Novel Those Flowers Bloom on the Silver Pond (GL and BL)

Discussion in 'Community Fictions' started by honeymaple123, Mar 16, 2023.

  1. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Synopsis: Yuun Fenronn is a daughter of a fallen noble working as a clerk in the furthest corner of the imperial palace. She was adopted by her uncle, the prime minister, but growing up she was never welcomed in the family.

    One day she fell into a pond and her soul ended up in the heavens. She met Yuzuna, an old goddess, who helps her return back to the human realm. Yuun regained her memories that this had been her 9th life as everytime she fell in the pond, she had always restarted a life at the age of six. Now that the gods had returned her soul back to her body, she must now traverse this new chapter in her life.

    Hello, I'm writing a story called "Those flowers bloom on the Silver pond". You can also read it on https://archiveofourown.org/works/45784540/chapters/115217818

    Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Isekai, Timeloop, Romance

    Table of Contents
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2023
  2. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Chapter 1: Yuun

    Our story begins with Yuun, the unfortunate black sheep of the imperial palace. Everybody knew her name. Nobody cared. Her father was the notorious duke who planned to overthrow the emperor but failed and met a bloody demise at the hands of the crown prince. By sheer luck alone, her uncle, the prime minister, saved 6 years old Yuun from the same fate at the gallows and adopted her.

    Yuun grew up disregarded and despised by the Duke's sons and the royal children. 'Traitor's child', 'Empire's downfall'. Those names stuck to her wherever she went. For 16 years of her life, she lived with all the hatred of the world pinned upon her. She did not have a single friend so her paintings were the only things that kept her company.

    Finally, at the age of 18, she went up to her uncle, Prime Minister Fenronn and asked to leave the Fenronn family. Her uncle did not hesitate once as he stamped the contract that she presented to him.

    "You will still live at the imperial palace. I cannot let someone with the Fenronn surname roaming outside and sullying our family name."

    Yuun was grateful for anything as long as she was away from this house.

    And so for the next three years of her life, she was assigned to the textile department at the furthest northeast of the the palace. Her life as a clerk was not an opulent one but she enjoyed relative anonymity, away from the scrutiny and judgement of the royal court.

    _________________________

    "Yuun!" The shrill voice of the department head cut through the still morning atmosphere.

    Yuun looked up from her desk and peeked outside her second floor window to see him entering the building.

    "You better go. Mr. Warren seems to be in a bad mood. I'll handle the rest." Lisa, a fellow clerk reassured her.

    She nodded and made her way down in a hurry to Mr. Warren's office.

    "Good morning, sir," she greeted only to have a stack of papers thrown at her face.

    "Who authorized you to extend the deadline of the Third princess' picnic gown by a month?"

    "No one sir. However, I have enough clearance to make such a decision to make time for the Empress' charity gala in 3 months." Yuun explained.

    "Can't those lazy imbeciles finish up a trivial picnic gown?"

    "Our tailors and embroidery workers have enough on their hands with all the garments to make for the upcoming gala. Please if you could understand." She begged but Mr. Warren did not waver in his stubbornness.

    "This palace does not pay people who intend to slack off and disappoint the demands of the royal family. I could remove you if I wanted to. Now, I will give a reasonable time of one more week to finish the little princess' dress!" Mr. Warren went on a tirade while ignoring that Yuun was also technically a full-blooded royal. It didn't count to anyone else that she had the same blood running through her veins.

    "Yes, sir..." She sighed and bowed before turning to leave.

    "Wait." Mr. Warren said. Yuun turned back towards him.

    "Is the Second Princess' gown ready?"

    "Yes sir. The delivery workers are ready to send it to the Orchid Palace." She confirmed.

    "The second princess requested that you be the one delivering it to her."

    Yuun looked up startled. 'That can't be good.' She thought.

    "But I'm just a clerk. I can't deliver-"She objected.

    "And the 2nd Princess asked for you specifically. Take Lisa with you if you must."

    ____________________

    By midday Yuun and Lisa arrived at the Orchid Palace. The palace was actually a complex of 3 smaller palaces - one for each of the King's daughters.

    "Wow! I've never been here before," Lisa exclaimed, "It's like I'm in a dream!"

    "Yea..." Yuun agreed but her expression betrayed her statement.

    Being the only adopted daughter of Prime Minister Fenronn, she was expected to be the playmate of the three princesses. It would not be a lie to say that the princesses did not like her one bit. The First Princess Margaret Lindenfall, being the eldest and most mature, treated her the nicest and prevented the bullying from the other princesses in the name of 'propriety'.

    When Yuun was 12, Princess Margaret moved away to marry a neighboring king. That was the beginning of nearly 7 years of hell under the second princess and the arrogant princes.

    'It's okay... As long as I don't go to the tea garden...' She reassured herself.

    The two of them reached the servant's entrance far behind the gilded golden entrance. The guard looked at the two with suspicion.

    "State your name and business." He ordered.

    "We are Lisa and Yuun from the Textile department. We are here to deliver Second Princess' evening gown." Lisa answered.

    "Lisa and Yuun. Ah yes. Her highness, the Second Princess demands I escort you two to her personally." the guard motioned to them to follow him.

    Yuun's heart sank. She knew nothing good comes out of anything involving the Second Princess Katherine. She was the leader in the team that bullied Yuun horribly. Though her cousins and the crown prince did not harass her personally, they also ignored what she went through.

    Now three years have passed and she would see them again after such a long time. Soon, she arrived at the place she dreaded - the tea garden. There they were, seated on cream colored ornamental chaises were Princess Katherine and the little Princess Alice. They enjoyed the lovely sunbeams streaming down from the stained glass ceiling and onto their floral dresses. Yuun clutched onto the package she was holding as a defense mechanism for what was to come as the guard announced their arrival.

    "Oh! Yuun is here!" Alice perked up as she saw Yuun.

    "Oh, my. Indeed she has! Come dear!" Katherine spoke with pretentious joy.

    "Greetings your highnesses," Yuun curtseyed to them both before dropping on her knees, "I have brought you the evening gown for the gala."

    "Don't be so stiff. We were practically sisters before. Come, come." Katherine set the dresses aside and gracefully pulled Yuun up from the floor. Yuun could smell all sorts of expensive perfumes from that distance. Princess Alice on the other hand seemed to have distracted Lisa.

    Katherine linked her arms and dragged Yuun away from the resting area. The both of them went on the walk to the small bridge above a landscaped pond.

    "How has these 3 years been? I've wanted to meet you earlier but Royal Father forbade me from finding you."

    "It has been okay, your highness. I have been getting by every day smoothly." Yuun replied stiffly.

    "Good good. Did you know my sister Queen Margaret is coming back for the charity gala? Gosh I haven't seen her in years too!"

    Yuun remained quiet.

    "I wonder if my arranged partner would be a King too. Do you think I would make a beautiful queen?" Katherine asked, pointing to to the pond's reflection with her fan.

    Yuun studied the figure on the water surface. No matter how nicely dressed the princess was, she could not see the princess as anything other than the one who burned her things, ordered servants to spill latrine water on her and pushed her down the stairs. In her eyes, Katherine was not beautiful and never would be.

    "Of course." Yuun lied.

    "How so?" the princess' sticky sweet voice asked.

    "Well-" Before Yuun could continue, the fan from Katherine's palm dropped onto the bridge.

    "Oh dear! Clumsy me. Would you be a dear and get it for me, Yuun? It is really difficult to do so in this dress." Katherine chuckled innocently.

    Seeing that there was no other way to get out of that situation, Yuun went down on the floor to pick it up. A smile crept on Katherine's face as she took the fan back from Yuun.

    Unfortunately for Yuun, she realised far too late what that smile meant. A second later, Katherine's feet kicked against her smaller frame and she fell into the pond with a big splash. Her arms flailed, trying to keep herself afloat. But she herself knew that it was futile as she could not swim.

    "Yuun!" The splash attracted Lisa's attention and she sprinted towards the pond.

    But it was too late. Yuun sank faster and faster down to the depths, the air from her lungs rising up to the top in little bubbles.

    _______________
     
    sweetnsour likes this.
  3. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Chapter 2: Yuzuna

    The festive atmosphere emanated across the realm of the Goddess of Love, Rosetta. Her divine palace was filled with gods and spirits all alike - every one of them filled with hope. Afterall, this was the Festival of Romance that was held once every century. Anyone who comes to the festival would receive a blessing from the powerful goddess and find true love. Though some mortals do find the festival, the bulk of the guest list was of the supernatural kind. Deities and spirits come here to find someone to spend their long and immortal lives with.

    After thousands of years in the celestial realms, the goddess was far more interested in one particular thing than her centennial parties. She leaned over to her brother Vale, the God of Wind, from her throne of spring roses that were intertwined with her dusty pink hair.

    "Is she here yet?" She asked while her turquoise eyes light up with uncontainable glee.

    "I have bad news for you, my dear sister. I have heard that she is not coming."

    "WHAT?" She exclaimed, "It's been 2000 years since the last time she came! All because she thinks her work is more important than a festival in my name!"

    "Well technically her work is more important." Vale corrected, only to have the death stare from his sister.

    "I know she is one of the four imperial deities that us common goddesses cannot compare. But still everyone deserves love and she was the only one I couldn't find a partner for 2000 years ago!" Rosetta sulked on her throne.

    "Yes. And the fact that she's an imperial goddess is the reason why you should give up my dear Rosey. If we mess up, she can, and will, disintegrate us to dust and let our soul burn on a trillion suns."

    "But still... Oh wait! I have an idea!" Before Vale could stop her, Rosetta raised her hand to the sky and summoned a blue fizzling flame in her palm.

    "O, flame of love,

    find Imperial Goddess Yuzuna Eindra Thuza Dewi

    Find her the one who's heart is warm and noble

    Find her the one who's love is strong

    and may she be happy"



    The fire then turned pink and flew away into the sky like a comet. Vale watched her, dumbfounded by what is sister had done. He knew his sister was reckless and unhinged but this had gone too far.

    "Don't tell me you put a spell onto AN IMPERIAL GODDESS?!" He panicked, "We are doomed!"

    "Oh please. You worry too much. If I'm lucky. This will turn out for the best!" Rosetta skipped away from her rosy throne and into the happy crowd below.

    _____________________________________________

    Imperial Goddess Yuzuna was one of the four imperial deities. The other three were the God of Heaven, Raman, God of the Earth, Kael and Goddess of Hell, Luo Xue. She played the vital role as the mediator of these three realms - her title being Yuzuna the Goddess of Justice.

    Her celestial abode was far from what the festivities in Rosetta's realm were like. A still atmosphere blanketed the entire realm as officials went about their work in silence and efficiency. Lotus and lily ponds were all over the tranquil palace.

    Her right hand man, minister Za announced himself in.

    "Your highness, I, Minister Za greets you." He bowed with deep respect.

    "You may drop the formalities. Have you gotten the update from the reparation of portals between earth and hell?" She inquired, her mind still absorbed in her documents.

    "Yes, ma'am. Here are the detailed notes from the leader of the project. So far everything is within reasonable timing with little error." He handed her several scrolls to inspect.

    "Good. Next, I would like you to send this to the dragon king in the Northern sea. One of the dragon princes is wanted for trial for killing an entire human village." She handed a warrant to the minister. "Afterwards, I will be taking a trip to the spirit pond to inspect the energy balance of the three realms."

    "Yes, your highness." He bowed but did not make an attempt to leave yet.

    "What is it?" Yuzuna looked up from her desk, noticing something was off.

    "There is something that this humble servant wish to discuss." Za mentioned hesitantly.

    "If it is about the festival of love, I have declined it long ago." She stated and went back to her work.

    "But your highness. The festival of love is an important rite of passage for all deities to go through and find their consorts. Your highness has lived this long all on your own. It would be the good of the realm if-"

    "Dear minister, if I had a consort fated for me, I would have found them after the last festival 2000 years ago," Yuzuna dismissed him, "And as you said, I am not like any other goddesses with an infinity of idle time. I am but an old goddess with far too many responsibilities."

    Knowing that there was no point convincing her, the dejected minister retreated out of her office.

    ___________________

    Later on, Yuzuna teleported herself to the spiritual pond; a swirling pond that connects the energies of heaven, earth and hell. Giant koi fishes and spirit turtles swirled around beneath her.

    She outstretched her arm and felt the energy of this shining silver pond. The light from below reflected off her gleaming silver and diamond jewelry. Nothing seemed to be out of order. It was the same old pond and dark sky that stretched for eternity. She floated along, inspecting the spiritual inhabitants of this realm - her long sash billowing in the wind.

    Suddenly, something in the pond caught her eye. Something that should not have been there by any means. She quickly swept down from the air to the surface of the pristine pond and grabbed the foreign object by the arm. It was a human soul and she was still alive.

    "Hey! Hang in there." Yuzuna ordered as she tried to free her from the water's surface that seemed to not have any intention to let her go. A giant koi that was alerted by the ripples in the pond swam at them, ready to swallow the human soul.

    Yuzuna's eyes glowed a blinding white as she fended off the beast. She reached her arms deeper into the spirit pool and held the soul in her arms. With much effort, she finally freed the unfortunate soul trapped in the pond and flew up into the sky once more.

    The soul in her arms was a translucent yellow but she could make out the features on her face. Yuzuna could tell that her body was still alive back in the human world. She brushed off the silvery pool water from the sleeping girl's face and wondered who she was. Whoever she maybe, the goddess knew that bringing her back to her palace was the best course of action.
     
    sweetnsour likes this.
  4. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Chapter 3: Awake


    Her eyes fluttered open to the sight of an amethyst ceiling with lotuses and koi carved into it. It emitted a faint light and filled the room with a purple glow. Where was she? She thought in her head until a splitting headache derailed her thoughts.

    A flash of memory entered her mind. Memories of the moment she drowned in Princess Katherine's pond. She realized that it was not her first time drowning. Again and again, memories of different lives she lived always ends up with her falling in that pond and resetting to the time when she was 6. When she saw her father assassinated by the emperor.

    A tear fell down her cheek as she pondered the pointlessness of the nine lives she had live. Perhaps it was funny that she had the same number of lives as a cat.

    Hastily, she got out of the giant bed and to the door. Yuun parted it slightly and peeked out. She found that the hallway had no one around. The hallway was an architectural marvel with intertwining foliage of leaves and flowers that she had never seen before. Even the roofs of the palaces in the distance were decorated with golden ornamental spires that reach up into the air.

    This was a level of splendor far beyond what she has seen before. She was certain that she was no longer at the empire's palace although she had no idea how she ended up here. The hallway led her into a magnificent garden that seemed to stretch endlessly with mythical flora and fauna. Glass butterflies fluttered from one silver flower to the next and birds of many colors sung heartfelt tunes.

    The most impressive was the lake with large lotuses and giant lily pads the size of boats. The lake was so expansive that she could see it merge with the blue horizon. The lotuses glowed a translucent pink and Yuun almost mistook them for chunks of rose quartz floating on the serene water.

    A purring sound caused her to look to the island in the middle of the lake. A winged tiger sat at it's edge and lapped at the lake water. It raised its orange and black head to stare at Yuun.

    The jade green lily pads started glowing one by one, as if making a path for her to continue and she did, hopping from one to the other. The tiger flew towards her and met her on the lily pads.

    ______________



    "Your highness!" an old servant named Su rushed to Yuzuna's office.

    "What is it, Su?" Yuzuna asked, looking up from her desk.

    "The human soul, she's not in her room!" Su explained.

    "What? Has no one been watching over one human?" Yuzuna got up from her seat and placed a palm on her forehead. The human soul had been asleep for several days and on the day she woke up no one had been watching her.

    "I apologize your highness! When I came back from my break, the door was left open."

    "Go, search the palace rooms. I will search outside." The goddess ordered and all the guards and servants promptly left to search for the human.

    Yuzuna teleported away and reappeared in the air to have a bird's eye view of the palace. A human soul like hers could not have gone that far. She flew past towering golden spires and towards the great lake.

    'Where could she possibly be?'

    From a distance, she heard her familiar's purr. 'It can't be.' she thought.

    Yuzuna knows that her winged tiger is hostile to others except her. If the human approached it recklessly, she might be in danger. Knowing this, Yuzuna flew at great speeds towards the sound.

    Contrary to her expectations, her winged tiger had the human soul on its back as it soared through the sky. The human soul hung on to the tiger's coat and screamed for dear life.

    "Heima!" Yuzuna intervened. The tiger jerked in surprise and the poor human lost her grip on it's fur and made a descent to the pond below.

    Yuzuna dived once again and caught the girl seconds before she took a nosedive into the lake.

    "You have a certain affinity for lakes, don't you?" She asked with an irritated scowl. This was the second time she has saved this human soul from a large body of water. Yuzuna then glared at Heima the tiger who retreated into the distant woods with a whimper.

    The girl looked up at her in silence, shocked by the fact that she was in a giant lady's arms and also the fact that the giant lady could levitate.

    "Are you mute? What is your name, girl?" Yuzuna turned back to her.

    "Sorry! My name is Yuun Fenronn, your... holiness?" Yuun introduced herself, still unsure of how to address Yuzuna. Looking at her skills and dominion over a winged tiger, Yuun knew that the lady holding her was not an ordinary mage; she certainly had to be some sort of angel.

    "Your highness is fine. Fenronn is it? Isn't that a Cerenacettian name?" The goddess asked.

    "Yes, your highness. I am from the Cerenacetti Empire." Yuun replied. The goddess on the other hand furrowed her brows.

    "Oh great... that's even more troublesome." Yuzuna sighed with a frustrated scowl.

    Of all countries to come from, she had to come from a country that was fully under the domain of Kael Dominus, the imperial god of the Earthly realms. Earth's countries tended to be a mix of races that pledge loyalty to different deities. However, Cerenacetti was an empire that puts Kael above all other deities. Even the humans in Cerenacetti were blessed by Kael personally since their first arrival there as nomads. The gods and goddesses therefore respected Kael's dominion over that empire.

    Yuzuna needed to seek an audience with Imperial God Kael if she wants to send a lost human soul back to Cerenacetti. She gave a sigh once more and furrowed her brows. Before long, the both of them have landed in a large courtyard with fragrant trees of a thousand colors.

    "Um... Your highness. Please let me down." Yuun spoke, her face going red.

    But Yuzuna, oblivious to it, brought her face closer to Yuun's until their foreheads were touching. Yuun was left flabbergasted and speechless.

    "No. You are still unwell." Yuzuna remarked nonchalantly as she entered the palace chambers with Yuun still in her arms. She didn't realize it till now but humans were actually a bit smaller compared to her. Furthermore, the girl was practically skin and bones. She wondered how someone like her could still function properly when they looked emaciated.

    Finally the two of them reached the room Yuun was at before.

    "Su," She called out, "Could you get some soup for this human?"

    The old servant swiftly attended to the goddess' request and soon enough, a piping hot bowl of amaranth soup arrived.

    "Thank you," Yuun said before taking a sip from a jade spoon.

    Yuzuna studied the human intently. The girl's fluffly hair was a dusty turquoise which matched her sun-tanned skin and crystal green eyes. The human was also wearing a dark uniform with a silver hem in the Cerenacetti style that was so alien from anything that existed in Yuzuna's realm. Yuun noticed this intense gaze and tried to make light conversation to escape the awkwardness.

    "May I know who you are, your highness?" She asked meekly as she sipped more of her soup.

    "I am imperial goddess Yuzuna." The goddess answered frankly.

    "You are Imperial Goddess Yuzuna?!" Yuun almost choked on her amaranth soup. She had been flying in the arms of a very important goddess! She hoped that she had not done anything disrespectful.

    "Oh. So you have heard of me?" Yuzuna raised her eyebrows and grinned, amused by the human.

    "You are the principle deity of the Yatanarthiri empire. I... I knew after reading it at the library."

    "That's very knowledgeable of you." Yuzuna smiled and proceeded to drink from her stone tea cup

    "Does this mean... I'm dead?" Yuun asked.

    "I'm afraid it's more complicated,"

    Yuzuna went onto explaining the current condition and that her body lies dormant in the earthly realm while her soul wandered into her celestial realm. In order to return her to the Cerenacetti Empire, she would need the blessing of the Imperial God Kael. If not, she would be left to wander the realms forever until she became a malevolent spirit and be cast into the hellish realms. Yuun fell silent in contemplation. A knock came on the door and Minister Za came in.

    "Minister Za, send a message to the Imperial God Kael. I will be visiting him shortly." Yuzuna instructed him.

    The widest grin appeared on Za's face as he pushed his ornate spectacles on his face with a finger. Confidently, he lifted his sleeves and bowed.

    "Your highness, His Imperial highness is currently with his consort in Goddess Rosetta's realm for the Festival of Romance." Za announced proudly.

    Yuzuna glared at him sternly, making Za hide behind his sleeves. She pressed her temple to soothe her annoyance. Of course that minister Za was disgustingly happy. The festival goes on for many more days and Kael had always been the type to spend the entire festival there with his wife. She would have to attend the festival and meet Kael there so that the human soul can return home immediately.

    "Fine. Prepare some clothes and a carriage. We will be heading to Rosetta's realm." Yuzuna relented.

    The minister's eyes brightened with glee. He bowed once more before skipping away with joy.

    The Imperial Goddess will finally be attending the Festival after 2000 years.



    ______________

    Author's note: the Cerenacetti empire is a typical otome western world. The Yatanarthiri empire is Burmese inspired
     
    sweetnsour likes this.
  5. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Chapter 4: Festive Dance

    The carriage soared through portals after portals. The 6 horses that drawn the carriage had manes and tails of flames that burned in many different colors. Following the carriage from behind were Yuzuna's guards, Ashter and Kayza. Ashter was a slim fellow with bright red hair and amber eyes. Kayza on the other hand was more muscular with dark green hair.

    Yuun looked out the window at the scenery below before turning back to the goddess across her. Yuzuna was reading a leaf scroll while tapping her finger impatiently at the arm rest on the interior wall. She was dressed in a loose, translucent, emerald robe with gold embroidery. It was certainly different from her usual style of dress. Yuun wondered about the festival that Minister Za was talking about - he was so eager for the imperial goddess to go. Yuun thought that the goddess was busy and so she decided not to bother her about it.

    "What's the matter?" Yuzuna looked up from her reading.

    "Nothing!" Yuun blurted out.

    Yuzuna raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. But before she could pursue questioning the human, the carriage came to a halt.

    "Your highness, we have arrived at the Realm of love." Her bodyguard, Ashter, announced from outside the carriage.

    "Great." She muttered sarcastically. "Well, first things first..."

    She turned to Yuun and swept away Yuun's hair from her forehead.

    "Wha.." Yuun looked at Yuzuna in surprise. She then felt a weight on her head. Yuun realised that her pale green hair was now pinned up and decorated with bunches of tiny white flowers. Yuzuna then used her powers to paint Yuun's baby yellow dress with white butterflies.

    "Much better." Yuzuna said before using her magic to materialise a wide rim hat with a lavender veil all around it. She then alighted the carriage with Yuun.

    "Your highness, we are still quite far from Goddess Rosetta's palace." Ashter said.

    "We'll be journeying from here. I don't want this entire realm to know that I'm visiting. Take the carriage to her palace in secret." Yuzuna ordered. She didn't want to draw attention to the fact that she was going to meet another Imperial God in this realm.

    "Yes your highness" Ashter and Kayza bowed before cloaking the carriage in invisibility and setting off.

    Yuun looked out from the cliff and gazed at the glistening palace in the distance with crowds of people filling the entire heavenly city for the festival. She wondered how the goddess had planned to traverse such a distance without the carriage.

    "It's incredible." She exclaimed as she looked at the breathtaking giant lanterns fill the sky above, "This must be why the minister wanted Your Highness to visit the festival."

    Yuzuna looked at Yuun and smiled in amusement. The scenery certainly wasn't why Minister Za wanted her to go to the festival. She knew it was futile anyway. If she was destined for another deity or spirit, she would have met them several thousand years ago. It was highly unlikely that her fated pair would conveniently be in this crowd just because she visited the festival for a day.

    "Do you not have lanterns in your empire?" Yuzuna asked.

    "Of course we do. But not as beautiful as these, Your Highness!" Yuun answered, her eyes still fixed on the landscape. "That one looks like a rabbit! And that one's a tiger!"

    "If you're interested, we should see it up close. Hang on tight."

    "Huh? Ah! Your Highness!" Before Yuun could register what she meant, she was swept up by Yuzuna who then took off into the sky.

    Yuun looked down to see that she was already so far away from the ground below.

    "Don't worry, I won't drop you." Yuzuna chuckled as she looked at the flustered Yuun. The girl's face flushed even more. Soon, they were surrounded by glowing giant lanterns, like a boat in a sea of glowing light. Higher and higher, they ascended till even the buildings below seemed like ants.

    "Look! Its the giant rabbit and tiger lanterns from just now!" Yuun pointed out at the two lanterns circling each other.

    Yuzuna flew to the two giant lanterns and landed of the rabbit lantern. She placed Yuun carefully beside her.

    "It's surprisingly not hot at all." Yuun commented.

    "The lanterns use spirit light a a fuel. That's how they make them stay longer in the sky." Yuzuna explained. The two of them enjoyed a wonderful view amongst the sea of clouds. Yuzuna was also glad Yuun mentioned the lanterns. She needed a high vantage point to detect Kael Dominus' presence since, like her, he too would be visiting the festival in disguise. There was no better location than this to find him in the festival.

    Yuzuna summoned a purple orb in her hand which sent out a wave of purple light across the sea of clouds. After some time, she sensed a warm presence; the soul of an imperial god. Strangely, Yuzuna also detected a similar presence around him. Before she could detect that presence, her hand shook with a sharp burning pain and the purple orb in her hand fizzled out. It seems Kael has found out that Yuzuna was trying to discover his location.

    Yuzuna realised the other presence might have been his consort. The consort that he had kept secret since two thousand years ago at the festival she last attended. It was common sense that he would stop her from finding out more about them. What was interesting was how strong his consort was that they also appeared within her radar.

    "Are you okay?" Yuun's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

    "Your hand's hurt!" She exclaimed as she grabbed Yuzuna's scorched palm.

    Before Yuzuna could reply, Yuun had already brought out her flask from her bag and emptied the cooling water onto the burnt area.

    "Thank you, Yuun," Yuzuna said as she smiled. This human's behavior was cute to her.

    "Don't worry dear, I am able to heal myself quickly." She explained as she showed the burn marks on her palm fading away.

    "Oh!" Yuun blushed, "That's neat then!" She realised that if Yuzuna was an imperial goddess, she would of course be able to heal such a small wound.

    Yuzuna started to chuckle uncontrollably, unable to hold in her laughter any longer. Yuun followed suit until the both of them had their fill with laughter.

    "In my defense, you are the only goddess whom I have met, your highness." Yuun said.

    "Good point," Yuzuna agreed, "It's good habit to always be helpful, regardless,"

    A bright blue crystal appeared between them.

    "It seems Kael has extended us an invitation. Shall we?"

    Yuun nodded. Once again, she was carried by Yuzuna and they both floated to the ground as the blue crystal guided the way.

    Halfway through the descent, the blue crystal cracked into many pieces and expanded into a portal.

    "Hold on tight," Yuzuna reminded Yuun and they both entered the swirling bright blue portal.

    _________________

    Yuun looked around at the expansive domain washed in a blue aura. The portal behind her has closed and all that remained was a stone path across a vast shimmering pond. The bustling sounds and warm light of the festival was no where to be seen, as if she had been transported into another world. Yuun turned to Yuzuna for answers.

    The goddess' firm expression softened and she explained, "We are in Kael's temporary domain. He is the god of your world so he can send you back home. Stay close, you wouldn't want to get lost here."

    Yuun nodded in reply.

    They walked along the white stone path over the shimmering water and arrived at a lush green hill. A quaint red brick cottage sat on top of the hill in the distance, surrounded by foilage and a vegetable garden. The soil of the hill morphed into stairs, signaling that they were welcome to the abode. Yuzuna carried Yuun all the way to the cottage.

    At the entrance stood a rather tall and slender man with silver hair and spectacles with wooden temples that dangled clear quartzes at the end. He wore a white shirt with green pants and a light green vest with beige foliage embroidered at the hem.

    Both Kael and Yuzuna bowed to show equal respect. Kael spoke, "It has only been a few years since we have last met formally, has it not?"

    "Indeed it has. 5 years to be exact, since our last assembly." Yuzuna replied.

    They all entered the cottage which was filled with all sorts of herbs, teas and spices. Kael approached the large fir wood table with all sorts of ceramic and jade tea sets. A large glass kettle sat atop a porcelain stove, lighted with purple spirit fire. The honey golden liquid swirled within that vessel as it's herbal infusions danced at the bottom of the transparent vessel. The aroma of lavender wafted through the entire room.

    "Who might the young miss be?" Kael asked while he proceeded to brew the tea in the glass kettle.

    Yuun nervously looked up before giving a curtsey.

    "My name is Yuun Fenronn, your highness," She introduced herself to the imperial earth god.

    "Fenronn? How interesting. Your name tells me you are from the empire under my domain. A very familiar name too." He studied the human soul with strong curiosity.

    Kael could be described as a relatively expressionless and serious god whose emotions were hard to coax to the surface. Even in this perplexing situation, he still remained his calm and neutral demeanor. As usual, he prepared a wonderful spread of sweets, cakes and teas and served his two guests.

    "And she's still alive?" He inquired as he sat himself down elegantly.

    "Indeed. I'm sure you've sense it right away." Yuzuna answered while placing a piece of chocolate into Yuun's palm.

    She proceeded to explain about how she found Yuun trapped in the spirit pond.

    "Well, that is concerning," He remarked, "A creation of mine should never have been able to appear anywhere near here."

    Out of curiosity, he tried to touch Yuun's face but his hand was swatted away by Yuzuna.

    She cleared her throat and changed the topic. "Will it be fine to send her back? She doesn't have much time her before her body actually passes away."

    "Of course! Right away." He answered.

    Kael quickly got to work and meticulously combed through his numerous ornate cabinets. After much deliberation, he reached in to grab a vial of golden dust and a bag of large brown seeds.

    With a single pinch, he cracked one seed and from it came forth a fast growing sprout. He picked it's first leaves and placed it in the mortar alongside the golden dust to be grounded.

    The mortar glowed intensely for a brief moment and finally, Kael poured the mixture into the glass kettle. The liquid contents turned into a bright red before finally settling to the color of deep blue.

    "Drink this." He poured the blue concoction into a painted porcelain cup and handed to her.

    Yuun looked warily into the porcelain cup. The inky beverage smelled faintly of violets from her childhood garden. She proceeded to drink it in one go and found the taste rather appealing like sweet grass jelly.

    "Wait for the potion to take effect. In a few hours, this girl will fade from here and return to her original body," Kael informed as he cleansed his equipment with water magic.

    "Thank you, your highness." Yuun expressed her gratitude.

    "Then it's settled," Yuzuna gave a sigh of relief. Just then, something caught her eye. It wasn't Kael's long silver hair illuminated by warm specks of light that intrigued her. It was the red and black accessory that tied his hair neatly into a pony tail. The color and style of the hair accessory stood out like a sore thumb from Kael's cottage and his wardrobe.

    "Say, I sensed your consort while I was searching for you." Yuzuna began.

    Kael visibly tensed up for a split second. He knows Yuzuna was not the type of person to break protocol and impose upon him with unrelated questions. This was done intentionally.

    "Wouldn't it be perfect for us to be introduced? I'd like to see the face of the individual that you are so secretive about that you'd even had the audacity to shock my hand," Yuzuna's siren-like eyes watched Kael's every move closely.

    Kael knew she wasn't going to let that slide.

    "I'm afraid my consort had just left the festival," he explained with a slight smile.

    "Oh really?" Yuzuna feigned ignorance. "I'm curious why the imperial god of the Earth would be so secretive about his consort even after 2000 years?"

    "She is just shy. I also apologise for shocking your hand. It was rash of me."

    "Indeed. Very rash of you." She smiled in amusement.

    Yuun on the other hand sat neatly on the sofa and nibbled at her cake without a care in the world.

    "Well then, Yuzuna, the festival this time is really special. You should show the human around before, you know, she leaves." Kael changed the topic away from him.

    "That is a very good idea. Yuun." Yuzuna called the human.

    "Yes your highness?" Yuun answered, snapped out of her daze.

    "Shall we go see the festival together?" the goddess asked.

    Yuun's face brightened up at the suggestion. "Of course!"

    Yuzuna stood up from her seat and motioned to Yuun to follow. Kael showed them to the exit.

    "I hope to see you again, Yuzuna." Kael said as he opened up a portal to the festival below.

    "Same time to you, old friend." Yuzuna said and she once again carried Yuun in her arms for the descent into the portal.

    "Also..." The goddess turned her head to the earth god. "You might want to find a better hiding spot for your consort. Turning her into your hairpiece? Really?"

    Yuzuna then jumped into the portal with Yuun and left the bewildered Kael. Once he was back in the privacy of his cottage, Kael's red hair ornament shifted into a shadowy figure.

    "Ahhh! She's bloody sharp..." The figure heaved an exasperated sigh.

    "It's fortunate that she was occupied with sending that human back." Kael commented.

    "She doesn't look like she'd let this go anytime soon though. The elder goddess totally gave us the side eye." The figure paced around in the shadows of the cottage.

    "When that time comes, we'll have to be prepared for it," Kael commented, "You should head back. I know you are needed elsewhere."

    "Thank you Kael. I'll see you again!" The figure said in a delighted tone and soon vanished into dark smoke.
    ________________

    The cool night breeze gently blew against Yuun's cheeks as she descended with Yuzuna to the sea of lantern lights below.

    The silence of the sky was gradually replaced by the sounds of the bustling city below as Yuzuna landed slowly and gracefully at one of the market streets; the generous amount of fabric of her dress billowing softly.

    Yuun took in the sights and the smells of roasted meats and stir fried vegetables in rich sauces. In the distance was a dancing pair of elves in a tiger and rabbit costume. She pulled Yuzuna's hand gently and asked her. "What is that?"

    Yuzuna looked at what Yuun was pointing. "Oh, that's the festival's main dance. It is held on the last day of the festival."

    "And the tiger and rabbit symbolises..?" Yuun asked inquisitively.

    "The two guardians of this festival. The rabbit represents the Goddess of Love, Rosetta. The Tiger is the God of War, Arkha. This festival was first founded to commemorate their wedding." She explained. The two of them made their way to the theatre to spectate the dance.

    "Did you see the goddess of love getting married?" Yuun looked at Yuzuna, eyes brimming with curiosity.

    Yuzuna smiled. "Of course! I'm much much older than you realise."

    "How was it like?"

    Yuzuna looked upwards in contemplation with a hand on her chin. "Too much flowers, sappy reception and extremely sweet foods."

    "Oh." Yuun looked at her stunned for a brief moment before the both of them burst out in laughter. "That does sound like a bastardized description of a Goddess of Love's wedding, your highness!"

    "Perhaps I'm too harsh because I'm not from the same generation."

    "Indeed. That was very very harsh," Yuun said, with a cute smile.

    "Then I shall send a formal apology to Rosetta for my transgressions," Yuzuna said in a whimsical manner.

    They finally arrived at the open air theatre and sat themselves down. Yuun and Yuzuna watched the dancers move with such energy and vigor while surrounding acrobats blew fires of seven colors and juggled crystal daggers. The final act was a passionate dance between the couple. With such power in their steps, they were practically flying off the stage.

    Yuun watched them leap and twirl for what seems like infinity as if none of them knew what tiredness means. Finally, the male dancer threw the female dancer into the air and she gracefully flew around the theatre and landed back in his arms before the two make their final pose; blue flames bursting from underneath the stage. Applause erupted throughout the theatre, including Yuun who clapped with glee.

    Afterwards, Yuun and Yuzuna visited several games and attractions, including walking across a lake of bubbles and throwing fire darts through floating hoops of circling water. Yuun tried her hardest but could not pass the small hoops with the heavy fire darts. Yuzuna stepped in next and threw all of the darts with one hand; all landing perfectly in the faraway hoops. The shopkeeper's jaws dropped while the bystanders watching all clapped for her.

    "Congratulations, you won the final top prize, Miss!" The shopkeeper handed them a box with a beautiful amethyst comb in it.

    Yuzuna turned to Yuun. "Hold still," she said and placed the ornate butterfly comb into Yuun's hair.

    "Thank you, your highness." Yuun spoke, still feeling shy that the goddess had adorned her with so many things

    As time passed, the festivities soon came to an end. The once bright streets and corners are replaced with darkness; only illuminated my moonlight. Yuzuna and Yuun walked along the stream that passes through the city and admired the small lotus lanterns floating by them.

    "This was truly the most magical day of my life." Yuun exclaimed.

    "I hope every new day will be magical after you have returned." Yuzuna gave her blessing.

    "Ah. Of course, I will live it to my fullest." Yuun lied. She knew what awaited her once she returned to her body. She inwardly hoped that her body had been taken out of the pond before she goes back. Or maybe, the time loop would start again and when she wake, she would be 6 and witness her father's murder once more. She didn't want to trouble the goddess who had done so much for her.

    Soon they were back at the open-air theatre, now empty and devoid of life.

    "The theatre looked so different now without the dancers and the audience." Yuun commented.

    "Do you know how to dance?" Yuzuna asked as she studied the stage.

    "Hmm? Well, just a few dances..." Yuun answered sheepishly.

    "Shall we?" Yuzuna's suggestion shocked Yuun once more but after some persuasion, the hesitant Yuun accepted the dance.

    The dance started out as small nervous steps and both held on to each other's hands and looked down to avoid stepping on toes. Gradually the movements became smooth and they glided around the stage floor. Yuzuna held onto Yuun's small frame and the two of them floated off the floor and continued their waltz in the air.

    "Don't be afraid. I'll hold you." Yuzuna said. Yuun regained her confidence and followed the goddess' steps. They went higher and higher until the only audience to their gentle waltz were the clouds, moon and stars. They finally reached the end of their dance and they both chuckled once more.

    "This is probably the first and last time I would be dancing in the clouds." Yuun said.

    "Your friends would be jealous if you told them. Though I'm not sure if they'd believe you." Yuzuna teased.

    "They'd think I've lost my mind!" Yuun agreed, smiling.

    Just then, Yuun felt a slight tingle in her fingertips.

    "Look." Yuun showed her hand to Yuzuna which was now fading fast. They both looked into each other's eyes.

    "I guess this is it, your highness," Yuun said nervously.

    "It seems so." Yuzuna replied with a reassuring smile.

    "Thank you very much for all that you've done for me. I will never forget it, your highness,"

    The human in the goddess' arms gradually turned into mist and was lost to the wind.
     
    sweetnsour likes this.
  6. sweetnsour

    sweetnsour Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2023
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    8
    Reading List:
    Link
    It's look intresting waiting for the next update ^^
     
    honeymaple123 likes this.
  7. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Chapter 5: The girl who survived

    "Yuun! Wake up!"

    Yuun violently coughed up water from her burning lungs and looked around in a daze. Water pooled beneath her; her wet hair and uniform stuck to her cold skin.

    Lisa's face came into her hazy view and so did Katherine's. It finally struck her that she was still at the moment of her drowning. Then she also saw a new face, Second Prince Cedric. His dark hair and blue eyes were unmistakably striking.

    "Katherine. You know what would happen if father knew of this incident."

    "I'm sure she's fine. She just fell in for a second!" Princess Katherine spoke with an annoyed face, "She's awake now so there's no need to tell papa. Guards, escort the two out."

    Had Cedric not been miraculously present in this lifetime, Katherine would not have allowed the guards to rescue her and she would perhaps be dead and restarting yet another life. Lisa's frantic face looked at the royals in fright and she followed the guard who was carrying Yuun.

    Cedric Lindenfall looked at his sister. "Why are you causing such a fuss, Katherine?"

    Kathrine looked at him with a shocked expression. "Me?! What about you? When did you start defending that thing?"

    Cedric gave her a warning glare. "I'm not defending her. I'm reminding you the reason why Royal Father stopped you from finding the girl. She maybe a servant now but she is still a Fenronn by name. You are undermining the Prime Minister's authority by making such scandals."

    "She's just a servant that fell in accidentally!" Katherine yelled back only to cower against Cedric's cold gaze and his steel blade against her throat.

    Yuun looked from the distance through her hazy eyes. Cedric had never been like that her entire life. Most of the time he was never in the palace. She couldn't watch them for long as the guard soon left the garden's entrance.

    "Really, Cedric? It is not such a big deal." Katherine defended, still trembling slightly.

    Cedric withdrew his sword back into the scabbard.

    "Think about our family name before you go pulling stunts like this." He turned around and made his way out of the garden.

    Katherine watched in bewilderment at her elder brother's behavior. She gritted her teeth and paced around fuming at the the embarrassment he caused her. That won't do. She was the Second Princess and she will not tolerate anyone slighting her.

    The servants nearby watched warily, bracing themselves for the vases and other projectiles that the princess liked to throw when she's livid. However, she did not resort to lashing out her anger. Instead, she marched out of the garden with a plan, her face sporting a sinister smile. It was time to pay the crown prince a visit.
    _____________

    "How's the porridge?" Lisa asked as she nursed Yuun who was now dressed in multiple layers of old sweaters.

    She then tended to the fire underneath a hanging pot so that it would not go out. Yuun was coughing and sneezing a lot so Lisa went on to add more layers of rough old blankets. She looked at Yuun with a pained expression.

    "I know I didn't imagine it. The princess pushed you into the pond. I just know it," Lisa said with a determined look on her face. Yuun raised her head towards Lisa.

    "We should forget that happened." Yuun said.

    "Forget? You nearly died!" Lisa turned to her outraged; her face was fierce with anger.

    "There's nothing we could do. She's Princess Katherine. I am a clerk who fell into the pond 'by accident'. I am also the daughter of the empire's most nefarious traitor. No one would care if I am gone." her voice was resigned, and Lisa could hear the sadness in her tone.

    Lisa snapped Yuun out of her depressing thoughts and held her hand. "Well, I do. You are not your father. You are just Yuun."

    Yuun felt a small warmth in her chest that in this entire empire, there was still Lisa who cared for her welfare. "Thank you, Lisa. I appreciate it."

    Lisa smiled at Yuun, glad that she could offer her some comfort. "Of course, Yuun. You're my friend, and I care about you."

    As they huddled under the blankets by the fire, enjoying the warmth and comfort of the porridge, Yuun couldn't help but feel grateful. Tomorrow was going to be yet another stressful day, but for tonight, her heart was devoid of worries.

    A week passed by and the two resumed their administrative work at the textile department as if none of the past events had happened. Only Yuun alone kept the memory of her time in the heavenly realms and the image of the imperial goddess of justice. She looked at Lisa sitting across her with several documents in her hand. A necklace hung around her neck with an eight pointed star pendant dangling from it. The symbol of Imperial god Kael's holy order.

    "Why must we only worship Imperial Dominus?" She wondered.

    Lisa looked up confused at Yuun's strange and almost blasphemous question. Yuun realised then that she had blurted that thought out.

    "Nevermind that. It was a random thought." Yuun tried to change the subject with an embarrassed expression.

    Lisa's worried expression then softened. She assumed that Yuun might have wanted to give thanks to the imperial lord for surviving her near-death experience.

    "Wow, look at the time. Shall we go to the cathedral after work? We can spend the evening out at the city square," Lisa suggested with a motherly tone. Yuun's ears perked up at the sound of it.

    And so, the two women left the palace gates and set out to the Cathedral of Azaleas. Yuun recalled that it has been a month since the last time she left the palace gates. As usual she had to go under the guise of a maid to avoid alerting her uncle, the prime minister. He wouldn't approve of a Fennron walking around town dressed in plain civil servant's attire; even if he did left her in the remote corner of the palace to work as a clerk. It was plain simple, he'd rather Yuun be forgotten in the palace rather than cast her out and affect his family's reputation in the public sphere and neighboring countries.

    Yuun boarded the rickety horse drawn cart alongside Lisa. A few rowdy teenagers sat behind them among the hay.

    "Shall we go to the Azalea shop that we went to last month? The flowers there are are so fragrant and pretty. And we can head to that popular cafe after the Cathedral." Lisa listed on to keep Yuun occupied. Yuun smiled in return and suggested additional locations to visit.

    They bought the freshest Azaleas before arriving at the cathedral for worship. Yuun looked at the tall statue of Kael Dominus clad in a toga and noted that the real imperial highness Kael looked far different from the statue.

    "They didn't even get the nose right." Yuun commented.

    "Hmm?" Lisa responded in confusion.

    "Nothing. Ha ha," Yuun said, realising that she thought out loud again. She and Lisa raised the Azaleas to the statue and gave prayer. Yuun inwardly thanked the Imperial God for her safe return.

    Still she wasn't satisfied. The one that deserves the most thanks was the imperial goddess who did everything for her soul; her highness Yuzuna. However, she was in Cerenacetti, not Yadanarthiri. It was impossible to give worship to any other gods in this empire. Especially when the religious order of Cerenacetti boldly claimed that Kael was above all others. No mortal could refute that claim for they have never seen the gods. But now, Yuun can. She could tell first hand that she experienced firsthand what no mortal could have. She had enough intelligence in her to conclude that there was more to the hierarchical structure of the celestial realms than she previously thought. Before she could delve deeper into her deduction, Lisa teasingly poked her forehead.

    "Prayer time is up! Lets go!" Lisa smiled lovingly and led Yuun out of the main hall, "You've been spacing out lately. Are you sure you are okay, Yuun?"

    Yuun nodded while feeling slightly shy. "I'm okay! Just thinking about life, that's all."

    "That's natural! I think about life all the time too." Lisa assured her. The two of them boarded a city tram that brought them towards the giant fountain in the middle of the city square.

    "Please miss. 10 crons for a box of matches!" The small children flocked toward the two ladies. Lisa bent down and bought 2 boxes. Yuun followed her example. The children gave content giggles and thanks before running along. Yuun felt bad for these children. They had a worse fate than hers; stuck in the streets selling matches for the most of their childhood. Her worries were nothing compared to the harsh reality they live in. At least she had food, shelter and employment; all because she was the black sheep of the prime minister's family. She felt guilty for the fact that despite knowing it, she couldn't cast away the heaviness in her heart.

    Yuun felt Lisa's hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Lisa's motherly gaze comforting her.

    "Thank you Lisa," Yuun spoke.

    "For what?" Lisa asked in confusion.

    "For everything," Yuun replied, "You are the kindest human I've ever met."

    "What an honor!" Lisa chuckled and linked her arm with Yuun as they walked, "You too, Yuun. You're the sweetest friend I've ever met."

    The sky darkened as the sun hid behind the horizon. It was time for the two friends to return to the palace. And so they left the city behind on the rickety cart; taking only lovely memories back with them. They watched the heavy servant's gate of the palace swing shut, trapping them within its alabaster walls for yet another bitter night. But it was okay, because the two friends had each other. They walked merrily back to their servant's quarters only to stop in their tracks from confusion and shock. Lisa immediately made herself between Yuun and the person in front. Yuun's eyes widened at the impossible presence of this tall, dark-haired individual who stood waiting at the entrance of their hut.

    "Second Prince Cedric?"
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2023
  8. honeymaple123

    honeymaple123 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2023
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    5
    Reading List:
    Link
    Thank u so much!! :)) Means alot to me ^o^
     
    sweetnsour likes this.