"A princess shouldn't be ruining their skin over martial arts." The general sighed, "Not to mention, I've never seen a princess fight."
"Really?" Peony looked up in bewilderment, "But, I remember reading in the book that a male member of royalty must be well-versed in the arts of literacy, arithmetic, war, religion, culture, and martial arts. While the female members were taught literacy, arithmetic, religion, culture, chess, dance, music, and martial arts."
"Huh? Why still martial arts?" The general raised a brow, "And for both genders. Kid, where did you read this from?"
"It's in the book, Fundamental Royal Treasures." Peony questioned curiously, "I found the book when I put on my ring."
Peony handed a book to the general who took it with a raised brow as he tried to read it, "Are you sure you can read this thing, kid?"
"Yes? It's easier for me to understand than what the mother was teaching us?" Peony responded.
"Than what the... You can read?"
Peony tilted her head in confusion, "Eh, but I've always been able to do so."
Hearing this, the general's eyes widen in disbelief as he hummed in deep thoughts.
"Want me to show you how to read these characters, Old Man?"
The general opened his mouth only to quickly close it after as he huffed in defeat, "Very well."
With that, she began teaching the old man. In the past, raising young ones had always been her and her brother's job. For many years, she had taught countless children and countless adults. Teaching an old man with such good memory wasn't much of a problem at all. In fact, he could easily understand the words she was teaching him.
The next day, he returned to chat with her again. That day, Peony remembered her mother's glare throughout that morning when she heard that the old general discussed with her husband for a simple spar.
That morning, Maisey guided them to an area far away from the kingdom where Peony usually meditates and arrived at a wide dirt area, "This place was once used to test potions created by me. Please use this place. Also, please go easy on our princess, sir."
"Mh." The old man nodded and stepped onto the dirt ground as Peony followed suit.
"I have a healer on the standby in case things do get a little tough." The general responded as he put on his white gloves.
Peony could see a strange energy coming off from the gloves and smirked, "No worries. I'm much stronger than that. Just don't blame me when things become too tough."
"Hmph. Too optimistic. Begin!"
With that, the general readied himself for an attack. However, he was already shocked to find that the small girl had already vanished and reappeared infront of him to give him a punch. Although it was light, the general instinctively blocked it quickly. However, he was shocked as a feeling of danger crossed his mind. He had not felt such a feeling in so many years that it was surprising to feel it now after so long.
At that time when the spar began, she had only taken the first two steps into Qi Cultivation. So, against an experienced general on the battlefield, her attack wasn't much. However, since she knew that, she had to use her past experience to help her fight on par with him. After five minutes of stalling, the old man seemed to have grown tired as he took a step forward and tried to grab her arm that was lunging at him.
Peony quickly took a step back and quickened her pace. However, the moment she took the dance to his side, he quickly lunged at her with one of his limbs! It was like fighting a man armed with many spears!
However, the general seemed to have gone easy on her as the attacks seems less powerful than more fast paced. That was until she barely dodged one that came at her and could feel the force behind it. Forget that! Was this guy trying to kill her?!
The force just from being next to the attack was enough to almost skin her cheek!
Peony was thinking quickly, but she also knew that she had little time between her thinking and acting. Doing both simultaneously was also draining!
She grimaced as she was backed into a corner. Suddenly, an idea came to her!
Although she was moving non-stop, she picked up a few pebbles and quickly became changing her pace. She was still young and recuperating, but she can still utilize her spirit energy to make up for the clumsiness that comes with being a child.
As the general tried to keep a close eye on her movements, he was shocked to find that he could barely keep up with a six year old child!
So fast!
When was the last time that he encountered an opponent like this? He can't tell if he should be worried over harming the princess, her power, or how this felt rather familiar?!
However, he had experience this before and all he had to do was stop her from attacking him! At least, after he catches her...
He suddenly heard the next tap and instinctively went for it. However, the moment he did, he suddenly heard a loud crack.
Ah....
He's done it now...
"Yes! Old man, I win!"
His eyes widen in shock as he looked around in bewilderment, but he realized that he couldn't find her!
"Old man, just where are you looking?"
From behind?! Above?
No matter where he looked. He could not find her anywhere!
"Old man? Have you gone senile?"
"Hah?! That's it! Come out now!"
The old man, finally lost his composure, began flailing around angrily as he searched around for her. However, where was there to search? She knew very clearly that leaving the dirt arena was the same as disqualification. Not to mention, the fairy also had a very confused look on his face as he stared at him.
With this, he grumbled angrily till he felt a strange pat on his head and was shocked upon realization that the child was on his head the entire time! Not only that, but she had also fallen asleep!
"Hey, you!"
However, by then, she had already fallen asleep after cleaning to the top of the old general's head for the rest of the day. It wasn't till the next day that she woke up and found that she was still clinging onto the old man's head with a very grumpy. After that, she was scolded the entire morning and grounded for a month. Being grounded....
Was still a very unusual feeling to her.
.....
Peony... Peony...
She opened her eyes in surprise to find the gold face of her mother before her and a warm hand on her face.
"Mother?" Peony blinked her eyes in surprise.
Her mother sighed in relief, "Thank god... Your father's retainers noticed these changes. They called us right away. How are you feeling?"
"... Okay?"
"Get her healer here. When she's done take the princess back to her room." The king responded rather disappointed with the outcome.
However, it was clear that the princess did keep her end of the bargain, so he really doesn't have anything to say.
"She's grown colder and more distant again." Her mother murmured after seeing the girl had left the room without a fight, "She was more cheerful and bright when she returned from school, but just now..."
She sighed and called over to Maisey, "Which was it again? Island of Woe? Accompany the child there tomorrow with Aqua."
Peony doesn't remember what had happened to her after. For a moment, she felt warm, but she quickly became cold again. These two temperatures continued to fluctuate as she searched for the cause using spiritual sight. However, following the fluctuation of these temperatures, there was also irregularities with the elements she has. As the light and dark were weak, the other elements were taking this chance to clash against one another as though they were waiting for this chance for a long time and it certainly had been a long time!
Seeing these elements clash within her qi pool and causing chaos, Peony sighed in dismay. Why can't these children act like elements instead of children?!
She watched as the elements fought while unsure on what to do. After much thought, she finally came upon a solution and pulled out her weaker element: Plant.
.....
It was a bright and sunny day over the wide stretch of ocean. Quiet and peaceful with warm sun beating over the ocean. However, that was all. Peony looked to the wide ocean with curious eyes. She had seen the ocean a couple times a year in the past, but she had never been given the pleasure to view it just for the sake of viewing it.
It was blue and, even now, she could smell the scent of the sea just as it was by the beaches back at school.
"Open it." The Leader ordered.
Suddenly, a unison of loud cries echoed in the air as a large whirlpool appeared followed by a large hole that began to open in the sea.
"So loud..." Maisey grimaced as he covered his ears in futile, "Will we also be hearing this when we leave too?"
"I know. It'll be painful for your ears, but please bear with it. Here." She handed her some malleable beeswax, "Stick this into your ears until we land."
Upon landing, she was escorted out of the flying vehicle by the researchers much to the Leader's astonishment.
"What's going on?! Where are the charons?!" The leader questioned with a stern frown.
"This...."
The researchers looked to one another in hesitation.
"Is there a need to ask?" Peony sighed as she looked around in silence, "It seems that it really happened."
"We were too late?" One of the fates hesitated in horror.