The dream was cold yet loud. There was screaming and blood. Footsteps ran as blurry waves of people flooded the background. Omari stood in the middle, eyes trying to comprehend the chaos that was before him. There were many bodies strewn across the ground, but they all seemed so out of focus. Except for three.
One was a male Hóngyèse soldier, wearing armor and leather. His helmet fell to the side as blood poured from his neck.
Another was a female Hóngyèse soldier. She tightly gripped onto a sword, even in death. There was a knife in her heart.
Lastly was the one who lay the closest to his feet. On the ground was Tao Liu. He looked exactly how Omari left him. His hair tossed, sinking into the mud. His face, chest, and arms were severely burned. He looked up to Omari, with cold lost dead eyes.
Omari's breath was shaking, his eyes burning and he let out a painful cry.
-
Omari bolted up, violently stirring from such a nightmare. He held his aching head and let out a soft mewl. He… He didn't mean to do it. He really didn't.
This was the fifteenth time he had a dream like that. All of them dead, by his hands. But Tao Liu's appearance was becoming more frequent, more vivid than the rest. Maybe it was because it was more recent.
Omari let out a mournful sigh, apologizing to Tao Liu in his heart. He really didn't mean to do it.
-
Omari chose not to leave the academy for a few days. He was going to let the fame of rescuing those from that burning build fade and let the charm die down a bit. Have the memory of his face dim and then he'd slowly go back out past those walls again.
In the meantime, he was reading blissfully. It was a book about alchemy, and he read it while under a Varya garden statue in a charming secluded spot that he found. He sat on a bench underneath her, but would occasionally glance up at the sculpture of the great witch.
A true hero. One who sacrificed to better the world. But that's what happens when you become the hero. At best you die. At worst, you retire and people start asking why you're not a hero anymore and blame you for not taking care of all their problems.
Omari didn't want to grow up old and bitter after dealing with everyone's issues all his life. But he also didn't want to die young and only be remembered as a statue. He didn't feel the slightest desire to become anyone's hero. To be built up and put on a pedestal. Where everyone knows you and your name. He'd rather not have any fame at all and be left alone.
He'd rather live a carefree life. One where he didn't have to worry about the consequences of war all day, every day. Where he can live in a small peaceful village and do something like bake bread for a living. Now that was a whimsical thought, doing something like baking delicious smelling bread all day. Ah, it was such a sweet dream.
Long ago in the past, he once had nowhere to go and his only place existed in the army. But if the war didn't exist, he supposed he could find a way to live a more simple life. In a little town where no one would know him, no one would recognize him. Maybe a warm place, with simple farmers as his neighbors, in an area surrounded by long grass and trees. And on his days off, he would spend all morning in the kitchen, perhaps baking pie. And in the afternoon he could casually walk around town, enjoying the simplicities of life. He wanted the beauty of a domestic home, where there was a blooming chimney and a soft bed that he could sink into.
Omari would really like to live that kind of life. He had traveled enough in this one, so to just settle down somewhere would be the best.
He gazed up at the carved face of Varya, rested his open book on his chest and asked, "You… did you want to be a hero?" Of course there was no answer, but he liked to think that whatever afterlife she fell into that she was casually listening to him. "I know the story goes that you basically just wanted to take care of your brother. To protect him from the Void Beast. But then you saved a whole town, indirectly saving the world. Everyone adores you. But a witch who had been discriminated against all her life, I doubt you cared too much about their opinions. Would you be happy to see that they built a school in your honor? That they legalized magic because of you? That it is easier to access for others? You probably would. Knowing now that life is easier for you if you ever came back. But who knows, you might not have ever cared."
His eyes lit up when looking at her stone cold face, "It is said that you never cared. That you were so powerful that no government could touch you. You even defeated the Void Beast. You really were the most powerful. If only you didn't disappear. You probably died, right? That sucks… I don't want to die from heroics. I want to live." He gazed at her, "I bet you wanted to live too. Hang out with your brother, watch him grow. You probably would have been cool."
A bird landed on her statue and he sighed, saying, "You know, I met him. Your brother. Had drinks with him a few times a couple of years ago. He was in our regiment for a while, leading the missions. He's a really nice guy. Really easy to get along with. He's married now. Got a wife. Heard he's got a little daughter too, making you an aunt." He paused for a second as if the statue would respond with surprise. "He talked about you. He says he misses you. He sees you as a hero more than anyone. And I think that's what you would find the most important… Right?"
The bird whistled then flew off. He yawned and pulled himself up, stretching. Omari got up, started walking off when he stopped and saw in the courtyard a bedazzled and bright carriage. It had a bunch of footmen with handlebar mustaches and bald heads surrounding it. Out of the carriage came a tall man, even bigger than Omari. But he had a youthful face with doey cow eyes. He had pale white skin with rosy cheeks and curly strawberry blonde hair. His brows were thick and he had an earnest big smile about him that stunned everyone. He had broad shoulders and big arms, a solid chest and wore fancy rich people clothes that were definitely too tight on him.
He turned and made a loud gasp as his eyes landed on Omari. He rushed over with the widest, dopest grin that Omari had ever seen and he excitedly asked, "Are you Juma Omari?!"
Omari blinked at him. Yep, he was absolutely a couple inches taller than him and that bouncy hair gave this man even more height. He looked a couple of years younger though. Omari cleared his throat and questioned, "Who's asking?"
"Ahem!" a bald little footman came to the side with a bunch of security guards. The footman announced, "Let me introduce his royal highness, sole heir to the Maltan throne, Prince Edwards."
Omari's eyes widened. The prince! He heard that he was recently doing some alliance work in the west. He must have just come back.
The prince smiled and held out a hand, saying, "It's nice to meet you, Juma Omari!"
He was a bit thrown off by the prince's eagerness, but soon shook it, "It's an honor to meet his highness."
Prince Edwards made a giddy noise and said, "I came back and heard all about how a giant hero rescued so many people from an inn that caught on fire! I was just dying to meet you!"
Omari became surprised, he had never met anyone who showed so much enthusiasm when meeting him.
The prince continued, showcasing the biggest dorkiest grin anyone had ever seen on a man, "I've heard so much! That you are brimming with magical power, you can transform into a giant, you're immune to fire! You got there in the nick of time, before any other magic user could come and assess the situation. There were reports of you transforming and storming the building, jumping out with a child and their mother!"
Omari was completely thrown off by this big bulky prince who showed so much childlike excitement. He could only say, "Well, I just did what I could back then. I'm sure if any other magic user was there, they would have done the same."
"And modest too!" Prince Edwards beamed, his eyes lighting up like fireworks. "It is truly amazing to meet you! And when father told me what you've done, I just couldn't wait idly by anymore!"
Omari stiffened and paled, quietly asking, "T-The king?"
"Yes!" he ardently answered. "He told me so much about you. How you singlehandedly wiped out General Tao Liu's army and the fearsome leader himself! Saving all the hostages and escaping with your lives! I was just blown away!"
Omari tried, "It truly can't be that great of a feat."
"But it is!" he gasped. "That general had never been defeated. He had been causing strategic damage and destruction all throughout the surrounding countries and Malta. He is supposed to currently be the most powerful magic user in the world! And you beat him at his own game!"
Omari blinked then looked down, his gaze becoming sour. He supposed word was already spreading of his 'great deeds' but he was just a novice with his powers. Defeating Tao Liu was something he couldn't control.
"So tell me," Prince Edwards called. "Have you accomplished any other great things recently?"
His mouth fell, "Since the inn fire? No, no way."
"Why's that?"
"Cause…" Omari averted his gaze, "I'm actually really new to these powers. I can control them, but I don't know everything about them."
"You're practicing?"
"... Yes," he nodded. The two started walking along the institute's garden of roses, just talking now. "I haven't done much with them… in the way of heroics. So you see, I've done those two things. Hardly worth calling myself a hero for that."
The prince stared and then said, "Now you are just being too modest." Omari turned and Prince Edwards walked forward, pointing at another statue of Varya. "She only did one heroic thing, just one, and she has been classified as a hero by everybody! In her one heroic deed, she not only saved her brother and town, but this whole world, because none were as powerful in spellcasting as she was. But she did it. And with that one deed, she is remembered throughout history as the most heroic hero that ever heroed!"
Omari snorted, this prince was a very simple person. But he could sense that Prince Edwards had a good heart.
"But if she had lived, she may have done things that people would perceive as unheroic," Omari noted. "They all may have hated her in the end."
Prince Edwards blinked then turned to the statue; still with a peaceful expression. He replied, "Not the people she saved. They will always remember her as a good person." He faced Omari, with a smile like sunshine as he said, "And that is basically everyone."
He looked at the prince, impressed by his good nature. He had gullible traits but appeared to have well intentions. He was surprised someone like that two-faced king could have helped make someone this descent. It made Omari have some faith in the future generations of royalty.
The prince continued, "And if no one else liked her, there would still be one."
"Oh?" Omari curiously questioned.
"Her younger brother!"
"Klaus," Omari answered matter-of-factly.
So much so that the prince suddenly asked with feverish anticipation, "Do you know Klaus too?!"
Omari blinked, so the prince knew Klaus on a personal level as well? "Yes, we knew each other for a few missions."
"Oh goodness!" Prince Edwards smiled. "This truly is a small world."
Omari smiled but then saw movement as he watched an entourage approach him and the prince. Among that entourage was a regretful Pallavi and King Elijah. Omari's heart wavered and he headed towards them. The sunshine prince followed and the king smirked, "Hero Omari. I've come to talk."
-
Pallavi, Omari, the king and his guards were holed up in a large room. Incense was burning, but no windows were open to release the stifling air. The king peered down at the two with eyes that had moved armies at his will and he smiled, "I hear that Juma Omari has made some progress."
Omari stiffened, unsure how to reply while Pallavi straightened up with an answer, "Yes, your majesty. We were able to release Omari's powers on command."
The king had a malicious smile to him as he cooed, "That is grand news indeed."
Omari shifted uncomfortably then proposed what he and Pallavi practiced, "But your majesty… I was still once just a humble nurse. I may understand magic better, but I have yet to unlock all of the sword's mysteries and…" He nervously swallowed but continued, "Since I was a nurse, I don't have much battle experience. Especially swordsmanship. I really am only good at defending. If I were to become this country's hero, I would also need to be able to use the sword properly in a fight."
The king hummed, "Yes. It is good to have a proper image for our upcoming hero." His grin became crooked, "If you didn't know how to use that sword, not only would that get you killed," He scoffed in amusement, "It'd be rather embarrassing for you."
Omari nodded, thankful the king was seeing that they'll need more time before he became a well-equipped 'hero'.
Though King Elijah was watching his relieved expression and remarked, "Being a nurse of your physical stature… you must not like fighting at all."
Omari and Pallavi anxiously paled, trembling at his words. Perhaps he was observant enough to figure them out already!
The king chuckled, "We'll fix that."
-
The king was leaving and Pallavi and Omari were able to exit the room. Outside was the charming Prince Edwards and he skipped over to them, asking, "So? What did father want?"
They nervously glanced between each other and Omari stated, "The king visited us to prepare me for more heroic duties on… the battlefield."
"Wow!" the prince's eyes lit up. "That's so cool! I'm sure you'll do great out there!"
"Mm…"
The prince wrung his hands a bit, saying, "Father hardly lets me in on meetings. Yours must have been one of the serious ones."
"Kind of," Pallavi replied.
"He thinks I'm not ready for them yet, but come on!" he huffed. "I'm twenty-two, I can handle anything now. He's just coddling me."
Omari's brows lowered. Well at least the king takes care of his son.
"I've been on the battlefield too," the prince told them. "So I'm not scared. I just want to help our country, I don't know what he's protecting me from?"
Omari averted his eyes and understood pretty quickly. The king was protecting the prince from himself. He doubted the father wanted to show his son all those ugly sides of his. The prince seemed fairly naive, so it might come as quite a shock for Edwards that the regal king resorts to intimidation tactics and blackmail.
"Look at me ramble on," the prince had a shy trait about him. "I overshared again. You two look busy. I should get going…"
He was about to take his leave and Omari felt kind of bad. He didn't know what it was like to be the prince, but it'd suck to have such a shitty dad.
The prince was about to walk away when Omari called to him, "Hey, wait."
He turned back to him and Omari said, "I'm gonna be making dinner soon. Would the prince be interested in having a humble meal with us?"
Prince Edwards's mouth fell and his eyes widened, but then his cheeks lit up and he nodded, "Mm!"
-
The prince was nice company up in the tower. They ate and talked, he had a cheerful demeanor the whole time. Jessi even joined them for a little while and Omari got plenty of compliments on his cooking. They seemed to entertain his majesty for a good long while, but he soon had to depart. They waved his smiling face off and Jessi soon left too. It was only Pallavi and Omari left to clean up, and that's when she said, "Good call."
"What?" Omari looked at her, confused.
"Wasn't that what you were doing?" Pallavi questioned. "Curring up favor with the prince?"
Omari frowned and honestly answered, "That thought did cross my mind a while ago."
"But…?"
"Well," Omari huffed, "It just seems like the prince is actually a decent guy. He seemed kind of lonely."
"Hmm," she thought. "I have met the prince before. He had always appeared very naive and acted kind of like an airhead. I can't tell if it's a facade or not."
Omari wondered that too. It'd suck to put your trust in someone so openly friendly for it all to just be a front the entire time.
"Well, I'll just try to be on good terms with the prince at least," Omari said. "He seems more welcoming."
"I guess."
"But now…" Omari closed his eyes. "The king's gonna push me closer to the battlefield."
"I'll try to reason with him to keep you at the academy as long as possible," Pallavi said. "It's the safest place for you to train. So it's best if you do so here."
Omari glanced at her and smiled, "Thanks, Pallavi."
She snorted through her nose, "I'm your teacher. I can't throw you out into the world when you aren't prepared yet."
-
The eight generals stood in the grand hall, Tao Liu amongst them as they looked to the emperor's advisor. His majesty was forever bedridden so his trusted advisor Zhou Jun took over many of the affairs in his stead. His words were the emperor's words, or so he said. Zhou Jun was a tall, lean man, with thin facial features and hair pulled back into a long ponytail; one curly strand falling on the side of his face. He wore a monocle and many darkly colored layers of robes.
He held complete loyalties to the emperor which caused many to see him as a weasel or a rat. If they shared any intentions that were unlike the emperor's causes, he would tattle on them like a backstabbing child. But in public, he kept a calm and cool persona, his wide smile unwavering from the confidence of his secured position in the court.
Tao Liu always made sure to keep his distance from such a man. He had the emperor's complete trust, so it was quite likely if the situation ever arose, that it would be Advisor Zhou's words against his. But the weasel was very capable at least, able to lead the discussions properly on the emperor's behalf, his presence almost like the emperor was actually there. But everyone knew how unfavorable that was. To give this one man without a drop of royal blood the power of the emperor, it infuriated all.
He smiled and called to the fellow generals, "Welcome esteemed lords and ladies. I thank you for coming to this council."
They all murmured and nodded, the one who usually co-led these discussions, General Lin Susu took the stand. She was dressed in gray with a streak of silver in her hair. It was tied up in a simple ponytail and her robes were detailed with dimly white cranes. She was probably the most level-headed of all the generals, the most respectable and reasonable; always the one to take charge of the conversations. She was a tactical genius and a negotiations expert, but her magic wasn't nearly as powerful as Tao Liu's.
She cleared her throat, stating, "You have brought most of us here today, Advisor Zhou. But I see that General Jiang is not here."
"She was in the middle of a three-month battle that she can't pull away from, unfortunately," the advisor claimed. "She said to just send the results via messenger, so she will not have an opinion on this discussion."
Tao Liu internally let out a sigh of relief. He was always thankful to not have that psycho involved in more civil debates. He glanced around the room to see that many of the other generals were secretly relieved to not have her there either. The only one who didn't share such sentiment was General Xie Ning, the white-clad sadist on the battlefield. He was almost as crazy as she was with that snake-like smile and impossible to read mind. His hair was thin and white, his eyes cloudy with pure insanity. Xie Ning was usually sent to the frontlines since he was powerful enough to deal with it all by himself, but they were also perfect places for other political officials to try and assassinate him. Unfortunately, he mutilates every assassin to death and sends back their corpses to said officials.
The advisor cleared his throat, "Well now, we shall begin. Why you have all been called today is to discuss a possible high-level threat coming from the Maltan army."
Everyone held an ear open though Tao Liu knew exactly what this was about.
"A few months back we received a report of an oddity that was captured by General Tao Liu," the advisor said. "He captured an alleged Maltan Nurse who was in possession of a sword with unknown origins. That said, the sword shielded the nurse from the general's most powerful attacks and eventually was recorded to have transformed the nurse."
"Transformed?" General Lin questioned.
"Yes," he nodded. "Into a glowing being. A few feet taller than before, suddenly dawning a new attire. He then proceeded to create a seemingly infinite surplus of Black Gold and wiped out General Tao Liu's encampment. The general was able to protect all living things in the area, but all supplies were lost."
"He created that much Black Gold and didn't die?!" The general who yelled this was a big tall woman with large mane-like hair that curled all over her back and bare shoulders. She had dark tan skin and was dressed in gold, always vibrant and loud in both how she appeared and her own personality. Her eyes were like a lion, fierce and unwavering, and her voice always boomed throughout any room. This general was Ren Hu.
"Yes, General Ren," he affirmed. "By the general's soldier's accounts, the nurse regained consciousness and escaped with fellow Maltan Lieutenant Jessi Bellows."
"Hm," General Ren Hu murmured. "I remember her. She stole resources from my troops and burned down a forest to keep us from following her. Truly an audacious brat."
"How did he get the sword back when he was your prisoner?" another general questioned. He spoke rather cynically with disdain riddled in every word. This one was General Bai Rong. A rough-looking man with a strong chin and thick eyebrows. His hair was in a tight long ponytail and he was dressed in violet robes. Bai Rong's face was round and he had long pointy eyelashes. His collar of his robes were always half undressed, exposing one arm, and constantly showing off his giant meaty chest.
"That factor is unknown," General Tao Liu huffed. "It is reasonably believed that Jessi Bellows swiped it for him and then they escaped together."
They murmured between each other, shooting Tao Liu disgraced glares. He could tell that they were obviously looking down on him again.
"Why didn't you just kill him on the spot?" General Bai Rong scoffed. "When you first met him. It would have saved us a lot of trouble in the future now that we have to deal with your mistake."
Tao Liu's brows furrowed, he wanted to shoot a lightning bolt at him and his quick tongue.
"I determined at the time that he was a decent gift for the emperor and would be a feasible asset for the Hóngyèse Empire," Tao Liu explained. "He had powers unknown to the Hóngyèse army. I believed we could have utilized it to the best of our advantages and at the time the nurse appeared unfamiliar with the weapon he discovered."
"Perhaps he was just waiting to be led all the way into your camp to unleash it?" General Ren Hu suggested.
"He was in that camp longer than a whole day," Tao Liu countered. "If he wanted to blow it up like he did, he could have done so much earlier and not have waited in a cell for that long."
They nodded to themselves, thinking deeply about it when an old man general, the eldest of them all, dressed in blue said, "Tao Liu, it is good to see that you had such well intentions for the emperor. It is tragic that those intentions were thoroughly wasted when the anomaly nurse destroyed so much of our resources."
Tao Liu wanted to roll his eyes. This old bastard was always so extremely loyal to the emperor. It was absolutely nauseating at times being backhandedly lectured by him. His name was General Dai Yi if you're interested in fanatics. Boring old kook.
"I still think you should have just killed him," Bai Rong huffed. "Now if he shows up we'll have to worry about being sludged on by Black Gold."
"Such a threat," they turned to see a meek lean man decked in green step forward. His eyes were narrow and his black hair fell over half of his face and on his shoulder. This was General Fan Wei. "Such a threat, could it be that you wanted him to escape?"
"What are you inferring?" Tao Liu glared.
"Though I do see the benefits of experimenting on such a new specimen," Fan Wei softly sighed. "I do believe that the cons far outweigh the pros."
"General Fan Wei," Tao Liu glowered. "I'll have you know the cons had not yet been weighed yet. As far as anyone was concerned, back then it would be viewed as a missed opportunity to not take the nurse as a hostage."
"Yes, but…" Fan Wei mumbled, "Such a blunder just seems so unlike you. I mean… you've heard the rumors. The names. Everyone calls you the villain of Hóngyè. I'm sure you are aware."
"I am."
"So forgive me for being skeptical that this does sound all too purposeful," Fan Wei said. "Presenting a powerful ally that could threaten Hóngyè… it's just…"
"Unfounded," Tao Liu snipped. "Completely unfounded and pure speculation. Besides, I am no fool. If I wanted to show such a treasonous card, I wouldn't wound my own soldiers over it. Let alone myself. I would've sent it to one of your camps instead."
Everyone glared at him for those words, but he would not back down, "I saw such unknown and untapped power as something promising. I wasn't going to waste it-"
"You are absolutely right."
Everyone in the room froze. Their backs stiffened as those wicked words crawled up all of their spines. A voice oh so familiar entered the room. Sounds of heels clicked on the floor as a red cape flowed from behind. She wore all black, and her smile was one that has known what it's like to be rained on by blood. She entered, her hair pulled up in a blue band and her eyes gleaming. No general dared to look her way, even the advisor averted his eyes. She stepped inside, Jiang Shihong stood in the center of the wake of Hóngyè's most powerful generals.
She hummed and leaned towards Tao Liu who was seething with rage at her presence, "I must say, after hearing all of that, I have to agree with Tao Liu." Her smile showed brightly as she said, "I think he's correct."
Tao Liu's eyes stung and he finally met her gaze. She held that smug smirk, not once showing an ounce of weakness. Even though Jiang Shihong is the least magically powered out of all of them, they all knew deep down what she was capable of.
"He is correct," she grinned at him, causing the anger to fume further inside of him.
This bitch. She was agreeing with him to rile him up. She never actually agreed with any of his methods and would eventually manipulate it to either benefit her, saying it was her idea all along or that her agreeing with his ideas automatically makes him sound crazy and unreasonable. Because frankly, that's what she was.
The advisor cleared his throat and asked, "General Jiang? You're back. We received a notice that you were in a tediously long battle."
"Well…" she chuckled. "The thing is, right after I replied we made a grand breakthrough and burned down the entire city. So it's good now."
Tao Liu glared away, not giving her the satisfaction of his attention.
"I see, so then you can formally join us in our discussion," the advisor noted.
"Of course," she giggled. "What was it? A nurse?" Her smile grew wider as her eyes peered down at Tao Liu. "Taking him down will be child's play."
Tao Liu huffed, his voice harsh, "Of course it will be."
"Oh?" she puffed her lips. "But you couldn't do it."
He tightened his fists, "I was protecting my troops. I needed that power to protect all of them."
"Hm… such a waste of power," she sighed, bending down to be at his eye level. "Oh Xiao Liu. Don't you know that you can just get more soldiers? I mean a general's worth is priceless. Far more expensive than one or two silly armies."
Tao Liu glowered at her then whipped his head away. She was deranged, there was no getting through with this one.
"So a Maltan Nurse who found a sword that gave him incredible powers," she said. "Did I get that right?"
Everyone was watching but silently nodded.
"He's probably getting more powerful as we speak," she shook her head. "My my my. How troublesome. If only someone took care of him in the first place."
Tao Liu's face was almost beat red, just a few seconds away from snapping at her.
But Advisor Zhou spoke up, "Does General Jiang have a proposition at all?"
"Well… we shouldn't all have to rise up and go deal with this newcomer," she hummed. "Such a hassle. What do you expect from us? To just drop what we're doing and go after this novice? Ha. We can't just pause the war for a boy."
"Then what do you suggest?" General Xie Ning finally spoke up. His eerie eyes not looking at much of anything, as he lightly shifted in those white robes.
"Hmm…" she pretended to think long and hard. "Let's see. Tao Liu claims that he can defeat this 'Chosen Hero' if he didn't have to protect his army, right? So prove it."
Tao Liu's eyes were sharp at her as she spoke.
"Prove it, Tao Liu," she smiled. "Prove that you are still the most powerful magic user in this world and kill that Maltan rascal. I mean, this is your mess. You should clean it up."
He scowled at her but then grew a hateful grin, "I intended to. The Emperor would agree."
"Oh!" she clapped her hands. "Well if the emperor will agree then why are we all here talking about your mistakes? We are quite busy. I know you like attention, but my gods!"
"I see," Advisor Zhou nodded. "Does anyone disagree?"
They all listened and shook their heads.
"Then it will be decided," he exclaimed. "General Tao, you will deal with the Hero Omari. Bring his head back as a gift to the Hóngyèse Empire."
Tao Liu folded his hands and bowed, "I will fulfill this mission."
Jiang Shihong smirked and giggled.
-
The meeting was over and the generals dispersed. Tao Liu rejoined Sun Zhen and his fellow entourage. He was irritable but was discussing with her the decisions made in the conference when a figure suddenly bolted past a corner and dashed down the hall he was in. They ran up to their group and cried out, "Tao Liu! Hide me!"
A young lady rushed up to the entourage, ponytail flying in the air and crocodile tears bursting from her eyes. She was an unbalanced woman who wore men's clothes, her stare wild and robes loose. Tao Liu froze there in the moment and watched the young woman bolt under his robes, disappearing from sight. Him and his attendants sighed, used to this sort of behavior as another woman, older, who was a palace servant rushed past the corner with her own group. She turned, saw Tao Liu and called, "General! General!"
"Wen Ming," Tao Liu greeted, pretending that there wasn't someone shivering under her robes, hugging his leg like a monkey.
"Have you seen her Highness?" she panted out of breath. "She ran off before she could have her evening bath. Excuse me for the confession of such information."
"It's alright, Wen Ming," Tao Liu smiled. "We did see her." The girl jolted underneath his robe, her nails painfully digging into his leg. He pointed, face undeterred, "She leapt out that window there. She must be running about the courtyard."
Wen Ming's face paled and she groaned, "Aughhh, Princess!"
Her and the search party went down the hall, around a corner, and out of sight with those directions. When they were gone, Tao Liu gently patted the princess's head and she peeked out from under his robes, "Are they gone?"
"Yes, your highness," he hummed. "They're gone."
"Oh boy!" she rolled out from his robes, in a little ball, then pulled herself up in a jiffy. "I was so sure they'd get me!" She had a huge dopey grin and her hair was a complete mess. She jumped to Tao Liu, smothering him in a bear hug, "Thanks, Liu Liu! You saved me!"
His face was being squished and he said, "Your highness should still get clean though."
She let go, flailing about, "Noooo! I don't wanna! Wen Ming is too rough with her scrubbing and she always pulls too hard on my hair when she brushes!" She loudly stomped about in a huff, "I hate it! I'll never be clean! Imma stink forever!"
The princess stuck her tongue out and dashed past his group, arms flying in the air as she spun about a few times, then disappeared past a corner.
Sun Zhen blinked then sighed, "Princess Jianwen Changying is truly the most pitiful."
"What a broken mind," an attendant murmured. "And she's only nineteen."
One member of the group asked her, "Why don't they let her just bathe herself?"
"She is deranged," Sun Zhen stated. "They fear she will drown herself."
Tao Liu nodded, "She is truly… the most pitiful soul here."
"You spoil her," Sun Zhen nudged him. "You should have told that head maid where she was instead of letting her run off unsupervised. Why did you?"
Tao Liu's eyes fell and he muttered, "Why indeed." He tilted his head for his group to follow him and they left the center sanctum of the palace.