ROLEPLAY HQ - blood-like-fire

Now automatically proxying messages in this server with Liena Yīnlóng. To disable autoproxy, use tul!auto off.

A dragon is said to feel most comfortable in the flames. Hot coals burned underfoot, searing into soft flesh. She wondered that if doing this would help her better connect with the ancient beast that was only but a part of herself. Her eyes clenched closed as she tried to push past the pain that was being seared into her skin. There was once a time when dragons ruled the world. Where mankind was nothing more than the servants to the mythical beasts that had far greater intelligence as well as strength to them. They were creatures with godly stature, so strong and large that no man would ever stand a chance against them. Or so they thought. While one man alone stood not a chance in comparison to the beast, mankind was adapting underneath their noses. Mankind was growing smarter. With the invention of many tools and weapons, mankind silently plotted the overthrowing of the great dragons. It was a war unlike any other. Fire scorched the lands further than the eye could see. One had said that the entire planet had been overwhelmed by the flames. A planet like no other. Mankind dwindled yet their fight hadn’t been without impact. Dragons became a species endangered. They could no longer live in the peace that they had once known, mankind had found ways to kill them and it made them more vulnerable than they ever had assumed. The war continued to rage on for many years to come. Mankind suffered harshly, starvation growing to an all time high as morale suffered due to the continuous wars. Yet after nearly 50 years of warring only two dragons remained. The Great Cerulean Dragon and the Great Crimson Dragon. Amongst the strongest of dragons, these two had a futile war against one another that had continued for many eras. No matter the war, neither had ever been willing to band together to fight as a team for nearly 50 years. But alas the time had come. Pushed to the edge, both dragons forged a plan hotter than the coals that burned in their flames. In order to

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continue on the great reign of dragons, they each chose loyal followers who had never doubted them to inherit their powers. When their time came, two mortals were imbued with the strength and might of a dragon. These humans were able to fully turn into one with the beast yet due to their humanity, mankind grew fond of them, admired them for having “overcome” or “outsmarted” the beasts. Many years had gone since then and over time the war between the two dragons returned as if it was as natural as the ebbing and flowing of water. Liena had always dreamt of a world where there would not be such senseless violence. A war that they had never known anything other than. She knew not of their opponent or enemies other than the distorted pictures that the elders had painted many years ago. Yet they brought her nation pain. They had taken her mother away. It was high time that she become the dragon she ought to be.

Or at least that was what she thought. Cursing, she stumbled off of the hot coals. “For fuck's sake--” She muttered under her breath, her feet red and scorched with harsh wounds. It hadn’t been the first time that she had done such a thing in attempt to force the beast out of her. It had been many years since Liena was meant to manifest. Most manifested around age 10. As a 20 year old, Liena was much past the term “late bloomer” to the point that the elders were not sure how to handle her strange case. While she had the marking of the Imperial Beast as her ancestors always had, it almost seemed as if the Dragons had rejected her. She hardly remembered the days when the elders would eagerly sit and watch as she struggled to manifest the creature. They couldn't give her the kind of advice her mother would have, but they certainly had tried. After all, they were not aware of the intricacies involved in hosting the Cerulean Dragon. Only those of her heritage would understand that, and being the only one left meant that she was entirely without a mentor. "Liena?" The voice from behind the door brought her gaze up. "Yes?" She answered, her breath ragged as she attempted to push past the pain. After all, should one of the elders find out that she was still doing this, she was sure to get a lecture. She was meant to take care of her body. That was what Elder Luo had asked of her. It was most likely his last request of her. After all, Elder Luo had come to the decision that she was to be offered to the Crimson Prince as a token of war. Just thinking of the idea made her stomach sink. "May I come in?" His voice came softly, kindly. "Of course." She obliged, hobbling over to her bed before taking a seat. It was nearly a year ago when the proposal had been drafted. A deal in which the Crimson Dragon and Cerulean Dragons would finally put their pasts behind them and merge to create a greater and stronger nation. A marriage between the crown prince and crown princess of

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each nation. None knew whether it would be successful, yet the Dragons had invited them to their court. A den of wolves in most terms. Wolves and a dragon. Danger far beyond most of her guard’s ability. Yet it was the Cerulean Nation that needed this. It was beneficial to the Crimson Dragons, they had won in a sense. They had forced the Cerulean nation to beg for a cease war. "Are you ready to leave?" Elder Luo asked with a frown, his gaze shifting down to her feet. "I suppose... you will be ready once we bandage those feet?" He asked, kneeling down to look at the wounds on her feet. "You must take care of your body... for one day... even if it feels hopeless, one day it will be host to far greater strengths than your own." Liena frowned and looked down, doubt gnawing it's teeth deep into the furthest corners of her brain. "Yes, I know." She mumbled, sighing underneath her breath, "How long will the trip be?" She asked, her gaze scanning over the bedroom that would soon become unknown to her. Elder Luo shifted and walked towards her, his cane echoing with each and every step. "A little over a week and a half, your highness. We will be taking a ship to their islands and then travel several days via the carriages they have arranged for us. For you." "I look forward to it." She lied, knowing well what laid ahead for her.

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@Visape

An inheritor must never falter. This lesson has been ingrained into Liu's very soul. For every crack or crevice within an inheritors heart, whether it be anxiety, instability or even love, creates an opening. One which could swallow them whole, in wave of blood red fire. Even now, as Liu kneels in front of his father's empty throne, surrounded by lines of imperial soldiers and the nobles they guard, his breathing is slow and controlled. Even as the ceremony stretches from minutes to hours, as the Elders pious script is drowned out by the searing pain shooting from his knees, he controls himself. "... and with all other matters of court concluded, we, the advisors of the Crimson Court have a final matter to address." The Elders words rung through the entire hall, pulling Liu out of his deep concentration. "It has been 8 years since our noble court was stripped of it's head. We have all toiled endlessly to keep our blood afloat, to survive, but that is not the reality we should strive for." Liu felt the air in the hall begin to shift, shivers of excitement and anticipation filling the air like static. "Our ancestors were more than survivors, they were champions! Warriors of the highest Caliber, along with some of the greatest minds this land has known! We have always been meant for more, and to fulfill this titanic responsibility a strong leader must be present. To inspire their people, to carve a way to greatest and to fulfill what was meant for us." Murmurs began to fill the air, as eye's began to dart around, the gaze of hundreds boring into Liu's hunched figure. "To shoulder this burden, we have elected to crown a new heir-apparent. He shall be the one to bring our great nation to prosperity, to wield both merciful hand and absolute authority. Proud citizens of the Crimson Court, stand at attention and behold! The crown prince of our great nation, the inheritor of flames, Liu Xiao!"

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The Elders authoritative speech began to devolve into fervent roaring as the young prince stood to his feet. His black hair parting across his face and along his back to reveal a pair of piercing red eyes, glued only to the empty throne before him. Without another word, he began striding the plush red carpet underneath him and ascending the stairs to the raised platform it sat on, though he did not sit on it. Placing his hand on the ancient wood, gilded with slivers of gold and other precious minerals, and let out a deep breath. "It is with great sadness that I accept this burden, for though this occasion births a new tale for our people it is also the death of the old. This throne was my fathers, the last remaining remnant of his legacy since his passing.... and it is now mine. He is gone and I remain." Liu's soft, but cold voice cut through the electricity in the air like a cold dagger, bringing with it a deep silence. Taking a step backward, he turned to face the shuffling masses with a look a steely determination. "Under his rule, our house stood as the last remaining pillar of the ancient dragons. A paragon of power and might, built on fire and ash.... but that was under his rule. Now, it is my time, and I offer you something else." Liu raised a hand, black and gold scales beginning to form around it he clenched it into a fist with a snap. "I offer you change! I offer to you an opportunity, not to pick up the scraps of greater men, but to build a new kingdom; stronger and more grand; with your own two hands! For generations, our people have sacrificed themselves for the will of beasts that can no longer speak to us! We sacrifice our crops, our young, our everything! For a burden we did not ask to be born with!" With every word, Liu's voice began to grow louder and louder, like a fire roaring to life. With every exclamation, that static began to build into a thundering excitement.

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Every shout was met with the banging of arms on chests, of weapons against a stone floor. "My father ruled the kingdom of a dragon, but not I! Not us! We, will build a kingdom of men!"

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Deep breaths. In. Then out once more. She could feel the way her body calmed with each moment, as if she was mentally shutting it down limb by limb. A wise man once told her to treat anxiety like an old neighbor. For someone who had never once had a neighbor, that was hard to visualize. Instead, she treated it like her handsmaid, Qixia. As a child, Liena would run from the door the moment she heard Qixia's tender footed steps coming down the hall. She wouldn't even make it to the door to knock before the young dragon had scurried into a hiding spot. That only worsened Qixia's anger, quelling it. Instead, she was to welcome her. Welcome the anxiety. Then solely render it useless. For some reason, it was rather hard to render this anxiety useless. Liena frowned and let her gaze lift towards the sky, wind blowing through her pale hair. She wondered what it was like to be like one of the birds flying above her own head. They were so free, untethered to responsibility. She longed for such a life. A life where she did not have to worry for the sake of so many. Where their fates did not rest on her own slender shoulders. It sounded selfish. But she longed for the day where she could be herself without any strings attached. "Zoning out does not become you, Princess." An elderly voice scolded from behind her. Since childhood, Lenia had been surrounded by elders who were meant to guide her on her life. Each was to guide a specific virtue that they cared for. Chastity. Tempererance. Charity. Diligence. Kindness. Patience. Humility. She had always taken to Elder Cheng, the elder who oversaw the virtue of kindness. He was a kind man with eyes that were as brown as the earth beneath his feet. While he had a large belly, his hug was warm and his body soft for cuddling. Lenia had always seen him as a grandfather in a world where she hadn't ever had one. He was someone that she could rely on. Unfortunately, it wasn't Elder Cheng who had spoken. Turning, Liena’s gaze landeed

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to Elder Luo, the elder of Temperence. A sigh pushed through her lips, "I wouldn't call it zoning out... I was simply meditating, Elder Luo." It was Elder Fu who had taught her how to meditate. The elder of Patience. It was he who had taught her how to ward off anxiety, who had taught her that even the strongest of warriors, too, had fears. They simply had the proper tactics to overcome them. Push past them. With elder Luo's whining in her ear, Liena was sure that she would never push past her fears. She could hear the voices of her worries deep in the back of her mind. They were getting louder now. Yelling. She was sure that their screams would overwhelm her senses the moment she stepped foot on Crimson grounds. Numb. Liena shook her head and brought cold hands to slap at her cheeks.

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"Would you like to play a round?" She asked softly, looking towards the elder of diligence. Elder Shao. A man nearing 87 with dark eyes that almost glimmered with a silvery hue. Lenia wasn't quite sure how much he could see any longer, after all, even with the thin pair of wire frames that sat on his nose, he still seemed to take a while to respond. "Of Mahjong?" He asked after a moment, straightening his hunched back. Liena smiled, pushing to her feet to move closer to the man. She had always found Elder Shao to be a peaceful man. He had the air of a wisened man, and while he was growing past his prime, his thoughts were still as nimble as that of the young. It was a shame that his body could not keep up. "If you wouldn't mind." She smiled before lowering to the ground once more, straightening the board gently. "Well.. we do not have much time, do we?" He questioned, glancing towards Elder Luo, who had kept his gaze locked on the horizon. "No... but I suppose you have time for about one game before we start our preparations." Elder Luo mentioned curtly. He wasn't one for games. Liena was sure he didn't find there to be much of a purpose to such a game but she knew well that Elder Shao would differ. After all, Elder Shao had once told her that all great leaders understand the most difficult of strategy games. While she wasn't the best at many of them, she still found them to be a decent way to pass the time. When Liena's mother died, it was the elders who had taken to raising her. Her mother trusted each and every one of them as if they were her own parents. She believed that if no one else could shape her to be a proper ruler, it would be them. They could never replace those who she would hold dearest to her, but they could bring her the only semblance of a family that she would ever have. After all, while orphaned, the elders would remain in her life to guide her towards prosperity. It was Elder Fu , Elder Cheng and Elder Wei who had brought warmth back

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into her life after the loss. They had sheltered her, taught her how to stand up on her own feet once more and given her the tools to lead with kindness. They believed that in order to be a leader in such uneasy times, that she were to be kind hearted and level headed. It was Elders Shao and Kang who gave her a purpose when she thought all was naught. They reminded her of the importance of her life, taught her the history that predated her own life, and encouraged her to create her own purpose in life. They believed that leadership comes from within, and while they could force her to do her duties as a ruler, it was more important to inspire her to lead from the heart. And when all felt like it was going too smoothly, it was Elders Luo and Elder Sun who reminded her that while she was a princess, all would not be handed to her. Both more down to earth, the two elders taught Liena that she would need to work as honestly as those beneath her. That she would need to learn to get her hands dirty in order to succeed in the life that she was given.

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Liena may not have had her parents support in her life, but she was grateful to the elders as if they were her parents. Even though it was the elders who had decided her fate. The same fate that she was on her way to meet. “Liena… we’re here.” It was Elder Wei’s voice that dragged her back to reality and away from the game that she had been focused on. “Already?” She asked, pushing off of her seat gracefully, letting out one huff before walking towards the side of the boat. The shore ahead of her was very much different from the lands that she knew. The Crimson land was painted in a different palette than the one that painted the Cerulean Islands. The Cerulean Islands were painted in vibrant hues of the ocean, blues, teals and aquamarines intermingling no matter where you look. “Already.” She repeated as the sight before confirmed her question. “And look… it seems the royal court has come to meet you.” Elder Wei smiled, her gaze gentle as she put her hand on Liena’s shoulder. “Qixia, may you please take Liena to her room while we prepare the ship to disembark? Make sure that she looks perfect.” “Yes ma’am.” And with that, Liena was quickly dragged away to be primped and poked at before being presented to the royal court. It was only 15 minutes later that she was hurried out of her room to the main deck to make her entrance. Her heart was pounding, racing even. Deep breaths. In. Then out once more. “And we present to you, miss Liena Yīnlóng of the Cerulean Isles.” @Visape

A few days have passed since the crown princes coronation. The court's reception was mixed, as was expected. Many of the Older seat holders held some distain for the boy's comments given their role in their clans history, though they still respected the authority he held. Those of the younger generation, mainly the seat holders representing the military, resonated with the young man's words. Some went as far as to pledge their fealty to Liu himself, instead of the throne; as was tradition. Liu had expected far greater consequences for his treachery, he had expected to walk the thin bladed edge that was politics. To sleep with one eye open for a few more years... but an overwhelming majority seemed to share his sentiment, many more than he'd ever hoped. Now, it was no more than a few hours till the heads of the cerulean clan were at his door, their crown princess in tow… but that was the furthest thing from Liu Xiao's mind. Heavy metallic footfalls echoed through the ancient black stone corridors of the Crimson mansion, servants and maids clamored and toiled endlessly, their seemingly infinite lists of chores growing with every moment. It was an auspicious event that was to be held, the merging of some of the lands most influential figures. Therefore, everything must be perfect lest things go sour. Liu cared little for the theatrics of it all, his mind racing from the thousands of responsibilities now placed on his shoulders. Pushing open a pair of heavy metal doors, Liu marched into the war room. Silence immediately fell over the large hall, the several armored figures quickly and quietly straightening their postures and saluting with a sharp snap of metal. An air of tension rested in this place, as the several beating hearts of men beat to the drums of war and death. With a deep breath, Liu stepped forward, cutting through silence and anxiety with the steel Guan Go he now held in his left hand.

"General Zhao, report." With a single sentence, the room began to fill with a buzz of movement and life. General Zhao, a beast of man who stood a head or two taller than the prince himself, old and scarred, stepped forward and presented a wrapped scroll. "Sir! The cease fire orders have been received by a majority of our forces, we have given word to remain at their post's and render aid to their forces in anticipation for the supply caravans." In front of the two men were two tables, one depicting the soft teals and ocean blues of the cerulean isles, where several lines of crimson flags marked occupying forces. They cut through mountain ranges, farm lands and existing settlements, encroaching on the lands capital like tidal waves. The several X's on the map signified strongholds and military complex's they had captured, many of them in center of cities and towns. Images of destroyed homes, of the cries of broken families and the wicked smell of burning bodies assaulted Liu's sense, and for a moment the boy felt like keeling over. "....Sir? Your orders?" Another voice rang out, cutting through the violent visions that filled Liu's mind. The prince gripped his weapon for a moment, and tried to breath... tried to. The General, noticing the young boy's plight held out a hand, speaking in a booming voice. "We will act on protocol. Get those who are fit enough to fight begin to build armored strongholds close to occupied positions, and send several sections of medical teams to aid civilians and wounded. Make sure that the soldiers to do not cause any trouble, last thing we want are insurgent groups ruining the peace talks." Several of the other officers began to shuffle nervously, unsure as if to act on their generals words, or to wait for their king. A loud Now quickly broke their unease as they all darted in opposite directions, sending out scrolls and speaking to provisions organizers.

General Zhao placed a hand on the kings... no, the boys shoulder, noticing how his figure trembled slightly. "My King? Will you be alright?" His voice was much softer now, a hint of pity in his words. Liu could only nod, as he felt something begin to swim to life in his mind. The Prince could not answer, instead staring blankly at the other table in front of him. At the map of the lands he now ruled sprawled out ahead of him. Home. With it's soft greens and yellows, the sprawling plateaus and farms lands as well as the greys and blacks of protruding rocks and mountains. All of it bathed in a blood red fire. "Your father had the same problem... in fact it seemed common among all the inheritors. Visions of death and violence, of all consuming fire... lesser men would have lost their minds the moment they felt it, but you and your father are not lesser men. Before he passed, he told me of when he first felt the dragons gaze when he was a boy. He said he soiled his pants! Locked himself in his rooms for days he did! Yet, here you are, still attending to your duties-" The General was cut off as Liu gripped his hand, gently pulling it off his shoulder. "Thank you General, for your swift action in the face of my.... inaction, but I would rather not be hear about my father pissing himself" Liu chuckled softly as he stood up straighter, his voice sounding dry and dull, as if the water in his mouth had burned away. The General laughed in response, slapping the boy on the back. "Very well my king. What would you hear about then? The approach of the Cerulean elders perhaps - or maybe some of the maids gossips then, they've been quite lively today." The older man smiled brightly, the wrinkles and scars lifting to a wide grin. Even though this man held the highest rank in the Crimson army, he'd always acted more like a doting grandfather to the boy. "... My brother. I'd like to hear about him" "Ah, yes, The Red Scourge."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. WOO ITS BIG, also a lot of fluff but thats what I get for writing while brain is mud)

One foot in front of the other. Walking down the hard metal steps of the ship was difficult in the gown they had adorned her in. Left foot. Lift the dress a bit higher on the other side. Right foot. With a deep breath, Liena lowered herself down the clanky steps, wondering what would happen should she fall right now. Would the Crimson court think lesser of her? Would they question her lineage? Would they question the validity of their deal? She was sure they already were unsure about the deal. After all, so was she. She couldn't blame them for wondering whether it would really surmount to anything. Whether it would truly bring peace at all. If it was just a ploy. Peace. That was their aim after all. The Cerulean Nation and the Crimson Nation had been warring far longer than Liena had lived. Far longer than the elders had lived even. The eldest elder of the Cerulean Nation was 95 years old. Elder Sun, the elder of chastity. She was a strict old bird with cynical eyes that had never loved another. She had scolded Liena many a time for her naive ways. Liena often had whined to the other elders that it wasn't fair for the old bat to call her naive. After all, she had many years on her, years of experience with the world. Yet even Elder Sun hadn't known peace in her lifetime. For the battle of the dragons continued to wager on and on. With a huff, Liena felt Qixia land on solid ground. Her hand tightened as she awaited Liena's full descent as well, gripping it more carefully to ensure that she could steady her the moment that her feet hit the sand. It wasn't easy to walk on sand in such heels after all, and Qixia knew that. "Careful, Miss." She warned in a hushed whisper, gently grabbing at her bent elbow to guide her to the ground. Gracefully, Liena's feet hit the ground, the heel of her shoes digging into the sand as steadied. "Thank you, Qixia." Liena said politely, giving her a wry smile, hoping that the handsmaid didn't know better than to believe it re

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al. She knew that she did though. Their relationship had grown much further than fake smiles and coy thank yous. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Miss Liena." The voice of an older man startled her, harsh and rough like that of sand paper. The sort of voice that she didn't trust. Words softened to hide the coarse underbelly that would cut you should you apply enough pressure. Guiding her attention upards from her own feet, Liena looked at what must have been a higher up ranking official. He had dull black hair and green eyes and wore a suit that much resembled that of a marine. She wasn't sure if he were an admiral or part of the court, but his words felt jaded, sharpened even. "And you, Sir." She nodded politely, offering a soft smile to match his own.

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"You mustn't call me Sir, Miss Liena." He shook his head, "My name is Mùchén and I am one of the naval fleet admirals. I am simply here to ensure that your ship makes it to dock safely and is well taken care of." With a nod, the older man began to walk towards her, only to be cut off by Elder Luo. "How very kind of you, Mùchén. I'll introduce you to our captain then and you two can get everything sorted out." His gaze narrowed as he spoke, eyes focusing as he drew a line in the sand, making it clear that the naval admiral was not to touch her. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, guiding her past the admiral and towards the rest of the royal court. In front of her stood an array of people ranging from young to old. The oldest of them seemed to be those of noble lineage. Their scowls told Liena enough about how they felt regarding this decision. Once more, she didn't blame them. After all, the two clans had warred for many years. She was sure that they had all lost family members, brothers, fathers. She too had lost her mother and father in the war, far before their time was due. For many years she resented it, but Elder Fu and Elder Kang who reminded her that all had had losses in the war, and that while one could easily hold onto their rage and despair, it would be more productive to remember to give others grace, for we were all as much victims in this war as we were assailants. The younger in the court seemed more welcoming of peace, though there were many who bore scars from that of the battles they had recently fought, it seemed that potentially they too were open minded towards the idea that the nations could get along. Liena found hope in this. This was not a war that they bore resentment towards, after all. She did not even know the reasons for which their wars had even began. Liena was sure that her parents hadn’t either. A fire that remains quelled will not go out. The fire was still burning, she knew it was by the scars on their bodies and that o

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f her own nation’s resentment. She knew that this wouldn’t make up for the burns that the flames had caused, but if she could attempt to begin remedying their pain, she knew that it was worth it. As she stepped up to the court, she bowed her head politely, lowering it as a sign of respect. “Pleased to meet you all.” She said softly, aiming to avoid offense. Lowering your defenses was one of the ways that Liena had best been taught to gain trust. Show them that you are willing to trust them, and they will be more open towards trusting you.

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Trust. Liena knew it wouldn’t come quickly. Trust is not given afterall. It is earned. And she believed that with some hard work, she would be able to earn it. She had to, for the sake of her nation. It was an older lady with short black hair who first stepped forwards to introduce herself, her hand held forwards warmly. “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Miss Liena. My name is Yī nuò and I have been appointed to be your lady in waiting.” Her voice was kind, it sounded like the edge of a well worn blanket, frayed, but warm and welcoming. Sweetly, Liena held out her hand and took it, politely bowing as she did so. “And it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Yī nuò.” She smiled, slowly and gracefully lifting her head once more. “We should be on our way. His highness will be awaiting your arrival.” She smiled, ushering Liena into a carriage. It was a ride of 2 hours to make it to the capital and that of 30 minutes to make it to the palace from there. During such time, Yī nuò spoke to Liena regarding that of the Crimson Culture and Customs. She explained different dualities of manners and ensured that the young princess would be well prepared to be presented to the Crown Prince. By the time that they arrived, Liena felt as if she were well versed enough to properly handle an introduction. That was… at least how she felt until she was standing in front of the large doors of the thrown room. Which… was painted with a rather graphic image of a Crimson Dragon biting the head off of a Cerulean Dragon. Attempting to swallow down the knot in her throat, Liena clenched at the hand of Qixia, who had joined her by her side. Yī nuò stood at her other, the two elder women beginning to open the doors to the room. Stepping into the lavish room, Liena felt small. She took a deep breath and lifted her gaze as she slowly approached the Queen and the crown prince. She bowed her head politely. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

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@Visape

To say the young princess had walked into the lion's den would be a much more than an understatement. Without even raising her head, Liena would already feel the prince's stare on her figure. The presence in this room was overwhelming, as if she'd just placed her head into the dragons maw... whether it clamped down on her head or not was still a very real threat. Even with her head low, she would be able to see the rows or armored feet, spears at their side. A standing army... whether it was for protection or as a display did not matter, the message had already been sent. Shivers ran down Liena's back as an unnaturally cold sweat began to bead at the back of her neck. "... and to you as well, Princess. Please, raise your head." It was an incredibly cold response, callus, calculated. The same tone of the admiral she had met earlier, but far younger and twice as sharp. Raising her head, she'd lock eye's with the grim visage of the Crimson Inheritor. Seated upon a simple wooden throne raised by a flight of steps, Liena met a pair of deep red eye's that seemed to stare into her very soul. A coiling heap of black hair was wrapped into a thick bun behind his head, yet it still spilled down onto his back and shoulders, around a thick red fur cape, adorned with the golden visage of a descending dragon. The prince himself had pale white skin, and was dressed in three piece suit. All black, save for a white button up, a red tie and a gold chain that was neatly tucked into his breast pocket. On his shoulder, rested a long pole-arm like weapon, a steel guan-go, with a bright red hilt and ornate golden scales wrapping around it's shaft, the weapon seemed to press into the stone beneath it, threatening to crack the very ground it rested on. The beast stared down at her for a long, quite moment, before opening it's mouth once more, flashing serrated white teeth.

"You and your people have come a long way to meet with us. For this, I thank you. I understand that it must've been terribly difficult to travel so far in unfamiliar territory, especially for your more... unseasoned travelers" Again, his voice was cold, silvery and sharp. Like a steel blade had replaced his tongue. It felt as if his gaze lingered on Liena for a moment as he finished his sentence. "We have prepared lodgings and meals for you and your staff for the duration of your stay, whether or not we are able to come to an agreement you shall all be taken care off. The Crimson Court is nothing, if not courteous." "General, if you would." From behind the thrown, another beast of a man stepped forward. He was dressed in a ceremonial garb, again of a deep black and crimson coloring, which flowed all the way down to his ankles. From his side, he produced a small scroll which he unrolled. His voice was a thundering wave that shook the very room itself, making a few of Liena's staff and even herself, jump in surprise. However, many of the Crimson guards did not even budge, especially the prince who, even though he was directly next to this man, did not break eye contact with the princess. "We, the seat holders of the Crimson Court along with our crown leader, are gathered today to discuss the possibility of a cease fire and alliance with the following parties: The Elders of the Cerulean Clan and the Crown Princess, Liena Yīnlóng. The conditions of this cease fire are as follows. In return for a joint jurisdiction of Cerulean land, as well as the safety and habitation of any remaining deployed personal of the Crimson Fleet. In return, we, the Crimson Court, promise to provide provisions and technologies to any disturbed area's in an effort to reconstitute the Cerulean people's population and land. The pretext of this alliance is..." "... an arraigned marriage between the two crowns of each clan."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

When she was a child, Liena's mother had repeated these words to her over and over at night. "You are not too small to make a big impact in this world" Her words were precise, those chosen as to create a leader. In a world where she felt oh so small, her mother had taken the time to build her up into someone who was not afraid of being small. Yet in this moment, with the pressure of a calculated king on her shoulders, Liena felt ever so tiny. A dragon without claws. That was what she was. A dragon without flames to ward of enemies, and scales to drip down it's back like armor. A dragon that hardly could be considered that of a dragon. "Please, raise your head." His words were sharpened so much that she wondered if he were to dissect her. She recognized this tone. While it wasn't one that she had met many times within her kingdom, it wasn't one that she was stranger to. Malice. Hatred. Resentment. The emotions had seeped deep into the tone of his voice. If he wanted to kill her, he had every tool to do so at his side. Warriors with their spears pointed down, weapons ready to be lifted should she make one wrong move. Yet... Liena wasn't truly sure what the correct move in this moment was. A dragon. She was a dragon. Or at least that was what she wanted them to believe. So as he told her to lift her head, she indeed did, hoping to conceal any signs of fear that she may have shown. For as a dragon, she was to show confidence and grace, strength even in times when one feels weak. Liena returned to her full height an nodded politely, her manners well polished after years of training. Each movement of hers was concise, that of a full fledged lady. Liena's beauty was incomparable. Much unlike those from her nation who were known for having long smooth dark hair and eyes, she had pale ones. Her eyes were so light a blue that they hardly held a hue at all, more similar to the shimmering reflection on the water than that of the water itself. Shining like t

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he iridescent sheen of a bubble, her gaze lifted to him. Her hair was pale as well and while not entirely devoid of color, it's golden color was a stark contrast to that of most Cerulean citizens. It had been braided and guided into gentle swoops all held together with several shimmering crystal pins, holding it in place. As she lifted her head, a few strands fell lose, shifting to frame her delicate face. Unlike him, she wore white, her entire dress draped in a pale color.

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White was the color of innocence. Liena was sure that was why they had chosen this dress for her to wear today. Yet she wasn't sure if she would consider white to be the color of trust. She knew not the color of trust. For Liena sometimes wondered if there was a singular soul she could entirely trust. While she loved and cared for the elders of her nation, she well understood that they were not each without motive. Even Elder Cheng and Elder Fu, who had shown her such warmth throughout her life, had ulterior motives for doing the things they did. It was what had landed them such cushy jobs within the court, after all. As he spoke, she listened, for a moment truly forcing herself to listen. It was elder Fu who had taught her to truly listen. Most people don't have a semblance of a clue about listening. Your words go in one ear and out the other, all the while they are busy contemplating their next responses. In many cases, one would think that such a take would be smart in her situation. If they were in her shoes, they would prepare their words, sharpening them so that she too could show the Prince her wit. Liena wouldn't do that though. Instead she straightened her attention towards the Prince, facing him head on as he spoke. Even if his words were meant to disect her, to cut her into small bits in attempt to understand what laid at the core. For if she was to build any sort of trust with this man, she understood that she had to welcome this vulnerability into her life. As the large man stepped forwards from behind the thrown, Liena directed her attention towards him. It would be rude to not properly face that of one who is speaking. She swallowed and stood up a little taller, stiffening ever so slightly as he began to speak. *"We, the seat holders of the Crimson Court along with our crown leader, are gathered today to discuss the possibility of a cease fire and alliance with the following parties: The Elders of the Cerulean Clan and the Crown Princess, Li

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ena Yīnlóng. The conditions of this cease fire are as follows. In return for a joint jurisdiction of Cerulean land, as well as the safety and habitation of any remaining deployed personal of the Crimson Fleet. In return, we, the Crimson Court, promise to provide provisions and technologies to any disturbed area's in an effort to reconstitute the Cerulean people's population and land. The pretext of this alliance is..."* "... an arranged marriage between the two crowns of each clan." There was disdain in his voice.

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She well understood why. Many dreamt of finding true love. While Liena herself did not know if the Prince believed in such a thing or if he held onto hopes regarding his potential life partner, she empathized with the frustration one must feel in such a situation. She took a deep breath and nodded at the large man, parting her lips to speak. Her lips remained parted for a moment, no words leaving her mouth as she gracefully considered her choice of words. Her gaze lowered, “I understand that many of you may have apprehensions about the agreement that we have offered, please, feel welcomed to ask me and those of my court any questions that you may have.” As she spoke, those of the Cerulean court stepped forwards, the elders at the forefront. The Cerulean court was smaller than the Crimson court, older too. In her guard there were but a few elder than 30, most looking young and naive, not holding the poise that those of the Crimson’s forces demanded. It was clear that they did not know war, their eyes still glimmering with hope. They believed in her. While the court was small, it was clear that each and every one of them truly believed in her, their gaze cast onto her admiringly. It was Elder Luo who stepped to her side first. “My name is elder Luo… I am here to represent that of the Imperial Dragon’s parents in their stead. As we come to our agreement, please look to me regarding questions about our… agreement.” Liena swallowed, almost biting her tongue as she held back frustration. Elder Luo had spoken impatiently. Trust could not be rushed. A decision could not be hurried, and Liena was well aware of that much.

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@Visape

A thick blanket of silence filled the air. Though there was no open protest to the the announcement, many of the keener eyed members noticed the young woman's apprehension. Her anxiety hung in the air like blood in water, and it was surely noticed. Like a hunter stalking pray, Liu examined every hurried breath, every twitch of a muscle as if he was a hawk stalking a mouse. As she averted his gaze, he leaned forward and tilted his head slightly. For a moment, there was a flash of something in his face. The tilt of an eyebrow, the drooping of lips. Pity. Regret. Resignation

There was something he had to say, a task divined to him by role as a leader... but one he ultimately wished he hadn't needed too, but as just as quickly as it came, it vanished. Replaced by an impenetrable shield of stoicism, like a great metal mirror, reflecting and amplifying the princess's own anxiety back at her. "Well then, if you wish to have a discussion now I will oblige. My court and I have deliberated some many hours of discussion to the terms of your parley, we have ultimately decided we find your conditions.... unfavorable." A shock ran through the Cerulean Clansmen, that small drop of blood began to swell until it blinded Liena's vision. Her heart beat through her chest as the cold fist of anxiety clamped around her throat, choking her. "Though it is true, we too wish for this endless war to cease. However, in exchange for ceasing our assaults' you hand us infertile lands and displaced masses and expect us to sink our resources into recouping your lack of leadership? I apologize but... that is far from a fair trade. We too have suffered the consequences of this great war." There it was. The fangs that were hidden behind their hospitality. The ulterior motive that was seemingly behind every single person Liena had met in her life... but it was different. Instead of addressing the elders and accountants, who held power over the ledgers and books, dressed to the nines in plush cloth and lavish accessories. No. His vision. His attention. His intent, all directed at her and her cowering figure. His blood red eyes starred daggers into her, his eye brows raised expectantly. What more are you willing to sacrifice for your people, mouse.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Pressure. The pressure in the air was almost palpable. She could feel it settling in the air, thick around her body, applying weight onto her shoulders and making it hard to breathe. Pushing down on her as she attempted to make her stand. She had practiced this. She had spoken these words over and over in the mirror, practicing for any number of scenarios. Yet the real thing was different. She could feel their eyes on her, watching her for any mistake that she may make. It was almost as if they wanted her to make mistake. She was sure they did. They hoped for a reason to bring her harm. They didn't need a reason, really. She knew as much. And yet with a reason, no one would question them for their decisions. There was no amount of preparation that could truly give her comfort in this moment. "To become a proper ruler, you must be comfortable with being uncomfortable, Liena." Elder Fu's voice echoed through her mind as she attempted to fight her own instincts, to push past them and to stand up straight, to push away her natural reactions and to stand strong once more. She could feel him looking down on her, the prince's eyes watching her with pity as he pondered his own words. It made her sick to her stomach. "Rulers do not have the luxury of comfortable decisions. That is why we give them a comfortable life, in order to allow them to make the most uncomfortable of decisions." Liena bit at the inside of her cheek, lifting her chin ever so slightly before she listened to the Prince begin to speak. His words were well chosen, they were the words of one who wanted to harm. She wouldn't allow him it. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her anxiety swell. A deep breath in. Slowly, exhale. She could hear the elder's anxious shifting, the sound of their feet as they looked at one another for comfort. Comfort in this moment of uneasiness, comfort in a moment where it seemed like there was none at all. "I am well aware..." She paused, weighing

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her words on her tongue, "Of the fact that our conditions are not...anywhere near perfect." She noted, silvery eyes lifting up towards the Prince. There was something pure in them. Her words were sincere, clean from personal desires. "We do not have resources to offer you. And for that, I deeply apologize. I have no right to ask for forgiveness, nor the safety of my people." Liena paused, feeling Elder Luo's hand on her shoulder. Her gaze shifted from the Prince for but one moment, flicking to the side to acknowledge him. Yet she did not speak. She lifted her index finger up, requesting a silence that he granted, allowing her to continue on. She smiled softly, placing her own hand on top of his, gently reminding him that she was prepared for this moment.

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"The Cerulean Nation is known for our engineers and our scholars. While our lands are infertile, our inventors have created resources that will be helpful across the nation, providing ways to grow produce in the most difficult of environments. The Cerulean capital is known as that of the city of progress. A place where the greatest scholars collaborate to study diseases and ailments. Our doctors are among the most renown." She spoke, her breaths calm despite the pounding of her own heart. "In a world where we fight plagues and illnesses faster than we can fight with one another... I believe knowledge, itself, is a strong weapon. Should you ally with us, I believe that the people of both of our nations, should see a decrease in deaths caused by illness." She lifted her gaze, making contact with the blood red eyes that refused to look from her own. "This war benefits neither of us. It has depleted our resources and taught our people the pain of loss." She smiled softly, the saddened smile of one who understood loss at it's core. "I do not know the people of your nation. I do not know you, or your court... but I well understand that we have shed too much of another's blood for a cause that we do not understand. This was never my battle, nor was it yours. I cannot take back the actions of my ancestors, nor can you. We cannot revive those who have been taken in this war, though it pains us so. I ask, no, I beg that we please bring an end to this war. If you need a death, let it be mine, but make it the last. Let it bring this era of bloodshed to an end.”

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@Visape

With every word, it seemed as if every heart beat in the room began to throb in unison, a deafeningly loud drum beat that shook the foundations of the room. The room began to swim as she spoke, every single gaze locked onto her, waiting with baited breath and hanging off every word. In front of her, all she could feel was the princes sickening gaze. An unfettered, blood curdling stare of something different... not entirely human. Though, as she made her appeals, the overwhelming pressure that weighed on seemed flow away into something else. Admiration. Around her, the once quite hall began to fill with hushed murmurs of consideration and praise. The stares of contempt and resent that she felt from some of the older seat-holders softened, and she caught several of Crimson guard giving her a soft smile or chuckling. The room was alive, as if they'd just seen a jaw dropping stunt. The large man who'd gave the announcement smirked slightly, nodding as he tucked the scroll back into his gambeson. The prince himself however, appeared as cold as ever. His head remained tilted, considering her and her capabilities before letting out a small sigh.

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"I do not call for death, especially not the death of an inheritor. Ours is a very unique and..." He furrowed his brow, as if in distain of his own words. "...valuable line. No, I am in need of your service and so you shall live another day. In the mean time however, you have raised some very interesting points and I believe some revision in the conditions of our treaty must be established. This can all be done at another time however." As the prince continued to speak, the sharp edge to his words seemed to dull and the overwhelming pressure that stalked the room began to subside. His shoulders sagged slightly and he relaxed back into his seat, giving him a much softer appearance than before. "You and your people have endured enough hardship and sacrifice. As you said, this was never our battle and so there is no need to continue it. Our staff shall show you to your quarters, you may choose to rest from there... but I would advise against it. Our people are hosting a celebration for the beginning of the peace talks, and I would love for you all to witness Crimson culture first hand." With a wave of his hand, several servants and stewards had surrounded the group, bowing and waiting for each persons response. Yī nuò herself had deftly approached the princess, moving through the Cerulean court's formation without even a sound to stand just behind the princess, leaning up to whisper into her ear. "You've done well princess. The amount of people who've been able to speak to the prince when he's in that state could be counted on both hands. Most of them have been general or hardened veterans, so know that you've made a very large impression. Take this victory and rest." The old woman's voice was soft and sweet, a calming lullaby during the storm that was this discussion.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Silence hung in the air for several moments. Liena took a deep breath, lifting her gaze to meet his, unwavering. She knew what she had offered up would frighten her court. She could feel the bewitching gaze of her council members burning into her back. They feared that she had made a poor decision. She was the last of the line of Cerulean Dragons. The last imperial dragon in a long fated lineage. Or at least, she was supposed to be. She knew not if she would ever make contact with the dragon, or if the dragon had chosen to reject her for some other reason. What she did know was that she had to make a statement. She had to demand his consideration and quivering in her boots wasn't going to cut it. Slowly, she let her breath push through her nose, her gaze softening. Swallowing, she studied the expression on his face, the way that his gaze remained entirely unchanged. Cold. Unyielding. It sent chills up her spine, the way that they looked almost like the eyes of some beast. Perhaps... they were the eyes of a beast. She knew not the connection that the Prince had with the dragon afterall and while she knew very little of the dragon's affects, she had read in her grandfather's journal that he had often felt bewitched by the creature. As if he were not in control at all. Her gaze flickered along his stature, examining the way that he held himself, his dark hair and red eyes startling. After several moments, the hall began to fill with hushed voices, whispers from council members on each side. She couldn't make out their words, but their tones were enough to tell her that they weren't hostile. She could hear Elder Cheng's lighthearted laughter as Elder Kang whispered something about her decision being rash. Elder Sun shushed them both, shaking her head. Qixia was sniffling. Was she crying? Liena couldn't tell. Perhaps she had scared the woman. She had never taken her for one who would weep at her death, but it seemed that she cared more for her than she cared to

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show. It was the sounds of a few soft chuckles that brought a smile to her face. She took a second deep breath and stood up just a bit taller, her pride evident in her stature. Softly, she nodded, lowering her gaze from the prince for only a second before raising her head once more. "I do not call for death, especially not the death of an inheritor." Liena shifted, a knot curling in her throat. They knew not of her ailment. Most didn't. The information regarding her illness was meant to be entirely kept to the knowledge of the elders and her maids. Illness. That was what the elders called it. She wasn't sure it was such. There was no such documentation on similar cases in her lineage. No one had failed to summon the beast. Failed to even hear it. "Ours is a very unique and...valuable line." She swallowed and let her gaze fall every so slightly, nodding in agreement with him.

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As the prince relaxed into his seat, her gaze softened on him. He looked kinder like this. Not necessarily that it was directed towards her. But he simply seemed to have softened in a way that she felt truly became him. For a moment, she wondered if those harsh red eyes were not the color of blood, but the ruby gemstones, or even that of a warm sunset. She wasn't sure she would ever see that side of him. If he would ever show her it or if he even had one. But she hoped that should they follow through with their agreement, that she would one find that the shade of red had changed. "Thank you." Her lips tugged upwards warmly, pulling into a welcoming smile. "We appreciate it, and I very much look forward to the occasion." Promptly, she lowered her head once more, much in the manner of the Cerulean people. They did not bow nor they curtsey. In their culture, such a nod was a sincere showing of respect. "The amount of people who've been able to speak to the prince when he's in that state could be counted on both hands. Take this victory and rest." Her voice was soft, welcoming. Liena turned softly and welcomed the kindness of the woman, smiling, "Thank you, Yī nuò." She nodded, giving her the same left of respect of the Prince. After several moments, the lady in waiting would guide her and her court to their quarters. She would gratefully accept a few moments before preparing herself for the celebration. It was under an hour that she remained in her room before she was joined by that of Yī nuò and Qixia who would guide her to the celebration. @Visape

As she was escorted to her chambers Liena would come to witness the alien geometry of the Crimson Palace. It was a vastly different style of the one's Liena would be accustomed to. The halls were sharp and angular, the court itself being assembled of many large square halls and rooms, with the hallways being stretched rectangles of course painted wood and cold hard stone. The Cerulean clan was housed in a slightly removed Pagoda, a bare but large stone court yard in front with several floors of rooms inside. Her "room" itself was an entire floor, walled off from the stairs and sectioned off into different area's. Though the walls were stone, many of the floors and separations were a starchy chaff like material, a material that could only grown in warm and harsh weather of the plains. Inside her room, she found a large dresser with a few cases placed around it. Different sorts of jewelry and other accessories, all studded with shimmering light blue crystals native to these lands. Inside the dresser itself was a calm white dress, with thinner fabric than the one she wore now but tailored in a similar style. The fabric was incredibly soft as he rubbed it between her fingers, and gently shimmered in the afternoon light. It glittered, like a thin veil of ice but flowed like a body of water. It was beautiful... but still alien to her. Getting it on proved much simpler to wear than anticipated, though it was split in several places the cloth wrapped around her figure quite naturally, only needing to be tied in three places. Adorning herself in the remaining jewels and accessories, Liena found herself marching confidently in the unfamiliar cloth, the warm breeze of the larger continent passing around her life a plush blanket of comfort. Just as she finished, there came a polite rapping at the entrance to her room. Yī nuò's soft voice floated through the thin walls of her room.

"My lady? Is everything to your liking? I can request some more amenities if you so wish it." Sweet and re-assuring, far less demanding than any other noblewomen she'd encountered before. In her voice rang a careful and aged wisdom, experience that saw past the shackles of roles and responsibilities to see the individuals behind each title. Gently pushing the door open, the two came face to face in the small hallway that separated her quarters from the pagoda stairs. Yī nuò let out a small yelp of surprise, quickly covering her mouth and bowing gently. "Oh, Lady Yīnlóng! I hadn't expected you to be ready by now..." She smiled softly and gave her a quick look over and nodding softly. In a deft and slight motion, her hands moved to fold and pat down several parts of the fabric Liena had somehow missed. "I say, have you seen Crimson fashion before my lady? If not for a few things, I say you wore it perfectly!" The older women beamed up at her, a look of pride and excitement in her eyes.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Alien. The feeling within these walls felt alien to her. Liena had lived her entire life within the same room of the same castle. Castle was perhaps... the wrong word for it. After all, it wasn't the fantasy castle but that of the dynasty. Yet the walls that surrounded the community of houses were the only things that she knew. Her world was confined to such limits, so small and protected. She had never slept elsewhere in her life, never spent more than a week away from her home. Taking a seat on the bed, Liena imagined that she were at home, that the room that she sat in was not here, but a nation away. A soft sigh pushed through her lips as she settled into the cushiony material of the bed. "Better get up...and get ready." She muttered under her breath, almost reluctant to do so as the bed attempted to lure her deeper in. She groaned ever so slightly and pushed herself before walking over to the dresser, glancing at the things laid out on it. On top of it she found delicate jewelry, dainty pieces with shimmering crystals that resembled more closely to droplets of water than they did stones. Her eyes softened as she lifted a necklace into the air and watched as it caught the light and reflected it onto the walls, painting the room in that of a lovely rainy day, sparkling and shimmering. She laid it back down gently, admiring it alongside the matching pair of earrings that had been provided for her. In a different case sat hair ornaments adorned with tiny crystal forget-me-not flowers cascading down in a waterfall of blooms. It was more lovely than she had seen, the artistry delicate and well thought out. Gently, she opened the drawer and found a white kimono inside, made of a beautiful high thread silk. Kimonos were commonly worn by nobles within the Cerulean isles as well. She had many and her own dress was very much inspired by their design. "Qixia... would you mind unbuttoning me?" She asked politely, glancing over to her hands maiden. Wordlessly, Qixia wa

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lked over and moved to unbutton her, helping her to undress from the rather complicated garmet that she currently wore. In contrast, the Crimson Nation's dress was much lighter, less stiff. The cloth hugged her figure near her bosom and then splayed out at the bottom, providing her not only more comfort but more movement. She smiled as she tied it into place, admiring the way that it fell on her. "It's lovely, is it not, Qixia." "It is... though I much prefer the other." The maid said curtly. Despite her earlier tears, Qixia hadn't said much of a word to Liena until now. Liena was sure that she was mad at her from the prompt response.

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"Well I think this is quite beautiful." She smiled, rolling her eyes at her before walking towards the mirror to put her jewelry on. She fastened the necklace around her neck and slid her earrings in before letting her hair down and brushing through it. "Qixia, would you please help me fasten my hair out of my face using the ornament they provided me?" She asked, turning to face the woman with a smile. Promptly, the woman returned to her side, sighing as she guided Liena to take a seat. For several minutes, she guided Liena's smooth blonde hair through a weaving pattern, braiding it before pinning it into a flower shape to insert the hair ornament. She left half of Liena's hair down, allowing for the wisps of her hair to frame her face. "How is that, my lady?" She asked, holding up a mirror to allow Liena to see her work. Liena was just about to respond when she heard the knock on the door. She paused and stood up, walking to open it when it pushed open. At the door was Yī nuò. "Oh yes, everything is wonderful--" She started to speak, caught off guard as the woman admired her. She blushed ever so slightly as she spoke, her gaze falling politely as the woman patted down her dress neatly. "Thank you very much, Yī nuò. I'm quite sure with a dress this lovely, that anyone could wear it beautifully though." She smiled, beaming with rays of beauty. "Shall we be on our way?" She asked, looking excited despite her exhaustion.

Yī nuò smiled softly before turning to move down the stairs. "You humble yourself princess. Hiding your fangs may have been a good strategy back home, but you may get swallowed whole here. Our people are fickle... pridefull. We value strength and authority above all, so it would do you well to learn to plant your feat." The older woman spoke and moved with a grace and authority that was incredibly different to anything Liena'd witnessed. Even in the crowded floors of the servants quarters, where people were hustling and bustling, her presence alone was enough to part the people like she was pushing through curtains. Her words were similarly sharp to the princess, cutting to the core of her person as she spoke, but there was no hostility. Her eye's saw something in the princess that Liena herself hadn't recognized, like peeling the layers of stone to reveal the gem within. It sent shivers down Liena's spine. Reaching the large courtyard in front of the Pagoda, several things had suddenly appeared. The caravan that they had arrived in was sequestered away, and their horses were being groomed and fed. Her soldiers had been given weapon racks and armor stands fitted with new and strange equipment as well as alien training gear. A few of the younger men awkwardly danced around with the strange sword-spear like weapons and laughed at each other. 2 years prior, a situation like this would've been fantasy... an assault on the Crimson Court itself would've been slaughter, but now here they are. Guests instead of slaves. As they walked through the angular halls of the castle, Yī nuò would often stop to explain the function particular rooms, the history of certain artifacts or even a fun story about the prince. Every so often, Liena would catch the elderly women giving a particular spot a nostalgic smile before walking forward. Continuing deeper into the building, the sound of loud drum like beats and rapturous applause began to echo through the halls.

The melody was dull, but it was tempestuous. There were no soft strings or shrill harpsicords, only the fast paced clacking and bangs of heavy war drums and the dull echoing thud of boots. Even in their celebrations, these people were like beasts. As they appraoched the sound however, the trio passed an odd site. A large, heavy looking mahogany door, one with several large gash marks in the wood reminiscent of claws near the base of them. Lieana stopped to ponder this oddity and Yī nuò soon joined her at her side. The older woman had lost her trademark smile, a great shadow now hanging over her as she starred silently at the door. Before the princess could ask, the older woman spoke, this time in a much quieter but heavier voice. Each words was like a stone she had to spit out. "This... was the previous kings study. Liu's father. He.... passed around 8 years ago now, when Liu was a boy. Since that day, this room has been preserved as it were and locked. To commemorate the man that he was." Yī nuò bowed her head low before straightening up, gesturing to a large oil painting that hung on the wall next to them. The man that was depicted could not be any different to beast she had met earlier that day. This man, with soft red hair and gentle rounded features starred wistfully into the distance, past the painter into a broad horizon. Though he shared the princes blood red eye's, there seemed to be very little of that roiling fire that was present in Liu's stare, only faded embers. It was difficult to believe that this man was the one who had perpetuated a generational slaughter against her people and her kingdom... but he had. Interrupting their train of though, Qixia laid a gentle hand on both the women's shoulders, her lips pursed and eyes shaking. Yī nuò nodded softly and turned to move down the hall, though her shoulders shook ever so slightly.

Entering the banquet hall, Liena was met with a cacophony so sights smell and sounds. It was pure insanity in this room, but to these people it seemed like a regular occurance. The smell of rich spices and oils hung in the air as they wafted from the kitchen, making Liena's nose crinkle ever so slight. Several large braziers were placed in several corners of the room, billowing large spinning waves of deep red fire. Some kids even crowded around these, laughing and giggling as the pranced around it, throwing different powders in small bags in and witness the flames roar to life with different dazzling colors. Inside the large stone hall, several long wooden tables were set up with equally large benches fitted shoulder to shoulder with men and women. Many of them she'd recognize from the hall, but slightly different. Soldiers, once dressed in pressed uniforms and gleaming armour were now in messy fatigues, arm in arm and hollering loudly to the world shaking drums. Several of them were joined by women and even children the princess hadn't seen before, their families most likely, joyfully clapping along. Others she saw on slightly shorter tables, were the seat holders and elders of the court, who before had seemed overbearing and fiendish, happily drank and ate, chatting to their peirs and laughing to themselves. Around them were people she hadn't seen before, dressed in simple working clothes and or unbuttoned uniform dancing together and pulling friends along... maybe even the servants had a place here? At the far end of the hall was a slightly raised platform with another long table, this one however was adorned in a deep red spread that drapped over the sides. Several other officials were now seated there. Liena recognized the sly looking admiral knocking tankards with the general from earlier... and seated in the middle on a large ornate throne, next to an empty chair, was him.

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Compared to everyone else in the room, he was something else. Still dressed in that sleek black suite, his hair still tied up in a neat fold over, he stared down at the masses below. His lips didn't move, his eye's didn't bounce around nor did they sparkle, and his body did not betray any idea of relaxation. The blood red cape was draped behind him, like a pair of enormous wings spread out to breath, and that long silvery fang of a weapon was still clutched in his left arm. The only thing that betrayed his stoic expression was the fact his coat was unbuttoned, and his tie was gently loosened. Must be his informal attire A voice chuckled in the back of Liena's mind, and almost in exact response to that his deep eyes darted to look at her. Without a word, he seemed to beckon her to his side... calling for her. It was a strange, mystical calling, an expression that was she'd never looked at before but all too familiar.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Fangs. The fangs of a dragon are one of their most potent weapons. Poisonous with venom stronger than that of any serpent, arachnid or insect, the fangs of a dragon were said to kill upon impact. They were strong enough to withstand both the heat of the strongest flames and the most frigid of temperatures. Yet Liena wasn't entirely sure if she had any at all. "Hiding your fangs may have been a good strategy back home, but you may get swallowed whole here." What was a dragon without it's fangs? She wondered, her gaze falling ever so slightly. She knew that Yī nuò hadn't necessarily been speaking of literal fangs, but Liena couldn't help but wonder whether she literally would be swallowed whole should they find that her transformations were blocked? She let out a sigh and pushed a few strands of hair out of her hair, nodding to the hands maid. "You're right." She nodded, affirming the woman's guidance. It stung, but she had been well trained to accept feedback of this kind by the elders. The elders had always taught the virtues, kindness, charity, temperance, diligence. No one had taught her to display her own strength. Strength was not valued in the same way in the Cerulean nation as it was in the Crimson nation. In the Cerulean Nation, there were other ways of showing strength. The Cerulean nation cared heavily for character, believing that true strength was best expressed through kindness and confidence. Authority wasn't something that Liena expressed often. It almost directly spoke against all of the things that she was taught. She was taught that she was no better than others, that even the maids and the townspeople were on the same level as she, even if she did have divine right to the kingdom. She was to treat others with the same sort of kindness that she wished to be treated with. Of course, she knew that authority didn't mean that she had to be rude or mean to others. She paused and looked at Yī nuò, "Though... I do believe that you have mistak

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en my compliment for weakness. I do not see as such. This dress is so lovely it could make anyone look lovely. That statement in itself is not to my detriment though. After all, the dresses beauty does not correlate to my own." She explained, her gaze focused intently on the woman. She had entirely stopped walking, focused on explaining her own opinion. Resolute that she had explained her beliefs to the best of her ability, Liena stepped forwards, continuing to follow the woman through the area, her gaze curious as she took in her surroundings. In every direction that she looked she could see servants working, people hustling and bustling as they attempted to get their word done with the highest efficiency possible. It was clear that slacking was not acceptable here, each person moving with pure purpose. As they reached the courtyard, Liena paused to watch her soldiers fumble around with the training gear that they had been given. She smiled as she watched a pair dance around with the weapons. "They look like clumsy children..." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Remember to ask the Crimson Nation's soldiers to properly train you using such weapons." She warned them, calling out from where she stood. "And... put those weapons down before you form bad habits." She added, shifting her attention away from them before continuing on.

Liena took interest in exploring the castle, her attention focused despite the fact that she had several days of fatigue resting on her shoulders. She nodded softly to the woman's explainations, occasionally asking questions when she had one. Even the Crimson architecture was different from theirs. Their buildings were built to survive different natural disasters, and different weather. From the art, to the furniture, Liena couldn't help but note the differences between their nations. As they continued deeper into the castle, she could hear the swelling beat of drums. It sounded like that of a heartbeat at first, steady and focused, even. Heavy thuds echoing from several rooms and hallways down. While they may of lacked melody, Liena could almost hear their song in the strong patterned beat that they played. It felt as if it were urging her to hurry, rushing her to make her way into the room in which the sounds were coming from. Yet Liena found her attention focused on something else, distracted as she laid sigh to that of the Previous King's study. She had not a moment to ask before the older woman piped up to explain the history behind the room. She couldn't blame him. The Prince, that was. She too, hadn't touched the chambers of her mother or father since their death. She had them regularly cleaned but she hadn't stepped foot within their cooridors nor had she gone through their personal belongings. She had asked the maids to bring her anything that had pertained to her, but she had asked them to leave everything as it once was. As if they would return to it one day. Liena's gaze softened, examining the man that once had controlled this nation. The man who had battled her mother and father. For years she had imagined him some beast. Some monster with cold eyes and an emotionless gaze. Not much different from the stern prince that she had met today. Yet instead she was faced the painting of a kind man, his features gentle and welcoming. She swallowed, f

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eeling her heart swell as she wondered what would have been should they had come to peace earlier on in their life spans. Perhaps none of them would be dead. A knot tightened in her throat as she felt Qixia place her hand on her shoulder. For but a moment, Liena ignored the movement, bowing her head politely to the painting. Respectfully, she would honor his life by providing him with the respect she would have given him were he here.

After several moments, Liena would lift her head and follow after the two women, stepping into the banquet hall. Sounds overwhelmed her ears as she stepped inside. She was unsure of where to look, or what to listen to, her heart beginning to swell with that of the drumming. It was mesmerizing, the sound enchanting her despite being so unlike that of her own music. She stepped through the crowd slowly, her attention pulled in every direction as she took in the sights. They seemed happy. Gleeful even. Liena hesitated for a moment, her eyes softening as a child crashed into her legs. She softened at their impact, her attention shifting down as she met their eyes. "Are you alright?" She asked in a warm tone, gracefully bending down to stop them from falling. For a moment, the child clung to her dress, staring up at her in awe. "Y-Yes Ma'am." The little girl muttered, her cheeks red and rosy. She seemed at a loss for words, unsure of whether to fear the Princess or whether to admire her. Liena smiled at the response, her gaze welcoming. "I'm so glad." She said endearingly. "Run along, and have a wonderful celebration." She noted as the child stepped away from her, their eye contact holding for several moments before Liena tore it away. She knew that she shouldn't get distracted from too long or she would lose her way. Finding the two women in such a crowd would prove difficult, she was sure. She took a deep breath and continued through the crowd, weaving behind Yī nuò through the crowd. It was several moments before Yī nuò stopped walking, allowing her freedom to explore the banquet hall as she wished. The crowd was dizzying. Liena hadn't attended a celebration of this grand in many years. They hadn't hosted one since the death of her mother and while the people had their own festivals, Liena hadn't been granted permission to attend one in many years. She had been watching the people within when her gaze landed on him. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed hi

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m yet. His stature along seemed to demand attention. Liena swallowed and let her gaze lock with his, watching as his expression shifted, ever so slightly. Wordlessly, Liena abandoned Qixia and Yī nuò's sides, and made her way through the crowd towards the Prince. Stepping onto the platform, she politely acknowledged the admirals and the generals before stepping towards the Prince himself. She nodded her head politely as per Cerulean tradition before lifting her head once more. "This is quite a lovely celebration, Your Highness." She said softly, "I appreciate your hospitable welcome, as do my people."

5:16 PM

@Visape

As Liena stepped onto the platform, she was met first with a wave of intense heat. It was not unpleasant, but the shift was quite noticeable. With each step she took, an every inch of elevation she could feel the temperature begin to swell slightly. Looking down at her gown, it seemed to glow now in response to the several dancing lights, the satin like surface glittering and shimmering softly, the thin fabric proving to be a saving grace in these moments. Reaching the top and locking eye's with the prince, there was a clear change in atmosphere. The quiet chattering of the stewards and boisterous laughing of the military officials had been hushed, as many of them turned to regard her with soft smiles and curt nods. Liu himself was now standing, his chair had been pushed back as he rose to his feet. It was a slow and deliberate motion, the Guan Go to his side seem to shake in his grip as he pushed it against the floor. Unlike the General a few seats away, who had a mammoth like frame, he did not tower over her as he was only a few heads taller than her... but his figure was imposing. Wide, rounded shoulders stretched out to his side, and his shirt and vest bubbled up at his chest slightly. He had the build of a soldier and less of noblemen, his demeanor was less defined and far more animalistic... like a guard dog posturing at it's masters gates. Suddenly, his head was bowed low in a ceremoniously deep bow, his voice was much less sharp and gravely than before, but still dull and cold. "It is our great honor to have you and your people grace our lands, and while you are here we aim to treat you as one of our own. Please do get comfortable, you've travelled a long way and must be have some amount of fatigue." Liu gestured to the seat next to him and remained standing as if waiting for her. As the princess circled the table, she was met with similar respectful bows and nods from all that she passed, many of the individuals introducing themselves with a curtsy

or hand shake. The first pair that greeted her were a group of larger rotund men, with gentle expressions and greying hairs. They introduced themselves as Ministers Hong & Min, the ministers of Art and Culture respectively, duties with commission and regulation of exports and historical text's, artifacts as well as the trade of fine works. Next to them was a man of similar size, but much more muscular, with darkened cracked skin. As he gripped the princess' hands in his, their hard callused surfaces rubbed against her soft skin abrasively. He introduced himself as Minister Han, minister of Agriculture and Land-development. He and his staff often communicated with the several farming communities on required requisitions as well that development of new technologies. After him was a much thinner women who, though she was one of the younger members, had a sharp look and an intimidating presence. She introduced herself as Lady Cha, the Treasures of the Crimson Court. Her demeanor gave the impression of a cunning, calculated women but it was also thanks to her that the Crimson people had funded their war efforts. After them were a few lesser seat holders, elected by their respective communities as a voice within the court and finally the end of the table. Rounding it, she quickly caught back up to the prince, who gently took her hand and lowered her onto her seat. His hand was warm to the touch, as if she could feel the blood moving through his body under the skin itself. His grip was firm, but not painful, as though his hand was also calloused and bruised his touch was tender and deliberate as he gently lowered her before sitting down in his own seat. With a gently sigh, Liu looked over the crowd and pursed his lips. "I have a few things I must apologies for Lady Yīnlóng. In truth, this festival is not only for you and your people. It is... more like a tradition of ours that we've invited you to witness.

The Crimson people are a hard working and focused people, as I'm sure you've noticed as you've seen the servants and maids at work. Theirs is an incredibly difficult labor that ease's our own, and so this, along with their regular salaries, is our payment to them. It is a time of community and comradery, to eat and dine with us and to build a tighter bond as people. This night is for you, as much as it is for them, and I apologies for not communicating this prior to inviting you." The prince bowed his head softly as he sat, staring over at the marching groups of drunk soldiers, cracking jokes at their superiors and hollering all the while. "I also apologize for bringing a weapon to the dinner table. This is not a tradition of our people, and I am sorry if this reflects poorly on our manners, as it should. However this is a necessary step to protect my people. The Iron Lotus..." Liu speaks in a gentle, almost reverent manner as he shifts his gaze to the weapon. The Iron Lotus as he called it was a towering Guan Dao, a sword spear like weapon with a large red shaft wrapped in a shimmering gold scale and an ornate glade at it's head, a figure of a dragons gaping maw on the back edge of the blade. "... is an incredibly unwieldy weapon. It was crafted for the Inheritors of my Family by the Crimson Dragon themselves, but it is incredibly heavy. Some people say it has a mind of it's own. It is a requirement that Crowned Inheritors acclimate themselves with this weapon as soon as possible, and thus..." The man gestures with the weapon by lifting it slowly, though as he does, Liena would notice the veins and muscles in his wrist begin to tighten and strain themselves, the sleeve of his shirt threatening to burst as the man lifted the weapon a mere few inches off the ground. "I hope you can forgive me." He puffed out, as if he'd just held his breath of minutes.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Stepping towards the Prince, Liena expected to feel small. As small as she had felt earlier. As small as she felt as he stood in front of her only a few hours prior. Yet as the Prince raised to his feet, she found that he indeed wasn't as tall as she had thought he was. She paused, her gaze lifting to take in the full height of the man. He wasn't even a foot taller than her, his head only several inches higher than her own. He had felt huge earlier. Perhaps that was the power of the Crimson strength. After all, even Yī nuò felt tall despite only being a few inches taller than herself. Yet as he stepped closer to her, Liena began to understand why he carried the illusion of being taller than he was. His shoulders were broad and wide, his back held straight in the posture of one who ruled upon others, and his figure was well built. He had the body of one who had spent years training, the build of one who was used to putting hard work in. She swallowed and wondered how she appeared in his eyes. Was she too frail looking? She certainly hadn't the look of a fighter. She was delicate in appearance, even her skin so pale that it appeared fragile. As if one simple touch would paint it in the pale hues of purples and blues of a bruise. Her pale coloring added to that fact, her eyes almost entirely lacking color for the shade of blue was so light. While lovely, it made her look as if she wasn't meant for long, like that of a bubble, her time was fleeting. Her attention snapped back as she watched him bow towards her, speaking more kindly to her than he had earlier. Of course, the tone in his voice wasn't necessarily warm... it was room temperature, perhaps. Not the temperature of this room, though. This room burned hot, warm feelings of welcome and cheer burning within. She paused, her gaze flickering towards the seat he offered her. "Of course." She smiled slightly, her gaze softening, though not letting down her guard. Yī nuò's words remained in her mind, she must le

11:32 AM

arn to plant her feet. Would admitting fatigue to him mean that she was weak? She figured as much. As she walked around the table, Liena warmly greeted each with kindness. After all, while others may disagree, Liena did not rule with fear. There was strength in kindness, strength in being well liked. Their names, she understood, that she would not remember. She would try her best to keep their roles in mind, attempting to create mental cues to associate them with their titles. The calloused touch of one who understood agriculture, the frail touch of an artist, the gentle hands of a historian. Each handshake helped build those associations, helped remind her that the body itself was very telling of the life that you lived. To each, she gave a warm introduction, patiently taking the time to introduce herself and exchange trivialities. Finally, she found that the next hand that grabbed hers was that of the Prince. She swallowed and lifted her gaze to meet his, her lips parting ever so slightly as his warm hand guided her to sit. Her gaze fell shyly, almost embarassed to admit that her heart had fluttered for a moment. "I have a few things I must apologize for." Her gaze shifted to him, meeting his quietly. For a moment, as he spoke, she almost felt the way that the voices of the crowd subsided. The drunken songs of the soldiers faded and a for no more than a few several moments, all she heard was him, and the sound of the fervent drums booming. Yet his words were surprising to her. She almost laughed, her lips pulling into a smile, "You need not apologize for that." She chuckled softly, "We need no celebration... not to honor us, anyway. To witness such...joy and celebration itself is an honor." She smiled, her gaze falling as she spoke. "I have long heard the songs of a festival... and I am simply grateful to be in attendance of such a joyous ceremony."

11:38 AM

As he brought up the weapon, Liena's attention shifted. She had noticed it earlier. Though, of course, she chose to ignore it. After all, if he had intentions of hurting her, she assumed he would have done it already. Perhaps when she had offered her life. That seemed like the proper timing should he have wanted to kill her without being questioned. She nodded, "As a leader should..." She noted softly, "It is honorable your attention and devotion to protect them." Gently she would let her gaze scan out to the crowd, her eyes seeming to shimmer as she watched the people sing and drink. She chuckled as she watched a group of drunken soldiers weave hand and hand to sway back and forth, singing some sort of shanty or song. "I suppose that is why your people wear such bright and sincere smiles." She glanced towards him, "Happiness thrives when protected." She spoke softly, her words carefully chosen. She hoped that with this decision she could offer her own people the same sort of happiness, the same level of protection. No longer would they live in fear. She would show them that she had the power to protect their happiness. @Visape

Liu listened intently, hanging off every word that escaped her lips. He hadn't expected himself to be so transfixed but... her voice was nostalgic. A faded memory that now stared at him with a look of fear and contempt. He found himself idly palming the small locket in his breast pocket, nodding along as she spoke. With pursed lips, he bit down on his tongue to stop his impulsive thoughts flying free. The words of a dreamer and a child, not befitting the burden he chose to carry. Instead the guard dog replied, in a low growl that was barely audible. "Protection requires sacrifice... and I will give everything for them." Again, the temperature around Liena began to swell and rise like the warm breeze before a fire. The prince had once again stood and the atmosphere in the hall changed, the bellowing braziers began to swell and dance as if a wind blew through the room, even Lienas own gown began to flow gently almost as if the prince was emanating a gale from his body. With a single deft movement, the roaring crowds of drunkards and merry men seemed to still, their militaristic nature gripping their very soul in response. The several officials around her straightened their postures in response, and the few military personal looked up at the man with a fire in their eyes and wide grins on their faces, as if anticipating something. "My fellow countrymen & women, I thank you for gathering hear today! For today is a most Joyous day! Today, we welcome a new ear, not only for our people but the world! Today, your hard work and endless sacrifice will be rewarded, with an era of peace! Of prosperity! Of opportunity!" With every word, the atmosphere in the room felt like it was warping and churning. The spirits of every person in this room became a roaring fire, with every exclamation a wave of cheers and hollers bellowed through the room and shook the it's very core. Liu's own voice was rapturous, as if coming from every direction at once and at a volume his lungs could

never produce naturally. "However, our war is not over. No, it has only changed. No longer will we squabble and fight over land. No longer shall we be forced to besiege and lay waste! No! For no longer shall we fight to conquer!!" The words were grim and sharp. A dark truth unveiled and bared forth, not out of malice but of love. Yet the peoples fire did not fade, but it swelled in anticipation. "We shall fight to protect!! We shall fight so others can build and create!! We shall fight so that our children and their children will have to fight no longer!! We shall fight for peace!!With every execration, Liu raised his weapon. It's brilliant black steel and gold accents glimmered like a shinning star, that suddenly came falling down as he slammed the weapon into the floor sending a shower of sparks and embers flying into the air around him. They threatened to splash Liena as they flew, but the didn't, instead they rose into the air in a shinning helix. "So, my dear countrymen, if you wish to see this through, if you stand at my side to protect our new homes and our new people, I ask of you. Stand! Raise your glasses! Your hands! Your voices!" The Prince was screaming now, his voice a mighty roar that stirred the room in an fiery blaze of passion and doctrine. The cold wall that once surrounded him melted away in the face of his determination and authority. The once wobbling and dancing masses now stood tall and firm, their boots and hands snapping into attention with a sharp, practiced thud as they rose to their feet in salute. "For Peace! For Freedom! FOR COUNTRY!" Their voices rose in glorious harmony, as men and women alike raised their hands and cheered. Not only for Liu, who was now panting as he stood, with embers escaping between his lips, but Liena as well. Several of the tables had their eyes locked on her, with wide smiles and blazing hearts, cheering with their very soul.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

"Protection requires sacrifice." Liena knew that well. She knew that he knew it just as well as her, if not more. They both had lost people who gave their lives to protect their nations. Liena paused softly, taking in the weight of his words. "It does." She let her words linger, softly, as she pondered the truth of it all. She wondered if she too could sacrifice everything for them. Would she be strong enough? She bit at her lip ever so slightly, anxiously writing her hand underneath her sleeve. She hoped that one day she could prove to them that she had what it took to be a leader. Even if her strength came in a different form than his. Liena shifted on her seat as she watched him raise from his seat, demanding an audience. What it took to command your nation with such strength. She admired it. She too had to stand her ground, prove to them that she was worthy of their loyalty. As he stood, Liena watched as the crowd grew still, as their gazes left those of who they had been looking at to turn and face him. One could almost hear a pin drop in that moment, everyone watching, listening, with a reverence that Liena knew well. It was the way that her people had once looked at her mother. She knew not her father, but she knew well that they must have looked on him with the same devotion. In the eyes of her nation, she hadn't earned such devotion. Liena knew that. She hadn't fought along their sides as her mother and father had, nor had she stood on the front lines. A knot tightened in her throat, frustration bubbling up from within her. She would make that dragon acknowledge her. Whether she liked it or not. The Cerulean Dragon would come out of hiding. She knew that she laid within. Liena took a deep breath and straightened her posture, sitting up straight but allowing Liu the full attention of his people. "Today, your hard work and endless sacrifice will be rewarded with an era of peace! Of Prosperity! Of opportunity!" Something swelled within her heart.

8:43 AM

Her breath caught as she listened to him, passion stirring within her. This was their nation now. Or at least, it would be. These people and her own would unify to bring forth an era where people didn't have to fear losing their lives on the front lines of a war that they did not have ties to. She brought her hand to her heart, letting his words burn in her ears as he reminded them of the truth of their agreement. Their fight was not over. Not truly. As he noted, peace does not come without sacrifice. Liena kept her hand to her heart, her gaze cast upwards at him. The look on her face was not fear, not even as he sent his weapon crashing down into the floor with a loud thud, sending sparks sparkling up towards her. She didn't even wince, her gaze remaining cast on him as she admired and respected the way that he led his people. Gracefully, Liena stood, rising from her seat in seamless movement. Her attention pulled from the Prince and scanned out towards the people. Her movements were smooth, each looking as if they were entirely without sound. As if she could cut through air itself. She lifted her glass in the air, joining in on their words. "For peace. For Freedom. For our country." She repeated, the impact of her words oozing from the crowd. The crowd continued on for several moments, raising their hands above their heads and bellowing with a passion that stemmed from the very pits of their bellies. Liena kept her glass raised, silently demanding their attention. And while it was softer than Liu's passionate cries, their attention shifted to that of the Princess.

Their voices silenced, almost even more than before, well respecting the fact that her own voice would not be as loud as the Princes. She paused, her lips parting, "Before we celebrate... I wish to take a moment of your time." Her voice grew in power, her gaze cast out passionately. "I do not expect your respect, or your trust. As a leader, I am but a stranger to you all. Yet today... on this day I want to make as sincere of a promise as I can to each and every one of you." Around her, the breeze of warmth grew colder, sending chills up the backs of those who listened most fervently. Her eyes shimmered as she lifted her glass ever so slightly higher. "You are now just as much my people as those who were raised on Cerulean soil. I promise to protect you, to embrace your customs and your ways and to work my hardest to bring forth an era of peace. To bring forth an era where loss does not outweigh that of new beginnings!" The air grew cool, yet not cold. A refreshing breeze blew throughout the room, pushing her own hair off of her shoulders as she let out a breath. "Please join me... in a moment of silence." Her voice softened caringly, "For those who have lost their lives to bring forth this era. For those who laid down their lives to protect their loved ones, for those who lived on despite the stinging pain of their losses, and for those who fight on each and every day to bring forth prosperity." Her chest rose as she took a deep breath, her hand softly reaching for Liu's. She turned her head gently, "For your father." She added, "And for my mother." She whispered, "For our ancestors who dreamt of days of peace." She outstretched her hand welcomingly, and gently closed her eyes. For several moments, not a soul dared speak, yet their hearts beat as one, pounding as they each brought honor onto those that they had lost. Their peace had not come without sacrifice. And that was why they would fight even harder to protect it.

8:57 AM

@Visape

Between panting breaths, Liu watched her stand to her feat and cry out, her movements deft and graceful. Like watching a dragon rising to take to the sky. He felt a stirring of flame in his chest and his lips creeped up ever so slightly. Though his thoughts were cut short, as an all too familiar nausea washed over his body. His mind throbbed and churned as he felt the gaze of something on his person, his body shifting and changing as it's claw dug into the melted cracks of his passion. His chest began to burn and his throat became full of soot and ash, embers escaping his lips with every gasping breath. Liu felt as if he might collapse at any moment.... until he heard her speak. Her eye's glimmered as she spoke, like the light reflecting a gently moving pool and her voice was like the sound of crashing waves. His now burning skin was enveloped in a cool air that swelled and coddled in him, as if he'd been submerged in a warm pool. It stilled his beating heart and it blew the mist that clouded his mind, letting Liu be himself again. Liu stared in awe, as this small and almost frail women commanded the passion of his fiery people, not through violence or displays of grandeur but instead with devotion and care. You are now just as much my people as those who were raised on Cerulean soil. Even though it was clear that this treaty was not her idea, she willingly shouldered that burden and intends to see it through. His chest swelled once more, not with disgust or fear, but with admiration and awe. Before him stood not a princess, not someone who sits on their laurels or who parades and coasts on the labor of their people. Not a ruler. A Leader A true Monarch, who places the pride and safety of her people before even that off her own. A rarity in any aristocracy, let alone the Crimson Lands where suitors and Heads of Families peacock their position and their power, unable to recognize what or who gives them that power.

Liu found his face felt flushed, his cheeks and ears burning with a vibrating sensation despite the chill air that cooled is ever burning flesh. The cracks in his spirit not glazed over with a thin layer of ice, yet there still raged a fire inside that made his heart beat with a fervent rhythm. Respect and Admiration go hand in hand, an echoing memory pulled through his mind as he continued to smile softly. As her speech continued, he found himself nodding along as his gaze returned to the straightened masses. In their eye's he saw that same reverence, as if they were witnessing a miracle. In truth, she did seem like a vision from on high, her dazzling white dress seemingly glowing with an ethereal light as the flames reflected along her gown and a thin mist diffused against her silhouette. Many waited with baited breath, with a few men and women stifling tears and cries as she spoke of those that passed. As she mentioned Liu's father however, the man beside her seemingly stilled. His once gentle gaze hardened suddenly and his eye's glazed over, his hands were balled into fists and his claw like nails dug into his skin... and as quickly as it came, it disappeared. The prince shook his head gently and grit his teeth, turning his head to meet Liena's gaze for but a moment. As she closed her eye's, Liena would feel a gentle warmth wrap around her hand for a moment. The caress of a thumb against it and the strange sensation of dry, cracked lips pressing on the back of her hand before that warmth receded. Liu swung his drink back, warm alcohol washing down the soot and smoke that caked his throat before the glass hit the table with a thud. The Prince stood straight, and slammed his fist against his chest in salute, before joining Liena in her moment of silence. Liena's ears filled with sound of shuffling feat, of thudding mugs and the muffled bangs of fists on chests before a deafening silence filled the room, awaiting her next words.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

The air was electric. Liena took a deep breath, feeling her heart swell with a feeling that she had not felt for a very long time. True passion. The cool air swelled around the pair, welcoming them in a refreshing breeze as she waited silently, taking several moments to respect those who had lost their lives in this war. It had been a millennia. Perhaps even longer. No one truly knew when the war had begun. It had just continued on endlessly. Not even the history books wrote of the beginning of the battle. She supposed those were memories only the dragons held. Memories the Cerulean Dragon refused to share with her. Her outstretched hand remained open for but a moment. She hadn't expected him to take it. Yet she wanted to trust in him, to trust in that he understood the power that the grasp of their two hands had. Unity. Forgiveness. The coming of two great nations into one. A smile pulled along her lips as she felt the caress of his thumb against her knuckles. His fingers were strong and calloused, rough from the years of holding a weapon. She wondered if he looked down on her for her own fragile hands, hands that had not a singular callous on them. She hardly had a moment to ponder such silly thoughts, for before she knew it, she felt the soft sensation of his cracked lips against the back of her hand. Her cheeks reddened, her heart soaring with a girlish nervousness that she had never had before. She swallowed, forcing air through her nose in attempt to remain calm. For while she was still a young lady, easily susceptible to the woes and whims of love, to them, she was a leader. The sounds of bangs against chests grounded her, her eyes fluttering open to peer down at the silent room of hearts awaiting her words. She couldn't help but feel nerves bubbling up in her stomach. She paused and took a deep breath, forcing her body to calm before she spoke, letting her lips part slowly. "Tonight... mingle amongst your peers, dance with your loved ones, but should

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you have a moment, I ask of you to find one person that you do not know, be them of Cerulean blood, be them of Crimson blood." She paused, motioning out towards the crowd. She could pick out the cerulean people easily, after all, most clung to one another, huddled around the same tables. They listened as eagerly as anyone else, yet they remained to themselves, unconsciously putting up barriers between themselves and the Crimson people. Liena paused and smiled, slamming her fist against her own chest in the same salute that Liu had done, "For in here, we are the same." She smiled, her eyes seeming to burn with a passion that none would have expected from her. "And from now on... we shall fight together, as one to build a new nation. Brick by brick... stone by stone, we will lay forth the foundation of a nation that will not shed blood without reason, a nation that can weather the storm." She held her glass back up in the air, "Once more, please... join me in a toast." She motioned for them to raise their glasses, "To us! To peace! To Prosperity!" Their voices followed suit, "TO US! TO PEACE! TO PROSPERITY!". Bellows and cries of the passionate erupted throughout the room. The drummers echoed their devotion, pounding in a feverish beat. Liena could feel her heart rushing with the same beat, her expression bright and warm as she turned to look at Liu, grinning foolishly before she took a sip of her drink. From the shining in her eyes, it was clear to see that she was on cloud nine. That she understood that their journey would not be easy from here on out, and yet she was watching her dreams unfold before her and she wasn't going to let that fleeting moment fade away.

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@Visape

As the hall was once again filled with the dull thudding of the war drums and the cacophony of cheering and singing, Liu took a deep breath and simply basked in the moment. What he had anticipated being to the most difficult part of this long and arduous journey, convincing their people to join hands against a common enemy, had been completed in a single night. Well... the seeds had been sown at least, if not entirely thanks to the princess and her elegant words. The princes... As the thought crossed his mind, he caught himself absent mindedly staring at her as she stood beside him, and though she was a tad smaller than him, she glowed with a mighty presence. Seeing the massive grin and the soft giggle that escaped her lips, he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "You know, I think this is a good look for you. Not the outfit I mean, though you wear it beautifully." Liu spoke through his free hand as feebly tried to his own freakishly wide grin and fang like teeth. "I mean that expression. That passionate, beeming smile and those frenzied eyes. You are the spitting image of an inheritor." Liu's voice was softer now, not only in volume but in tone as well. His honeyed words flowed like a flickering flame that warmed her chest and cheeks, but his eyes never wavered from her own, not until he slumped back in his seat and let out a large sigh. The other seat members and officials around them snickered softly, and those close enough slapped the boy on the back. To them, it must've been the moment they realized the boy they taught and raised had finally become his own person, their smiles wide and their cheers loud.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

The pounding of her heart filled her ears as she stared out into the crowd, her eyes filled with a magical sort of bewilderment and amazement. The expression that she wore was that of a true leader, entirely envigorated by that of their country. Her chest rose and fell with each bated breath, her heart still racing from her speech. For one who had never been allowed to so much as hold court with her people, the air within the room was electric. It was the moment where she finally had broken free from the grips of the Cerulean Elders. Where she finally defied their wishes and came into the leader that she was meant to be, whether they liked it or not. As she took a sip of her drink, Liena watched as people resumed their celebrations, many taking a moment to admire the two leaders. They were iconic. A duo that no one would doubt. Drenched with charisma and power, the entirety of those in attendance was enthralled by the two inheritors. It was if they were glowing, star crossed lovers who would truly bring peace within the nation. None had expected as much from the Cerulean Princess, and yet she had somehow turned the tables, not demanding respect but earning it. "You know, I think this is a good look for you." Liena paused and looked at him, her cheeks growing rosy as he spoke. Her lips parted to thank him but he cut her off, explaining his own meaning. Explaining what he thought looked good on her. "I mean that expression. That passionate, beaming smile and those frenzied eyes. You are the spitting image of an inheritor." Her cheeks grew hot and the smile on her face changed, ever so slightly shyer. She wasn't used to receiving such comments from a man, much less a man her age. She swallowed and smiled a little more warmly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thank you..." She said sheepishly, unable to contain the smile that she wore. "I... I just... I can see it all happening..." She admitted, "Everything that I've ever dreamt of..." She took a seat nex

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t to him, letting out an equally large sigh. "I know that we've just met and that we can't rush this... but... together, I believe we can make magic. We can defy the impossible, prove them all wrong. We are powerful. And we will bring an end to the vicious cycle of war that we were born into." @Visape

Liu slowly lowered his hand as Liena spoke, nodding soft in response to every word. For someone so soft spoken, she struck the man as someone very direct at heart. Someone who diligently practiced the art of courtroom tactics and speaking, quieting her own mind in the process. As she was now, he believed Liena to be at her truest form as he knew it and it compelled the hardened prince to do the same. As his hand lowered, it revealed that a few of his features... were not entirely human. As he returned her gleeful smile, she'd noticed the rows of almost canine like teeth. She could only imagine what those fang like teeth had been used for, and the difficulties that came along with it... but she needn't imagine for long. As they had sat down, several servants had approached with several large plates and pitchers to the other guests. In front of the pair, Yī nuò approached with several covered plates and placed them in front of the pair. As she leaned over the table to Liena, she spoke in a soft but clear voice, one that somehow managed to cut through the clamoring and hubbub of their surroundings. "Here you are my lady! The kitchen and I have worked hard to present you a selection of fine crimson cuisine, though I understand they may be a bit different than what you're used to." The older woman had a very satisfied smile on her face as she placed several small bowls of different broths, curries and meats in front of Liena. Each bowl was filled with a vibrant display of sauces and ingredients that the princess had rarely seen, the air danced with the sharp, tingling aroma of spice. "Do not feel bad if you cannot finish the dished, and please remember to have some bread and wine if it's too hot. Another thing..." Yī nuò winked slowly as she tapped two or three of the bowls in the selection and lowered her voice. "...these are the prince's favorites, do give them a try." Liu raised an eyebrow in response to the women's hushed conversation, the man excitedly

playing with his fingers, almost impatient. Finally, the older women moved towards him with a soft chuckle and placed another assortment of dishes in front of him. Though they were much different to her own, but incredibly familiar as well. Liena recognized these to be foods from her own homeland, with even a few sweats and stall foods that wouldn't normally served at a royal dinner. Yī nuò gave her a proud smile and began speaking. "We talked with a few of the Cerulean cooks and servants to help us prepare a few dishes. I thought it wouldn't be fair if our young lady was the only one experimenting with foreign dishes after all." Liu opened his mouth to protest, his brow furrowed and his skin wrinkling slightly but as he stared down at the food in front of him and at the princess herself, he relaxed in his seat and shrugged. He quietly replied, but by the small sparkle in his eyes and the gentle rising in his throat, she'd recognize a familiar hint of excitement that she herself had felt in her youth. The man turned his head to meet her eyes and for the first time she noticed that his pupils were slightly more ovular than others, as if they were slited. Though she struggled to focus on that thought for long as he began speaking, his flat metallic voice now crackling with hints of emotion and personality. "I hope so too. These are difficult times, and there are so few we can rely on in the world. Sometimes it feels like we'd need a miracle for all this madness, but maybe this meeting is that miracle." He smiled softly, once again hiding his fangs with his hand as if out of habit as he raised his glass to her.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Human or dragon. As a child, Liena had once bickered with her friend Kai over the semantics regarding her own humanity. Were those of the Imperial Dragon lineage human? Liena didn't know. She had run to her mother in tears, pleading to her to confirm that she was indeed human. That she had just as much heart and kindness as those who she played with. That she bore the same soul as her classmates and that her heart was beating just as smoothly within her own chest. Her mother had softened and wiped away her tears, reminding the small child that there was nothing wrong with being different. He was not different from her. As Liu's hand drifted away from his face, Liena's gaze flickered upon his features. They were sharp. Sharper than that of most humans, at least. She wondered if he too was afraid to show such features. If he feared judgement from not only his people but from her. She softened and returned his smile, glad that he felt safe to show her it. Glad that he felt that he could trust her enough to show his differences to her. Liena had not sharp teeth, yet she understood the difficulties that came along with his appearance just as well as any other. Iridescent. That was the word that the doctor had used for Liena's eyes. It was before Liena could even speak that the doctors had claimed that she would never have the ability to see the world through such eyes. They had been enamored when she had begun to show signs of sight, even claiming to her mother that she was an anomaly. Then again, all of their lineage had been anomalies born with differences to that of their human compatriots. In the eyes of Lihua Yinlong, Liena had simply shown that she hosted the same powers that rested within all of the Imperial lineage. Culture. It was what painted a nation in color. Without it, a nation might as well exist in the shades between black and white. The Crimson nation did not exist within those shades. It was not monotone nor was it gray. It was the brig

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htest of vermillions, scarlets, maroons, rubies and carmines all at once. Each shade did not clash as one may expect. No. They danced alongside one another, just as their people did, their laughter growing louder and louder as Liena watched. She was amazed by it. Entirely encapsulated even. Her gaze sparkled as she watched children hop back and forth from foot to foot and lovers twirl around one another. She swallowed, guilty that she could not share such celebrations with her own people. Softly, she tore her gaze away, her fingers curling into a fist. Were her words false? Could she really bring forth such realities when she hadn't even been able to bring forth her own transformation into the Cerulean Dragon? She bit her lip, only pulled from her frustration when she heard the voice of Yī nuò from behind her. She swallowed and shifted her attention, her gaze catching that of the woman's as she placed a plate down in front of her. The scent of the food was hot. She didn't know that hot had a scent. And yet it truly did. She swallowed and looked down at each of the dishes, her eyes widening as they continued to place small bowls around her. "Oh my..." She said softly, almost under her breath as they were arranged carefully, each having it's own spot. She bit her lip and looked towards the Prince warily, the shy smile on her face sheepish despite her previous strength. "These are the prince's favorites, do give them a try." She paused and glanced between the dishes and the Prince, watching how his own attention struggled to hold patience. She smiled, "This must be good for you to make such an expression." Liena laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with kindness as she teased him. She had almost imagined him inhuman earlier that day, and yet now, even with sharp teeth and the slitted eyes of a serpant, Liena was well aware that he was just as human as she.

The plates that Yī nuò placed in front of the Prince were the colorful dishes of the Cerulean nation. Her mouth watered as she watched Yī nuò place a bowl of bright red rice cakes in front of the Prince, their color almost denoting a similar level of spice as the dishes that had been placed in front of herself. To the right of them was a bowl of rice with small slices of seaweed and seasoning blended within. It looked light and fluffy, perhaps even the perfect bowl of rice. Each dish seemed to have a purpose. A small cast iron bowl with corn within, a colorful dish with seasoned vegetables within, another with some darkly braised meat within. Their food was different, and yet each bowl seemed to bring forth a well rounded meal. She smiled as Yī nuò explained that he too would have to experiement with foreign dishes. Her lips tugged upwards excitedly, wondering that if in any way their two types of food were compatible. Smoothly, she reached her hand forward and lifted her glass from the wall of bowls and dishes that surrounded it. She held it towards him, her eyes twinkling as she gently clinked his glass against her own. "Here's to miracles." She noted softly, bringing her lips to her glass before taking a swig. Embracing the fear of the unknown, Liena reached forward and took her first bite of food. The taste tingled within her mouth, heat burning at her tongue as she swallowed down a gulp of one of Liu's favorite dishes. It was rich and hot, the spice reminding her very much of the spiced rice cakes that sat in front of him. Her eyes widened as she tasted similar seasonings within each of the dishes, as if they were inspired by one another. While it seemed ingenius, it was true that their dishes were indeed both stemming from the same routes. After all, those from the Cerulean nation and the Crimson nation had once been that of one nation. Perhaps, it stood as a reminder that they were not so different at all.

11:10 AM

@Visape

Liu watched carefully as the princes began to partake of her food. Taking a small piece of seasoned bread, she reached for a small bowl of bright orange curry that bobbed with thin slices of meat and vegetables. The thick sauce spread through a her mouth like a wave of strong spices and seasoning, complimented by the fatty flavors of the chicken and the thick texture of the vegetables. Though as she continued to chew that warmth was replaced by a soothing sweetness as the elements of food blended together. The prince gave her a thin smirk and chuckled. "Oh I love them. Though...you might need a few more years before you can enjoy Crimson spice. You should try that one if the spice ever gets too much." Liu's twinkled with that same childlike passion and excitement as he pointed to a small bowl at her left. This one was filled with a yellowish curry, thick with large pieces of grain; dahl as she'd heard it been called; joined with thick cuts of garlic and red chilis. Carefully avoiding the large chilli's, Liena ate a small dollop of the curry along with that seasoned bread, and as the prince suggested, the crackling, tingling sensation began to subside. Instead, the soft texture of starch filled her mouth, dancing with the sublime flavors of salt and the strong presence of garlic. Liu gave the princess a knowing smile and turned to his own food. Taking the bowl of Tteokbokki and rice, he began shoveling spoonful's of each into his mouth in tandem. Though the thick rice cakes offered some resistance, his fangs cleaved through them with ease. The soft notes of spice and the thick flavorful sauce sent a wave of pleasant warmth across his face as he continued chewing, the spoonful of seasoned rice adding hints of salt and sesame to the wonderful mix as he swallowed. As waves of emotion and glee filled his body, his eye's were alight with dancing lights and flickering shades. When he was placed in her care, Yī nuò would often remark that he had his mothers eyes

How, that in the right light, they glimmered like priceless jewels. He'd heard that when he was younger and smaller, the nobles had called him and his brother something like the Ruby Eyed Princes as petnames and such. These day's, they have different names for them. Ones that had less love and adoration in them and more fear. Liu saw his eye's symbol of that now. When he'd stare into the mirror late into the night, all he'd ever see was all consuming fire, sparks of rage and flames of guilt. As he continued feasting, he lost sight of himself as a bestial hunger began to edge at his mind. He felt ravenous, as if he hadn't eaten for days.... and so he ate. The sweet creamy corn soon lost it's flavour as his mind was overtaken by this urge, and his focus lost to the deep recesses of his mind. In his heart, stirring waves of anxiety and apprehension churned and mulled over decisions and declarations. Though this was to be a joyous occasion, it felt overshadowed by the looming threat he had learned off the days prior. For months, they'd been sending scouts and messengers into the heart of the Cerulean isles. Some, to parley with the Cerulean Elders in hopes of reaching peace.... the others chasing a wild beast and his band of deserting brigands. Most of the people he'd sent to them hadn't returned... or had returned changed in some way without nary a reply. That changed a few days ago. As word of peace spread throughout both lands, the court had finally receive the message they had desperately been searching for, but instead of a message they were met with a warning. To my brother, The new heir to the Crimson Court. With only a few years in power, you've already managed to do something our ancestors never could. As your brother, I can't express how proud I am off you... and how sorry I have to be. As we have stated before, no innocents shall be harmed in our crusade, but resistance must be quelled. We have sacrificed too much in our journey, and it must be

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seen to it's end. When we are finished, we will all face our judgement through court, and through the heavens. However, for the continued peace of all humanity... The Dragons and their remnants must die

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

The breaking of bread. Literally. Liena paused and picked up a slice of the bread that had been placed in front of her, tearing off a bit before dunking it into the curry, her gaze softening as she watched the bright orange sauce color the pale bread. It thoroughly soaked it in before she lifted it to her lips, glancing at others to ensure that this was the proper etiquette of eating it. She swallowed and pushed it into her mouth, chewing the coarse bread as she let the flavors mingle with one another. The tingle of spice on her tongue was delicious, one she enjoyed very much. As a child, the elders had refused her spicy foods in concern that it may weaken her already poor constitution. She had begged the imperial doctor to prove such ideas wrong and hadn't stopped until they allowed her to enjoy the red sauced foods within her own nation. "Oh?" She smiled, her eyes twinkling as he claimed she might not be able to handle the spice. "That sounds like a challenge to me." She grinned, her smirk playful as she took another bite. She didn't seem perturbed by the level of spice at all, her cheeks remaining the same shade of rosiness that they had earlier. "Perhaps it's you who won't be able to handle Cerulean spices." She teased, her lips tugging upwards as she playfully watched him look down towards the food that had been put in front of him. Of course, it seemed that Liu was entirely able to handle his own food. The speed at which he ate was even surprising to her. She ate slowly, mostly out of habit. The elders had always been worried about her getting sick so they had taught her to take her time. Yet as she watched the prince, she saw the ways in which his style of eating seemed much more becoming of one considered to be that of an Imperial dragon. There was almost a bestiality of it. She paused, her gaze lingering on him as he continued. For much of the meal, the pair grew silent and the party raged on. A night to remember. Liena spent her night well unders

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tanding that this would be a night she wouldn't forget. She watched eagerly as her people introduced themselves to others, as children danced and as a few Cerulean soldiers even tried their shot at flirting with the Crimson beauties within the halls. For the entirety of the night it seemed that a smile never once left the Princesses face. Her eyes were glowing with something that most had never seen in her eyes. And for once, the elders were left entirely powerless, entirely unable to control the young lady that they had spent their time molding. And while she may have been happy about it, their glares remained hardened. Focused on finding ways to return the young dragon to their side, a faithful pawn that they hoped that they could continue to use. As the night crawled to an end, Liena let out a soft yawn, her eyes seemingly much heavier than they had been earlier. The celebration had quieted and now all who remained were those who hadn't stumbled off to a bar or their room. A few faithful servants remained to clean, picking up the tables and tidying what they could in order to save themselves the efforts of doing it tomorrow. Liena let out a soft sigh and straightened her posture, stretching her neck tiredly. "What a night..." She said softly, her gaze lost on her hands as she tiredly wrung them. After a second sigh, Liena lifted her gaze towards Liu and smiled tiredly, her exhaustion evident whether or not she was trying to hide it. "Thank you for welcoming me to join your celebration tonight. I had... a truly memorable time." @Visape

As the curtains began to draw on the large glass windows of the dining hall, Liu was gently coaxed out of his quiet contemplation. The coals of the surrounding braziers had returned to dormancy, the ancient fire they once stored within themselves had been burned out and the cold winds of the Crimson plains drafted into the building. The lands were cruel and fickle, the winds that once flowed around him like a warm blanket now crawled along his skin, sending biting sparks across his body. An entirely alien feeling to the young man, who's body had always burned with an ancient fury. One that was to shock him out of his draconic trance. Raising his eyes to stare at thinning crowds, his eye's began to furrow slightly as he clicked his tongue under his breath. Once again, he had let himself be lost in thought, to surrender his grip on his focus. Twice... in one day. This is proving to be dangerous. A cold and unfeeling observation escaped his mind, dropping into his stomach like a lead weight. It dragged him deeper into his seat as his regal figure began to sag in dejection. Though he didn't focus on it too long, as the sound of his guest's yawns cut his idle self-loathing. "Ah! Princess, I must apologize. You're peoples food was far too good, I'm afraid I lost track of time. You must be tired." Liu attempted to fix his posture, but it seemed obvious that the night had taken a lot out of him as well. The raging fire in his eye's had seemed to dim into a darker red, like that of flickering embers of a dying firepit. Sitting up, he extended his hand towards her. "I'm... I'm glad you enjoyed yourself despite everything, but it's only going to be more from here. You should prioritize your rest. If it's alright with you...." The young man shot a quick glance to the huddled mass of elders a short distance away before turning back to Liena, returning her tired smile with one of his own. ".. I'd be more than happy to escort you back to your quarters."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Exhaustion bit into her bones roughly as Liena straightened her posture, forcing her back into a more rigid position. She could feel their gazes on her, meticulously watching each and every movement of hers as if she was about to make a mistake. She was sure that they already believed she had. Elder Luo would scold her later for her poor manners. She could almost hear his voice now, his phrases alone binding her tighter and tighter. For one who was possessed by the spirit of an ancient dragon, Liena was much too bound in chains to truly flourish, entirely unable to fly free from that which tied her to the ground. Liena paused softly, her lips pulled taught as she glanced at the elders who remained. It looked as if they had something to say to her. It was evident in the way that they looked at her, as if they were communicating something to her through facial expressions alone. The way that those who are really close can do. Liena frowned, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she made eye contact with them. Elder Sun directed her gaze towards the Prince, something in those sharp gray eyes growing cold and menacing. As quickly as he would have noticed, it flicked back towards Liena, as if she had never been looking at him at all. A third sigh escaped Liena's mouth before she could catch it, her eyes widening as she realized that it was not the first, not the second but the third time that she had sighed in such short succession.

Noticing her own poor manners, Liena looked towards the Prince. Luckily, he too, seemed ever so slightly out of it, his own attention just as distracted as her own. She smiled weakly as he apologized, shaking her hand in response. "There is no need to apologize. I'm sure that you have a lot on your mind." She smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes seemed colder than before, weaker even. She glanced down, grabbing her wrist with her hand and rubbing it. "You look tired as well." She admitted, her gaze glancing along the young man's posture. She well understood the exhaustion in his eyes. The exhaustion of one who was being controlled. While she wasn't controlled by the dragon, the strings that had forced her into a puppet were tied ever so tightly. "If it's alright with you, I'd be more than happy to escort you back to your quarters." Liena felt a wave of relief wash over her. She unstiffened at his words, her gaze softening as she nodded, "I would very much appreciate that." She smiled, slowly raising from her seat before taking his hand. Her fingers were thin and pale, and as they touched his hand, they felt as if they were touched with the refreshing touch of water. She smiled and motioned for him to follow her, her gaze flickering over to the elders. As she moved, each stood and began to walk towards them, their steps slow and decisive. Liena's grip seemed to tighten as they grew closer, making it evident that she wasn't interested in speaking to them at the moment. "Elders..." She said politely, bowing her head to those whom had approached her. "The Prince just offered to escort me to my room." She noted cooly, drawing a line in the sand. "I hope that you have all had a wonderful night." She smiled, though unlike the bright smile that had braced her face earlier, this one seemed stiff and forced. "Of course, Princess." Elder Cheng said, their smile much warmer than that of the other elders. "You truly did look as if you we

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re sparkling tonight, sweet child." Elder Luo and Elder Sun shot the other elder a glare, shaking their heads. "As Elder Cheng said...you truly made quite the statement tonight." Elder Luo noted coldly, his eyes narrowed as he meticulously analyzed the young princess. Liena's hand stiffened on his own, her eyes focusing on Elder Luo's. "I'm glad that you had a wonderful night... truly, all of you." She smiled and lifted her gaze towards the Prince. "Though... I truly am exhausted from our travels... therefore, the Prince and I will be making our exit. I wouldn't want to hold his night up, after all." She noted, attempting to make her escape from the elders for the night. A safe exit. @Visape

Watching Liena make her was down the platform towards the exits, Liu found himself staring at her. Even as he noticed how she stumbled slightly with each step and the exhaustion that spread across her body, she looked regal and elegant as she drifted downwards. He found himself enraptured, unable to even think as her gentle hands pulled him along. Turning to face the rest of court, Liu bowed softly before letting himself get pulled along. Meeting their eye's, they all returned a similar look of amusement and nostalgia and raised their glasses in return. Meeting General Zhao's eyes however, they held something else in them. His usually wide grin had softened, and his piercing eyes looked down on him with a faint hint of sadness, sending chills down the princes back. He began to mouth some words to the boy, but Liu's attention was quickly turned to Liena's tightening grip. The Elders. During the war, they had functioned as the governing body of the Cerulean Isle's. Thanks to them, their royal bloodline had persisted even past the passing of their Matriarch... but the same could not have been said about their lands. From what little intelligence did return from the Cerulean Isle's, the aged figures that shambled towards the pair were heralded as individuals of great merit, each in charge of the princess education and care. It's also thanks to them that the cerulean people, who despite facing the same generational battle that persisted today had created one of the most influential noble lines of their time, were now pushed into famine, poverty and sickness. So much so they would surrender to their sworn enemies. Liu felt disgust and anger begin to bubble in his throat as they exchanged excusatory glances at one and other. Snakes... the lot of them. His brothers words echoed in his mind as the one known as Elder Luo stepped forward, his cold voice not hiding his disdain for the princesses actions. Had they not witnessed the same thing he had? Did they not

see the way she rallied an entire halls full of people?! Did they not see her smile!! The dying flame began to bellow once again, Liena's cool touch beginning to fade under the pulsing waves of warmth beneath his skin. Liu's grip around the Iron Lotus tightened and he felt the urge to take a step forward, but once again Liena had stepped in while he'd been trapped in his own thoughts. "I wouldn't want to hold his night up, after all." Liu caught himself before he could smirk, surprised at the young women's own cunning. Using him as the reason to make an exit? Surely the elders wouldn't want to posture against him here, in his own house. "As the princess has noted, I do infact have quite a lot on my plate tonight, so if you would excuse us...." Liu bowed to them softly, but underneath his draping black hair a pair of glowing crimson eyes stared up at them.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. )

Control. Even the strongest of beasts could be controlled. Liena was aware of that. More than anyone really. The elders had put their collar on her as a small child, making it evident to the young dragon that while she was the one who was powerful, she wasn't the one who was in control of such power. Their grip was tight, chains binding her arms and legs and making it hard for her to do much of anything without their permission. Permission. Liena paused, her iridescent eyes scanning over Elder Luo's dark expression. He hadn't given her permission to give such a speech. She was sure that he was fuming about the entire thing. After all, not only had she shut him down when he had tried to speak earlier in the day, but now she had made an outward performance to rally the people. Elder Luo's grip was the strongest. She could hear his voice in her head, reminding her of her worth, reminding her of how little she truly could handle on her own. Without him, she wouldn't be where she was today. She knew that much. Liena's hand tightened ever so slightly around Liu's, unable to hold herself entirely together when she could feel the elder's cold gaze cast down on her. She knew that he was frustrated with her and yet at the moment, she had not the energy to fight it. She hoped he could last until the next morning before lecturing her. Before reminding her of the truth. The Cerulean Elders had held the Cerulean Nation together when they had thought all was lost. Liena had only been 7 when their Matriarch had passed and she had been even younger when her father had been slain in the war. In this world, it was only they that she had to trust, or at least that was what they had told her. The elder diplomats taught the girl true isolation, instilling in her that without them, she was entirely alone. For those years of her youth, they painstakingly created their pulls within the girl, knowing that this was the only chance that they would get to truly rule the Cerulean nation.

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The elders thought what they were doing was right. Even elder cheng, the kindest of the elders, was aware of the scheme. In their minds, the dragons were no longer fit to rule. Liena was not fit to rule. A dragon without wings to fly, without claws to defend herself, without scales to armor her from all wounds. They would make it sure that she felt that she believed such thoughts. That she thought she was powerless. "As the princess has noted, I do infact have quite a lot on my plate tonight, so if you would excuse us." Liena's hand softened at his words, her gaze relaxing as she watched him bow politely to the elders. He understood. She was no longer alone, and she was entirely aware of that. Liena gave a similar bow, her head lowering to the elders politely before raising. "I wish you all the best of nights. You deserve the rest." Her words were curt, to the point. She was drawing a line in the sand, making it clear that they were not to bother her or him for the rest of the night. She paused and lifted her gaze to lock with Elder Luo's silently showing him that she was not going to stand down. And then without another word, she turned on her foot and started towards the door, her hand still connected to the Princes. As soon as they were out of earshot, a sigh escaped the Princess's lips. Relief washed over her in a crash. "He's going to be fuming in the morning, I'm sure." She muttered, though only half audibly to the Prince. She shook her head and smiled at Liu, "Thanks for getting me out of there smoothly...The elders... they can be a lot." She admitted, letting her hand loosen on his so that if he wanted to let go, he could. "They... don't really like when I give public appearances." She explained, her gaze falling to her feet as she slowly took each step. "They think it's unbecoming of me... that I'm not as charismatic as an Imperial Dragon should be... or something like that." @Visape

If there was one lesson that Liu had never forgotten, it was the law of power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It was not a lesson taught to him by any of his tutors nor advisors, but one that he'd learned through painful, traumatic experience. A scar born from and carved into the twins souls that wrestled in his body. Nothing compared in the face of overwhelming power. Kindness, compassion, love... even family could not hold against the overbearing tide that is primal violence. So now, as Liu stares at the cold empty eye's of the man who was essentially this women's father regard her in the same way he would a stain, the man begins to feel something inside him snap. Snakes! The whole lot of them! A scream boiled from within him. It was a deep groveling howl of betrayal and anger that shook the very core of the boys spirit, and it resounded with a force that was not his own. Though soon it was followed by a low, seething hiss. One that bubbled with unyielding disgust and contempt. ...and the only way to make a snake bow, is to pin its throat to the floor with the heel of your boot. Liu's eyes glazed over as he found himself agreeing with the wailing voice in his mind, his other arm tensing as it prepared to send heads rolling- Instead, he found himself being dragged along by a petite women half his size, as she hurried out of the dining room. His troubled mind quieted as she began to speak, his attention slowly drawing itself back into the here and now. That I'm not as charismatic as an Imperial Dragon should be... "Bullshit." The man himself seemed stunned that he let the words slip so carelessly, his muddled thoughts and heightened emotions playing with his words.... but seeing that the two had finally entered an almost empty corridor, he allowed himself a moment to let the character slip. Ruffling the dead straight locks of jet black hair into a scruffy mop, the prince stepped beside Liena and looked dead ahead, avoiding her eyes.

"If they think that, even after the display you showed back there, they truly don't know what the fuck they're talking about." His previously cold and flat voice had seemingly deepened another pitch, his words now grinded down to a raw and jagged edge as he almost hissed them out. "If it was solely up to me, I wouldn't even let them set foot in this building, let alone my country!! ...but I've got more people than just myself to worry about now." Again, his voice had a more jagged edge to it as his rougher personality started to slip out of it's formal façade. Finally, he turned his head to meet her gaze, his resplendent ruby eyes sparkled with a mischievous sparkle. A thin smirk spread across his face, his fangs peaking out ever so slightly, and a faint laughed escaped his lips. "Well from now, they'll just have to get used to it then."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Anger. The princess had not expected such a response. At least not from the Prince, whom she hadn't seen wear such an expression yet. He had worn many other expressions in that day, but the frustration that twisted upon his face was one that he had not worn. As he cursed in frustration, his hand still tight around her own, Liena found herself entirely caught off guard. She swallowed and blinked a few times, stunned as he frustratedly ruffled his hair out of his face with his free hand, dark locks being pushed out of his eyes only to fall back into them. "Bullshit." Liena bit her lip, unsure of what to say, her heart pounding. She had never seen someone get so angry on her behalf. Her heart swelled as he stopped in his tracks, refusing to look her in the eyes as he stood his ground, forcing his heels into place. She parted her lips to speak but found no words, her gaze lost on him. "They truly don't know what the fuck they're talking about." Something caught in her throat. Perhaps it was the words she had been searching for earlier. Liena bit her lip anxiously, her gaze falling down ever so slightly. "I--" She paused and took a deep breath, shaking her head. "They don't mean harm..." She noted, fumbling for something that may potentially calm the enflamed prince. "They... I believe it's because my mother had such... fire to her." She explained, "She... just had this way of making people... want to cheer her on." She paused, her gaze falling. "I don't think I'll ever compare in their eyes." She smiled weakly, "even if I try my best, I fear that they will never respect me as they did her." What she was saying held truth, yet it also was the words of one who had been abused, one who had been gaslighted into believing that she was not enough. It was obvious to anyone other than the girl herself. After all, she saw the elders as extensions of her own family, and refused to see the evil that reflected in their eyes for none had ever pointed out such to her.

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She had never even imagined that they may have been up to something else, that they didn't wish for her success. Her point of view had been distorted by their words, molded so that she would never rise up against them, or so they thought. "Well from now on, they'll just have to get used to it then." Liena paused, her eyes lifting to meet his. There was something in his eyes that she hadn't expected to see. Mischief. It was a playful smirk that had pulled along his lips and a sparkle in his eyes that had replaced the cold gaze that he had worn all day. Liena's cheeks reddened ever so slightly, growing hot with a rosy hue. She swallowed and nodded, her own expression shifting. "You're right." She nodded once more, as if convincing herself that she was more than what they wanted her to be, that she was able to prove them wrong. She would be just as charismatic as her mother, if not more. She would show not only the Cerulean Nation but the Crimson Nation as well that she was worthy of a leader. She was worthy of their admiration. "I guess they will." She grinned, the look rising in her eyes not much different from the one that she had worn earlier. There was a fire in her eyes that the Elders had never seen before. One that would one day remind them that to hold down a dragon was a task none could pull off for that long. That they couldn't fight the fate that she bore as one day destiny would catch up to her. And with another dragon by her side, Liena was starting to learn that she was more than she had ever thought she was. @Visape

Liu listened carefully as the princess spoke, walking beside her as she dropped her head. His face never did lose it's irate glare and furrowed brows, but the princes vibe did relax, his clenched forearm relaxing as blood rushed back to his whitened knuckles. There was a heavy silence in the air for a short moment, only being cut by the princes sigh. "I'm sorry to hear about your mother. You speak fondly of her... please excuse my rudeness princess, but I'm gonna be blunt here." The prince once again averted his eyes away, pulling Liena with him through winding corridors and endless hallways. They passed by vaguely familiar shapes in a blur, the prince's large strides forcing Liena to take a faster, and slightly more exacerbating pace. "Your mother does sound like an incredible person, they used to speak of my father the same way.... but I think you don't understand your own strength. You talk about her as if she was a God, an existence out of your reach." Liu spoke roughly as he walked, a steely determination driving his heavy footfalls forward. Though that pace began to falter eventually as the pair reached a familiar large wood door, marked in thin claw marks. Liu regarded it with cold, empty eye's, the mischievous spark smothered under a dark aura as he spoke to her. Reaching a hand out, he touched the door gently, running his thick, bruised fingers against the scarred wood. "In a way you aren't wrong. They were a once in a lifetime existence, our forebears. We will never burn at their brilliant hue..." Liu turned to Liena, leading her hand to one of the lower gashes on the wall. This one was much thiner, and it lacked the claw like texture that the others did. Instead, it resembled more that of a broken child, clawing helplessly in despair and desperation. "... and the more you try to chase their shadow, the gap between us will continue to widen. I'll be incredibly frank with you, Liena Yinlong, but you will never be the same women your mother was...

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but I don't believe that matters, not in any important way. Just like her, yours is an equally unique and equally beautiful existence. Your flame may not dance the same way, but it will burn just as bright. So long as you can accept the fact that you will have to leave your mother's shadow." Liu's voice was harsh and sharp. It was heavy and full of guilt and regret. His face desperately resisted giving the deep anguish that marred his soul, but his pain still shone through. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

"I think you don't understand your own strength." Strength. It was something that Liena wasn't used to acknowledging within herself. For so many years, she had been criticized for her weakness. The elders looked down on her, for her weakness, looked at her with pitying eyes. They scorned her for the weakness that she could not deny. Strength wasn't something that she had ever seen within herself, something she hadn't ever been sure of having. Yet he saw strength in her. He saw something in her that Liena was fairly sure that no one had before today. Something that she never would have achieved should she have not come here today in hopes of bringing peace. Liena paused and looked down, her heart swelling with some unknown emotion that she knew not. His words were sincere, honest, raw even. They resonated within her as he led her back to the door that she had stood in front of earlier. Something caught in her throat and she found herself letting a breath escape her lips. Even if she wanted to speak in this moment, she was entirely sure that she would not find the proper words. A knot tangled in her throat as she watched him walk up to the door, his fingers brushing up against the scarred wood. Her eyes softened, growing glassier as he spoke. "We will never burn at their brilliant hue..." She nodded weakly, her gaze softening as he reached for her hand and brought it to trace along one of the smaller gashes along the wall. It was a response. A response to the powerful scars that stained the wood. One that held emotions that Liena well understood. She swallowed and closed her eyes, that same cool air swelling around the two of them as he brought forth emotions within the princess that she hadn't acknowledged in so long. "and the more you try to chase their shadow, the gap between them will continue to widen." Liena was aware of it. Aware that she was chasing after her mother's shadow. Chasing after the dragon that she knew she was meant to be. The dra

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gon that so many had wanted her to be. She could hear their voices, reminding her that she would never compare. The elder's had reiterated it so many times that it now fell on deaf ears, why can't you be more like your mother?, your mother never had this much trouble, perhaps she isn't an imperial dragon after all. She will be the death to the Cerulean Dragon's great lineage. "Yours is an equally unique and equally beautiful existence. Your flame may not dance the same way, but it will burn just as bright." When Liena opened her eyes, tears bubbled up and fell down her cheeks, leaving soft smears on the makeup that she head earlier applied. She blinked and looked away from him, her cheeks rosy and hot as she realized that she had let her emotions show through. Her hand gently raised to wipe a tear away, a soft withdrawn sigh escaping her lips. "You know..." She paused, her hand tracing the small gash once more, "I'm truly glad that I had the chance to meet you, Liu Xiao." Her voice softened sweetly, "In another life... we may have never had the chance to speak, much less see eye to eye." She turned towards him, bringing her hand to his chest, "Thank you..." She smiled softly, tears still dancing on the surface of her eyes. "I have a feeling that together... the flames we create will burn brighter and more brilliantly than our ancestors and predecessors ever could have imagined." @Visape

Liu starred back at the women as she spoke, silent as his words hung in the air. He struggled to swallow down his emotions, as that wicked flame began to blave in his chest. Anxiety washed over him as Liena continued to stay silent, seemingly lost in thought. Had I overstepped my boundaries? His fear whispered softly as Liu slowly began to bend down to match Lieana's height. That's stupid of course we did! We just met this women and you're dropping this? His logic spat back at him as he noticed tears that began to drip down her face. Though, as she turned to him with that soft smile, that sparkle of hope glimmering in her eyes, Liu felt all those nagging voices begin to quiet. A calming chill washed over his body as he slender fingers pressed against his chest, her voice cutting through the fog of his mind. Thank you... As those words escaped her lips, he felt the walls of his heart began to shake violently. Though he didn't cry, Liena would immediately notice muscles begin to clench, his jaw wired shut as he suppressed the urge to break down. Wordlessly, he shut his eyes and began to stand, turning his head to stare down the large corridor. "Thank you for your kind words princess. I wish I had a shred of your optimism. Come, you've gone through a lot today." His voice shook ever so slightly as he offered her his hand once more, still looking away from her. Her words weighed heavily on his heart, an overwhelming feeling of grief and pity were raging against the walls of his mind, not only for the women who'd sacrificed her life to live as a puppet... but also for the grieving boy who longed to hear those words, clawing pathetically at this father's resting place.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

The emotions were hard to swallow. Not because they were bad, but because they were overwhelming. Liena was entirely overwhelmed at the feeling that was taking over her heart. It wasn't love, of course not yet, it wasn't. Though it did have something to do with respect, and admiration. For years and years, she had been treated with such little respect that she had almost forgotten what it was like to be treated with true kindness. Not the kindness that the elders gave her as it was their duty, but kindness without concern for what it was going to get him. Instrinsic kindness that solely came from within. Liena couldn't help but push away the tears that dribbled down her cheeks. The cerulean princess was as clear as glass, her expressions so sincere that it was almost refreshing to see the ways that she so honestly expressed herself. It made it clear, that while so many may have lied to him in the past, Liena Yinlong would never be that of a liar. For she so openly welcomed her emotions without fear of judgement. She swallowed and looked down, her gaze pulled away from his as he offered her his hand. Her hand found his and he began to lead her back down the corridor. "Alright." She said softly, her cheeks ever so soft. As they walked, she found herself quiet. Not because of her tears, but because she wasn't sure what was going on within his own head. Wasn't sure how to interpret his own response, his words. They echoed in her head: "I wish I had a shred of your optimism." She wondered if it were a bad thing, if perhaps in any chance, he did not appreciate her optimism. Or if he found it to be overly naive. She feared it being such, that it may be misconstrued for blind optimism. Yet she couldn't help it, nor would she reject it because inside her heart, Liena truly believed that the nation was coming to something positive. After years of being isolated, she finally was finding something to look forward to. And while she was tired, she couldn't help but l

4:17 PM

et her heart soar in true excitement for the future that awaited them. As they neared upon her door, Liena paused and looked down, stopping directly in front of the door. "Thank you for escorting me to my room, Liu." She said softly, unsure of whether it was appropriate to call him by his first name yet. Within the Cerulean nation, many used last names until they were on a closer level with people. Very few called Liena by her name other than the elders and her handsmaids. Leina had always thought it felt cold, but she wanted to respect that the nation may have similar standards as her own country. "I..." She paused, unsure of her words. Her gaze softened as she attempted to formulate her words. "I really appreciate your kindness today... and I look forward to working together with you." @Visape

Liu continued in silence as the pair continued down the winding halls. Lost in thought, the prince's body seemed to move in auto pilot as it paced through the elaborate maze of rooms with quiet determination and heavy, deliberate steps. His figure, with tighly pulled shoulders and coiled muscles reminded Liena of his stature in the courtroom, the boy exuding a fierce and intimidation presence as if it was his most natural state. Even then however, the way he gripped her hand in his was tender and firm, her presence seemingly the only thing that still tied him to this moment. In the recesses of Liu's mind, a sickening aura permeated throughout. He could it feel it, it's overwhelming authority and presence pushing at the boundaries of his fortitude, nawing at the walls of it's prison as it threatened to stake claim over his person. He felt the beast's intoxicating emotion try to blend into his own, his thoughts becoming muddled by visions of the past and a deep and profound feeling of rage and betrayal. Hate. It flowed through his body as naturally as blood. Millenia of violence and anger refined into a poison that wormed through his body, a malaise inflicted upon him since his birth, now stronger than ever. He wondered why it'd become so strong, endless possibilities streaming through his consciousness and clouding his mind even further. Was it our proximity to the other inheritor? Could the beast's be resonating with each other.... or is it because of him? Liu stopped. Before he knew it, they were in front of the Cerulean caravans and the estate provided to them. Thank you for escorting me to my room, Liu. Liu's jaw was still clenched tight, but the storm within him calmed slightly as her words passed through his mind. Watching her hands idle move, he found himself disappointed in how little attention he'd payed to her character, chastising his worries as nothing but self pity.

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He smiled anyway, not the toothy smirk he'd shown once or twice, but that thin line she'd seen at the hall since their meeting. "You're far too kind Liena, I should be thanking you. Yours was the hardest decision to make after all." He gave the princess a small bow, again taking her hand in his before gently kissing her palm. He'd turn to begin marching back to his own chambers, but he found himself turning to face the women once again. His heart once again beating with an odd flame, that thin line moved up slighty higher as he met her eyes. "You've gotta be the first person I've met to call a betrothal working together. You are an odd one princess." He chuckled as he waved to her one last time, before disappearing behind a pair of large wooden doors.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

The hardest decision. Liena was well aware that the decision that she had made had not been easy. Yet in this moment, she wondered if she had truly done as he said. If she deserved his admiration. After all, she hadn't truly come to the decision herself. It was the elders who had made the decision for her, who had decided that she was going to go through with this. They had made it evident to her that she wasn't going to be able to back out of it. It was unacceptable. The only decision she had made was deciding her own mindset. The attitude that she would carry throughout this deal. Many would have shut down if they had been forced into such a decision. Liena was well aware of that. She had met others who would have given up, who would have walked in with a closed mind. She wouldn't let the elders see her like that. She wouldn't allow them to break her, to make her feel cornered. She would take it in stride. So as he spoke, Liena paused, her gaze shifting to the side, hair slipping in her eyes. "Yours was just as hard." She smiled, knowing that for him, accepting this was just as hard. After all, giving into this decision meant that he would never find a love match. She too would never find a love match. And while she hoped that she could find some happiness and comfort in their relationship, she knew that love could not be forced. Love defies force. "You've gotta be the first person I've met to call a betrothal working together." "You are an odd one, Princess." She giggled at his comment, and stepped back, the nape of her shoulders pressing against her door. Odd as it may be, Liena truly hoped he understood the truth in what she was saying. She knew that relationships were work. Just as any relationship that she had made in life, she knew well that it would only succeed if the proper energy was put into it. And while she had never been in love before, nor had she been bethrothed, she understood that marriage would require the energies of not just her,

6:18 AM

but him as well. Therefore, the two would need to work together. To understand one another, to accept one another, and to find happiness alongside one another. Gently, she pushed the door open and walked inside, letting out a pleasant and relaxed sigh. While she was tired, she could still feel the energy soaring within her. She needed to decompress in order to properly rest. With a second sigh, she walked into her bathroom and turned on the tub, allowing it to fill. She slowly undid the ties of her dress and slipped it off, hanging it up int he wardrobe neatly before walking back to the bathroom. In the mirror, she could see the faded marks that denoted that she was an Imperial Dragon. The marks looked like that of a tattoo, a soaring serpentine dragon that tangled along her midsection, it's tail near her rear and it's head at between the back of her shoulders. The mark was a pale blue, much paler than that of the marking that her mother had borne. Her fingertips gently trailed along it, a frown curling along her lips. "Won't you please accept me?" She asked softly, musing to the dragon that lurked so deep inside of her. "You see... I think that together... you and I, we can do magical and wonderful things." She waited quietly, as if expecting a response and yet none came. So slowly, she urged herself into the hot water, and found rest as she bathed. "I'll accept you whenever you are ready... whether or not you want me, I will show you that I am worthy of the power that you hold." @Visape

Sparing once last glance towards the princess, Liu couldn't help but smiling. This hadn't been the first time he'd met another noble-women who'd had the intention of marrying him, but it was the first time he'd found himself so smitten. Like all the other appeals that others have made to him, this was an agreement made by two parties in the name of profit. No different that other matters of court... but as Liu continued down the hallway back to his own chambers, he couldn't hide the warm blush forming on his cheeks nor could he fight the way the corners of his mouth began to curl up. Slapping his hand against his mouth as he marched through familiar hallways, a feeling of shock and bewilderment began to spark in his mind. Me? The Steel Wall of the Crimson Court? Smitten? Liu grumbled to himself as he continued forward, foot falls becoming heavier with every moment. He felt annoyed at himself for being swayed so easily, the years of training and discipline struggling desperately against a few hours of conversations with her. Oh but she was charming... incredibly so... A voice swooned in his mind, his heart beginning to beat faster and heavier as he remembered the chill of her touch against his chest. His smile began to widen under the tight grip of his hand, but just as quickly as it came, so too did it fade. The gentle fluttering of his heart began to quicken rapidly as a wave of heat spread throughout his body. Liu began to stumble and falter as he began to cough violently, retching out thick clouds of ash and smog. Leaning onto his weapon, he fought desperately for air as he cursed under his breath, reminding himself why he'd undergone so many years of harsh training. Slamming a fist against his heart, he let out a deep sigh. The clouds of ash now replaced by flickering embers and orange sparks. With a hiss, he swore under his breath. "No. You will never come out!" His body trembled and twitched as he forced himself to shuffle forward, that awful

sickening sensation of the beast's eyes peering at him sending shiver down his spine. "No matter what you try... No matter what weakness you try to exploit! I'll make sure you never see the light of day again. You are my power and nothing more. I've seen what your will has brought about unto my people... and I reject you! You are nothing but a beast and monster, and I'll keep you chained up for the rest of my life!" The prince found himself breathless, gasping for air with each step. Every exhale a burning wave of pain and frustration, his vision blurry as he felt the edges of his mind began to melt into something else... something far deeper and more vast. As he continued to curse underneath his breath, that alien gaze became more focused and aware, the walls of his heart beginning to shake violently as something made it's presence known. The Crimson dragon was fully present within his being at the moment... and it growled, a deep and guttural noise dripping in bloodlust and hatred. An acknowledgment... and a declaration of war. Even under the beast's enormous spiritual pressure, Liu couldn't help but smile a wicked and twisted grin. "Bring it the fuck on." He spat back as he straightened his posture, his lungs beginning to adjust to the sudden wave of heat. Liu felt the beast's vision linger on him for a moment longer, before it began to fade away. Dripping with sweat and grinning like a mad man, his muscles still twitching under the stress of it all, Liu Xiao marched back to his chambers to prepare for the battles ahead.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Rest didn't come easily to the princess. While the dragon refused her body, her nights were often spent restless by her side. Sometimes she wondered if it were the dragon herself manifesting within her dreams, or if it were her own perception of the dragon. What she subconsciously wanted the dragon to say, or perhaps, be. While she had never seen it's body both in dream and out, she heard her voice. As she settled into the tub, Liena traced the marks along her skin, wondering if the dragon within herself looked differently than of the dragon her mother was. She could still imagine her figure. A sprawling serpentine dragon with scales like that of the ocean, vivid azules and bright cerulean shades dancing on her iridescent scaled armor. Golden eyes that could cut through most any gaze and ebony black nails that could cut through most metals with one slash. She was magnificent. Powerful. In the height of her glory, she could rally an entire army simply by flying into the air ahead of them. She need not cry, nor make speech. She would simply lift her finger and transform. Liena slid deeper into the water, forcing her head underneath. Her mother had shown the most beautiful of water powers. While the Crimson Dragon had been known for having powers more deeply tied to that of fire and the earth, the Cerulean Dragon had often been linked with water and wind. Many had said that was why they would never get along. Pure opposites. Opposites don't attract. Or at least that was what they had always said. Those of the Imperial line usually only resonated with one of such powers. For Liena's mother, it had been water. Most of her previous inheritors too. From what Liena knew of the Crimson lineage, the last three had held fire Liena held her breath and shut her eyes, allowing her body to feel the pure feeling of being submerged. Over the course of her life, the princess had tried various forms of meditation in order to attempt make contact with the creature, to attem

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pt to feel her from within. As she slowly let out air, bubbles tickled at her face, forcing her out of the water. She let out several shaky gasps and shook her head, pushing hair out of her face. While the water was refreshing, with it she felt nothing. No connection. She had felt the same way with fire. No matter how many exercises that she did, even forcing herself to walk over hot coals, she found that fire had no connection within her. Unlike fire and water, submerging yourself into the air or earth was difficult. She wasn't sure how to embrace either of the two. She had tried gardening and hiking and other pass times but neither seemed to truly leave her feeling in tune with the elements.

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That night, sleep found her easily. Despite the games that she normally played with the dragon, tonight all that she heard was it's voice. It didn't say much. Truly, she could hardly make out the words that it was saying. They were almost inaudible at first, as if she were at the far end of a tunnel. Yet then she appeared in front of her, her form lighter and paler than the dragon she had seen during her youth. It's color was like that of ice, scales iridescent like that of the surface of a bubble. Her eyes were green rather than the gold of her mothers and her form seemed smaller and more nimble than that of the previous cerulean dragon. It almost seemed wrong to call her cerulean at all. She was the color of a breeze on a cloudy day, hints of blue peeking through the paleness of her scales. "Come." She spoke, her eyes flicking at the girl. She didn't give her a chance, her claws tangling around her and lifting her into the air. "Liena Yinlong. I have long awaited for you." Liena opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. The dragon narrowed her eyes and flew higher, "Try not to speak, child. You are not yet ready." Her words were soft, as if she had not been rejecting her for that which was her entire life. Liena protested, attempting to speak once more. "Ah... I suppose you must be frustrated. You are not ready yet... but you will be. Soon." She hit the clouds, forcing them to part before releasing the princess to free fall at the highest point in her flight. "Embrace yourself. Shed that which is your past, and accept all that you are." Liena let out a silent cry as she fell through the air, struggling and flailing as she attempted to survive. When Liena awoke she could almost still feel the nip of the cold breeze on her skin. She gasped and looked around in a rush, her heart still pounding. "Shit..." She muttered, pulling herself to sit up. She shook her head and dragged her knees to her chest, attempting to calm down. "Embrace myself?" She mutt

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ered, frustration still biting at her. "I am embracing myself." She sighed, combing her fingers through her hair. She groaned and forced herself out of bed, letting her bare feet touch the ground. It was still the middle of the night and the moon lit the sky in a bright light. She softly pulled on a robe and found herself wandering the halls of the castle until she was outside in a garden. Her eyes softened as the night air embraced her. It welcomed her with a cool breeze and encouraged her to make herself at home. She softened and knelt down to look at some small blue flowers that peeked through the weeds, her eyes glistening in the moonlight. "Do you feel suffocated as well?" She asked softly, her nimble fingertips pulling away the weeds. "Perhaps... you and I... are the same." @Visape

Though the beast had withdrew from his spirit, Liu still felt the things influence on him. His vision swam as an overwhelming heat spread through his body. With every breath, he felt a scorching pain in his throat as flickering flames billowed in his stomach. Every step was a test of grit & determination. Even then, Liu marched forward held high and his posture held high. I am the ruler of Crimson Court... I am king! A Symbol! I will kneel to no one... let alone a ravenous beast incapable of even speech! His soul cried out as the man steeled himself, sharply turning through the winding halls towards another large training ground, located closer to center of the palace grounds. Compared to the one outside the estate lent to the Cerulean nation, with it's smooth swept stone and polished armor racks, these grounds were far more disheveled. Several long, deep gashes marked the walls, the stone floor was broken and cracked in several places and burn marks painted the walls in an ashy black. Several drunken soldiers meandered around the training ground, laughing and cheering as each of the played at attempting a complicated spear kata, their jeers and laughs growing louder as each of them humbled and slipped, their spears hitting the floor with a clatter. Though as Liu stepped into the room, the atmosphere changed in a flash. Even in their drunken stopper, the men turned and gave a snappy salute, their eye's alight with reverence and respect. A single man stepped forward, his feet snapping to attention as he walked forward. He was the youngest of all the men, his body a fair bit smaller than the other soldiers and his features far leaner. Liu recognized him to be Captain Lee, a child that was born in the same generation as himself. Liu had seen the man train steadily throughout the years, eventually joining the Crimson Garrison as a Captain under General Zhao. He spoke with a slow and deliberate pace, carrying the air of a soldier with him even as his eyes stru

ggled to focus. "Lord Xiao Sir! What brings you to the imperial training ground at this time of night?" Lee's face sparkled with admiration & respect for the other man. Liu matched his gaze and returned the man's salute with one of his own. "I.. was feeling a bit restless. I was hoping some movement might've helped me relax." Liu spoke in a smooth voice, trying to hide his discomfort as the blazing heat of his words scorched his throat. The captain starred back at him for a moment, before giving the prince a knowing nod. "I understand sir. C'mon men, clear out! Let's give the Lord some privacy." Lee turned around and spoke, a booming voice echoing out of the man's small stature. Without even a word of complaint, the men shuffled out of the open hall with Lee following suite. Though before he left, he turned and gave the prince one final salute, before shutting the door behind him with a slam. Now alone, Liu's thumping heart seemed to relax slightly. Staring blankly at that closed wall, he felt that fiery thrill within his heart begin to burn once more.... urging him forward, to move, to dance, to fight! The dragons flame within his heart screamed for destruction and chaos, but Liu did not let him succumb. As a wave of cool night air embraced him, he felt the boundaries of his mind become more solid and defined. He took a deep breath in, the chill air washing his burning lungs in a wave of icy calm, as his body settled into a stance. As he once again focused his mind and his spirit, he felt his body begin to shift and changed as he wrestled to control the dragon's will. His trembling and twitching muscles began to surge with strength and power as they absorbed the fire within themselves, a series of black and gold scaled now coating his flesh. With every breath, Liu felt this power surge within him. The Iron Lotus, a weapon that symbolized the dragons might, a mass too heavy for human hands rested gently against his shoulder as the prince began to bounce on his

heels. The roaring flame in his heart began to burn even brighter, urging him forward... but Liu did not succumb, instead finding himself more relaxed than ever. This was not the first time he'd faced this overwhelming energy before. His retainers had called it the dragons power, the beast's natural affinaty to the energies of the world manifesting within his body. They'd instructed him once to sit down cross legged, and to feel the energy through his body. Conection and meditation they said. Even at a young age, Liu had known better. To truly immerse himself in that fire, he must first embody it. I must make it my own... With that mantra repeating softly in his mind, his body slowly began to move in a firm but flowing Kata. The glittering black spearhead of the iron lotus danced through the air as the prince moved through his elaborate forms. It cut through the air with a dazzling glow, creating a draft of powerful wind with each heavy stab and slice, pulling along with it the glowing embers of the princes breath. Soon, the prince surrounded himself in a sea of fire, the embers dancing around his blade as it swung around his body, the fire light growing and dimming with each breath. To anyone that'd witness the spectacle... it would appear as if the prince himself had become one with the flames. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Cool. Unlike the heat that she had experienced during the day within the kingdom, the temperature had significantly dropped now that the sun was down. Liena let out a soft sigh and looked at the small flower, her gaze gentle as she continued to pull away weeds to allow it to breathe. "You see..." She paused, whispering to the flower, "I think that with a little help, you'll be able to come into yourself. You'll show them... they won't even know what hit them." She smiled softly, ignoring the ache of her back being in such a crooked posture. After several minutes, she had removed all of the weeds that blocked the tiny flower from growth, freeing it. She knew not what type of flower it was, yet she found some comfort in finding it. After having such a dream, Liena had found herself feeling rather unsure of herself. She wasn't sure what the dragon had meant. While it was exciting to have seen a visualization of her for the first time, Liena felt as if she was more stumped than she ever had been. She didn't even consider this progress, just one step forward to take three steps back. She let out a soft sigh and stood up, stretching her shoulders out by forcing them upwards and pulling with her arms. Her body eagerly accepted it's relief, each ache stretching out as she looked up at the night moon. It was the same moon that she had looked at in the Cerulean nation. Yet now that she was looking at it, she realized that even now she was becoming an entirely different person. No longer a bird trapped in it's own cage, she would take flight and soar to much higher places. Liena let out a soft yawn as she walked over to a small bench that was planted in the garden. While it had signs of morning dew on it already, the bench was mostly dry and so Liena gently sat down, her gaze cast up. Reminiscing on the words of the dragon, she wondered aloud, "I have long awaited for you..." She muttered, her eyebrows furrowing, "Does that mean... that she has been trying to make conn

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ection with me?" She frowned, mentally counting the amount of times that she had waited for the dragon to make some sort of connection with her. Connections more than that of the voice in her dreams. Liena hadn't even been sure that the voice was that of the dragon. Sometimes it sounded more like the voice of her mother, and other times, it was the voice of something ancient and much beyond herself. She could tell the difference. After all, that was the reason that she had convinced herself that it may perhaps not be real. A self fulfilling fantasy - her mind attempting to make a connection subconsciously because it knew that she could not handle further rejection.

Rejection. Liena shook her head and pushed away the thought. "She's been waiting for me." Admission. The first step of this was to admit that the dragon had not rejected her. Or at least that was what she was telling herself. After all, the dragon had told her herself. She had taken the time to make it clear to her that she had in fact been trying to get into contact with her, and just because she had failed to do so, did not mean that she had not tried. "What was the next thing that she said..." She mused to herself, unsure as the dream had already grown rather foggy within her own mind. She furrowed her eyebrows and combed her hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face. She sighed as she failed to recall the rest of her speech, her mind too clouded to truly remember word for word what she had said. All that kept echoing was that she had to "accept herself" or some mumbo jumbo like that. Unfortunately, she wasn't at all sure what that looked like. The Elders had made comments about such things when she was a child but she was fairly sure that in their eyes accepting herself meant something entirely different. Acceptance to them meant being who they wanted her to be. For some reason, Liena was afraid the dragon may think the same. Yet she wasn't at all sure who the dragon would have wanted her to be. Was it strength? Liena had shown a certain kind of strength today that perhaps the dragon would have liked. Or at least, she hoped so. She had offered herself up to a man who may have wanted to kill her. That took a level of strenth that she knew was worthwhile. Moreso, she had rallied hundreds. Slowly, Liena grew lost in thought over her own acheivements of the day, closing her eyes as she begin to think over what accepting herself may look like in the eyes of the dragon. As she closed her eyes, she could feel the cool air of the night encasing her. It brushed along the back of her neck and licked at her knees, almost making her shiver. And yet, at the s

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ame time, Liena felt entirely comfortable. Where one may have been cold in such light clothing, she had found herself entirely at home with herself, her thoughts entirely focused to finding a solution. That was, until she felt a wave of heat blast from the nearby door of the castle. Feeling the wave of heat, Liena opened her eyes and glanced towards the door, confusion clouding her thoughts. "What was that...?" She questioned, pushing to her feet. Cautiously, she stepped towards the door, feeling a heat coming from within. It was as if there was a fire inside the corridors themselves. She frowned as she walked within, anxiously picking up speed as she followed towards the source of the heat. Had someone set something on fire? Was this an uprising? Rebels? She bit at her lip and began to run, following until she found herself in a room that she had visited earlier. Liena's eyes widened as she found the room ablaze with flames and standing in the center was the prince. Well, truthfully speaking, standing wasn't the right word. Training inside was the Prince, fire blazing around him. With each step, he found flames sparking from his weapon, fire growing stronger and stronger. She stared, her eyes wide as she watched, entralled with the way that he danced, the way that he moved. It looked so natural, so strong. She swallowed, forcing her mouth to remain shut. And in that moment, she dared not speak, for she knew that she should not break his focus.

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@Visape

Flames. All his life, Liu had held a fire in his heart. It was once a symbol of strength and hope to him. When he'd once held to his father's sleeves, that flame had swam and danced freely in glee and wonder, burning away without a care... but that had changed. After that day, Liu had realized what a curse that fire was, and how badly he could be burned if he'd ever succumb to it. From that day, the light of his soul never danced again, instead locked away behind steel walls. His emotions choked under duty and responsibility. There was only ever once place he'd let that fire out... where he could truly be himself, without fear or concern. Only one place he could let go of the leash he'd tied around himself, and let his soul run free. It was on this dirty, cracked floor, where he knew that his people would be safe, where he could not cause harm to another in his frenzy. As Liena starred, she'd witness only a blur as the prince moved. His figure was cloaked in bright glowing flames, and his sharp angled features were covered under an armor of resplendent scales, like she'd never seen. His movements graceful and deliberate, the long fang like spear shot through the air as the prince sprang forward, it's black steel shining through the red sea of sparks as the prince then drew it's shaft around his body, spinning it around his torso in a wide arc that cleaved through the large stone pillars around him with ease. His steps were fluid and rhythmic, never crossing nor overextending, yet somehow pushing Liu's figure great distances. She saw that as he pushed his body around the courtyard, that the heavystone seemed to shake, almost cracking under the man's bestial force. It was beautiful. It was also terrifying. Liu shut his eye's tightly as he moved, the only thing on his mind being the carefully choreographed moves of his spear dance. The only sounds echoing in his minds was the gentle thumping of his heart and the soft hiss of his breath. With every sharp exhale,

with every stab and thrust, and every swing, he felt the walls around his heart, melted away by passion and vice, begin to heal itself. He felt control enter his grip once more. With every step, a calming focus spread through his body. The edges of his mind once again faded.... but instead of falling into the ego of a beast, instead he found himself becoming whole through the world around him. His once trembling feat had become the very earth itself, strong and unwavering. His scorched lungs became the fire itself, swelling and glowing with each inhale, dancing and flowing with every exhale. His weak and aching hands had become the very weapon he wielded now, a glimmering blade of steel that flowed with power and dexterity, reaching to places he could never reach alone. He became one with his surroundings, he allowed himself to become lost within the world around him. And in turn, he was again able to find himself, within it. Though even within his realm, a spike of anxiety began to cut through his mind. The air around him flowed differently, the sparks shifted slightly in their current and the earth resounded in a different thudding ring. Something in his environment had changed... but Liu found himself scarred to face it. He'd finally found a moment of peace after a day of change and uncertainty and he feared that facing it would rip him out of that moment. Almost in response to his fear, his fathers voice began to ring in his mind. We are rulers, yes, but we are also human. Without a doubt, you will find yourself struck with the same worries as any man... and that's ok. Fear, doubt, anger, frustration. They are all a part of life son. The only difference between us and others, is that we do not have the luxury of reveling in those emotions. As a ruler, your actions will affect thousands... as too will your inaction. So when you are struck with those feelings, you cannot be held back by them. Move forward, for your people... and yourself

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. Smilling softly, Liu felt that shard of fear begin to dissipate, and his feat began to move once more. His hands shot up in a flourish as he began twirling the spear above his head, sending the sea of sparks shooting into the air above him in a pillar of fire. Returning to a basic stance, he breathed in and opened his eyes. His heart thumped loudly in his chest as a blurred figure revealed itself. He chocked, expecting to see the mangled and charred figure of a careless servant or unfortunate animal... but instead found himself starring up at Liena, dressed in a right robe... and staring back at him and his beastial figure.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Warriors. Liena knew warriors. She had watched them fight many a day when she found herself bored from the elder's lessons. She had sat on a bench and watched the soldiers prepare for war, prepare for battle. They had moved like true men, each movement of their bodies articulated and trained for the worst scenarios. She had even attempted to join them several times before getting scolded by the elders. They told her it wasn't lady like to join in with the soldiers. That it wasn't benefitting of her status and that she was far too frail to keep up with the soldiers. Warriors. Liena knew the warriors well. And yet... the man in front of her moved like no other warrior that she had seen. It was like that of watching a dancer, each step of his foot smooth and graceful. She stared in amazement, her pale eyes alight with the shimmer of the flames. She had never seen one move like this. The way that his body seemed to blur as he moved, each movement deliberate as he pierced the spear through the air, sparks bouncing off of it. His movements were that of one who wasn't human. They were that of an inheritor. And yet they weren't movements that she could ever hope to replicate. Of that, she was sure. It was beautiful. And yet at the same time, it was terrifying. Her eyes widened as she watched the stones beneath his feet starting to shake, seemingly struggling to remain in their strong form. As if each footstep could crack the stone itself. She wrapped her arms around her body and watched, the heat overwhelming the earlier chill that had hung in the air. Her hair blew in the wind that he created, each of his fierce movements sending gusts of wind throughout the area. Liena was unable to take her eyes off of him. That was not until he had shot a pillar of fire throughout the room, the area erupting in a sea of sparks. Her gaze cast upwards as sparks showered down, threatening to fall on her. Her heartbeat grew faster as she slid her foot back, her eyes glowing with

4:53 AM

an iridescence of another world as a large gust of area redirected them. Through the pale blue robe that she wore, the insignia of the dragon that she bore began to glow, just as his own must have when he used his powers. Around her body, the sparks of fire slowly swirled to the ground, almost as lovely as that of flower petals sparkling down around her. As the sparks floated to the ground, her eyes faded to normal, her gaze softening. Her heart beat slowed, her gaze falling down as she realized that he had realized that she was there. "S-Sorry, I... I didn't mean to startle you..." She admitted sheepishly, her cheeks reddening as she looked at the surprised expression on his face. Was... it fear? She knew not what fear looked like on the Prince's face and yet as he choaked, she had a feeling that she had startled him and perhaps even, scared him. "I... just felt heat coming from... well this room." She bit her lip, tightening her arms around her chest as she struggled to read the Prince's body language. "I thought there was a fire..." She admitted, her cheeks growing hot and red as she wondered if her worries had been silly. @Visape

There is beauty in great power. A quote Liu had read quite a few times during his years of studying how to subdue his draconic ancestor. Hundreds of generations of scholars, all enamored with the force that had stained his life. Never has Liu been able to understand peoples fascinations with the beasts and their forms... until now. As the glowing embers and sputtering flames began to fall across the broken training yard, Liu witnessed true beauty & power. He found himself starring dumbfounded as Liena's blurred figure began to glow with a soft, ethereal light, the shower of petals beginning to bend and weave around her. For once he was grateful for his dreadful transformation, the cowl-like growths of ancient scales hiding his slacked jaw and bewildered expression. Liu straightened his posture, quickly rising out of his battle stance as his eye's began to focus clearly. His own brilliant glowing eyes matched Liena's own... though only for a moment as her otherworldly glow began to fade. Pulling the spear up to the sky with a huff, Liu stepped closer to the princess, his loose and nimble figure tightening up back into the stiff and imposing demeanor he'd demonstrated earlier; now aided by the even more intimidating bestial armor he wore. Though as he noticed her sheepish gaze and shallow breaths, his shoulders began to relax slightly... a pang of sadness and disappointment cutting through his stomach. Even she, another inheritor, is terrified of me... Some part of himself blurted out, but he quickly quelled that thought. "You thought there was a fire... and came directly to it? I'm not really sure if I should call you brave..." Liu felt his hand twitch to move, to comfort her, but he found himself unsure. A stir of anxiety and confusion mixed in his chest, this whole situation being a first for the naive boy. In the end he pulled his scaled hand up and gently patted her head, hoping to ease her apprehension. "... or foolish. Hehe, I'm happy to know you were

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worried about our safety atleast. Did you tell anyone you were coming here?" The prince's voice was slightly muffled underneath the mass of metallic matter, somewhat distorted even.. as if the shape of his mouth had changed under there, but it was still that same lumpy gagged voice he'd used when they'd spoken casually before. Even if his face was hidden, and his features morphed slightly she'd have been able to tell that he was relaxed, comforted even to know that she was unharmed. Though she did notice a warm blush form underneath the mouth piece, the prince only now seeming to notice her attire.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

There is beauty in great power. Liena hadn't thoroughly know such a thing prior to today. It had been many a year since she had seen her mother fight, and now that she was watching the Crimson Dragon fight, she found herself entirely enamored. His scarlet eyes seemed to glow as he turned to face her, his face framed by that of an armor made out of scales. He was beautiful in a way that she envied. She wondered if she would ever have such an armor. She swallowed and looked down, her gaze falling ever so slightly as he admonished her for moving in the direction of the fire. He had a point. She was well aware of that. She bit her lip and smiled weakly, her cheeks redenning as he gently brought his hand to her head, fluffing her hair. "I know..." She admitted softly, "Dragon's can handle fire... right?" Her voice cracked as she cracked a sweet smile at him, her eyes seeming to twinkle charmingly. She indeed was charming, something endearing about the way she so nervously looked at him, girlish as she refused to hide away her feelings as most who knew him did. She was pure. Clear. There was nothing fogging her emotions in the way that many had done throughout his life. "Should I have?" She smiled, rubbing the back of her neck, "I suppose I should... I'm sure the elders would be in a panic should they know that I'm not in my room." She muttered, shaking her head as she pushed her hair out of her face. "If I had... I wouldn't have had the peace of enjoying the silence of the night to myself." She looked at him, her eyes clear. "I had a nightmare. One they wouldn't understand." She looked at him, her gaze gentle. "I... guess I just needed some air." Her grip around her arms softened, her body language relaxing as she looked down at her feet, shifting back from one foot to the other. She had a feeling that perhaps that he may understand the nightmares that she had, the voices that loomed within her dreams and the dragon that dropped her from such heights, leaving her

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in mortal danger. @Visape

Liu listened carefully, rocking back and forth slightly as he listened to Liena's concerns. His slitted eye's seem to twitch slightly, reacting to every moment and slight shift of weight. The Prince took a deep shuddering breath, before attempting to speak... only for nothing to come out. There was beauty in great power... and great power in beauty it seems. Liu thought to himself. The young boy had found himself at a loss for words, his mind going blank from the overstimulation. The banquet had already taken all of his courage and wits to navigate, his heart bolstered by the cheers and laughs of his people; but now? With the two of them alone, none of the princess retinue aware of her position and dressed as she was, he found his heart failing him. Liu was not inexperienced with noble relations. There had been hundreds of families who'd coveted his family's support, who've made offers of their daughters like they were bargaining chips; sometimes even being approached willingly by some... but none of his relationships had ever escalated from that initial meeting. Sooner or later, his mere presence proved too much for humans to handle. Most simple became quiet, unsure how to engage with his cold persona. Others became unnerved, distancing themselves both physically and socially in an attempt to escape his heat. Some even ran away, breaking under his overbearing gaze. All of them, terrified of him. Too afraid of the beast to see the man. Yet here she stood, meeting his eyes, not flinching under his touch, hell she was even cracking jokes! This was the first time he'd ever been this close to anyone he hadn't considered family. His heart raced, and his mind swam. He found that himself speaking before he'd even had a chance to regain his composure. "Not only your elders, your people & mine... hell especially me. All of us would be appalled if something happened to you." His voice softened slightly as his hand gently glid down to her cheek before the boy caught

himself, pulling it away quickly and blushing. Though, that blush faded slowly, as her eye's met his once more. I had a nightmare. One they wouldn't understand. Again he found himself chocking back a wave of emotions, a fragment of his past staring back at him with those same gentle eyes. Liu took a sharp breath before laying his weapon to a side, resting the large polearm against a scorched wall. "Come. Sit with me." Liu spoke calmly as he turned away from her to walk towards a small stone bench. His voice was soft and sweet, but it held with it an authority that'd she'd recognized when she'd met her own countries commanders. As he walked away, his figure seemed to shift again slightly. The scales around his neck and face began to receed slightly, clinking together as they rolled back down his body and underneath his clothes. His shoulders and back seemed to shrink slightly, as if his bones had been shifted slightly. With the armor pulled away, it revealed the white undershirt he'd warn during the banquet, now slick with sweat and ash. Glowing with a fiery orange underneath was his own insignia, his flickering glow slithering across his nape and shoulders before coiling down his arm like chains. As he walked now, he looked strong.... but so, so tired. As he let himself sit down and to relax, he still seemed so tense, his whole body coiled like a spring.... carrying the weight of the world on his back Liu looked up at her with warm, sympathetic eyes, gently tapping the place next to him for her to sit. "Come. Let's talk." @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. )

"Not only your elders, your people and mine... hell, especially me." Liena bit her lip, her teeth digging into it as she lowered her gaze ever so slightly, her heart pounding. She was aware that people cared for her and her wellbeing, but none had ever looked on her with such a gaze, with such concern and worry. She swallowed as he brought his hand to her cheek, her cheek still warm with the blush that she wore. "All of us would be appalled if something happened to you." He meant it. Liena could hear the sincerity in his voice. His concern was different from the concern of the elders. It was entirely without ulterior motives. To them, she was a pawn and the thought of losing her was the thought of using someone immensely useful. But in his eyes, losing her wasn't anything at all. Losing her was simply a worry of one that he could potentially care for. The feeling of his fingertips against her cheek brought her cheeks to grow hotter, her gaze falling down shyly. None had touched her before with such gentle hands. Liena often felt as if there was no one who saw her for what she was. Nothing but a pawn. Royalty. In her world, very few met her eye with honesty. And while Liena was aware of that, there was nothing that she could do about it. She longed for sincerity more than she could express, her gaze locking with his as the blush faded from his cheek. She wondered if he longed for the same thing. If he too, found that being that of an Imperial Dragon was entirely isolating. With none who truly understood him other than the dead. She had longed for her mother and her guidance for many years and yet never found it. Was he the same? The look in his eyes was empathetic, something choked down deep within them. She could grow lost in them. Their scarlet tone like that of a sunset on a particularly warm day. It was lovely. Earlier she had thought that such eyes would never look at her with such kindness, and yet now they did, entirely gentle as he put his weap

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on down and motioned for her to follow him. "Come. Sit with me." His voice was calm and sweet in a way that she hadn't heard him speak with. A tone that she was a stranger to. And yet at the same time, it still held that authority that he seemed to demand. The power that Yi Nuo had encouraged her to embrace as well. Softly, Liena wrapped her arm around herself before stepping towards him. She had almost forgotten herself, her gaze falling down as she tightened her robe around herself as she followed behind him. She hoped he didn't think poorly on her for allowing him to see her in such a state. She was sure that Elder Sun would have had a fit should she have known. Elder Sun was the elder of chastity after all. As he walked, Liena found herself watching, watching the way that the scales that he bore began to fade, receeding back into his body. She had never watched such a transformation. Her mother had rarely transformed in front of her prior to her death. Most of her transformations had taken place on the battle field, a place where Liena wasn't welcomed. Especially not with her weak constitution. Her gaze fell on his insignia, glowing beneath the shirt that he wore. His coiled along his neck and shoulders, unlike that of the one that she bore. His figure looked as if it were being strangled, each step tired as he sat down. She could see exhaustion in the way that he sat, his body tense and held with a rigid posture. She wondered what he was like when he relaxed. Slowly, Liena found way over to the bench, her own movements smoother than his own. Her footsteps were delicate and light, like that of a dancers. She seemed to glide with each step, never truly putting her full weight to the ground. As if she were walking on eggshells or ice that might crack beneath her. She paused and looked at the seat next to him, her gaze softening as he motioned for her to sit down.

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Gently, she sat down, her gaze falling to her fingertips as he told her that he wanted to talk. "Do you ever hear him...?" She asked softly, her gaze still locked on her fingers as they fiddled idly. "The dragon... in your dreams...?" She paused, her gaze lifting towards him. She hoped that it didn't sound weird. That she wasn't the only one. "My mother... didn't really tell me much about her relationship with the Cerulean Dragon." She frowned, letting go of her other hand to comb her fingers through her hair. "So... I wasn't really sure what was normal and what wasn't." She looked at him, wondering if it were problematic to tell him such things. If there was a problem in sharing this vulnerability with him. @Visape

Liu listened carefully, though he did not meet her eyes; he hadn't even turned to face her as she spoke. Instead, he slumped back against the cool stone wall and starred wistfully into the sky, his jaw clenched as he mulled over his answer. "No. From what I've read, the Crimson Dragon was capable of speech once.... but he hasn't spoken in a long time. I don't think he even remembers how to anymore." Liu seemed to struggle to get the words out, his hands locking together into a tight grip, a deep and ancient frustration bleeding into his thoughts. "He... Well... It's hard to say. No inheritor ever really gets the same treatment or trials. Like us, the dragons are a transcient existence. As their inheritors grow and live their lives, so too do the dragons evolve along with us... in my case however, it's more of a devolution." Liu's was strained and harsh, a deep feeling of resentment escaping his lips every time they opened. However, as he met her eye's and he saw the anxiety and apprehension that stirred within her, and how much she was forcing herself to confront those fears, that anger started to slip away. Turning to face her, he brought one of his legs onto the other to turn his body, sitting closer than he'd once been. A warmth radiated off his skin, one that made even Liena sweat slightly. "It's different for us Liena. What worked for me, won't really work for you. Just like your mother... the more you chase, the further you get." Liu's eyes flickered down for a moment, before he gently took one of her hands into both of his, squeezing gently. "Live your life. The progress will come... as I think it has already. I don't mean to assume, but I think you're asking because you two have spoken right? That's progress. Something I've never achieved! All I can do with this guy..." The prince bumped his chest with one fist, sending a shoot of light through his insignia."... is steal his power, and call him names. I've never been able to see eye to him, let alone

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have a conversation." Liu smiled, another wide and wicked grin. For all the he could do, all the power he held, in that moment he seemed genuinely more impressed with the implications of her questions. He'd been so excited that he hadn't even realized that he'd gotten close to her face, holding her hand in between the two of them. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

"From what I've read, the crimson dragon was capable of speech once... but he hasn't spoken in a long time." Liena frowned at such a response, her gaze shifting along his markings that still remained alight. For some reason, she had hoped that he would understand. That perhaps he had dealt with dreams of a similar nature, or that the Crimson Dragon too had haunted his dreams in the way that the Cerulean Dragon lurked within her own. She found it to be isolating. The way that this experience was entirely her own, no one truly having experienced the dragon in the same way that she currently was. She had always had a strange relationship with the dragon, after all. Most inheritors began to show powers by the time they were ten years old. Her mother had even been noted as an early bloomer who came into her powers as a seven year old. Due to such expectations, the elders had began to look at her differently from the age of seven and on. Each year, she brought further disappointment to them, their gazes falling as she failed to represent the insignia that she bore. "No inheritor ever really gets the same treatment or trials." She paused, her gaze locking with his, watching as he scooted closer to her, his warmth radiating off of her. "In my case, however, it's more of a devolution." Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him, her gaze that of concern. She could pick up easily on the resentment within his words. The pain that he was bearing. Liena had always been good at understanding people's feelings. She picked up on them easily and empathized well with others. Elder Luo had noted it as a weakness though Elder Wei encouraged it. She said that empathy was an important skill of a leader, even if it did welcome in weakness. "Why...do you feel that way?" She asked, unsure of whether he was open to speak about it. Was it because he had never spoken to the creature? She frowned and shook her head. "It was less of a conversation than it was the dragon talking at m

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e..." She admitted, "For many years... the Cerulean Dragon has rejected my very being." She squeezed his hand gently, her gaze held down as he looked at her. "I..." She frowned, her grip on his hands tightening, "I wasn't supposed to tell you..." She admitted, her gaze lifting to his as she guaged his reaction. "The elders said it was because I have a weak constitution...that the Cerulean Dragon rejected my body." She swallowed, her gaze wavering. She was nervous, her fear evident in her eyes. She was afraid of him rejecting her. Afraid of him looking down on her the way that so many had in the past. "I...I'm still learning to understand more about her... more about why I haven't been able to make true connection with her." She looked at him, her heart pounding as she lifted her gaze to meet with his. "In many ways... you are eons ahead of me." She gently let her fingertips brush along his hand, tracing up his arm towards the glowing insignia. "At least you have made a proper connection with the Crimson Dragon... he accepts your power. I cannot say the same. And I hope that that doesn't disappoint you..." @Visape

Her words reverberated through his bone as a dull echo. Rejected. That word shot through him like a cold dagger. It took all of his energy not to betray his bewilderment as a rush of emotion flooded his mind. Shock. Confusion. Shame. Fear His mind flashed. In a moment he was back at the room, shrouded in darkness as he hid underneath his fathers desk. He felt a wave of heat pass over the entire room as something burst into flames, the sound of metal fist's clashing against each other. He heard his fathers distressed pleas... and the frenzied snarling that replied to them. He heard the horrifying crack of ribs and felt the shock of his fathers body hitting the table. He shut his eyes tight. He saw black. When they opened again, all they saw was blood red. A cold sweat run through Liu's body as his grip loosened around Liena's hand. His heart began to beat faster and faster, his breath becoming shallower and shallower as he became lost in that memory. The tight grip he had on the chains of his heart began to slip as he was soon gripped by an overwhelming terror. A heavy, sickening cackle echoed through his mind as more visions flooded his mind. Liu's insignia began to glow violently and in a flash, the man pulled himself away from her touch. For a moment, a truly blistering heat flowed towards her fingertips, only to be pulled away by the man. Tucking his forearms into his chest, he almost seemed to scream as he let out a loud and defiant No!. As the words rang in her ears she noticed his sharp claws digging into his palms, drawing blood. "No Princess. I am not connected to anyone." Liu seemed to spit out the words, grinding his teeth together and he let the waves of pain wash through his body, the adrenaline giving him a brief moment of clarity.

Through gritted teeth, he continued... no. He forced himself to speak. To try to explain... to make her understand. "During my fathers time, he'd noted that the dragons flame had begun to shift... it affected his mind as well. He'd gathered a group of scholars, and together they had began to document the inheritors of the past from old documents and accounts from any surviving elders. In that research... they found something. Something that ultimately spelled ruin for our house... and my family." Liu spoke through shuddering breaths, his eye's lifting to meet hers once more, now glowing with a deeper shade of red and shaking violently. "I'm sure you've heard the stories? Of how our families were bestowed the dragons power in attempt to stop the massacre of the draconic races. Well, they'd found that as our families began to war once again... the Crimson Dragon had began to show signs of a trauma response. Something akin to our grief cycles. My father-" Liu stopped for a moment, his shoulders trembling heavily as he shut his eyes tightly... like he was trying to shut something away. "My father was pain. His curse was guilt... but he felt that curse change into something worse. Something that was now directed unto his children." Liu held his glowing forearms up to the princess, tears beginning to streak down his face as a grimace began to spread across his face. "Now what do you think we were cursed with?" In the short moment she'd been focused on his eyes and faced, the princes blood stained shirt had become ruined. Parts of his sleeves had burned away in patches, the heat radiating through his body burning away at the damp fibers. "He... That beast accepts nothing. The only thing he'll accept is an escape from his own pain. Whether that be through my death or otherwise, he doesn't care. To answer your question, No. I do not hear the Crimson Dragon in my dreams. Instead, I am forced to watch the visions of his dead brethren. Visions of my own countrymen

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bleeding to death.... and visions of endless, all consuming fire."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. I FORGOR

A shaky breath pushed through her lips. Her lip trembled. Her eyes widened. Fear darkened in her heart as his gaze fell from hers. As his insignia began to glow violently, heating his body to a point that she could nearly feel the heat swell through him before he yanked his touch from hers. "Liu--" She started, her eyes widening as something overwhelmed him. Something that she didn't know. Something that not even she, another imperial dragon, understood. A darkness that swelled up from the very depths of his body, a hatred and resentment that she had never experienced before. "I--" She started, her eyes widening as he yelled out at her, her body stiffening at the defiant tone he took with her. Her gaze fell anxiously, and simulateously, it seemed as if every wall she had let him past, had been raised once more. She swallowed, her gaze falling to her own hands as he growled at her, his words seeming to drip with a venom that Liena couldn't help but fear. She let out a shaky breath and began to pick at a loose cuticle, pulling it before it began to bleed. It was upon seeing this that she noticed he too was bleeding. Claws dug into his fingers, forcing past flesh to bring out blood. "Liu--" She hesitated, her gaze uneasy as she reached towards his hands. For a moment, she hesitated, her gaze wavering as she seemed to recognize the heat that he had to him at the moment. "The Crimson Dragon had began to show signs of a trauma response." Her hands fell against his, her eyes widening as they were met with heat. Heat that she had experienced before and yet she still winced at. She bit her lip and gripped them anyway, refusing to let him handle such emotions entirely on his own. She had a feeling that he had bore this pain on his own for far too long. "Now what do you think we were cursed with?" Cursed. Liena had never seen that abilities that they had as a curse. No. She had always considered them to be godly powers, powers that were entirely out of her own

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reach. She had longed for them. And yet seeing the look in his eyes made something in her stomach turn. Her eyes welled with tears as she watched tears dribble down his cheeks. A curse. A curse so strong had been cast upon on him and there was absolutely nothing that she could do to ease that pain for him. Her hands shook against his as she tightened her grip, forcing them to steady his own. She winced as his body grew hotter, heat radiating deep enough to burn the clothing off of his body. She almost let out a gasp, her lip wobbling as she struggled to find a solution. A solution. Some way to calm him. Yet there was none. There was no half baked way to empathize with him nor any way that she could take his pain away. With a deep breath, Liena's eyes began to glow with the color of a refreshing breeze, a startling pale blue almost so pale that it seemed white. A cold air flowed within the room, enough to make her hair fly out of her face. The expression on her face softened as she gently leaned towards him and embraced him. Heat bit at her skin, burning at her and yet she still held him tenderly. It felt calming, like the wind blowing through your hair on a soft summer's day. It was as if the wind itself was embracing him, gently calming the flames that burned within him. "I'm sorry.... I can't take away your pain... nor do I understand the depth of it. I won't pretend to understand. I won't disrespect you by saying that I get it... or that I've felt the same." Her voice shook ever so slightly, "I can't take away your pain... but... please let me ease it..." Her voice grew soft and her embrace tightened ever so slightly, "let me be here for you... even when it all seems like all is dark... when he shows you your worst nightmares... let me be a light... let me guide you back to safety." From the wobble in her voice it became evident that she was crying, soft shaky breaths escaping her lips. @Visape

The heat was almost unbearable. The nostalgic burn of hot coals spread across Liena's body, her tempered spirit pushing past the Crimson Dragons deranged attempts to isolate and torture its captor in a cage of fire. A blistering heat spread across her fingertips, but before her own skin could begin to wither and boil, that surge of icy power spread across her own skin. For her... there was warmth and comfort. Her gift of safety. For him however, there was only agony. With his weakened resolve, a beast clawed it's way out of the depths of his mind. It's mouth hissed unyielding hatred. The screams of a man who'd lost everything. Where blood once flowed, now flowed molten magma, burning through the boy's body. Liu wanted to scream, to collapse on the ground and writhe in agony... but he didn't. He couldn't. He had to be strong. For his people, for his land... for his brother. Feeling the pain and shock burrowing into his mind, slipping him into unconsciousness, Liu felt defeated... resigned almost. An overwhelming fatigue plagued his heart. I can't keep fighting... not against this. I just... I just want peace. And for a moment, he considered that dry whisper. Considered closing his eye's against all this, embracing that final slumber... only for his mind to be shocked back into alertness. Like cool silvery barbs piercing through the dark clouds of his mind, Liu felt a blast of sharp cool air envelop his body. His vision, still blurred by the tears that evaporated off his cheeks, finally began to focus once more. There she was. Still here. Still, with her hands in his, desperately clinging to this life. Even as his curse burnt away at the skin on her hands, trembling with clenched teeth, she remained here, with eye's full of passion and steadfast determination. Where other's would've fleed or called other for help, where he himself had given up and resigned himself, she rose to the occasion.

With pale blue eye's, glowing and ephemeral, she saw him... and yet, she remained. His mind still fading in and out, Liu struggled to grasp meaning in her words. Though, as she embraced him, her tears dropping against his chest, he understood her. Liu's body shuddered and quacked, before Liena felt him go limp in her arms. His breath, once filled with ash and fire, was reduced to a soft shallow rhythm and his once burning eye's were now closed. Liu had fallen unconscious, still in her embrace with his arms around her, squeezing helplessly. His mark grew dimmer, and that power receded in almost an instant. Within the depths of Liu's Soul, the beast and been shocked. Not by the shackles of Crimson blood, nor the binds of Liu's will. No... Now, in this moment. The beast lay frozen in it's rampage. It's distraught mind focused on a single feeling. The Crimson Dragon was not alone. A revelation that shook the beast to it's core... resurfacing a millennia of memories. Memories of brothers and sisters lost. Of a love separated in strife. Of innocents massacred in the name of revenge... of families torn. All, thrown in to question. Thrown into disarray. The beast writhed and shook, it's shattered mind pulling itself back together, even against the beast's will. Clutching that fleeting barb of cold energy, it howled. A scream of heartbreak and betrayal. A scream of rage and bloodlust. A scream of agony and pain.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Warmth. As she wrapped her arms around the prince, Liena braced herself for pain, for a pain that would sear through her more strongly than she had ever felt before. Yet, when she opened her eyes, she was met with a surge of power that she was entirely unused to. She paused and blinked several times, her lips parting as she was met with warmth and comfort. As if, someone was protecting her. Her eyes softened, her mind beginning to figure out what was going on. It was her gift. The cerulean dragon's. As if she too wanted her to to help to ease his pain. Liena paused and focused her gaze, hoping to remain an anchor that tied him to reality. She knew not whether he could even hear her, yet she continued to speak, to let him know that he wasn't alone. Alone. The look in his eyes looked like he was all alone. Like nothing could help him. Was there truly nothing that she could do to help him? Her eyebrows furrowed as tears dripped down his cheeks, fire overwhelming his body. She had never seen anything like it. Agony that was so deep that there was nothing that anyone could do to pull him out. She had heard about those who survived wars before, of their trauma that they were forced to live every time that they closed their eyes. And yet in this moment, she couldn't imagine what was flashing through his mind, what he was seeing, what he was hearing. She bit her lip, her gaze hesitant as she clung to him. Grounding. An Anchor. Throughout so much of her own life, Liena had searched for someone who was able to be anchor. Someone who could help her find herself in a way that she couldn't. Someone who would be her rock, who would steady her when the waters grew wild at night. She let out a shaky breath as the fire burned at her hands, her fingers trembling. She hadn't yet figured out how to extend her power that far, how she could control her power at all. Feeling him slump into her arms, her eyes widened. "Liu--" She started, her voice trembling as she at

8:10 AM

tempted to wake him. His mark had dulled once more and the heat slowly faded, leaving just a boy in her arms, one who was ever so wrought with pain and sorrow. She let out a shaky breath and looked around, unsure of how to take care of his wounds. "Liu-- can you hear me?" She gently placed her hand on his cheek, wiping the tears that had stained them away. "Please-- wake up...." Her voice quivered as she panicked, entirely unsure of what she could do to awaken him. Yet even in those moments, his arms remained wrapped around her, squeezing helplessly, clinging as if he would sink if he didn't hold on. She glanced around, her gaze uneasy as she attempted to lift him. Earlier in the day it had become clear to her that he was much bigger than her. Yet in this moment it solidified. Her body was petite and delicate whereas his build was the solid one of a warrior. Even pulling from his clutch proved a problem, his grip remaining tight around her despite having fallen unconscious. Attempting to wriggle free, she gasped and pushed, pulling his arms away from her so that she could run over to a cabinet that sat in the corner of the area. She sprinted, almost tripping on her robe before falling to the ground in front of it. She winced as the ground tore up her knees, her hands grasping at the cabinet doors to throw them open. She glanced within and frowned, clicking her tongue as she didn't find anything of use. "Fuck... where is their first aid kit?" She muttered to herself, unsure of how she could ease the burns and wounds that still remained on his skin.

8:10 AM

In the coming minutes, she was joined by Yī nuò whose eyes nearly fell out of her head as she noticed the unconscious prince and the teary eyes princess. "H-He-- He needs medical treatment--" Liena cried, her eyes filled with fear and her voice caught anxiously. Her hands needed treatment too, but she didn't even feel the pain at the moment. Nothing compared to the pain that she imagined he was feeling. @Visape

Rounding the corner, the pair were greeted by an even more grim visage. The Prince's once porcelain pale skin was now flushed with a sickly red, with aching boils spreading against his uncovered skin. Yī nuò, some who'd many knew to be a paragon of patience and fortitude, was frozen in shock. If not for Liena's anxious pleas, she'd almost certainly be trapped in her own fear. Spurned by that same fear, her once frail body pushed itself into action in a ferver, too busy even to notice her cane clattering to the floor as she sprinted to the princes side. Kneeling, Yī nuò frantically poked and prodded at Liu trembling figure. His breath was shallow and raspy. His flesh was cold to the touch, and yet he was drenched in sweat. Burns plastered his body... and even worse was his mark. What once glowed with an ever present light, no matter how dim, had gone out. It wrapped around his body in a cold embrace, with a shade of black that seemed endless. An empty void. It sent shivers down Liena's spine. Yī nuò stammered, struggling to battle the near endless stream of thoughts that flooded her head as she ripped at the mans shirt and her own clothes. "This-s-s- This doesn'- This makes no sense! Wounds like these should be healing themselves by now! But- But- This isn't something we can treat with first aid. Call for the guards! The Captain! GO!" In a torrent of emotion, the old hand-maid turned her tempestuous gaze to the girl and screamed, a fire in her voice. ~~~~ As Liu came to, he opened his eyes to a pitch black void. Surrounding him stretched and endless sea of nothing. No features. No land marks. Nothing Looking down at his feet, he again found nothing. No Toes, nor legs, nor torso. Emptiness. Yet still there. Raising his hand, he felt the waves part around him, as if there existed a border between the nothing that surrounded him, and void that was him. A deep, existential terror filled his heart

as the prince stood frozen, facing what seemed like the afterlife. He screamed. Nothing He cried. Nothing He punched at the air. Nothing He ran. Something Overcome with emotion and pain, he pushed off with his feet, trying to flee his fate. And as his form pushed against the void, he felt the formless ocean part against his toes and his heals slamming against grains of sand that weren't there. The first few steps like he was running in a dream... but as he pushed helplessly against the waves, something changed. From steps, to a jog, to a run and finally into a sprint. The more he pushed himself forward, the more the world around him began to change. Something hot. Something sharp. Something wet. Something... familiar A voice. It rung through the air like a whistling arrow. Liu stopped, gasping for air as he scanned the horizon, now littered with spires of black metal and hills of ash. Again, that voice rang out, and with a start, Liu once again began to run, not away in fear, but now towards it. Filled with a sense of power and urgency. Again, the world around him changed. The sand beneath him began to bleed with a red hue, the sky painted a vibrant orange and that cry sounding more and more bestial by the minute. With every step, his heart began to churn as he once again felt a sense of unease... until they finally met. Something ancient Something twisted Something... broken The beast lay almost frozen in it's den. That once slithering mass that once churned in his heart was now frozen. It's once furious gaze was now blank... vacant. Liu approached cautiously, his now solid heart beating faster and faster with each step. With each step, another bead of sweat dripped down his back. With each step, the voices that screamed to run grew louder and louder. Until there were no more steps to take. Now standing face to face with his tormentor, Liu found himself filled not with rage nor anguish... but with pity.

What once seemed like an overwhelming force that plagued his life, a snarling beast that clawed away at his mind, now seemed painful and tragic... like a child trapped in his fathers study Liu blinked, and something changed once more. The vacant, empty stare of his past pierced through him, as the air was filled a torrent of helpless cries of pain, anger and fear. The cacophonous torrent of sound brought the prince to his knee's, where he was forced to meet those empty, broken eyes. Helpless, the prince reached out, and as his trembling hand made contact, everything went silent. What once gazed through him, now drilled into his being. It's trembling lips opened that once rapturous sound escaped as but a whisper. What have you done? Suddenly, another torrent of stimuli assaulted Liu's mind. A valley of mountains, littered with serpentine corpses. A city of ruins and burned corpses. Armies of red and blue, both torn apart by spears and claws. A mother who sacrificed for the greater good and a father who was sacrificed for the greater good. Eons of pain and anguish, endured and then inflicted, flooded the boys spirit. His own screams lost amongst the millions that rung in his skull as he thrashed around helplessly. A viscous and painful cycle that was scarred against his soul. As his mind began to tear and break under the stress, he felt the world around him crack and shatter like glass around him... until he finally awoke, still screaming.

This didn't look good. Liena knew as much. If anyone didn't know better, they would have assumed that she had caused this. After all, in the eyes of some, she was still an enemy. Her heart twisted as she stared down at him, fingers grasping at the prince and attempting to put pressure onto some of his wounds, fingertips still shaking with pain. She was pale, hands and arms covered harsh burns, her gaze unsteady. She knew something was wrong but she didn't know what. She couldn't think straight. "Liu... please..." She muttered helplessly, her gaze lifting as Yī nuò stepped into the room, her face having gone pale. "I--I promise... it's not my fault--" She whimpered, tears dripping down her cheeks, "H-He just..." she tried to explain, her gaze remaining tied to the prince as the woman sprinted to her side, dropping her cane on the ground. Wounds like these should be healing themselves by now. Her eyes widened. She hadn't even known that much. Hadn't known that an Imperial Dragon's wounds should be healing on their own. Call for the guards! The Captain! GO! There was fire in her voice. Liena scrambled to her feet, not even daring responding before her feet began to helplessly drag her from the room to find guards. "I-I need guards!" She cried out, finding her way down the winding hallways until she found two guards in the midst of conversation. "Help!" She pleaded, tears dripping down her cheeks ever so hotly. "I--Liu-- He needs your help-- please get the captain!" She stumbled over her words, her thoughts moving faster than her mind could keep up. The guards stared in surprise for but a moment. "Princess? What are you--" One started, seeming bewildered to see the Princess in the state that she was in. "Please!!" She begged as she ran up to them, her breaths ragged and distraught. "The captain-- please bring me to the captain... Liu-- he's hurt!" There was a fear in her expression that was evident, desperation dripping from her as she attempted to catc

7:07 AM

h her breath. She no longer wore the slippers that she had worn out into the garden, instead her feet were bare. She had lost the slippers at some point in the halls, running too haphazardly to notice. Her feet were red and sore now, her cheeks stained with marks from her tears. Noticing the light of the situation, the guards ushered her to the captain whom she quickly led back to the room. While they had attempted to urge the princess to go back to her room while they treated them, Liena refused, refusing to leave his side. This was her fault. She was sure of it. She didn't leave his side for the next days, sitting by his bedside as she watched him, wondering if he would wake up. The captain had seen it once. Only once. He had seen when it happened to Liu's father during the midst of battle. That he had spent days in his tent, too weak to even open his eyes let alone battle. When he awoke, he had claimed to be frozen in the cold torrent of his memories. That was all that the captain had been able to explain. For now, all they could do was treat his wounds, hoping that they would begin to heal on their own once he was awake. It was 3 days later when he awoke, screaming. Liena jolted awake, having fallen asleep in the chair by the side of his bed. Her hand tightened around his, "L-Liu--" She started, her gaze bewildered as she looked at him, fear overwhelming his expression. "Liu!" She called out loudly, attempting to ground him, "It's okay! You're okay, you're okay!" @Visape

@Visape return, i miss you)

After that long, somber night, the Crimson Court erupted in a wave of chaos. What had come to be a celebration of peace and prosperity had culminated in their fair ruler laying in the infirmary, covered in wounds. That first day felt.... endless. There was a thick storm of emotions that hung over the Princess's shoulders. Guilt. Fear. Anxiety. The hushed whispers of servants and guards that now echoed through the halls bore through her heart, and after hours of staring at the prince's pale body, even she found herself unsure where the rumors end and the truth starts. Sensing the princess' unease, a thick gauntleted hand gently pressed against the woman's shoulder. Towering over her, the general stared down at the boy's bandaged body with a slight sigh. Like Liena herself, the thick man had the beginnings of dark rings forming under his eyes, cracks in his almost perfect display of fortitude. "Breath deep Princess. No one truly believes that you harmed the prince, but tensions between the two families are still high." Zhao's voice was a surprisingly lively one. Compared to the prince's cold and silvery words, this mans voice bubbled with emotion and sincerity. Warmth A deep passionate fire that seemed to flow through this entire court. "You have been allowed to stay... but I really must insist you seek rest. Please" The towering man's grip softened, and his words carried a familiar sense of worry and pity. Less the command of General, but the concered pleas of a grandfather. She was reminded of Elder Cheng for just a moment, before that image faded. The day's began to meld together from there. She was not waiting long, but those few days seemed to stretch and warp feeling as if she had spent weeks upon weeks in that sterile white room. Though, it wasn't for nothing. In that first day, many of the Prince's boils had seemed to subside, his scabbed and blistered skin wrapped in layers upon layers of disinfected gauze, bottles and bottles of ancient Crimson

remedies being left empty along the shelves of the room. The future seemed hopeful... that was until early into that third morning. The room was lit only by a few glowing candles, their dim orange flames lighting the dark room. The sun had not rose, and a dry wind blow through the room. Liena lay against the white sheets that the prince lay under, stirring softly until... a twitch. A soft pulse. She turned her head, ignoring it, until once more she felt it. A soft trembling under the padded layers. She coaxed her eyes open to notice that the prince's body was beginning to tremble slightly, as if a tremor had overcome him. She squinted under the dim light, eye's still blurry from her days of fatigue, only to notice that those soft tremors began to become more and more violent. Soon, the very bed and ground were shaking as the prince began to convulse and flail. Liena turned, her mind darting to all the possibilities and solutions, a deep fear and anxiety gripping her heart. By the time she'd resolved herself to scream for help, to try and help ground the prince, second had already passed. The long dark shadows of the room quaked, beginning to shrink and shy away back to their corners and holes as the prince once again began to glow. His insignia's flickering with the same soft flame of the candles... until they began to glow brighter. Then brighter still. More and more intense did the flaring orange glow become Until it was all encompassing, the light shinning like the sun itself, spilling out through the windows and cracks to the early morning around them. Liu's violently shaking hands, the ones that had lay almost lifeless before her mere days prior, shot towards his face, clawing away at his flesh as a mournful, anguished bellow escaped from his lungs. The screams of the damned filled the room as the boy tried helplessly to cease something that plagued his eyes, helpless please occasionally escaping between the sobs of terror and pain.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. the dragon calls, it's voice cold and distant. What will our princess do?)

There once had been a time where rumors floated through the air like seeds borne with the wind, dragged helplessly through the currents until they found their resting grounds. Days when dragons tore through the air, their roars echoing in that of the deepest caves. Days when men and women alike bowed down to those great beasts, praying that should they pledge their loyalty that they would be spared from the violence that followed in their wake. Those days had long faded. And yet pain and violence still followed behind those who had once pledged themselves to the great beasts. Dragons roars had grown silent, and their serpentine bodies no longer cut through the air leaving billowing currents tumbling to the ground. And yet, rumors still were still carried in the air, passed from mouth to mouth until one was left helpless. Helpless. That was how Liena felt. As she stared down at the Prince's unconscious body, worries tumbled inside her mind, guilt swimming over her as if it were a wave crashing endlessly over her. The knot that had tightened her throat had not left, it had only fastened it's grip, leaving her entirely silent. Her hand had long clung to Liu's, gaze lost on him once more helplessly. Breath deep Princess. Her gaze fell, lip wobbling as the knight's gauntleted hand pressed into her shoulder, it's weight similar to that of the stress that was pressing down on her petite shoulders. Her jaw clenched and tightened, tears welling in her eyes. Did he mean it? She was not sure. It sure looked as if she had brought harm to the Prince. Hell, she wasn't even sure any longer if she had somehow made it worse or better. Had her words caused this? Had she somehow caused him pain? Anguish? She didn't blame them if they blamed her. She too blamed herself. It was her fault. If only she had been more powerful. If only she could have eased his pain. I really must insist you seek rest. Please. Her gaze fell, her posture softening. A plea. She paused and nodde

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d, "I.... I will rest.... I'm just... not tired." It was a lie. A lie that they all could read. She would not rest. Her exhaustion was nothing compared to the pain that he was in. And if she couldn't ease his pain, she would at least do her best to support him in her own way. The days began to blur together. Several days felt as if they had been weeks. Sleep was her enemy. She and it tugged back and forth as it dragged her down, refusing to allow her to watch over him. And yet sleep was not restful. Her sleep was filled with nightmares that sent her jolting awake. Yet on the third night, when sleep had finally found her, the thing that woke her was not a nightmare but movement. Coaxing her eyes to open, her blurry eyes found themselves watching as the prince began to shake, overwhelmed by tremors. Her eyes widened, breath catching as she shot out of her seat, anxiously looking around the room and finding that once more they were entirely alone. Her gaze fell on the Prince, fear overwhelming her as she reached for his hand, attempting to steady him. "L-Liu--" She muttered, her voice wobbling as he began to convulse and flail. She had not a moment to cry out for help before the room began to shake, the Prince beginning to glow.

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"H-help..." She cried weakly, so weakly that she knew it would not be heard, and yet she hardly could urge it forwards, fear swallowing her as his light began to glow so brightly that it seemed as if it was going to burn straight through him. "Z-ZHAO!!" She cried out, "Help!" She screamed pitifully, hand grasping at his for a moment before they tore away from his to claw at his face. "SOmeone! Please! Please help! PLease help the prince!" Tears streamed down her face, helplessly attempting to pull his hands from his face, worried he would do more harm to his already pained flesh. "Liu!" She cried out again, voice startling as her own insignia's began to glow, "Please--! Liu!!" She cried out, her will so strong that the dragon in her seemed to summon with a wave, scales pushing from her cheekbones and shoulders, "Please--" She cried out quietly, holding his flailing hands to her lips, her own hands quivering as he attempted to pull from her. "You're going to be okay--" Her voice was weak, and yet, the power that washed over him, would numb all pain that was physical, beginning to heal the wounds that had grown on his skin. Liena shut her eyes tightly, mentally pleading with the dragon inside of her to help him, finding herself entirely cornered. Helpless. She was not helpless. @Visape

As waves of ice cold energy flowed through his body, the glow of his insignia began to wain. The tremors that shook his body began to still underneath the chill of her fingers, seemingly stopping with one final shiver. Just as quickly as this horrifying episode began it had ended, the room now empty once more... save for the sounds of Liena's labored breath and the miraculous glow that emanated off her body. Within Luis mind, there came a deep writhing. Within visions of violence's and war, between each gnawing bite of guilt and frustration, came flashes of something more. A past long forgotten, memories that gave birth to rumors. Stirring within their fractured mind. Sensations flooded Liu's empty vessel once more, as a surge of strength overtook his body. Not unfamiliar to him, but unique in a way he as a human could not describe. In unison, the twins souls muttered a name under their breath, both minds snapping to attention as they began to claw out of that nightmare. Bloodied claws and hands grabbed and pulled down at them, trying drag them back into the memories of their shared sins, but still the forced their way out. Scales and flesh gave way to a single ideal... to return to her. Unity... once again. When Liena closed her eyes, pleading, she'd begin to feel movement under her fingers once again. The Princes chest began to rise and fall slowly, life slowly returning to his pale skin. Slowly, and with great difficulty, the figure rose, sitting up straight as it starred at the princess, mouth agape. A shiver ran down Liena's spine as she met it's eyes. The same blood red iris, the same storm of energy and strength dancing within them.... but the whites of his eyes changed. A deep, empty black, spotted with streaks of red, like lightning. Teeth, once sharp, now fully extended like the fangs of a beast. A voice, so deep and guttural that the stretcher itself shook under its weight. A language long forgotten. "Aoki?" @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. )

Helpless. There had once been a time where she too had felt helpless. A time much before Liena. A time before Celeste, and Leon, and countless others who had once been host to her spirit. A time when she, too, had found herself entirely unable to protect those that she loved and watched her kin fall victim to the qualms of war. Liena shuddered, her body growing cold and her eyes beginning to glow with a blue so startling that one could only assume what it meant. Aoki. She paused at the name, her gaze casting down sorrowfully, eyes filled with not sadness but despair. Hair began to blow, "I'm sorry." Her voice came smooth, like that of a shard of ice, or the wind that cut through the air to form the most seamless of a current. "I couldn't save them." It was short. Mere moments really. A flash of what was once there. And yet a flash that happened so quickly that it seemed like it was over before it had began. And suddenly, she couldn't breathe. Liena's eyes fluttered open in surprise, once more returned to their previous color, the pale hue of them filled with a horror that was unexpressable. Her chest began to convulse, lips parting as she struggled for air that had been knocked entirely out of her. She searched for words, but without air, nothing came but silence, rugged coughs struggling to push from her before finally escaping. A fluffy of hacking coughs escaped her lips, her hands lifting to her lips in attempt to cover them as she keeled over, back arching violently. She shuddered for several moments, no longer caught in worry but in pain, as if the dragon was attempting to crawl right out of her body. It was several moments before silence found her. And yet, it wasn't because she was at peace. Her eyes widened in mixed surprise and fear as she stared down at her hands, covered in a striking red liquid. Blood. @Visape

In a flash, their world seemed to crash around them. Like glacial waters, her voice flowed through his mind and with it came another wave of memories, dregged up from deep within the beast's mind. Between flashes of bloodied fields, came visions of pale blue skies and roaring oceans. Visions of friends and family, soaring above the clouds and dancing with storms. Visions of another In a flash, another crashing wave of emotions surged through the pairs minds. Glee and joy, realizing that they were no longer alone in this world, horror and dismay after reliving all their regrets and trauma.... and a cold, unbearable clarity. With his eyes open, the beast looked at his one remaining kin, and felt every single battle, every loss and every death that he had inflicted on her. How many did I put to death? What was this all for? Why didn't I see it? Is this my fault I'm a monster.. They all deserved- An endless droning cacophony of thought flooded the beast's mind, faced with his past and his present, his sins... he cracked under the weight of it all. Liu watched helplessly, still trapped deep within the currents of rage and self loathing, the walls and ceiling of this interior mind-palace shake and tear. Like a latice of stars, cracks began to form in a ring around him, as the beast's mind tore itself apart to escape from this pain. With every passing wave of glacial energy that passed through their body, the beast's mind faltered until... Like a wire gone taught, it snapped in half. With a deep inhale, Liu was forced to the surface once again, his body cold and numb, wrapped carefully in the infirmary.... but before he could dwell on the emptiness that now dwelled the emptiness that filled his heart, he saw Liena, slumped over beside him, crimson blood staining her hands. "LIENA!" Without a moment of hesitation, he sprung to her side, holding her hands in his as he hurriedly checked her vitals, her temperature, her pulse, anything to help.

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. Not my best, works been sucking the life outta me)

Blood. Liena paused, staring down at her quivering hands as blood dripped down them. Hasty breaths still pushed through her lips, ragged and unsteady as she attempted to slow her heart rate down. She was shaking. Shaken. She hardly even heard him as he jolted back up, as he called out her name. She only noticed him awake when his hands grabbed at her, attempting to check her vitals. She seemed out of it, as if in a daze. She furrowed her eyebrows as he brought his hand to her forehead, attempting to check her temperature, "I'm-- I'm fine, Liu." She spoke softly, her skin cold to the touch. She still had not regained her breath, and while her lips were stained with blood, she seemed to be able to breathe again enough to not cause any more pain. She swallowed, chest rising and falling anxiously, "Just a little dizzy..." She muttered, glad that he was there to steady her. He was there to steady her. She smiled weakly, leaning her head against him softly, letting out a pained chuckle, "I'm the one that's supposed to be taking care of you... not the other way around." She laughed, shaking her head, "I was so worried." She stifled back tears as she tired rambled. She was weak, and while she had made connection with the dragon, all it had left her with was an overwhelming chill that she could not wash away from her. One that was so noticeable that one would worry that she would grow significantly colder should she not raise her body temperature. Slowly, she raised to sit up once more, forcing her body to do so despite it's reluctance. It seemed that perhaps her body was not used to contact made by that spirit. As if her body were not a strong enough vessel to house the full power of a dragon, despite it's being born to. She frowned, wondering if that was what the dragon had meant in her dreams, if she had spoken to her well understanding that her body was not fit to handle the full strength that her body to utilize the powers that she wished to contain. "You shoul

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d lay down..." She warned him, her own skin still pale as she spoke. "You're not meant to be up yet... you should be resting.... y-you can't take it too fast or else your body won't be able to keep up...." She paused, "Perhaps I shouldn't be the one to tell you that though..." She muttered under her breath, her head still aching from the sudden connection with the ancient beast. @Visape (you're fine. we're trying our best)

I was worried. Those words sent a shock through his body. A warm sense of fulfilment but a strong feeling of guilt, happy to see that someone... no, that she had been caring for him but at the same time painfully aware of the deep fatigue in her face. Liu pulled the princess in to a tight embrace, holding her head in one of his hands before standing up quickly. "You fool. Of course I should be resting, doesn't mean you should be throwing away your own safety!" Liu clicked his tongue as he stood quickly, circling around the women to place his palm on her back. He breathed slowly, closing his eyes and picturing the flow of draconic power as he's done hundreds of time before, but as he tried to call forward those surging waves of heat.... something broke. As soon as his blood pooled with that surging fire, so too did it vanish, like water rushing from a cracked vase. Over and over he tried to summon that power, the once silent room filling with a frustrated huffing, desperation and fear slowly worming through his royal discipline. Liu almost felt like screaming now, as he pressed his hand into Liena's back more firmly now- only to be cut off by a voice. Cease this child. It is... too soon. The wounds are too fresh. We must help her, but you must use human means for now.... forgive me. The voice that echoed in his mind was wholly unfamiliar to the young prince, but at the same time oddly nostalgic. It carried itself in a slow, deliberate cadence, it's stern clarity sounded of wisdom and age.... and regret. Those words churned inside of him, but not as the beast once had, this beings presence felt much smaller, weaker even, but it still glowed with a divine fury. Who are you? What happened in th- Liu began to ask in his mind, only to be cut off. In due time child. First, tend to the girl. Liu clicked his tongue softly before darting to one of the small cabinets he knew lined the walls of the infirmary. Taking from it a thick woolen blanket, similar to o

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ne that draped over his own figure, he wrapped the princess in it before pulling her up to her feet. "Liena... you're freezing. You can yell at me all you want later but first we- I need you to come with me ok?" Liu looked into her eye's for a long moment before turning on his heels, dragging her with him, towards the kitchens where he knew there'd be a hearth large enough to heat the girl, but the tools to make her something warm as well. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. but uni break! So more responses yay!)

You fool. In all honesty, the words that came out of his mouth surprised her. Doesn't mean you should be throwing away your own safety! She flinched, biting her lip as he circled her, clicking his tongue in frustration. "I--" She frowned, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to, I just-- well-- it felt as if I didn't have control of myself, and when I came to... I couldn't breathe." She was rambling, her voice still soft as she searched for some sort of excuse that would calm him. She wasn't used to him taking such a tone with her, and while she knew that he wasn't doing it out of anger but out of concern for her help, it still made her heartstrings pull. I wasn't in control. Control. In truth, despite the fact that Liena had made contract with the Cerulean Dragon, she didn't remember a thing. Or at least, not in a way that was productive for either of them. She remembered speaking, and yet, she could not remember what she had said. All she remembered was the feeling of wind blowing through her. Not past her, but entirely through her. As if she were ethereal. It sent chills up her spine, and left her feeling cold. Cold. She was still cold. As his hand firmly pressed into her back, she began to realize just how cold she was. She shivered and brought her hand to her arm, rubbing it. It seemed that she was not the only one aware of the drop in temperature in her body either. Liena... you're freezing. She nodded, gently grabbing onto the blanket that he wrapped around her. "Thanks..." Liena was well aware of the fact that she had a weak constitution. Yet this felt different from having a weak constitution. She frowned, only standing as he pulled her to her feet. I need you to come with me. Okay? Her gaze met with his, her attention meeting with those familiar red eyes before she nodded. "Mhm..." There was no point in fighting it. Not when she felt the way that her body refused to hold onto heat. Even with the blanket wrapped around her, all she could feel w

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as an overwhelming sense of cold, one that she could not wash away. It was about four turns and three long hallways before he urged her into the kitchens, pulling up a stool before urging her to sit in front of a hearth, one that reminded her of the kitchens within her own home. She softened, "I think... that the she did this...." She explained softly, "I... I haven't been entirely honest with you, Liu." Liena paused, her gaze falling, "While I bear the same fate as you as an Imperial Dragon Inheritor, I have been rejected by the Cerulean Dragon. She does not bless me with her powers... and while I feel like I'm getting closer, I do not have the strength that you have... and I cannot form a proper shift into her form." @Visape

Liu sat next to the shivering princess and listened intently, stoking the fire with a long poker. A grim expression was smeared across his face, the regal nobility slipping away from his body to give way to the boys natural tendencies. With his eyes locked on the glowing embers and dancing flames of the hearth, he let out an almost frustrated sigh. "Lien- Princess. Forgive me for being blunt, but truly believe in what I say. The only weakness I see in you is... meekness. Even though you've done incredible things in your own right, you let your insecurity overwhelm you." Liu's voice was much softer than before, though it still rung with worry. As he spoke, he gently guided the womens hand, placing it on his shoulder and leaving it there for a moment. What once flowed with a heat like roiling magma, what was once blistering and boiling under the stress of overwhelming power, was now.... tame. There was warmth there, but not the same warmth that drifted from the flames in front of them. The warmth of a human. "You do not have the strength I do... When I was overwhelmed by the dragons power, it was you that calmed it, pulled me up from that the depths of the creatures mind. In my eye's, your stronger in many ways. There's never been an ounce of hesitation in your eyes when faced with strife." The words hung in the air for a long, quiet moment. The only other noise in the room was the crackling of the fire, and the soft shuddering breaths of the frail pair. With every word, the boy's skin seemed to warm even more, the princess noticing the corners of his ears burning a thin red. Though before she could comment on it, Liu stood quickly and shuffled over to a kettle. "I'll make you some tea. Having a warm drink should help a bit." @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. again a lil small, kinda sicky)

Strength. Liena knew not what made one strong. Was it muscles? Was it talons or claws? Was it the power to hold another back no matter their might? She had none of those things. She was petite, and where her claws should be, only nails awaited. She frowned, looking down at her hands as he sighed, ever so slightly frustrated with her. "Call me Liena..." She noted softly, her gaze slowly rolling towards him. She wanted to be Liena to him. Not Princess. Something stung in her heart as he switched names, taking a blunt and yet polite tone with her, as if they had stepped away from their earlier closeness. The only weakness I see in you is meekness. A frown pulled along her face, her gaze falling as he gently brought her hand onto his shoulder. It was warm, not like fire, but like that of a human. Human. The strength that he held was the strength of a dragon. It was the strength of a dragon that she had always wanted. That she had longed for. And yet, she had turned her attention, scoffed at, the strength that a human could hold. The strength that she had was distinctly human. While it may not have been physical, there was an importance in emotional strength as well, one that Prince Liu knew better than anyone. For several moments, the only noise in the room was the cracking of fire and the shaky breaths of the sickened pair. Liena did not speak. Instead she allowed his words to sink into her, to allow them the time and space that they deserved. It wasn't for several moments that her lips turned upwards, her eyes softening as she did so. "Perhaps we can help one another out then...?" She asked, "Each has strength where the other does not... and perhaps that doesn't have to be a weakness, but something we are willing to make up for?" Liena's voice came soft, her gaze flicking over him. In truth, she was still getting to know the Prince, but she was hoping that they could find a partnership in this, whether or not it was in love or not. <@39582971665475175

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@Visape

Liu stood next to a small well of coals, the white ashy lumps radiating an intense heat underneath a small metal container. The only sound that existed between that never ending silence was the bubbling of water as it slowly came to a boil, a gentle hissing slowly rising in pitch and volume as that silence settled. Staring into those hills of ash, Liu's mind swam with a nauseating confusion, the red flush on his face only seeming to darken as time went on. Liu was no stranger to love, as he has come to love his subjects and his people, but this? This was different. The young man almost chocked as her voice called out again, thankful that his back was turned as he almost jumped at the sudden conversation. Why am I feeling this way? What is wrong with me? Are these even my feelings? Thoughts shot around in the darkness of his mind, obviously still struggling to understand the changes his body was going through. Though it was true he held the princess in high regard, her willingness to sacrifice so much for her people, her determination to face what many people saw a monster, her strength in times were even he was brought low.... Liu had never thought of those feelings as anything more than the respect an adoration that any true noble carried. Like his father had commanded before... and his brother... He shook his head softly, turning his attention to the hissing kettle and taking it off the small iron stove. Turning to face her, he held a tray with two small ornate cups, no larger than the size of 4 fingers. the crystal white porcelain was adorned with accents of gold and black, a serpent crawling along the edge of the vessel, as well as various stains of ancient tea's. It was a well used, well loved set, now brought and displayed for her. Setting it down with a small table in front of her, the prince sat down and poured her cup and then his own. Gently taking it into his hands, he met her eyes for just a moment before quickly looking backat the

tea cup in his hands. "I... Not only do I want that, but I believe that is what's needed. When you first arrived, I had planned very little duties for you... I feared that I might overwhelm you and cast you away.... but with how everything has transpired, its quite clear I already have overwhelmed you, and I'm sorry for that. I'm thankful as well, because it makes some other points, easier to make. Liena..." Liu's eyes had seemed to gloss over as he spoke, his once regal figure gently slumping as he stared down into the translucent green liquid, his dry and sharp voice dropping a note or three. "there will be many battles to come. Not only from within our souls but in the world around us. Though it was you that reached out to us for aid, we- no... I, not as the Ruler of the Crimson Court, but as a son and a brother, need your help. I promise to help you and your people... so can you help me save mine?" @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

In truth, it was a lot to take in. Liena's thoughts were a mess, still attempting to make a clear idea of what exactly she had experienced earlier. It had all happened so quickly. So quickly that she couldn't even properly place a timeline around what had happened and when it happened. If the guard were to ask her for a clear interpretation of the situation, she was sure that she couldn't give one. Not now. After all, she wasn't entirely sure. She paused, her gaze softening on the fire, watching as flames flicked back and forth, licking at one another and dancing an endless pas de deux. Some say that flames were what taught them to dance. Others say it was water. It was an age old fight, one that she was sure had lived just as long as the dragons who fought deeply within their bodies. And yet, were they fighting one another, or were they fighting themselves? She paused, letting out a soft sigh as the Prince walked away, leaving her by herself while he prepared the tea for her. Tea would calm her, of that she hoped. She frowned, her hair slipping in her eyes as she wondered exactly what she had felt in that moment. Her eyebrows softened on the well loved tea set. It reminded her of her mothers, the one that she had often clung to in times of sickness, and in times of great worry. She reached for the cup, allowing her gaze to fall down on the tea. Inside, a singular stem standing upright. A smile pulled along her face, respecting the good fortune in offered her. This was a time of great worry for both of them, and yet, while they had lots to work on, together, perhaps they could pull through this. At least, that was what she wanted to believe. What she wanted to tell herself. And then he spoke. I feared that I might overwhelm you and cast you away. She paused, biting at her lip, some anxiety forming in the very pit of her chest. There will be many battles to come. She nodded, her gaze softening at his words and at the content of them. *Can you hel

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p me save mine?" Liena quieted for several moments as she let the moment settle, her gaze soft and focused on her tea as she lifted it to her lips. She swallowed and let out a soft breath, "You don't have to ask twice." She said softly, reaching her hand towards his, "Furthermore... with the goal of one day unifying this nation... your people will become just as much my own as the people who settled on cerulean soils." She spoke quietly, and yet, with meaning, each word settling into the air with a pressure that was insurmountable. "I'll do anything I can to help save them." @Visape

Her words danced and flitted in the air and in his mind, like a sirens call that threatened to pull him away from his castle high defenses. Though truly, they did. When her hand gently settled on his, he flinced for a moment, squeezing his cup tightly for but a moment. Though, her quiet and gentle voice eventually began to stoke the waning embers of his heart. With every word, Liu's anxiety and tension began to slip away, his gaze softening. Those slitted eyes of his seemed to almost dilated and bloat with her reassurance, an almost audible gulp formed in his throat as he nodded gently. In that gentle moment, the thought of whether his feelings were truly his or not didn't matter to him any longer. For as clouded by indecision and worry as the prince was, not even he could deny the unwavering strength and certainty that the women displayed in this small fraction of time. ...You truly embody the title of ruler "... You truly embody the title of ruler" Liu's voice was soft and gentle, the low rumbling of his voice like that of a lions purr. However, no matter how quiet, he had still spoken. With his attention entirely captured by Liena's unwavering will, the boy had let his thoughts slip, even for just a moment... Slowly, the realization set in, his defenses climbing back up like a suit of armor as a thick red blush spread across his tanned cheeks. Quickly, he turned to stare into the hearth and shot back his tea as if it were a tankard of ale, only to find himself struggling to swallow down the still hot-as-boiling water. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. )

A flinch. It was enough for her to catch, just barely. Her gaze flicked up attentively, watching to see what had caused him to flinch so. She feared it might be the rushedness of her touch, for while she felt close to him, she had only been here but a few days and it was rather presumptious to assume he too felt the same. She swallowed, questioning whether or not she should pull her hand from his. After all, while he was beginning to settle, he did not certainly return the touch. Her gaze softened and her hand returned to her lap, not for fear of rejection, but for fear of insulting him. "Sorry." Her words came softly, her gaze falling shyly. It was a sheepish gaze, her cheeks ever so slightly rosy. "I just grabbed your hand out of habit. I didn't mean to--" She started, only to be caught off by the quiet voice of the Crimson ruler. You truly embody the title of ruler. Blinking, Liena lifted her gaze to meet his, clear blue eyes filled with a look of surprise that was near unmatchable. She shifted, biting her lip as she was left speechless for about 5 miliseconds. A smile pulled along her lips, gaze bashfully pulling away as her cheeks grew hot and rosy. The color suited her. She paused, "As do you." She grinned, eyes sparkling as he pulled his gaze away, "Truthfully, when I first arrived at dinner the other night, my goal was to emulate the same leadership that you put forth." She chuckled, "You, too, embody the title of ruler. @Visape

Her blush. Oh Ancestors, her blush... At even the slightest shift in her gaze, Liu felt his entire body quiver. Never mind the searing pain inside his mouth, when those opalescent eyes and charming smile beamed towards him... it's as he was entirely swallowed by them. Not to mention her laugh. Gulping loudly, Liu simply stared as his mind worked in overtime to come up with something. Anything. Though, as he starred into that sheepish gave, eyes locked onto her lips that still held a gentle dip from when she'd bitten into it... Liu realized that he had never felt anything like this before in his entire life.... and it almost terrified him. Finally managing to muster up the decency to reply, Liu made a genuine effort to meet Liena's gaze, though his eyes shook and trembled greatly as he struggled to focus on just one thing. "You- Ugh... You speak to highly of me princess. I am no leader, I do not have the presence of a king. I am simply... a very good pretender." Liu's eyes focused for but a moment, and he gave her a gently smile, that had an almost inescapable bit of fatigue behind it. Though just as quickly had he controlled himself, that demeanor once again shifted to that of a nervous boy. Timidly he stratched the back of his head, mumbling to himself helplessly. Almost inaudible, a very soft hiss escaped his lips. "You needn't apologize either. I- I do not dislike your touch, I am simply... unaccustomed, to that sort of intimacy." Even with his his tan, the darkening blush that formed on his face was striking. Unlike her, this sheepish glee was not a natural or fitting expression for the prince. @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.

Intimacy. At the word, Liena's cheeks grew hotter. Her heart began to race, the pace moving from a jolly thumping to a pounding that simply could not be ignored. Had she overstepped? Was she moving too fast? She did not wish him to think that she was an easy girl. That was not the intention at all, actually it was the furthest thing from it. But she also did indeed want to form a bond with him, one that was stronger than the political one that the elders wished they make. Her cheeks grew hot and her attention tore to her fingers which sought out the comfort of rubbing against the edge of her drink. "I--" Her voice caught, enough so that her eyes widened as it cracked. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be so forthcoming, but I certainly didn't mean to assume some sort of... intimacy with you that is not there." She glanced down, eyes once more settling on the greenish hue of the tea within her cup. She didn't know what to say, for if she were to say anything, she was sure it was to be foolish and caught in a stutter. That was until he spoke again. Of himself. "A wise man once told me fake it until you make it." She chuckled, "I sometimes think that we're all just faking it until we have figured something out." She smiled sheepishly, "I sure am. And I think it's okay if you believe yourself to be as well." She brought her tea to her lips and took a sip. "How are you feeling?" Her eyes lifted to meet his once more, her own temperature seemingly having returned to her. @Visape

Liu returned her sheepish smile, his once burning blush gently drifting back down to a gentle smolder. Even as she admitted it to him, Liu struggled to believe that a women like her was faking it anyway, especially after witnessing her in action. "Maybe bravery is simply your normal, yet you've somehow convinced yourself otherwise. How quickly you reacted in danger, your composure and strength.... it takes years for even our greatest soldiers to mimic a fraction of that." He spoke softly, a glint of both admiration and respect in his eyes and voice, which slowly turned themselves back to his tea. Brining the small teacup to his mouth, it's gentle aroma wafted into his nose. Hints of citrus and plum danced together in a delightful mix of sweet and sour tones. The tea itself had a very gentle and soft flavor, quite easy on the pallet compared to other, richer tea's out there. With the warm liquid gracing his lips, the princes jagged and raw exterior seemed to soften, a wistful yet satisfied smile appeared on his face before he once again turned to Liena. "I... I'm not too sure. I still feel a connection to my inheritance but.... somethings different." The prince's eyes unfocused for a moment as he turned his gaze inward, attempting to read the signals of his body. As he spoke, his hand idly moved to slide against the tattoo like Insignia that ran along his traps. There, on those elevated ripples of chitinous skin, existed new scars, that ran along the blackish pattern like scars of lightning... or the surface of a broken mirror. Though as they spoke, the princess' cracking voice pulled him back to the kitchen. His eye's widening, he hadn't even realized his hand had quickly moved to grip the women's forearm gently. "No!" His voice rose in surprise and bewilderment, cutting off her apology before she had more time to question her thinking. "I- I mean... There's nothing you have to apologize for. It's not that it isn't there, but...

12:48 PM

I just need to get used to it."

@꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. )

Maybe bravery is simply your normal. It was strange to hear from someone else's mouth. You are your own worst enemy, and in your own eyes, you view yourself quite differently than others often view you. Liena knew that. Yet she had never expected anyone to say such wonderful things about herself, for in her eyes, she saw relatively little. In her own eyes, she contained no such composure or strength and was simply feigning at it all along. As he spoke, her gaze fell and her lips tugged into a smile, shy and sheepishly. She knew not how to take a compliment and found herself flustered in a way that no other could leave her, her heart still fluttering. In a way, he made her heart flutter more than once. As he claimed that he had to get used to her touch, her heart fluttered once more. She knew not what he meant, nor the intention behind it. And yet if anything, she hoped that it meant that while this was to be an arranged marriage, that he too, could find some enjoyment in their companionship and was willing to search for such alongside her. It would be a lonely marriage otherwise for not one, but for both of the pair. "I suppose we both do." She laughed softly, rubbing the back of her neck, "We must look quite clumsy to those around us." She paused and looked up to the ceiling. For several moments, the aroma of tea filled the air and silence hung long. Yet it was not the silence that left anxiety, but one that brought peace. "Perhaps we ought to head back to our quarters.... I believe my temperature is back to normal now... and... I think you ought to rest. You still have a lot of healing to do... I wish not to keep you from your rest." @Visape

Liu looked to the princes with an almost startled stare, shook out of his peaceful daze by the prospect of motion. Scratching the back of his head nervously, he looked to the pale and radiant princess with his cheeks darkening in another gentle blush. "If it's no issue to you... would you like me to accompany you back to your quarters? I know you haven't stayed with these maze like halls for long- Ah! Not to insult your intelligence princess!! I simply mean this place can be confusing for newcomers-" For what seemed to be the first time, the prince's rough exterior and kingly aura diminished, replaced by smitten rambling and nonsensical jabbering. He only seemed to catch himself once he heard her laugh once more, her eyes resting on the ceiling. "Heh, I suppose we do look quite clumsy, but I'm sure that's what others have expected, given our respective upbringings." With a deep inhale and gentle sigh, Liu slapped his hands against his thighs and stood up quickly, turning and offering a hand to woman sitting next to him. "Would you like to enjoy some final bits of company tonight Liena?" @꒰ shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. sorry its a bit short, coming back after a long while. We can time-skip to a few days later if ud like)