True Nature

The True King 1

Screams and sounds of pain woke up Yan Da. Opening her eyes, she was met by a horrific scene. She didn't know where she is but the place is burning down into the ground. She quickly got up. She was about to leave when a cry stopped her. A child's cry.

She followed it. She found the boy under some rubbles. Hurriedly, she got the boy and left the burning place. Luckily, she found a dry cave. Using her energy, she hid it, no one can enter it without her knowledge.

Her mind was in chaos but she needed to act fast. The boy in her arms was fading fast. She deposited him on the flat surface of a rock. The boy whimpered, feeling the cold stone against his body.

"Shh..." Yan Da said, caressing the boy's cheek. "It's going to be alright." She then gathered her energy. Slowly, she let it seeped into the boy, healing him.

Earlier that day...

A celebration was being held in the Ice Palace. The fire king planned it. He's happy after all. He's to be wed to the mermaid princess in two days. He invited all. He even went far to invite a group of performers from a different realm.

Everything was going well. Until the leader of the performers brought out the gem called Unveil. Legend says that it would show one's true nature by putting them into situations.

The leader was asking for volunteers but it seems like the jewel had another in mind because it pulled Yan Da in before anyone could blink.

Back to the present...

Yan Da slowly retracted her energy when she saw that the boy was fully healed. She then covered him with her coat seeing him shiver.

~~~

"Well that was unexpected. I wonder why the jewel chose Princess Yan Da?" the leader mused. "I guess we'll find out. Ah, don't be shocked if you'll hear her thoughts and view some of her memories. That's the way of the jewel for us to understand and get to know her better." He said at the crowd who were also watching Princess Yan Da. "Time will also move faster in there."

"But will she be alright?" Flame asked. He's a bit not thrilled that it was Yan Da who was pulled by the jewel.

"That will depend on her. This is to reveal and test who she is truly. There's no way to know what will happen to her. But as long as she doesn't give up. She'll be able to come back in here."

"We can't do anything at all?"

"None, Your Majesty. The jewel won't let us. No one can ever interfere. Moreover, no one would be able to leave the throne room until her journey is over. No worries. You won't need the comfort room nor the need to rest. The jewel made sure of that so we wouldn't miss a thing."

The king sighed. This is going to be a very long night.

Meanwhile, Shuo Gang was focused on the child. It couldn't be, he thought.

~~~

The boy suddenly woke up, surprising Yan Da. The boy's eyes were wide. Yan Da could see the fear and panic in them. She slowly, approached him. If he startled him, he'll most likely lashed out.

"It's okay. You're safe." Yan Da said soothingly. The boy trembled. "Hush." She said, gently pulling him in her arms.

"It's okay. You're safe." She repeated. The boy in her arms sobbed, clinging to her like a lost child that finally found its mother. She held him tight, whispering comforting words.

When he had calm down, she let her go. "Are you feeling better?"

The boy shook his head. Yan Da's eyes soften. The poor boy. He must have suffered a lot before she found him.

"Hungry?"

At that, the young one looked at her eagerly. Yan Da chuckled. "What do you want to eat?"

"Fruits and meat." The boy mumbled.

"Cooked?"

The boy looked at her in disgust. Yan Da laughed. "Just making sure." She then prepared the fire and the meat. Handing the fruits to the child that she picked outside.

When the meat was done, the boy eagerly ate them.

"Slowly." Yan Da reprimanded. The boy was about to retort when he saw the seriousness in her eyes. He gulped. It reminded him of his mother. Tears the began to pool out from his eyes at that thought.

Yan Da crouched down, cupping the child's cheek. "What's wrong?"

"You reminded me of my mother." the child answered, putting down his meal. "She has eyes like yours."

"What happened to her?" Yan Da dread for the answer.

"She's dead. Everyone in my family is dead." the boy told her, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm the only one left."

"I'm so sorry." Yan Da said, hugging him tightly. How old is he? He barely looked five.

~~~

The people in the throne room were quiet. Some were even crying.

"Princess Yan Da, would be a good mother someday don't you think?" A member of the troop said.

"Yes. If I didn't know any better, I would think that those two are mother and son." Another commented.

"Wait. What do you mean?"

"Look at them. Tell me that you don't see any resemblance."

Hearing that, the crowd look at the two closer. Now, that she mentioned it...

~~~

Yan Da carefully bathed the boy. His body was still recovering after all.

"What?" she asked when she noticed that the boy was studying her carefully.

"What tribe are you from?" he asked.

"The fire tribe." She answered. The boy frowned.

"Are you really?" His voice laced with disbelief.

"You don't believe me. Why?" Yan Da returned, stopping what she's doing.

"Because you look like a royalty and I'm pretty sure that you don't belong to my family."

"W-what?"

"I said I'd know if you belong to my family." The boy repeated. Yan Da gulped. Quite scared to know the answer to her next question.

"What's your name?"

The boy smiled, showing his baby teeth. "My name is Shuo Gang. The crown prince of the fire tribe."