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Chapter Ten
Hakuei
According to Hakuryuu, his sister should currently be rounding up forces in the Tenzan Plateau. There are only a few Kou outposts so he suspects finding her shouldn't prove too difficult. They start their search at the northernmost station as it's the closest; only a few hours' flight from the valley where Belial's dungeon had stood.
The sun is shining brightly and the breeze on their skin is warm. There isn't a cloud in the sky. While they fly, Morgiana attempts to put the pieces of her memory together into something coherent.
She knows that Aktia Kingdom is where the division starts. She remembers how her instincts screamed at her to stop Hakuryuu from leaving then and gathers that in the original timeline she must have let him go. She also remembers that up until that point Hakuryuu had been filled with anger and she knows from his conversations with Yunan and Belial that he fell into depravity at some point in between leaving them and the point where her memories inform her that he joined them again. She knows he was with her and Aladdin in the Dark Continent while she trained with her people and Aladdin learned magic from Mother Dragon. Then they'd met up with Alibaba again and she and Aladdin joined Alibaba as he went around the world building his trading company but Hakuryuu left them to go off on a personal journey to find Judar.
The patchiest part of her memory is still the period between when Hakuryuu left them in Aktia Kingdom and when she and Aladdin and him escaped to the Dark Continent. She knows general facts—such as that Reim attacked Magnostadt which caused an access point for Il-Illah to descend on their world and that Hakuryuu became the emperor of Kou and Arba allied with Sinbad—but she doesn't remember the exact series of events that lead to these things happening. She wonders if eventually all of her memories will return or if they've been forever lost to the ether.
A part of her thinks maybe she'd be happier not remembering.
They arrive at the outpost and the guards go into a momentary panic when they see them until they realize one of their visitors is the fourth prince of their nation. Morgiana doesn't blame them. She probably would have reacted the same if a djinn-equipped Hakuryuu and unknown Fanalis dropped from the sky right into the center of her camp.
"I'm looking for General Hakuei," Hakuryuu announces, not wasting any time. The soldiers have all scurried into their ranks and kneel before him respectfully. Morgiana is impressed by how swiftly they are able to react to receiving an unexpected royal guest.
"My lord," the man who is clearly in charge speaks up, holding his fist against his chest. "The general and her household are currently out on patrol about three leagues south of here." One of his men hands him a map which he presents to Hakuryuu. Hakuryuu unfurls the rolled up parchment and Morgiana can see that it is well marked. All of the outposts are clearly labeled and the man points to a spot a few inches below their dot. "Here, your highness."
Hakuryuu nods and hands the map back to him. "Thank you. That will be all."
The man bows deeply and neither he nor his men rise until she and Hakuryuu have taken flight again and are a good fifty meters away. If they are surprised by Hakuryuu's sudden swift arrival and departure, they don't show it.
"Your country's troops are very well trained," she comments as they fly. She's seen many armies in many countries but never has she seen such organization and discipline.
"The Kou Empire is a nation built on and for war," Hakuryuu explains, turning over to soar on his back a few feet below her. "Our soldiers are our greatest asset. Without discipline the whole machine would fall apart pretty quickly."
Morgiana thinks about this. She vaguely remembers Kou suffering when the world transitioned to an era of peace. But surely the people of Kou should have known that if they kept conquering other countries they would eventually run out of battles to fight. She finds the whole idea of being a nation that runs on war very strange and backwards because she thinks fighting should be about protecting things, not taking things, and what is Kou protecting by fighting apart from their right to keep fighting?
"What about you?" she asks. "Kou is your home. What do you think about being part of a nation that only knows how to make war?"
Hakuryuu stares up at her for a long moment and then says, "To be honest, I've never cared about unifying the world or expanding Kou's borders. My father and brothers had a dream that they could end all conflict and suffering by bringing every nation together under one ruler, but as for me…I've come to cherish the diversity that individual countries bring to the world. There's beauty in every nation working hard on its own to live in a way that brings its people happiness. I have no interest in a single kingdom that runs like a machine. If it were up to me, I'd put an end to the campaigns and focus on turning Kou into a nation that can be proud of itself in its own right."
Morgiana regards her friend curiously. It's clear that he's thought a lot about this. "I don't see what's stopping you," she tells him, flying lower until she's about an arm's length from him. "Become emperor. Your cousin didn't seem like he would mind."
Hakuryuu smiles wanly at her suggestion. "I would be lying if I said I haven't considered it," he admits. "But to tell you the truth, I don't know if I can do that again. I would do anything to protect my country, but I just don't know if there's enough of me left these days. I don't know if I'm strong enough."
Morgiana is confused by this. If there's one thing she knows about Hakuryuu it's that he has the determination to do anything. When he decides to do something, hell or high water, he will see it through. He's never been a quitter. Not once.
Hakuryuu reads her confusion and explains. "The emperor's first duty is to his people and he has to give his whole self to them. His life becomes bound to his position. Kou needs someone who can make that commitment; someone who won't make the mistakes I've made. From the start, it was never my intention to stick around that long."
Morgiana frowns. "You plan to go somewhere?"
Hakuryuu smiles. "Yeah. Once I've made up for everything, I plan to start over. I messed up a little too much." He raises a hand to his heart. "For my own happiness, it's something I need to do."
Morgiana chews on this. She wonders where Hakuryuu is thinking of going and why she gets the odd feeling that it will be a place she can't follow. The thought of him going off alone leaves a sour taste in her mouth. She knows from her memories that every time she's let him go something bad has happened.
"Are you unhappy?" she asks, reaching down to him. He takes her hand out of habit. His nails in this form are long and sharp and scrape delicately against her palm but he's so careful that Morgiana never fears he will hurt her.
He looks surprised at her question. He blinks up at her for a moment then closes his eyes and shakes his head. When he opens them again he's suddenly so close that his crimson eyes burn into hers. The way he looks at her steals her breath. The emotion she sees in them is unfathomable. They hold the brilliance of the sun but reveal nothing of what is going on behind. For the second time she feels like his heart is a locked box with no key. "No. I'm very happy."
She wants to ask then why do you need to go? But she can't form the words. His eyes still her tongue. When he finally pulls back and releases her hand, Morgiana realizes that she's been holding her breath. There's a funny squeezing sensation in her chest. She brings a hand up to her breastbone and frowns.
Hakuryuu is scanning the ground now. They must be getting close. Morgiana shrugs off the odd feeling and focuses on the task at hand. She wonders if Hakuei will be anything like Kouen. From Hakuryuu's stories, Morgiana imagines his sister as a calm and gentle person. It's funny, she thinks, that before she met Hakuryuu, she imagined the Kou Empire's royal family to be cold and warmongering, but every one of them that she's met—Hakuryuu, Kougyoku, and even Kouen—have been surprisingly kind. Not a single one of them has struck her as a bad person.
Suddenly, Hakuryuu's face lights up. "There!" he calls, pointing out to the horizon. Morgiana follows his finger and sees a company of black dots moving in the distance. From the number and the flags being sailed, it can only be a Kou military contingent.
Hakuryuu puts on a burst of speed and Morgiana is forced to exert more power to keep up with him. It only takes a few minutes until they are on top of the company and men on horseback are exclaiming and pointing up at them in wonder. The figure in the front calls for a halt and Hakuryuu waits for them to calm their horses before dropping down in front of the woman who Morgiana vaguely recognizes as his sister. Morgiana joins him a little uncertainly. Hakuryuu is smiling and Hakuei has dismounted and is staring at him in fascination.
"Hakuryuu?" she questions, holding out a slightly unsure hand to him.
Hakuryuu's smile widens and he takes her hand in both of his. "Sister," he greets her warmly. "I've returned at last."
Hakuei's mouth makes an "o" of surprise and she looks him up and down, taking in his new, fused form. "You've captured a dungeon," she observes, looking back up into his eyes. Her lips pull up into a lovely smile. "Congratulations."
Hakuryuu shakes his head and Morgiana is surprised when he turns back and grabs her hand. He pulls her forward in front of his sister. "I never could have done it without Morgiana's help," he says, squeezing her hand and giving her a smile.
Morgiana flushes and shakes her head. "I did nothing important," she denies, pulling her hand free to raise them between herself and Hakuei.
Hakuei turns her beautiful smile on Morgiana and steps forward to take her hands. Hakuei's hands are soft and delicate looking but Morgiana can feel strength in her fingers. She is probably the most stunningly lovely woman Morgiana has ever met. Her eyes are deep and full of kindness and her smile could probably melt steel. Standing before her, Morgiana feels gangly and awkward and far too young. "Thank you, Miss Morgiana."
Morgiana doesn't know how to respond to the warrior princess so she just nods. The motion brings Hakuei's attention to her necklace and her eyes widen. "You possess a metal vessel as well." She releases Morgiana's hands to let her fingers hover just over the glittering jewelry.
"Yes," Morgiana confirms. "But I don't know how to use it yet."
"That's why we came," Hakuryuu explains. "Morgiana needs to learn to use her metal vessel and I bring news from the West." He puts his hands together and requests, "Please allow us to join you and your company for a while."
Hakuei frowns slightly but nods. "Of course. I could never refuse a request from my dear younger brother." Her frown melts back into a smile and she turns back to Morgiana. "And I think it will be nice to have some female company."
Morgiana doesn't know if she's the best choice for 'female company' but Hakuei's easy acceptance of her causes some of her tension to fade and she puts on a determined expression. "I will do my best to behave in a sufficiently female way."
Hakuei laughs and even that is pretty. She waves to one of her men and a moment later two unmanned horses are brought from the back of the company; one black and one grey with dark speckles. Hakuei takes the reins of the pretty speckled horse and leads it up to Morgiana. "Miss Morgiana, I would be very happy if you would ride beside me."
Morgiana looks up at the large beast warily. It's beautiful but the thought of sitting atop such a creature intimidates her a little. She's fought bigger and meaner creatures countless times but she's never had to work together with an animal before. She's always relied on her own two sturdy and dependable feet to get her where she needs to go. "I've never ridden before," she confesses, looking back at Hakuei unsurely.
Hakuei merely smiles. Her expression says that she finds Morgiana's hesitation charming. "Then I will just have to teach you." She spares a glance at Morgiana's bare legs and lifts a hand to her chin. "Although, firstly, I think you're going to want some pants."
oO0Oo
This chapter's ending was dumb. I'm sorry. Originally chapter ten was going to be much longer, but again, I had to split it. That means you were left with this short transition chapter.
On a brighter note, who read chapter 326? Nyuk nyuk. I should feel bad but I don't. Good news for Hakuryuu and Kougyoku! Maybe there's still a chance for senpai to notice them.
Next chapter: Morgiana was the father.