Mysteries and plots

Location: Middle of nowhere

Two soldiers dressed in black rushes in to convey the message.

"We've searched everywhere my Lord but we couldn't find her," the first soldier said.

"Y..yes my Lord. No one in the district knows anything of her whereabouts," the second soldier supported.

"Hmm..." A dark eerie voice sounded

"Just a little scolding and the child runs off like an orphaned pup. How ridiculous..."

The soldiers knew better than to speak when their master spoke. The consequences were punishments meant for immortals.

It's a small world. I will find her...." The dangerous-sounding man said.

"Come to think of it... this actually is a way to know who are competent to be my soldiers."

Hearing this, the soldiers skipped a breath.

'What did he mean?'

"Scallion?" He called.

A mighty creature looking half beast and half man came out of the darkness and grunted submissively.

"Master."

"I want you to kill all those on duty the day that parasite left my grasp..... Start from these two."

"M..m..master!! Master!! Please have mercy upon us," one after the other they pleaded.

"Please spare us! Master! Master!!" But he was gone; vanished into the night leaving them to their tragic fate.

~~~~~~~~

A rapid knock alerted Huoqiang from sleep.

She felt her head spin from all the racket.

"What in the holy district...." Sh mumbled as she struggled to rise.

"Young miss.... Young miss.." a male voice called from the other side of the door.

Young miss? When did that start?

"What?!" She blurted out.

"Sorry Young mistress but breakfast is served and you are expected at the dining room."

"Holy heavens... can't I lay in a little bit longer?" She said drooly

"I'm afraid the food might run cold if you delay Miss," was the reply.

"But you could just.... nevermind I'll be down in a moment."

"Should I wait or.."

"I know my way around."

"Okay Young Miss."

"Hey! Enough with the Young Miss already," she blurted out.

"Sorry Miss...

"This house is driving me insane!! Young Miss??" Huoqiang said to herself.

The term 'Young Miss' is usually used to refer to the wife of the Young Master of the house.

"Some things are just too crazy to understand."

Huoqiang reluctantly swung out of bed, shoveled into her slippers and adjusted her morning dress.

"Is it a must to eat breakfast anyways?" She mumbled as she walked to the bathroom.

She was supposed to be grateful but now she just felt like they were initiating her into the household.

"I'd find my way out of here sooner or later," she concluded as she washed her face over the sink.

After dabbing her face with the towel, she threw it only the heavens-know-where and walked out of the door.

~~~~~~~~

Li Jun ate elegantly on the dining table Although still a bit unhappy about the previous night, he tried not to show it.

"Good morning," a gentle voice said.

He looked up in excitement though careful not to show it.

"Morning," he replied with a small side and took his lingered gaze off the blonde.

She took no longer than a second and sat at the table afterall all these delicacies weren't going to be finished by her host was it now?

They kept on eating not talking which-even though they tried to deny it within them-made them very uncomfortable and uneasy.

Li Jun broke the silence with a cough.

"Are you okay?" Huoqiang asked with concern pouring a glass of water and handed it over to him.

"Thank you," he appreciated collecting the glass.

"Hmm.. you should be more careful."

Silence again....

"Um..Miss Huoqiang... I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to upset you," Li Jun apologised.

"Oh noo... actually I should be the one to apologise. I acted a long way out of proportion.." the latter replied.

"Apologies accepted, Miss Huoqiang," Li Jun said with a handsome smile.

"Apologies accepted also, Master Jun," Huoqiang said, her dimples sucked in deep beautifying her smile.

Differences aside, they resumed eating.

"Soo...do you have any plans for today?" Li Jun once again broke the silence.

"By plans if you mean staying in a house and doing absolutely nothing then yes I have alot," Huoqiang teased making the opposite side chuckle.

"Well here's something I think might be more better," he said.

Huoqiang paused eating and stared deeply into his icy blue eyes.

"How about I show around the kingdom today?" Li Jun offered.

"Kingdom? We're in a kingdom?" The lady asked surprised.

"Ofcourse," Li Jun replied laughingly.

"This whole time I thought you were living in the middle of nowhere!" Huoqiang said in disbelief.

Li Jun watched her silently letting her finish.

"Okay now that you know will you come with me?"

"I'd be delighted to!" was the elated reply.

"Alright after our meal," and they resumed eating.

~~~~~~~~

"It's a shame..."

A woman's voice echoed in the silence.

"It's a big shame that despite the rebellion and resentment against me, and despite putting yourself before others you still lost the battle."

"After all these years despite all the stubbornness, no one thought you'd die easily but yet here you are your ashes at the tip of my hands. What a shame, sis!"

A white porcelain jar shone time to time in the darkness.

"But don't worry sis, I'll be sure to look after what you left behind-every single thing, every single person. You can always trust me. Maybe if you had some that you wouldn't have ended up the way you are now; a dead bird."

The woman chuckled.

"The gods have favoured you enough. It's time I stepped in and tapped in some of that privilege."

"Farewell sister!" The last words rang through as the jar is opened and it's content; greyish powder is thrown out into the atmosphere.

The woman dusts her hands.

"Now, Lee Jun!" The woman walks out of the darkness.

Oh but dear me, I hope our Lady Savage here noticed the sparks that followed the ashes...