"-and that is why you should learn how to cook too!"

"Sorry, what!?"

Still sitting ducks from the rapid wave of scoldings that range from normal pieces of advice to life lessons and et cetera. I mean I'm grateful she care and tells me this but is it really necessary?

When she takes a breather and stop talking, I quickly give Sis Yuwei my tea asking:

"Would you like some drink? I mean you've been talking for quite a while."

In an attempt to stop her. Yuwei looks at me with a surprised face saying:

"Why aren't you thoughtful now, thank you."

She takes it and drinks a sip from my cup. She smiles saying:

"Too sweet, the aroma and the pure taste of the leaves are gone. But, I guess that's fine, so this is your pallet huh? Still just like a child."

Feeling relieved that she stops, I finally use this breather saying:

"Say, what time is it anyway? I mean we've been "TALKING" for quite a while now."

"Ah, right!"

Sis Yuwei takes a small round thing from inside her garb and suddenly flip it open. The thing makes the same sound the wheel in my room makes.

Curious, I start asking:

"Say sis what is that thing? I mean I've been seeing that a lot lately this last few days."

"Oh, this? It's called a pocket watch, while there are multiple variants, the one you see in your room is called the wall clock."

"Oh! Okay. I've been wondering, what's it for?"

"It's to count every second of your lifetime."

"Huh?"

"In another term, to count when the sun and moon will set or appear in each different places."

"Wait, so this thing can predict when morning and night will arrive!? That's amazing!"

She sighs saying:

"Maybe, this is why Sis Rubeca told me to put some of the extra budgets in science even just a bit more. Maybe she's right, there has been a boom in the Owlian population thanks to my father. Still, I should expose you to more things so you can keep up. I wonder did May ever tell you about these technologies?"

"Well, some, like the faucet, closet... Uh, train and gears?"

Yuwei looks at me with a disappointed face saying:

"Say, Sova, you want to reunite your family right?"

"Of course! Every second count if you can help."

"It's ironic that you can count time but don't even know what a clock is? Well, here is my second way to help you out."

She presents a really cool medallion with a similar engraving with the Phoenix Honour Guards armour.

"What is that?"

"I want you to explore the other sectors and see this city for yourself."

"Huh? Wait for a second, what I need now is a transport to go to the Aologi Empire."

"Aologi Empire? And why is that?"

"Oh right! The letter May writes said she is now heading to the Aologi Empire or more specifically the Grand Lunor Ancient Academy."

"If I know May well now, she probably asks you to find somebody for help right?"

"Eh, how did you know?"

Sis Yuwei sips my tea again before saying:

"I told you, it's just speculation. But that's already good enough reason to broaden your horizon. You probably don't even know what a chandelier chameleon is don't you?"

"Chandelion Shamaleon? Uh... Yea, I don't know."

"Sorry I made that one up."

"Oh... Wait what?"

"Either way, how do you expect to survive inside the Aologi Empire with that peasant backwater knowledge! Not only that, you want to get to the Grand Lunor Academy! Don't mess with me! Unlike May who already proven herself more than enough what about you? What have you proved yourself with? Your use of qi? Yeah right, try using that in a combat-free zone."

"W-what?"

"I mean what can you do other than fighting, Huh? Wisdom and knowledge? Definitely not! Tactics, strategies, and charisma? In your dreams. Management, logistics and diplomacy? Yeah right!"

"Uh, um..."

In my lack of words Sis Yuwei keeps going on saying:

"I forbid you to go outside this City before you learn more about modern science and magic technology in this Confederation."

"What!? But, what about my family?"

"Sova, take some time to think of a plan rather than just, go there, do that, defeat them, convince them, bring them back, win, win, win, and a happy ending."

(How did she know!?)

"Say that you know where May is going. But, do you even know where Sis Rubeca or Aunt Palka is right now?"

I look down in defeat saying:

"No..."

Sis Yuwei takes a breath in and out before saying:

"Okay, why don't we do this. At the end of the month, which is a few days later. We Segmentum Lords or Sector Lords are usually having a grand meeting in the huge Royal Council in Central."

"And what about it?"

"Since Sis Rubeca is definitely or absolutely in Central-"

"Does that mean I can follow you there!?"

My head was suddenly knocked back while the chair flips over and falls to the carpeted ground. I'm now laying down on the ground feeling the shock in my head coursing through my entire body.

I hold my forehead, rubbing my soft black headband softly on where the pain is.

"Ah-ha, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

And before long my eyes tear up before I knew it from the insanely burning pain alone. When suddenly I felt my headband getting wet, I look at my hands to see there is blood in my hands now.

Sis Yuwei stands up, towering me down from her height. She walks closer as she emits a murderous aura, the air was suddenly filled with a mist of flames, making it hard to breathe. Her eyes glow blood red and her hair floats as it catches on flames.

I immediately back away from fear, moving in all three. Limping away as I move, Sis Yuwei takes small heavy steps with her naked feet saying:

"Sova, I told you not to disturb me when speaking anymore right?"

Her voice was amplified by the atmosphere she created, her voice filled with anger and anguish as she speaks at me. I tried to stop her pleading:

"Wait, Sis, I-I'm-"

"Back when you cried at aunt's house. I thought you realize how fudge up your situation is and start to be more careful. But, I guess I was sorely mistaken."

Not giving me a chance, she keeps getting closer as I feel the heat ever more clearly. I try pleading to her once more saying:

"S-sis *hick* please wait!"

"You can't even stop a simple flick in the forehead, you're all damage and bruise in the previous fight, your body almost turns to dust and you haven't learned your lesson!?"

"Sis-"

"What happens if you get separated again huh!? Did you expect a miracle that you will meet someone like Aoi again? Did you expect someone like that special ranked old man to have another of those cult war-time potions from the Aologi civil war? Answer me!?"

"C-cult? I-I don't know!"

I turn my back to her and run when suddenly the pressure grows bigger and I was crush by an invisible force. Sis Yuwei continues saying:

"You can't even stand from this pressure and you expect you can go to Central! You were already treated pretty badly here, you know how they treat Owlians haven't you? Haven't you ever thought what will happen if you disappear for good!?"

I stop resisting and reply saying:

"S-sis I-I-"

"What? Just because you can now use some special moves, you think you can survive out there? You almost died using it and then what about now? Look at you crawling away with a tail between your legs, PATHETIC!"

I look at her with my teary eyes saying:

"I-I'm, *hick* sorry..."

When the pressure suddenly disappears, I turn around while I kneel with both my feet. Sis Yuwei suddenly kneels down, petting my head, looking at me with teary eyes saying:

"Please don't hate me for this."

"Huh?"

She removes my headband and brush my bangs aside and look at my wound. She continues saying:

"I'm just worried about you Sova. Remember what Moriz said back at your aunt's house? As he said, I've been there, and the Empire you learn and hear about sadly doesn't exist anymore."

Huh? What is she saying? Doesn't exist anymore? Then why is General Coryn still introduce herself as someone from the Empire? Confused and baffled by what she said, I look away from her saying:

"I-I..."

My voice becomes lower as I tried to speak when Sis caress my hair saying:

"Don't worry, May is with Aunt Palka so she will be fine. So rest up, you will spend your time here for a while and get yourself ready and adjusted. I'll help you find Sis Rubeca and bring her here. Is that okay?"

(Aunt's with May?)

My heart starts to become less worried and I feel a little more at peace.

"I..."

Sis Yuwei suddenly blew some wind on my forehead as I feel the pain, she continues saying:

"I just don't want another loss. I already have less then what I was supposed to have. So please don't make me lose another. Maybe using pain was never really the answer."

Suddenly she kisses my forehead and places my headband back. Before I could say anything in shock, she continues saying:

"I heard that a kiss in a wound will make it less hurt. So please forgive me, Sova. I'm going to work now, think about my idea."

As I feel hot in my cheeks,

"Um..."

Sis Yuwei stands up and walks to the gate saying:

"When you do accept, I suggest you go to the Jade Jaguar realm up north first before going to the Turtle and head to Fei's school. When you meet her, you can ask her to bring you back together if you want."

"Now?"

"When else? It's called the Guī Academy, I'm sure you can't miss it. I'll message Fei telling her to wait for you when it's dismissal time if you do."

She takes out a green salve and places it on the table, leaving while I'm asking:

"What about the thing you said about being not too intimate? Or where is Saya..."

Only silence replied to my question when the door suddenly opens and a few maids come in and clean the place up. They avoid the rats and one of the maids kneels down infront of me, taking the salve that Sis Yuwei left and looks at my face saying:

"Don't worry master Sova."

When she said that, I suddenly feel the burning pain again.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

She opens my headband when I could hear her whispering:

"Oh my! It's so bad. Looks like you're going to have another scar in your face."

And apply some of those green salves at me. Feeling the pain lessen and turn into coldness, she wraps some band-aids around my head saying:

"There, it will heal in probably a few days."

"Thank you," I say to her as she tightens the band-aid on me. Which weirdly enough, doesn't hurt so bad.

She smiled saying:

"No problem, master Sova. Here, Mistress Yuwei gives you this Salve, keep it just in case when you go out. Don't lose it now, okay?"

"Ah, yes, thank you."

She hands me over the salve and I take it. She nods and stands up before they exit the room in a hurry, and they still manage to bow gracefully and leaves. Leaving only me alone in this dining room- wait there is still the rats... I look at them when one of them shakes its head and they suddenly run away.

"Wait! And I'm alone again..."

I stand up and touch my forehead, feeling the coldness and burning pain fusing together somehow. I tried using the qi healing I learn to hasten the natural healing process.

I gather my qi in the forehead and quickly walk out of the room, I look around to see everyone's already gone...

"Why!? Where is Saya anyway!?"

Since I enter from the left, I decided to go right. I place the salve in the armband and continue walking alone again in this huge hallway.

"How did they disappear so fast? And I should have asked her where is Saya."

When I found another huge gate, I open it and enter another huge room. Now with three huge gates counting the one behind me.

"You know what! I decided I'll just keep going ahead!"

With new determination, I march ahead into the hallway of doors. Still feeling lonely, I look left and right before encountering another fork in the road. This time I just headed left and kept going ahead when I found an open room. It caught my attention quickly since all the room were pretty much shut tight.

I quickly move and decide to peek inside seeing a woman in her twenties resting in her bed as she looks outside the window. Her silver hair and Deep blue eyes contrast with the purplish-red room of this palace. She is Nanny Yunyun before I leave she is the one responsible for taking care of Sis Fei and sometimes Sis Yuwei when she is not with her dad. And I too was being taken care of by her if Aunt Palka is not with me. She was the one who teaches me the traditions and culture of this Confederation, along with the Unwritten rules. I'm more surprised that I remember my time being disciplined with her than a comfortable life here. After all, I never really followed much of the traditions if I have to be honest.

I quickly knock at the door saying:

"Nanny Yunyun?"

She looks at me with her sombre deep blue eyes, a small spark lit in her when she saw me and she smiles saying:

"My, please do come in Sova. It's been quite some time."

I follow her orders and enter. She smiles more pleasantly saying:

"Look at you all grown up."

I smile back saying:

"Hehe, thanks~"

"I can't call you handsome, I mean look at you and I can't call you cute or beautiful either since you're a guy."

"Ah..."

I get that a lot.

"Come closer, Sova."

Following her words I walk closer, sitting in one of the chairs beside her bed when she touches my arms and shoulder and before long my face with her fully bandaged hand and rubs at the scar below my left eye saying:

"At least you widened your shoulder a bit and acquire some muscles, impressive. Not only that, you got a scar too now. How unfortunate for your face but I guess good for a warrior."

"It's fine. I mean I think I just got a new one in my forehead if what the maid said is true..."

Nanny smiled peacefully saying:

"That's okay, you're all grown up now and you must make your own decisions and pay for it your self."

"Scuse me?"

"I'm in no position to lecture anyone anymore. Little Yu and Little Fei are now proper ladies and my job here is done. I guess I should also retire like him..."

"Nanny?"

She giggles before petting me again saying:

"I'm just rambling to myself. Still, I'm surprised you take your leisure to actually visit me. You've learned proper ethics, colour me surprised."

"Ha ha ha... Well not really- I mean you don't look any different the last time I saw you."

Like seriously, she still looks the same when I last saw her... Now that I think about it, I wonder how old is Sis Rubeca? She still looks quite the same when I first met her in that room... She's the only one I never really know.

"Aw~ you."

Nanny waves her hand and holds her face as she blushes. She takes a plate of fruits at the desk beside her saying:

"Here, have some Sova. They help improve your healing."

The fruit she gives to me is called the Wunan fruit or Slurp juice by me and May (Well more like we call all unidentified drinks juice anyway, like how we call milk white juice back then). This fruit is one of the commoner's snack and its distinctive indicator is the five Runician human characters circling for the cover of the tip that makes it look like a bottle cap.

I take it and feel the leathery skin saying:

"Thank you, Nanny."

I bite the tip as I feel the edge of the cap hits my teeth, I pull the fruit and taste the liquid gushing inside my mouth. Letting it go I begin to turn the tip and open like a bottle cap. I slurp it like a drink and chew the mush inside... I heard from sis is that the Owlians that live in the continent here use the fruit for sick people since they have a hard time chewing. To be honest, I actually like the fruit in general. I look at her as she enjoys the fruit with a smile as we enjoy it together in slurp voices thanks to me. I look at the fruit and remembered.

(Right, it's almost the end of the year soon. Just a few more days and one more month counting this one and it's going to be a new year. Let's hope that I can reunite them before Lumen Libertatem.)

"Nanny?" I call for her.

"Hmm? What is it, Sova?"

Nanny just easily cut the tip with her enhance fingers and takes a silent sip out of the Wunan fruit when I continue saying:

"The real reason I'm here is because I just wanna ask for directions."

She stops eating and looks at me with a smile saying:

"Ah, how typical of you. Always so direct. Still, you forgot about this place huh? Unlike May who remembers every nook and cranny, even the placing of each furniture and decor."

"Well can you blame me? And besides, May is just a cheat when it comes to memorization. I haven't been here for more than four years and suddenly meeting Yuwei in a diner is... Surprising to say the least. I wonder if I'm still- I don't know-"

I stop mid sentences when she hands me more fruit every time I finish one. I tried what nanny did and just cut the tip, which works and eat some again when Nanny replies:

"Eat more Sova, and someday you'll grow tall like little Yu or Palka and maybe even Rubeca."

Taller than them? Yeah, I think that's a pretty slim chance. So I nod and continue asking:

"Um, nanny?"

"Sova, it's okay. We may not meet after so long but you're still family and here we treasure them- Heh, sorry, forget I ever said that."

She laughs at the end of her sentence as she looks outside the window with sorrow in her eyes once more.

"Nanny?"

"It okay Sova, so where do you want to go?"

"Well, I was just wondering where the bathroom is. I mean I haven't even shower yet."

"Well that's true, you smell like you sweat a lot. Is the room too hot?"

"Huh? No, no, no, you got it wrong. The sweat is from Sis Fei hugging me."

She looks at me with a frozen smile saying:

"Excuse me?"

"Well, do you know where the bathroom is?"

She stares at me deeply with her abysmal blue eyes, I tried looking left and right when she sighs saying:

"Hmmm, hold on."

She opens the shelf of her small table and takes out a bell. She hands it over to me saying:

"Do you wish to try?"

"Really? Of course."

I take the bell and ring it enthusiastically. While I look around the room and seeing nothing happening. Nanny assure me saying:

"It takes time Sova, the maids are not Martial artist- well some of them at least and they are not teleporters either you know."

"Sorry."

She pets me again before holding my cheeks and starts moving her hands up to pet me. Feeling comfort which I can't help but close my eyes and smile unconditionally, she moves my face saying:

"How did you even get cuter than the last time I saw you? Even with that scar, it gives off a charm too. Are traps in rage these days? Am I so out of touch these days?"

I open my eyes and realizing she is looking at me face to face I answer back saying:

"Hmm? Traps? As in for luring and capturing animals and monsters?"

"Heh, you can forget I ask that Sova. I think I'm going to rest."

"Eh? Then I better leave-"

"No, please do stay until the maid arrives. I'll accompany you till then."

"Oh okay, thanks, nanny."

(This is really awkward, I mean I never really know what topics to talk about. Especially with nanny.)

She closes her eyes asking:

"Sova, seeing you all grown up. What do you dream to become?"

"Huh? My dream?"

"Yes, like Little Yu who wish to be an almighty Ruler of her people, what do you wish to be? A mighty General of the Heavens? If so, I think Little Yu will gladly accept you in her armies. We have like quadruple the size of our regular three hundred stacks now after the purge of the nobles and assimilation with the uncharted sectors and the underhive. So we have a problem with choosing who needs to be let go now."

(Three hundred? Quadrupled means times four so... Uh, a thousand and hundreds of armies, I think? Are there suppose to be that many armies?)

"Huh? No, no, no, no. That's too much, I don't think I can handle leading troops. I mean last time I lead them, well they pretty much move on their own and I keep getting saved by them."

"Everyone takes time, even little Yu failed to command her armies at first and messed up pretty badly."

"No, that's not the point..."

"Hmm? Then what is it, Sova?"

It wasn't long when I boast about my dream. I told May that I was going to explore and adventure the man-made wonders in the world. I was going to bring everyone that I know with me and we were gonna enjoy and be happy together. Well, I guess I realize that's nothing more than a child's dream. I lament my thoughts back then saying:

"It's just that, I don't know what I want to be anymore. I was supposed to be a Hunter but now I'm some kind of Illegal Martial Artist or something? I need to think it through now, not just some random thought that pops into my head. I need to think this through since things haven't gone my way recently and now I think I'm in the middle of something big and a part of some shady group because I got scammed on joining them."

Nanny giggles softly at my last sentences saying:

"Well you're an Owlian, magic contracts does nothing to you."

Remembering that horned mannequin giving me my weapon I look away saying:

"No, it's just that- Never mind, I think I'm getting lost in my head."

"I see well that's normal for someone your age. Whatever you do don't give up Sova. You will one day fulfil your dream one day, so just keep it and move slowly."

Move slowly huh? Maybe she's right. I should prepare more. My thoughts were disturbed when Nanny look up at the ceiling, prompting me to follow her. And I could see the ceiling has a painting of hundreds of Phoenix with multiple different colours flying in a circle as they blow the clouds away. In the middle is the Jade and white coloured Phoenix rising above the others while the Black and Purple Phoenix Falls from grace.

"Talking about dreams, it seems you manage to stop my granddaughter malicious ambition of destroying the palace, I thank you for that."

"Grandaughter? Who?"

I mean it's probably normal since she's a Nanny but this is the first time I heard about Nanny's part of the family. She holds a part of her hair saying:

"The assailant you stopped when you tried to save Little Fei."

"Ah!"

That lady with the mask who I beat up. Now that I remember, they both have the same hair colour and eyes.

"And not only that, you even gave her a new bridge scar on her face or nose to be exact. Not that it looks bad on her but I have to thank you for that, as bad as it sounds. Now I don't need to punish her anymore."

Come to think of it, what was I thinking again? Realizing what I just did was what Sis Rubeca taught me, I quickly say:

"Um, Nanny-"

"It's okay Sova, she will probably keep it as a reminder to kill you for ruining her face and all her malicious plans. You saved me from being a future victim."

"I think I'm even more worried now."

"I mean I never knew you're so brutal, Sova. To ruin and hurt another girl's face when they're unconscious too, show some chivalric deeds like the western families at least. Even the Soldiers in the field actually fear you now. Saying something like, as expected of the Dragon's descendant. Showing no mercy even to captives."

Nanny hold her cheeks as she says it sounding melancholic. I reply back in a hurry saying:

"Nanny, I think-"

"Oh, Sova looks like you're akin to a sheep in a wolves costume. With that adorable, cute, and innocent face combined with your fighting prowess."

"Nanny I'm not part of-"

"Oh and I think I need to question your morality too. I heard Little May told me that you don't like fighting and all that, but hearing your actions, may I ask what you learn so far from your precious Rubeca?"

Dumfounded, I set aside my retort and answer with what I remember Sis Rubeca told me during training saying:

"Well if I have to power phrase it, she says something the lines of giving all you have to talk but also give all you have to force if you have to. That you should talk it out first, and try your best to make work out. Then you should probably make friends with that person. But if it doesn't, then you beat them to pulp whatever that is. Or should I say till they are out of order and the last headbutt I deliver to the assailant is a just in case Sis told me with her experience dealing with one. Since you never know when a Zerian could just get back up again with their countless machinations of magic. Or that's how I remember it."

Nanny looks at me with a blank face and she stares at me with long suspense and looks outside the window while holding her forehead saying:

"Sova, I think you misunderstood something there, that's not how things work- you know what never mind. Maybe in this country filled with civil conflicts, wars, rebellions, revolts, succession crisis, and genocide. Maybe that is the appropriate actions for commoners like you when the Nobles and Royals always drag their populace to trouble. Especially since you're an Owlian too I guess that makes sense, it seems the idea of unification is still a long way.

Either way, if you meet with her again somehow, just make sure you say sorry Sova. I'm sure it will at least lessen her grudge from ripping your face off. And instead, stab you in the guts instead."

"I-I... I see, thank you for your advice Nanny."

"Hmm, not only that, but you really have to be careful of your looks too if you go to the public."

"Sorry, what!? I mean I'm pretty sure I walk in the streets every day. But I guess the thing I need to be careful is when someone spits at my feet and sticks something on to my clothes or how if I shop at a new place they would set the price to a ridiculous degree. And sometimes some random group of girls would splash a glass of cold water at me for no reason while laughing."

"Ah, sorry to hear that... But Sova, you do know you look like a maiden right? A very cute one too, especially if you have long hair to mix."

"I heard that a looot."

(This conversation keeps making my day worst...)

"Either way, just be careful on the streets. Back in my days, when you travel outside- I mean there are no more crooked nobles here anymore. Sova, I'm sorry. It seems after what Yuwei did- nevermind, All the upper echelon of this sector is nought but gone now."

She looks at the window again with her sad eyes as she jumbled her own words. Nanny folds her arms and nods saying:

"Hm-hm, I gotta admit, the maids are taking their time- Oh wait!"

Nanny grabs the bell and rings it saying:

"You're an Owlian, you need to pour magic to call them. Silly me~"

"O-oh..."

When suddenly I could hear loud footsteps and the door get knocked.

"Head Maid Yun, may I come in."

"Of course."

A maid enters wearing a bandage on half her scalp with claw marks peeking out saying:

"May I help you Lady Yun?"

"Ah! Huimei you can already work?"

"It's just since I'm the closest, I took the initiative. I want to do something for my mistake whenever I can."

She holds her bandaged eyes when Nanny nods saying:

"Ah, youth. You make me wish I can work again now."

"Ah! No, please don't Lady Yun. You're the one hurt the most."

"Alright then, please bring this young'un to the bathroom, he needs to prepare himself."

She looks at me with her scary baggy eye asking:

"You mean her? Head maid Yun?"

"Ah right, you're still new here. He's a boy, Huimei. Don't get fooled by his cute face and demeanour, his a pure bonafide Martial Artist. And if the reports are true, his strength is comparable to experts already."

I look at Nanny asking:

"R-really? Am I really that strong?"

She pets me saying:

"Yes and no, to be honest, if you fight the Forbidden or Traditional Martial Artist in the eastern and northern peninsula you'll be mercilessly ra- Ahem."

She stops her words as she stares at me before she smiled and continue saying:

"After all your fighting style is too honest. You're like a sprouting chick and I can't blame you for that. But your brutish attitude though... That will need to be worked on since you're living in a civil society."

"Uh-"

"I'm not someone who wish to sugarcoat her own words but that doesn't mean you can't change Sova. Little May said that you hate fighting right? Then I hope you follow that."

"I-I see..."

Nanny ruffles my hair and looks at the maid asking:

"I heard the damage those monster done to you is really bad Huimei. Especially with all our priest eaten you have to rely on Owlian medicine for now."

The maid walks closer saying:

"Do not worry, Lady Yun, as I said, I can still work for a while. Well then, Master... May I ask for your name sir?"

"O-oh, my name is Sova Anmao, please call me Sova," I introduce myself.

"Anmao you say...? I see, well then Master Sova, please do follow me."

"Okay, see you later Nanny. Have a nice rest."

"Of course, thank you, Sova. I hope I can see you again next time, voluntarily of course."

"Sure."

I wave at her and follow the maid outside. After I walk out and as the Maid close the door I could her Nanny whisper:

"May the Almighty keep him smiling like that."

*click*

And the door shut tight. Wondering what she meant, the Maid quickly starts walking away. I quickly followed her and with nothing to talk about, we just stayed in silence.

Our footsteps ring throughout the long corridor, Looking at her outfit, I suddenly remember the Maid I saw after I left my room. I decided to break the silent asking what's in my mind:

"Excuse me?"

She slowed down replying:

"Yes? How may I help you?"

"Um, it's just that, are the Maids here suppose to run away when you approach them?"

The maid suddenly stops in her tracks and almost making me bump into her. She looks back with her scary baggy eyes asking:

"I'm sorry but can you clarify more?"

"Oh, uh, it's just that after waking up and going outside. I almost bump on a maid walking through the corridor and tried to ask her for directions but she just screams and runs in a panic instead."

The maid holds her chin and went deep in thoughts when she finally replies saying:

"Sorry Master Sova, the maids here are supposed to answer the calls of our masters, which mean everyone who is not servants in this palace... If she did what you said back there she will be punished and expelled immediately so can you please describe her more so I can write this report."

"Huh?"

"By doing so, I can explain it to the Headmaid Yun and we can resolve her disciplinary action."

(I really don't like the sound of that but...)

"Um, I guess... She looks to be pregnant and her feet are inverted back 180° so when I was chasing her it kinda look like she was running backwards."

"..."

Her tired eyes baggy eyes begins to sharpen even more.

"..."

"......"

Cold sweat starts to flow through my neck as my nerve tenses.

"......"

She looks at me silently. Her Red eyes stare deeply into the windows of my soul when she blinks and breaks the tension saying:

"Then never mind. What you just saw is a spirit of the dead that reside in this palace."

"Wait what!? If so shouldn't you cleanse this place immediately? She is a spirit I can see with my naked eyes you know!?"

"Master Sova, you knew our Mistress can communicate with spirits right?"

"Well yes."

(Actually, I just know that recently from her Mother's spirit ironically).

"And have you ever wondered why this place was so clean even though it's almost empty all the time?"

"I guess."

"Well, It's thanks to them that more than half of this city size palace is clean all the time even during the invasion a few days ago. And from the savoury grape vines I extracted, it is said some of those spirits are even the Mistresses Secret police force."

(Grapevines? Secret police? What?)

"..."

I reply in silence when she continues to walk saying:

"You're lucky that you're an Owlian. Funny isn't it? That a Zerian actually thought that being an Owlian is better. For me, it's just a matter of fear of the unknown."

"Really? For me, I fear the things I can see more than the one I can't see."

"Hmm, well, I guess I can't blame you. But it doesn't change the fact that spirits hate your people and would never approach you unless they have a material form. And that is already risking it."

I followed her answer asking:

"But why? I mean there is that one time that spirit actually talk to me. She was not afraid of me."

"Then let me ask you this when you look at her does she have any black cracks appearing on her body?"

"Huh?"

(Now that I remember...)

"Yes she does have black cracks, her arms and legs are filled with them as it crawls into her neck. Leaving only her face that is not affected."

"Then what you saw is no other than the Hēi Liè."

"Hēi Liè?"

"Exactly, A cursed spirits who were corrupted when they eat or absorb the souls of your people and was forcefully given a cursed material form and is forced to roam the living world. It is said that living in that form is like wearing the Yunan's crown."

Yunan's crown? Wait... If I remember correctly, he's the ruler of the forgotten Empire right? The name of the Empire was gone and was just named after the last Emperor. It's one of the stories everyone who stays here will bound to know, just like Emperor Rucina or the Hero of Freedom's story. Yunan's story is that he once break a promise to Emperor Rucina and betrayed him, causing the death of millions.

Then again, when I was studying in the public archives with May. Ms Elizaveta who helps us with our studies, she once told us that it is whispered one of the victims was the Emperor's mythical first wife. The one who is said to be the mother of the adopted first prince who betrayed him.

In exchange for his actions, the magic activated and Emperor Yunan was forced to wear the cursed crown. But Emperor Rucina was not content with that, he was absolutely furious and livid by what he did that he would silence anyone who tried to defend him. A few days later, Emperor Rucina personally went to his empire and obliterate each city Emperor Yunan control one at a time, leaving no man, women or children alive but a scorched barren wasteland where no life could blossom or even grow.

Then he continues to destroy the border of Yunan's land and sink the entire empire into the endless abyss he created beforehand. The cracks he causes created rivers where the sea enter through into the abyss and before long where once a glorious empire once stand is now but a vast sea. When the army of Emperor Rucina arrives to stop him, they were too late. Emperor Yunan was sitting there, seeing it all happen in his eyes as he was powerless to stop Emperor Rucina. In the aftermath, Emperor Yunan committed suicide. And it is said that Emperor Yunan's body was never even buried but was just kicked inside the newly formed sea by Emperor Rucina himself and was left to drown slowly inside the abyss.

Thanks to Emperor Rucina, Emperor Yunan leaves nothing but only his name in the annals of history. Creating the so-called Yunan sea which is said that the edge of the sea is the border of that mighty Empire. And that story enforces the value of promises into the people and show how the Emperor's treat a promise-breaker and what they deserve, Broker is what the people of Xin calls them. What Yuwei's Mother calls me...

(Maybe I shouldn't be too hard on them. Maybe Sis was wrong.)

It's one of the stories that make me not promise anything at all. That story brings nothing but sadness and pity. I reply back saying:

"The Yunan Emperor... So it's that bad huh. I wonder if there is any cure? I wonder if there is anything I can do differently at the time?"

"It is said that the only way to cure it is by offering a close one to the spirit king in hopes he will forgive and cure her so she can live in peace in the afterlife or by purging her soul into the realm of the spirit queen's purgatory."

I look down as I hear another tragedy my people can bring. She stops and continues saying:

"But you have no need to worry. It is the fault of the spirit if they approach you."

I look down on the floor as I feel my guilt piling. I answer back saying:

"Really? I just feel bad since I'm the one who approaches her first. I thought she was in pain... And I learn a harsh truth from that experience."

"Then you have my condolences."

Maybe she's not as scary as she seems. I look back at her saying:

"Still, you know so much ms Huimei."

"That is because I was raised in the orphanage, the first thing they taught above else was how to coexist with spirits. Now would you please follow me? We're almost there."

"Oh, okay."

We continue on in silence in this long corridor. I wonder where are the Maids who serve the Palace back then? Are there no Maids who know me from back then? Maybe I should ask Nanny or Sis Yuwei when I get the chance.