The Flower Of Eternity
Chapter 14: The Steel Dragon

The Queen Mother's Rest Room, Sun Palace, Shina, Orient Empire

At the same time...

Reina was leaning her back against her chair. His legs were left straight forward. The waiters stomped his feet and fanned them, the musicians plucked Zhuitar strings softly and rhythmically, a famous Orient ballad song about a tragic destiny. While the Queen Mother Orient was closing her eyes.

He's not asleep. It was evident from his lips that formed a curving smile as he heard the sound of the door of the room opening. He didn't even need to open his eyes to know who it was. There was only one person whose arrival he was waiting for. And that man, he believed, came to bring him good news.

"Yi Zhuo's..." He said, his voice was as clear as a glass. "There's no need to bother saluting like that. Just tell me the good news. You know I've been looking forward to it, haven't you?"

Yi Zhuo looked hard-nosed. For what she was about to say was not at all the glad tidings that the Queen Mother had long been waiting for.

Everyone in the room seemed to notice the furious expression on that one-eyed pretty face. Yi Zhuo the Pirate Princess, that was how everyone in the Orient now dubbed her. But it was not at all a compliment nor a title that he received with pride. Because it had absolutely nothing to do with the possession of hundreds of advanced ships of the Xing family, nor his expertise in commanding the Xing family's naval forces. The nickname was an insult to him over one of his eyes that was pierced by his own partner. The nickname was proof that Yi Zhuo was not invincible.

With doubt and fear, Yi Zhuo began, "By the blessings of the heavens, Mother Suri—“

"Say." Reina Firmly. "Just go ahead."

However, as Yi Zhuo did not continue, Reina opened her eyes. His eyebrows clutched, expressing his annoyance in that never-aging face. His red lips poked.

"I'm asking you to give me a report, Torakka Yi Zhuo." The sound was so smooth, yet it was also so sharp as a knife. Reina was now sitting up straight. He ordered the musicians to stop their activities and leave the place. "When I tell you to talk, you'd better talk before you lose your vocal cords like you lost your pretty eyes."

Yi Zhuo immediately knelt before Reina. "Punish me, Your Majesty." This time he looked up, looking straight into Reina's eyes, "I didn't bring you any happy news."

The Queen Mother frowned, her brows furrowing making herself seem a little older than usual. "What's the problem? Wasn't the last time you said it was almost done?" Ask Reina. "Hundred Steel Dragons will be completed by the end of this week. It's the end of the week, Yi Zhuo."

The Steel Dragon was the title of Empress Dowager Reina to an object she had long designed to strengthen their military. Reina, the daughter of a renowned engineer and architect, has long had an interest in military vehicles. In the past, his father was the one who made a vehicle of large wheeled steel for the use of Orient army soldiers during the war in exchange for horses that would easily die on the battlefield. Then his father, who was working with Commander Xing Senior, designed the first steel ocean liner to be used for sea attacks on the small islands surrounding Orient.

Reina had already started designing the Steel Dragon since she had just married Qin. A ship of steel like the one made by his father and Commander Xing Senior, yet his man-made ship was used for the air force he formed. He aspires to make Orient invincible both on land, sea and in the air. Reina named the flying vehicle the Steel Dragon because in addition to using high-level technology, she also used the help of the Wind Dragon's power.

The existence of Yeon-Hwa as Empress made the Wind Dragon unwilling to obey all of Reina's will. Because if not, the Maharani certainly will not survive. So Kaze helped Empress Dowager Reina to fly the entire Steel Dragon on the condition that they would not attack Noord where the Dragon King was. Reina agreed to those terms.

The Dragon King must not die. At least until Reina succeeded in seizing power over the three kingdoms.

"Wind Dragon..." Yi Zhuo started his words, "Kaze disappeared."

The words made Reina stand up from her seat. "What did you say?"

"Wind Dragon menhi—“

Plaque!

Yi Zhuo's words came to a halt from Reina's slap. "Then you and your army shouldn't be here! What the hell are you doing? Quickly find him!"

"The Wind Dragon disappeared right before my eyes, Your Majesty."

This time Reina looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"He just disappeared. Before she disappeared, I saw her crying while holding her heart. Then he disappeared without a trace."

"I don't understand. How can—“

But Reina did not continue her words. He suddenly recalled Qin's words when they were younger. When the previous Water Dragon, the Grandfather of the present Water Dragon, died after the death of his wife. His body disappeared with the air. As if there never was.

"When the dragon dies, his body will disappear with the air." Unknowingly, Reina repeated the words Qin had once spoken. He then turned back to Yi Zhuo who was still kneeling before him, "Is Kaze sick or something?"

"No, Your Grace. As per your orders, we treat her as best as possible and we always make sure she is fed a nutritious diet and vitamins. The Wind Dragon is very healthy, Your Majesty."

Reina was silent again. His mind was filled with lessons and past histories about the Dragon. Things that he had previously only regarded as myths and legends. But all of that is actually true.

Yi Zhuo looked puzzled for a moment, "In addition to the information he gave some time ago regarding the death of King Xavier which turned out to be misinformation, he has not given any more news, Your Majesty."

"King Xavier... Therehewas. The King of the Dragons who was reborn."

Yi Zhuo only nodded in confusion. The two of them had already both learned that fact from Kaze after they kept forcing her and threatening her to tell who the King of Dragons was in life now.

"Then find out. Find out if King Xavier is dead. Hurry along!"

But before Yi Zhuo left the room, someone knocked on the door.

"Lake in." Reina's orders.

The one who had just entered was her trust lady. He bowed and dared not look Reina in the eye directly. But when Reina told her to talk, without hesitation and without stammering her lady-in-waiting immediately conveyed what she wanted to say. "The delivery boy just brought the sad news from the North, Your Majesty." Said directly. "King Xavier is dead."

The information is so short and simple. Another death of a King whose country he was about to seize. It shouldn't be something that can disturb him. But it just made all his plans fall apart.

"No way..." Reina shook her head in disbelief. "No way!" His screams, so that all those in the Sun Palace might be able to hear it.

"Isn't this good news, Your Majesty?" Yi Zhuo asked, still confused by Reina's reaction to the news of the death.

"Stupid! If the King of Dragons dies, all Dragons will die with him!" Reina yells. He broke the various antique urns of his collection while screaming in frustration. "My Bajaku Dragon will not be able to fly perfectly without the power of the Wind Dragon! It's all for nothing if the Wind Dragon dies!"

...****************...

Prayer Room, Huang Palace, Xiang, Orient Empire

At the same time...

The Huang Clan rejected the Emperor's plan to make Orient a Republic. They plan to revolt against Emperor Haru by inviting the Water Dragon who is a member of their family.

That is why Shuu neither returned to the Water Palace nor went to meet Kaze nor followed her King and Queen when they both returned to Nordhalbinsel. Shuu settled in the Huang Clan Palace.

He did it to save his family. Because if the Huang Clan fought the Emperor without his help, it was certain that his entire family would lose and die. And he could not let his family die at the hands of the Emperor.

He knew the King and Queen had been together and happy in the North there. He knew they were expecting their child. And although it was not clear enough due to the great distance, she knew almost every chance, the voice of her Queen and King trying to reach her. Ask his whereabouts or just ask his circumstances. But he couldn't answer. Both Shuu and Kaze deliberately cut off their communication with the King and Queen. Hoping that way, the two of them would not have to worry about the two Twin Dragons. She knew the Queen would be safe in her Kingdom because her King would always look after her.

But not with his family. His family only had himself as their only hope. And if successful, Shuu might be able to prevent the outbreak of war between the Xiang territory controlled by the Huang Clan and the entire Emperor army. He might be able to stop all that and find a midpoint between their disputes.

But he knew he didn't have to think about it now.

When death came to him, all he felt was peace and quiet.

Shuu knows the time has come. As he slowly began to break his heart inside. As he slowly began to be able to clearly remember all of his past life. His life as the first Water Dragon to serve the Great Queen of Zhera. His life as Huang Nezha who was the leader of the first Huang Clan. His life as another Water Dragon in the days before this moment. And what he remembers most is his life as Huang Hui Jun, his grandfather who was killed after being killed by his wife, Mei Lin.

Shuu addressed a painting of Mei Lin displayed in the prayer hall as one of their ancestors who was obliged to be prayed for due to the last request from Huang Hui Jun before he died. The Prayer Room was where Hui Jun first met Mei Lin. And that Prayer Room will be the last place Shuu breathes.

It hurt to know that his king was dead, far north. It hurt to know that Kaze also felt the same pain. And it hurts even more when he finds out that his Queen will be deeply saddened by the death of her partner. The Queen will live, but she will be alone in her pain. That's what makes him feel sick.

But he smiled peacefully in that pain. Her eyes were dripping with tears of longing while looking at Mei Lin's painting.

"I won't reincarnate again after this. This is the last time. So let's meet in nature there, Mei Lin."

After saying that, Shuu, the Water Dragon, melted together with the air.

That day, in the Orient, after months of drought, it rained relentlessly. The wells in even remote settlements are fully filled and the whole land becomes fertile. The Water Dragon gave its final blessing to the humans on earth.

...****************...