Later that afternoon, Jarek walked the courtyards of the palace looking for Erika; however, from afar, he saw Erika and Jacek eating lunch on a picnic blanket. The two were laughing, kissing, and smiling. The two were lovebirds oblivious to everyone around them.
Jarek observed from afar. Seeing the two of them back together was one of the most joyous occasions he had seen in recent months. Not only were they seemingly back together, but they also were so happy with one another.
Jarek waited 5 minutes. Then 10 minutes. And eventually decided to run several errands around the place before returning an hour later to find Erika and Jacek right where he last saw them. He decided to wait no longer and approached the couple.
“A courtyard picnic! What a lovely idea on such a beautiful day like today!” Jarek sat down across from the two of them, “I hate to intrude, but I am afraid, Jacek, that I must steal your date for a meeting that I can no longer put off as it was supposed to take place last evening.”
Jacek laughed, “She isn’t just my date, Dad. Erika is my girlfriend. Once again.”
Jarek smiled and looked to Erika, “What exciting news! Congratulations to the both of you!”
Jacek hugged and kissed Erika causing her to frantically clutch the scarf around her neck as to not reveal her fresh hickey from earlier.
Erika smiled back at Jarek, “Old flames kindle quickly when they were never meant to be extinguished.”
She then turned to Jacek and said, “Good luck training today. See you later tonight?”
Jacek stood up and nodded, “I’ll find you immediately after my training. I’ll be starving. Dinner?”
Erika smiled and said, “Lovely idea. I’ll be waiting. And I’ll be hungry!”
Jacek gave her a smile as he knew her meaning to be an innuendo for him. He then turned to head back to the training fields that were completely torn up more and more everyday by his training.
As he walked away, Jarek relaxed on the blanket and said, “I am very happy to see you two back together. It is maybe the most important thing for the future of both of our empires. And I don’t say that lightly.”
Erika nodded, “And I don’t take that lightly, either. I am all-in on making this work. I have compromised at every turn, and I have even forsaken my dignity for the sake of the success of this relationship.”
Jarek furrowed his brow but didn’t question her statement further as he knew it might lead to private matters. Erika continued, “Our relationship is off to a wonderful new beginning. However, it is not so solid yet that I can ask things of Jacek bluntly that he may disagree with.”
Jarek shook his head, “No. No, of course not. I do not intend to put you in that situation, regardless of the strength of you two’s relationship.”
Erika said, “If we are to truly become the future of our two empires and have a long lasting and successful relationship, we will need your help as well.”
Jarek nodded, “Anything! I am here to help!”
Erika replied, “Train him. Train him personally. His personal fulfillment would reach new heights if you trained him in the Perfect Warrior technique yourself. He wouldn’t seek unhealthy and dangerous activities if he knew he had you on his side. He would not rebel.”
Jacek paused before saying, “Erika. It is clear to me that you have poured your heart and soul into him. You love him. If you are asking me to train him for his own good, and for your good, then I will not say no.”
Erika shouted with glee, “You won’t regret this Jarek! This new technique will give him a sense of responsibility to his empire! It will elevate him both personally and professionally!”
She jumped forward to hug Jarek. After letting go, Jarek said, “Now, let’s discuss in private the matters regarding the upcoming Master Family conference with the United States. I have interesting news.”
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It had been just over a week since Xenia ‘died’, and there had been no progress. In fact, her condition had worsened.
Nero sat in the lotus position at the base of her rejuvenation chamber. He had his eyes closed in meditation; however, he knew what he would see when he opened them.
Xenia’s body suspended in a translucent light blue fluid with leads, tubes, and other attachments connected to her body to aid her in sustaining life, and a breathing mask over her lower face.
She was still missing both legs, but the necrotic eschar had now crept up into her pelvis degrading her pelvic bone structure. She was still missing her hand; however, the necrotic tissue now reached up to her shoulder compromising the viability of her entire arm. Her flank still appeared as if a shark had taken a bite out of her side. Once again, the tissue damage had progressed inwards to her core. Lastly, her eye was still missing, and the necrosis ate away at the adjacent tissue revealing her cranial bone underneath.
As it was his sworn duty to protect her, it pained Nero to his core to sit and protect Xenia while she died ever so slowly. Each day, he saw her inch closer and closer to death. Yet also, he knew she still fought for her life. He could feel her will emanating through the ceremonial chamber each time he entered.
He opened his eyes and softly said to himself, “When you overcome this. You will be invincible. You will rule the world.”
He let out a fatigued sigh and looked to the ground. It was midnight, and he hadn’t slept for 36 hours. At that moment, the dimly lit room began to glow with a soft, silent crimson aura.
Nero believed it to be a mirage from fatigue at first glance; however, he had experienced battle fatigue in all its forms, and he knew this sensation was real. He looked up to see the same dying Xenia. However, her jet-black hair was now glowing a crimson red.
Nero looked on as her blood crimson hair illuminated the room softly. It was faint; however, Nero felt an ever so subtle ki within the glow. A ki aura he had never yet felt before. It was calm, but strong. It was dangerous, but in control. It embodied mastery of power.
He hesitated in disbelief for a moment before thinking to call for Empress Victoria. This was an update of unknown significance, but nonetheless, it was a unique update that she would want to know about. He briefly opened the door and yelled to a nearby guard, “You! Wake the Empress at once! Tell her Nero has an update for her!”
The guard immediately sprinted with all of his energy through the castle reaching the guards outside of Empress Victoria’s room. The messenger guard relayed the message to the royal guards, “Gladiator Champion Nero commands to wake the Empress at once.”
The royal guards hesitated for a moment; however, they knew better than to question orders from Nero, a bonified gladiator champion. They rushed in with the intention of respectfully waking the Empress.
However, they were surprised to find her already awake in a robe sitting on the edge of her bed. She looked to the guards and said, “Tell Nero I am coming.”
The guards bowed and left the room. She sat in silence on her bed thinking to herself, “I don’t know what I felt. I don’t know if this is good news or bad news. But I felt something from Xenia. It will either be a last gasp before death, or a fresh breath for new life.”
She stood up, tightened her robe, and made for the ceremonial chamber housing Xenia. She calmly but quickly made her way through the castle’s main corridor to the ceremonial chamber and entered.
She entered to see a fatigued and tired Nero at a loss for words. She then looked to Xenia who looked pitiful and worse than ever… her hair black as night.
Victoria held her arms crossed and looked back to Nero, “Surely you didn’t pull me out of bed to remind me of my dying daughter. My fallen heir.”
Nero bowed his head and frantically said, “No. Of course not. There has been a development of unknown significance. A brief change in Xenia.”
Victoria grew annoyed, “Nero. Cut to the chase. Now!”
Nero shook his head, “Moments ago. For approximately thirty seconds. Xenia’s hair turned a crimson blood red. It emanated a calm, powerful, and controlled aura. Then, it vanished, and her hair turned black once more.”
Victoria focused her eyes at Nero and gave him a cold glare, “Are you certain? You have been on watch for 36 hours straight save for a few Colosseum matches. You are tired Nero. You are seeing things.”
Nero began to rebut, “I am not seeing things. I know the pitfalls of fatigue and – “
Victoria unfolded her arms and cut him off, “I know them too! Better than anyone! While I don’t doubt you saw something, I do doubt what you described. A change in the air woke me too moments before the guards reached me.”
Nero nodded, “What do you believe this phenomenon was?”
Victoria looked back towards Xenia, “I don’t know. But I am ordering you to take leave of your watch. Constance will take guard for the next 24 hours.”
Nero gave his Empress a deep bow, “As you wish Empress Victoria.”
As he motioned to leave the chamber, Victoria called to him, “I don’t doubt you saw something Nero. But crimson red hair on a BloodStar heir… does that mean anything to you?”
Nero shook his head, “No Empress. I have no knowledge of such a change in the heirs of the BloodStar lineage.”
Victoria nodded, “That will be all, Nero. Get some rest.”
Victoria sat in silence looking up to Xenia in her rejuvenation chamber as she struggled to remember an ancient tale of her family’s past, “Crimson blood-red hair. Grace the undead heir. Once fallen in a dark hour. Rise with unmatched power.”