-8-
Three days after the events regarding Kongzhi's assassination attempt.
It was early in the morning and Milla was asleep in her bedroom, she was in her usual sleeping attire wearing a beige tank top and black capris with her katana on top of one of the two night tables flanking her bed. Norah slowly creeps into the sleeping dog's room wearing a lavender nightgown and slippers, the panda walks over to Milla's side of bed and attempts to wake up the basset hound, but to no avail.
"Hey, Milla! Wake up!" Norah abruptly yells out of impatience.
The hound slowly wakes up in response. Shortly after she stretches, the canine notices the observing panda. "Oh, hi Norah." Milla yawns.
"Kai wanted me to wake you up because Yasmine asked us to meet her and Jin at the throne room this morning."
"Alright… Just let me get dressed… wait, why couldn't Kai wake me up himself?!"
Norah shrugs her shoulders in response.
As the panda leaves the bedroom, Milla gets off her bed and begins to dress up. As the hound dresses herself she reflects on these past few days, Everything is going to be fine now.
These past few days have been fun with Yasmine, for an empress she makes a great friend.
I'm sure Jin and Yasmine are talking some political stuff… and how their lives been going.
I guess everything went well in the end.
Milla exits her room and sees Kai leaning against one of the hallway pillars across from the hound's door.
"How long have you been waiting?" Milla asks with a sudden offensive tone.
"Not very long, have anyone mention how much of a deep sleeper you are?" Kai retorts.
The hound only responds with a condescending expression as her face turned red out of embarrassment, she shakes her head trying to ignore the husky's retort, "Can we just see Yasmine now."
The husky nods in agreement.
Yasmine happily sat on her throne with Jin firmly standing next to her as the empress' new advisor, however he maintained his rank as a general.
"I hope you had a good night!" Yasmine says with a smile.
Milla expresses with a short stretch and responds, "It was invigorating!"; Norah nods in agreement.
"So what's going on?" Kai demands.
"Well I have some interesting news. Jin would you care to explain?"
"I'll be honored." Jin responds speaking in an informal manner which ordinarily would be offensive to someone of Yasmine's status, however she didn't mind. The youths remain attentive as the dragon begins to speak, "So as you may already know Yasmine have been contacting several Qin officials regarding the events that transpired during this year's establishment festival. Meanwhile I've been trying to create new diplomatic relations with the other kingdoms, including Shang Mu, Shang Tu, and Shuigang."
"That's excellent!" Milla cheerfully responds.
"We've also informed the other nations of Serpentine's recent whereabouts as well as explaining what Milla did for the Qin Empire, we however maintained Kai's and Norah's anonymity. Because of this recent knowledge, we are asking you if you would be willing to return to Shang Mu to report further details."
"So, another diplomatic mission, because the last one went very well." Kai sarcastically retorts.
"We've made several precautions to assure that nothing will go wrong, rather you wish to be involved is entirely up to you and Norah. Mayor Zao of Shang Mu and King Dail of Shuigang will be waiting at the Shang Mu City Hall."
"Wait you said Dail is at Shang Mu?!" Norah acknowledges in a worried tone.
Jin gestures with a nod, "According to our sources, Dail recently arrived at Shang Mu for diplomatic reasons of his own, he should be aware of your arrival by now."
"O-oh, alright."
"One last thing, the only way to exit the Qin Empire as of this time is through the eastern city of Dōng mén, I want you to inform Jie of everything that happened during the festival."
"Will do!" Milla enthusiastically announces, "What else have you've been doing Yasmine?""
"Not only have I've been contacting several officials, I've also have been helping out with the communities. I think it's time we start treating our loyal citizens with more respect, so in a way I'm kind'a like a reformer" Yasmine chuckles, "Who knows, maybe I'll see you guys again over at the origin kingdoms when everything is fine here. I kind'a want to meet Sash Lilac and Carol Tea, I'm sure you have quite a story to tell them when you come back, huh Milla?""
"Yeah, I think they would enjoy hearing about this."
"Alright, we'll head over to Dōng mén and take the train to Shang Mu." Kai interrupts.
As the three youths exits the throne room, Norah had a distraught face which catches the husky's attention, "What's wrong, you're usually very smug."
"I told you, nothing" The panda lashes harshly, swiftly changing her face in an attempt to hide her agitation.
"Hm, If you say so."
Norah makes her tone softer, "Anyways I think this is where we say goodbye. It was nice meeting you."
"See you later."
"I guess… It was nice seeing you again, Milla."
"It was nice to see you again Norah." Milla responds as the panda quickly ran back to her bedroom.
"We should prepare." Kai adds, the hound gestures with a nod.
Norah was pondering to herself on top of her bed, I know I still haven't forgiven her for betraying me… but I've forgotten how much fun I used to have with that naive basset hound…
I kinda miss it though…
I guess if I had an actual reason to go to Shang Mu with them would to see Dail again… I wonder what happened to his brother…
I can't just leave Vix though, we've been through a lot. I even see him as a close friend… no, a brother, not just a partner.
I don't know… I'm so confused, I hate being this way!
The panda remained frustrated and conflicted with her thoughts; she hears a familiar voice, "You should go with them."
"Vix, why would you say that?!"
"I'm just suggesting it, I know you have a history with Milla and you two likely don't see eye-to-eye."
"You can say that again."
"However you do not have to make me happy, in fact what would make me happy is if you follow your own instincts. Do what makes you happy, I don't like it when you're conflicted with your thoughts and I know all too well that you don't like it either."
Norah remains silent, thinking over her options. He's right.
"I know you want to, I know you have some personal business with not only Milla but with the origin kingdoms. I have one last piece of advice: Don't be afraid to show some humility or weakness, you can be too prideful. "
The panda made a faint smile as she hugs the surprised rabbit, "Thank you, Vix" Norah admits.
The sun begins to set as Milla and Kai begins to exit the city through the eastern gate. Before the canines exits the outskirts they hear a faint yell, "Hey! Hey you guys! Wait for me!", when the canines turn around to see who's yelling they see a panda wearing a purple sleeveless and skirt with golden outlines with a pair of boots running towards them, it was Norah!
When the panda finally reaches them she catches her breath and begins to speak, "I'm… coming… with you… guys."
"Really?!" Milla asks joyfully.
"Yep, I guess you guys may need my help and I also have some… personal reasons."
"Well welcome to the party, I guess." Kai announces with his infamous monotonic voice.
"Good to be in."
Vix Cole overlooks the three youths exiting the Imperial City of Zhōngyāng. A presence stood behind the rabbit, whose tone changed from a faint smile to a serious glare, the shift was off character for Vix
"So, the fabled Milla Basset is returning to the origin kingdoms?" The person behind Vix acknowledges.
Vix keeps his back to the person still focusing on the youths, "What are you doing here?" he responds, obviously displeased with the person's presence.
"I'm just here to keep tabs, you are suppose to provide information for me and my associates, after all."
"Just information, I do not wish to associate myself with whatever heinous atrocities you have planned." Vix retorts.
"Don't be so coy with me Vix, remember why you're doing this in the first place."
Vix face became filled with rage, however he felt helpless in his current situation, "Just leave those children alone."
"I won't hurt them, as long as they keep their noses where they belong. Now if you excuse me I'll be heading back to the Shang Tu." The person explains as he leaves the rabbit to himself, the man retreated with such remarkable speed that a strong wind blew past Vix.
Please, do not get involved with these people, for your own good Norah and Milla.