Err of Aquarius

Faith Vs Works

"The Crown Princess is missing!"
    The Imperial palace was in complete disarray. Imperial Knights were sent into the surrounding cities. The Imperial Guardsmen searched every part of the Palace, both concealed and not.
    The Congressman, woken in the midst of their slumbers and other nightly activities, stood in the throne room. The room was barely lit, the illumination ors along the wall made it hard for each of them to see.
    That is, except for Ophiuchus.
    The head Congressman looked as awake as he had several hours before, not a drop of sleepiness in his eyes. A small smile spread across his face, and if any of his comrades saw it, they made no display.
    The seven of them stood in a circle at the foot of the Imperial Throne. A golden carpet stretched from the large double doors to the throne itself was several yards long. ANcient folk would compare its length to that of a "football field."
    The walls had no windows. This was to deter assassins with ranged weapons. That was how Emperor Zayus was killed after all.
    The walls were made of dense stone that couldn't be broken. Afterall, Lord Telecron had slayed Emperor Era after breaching the imperial throne room.
    The ceiling was of the same material, though it was so high up that if anyone decided to enter the throne room via the roof, their fall would kill them. That is how Emperor Haethora watched her first assassin die in the middle of her Ascension. The body of the bounty hunter Zev plummeted and went still so fast, she had to stifle a laugh.
    "We should summon her," Congressman Ophiucus breathed.
    A few of his comrades exchanged glances, some nodding, others still confused.
    "If we could summon the Crown Princess, we would have done so by now." one of them scoffed. He was an average build man, with a large black mustache and brown skin. Waving his hands around him, he gestured to the empty throne.  "I'm sure you are aware of the current situation, yes?"
    Ophiucus hid his disdain with a snicker. "Of course, of course." with long fingers, he fanned the congressman off. "I'm speaking of the Emperor, not the Crown princess."
    The congressman blanched. Another congress member spoke up. "Are you implying we disturb Emperor Haethora from her meditation?"
    All eyes fell on Ophiuchus, much to his pleasure. Licking his lips he reminded the Congress of the last time the Crown Princess disappeared:
    "Before Haethora took her vow of exile, the young princess used to disappear into the night more frequently. I'm afraid the details of her daughter's whereabouts were kept a secret between the emperor and her previous advisor, but perhaps the Emperor can... inform us of whatever it was that caused Princess Aquairus to vanish."
    It was silent for a moment until:
    "Perhaps it's stress," one of the congressmen grumbled. He was a large man who had his arms crossed over his chest. "The poor girl is about to be the youngest Emperor in history in a few days."
    Ophiucus frowned. "The Crown Princess is not one to allow stress to override her duties. She believes in reason over feeling, as you know."
    "There is no rationality in disappearing overnight." the mustached congressman chided.
    Another congressman butt in, changing the subject. She was a younger woman of dark skin "Why don't we ask Haethora's previous advisor? Surely they should be available, despite the late hour."
    Another congressman yawned. "Yeah. Hopefully."
    In the darkness, the corner of Ophioucus' lip twitched. Refortifying his smile he reminded them of what happened to the previous Imperial Advisor.
    "Advisor Inbu was executed."
    The young congresswoman frowned. "And why was that?"
    "Preaching heresy against the Congress after we... uh, took his position." the mustached one answered
    In Haethora's absence, the duties of the Empire fell to the crown princess, who was no older than seventeen. After several months, it was clear that the young girl was not capable of ruling the empire. Thus the Imperial Congress was formed to assist the Crown Princess. The only downside was that the previous Advisor Inbu was no longer needed.
    After being removed from his position, Inbu began to preach some nonsense about the Congress trying to overthrow the throne.
    Ophiucus had to hide his excitement as he watched Inbu's public execution; the previous advisor was on to something.
    "Well, we are not disturbing Emperor Haethora from her meditation." the mustached congressman declared. A few others nodded. Ophiucus forgot to hide his disgust.
    "Are you suggesting we just wait around for Aquarius to show up?" Ophiucus hissed.
    But the congressman nodded. "It is called having faith, Ophiucus." He recited a line from current religious teachings. "We must trust the Light to guide us through uncertainty as much as we trust the Darkness to hide from us what is not for us to know."
    "Amen," the others obliged. Ophiuchus remained silent as he glared at the others.
    What a bunch of fools! Faith is the blind man's crutch! It is action that gets things done. Through works!
    Ophiucs let the others toil away at ideas for several minutes. One of them suggested Aquarius was at the Library.
    "A few knights mentioned that Princess Gemini was headed in that direction. Perhaps she was off to visit her sister?"
    "The Imperial Library is closed at this hour!" Ophiucus hissed.
    "Not to the Princess'. I'm sure the Librarian would oblige if they requested access." The Congresswoman stated.
    The larger congressman nodded in agreement. "He is their cousin after all."
    Several others chimed in. They came to the conclusion that the princesses were visiting their cousin, celebrating the boy's ascension to lord early.
    Ophiucus almost spat at the mention of the crippled offworlder. Instead he licked his lips.
    In the climax of the Congress' near agreement that the Princess' were at the library, a pulse of heat filled the room.
    Near the doors of the Throne room, flames erupted from nowhere, the heat from them reaching the throne itself. Light filled the room, blingin the onlooking congressman. Only Ophiucus stared on at the flames, watching them die down through squinting eyes.
    In the shadow of the flames was a young woman. The details of her eluded Ophiucus since it appeared the woman's form shimmered. The only thing he could make out was her silhouette: curly hair that seemed to fall and twist into a braid. A skirt that melted into a dress. A shoulder bag turned out to be the woman's hand, carrying a familiar round object. It wasn't until the aura around the woman dissipated that she was unveiled to be-
    "Crown Princess Aquairus!" Ophiucus exclaimed.
    He and the other congressman rushed to her. She wasn't burned despite being asked in flames a moment ago. Her face seemed undisturbed, until she saw the congressman. The space around her eyes melted into a disdainful look in the blink of an eye.
    Behind her, the throne room doors burst open, allowing the Imperial Guardsman to spill into the room. With their swords raised to attack, the Guardsmen froze when they saw the Crown Princess. They dropped to bow to their ruler in perfect unison.
    Crown Princess Aquaiurs paid them no mind. Instead she handed the round object in her hand to one of the Guardsmen. Whatever it was, it looked like an egg. A very large egg.
    "Put this back in the Cryo chamber." she commanded. Without hesitation, the Guardsmen left the room, his cape flowing behind him.
    The other congressman had bowed before OPhiucus, a fact that made him sneer. He almost missed the Crown princess leaving the room.
    "Crown Princess!" he shouted, raising his hand to get her attention. She stopped in the doorway.
    "Yes, Ophi?" it was clear she was irritated. By what, Ophiucus had no clue.
    "Where were you? You made us worried! We sent Knights to tear the cities apart to find you."
    Turning away, she gave him a simple answer that tore at him. "That's none of your concern." She left the room, possibly to return to her chambers.