Voyage With The Pirate King

Qilin Luse was most certainly right about one thing. Her highness was especially livid when she found out. The reason she was upset was obvious. She didn't want him involved in this.

When she initially found out about Ji Wen looking for the keystones she brushed it of because she believed he wouldn't have the ability to find them but now things were different. 

She didn't want him getting involved in such things for his own safety. Qilin Hao flipped the table in frustration venting her emotions. The white sheer dress she wore fluttered with her aggressive movements as she engaged her fragile aether.

Her body was suddenly surrounded by a fiery tornado of blazing flames. Her eyes reddened as a bright red mirage of a Qilin appeared behind her roaring with her scream. 

She had completely lost total control of her seraphic energy at this point revealing her true form that hadn't been seen for decades. If she lost Ji Wen because of her own family issues she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. He was the only person who loved her for her, her qi, her life and if she lost him then there would be no need to hold on in this world.

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She couldn't hold this form for long because of her now weak constitution so she collapsed on the floor and tranquillity was restored in the hall. On the platform was a beauty sitting on the cold stone tiles with partially burnt papers falling from the sky, her chaotic surroundings recounting what happened in this room a second ago. 

"Since things are like this then bring him to me," she said. It was at this moment she felt something warm trickling down from her eyes. Thinking it was tears she ignored it but a distraught Qilin Luse cried out, 

"Your highness," as a group of servants rushed over. Qilin Hao lifted her sickly pale hand with a distinct tattoo. Because her hand was snow white and bony it made the tattoo especially eye-catching but that wasn't everyone's focus right now. This was the insignia for Pirate King Ji's people though hers was red clearly stating her position as the queen of the seas. 

Her trembling hand touched the warm liquid and when she took a look she licked her dry lips with a complicated gaze. Her bloodied fingers were shaking right in front of her but she couldn't see anymore.

Her vision became blurred before suddenly descending into darkness. Cracks began to form on her aether releasing some of her seraphic energy which wasn't a good sign.

Qilin Hao knew the only thing that could save her life was opening that portal but the state of her aether at the moment proved that she might not be able to hold on till then.

This was also the other reason she was bringing Ji Wen over. She could at least spend her remaining time in the presence of her lover. As to whether the keystones are found in time or not at least she would have spent her last days with the love of her life. 

***

The midday sun shone brightly above the imperial city amplifying its prestige. The city walls were 10 meters tall surrounding the perimeter with one entry point. What they were guarding against was pretty obvious.

The war fifty years ago had scarred the nobles so much so that they built high walls to protect themselves though under a full-blown attack by the Nocru race their wall would seem like it was made of popsicle sticks. Anyway, let's not burst their bubble as it gives them a sense of security.

Atop a mountain was a gigantic palace covered in grandeur gold and red colours signifying the majestic position of its occupants. This magnificent palace was what Prince Rui coveted but hadn't yet attained. He might not have attained it as of yet but his influence had spread like a creeping vine attaching itself in the left prime minister's camp. 

After the mysterious disappearance of prime minister Yi, he was immediately replaced by someone much more willing to cooperate with Prince Rui and his name was prime minister Ming. The left prime minister's right hand was of the court official Mao. This Mao wasn't in name only because he was the same nocru that Prince Rui strangled in its cat form. 

As to how a nocru managed to find his way into the imperial court? That was yet to be determined. The emperor was especially wary of the nocru infiltrating the ranks of nobility and the imperial city that he had systems in place after his personal experience.

Thinking he could maintain boundaries between the human race and nocru he had rigorous security posted at the gates of the imperial city with whatever little lotrian they had. 

This was to test out the identity of whoever entered through the city gate. This was how the emperor tried to keep his city free of nocru but of course, there would be slip-ups like official Mao who even climbed ranks.

Even Prince Rui had at some point been barred from entering the city by his father but when he offered to supply lotrian the emperor wavered which was also his biggest mistake.

It's not that he hadn't thought about Prince Rui's intentions. He had considered it but because of his desire to maintain the purity of his city, he agreed to his estranged son's request. Prince Rui had only entered the city a number of times but that was enough to grow his influence in the imperial city. The left prime minister's camp was especially easy to draw in as long as he had prime minister Ming's loyalty. 

It was this influence that had Prince Rui's agenda being pushed in the imperial court today. The right and left factions had been at each other's throats over a declaration of war against pirate king Ji brought forth by the left prime minister. Of course, it wasn't his idea but an order passed down by his highness through official Mao. 

Yes, he was betraying his own kind and siding with the nocru prince but it wasn't only for the monetary benefits though they were a major part of it. He had true respect for the nocru and revered their power plus his grandson was a half nocru living outside the city because he wasn't allowed into the imperial city. No one else knew about this apart from Prince Rui who approached him using that precise angle. 

He didn't know what sort of dispute Prince Rui had with the king of the seas but he didn't dare question it as he brought this proposal before the emperor. Kowtowing before the emperor he gave his reasoning which the right camp didn't appreciate.

All these years the pirate king had kept to himself and their agreement. If they offend the person who controls the seas wouldn't it put them at a disadvantage?