“Well, no time like the present! Shall we get started?” Tomo grabbed the cane resting against his chair and tapped it on the ground. As the sound echoed Ku Wei and Ming Jia Ying felt as if they were being pulled in every direction at once.
Only now did Ku Wei notice the rows and rows of books lining the walls as he watched the room slowly fade from existence. It was slowly being replaced with a room he was all too familiar with, a room he had been in mere hours ago, his father's throne room.
Seeing a bit of hesitation in the boy's eyes, Tomo reassured him, “I've used the same technique on you and Jia Ying that I used on the door you arrived through. You will be able to move around and observe what happens, but you will be unable to interact with anything nor will anyone notice your presence.”
As Tomo finished speaking the room faded completely, revealing the throne room in all its splendor. The room was empty, save for two guards near the door, but there was a pressure in the air as if something important had just occurred. The two guards were taken aback by Tomo's sudden appearance, but quickly drew their swords and began shouting.
“You won't be needing those,” Tomo said as the weapons left the soldiers' hands before colliding in mid air. They hovered there, twisting and contorting around one another until they fell to the ground as a tangled ball of metal. As the guards stood there frozen with fear Tomo casually made his way to the throne and sat down. “Please inform Fu that he has a guest,” Tomo waved his cane as he spoke causing the large heavy doors across the hall to open smoothly.
The two soldiers felt like their legs couldn't carry them quickly enough as they fled from the throne room. A moment later pressure descended upon the room that even Ku Wei and Ming Jia Ying could feel in their incorporeal state. “Who dares!?” Ku Wei recognized his father's voice as it echoed through the palace.
As Ku Fu entered the throne room Tomo simply stated, “I dare,” looking entirely unaffected by the ever growing pressure that was making it difficult for Ku Wei and Ming Jia Ying to remain standing.
As soon as Ku Fu saw the man sitting on his throne the pressure was lifted and he knelt, “My apologies Patriarch. If I had known you intended to visit I would have prepared a banquet in your honor.” Ku Wei was shocked, he had never seen his father so subservient before, it completely clashed with the imposing figure in his mind.
“Patriarch, hmm? Seems you are aware of some of the Empire's secrets. That's to be expected of the Imperial Prince I suppose.”
Ku Fu recognized Tomo from a painted portrait of The Academic that was stored in the Ku Clan's treasury. Few were allowed to enter and even fewer were allowed to gaze upon the art stored there. The man himself looked like he hadn't aged a day since it was commissioned, a testament to his cultivation level.
Tomo continued, “I have been keeping tabs on the Ku Clan all these years. I was pleased when you claimed the throne over your brothers. You had the potential to be a great leader.” While Ku Fu was feeling pleased with himself he lifted his head to glance at the man only to find eyes filled with pity. “It's a shame you became so obsessed with strength. To the point that now you're raising a tiger in the hopes it will force the dragon to soar, but what will you do if it eats the dragon instead?”
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Ku Fu and Ku Wei instantly understood that Tomo was talking about Ku Xue and Ku Shen. While it was clear that The Academic didn't agree with his methods, Ku Fu was steadfast in his ideals. He spoke clearly as he stood, “Either way the Gaian Empire will have the strongest leader I could provide as my successor. What would you have done in my place?”
“Instead of suppressing the phoenix to prevent it from clashing with the dragon I would have taught them to cooperate. But it is too late for that, now the phoenix is in my hands and I will raise it as I see fit.”
It was clear Tomo was now referring to Ku Wei. Ku Fu wore a genuine smile, “I wish the phoenix luck on the path of cultivation. I hope he gains the strength to challenge the dragon and tiger for the throne, perhaps he can push them to even greater heights than I imagined.”
“I wouldn't look forward to it too much,” it was Tomo's turn to wear a smile as he twirled his cane, “If he returns, it will be to do what phoenixes do best, burn everything down and create something new from the ashes.”
“Why did you come here? Was it just to challenge me?” Though his tone remained respectful, it was clear that Ku Fu was quite agitated. It had been a long time since anyone had provoked him so blatantly, even the other pillars of the empire with a higher cultivation realm gave him face because of his position.
“Me? Challenge you?” Tomo laughed, “Please, I'm here to challenge Ku Pa. Scolding you for being the conceited child that you are is just a way to pass the time.”
At that moment Ku Wen, Ku Xue, and Ku Shen entered with a squad of Ku Wen's elite guards at their back. Ku Shen wore bandages across most of his body, but it was clear from his movements that his injuries weren't as severe as they'd seemed just an hour ago. Ku Fu raised a hand to stop them and nodded to Ku Wen. Understanding him, she sent the guards outside. With the two young princes behind her they slowly approached, but stopped a ways behind Ku Fu.
“No need to be so timid you three,” Tomo motioned for them to come closer and against their will their feet began to slide along the polished marble as they were pulled in line with Ku Fu. As Tomo rose from the throne the air around him rippled, before anyone could register what had happened he was standing before Ku Wen. “I mean you no harm. I was just pointing out some of Fu's shortcomings. As a matter of fact, I think you would have made a better leader. I wonder why you never challenged him for the throne? Aside from it being rather uncomfortable,” Tomo questioned as he stretched his back.
Ku Wen was in awe of the man's brazen lack of honorifics, it had been years since even she had called Ku Fu by just his given name. She answered honestly, “I was never interested in the throne. The Imperial Prince is busy with the war effort. I felt I could help the people better in my current position by guiding the Ku Clan's branch families.”
Tomo's cane came to rest lightly upon Ku Wen's shoulder as he turned to look at Ku Xue and Ku Shen in turn, “You see boys, this is a true leader. Not obsessed with power or strength, just a steady hand at the helm attempting to carry as many people as possible into a brighter future.”
Ku Xue and Ku Shen both nodded, but Ku Wei could tell that Ku Shen was just going through the motions while Ku Xue seemed to genuinely take the message to heart. It seemed Tomo noticed Ku Shen's ruse as well and a brief look of disappointment flashed across his face. Due to his strong resemblance to his family, Ku Wei felt like he could easily read Tomo's expressions. This led Ku Wei to ponder deeper on what Ku Fu had meant when he called Tomo Patriarch.
Storing his cane under his arm Tomo rummaged through his jacket's inner pocket before producing two crystalline pages with an inky black substance flowing within. “A gift for the young princes. Knowledge is power and with this you will have a portion of The Academic's at your disposal. I pray, for your own sake, that you wield it for the benefit of all,” Tomo's words were heavy, like a warning.
After passing the pages to the boys he twirled his cane as the air around him rippled again before he reappeared sitting on the throne once more. Despite the disrespect he had suffered Ku Fu wore a large smile. It seemed he was at least honest about wanting to produce the best successor possible and Tomo's gifts would help achieve that goal.
Sitting on the throne Tomo also wore a knowing smile as he leaned forward on his cane. “It seems our time is up,” no sooner had the words left Tomo's lips when a rainbow came pouring through a nearby window. As the light receded it revealed a man standing in the middle of the throne room.
Even though the three young princes had never met the man in person they all recognized the Immortal Emperor Ku Pa at a glance. However, the statues and portraits they'd seen didn't do him justice. What surprised them most was his resemblance to Ku Wei, it was as if they were looking at the prince all grown up.