Chapter Four: The Prince

"Lei! You are back!" Iolene shouts as she happily hugs Lei. "How did you go?! Oh, look at those!" As she squeezes Lei's arms. "You have been training hard!" He couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't mind the attention; just too bad it wasn't the right sex looking at him. He couldn't help but sigh... He misses Zheroh. He, Ning and his father would he be proud.

"It's great seeing you too Iolene! And you too Mali!" Lei happily says as he sees a small man stumbling into the palace. Mali sighs as he sounded exhausted.

"Never take this girl shopping... She will want to look at EVERYTHING! Every nook and cranny!" He then flops to the ground on his hands and knees as Iolene gently pokes him on the shoulder.

"Come on Mali it was not that bad... Was it? We got Aaron's gift in the end." Iolene said as she felt a bit guilty. This whole new world is open to her as she wanted to explore everything. Today was a great distraction after everything that has happened. Maybe she went a bit too far with her curiosity... Again. At least this time her soul is not trapped in a magical mirror. Thinking back seeing how they made their kimonos and traditional outfits fascinated her. They were incredibly beautiful. Aaron would have looked handsome in them... But they were awfully expensive, and few left as the tailors and cloth makers are making uniforms for the war. Iolene wanted to look at everything to find the perfect gift. And they found it, Mali needs to pick it up tomorrow before the dinner.

"Iolene, I didn't know Aaron's birthday is tomorrow. What did you get him?" Lei asks as he moves close to her face.

"I cannot tell it's a secret between me and Mali. However, Aaron has a secret dinner tomorrow." Iolene chuckles. "He knows none the wiser." She taps her nose three times with her index finger. Lei was curious as to what it meant. She quickly explains that it means a secret to be kept. A sign used in the Light Blue Empire.

"Oh..." Lei says. "Okay, I did not know that."

Iolene grabs Mali's hand to stand. And to Lei's surprise, he doesn't have a bottle in his hand.

"Mali are you okay?" Iolene asks.

"I'm fine... Just old and sober..." He says defeated, Iolene did not look convinced. "I'm fine my lady." He taps Iolene's hand gently.

Mali has been remaining sober since overseeing Iolene. Since the problem of Epithymia, Mali has kept a close eye on the young princess. Stein lost confidence in Aaron to babysit her all the time. Mali needed to pick up the slack. He loves the young princess as he should. She is the last heir, but as a normal girl, she is restless. A young royal who starves of freedom and will do anything to feel that freedom.

Stein has been helping Empress Zhen with non-stop council as he promised. The Brown Empire is joining the fray under Stein's behest giving the Blue Empire's north a powerful edge. However, Empress Vatra of the Red Empire who is close with Queen Hara refuses to help. Mali and Stein understood why... The Blue Empire has always remained to themselves. They never helped during the occupation of the Light Green Empire, The invasion of Loan and the war of the Red and Green Empires. They have a long history of ignoring others and now they are paying the price.

Prince Murray, Iolene's cousin like Stein is busy. He is helping Zhen and helping with the war effort. In return, they will support Iolenes claim to Loan. Now renamed Dragon City. So Mali is the only person with political and real power to protect the princess.

Iolene stretches and says that it's time to help heal soldiers who are sent home because of injuries.

"Lei, would you like to come?" She asks innocently. "I think it will do your people good if you saw them."

Lei thinks for a moment. He didn't want too… Last thing he wanted to see is more victims of Jona's selfishness. He needed to plan his own plan of attack. But the look on Iolene's face is sincere. She made a point… They are his people and they are already fighting for his family. It is unusual for a family member to leave the palace. Hence is why he always wore a disguise to sneak away.

Lei gives in as they make their way to the hospital. Lei looks around in sadness… The atmosphere has changed. The city is still bustling but a solemn quietness is there. No one dancing… No dragons racing around the streets, few food stalls as Lei notices it is only the very elderly cooking, the people are quiet… Life seemed to be at a standstill. It wasn't too long before they reach the hospital. Lei couldn't help but feel repulsed by the number of dragons and people piling on the street outside. Small tents were even placed to try and ease the overflow of patients.

Lei looks up at the large lightning symbol. It is the first hospital in the Blue Empire. A large five-story building that can easily be a thousand years old. Lei has never thought of the hospital as he and his family members get treated in the palace.

Lei felt he was out of his element. He crouches behind Mali as Iolene led the way to the inside. Lei looks in shock as the halls are crowded with sitting and lying down patients. The healers are running rampant in the halls. The three sneak into a closet where Iolene changes into her healing dress. A basic blue and white dress. Tying her long gold hair into a tight bun, then covering it with a headscarf.

Then in turn Iolene helps dress, Lei. Wearing fabric gloves, fabric face mask, headscarf and healers kimono. A light blue kimono with a white apron.

Mali remains close to Iolene's side. Making sure he never breaks sight of her. Lei has never walked into the hospital before… It is chaos… Many soldiers were disfigured from the war. The screams of pain. Lei accidentally walked into a room where amputated limbs are piled. He tries his hardest not to vomit. The smell of the place is horrific. Iolene reveals to him it is the smell of death and decay. Lei has never smelt such horror before. His stomach churns as his body struggled to cope.

For a young high maintenance lady, Iolene copes with this scene well. Following orders of the experienced healers.

Lei watches as Iolene quickly wrap fresh bandages on peoples injuries. Lei felt lost as he didn't know what to do. Iolene is focusing on her tasks than giving Lei a grand tour.

It took Lei a while to remind Iolene that he and Mali were there. Apologetically Iolene leads him to a more relaxed part of the hospital. The wards where the broken bones are. All the patients in rows with slings with some with broken legs are in a sling attached to the roof to hold their leg up.

Iolene walks over to the closest soldier. "Hello, again Kija!" She says kindly. "How is your arm today?" She leans over to look at his broken left arm. It remains in a sling. She inspects the fabric. "Your sling is all good, and your buttocks?" Iolene asks as Kija coughs with embarrassment.

Mali and Lei's eyes all widened. "Buttocks?" They say in unison.

Iolene helps the man roll over as they look at his bandages. Lei and Mali cringe at how painful it looked. "I got shot with an arrow… Please don't make jokes… I hear them enough."

"Why don't you tell Prince Lei how you did it?" Iolene says flat out.

Kija looks up shocked. It was like his heart stopped. He coughs as he didn't know how to react. "Prince… Lei? YOUR HIGHNESS!" He then tries to bow as Iolene holds him still. As everyone in the room looks up and stares at Lei.

"Your highness!" One patient says. "Look it's the Prince!" Another says. The room then goes into an eerie silence as they stare at him. Lei didn't know how to react… Only thinking it was callous for Iolene to announce his presence like that. She means well but the dangers for him are still prevalent. There are reasons why he would wear disguises when he snuck away. Lei looks down and sees Mali whispering in Iolenes' ear. Her expression changes to serious. Realising she didn't think about what she said. "Sorry Lei…" She whispers. "Should have done it more discreet…"

Kija didn't know what to think for a moment he was smiling then nervous as his body began to shake uncontrollobly.

"You have nothing to fear Kija. Prince Lei is kind and he is my friend." Iolene then gently lies Kija onto his side.

Lei looks around as everyone in the room is still staring at him. Iolene pokes him. Iolene helps a conversation starter as Kija and Lei begin a light conversation. Lei realised he doesn't have much experience talking to commoners… He thinks back recounting all the times he speaks to commoners. Buying something, asking them to do something or them asking his mother for help. He felt disappointed in himself, these are the people who are fighting for his country. Through these conversations, Lei discovers Kiji was a farmer before being drafted and recently lost his eldest son in the battle of Durian field. But managed to save the life of a general due to his own suffering.

"Thank you Kija for serving the Blue Empire. You saved the generals life… You shall be awarded by my family once healed. We will also give your son a hero's burial along with many others…"

The man had tears in his eyes. "Thank you! Your highness!" His large smile shook Lei to his very core. Jona… You will pay for this… Not just my family. But many others are suffering… I will end this war and I will make sure you will die.