The departure
In the early hours of the morning, Yan Da opened her eyes. She felt more rested than she had in a long time. Her hand slipped on Ying Kong Shi's side of the bed, it was empty. As usual, he had sneaked away early to prevent the servants from finding them together. She smiled at the thought of him and their last night. The Ice Prince kept surprising her with his care and love. How many times had she imagined such moments with Ying Kong Shi. Something in her had always known he was capable of real love. After all, from what she had learned from him and Xian Xue, they had been the creators of love in the early times of the Ice Fantasy World. The thought of it warmed Yan Da's heart and spread over her like a protective blanket.
But it wasn't long before a paralyzing fear rose again in her. The aptitude test would take place today. And no matter how, she had to pass it. Why am I so full of fear? Suddenly, the Fire Queen felt heavy as lead, and for a moment she had the absurd thought of just staying in bed. Then she saw the image of her father and her brothers before her eyes, the mockery, the pity, the disgust. She had endured everything. She had shaken off her father's depraved values, not just for herself but for the whole Fire Tribe. And today she would leave the past behind for good. Even if I don't win, everything I have learned, everything I know, and everything I feel will contribute to this test in the one or the other way. If I am still not considered worthy to marry into the Ice Tribe, then I will accept that. I now know who I am and what I can do. I will neither let my love be chained nor my mind be drowned in fear. With these thoughts she got up and rang for her servants.
Some time later there was a knock on the door. It was Ying Kong Shi. With a nod of his head he sent the servants away. When they were alone, Yan Da stood up. She had chosen the same armor that she had been wearing the first time they met. The heavy armor plates that covered her narrow shoulders and torso were completely black. Her hair, however, was different than usual. The maidservants had combed the long strands back and braided them in the style of the Ice Tribe. Only two long strands framed her face from the temples down. Had Yan Da had white hair, she could have been mistaken for a woman from the Ice Tribe.
Ying Kong Shi viewed her with mixed feelings. He knew the message behind the hairstyle and it made him happy in a very special way. At the same time, he was worried about her apparent indifference to what others might think of it. He sighed inwardly, and tried to shake off the thought. He stepped up to her and stroked her hair. "Sometimes you're so much braver than me ..." He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead. "I don't want to miss the opportunity to try out the Ice Tribe's hairstyles. After all, they are part of my future husband's culture. "Yan Da smiled broadly at him, but her eyes remained serious. It may be the last chance to wear my hair like I would as your wife.
He took her face in both hands. "I wish I could go with you. But I also know that you don't need me. When it comes to morality, virtue and righteousness, devotion, compassion and mercy, you have developed a lot, Queen Yan Da. Even in difficult times you stayed true to the course you have chosen. Even in the early days of our friendship, I could never consider you a bad person. Do you remember how you held me accountable for exposing my complicity in Lan Shang's abuse? Everyone else in the Fire Tribe, including Shuo Gang, was scared of me. You were the only one who had the courage to tell the truth to my face. You looked at me with such contempt. You wanted to hit me, do you remember? But I was too proud and at the same time too cowardly to let you condemn me further, and I fled.
The feeling of shame haunted me ever after. On that day I realized that I had left the course of rightfulness behind me long ago and that I was most of the time not even ashamed of it. Except when I was with you. That's when I realized how special you are to me. You were the voice in my head warning me that there were still limits to my actions. You were my moral compass when I didn't trust myself anymore. You know very well that you were the only one who got through to me when I was under Yuan Ji's curse. That is your special, hard-learned skill, Yan Da. You no longer duck for anyone. You fought with all your might to be allowed to be good, to laugh, to be allowed to love, to be free. If there is anyone in this world who knows the values a leader should defend, it is you."
She stood very still under his hands. She even stopped blinking as she listened to his words with wide eyes. They sank deep into her. No matter how much he irritated her sometimes, she wouldn't want to exchange this new, older Ying Kong Shi at her side anymore. Slowly he let go of her face and instead cupped her waist. She didn't notice how he slipped the Tear Stone into her belt pouch. He quickly pulled her close and kissed Yan Da passionately. Finally, breathlessly, they parted again. "Ready?" "As ready as I can be, according to your praising words." He smiled mischievously at her. Then they went out to meet their friends and the warrior escort in the courtyard.
A scroll was handed to the Predor Mermaid. A demanding look from Hye Qian made her grudgingly grab the scroll. They have prepared well. They don't even let me explain the rules of the test in free speech. I'm curious what they have come up with. They probably haven't discussed some of the rules with me. Yu Lian looked over at Yan Da's group. Almost all of the clan leaders had accompanied them here. They stood on the shore of the Endless Sea, and behind them the mountains of the Ice World loomed in the distance.
Yan Da herself looked composed. She was a beauty, thought the Mermaid Saint. Her hair, which was so strangely streaked with gold and white, was artfully braided back. She is either indifferent or very brave for showing off her attachment to the Ice Tribe so openly. But who knows? If Ying Kong Shi is right, the council of the Mermaid Tribe will not stick to the agreement that Yan Da's life must not be endangered. With such a threat, I would certainly no longer care what other people think of me, too.
The Predor Mermaid unrolled the scroll and read it through. Some council members became concerned when they realized that the Predor would't just read the text aloud. Only when Yu Lian had read the rules completely did she nod with her head. "Dear leaders of all clans. You all know why we are here today. Queen Yan Da, are you ready to take the aptitude test? "Yan Da stepped forward, one hand on the hilt of the sword in her unique way. "Yes, I am." "If you pass this test, the Mermaid Tribe will recognize you as the future wife and queen of Prince Ying Kong Shi. The Mermaid Tribe will also accept your role as co-ruler of the three kingdoms.
My diplomats have told me how well the cooperation with the Fire Tribe works, and how diligently the former soldiers of the Fire Kingdom are now helping to rebuild all kingdoms. Queen Yan Da, your power has not only completely reborn the Fire Kingdom, so that it is green and blooming there for the first time in millennia. Your efforts have also reached the hearts of your people and made room for new values. No matter how this test ends today, I would like to express my admiration here. I look full of curiosity into a future in which the Fire Kingdom will be recreated under your leadership. Your actions speak for you, Yan Da. But my people have suffered a lot, and my councilors want this test to continue to make sure that they are supporting the right ruler. I hope that it is not the outcome of the test that defines our relationship, but our willingness to support each other, rebuild the countries and become wiser together. "A murmur of surprise went through the crowd and Ying Kong Shi smiled thinly. Young Predor seemed to take her words from yesterday very seriously.
"Now for the test." The Predor nodded to a servant who stepped forward and presented Yan Da with a Tear Stone. "Fire and water couldn't be more different. Yet one cannot survive without the other. In an ideal world, fire and water are in harmony and value one another. The test will show whether Yan Da understands this balance and can direct her actions accordingly. The test will take place on the bottom of the Sea, I will announce the details there. Since we don't have enough Tear Stones, only the leaders of the Tribes are allowed to come. We leave immediately." Servants stepped forward and presented the leaders with the Tear Stones. Pian Feng gave Xing Gui a strained look. And Yue Shen didn't seem enthusiastic either. She did not get a stone because she did not hold a leadership position in the Healer Tribe. The leader of the Bear Tribe grabbed his stone and looked grim. Two servants stepped forward and patted Yan Da. Little by little they disarmed the fire queen, who was watching with a petrified expression. "I'm sorry, Queen Yan Da, but weapons are not allowed. No creature of the sea may be injured during the test. If you break this rule, the test is over immediately and unrepeatable, and we will rate it as failed. But be assured: weapons are of no use where you go." Yan Da frowned and glanced at Ying Kong Shi. He stared at the Predor Mermaid, and Yan Da could see his hand clench into a fist. With a quick upward movement followed by a complex spell, the Predor Mermaid created a vortex of water. One by one they jumped in and disappeared into the depths.