𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐒 {spirit animals}

3. Rising in Flames

Mid-spring in the royal gardens of Zhong was always a sight to behold. Trees were blooming, and the sky was a clear blue, illuminating the ancient architecture of the emperor's palace, red and gold glowing in the morning light.

        Shen Chang was heading for his chambers in the castle, to retrieve a book he was in the process of reading. Hopefully on his way, he'd make a stop at the library too. Shen made his way down the rows of flowerbeds, and with a nod of acknowledgment to the many guards posted at the door, entered the building to be greeted with a castle of gold.

       On his way, he greeted the many generals and handmaidens that passed by, at this point he knew everyone in this place by name. Some respectfully returned his greetings, while a select few avoided eye contact.

       He opened the doors to his chambers, setting his sword down by a window-side table. It was a rare day he got so much free time, as his father was busy in an urgent meeting with the emperor. Normally at this time of day, Shen would be in the training arena, honing his skills in combat should anything call for it.

       Most children born of high status in Zhong received some kind of training in combat, one way or another. Either their parents wanted something to fill their time, or they were simply interested in the art and were curious to learn it. That was originally the same case for Shen. His father, Lord Xen found him an instructor one day after Shen showed an interest in watching the Zhongese warriors practice on the military grounds.

       He was about eight at the time, and by some miracle of fate, that's when all the royal assassinations had started.

       Shen remembered very clearly that first day when the emperor's youngest son had been pronounced dead. His name was Heshuai, a friend of Shen's at the time. Most had assumed the young prince had run out of the palace to play again, but later that night a search party had found his body dead by the river, a knife in his chest.

       His older brother, the eldest prince had vowed to find the murderer and avenge his sibling. Taiyun was a ruthless warrior, and everyone was sure that when he became emperor, Zhong would thrive like never before. He ordered soldiers to scout the forests, even went out himself to try and personally finish off the criminal, but there was no such luck. Instead, he was killed a week later, poisoned by a beverage he drank, and instantly perished.

       That left one prince, Fenlin, the middle brother. The emperor took all possible precautions to keep him safe, having guards accompany his son everywhere he went. Then one day, in a secluded corridor of the palace, Fenlin was found, murdered, along with five other guards.

       To this day, no one has been able to find out who was behind these deaths. Now, all the emperor's sons were dead, leaving Shen, his niece, as the only living heir to the throne.

       It was a miracle no one had come after him yet. Maybe it was because no one knew the emperor had a niece, or maybe their sole purpose was to get rid of those three brothers. Either way, these mysterious deaths distressed Shen's father to no extent. Xen became paranoid, never letting his son leave the palace, should this assassin come after him too. He trained Shen day and night, forging him into a warrior, so he could fight should it come down to it.

       Shen knew it was a risk to walk around town with no precautions as he so often did, but it had been six years since the murders of the three princes, and he was still alive. He was almost certain whoever the killer was had no interest in finding him, so Shen decided it was safe for him to go on with his normal life.

       He looked out his window to see the village in the distance. It was a nice day in Zhong, the spring breeze sweeping through the land, with the sun in the sky. Shen decided a walk through the township wouldn't hurt. He threw on a dark cloak, grabbed his sheathed sword in case of an emergency, and headed back out.