The next morning, Victoria cleared her entire schedule for the day much to the disappointment of various nobles and dignitaries who had traveled far and wide to see her; however, seeing as she was arguably the most powerful and most dangerous person in the world, not a single one of them openly expressed that disappointment especially given her preoccupation with the fallout of her rumored-to-be-dead heir.
Instead, for the day, she was perusing the BloodStar family archives in the catacombs below her castle. She had ordered her entire staff force to bring her any and every article related to her family’s history whether it be 10 pages or 10,000 pages.
In the light of the neighboring torch fire, she perused these documents for hours and hours. She had thus far found that her ancestors reveled in telling tales of their most powerful family members, often times exaggerating their feats to great heights.
She held a tattered unfurled scroll in her hands with a picture of what looked to be a flying demon with red scales, black wings, armor strung across its body, and a flamed whip in its hand. The demon flew above a war-torn battlefield overseeing the death it had brought. The text read:
“Empress Bella BloodStar of the 1st century fought and made extinct the entirety of the Dragunus Empire. Calling on her bottomless power, she struck fear in her enemy and death spread like the plague before her feet. Described as a demon on the battlefield, she is rumored to have kept the form until her dying days.”
Victoria breathed a tired sigh and furled the scroll back into its container. She knew well that ancient ki users were generally regarded to have frightening power when compared to modern day ki users. However, it was also her understanding that her own family’s power had waned little when compared to other families. In part owing to their lust for war and battle.
She picked up the next scroll to find another depiction of a demon on the battlefield from the 1st century. She annoyedly slammed the scroll down on the table, “Damnit! Why have my ancestral family scholars focused on embellishing the tales of the 1st century with depictions of demon forms? Telling these tales throughout the ages has resulted in needless fantasizing of my family’s power.”
She thought for a moment, “Where did my own mother, the Vermilion Empress, hear about the old tale she told me in my childhood?”
She decided to put aside the stacks of scrolls amounting to fairy tales of her past ancestors, and instead she traveled to the family tombs within the lower catacombs.
She came upon the most recent tomb which read: Empress Scarlett BloodStar – The Vermilion Empress. The tomb site for each past Empress measured the size of a large castle room.
Victoria scoured the tomb to no avail as she found only personal belongings, weapons, engraved stones, and fine jewelry adorning the site. She defeatedly sat in one of the luxury chairs at the side of the room and took a moment to meditate.
She internally thought to herself, “I know I didn’t make up that memory of a rhyme myself. It must have been from my mother when I was a young girl.” As she meditated at the tomb lit by torch light, she suddenly felt something, “What was that? An aura?”
She looked to the headstone where she detected the ever so faint aura. She stood to investigate the origins of the faint aura. She came to the conclusion that the aura was coming from within the burial site itself.
She thought to herself, “Why is an aura coming from my dead mother? As an empress I have the right to exhume her… but should I?” She stood for a moment contemplating the lack of reverence she would be showing to her mother especially if she found nothing; however, ultimately, she thought, “My bloodline power heir may be dying, I may be next. Ramses and Zara are not cut of the BloodStar cloth. If there is a mystery in this tomb, it is my duty to uncover it. Especially if it sheds light on Xenia’s future.”
Victoria then raised her aura and carefully exerted her ki to slice the top layer of stone from the burial stone itself. She then pushed it aside with her immense strength to reveal the bones of her dead mother, Empress Scarlett. Clutched within her hands was a scroll.
“Where did this scroll come from?” Victoria was confused as she reached within the tomb to retrieve the scroll from the skeletal hands clasping it closely. Victoria examined the scroll to find that it was indeed the source of the mysterious ki aura.
She unfurled the scroll to find that two parchments were rolled together. The first parchment was on fine leather crafted from the BloodStar Empire. Victoria recognized it as royal parchment that was still in use to this very day.
The parchment had been inscribed upon in blood as was ancient tradition within the royal family. Dying words were often written in blood and buried with the individual. Victoria had not known of her mother’s intent to do so. She focused on the parchment and read it to herself:
“The visions bring me life and also death. I have not the qualities of the ancient Emperors of the BloodStar family. And while I lament it cannot be me, I die happy knowing the return of the conqueror is nigh. For the visions do not lie. They give truth in exchange for life.”
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Victoria knew not the meaning of her mother’s dying words, and she also knew not of the visions she spoke of. She moved to the next parchment. In comparison, this parchment was tattered by the ages. It fractured along ancient fold lines, and the text was faded only visible owing to the nature of its writing… in blood with iron deposits left where blood once ran.
“The BloodStar clan will rise to power. I have felt their potential. Thousands and thousands of years may pass before the pinnacle is discovered. There will be those who shift, fight, heal, and steal. But only one will conquer death.
Crimson blood-red hair. Grace the undead heir. Once fallen in a dark hour. Rise with unmatched power.
Pass through the gates of death. To reach your first breath.”
There was no date and no signature at the bottom of the parchment. However, Victoria knew it to be several thousands of years old given that her family had been referred to as a clan.
Victoria stood in thought, “Those who shift… Xenia and I both can change hair color, nail length, and other attributes. Those who fight… all BloodStars fight. Those who heal… Xenia and I can both heal although she is leagues beyond me with her abilities. Those who steal… Just me for now. Though she will too once I die.”
She muttered to herself, “Pass through the gates of death. To reach your first breath.” She then thought, “Why has Xenia been graced with blood-red hair if she hasn’t yet died? Unless… undead… she is not dead. First, she gains the blood-red hair and unmatched power. Then she dies… but… then what? First breath of what?”
Victoria knew not what this prophecy of sorts meant; however, she did now have the inclination to believe her heir was not only recovering but recovering to great new heights. How long her recovery would take, she didn’t know.
Victoria refurled the scrolls and created a transportation portal to take her to her master suite high above her in the castle. She stepped through the gate and into her room. She walked across the room and stored the scrolls in her desk as she thought to herself, “The most troubling aspect of this entire mystery seems to suggest that Xenia’s dance with death isn’t over… it is only beginning.”
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President Monroe and Vice President Morrow walked through the Heraklinos palace in the capital city of the Heraklinos Empire.
President Monroe softly spoke to his Vice President, “Who would’ve ever thought we, of all people, would end up here? Huh?”
Morrow responded, “The Master Families of the world have become aggressors as we knew they always would. This was inevitable.”
They continued to follow the attendant leading them as they gazed and awed at the architectural detail of the palace and the exquisite artwork adorning the walls, surely each one their own priceless masterpiece.
The attendant came to a large set of gold-plated double doors and said, “Mr. President and Mr. Vice President of the United States of America. Master Heraklinos and Master Sage will now see you.”
The attendant opened the door to allow their entry, and the two made their entrance quickly with the heavy door closing audibly behind them.
As they entered and approached the set of luxurious leather arm chairs arranged to face one another around a central coffee table, Master Heraklinos stood to greet them. He wore a formal blue martial arts gi known to his empire.
“Welcome to my empire Mr. President and Mr. Vice President!” He outstretched his hand to give each a strong handshake.
President Monroe shook Master Heraklinos’s hand and felt as if his hand would be crushed by the mighty clasp of Master Heraklinos.
Jarek said, “Thank you both for coming!” He released his powerful grip and looked to Vice President Morrow; however, Morrow’s hand was spared from being crushed as Master Sage intervened.
“Jarek, if you could only shake your own hand. It can be terribly unwelcoming.” Erika looked to the two guests and said, “Please, he doesn’t know his own strength. Let us go ahead and take our seats.”
Jarek started the meeting off in earnest, “I have to say I was mightily surprised when you contacted me, Monroe. The United States has historically been a beacon of independence. Although don’t misunderstand me, I am elated that you have come to the table with us.”
Monroe leaned forward, “Yes. Well. Dire times call for drastic measures. Our one ally that could potentially protect us from our enemies has perished in battle. The great Empress Victoria refuses to throw her support behind us. We have little choice but to play ball with the Master Families of the world now.”
Erika nodded, “A wise decision. Your sacrifice will lead to a diplomatic victory rather than more death. The world will respect such a decision.”
Morrow cleared his throat, “Mr. President. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Monroe looked to him and then back to Erika and Jarek, “Yes, thank you. The United States is just that… a group of united states. We collectively have agreed to fall under the shared rule of the Heraklinos and Sage empires should the other Master Families agree to it at the conference. The Holy Light Empire will obviously need some convincing.”
Jarek laughed, “Pope Gregory and I go way back. He will be thrilled to have the United States fall under our rule.”
Monroe continued, “Yes, well, Pope Gregory may yet still have a fight on his hands for one state.”
Erika and Jarek looked to one another and then back to Monroe. Erika said, “What state would dare defy the Holy Light Empire alone?”
Monroe shook his head, “Texas. The senator of Texas, Arthur Davis, is under the illusion that the BloodStar Empire may yet ride to their aid. They as a people are stubborn and invite challenges to their independence. They will ride to their deaths against the Holy Light Empire.”
Monroe took a sip of refreshing water from the coffee table and continued, “Vice President Morrow and I are here to emphasize that Texas stands alone. They are in the process of seceding from the union of our United States as we speak. We are here to emphasize that they have chosen death, and we will not advocate for them on the international stage.”
Erika smiled, “Thank you for your honesty in this matter. This information will surely aid us in our diplomatic proceedings at the upcoming conference.”
Jarek rubbed his chin, “Maybe the BloodStar Empire will ride to their aid? Who knows? But even if they do, Empress Victoria’s involvement in a war of any kind would trigger our treaty signed so many years ago. She would be annihilated into oblivion by all of the Master Families. Her involvement would change nothing.”
Monroe sighed a breath of relief, “Well. With that out of the way. On behalf of the American people, we look forward to prospering under the rule of the Heraklinos and Sage Empires.”