With that, she was dragged out of bed and rushed out the door after changing into her white brocade. Her thoughts of the dream no longer remained in her thoughts as she hurried out the door after her. However, the moment she did, she felt that something was very off.
Yet, everything was as it was. A large mansion of blue tiles curved on each ends and sides adorned with a statue of phoenixes and long snake-like dragons at each corners.
"Wait!"
Lotus looked up as a young demon boy hurriedly ran to their little Mo Li stopping her.
"Hm?" Mo Li looked to the child with a eyes lot in curiosity, "Oh, wow! You have pretty horns and pointy ears like me! Your eyes are green like mine too! And, your black hair and pale skin! They are so beautiful! Are you a fae like me?"
"Huh?" The little boy looked to her curiously and yet hesitantly, "That's right, but I'm a dark fae. Are you a light fae? No, that's not right... Yet, you don't have the dark magic we are capable of using."
"Dark magic? Isn't that a taboo? Also, what's a dark fae? I asked if you're a fae." Mo Li raised a brow in bewilderment, "Why would I use dark magic?"
"Mo Li?" Lotus approached them curiously, "Is something the matter? Did a friend appeared in this world too?"
"We're not friends yet!" Mo Li smiled excitedly, "I don't know his name yet too!"
She turned to the child who was about her age and said with a bright smile, "I'm Mo Li. I come from the Moors forest! What about you?"
"The Moors? As in the Moors where the Thorn Fairy lived in? Well, if you want to play that game..." The little boy raised a brow, "I come from Briars Valley."
"Briars... Valley?" Lotus whispered as a stinging headache came over her. It sounded so familiar...
Distracted by the girl, the little boy continued, "I'm Malleus. Malleus Draconia."
"Malleus?"
A sense of discomfort and dread washed over her as the pain got stronger! It was so painful as screams filled her head. Her vision began to blur and she was forced onto her knees!
"Sister? Third Sister!" She could barely hear her Mo Li's panicked scream, "Third Sister! You're in pain?! Hold on! Third Sister! Can you hear me?! Quick, find someone! Third Sister has collapsed!"
"But, I don't know where I am-!"
"Wha-?! Then, I'll go! Stay here with my sister!"
"A-Alright." Malleus responded with a shocked expression across his face as he realized he could barely steel himself against the wave of pressure coming from the little girl's anger.
"W-Wait... M-Mo Li..." Lotus barely managed with a heavy shudder, "No... Don't... Don't leave!"
However, Mo Li was already gone. In her place, Malleus barely managed to catch her crumbling body.
Standing before the silver hair woman, he could feel the familiar air of magic as his eyes widen in surprise, "This is-!"
Suddenly, the air around them shifted. Lotus opened her eyes and found herself standing on the tall wall of her kingdom looking down over the people holding their unlit and red paper lanterns waiting eagerly for the ceremony to begin. They were no longer in her courtyard or her room and the pain was now gone, yet...
This scene...
She could hear clapping behind her as she turned around and saw the familiar tall figure standing before her next to her sisters and their husbands.
And there amongst them in gray and blue...
Her big brother...
Ah, it's the lantern festival and their little sister's birthday...
The tall figure nodded with a bright smile as he stepped up, "Good speech. Come now, Mo Li. Let's see what you can do."
"Trying to mock me, I see." The little girl in green huffed on disdain, "Observe."
She hurried to the stone railing and waved her hand, "Ignite."
Suddenly, the lanterns were lit throughout the streets of the capital and far into the country side. They shone brightly as they were hung and placed around the plant spirits' and fairies' homes. Perhaps a little too brightly.
"How's that?" The little girl smirked at the tall boy.
"Aren't they lit a little too brightly?" The tall boy notes with a raised brow curiously yet with eyes sparkling.
"This..." Lotus stopped in bewilderment as she looked on.
"Huh?" Mo Li turned back around only for her eyes to widen in shock, "This-!"
Sure enough, the mana used was a little too much for her to control properly. As a result, the lanterns were set ablaze throughout the country followed by the houses and forests!
"T-t-t-this!" Mo Li started in disbelief upon seeing this.
Eldest sisters 's stoic husband frowned, "Put it out."
"... Yes, let's put it out..." Their eldest sister nodded with a heavy sigh and waved one hand putting the flame out with heavy rain across the kingdom that lasted for five minutes.
Though for others, it was a slightly miserable five minutes.
Seeing the confused and miserable expression of the crowd, Mo Li was at a loss over what to do.
"Don't worry. I'm still watching closely." The tall boy reminded the little girl with a smirk across his face.
This guy!
She always had a bad feeling whenever he showed up around them. Just what was he planning to do? Mock Mo Li?
"Watch my ass! You! Stop laughing!" Mo Li hushed angrily and secretly kicked his shin out of their eldest sister's sight.
"Ah..." the boy hissed quietly in pain and he struggled to keep a calm appearance, "I'll stop. I'll stop!"
Nursing his leg with the other foot, the boy asked, "Since it's a festival, let us celebrate properly. I take it that the Empress has prepared something special for the people on such a wonderful occasion and the kid's birthday?"
Glancing over to him, Lotus was surprised, but didn't quite show. Instead, she turned to her elder brother who nodded his head and stepped forward keeping Mo Li between them so that she could observe them by example. Together, they willed seasonal trees to sprout from the earth and bloom in bright pink and red colors throughout the kingdom. Their trunks hollowed and shaped to accommodate those who lost their homes in the fire. This was the combined powers of the ruler and protector of this Empire...
Their empire...
She remembered the scene of back then. Fourth sister lost control of her powers setting the houses and forests ablaze. After her sister quelled the blaze, she and her brother both helped rebuild the kingdom with their strengths combined.
Seeing this, Mo Li was in awe with her tears gone from her eyes. Unexpectedly, she tugged on Lotus's sleeve and asked, "Third Sister, can I do that?"
That? Ah...
She nodded and Mo Li smiled as she eagerly hurried out to the front, "I made a mess of things today and can't do much compared to my sisters... But I still owe them an apology.... So..."
She waved her hands eagerly as the trees were wrapped in vines of yellow flowers.
As she turned to them and said, "These plants are from my world. The flowers are sweet and nourishing, and the vines can produce salves against wounds and burns. I hope this is okay..."
Seeing this, the tall boy finally couldn't hold it anymore and bursted out laughing.
Ordinary cultivators can only effect a regular tree at her age and their royal soldiers can effect an entire forest. Only those of Lotus's strength or her brother's can effect the entire land. Yet, she considers herself weaker than them after producing so many vines and flowers in one movement!
Lotus wanted to laugh but couldn't. Her face was stone cold. Yet, she reached out and patted the child on the head as Mo Li stuck her tongue out at the tall boy admist the cheering.
Her eldest sister walked over and sighed, "After this, come to my courtyard."
Hearing this, Second sister laughed, "Ah... She's gonna get it now... I'd help if I could but..."
But, once eldest sister decides on something, she, too, will sought to accomplish it once she's cranky. With the festival nearly ruined, she will be in for it this time.
"Uh oh..." Mo Li's eyes widen in horror as she spread her dragon wings and flew as fast as she could back to the palace, "No!!!"
"This child!" The eldest scowled angrily, "She dare run away and also take flight around the palace! This is not a playground..."
Lotus frowned hesitantly managing a soft whisper close to tears, "But... your birthday dinner... Chrysanthemum tea and pastries."
"Ah!"
Almost immediately, the child returned upon hearing those words with her keen senses only to be grabbed by the collar by the eldest sister and dragged away mercilessly.
"No!!! I'm sorry, Eldest Sister! Please don't punish me! S-Second sister? Third sister!!!"
Though she felt sorry for her and wished to help her, their second sister kept her back and talked her out of it saying that it would only make her punishment harsher if delayed. Knowing their sister's nature, that was certainly true. As they prepared to walk back, she noticed some individuals amongst them. A tall elegant man with feminine beauty yet radiating in a powerful aura following behind a couple. It was tall woman in red and gold with a stunning yet soft appearance. Besides her was a tall man in yellow attire embroidered in gold.
They're...
The woman turned to her and sneered, "So, what if you sisters cherish her. The heavens are never on your side much less hers."
Suddenly, a flash of light illuminated the skies as a searing pain rushed through her body following after it.
It hurts!
It hurts!
She can hear the shackles clanging against the wind as Lotus crumbled to the ground in pain.
"Sis... ter?"
She looked up to find a tall girl crumbled to the ground in ragged and dirty brocade. Her long wavy Auburn hair was dyed black like coal, straighten and frayed. Her blush and fair skin now as pale as porcelain with scars all over her body. Lotus could not sense magic from this woman as lightning rained down on her.
Mo Li!
Her little sister!
Once again, she could feel the anger coursing through her vein followed by a rush of spiritual energy and hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ah, their Mo Li! Why?! Why can't they do anything?! Why can't SHE do something?! Why is she so useless?!
"I..." She screamed angrily, "I'll kill them!!!"
Sister...