The Lotus Of East Palace
Chapter 21 (Kaze)

Eri and I decided to go to Shina to look for Yeon-Hwa at the Sun Palace while Elias, Louis and Shuu would keep looking at Jungdo. We left that night too and I took Eri flying with me.

But the Sun Palace looked empty. There were only the guards and servants who were preparing to return to their respective rooms to sleep because the night was already very late. It seems true that everyone has returned to Jungdo.

Eri and I decided to look for it by splitting up because the Sun Palace was so vast. I searched the guest rooms downstairs while Eri searched upstairs. If only Yeon-Hwa was one of the Dragons, then it would be very easy for us to look for him. Eri is trained to track dragons, not track missing spies.

The Sun Palace has an area that is almost the same as Dong-gung. Not our Dong-gung tavern, but the original Dong-gung, the Eastern Palace, where his mother Yeon-Hwa used to live. But of course the Eastern Palace was much more beautiful than the Sun Palace. The only thing beautiful about this palace is the breathtaking view of the hills and valleys at sunrise. The rest, the Sun Palace is just a magnificent building that is ancient and filled with rooms that I do not know the contents.

This palace confuses me like a labyrinth. I always feel like I've made a wrong turn, always felt like I've been through this road before, it's going to be hard to find someone here. I wonder how Yeon-Hwa could spy on the members of the Emperor family here without getting lost once. He must be a very skilled spy.

I was passing through the shrine in the right wing of the Palace, the room that the members of the Emperor family used to light incense and make offerings for the spirits of ancestors and Dragons, and the dragons, when I saw a painting that was no stranger to me. My face painting. Aerinear Painting.

Not my face now. The woman in the painting was already an adult, if she was an ordinary human, her age might be more than twenty years. He was not wearing footwear and looked like he was hovering above the sky. Her dress consisting of soft silk cloth in white and pastel colors seemed to fly in the wind. There is no such beautiful dress today. His long hair up to silver-colored ankles, looked as gentle as a gust of wind. He wore a crown placed between his pair of white horns. Its horns look like the horns of a stag, but are much more beautiful and graceful adorned with jewels than glittering diamonds. His pair of ears, poking out between his wind-blown hair, appeared pointed at the ends. There was a halo around his head. His red lips curved into a peaceful and reassuring smile. His eyes were red like flames. Like blood. His gaze seemed to thrill the soul of anyone who saw it. I used to look like that. Beautiful and deadly. Enchanting at once terrible. Worshiped and feared. Different from now. I am now being chased and locked up and used as a weapon.

"While adoring yourself, Wind Dragon?"

My entire hair bristled when I heard that distinctive sound.

"Yw-Zhuo..."

He grinned wide. Crossbow was aimed at me. "Hello, Kaze. Nice to see you again, sweet."

How could Yi-Zhuo know I was here? Why is he here?

I didn't run away right away. If I run, Yi-Zhuo will shoot me. I'm sure the arrow's covered in Morta's poison. I walked back slowly away from her, towards the back door of the worship room. But just a few steps I walked, my back hit something sharp. Spear end.

I turned my head and found a dozen Yi-Zhuo troops forming a barricade behind me, blocking me from the access to the exit. I turned to the side, and found another group of soldiers drawing their swords and spears towards me. I looked up to find a way out, but upstairs I could see archers aiming at me. I was surrounded from four directions with Yi-Zhuo before me.

"Did your Queen's power begin to diminish? Is he sick or something? Why am I seeing your tracks now?" Ask. Nope. He's not asking. He scoffed. There's a chance he already knows about our Dong-gung. It is possible that she knew that our Queen was in her weakest condition.

I looked around me. I can only hope that Eri can escape from this place safely and then return to Dong-gung to warn those who are there. If Eri survives, he can tell the King and he can take the Queen away to safety away from the dragon tracers. Hopefully Yi-Zhuo doesn't know that Eri is here. He could hurt Eri again if he saw her. Perhaps Eri will also be killed by him for treason.

"Who's looking, sweetie? Did you bring someone here?" Yi-Zhuo's voice echoed into the entire worship room.

"none. I went here alone." I raised my hand, preparing to let out a wind that could keep them all away from me.

Yi-Zhuo laughed so hard that I wished his jaw could break. After his laughter subsided, he grinned widely and I knew that he knew I was lying. He knows I didn't go here alone. "Foot!" His order.

For a moment, his army holding the arrow looked doubtful. They stared at each other as if they had not expected to get the order.

"Shoot, fool!" Yi-Zhuo repeated his orders.

"But, Torakka. He is the Wind Dragon." Said one of the archers. Meanwhile, the troops armed with spears and swords seemed to dare not approach me when they saw the wind whirling in both palms of my hands. Apparently I'm still respected here.

Yi-Zhuo directly shot the archer earlier with his crossbow and the person instantly died on the spot. I noticed the corpse of the archer, his complexion pale and his protruding veins almost popped out of the skin as black as ink. Morta's poison. "If I had shot him, he would have died like that. Do you want the Emperor to lose his valuable assets?" Yi-Zhuo said in a friendly, contrived voice like he was teaching a child. The archers looked doubtful.

I took advantage of this moment to raise my hand and prepare to attack them with my wind. One gust of wind should be enough to throw them all, I don't need to bring a storm and destroy the entire Palace. Suddenly my hand hurt. Blood flowed from my shoulder. Someone shot me in the back. One of the archers shot me.

Yi-Zhuo looked much more surprised than me. I turned to see who shot the arrow.

"Eri!" Yi-Zhuo screeched in excitement while jumping up and down. "You came on time. These people are useless."

Whatisthis? Why did Eri shoot me? Why did Yi-Zhuo welcome him like that? What does all this mean?

Eri casually stepped past me to stand beside Yi-Zhuo. "I told you, I have a plan. You're always in a hurry."

Yi-Zhuo hugged her as if they were sisters who had been separated for a long time. "I miss it so much. You know, Gyeoul's dead. I'm so lonely at the Palace."

"Gyeoul was unlucky to face off against their King. You know for yourself their King's temperament is very bad. Gyeoul pissed him off so much that he burned it." Eri said, without the slightest sound of condolences for the death of his colleague. Eri then turned her head towards me as if she had just remembered that I was here. He smiled at me. It wasn't the friendly smile I knew that always adorned his face. It's like I've never really known her all this time. "But this little one is so naive and innocent that we can easily catch it. The emperor will be very happy to receive this gift of his coronation."

"Emer... Why would... What—“ I don't know what to say. My words suddenly disappeared when I saw the look on Eri's face that I did not recognize. Eri always smiled kindly at me, looking at me like she was looking at her own sister, now she looks cold and distant and foreign.

"How do you trick his mind-reading brother? Must be hard, huh?" Ask Yi-Zhuo.

He nodded, "It's not hard at all. Just need to get him distracted. He was too busy trying to read the thoughts of others to steal imperial-related information. He believed so much in his twin sister, that he didn't suspect me at all and didn't try to read my mind."

"Traitor!" Shouted him. My eyes feel like crying. But I was not willing to cry in front of him who had lied to me. I called my bada.

I can't let Eri tell Yi-Zhuo about Dong-gung and about our Queen who is pregnant. They might hurt him. They're probably gonna kill him. I have to kill them before they can do anything.

But there was no storm. There's nothing. I can't even feel the wind.

Then my whole body felt stiff and hard to move. My tongue. I can't say a word. My eyes are starting to blur.

But I could still see Eri and Yi-Zhuo who were now towering in front of me as I began to fall sitting on the cold floor. My feet are not strong enough to support myself. I can't stand up. I could not raise my hand to strike them with my wind. I can't change my form into a Wind Dragon.

"Sleep well, Little Wind Dragon." Eri's whisper in my ear. Then everything went dark.

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

"You're recovering? Why hang around like this? You should just rest in the palace." Said Eri. He sped up his pace to align me. I slowed my steps.

"Only minor injuries when practicing sparring with Shuu. I'm not good at swordsmanship. Since then. But Shuu instantly healed me with his water." I said. "Oh, look! There's something exciting out there!"

I took Eri by the hand and ran towards the crowd in the middle of the market. Moments like this, when spring and flowers bloom, the market is always crowded with various attractions and interesting games. So I decided to run away for a moment from the routine at the Palace. Shuu never liked the crowd, so I took a walk by myself. Not entirely alone, I always knew Eri would follow me wherever I went. He will take care of me from those who intend to harm me.

"Arrow game?" Eri. I nodded enthusiastically. He's bowed in shame. "I can't shoot."

"Masa? You are Torakka! You were taught to use all weapons."

I observed the people lining up to try their archery skills. Targets vary. Starting from free meal coupons, very beautiful dolls, to expensive-looking hair jewelry. Actually, as a Wind Dragon I can get everything without having to bother. I just need to ask the Emperor for it and he will definitely grant my request. But I want to try to win something with my own abilities. So I'm in that line. Eri would not want to come in line.

"Then let me teach you. You know, people from other countries assume that everyone in the empire is good at archery because our past wars were won by thousands of archers. I was told about it by the master of war strategy on last week's lesson."

Finally, when it was our turn, I gave the bow to Eri.

"I can't." He said while thrusting the bow back at me.

"Try it first."

Reluctantly, Eri tries to aim for free food stamps, the cheapest gift in the row of gifts, as well as the easiest because the distance is closer.

"Your postures are wrong." I said while confirming his posture and his grip on his bow. "Now, try shooting."

Eri shoots his arrows. The arrow shot out quickly from his hand. The shot was right on target—kupon eat free for two people. He jumped up and hugged me. "We succeeded! We succeeded!" He said while laughing. I'm glad to see it that way. It was the first time I saw Eri looking so happy.

"You did it. From now on, try practicing archery more often. You seem to have talent."

Eri nodded. "After this, I will continue to practice my archery skills. And someday I'll show you my archery skills. Just look at it later." His promise. He then smiled broadly, "For now, let's use this coupon to eat ramen on the roadside there."

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

I dream. No. gabe. It wasn't just a dream. That's my memory. When exactly did that happen? Last year? I don't feel like time goes by so fast. Eri really has been practicing archery a lot during this year.

When I opened my eyes, I immediately recognized this place. Jade Palace. Though I thought Eri and Yi-Zhuo would take me to the Emperor's Palace in Jungdo.

"You're awake apparently." That's Eri's voice. I don't know where he is. My neck is hard to move. My whole body cannot be moved. I could only stare straight up, at the ceiling of this room which was decorated with Jade stones. "Can sit? You have to drink water so the anesthetic dissolves quickly and can move again."

I thought they were gonna tie my hands and feet so they wouldn't run away. Apparently not. But I still have trouble moving. My whole body feels stiff, my arms numb, my joints hurt. I forced myself to sit back and drink a glass of water that Eri offered.

I immediately sprayed the water on his face.

"Traitor." my siss.

Eri didn't look angry. Even if he's angry, he doesn't show it. He won't be able to hurt me in the palace. He just kept quiet while wiping his face with a handkerchief. "I know you're angry, but you have to listen to me first."

"You shot me!" My tears. No. gabe. Don't be like this. I don't want to cry in front of him.

"really. I shot you, with drugs. And not in your heart."

I laughed cynically. "Oh, do I have to thank you for that? Thank you for shooting me in the shoulder with drugs, Eri. You are my best friend!"

Eri ignored the insinuation, "If Yi-Zhuo had shot you, you would have been dead. I'm trying to save you."

I slapped him, hard enough until his face bled. "You caught me to be a reward for Haru's coronation!" My yelling. "You're the same as all of them. No. gabe. You're worse. You framed me! Make me trust you and let you know our hiding place! You're making me endanger my brother, my King and my Queen!"

"They caught my family! They threatened to kill my family!" Eri yelled back at me. Her tears are shining. "I didn't just betray you, I betrayed my own trust. I don't have a choice, Kaze. You have to understand."

Upon seeing that I was just silent, Eri continued, "I didn't tell them about Dong-gung. Nor did I tell them about the King and Queen and the fact that the Queen was pregnant. I didn't tell them about your friend, Yeon-Hwa, who was a spy. I swear they'll all be safe."

"What about Shuu?" My toot. If they can track me, it means they can track Shuu, too. We are no longer protected by the Queen because our Queen is very weak at this time.

"Yi-Zhuo and his army will soon be looking for him. But not now. For the time being, Yi-Zhuo is not going anywhere because the Palace is crowded, there is an election of an Emperor Consort in the Jade Palace. They will wonder and suspect if they see Torakka seem busy wandering around."

"Don't let him catch Shuu." My love. I don't care if this is just another trick from Eri or not, but for now, I have to make sure Shuu doesn't get caught either. Shuu can protect them all in Dong-gung. Shuu can also find potions for the Queen. If Shuu is safe, at least I can breathe a sigh of relief. "Please.make sure Shuu is not caught. Please..."

Eri shook his head helplessly. "I can't promise. I'm sorry, Kaze." His voice was very slow as a whisper. And when I saw him, I knew—or I was so naive—that he had no choice. Catch a Dragon, or his family is slaughtered. His faith, or his family. Both are not things he can sacrifice.

Eri then led me to Torakka's room to meet Yi-Zhuo. My body was still stiff and it was hard to walk, so he made me walk through the hallways until we reached the special rest room of the Torakkas that was heavily guarded. But when they saw Eri who was carrying me in a state of helplessness, they immediately bowed respectfully and opened the door for us.

The door opened wide, revealing Yi-Zhuo who was already wearing her customary clothes, hanfu with a long pastel-colored skirt. She wore makeup that made her petite face appear more feminine and calm. Her lips were now the color of her red eyes. Her long hair was neatly styled and decorated with flower-shaped hairpins. He no longer looks like a Torakka, no longer looks like a deadly warrior. She looked like a graceful and meek noble daughter in that outfit. But unfortunately, his blindfold—as I've said directly to him—reduces his elegance. I could have mistaken her for one of the Emperor Consort candidates if she had not used the blindfold and had not carried around her crossbow.

"He's up? Lah good. Come with me, sweetie." He said after turning his gaze from the mirror before him towards me.

"Where?" My toot.

Yi-Zhuo did not answer me directly. He turned to Eri who was still holding me in order to stand up properly. "Eri, you still have that pretty pink kimono, right? Lend it to him. Our Wind Dragon must look beautiful in front of the prospective Consorts."

"Why?" My toot. As I asked, Eri helped me sit on one of the chairs in the room. She patted the back of my hand twice without being seen by Yi-Zhuo—it was a gesture we learned that meant 'you'll be fine and I'll be right back'. Eri then went to leave me alone with Yi-Zhuo to take the kimono in question for me to wear.

Yi-Zhuo stopped admiring his own reflection in the mirror, then sat down on the chair opposite me. He took candy to chew and offered it to me. When he saw that I was not taking the candy, he answered my question, "You will help Empress Sae-Byeok choose a Concubine for the Emperor. Secret orders from the Queen Mother." He chewed his candy, then continued. "All the beautiful women, willing or not, are gathered today in the palace hall. If you see your queen there, you should tell us immediately."

"What do you want to do with our Queen?" I clenched my hand, enduring the emotional turmoil. If only I had been completely free from the influence of drugs, I would have brought forth a storm to destroy the Jade Palace.

Yi-Zhuo smiled as if she had been waiting for that question from me. "Make her the Emperor's concubine, of course."

I laughed sarcastically. He must be kidding. "You want to make the Dragon King angry for making his wife the Emperor's concubine?"

"You don't understand, sweetie. The concubine was just the beginning. The Queen Mother planned to make the Dragon Queen the Empress of the Orient and lead with Haru to take the hearts of the people. Wouldn't it be nice if this country was led by your Queen? The people will be very happy and the rebels will be silent."

"Maharani Orient's? Then what about Sae-Byeok?"

Yi-Zhuo then took out a glass bottle filled with black liquid from her skirt. "Sae-Byeok will soon be acquainted with this beautiful Morta. He's useless because he can't give this country the Crown Prince's candidate. Anything that's useless should be destroyed immediately." He then put the glass bottle back in as if he knew I would soon snatch the poison from his hands. "You better help us and work together. It's for the empire. After all your Queen will be treated well and will not be harmed at all. You know Haru always spoils his wife, Sae-Byeok proof. He'll be good to your queen."

"What if I don't want to help you?"

"Then I'll find him myself even if I have to hurt him."

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