1219-05-06
Kurumi Tsuri:
"Empress!"
A familiar voice calls.
I lie in bed.
The covers are heavy over my body. The chamber is vast. The walls are carved in swirls of blues, whites, and purples. Every line etched with the delicate forms of dragons. The door to the corridor stands slightly ajar. Light slips through the crack.
A dragon lies beside me. An ice dragon. Sakura.
Her large body curls. She shifts like a cat settling into a nap. I run my hand gently over her head. She purrs softly, her weight pressing into the floor. I say nothing. I am lost in thought.
Sakura. A beautiful name, but a sad one. A name that carries history. As she shifts again, the voice calls out to me once more, but I barely register it.
She smiles at me. All I can think about is her sister.
A dragon long gone. A soul lost to war. Her name has vanished from the records, buried beneath time and ash. Now, she only exists in stories. The ones he wrote.
We accomplished what we set out to do. We won. But that did not erase the sting of it.
He killed her.
A human. A man who should never have been capable of such a thing. And yet, he did it. Not with ordinary weapons, but with something never seen before.
A suit of armor, white as snow.
Adrian Kundra. He is incredible. I owe him more than I will ever say aloud. If other countries learned that Wara had a female ruler, they might begin to think they could do the same. That is why I always hid my face.
Even in the records of that battle, in the tales of the Lion's Armor awakening, he always referred to me as male.
After the battle at Kima, once we returned, I told my people the great emperor was injured. That he appointed me as his successor.
It served two purposes.
First, our enemies would still believe the Dragon of the West lives, only resting for now.
Second, the people of Wara would grow used to my true face.
Some resisted. Not everyone welcomed the truth. But all my generals and high-ranking soldiers already knew. Nothing truly valuable was lost.
They still rally behind me.
The Dragon of the West.
"Empress!" The voice calls again.
This time he stands in front of the door. Sakura jolts upright before settling back into stillness, lying motionless as if dead.
Hanami.
My precious general. After Takashi's death, I needed a replacement. Hanami had just become a dragon rider, so he seemed like the only option. He has proven himself over the years, sent on missions to places like Ghar.
Like everyone in Wara, Hanami bears the same curse. White hair and blue eyes, though the eye color can shift from person to person.
Despite his build, he's lean and athletic. A young water dragon stands by his side.
"Kairo, sit," he says. The dragon obeys.
In Takashi's absence, we've grown close. Closer than I expected. Though I cannot remember most of it.
Curses like this are only seen in two other places.
Sha'tar with their blight, and Nor with their silver hair.
"What is it, Hanami?"
"I have urgent news," he yells. "We need you at the docks at once."
I stand from the chair and stretch. "Is it really that important?" I complain.
"I'm busy today."
"Still thinking about your loss to Adrian?"
"No," I shout. "Of course not."
"The anniversary of it is coming up soon."
"I told you I'm not," I say with a laugh.
"Then what could be more important?"
"I have a meeting with Kuzan coming up…"
"You do not," he laughs. "You're just putting off your duties."
"I also want to return to Pallas."
"For revenge?"
"Not for revenge. I believe we could be allies."
"You really think he would ally with us after everything?"
My mind drifts back to our first conversation.
"Yes, I do."
"Fine then. What is so important that you need me?"
"Tethambian merchants are at the docks," he continues. "They requested urgent communication with you."
"Tethambia," I mumble to myself. "Fine..."
I pull the white robes over my shoulders. They're soft and smooth, with faint purple lines running along the sleeves and hem, showing my place as royalty. I see the hairpiece resting on the table, but I leave it. I do not feel like wearing it today.
"Go get Itsuki," I say.
Hanami gives a quick nod before heading out.
I turn back to the mirror and adjust the collar. I checked myself one last time. I look tired. At least I seem presentable. Of all the countries in the world, what happened to Tethambia is the worst.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
"You may enter," I say, keeping my voice steady.
The door opens slowly. A girl walks in. Her steps are unsteady. Hanami is right behind her. His hand rests gently on her back as she clutches his sleeve.
"Itsuki," he says, smiling softly, "say hi to your mother."
The girl peeks up at me.
"Hi… Mum."
She looks up at me with wide blue eyes. Pieces of the sky. Her white hair falls past her waist. Soft and light, almost like silk. I move a piece of it from her face, and she leans into my hand just a bit.
She's wearing the white and purple kimono we picked out together. It's a little big on her. She doesn't mind. She never complains about anything.
She holds the sleeves in her small hands and sways side to side. The little hair pieces tied into her buns make a soft sound when she moves. She doesn't talk much. She smiles, and everything feels calm.
She's mine. My little girl. And I'll protect her, no matter what.
I pick her up in my arms.
"You've gotten big," I say with a smile.
She hugs me back. She looks tired.
"Your fifth birthday is coming up," I say.
"Coming up?" Hanami laughs. "Like seven months from now."
"Six months and sixteen days."
Hanami smiles. "I'm glad you can remember that stuff. I'm terrible at it."
Itsuki looks confused while we talk.
"Itsuki, we have some friends we need to see. I want you to come watch."
"Okay, Mum."
Hanami walks ahead, leading the way as we make our way down to the docks beside the city. The salty breeze carries the scent of the sea, mingling with the quiet murmur of the crowd.
Citizens stop in their tracks, bowing low as we pass, their voices rising in unison with greetings of "Empress" and words of reverence that echo against the stone streets.
When we arrive, I see a small boat. Torn sails. Old wood.
Two merchants stand on the dock. They have black hair and purple eyes.
They fly the Tethambian flag. A clock with a dragon behind it.
By their side, there is a small child.
She stands there quietly, and when I look into her eyes, I see it. Tiredness, deep and hidden behind the glow of violet.
Deep purple eyes.
They're beautiful, but worn. Like she's been carrying more than she ever says out loud.
Her black hair falls in soft waves just below her chin. Slightly messy but still graceful. There's a ribbon tucked into it and her glasses sit perfectly on her nose. She adjusts them once, slow and careful, as if everything she does has to be measured.
"Empress Kurumi," they say, falling to the ground. The child tumbles down behind them.
"Please, take her," they beg.
One of them raises a note above their head.
I set Itsuki down beside me. Hanami holds her hand gently.
I take the letter and open it.
-------------------------------------------
Dear Empress Kurumi,
I know this letter may come as a shock. I write with the deepest urgency and desperation.
We do not ask for aid. We ask only for a favor.
Our daughter stands at the edge of a fate we cannot prevent. The Tar's move to exterminate us, and every ally we once had has turned their back on the Tethambian royal family. We are alone.
You are the only one left who might hear us. We beg you to remember the favor we granted your people during the Hundred Year War. You know the risk we took.
Now, we ask you to take in our daughter. Raise her, protect her, guide her. She is more than a child. She will grow to be a great asset to your empire. But only if she survives.
No one else can do this.
Please, let this be the one debt you choose not to forget.
With our last hope,
The Tethambian Royal Family
------------------------------------
"How old is the child?" I ask, exhaling softly after finishing the letter.
One of them lifts their head slightly, voice quiet. "What day is it?"
"Itsuki," Hanami says, catching my glance.
She answers without hesitation. "May sixth."
Hanami and I both turn to her in surprise.
"She was born on July fifteenth, 1214," one of them adds.
The other nods solemnly. "It became a national holiday."
"So she's about four years and ten months old," Hanami says, as if reading my thoughts.
"Almost the same age as Itsuki."
Then comes the question I expect. "Can you take her?"
I shake my head. "No."
"If you don't, she'll die," one of them says. Their tone is not desperate, only certain
"Empress…"
"What is it, Hanami?"
"I think we should take her."
"And why would we do that?" My tone is sharper than I intend.
"Itsuki has no friends in the castle," he says, glancing toward her. "Especially because of… her condition."
I fold my arms. "And?"
"They could become good friends. She could make Wara feel like home to this girl. She needs a sister. And with Takashi gone…"
"Silence."
Hanami hesitates but presses on. "She can't have any biological sisters. At least..." His voice trails away.
I turn toward Itsuki. She's been watching us the whole time, confusion clouding her eyes.
"Itsuki," I say, "what do you want?"
She looks at the girl, who bows respectfully before us.
"I've always wanted someone to play with," she says softly. "Someone who can keep up. I want a training partner. One who doesn't give up, even when I get mad."
"A sister."
Her sky-blue eyes lock with mine, wide and full of hope. For a moment, it feels like the world has gone still. I've never been able to deny her when she looks at me like that.
I say nothing, thinking instead about what I get in return for this exchange. I keep the thought to myself.
"Then what will you do?" I ask, turning my gaze to the merchants.
"We will return to Tethambia," they say, "and fight alongside our people!"
I look at the child again, so small and quiet. My chest tightens.
"Then consider this a blessing from the Supreme Dragon."
My voice is firmer now. "I will not fight Sha'tar. I will not fight Nor. But I will protect this child. I will treat her as my own."
The child sits up at that very moment. Responding to an order I never gave. I step closer.
"What is your name, child?"
"My name is Nezha."
"A Tari name?"
Something snaps in me.
"NO!" My voice sharpens. "You call yourself by the name they branded you with. Is that loyalty or fear?"
She does not answer. Her head stays low.
"Look at me," I say, louder this time.
She lifts her face, eyes wide.
"I would rather you be nameless than carry the name of those who try to erase you."
I kneel and gently place my hand on her head. "From this point forward, you will be known as Yukari. And you will be my daughter."
She nods slowly. Tears gathering in her eyes.
Her gaze turns to me. I see something building in her expression. Pain. Anger. Hope. All tangled together.
"What is it you want, my child?" I ask softly. "Say it. Whatever it is, I will get it for you."
Her voice trembles. She does not waver.
"I want to kill the Tari!"
I smile.
"Then become strong, my child, so that you can achieve your goals."
I take Yukari by the hand, her name as beautiful as the purple eyes that inspired it.
My thoughts drift to Tethambia. If the intelligence we have heard is true, she might soon be the last of her people. Especially if these merchants decide to return to Tethambia.
Squeezing Yukari's hand, I smile. "Follow me. Let's get you accustomed to Wara."