Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Uninvited Immortal Guests
At the Azure Hall
Empire Blue Castle
ASEURE / The Female Deity of Empire Blue Castle
I opened the door of my room intending to go downstairs.
As I walked out, I suddenly noticed that there were more Storm warriors lined up along the Azure Hall than usual.
I continued walking until I reached two warriors who abruptly faced me and prevented me from walking further.
"How dare you stop me." I said as I looked at both of them.
They lowered their heads.
"Pardon us My Lady, but My Lord told us to keep you in your hall for awhile" one responded without meeting my eyes.
"Huh?! and why is that?" I huffed almost angrily. What is this?
Row always does things without telling me. He always decides everything, and everytime he does it, I always feel like I'm not entitled to have opinions or freedom.
Actually, I've always been locked away, I just refused to acknowledge it.
The men refused to answer my question.
I heaved a sigh. I tried to calm down. It wasn't right to make it difficult for them. After all, they're just doing their job.
"Alright." I said through gritted teeth as I retreated back to my room.
In my room…
I sat down in the vanity, and looked at myself in the mirror.
This is Aseure, the female deity of the Empire Blue Castle no one knows about. A deity with unknown origin, alone, and isolated from the rest of the immortals. I do not know my true form. Row doesn't know either and whether he's lying or not…I have no way to know it.
My thoughts were suddenly distracted by few maidservants coming in.
"My Lady, My Lord told us to bring you food." they set the food in the table and waited for me.
"He also told us to leave only when you've eaten." one hesitantly informed. Obviously telling me to eat so they don't get yelled at.
"Hmmm" I smiled sadly as I looked at the amount of food they prepared.
"He also told us to prepare Kiwi and Dragonfruit cakes as you love them" the servant warmly smiled.
"Thank you." I smiled back at her. This girl was trying to cheer her up.
I picked up a cake and ate it.
"It's delicious." I responded.
"Thank you My Lady." they replied and curtsied in unison.
I chuckled. It's funny how they can all be in sync. They distracted me from my feelings for a moment.
They watched me ate then left the room after cleaning it.
As I thought of ways to drown my sadness, I remember something which Row has gifted me before.
I pulled the vanity drawer out and searched for the music score I've written for the past few days.
I then kneeled and crouched to the floor to pull the harp I hid under my bed.
I smiled in satisfaction as I look at the ornate instrument. Row made it from the finest materials.
When I found out that he caused a calamity in the Erthen Ground 500 years ago, I told him I will never play Storm's Flower or any song for him again. Only to find out later that day that he gifted me this harp with a note that he made it from the finest ivory. No matter how cold, arrogant, and controlling he was, he was a bit thoughtful…just a bit. My sadness soon dissipated at the thought.
I settled myself and the music score then began to play the song.
********
At the Receiving Room
Storm Hall
ROW / Deity of Storms and Rains
I closed my eyes at the demanding presence before me.
"You haven't come out of your castle for years!" Rovan exclaimed, banging the table.
"We all thought you were undergoing punishment from Omni" Wharton added.
"We were all scared to come. We're sorry." Kracosh admitted.
Rovan snickered. "Turns out you were just doing fine."
I opened my eyes as I hear their boisterous voices filling the Storm Hall.
"Keep it down" I calmy spoke as I touch the bottom of the wine glass making circles…thinking of the girl upstairs.
"So, should we be whispering after seeing each other for years?" Wharton responded in a whisper which made the other two laugh out loud.
"What then gave you the courage to come and seek for your cold friend's company?" I sipped the wine.
"You received the invitation right?" Kracosh asked and I nodded.
He was referring to the Millennium Immortal Spring Celebration.
*Millenium Immortal Spring Celebration = a celebration in spring where immortals gather to receive the radiance emitted by the Immortal Stone in Cloudberry Abyss, which only happens every 1,000 years. The radiance makes immortal powers stronger.
"Are you coming?" it was Rovan's turn.
"Yes but just for a while. I have an important task to do." I answered back, giving a reason for them to not push the matter.
Just when Wharton was about to persuade me otherwise. The castle echoed with the sound of a melody.
She was playing with the ivory harp. I smiled. The sound of the harp can be heard by the entire castle. I savored the sound of the music she was playing with eyes closed.
When I opened my eyes, Wharton, Rovan, and Kracosh looked at me searching for an answer.
"I see" Rovan grinned.
"You're hiding something from us…" Wharton pushed excitedly.
"No…no…no… he's hiding someone" Kracosh corrected him.
"The travelling musician must not have left yet" I responded. "I needed him to put the storm dragons to sleep" adding an excuse.
"Oh? Really? Tell him to come down and play for us." Rovan said.
"His services has been paid and he is leaving today" I answered.
"Ohhhh" Kracosh replied.
The three of them looked at each other and before I knew it, the three bolted upstairs.
I knew it, they were not going to stop. I stood from my seat as I followed.
When I reached the second floor, I saw them scattered in front of the barrier I set up around her hall.
"Damn! You should have told us you've set up a barrier!" Rovan complained. They were thrown off harshly by the barrier.
"You!" Kracosh pointed to a Storm warrior while he sat on the floor. "Who are you guarding?" he asked.
The warrior turned to face him.
"Pardon us, My Lord but we don't speak anything about the castle." The warrior respectfully responded and turned his back.
The song she is playing is now coming to an end.
"You've been keeping secrets" Kracosh looked at me with a smile.
I looked down and held out my hand to help him stand up.
"I think it's time for you to leave. You've overstayed your visit." I told them.
"You just don't want us to find out who you've been keeping in this…" Wharton looked closely at the name of the hall. Azure Hall" he continued excitedly.
"You all love your privacy, am I correct? You should therefore, respect mine." I told them and took a few steps going back to the main hall.
I heard a door from the Azure Hall opened.
I stopped my tracks. Is she coming out?
I quickly turned around.
The other three stood to see who was about to come out.
The door opened and Yesta came out.
"Pls. tell Row whatever he's up to, he has to at least tell me before behaving like this…or else, his wine cellar will be emptied next time." Aseure spoke to Yesta and shut the door.
Fortunately, the three were not able to see her as she stayed inside the room during the conversation…but then, they are still able to identify that the one inside was a female.
I calmly went back downstairs with the three following behind me, awfully quiet.
Something is coming…
"Spill it" Wharton started.
"Spill what?" I asked seriously.
"Who is she?" Rovan pried.
"You should take her to the Millenium Immortal Spring Celebration." Kracosh said.
"She will stay here forever" I responded sternly.
I stopped as I realized my words. Forever? was I expecting her to stay forever with me?
"Forever" Wharton grinned.
"That settles it, you're taking her…we want to see who kept you in seclusion for 800 years" Rovan said with finality.
I faced them. "No. It's time for you to leave." I pointed out and told them.
"Pls. escort the guests out." I ordered the servants.
"Yes My Lord" they answered in unison.
"You have to let others know about her, so she is acknowledged." Rovan touched my shoulder.
"She needs no acknowledgment" I replied. It was difficult for me to agree to her going out of the castle, more so with having more people see her in an immortal gathering.
"What's her name?" Kracosh asked.
I refused to answer.
"She'll get bored and sad if you keep hiding her for more years, Row." Wharton added, and looked at me.
They left me thinking about their words.
********
At the Bedroom
Azure Hall
A servant came.
"My Lady, the Lord has told us the guards have been dismissed" she informed.
STORM'S INFINITY
Copyright © 2022 by Ameri Sun
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