The Emperor and the Servant: A Tale of Two Heroes

Chapter 9: Two Trials

Previously: Depressed, the Emperor contemplates on his first defeat at the hands of Infinity and how it shattered his determination. He faces more problems as his court refuses to quell the strife in Germany in fear of getting wrapped up in the so-called Infinity Crisis. Christian grows worried as spies report in of Infinity’s acquisition of the first of the three pieces of the Map of Destiny. They soon realize that they must act. However Christian must push the Emperor to stand up again. He decides to take him to Greece, where he will meet with his past, a past he does not wish to come back to. Marcus and Raynen decide to act on their own. They part ways, with the Princess joining Marcus, unknown to her father. They both head to the Land of the Rising Sun as Marcus confides to the Princess two great secrets.

Main quote: “Do not prove yourself to others or to me because you will always be loved no matter what.” (Maria reveals her love for Marcus in convincing him to seek love instead of power.)

  Solus goes to the Library that night. He was distracted in thought…and writing his journal as he walks.

  This made him bump into an unfortunate individual, who happened to be bringing a lot of papers with him. His eyes meet…with a cold silent gaze. His thoughts now shift to this person and he helps him stack his fallen documents as fast he could while apologizing, not even taking the time to get his journal and quill pen from all the piles of documents. Suddenly, he feels something…like he knew this man before. Yet his face was not familiar so he left him, recovering his journal, without another moment to speak to this quiet person, whose eyes continue looking with intent as both men walk separate paths.

  He had just met the Seventh Chronicler of the Palace. And he did not even know it.

  August 12, 1205 A.D.  

  Land of the Rising Sun

 

  They just arrived. They stopped by a quiet port so only the shipyard men were present and spoke nothing to them. This, to the European, was either awkward silence or their silent hospitality.

  “Oh they are quite…quiet. I better use the Nippongo I learned from Christian.”

  But even with this change, no one spoke. The wind came rushing to them. They look upon the majestic Mount Fuji. At the palace in the capital, Kyoto, grand with its shrines to Buddha and the Kami or gods of nature, there were two men conversing as they look over the entire city, with its people like bees working.

  One was obviously the absent Far Eastern Emperor. He was never in communion with the Supreme Imperial Council. The other was a tall hooded figure. Try to figure it out when they talk.

  “We have sent search parties looking for it.”

  “Yet they were unable to locate it.” The figure looks at a piece of old paper. “I was mistaken to assume they would be revealed when found in their exact locations…or perhaps…”

  “There were rumors.”

  “Rumors?”

  “An ancient dragon resided in those hills.” This raised the figure’s glowing red eyes. “He is an ancient, probably saw the gods on the Sacred Mountain. According to my clansmen, he is the Yamato Guardian.”

  “Are you not one of them?”

  “I married into the family. Well, it ended badly. My two children were lost causes. None were worthy.”

  “So what do you plan to do when the time comes?”

  “I will not let anyone claim this Chrysanthemum Throne. None are worthy…and only I…”