CHAPTER 27

“Bring me my zither,” she said as she watched the two dueling.
It was very funny watching the whole thing. She could tell that Daren didn’t want to hurt her and neither did Nora. They were both great fighters and were a match.
They complimented each other something that she was really admiring. After watching for a while, she got really bored with the way they were fighting, they were very compatible but she was not going to let them leave the ground very soon.
She received her zither and placed it in front of her. She pulled the strings and the tune came out making everyone to be quiet and still at the same time.
“I think this duel we will have no winner which is why I’m going to make things very interesting,” she said looking at Nora.
She could see her fear and that was for her to enter the grounds. Of course, she would never humiliate her personal attendant by having a duel with her. She was going to promote her disciples instead.
“Anyone who can fight those two and manages to attack them ten times will be promoted immediately,” she announced and saw the look on her disciples faces.
“Mistress, are you sure about that?” the left guardian asked.
“Just see it as a way of training Nora. I want to see how well she adapts to pressure,” she explained.
“If you say so then it’s settled.”
She watched as the disciples came into the ground and she knew that the real game was starting.
“To you my beloved Nora, if you win, I will grant you three wishes. So, make me proud,” she said and let the battle begin.
Valery began to play a bizarre tune with her zither, it was meant to create confusion and only the strong would manage to fight in that situation. She never stopped playing as the battle went on and on. She watched as her disciples fell one by one to the ground.
She has really improved and she was very proud of her. The two worked well together and got rid of everyone they were fighting with. She stopped playing and looked at them and smiled.
“Well done,” she said and looked at the left guardian, “did anyone managed to attack ten times?”
“I’m afraid that no one did but someone managed seven times,” he replied.
“Who is that?” she asked being curious.
The left guardian called up the disciple who just did a miraculous deed. He stepped forward and she was a bit shocked. He looked very young for someone with such great martial arts skills.
“What’s your name child?” she asked him.
“Paulo, mistress,” he replied.
She looked at his robe and noticed that he was of the lowest rank but how was it possible for him to be like that?
“I’m very astonished by what you did. I will have you promoted to be a third rank disciple,” she said and Paulo kowtowed to her there and there.
She felt so good to see such a thing happening. She turned her head to Nora and Daren who had defeated their opponents so well.
“I forgive you for what you did the both of you. Since you have both won, I won’t be dueling with you. I’m no longer in the mood. Like I promised, Nora I will grant you three wishes but you will have to think of them first and tell me when you are ready,” Valery explained and stood up.
“Thank you, mistress,” they both said at the same time.
“Dismiss everyone and starting from today increase their training. How can they be so lacking?” she said very angrily.
“I will do that,” the left guardian said.
“Anyone who slacks off will be punished. I can’t believe they walk around wearing my logo. Don’t embarrass my palace!” she yelled and left the training grounds.
It was very disappointing to see that her disciples were doing nothing. How could they fight like amateurs? If someone was to wage a war with them how would they even survive?
She needed them to be strong and so she was going to be ruthless once again. If she has to make two or three of them as examples then she will do it as long as her intentions were heard.
Xavier caught up to her and the palanquin was put to the ground. He stretched his hand and she took it and got off the palanquin.
“What are you plotting this time?” she asked him as she stood next to him.
“I just want to have a nice walk with my lady. I can tell that you are frustrated, so let me accompany you. I have something that I need to show you,” he told her and she put a smile on her face.
“What can it possibly be?” she asked.
“You will see,” he said.
The two of them began to walk and she wasn’t bothered by the disciples that were seeing her. She loved him and he loved her, they will have to get used to it. They continued to walk until they arrived in the garden.
It was a cherry blossom garden. The trees had bloomed and it was beautiful. The leaves were flying everywhere and it was just lovely, lovely enough to dissipate the anger she was having after what happened in the training grounds.
“It’s beautiful,” she said looking at the trees.
“I know this will make you happy.”
“I’m glad you brought me here. So, tell me, what you are hiding from me?” she asked.
She knew it whenever he was hiding anything from him just like how she always knew how he felt for her.
“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”
“No, you can’t. What have you done this time?” she asked him.
“Nothing much,” he lied to her and she looked at him.
“Should I do something to you again?”
“No, please don’t. I don’t know where to begin,” he told her.
“Just say it,” she said looking at him.