I was not too fond of the talks. The plans and such were all well thought out, but some of the elders were arrogant and had little to no manners when talking to people who were junior to them. It was driving me up the wall - the same rage I get from water dripping down my arms and wetting my sleeves when I am washing my face. They were haughty and did not listen. Some of the proposed ideas were good, but no one was insistent on getting things done within a set time scheme. Kratos and I had mentioned this a few times, Kratos was ruthlessly shut down and I was ignored.
I just about had it with their impudence. I glared at Aretis, though it was for nothing apart from making myself feel better, she was trying to placate the people who were willing to let hundreds of soldiers die in a petty war. The cause for this war was pathetic as it was stupid. Keeping my eyes on my notes in front of me, quietly going through the letters and the armoury with Kratos next to me - we spoke quietly of implementing this plan, a new training schedule for the soldiers. The soldiers themselves knew that they were inadequately prepped when they had fought against us, and the majority lost. The soldiers were the ones who had sought us out after that shameful display. Both of us were surprised when they did - that was an exciting conversation.
My paper was nearly full, and I had another three pages that were filled with different types of cardio and endurance training. Though they already have that in place, everyone within the ranks can complete it just fine without breaking a sweat. There were also things regarding the medicinal side, the herbal knowledge is useful but on the battlefield, there is a need for immediate attention such as broken bones that need setting and immediate pain relief so that the individual does not go into shock. So far, the Myrrhinian army has little to no separation in the functions that need to be carried out. In terms of strategy - because the places are so similar they have the same honest way of fighting. Charging at one another for a while before returning to the main base.
I ignored what was happening in the room, though I was distinctly aware of voices raising. That meathead seemed to be pointing at me again. Looking up and surveying the room, I looked at him and continued staring. Unfazed by him jabbing his short finger at me, spittle was flying everywhere and the veins on his neck were bulging. It was almost comedic.
"She is not even paying attention to the meeting," he spat, "She is only here to keep you entertained. Even I doubt her usefulness."
"I get results," I replied, quietly, nonplussed, "It is because you all continue to yap away at each other. Refusing all other's suggestions for the few seniors who seem to know more."
There was a reigning silence.
"You wonder why you guys needed our help when there was a threat of an invasion," there was a collective draw of breath, "War is not fun. Yet you guys go to war and kill. Hundreds. Thousands. For pride. Legacy."
"You have no right-"
"I have led legions. I have experienced war. I have every right to tell you what happens when ill planning leads to unneeded deaths," I glared at those at the top of the table, "I have seen faults of commanders and generals. They paid when they came back expecting pride and fame. If you are so unyielding, to refuse reason and logic. Then you should not lead in any way."
The silence continued, and the juniors down the table nodded their agreement. The elders glared at me, and I met their gazes just as venomously.
"You don't need to be here."
I looked at the scrawny old man, "I know. You won't be alive long enough to see your failure."
"HOW DARE-"
He reached for his blade and so did I. Knocking his sword into the adjacent wall, lodging it into the wall.
"Do you wish to wage war on Eflua?"
I stared into his eyes. Blade pointed at his throat.
"Xianlan!"
"You finally decide to speak?" I look over at Aretis, sneering at her. Looking at her in scorn - she had no control, she only followed what was told to her. Putting my sword away, I looked at Kratos whose posture was tense and looking at the elder and me, hand also on his sword. He looked at me, standing up, grabbing some of my notes that had also fallen on the floor from my sudden movement before grabbing my arm and guiding me gently out of the room.
Just before we were out of the room I spoke again, "I will be reporting back to the Efluainian Empire."
A few others had also followed us out. Ignoring their father's calls, some just let their sons go. A few of their sisters also left with us.
I ignored them, going to the training grounds where the soldiers were. Then proceeded to bully all of them (sparring with them).
________________________________________________________________________________
After Xianlan had left there was a stunned silence with the Elder who had a blade to his throat, fuming along with some others. While the others had no idea how to control, what they considered, the troublemaker. It was something they did not know how to deal with - one of them had raised the sword first, and everyone had seen it. The heirs and heiress that had left would not testify for them.
Aretis felt hopeless. So many things had changed after the announcement but it wasn't as if she could neglect the nobles who had continued supporting the Atalante family - it was something that she had to keep upholding. Looking at the faces of the disgruntled men and few ladies was something that she could not stomach either - she unclenched the hand she didn't know was tensed from the table—and quietly walked to the door before dismissing the others.
"You're dismissed. We will continue in the evening. People will be on their best behaviour. Or they will be punished this time. First and last warning to all of you."
There were a lot of discontented murmurs and Aretis had turned halfway to the glare at the meathead that had continuously insulted Xianlan - it was not a long time before Aretis was once again in front of Xianlan's room. She could distinctly hear the murmuring and whispers of two people.
Kratos Starros.
Her mind was in turmoil. She knew Xianlan had stopped talking to her after that night - how after the announcement and the break and the reunion. None of them went accordingly, they all went disastrously wrong! Only capable of watching helplessly as the distance between her and Xianlan grew. It was a painful thing to watch - she had hosted the completion because of her jealousy. Yet she had continued trying to gain Xianlan's attention through nefarious and less-than-honourable means. Normally, Aretis would have just asked the person - even that was rare. It was always the other way around.
Now the person whose attention she so desperately wanted would ignore her and treat her as if she was a mere shadow.
It was not fair.
Aretis continued to listen, pressing herself against the door. Trying to listen to the contents of the conversation, but it was muffled and she could not hear things. She pressed harder against the door until it started creaking and she flinched back when the door was yanked open. Aretis felt shame so strong, crawling like ivy on castle walls, reaching her face and pulling her gaze to her boots.
There was no need to question whose boots they were, there was also no questioning of who it was. Only one person on the continent would make her feel so useless and small - a simple glare from that person was enough to freeze her heart and make unpleasant emotions well up in her heart.
"Eavesdropping?"
Aretis sat on the floor silent.
"Xianlan, what's happening- Lady Atalante! Please, apologies, it's not what you think it is!"
"Thank you, Kratos," Aretis looked up at Xianlan, she could hear the eye roll, "Do you need something?"
"The report... the one you were going to write?"
"Is being drafted."
"I-I wanted to," she took a breath.
"Stand up and speak, you can come in."
"Well, then I shall take my leave," murmured Kratos.
"Nonsense. You can stay. Atalante, get off the floor. It's dusty."
Aretis hurriedly brushed herself off, entered Xianlan's room and seated herself on the edge of the bed. Xianlan settled at the seat on her desk, and Kratos seated himself on the floor by Xianlan's feet. Though Aretis would never admit it - she felt jealousy, crawling like bugs and all things distasteful around her heart. She desired the closeness that the two had and not the distance. At all.
"Speak."
Aretis looked at her hands, she wrung them periodically and grappled with them, though they continued to move like the snakes upon a gorgon's head.
"I would just like to apologise for my people's behaviour. That is all."
"Right. Okay, is that all?"
Aretis looked up, she could feel the shock threatening to show on her face but she forced the neutrality, yet she could feel the pain of her facial muscles trying to keep the amicable smile on her face. She nodded.
"You can leave now then."
Aretis looked down at her hands, her knuckles were white from the bruising grip on her arms as she tried to hold herself together, hugging herself. Stiffly, she got up and walked almost as if her joints were turning to stone or rusting metal. She looked over at Xianlan again - just as she was about to leave, looking at her to try and see if there was any emotion on the other face if there was any reluctance.
Only disappointment grew in her heart as she watched the other not even look at her, occupied with patting his head, whilst looking over notes and the two conversed quietly, voices low. Almost intimately.
She hurried down the hallway, ignoring those who greeted her.
A chilling smile crept up on another face as they watched the shaking shoulders of the young godling - one who had a damned future but a long-lasting legacy, and name painted by Eternity in the luminaries.
________________________________________________________________________________
Time passed without much hindrance after - though the guilt did weigh on my mind, it was not something that I was going to just accept. Pushing her away, especially after our little fiasco together seemed to paint me in a further bad light in front of her advisors like I am some disobedient dod. It was something to be expected, they thought me arrogant, young and foolish. In turn, I thought the same. With the continuation of my stay here, it did just grow to be something that I greatly regretted. Coming to Myrrhine - pretending to be on board with sending hundreds of thousands to death over a stolen wife was forever eluding Xianlan.
The Myrrhinian army has been much more productive with their new plans - though they were small changes the results were big. There seemed to be a little more structure to their day, and there was freedom for them to do as they wished within the designated breaks, Kratos along with his close friends were a constant sight on the training grounds. It had been a few weeks until there was a new commander had been put in place, and there was a change of schedule.
Aretis had forced the bond, forcing me to be subservient and deferential. She even dared to ask me for opinions when I was all but dragged to these pointless meetings - Aretis said that she wanted an opinion from me, but it always felt as if she was parading me around to everyone that I was under her. I remember when she gave me her first direct order, and I had tried to resist it. It was a feeling of something pulling at the seams of my mind and a haze fell over my mind and I could not focus on why I was refusing her. I had half-snapped out of it, and when I came to only slightly they were all looking at me with sadistic glee in their eyes until I glared back at them. Then the haze came back stronger, and I completed the nonsensical task or order that Aretis had given me.
Led me to where I am now - currently sparring with Kratos.
••••
She didn't know what she looked like. Ruthless anger in her eyes, something that I have never seen on her face. Although her face betrayed no emotion other than slight displeasure her blows with her sword were heavy, her speed was constant, and her actions consistent. Floating around me like a lethal hummingbird. Xianlan was not looking at me when she was sparring - there was no acknowledgement in her eyes that I was there.
Pure, unadulterated rage filled her. I had seen that power play, the forcing of the first order, she had even surprised most of us. The first order was something that was not to be taken lightly, it completely and fully bound another to us, a highly esteemed servant. But, she had thrown off control temporarily, I still shiver in trepidation when I think about that glare. It was something that I had never privately witnessed. It was only those who had been on the battlefield close to her that did. As cliché as being given the name Executioner, it was not unfounded now that I was sparring with her. We had only been fighting for half an hour, but sweat was pouring down my back and my breaths came heavy - my limbs were sore. Much sorer than usual, my body was littered with blooming bruises that made me wince at the slightest touch.
I watched in abject terror as her cold eyes regarded me, her face was blank. None of the usual kindness and cordial smile was the norm - it was expressionless. Her eyes were the most telling thing; the coldness that regarded me made something in my chest tense up. Filled with uneasiness: it gave me the undecipherable feeling of something unpleasant being ensconced in my throat and my chest being strangled.
"Can we stop?"
"..."
When she had nodded her assent, such an extreme relief washed over me that I all but collapsed onto the ground. Every part of me ached - even if it was a wooden sword that we were using, it had become murderous in her hands. It was something that I had negated would have done much damage - yet here, all the connection with it had made left me bruised, of which I had no doubt she fractured something in my arm as it was protruding up the size of a pomegranate.
I lay there, still. On the cold floor, relishing in the chill of stone - we were not covered in the shade as the sun had the beginnings of its descent. There was something tranquil whilst my body ached, it was the feeling of great triumph, sparring with Xianlan, the successor of the WuZung Dukedom. I believed I had dozed off for a moment - there was something in the manner the person had held me, which was the gentleness in the way they handled me. There was no calling or waking me up, whoever they were just as silent as the twilight around me. Something cold was pushed to my lips and water, and I drank.
"Are you going to continue laying out here?"
I snuggled into the other's embrace, holding them tighter. It was her, hiding my smile in her arm I turned around. It was uncouth and unbecoming, this type of behaviour if my father saw he would have my head. It would not fit the role of the heir of the Starros house - yet I had never been allowed a tender moment in my life, so whatever moments I can snatch, I shall.
"Apologies," I listened intently to her pause, there was always something more in Xianlan's silence, another meaning, "It was not my intention to exhaust you so."
I shifted until I had seated upright, slowly and mindful of my injuries. Whilst also making sure she saw how gingerly I moved. An intoxicating feeling had always come over me whenever she observed me - I know there was no other meaning behind her gaze, though I wished there was.
"It's alright," I beamed at her, and seemingly all my weariness had dulled for a moment, "I had the honour of rubbing it in Timoteus' face."
"Let me carry you. I have fractured your arm."
She had lifted me with an effortless grace that made me wonder how many of her other soldiers too.
We spoke of nothing.
________________________________________________________________________________
"Xianlan."
Xianlan stopped, the darkness of the hallways now stretched before her - feeling cold and uneasy. She had finally come to Xianlan, Aretis' gaze was cold and her countenance did not bode well for any of those on the receiving end. Fury was rolling off of her in waves, the indignation rang fresh and true in the forefront of her mind, akin to that of vine on castle walls. Stubborn and clingy - completely twisting her mind.
"What?"
"Being a therapon is the highest honour to be bestowed upon another,"
Aretis waited for a response even though she knew there wouldn't be one, "I don't understand you-"
"You don't need to."
"Don't you think that you give me the respect of looking at me when you speak?"
Xianlan remained looking in the other direction, down into the darkness. Her righteous outrage was building up in her - Xianlan knew herself how her temper was to be. Yet she was being pushed, she did not want to engage with this person. The person that had forced her into a contract whilst she was the deferential party and that the other was able to have control. A dog on a leash. In a contract where that if the caster was to dieshe'd follow.
"That night meant nothing."
"You... you don't mean that? Surely -"
"I do. I regret it too. If I knew all these problems would ensue after knowing you I would have run for the hills when I saw you."
Xianlan finally turned around, completely facing Aretis, looking down at her slightly. The gaze was so callous that it made Aretis freeze in her spot, even though her mind was forcing her to try and do something. The wrench of her heart was something that was delayed. There was no immediacy of the agony even as she braced herself, it was like the gentle lull of the waves that kissed against the shore. Waves of pain washed over her, leaving her cold. It was like frost upon the snow.
She bowed, reasonably dismissing herself. Aretis could only watch as Xianlan vanished into the darkness. The twilight had encompassed her like a shroud, encircling her presence - at that moment it was as if she was a nonnative to Aretis because no matter how much she thought she knew a person. There was nothing she could do to comprehend the essence of a person. Yet in her mind, she could not learn it; anger and frustration brew in her, with her upbringing the only thing on her mind is to conquer. Aretis needed her immediacy - but here she was on her knees for someone that would not even glance at nor give her the time of day.
••••
The morning had come quickly, and a restless sleep was something that Xianlan had been used to. It was the norm but the unease was gnawing at her. There was a thrumming from the bond - something that she could immediately tell to be the displeasure from Aretis. She had done more reading on the bond; emotions are shared between the two, and more often than not Xianlan had noticed that Aretis was so much more expressive than she ever was. Although she was only a few years older than the Atalante Heiress, Xianlan had never been so expressive nor had she ever felt anger or such so strongly. Xianlan's anger was always progressive, one slight followed by another, and another, and another. More often than not her temper was never shown or would any of the people around get an inkling that she was uncomfortable or displeased?
However, if one would have inquired the servants of the WuZung Duchy what their mistress' temper was like when maddened, they'd give you a look of conspiracy and looked around before divulging that it was a senseless, maddening, terrifying anger that shook the very foundation of the house. Some would even go as far as to say that her anger would rival the sense of justice from the Oracles of the Divine Efluainians.
They say that when we feel hope it brings on a myriad of problems for us later – yet that is what makes life worth living.
Giant pillars of stone and intricate carvings of gold detailing the stories of triumph and dangers that their deities and Gods had faced. Not only that but their biographies of the Gods had also been detailed on the walls – rimmed with golden paint, many of the paintings and drawings are faded at the edges. The stones themselves were lined with age, history and Myrhhinian culture etched into the ridges, time and care poured into the very foundation of the Palace Shrine. As she continued to walk through the main hall – there was a great feeling of insignificance that rose within Xianlan as she continued to admire the beauty and grandness of the place. It was a sunny day, where the heat would normally be stifling and the air humid and sticky, yet within the shrine with great beams of sunlight shining through the stained windows, it was cool. A comfortable chill that provides instant relief to an individual upon admission. Upon each of the pillars was a Myrrhinian guardian - ferocity etched onto their visages, righteous fury; all poised and ready. One thing that Xianlan greatly admired was the attention to detail that was on the robes that were layered on the guardians and deities that were placed on the main pillars of the hall. Seemed so life-like, all draped over the figure as if it was a preserved deity in the flesh from the heavens themselves.
Compared to the Efluainian Shrines which seemed not as grandiose as the Myrhhianian ones – they in turn seemed much colder and a greater distance with a distinct lack of material offerings and dedications within them. They had plain walls decorated minimally and had less light filtering through them, the windows themselves had great arching stone surrounding them and pointed towers that also surrounded the main place instead of the connected halls. Each tower would be offering different allowances and ways of worship but more often than not some were made almost private, separating each class within society. Such things were normal, there was a rigid structure that was still hanging on from the previous Imperial Family within Eflua. More often than not, Efluainian places of worship had their roofs made from copper, meaning that they'd turn green with time – but it gave a sense of character to these buildings; although many of the nobility didn't like how copper turned – what they deemed a "disgusting" colour – it was a difficult process to stop as the only way to prevent a copper roof from turning green is to prevent the oxidation, was to have it constantly cleaned. However, this is impractical – some genius had developed a clear coat after thoroughly cleaning the roofs – it was a big mission that the Jaxx Family endorsed. The Rejuvenation of Divinity was what it was called. Wherein almost 600 shrines had been fixed and remade or completely demolished and redone – installing religion as a choice for the Efluainians to follow and help out in as these places also acted as apothecaries for those in extreme poverty and without governmental aid.
There had originally been the issue of funding – but that was something that was almost immediately rectified when the young lady of the Maria Family, a newly emerging family, cousins to the WuZung Family – her father is an earl. Alesia Maria was the young heir along with her brother, both had been educated in a state school her brother was 13 and she was 15, born on the sixth month of the halving. She was the one who forwarded the first set of funding and proceeded to use her family's resources to do some of her research that developed into her work, which produced the funds needed for the project, and soon after the WuZung Family followed. However, many would say that the Maria family wasn't newly emerging but considered to keep a distance between them and the rest of the nobility. They had been very neutral in all manner of things to do with the rest of the nobility – one thing that never changed was their loyalty, an unwavering one, to the Wuzung Family. That was due to the protection that they received from the family for maintaining their neutrality.
There were also a few other families that have also become neutral along with the Maria family, an example of a few is the Salew, Cartrigé and the Lan Households are some of the few that are strictly neutral.
It came as a surprise when the other decided to take the first step in terms of funding this movement – her brother Julius had also been surprised and had vehemently opposed her on this as it meant they broke their neutrality on an external matter.
Nonetheless, it went ahead. The churches themselves were still blandly coloured but the back and white were made to be symmetrically patterned – such things consisting of different circles and squares as the squares symbolised the earth and the circle represented the heavens. Although there was creative liberty was given to the artists there was a slight commotion within the art community of the population.
Consequently, the interior of the churches and a few temples had been more lavishly decorated, some of the temples especially, had been lined with gold and painted with vibrant hues of deep blue, green and vermillion. Churches themselves had been voted to stay relatively plain – though many would agree that the mathematics that went into the pattern building was exemplary. Neighbouring countries like Westclifia and Zera, to the west and south of Eflua, respectively, had mimicked the patterns as a way to show off their skills against Eflua but it had been for nought.