EPISODE 162: FORGING A NEW AGE 2
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
CLANG!
Princess Allura paced back and forth like an excited kid whose parents gave them one too many sweets. She held a lot of energy in her body, and it was not the good type. Instead, it was like all the nervousness of entering Edryan and accomplishing her mission concentrated in one moment.
It was the dawn of a new day, and the winning Challengers continued their fight to declare five winners who would rise above all others. Princess Allura found herself preparing for a meeting with Prince Lawruthian.
“Allura, practice patience . Should this deal go through, then Ramus and his ilk have promised not to strike where the source of [Edryani Honey] is produced. I understand we are at a weaker position in the upcoming negotiations; however, you must not let that completely interrupt your character,” Chine Redsan sternly warned.
“Ugh, I cannot Aunt Chine. I’ve done my best to follow your advice, but Prince Lawruthian is just…,” she snarled.
The young woman paced back and forth, her billowed pants strikingly changed colors as she moved. It appeared like a living flame was moving throughout the fabric, and in moments it would burst to life and consume everything in an all-encompassing rage.
Aunt Chine sighed. She looked around the large palace room the two found themselves in. It was large, three stories, and held enough accommodations for all their needs. She moved to the kitchen below and began to prepare a simple meal, one whose smell traveled upwards and throughout the room.
Allura’s steps slowed as the smell of her favorite meal began to make its way upward. It was a simple dish consisting of chicken bits sauced and spread over a plate of rice. It was mixed with Az’Dawn spices and would leave her mouth burning from the taste. Exactly the way she liked it.
Her stomach, which hadn’t had a meal delivered to it since the night before, suddenly remembered itself as it groaned. The pacing, nervous, frustrated Allura’s steps continued to slow until they finally picked up again. This time it was in the direction of the smell.
By the time Allura made her way into the small dining area meant for servants, two plates were sitting on the table with hot steam rising from them. A small pitcher filled with juice waited to quench any thirst, and extra portions of the food waited in the center. Aunt Chine gestured to the seat near hers, where a plate of hot food sat—its smell tickled her nose and drew her in closer. Allura smiled, she could never fully express how grateful she was her aunt was by her side. Just as she could never fully express the pain, it brought her to see daily—a constant reminder of her mother and the nightmare of her death. Allura brushed the thoughts away and ate with relish.
“Better,” Aunt Chine asked as she finished.
“Much.”
“Good because it is time for you to meet with the Prince. Do you remember our conversation when we first began this journey,” Aunt Chine asked. The old woman got up and began to clear the plates, leaving a less broody Allura at the table.
Allura remembered the conversation. At the beginning of this adventure, she’d been severely level-deprived for one of her station and age. Now she’d closed the gap between her and her half-siblings, albeit not by much. Even her fourth brother, who died by her hands, could have easily finished her off if not for the several tricks she employed.
“Yes,” she began—standing and helping her Aunt clean the plates. “It is where you told me to roll over like a hound and receive belly scratches.”
“ Allura ,” Aunt Chine responded. “Be serious.”
Allura sighed, the exact words of the conversation coming to mind. She’d mentally gone over them countless times throughout their journey.
“His reputation is his strongest weapon. He is the Holy Prince of Edryan, [Chosen] of his Goddess to complete an impossible feat. I have seen how the magi, even the demigoddess and Prestiges react to him. They respect him as if he were on their level or slightly above.”
“Knowing all of this—then, on the political field… how do you counter him?”
This was the second time Chine Redsan asked Allura this question. This time, when Allura responded, it held much more confidence and directness than the first time.
“You cannot, not without a certain status or reputation that shows you hold as much prestige and power as him. A thing, we both know I lack. What I don’t lack, however, is knowledge and the ability to get unique insights into Az’Dawn. I will have my father dead— one way or another .”
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The wind whistled, the grey clouds above ominous in their coloration. Browns, reds, oranges, and more littered the ground as leaves silently gave their goodbyes to the land of the living. Their nutrients would be returned to the ground for a new generation to rise from their ashes.
Crunch—Crunch.
Two pairs of booted feet walked over the ground. The night’s felled leaves had not yet been cleared out of their path. They were the only pair of footsteps heard, not out of a lack of others present, but because a barrier surrounded them. This would allow them to freely converse without consequences.
Two people walked over the decay of flowers, trees, and other specialized plants in the garden that held the most valuable Edryan assets in the current period. Their guards and other personnel walked behind them, not close as they stood nearly five meters away. It was a distance that may not seem close, but for a high-leveler, such a distance was a step away.
Two people gazed at a semi-distance structure. A glass building that one of them marveled at. Princess Allura hadn’t ever seen something of its making, but she understood this was where her desire lay. Next to her, the Prince of Edryan stayed silent. Since their initial greeting, the younger man hadn’t said much. He’d only activated a powerful barrier around them that could prevent most high-levelers from listening in.
Crunch—Crunch.
Several times, Allura wanted to speak. And, numerous times, she found herself at a loss. Where did she begin? What did she want to say? It was right here, right now, that Allura fully felt the difference between them. When she came here as a youth, that difference wasn’t as obvious to her. She’d thought she’d be meeting some brat who’d be impressed to be meeting a Princess of the Az’Dawn Empire. Oh, how she was mistaken . That was an eye-opener for her, and her return redefined who Allura Grasci Az’Dawn was forever . After all, it wasn’t everyday one could watch their mother be murdered by their father.
“The first time I met you, I was just fully realizing what it meant to be the Prince of Edryan. No—what it meant to be the [Chosen of Madris]. I do not have many peers who can hold the same strength as sovereign as I do—and, that statement still holds true to this day.”
Crunch—Crunch.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Allura listened to the mature voice of Prince Lawruthian, not responding. She felt the weight of his words more now than ever, but if she could get a powerful ally to help her fulfill her goal…
The two continued their slow walk through the garden. The large glass dome building approached them, rather, they approached it, yet its height seemed looming to Allura. The lightly green glass greedily absorbed whatever sunlight it could. Allura could tell it was magically reinforced and warded by the amount of light that radiated from it. Whatever was inside… was vital to the Edryanis.
“You were brash, believing I’d hold some reverence for a Princess of the Az’Dawn. You believed I’d run to do your bidding at the mention of your home, and that belief is what led me to act and speak the way I did. Later, and especially during the last few days… I wondered. Why and who would send a young princess with barely any training to Edryan—I understood the rumors of [Edryani Honey] were circulating outside the country as it’d been several years since their discovery, but I didn’t understand why such a young princess was sent.”
He turned his head and gazed at her while they walked. She was only slightly shorter than him, but no more than half a dozen centimeters. His red-gold eyes held on to her Aubrey-colored eyes but only for a moment. Then, indifferently, they gazed away.
Crunch—Crunch.
“ Now… I do. You are a throwaway. An object that holds no value or use outside of testing the waters or making excuses. You are disfavored by your father, your clan does not possess the same strength and prestige as your half-siblings—all who come from much wealthier and renowned clans. Should your mission fail, and you somehow return alive, you will die. Should it succeed—you will die. Do you know that?”
He laughed…
He…
Laughed.
A callous thing to Allura’s ears, a thing that made the Wrath in her BOIL.
The ground sizzled and Prince Lawruthian’s laughter stopped. “You would die before you could activate whatever gives you hope. And, you’ve misunderstood me… I do not laugh at you—but those who plot against you.”
“Why… why will I die,” a hoarse voice questioned. Allura barely recognized it as her own.
“You don’t even see the malice of your men, do you? Or perhaps you do, but believe they will let you return alive after successfully negotiating [Edryani Honey] from my hands.”
Prince Lawruthian halted in his tracks and turned to fully face her.
“Shadow, can you give us privacy—just enough for them to know nothing scandalous is occurring.”
From the ground, shadows began to consume the sound-preventing barrier around them. It continued until a thick haze barely allowed anyone to see within. Both sets of guards following the pair grew restless, eyeing each other but otherwise, nothing was done. Aunt Chine frowned but she kept her patience.
Allura hadn’t even detected the presence of the Shadow Prince Lawruthian spoke too. It was only after their power activated that she realized a powerful high-leveler was this close to them. She looked at the prince’s shadow, which seemed to be a dark abyss.
“Don’t stare at her—she’s shy,” the prince stated.
“Now, back to the topic at hand. I am not certain of it, but I’d assume the men who travel with you are beholden to the Emperor. However, I’d also assume they may have loyalties lay with another party of your imperial family. Why would any of your rival siblings allow you to return with great merit?”
Allura’s boiling blood could barely be contained. The cool autumn weather no longer felt cool to her. Presently, Allura Az’Dawn felt like she was in the desert of home. She hadn’t even thought of that. Yet, with the words of Prince Lawruthian echoing through her mind, she suddenly realized just how much danger she was in. She held no doubt Legionnaire Ramus was beholden to others outside of her [Heavenly Father]. And, even if he wasn’t, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe he could be paid to have her eliminated. Even if he were her father’s man, the hostility he showed throughout the journey was far above what was acceptable. How did Allura not realize this…? How did Aunt Chine not realize this…? Unless… she had.
“I can see the gears turning now that you’ve calmed somewhat. One of your siblings will have you eliminated on your return and take the credit for your achievement as their own. This will help solidify their position in the eyes of the [Heavenly Father]. At least, that is what I would do—especially considering the way the Az’Dawn rulers have been chosen for the last few generations. You are at a crossroads, Allura Grasci Az’Dawn. You can decide not to believe my words and trust in the integrity of your siblings. Perhaps what I said is wrong, as I do not know them personally. Perhaps you will achieve your deal and make it home safely—or… perhaps not .”
Crunch—Crunch.
He laughed again. This time it was much less callous than the previous, but the Wrath in Allura still boiled. The chances of a sibling acting against her… Allura wouldn’t bet on it. Not with her life.
“So,” she choked out. She’d never before had this level of pressure on her shoulders from someone of a similar age.
It made her despise her weakness .
“What do you propose?”
The [Chosen of Madris] smiled. Allura had a sudden thought… if there were demons and devils—then surely the man in front of her was one .
“Allow me to sell you protection. One hundred men who are of sufficient might to see you make it home safely alongside the goods. They will ensure your safety back to the capital and the lands of your clan—once there, half will stay behind, signed to you by a contract of binding magic. Should they ever betray you, then they will perish, their souls never to make it to the Promised Land. They will also give you a powerful communication device where we discuss and begin a trade of goods between the Redsans and Law’s Sweet Golems. You will be able to purchase our proprietary magi-technologies at a discounted rate and turn the territory into a more prosperous region.”
Allura held a second thought as the words of Prince Lawruthian continued. It reminded her of her first connection with Wrath. The feeling of power and strength it gave her. Fifty high-levelers… [Death Guards] who’d live and breathe under her command was a highly attractive offer.
Allura glanced at the green glass-stained building. It stood only a few meters away. Unknowingly, they’d arrive by its entrance. It rattled her, how the Prince of Edryan drew in her attention like so.
‘This is the difference between a Crowned Prince and someone like me…?’
“What… what would this cost me—truly?”
If Princess Allura was certain about one thing in this world—then there was a price to pay for everything.
“ Nothing… ,” he said, a sly smile on his face.
“ Everything. ”
“Can you promise me one thing…”
Prince Lawruthian tilted his head down slightly, his gaze locked into Princess Allura’s.
“Promise the [Heavenly Father] will die by my hands.”
Prince Lawruthian smiled, and the barriers dispersed around them. He held his hand out and Princess Allura looked at it confused. Hesitantly, unsure of what was going on, she reached her hand out to his. His palms didn’t hold the softness she’d expect of a prince. They were firm, a bit rough even, hands who’d gotten dirty before. Her arm shook up and down gently, and it was only now Princess Allura realized what the Prince was doing.
“You have yourself a deal. How would you like to load the [Edryani Honey]?”
CLANG!