After I have found you

Prologue

Yufei watched tearfully as her father fell to the ground in his own pool of blood. She tried to move an inch, but her limbs were pinned to the surface of the earth. She stood transfixed as she stared at the figure in front of her. By the looks, she could tell it was man. Her eyes searched for his face, but it seemed to have blended with the darkness. Her eyes caught hold of the steel object he held tightly in his hands - it was a sword.

Somehow, she felt she was going to join her father, but she remained in position as her legs failed her. She opened her mouth to scream, but the only sound that came out was a sigh. She didn't expect the least, she had seen more than enough for a girl of her age to carry. She was only seven and watching her father get killed in her presence was the least she imagined.

As she stared blindly, trying to catch a glimpse of this murderer's face, she realized he was walking closer with his sword still held tightly in his hands.

With every single step he took, Yufei trembled. She could feel her legs shaking violently and soon she was on the ground. She felt a sweat run down her back and cold shivers flush through her veins.

Once again, she caught glimpse of his sword, but not just the sword; she took notice of the letters inscripted boldly on it and it read "J - A - N - G - U - A". Yufei trembled with fear, she had heard that word before.

She tried screaming and once again, her voice betrayer her. She was getting weaker and soon darkness covered her eyes.

*****
She woke up lying on a bed. She opened her eyes, but all she could see was darkness. "Is anyone there?", She wanted to say, but it felt like her voice were no friends of hers anymore. She grew even more scared as she could not catch a glimpse of a single light or thing.

"The princess is awake!!", Someone had screamed and rushed out of the room. Yufei knew who this voice belonged to - it was Yina, her personal maid.

"Yi - Yi......", She tried saying, but once again, she sought for her voice. She wondered how Yina could see through this darkness and wanted to tell her to stay with her or better still, put on the lights.

Soon, the door flung open and she heard steps rushing towards her. The memories of her father's death flushed through her mind, allowing her tears flow freely.

****
"Father! Father!!", Yufei called happily as she ran towards her father's Chambers. It was her seventh birthday and being the only birthday of hers her father was present to celebrate with her, Yufei thought it right to get a present from him first.

"She's indeed very happy, I've never seen the princess this happy before", a servant said as Yufei ran past.

"What do you expect? The king is always busy with politics and war that he doesn't spend time with his family. This is even the first birthday he's present to celebrate with his daughter. Little mistress would certainly be happy", another said.

Yufei heard all they had said, but she cared less, she didn't expect the least. They were right anyways - father hardly spent time with them. Her mother would always say that her father was on a trade journey, but often times, she had heard the servants discussing about her father's numerous war journeys.
But she pushed all the thoughts away as she ran to her father. She flung the door open with excitement, but met a shocking sight.

I ran happily into father's chamber, just to see a man Pierce a sword into his chest. I froze in my tracks as I watched bewildered. I stared with fear burning in me and hot sweat enguffed my entire body.

Watching my father fall to the ground was my greatest agony. The man in the room looked like the soldiers I had seen with father and around the castle.

I gasped in fear as father fell to the ground lifeless, while the strange man used a handkerchief in wiping off the bloodstains on his sword. It glittered in the dark and my heart raced. He walked closer, but my legs failed me. I tried screaming, but it was practically of no use as the only sound that filtered out was a sigh. I had lost my voice.

My legs shook violently and soon I couldn't feel them anymore. I fell to the ground, feeling that this was the last time my breadth would be heard. I covered my eyes with my hands so as not to witness my own death, but just then, I blacked out.

Waking up, I scanned the entire place. It didn't look like where I was a few minutes ago. It was dark and I wondered if the stranger could have brought me here. I discarded the thought of it knowing fully well that I couldn't be smuggled out of the castle due to the harsh security. Just then, I heard someone scream that I was awake. "It's Yina", I sighed. I wanted to tell her to put on the lights, but my voice betrayed me.
Someone forcefully pushed open the door and I heard steps run towards my direction. Fear gripped me and I held until my bedsheets, allowing my tears flow.

"Oh! Yufei", Shyla called as she held her daughter in her arms. "Thank goodness you're safe, I wouldn't forgive myself if anything had happened to you". She drew away from her embrace.
Shyla grew more worried as Yufei didn't reply. She took a closer look at her daughter's face and called out softly

"Yufei!*

Yufei threw herself at her mother's arms as she held her dress tightly.

"Please put on the lights, it's really dark in here", she managed to say. Shyla was confused. She drew back, away from Yufei's grip and waved her hand over Yufei's face, but she remained still, blinking every now and then.
Shyla gasped in shock, she turned to the attendant who quickly rushed to examine Yufei. Shyla fell to the ground weeping, she needed no one to tell her the juicy details; Yufei had lost her sight. Shyla wept bitterly at the thought of everything that had happened these few weeks.

First, she had lost her husband, the king of Posari. She had also been told that Yufei would be unable to use her legs again and as though that wasn't enough, blindness struck too.

Yufei screamed and struggled as she called on her mother. She heard the whispering of a maid to one, saying she was blind. Yufei would not take this, she wanted her mother to hold her and tell her that they were lying and they had been playing a prank on her all this while.

Shyla cried as she watched her daughter. Little Yufei didn't deserve all of this, she had always been a sweet and loving child, but now, her life was a tragedy.

"No need to panic your highness, it's only temporary", the attendant said with hopes of consoling her highness. He had been able to calm Yufei until she slept. He bowed slightly and strode out of the room. Everyone followed suit except Shyla who took a seat beside Yufei as she watched her snore gently.

These past weeks had been hell for her. The kingdom had to bury their king to prevent his body from decaying. This had hurt Shyla a lot because her daughter was not present to bade farewell to her father. She wanted to end her life when she heard of her husband's death, but Yufei had given her hope of a better life. She had given her a reason to be alive and fight for justice. She had given her the strength to avenge her husband's death.

Yufei, this little girl, her princess, her hope, her life, her future queen of Posari, she was the cure to all her pain.