War's Hierophant

-•-

6 years ago, Samaari castle

Queen Qingshan sat beside the balcony admiring the rising sun while drinking a cup of coffee to wake herself up when her husband Shurima gave her a morning kiss on the woman's and sat in front of her with a maid carrying a dish of puff pastry for them to share together.

"Good morning my Queen" He smiled, careful not to exhibit the tiredness in his face before he overlooked the dark mountains slowly touched by light.

"What is it qīn'ài de......is something troubling you?"Qingshan softly took him out of his reverie, putting her hand over his. The King reciprocated by lacing his hands around her as he let out a sigh.

"Qīn'ài de, you deserve to know the truth and the only truth. I wouldn't want to worry you but this seemed alarming...My dream last night was full of chaos and dystopia"

Shurima Seiju, one of the many blessed with the gift of dreamscape by the Eon of Sleep, Somnus. The ability to predict the future through dreams and he will never be wrong by it although the flaw is that he can predict the result but not the cause of such occurrence.

"A war is coming"

"But how could that be? No one's ever challenged us to a war except her, but she was chained for 10 years binded by a chain that reacts to her powers, preventing her from escaping since then"Qingshan reasoned.

'Unless...'

She called for a maid to take her cup away and faced her husband with a grave look on her face.

"Shurima...could it be one of the Gods?"

"I can't perceive who... usually, the War Goddess Jiyoung takes care of such conflicts but I haven't seen her mien in my dream"

"But we haven't done anything wrong?" Qingshan pointed out with confusion streaked across her face. Shurima held her hand and looked her in the eyes. Fear evident in her chocolate orbs as her hand trembles under his, Shurima quickly enveloped his wife in a hug.

"We'll fight with what we have....the kids cannot take part in this" He whispered softly as his queen sobbed quietly, responding to his statements with a 'Mhmm'. King Shurima caressed her head to the small of her back in comfort as he wondered how they fell under the gods' wrath.

"Pardon me Your Majesties" A shaky voice woke them from their reverie. The king gently broke the hug and turn to the source of the voice: A guard, pale and powdered with soil residue, Shurima inquired for his presence as the Queen composed herself, "King Shurima, the guards you dispatched under the cavern to 'her' prison never came back, and per orders we started reconnaissance and found their remains buried under the ground" the panting soldier reported. Qingshan suddenly fell to her knees with her face aghast, "Call the Queen's handmaidens, I'll take care of it" Shurima was quick to get to Qingshan’s aid and helped her weakened body up as the soldier scrambled for help.

"Are you alright qīn'ài de?"

"Quite so....we need to get the kids away from here" Qingshan grasped his arm tightly with wide eyes and a tear-stained face.

"Amara what did you do this time?"She whispered almost incoherently.

The Queen would often lose her calm demeanor when one of her sisters were mentioned and now that all the missing pieces are slowly making sense, she would be in shambles.

The couple looked below to see their children playing in the garden: Linthea was sitting behind a tree, sketching and their youngest, Xiuying, is chasing Soren while holding a wet paintbrush, "I'll prepare for their departure "Qingshan rose up from her seat and walked out to call her most trusted handmaiden and friend. Shurima sighed and rested his cheek to his hand in thought.

'I should prepare as well'

-•-

Night

"Mama where are we going?"Xiuying asked, holding onto her sister's hand while the other maids carried their bags and belongings in a private Samaari vehicle, "You've been wanting to have a vacation in Icycilis right?" Xiuying's face instantly lit up as she nods repeatedly. Qingshan smiled warmly before she crouched to meet the eyes of her older children.

"Take care of your sister and yourselves alright? Promise me that"The two turned to each other in confusion.

"You're not coming?" Her middle, Linthea, inquired. The Queen smiled sadly—she cannot let her children see the reason for their departure.

"Why is mama crying?" Xiuying hugged the woman's back and in an instant, her heart ached.

Qingshan felt her cheek and found them wet with tears, "I'm just sad that I won't be seeing the beautiful sceneries just like in your picture books Xiu" She held her youngest close and bestowed a kiss on her head as she caressed her light brown hair.

"Don't worry Mama! We'll bring back pictures" Xiuying cupped her cheeks with her small hands, Qingshan managed to smile amidst her pit of sadness.

"Worry not mother, I'll look over them on your behalf" Soren stated courageously, his tone serious and full of profound responsibility but his face was that of a fragile glass that could break any moment.

'My son, so young to carry a large burden"

"We'll be here when you return Xiuying"A deep voice said behind their backs.

"Father!"

Linthea and Soren ran to him as King Shurima met them half way and hugged them, placing a kiss over their heads. "Why are you two not coming? This is supposed to be a family vacation right?" Linthea burst out as she looked at both of her parents from remained indifferent to her words.

"We are needed here in our country. Our responsibility does not rest as the Dark Arc continues to prosper." Linthea scoffed at Shurima's answer.

"You always say that" She pouts. Qingshan made her way to her daughter and held her cheek with a face full of warmth and spoke with a voice that carries a soothing salve to her daughter's worried expression.

"My darling Thea...All of this is for you...our sacrifice will secure your bright future so please understand" She rests her forehead against hers with a smile.

"Your majesties.... it's ready" Carmilla, the head handmaiden informed the two. Shurima nods while Qingshan scooped her children for a tight hug and kissed their cheeks one by one.

"Take care my loves"

"Come now young majesties, the royal Alustass is waiting" The green haired woman assisted the three siblings outside with two other maids carrying their bags.

"I wish you could come with us" Linthea shed a tear with Soren holding her hand as she bid farewell. Qingshan couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears running to hug her children again as close as she could.

"We're needed..here"Shurima knelt on their level and joined the hug, praying their young eyes would miss the tears trickling his face. He has to stay strong and think positive that he will once again see their faces.

The king was the first one to stand up and helped his wife.

"Don't worry about us Linthea, we'll look at your drawings of Icycilis when you come back home from your excursion." He gave a thin smile that assured his daughter as she brightened up.

"Yes father! I will" He will miss that smile.

And the three ran outside without worry, leaving three people inside the courtroom.

"Queen Qingshan, King Shurima, I promise to take care of your children as they were mine in exchange of my life..I will await your next command" Camilla bowed before she herself left the room with a heavy heart, changing her expression from a solemn one to joy before she face the young royals waiting for her to board the ship.

The courtroom was loomed with silence except for the wails of the Queen who hugged her husband tightly, sobbing on his chest "I'm gonna miss them so much.... I'm not sure if we can ever see them alive"

"Don't think about that my love, we will see them after this...I'm not going to let you be in harm's way"Shurima assured her while caressing her back, his downcast expression became more visible.

"I'll protect you, Qingshan..."

He so well hoped that the other families of The Favoured Ones would answer for their aid since the sin they committed will cause the blind's ailment to worsen.