亚洲综合中美

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” said the first who checked the car thoroughly, “-this is private property.”

“Will this be sufficient?” the door opened, leaving the guards baffled for never had they seen doors going upwards. Undisguised with a smile, “-do thee not recognize us?” said he who drove.

“Emperor Sultria and King of Arda,” an immediate salute with head-held high, “-we’re sorry for having been so rude.”

“No,” smiled Staxius, “-I must honor thee for an immaculate job. The reaction I expected was for thee to let us in as the car speaks for itself.”

“No, sire, we’d never be as so careless to let appearances speak instead of the truth.”

“Good, good, very good,” grinned the Emperor seeing the diligence.

.....

“Open the gates,” said the guard through an ear-piece. Used to the clanging of hinges and mechanism, Courtney readied herself for a crash of sound – her preparation ended in naught as it opened silently. No sound, nothing, a blank canvas of which left the mind to wonder how it worked.

“Emperor,” said Staxius as the gate reached its peak, “-let’s get ready for the worse. I doubt monsters are the only issues you’re dealing with. If push comes to shove, I will not hesitate to ask for reinforcement. I’m here as a bodyguard, a counselor, and most of all, a father to the lady my daughter chose.”

“Father, please,” he said strongly, “-I wish not to be referred as a boy for my soldier is readied for battle.”

“Please, don’t refer to thy stick as a fighter. I’m most certain the only fight it has done is against the partitions between thy chambers.”

Curiously enough, Sultria’s cheeks blazed into amber. He wanted to hide away but was faced with the face of Staxius against the mirror. “Sister, please, let’s not get into what the emperor does in his private time. Experimenting with oneself is the way of growth, is that not what was said earlier, how human evolved – I do strongly think the overworking of said member shall result in early retirement.”

“Stop it!” he cried whilst the duo laughed in his embarrassment.

‘The tense aura is gone. Sultria’s nervousness seems to have dwindled. I’ve not idea what awaits us before those gates – I might be stuck there for more than a few months. I apologize, Xula, Eira, Lizzie, in no way will I make it for the holidays. The plans for hosting a celebration on our wedding anniversary are postponed.’

Inside the walls was a mansion, one of which was rectangular hosting three-floors including the ground-floor. The rooftop seemed to have a balustrade running around the edges. On the sides were balconies peering into the plain-green-grass yard. No particular decoration, no fountains, nothing, only the crest of the Sultria family was shown. A sickle with wheat, “-the crest,” spoke Staxius, “-is it related to Kronos, the god of time?”

“So, you know,” a blissful smile came forth, “-I’ve noticed it on thy cheeks as well, father. Tis the reason why I respect and admire thee so much, the sickle, the weapon of the god of time, it’s a belief passed along the generations. He who wields the sickle shall be dubbed the god-slayer for he will slay all in hopes of fulfillment and resolve.”

“Tis rather presumptuous to think a mere sickle has the power to kill a god, don’t you think?” interjected Courtney.

“No, I don’t think so,” the car pulled to a stop, “-a sickle is but a blade, and a blade is wielded for harvest or slaying. Tis the user who decides what fate awaits the tool – the craftsman is he who makes though the farmer is he who decides,” the sentence, ambiguous to they who would have heard, was profound and based off real-life experience. The ascension to the throne of Alphia wasn’t one based on who was the oldest. No, the Emperor, Sultria I, deemed it fit to have the only most capable to lead to be allowed said right. A method used to find the strongest poison, insects known to be deadly locked inside a barrel – left to fight and survive, the end product, after bloodshed and carnage; the strongest. Sultria I, had experienced the process in the flesh, thus the obligation of having more than three heirs. The latter was tasked to study, scheme, and plot their way to the top. Familicide be damned, if one was in the way, either fight or left to be killed. A clear example was of Solomon’s action, a passive result birthed from the infighting.

“Home sweet home,” said the Emperor taking a big whiff of air.

“The mansion sure is big.”

“There’s no need for flattery, this house isn’t a house, I’d call it the lair for the devil himself. I’ve no idea the number of siblings, families, and more, killed on this property,” he soon fixed a strange stoned-building to the left of the mansion. Concealed by the tree, “-the family-crypt, it’s been locked since my father died. My ancestor was a mad-man, one who sought naught but power and the influence to carry on a dynasty of elites.”

“A legacy forged in death?” said Staxius reflecting onto the past.

“Precisely, a legacy forged in death, the exact wording describes my family. I wonder,” he paused, “-we may have more in common.”

“I wonder about that,” they walked in direction of the porch beside which rested flower-pots, “-Eira and my upbringing are similar. She strives to become like me, and like me, had to grow without a father. In my case, my father was here and not here at the same time, what I followed was a mindless wandering savant in search of answers, a person alienated for the sake of he who he wanted to protect. As for Eira, I sort of left a decade and a half in search of answers. The common thread is death, we know it too well. I all but hope Lizzie not be swept into the cruelty of what is real,” the words spoken and ideas given were carefully chosen – to give a vague idea whilst being ominous.

“You speak of the mansion being a place of slaughter, does reason not state it be wise to leave?”

“No,” he refuted with the shadow growing ever-so-close, “-the pleasant memories far out-weights what others have suffered. I’ve lived a good life with my father, after the fourth generation, the focus was placed on academic prowess as opposed to schemes. My father made sure to his siblings and cousins be saved from my grandfather.”

“Emperor,” said a maid trimming bushes around the low-windows, “-you’ve returned,” she said with a bow.

“Yes, I have returned, where is mother?”

“Her ladyship sleeps in her chambers, should I send for her?”

“No, leave her be, my breaking her sleep will be cause trouble. We wish not to incur the wrath of the sleeping one,” glanced about, “-I don’t see big sister, where is she?”

“Lady Amber is at Melmark,” replied the maid.

“Oh, what of my other brothers and sister?”

“None apart from lady Loftha is present, my lord.”

“Goodness gracious, pay it no matter, I shall see her at once. Have a good day, Stelle.”

“You too, sire, you too,” they soon left the tall, skinny, brown-complexioned maid to tend the bushes. A leap inside the door showed an empty hall, nothing, no paintings, nothing, the spotless wooden floor was it that stood out.

“Quite minimalistic, did something happen?” wondered the King for it was the first time visiting.

“No, it’s been this way since my father died, we’ve never bothered to change the interior. I didn’t particularly mind since my brothers and sisters are always roaming the continent dealing in business and such.”

“I heard you mentioned brothers and sisters – you might be courting my daughter, yet, I know nothing of thee and the family.”

“Father,” he paused, “-let’s discuss the matter of a warm-cup of tea.”

“Did you notice that?” elbowed Courtney upon climbing the stairs.

“A shadow,” he nodded, “-I did. Don’t worry about it.”

The empty corridor stretched long until a furbished room, “-here we are,” the door opened with a gust of wind. The curtains swayed with a lady bearing silvery-hair stood in a plain white dress. The emotionless response had Sultria recoil.

“Loftha,” he sighed, “-how many times do I have to repeat myself,” navigating around the numerous seats, “-don’t open the balcony when there are books and papers on the tables.”

“Brother,” said she monotonously, “-you’re back,” she ignored the prior complaint.

“Don’t go changing the topic,” quick to grab onto her cheeks, she gave a bored gasp of ahhhh.

“Who might they be,” unbothered by the now-fired red-cheeks, “-guests?”

“Family,” he returned, “-I’ve yet to introduce the King of Arda. He’s the father of Princess Eira”

“Big sister Eira,” the listless eyes sparked to the excitement, “-is she here?”

“No, I’m afraid you’ll have to contend with me.”

“Whatever,” the temperature dropped, “-I don’t care about you,” she said with a gesture,*CRASH!* every single piece of furniture, cutlery, and more shot at him at the speed of a bullet.

“SISTER!”

“What... I only grazed him,” a sigh followed, “-wait...” the room felt hot, “-what’s happening?” The reason for the prior scream wasn’t in anger for her actions, rather, it was in worry for the consequence. A lady bearing red-hair materialized and held a conjured dagger to the girl’s neck. Facing her stood Gophy, surrounded by naught but dust, the dust from the prior furniture.

“Brother...” the flamed-dagger soon approached, “-do something about this,” her voice remained neutral.

“Father...”

“Gophy, Intherna, thank you for looking out for me. I think she’s gotten the message, return to me at once.”

“Yes, master.” The hotness returned to mild.

“Quite the introduction,” he said in jest.

“Whatever,” she made for the door and left.

“Should we speak on the balcony?”

“Lets,” a rather awkward first-impression on the siblings he had never met. The sudden crashes and loud noises went around the mansion. It caught even the maid outside by surprise.

“Sorry about that,” apologized Sultria.

“No matter,” the stare befell the walls, “-how’s the Sultria family?”

“Suppose I should start with my name. I’m the Emperor and known as Sultria VI but I also go by Mark, a common name, I know, but tis was mother’s decision, a sort of nickname. In total, I have two sisters and two brothers, the girl from before is Loftha, the youngest. Then comes Hyde, my brother, aged 18. Xyra, aged 19, then, Amber, our big-sister aged 25. Mother was she who took care of us after father died. If the old tradition of survival of the fittest was a purpose, I’m sure Loftha would have won. She’s a psychic, able to move objects using her mind – for said power, she lost the majority of her ability to feel human emotion and pain. Strong yes, but a bad leader in the bigger picture. My younger brothers were always keen on observing as opposed to being at the center. Their demeanor is standoffish as for my big sister, she’s a tough person to deal with. Her heart is of iron, and her mind as sharp as glass – getting to her is an endeavor as big as breaking a mountain. Tis the summary of the Sultria family.”

“Quite several characters who I assume play a part in how the Empire is ruled?”

“Yes, we’ve made a council where issues are brought for discussion. It’s mostly things the politicians complain about.”

“What of the AHA, where does it come in?”

“They are independent and I wish not to interfere in how it’s run.”

“Understandable, suppose I must introduce myself to the family first.” Upon meeting so many years ago, the king never made attempts at knowing the Sultrias. It was the case even after Eira’s acceptance to court the Emperor. Staxius did come as a chaperon for her visit – a convenient excuse to contact with more influential people, thus, the lack of interaction.