The Fifth Season

CHAPTER NINE: PALACE OF EUTHORIA

SNOH

            "You have got to be kidding me! You're going to meet the Grand Empress this evening?" Lulu was flabbergasted by my words, but even more so surprised when I showed her the official invitation by the Imperial Palace. Her eyes scanned the pristine ivory letter with admiration and shock before her twinkling green eyes returned to me for added confirmation, "You're not serious, are you?" She questioned me once more.

             I sighed deeply resting against the floor of her bedroom where countless items of her clothing had been sprawled out, all in an attempt to be packed away into trunks so she can travel to Sprite school in a couple of days. The notion of her leaving made me pretty sad, but not as sad as when I initially heard of the big change; I now had Saam and Koia was still here with me as well, so I'll be fine. Not to mention the added stress and abrupt changes happening in my own private life, I was rather busy these days to even worry about being alone.

           "You read the letter, did you not?" I asked her.

            She huffed and threw her hands up dramatically, "I still can't believe it! I mean no one in Wysteria who isn't deemed important enough gets to gaze upon her Imperial Majesty's face... it's a true honor." Lulu quickly rushed over to me, surprising me and she clasped my hands together into her own.

             "You'll have to tell me all about how she looks! I surely hope the rumors of her extreme beauty ring true... I mean being over eight hundred isos old you would think a person would become ashes in the wind... but the Empress is special." She stated.

             I guess she really is. I really hadn't thought about the Empress as a whole since receiving the invitation but the thought of actually meeting her was dawning on me. I was going to meet the leader of the Wysterian nation. She was a force to be reckoned with, an extremely powerful elementists that none could ever think of dominating; many rumors have spread of her ability to control over three elements when the standard to which a regular elementalists could harbor power was two natural elements, never more than that—but she could manifest more than anyone can think of, but was it really true?

             I mean I had no reason to believe it wasn't. Someone who could live that long and remain on the throne for the same period was destined to cultivate a multitude of talents. Which brought me back to my current dilemma on why she wanted to see me of all people?

              My lips curved into a pensive look as I sighed, I guess I would see when I got there.

             "She is." I agreed with Lulu long enough for her to release me from her hold. I watched as she sighed deeply and rolled over to her sleeping mat resting on the floor. Lulu closed her eyes resting her hands against her face in exhaustion.

            When I was younger, I thought Lulu sleeping on a special floor mat was odd. But back then I wasn't as exposed to native Etherian culture. In Etheral where Lulu originated from, didn't sleep on regular beds as we did here in Wysteria. In fact, the culture in Etheral was definitely a contradiction to life here in the nation.

              "Da-mae" as they liked to call it, was the belief that one had to rest as close to the earth as possible as to not lose any connection with its spirit and bond. Most Etherians practiced the religion of Faith of Peace—a passive approach to most things in life as to not disturb nature, which is what my best friend is mostly known for. I can't say how many times I had to step in and fight back against bullies who would take advantage of her kindness because of her strict-natured way of life that vowed against any kind of violence; it was one of the main reasons we became friends in the first place.