Valerian, The Legendary

52 Salvation.

Valerian stood in front of The Empress calmly, and used his signs to convey his words to the lady, this action was a surprise to all of the people inside the room. They did not expect this boy to be so calm. Due to the wounds on her face, The Empress had not stepped out of her room in a long time. Even her children, will not come and stand in front of her because of these wounds and she can sense some hesitation in their gazes.

The Emperor was the only person who did not feel repulsed by her appearance. The only reason she would call the new people in front of her was to decide whether they can stay in the palace or not. It was like a test of their minds. When someone is too beautiful, people get charmed by them and when it is the opposite, they reveal disdain and disgust.

The Empress was a lady of virtue and those with a discriminative mindset were not allowed to stay in the palace, not even in the Imperial City. Looking at Valerian in front of her, she could not help but ask, “Valerian, do you not feel repulsed by my appearance?”

The child shook his head simply, yet his eyes were calm. The Empress asked, “Why is that?”

She was very curious about this boy. Valerian revealed a self-deprecating smile and said, ‘I am ten years old, Your Excellency, and I have been treated like a cursed creature since I was two years old. The only family I had, is now resting beside The Primus. In my memories, I have only repulsion and loathing curses given by the people around me. You seem to be suffering from something similar.

Those who are condemned shall look out for each other and seek salvation in that twisted unity.’

The Empress was surprised, but it was only a flicker in her eyes, she could tell that the boy was telling the truth. He even consoled her in a subtle manner. This was not how people treated her daily. As an Empress, she was well aware that in the court there have been demands for the Emperor to re-marry from time to time. So, how can she not be hurt?

She nodded slightly, and said, “Indeed, you are correct. Come, have a seat.”

She gestured to the chair opposite her. The people were shocked again, The Empress allowed this orphan to sit in her presence, which meant she treated him as an equal. Valerian bowed his head and sat down on the chair naturally.

.....

The lady said, “My name is Fragrantia Lumus. Nice to meet you, Valerian.”

Valerian used his signs to say, ‘Likewise, Your Excellency.’

The Empress had a slight smile in her eyes, Valerian could tell that her wounds hurt when she speaks, an actual smile would be agonizing for her. The Empress said, “Priscilla, you can take the others and leave, deliver a message to Azula that I have called for her. I will like to have a conversation with Valerian.”

Priscilla woke up from her stupor and bowed as she said, “Yes, Your Excellency.”

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Valerian sat on the chair like this was not related to him. Priscilla used her signs to tell him to be respectful and then gestured for the others to leave the room. Four ladies went out of the room and gently closed the door behind them, leaving only Valerian and The Empress sitting on chairs.

Fragrantia asked, “Would you like some tea?”

Valerian shook his head, and Fragrantia wanted to ask something, when Valerian took the lead, “Your Excellency, please forgive me for being out of line, but can you tell me how this happened to you?”

The Empress was surprised at his sudden question but after thinking about it she said, “I can tell you but the condition is that you must not tell anyone outside.”

Valerian placed his hand on his heart and bowed his head. This was a gesture of taking an oath to his heart. The lady nodded and said, “It happened a few years ago. I was walking inside the gardens when I found a young chick on the ground. It did not have any feathers, I thought, why not help it. So, I picked up the chick in my hands.

However, at that moment, the mother of the chick came back, it was a grade four magic beast, Flame Swallow, thinking that I am an enemy, it directly engaged with me in a fight, I was weak and ran, but the beast still caught up, and then it clawed my face repeatedly.

The emperor arrived in time and saved me. However, ever since then I have had these wounds, they do not close. Now you know my present condition.”

Valerian nodded and asked, ‘Is there no treatment?’

The Empress shook her head and said, “They said that the flame swallow had left a wisp of its mana inside my wounds, which keeps them from closing. The only way to get them to heal is to wash my face with water mixed with the tears of Flame Swallow, however, why will the beast shred tears?”

Valerian asked, ‘If only, the Flame Swallow was in custody.’

The Empress replied, “It is in custody, within the palace. It was injured by my husband and captured. The chick has now become a young bird as well.”

Valerian raised his head, his silver eyes were shining. He said, ‘Your Excellency, I can...’

His words were not completed, when the door was knocked. The Warrior outside said, “Your Excellency, Her Highness Azula is here.”

Fragrantia said in a calm voice, “Let her in.”

The door was opened and Azula walked in, Valerian noticed that the princess was ninety percent similar to her mother but her brows were different. He stood up from the chair and bowed to her.

Azula was shocked to see this boy sitting across from her mother. She walked closer to the chair and unlike before gazed at her mother’s visage with a calm gaze. She said, “Greetings mother.”

Fragrantia was surprised, although Azula was the person who had minimal repulsion towards her, today, even that minimal feeling was gone. The soft voice and calm eyes, made The Empress feel like she was not disfigured. Her heart warmed up, and her eyes were filled with tears.

However, she was The Empress, it was shameful for her to cry. Azula smiled faintly and said, “I apologize for my earlier behavior.”

Fragrantia shook her head and said, “It is fine, come sit down, let me look at you.”

The two ladies began chatting with each other and when Azula told her mother about how she met Valerian, they focused back on the child. Fragrantia recalled that the child wanted to say something and asked, “Valerian, you were saying something, right?”

Valerian nodded and said, ‘Your Highness can be my witness, I can talk to beasts. Maybe if I am allowed to talk to the Flame Swallow, it might be possible to treat you, Your Excellency.’

Azula was surprised and The Empress was shocked, her shock turned into anger, thinking that this child was being absurd and trying to make fun of her. She wanted to lash out when the princess spoke up, “It is true. He can communicate with beasts.”

Fragrantia still had some doubts and wanted to ask more, when Valerian opened his mouth and let out some low meowing sounds. This shocked the Empress. All of a sudden, a cat appeared to be sitting in the lap of The Empress. This was a magical beast, the mirage kitten.

This beast was extremely smart and had the power to disguise itself as the surroundings. From the moment, they all came inside the room, this beast had been invisible and resting in the lap of its mistress.

Fragrantia asked, “How did you find her?”, the surprise in her tone was evident.

Valerian smiled and said, ‘I cast the spell to check the mana flow in your wounds, that was when I saw the light magic flux from her.’

Fragrantia opened her eyes and looked at Azula, who smiled and said, “Valerian is a battlemage, he is able to cast spells without the incantation. Another thing is, that he defeated a mob of bandits with five mages, and more than twenty warriors when we were coming here. His skills are partly the reason I took him in, another reason is his brain.”

The Empress had never been so surprised in her life, however, the next moment the surprise turned into a shock. The kitten in her lap stood up and made its way to Valerian. She sat down near his feet, rubbing her head against his legs affectionately. She said, “Illusio has never been close to another human. Why is she close to you?”

Valerian did not reply to the lady and meowed gently. The kitten meowed and the boy said, ‘It is because the others did not pay attention to her in the first meeting. Illusio is very picky.’

Fragrantia calmed herself and asked, “Can you really help me, Valerian?”

The boy nodded and said, ‘I will do my best.’

“Why?”, the Empress asked. She could not think of a reason for such a wise person to help her for nothing.

‘Helping a fellow condemned to find salvation, that is all, Your Excellency.’, replied the boy with a smile on his face and a kitten on his shoulder.