"I must speak with the High Mage this instant!" Rose demanded as San Wol and Argo blocked her path. What could the High Mage possibly be doing in there, and with a woman of the Empire, no less?
"The High Mage gave explicit orders not to be disturbed, not even by you," San Wol had no problem breaking Rose's bones if it came to it. After all, the Kingdom of Nocturn no longer served a purpose in their plans. Her Master had finally found his soulmate. It no longer mattered where they went.
"How dare a lowly servant block my way?" Rose raised her arm to strike San Wol but ended up on the ground, clutching her arm.
It should be noted that all who reside on Cresent Mountain, regardless of social standing, are trained in martial arts. Rose had never been taught, and how she led troops was beyond logic, thought San Wol.
"If I, a High Priestess and Royal Princess of the Kingdom of Rio, am nothing but a servant, then what are you, the lowly daughter of a maid who stole the throne simply on a whim." Argo winced at the remark; anyone who knew San Wol knew she was one with a tongue as sharp as a viper.
"You a Princess that's laughable." Rose stood while grasping her throbbing arm. Before she could say anything else, a force sent her flying against the wall, causing one of her ribs to splint.
"Did that hurt?" an icy voice asked. The doors to the High Mage's chamber were now open, and the Imperial Women he had brought with him stepped out. "Your barking won't let our child sleep." In her arms was a small white fox, its golden eyes looking at Rose with disapproval.
So, the Imperial woman was a fox demon. No wonder she had bewitched the High Mage; he was a man, after all.
"You're wrong," Gardenia said. I am not a fox spirit, and if I bewitched him, it was long before the birth of your Empire, let alone your Kingdom." With a flick of her hand, Rose was lifted off the ground and flung out the window. "He never cared for women who threw themselves at him." Rose fell to her fortune. A cart full of hay was under the window, breaking her fall. As she tried to sit up, she fell into manure.
"How dare you!" Rose screamed, but the guards' laughter drowned out her screams; even some citizens who once admired her laughed. How had things turned out this way? She had consulted the Noct High Priestess, who had reassured her that the High Mage would fall for her if she pretended to lead the tropes and show great care for her people.
"Trash should be amongst trash," Gardenia said as she levitated toward Rose, who was trying to stand. An invisible hand held her in the pile of manure. "Look, child," she now spoke to her kit. If and when someone does not know their place, it is all right to show them where they belong. Destroy all who covet what you have." Xiao Huli would grow to take her mother's words to heart, destroying all who got in her way, but that is a story for a different day.
Xiao Huli could smell dark magic at play, radiating from the mortal named Rose. The little fox sent a beam of light toward the mortal.
"Do not waste your Divine light," Gardenia said. She was already corrupted before dark magic came into play."
"Dark magic isn't bad," the High Priestess of Noct said as she walked towards them.
Gardenia looked at the mortal with displeasure. " It is when you corrupt it, Gertrude." With a snap of her fingers, Gardenia bound the Noct's High Priestess. For a High Priestess, your soul is rather corrupt; tsk, tsk, you mortals never learn." The High Priestess started screaming as her insides began to burn while her lungs overfilled with water. "Fire is the only way to purify. Is it not?"
The High Priestess of Noct was known for performing her rituals with fire, claiming that the gods of the night preferred flames to keep the balance. The truth was that the Kingdom of Lucia had sent Gertrude to destroy the Kingdom of Nocturn. Gertrude was initially a lowly Priestess who was promised an elevation in statutes if she succeeded in bringing down all who believed in the gods of night.
"It is always the so-called righteous who commit the most heinous of crimes," Jia er said. "They justify their actions by claiming they are doing the work of the gods. Truth be, there are no gods, only fools."
"There was once a god, but she was banished for not being a hypocrite," Gardenia said, "she was the kindest and loveliest of all gods; now only the laughing stocks of the heavens remain."
There was a cracking sound, and then every bone in Gertrude's body broke. Rose was having a hard time concentrating. Her head felt like it would split open.
"Try not to be corrupted as easily next time," Gardenia lifted Rose out of the manure, "also do not covet that which you shouldn't. We must all know our place."
"I advise you to try and do things on your own; the less you prey, the better," Jia er cleaned off Gardenia's hands and led her toward Argo, who had a carriage waiting.
"How much longer will you two continue to mock the Heavens," came a looming voice.
"I don't know." Jia er looked towards the source, "How much longer are you going to hide amongst the shadows?"
A man with luscious black hair and ruby-red eyes stepped out of the shadows. Two horns twisted majestically upward. He was truly breathtaking. San Wol could not take her eyes off him. Lord Hēi'àn was one of the eight rules of the Dark Realm and was known for his beauty and cruelty.
"San Wol, such a man is not worth it," Gardenia still believed Jia er to be the most beautiful of all men, and Lord Hēi'àn's handsomeness could not compare in Gardenia's eyes.
"I was simply looking," San Wol gave Lord Hēi'àn one last once over before mounting the horse she was provided, "sometimes a little pain is alright; it reminds us we are alive."
Lord Hēi'àn gave San Wol a smile most would find sensual, while Gardenia thought it was ridiculous. Such an old guy is acting this way. Who cares that he looks young? He should still act his age.
"Never change, Chu Hua." Lord Hēi'àn had once been a lowly demon, but after his sworn sister's core was destroyed, he bowed to bring the Heavens to their knees. Shortly after his sister's downfall, he ascended to the eighth lord of the Dark Realm. Chu Hua could wear any guise, but he would still recognize her dazzling soul no matter where she went.