Caesar

CHAPTER TWO • ACER

A blue leaf with indigo veins falls gently from a curled golden branch on the Nieros tree. An enchanted giant of a tree with numerous leaves hanging loosely on various curled branches. The tree is believed to give life and take it back as the souls of the dead later become the leaves on its branches. Every time a leaf falls to the ground, that soul had already been reincarnated. Other leaves hang on various branches carried by its fat stem of great towering heights. Behind the tree, there is an unusual lake 'the lake of deception' contrary to its name, it reveals the truth about oneself that one fails to see. It's red waters moves as the leaf slowly falls on a black carriage which moves through a paved road passing a huge signboard.
"Wᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴɢʀᴏɪɴ, ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɢᴇs!"

Further into Mountaingroin, a crowd of commoners gathers close to an extension of the lake of Deception. A bunch of The Riferos clan greatest mages sit above them on heighten seats with the High Priest sitting in the middle on the largest seat.A mage calls out announcing the arrival of various nobles.

"Lord Mekandaya of The Neon Valley!" A noble dressed in silken clothes rides through the huge black gates accompanied by various guards. He rides through a road paved out and surrounded by green carpet grass on both sides.

"Lord Nostradamus of The Viles!" A sliver steel carriage drives through the paved part. Its sliver wheels move swiftly as more people join the already overpopulated crowd. The voices of the commoners sounds loud as they hail the nobles.

Verbena walks through the crowd, her black heels sound loudly in the midst of their constant humorous hails. The black veil she puts on is long with threaded black designs, it covers the bridge of her nose with the fabric extending over her stomach only leaving space for her eyes and hair. She makes her way to the front of the crowd minimising any contact she might have had with the commoners. She observes the passing carriages and horses standing only a few feet from the paved part, authorities move with long sticks striking anyone who comes close to the barrier.

"Introducing The Imperial Family!" A huge golden carriage accompanied by a ton of horses pass through the part. Immediately they are announced, all the commons go down on the grounds, knees and heads directing touching it. The hailing is loud sounding over the whole assembly like music at a modern club. The Emperor, a thin white haired man with pale skin and huge dark circles waves and so does his Empress. Their three sons ride on horses accompanying them.

"I hear the Emperor's health is ailing!" An average aged woman whispers to her friend, a woman dressed in dull coloured worn out clothes.

"It's even better!...The Ninos Family has presided over Yunchi for over hundreds of years. I believe it's time for a new...!" The friend whispers back. Verbena kneels but her head is not touching the ground, her ears listen to the gist of the commoners.

"Shhh!" The woman rebukes;
"Are you aware of the consequence for saying that? Besides the Emperor has three healthy sons and has named a crown prince...don't tell me you are implying that the Hwansu...!"

"So what? When famine and drought was all over the land, where was the Imperial Family? They ate from the food reserve not bothering to distribute food to the populace...wasn't it the Hwansu who saved us from death, starvation and people? Did you forget how people turned into monsters? Skin tearing monsters! Human eating beasts! All because of the lack of food. Mothers ate children, some fed their children from their own flesh. Kidnapping was the order of the day...my daughter was...i only found her head in a pot boiling on hot flame!" Tears fall down her eyes as her voice breaks due to remembrance.

The other woman also has tears in her eyes but they don't fall down her cheeks. She continues;
" The Imperial family has presided over Yunchi for hundreds of years and yet they ignored the plights of the commons...just take a look at Nivenia, a burden land with unfertile soils and barren waters, ever since it was handed to the Hwansu as a gift for rendering help...that place was literally in ruins and The Emperor gave him those desolate lands to limit his eventual rise in court. Ironically, Nivenia has become the most developed land in Yunchi and it keeps expanding. Foreigners travel far and wide to do business in it...now think, if the Hwansu were to take over Yunchi, Yunchi would be the greatest Empire in Land mass, strength and fame..."

As Verbena listens with her knees to the ground, she couldn't help but wonder;
"The Hwansu had the support of kings, lords and masses, why hasn't he conquered Yunchi? Why did he settle for the 2nd most influential position when he could be Emperor? The Imperial carriage finally moves away and she stands up so does the Crowd. Soon her eyes spot a huge black carriage driving close to the Lake of Deception. It's patterns are so unique that it could only be the...

"Introducing The Hwansu of Nivenia!" To her dismay, The whole crowd falls to the ground, their whole body lies on the bare sand. The hailing is louder than even that of the imperial family. The masses even play musical instruments, display paintings of him and even dare to yell and clap loudly.
"Hwansu, god of Yunchi. When the gods condemned us, he redeemed us!" They all hail in unison chanting it loud.

Verbena is the only one standing in the prostrating crowd. 'What is wrong with these people? this would definitely cause mayhem at court' her thoughts runs wild. As the chanting continues, his hand waves out of the carriage with a bright smile plastered on his face but something in her told her it was fake. As the carriage drives through, his eyes meets hers locking them. This time she sees a breath taking smile form on his face and he winks dashingly at her. As their eyes refuse to waver, water leaks out of her eyes and she uses her wrist to clean it.

"What is wrong with me?"

Suddenly, she feels a hand drag her to the ground. One so wrinkled, weak and frail.

"Child! What do you think you are doing? If the authorities catch you, you'll be hanged, doesn't matter how rich or prestige you are...Can't you see...even the lords are on their knees?"

It's then her eyes look around, the lords kneel on their heightened seats chanting loudly. What is going on? Her eyes widen surprised and astonished.

Her eyes return back to the frail old woman who still hold her hands like a mother would to a child. Her wrinkled eyes showed something similar to sincerity and care. Verbena pushes her to the ground dusting her hands with a handkerchief that she later throws to the ground.
"Worry about your own self!" She says coldly as she gets off her knees and walks through the crowd. She walks few feet from the woman close to the lake, but stops when she feels a fabric appear round her neck out of no where. She puts her hand on her neck dragging the fabric off. Her eyes observe the fabric, its quality so rich, patterns well crafted. Her eyes look at the golden floral embroidery. She raises her head holding the fabric; "It belonged to the Hwansu!" She hisses throwing it to the ground than continues walking forward.

As she walks, her eyes observes the red waves of the lake. With her eyes still on the waves, she bumps into someone. His hair brown, skin radiant. She stops thinking. He looked so familiar but why couldn't she remember him?

"I am sorry!" He apologizes but doesn't walk away instead he looks into her eyes and immediately a weird chill runs over her skin. She tries to walk away but oddly she is unable to move any further.

"I am Acer, i believe we have met before...at least in your dreams!"