The festivities lasted through the entire night, and I was surprised by my entire family. Father and Mother finally spilled the beans and told us all about the "royal bloodline". When Astaroth returned to hTraé and founded the Ryudō, he did so with the idea of unity. However, when it was time to claim an heir, he had two worthy candidates, his son, Samael and his twin sister, Kauri, later she'd change her name to Mammon and rule over the half of land her father left her; that land was Miryudōra.
Everyone made their way inside the palace and into their respective guest rooms. I was told that everyone was going to be changing into their garbs and that I still needed to be fitted for mine. It was still so late in the night that I didn't think that there was going to be enough time to meet with everyone. Sure enough, however, the Holy Dragon Maids worked insanely fast, fashioning me a gorgeous black kimono that was embroidered with cherry blossoms flowing up the left side and the accent was the deepest of royal purples I'd ever laid eyes on.
"This is a masterpiece, are you sure I can wear this?" I hesitated; I did admire the gown.
Grandina, one of the younger maids approached me with a teary-eyed smile, "Please, M'Lady," she said, "we've waited so long to have our true Empress."
True Empress? She went on to tell me how this nation was a matriarchal society, and how although they liked Prime Minister Aether, the denizens all agreed that they are in need of the prophesized True Empress. The one that can embody the aspects of the three greedy kings of old and that can lead Miryudōra to a bright future.
I did have to take all that in and make it fast, so, I did just that. I put on the kimono and a massive wave of anxiety left my body. I suddenly felt more confident, and that fish out of water, yet at home feeling that I felt since birth, all but vanished when I saw myself in the mirror; I knew in this moment that I was truly at home.
Down in the palace's dining hall, everyone was dressed similarly. It was an aspect of all the dragon born descendants, but in Miryudōra, it was engrained into the way of living. I felt like an esteemed guest at a royal Japanese dinner; it wasn't too far from the truth; I was a candidate for the throne after all.
We ate traditional Miryudōran dishes such as live bearsquid and Copperhead Salmon poke bowls. They even had my favorite, Elkboar pork, and the way that was prepared left my mouth drooling; Elkboar Katsu Curry, a combination of words that I'd never imagine saying, let alone eating. And here I was, doing the unbelievable.
The flavors of the deep-fried pork spewed out with each bite that I consumed; the curry was both sweet and savory and when paired with the elkboar katsu, it created a deep fired and smothered taste that reminded me of the Japanese-Memphis Barbeque fusion restaurants that were popular back in my old life. Even then, I was a sucker for some katsu curry, and I was blessed that I was able to enjoy it once more.
With full bellies, we retired to our respective rooms to catch some much-needed sleep. Though the palace was carved into a cave, each room had windows to view the outside. It was like the palace was here first and the mountain formed around it. I mention this because, as luck would have it, the Empress' chambers are facing the south toward the sea, and the mountain range blocks the towns and villages from would-be Mana Beasts from the Extreme Mana Zone: South.
So, this is supposed to be my kingdom? I sat on my bed taking down my hair from the traditional updo for banquets in Miryudōra. My mind was filled with ways that I could be a better version of myself if I were to go through with the Ritual. I was not only doing this for myself, but an entire nation was looking to me to be their rightful ruler. This would be heavy stuff for the average child to handle, but I would've already turned sixty-eight by now and I think that's been my saving grace.
I drifted off to sleep, not before I heard a tap on my window. This was odd because again, my room was facing the sea; when I looked outside my window and was met with not only the raging waters of the Aquahargion Sea, but a ship anchored next to the jagged rocks. On that ship, was Ayosaki smiling and motioning me to join her.
"Your training as an Assassin Dragon Empress starts now!" Ayosaki's smile radiated my room; I was tired and full, but my heart, my heart was racing. I wanted nothing more than to leap out of my room and join her.
"Wait, what about Nata?" I asked, she was my best friend, and she'd come all this way with me; I wouldn't have felt right leaving her behind. But as luck would have it, Renata popped her head up from one of the trapped doors of the ship's floor.
"What about me?" Renata was dressed in a brown and green corset and a ruffled white blouse and wore a large brown hat with green feathers. This was a pirate crew, and I was going to be joining them on their adventures.
"C'mon, we've got your clothes on deck, Commander!" Ayosaki yelled, "crew is waiting for your orders!"
Without a second thought, I leaped out of my room and used my signature in a way that I'd never thought I could, I dove into the shadows of the rocks. I had never tried diving into my own shadow, so the feeling of doing it in a shadow that wasn't my own, that was unsettling. I arose from the waters on the other side of the ship, much to everyone's relief.
"M'Lady," Ayosaki stated, "You may be in consideration for the throne, but you mustn't be so reckless. Remember you're still a child." It was weird hearing another kid tell me to be a child, after all she was the one that told me to join the crew.
"Anyway, Ayo, is this your ship?" I asked with joy in my voice.
"Ayo!?" the question echoed throughout the deck, silencing the entire crew.
"Did I say something wrong?" The question was genuine; I didn't want to offend her when she was just starting to warm up to me.
The young girl erupted in a fit of laughter, "I've never met someone bold enough to address me so casually!" Her face bolstered a sense of child-like glee, "It's always, 'yes ma'am', 'captain Ayosaki, the daughter of Prime Minister Aether;' I forgot what it's like to be my own person and have individuality." Her words were quite mature for someone that was two years' older than me, but I resonated with them, nevertheless.
The following days were spent on the hidden shore of Miryudōra where Renata and I were subjected to some intense training. "M'Lady has a bit of an advantage, seeing that her combat affinity is ninjutsu," Ayo lectured, "and Lady Renata being a mage archer, relies on stealth to ensure clean and precise kills."
Every morning, we lifted weights attached to ropes to increase our dexterity and mobility. We hiked the cold mountains of Miryudōra for hours at a time before finally making it back to the ship where we would make dinner. I didn't have an issue with the schedule, and making dinner was probably one of my favorite parts. It reminded me of my studies at Remington or rather would be studies there.
Three Years Later; Mirini Palace, Miryudōra, Ryudō-ShanGriLa; 22 Terridarth 45R7X
After three dreadful years, Renata and I were finally ready to set the seas. Ayo's training was designed to ensure that we wouldn't get sick on our journey and that we could fend for ourselves if push comes to shove. The days leading up to our departure, I received a letter from Ogunosuke, he'd wished me a grand journey and farewell, as well as telling me that he was going to raise his status and be worthy to marry. He was a sweet boy, very awkward, but sweet.
I kissed my loved ones goodbye before boarding the ship, and the same thought kept lingering in my mind, this is insane, I'm not even a teenager, physically, and yet I'm already setting sail on a pirate adventure. The ship set sail, and we were off, Ayo mentioned that we were going to be visiting each land mass to deliver a decree of recognition stating that I am to assume the Miryudōran throne as Empress. This was one of many diplomatic tasks that the Ritual encompassed.
Our first destination is Renata's homeland, the continent of Besteria, home to both beast nations, Bestahlagro and Fangalore, we were to meet with the former to establish diplomatic relations with Lady Eos. It helped that Renata was with me, it made the whole recognition to the throne thing a lot easier.
"Lady Minerva," Lady Eos said with a smile, "Although you are young and have much to learn, I would like to say that I am very proud of you for being so responsible at such a young age."
"Thank you, your Majesty," I bowed before the queen.
"And Renata," Lady Eos directed her praise towards her own daughter, "you've grown so much from the shy and outspoken girl that needed others to fight your battles. You've found solidarity in your dearest friends and that is more than what I could have ever dreamed of you having." She wiped the tears forming from her eyes and grabbed a wooden scepter, embedded with crystals and gems and placed the top on my right shoulder.
"Yo, Rebecca Eos Faust-Bestahla, Reina Bestia de Bestajlagro, por la presente proclamo a Minerva Cosmina Wyllt y a Renata Timandra Faust como dignas de suceder al trono en sus respectivas naciones," she was speaking the royal Bestahlagran language. "Con los poderes que me han sido otorgados, llamaré a los otros cinco Grandes Señores Demonio al completar vuestro ritual. Entonces, les serán conferidos sus títulos. Aunque sois poderosas ahora, aún no estáis preparadas para llevar el título en su totalidad."
After the ceremony, Renata told me what her mother said, basically she recognizes us as rightful heirs to the throne and that once I finish my visiting each continent, the Six Great Demon Lords will give us full access to the title system.
"What's so important about the title?" I asked Renata.
Renata shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure, but they're making a really big deal about it so whatever it is, it must be important."
While we were in Bestahlagro, we of course kept up with our training, but Renata also made time to show me around her kingdom. There were all sorts of neat shops and cafes, the country was known for their baked goods and sweets, while the neighboring country of Fangalore was known for the coffee that was cultivated there.
The two nations had a friendly relationship with each other, mostly because like in the Ryudō, there was a family succession that led to the creation of the second country. Surprisingly the second country was Bestahlagro, Fangalore had been the name of the overall kingdom, and when the succession happened and Sir Ammon, the Life Barrer's more liberal heir gained the land of Fangalore, the conservative aristocracy decided that it would be within their best interest to pledge their allegiance to the neighboring nation.
We were only in the nation for about a week before we set sail to Dartaania, the land of the Dartaani Elves. The boy that I'd punched that was bullying Renata all those years ago was a Dartaani Elf, and they all had the same trait, their quick temper. It's terrible to stereotype, but it was common practice at Caliburn to avoid a Dartaani Elf when they were upset.
I didn't want to think that every elf that I met was bad, that wouldn't make me any better than the racist white people back in my old life. Instead, I went to the continent with a completely opened mind, and I was introduced to one of the richest cultures I'd ever seen. The only way that I could really describe it was like a mixture of Somali and Thai cultures.
The western coast of the continent was rowed with peninsulas, each housing entire market cities. This was the Badweyna Ports, a trading hub and fish market; it was the continent's main source of income, and they were clearly thriving. The shop keeps and customers alike were bedazzled in jewelry. The commerce in this land was a sight to behold, but Badweyna was not our destination, "We need to make our way inward toward the capital, Kaynta," Ayo said looking at a map, "It'll be a two-day journey by carriage."
As we docked the ship and gathered our things, I wondered how long this little adventure would take me? I had already been on the waters for six months now and I still had to travel to three more continents and an archipelago. I'd wondered if I was going to be able to attend Avalon Academy in time with my siblings.
They were valid questions that needed some form of an answer, and I knew the only way that I was going to get those answers was by completing this ritual. And after meeting the Demon Lord, Thanatos, and being recognized as heiress to the Miryudōran throne, it made Demon Lord Eros of the Faewelt Kingdom in West Sidhe and Demon Lady Hypnos of the Akuma Dynasty more than willing to acknowledge us.
Astral Cape, ShanGriLa; 14 Shandowr 48R7X
With three years of sea travel under my belt, we finally made port back to ShanGriLa. We'd docked right outside of the Astral Cape, which was north of Garyudōra, my original home nation. Before we went there, however, Ayo told me that it was her birthday and that she was really looking forward to celebrating with her new friends because after we meet with my father, we wouldn't be able to spend time with each other like this again.
"You'll always be by my side; I'll make sure of it." We exchanged tears of joy and happiness as I took my two closest friends into the kingdom.
Garyudōra's main export is actually a hallucinogenic herb used by high priests and hierophants in church. The herb smells exactly like weed, extremely pungent and sour, but it allows the user to communicate with higher beings that deliver messages from Tiamat. It's regulated and the side effects of it are too risky for the average person to consume. Father made sure to tell me that the herb was made for mages that have fully matured in their signatures, and even then it was still risky to consume.
That wasn't the only thing Garyudōra had to offer though, we were mostly known for our festivals, specifically the Spring Music Festival. We had just barely missed this year's festival, but they're better as the years pass by. There was a small village festival going on that we went to. We had all sorts of market foods, and treats, and we played all the festival games that were standing. For a little village, they sure did know how to throw down. The time I had with my sisters was amazing, compared to meeting my father.
I was so nervous that I kept breaking into a cold sweat; I didn't have a reason to feel this way, I was there for diplomatic reasons. At the time, I was feeling guilty for partying the night before an important event. It hadn't been in vain though, Father had told us that he acknowledged me when I accepted the invitation to the ritual.
"You're extremely intelligent," Father said, "I'd be a fool not to be the first to acknowledge how strong and capable you are."
My heart was filled with admiration and my body instinctively reacted on its own, flinging myself towards my father to embrace him. I cried; I cried so hard that my already red ears were hot to the touch because of my blushing. "Thank you, Daddy," I looked up at my father, tears streaking my face as I forced a crooked smile. I wasn't sad, I was happy. I never thought that I'd have a father that would be so kind to me. Someone that would be so willing to have this much faith in me. And to see me make him proud, I didn't know what else to do, but to cry and hug my daddy.
To be Continued...