VII | THE DRAGONIRA EMPIRE

The Dragonira Empire, masters of Dracantia Arcana, derived their sorcery from lands blessed by a dragon. Unique in their domain, the once reptilian inhabitants transformed into wyverns and wingless drakes, becoming formidable mounts in the empire’s war campaigns.

No dragon willingly served the Dragonira Empire. It was a wounded dragon seeking refuge cycles ago, the time when No Man’s Land was birthed. Beyond the separation, guarded by ancient guardians, lay a realm untouched by allegiance—a no man’s land; it was beyond the world of no human—Enchantara.

By their dark arts, Dragonira could wield the might of dragons, and with a show of their dread power, they subdued many lands. Yet they did not seek open war, for they struck at long seasons, and ever they laid the blame on their foes.

But Dragonira was not alone in their strength, and other realms grew in secret, training their young.

The rank of Human Champion was given only to those who had not seen seven and twenty red flowers fall, for the red flower was the measure of life in Oracrum. It sprang forth when one was born, and it withered through ten stages, each of nine and twenty days, until it faded at last. And the red flower also bore the seed of godhood, which would bloom at the end of days, and bring ruin to many. For the seed was a curse, and it called forth the Ascension, when all blood, of demons, of humans, of all living things by mortal caress, would be tested. And only twenty of kind could rise to the throne of the false gods and walk a road of blood and fire.

Draktar Bastion, Mainland, Eastern of Peels Kneeling

White marble gleamed, rivaled only by the crimson banners that rippled by harsh winds, the higher echelon of the Dragonira Empire convened. The Empress, her countenance concealed by a dragon-carved helmet, an ancient tradition by many before were as unyielding as her gaze.

Silence. All eyes snapped to the Empress, “Before all discourse begins, summon her presence,” she ordered.

The court watched as the doors creaked open, revealing a figure draped in royal attire. The courtiers parted as the chosen, adorned in the emblematic Dragonira fashion, approached the throne encapsulated with scales and wings of seething crimson gaze.

At the foot of the throne, she knelt, head bowed low. “Empress, forgive the delay. The seas, Pirates they are, tossed our ship. Yet, fear not, and your messages have found safe passage to the Western Realm powers.”

“Empress,” she addressed her directly, “while delivering your messages. Some amongst the Western powers may suspect the nature of certain events, particularly the Destara alliance’s sudden shift.”

The Destara Alliance, a coalition formed by three kingdoms from the main continent of the Western Realm, was united under the banner of Destara.

Her voice steely. "what of Destara alliance? Have our efforts been laid bare?”

“Not entirely, Empress. News suggest parts of Destara’s internal dissent have been… nudged, shall we say, by your loyal agents. However the recent ‘demon incursions’ on the mainland, are suspected to be of our own… doing. This knowledge may lead to a rejection of some of your requests from the Western powers.”

Their Intent lies in conquering the main continent Destara of the Western Realm, the largest landmass among all realms. To achieve this, they have plant loyal elites who serve the cause of Destara itself.

“As long as the part remains ours, the edges can be dealt with discreetly. No need to draw unwanted attention.”

Her gaze swept across the assembled court. Then it settled on crimson armor edged with scales and a shoulder cape of thick cloth, standing beside her. With a curt nod, she signaled the cue.

The voice, low and measured, echoed through the chamber. “The Black Sevens, recently kneeled, pledged to our cause, stand before you.”

A rustling wave of movement rippled through the court. Seven figures, shrouded in black, emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden beneath identical masks of red horn.

The Empress turned back. ”Let the words turn to deeds,” she commanded. “The Black Sevens shall be in your hands.”

Empress’ glare pinned the crimson-armored figure beside her. With another curt nod, the figure’s voice boomed, “Queen of Markas, step forward!”

“The Fire Order, their skirmishes in the north have become persistent irritants. You, Queen of Markas, along with the Third General, shall bring swift and decisive action to their insolence.”

“Understood, my Empress,” the Queen of Markas, clad in a flowing red dress, spoke.

The Crimson Armored figure’s voice boomed once more. “King of Roron, step forward!”

“Your target is the Mountains of Ash,” she continued.

“Understood,” a voice, gruff and confident, replied.

“Your Highness,” a voice spoke. “The news from the West, the Destara alliance, along with the Mountains of Ash, have been in talks. Our sources suspect the White Mountain’s intentions to join the alliance.”

“That will not do, we cannot allow that.” The Empress’ gaze hardened. “Roron King, the White Mountain must be made an example of. The rest of the alliance is not to interfere. You have my permission to use any means necessary. The West must know the cost of defiance.”

“I understand.”

“Then, what of the southern continents of the Western Realm, your highness? I believe we have been ignoring the potential for an alliance of our own. If we were to offer the southern forces a portion of our power, we could secure their loyalties.”

The Empress turned to face the speaker.

“The South shall not be spared,” she replied. “It is the same as the East. We shall conquer the continent and subjugate all its people.”

The Crimson Armored Figure’s voice echoed once more: “King of Aruh, step forward!”

The King of Aruh stepped out of the darkness, his armor shining beneath the lights.

“You, King of Aruh, have been tasked with the conquest of the East. The East will soon know the power of the Dragonira Empire, the first of the realms to fall.”

“Your highness,” a voice rang, “I do not believe we should underestimate the East. I have heard many reports of the East’s strength. The East’s sorcerers are powerful and unified.”

“Your point, General?” the Empress asked.

“They will not falter without a fight. In addition, the Eastern Empire of the west has never failed a siege in the history of Dragonira.”

“Indeed, and that is why the East is the perfect target for our first invasion,” she replied. “We will take them by surprise, and they will not have time to prepare.”

“Your highness,” the King of Aruh’s voice rang. “We are ready to march on the East.”

“Good. Go with the blessings of the Dragonira Empire.”

“We are honored, your highness.”

The Empress turned back. She swept her gaze across the assembled court, her voice ringing clear.

“The time has yet to come. Our destiny has only been arriving, and the Dragoniras Empire shall reign supreme! Let the preparations begin. First, march on the East.”

“We will not fail you, Empress.”

The courtiers murmured their assent.

And with that, the meeting was adjourned.

In Qilinria, once in a generation, a child shall be born as the Qilin’s son or daughter, the embodiment of the land’s blessing. This individual shall be marked and rise from nothing, destined to maintain harmony in Qilinria.

As the Qilin’s son grows, their connection with the creature deepens, and the Qilin imparts wisdom and strength to the chosen one.

Aegis and Snow were examining the ruins that caused destruction and inflicted disease upon the elder. Amidst the debris, Aegis sensed the presence of a randomly encountered old lady, surprisingly strong. Though unlikely, he harbored a desire to bring her under his control.

Colossal divine swords rained down, piercing down slopes. Fire started and fell mystical trees after trees.

Aegis gulped. Looking at a distant place behind a tree, he saw Snow. At this time, both fighting against one would only hold him down.

Thunder rang out as a divine sword withered instantly; another came, and another, jagged lightning forks greeting each one.

A colossal golden palm slammed down, seemingly intent on flattening his very being.

The churning skies pierced the palm from the back. He wields it and appears—Aegis, before the Qilin’s daughter.

She was old, clad in red robes and black stitching, with a long pin securing her hair at the back.

Aegis impaled her with lightning, her blood oozing. The talismans! Aegis thought grimly. Her hands turned golden, clasping both forward.

The earth shook, cracks appearing as golden light tried to break through. She merely touched as Aegis went unconscious and was sent flying across trees, spurting out blood.

As she forwarded, thunder rang out, and the skies blinded her for a moment.

Rage of the Heavens came.

The sky was filled with screaming, unending crackles, and she felt her steps as heavy as the might that engulfed everything around her.

Snow and a bearded figure atop a giant falcon appeared, holding the unconscious Aegis in his hands. “Blessed Daughter, may you give this junior face and spare this child?”

Her face and her teeth were in anger, realizing she could do nothing. Before her stood the temple master.

“Take him,” she said with seething anger on her face. The boy had come here and audaciously challenged her. Who would not?

Ren bowed deeply, cupping his fists. “Blessed Daughter, may the Qilin guide your path.”

She would hear all kinds of words from the people, bringer of harmony, yet a brat claiming to force her to subservient. If the temple master hadn’t appeared, she’d have torn his corpse to ten thousand pieces.

After falling victim to one of Aegis’s pranks, the temple master had been crazily searching for him for a whole thirty days. It wasn’t until he felt a raging sky hundreds of miles away within the Qilin Yu domain that he realized Aegis’s presence.

The sun had risen as the skies were clear blue.

Aegis’s face bore the marks of recent battering. Now freshly bathed and clad in black robes, a white mantle, and white eyes cased by a woolen blindfold, A stack of staves hung from his back. Hunger gnawed at him. Three days had passed since his last meal, and his face was irritated.

The Mortal Heart sect diverges from conventional sects by emphasizing classes over traditional master-disciple dynamics or individually. In contrast to the competitive atmospheres found in other sects with internal factions, Mortal Heart fosters a more collaborative environment. Practical experiences outside were frequently organized for disciples by the sect.

As an outer disciple, his responsibilities primarily involve assisting with mundane tasks. On the main peak, he found himself standing in a square surrounded by elegant arched structures. The sect comprises seven core disciples, among them a captivating veiled woman of the same age, the saintess, whose beauty is hidden by a cloak of sky blue tied to a ribbon of red. She stood before him and watched in amusement as a child with blond hair spat out word after word, unending.

This was her, the saintess, the woman he’d seen as he took the guise of a doctor, and it seemed as though she already knew it was him, or was he just thinking it? The blindfolds were new, and no one like him would be wearing blindfolds.

Despite the efforts of the Golden Faith to spread their words, that would not mean everyone would heed or act upon their message. Only those with specific connections or who were knowledgeable seemed receptive. In the midst of these thoughts, he couldn’t help but wonder about his own presence within the sect, questioning the circumstances that led him to this point.

“Blessings this morning! I’m Anana Ma Nournis, an advisor to Prince Manianis Mas Haerna, Kingdom Manisd of the Southern Realm. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He was accompanied by an advisor, a woman in black hair with an apologetic face.

A bothersome boy with a haughty expression wore foreign royal attire of green edged with curves of white layered beneath hazel silk, the fur lining tracing every end.

He could not do anything, as his age would make any retaliation deemed bullying, and this was the first of his missions as a disciple. The advisor was similarly clad in foreign royal attire, predominantly green with white silk and an insignia depicting a throne engulfed in flames.

Aegis, teeth gritted with desire and annoyance, seethed at the brat’s insults in a language he couldn’t understand.

He heard—mier—mier—mier—seemed as though the brat was cursing him endlessly, raised poorly, he thought. Just taking a mere look within his blindfolds at the brat would send his blood spiraling to his head. But he couldn’t act against the brazen provocations. Aegis couldn’t, mustn’t smash his face bloodied—rip off his skull with bare hands and scrape it in zigzag across ragged rocks.

It seemed the higher-ups played the playmaker here; he could tell from this instant mission with the saintess. Moreover, this mission deviated significantly from the usual one the disciples would undertake.

The saintess approached Aegis with a captivating voice. “Senior brother, we have been waiting for your arrival for days; are you alright? Is there something wrong?”

Aegis had rarely been in close contact with an outstanding beauty like the saintess, who possessed the air and grace of a princess. He was merely lost for a split second. Aegis shook his head. “Nothing,” he replied.

She frowned within the veils, not believing it.

“Junior sister, please forgive this brother. There’s a matter with my family. I had to tend to it,” he said. He was not lying, though, and his bloodline was restricted for days as he’d seen Ren Valzar, one of his uncles in the clan, guarding this region here. Ren had planted some kind of punishment teaching from the clan within him.

Ahh, no more lightning wielding, it seems, and back to my normal sorcery, which was ice. He has never really practiced it and hasn’t been; his heavenly rage bloodline was superior after all; an instant flick and any protection of metal that had no enchantments would be an instant end. Ice was heavily water-reliant; summoning huge swaths from it without water would be a huge penalty to his essence pool—unless there was a moon.

Don’t even start with his control; although flicks of lightning would seem as it was very efficient, it was not, he was merely sending small lightning. He’d remember controls of the old would spark lightning within their bodies and somehow speed up healing twice though he could fight unending within twin moon blessing.

He was effectively Immortal beneath night.

Her frown faded as she slowly nodded. “I understand. Family is important, we have to tend to them.”

“Mhm. Thank you for understanding.” Aegis replied, at this point food was the only thing within his mind; he felt it; the heat of a stomach hadn’t filled.

“Senior brother, please don’t hesitate to talk to me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, junior sister.”

Aegis looked at her with the mad shout of a brat. The saintess’s face was beautiful, her skin flawless and pale, her features delicate and well-formed. Yet her eyes barely seen were what truly captivated him. They were large and luminous, the color of dark honey.

Her voice was low and melodious, her manner easy and graceful. She seemed like a fairy, or a princess.

She was cute.

Aegis couldn’t help but admire her, even as she smiled at him.

“So, how are you today, junior sister?” He spoke softly, seeking to kindle aught that would yield more.

“It’s good.”

“I’m glad.”

“How about yours, senior brother?”

“I’m hungry,” Aegis blinked within folds.

The brats advisor smiled, then approached the two. She looked at the saintess. “Junior sister, if this brother is hungry, how about we all eat together?”

The saintess, nodded.

Aegis followed the saintess and the brat to a grand dining hall in the center of the sect, where he met a variety of disciples. The saintess, as a core disciple, was given special treatment. She sat at the head of the table, while Aegis and the brat sat on either side of her. The food was served on large platters, and it looked delicious, but the atmosphere was cold and awkward.

The brat didn't stop mocking Aegis, making snide remarks about his blind appearance, his skills, and his background. He would only pause to stuff his mouth with food, chewing loudly and rudely. The saintess tried to ignore him, but Aegis could see the annoyance in her eyes. The other disciples also looked uncomfortable, but they didn’t dare to intervene.

He was angry, very much so, but he couldn’t act upon it, or else he would fail his very first mission.

Aegis’s face was grim, his thoughts churning.

The Saintess whose name he didn’t know, a core disciple, was assigned as his partner, as a newly-admitted (sneaked) outer-disciple, he expected manual labor, such as carrying supplies and other menial tasks, but a core disciple had been assigned to him.

He decided to break the silence in between shouting and ask the saintess. He leaned forward and said in a low voice, “are we supposed to be this brat’s protection?”

The saintess nodded her head slightly. “We are,” she whispered back.

“Why protect the prince? There’s no point,” Aegis spat out calmly in annoyance.

The saintess sighed, “Senior brother, please don’t mind him. He’s just a spoiled child. It’s because of a wedding, the prince is merely afraid that he will miss it. We waited for two days for you to arrive.”

“Right. Sorry about that, Uhhh… Miss—” Aegis cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward. He realized he didn’t know the name. He wanted to address her properly.

“It’s fine, you can call me Lady Nourn.”

Again, Aegis cleared his throat, feeling less awkward. “I realized I don’t know the name of our esteemed saintess here. May I have the honor of knowing?”

The saintess smiled gently. “Of course, senior brother. I’m Yuhong Xianhua, you can call me junior sister Yuhong. It’s a pleasure to be working together.”

He picked up a piece of bamboo rice, which was cooked in fresh green bamboo and had a fragrant aroma. He asked Yuhong, “Junior sister Yuhong, could you enlighten me about the specifics of our task with the prince? I’d like to understand what we’re dealing with.”

Yuhong Xianhua’s eyes gleamed, and she gracefully replied, “Certainly, senior brother. Our mission involves ensuring the safety of Prince Haerna to a wedding.”

“Why not fly, then? Get this over with,” Aegis asked as he took a bite of beggar’s chicken, which was wrapped in yellow mud and roasted over a fire. It was very tender and juicy.

“Unfortunately, the prince is only mortal and is scared of heights. He refuses to ride on any flying beasts. He insists on traveling by land, even though it’s much slower and riskier,” Yuhong explained as she sipped some tea.

Aegis raised an eyebrow. “Where is the prince’s protection? Is the wedding in a contentious territory?”

“Our ship has been met with pirates; the prince is a minor. There is no official protection, and the wedding is being held in a small village south of the capital city of the Jing Zhou in southern Qilinria, on the shores of the sea. Now we’re taking the land routes, so they’re not a problem for us.”

“Ahh, the mountains…” Aegis mused. “Is the prince taking the main pass or a hidden route?”

“I was just told he was taking the main pass; why? Is there a hidden route?”

“Maybe, I’ve never taken it, so I don’t know. The main pass is faster than the route through the mountains.”

Yuhong Xianhua shook her head. “There are rumors that a large force was gathering near the pass; the dangers are too great.”

Aegis sighed. “I see. We’re probably better off on the hidden route; if there’s rumors of a large force gathering, it’s a good thing we’re taking the hidden route. I don’t think there will be any problems if we’re taking the route through the mountains.”

Aegis felt his blood pulsing with desire and anticipation as he pondered the risks. He’d be able to control his anger; the prince was mortal and no threat to him at all.

“Good point. That’s probably for the best.”

Yuhong Xianhua smiled. “Why? Does the path through the mountains seem dangerous? We should probably stop by the towns to get some supplies.”

“Are you sure there’s a need to go to a small town to get supplies? I mean, I doubt it’s necessary; we should have enough.”

Yuhong shook her head. “That won’t do. The prince may be a prince, but he’s still a mortal; he can’t go anywhere without any supplies.”

“Alright, I see. We’ll have to go through the mountains then.”

“Yes. It’ll be fine; we’ll be safe and secure.”

Aegis chuckled. “Why would anyone try to mess with us? It’ll be fine.”

Yuhong’s smile deepened. “Mhm, probably.”

The prince, with a face of arrogance, felt like he was being mocked.