Bab 5: Entering the Empire

Deep in the midst of a series of mountain ranges, there stood two sword shaped mountain peaks well over a thousand feet tall and a hundred feet apart, towering under the vast white-blue sky.

Within the clearing, where the sunlight projected through the leaves and branches onto the two mountains, was a stone platform engraved with ancient runes.

In the center of the stone platform, a blinding light exploded from the ancient runes, as a huge force flung a golden globe pulled by four winged-beasts into the air, producing fierce screaming gales and whistling with an ear-piercing sound that was reminiscent of wailing ghosts into the night, before it quickly landed and rolled along the road.

A cavalry of a hundred and one gradually surrounded the golden carriage, the leader wearing a firm expression.

He was Lumos, the personal guard appointed personally by Princess Nari at the gates of the palace during their departure from the Jinn Kingdom. On either side of him were the leaders of the left and right royal guards.

"According to the moving compass, this should be the last teleportation point. We will finally be out of the Galactic Mountains after passing through the ancient forest. Our meeting with the Amayan officials is set at the Raging River Pavilion." The right royal guard stated.

"If we want to get there before it gets dark, we need to set off right away." Suggested the left.

"Alright then, lets keep going." Ordered Lumos, his face turning grim.

"Princess Nari, we will be inconveniencing you for a short time as it is important for us to get to our destination before the sun sets. We are unfamiliar with this place, so it would not be wise to spend the night with our pitiful knowledge. Is it okay with you if we continue our journey?" Asked Lumos deferentially.

"Yes, that is fine Sir Lumos." Princess Nari replied softly.

As princesses of merely a small kingdom in the chaotic Iris Realm, whether they brought high ranking ministers or commanders to act as escorts to ensure their security in a foreign land would not have had much of an impact on the Amayan Empire, but the King of Jinn still decided to play safe, sending only the royal guards to protect the princesses as a display of his sincerity.

As such, the princesses of Jinn Kingdom were left to their own devices on a foreign land with only the protection of a hundred men, which were in no way capable of even taking on a single Amayan warrior.

With Princess Nari's consent, the entourage continued, racing to leave the mountains before sunset.

However, in the midst of the whole exchange, no one bothered to ask for Princess Qamari's opinion.

But it was not as if she cared. The years spent in Jinn Kingdom, after the death of her parents made her realize the insignificance of her existence within the royal family and kingdom.

The two people who loved and held her within the palm of their hands were no longer around to protect and spoil her. In this dangerous world where women were dependent on men and survival depended on absolute power and strength, she had no one but herself to rely on.

For that, she had to quickly find a way to utilize her skills as a healer and make a living.

Countless animals began to let out terrified sounds as they began to scuttle away from the path of the speeding vehicle while Princess Nari and Qamari's body bounced along with the uneven path, however, there were no wild beasts running out.

The golden globe rushed out of the cluster of mountains, entering the giant trees, thrusting their dense leaves into the sky, covering the heavens, as a clear stream of river flowed by the side, emitting the gentle slosh of running water. Clouds and fog drifted about enhancing the extravagantly decorated building with jade roof tiles beyond the trees, rising up out of the haze and mist.

Far in the distant, a group of men in blue ceremonial robes waited uniformly with black armored guards inside an aquamarine stone palatial pavilion, its exquisite carvings reflecting the majesty of its empire.

Upon spotting the approaching carriage, the ministers in their dazzling blue robes, flowed out of the pavilion into the open field, waiting to welcome the foreign princesses amongst the orange glow of the setting sun and sea of flowers.

"We're here."

The girl's voice echoed from the front. Princess Qamari's heart jumped slightly as she raised her head and peered at the greenery of the surroundings. A clearing had appeared within the forest where a pavilion peacefully stood grandly.

Princess Nari straightened her already straight red dress, dropped a portion of her long brown hair over one shoulder, the rest trailing behind her back, before lifting her dress slightly off the floor with one hand and getting off the carriage with all the grace and elegance ingrained into her by her etiquette teacher.

Closing her eyes, Princess Qamari took in a deep breath, cooled her expression, and covered her face with her black veil as she descended behind her cousin.

"We welcome Your Highnesses to the Great Amayan Empire."

Upon landing, the two were met with the chorus greeting of the ministers.

"Thank you for the warm welcome. We are more than delighted to be here and experience the greatness of the Amayan Empire for ourselves." Princess Nari responded politely with a slight bow of her head and her signature bright smile.

"It will be our pleasure to introduce you to the beauty of wonderous empire, Your Highness. I am the Amayan Empire's minister of rites, Moure Ren, in charge of arranging your stay."

"We have traveled far and are in great need of rest. Could we trouble you lord to help us settle down for a brief respite before meeting the royal family?" Princess Qamari added indifferently.

Caught by surprise with the nonchalance in the tone of voice suddenly interrupting into the conversation, the ministers glanced towards the culprit, just to be met with cold, distant, and unpredictable purple orbs.

"Please excuse our Princess. She is not one used to such occasions." Lumos placatingly informed the ministers.

"I am Lumos, the personal guard of Princess Nari. It was a rough journey for the Princesses who have never traveled far before. They could use a little bit of rest before meeting with Their Majesties, if that is not too much of a trouble for you, your lord."

"Of course not. We were just about to suggest the Princesses getting some rest before the evening banquet held in their honor. Please follow us Princesses, we will lead you to your guest quarters." The minister of rites replied understandingly.

"Just a dowry bride of a pitiful kingdom, yet dares to interrupt while I am speaking. Does she think that her status of a princess has any meaning in this Empire? Uuhm, overestimates herself!" Swallowing his earlier anger at the discourtesy, he beckoned the Princesses forward before arrogantly taking the lead towards the towering blue gates ahead.