The dark clouds cleared, revealing the highest peaks of the Himalayas. The peaks of Kanchenzonga reached the sky, and below it stood the Purnavardha kingdom.
The eagle made its way beyond the kingdom, its silhouette moving the shie snow under the subtle sunlight emerging through the breach in black.
Crossing several rivers, on the foothills of the Himalayas, another kingdom came into view.
"THE ROYAL LICCHAVI KINGDOM"
The unique royal palace of the Licchavi capital stood under the black. The messengers made their way into the royal palace.
Walking through the cold corridors, they entered the courtroom and right in front of them, he sat. Leg on top of the other, and the golden helmet on his head.
Bowing before the king, they all greeted him...
"We are here before you, my lord, with the message from the warring states"
A minister rose and made the declaration of commencement.
"Let the court, under the rule of the great Suryavarma Licchavi and the prime minister Houki commence!!!"
The messenger's eyes panned forward, and there he stood up, a huge body revealing a demon chest and abs.
Sharp eyes and a hair that symbolised the great snow leopard, everyone in the palace felt his gaze.
Raising his hand, he gave the order to commence.
Beside him stood an old figure, with a similar long hair clipped at the back, and the crown symbolising the prime minister of the Licchavi kingdom.
The messenger announced...
"Han of the Warring States has officially invaded Qin and made its first state Hi. However, as the price of the fulfilment of their ambition, they lost their strongest general, the great general Ri Li".
"Houki...this is the time", the king's cold words echoed throughout the courtroom.
So did the Houki's cold reply...
"The time for action has arrived"
"Convey this message to the great general, Ifang, the era of Licchavi rule has arrived", ordered Houki.
"Yes, my lord!!", replied the messengers and made their way out of the courtroom.
"Han..., Houki Its been almost three years since that, huh?", muttered Suryavarma.
"Indeed, my lord, since the death of Sukoh Yadav", replied Houki.
***************
A blizzard had begun outside the castle, and snow had covered the whole ground white.
Walking on that white canvas, a group of people appeared on horses.
To the Northern Gate of Licchavi came walking a group of merchants, and the soldiers stopped them.
"What is the name of your leader?", they asked.
"Qin", the leader replied.
"Point of origin?", they enquired.
"Tianzhu"
"Show your faces", they ordered.
All of them showed their face, the horses stayed there peacfully an the blizzard grew stronger.
"Go fast and find a shelter!", ordered the soldier.
"Yes, sir", replied the leader.
One of them in the back came to the front on his horse, and he tightened the ribbon on his head. The soldiers noted the quote on that ribbon.
"Hey...isn't that quote a unique one?", said another, pointing to that.
"Yeah...a thousand victories"
The man whispered...
"move"
The moment the single word was perceived by the horse, mustering all the strength on its legs, the horse moved, leading the group.
"Hey, what is that speed!!??", the soldiers were astonished.
In an instant, they disappeared from the white canvas.
***************
The horse neighed in Wan's mansion. It was midmorning, and abruptly he opened his eyes.
The blurry vision cleared, only to reveal that the man in front of him was none other than Zen Shi.
"Master!!", Wan Shouted.
"Your fool, don't you know how to recognise liquor and water?", asked the infuriated Zen Shi.
"Wait, master!! The Xiongnu tribe offered me water after seeing that I was thirsty, and that mission to deliver the scroll to the shrine!! That was really tiring!!", said Wan Heian.
"You could have stayed in the shrine for the night, who the hell rides a horse in pitch black!!", scolded Zen Shi.
"Well...that monk was shady", Wan made up an excuse.
"That monk was shady?? Hey fool!! He belongs to the Quando sect, and that is why wear those strange demon masks!!", shouted Zen Shi.
"Sorry, master, and thank you for looking after me!", said Wan.
"You should thank her, she is the one who looked after you the whole night", said Zen Shi.
Wan Heian's eyes panned to the right, and a young woman was sleeping with her head on the bed.
"Huh? Liah...?", muttered Wan.
Hearing that argument, Lia woke up and before her sat an awake Wan Heian. An overjoyed smile appeared on her face, and that instantly melted Wan's fragile heart.
Wan's face appeared red, and Zen Shi instantly laughed, leaving the room saying...
"Well, this is a valuable reunion"
Closing the door, he left the room. However, for a moment, he stood near the window in the corridor.
"Did I feel it or did his eyes glew white for an instant?"
Zen Shi stood there in doubt, but later left, ignoring it.
In the room, two people met each other after a while, and the shyness was evident in their eyes.
The room was silent...as they both sat there blushing.
"Tha..thank you for looking after me, Lia", Wan Heian mustered his courage and thanked her.
"Well...thank you for saving me back then", she also thanked Wan.
"Are you...going again?", she asked in her sweet voice.
"Well...I will be here for a while till elder sister and master finish their business is Qin", replied Wan.
"Really!!...ah no", replied Lia in excitement and quickly got a hold of herself.
The room was back to silence again.
For a while, Lia thought and mustering all the courage, she declared...
"Whenever you are hurt!! I will treat you!!!"
The moment after she said that, her face went downcast as it was too red, resembling a tomato.
"I will protect you forever!!", Wan Heian declared out of the blue.
"Forever?', whispered Lia.
"Ah..nah yes a", Wan was out of words.
She smiled, and her face lit up that room.
********************
ZEIHONG (HI STATE)
The meeting had already commenced, and the queen sat there explaining the policies and debating the laws.
The bored Zen Shi quickly walked out of the castle and lay down under the shade of a sakura tree in front of the palace.
"Hah...Spring always makes me sleepy, and Hia's eyes are glowing too much today"
"Wait, what am I thinking!! Sleep now"
"I regained my memories...all of them painful enough to make me numb. But let me dream them again in my sleep"
"A dream of the past that will shape the future"
The cool breeze braced Zen Shi's body, and the Sakura petals fell. In that solace, Zen Shi closed his eyes, for a slumber worth remembering.