It's all about timing. If it's too soon, no one understands. If it's too late everyone's forgotten.-Anna Wintour
A wide fertile land flaunts itself in front of his eyes. However, the misery, hopelessness and regret of its people obstruct the sunshine from this fascinating nation.
"To think it would all come down to this." An elderly man said as he gazes down to a certain city, Rakushou. He stands atop of a mountain. His body is lanky and his skin is crumpling from old age. And yet, the aura around him emanates his concealed strength.
"So in the end we'll have to meddle with humans." From above a woman magician jumps down from her carpet. "We shouldn't wait any longer, when we waited for 'all the characters to return'," she quoted moving her hands in the air and moving her two fingers as if drawing a quotation mark. " things ended up this way." She finished.
The man laughed at this remark. "You speak as if we aren't humans too." He paused for a while a thought running through his head, whatever it is; it prompted a smile to graze his lips.
"Besides, there's no need to worry, the kids move fast so we'll never be late." He turned to face her, this time the mischievous look on his face is gone and replaced with a solemn expression.
"Well kidding aside, how did it go?" he asked referring to the mission he gave the magician.
"You shouldn't worry about it, sinking that Island is no big deal. You should have sent someone else." She complained.
"At least you get to see that person, even from afar." The man defended at the same time casting a spell to open a portal back to their home.
"If you put it that way, then I guess I have nothing else to say." The female magician dismissed.
"Well, we should hurry, the party will start soon." He said, his words bearing double meaning.
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Alibaba had just gotten off the ship when it happened. The earth shook so strongly as if it was being dismantled from the planet. The colours blue, green, red and brown were swirling on his vision. It was the first time he encounters an earthquake.
He was disoriented for the majority of the event, there were noises coming from all directions, he was not even sure if he felt panic or anything, all he knew is that everything was shaking. He did not know if he hit his head or it was just the shaking but he was really dizzy. To the point that he though he saw something floating in the sky.
It was a good thing that there aren't any other infrastructures there so casualties were avoided. There is also a magician around who volunteered to take over caring of the injured ones. The event passed as a blur actually, one minute they are busy saving themselves from the earthquake and then the next moment they were busy moving all people to the ship as the Island sinks lower to the ocean in an unbelievably fast rate. They haven't even noticed him. They were already sailing when his senses started to work properly again.
"What the hell just happened?" he asked to no one in particular as a soldier approached him.
"Sir Alibaba, we have informed the empress of what happened. The princes will be transferred temporarily in the palace. They will further discuss what will happen to them when you arrive." The soldier reported. This soldier is one of the few people that know he slipped into the ship; he was accompanying him under the orders of Empress Kougyoku.
Alibaba thanked him before dismissing the soldier. He's currently hiding in one of the rooms in the ship which is opposite the ship's brig. He peers through the window of the room to look at the people present. Only a few guards are stationed in the area. He could easily take them down without making a noise. With his newfound power, he quickly attacked them before slipping into the room.
The brothers were visibly surprised to see him.
"Ah, hello." He sort of greeted. Kouen suddenly laughed at him and motioned for him to move closer.
He then approached Kouen and his brothers. There is an important matter that he had to tell them no matter what the situation is. It had been quite difficult though, the princes were not only branded as war prisoners but also murderers of the First Emperor and his heirs.
"But I think we could find a way to keep you around. Besides, now that I think of it, we could use this incident to our advantage." He said eagerly as ideas suddenly rushed into his head.
But this situation seemed to be more difficult as Sinbad intervened saying they cannot be brought back, except for this moment as an unexpected event occurred, but he said that the princes must be transferred eventually to another Island as their punishment is to be exiled. He also asked if Alibaba was trying to defy him.
"Sinbad, why are you talking about such trivial matters? Please stop this isn't like you at all!" he then ended their discussion.
"Hey Alibaba what are you planning to do?" Kouha butted in. Curious as to what was running around the head of the former Balbadd Prince. He hadn't really been as perceptive as his brother but he can certainly feel that this Alibaba has changed.
Alibaba only grinned at them as a response.
Kouha looked at his brothers, their eyes meeting each other.
Alibaba changed.
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Hours later before the moon finally reaches its zenith they arrived at the city. They had to tie up the princes as they are still criminals. Kouen on the other hand, had to be hidden among the luggage as he is suppose to be dead and must not be seen by the people. As they pass through the street, the stones they were expecting to be thrown at them did not come, and it was a rather silent and peaceful event. Alibaba thought that the people of the Kou Empire must have loved theirs princes very much. It was a great relief when they made it to the palace safely and without a scratch.
When they arrived at the palace, Empress Kougyoku was there waiting for them. They walked through a long corridor that leads to an isolated area in the palace. They stopped when they reached a room at the end most part of the hallway. Alibaba heard someone say that this used to be Empress Kougyoku's room before she became the Empress. There is a long table at the centre of the room, Kougyoku sat at the right end of it while Alibaba sat on her right side. The atmosphere was unexpectedly awkward that what Alibaba expected to be a dramatic reunion. Kouen was the one to break the silence.
"Take Koumei with you." He said.
"But wouldn't it be better if you were there too? Whether you are criminals or princes you still belong to the Empire! Besides, we can find a way to keep the Alliance from taking you away for the mean time." Alibaba interjected. They need every single person they can get in order to revive the Kou Empire, Kouen and his brothers were the ones who knew the capability of the country best, so their help would be greatly necessary.
"Koumei is a more suitable leader in times of peace; his knowledge will be beneficial to Kou. I and Kouha must stay on exile." Alibaba got Kouen's point but his he stood his ground as he quietly forms the plan he had been thinking.
"Right now, the International Alliance holds supreme power over the world." Koumei suddenly spoke taking the attention of the other occupants of the room. "I find it difficult to oppose their rules without being branded criminals."
Alibaba looked at Kougyoku, silently hoping that the Empress would understand his silent message. It was then that Alibaba noticed Kougyoku's shivering and the hint of tears on her eyes. However, Kougyoku must have realized that their country is in a very crucial situation; every step would matter and must not be taken lightly and her sentiments should be reserved on a later time. Finally, after a minute or so Kougyoku straighten her back facing them all, her eyes showing the final verdict.
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"You must be willing to make sacrifices at times, knowing that the outcome will be worth it."(Unknown)
Well I don't even know what will be the outcome, she thought. How do you exactly define what is worth it anyway?
Two bodies lay motionless on the floor. Wounds and bruises were all over them and their clothes were almost reduced to nothing. Around them are a dozen immobile people who are all wearing identical robes. Black high-collared jacket that reaches up to their ankles with a white outer robe and a plain black mask that hides their faces. The door of the dark room they are in opened languidly, where a man and a woman came in. Her uncle and auntie.
"Oh, you did great again today my dear! Come, let's give you a bath, the party will start in a few hours. We have to look our best, alright?" said the woman, she's wearing a relatively revealing floor length black dress and her fake-blonde hair—that she has no idea how her auntie managed to attain— is done in a messy bun. She looked down at herself to see that her white combat attire is covered with filth and blood. She also has a few scratches on her arms and feet.
"Good thing you didn't get your face bruised or else well have a real problem." The man added. Like the woman, he's cloaked with expensive clothes, a three piece navy blue suit with the silver-ringed pin logo of their family, a blood red four-leafed clover.
"Well, we should hurry; our prodigy needs a long-time pampering." The woman said in a sickly high pitched voice—the one thing that she hates in her auntie— while ushering her out of the underground room. They passed through the two bodies that she's sure are still alive; however they are too injured to be able to move. She grabbed the end of the woman's sleeves so they would stop.
"What about them?" she asked pointing towards the bodies. She did not mean to harm them in the real sense; it's just for the sake of 'training'—just like what they told her— so as much as possible she wants to make sure that they will be healed after the session.
"Oh my sweet baby, don't worry they'll be alright. Our servants will take care of them." She replied before resuming her steps towards the door. And as if on cue, the previously unmoving men on uniform moved to carry the bodies out of the room through another door that is located opposite to the exit.
A hand suddenly landed on her shoulders startling her. "We'll be late if you don't hurry." It was her uncle, staring down at her with neutral eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She replied then followed them out of the room.
They passed through a narrow spiral stone staircase lit with fire from the old torches placed on the stone wall. At the end of the staircase is a huge fancy looking door designed with real gold and diamonds, its contrast with the surroundings is quite sickening honestly. She did not mind it though; it wasn't the first time anyway. The man opened the door for them. Passing through it, she was met with a completely different world. The corridor is brightly lit and chandeliers were bountifully hanged on the ceiling, it's no exaggeration to say that the floor they are standing on is made of gold because it really is. The whole placed screams riches and elegance, from the spotless walls to the 162 year old porcelain vases, heck even the servants' uniform were made out of expensive materials.
It didn't take them long to reach an even grander door than the previous one they went through. This time it led to a huge dressing room with a bathroom in it. Two female servants immediately assisted her out of her clothes before she was taken to the bathroom, her companies left the room saying they will be back to fetch her once the party starts. All kinds of soaps were rubbed into her skin and her haired was cleansed thoroughly before a rose scented oil was poured on her head. Through all this, she remained silent and avoided their eyes, she let them do their work and they let her as she is. She just want to get this all through and be back at home, with her small fluffy cat and chocolate cookies with hot milk.
After she had dried her body, they helped her into a black and blue ball gown, its sleeves reaches up to her hand and loops around her middle finger. Her sleeves have a slit on the upper part showing her shoulders. She also has a dark blue cape that wraps around her from beneath her exposed shoulder and its ends meeting at the gown's choker. She likes the dress, if only it wasn't too heavy. Nonetheless, she didn't complain.
After that they did her hair and make-up. Her hair is braided on the side while the others were flowing down her back, their ends done in loose curls and her bangs swept on the side of her face. They applied light make-up so as to not destroy her 'young beauty'. And for the finishing, they placed a silver metal head chain with flower designs on her head with matching earrings. And then they gave her a silver necklace with the blood red clover piece in the middle, their family insignia.
She looked up at the clock hanging on the wall to see how long she has to wait, and then she realized that all the dressing up business did in fact took hours and her companies should be coming in a few minutes. Glad that she didn't have to wait long, she dismissed the servants and faced the mirror. Once alone, she started practicing to stretch her lips wide and curled them upward forming into what she hopes is a smile. Don't get the wrong idea, she isn't a lonely person, it's just that she isn't fond of grand parties—well the meet-and-greet-the-other-guests part to be specific— she'd rather train herself all night to be stronger; for the family. It's weird how her world shifted from a creepy underground training room to a fancy princess-like dressing room.
"Now, that's a really good smile, love." The familiar high pitched feminine voice said. She had noticed their entrance but made no attempt on facing them, the dress is too heavy. She heard footsteps coming her way and saw through the reflection on the mirror that it was her uncle that was approaching her.
"You surely became beautiful, both on looks and skills. A blessed young one you are indeed." He said resting his left arm on her shoulder and the other snaking around her and stopped at her necklace.
"A deserving one of our family name Selvaria." He continued.
"Thank you." She said.
"Well it's time to go." Her auntie said.
She stood from her seat and turned around to face the exit. They walked down to a wide corridor that leads toward the party area, two soldiers on their country's traditional armour stands on both sides of the door. Once they saw their insignia they hurriedly opened the door. The buzzing people stopped from whatever they are doing to look at them. Slowly people returned to their business while the others proceeded on greeting them.
"If it wasn't the Selvarias." A middle aged man with bloated stomach and thick curled up moustache greeted them. The logical side of her head remembers him as the head of the Roan Household, a noble family like them, while the teenager side of her brain remembers him as the perverted man that threw malicious stares at her before. She swore to keep at least two meters distance between them.
"It's good to see you too, Senator Crein." Her auntie greeted back.
"Is this the prodigy kid everyone was talking about?" this time, an old lady with greying hair and elegant silver dress approached them accompanied by an old man with clothes that matches with the old lady. They immediately got on their knees, left hand flying to their chest, showing the traditional bow of their country.
"Matriarch, Patriarch, forgive the delay of our greetings." They said in unison.
"No worries it's fine. I just wanted to see one of our young stars today." She said looking directly at her. She stood and then placed her right foot at the back, both hand at the side of her dress spreading them on opposite directions, and then bowed in a perfect 90 degrees bow that she had practiced for years.
"Greetings Your Majesties, it's a pleasure to meet you finally, I'm looking forward on serving you as a general." She said in the perfect soft yet powerful tone she was expected to have.
"Thank you dear. You'll surely make Selvarias flourish." The Patriarch said.
"The pleasure's mine."
The party held for the welcome of the rising warriors of different noble families went on. There was a lot of dancing and singing going around. She even met the two other female warriors of the same age as her who are also rising up to make their own name just like her.
They exchanged formalities before attending on their own businesses.
To sum it all up, her day was filled with endless dancing and greetings. Getting tired of it all, she decided to go to the garden to spend the remaining hours of the party; most of the guests are already drunk anyway so she wouldn't miss a lot.
"What are you doing here alone young lady?" a voice inquired. She turned around and found that it was the patriarch.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for leaving the hall, I just went out for fresh air." She managed to respond without stuttering. Her days training for these events surely come at handy on unexpected times.
"Are you part of the team to be dispatched to the 'lower ground'?" he asked, referring to the mission given to them.
"Yes, I'll join the Cassiopeia Team."
"Take care, then." The Patriarch said as he turns towards the direction back to the main hall. She bowed at his direction and bid him goodbye. The patriarch suddenly stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"If you'll be joining the Cassiopeia Team, where exactly are you going to be assigned?" he asked.
"The Kou Empire, Your Majesty." She simply replied.
"Kou Empire, huh. They have quite a lot of interesting people there. I hope your heart will not waver when you do your job there." He said, his words were vague and she's not really sure what it meant but decided to not ask questions, she'll probably find out later.