Under one Empire, stands hundreds of clans full of legend, warriors, and simply... Family.540Please respect copyright.PENANAT8znZBevGi
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Only four of these clans matter the most. They are the largest and look over their assigned smaller clans while ignoring the clanless.
The clanless live outside of Clan walls, begging and hoping that they'll get food... And wake up to see another Dawn. Most die, being beaten by passing Clan Members.
In each Clan, there is an Elder, or a Lord and Lady to help look over the district. In the Four main Clans, there is a Council, and one rare, and powerful General.540Please respect copyright.PENANA8WsfF41FnQ
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Each General is different but in some ways... The same.540Please respect copyright.PENANAF0tvVbFguA
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They all have a sacred Dragon Spirit within them -the exact Dragon their Clan belongs to. They don't just carry a dragon spirit within them... They also carry the dragon's element.
General Jai of the Emerald Dragon Clan, controls the Element Earth.
General Katsu of the Pearl Dragon Clan, controls the Element Water.
General Raiden of the Topaz Dragon Clan, controls the Element Air.
Last but not least, General Masaru, the best and strongest, of the Rubeus Dragon Clan, controls the Element Fire.
Personally, I like none of the Generals, and ever so slightly... Despise the Emperor. None of them pay close enough attention to the smaller clans. Every damned day, I am abused by my father -a honored and legendary warrior under the Rubeus Dragon Clan- and my mother -a Lady of class, discipline, and respect, who only loves my younger sister. I get tossed around like a rag doll in public, but no guard reports the abuse to the Council or General Masaru.
But why would they? To them, I'm a girl that doesn't know her place. I'm just a seventeen-year-old, that doesn't know the ways of being a Lady. Oh, but I do. When you live the life of an honored family, going to banquets and ceremonies, being taught over and over how to stand and act... What to say, and not say... When to speak and not speak... You simply know how to be a Lady. It comes to you like a thought under a cherry blossom tree.
Now, if I know how to be a Lady so well, then why would some think that I don't?
It's because I admire the ways of a true Warrior. I love swords, and sword fighting. I love the beautiful and astonishing armor. And I just can't stop strategizing and imagining of what I would do in various battle situations. I'm a fool for staying this way... No man will ever marry a girl who loves a sword as a warrior does. No man will ever marry a girl who thinks like I.
Yes, a fool. I'm very much a fool.
"Ena! Get down here!" I quickly looked down at my mother, Aika, with brown eyes, to see her eyes full of anger. "Get down here, now! You need to choose a Kimono to wear for tomorrow!"
"Why?"
"Your father says that the Generals are coming through the streets tomorrow!" I sighed, and stayed on the tree branch for a few moments longer, knowing that I was going to get a smack from father for being up here. Soon, I climbed down, my long brown hair occasionally getting caught on branches. My mother grabbed my bicep and pulled me towards the gates, passing servants who worked in the garden.
Even when we went through the gates, and into the streets, mother didn't loosen her grip. Instead, it got tighter. "Mother it hurts!"540Please respect copyright.PENANAlx5h5aSlOj
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"Quiet!" Then no other words were spoken as we continued to briskly walk.
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The seamstress had slipped me a piece of paper into my hand before I and my mother left the shop. I quickly had hid it in the new, simple, red kimonos sash, knowing that whatever it was would upset mother...
I was right...
When we made it home, father was waiting. Dear mother said, "The seamstress slipped her something, Jera. She hid it in her sash." Mother once was a spy for father. How could I forget?! How could I be so reckless? She knows anything and everything. She sees each movement, no matter how small.
Father's brown eyes darkened, the wind slightly moving his long black hair. He reached for my sash but I took a step back and pulled out the piece of paper. I looked down at it and frowned. It read,
Meet me when the moon is high, outside your gates. I saw you eyeing the Golden Night of Rubeus Kimono.
I was eyeing it... Golden Night of Rubeus, is a black kimono with a dark red sash. It's long, has gold trimming, and a gold and red dragon on the back. I had asked mother if I could get it, but she only grimaced. Father huffed, and tapped a foot, "Hand it over. I'm not in the mood." I looked up, noticing a lit lantern to my right.
I couldn't give it to him.
So I quickly turned, reached, and lit the paper afire. In seconds it was ash. I stood still, feeling my eyes began to water. He will beat me or scream and yell in my face. Either way, I wasn't going to be happy. I'll just go deeper into the dark abyss I have been in since I was small. "I- I- I'm sorry," I whispered, hoping that it would reach a small piece of good that could be in either of their hearts.
"Wretched child... You're lucky the Emperor, Empress, and the Heir is showing up tomorrow. However, this will not go unpunished." I swallowed, and nodded, slightly relaxing from hearing that the whole Royal family will be visiting. Maybe they will take a liking of me... Maybe I could escape. But it won't be possible in this bland kimono.
There was a long silence until my parents began to walk away. I exhaled and looked up at the sky. The moon was beginning to rise, and the sun was low. I knew what I needed to do.
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