The Dawn of the New World

"-MMMM!"

"What the HELL are you doing?!"

Jin Wang's absolutely incensed voice came into her ears right after he forcefully covered her mouth.

Pushing him away, "What? I'm just reading the-" she tried to explain.

"The inscription, yes, that is written on a door that leads to Purgatory, the GOD DAMN underworld! What makes you think that was a good idea?!"

"T-This door leads to the underworld??!"

Princess Ceni jumped back like a startled cat distancing herself from the doorway that she had almost crossed.

Jin Wang rolled his eyes in response and returned to the room, leaving her gawking at the gloomy shadows beyond the seemingly ordinary doorway.

But the longer she stared at the empty darkness the more alive it appeared. Even her own shadow being cast on the other side seemed to be staring back at her.

She rubbed her arms to rid herself of the goosebumps and swiftly entered the room. But as she turned the shadow remained rooted on the spot, twisting its head in an unnatural way to watch her walk behind the stones.

The moment Princess Ceni passed the boundary of the room an instinctive sigh of relief was released from her mouth. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and an indescribable feeling of security overtook her.

She looked around to inspect the confines of the space which was being illuminated by a solitary lantern burning with a flickering yellow flame.

Almost everything was chiseled out of the same stone, from the row of chairs on one side to the bed in the middle where Ma Jiang rested.

As she moved to the side Princess Ceni noticed that there were symbols and marking all along the side of the bed connecting to the floor.

Ma Jiang's eyelids fluttered back and forth as if she was having a terrible nightmare followed by convulsions every few seconds.

"What is this place? Will she be okay?"

"Yeah, this is one of the few places that can help her. Since there is a gate to the underworld closeby we can draw power from it and use that negative energy to counteract hers."

"Negative energy?"

"Yin energy. As you might expect there is quite a lot of it here."

Princess Ceni understood what he was saying but she still couldn't entirely believe it.

"It doesn't make any sense. This was supposed to be a foreign planet, one lost to time and space. But it feels like every time I take a step there is some shocking revelation hiding behind the corner waiting for me. How can there just be a gate to the underworld here? And more importantly, how did you know about it?"

In the deathly silence of the dark mountain they stared at each other, neither of them willing to back down. Despite knowing how much more powerful he was Princess Ceni didn't even bat an eye.

And at that moment Jin Wang knew he would have to reveal some truths to her.

"None of this was random...or by chance. You are here because someone wanted you here, same as me."

"...Who?"

"Someone very powerful, and very old. I can't-won't tell you anymore because it will only put you in danger. But know this, you have to stay by Hao Xuan's side no matter what. He is the key."

Princess Ceni's brow rose in obvious hostility, "What do you mean?! If you plan to hurt him I won-"

"I would never. He is my friend, a very good friend. I would never willingly do anything to hurt him."

"... And what if it isn't in your hands? What if the person you're taking orders from wants to hurt him?"

"I won't allow it. I at least have enough strength to stand against him if needs be."

Princess Ceni looked into his eyes and knew he meant every word he said.

"Good. And when this is all over you will let him go. I will take him with me and we will both disappear from the greater world forever."

Jin Wang couldn't help but shake his head in response, "I'm afraid that is not in my power. I have never told him what to do nor will I ever. He always does what he wants."

"Yes, but he still listens to you. Tell him it's the right choice when the time comes. He has been lied to and used enough by you people."

"I don't know what you're talk-"

"Xu Qing."

That one name was enough to silence him.

"I know about her. I know she is doing something to him, twisting his mind and playing with his memories. And I know that even if you didn't blatantly lie, there is still a lot you kept from him. You, her, and the person behind it all, you're all using him for your own selfish goals. Let him go when the time comes."

Jin Wang was once again left speechless by the girl that had barely reached adulthood. He didn't know what to say, hell, there was nothing he COULD say because she was right.

"You really care about him that much? You would be willing to throw away your entire future to be with him?"

😉