(Author's Note: Wow. This one took a while. But I guess things are looking up. As always, questions, comments, constructive criticisms are welcome. I'm always looking to improve. Anyways, hopefully I can get the ball rolling on this one again, though I'm not feeling as if there's enough inspiration. If anyone has any plot suggestions or anything, feel free to tell me!)

The journey to the capital had been long and seemingly endless for everyone. For Xhara it seemed like the two cousins never stopped fighting. Every time she saw one of them, it was as if they were competing.

Competing for me. Xhara thought bitterly. The thought that both Fyar and Setir had been fawning over her made her annoyed. Not because they thought the way they did about her, but rather that they decided to be immature at a time like this annoyed her more than anything. They were supposed to be men. Grown MEN!

But despite their constant contest to win Xhara's affections, they had made it to the outskirts of the capital in a thankfully decent amount of time. Still recovering from her injury, Xhara found herself in bed, working on her report to Empress Kien.

It was hard for her to come up with something that would explain the happenings of the battle, as well as allowing her to conveniently leave out the part about how Setir's magic played a large role in the victory.

Drumming her fingers on the papers before her, she scanned them over once more, trying to ignore the ink blotches and blacked out sections of text while trying to read her own barely visible scribbles. According to the report, Xhara had formulated a plan to create an optical illusion of them possessing hundreds more troops than they actually had. Sending in several waves with small amounts of soldiers in each of them, they were able to accomplish this task and the nomad armies had felt intimidated and fled.

The report was as close to the truth as Xhara could risk, and she felt confident that Empress Kien would be satisfied with the results of the battle. Satisfied herself with her own work, Xhara began to copy the report in a slow, even hand. The empress was probably the only person who would ever get Xhara to write slow and decent enough so that someone trying to read her work wouldn't have to squint.

Kien did not look like much of an empress. It wasn't the fact that she didn't dress regally or act as an Empress should, but rather, the Empress Kien was the youngest ruler that the Kingdom of Palsan had ever had. So naturally, Kien did not have that look of elder wisdom that many rulers with more years of experience wore around them like an aura.

However, despite Empress Kien's flaws, her talents as a ruler were more than enough to make up for them. Not only did her intelligence prove an asset in the decisions that she had to make as an Empress, but the council was also pleased with the fact that the people had grown to love their empress.

She had become a symbol for the people, and there was something about Kien that made you wish you knew more of her. She had something that seemed to draw you in, something that made her seem more than a mere empress. And because of this, the people absolutely adored her.

Which was why the magic law was so important. Without the Empress Kien, the Jharien Dynasty would crumble. And without Empress Kien, the council would have no ruler... no ruler that the people loved and adored. Without Kien, the people would not be united under one common cause. She was a key part to the whole picture, and without her, it would all crumble. No one dared to break the law because they were all afraid that they would lose their empress.

The prophecy was no secret. The common people knew about it, and knew it well. No one even dreamed of breaking the law by using the magic that was once so familiar to them. Not with the empress having no heir. Not when everyone stood to lose everything. It just wasn't done.

And yet, little did everyone know, but Xhara had just broken the law in an effort to save Empress Kien herself.

Xhara couldn't help but smile when she stepped towards Empress Kien's palace, dressed in her finest garments as she went to see the empress. There was something that the empress always did that made the palace almost seem sacred.

It wasn't merely that the elaborate marble palace was beautiful. It was something more. Whenever she stepped inside, she felt as if she was entering some sort of temple to a goddess rather than a palace for an empress.

Shutting her eyes, Xhara let the feeling wash over her, heaving a sigh. She always felt relaxed when she went to see the empress, like all her burdens were lifted. And yet, this time, they weren't all lifted.

A nagging feeling of guilt struck Xhara as she move after the retainer towards the marble hall where Xhara was to see the empress and present her report. Gripping the report in her hands, she tried to ignore the guilt as she stepped into the hall.

The hall was slightly warm, but it was a comforting feeling. It felt like it was used, as if things were alright. And as Xhara looked up, a familiar and calming voice met her ears. Kien.

"Welcome, Lady Xhara. It is good of you to come. Are you feeling alright? I heard you were injured."

Xhara couldn't help but smile. That was exactly like Kien. Always worrying about people, rather than things. It was just another aspect that made Xhara enjoy working for the empress more.

"I'm alright, your majesty."

"I've told you a thousand times, there's no need for formalities, Xhara. Please, call me Kien."

That was another thing that got to Xhara. Being on a first name basis with an empress was something, but when it was an empress like Kien, it was hard not to use the respectful terms and titles for the young empress.

"I'm alright, Kien." Xhara corrected herself.

"That's better." The empress said.

Xhara's gaze finally raised to look at the young empress. Her hair was cut shorter than she was used to seeing, with the red-gold tresses only reaching to her mid-back. The empress always liked it a bit short, feeling it was easier to manage. Xhara always thought that was amusing, because Kien never had to manage it herself. Her servants did that for her. And yet Xhara couldn't help thinking that this was just another clever way for Kien to serve her people without making them lose their pride.

"Now," Kien said, smoothing the wrinkles in her dress as she got to her feet. "Let us see how you did this time, Xhara."

Stepping forward, the empress took the report from Xhara's hands and began to read it over. While she was doing so, Xhara took another glance over at the empress.

She was as regal and as graceful as always, yet, somehow she looked as if she fit in well with her people, as if she was one of them. Yet this time, Xhara noticed there was something different about the empress. Something in her eyes.

Xhara almost looked shocked. Was that sadness in the empress' eyes, or was she just imagining it. Staring again as she watched Kien read over the report, her own worries left her completely.

She had never seen the empress look so hurt, so scared in her life, and now all she wanted to do was tell her that there was nothing to worry about, and that everything was alright.

But Xhara reminded herself that she was the empress, and that she couldn't even bring things up unless Kien wished them to. Slowly looking up from the report, Kien handed it to a retainer. "Very well written, Xhara. I am pleased with your victory. Please, continue to make me proud. I will send for you when I see where your troops could best be used. For now, there will be quarters set aside for your army near the palace, and you have access to all of the palace's training grounds. Do keep your troops in shape while you wait."

Xhara couldn't help but wonder why the empress was so upset, but she simply nodded, turning her back and heading slowly towards the exit. "Thank you, Kien." She murmured.

The empress watched Xhara as she left, her face still hiding whatever feelings of sadness she still had deep inside.