Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

Archduchess Zaira was happy. In fact, she was beyond happy! Ecstatic even! She was finally able to tell Luna who she was, or at least tell her indirectly. It was a long awaited reunion.

About a hundred fifty years ago, she received word that the Fox Clan of Liada in the Celestial Realm was executed because they were under suspicion of rebellion against the Celestial King, with the then believed Elthesia Wetcheit li Stedus as their forerunner. She was heartbroken, knowing her family got wrongly accused and killed for some twisted plot by someone. She was trying her best to regain her immortality to head to the Celestial Realm and demand justice for her clan.

But then, she stopped.

A year after she received the news, she had foreseen what she guessed was from the future; a very terrible future which involved her and the Praiji Empire. She then resolved to bide her time to get the revenge she wanted. She had to wait for the major players to be born and for her to make preparations.

About fifteen years ago, she received word of the birth of the future ruler of the red faction, the protagonist of the future she saw more than a hundred years ago. She promised herself that to avoid that dark future; she would support that person into becoming stronger.

Eight years ago, she was sent to investigate about one of the many disturbances up in the northern territories of the Praiji Empire. She was surprised to see a burning village with dead bodies littering all over it. But then there was an explosion of power in the woods and she was surprised to see a crying female child with two dead bodies in danger.

Zaira, or rather Elthesia, was very surprised to see the color of the child’s soul; it greatly resembled her younger sister, Nyxtriel. There was only something amiss though, she did not seem to have her spirit core.

‘Did she reincarnate? Is this another joke from the celestials?’ she thought but she pushed it aside as she was more glad to see a member of her family despite in a different shell.

But she became even more appalled at the resemblance of the child and the powerful warrior she saw in her vision.

‘The Red Sovereign.’ she thought. ‘Why is Nyxtrie’s soul inside the Red Sovereign?’

She immediately went into action and saved the red-haired child. She asked if she was okay but the child only cried, something Elthesia could understand after such a horrendous ordeal.

“I finally found you.” she couldn’t help but say to the child who only looked in confusion and then passed out.

The next few years were one big roller coaster ride, not that Afasia knew what a roller coaster was. Elthesia tested her theories and trained the child she saved who called herself Luna Hysi in various field. To her surprise, she soaked everything like a sponge, just like what her little sister used to do. Luna became skilled and powerful, but her body was yet to adapt to such power.

Elthesia guessed that Nyxtriel’s power and soul were suppressed to match her current host. There was no other possibility.

And then that incident in the Imperial Academy’s Northern Forest happened; Luna reclaimed Nyxtriel’s spirit core and she managed to regain control of her core ability; Fox Fire.

But Elthesia was not ready to reveal who she was yet. And it looked like Nyxtriel didn’t either so she remained silent and continued observing her sister. And then Luna told her she was Nyxtriel.

Elthesia wanted to hug her and comfort her, but she stopped herself. She needed Luna’s, no, Nyxtriel’s drive to face the incoming danger and take their revenge upon the celestials.

She needed the Red Sovereign.

Months passed and then Kai came to her and told her of the memories he received from a future he saw after almost dying. It awfully resembled the one she saw a hundred fifty years ago.

“But the Demon King has been killed. Did the demons find someone to replace him?” she asked herself. “Most demons will not make a move without a banner to fight under.”

She started working together with Kai to investigate the change if the demons as well as to change the horrible future she once saw.

***

Elthesia couldn’t help but smile as power rose inside Luna. She just indirectly told her of her true identity and for a moment, her sister Nyxtriel resurfaced in the mortal vessel. Her red hair suddenly had streaks and tips of white, an image of nine red tails with white tips danced behind her and on her forehead was the symbol she received upon completing her tribulations to become a high celestial or what the mortals believed to be a high god; an upside down half of a heart shape meeting with another half of a heart shape in the center.

She watched as Luna did something no mortal could possibly do; become the caster and power source of a Transport Gate.

Once her sister’s role was done, she immediately casted the White Seal, trapping the demons for ten years in an alternate dimension with no way out.

***

Elthesia stood before Luna’s unconscious form. She had reverted to her mortal appearance but still oozing with power. But…

‘It’s not enough. At the level she is now, she’d even lose to the original Abbadon. Much less to the new Demon King.’

Elthesia had been preparing for it, to send the Red Sovereign to be trained by some of the strongest people she knew and then rise as one of the Colored Monarchs, the strongest beings of Afasia. But she was unprepared to send her sister away and possibly lose her again.

“Sia.” someone called. Elthesia did not look back, she already knew who was calling her; Sun Wukong. “The entire city has been cleaned up. The traitors of humanity have been taken into custody and secured. At the moment, I’m afraid the only other problems we have are demon stragglers and a possible war against the Ferhusto Kingdom.”

Elthesia did not answer. She just stared into her sister’s form.

“Are you thinking of spending some time with her before you send her away?” Wukong asked with a knowing look. “I know how much you missed her. We can no longer prolong it. Apollo said she has to be taken into Avalon Isles before the celestials starts looking for her in the mortal realm. Her display of power a while ago obviously temporarily made them know of her existence.”

“I know.” she sighed. “We have choices we have to make. Wukong, I will do something outrageous. There’s a possibility she might hate me for it but she needs it. It’s the only way motivate her into becoming the Red Sovereign. I need to let her realize how weak she is so she can strive hard on becoming stronger.”

Wukong suddenly hugged her from behind and placed his head on her shoulders. She returned the gesture by holding his hands.

“Your sister is not as weak as you think. She already has her goals. She just needs a little push.” he pecked Elthesia on the lips and held her so they could face together. “I will make my preparations, you do yours. I will see you again soon.”

“Yes.”