They return to Qualoh at twilight with the news of victory. The city rejoices with the news of this first victory against the monster. Taosih Tsun, his mage team and the whole crew of the “Young Wind” has been hail as heroes of this victory. A celebration has been issued, all the taverns will empty their stock to night. An hour late every streets in the city has been lit up with colourful lantern, the street fill with laughter and songs. At Lord Buh Huy castle a feast is being held for all those who participated in the battle. The castle lit with red lanterns, the court musicians playing a lovely, cheerful song. In the great hall where the feast for the general and ship captain are, its ceiling lit up by two row of big cyclical red lantern, each tall as a man chest. Silk carpets with intricate weaving pattern hung on the walls. Two row of tables with red silk tablecloth lined up along the hall, each table for one person fill with food and drink. Emperor Lam sits at the table at the head of the hall, he stand up with a silver goblet in hand.

-my lords, my generals and my captains. This feast is for yours all, I Suk Lam emperor of the Varlann Empire thank you all for you service to the crown. Today is a joyful day as we celebrate a first victory against the monster that has terrorized our people, but be vigilance, for our work is never ending. Emperor Lam said.

–and now a toast. For the prosperity of the empire and the people who live in it! Emperor Lam raises his goblet

- For the empire! The attendees shouted

As everyone in the hall rises their goblet and drink, a wine servant silently approaching the emperor tablet and charging in, dagger in hand the servant yell

-BLOOD FOR THE GODS!!!

And aim the dagger at Emperor Lam chest. Immediately a Brocade Cloak Guard stand near Emperor Lam reacted, he throws himself between the assassin and Emperor Lam, and took the entire blade in his chest, the brave guard die instantly. Other Brocade Cloak Guards quickly surrounded the assassin. But to their surprise the assassin strength is greater than his skinny look, the guards struggle to apprehend him. The assassin punched a guard fly several lias through the hall, knocked him unconscious, it is took four guards to restrained him. The assassin is a man in his mid-forty, with a buzz cut and a clean shaved long face, his eyes are baggy with dark circles like he has not sleep for a long time.

-Your Imperial Majesty! Are you alright? Lord Buh Huy rushed to Emperor Lam side

-I am fine. Emperor Lam said.

-fool of an emperor, do you know what you have done? Do yours all know what have yours done??? The assassin yelled.

-hold you filthy tongue still. Who do you work for? Who told you to assassinate His Imperial Majesty? Lord Buh Huy asked

-please wait, Your Imperial Majesty, father. A voice come from the crowd

A young man approaching the assassin and stare at his face. He is lord Min the eldest son of Lord Buh Huy.

-you know him Min? Lord Buh Huy asked

-yes, father, I recognized him. He is the cultist leader that escape my raid on their cult rally several month ago. Lord Min answered

-are you sure? Emperor Lam asked

-absolutely, Your Imperial Majesty, although he has cut his hair and shaved his beard, but I still can recognized that baggy eyes and his voice. Lord Min said.

Emperor Lam approaching the cultist leader ask

- Who do you work for? Speak and I will so you some mercy.

The cultist leader let out a maniacal laugh, then he stare at Emperor Lam.

-I work for no one but the gods, you ignorant fool. You doomed us all for your ignorant!!! He yelled

-insolence! Lord Buh Huy slapped him

-you think Quelas’Airuth and the Five want me death? Emperor Lam surprise at his answered

The cultist leader laugh maniacally again.

-Quelas’Airuth. Hah hah hah… oh, yours pitiful ignorant fools… Quelas’Airuth and the Five is not thing but a lie, I talk about the true gods, the old gods of yore. The cultist leader said

- is that so? And what make you so sure you know they are the true gods. Emperor Lam asked

- Because I have heard their voice, their whispering. The gods displease for yours ignorant and your worship of false gods. They demand their respect and that monster is the result of that displease. And you… you have wounded it, wounded their agent. You doomed us all, now they will unleash their wrath on the entire Varlaurea continent for you stupidity. He grinding his teeth as he speak

-REPEND! REPEND NOW WITH YOURS BLOOD! AND MAYBE THEY SHALL SPARE YOURS PITIFUL SOULS OF THEIR WRATH! The cultist leader shouted

- Your Imperial Majesty, this clearly is just a rambling of a delusion mad man, please do not wasting your time with him, he must be publicly beheaded immediately to make an example for other. Lord Buh Huy said

- You have heard the voice of the old gods? Emperor Lam stare silently at the cultist leader for a minute and smirk. - I think beheaded will be too easy for you.

--Lord Buh Huy throw him in the dungeon, and let him rot there. Emperor Lam said then he turn to the crowd - and this assassination never happened, that an order.

- A… as you will, Your Imperial Majesty. Lord Buh Huy complied

After that Emperor Lam order the feast to continue without him, and go back to his chamber to rest. In his chamber he get on his bed and pull out a small wooden chest, inside it is a small round mirror with silver frame, the size of a man palm. Imbedded on the back of the mirror is a diamond the size of the thumb, with a circle of ancient language script carved in the frame and imbedded with blueish stone. Emperor stare at the mirror and muttering a spell. Suddenly the mirror surface turn black and reflect nothing, the ancient scripts on the back of the mirror softly glow.

-Aucelen are you there? Emperor Lam softly spoke as he keep staring at the solid black in the mirror surface.

After few seconds an image starting to appearing, first it is twisted and blurry, then is became clearer and turn into a young woman wearing a white left lappet robe sitting on her bed. The young woman appear to be at her mid twenty, her face is beautiful and enchanted. Her icy blue eyes make you feel like she can stare directed to one soul and yet still give off a warm loving feeling, her lip is pinkish-red and full like a ripped peach. The lantern light in her room make her pale smooth skin and her golden hair softly glow like an angel aura, her ear long and pointed similar to the shape of a bamboo leaf. This woman is the Empress of the Varlan Empire, Emperor Lam one and only wife.