Private The Will of Fire

[Ousen Qiangda]

On the day of his birth the young master of the Qiangda Family received thousands of gifts. Trinkets and tokens from the many noble families in the service of his father, the leader of the Zanshi people and undisputed ruler of Shuiqui. One such gift that was bestowed upon him was the Castle of Gāoguì de huǒyàn, a beautifully constructed Mountain Fortress-City intended to act as the home and resting place for the Crowned Prince of Shuiqui.

Ousen Qiangda had only recently turned thirty-seven years of age. In his years he had served as a Commander in his father's Imperial Army and also the Master of the Zanshi Royal Guard. He was not an official of the Court, he was not a politician in any capacity, the eldest child of the Zanshi Emperor was a warrior.

He'd spend his morning in mediation. Soaking himself in thoughts that were reflections of the days to come. He was in the sky loft, a top part of the castle which held no walls or windows separating him from the cool breeze of the early morning. His eyes gazed down at the scarlet and crimson sash that laid a few inches before his knees. It was beautifully crafted out of a fine silk, with the Imperial Seal proudly printed upon the soft fabric. Ousen's eyes gazed down at the sash for some time before he finally folded the sash in a methodical manner so that it was formed into a crisp square with the Imperial Seal still entirely visible.

Father. I have made my decision. If I am to one day be the Emperor of Shuiqui then I must experience the galaxy that circles around our world, otherwise we can never hope to grow into something greater.

The words played back in the Prince's mind as he placed his hand over the seal. His eyes shut for a moment as he exhaled deeply. He was fortunate that the Emperor had allowed him this pardon. It was no simple thing for the Crowned Prince to leave his homeworld. Yet, in the event he should fall to the galaxy at large, then he would be protected by the thought that his younger brothers could assume the title as heir behind him. Ousen exhaled, bringing his eyes up to gaze out towards the morning horizon. The sun had only just risen above the mountains in the distance, bathing the lands in a warm light.

It was beautiful.

Watching the sun shine down onto to the narrow rivers and streams. The Zanshi people who logged these mountains were moving about, beginning their morning toils and taking to the trees they tended so delicately.

"Your Highness." A voice called out, causing Ousen to rise from where he'd been kneeling and turn to face the sound. A man wearing a formal cloak was in a kowtowed position, his brow lingering only a few inches from the ground as he spoke. "Excuse my interruption of your morning routine." Ousen looked to the man, he'd always had a hard expression about him. Something that was hard for others to decipher, somewhat unreadible. It did not soften as he looked to the man with a subtle arch of the brow. "What is it?"

"A transport from the Imperial City, Your Highness. It is being escorted by members of the Royal Guard." Ousen faltered for only a moment.

The Royal Guard? He considered. Warriors of the Royal Guard were dispatched only with members of the Royal Family or those under the Emperor's personal protection.

Surely it is not the Emperor himself... Ousen thought while making his way towards the servant and down the steps behind the man. Ousen wore a black cloak, flowing behind him with the golden-red seal of the Royal Family displayed upon the back of his shoulders.

It only took a few minutes before Ousen reached his castles landing pad. A small crowd had gathered, as was tradition anytime his palace received a visitor of worth from the Imperial City. Ousen's eyes gazed at the transport. It was a small one and had two fighters from the Royal Guard with it. No, it was not the Emperor, for he never traveled with any less than twenty of his most elite. Yet, that caused Ousen's expression to contort in confusion. If not the Emperor, then who? The ramp of the transport gave a loud hiss before extending down and resting on the landing platform. The two members of the Royal Guard who had accompanied the ship moved to either side of the ramp, their golden robes accented by the same scarlet sash that Ousen had folded only a few moments ago.

Ousen stepped forward as a group of individuals began to funnel out of the ship. They wore the coffee-shaded robes of the Imperial Court, meaning that whoever was with them must have been someone of some importance to the Court and the Royal Family.

The members of the Court immediately fell down to a kowtow position as the man a few minutes ago had. "Your Highness!" They all greeted with a loud, prideful tone of esteem. One of the men was not so low, instead he had fallen to a knee before Ousen, holding a datapad out as he read in a clear and concise tone.

"Your Highness. I bring a message from your honored father, the Emperor of Shuiqui. It reads as such:

"My son, your decision to leave the Royal Guard was not one I would have set before you. However, I have agreed to your journey because I believe only you can craft the man you are to become. However, this release does not come without a bond. I have selected a special companion to see to you while you experience the greater Galaxy. She is a powerful warrior, skilled duelist, and will bring you and the Royal Family much honor. As of this day, she will be your intended to stand by your side until death, bare you many strong sons, and upon your ascension to the throne she will be the recognized Queen-Mother of the Zanshi people and Empress of Shuiqui."

A wife.

To all of this, Ousen said nothing. He'd folded his arms across his chest yet silence fell from him as naturally as water from a fall. His eyes seemed detached, yet there was something there within them. Perhaps not confusion, yet curiosity. As the messenger bowed his head, falling to the ground as the others, the Prince turned his eyes to the ramp.

Just who was this woman who his father had chosen as his wife?

Yuki Shiroi

 

[Yuki Shiroi]

YUKI SHIROI

Location: Castle of Gāoguì de huǒyàn
Outfit: XoXo
Tags: Ousen Qiangda ​

Yuki was in every sense of the word, a free-spirit. One who would rather spend a great deal of time in the snow capped mountains to simply meditate and be alone. She would never seek to find the entrance to the mythical Mergamus Natura, but instead, sought to push herself to the limits and to grow her skills. In fact, the woman preferred solitude above all else, for it meant that she could be left to her own devices; at least for a little while, yet she herself had duties to perform for her family. One particular duty the hybrid wasn’t completely happy about, but didn’t have a say over, was the fact that she was to be engaged to a man that her parents had selected for her. It was the only one that her parents had decided to enforce upon the woman, for they had an unspoken contract between them. Yuki would promise not to tarnish the Shiroi name and in exchange, she could do whatever she liked. However, when the time came that her parents had found her a suitable candidate, she would be wed.

It was a day that she had hoped would never come and so she had honed her skills. Two bodyguards of the Shiroi family had helped her in her endeavors and yet she still sought out more teachers, for a warrior had more than just one mentor. Although, it seemed as if her time for doing whatever she wished to freely do, had come to a final close as her golden eyes stared at her pale hands that were folded in her lap before her, while the memories of the past week flowed through her mind in slow motion. Almost like a movie being played frame by frame as she dissected each and every one with a precision that allowed her to pull it all apart.

Seven days ago she had arrived back home from her small five day period on the mountain, only to be swiftly informed that she was to see the Emperor, for she was to be betrothed to his son. That was if she had been deemed worthy by the Emperor himself. Such a notion had made her feel somewhat indignant at the fact that she seemed to be some kind of livestock, being shipped to be viewed and weighed at the hands of others. It was all superficial in her eyes, but such was the way and she kept her head down and simply played her part so not to bring dishonor to the family.

Which brought her to the reason she was sitting upon a transport ship that was now at the son’s personal castle. A sigh parted her lips as she lifted a hand and twirled a few strands of her long green hair through her fingers, while she listened with the Huli gift of heightened senses. Yuki could hear the male read the message that had been given to the messenger and as she rose from her seated position, she couldn’t help but wonder about the potential life that she would lead. This day had come far too soon, she thought to herself as she released the grip upon green strands of dyed hair while her thoughts strayed to what and who was standing outside.

The fact that she would someday be known as Queen-Mother of the Zanshi people was almost laughable, for she was more than just part Zanshi. Yuki was also part Huli and that half was not accepted by most of the Zanshi people. It was a secret that she had kept to herself for her entire life and it was the reason why she went to the mountains to be alone. So she could roam freely upon four white paws and enjoy the simple freedom that her animal counterpart gave her. The freedom of simply being and not having to live to the customs of the land. The customs of the society that they lived in.

After only a moment of hesitation, she soon exited the ship and her steps carried her down the ramp, while she kept her gaze lifted to view the man who she was to someday marry. How she had managed to get this far without being married was beyond her, but here she was and her footsteps did not falter as they carried her over towards the man.

Only once she reached him, Yuki paused long enough to sweep into a low bow before him, ”Your highness.” The woman said softly as she rose up to view the man for a moment. ”I am Yuki Shiroi, your new betrothed.” She finally said as she perked a brow at the man before her and her golden eyes seemed to almost dare him in a way. It was one thing that she definitely refused to be and that was to be someone’s lap dog.​

​

 

[Ousen Qiangda]

Ousen's eyes were harsh. They always were. Still, as they looked over the woman who stood at the top of the ramp he could not lie to himself. She was incredibly beautiful. No, it was more than beauty, the Force was radiating off her in such an unnatural wave that it was as if she was surrounded by a ray of energy that called out to Ousen. Still, he did not react as such. He watched as she approached him. His eyes taking in every step and almost immediately he realized she was a warrior. By the way she moved and swayed into her step he could see the rhythmic fashion that was reserved for the Warrior Class. She greeted him in a courtly fashion and he accepted her greetings with a silent nod before clasping his hand over his left fist and making the sign of recognition. "Yuki Shiroi." He recited her name to memory, tasting it upon his lips for the first time and finding it acceptable. "I am the first Prince of Shuiqui, Ousen Qiangda." He did not bow as it was not his place, yet he held the sign for some time before finally relaxing and folding his hands together under the sleeves of his robe.

"I was just about to have my morning tea. Please, join me." He said before turning from Yuki, making his way back into the castle. He was nervous. It didn't show, it wouldn't. He'd spent his entire life training to keep his emotions and demeanor in check, but that did not mean that deep down he was such a flawless individual. Yuki would notice that the inside of the castle was well lit. Candles every few feet were wrapped in lanterns to keep a warm hue over the grounds.

Ousen led Yuki into the center of the Castle, where something rather wonderful awaited them. The Water Gardens was a particular favorite of Ousen's. They were in a large atrium, where water flowed from wooden panels in the walls, running down the side of the walls and filling a pool shaped in the form of an octagon. There was a single crimson bridge leading to a false island in the center of the room. Ousen crossed the bridge and paused before removing his sandals so his feet could feel the fresh grass beneath him.

In the center of the island was a simple porcelain tea set and a small hot plate. Ousen sat down, taking hold of the pot and tapping it to check and make sure it was filled with water. Once he was satisfied he opened the top of the pot and began to speak as he prepared the tea. "I'll be honest. This was all a surprise to me. I didn't expect to take a wife until I had taken the place of the Emperor, however that is the thing about my honored father, he keeps his plans close to his own heart."

He placed a few bags into the pot before looking back up to the green haired woman. He certainly didn't seem to smile much, however his expression was not unpleasant. "So tell me about yourself Yuki. Do you have any questions?" He asked her.

Yuki Shiroi

 

[Yuki Shiroi]

YUKI SHIROI​

Location: Castle of Gāoguì de huǒyàn
Outfit: XoXo
Tags: Ousen Qiangda​

Yuki simply angled her head slightly to the right as she acknowledged in a silent gesture that the man had spoken his name, a name that she already knew. Everyone knew who the first Prince of Shuiqui was, especially the nobles and while politics was never something that interested her, she kept up to date on the notable people just in case. Besides, her position demanded that she knew who they were and to stay up to date on customs and policies. Yet, her mind was more focused on other avenues. Such as exits and potential dangers that may lurk even within the Prince’s own home.

With every step they took, her golden eyes flickered over the well-lit walls and although they were well-lit, her gaze would flicker upwards for a brief moment only to return to view the back of the Prince that she followed and took note of the broad shoulders that never seemed to give anything away. Some people only relied upon facial expressions, but even the small twinges within the shoulders or the subtle tension of the muscles within the back could give away the true intentions of any trained warrior. Yet his shoulders were about as readable as his face and she admired such a trait, for it took many years to hone the mind and body to avoid unconsciously giving away those small indicators.

Upon entering the gardens, the Huli felt at home. The smell and sound of running water soothed the soul and the grass that grew was devoid of snow. The woman only made this small comparison because she had not long ago been traversing terrain that was covered in snow, snow which she could blend into easily enough and deceive those she deemed her enemies through the sense of sight. However, she was in the home of her intended husband, so she mimicked his actions by removing her own sandals and moved to sit across from the man. Golden eyes that hid their true nature a secret from those who lacked the attention to details, watched as Ousen began to prepare the tea and she listened to the words that he spoke.

Was it that he was unconsciously telling her that it was his wishes that he did not want a wife, but only did so now to honour his father’s wishes? ”I always knew that I would have to fulfill my duty by marrying a man one day. Whether or not it coincided with my plans, was out of my hands.” She said with soft words as the man asked about her and whether she had any questions. Did she have any questions? Did it truly matter if she did? The role of a noble woman was to stand by their husband and be a dutiful wife. Such a role was always abhorrent to the hybrid as most of the time, that role meant bearing children and being the woman of the house. Yuki had always dreamed of journeying and being free of such political chains. She had also recently thought that perhaps she would rather leave and bring dishonour to the family name, then be the simple wife.

It was a chain that she felt tightened around her throat like a collar, one that had appeared when her parents had told her that she was to be wed.

After a quiet pause, she moved to simply fold her hands into her lap. ”I’m told that you are to go on a journey soon, one that I am supposed to accompany you on and make sure that no harm comes to you. Prey tell, now that you have a betrothed, where will we be going and why?” Was the lack of information about herself deliberate? Indeed. Although she knew of the general information about the man before her, she didn’t know the man on a personal level and most of those that resided within Shuiqui, especially those of the Zanshi descent, often did not take a liking to those that had Huli blood. So naturally, she was cautious of the man before her.​