Chapter Two: Lan-Se Morning
Iolene turns and shifts in her bed as she sees through the memories of her ancestors. Suddenly waking up in a sweat. Her gold eyes glowed in the dark as she looks around drearily. The sky is still dark as she looks out the window. The breeze is cooling as she decides to get up and wash her face with water from the basin next to her. Changing into a light blue dress with a matching shawl she decides to explore the castle one last time. Grabbing a candle holder, she sneaks out of her room. The guard Yi-Ting outside her door is standing in front of her. Iolene forgot him as the memories still occupied her mind. At this time, she was watching a historical battle. Although she did not know which war... Yi-Ting is friendly to her as he greets her formally.
"My lady... Go back to sleep." He says softly.
"I cannot sleep... " Iolene says innocently. The guard is tall as she looks upwards at him. He is taller than Aaron by a few inches.
"My lady... You know I can't let you leave without an escort." He sounded very kind. Lei and Stein personally chose him with gentle but stern nature. Iolene approved of him even though he is a glorified babysitter. Iolene and him having afternoon tea when everyone else is busy. He is a wonderful company. Learning that his family was poor rice farmers and he left for the city. He is very proud of what he managed to accomplish as he should.
"You can be my escort." Iolene happily points out. She didn't want to wake Eleya as she would need as much sleep as she needs, for she will be helping to prepare everything to leave.
Yi-Ting smiles and nods as he gestures Iolene to move forward. Following closely behind her as she looks at the paintings and tapestries. Yi-Ting and her having small, pleasant conversations as they discuss art and history.
Iolene notices everyone is still asleep except for the guards. Even the servants are still inside their own quarters.
"It is almost time to leave this beautiful city." She remarks to Yi-Ting. For he will not join on her journey and will remain here. The sky is still dark as Iolene walks into the garden. The braziers lit the way to the royal family ancestor tower. Much to the relief of the family, the ancestor tower was not touched by the bomb. Iolene asks the guards kindly to open the massive bronze doors so she can pay her respects. Like she did every week. Lei has been visiting it daily with Chin recently joining him. Iolene learned from Lei how to pay respect to their culture.
Yi-Ting waits outside with the other guards as they open the massive bronze doors Iolene walks in alone. A special shrine is dedicated to Lei's father Ju-Long Jian and younger sister Ju-Long Ning. Two paintings of them resting in the middle of the tower where they will sit for a year. Until the grief time has passed.
Iolene solemnly looks at all the names of Lei's deceased family members. Many wooden and ceramic plaques are engraved with dates of life and death. She looks at the ladder that reaches the higher levels. It is wooden and is well kept. But Iolene decides not to go up.
Lighting a match, she lights two unlit candles. As they are replaced when the candles burn out. Clapping her hands and bowing she pays respect to the two of them.
"You will be proud of your son and brother." She whispers. "He is very brave and kind." Iolene bows once more and turns to leave the tower. But to her surprise, the Empress enters.
"Your majesty!" She says suddenly bowing low to her. Wondering if the Empress overheard what she just said.
"Thank you," the Empress says normally. She walks to the shrine and lights two candles.
"Do you wish to be alone your majesty?" Iolene asked sincerely.
"No, I wish to speak to you. I saw you walking out to the garden and I followed." The Empress faces Iolene. To Iolenes surprise she is already dressed in her royal regalia. Her makeup is softer as the harshness of war is over. Her long elaborate hair is wrapped in an opal headpiece. It was round as it looked like an elaborate seashell.
"I have pledged my armies and navy, to assist in getting Dragon-City unoccupied from Armageddon. Stein helped greatly as a military strategist to help win the war." Empress saying it plainly.
"Yes, your majesty. Stein is a great man and very intelligent. I don't know what would have happened without him." The princess replies. "May I ask something? "
"Yes," The Empress replied seriously.
"My family visited you in their greatest need. I want to know... How did you view my parents?" Iolene asked cautiously. She knew why Zhen denied helping them. The Blue Empire preferred to keep to themselves. Iolene admitted anger when she found out. But there was nothing she could do... What is done is done.
"It was a decision I did not take lightly. It was the best choice at the moment, you in time will understand. Such decisions will be placed in front of you. Choosing for your own self-interest or you choose for the sake of your people. I chose my people... I did not want to go to war. I liked your parents, our mother was a beauty who spoke words that could make a stone man crumble. While your father is handsome and can fight with all his might. Your family was once the crowning jewel of the world. For thousands of years, they ruled it with gold dragons ruling side by side with humans. But eventually, foolish decisions and circumstances destroyed it all in a few hundred years... I did not want to have the same fate as other leaders thought the same. Have you ever been to Dragon City?" The Empress says seriously. Turning to finally face the beggar princess.
"No, your majesty I have not." Iolene tried her hardest to sound confident. The Empress scoffed much to Iolenes' surprise to hear her speak normally.
"I swore to help Stein get his home back. You, however... " The Empress stops at her words.
"Me?" As Iolene looks intently at the Empress. Zhen's blue eyes glowing with power made her stand out from all the candles in the room. She looked almost like a dragon as her regalia resembled scales.
"I did not support you. I first thought of you as a spectator. How polite you are as many others are to me. I thought it was fake... You are the beggar Empress who leaves others to do the bidding for her. Stein pleaded the case and not you." The Empress stares at Iolene which can make anyone terrified. As the words cut through Iolene like a dagger to the throat. She had no words. Silence remained in the room that felt forever until the Empress spoke again.
"However... You ran off into danger. Stein was furious, but I found it brave. When I was told I was legitimately surprised and chuckled. I would have done the same thing if I was younger. You saved many lives and helped to end the war. I have been told of your deeds in the hospital by my stewards." The Empress edges closer to Iolene as the young girl remained still.
"I don't know what to say, your majesty..." Iolene says softly.
"You don't have to say anything," Zhen replies. "You convinced me and that is all I needed" with a motion the Empress kneels and bows her head as Iolene looks on in shock. For the Emperor or Empress never bows to another. "I vow to you Gold Empress Iolene Ovideus, I will help to reclaim the home of your ancestors. Our blood is not the same as the old but an alliance forged through friendship. The Blue Empire will no longer isolate itself for the world is in turmoil. We will heed your call as you heeded ours."
Iolene bows and kneels with respect. "Thank you, Empress." Then they both stand as it became quiet. The Empress then nods as Iolene bows again and takes her leave.
The sun has begun to rise as the sky has turned purple. A streak of pink can be seen on the horizon. Iolene and Yi-Ting hear the clanging of swords. Both decide to walk over to the soldier training ring.
To Iolenes not surprised Aaron is there. Training with soldiers and a few priests. Iolene leans forward on the fence as she watches him concentrate on his fight. Losing to a close call against an apprentice priest. The apprentice only won by using a surprise mag push.
Aaron gets up and stretches his muscles and shakes the man's hand.
"Is that cheating?" She shouts. The two men at look at her as Aaron chuckles.
"Not to me Iolene! I should have seen it coming!" Aaron replies. As he and the young priest walk over to her.
"Wow." The apprentice says. "You are beautiful!" As he sees Iolene smile.
"Thank you," Iolene says nicely. She is used to young men and boys saying how beautiful she is. Especially since living outside of the temple. Lexi, Mali, Aaron and Stein had to protect her from men who want to take advantage of her. Iolene admits to herself that she is well aware of her beauty as vain as that is. She takes pride in her appearance.
She is taking mental notes of his apprentice wears. Grey and plain like the ones from Aquarius City. He is an average-looking man. His face was long and lean but had a charming smile and low voice.
"Who are you?" She asks politely.
"I am lord Cam Danh. Fifth son of lord Danh from the river dragon. Who are you?" He says with a bit of ego as he leans to get closer to her.
Iolene introduces herself to him using Summers as she always had. Aaron remains quiet as they make small talk. Aaron looks at him with a sly grin. Then faces Iolene. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" Aaron asks.
"I could not sleep..." She simply says "Please hold my shawl Yi-Ting." She then enters the arena. Aaron follows her as she grabs a dao from the weapons rack. Iolene swung it in front of her. Holding with both hands she didn't realise how heavy swords can be. Aaron chuckles as he unsheathes his sword.
"Oh no, it's my greatest enemy!" He shouts as he hits her blade weakly. The blade flings out of her hands. She looks aghast at Aaron and quickly retrieves the sword.
"I resent that sir!" She shouts as she swings it. Clanking the sword on the ground as Aaron laughs.
"You have no idea of how to use such a weapon! You are never supposed to hit your sword on the floor. Breaks and dulls the blade." Aaron laughs walking over to her as he grabs her hands. Showing her the proper sword grip. Cam grabs his staff as he watches the two pretend quarrel. Iolene and Aaron laughed as they were once again children.
Cam grabs his staff as he releases mag energy from his body practising the old art. Iolene and Aaron stop playing as they watch the young priest practices his martial arts and mag blast abilities. Other young priests join in as they match the rhythm and beat. Iolene and Aaron stand back as they watch the display of power and discipline. Left, Right Punch, Kick, Left Right, Punch Kick. They stopped and bowed to each other as Iolene and Aaron clapped. Iolene rushes over as she compliments their power.
"May I please hold a staff? She asks excitedly. Cam gives it to her. Looking at it intently it is made from pure blue draconium and wood as it has a dark navy-blue colouring. It is long and thin that it can easily be mistaken for a spear. Each staff is made differently as she glances at the others. A head of a blue dragon is sculptured at the top. "It is so beautiful..." She whispers. She begins to copy what the apprentices did as they giggle. She is clumsy as she does not have the fighting discipline. Nothing happened, much to her disappointment.
"Stop!" A familiar voice came from behind them. It is Stein as everyone looks back at him. He walks into the arena. Like Iolene he could not sleep but for different reasons. His nightmares returned in the night. Knowing that they were not really nightmares but memories of atrocities he committed while under mind control. Not only that the torture he suffered from those who kept him. Feeling a burning sensation in his brain, he tries to hide the pain. Softly smiling at everyone as the apprentices' bowed low to him. They have seen him at the temple multiple times during the war, to them, he is a war hero strategist.
"Iolene, Aaron," Stein says plainly. He looks up and sees Yi-Ting watching from behind the arena. Much to his relief, she didn't wander alone.
"Hello, Stein," Iolene says with a sweet smile.
"Hello, Sir..." Aaron replies. He always called him sir by a new habit. Ever since the mirror incident, Aaron blames himself as Stein also blamed but Iolene interferes admitting it was her own fault. Which it was...
Stein looks at the staff she is holding. He used to have one given by Priestess Tulia, their designs were short and instead of blue it was gold and wood. He lost it when he was imprisoned. Caressing it he then looks at Iolene and hands it back to her.
"Do you mind if we borrow this for a small while?" Stein asks Cam. The young man excitedly says yes to him as Cam and the rest need to leave for the temple to break their fast.
"Well... Close your eyes, breathe slowly and close your mind. As I have taught you for meditation." Iolene did as he said, admitting to herself she hasn't done as much meditation as she hoped. She barely meditated on her journey to Unmei. After all, you can't exactly relax in the middle of nowhere during a war. Aaron takes a few steps back as he watches them from a distance. Aaron wants to join in but knows the lesson is not for him. But he takes mental notes as he hopes that one day, he can use mag abilities.
Iolene's mind eye was dark, yet it was loud and full of noises, people talking incoherently. She can hear the voices of her ancestors. It is getting stronger... Iolene smiles as she can hear Erastus.
"You can finally understand me?" Erastus says. He was Aelius's first cousin. Previous Seer of the past, meeting him in the mirror felt like a fever dream to Iolene now. "Hurray! You are getting their sweet girl! It only took you months." He then begins to have small talk with her. Iolene felt so overjoyed she didn't know if she was crying or not. It was a friendly conversation as Erastus says she must practice more. She then asks about her father and mother... Erastus give her no answer as he did not know. His voice begins to fade as she opens her eyes. She looks up and sees Stein staring down at her. He is holding her head up as Aaron looks down worried.
"What happened?" Iolene asks. She felt fine as she is perplexed as to what happened. Thinking she was just standing still. Realising she was crying she wipes away a few tears.
"You began to float, your eyes glowed as gold draconium began to swirl around you. It was quite a sight..." Aaron says as he helps her up. Iolene pats her dress to remove the loose dirt.
Stein only had a large smile as he hugged her lovingly. "I am so proud! Did hear anyone? But next time we do it in an area where no one can see." As he and Iolene comprehend Yi-Ting's face. It was of shock and awe. He had no idea who she really is. Iolene replies that she heard Erastus and had a small conversation.
Stein's smile had never been so large. Remembering when Erastus used his powers to speak to his predecessors.
Iolene felt surprisingly okay as she walks forward. The sun is rising as the sky is slowly turned blue. Stein in the case keeps a hold on her. Recounting that Erastus would feel fine but then exhausted a while later.
The four enter the main dining hall. The Empress has already broken her fast, as she allowed them to have their last Lan-Se breakfast.