I was not familiar with the world, but the title sounded like a big deal. "Sounds nice, but I have no clue what that means."

Lily looked shocked. "Do you know anything about the empire of eternity?"

"Not much. The emperor is called Simeon or something." I said.

"Shimin!" She hissed. "Shimin Li Francis. At least get his name right!"

"Right, Shimin." I corrected. "I don't know much else."

"Father crowned him. The Sect Masters of Eternity have crowned emperors for thousands of years."

"Your father ranks higher than emperors?" The notion seemed ridiculous.

"Most consider them to be of equal standing. The emperor may raise new sect masters." She supplied.

I didn't want to believe her, but I did. So much didn't make any sense, but I saw no hint of doubt in her voice, and she didn't seem like a liar. "Who is Satora then?"

"She is the eldest princess, and an archmage. My teacher."

"She's the emperor's daughter?"

"Sister." Lily said.

I sat down on the bench and ran my hands across. Even the wood was full of ornate carvings. "I've just arrived at the kingdom's capital, and the first two women I meet outrank the king. Is this some joke?"

She giggled again. It felt relaxing to hear, strange as it may seem. "There are celestials more powerful than kings, you know. If the Dragon didn't order celestials to be captured, the king would be licking your boots right now. We would obviously want to see you."

I sat up. "Speaking of which, why am I not in chains? From what I've heard Silvana say, I should have been executed already. Or enslaved."

Lily's smile had some pity in it. "Enslaved? Aren't you already?"

I took a step back. "What? When?" I demanded

"Your companion bought you here to teacher. No chains are necessary here in the Faucon Nide. The palace is more secure than any prison I know." She laughed as I stumbled. "Don't worry. You aren't a prisoner. You just can't leave. Not without permission anyways." I suspected it was a joke, though I wasn't sure.

"What if I tried leaving right now? Would you stop me?" Her response was a mischievous smile.

I began walking towards what I remembered to be the exit. Lily zoomed in front of me, blocking my way. I tried moving around her, but she was faster. I got so close to her that our noses could touch, but she didn't budge. I tried shoving her aside, but it felt like trying to move a brick wall. "Look, Silly, there's no need to be childish here. I want to leave, can you please get out of the way?" The anger I expected never came.

"Oh, of course." She said sweetly. She floated aside. I couldn't believe my luck. Alas, I should have saw that glint in her eyes. As soon as I took a step, she struck. My feet snapped up into the air, and I was sent flying into the sky. Lily zoomed up after. I looked down, and saw that the palace had became much smaller all of a sudden. We had to be hundreds of feet in the sky, almost a mile now. My stomach lurched.

"Hey! Let me down!" I screamed, flapping my arms like a duck.

Bad choice of words, I discovered. Lily gave an obedient nod. I screamed again as I began falling, plummeting hundreds of feet down towards the palace below. I tried to turn around, but something held me in place. Then, just when I thought I was going to hit the dirt, everything stopped. I was floating just a few feet above the palace roof.

Lily glided over to me. The experience was terrifying, yet strangely exhilarating. Almost like a roller coaster ride. Still, I was not excited for a second one. "Ok, ok, I get the point. Let me down Lily. Please?" Thinking back on it, maybe I should have just called her Selina. But seeing those red cheeks puff up was more than worth it.

"Oh, tired already? Why not try some more?" Selina asked, rubbing her hands like a child seeing candy.

An idea flashed to my mind. "Well, I would love to, but I want to see the palace, and Auntie Satora said you would show me around." I said.

"Oh, that's no problem, let me show you around." She said.

The next thing I knew, I was flying through the palace. Corridors of gold and silver flashed past, and multiple servants we flew by dropped whatever they were holding. "That's the war room." Lily said, flying over a room filled with jeweled weapons and sculptures of people. A few men looked up from the tables, several made moves to bow, while others had their mouths open. "There's the general, Lafate." She said, pointing at a white haired man in a military uniform.

Doors opened as Lily flicked her hand, and I went flying like a rock launched from a catapult. "That's the treasury." She said as we passed by a completely barren stone dungeon.

We flew past another few corridors, and panicked nobility scattered in our wake. "The state offices." Paper was swept out of a clerks hand. I heard screams in the hall. "That's the finance minister, Necker." I tried for a closer look. He was wearing a rich gold cloak, and some papers were swept all over him. His assistant had fallen to the ground, and the documents were spilled over his feet.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could Lily yanked me backwards. We sailed into quiet corridors were women chatted idly atop ornate chairs, and men ate a few snacks prepared by servants. Maids scurried about with plates and goblets in their hands. Many dropped them as they saw us. I saw a few nobles choke on their food.

A few doors opened as Lily waved her hand. "Those are the living quarters, this is the dining hall, and..." I flew back into the open sky. "... this is Faucon Nide."

I realized that my voice had gone hoarse from screaming. "That's quite a tour. Thank you, now please, put me down." I groaned.

"Dear me! You two younglings seem to be having fun." I heard from beneath me.

The eldest princess was looking up at Lily's antics. As I turned to the Saintess, her face blushed into a deep red color. Seeing that alone made the trip completely worth taking.