Chapter 54

54 Tricky.

Valerian turned his head toward the Emperor and bowed to show respect, just like the others. The man cast a gaze at the silver-haired child, this was a new face that he had not seen around his daughter.

Azula noticed this and said, “Your Excellency, this is my attendant, Valerian. He is able to converse with the magical beasts and has convinced the Flame Swallow to help us.”

The face of the emperor seemed to be made of stone, to some degree, this toughness was radiating in his eyes, but when he quickly blinked to cover the surprise, Valerian caught him. How can a person, who loves his companion so much that even after she was disfigured beyond repair, he would not turn his gaze away, not feel surprised after hearing such a piece of news?

The Emperor spoke in a deep voice, “Are you sure?”

His question was directed to Valerian, the boy nodded, and using his signs he conveyed the condition he proposed to the flame swallow. The Emperor had a somber face, however, before he could say anything, the man in the green tunic said, “Your Excellency, the flame swallows live in a flock, if this beast is let go. There is a chance that it may return and attack us with its kin. It will be a risk. Are we going to believe what this child says? Who knows what medicine is he selling in this gourd.”

The emperor nodded, but Azula was surprised, however, Valerian had no such reaction. He stood behind her very calmly. The Emperor asked, “Do you have anything to say about this matter, Valerian?”

The silver-haired boy glanced at the man in a green tunic, clicked his tongue but shook his head. Azula and the rest of the people noted this reaction and were shocked, this guy was expressing utter contempt toward the stubborn attendant of the Emperor.

The man with the green tunic also noticed this and said, “What are you giving such a reaction for? You country bumpkin. Get lost before I beat you up.”

Valerian looked at Azula and asked, ‘May I express my opinion, Your Highness?’

.....

This action showed that he places the princess above himself and will not react until he is asked to. It was a silent face slap to the Emperor’s attendant who spoke up before the Emperor asked him. Azula thought for a bit and then she nodded saying, “Go ahead.”

Valerian looked at the middle-aged man and said calmly, ‘Your Excellency, I reacted this way, because the suggestion from your attendant is not something unexpected. It is his duty to worry about the empire, however, he seems to look at the magical creatures in the world as if they were humans. That is the flaw, a beast reacts to their instincts.

If a stranger was to come close and hold the life of your children in their palms, would you be kind enough to trust that they will not harm your children? The same protective instinct courses through the beasts, just ten times stronger. The decision, in the end, is yours to make, Sire.

Also, Sire, I do not ask you to believe me, but I hope you have some faith in my lady’s words. She would not want to harm her family and empire. Would she?’

That said, he bowed his head and stood in his spot silently. The people thought that the child was acting grumpy, but those with some wisdom could tell that he was slapping the attendant in the green tunic, by placing the Princess forward as his shield. The Emperor pondered silently, while the attendant was glaring at Valerian. The boy on the other hand ignored the malicious vibe.

After a minute, the emperor gazed at the Flame Swallow and said, “Valerian, ask her, will she give her word about not attacking the city. If she agrees then have her raise her left-wing.”

This was a test for Valerian, to see if the child could really communicate with magical beasts. The silver-haired boy bowed slightly to the Emperor and turned to face the Flame Swallow, and let out a series of tweets. The initial surprise turned into a shock when the beast raised her left wing in agreement.

Azula said in a calm manner, “Your Excellency, can you let them free now?”

The Emperor turned his head to look at his daughter and nodded slightly. The princess smiled, and said, “Valerian, this barrier allows one to enter, will you collect the tear from her before we set her free. I am asking you to do this because she trusts you more.”

Valerian nodded and replied, ‘You do not have to explain, Your Highness, I understand. I will do it. Can I have a glass vial?’

Azula gazed at the guards and one of them ran back to the palace quickly. The Emperor kept gazing at the child, and asked, “Valerian, how would you like to tame all these beasts for us? You will be heavily rewarded. You will have to answer me only. What do you think?”

The people were surprised, after all, it was not daily when the Emperor made a job proposal. However, when they were feeling envious of Valerian, the child shook his head and said, ‘I beg your pardon, Your Excellency, but I cannot do such a thing. Taking away the free will of a creature is one of the biggest sins in this world and I do not wish to do that.’

The people were shocked, Valerian rejected the Emperor. He came forward with no hesitation. The attendant in the tunic clenched his fists and said, “Boy, do you not understand that it was your good fortune to be sought out by the Emperor? What gives you the courage to defy, His Excellency.”

Azula did not understand why was this attendant targeting Valerian, but the boy was not going to let him ride over his head. The princess was worried about what if Valerian lost his control and attacked the Head Attendant. She did not want that to happen.

Valerian replied, ‘If forcing life into slavery my fortune, then I would rather not have it. We shall talk about my courage later, but I want to ask you, How dare you raise your voice in the presence of his Excellency, and how dare you behave like a rampaging bull in front of Her Highness? Do you think you are above them?

This word was enough, and the attendant became silent. He did not expect this child to have such sharp tongue battle skills. He clenched his fists and wanted to retaliate but the gaze of the princess was locked at all his movements.

The atmosphere became tense, and soon a soldier appeared holding a glass vial, as big as a vase. Valerian was surprised and confused, Azula said, “Why did you bring this big of a vial?”

The guard replied, “It was the royal chemist, he asked that we collect as many tears as possible for his research.”

Valerian frowned with disgust brimming through his gaze, he did not like selfish humans who treat magical beasts as a treasure trove. He walked up to the guard, snatched the vial, and moved through the magical barrier. Even these seasoned guards would think twice before approaching a magical beast, yet this child walked in as if it was a park.

Valerian did not have so many thoughts in his mind, he only knew that the flame swallow will give him a tear, and then he will have her and her child go free. He was a lot smaller than the beast, so he raised the vial above his head and tweeted, ‘Drop a tear of yours in this. Just one is enough.’

Flame Swallow bend her body to get her head closer to the vial and carefully, she blinked her eyes, a drop as big as an adult’s fist formed at the corner of her eye and dripped into the vial.

Valerian raised his head and found that the tear was red, it was very opaque as well. He asked, ‘Do you also cry tears of blood only?’

The Flame Swallow nodded and said, ‘Yes, why do you ask.’

‘I am the same, in my whole life, I have cried once, and those were the blood tears.’, said the child, shocking the magical beast.

Valerian turned to look at Azula, who nodded, and then she said, “Father, if you may undo the spell.”

The Emperor nodded and said, “Irritum Facere.”

Nullify, was the translation of these two words. One had to channel the same mana attribute inside their bodies and chant to nullify the spells they have cast.

The barrier around the tree glowed with a dull vermilion glow and then vanished. The flame swallow tweeted to express her happiness. Then she turned her back to face the tree and tweeted again. A bird similar to her, but smaller in size landed on the ground.

The attendant behind the emperor watched all this with a cunning gaze. It was as if he missed something and a ferocious light flashed in his eyes when he cast a glance at Valerian. Only to find him staring back at himself. Valerian walked in front of the Emperor and wanted to hand him the tear of the fire swallow when the attendant came forward.

Valerian did not find anything out of ordinary, after all, a lofty emperor would not accept anything from him, a mere attendant, but the head attendant could, so the man in green tunic came to take the vial but just when Valerian was about to hand him the vial, the attendant flinched, letting the bottle fall to the ground...