Kouen pulled back his bow a final time, shooting the target dead on. He jumped off his horse, letting one of the stable boys take him away ''Nova?'' He called out. His partner was nowhere to be seen
''Nova?'' Kouen dropped his bow and arrows, wandering through the forest ''Nova?'' He called again. On the soft green grass that smelt freshly cropped, laid Nova. Hair spread through the blades of grass, the small wildflowers tickling her nose. Looking down at her closely, Kouen smiled, happy to finally see her sleeping. Even if he was going to ruin it by talking ''So this is what you do with your time as a general?'' Nova hardly moved when she woke up
''There are no battles concerning me, so I am napping'' Dropping down on the floor next to her. Kouen stared up at tree tops, blocking the hot sun from them ''It's quite nice under here'' Nova hummed ''The sun is just right'' wiggling around, the plain white dress she wore, slipped off her shoulder. Keeping his eyes up at the trees, a light blush took his checks. When the chest revealed her grown chest.
A little guilt hit Kouen when the scared from the spear was still peachy. It looked painful
''Does it hurt?'' ''Hmm?'' Kouen rubbed his chest ''The scar I mean. Do you ever get pains?'' Lately, Kouen's mind kept falling into this darkness, overthinking everything. What he's done, doing, and is about to do ''I don't have nightmares anymore. Over the years it's stopped, but sometimes they'll be this burning pain. Like you've just touched hot metal, straight through my chest''
''I'm sorry, Nova'' She rested her hand on his elbow ''No need to be sorry. I was saving the Kou, by saving you...'' With a soft smile she made a light-hearted joke ''Could you imagine if Hakuren, Hakuyuu, and Hakuryuu died, and you became the next Emperor? The Kou wouldn't fall into its old ways''
Kouen couldn't answer, watching a crow fly into its next. The baby chicks chipping at the mother. The crow looked down at Kouen, locking its head to the side ''They will never die...'' Kouen sat up looking away from the blackbird. But it never looked away from him ''You are a general, Nova. You can throw your men into the battle, not yourself. You have to live, to save the many''
''My men do not fight without me. If they face the many, I will too. I will fight beside them. Because I was once them'' There was a long silence before Nova sat up too staring at Crow deep in the trees. Two more landed beside it. Crows weren't comen in Kou
''What happened to go with Judal, to find the djinn of healing?'' Kouen sighed ''Judal went off on his separate mission, the other day. When he returns, he'll lead me there''
''A healing djinn would be useful, on the battlefield... I ask Judal to lead me to the djinn, but he said I wasn't queen metal. And households to a djinn, can't require a djinn itself'' playing with the blades between his fingers, he stopped thinking
''I think you'll be a good queen. Kind, sweat, and care about others, more than yourself'' ''Thank you prince Kouen, but a slave became a queen? The people would never expect''
''A good queen can make anyone expect--'' ''shh'' Nova hushed Kouen, from speaking more ''Someone is calling us'' Kouen looked towards the way he came from, seeing a woman walk closer calling out their names
''So you could hear me'' ''Yeah'' Nova stood up. Kouen following. Eight crows, gathered on the nearby tree, cawed loudly before flying away0 ''Prince Kouen. General Nova'' The maid bowed, holding a teapot and a cup ''general Nova, I have brought you some tea''
''Ohh?'' ''From what I hear, you still have nightmares and pains from the war injuries'' Kouen shot Nova a cold look ''I do. What of it'' Nova's strong frame and Kouen's tall muscle frame made one hell of a scaring wall when they looked down at you, thinking you're nothing more than dirt
''My family used to own this tea shop... And this one tea was popular amounts the soldiers. It helps with healing inner injuries, and cures nightmares''
Nova took the cup and poured herself some tea ''I had to pick a few things from the royal gardens if you do not mind Prince Kouen'' ''It's fine'' Kouen voice was cold ''But ask next time'' ''Yes, sir'' Nova blew on her tea before taking a sip
''Hmm. It's sweat'' Nova drank the rest before pouring herself some more ''Oh and Emperor Hakutoku would like to see you in the Throne room General Nova'' Nova gave the cup back to her ''Thank you for the tea'' Bowing to Kouen before going, Nova went straight to the Throne Room. Ready to find out what the Emperor needed
''Prince Kouen. Your father wishes to speak to you in the far west hall'' ''Yes'' Kouen didn't bat the maid an eye before leaving
The maid waited five minutes before crying in pain dropping the teapot. It spelt along the grass turning it black and old ''I'm so stupid, the witch told me not to get it on my hands and I did'' Her hands started to turn a funny purple colour. Whipping it on the green grass quickly she couldn't get it off
''What is this stuff?!'' ''That daring is the Curse of Death. And you have fallen for it'' The forest-eyed maid looked up into the man's blood ones. He wore a mark coving his eyes, and long clothes coving his mouth and nose.
His deep green hair pocked out hanging over his shoulders ''Help me! You have to help me-!'' In her panic, the curse spread much quicker. Before she could lay her hands on his long black robe, she froze up. Her skin, eyes, hair, and clothes were all purple, slowly turning black
Ithnan waited a second before hitting her with his staff. Her body turned fully black, crumbling to dust
YOU ARE READING
Innocent Until Stolen
Fanfiction"She was once Innocent until she was thrown into a pit. Stolen from her homeland" - Ugo Guardian Of The Sacred Palace Working to your hands bleed gives you resistance against the cure world. The world is full of war and hate. Climbing the ran...
