Trial One~Time
"That's enough Yukimi. He was just startled. That's my fault."
Yukimi scowled and retracted the ice. A sudden wave of relief washed over Ri-is as his vision returned and he was able to take in warm air once again. He fell to his knees, gasping for air. Little puffs of fire escaped his lips as his body desperately tried to warm itself again. The figure, now revealed to be Yukimi shuffled to her mother's side.
Ri-is hazily gazed up at her. She had pale blue lips with the same golden eyes as Shimonami. Her hair was was short and an icy shade of blue. Her white robes flowed down her slim body like a river that curved around every inch of her body elegantly, her devil red sash was ablaze on her snow white body and her melancholic expression was surprisingly the most entrancing thing Ri-is had ever laid eyes upon.
"What...are you..." He breathed out.
Shimonami smiled. "We're the snow spirits of the mountain."
"Why are you kidnapping the villager's children?"
An annoyed scoff echoed from Shimonami. "They're hardly their children. Let me ask you, if you want to grow a flower, but I have the seed, whose flower is it really?"
"I-I suppose it would be yours unless you gave it to me?"
A satisfied "hmph" came from the woman as she straightened herself. "Have you ever heard of the white sea's snow women?"
"No...mother has books on them...I'm sure she knows a few as well...but I personally have never heard of them."
"We are a clan of only women. There are different tribes among us but ours has been in these mountains for many centuries. As I've said, there are no men here. Which means when we want to have children we have to go down to the village and find a suitable mate. We pretend to be humans and marry but if the husband ever finds out about our true nature, we must leave. It's a rule that's kept us alive for ages.
The only reason we don't kill them is because we need someone to care for our children until they grow strong enough to withstand the conditions up here. Though, if he were to tell anyone that the children are ours or speak of our existence then we would have to kill him. We aren't kidnapping the children we're just taking them home and the men we've killed were either unfaithful to us, or have broken the promise. It's simply a matter of survival for us. Yukimi almost burnt to death, trying to drag you up here. She's always been the toughest of my children but she's also the most rebellious. What possessed her to save you, I don't know."
Shimonami shook her head and sighed. Ri-is looked around in silence. His eyes rested of Yukimi who averted her gaze when they made eye contact. Her white skin shimmered under the rays of light that drifted into the room. He was never very good at making friends and had never experienced the feeling that played inside him but at that moment, he couldn't help but stare. Shimonami watched the two. Clearing her throat, she waved her hand and more women entered the room with trays and drinks.
"You must be hungry. Stay, eat. When you're ready let us know and we will make a path through the blizzard for you so you may return. You can stay for the night. We can't prepare a warm bath but I'm sure you'll be able to warm it yourself. Feel free to take one later. Yukimi will show you the way."
Without much of a choice, Ri-is thanked her and accepted the food. Yukimi sat down next to him without a sound and poured him a drink.
•~•~•~•~•~•
The evening sun began to set, just as Ea and Zur-Sin made it through the narrow pass between The Great Rift and Hia Miu. As they passed The Great Rift and rounded the Oceanic Rift, they split up. Ea was the second to reach his destination, the Summer Isle of Artignia, a small island just off the South West of the continent.
Upon arrival, he received rather hostile greetings by the guards. He had docked his boat on the shores behind the cliffs where the Summer Tower and town were located. He hadn't expected anyone to apprehend them yet here he stood, amidst a cluster of guards with spears pointed at him.
By the looks of it, their weapons and armour didn't seem very efficient. Their armour consisted of no more than a helmet and leg plates. It seemed to be made of heavy metal which was probably why they wore so little of it. Their torsos were completely unprotected and their only weapons they wielded were flimsy spears that looked as though they could snap under the slightest bit of pressure. Ea had heard that the inhabitants of the Isle were rather ferocious when it came to disposing of unwanted outsiders but he began to wonder just how they've managed to do it all these years with such equipment. The guards pushed their spears forward in an attempt to intimidate Ea and his crew.
"Drop your weapons!" They hollered.
Ea sighed and raised his hands as an indication of surrender. "We haven't come to cause trouble. We're peaceful."
"Drop your weapons now!" They repeated. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujiDw68IOY
The guards didn't seem to want to listen and when Ea and his soldiers didn't disarm themselves in time, one proceeded to fumble with the horn on his sash. He managed to get it out and blew into it, signalling for back up. As soon as the sound left the hollowed shell, archers hastily revealed themselves just above the edges of the cliff and without so much as a word, they began firing. Ea moved swiftly and gracefully, like a dancer on stage or a skater on ice. A wave of water was summoned from the ocean behind him and his crew. He froze the water and the iced wave loomed over them like an umbrella of glass. It sheltered them from the incoming arrows, successfully halting their assault. When the attacks stopped, Ea unfroze the water and pushed it back into the ocean. The guards were visibly awed.
"You...you...are a divine servant too?" Stuttered one guard.
"No, I am the second Prince of Solaria, Ea Altair Omarosa Zephyrus. I have come per request of my mother in search of the Fire Priestess." Ea explained calmly.
"The Goddess Queen's son? Please! Please forgive our impudence! If it is the Fire Priestess you seek, you have come to the right place. We shall take you to her!"
The guards scrambled to arrange a path for him and his troops. Ea took note of their drastic shift in demeanor. He didn't quite know why that was. He assumed they were just afraid of angering his mother or perhaps, they were just very religious. After all, the Summer Isle was known for their highly religious practices and he assumed that the only being with any kind of real power here was the Priestess so they probably weren't used to seeing it. Either way, he followed the guards up to the tower.
•~•~•~•~•~•
The Summer Isle was vibrant, with various towers etched with intricate patterns and beautiful colours scattered across the land. When they arrived at the main tower, the guards informed the priests of their visitor and the priests escorted him the rest of the way. Ea's troops, however, had to stay outside as the tower was considered sacred ground and only those deemed "divine" could enter. The priests lead him to the innermost sanctum of the Tower. Here, a large translucent white curtain separated them from the center of the large circular room. Light from outside filtered through the room, giving it a warm, fairy-like glow and making it appear golden.
Judging from the elaborate design of the place, this main tower was no doubt where the Fire Priestess accepted audiences and held court. The priests bowed and briefly looked over at Ea, urging him to do the same. Ea noticed this and slowly kneeled with them.
"High Priestess, you have a guest."
A gentle, enchanting voice coasted through the curtains. "A guest?"
"Yes. He is the Goddess Queen's son. Second Prince of Solaria and Lord of the Sea."
'Lord of the Sea...so they did know who I was...or at least they recognized me after the incident at the shore,' Ea thought to himself.
"...leave us..."
The priests obeyed and quickly left the sanctum, leaving Ea and the mysterious priestess alone.
"They're gone. You don't have to keep kneeling."
Ea awkwardly stood up, clearing his throat. He was certain he could almost hear the angelic smile that graced her lips as she spoke. He was never known for his skill in dealing with women. As much as he told himself he was only completing his assigned task, he couldn't help but let curiosity tug at his mind whenever he glanced at the veiled figure behind the curtains. The figure rose from it's seated position and gracefully walked down the stairs with the help of a maid. She gently took hold of the curtains and parted them, revealing her elegant features.395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9JZxEopEN
Long, silky hair coloured a dull coral tumbled down her back. Her deep, azure eyes stood out brightly against it. Ea was transfixed on the woman before him. She smiled again and spoke softly as she approached him, first dismissing her maid and then turning her attention to Ea.
"My name is Tah Min. I am the second child and only daughter of the royal family of Artignia. It's a pleasure to meet you, your highness. What brings you to our humble island?"
She stopped in front of Ea and peered innocently into his eyes. He snapped himself out of his trance and tried to meet her gaze.
"The Queen of Solaria is searching for the lost priestesses or more specifically, you. It seems that certain areas have gained a large amount of notoriety in the last little while due to the rift's effect on these lands. It has spurred many to come in search for whatever powers may lie in these places. It is the Queen's wish to locate and escort the priestess to the capital for protection."
Tah Min was silent for a moment. "What of the Sun and Moon Priestesses? Is she searching for them too?" She asked.
Ea shook his head."Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate them. As you know, they've been lost for years now and we haven't the slightest inclination as to their whereabouts. I have been sent here to take you to the capital. It may not be an extremely urgent matter at the moment, but the faster we get you there, the faster we can ensure your safety."
A small, apprehensive sigh left her pink lips as she averted her gaze. Her thoughtful silence gave Ea enough time to not only take in how close she was standing, but just how slender her figure was. He once again found himself staring. She abruptly looked up and caught his gaze, it was the first time since he had got there that he properly made eye contact with her and boy was he blown away. Her azure eyes had such depth and it made him wonder what kind of secrets lied behind its marble-like surface. Despite it's cool chroma, it held an abundance of warmth that made him melt into her incandescent gaze.
"U-Umm...I...well you see...I have a duty here and I can't just leave my people if conflict is on the horizon." She put some distance between them after catching herself staring back at him.395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAjiqr4E2D
Ea raised a hand to his mouth, clearing his throat again before speaking. "I would like to propose a deal. In exchange for your cooperation, I will train your guards and fit them with appropriate weapons and armour. I couldn't help but noticed their less than efficient fighting skills when they attacked my crew and I at the shore."
Tah Min gasped. "They attacked you? I'm terribly sorry! I've been meaning to rectify that rash nature of theirs! No one was hurt were they?"395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzlVCBUm5A
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Ea shook his head. "Oh no! They were quite accommodating after they realized I was a Solarian Prince."
Tah Min breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "That good. We're a rather recluse civilization as you can probably tell. Our culture is rich and our land is considered a sacred part of our history, moulded by the phoenix gods when they came to the Earth. Our people are very protective of that faith so I apologize if it has caused any inconvenience."395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPP16GRvc4
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"Not at all. In fact, I'm glad your people are so protective. I'm sure it would have been a lot more difficult to keep you safe all these years if they were that lax in their defenses. However, I am sure I'd be able to help improve it. That is, if you are willing to come with me. My mother is very eager to meet you as well."
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Tah Min bowed her head slightly. "It would be an honor to aid the Goddess Queen in her endeavours. I will make arrangements for my departure. Please make yourself at home in the meantime. If you wish, I can have someone escort you to the gardens for a rest. I'm sure you've had a long journey."
"A tempting offer but I'm afraid I must decline. You see, my brothers have also gone in search for you. If I laze around here I fear I will worry myself to death over them."
Her bell-like laugh echoed through the chambers. "How sweet. You remind me of my elder brother, Cheng. He's always fretting about me even though I've nowhere to go around these parts."
Ea chuckled. "I am honoured you see me in such a light High Priestess. I will wait for you at the shore."
"Of course...and please, call me Tah Min." She smiled at him.
"Alright then...Ta..Tah...Min."
Her smile widened, hearing her name roll off of his tongue. She bowed once more before leaving to make the necessary preparations.
•~•~•~•~•~•
Ri-is had spent the entire day exploring the large estate that he had found himself in. He wandered aimlessly until he found a library. It was beautifully encased by sliding doors that lead to a balcony, overlooking the snowy mountains. He peered around he shelves, scanning the books to find something of interest when he hear a soft, sound of a harp outside on the balcony. He cracked the doors opened and took a peak outside to see Yukimi delicately strumming at the harp. The sound was alluring and easily made him loose track of time.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Her slightly amused voice snapped him out of his stupor.
He tried to close the doors but in his flustered attempt at an escape, he ended up closing the doors on part of his cloak. He tried to tug it free only to tug too hard and fall backwards. The door slid open, freeing his cloak and allowing his body to hit the ground. Yukimi's cotton laugh filled the air. She stopped playing the harp and glided over to the doors.
"Are you okay?"
Ri-is was thoroughly embarrassed. He hastily got to his feet and straightened himself out. "Yeah..yeah! I'm fine!"
He scratched his cheek in embarrassment, refusing to look directly at her. Yukimi didn't seem to mind his klutzy attitude though. In fact, she found it rather charming. She had seen many men like him, clumsy and timid. Many of whom she had lead into the mountains to be disposed of.
However, there was something different about Ri-is. Perhaps it was the little spark of spirit in his eyes that told her there was more too him. Or maybe it was his little gestures, seemingly of a man who took care not to make mistakes when it came to his work. Either way, she was intrigued by the demure mage.
"When are you leaving?" She asked.
"Soon. The Fire Priestess isn't here and I'm sure my troops are getting worried by now. Besides, I have no other reason to stay."
Yukimi went silent. She stared at the boy, making him increasingly uncomfortable. "Take me with you." She exclaimed in a hushed tone after much thought.
"Um...what?"
"Just...please! I can be of help! I'm a good medic! I'll never need to scavenge for materials since I can manipulate the snow around me!"
"There isn't any snow in my country. Didn't you almost die trying to carry my body up here? You'll definitely die if you come to Solaria! There's nothing but fire and steaming water. You wouldn't last two minutes there!" Ri-is protested, still confused as to what spurred this on.
"Water, snow, same thing! I can do it! and...and..."
"I didn't realize you were so passionate about leaving."
The pair turned their attention to the inner doorway to see Shimonami standing, her silhouette lingering in the doorway a bit too long.
"Mother please! I don't want to spend my life up here. There's so much more I could be doing! I can help people, I know I can! I've seen too many people die in these mountains. I've read the same books over and over and over again. There's only so much I can learn about medicine from books."
"Then I'll get you new ones." Shimonami said firmly.
"That isn't the point mother! I can't learn medicine up here. What I need is out there in the world! Not in this bleak mountainous prison!"
A long, frosty sigh escaped Shimonami's scarlet lips. Ri-is was very unsure of what to do or say. Shimonami looked at Yukimi and then at Ri-is.
"Do you think you can protect her?"
Ri-is was taken aback by her sudden question, still trying to process how the conversation derailed to this. "W-What?"
"I asked if you think you can protect my daughter. I've heard stories about your mother. Surely her son would be just as accomplished and reliable. I always knew Yukimi would out grow this place...but if I let her go...our bodies are weak to changes in temperatures. She could easily die."
Ri-is didn't know if he was making the right decision, but as he looked into Yukimi's pleading eyes, he felt a sense of comradery. He knew the struggle of being unable to find oneself, of feeling trapped and stagnant. He turned his head to face Shimonami.
"No one can hold a candle to my mother, but I've been raised to never make empty promises. If you allow Yukimi to come with me, I promise to protect her with everything I've got."
Shimonami observed the boy's resolve and sighed again. "Then I suppose...I have no objections." She reached into her sash and pulled out a necklace. She placed it around Yukimi. "This is a protective charm. It will keep you from being harmed by extreme temperatures." She leaned down, placing her forehead on Yukimi's. "Be grateful Yukimi...if you stay...I'm not sure you'd ever get a chance like this again...do promise to come back and visit every now and then though okay?"
Yukimi threw her arms around her mother. "Thank you so much! I'll be safe I promise!"
Shimonami placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "Alright. I'll make a path for you through the blizzard so you can get back to your ship.
Ri-is didn't quite know what he was getting himself into but he found the grin on Yukimi's face to be worth it.
•~•~•~•~•~•
Illya had spent the day going about her duties as Queen. She managed to catch a break during the evening and decided to spend it getting acquainted with Tekina and Kaito and making sure Nikiro felt at home. The day ended all too soon and everyone had retired to their rooms. She would never say it out loud but every time she sent the triplets on a mission, irrational paranoia would always take over and keep her awake.
Constant worry filled her head and she desperately tried to push away the thoughts of accidents or their deaths that prodded at her mind. On this particular night, she was alone, with no one to gently trace circles into her skin or whisper soothing words to her. Sora still had duties to attend to and would be returning to the room much later. As she lay in bed, eyes closed, dealing with the anxiety that ravaged her mind, she listened to the hushed breathing that had been following her since her outing with Tekina and Kaito.
She didn't recognize it but she knew they were no good. They were purposely trying to stay hidden and now they were waiting for her to fall asleep. She could feel their aura pulsing as shi inside them worked to conceal the mysterious figure, Sure enough they stepped out from the darkness when they believed she was asleep.
Without a sound the figure grabbed her neck and before she could react a blade ripped across the soft, pale skin of her throat. It happened so fast and so quietly that no one would even realize that the esteemed Queen of Solaria, the very woman who had been praised across lands for her strength and cunning intellect had just been assassinated in her sleep.
What a pitiful end indeed.
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