Journey (Part 2)

Mizpah's long, wavy, golden blonde hair flowed to her back as her brown stallion speedily galloped on the snow filled ground. She slowed down as she drew nearer her old home. When she reached the red Torii gate at the foot of the hill, she dismounted and tied her horse to a nearby tree. A thick rope was tied on the pillars of the gates. Wooden talismans with written spells to draw away evil hung on the rope. Seeing the wooden ornaments infuriated her.

The town's people surely hung it there again, hoping to keep Raye trapped on the hill. Not that the talismans actually worked against keeping any evil spirit in or out of the hill. The so-called spells were just a bunch of meaningless symbols written by the town's fake Shaman. Despite all the goodness and help that their grandmother showed these people, they continue to discriminate against her sister. It's amazing how fear can push people to act beyond reason.

Carrying a leather satchel, Mizpah hurriedly climbed up the long plight of stairs leading to the small house on top.

"Raye!" She called her little sister as she entered the house. The last time they saw each other was during their grandmother's funeral. She had been extremely busy working as one of the imperial physicians and she rarely had time to go out, let alone travel back to her hometown, which was miles away from the capital.

Mizpah found Raye on the patio on the way back to the kitchen, bringing a tray of food.

"Expecting someone for breakfast?"

"I had a patient, but he already left."

"Raye, you shouldn't be letting people in the house, especially now that you're living here alone. What if they do something bad to you. You know how the people in town are."

"Don't worry. I'm sure no one would do anything harmful to me, and if anyone did try, I can dry them off their prana in seconds." Raye chuckled as she placed the tray of food on the table.

"I'm not joking, Raye."

"So am I." Raye answered with a resolute expression.

"Oh! Before I forget, Prince Koen sent you these as an expression of his affection." Mizpah chuckled as she took out a red velvet box and handed it to Raye, "Open it."

Raye gently opened the box and sadly sighed as she saw a jeweled golden hairpin inside.

"I can't accept this. You need to tell the prince to stop sending me these gifts."

"Listen Raye, you'll be eighteen soon. You should consider returning Prince Koen's affection."

"I can't. He's the crown prince and I'm a commoner. Even if he loved me, he would surely be obliged to marry a princess from another kingdom or a noble woman. I don't want to be one of the concubines in the royal harem. I want to be an apprentice so I can become a physician like you and grandma. Can't you make him change his mind, please Mizpah?"

"You know I can't do that. I just don't see why you don't like him. You know he's really handsome, smart, brave, and he treats everyone in the palace kindly. And oh! If you see him topless during sword practice, his muscles will..."

"Sounds like you have a crush on him." Raye raised a brow and grinned, "Why don't you get his attention, then?"

"Oh, I'd jump to marry prince hottie if he'd ask me. Unfortunately, he seems to have a thing for women with straight ebony black hairs than for blondes. So just accept that gift, okay?"

"No. It's not right. You should give this back to him."

"Raye." Mizpah cupped her hands on Raye's as the latter was about to give back the box, "Just keep this. Thoughts of you keep Prince Koen happy at least. The Imperial court is in chaos right now. This information was kept inside the palace but the emperor had been ill for months now and no medicine had been able to cure him."

"I've concocted medicine from lunar herbs a few days ago, you should bring it to the emperor."

"We've tried it. Even the lunar herbs don't work."

"But it's the most potent medicine I know."

"I suspect that the emperor's illness isn't normal. I think he's oppressed by a curse. Ever since the emperor fell ill, Lady Sutton, the woman whom his majesty married and immediately promoted just several months ago, has been manipulating the court officials and managing state affairs. It should have been Prince Koen's responsibility as the next emperor, but Lady Sutton won't even allow him in the court. It also seems that Lady Sutton has eyes watching the Prince's and his allies every move. I'm afraid she's waiting for an opportunity to rip Prince Koen of his title."

"That's terrible. I didn't know politics in the palace was that complicated, and the emperor isn't even dead yet. Isn't there any way to cure him?"

"There might be a way. I heard about a daemonore that can lift curses."

"Aren't using daemonores prohibited by the kingdom?"

"That's why I came here. I need your help to save the emperor, Raye. As Prince Koen's ally, my movements are limited."

"Sure. Anything for you, Mizpah. How can I help?"

"I heard from an herb merchant from the Kingdom of Mithra that an ogre named Odin illegally trades different kinds of daemonores. I need you to go to Mithra and trade the daemonore from the ogre with this." Mizpah took out a bag of red diamonds, "I heard he runs an inn in Mizpah. He shouldn't be hard to find."

"Do you know the specific name of this daemonore?"

"I'm sorry, Raye. That's the only information I have about it. I know that this is a burden for you, but I'm afraid with how things are going in the palace, the Empire of Celestine will fall if the emperor dies."

"Don't worry. I'll surely get that daemonore for you."

As Mizpah handed Raye the satchel she was carrying, a sudden explosion flung them away. Raye lost her consciousness for a few minutes. When she awoke, the house was already on fire.