Chapter Three: Prisoner
"I need to train!" Lei demands to the elder priestess Sena.
"Train? You only did basics because we forced you to, my prince." The priestess covered in blue armour folds her arms as her covered face looks down at him.
Lei runs to her as he knows she is one of the best combatants in the sanctuary. She is easily the tallest woman he has ever seen at seven feet tall. Cruelly nicknamed the human troll since childhood. The priesthood chose her from the orphanage knowing her height can be an advantage. She however is very shy and self-conscious. Much as people ask her to leave the sanctuary, she remains hidden to avoid being a spectacle.
"Times have changed Sena... I am the only one who can fight now." Lei begs her as she nods in agreement.
He knew at this moment training is going to be difficult. Priests in the Blue Empire are extremely powerful. In both draconium magic and political influence. He will remain at the underground sanctuary to learn.
Sena guides him to his new quarters. Lei looking at his room sighing. He knew he will miss his comforts. The sanctuary has bare living quarters. Only having a bedroll, table and chair. One of the many reasons he avoided trying to live there. It is as Chin, Cheng, Lexi and Iolene have described living in the priesthood. Even his title will stop being used once training starts. He is in their territory only the Emperor or Empress has the right to use their title. He is an apprentice and will be treated as such.
At the table and chair Lei writes letters to his mother and everyone.
To my friends
I have decided to train with the priesthood. I don't know how long I will be gone. But hopefully, it will help with the battles ahead. Stay safe all of you... I will write when I am ready.
Lei
He grabs his crowdrag and releases him to deliver the letter. Then gets his dragon Ponderrah and gets him comfortable in his new stable. They will be training together. His dragon shrieking in happiness. Meaning that he and his human partner will work together. Ponderrah worried that Lei hasn't been giving him enough attention. He misses him dearly... Constantly wishing he wasn't blind and able to communicate... No one understands him except Lei. It is lonely without him. But now they will be spending almost every moment together.
Lei has much knowledge of the world as he has learned from his father. It is his fighting skills he wants to perfect. Motivated as he thinks about his family. Apart from his mother, he is the only family member who can fight.
He thinks about his new life in the priesthood. Early morning to late nights. His training begins.
On his first day he shows the technique that he knows. Sena tries her hardest not to chuckle. His fighting form is terrible. Lei loves using the spear but his form is all over the place. He punches a dummy and shouts in pain.
"You have lost your discipline. You are waving your weapon hoping to harm your target. You either want to injure or kill. You must know control."
Sena grabs a spear and demonstrates to Lei how to hold the spear. "Firm grip! The spear is created to keep your enemies at distance. You jab and thrust it into your enemy. Dragons are uniquely weak against spears. If you spin the spear fast enough you can reflect their mag streams away. And a single spear jab in right spot can be an instant kill."
"Oh..." As Lei's confidence gets crushed. He thought he was doing fine. Lexi and Aaron said nothing. But Lei knows they both have very different fighting styles. How are they supposed to know what martial arts of Lan-Se are?
Sena and Lei practised for the whole day. Punching wood until his knuckles bled, learning to tighten his muscles to Curve physical pain, constant exercise. The first day became many as they repeated the same training every day. Learning the ancient martial arts of his people. He knew he would never be a master, he wanted to know enough to go against his enemies. Learning spear and hand to hand combat is always a necessity in battle.
His goal is to go against five priests at once. On the first day, one priestess almost broke his nose, just standing in one spot. It was an embarrassing one-hit knockout. By the end of the month, he managed to keep two at bay and after that became four. He became confident almost to the point of being cocky until Sena did a swiping kick knocking him out cold. Sending Lei's cockiness down a peg.
He learned basic draconium skills such as mag push, pull and launching himself into the air. Pushing with a beam of blue energy same as dragons do. Ponderrah a blind dragon is the only dragon who doesn't seem to utilise his basics skills often. He is blind so he doesn't know where to aim. However, with Lei learning this ability he can connect to Ponderrah in a way he never thought he could. The small dragon smiles innocently as Sena nuzzles his snout.
Before Lei knew it spring ended, and summer began. In his final battle of going against five priests and winning he accomplished what he needed to do. It's time for his next plan. He decided to stop as Sena felt confident for him to go against his opponents. He is nothing of how he used to be. He even looked different. He wasn't thin and lanky anymore. Lei felt taller and proud. Poking at his arm muscles on the regular basis. Thinking to himself that hopefully, this will be enough. Time is of the essence... The war has been on for a few months. His country needs him.
He leaves the sanctuary as a new man. Whether this new self is going to be good or bad he did not know. He is now eighteen years old as he and Ponderrah rushed back to the palace.
To his surprise, he couldn't find anyone. His mother is at consistent war meetings along with Prince Murray and Stein. Chin is still bedridden and can barely speak a word. Cheng didn't want to see Lei at all... Which hurt him on an emotional level. He is still unhappy with Lei being "Lucky".
Iolene, Beau, Iymp, Aaron, Mali, couldn't be found or recollected. The only person left to try and find is Lexi. He hoped she is not as bad as Chin. He opens the guest room door and sees Lexi sitting up on her bed and is wearing a light robe. Her dark red hair is still short that it doesn't reach her shoulders. She looks healthier as her skin is returning to its natural dark tan colour. However, he could see some dark purple burn marks still spanned across the back of her arms and legs.
"Wow... Look at you... You look different." She says smiling.
He looks down next to her bed and sees a bucket full of dark purple glowing vomit. She looks down and chuckles. "Gross, isn't it? Even after all this time it still hasn't gone away."
"Yes, gross..." Lei hesitantly replies. The vomit even looked like it glowed. He cannot imagine the worst state Chin is in.
"Black Draconium is still in my body, and I feel it is going to be in my body for a long time..." Without hesitation she takes off her robe revealing her naked body. She then turns around and shows him her back. Her back is stained like a large burned black bruise covering her skin.
"Iolene says there is nothing she can do for it..." Lexi speaks in frustration. Her hands clench the bed covers. "My father had these injuries. Only it was volatile red draconium metal and it was all over his body. He died..."
Lei remains silent.
"I sensed a surge of unknown power. And by instinct, I grabbed Iolene and sheltered her from the explosion... So surreal... Like how my father got caught in an explosion..."
Lei in silence sits next to her. She is a victim as much as he is... She shakes her head.
"Sorry Lei... I see you the first time in months and I rabble about myself. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling..." Lexi then grabs her teacup and takes a sip.
"It is okay... It's good to see you are getting better. I was worried about you." Lei having his first legit smile in months. It's great to see a friend.
"Like wise, Iolene and Aaron did say you were in the priesthood. Fun, isn't it?" Lexi laughs while wrapping her body in her gown and shuffling her blanket. "When I first joined, I didn't even know what I was in for. I just wanted to learn how to fight in the war. And boy did Kenneth show me..."
Lei laughs along with her as he remembers all the injuries he received.
"Where are Iolene and Aaron?" Lei asks nicely. He hasn't seen or heard from them at all.
"Iolene went out with Mali. She wanted to get out of the palace, which I don't blame her for. She has been working as a healer for your citizens nonstop. For a beautiful girl, she looks haggard and tired. It's like she aged fifty years in a span of a few months. Aaron however was scolded by Iolene not to go with her." Lexi shuffles over to Lei and whispers in his ear. "Apparently it's for Aaron's birthday. She's gone with Mali to get him a present. His birthday is in a few days."
Lei chuckles. This is a perfect distraction for a little while. He had no idea Aarons birthday was even coming up. He has never mentioned his birthday at all... Lexi shrugs and mentions she didn't know either until Iolene brought it up. Lexi strokes her short hair as she misses her long wavy hair. "She is planning a little surprise dinner for Aaron. So, you left the sanctuary in perfect timing."
A knock on the door is heard as Lexi's lunch has arrived. It is Iolenes' handmaiden Eleya. "I'm sorry your highness! Am I disturbing you?"
"Oh, no honey you move the good stuff to my bed. I'm starving!" Lexi cheekily says as Lei laughs.
Eleya with her small size pushes a large trolley. Eleya hands Lexi a tray so she could eat on the bed.
"Don't make a mess like you did yesterday!" Eleya sternly tells Lexi. Waving her finger like a parent. "Or I will force you to eat on the floor like a child!"
Lexi rolls her eyes. "It was an accident Eleya! I didn't mean to spill it."
"What did you spill?" Lei asks in a sarcastic fashion.
"Curry your highness! CURRY!" Eleya shouts as Lexi tries to hide her face in the teacup she is sipping from. "Took me ages to get that stain of the sheets! So, you will not be served that again unless you eat at the table!"
Lexi lifts the cloche and sees steamed rice covered in soy sauce and one marinated pork fillet. Lei gets a strong smell of the delicious food. He could not help but drool. He lived on rice porridge, plain steamed rice, and congee throughout his training. He misses this food so much. But he couldn't help but notice the portion of the food isn't the same as it used to be. War has started to affect the countrys food storage.
"Would you like some food, your highness?" As Eleya changes her voice to a softer tone.
"No thank you Eleya. You may return to your duties."
She bows and then leaves the room.
"So, to the more serious topic... What are you going to do?" Lexi says as she begins to eat her meal.
"I need to see if someone else is around. I am planning something. I just need to sort details first." Lei then stands up as Lexi chews on her rice. "Enjoy your lunch Lexi. It's great to see you!"
Lexi remains quiet as he leaves the room. Thinking of what his possible plan is. Who that someone is. She sighs as she winces from the pain of her burns. Iolene is right I should really get some rest. Lexi finishes her meal and goes to sleep.
Lei walks into the large castle entrance hall. Shun Shun is thereby lucky chance. The dragon looks distraught. His two dragon daughters wearing their specially designed armour standing next to him. They bow at Leis' presence.
"Shun Shun... Hello, it is good to see you." Is all Lei could say.
"Hello my young prince. You have been busy..." As he notices Lei's new physique. "Sadly, I cannot talk long. I have a meeting with the dragon leader of the wilds. To see if they will help our cause." Shun Shun sounded exhausted. His human voice wavered as he almost yawned Like many of us, he got no sleep.
"The dragon leader of the wilds? Aren't they separatists?" Lei says with surprise.
"No... These dragons are only wild. They live away from large civilisations. They are usually harmless; they live day by day in the wilds by choice. They will never harm a human unless they harm them. Dragon separatists will do any and everything in their power to cause harm. If those dragons remain in the wilds, they are at massive risk of been taken or killed in the crossfire."
Lei looks down and nods. That makes sense... Not everyone is always connected to an Empire specifically. There are humans who live in secret moving villages who live without dragons. One mainly being recorded inside the incognito forest. A place rumoured where trees shift so you will always get lost. Ancient magic looms there... Dragons and people who go in very rarely come out. So little is known about what lives inside. However, we only know of this village is because of the random visitor who leaves every few decades.
Lei's deep thought shifts as a dragon roar for Shun Shun to enter the chamber. Lei quickly says farewell and leaves. He needs to find her... He keeps thinking to himself. But he needed to keep this quiet. He knows this move will be risky especially his reputation with his citizens. He decides to first check the secret dungeon underneath the palace. It'll be the place to keep her held... To do this he will have to sneak into a closet that is rather unsuspecting. He couldn't remember which one, so he tries repeatedly in each closet for the secret latch. Until finally! The closet in the kitchen. He had to wait until the servants and cooks have left until he had to try. But he finally succeeded, small pull chain rests behind a small dragon statue. Lei pulls it as softly as he could, but it is an old rusty chain, so he had to put more muscle into it. He pulls and as he pulls a fake wall starts to slide to the right. He smiles as he pulled repeatedly until the door is just wide enough for him to fit through.
He looks down and sees darkness. He looks to his right and creates a small blue draconium floating bauble. It floats next to his face as it shows his path down the stairs. By his fifth step, the small bauble fizzles out as Lei sighs to create another and then another until he reaches the bottom. As a wooden door is front of him, he pulls the latch for the door to open. Torches line his path as he sees his mother's guards standing in front of a cell. The cell looks rather comforting considering it is a prison cell. A king side bed, a fancy carpet rug on the floor, wardrobe and a table with a bowl of fruit on top.
"You are not supposed to be here young prince!" The guard says sternly.
"I am here to see her..." Lei says. "Just to talk... My mother says it is alright. Let me in!" Lei says as seriously as he could. He has never lied about his mother before. In fact, he hasn't even seen her since he left the sanctuary in the morning. He has a duty to save his country... Sazan Jona needs to pay and there is one person who knows the south.
Okimi walks up to the prison bars.
"Prince Lei! It's great to see you. You are the only visitor apart from your mother." She says exhausted but upbeat. She looks very well kept; she is even wearing make-up. She is no ordinary prisoner. However, her eyes weep with sadness.
The guards look at the two and decided to let Lei inside. They both sit on her bed in a moment of silence. Their families are at war with each other. Unknown of what the future will bring.
"Hello, Okimi..." Lei says gently. "It's nice to see you alive."
"Thank you..." Okimi replies and then another long pause.
Okimi the eldest daughter of Sazan Jona, a rejected child as Jona wanted a son. Her father and her mother never paid attention to her. Meeting the Empress at a very early age and seeing her command court. Okimi admired the Empress... A female ruler. She wanted to be like her. To one day rule Unmei and the south as she was the only heir at the time. However, her mother became pregnant. To her fear that her mother would have a boy. The Blue Empire is under primogeniture. All boys will succeed over girls. Her father was so excited about the new baby, she had never seen him like that. Until Mai was born... Another girl. All hopes for him dashed and her parents ignored Mai even more than herself. Then the first betrayal of Lan-Se happened and her father was arrested. Even during this turbulent time at such a young age of ten, she helped rule her people. She gained their respect and people loved her... She grew up so fast during that time. Many people and dragons from the court came to the ten-year-old instead of her mother who just became an empty shell. Her mother is useless... As to what many people thought she had a bigger role, in reality, she did not. Okimi would have given everything if she would have Empress Ju-Long Zhen as her mother.
Then her father was released after pressure from the people wanting him back. War was inevitable... Okimi wished he never came back that day... Because chaos ensued. And even worse... Nine months later a son was born. To her father's joy and love. Her younger brother Sazan Sana. Okimi loves him as a sibling should. But they were never close... Their father always did everything together. She would be lying to herself if she wasn't jealous... Her father was so loving to Sana. He even once left the court to ride their dragons in the garden because Sana wanted to... While he would have created anything up to avoid his two girls. Her mother was also the same. It was like they only have one child, not three... To cement this point they had a beautiful elaborate painting of the three in the row of family portraits. Mai cried heavily that night when they first saw it hung up. Okimi had to comfort her... They were never told about this...
Okimi and Mai tried their hardest to connect with their little brother. However, it became blatant that he is incredibly spoilt. He really is a recipe of the disaster of a future ruler. Then the inevitable came where her father protested the Empress's ruling. He has a son now... Sana can rule the country. This did not bode well... And father failed by majority vote, even by his own court. Fuelling more fires between the states and inside his own court. Many feared her father... Those who opposed gained confidence by the Empress herself. The one person her father fears.
Now her father went too far... Now having the Black Empire behind him. Bombing and killing many innocents in Lan-Se. The bombing almost killed her... Even if she died her father wouldn't have cared. If anything, it would have ended everything in one stroke. Good that the bomb wasn't as big as they thought it was... Or was it intentional for some to live? Who knew?
Okimi sighs as she leans her head on the brick wall behind her.
"I need you to help me Okimi..." Lei asks quietly.
"Help you? How? Everyone wants me dead. Except for your mother. To your people, I am a southern traitor. To my people, I am a defector... There is no help here..." Okimi closes her eyes wishing for better days.
"I know this will be hard. But I want you to help me kill your father..." Lei says sheepishly. It is a massive favour. Asking a child to murder their parent, Okimi remained silent.
"You know the south of the country and its people. I want to end this war! Getting to your father will stop this madness... Mother was wrong trying to avoid a civil war. It was always inevitable. It has come to this... Please help me end this." Lei begs as he looks at Okimi staring up at the ceiling.
She takes a deep sigh. "What other choice do I have?" She murmurs. Thinking she could remain in this cell forever or go out and try to make difference in the war. She raises her right hand and faces it towards Lei. He looks down and with his hand, he shakes it. A pact is made between the two and begins to make a plan of what to do next.