Lady in Red

Chapter 1

   It was his 22 birthday today and he partied like there was no tomorrow, he was allowed to live as he wanted given that now he only has three years to live. The people loved him more but they can never say it out loud knowing he might get killed for that alone.
    Christian looked at his older brother. He loved him more than anything and he knows so does their sister Sandra he just doesn't understand why he is allowed to live so freely while he and Sandra had to take all the responsibility of the kingdom and Xian.
    They sat at the great hall as people made toasts on Xian. It has been years before a new ruler is to be chosen and the customs were lost to many,no one but the king,elders and Xian knew of the impending doom.
   The only thing people knew is that if they showed favoritism the one to be favored will be killed and so they avoided the topic like a plague.
   Xian was enjoying his birthday and dancing with the dancers, people took it has drunkeness,others us embarrassment,and others as hilarious and even joining in but his father had tears in his eyes.
Xian was his favorite and he always took his side,but nothing could compare with the fact that he was going to die soon and he can't even tell his wife the truth.
   Xians is not her son but she treated him like one. She didn't think that his parents mistakes were his. Among the three children, although she loved her children more, Xian took her elegance and manner, Christian took her nobility and beauty but his father's temper while Sandra took a bit of both.
     They all loved Xian for his carefree nature,but she just didn't like how her husband spoilt him yet he is the first born.
  No one knew Xian was a bastard not even the elders. Just the King and his Queen but they loved him none the less. Xian went to his sister and took her hand so she could dance with him but she was hesitant at first until the dancers surrounded them and she lost herself in the merriment, Christian being the more responsible and uptight left the party angry,he found his sage outside looking at the party in sadness in his eyes.
    "You should enjoy with your family when you have the chance,you might not get any other chance in this life time." The sage then disappeared like he always did leaving Christian perplexed.
   The next morning
    Christian didn't get enough sleep thinking of the sages words. He was still thinking about them when he met up with Sandra and a few of their friends.
    "Hey second brother,what are you thinking about?" She asked him, he repeated the sages words to her and asked their meaning. "Oh maybe he just wanted you to loosen up a little."
    "It looked like he meant something else." He said.
   "Why don't we go ask him?" Ache the second carefree of the group suggested.
   "Yeah" the rest agreed and after some debating the others agreed.
   On there way they met up with some famers who told them the bridge to lest was broken by the storm and some workers where trying to repair it so the group was forced to take their swords to fly with but that wouldn't help much because only lest people can use magic in their land.
    The other way was through the Redwood forest and it was the most dangerous of all. It was filled with unimaginable predators and demons.
   Redwood was every child's nightmare. Parents told children scary stories of redwood to scare them to be obedient and others where told at campfires to make them more enjoyable.
   On their way,they met with Xian who only wanted to go protect his only sister and made the others snicker.
  "Sandra can I tell you a secret? I'll always protect you as long as I shall life." He whispered loudly making the others laugh out loud.
  "Then that only means you don't have long to live so that the rest of us can protect her to." Christian said looking at Xian, Xian just looked away making Christian look at him weirdly cause he always had a comeback ready.
   "Maybe." Xian said smiling sadly and Sandra knocked him on the side with her elbow.
   "Stop saying that,you both can protect me besides, I can protect myself just fine." Christian ruffled her hair lovingly.
"Of course you can but let us feel helpful." He replied
    "So,where in the hell are we going?" Xian asked.
   "You are the only one who can follow us all the way blindly" said Christian shaking his head." We are going to see the sage." After those words, Xian stopped walking all of a sudden causing Ache to run into him.
    "Sage? What for?"
    "We have a question." Replied Ache annoyed. Xian shook his head.
  "You all can just go ahead I'll be waiting for you at the peach trees." He said turning around but Christian grabbed his hand.
   "You can't go back,we are already in redwood." He said
   "Don't tell me you are scared of the old man Xian." Taunted Gabby, Sandra's fiance,he and Xian never see face to face.
   "Of course not I'm not afraid."
    "Then why do you want to go back!"
     "I'd rather fight demons in redwood than go see that old man."
   "Come on Xian for my sake." Said Sandra poutingly.
    "One of these days I'll have to learn to say no to you Sandy." Xian said and started walking with  the rest infront and  Sandra at his side looking satisfied with herself.
   "Have you heard that this is where the disciples of hailing come to train?" Someone suddenly asked.
    "No way this place is too risky " Gabby replied.
    "That's why they are good at what they do peacock." Xian suddenly said making Gabby furious.
  "Call me that one more time."
    "This is not the time to argue." Christian the more matured said.
    "Sorry" the both of them said instantly.
   "Why would someone want to train at a place like this?"
   "Maybe because they are crazy?" Ache said making everyone laugh.
     "Maybe because there master is strict."
    "Maybe it's because they didn't get a chance of being a hike." Mara, Gabby's second said making everyone go silent. It was a sore spot for Mara,she wasn't born a hike and she had to start from the bottom to be where she is now so she didn't like it when others made fun of people.
    "Speaking of the disciples of hailing, Xian have you heard the legend of the lady in Red?" Asked Ache.
     "No what does it say?"asked Xian.
    "It states that,in the hailing palace there is a lady in red. She is the best at what she does and has never disappointed anyone. Her favorite color is red and she has never known any other color but red no one knows her name,not even her own master."replied Sandra.
   "That's nonsense how can you not know any other color but red?" Asked Xian.
   "That is what the legend says." Replied Christian.
    "And her name?"
    "People says she is the ugliest girl,but no one has ever actually seen her face,but her master that is." Said Gabby.
   "Interesting." Mara said." She is a mystery."
   "I Xian White of Hike, promise that before I die, I'll find out Red's real name or at least her face, if I fail, then I will remain a ghost and roam the world never to be born again. May the Redwood forest and my friends bare me witness."