Sins of Harmony

Volume 0: Starswirl's Legacy

Chapter 11: MAGIC II: Hinai's reminiscences.


15th March, 605 BNM

Mid Morning

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range, River Caverns.

Water dripping amidst the rushing of a nearby river greeted Hinai as she woke up.

She was inside a tent, a dull brown travelling tent used by merchants it seemed, and still in her night gown. Her Yellow scales, and mixed red/green scale stripes along it, had been cleaned of the mud she recalled falling into before she passed out in the bamboo forest.

Over in a corner of the cave, as she blearily peered out of the tent mouth, she saw a smoking fire was dying, as a Grey Unicorn was donning his travelling cloak with his back turned to her. Her tent was one of 2, but she could sense some magical essence from more than just herself and this strange Unicorn, a 3rd, also a Unicorn, but different in magical feeling.

As she struggled out of the tent, the grey unicorn came over to her, his face sympathetic and showing concern as he helped the Eastern dragoness to her feet:

"Do not rush, you may still be weak."

"What happened?" Her question, trembling but demanding in tone, was multi-layered.

Before her, the Unicorn Wizard, Starswirl, hesitated, as he explained what happened, based on the first time that his friend, Siral, had secretly scouted out Shengdu after getting her to safety here.

Her parents and brother were murdered by some strange magic, draining their life and magic all at once, almost claiming them and her too, but them being awake made it fail.

It would be a few hours before Hinai would come out of her tent, her eyes stinging from shedding more tears than she had ever done in her life all at once.

Outside, as he thanked the rushing river further down in the cave mouth for stifling her sobs in her tent, Starswirl sat in deep thought, puffing on his weed pipe as he tried to figure out what to do next. Prophecy be damned for now, they needed to get an idea of where to go from here.

"Siral, please don't take too long to return this time." A hushed whisper of urgency escaped Starswirl's lips as he eyed the rising sun. Siral had been gone for only an hour so far, sneaking unseen and unrecognised as his true form into Shengdu city.


Midday

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shengdu provincial capital.

Main square

The palace soldiers, dogs cattle and a handful of tigers and pandas, marched through the roads as they exited the city in their search.

Amidst the crowds, looks of mourning for the local ruling family were plastered everywhere, while the messenger from the local government issued the statement, the interim leader, the Eastern Dragon Sorcerer Ghung Chian, standing nearby as the Cattle spoke hoarsely and loud enough to be heard across the square:

"-weekend for the funeral procession, but the warning must be heeded! The murderer of the Royal Family killed them for their magic and life essence, and it is certain now that Princess Hinai is dead. Shreds from her night robes she fled in were found in the forests in the mountains. Ghung Chian himself confirmed it himself, his sorcery skills proving the same curses were used on her there."

Bowing his head low in a respectful mourning, the Eastern Dragon Sorcerer was quiet as the Cattle male messenger continued from the podium's front:

"Messengers have already been sent to the 2nd eldest son to return from the Muttgolian campaigns. Peng Honshai shall be made king upon his return within 2 months, and until that time the local council shall preside, and maintain order as best it can. In the meanwhile, Ghung Chian has offered himself to a new task as he relinquishes his interim control duties."

Backing up, the Cattle male let the Orange Eastern Dragon, yellow and black striped along his spine and wings, speak, Ghung Chian stroking his lengthy snout hairs as he declared boldly:

"Citizens, this is not the first time such an act has occurred, but it is the first time the culprit has been daring enough to attack a governing family."

"As a word of warning, this evil wielder has been known to take on the appearance of those they do not kill immediately, such as those they kidnap or capture elsewhere. Beware anyone that resembles Princess Hinai, they are NOT who they say they are."

"By the Emperor's will, and that of the Sorcerer's council, I shall take up the task of bringing this evil magic wielder to justice for what they have done here, and ensure no more fall to their evil consumption!"

As the Eastern dragon raised his hands in a gesture, the crowds cheered in support, knowing a full blown sorcerer would be pursuing this menace, and at least guaranteeing they wouldn't return.

Amidst a crowd of dogs and cattle families, keeping his magic hidden as best he could, the cloaked cattle male turned to leave subtly, nobody noticing the fur beneath his cloak was a dark grey, or that the cloak itself was magically altered to appear brown, not Siral's usual grey.

As he shuffled through, getting into the roads, Siral saw the soldiers leaving, obviously too in search of Hinai, the supposed disguised murderer.

As he left, Siral had his suspicions, as he sensed something familiar. There was Ghung Chian's unique magic signature, his own, and yet something else, something sinister and powerful that matched the same thing Siral felt sapping his strength in the corridors on the night of the attack.

He had suspected it was Ghung Chian, but it wasn't by what he felt. Ghung Chian was clearly lying, but for what end if he wasn't the one that pulled off the attack by what he sensed?


Mid Afternoon

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range, River Caverns.

Sat in front of the fire, Hinai stared at the fire intently, her mind wracked in grief that she managed to hide.

Beside her, Starswirl uncomfortably tried to break her silent stupor. He'd explained a lot of Starswirl and Siral's dinner and meeting her parents, her brother and the 2 less important visiting delegate and Sorcerer. As he recalled it, he noticed Hinai's eyes move towards him slightly as he regaled the fireworks alterations:

"-can't say the fireworks professionals were entirely happy, but the crowd was impressed. We had to make a big show to meet your parents after all."

"Why?"

Hinai's one word again could mean many things, but Starswirl jumped for the obvious answer first:

"We heard a great deal about magic wielders in your family, a strong lineage as well."

Hinai shifted uncomfortably, the hard cavern floor unfamiliar to her more high-end lifestyle, but she was too grief stricken to truly complain about this. Just some salt in the wounds. The Yellow Eastern Dragoness gave a sad remark, as one or two more tears shimmered in her eyes:

"My brothers, they were good, my Mother too, and Father, was the best."

"What about you?"

"I have a lot of power, but I can't use it. Being too powerful can make me less of a suitable wife for my future husband."

Understanding that thinking, especially for a political alliance as it seemed to be presented as, Starswirl had to remark with some sadness in his tone: "Is that your choice then? Or family duty?"

"I choose to serve my family by my duties."

"But you have many illnesses as you restrain your magic.." Starswirl carried on, trying to understand. Shaking her head, Hinai remarked: "I have only 2 more years before I am mature, and my restraint finally sets in. It has been done before among our kind, it is perhaps more of a struggle than embracing our powers, to make ourselves humble to rule with greater consideration for those less powerful than us."

"A suppose you think that's a noble cause then." Starswirl couldn't help but give a mixed smile and grimace at this, while Hinai remarked with her tears finally coming out:

"Father always said I was the bravest of his children for making this choice. Wielding power is easy for us, restraint isn't."

Starswirl couldn't help but agree with that statement of Hinai's, the nearly mature Eastern Dragoness wise beyond her mere 27 years. But he knew that restraint held a double meaning for her, but he wouldn't share that knowledge with her.

Laying a hoof on Hinai's arm, Starswirl was impassive as he added:

"When Siral returns, we'll make our next move. Fate has plans for everything, we can only do what we can with what Siral will help us learn has occurred."

"Is he much like you?" Hinai asked, wiping a tear from her scaly cheeks.

Hesitating, Starswirl added with some hidden meanings to it: "He's reliable, but keeps to himself except around me. He isn't as approachable as I am though, more abrasive, but again, reliable as an ally. He will come with information we can use to make our next move."


Late Afternoon

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range, River Caverns.

"That is the last tent, we move out in 15 minutes. If we stick to the mountain ridges these maps show, we can outpace the normal soldiers."

Siral ordered, taking charge of the initial steps. His news had been dire, as the 'killer' had been told to have taken on Hinai's identity, a lie by Ghung Chian, though he himself didn't seem to be the killer himself. Something was off, but they had to get away from this valley, away from the populated areas.

The way west, through the vast mountain range, the largest on the planet as a matter of fact, was the best way to remain hidden.

As Starswirl passed Hinai a waterskin to drink from with his magic, he saw her clutch her head slightly with her free hand, groaning slightly. Nearby, the embers of the dead fire suddenly glowed a brilliant yellow colour, and the fire leapt upwards as if oil had been poured on it.

Alarmed, Hinai apologised profusely, but Starswirl waved a hoof dismissively:

"Restraint like yours causes this. Can you fly at least?"

"Yes, that wasn't something I had to restrain for my duties."

"That can come of use when we are further from this province then."

Rubbing her head, the magic enhanced fire dying very quickly, Hinai then asked Starswirl, and even Siral up ahead at the cave's mouth:

"They'll be looking for me, so I must not appear as me. I can't do disguising spells."

Looking at Siral, Starswirl knew through unspoken agreement that he was the better spell caster, while Siral was for potions. Given they were short of supplies, Starswirl nodded to Siral to keep getting ready to lead, while he turned to Hinai:

"A few small changes will be enough, until we're further." His horn shone blue as he finished these words.

Shutting her eyes, relaxing her resistance to the magic as Eastern Dragons could, unlike other draconic races, Hinai opened her eyes to see the blue aura around her body had vanished, revealing her body had changed to a plain, green scaled and yellow striped colour, rather than her brilliant yellow and green/red striped back form.

Sighing, Hinai shuffled uncomfortably, feeling naked without her usual robes on. She had no clothes on now, though they had always been more for show.

But around her neck, after removing her nightgown, she still held the necklace given to her by her parents 11 years ago, when she began these 'restraint' exercises of her magic inherent to her body.

The family stone, Jade, lay inside the small golden chain. Pulling it off her neck, she instead recoiled it around her wrist, tighter than on her neck, remarking to Starswirl as the wizard watched with some curiosity:

"I want a piece of my family with me, and on a part where I won't lose it so easily if we encounter trouble."

"Is it a recognisable family heirloom?" Starswirl asked cautiously. With a head shake, Hinai added sadly:

"Family eyes only."

"We have to leave, before they think to look in this valley!" Siral called from up ahead, the other Wizard's grey cloak changing to his disguised brown already, and his face morphing to a cattle just as he had in the city.

With a slight nod, Starswirl changed his cloak colour to brown too, but stayed a pony, but removed the born to become a grey furred Earth Pony stallion.

Not 5 minutes later, there was not one trace of the 3, disguised as a grey Earth Pony stallion, Brown cloaked and black furred cattle male and the plain green Eastern Dragon female that had left.

Even as a pair of solders from Shengdu came across it, they only found the fireplace.


Early Evening

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range, River Caverns.

Sensing the ground where they camped, Ghung Chian was left alone in the cave while the 5 soldiers let their superior do his work.

The Orange Eastern Dragon caught the magical 'scent', that of 2 mid aged Unicorns and a female Eastern Dragon nearing maturity.

Turning to the mouth of the cave, Ghung spoke aloud: "They're heading into the Wildnerness, likely the mountain passes."

"They have so many places to hide."

Wandering the cave, thinking for a moment, Ghung knew that only he knew exactly what happened that night, and the full story. But these 2 Unicorns, the same that were at the dinner table, were a mystery.

Starswirl the Bearded, and Siral the Savant.

Turning to the commanding officer, a Dog soldier, who saluted him as he approached, Ghung Chian began to make his long term plans:
"We shall return to Shengdu for the night. Tonight, send forth messengers, tell them to spread calls for a search. One for signs of a pair of Unicorns travelling together, and also to search for an Eastern Dragon of any appearance seen with them. I want them to be brought in for questioning, they knew where the curse wielder is."

As the dog commander saluted, leading his others away with him ahead of the Eastern Dragon leaving the cavern, Ghung Chian bitterly stared up at the first stars in the dusk skies, visible beyond and amidst the towering bamboo forest treetops.

He had got the most promising ones anyway.


1 week later

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range

Over mountains, rivers, valleys, canyons and ridges, and enduring mountain passages, they stuck to the paths carved by travellers whenever possible, though always the far less travelled ones.

The Unicorn pair and the Eastern Dragon Princess would continue their long passage West, for many dozens of miles, a hundred at most, before they finally grew confident that they had lost their hunters.

Travel was made much easier when they could drop the disguises, and with her pride and state recovered during her travels, Hinai was gracious enough to fly, which meant Starswirl and Siral were not constrained by an Eastern Dragon's slower walking/running pace.

For now, the mountains beckoned, a quiet place of respite.


23rd March, 605 BNM

Imperial Pandina, Shicuan province

Shicuan Mountain range

300 miles from Shengdu city

As they set up camp on the mountain ridge, it was with some agreement that the 2 Wizards asked Hinai to hear them out.

But as they spoke, Hinai was hesitant: "I feel as if I'll be betraying my promise to my duties, to my family."

"You must be able to defend yourself, and you have great potential." Starswirl seemed to quietly plead.

"But too much power to be what I need to be."

"Right now you need to be strong, capable, and in full control of your inherent power, which we know to be very great indeed. Power is only dangerous if uncontrolled, just as your restraint makes you at some times, to others through random outburst, or yourself via sickness." Siral remarked bluntly, the grey robed wizard even more blunt than Starswirl was.

"I can wait 2 more years until I finally am mature, and it shall be subdued." Hinai remarked hopefully, but she knew the answer. Starswirl gave her a dour look as he pointed out:

"The duties that call for that are not your future anymore. You need to adapt, and be ready. We can help you learn to control your power, we have instructed other magic users before."

Not dragons mind you. Siral telepathically remarked to Starswirl, though the latter ignored the slight inwards doubts.

With a sigh, Hinai promised what she could: "When shall we start?"

Starswirl announced the next day, and with Siral also helping, these mountains would become their home for a good while yet, training Hinai.

So far, the Element of Magic was proving to not be someone they merely interact with and encourage, but a flat out student. But Hinai's latent magic restraint for so long, mentally and physically, would prove troubling.

And they already were being pursued by a myriad of bounty hunters and a certain Sorcerer, Ghung Chian with a keen fixation on them, and the same mysterious force differing from him that had claimed Hinai's family, and apparently others before.


On the road, and hunkering down amidst the mountains for a good while yet. The former Princess finds herself with 2 magic teachers [Starswirl more so], while they are hunted by this Sorcerer Dragon and his soldiers at his command. The magic that claimed her family's lives is close to the Sorcerer, but yet, also not from him, something else is afoot.


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