Xuma pulled up her hood and scaled the stone building. It was slippery, made wet by the pouring rain. She gritted her teeth and stabbed the flame dagger into the brick, using it as leverage to heave herself up.
All around her, buildings were burning, people were falling. The rebel army were more savage and ruthless with their attacks than she expected.
Joan. Did he recruit them despite knowing their cruel nature?
No, if he knew, he would not have recruited them.
She turned her gaze away just in time to avoid witnessing an armored rebel stab a pregnant concubine in the womb.
Though her stomach churned, she didn't allow herself to feel a pang of guilt. She couldn't. Not for the empire that brought her kingdom to ruins.
'I need to get to the throne room.'
The emblem of her country, a green fig with sprouts of pink cherry blossoms. It was there. She needed to retrieve it.
Steadying her footing, she inhaled a deep breath of air, and jumped. The impact of her soft body colliding with the hard ground jarred her senses. She rolled onto her back, away from the field of chaos to an isolated dark corner.
The stinging pain throbbing from her shoulder and knees filled her vision with tears.
Xuma shook her head. She could not allow the pain to distract her from her task. The emblem. She needed to get it. In times of chaos, destruction easily followed.
She couldn't allow her nation's treasure to be buried in the ruins of this empire.
Ignoring the flow of blood dripping from her arm, she meandered through the Palace structure using the shadow of the walls as a cover.
The rain was still pouring, muffling the desperate howls of palace guards and eunuchs. The pained shrieks of concubines and maids.
Though it doused out the flame on most of the burning buildings, it wasn't able to mask the metallic scent of blood. It drifted into her nostrils, and weighed down her body with every step she took.
By the time she finally saw her destination, she felt as tired as if she had been walking for thousands of years.
'It will be over. Everything will be over soon. And then…'
She would go back to her homeland, return the Erlan Stone to its rightful place, and live the rest of her life in seclusion and peace.
The thought reinvigorated her. Her exhausted body felt lighter as her steps quickened and she stepped into the hall that represented the reign of the Stone Emperors.
It was cool inside. A marvelous trait achieved by the throne of red-blue stone that loomed in the center like a behemoth. From word of mouth, Xuma heard the Stone Throne was entirely made out of pearl stones from the Pearl Sea.
It had the ability to cool the temperature in the throne room during summer, and warm it during winter. A privilege only the noble few enjoyed in this empire of heat and snow.
Solemnity settled over her when she saw what she came for. Nestled between two red-blue stones, her nation's Erlan Stone hung above the majestic throne.
Her breathing became rough, and cold sweat coated her forehead. As she strolled through the giant hall, the blood dripping down her arm left a long trail in her wake.
Lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled. An unnatural wind buffeted the summer hail through the open windows. Picking up the Erlan stone with both hands, Xuma gently caressed the stalk as tears streamed down her face.
"Father, I retrieved our nation's pride," she whispered, clutching the cold stone to her chest.
It had once been as warm as coal, and glowed bright as an emerald. During spring, the cherry blossoms bloomed like the unfurling wings of a butterfly breaking through a cocoon. It spread its magic to the rest of the country, filling it with peace and prosperity.
So much green. So much grain. It attracted the attention of the Stone Emperor.
"I got my revenge. Now I'll take you home." She vowed.
At this moment, the muffled sound of footsteps entered her ears.
Xuma stiffened. Was it a guard? She glanced at the fig in her hands and made a prompt decision. Opening the front of her robe, she stuffed the stalk close to her chest, shivering slightly at the cold contact of the stone against her skin.
She tightened her inner clothes, and straightened her outer robe. Tying the strings of her cloak around her neck, she exhaled a shallow breath and gripped her dagger.
With wariness, she stepped away from the throne and narrowed her eyes on the newcomer.
The rain poured heavier. The atmosphere throbbed with strained tension as the two individuals faced each other in the door. One held a dagger, the other, a sword dripping with blood.
As the newcomer stalked the other figure, another strike of lightning seared the sky, illuminating his features.
"Joan!"
"Xuma!"
The two exclaimed at the same time, before breaking into wide smiles. Lowering her dagger, Xuma raced across the hall and flung herself into her fiancé's open arms.
"Joan! Joan! You are finally here!"
"Yes, I'm here."
Lifting her off her feet, he twirled her around, before slumping onto the throne with her in his arms.
"And now, we'll rule this empire together," he said, making her stiffen.
"Rule?" Xuma drew back and looked at him in confusion. "Joan, what do you mean by rule? Aren't we going back home? We are finally free." She cried, gripping his shoulders in agitation.
She did not want to stay here anymore. After years of living behind these stone walls, she wanted to be free. To run unrestrained in an open field with wind lifting her hair, and wildflowers tickling her fingers.
She did not want to remain hostage to these cold, unfeeling walls!
"We got our revenge! You kept your promise and came for me! There is nothing left for us to remain here!"
"There is nothing for us to remain. However, if we leave, who'll free the rest of the slaves? Who will stop the empire's ministers from crowning a new Stone Emperor? Who can stop the new Emperor from haunting us down? If we leave, can you guarantee the past would not repeat itself again?"
Xuma fell silent. She could not answer any of his questions.
She had no answer.
The possibility of the past bloodshed, loss, and despair repeating itself, sent a shiver down her spine.
"One year. We'll free the slaves, install a new Emperor of our choice, and leave this place after one year." She compromised.