Waking up to the sounds of birds chirping and maids running outside his sleeping quarters. Jianyu had spent the last three days studying from the scrolls he had received from the priest. The scrolls were supposed to teach him how to create the portal to the human world. Unable to decipher the scrolls as something was missing; Jianyu prepares to leave for the temple for help. Moving out from his bed, he quickly dresses himself and heads out to the temple using a portal. With no time to waste, the emperor looked like someone who hasn't been sleeping with his disheveled hair and clothes. Anyone could tell that the emperor has not been able to get any rest. Quickly making his way to the main temple ground, Jianyu spots the old priest praying in front of the temple.
"Old priest!"
"Hm? Your majesty! Why are you here so early?"
"It's not working! These scrolls you gave me; I can't even read a portion of it! What am I doing wrong?!"
"Oh dear.... Alright, if learning from the scrolls aren't working, you'll just have to do it the old fashion way; memorize and repeat after me."
"I don't really have much time left old priest! Every day I waste away, I fear for something happening to Ying Yue!"
"Calm down your majesty, it will be alright. Her highness is not so weak, I believe she will be fine until you find her."
The old priest motions for Jianyu to follow her to the main meeting hall. Into the same room where Ying Yue first spoke properly with the old priest. Seating himself across from the old priest; the priest takes out the scroll and points to the words on the scrolls.
"I will start first your majesty, please repeat after me. One wrong word and you will have to start over."
"I don't understand.....why can't you just reopen the portal old priest?"
"Unfortunately, I am old and weaker now your majesty. Within this kingdom only your magic and mine are strong enough to create portals. It's even harder to create one to the human world. Please understand, the quickest way to her highness is for you to learn this spell. That is unless you don't mind waiting a month."
"No. I don't have that much time. Alright I'll learn it, please begin."
The old priest nods and points to the words on the scrolls. Unlike anything he's learned before, the chant was way more complex and longer. The spell was written in the forgotten language of the gods and not just anybody could read it.
"Old priest, are you not able to write down the translation of the spell on another scroll for me?"
"It is forbidden to do that your majesty. This was a gift from the heavens, we cannot replicate it or translate it. If we did, imagine how much trouble the human world would be in if we were to ever lose these scrolls. Everything will be kept in its original form, so that if it's ever stolen, the perpetrator cannot decipher it."
Grunting in frustration, Jianyu could only rely on himself to learn the spell. Soon, hours passed and Jianyu was still struggling to memorize everything. There was no easy way to learning this spell. Slowly slouching back onto his chair, Jianyu could only think about Ying Yue.
"Old Priest, how long did it take you to learn this spell?'
"Hm... I'd say a whole year your majesty."
"A whole year?! And here I am thinking I was stupid for not being able to learn it!"
"That is because it's not just any ordinary scroll, your majesty. Depending on the person, it can take up to ten years even. The heavens purposely made it like this to avoid having it fall into the wrong hands. The spell can be easily chanted in ten minutes or less, but it takes years to learn for a normal person, but you; your majesty is far from normal. Shall we continue?"
"Sigh...I don't have a choice. Are you certain there's no easier method?"
"I am certain your majesty."
With a deep sigh, Jianyu forces himself to sit back up right and dives right into learning the spell. If it meant someday getting Ying Yue back, Jianyu was going to force himself to learn it. With every incantation he mouths; Jianyu could feel his body go weaker.
"What's happening old priest?"
"It would seem you've reached your limit, your majesty."
"No, I can still keep going."
"Your majesty, I did warn you it would not be easy. We've been trying for the past six hours with no luck. Not to mention you need to memorize this on your own as you will need it to return to the dragon world. The portal in our world will remain open, but the portal will close in the human world as no such thing can exist there."
"Now you tell me that...."
"I will call for a carriage to take you back to the palace. Please refrain from using portals when you come back tomorrow."
Quickly bidding the emperor farewell, the priest heads out of the room and calls a for a nearby maid to go prepare the carriage. Jianyu unable to sit anymore, walks to the window. Staring outside the window Jianyu could see his palace in the distance. Thinking to himself that the palace was now too big for just him. A sudden knock on the door breaks Jianyu from his daydream.
"Knock Knock."
"Come in."
"Your majesty the carriage is ready."
"Alright, I will be back tomorrow morning."
Bidding the priest farewell, Jianyu heads back to the palace in the carriage prepared by the priest. Sitting inside the carriage alone in silence, Jianyu knew it was going to be a long process to getting Ying Yue back.
"What am I going to do if she decides to stay in the human world after going back? No No No, I can't think like this. I have to believe in Ying Yue's love for me."
Slapping himself in the face, Jianyu stops his mind from wandering. After riding in the carriage for twenty minutes, Jianyu was back at his palace. Making his way back to his sleeping quarters, Jianyu orders for everyone to leave him be. Seating himself at his table, Jianyu glances over the scrolls again.
"Knock Knock."
"Who is it?! I thought I asked to be left alone."
"Your majesty, it is us. Shen An and Li An."
"Sigh….come in."
Shen An and Li An, props the doors open. Each bringing in a tray of food for the emperor. Jianyu furrows his brows and questions what the sisters are thinking.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Shen An walks out first. Placing her tray of food by a small nearby table. With her hands clasped together and her back slightly bent, Shen An greets Jianyu.
"Your majesty, I want nothing more than to thank you for rescuing Li An from the clutches of Shi Chen and Zi Tai. Although, Li An can no longer talk due to what happened to her tongue…..she's still alive because of your generosity."
"You two are important to Ying Yue, it's only natural you are taken care of in her absence. I have executed the maids of Shi Chen already; for torturing Li An and cutting off her tongue. Is there something else you are not satisfied with Shen An?"
"No! Not at all. I am forever in your debt."
"If there is nothing else you two may leave."
"Uh.....your majesty please forgive me for being rude, but we know you have not eaten all day. You are our last hope to getting her highness Ying Yue back. So please, you must take care of yourself as well."
"I see…..leave one tray here. Take the other one away."
"Yes, your majesty!"
Shen An and Li An both break into a smile and thanks the emperor before departing off with the extra tray of food. With the twins gone, Jianyu was now alone again. Walking himself to the table full of food, Jianyu silently forces himself to eat.