The full moon shone down on the courtyard, and it almost felt like the qi flowing through my veins hummed in response, thrumming in the night as my connection to Rijoko sat sharp and clear in the back of my mind. The sun had only just set and its warmth still lingered, but the darkness of the night and the light of the moon and stars filled the hidden courtyard with a lot of qi I could use.

Unlike last time, I wasn’t even a little bit nervous. I knew I could do this, fairly easily even.

“Are you sure this is a good idea? This closely before your wedding?” Tenira asked.

I turned to her and shrugged. “That’s why I want to break through now. Especially with what Kajare said. I’m under no illusion that it’s going to make much of a difference. But if I might have to fight again soon, I want to be stronger.”

Tenira grimaced and nodded slowly. I knew she was just as troubled by it as I was. Mother had confirmed Kajare’s words when I asked her. According to her, the Zarian hadn’t made the same threats to her, but the talks, which had gone fairly well until a short while ago, were now practically dunked in liquid nitrogen.

“Still,” Tenira said. “Your body is only nineteen, and you’re already so far ahead on your cultivation we essentially have no idea if it’s safe. There is a reason people don’t advance too far in their teens, even if they could just pile resources and pills on. Besides the monumental difficulty, I mean.”

“I know. But I’ve spoken to Doctor Chang, like I told you. He didn’t have any specific concerns against it.” I grimaced. “Honestly, the situation is abnormal, anyway. My body is fully developed so that’s not a problem. And my brain’s development is probably a mess in any case, with the effects of the soul journey. I don’t want to wait years to advance further, so I might as well just go through with it. Besides, with Rijoko’s bloodline and my shapeshifting ability, I don’t have the same constraints as full humans.”

Tenira sighed. “Alright, if you’re sure. I’ll wait around for a bit.”

“Thanks, Tenira. You’re the best.”

She nodded and walked away to join the circle of guards watching over me some meters away. I turned around so I was facing the mountains and let the light of the moon wash over me for a moment, before I settled down into position for cultivation. I closed my eyes and began to draw in qi.

The beginning progressed smoothly. Since my last breakthrough, when Rijoko awakened my bloodline, I had seen more than enough new experiences and enlightenment that I wasn’t worried about the metaphysical requirements of a breakthrough. I’d also cultivated, gathering a lot of qi in a short amount of time, so my dantian was more than prepared. My special ability coupled with Rijoko’s bloodline made drawing in qi almost effortless for me now, at least darkness and light affinity qi. I let my focus fade into the qi surrounding me and breathed it in, sending it through my channels, into my core, and back, amassing more and more qi.

My qi strained against its limits in my core, so I pushed it down, compacting it and sending more of it through my body. I sped up the rotation of the two types of qi in my dantian, making sure they were properly balancing each other. I sent another surge through my body, then into my core. Finally, I felt the limits of it buckle. With an effort of will, I guided my qi as my core expanded, an unseen barrier battered down by its tide. My connection to Rijoko opened just a trickle, and I felt the qi spread throughout my body. I sent more of the qi from my core, watching as it swept through my meridians in an unstoppable flood, clearing away impurities and sinking into both the channels and the rest of my body to strengthen it. All the while, I kept drawing in new qi, sending it on its path and compacting it into my core.

I noticed the darkness qi in my surroundings start to fade and the light increase as I cultivated, making sure the breakthrough was stabilized. Soon, I was satisfied with my progress, and opened my eyes. The full moon had moved across the sky, which was brightening. I’d cultivated through most of the night for my breakthrough. Which was pretty quick all things considered.

I inhaled, breathing in the scent of the fading night, and focused on integrating the new boost to my senses, which sharpened my hearing and eyesight as well. I was even a little more aware of the folds of my robe on my skin and the ground under me. And smells. I guess I need a quick bath.

Then I stood up, feeling the slight increase of strength in my body, and turned around just in time to see Tenira coming towards me.

“You’re finished, good,” she said briskly. “Congratulations on your breakthrough, but we need to hurry. You only have until the sun is halfway risen to get ready, remember?”

“Sure.” I took one last glance around, then followed Tenira from the courtyard. I couldn’t help but smile, though. I was now firmly in the late part of the fourth stage.

We hurriedly made our way back to the palace and my suite, a trip that took just a minute due to cultivator speed. There, I took a quick shower and had servants help me with makeup and styling after I dressed in one of my best robes. This one had almost as many gems as the white one for the military parade, though it was in red, the traditional color for a bride to wear. Then, under the impatient gazes of Tenira and my servants, I made my way down and into the central part of the palace. Lei joined us on the way, looking a little more noble than usual in a rich blue-and-silver robe, similar to the one Tenira suddenly wore.

They led me to a quiet room not too far from the central hall, accessible through a side corridor. It was darkened, only a small lightstone spending some light, and bare except for a mat on the ground. I glanced around, sighing a little, before I settled down onto the mat.

“You’ll handle all of the other preparations?” I asked, looking up at my friends.

Tenira nodded. “Of course. You can count on us. Don’t worry about the details, just focus on your big day.”

Was there a tiny bite to her words? I wasn’t sure. She left right away, taking Lei with her, and the door closed with a thud, leaving me in silence. I could sense the qi woven into the walls, ground and ceiling to ensure that this space was sheltered from the bustle of the palace outside.

I closed my eyes and started taking deep, even breaths. It was traditional for the bride to spend the hours between sunrise and her wedding in meditation, preparing for the ceremony. Well, it’s better than spending the day consumed by mundane wedding preparations. I don’t mind sitting all of that out.

So, I started cultivating. I’d spend these hours of quiet acclimating to my new breakthrough.

The time passed quicker than I thought, between bouts of deeper cultivation and more activity when I tried out a few of my techniques. I was careful not to damage the room in any way, but I could tell that my strength had increased, as you would expect from the breakthrough. While I couldn’t work on the more experimental techniques that I was still developing, my control and the power behind them had definitely scaled up a bit. It was a productive few hours, and even kept me from letting my nerves grow too much.

Then, with midday nearing, the door to my room cracked open, and I sensed the presences outside. Sighing, I stood up and gave myself a quick once-over. The red gemstones set into the fabric sparkled even in the dim light. I took out the veil from my storage ring and affixed it to my head, glad there was little more than a bit of sheer fabric covering my face.

They didn’t speak, which might be another part of tradition. But the expectation was clear. I stepped forward and the group closed around me, with guards on the outside and clan members escorting me. I nodded to the only one who wasn’t either, Kiyanu, the eighth stage air cultivator who’d stepped in to fight during the war.

Since my father wasn’t officially known and would hardly come to participate in the ceremony, and I didn’t have a grandfather or uncle, there needed to be someone else. If pressed, I would have probably picked Aston, or perhaps Mior considering we were actually related, though that might be a bit strange with the possession. But I’d hardly object to Mother’s choice of Kiyanu.

The group paused before the doors leading into the great hall, and I took a moment to gather myself. I could sense the crush of presences inside. Like Kiyanu’s, their auras were all tightly controlled. But I knew there would be more than a few people in the eighth stage in there.

Then the doors opened and we entered. The noise in the hall died as everyone watched us. I fixed my attention to the front of the room and kept walking with measured steps, trying not to let the stares of so many people bother me. The veil actually helped a little.

I knew Kajare had entered before me, and he stood on the dais in the front of the room, wearing red, too, and surrounded by a few men who showed some family resemblance. Two of his brothers and a few more cousins, uncles and the like who’d traveled here for the wedding and to start the alliance off. Mother and Al stood a bit to one side along with Tenira, Lei and a few other clan members. Everyone was dressed in ornate clothes and groomed to perfection. Soft music drifted on the air, though I couldn’t pinpoint its source, and the smell of the many flowers that were hung about the hall and lining the aisle filled the room.

The ceremony and following celebration would be an eclectic mix of cultures, with elements of Imperial traditions, stuff from my clan, which meant Sea People traditions, and perhaps even some from Earth. And Terbekteri, of course. We’d left off a lot of things, especially since the traditional gender roles were reversed here, with Kajare coming to live with me. There would be no exchange of dowries or bride prices, since both sides had agreed to formally treat the alliance as a price and gift to each other.

Once the procession reached the front of the room, we exchanged bows with everyone. I stepped forward as my companions all stepped back to take their places in the group of family on the dais, except for Kiyanu, who stood half a step behind and to the right of me. An older man that I recognized as Kajare’s uncle filled the same position for him.

A low rumble preceded the alter rising from the ground in front of us, at the wall. While it looked like it came up through the floor, I knew it was actually fashioned by Earth cultivators right now. It was a masterpiece for that, with small delicate carvings and bright colors of various symbols.

Kajare and I stepped forward to light candles and incense sticks together, honoring various Greater Spirits, especially Rijoko. We also put a candle each in front of Mother and his uncle to symbolize our respect for them.

We turned around just in time to see qi swirling on the dais while a presence started to emanate from there. I suppressed a smile as Mior’s ethereal figure took shape. There was no hint of his connection to Aston right now, who stood a short distance away on the side of the dais with senior guards and officers.

Excited whispers rose in the audience, and many of them bowed or knelt to the great spirit that suddenly appeared. Mior didn’t seem to care about them. The spirit extended their hand toward us, showing a red string. Kajare and me put our hands up and they knotted it around them. I removed my veil with the other hand.

‘You come before me to be wedded,’ Mior said. ‘Inaris, daughter of the Moon and clan Leri, and Kajare, son of clan Terki. Do you swear to honor this union and each other, to respect and cherish your partner, and take them from now until your death as your spouse before spirits and men?’

“Yes, I do.” I spoke with my mind and my voice, putting conviction into the words, while Kajare did the same.

‘Then I pronounce you wife and husband.’

Mior smiled at us before dissolving into a gust of wind that carried their qi away from here, though I was pretty sure the spirit actually just settled back into Aston.

Kajare and I both sank to our knees and bowed down to each other as a final ritual. It was a little awkward with the string, but we managed.

When we stood up, I caught Mother’s gaze, as she tilted her head. I turned back to Kajare and noticed he stood close to me and was leaning forward slightly as well. I closed my eyes and our lips brushed against each other. It was a brief kiss barely worthy of the name, but at its signal cheers broke out from the audience. I couldn’t help but smile. This was something I’d mentioned as a tradition but we hadn’t actually included in the plans, so it was a good thing Kajare took the initiative with it.

With that, the main ceremony would be finished. I bowed to Mother and then to Kajare’s family before they started to walk forward. We’d now get to what most of the guests were really excited for, the wedding banquet.

We’d just started to move when the sensation of someone flaring their aura made me stop. The people ahead of me froze, sending a shiver down my spine. I took a step sideways to get a better view and had to control my expression as I saw the cause of the commotion. The Zarian Dominion’s representative, a gray-bearded man in the late part of the seventh stage, was striding forward, a scroll in his hand and every eye on him.

Maybe he’d hoped to wait for the question whether anyone had reason to object to the marriage, which was common in some traditions but which Mother had decided to skip. Because there was no question he intended to disrupt this event.

“I object!” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall loudly enough that I had to suppress a wince. The silence deepened even further.

Mother took a measured step forward and let her aura be felt, overwhelming that of the Zarian but not giving off enough pressure to harm any of the guests. “Representative,” she stated in a cold tone, her voice cutting through the silence. “You are disrupting the ceremony. Cease or you will be removed and your government asked to account for your behavior.”

The man acted like he hadn’t heard her. With a flourish, he unrolled his scroll. “The Zarian Dominion protests this sham of a marriage. It violates the Gray Sun Treaty of 2957 A.F. The Empire of the Sky shall cease leading on the Kingdom of Terbekteri in such a vile manner to breach international law.”

I frowned and searched my memory for this treaty. Luckily, I’d read something about it and even excerpts in one of the books I’d studied. From what I gathered, there was indeed an agreement between the Dominion and the Kingdom regarding royal marriages of the Terbekteri, but it had usually been ignored, especially in the last few centuries. What are they trying to accomplish with such an old and obscure treaty? Probably just looking for a justification to protest.

The Terbekteri elder stepped forward as well from beside Kajare, flaring his aura. “This sort of behavior is extremely rude and frankly bewildering. If the Dominion had a concern, they should have approached us with it before and let the matter be discussed openly. But the Kingdom does not recognize this marriage as contravening the treaty in any way.”

Mother raised an eyebrow. “Agreed. I am quite sure the treaty actually specifies that for the first bride of the King’s family to be given away in marriage to another nation, negotiations should start with the Dominion. Prince Kajare is not a woman.”

I felt Kajare tense up where he stood beside me during the exchange, and the string still connecting us went taut. “I most certainly am not,” he said, looking at the Zarian with narrowed eyes. “Besides, some of my sisters are married already.”

“But not to the heirs of any nations, or into any families of consequence, Your Highness.” The representative snapped his scroll shut and frowned up at the gathered royals. “And the treaty clearly does not specify the person in question has to be a woman. The word used might usually be translated as ‘bride’, but in this case Prince Kajare’s hand is given away in the same way as would be appropriate in context. The treaty clearly applies.”

I couldn’t help but snort. Mother and the others clearly didn’t feel any more impressed by this pronouncement, judging by their expressions.

“The Dominion formally demands that this marriage and its corresponding alliance be voided,” the representative declared. He didn’t look fazed at all. “Refusal will be seen as a breach of this treaty and a premeditated insult to the honor of the Dominion by the Empire.”

For a moment, no one said anything, and the silence continued to build. I clenched my fists and glanced at the audience, many of them staring at the scene with wide eyes.

Finally, Mother took another step forward, breaking the tension. “We will not bow to such petty demands built on flimsy pretenses of historical agreements twisted beyond their purpose. And we will not allow our allies to be insulted or their honor besmirched by anyone.”

The Terbekteri elder nodded. “Well said.”

“Leave, Representative,” Mother said. “You are no longer welcome here. Go or you will be removed.”

The representative gave a disdainful sniff. “A shame. We hope you will reconsider your intransigence, Your Majesty.” He gave a short bow, then turned and strode away. The crowd parted to give him more space.

I grasped for Kajare’s hand and squeezed it. He turned his gaze from the Zarian’s retreating back and back to me. After a moment, he gave me a smile, which I returned.

I knew both of our smiles looked strained. How could they not, when we just witnessed what may very well be the start of a war, with ourselves given starring roles in this drama?

“With distractions out of the way,” Mother said, “let us continue. This is a happy day. The wedding banquet awaits.”

We started moving again, but I knew the festive atmosphere was lost. Suddenly, the question of what I would do in the wedding night with Kajare seemed unimportant. More guards appeared in the hall, and I couldn’t help but notice the deep frown on Aston’s face, and the flickers of Mior’s qi in his aura.

And things were going so well, too.