados," the man chuckled.
"I couldn't get my hair right!" Barbados shouted trying to make his hair keep down once more. "Besides, you're just jealous that I can actually grow hair!"
"I told you, being bald is a choice," the other replied as they headed outside of the room and towards another door at the end of the hallway. "I can grow my hair just as long, and perhaps even more beautifully than yours."
"You say that, but you don't do it, Feza," Barbados muttered as he watched Feza pull out some keys and open the door. "Even if you'd try it would probably all fallout."
"From what?" Feza frowned grabbing a lamp by the door and striking a match to light it. They made their way inside and down some stairs.
"Stress, or lack of a love life," Barbados laughed.
"I do not lack a love life. At least I'm not the one married and sleeping with three different women," Feza murmured as they came upon another large door. But it was more of a gate, iron bars that were cold to the touch. Feza handed the lamp over going through the keys until he found the right one.
"What can I say?" Barbados chuckled leaning against the wall, "The ladies love me."
"And their diseases too," Feza said opening the gate. Barbados' smile fell and he scowled at his friend. Immediately the two of them heard the scampering of feet and some low whines. The sound of chains grazing against sand and Feeza took the lamp again as he held it up and toward the noise. "One, two, three, four," he counted with a nod.
'I do not have any diseases," Barbados muttered and smelled himself as if to check.
"You're not going to smell them on you," Feza said rolling his eyes as he moved to the other side of the large room. Once again the sound of scampering feet and chains moving against the sand could be heard. "One, two, three…." he furrowed his eyebrows. "I thought you said there were four and four."
"There are," Barbados replied and stepped toward the three young boys who were chained to a wall. "Where is the other one?" he asked his voice booming and echoing in the room.
The children cowered before him, one of them pointed to the edge of the cell and Barbados glanced over. He took the lamp from Feza and walked overseeing a young boy. His skin had smudges of dirt and his hair had become crusty with sweat and sand. "Hey," Barbados growled shaking the boy. "Wake up!"
"Don't hurt the merchandise," Feza reminded as he walked over and casually moved the boy onto his back with his foot. He smelled of urine and feces causing Feza to gag. "We can't send him like this."
"Once we hand them over it's not our problem anymore."
"If we send it like this then they'll return it. And you know how they get when that happens," Feza said. "Pick him up, we have to bathe him before we send him off."
Barbados muttered under his breath as he took a key from around his neck and unlocked the chains around the young boy's ankles. He picked the young boy up by the back of his shirt, dragging him up the stairs, holding him somewhat away from him. In the clear light, the boy was almost like a skeleton. His eyes were sunken in and he could hardly keep his eyes open for longer than a minute. Feza joined him minutes later after locking up, and he stared at the boy with a disgusted look. "Don't tell me we can't send it," Barbados warned.
"We can't," Feza replied.
"Oh, who gives a shit what it looks like?" He poured the cold water over the boy as he sat in a small tub. But the boy didn't even flinch.
"They do, you know this. We can't send it."
"Do you know how much money we're going to lose?" Barbados growled as he began to scrub the boy's body with a rag.
Feza didn't reply, ignoring the griping and moaning of his friend until he smiled. "Maybe not," he muttered. He leaned in looking at the boy. With the dirt gone he could see the pale skin underneath. His hair was a soft golden color and when he forced his eyes open he could see the ocean blue eyes. "He is worth more if we clean him up and take care of him. We can charge maybe double, or even triple the price than those other things."
Barbados stared at the young boy and nodded his head from side to side thinking about it. "Alright, I see where you're going with this."
The young boy let his head hang, feeling the rough cloth scrape against his body. His eyes were closed and he drowned out the talking of the men, he just wanted to go home. But, where was home really? An orphanage where he would probably never be adopted? The place where they worked him and starved him? Though at least there he had a bed to sleep on, people to talk to. "Hey...Hey!" Barbados snapped at him and gripped his chin forcing him to look up at him. "Answer me when I'm talking to you. What's your name?'
Name? Right, he had a name. How long had it been since he'd said it? Or even had someone call him by his name? He racked his brain, but all he could think of was the hard bed he used to have, the thin sheets that were better than nothing. "Peter," he replied.
Okay, so this has been the latest chapter. Quite a bit of things have been going on, but I do hope you all have enjoyed this and please leave a comment on what you did or what you didn't. Thank you and have a great day/night!