Chapter 1: First night with full Moon!

"I'm Xilan, a princess from a small nation full of natural riches and surrounded by so many great predators. We are directly in the middle of the continent and all of them want to put their hands on our yellow soil. Lately, the immense empire of Zhengzhou is continuously attacking our eastern border and all of my older brothers are fighting against these brutes from that evil empire.They proudly call themselves Zhengzhou wolves, but instead, we call them dogs! Dogs, Dogs, Dogs....this is what they are! If one day I will put my hands on a Zhengzhou man, I will skin him alive! Oh....no! Please don't get me wrong! I am not a cruel person, but these people are ruining our homes and burning our fields. They're killing my people! I can't forgive any of them!

So, as I was saying, we are in a difficult time right now and I would like to have the power to help my people, but I am only a weak girl. If only I could learn sorcery, in that way I would be of great help to my nation. Unfortunately, here in Xilu, they don't allow us, women, to learn and perform it. Someone should abolish this stupid rule! If the grumpy elders of Xilu wouldn't have supported this idea, it would have been abolished by now. This rule only drags us down as a nation. I want us to grow stronger! I swear that I'll find a way to learn magic and draw magic runes one day!"

While the younger princess of Xilu is weighing her thoughts inside the Astronomy Tower, a secret report from the battlefield arrives at the palace.

The soldier that hurries inside the throne room speaks:

"REPORT....

Your Majesty, the crown prince and the second prince were defeated and had to retreat a mile back .The fourth prince was taken hostage!"

"Damn Zhengzhou!"...yells the king of Xilu.

"How did they capture the fourth prince?"...continues the king to babble.

The soldier speaks again:

"REPORT...

Your Majesty, the prince was captured while trying to keep the Zhengzhou army back, so that the rest of our soldiers and the other princes can retreat."

"Infamous! Infamous!"...yells the king in front of the four elders and the ministers.

"Your Majesty, calm down! Calm down!"...loudly speak the crowds of old men.

"What should I do now?"....yells the king, "He's going to ask us to surrender our land in exchange for my son's life!"

"What should I do?"...continues the the king to yell.

Suddenly one of the elders speak: "Let's sign a peace treaty with Zhengzhou!"

"But they don't want peace, they want our rich lands!"...exasperatedly yells the king.

The same elder says: "If they want our richness, then we will give them what they want! My king, do you think they prefer to lose their soldiers in this war, instead of taking what they want without suffering any casualties?

"I don't think they will be satisfied only with exploiting our magical crystals!"...says the king.

Another elder answers: "Maybe but what if we become allies through marriage! The first princess is old enough to get married. If we can befriend such a powerful empire, our safety can be assured for a long time."

"Do you think, the Zhengzhou emperor is such a fool?"...angrily asks the king.

"He's not a fool but what damage can he suffer if he accepts our gifts?"...asks the elder who has previously spoken.

"Do you want to send all my children hostages to Zhengzhou?"...says the king while boiling of anger.

The elders speak again: "If that can save our people, this great sacrifice should be done! A sacrifice for all the lives of a nation!"

The king of Xilu remains silent for a moment.

When he starts speaking again, he says: "I agree with you all, but I have heard that the Zhengzhou emperor is a tyrant. How can I send Ah-Xua there?"

(Ah-Xua, the first princess of Xilu, the daughter of the queen.)

An elder says: "If you don't send the first princess, they won't believe in our sincerity! Princess Ah-Xua is a very smart person. Maybe if the emperor likes her, she can persuade him to release the fourth prince. It would be a great success for a small nation as Xilu, to have such a powerful backer. We won't fear our neighbours anymore. My king, sooner or later, we must find ourselves a strong ally!"

"Fine, we will do as you suggest! I'll send an envoy to the Zhengzhou camp to discuss the condition of the peace treaty. Also, tell the Great Star-Gazer to find an auspicious date for the wedding. I hope everything goes as smoothly as you make it sound!"...speaks the king of Xilu.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***