Interlude: Her Name II

Interlude: Her Name II

~~~

The Palace of the Storm Dragon is wrong.

Most would not think so. Despite the state of the country, the palace still looks like a place fit for royalty. Lushly decorated rooms with priceless antiques. Long marble halls with black banners lined with gold hanging from the walls. Multiple floors and several adjacent buildings for court officials and servants. It is not as well kept as it should be due to a lack of personnel, but that is ultimately of little consequence. This is not a place that receives many visitors, and trying to maintain the palace grounds in any way is a fools errand.

The Grand Storm outside makes sure of that.

The palace is under a never-ending storm that stretches for several miles. The flash of lightning and the roar of thunder are constant companions to the people living here. Many would find it nerve-wracking, but that is not the case for her. The Grand Storm is merely an oddity. Its manifestation should happen only during emergencies as opposed to being constantly present, but it does belong here.

The Grand Storm is not what is wrong.

The Palace of the Storm Dragon is wrong at a fundamental level. It is not simply a matter of the palace having deteriorated since the Black Storm Dragon vanished (or so they tell her). Rather, the palace, down to its very foundations, should be larger and more majestic than the one she currently inhabits.

Su Daji does not know how she knows this, yet the certainty with which she feels it cannot be denied.

A frown mars her beautiful face. A passing-by servant, likely having heard the stories, quickly moves out of her way and rushes down the hallway.

What a stupid girl.

If Su Daji were in the mood for it, she could consider that an insult. However, she merely keeps walking, her steps echoing across the empty halls. She is not in the mood for that type of fun. She rarely is nowadays.

Her frown deepens.

It is all the transfers fault.

She was too eager. That much, she can admit. This body is compatible with her, but it is not natural compatibility. Not through bloodline and talent but rather through-

Boss!

other means. Still, is there anyone who can blame her for seizing the opportunity presented to her? Who knows how much more shed have to wait for someone else to appear? That had been her thinking, but...

Who even is she now?

Su Daji.

The name comes naturally to her. She is Su Daji. She can be no one else.

She is unsure if Su Daji is a name she has ever used before.

Su Daji knows things. She understands things. However, her actual memories are like water constantly slipping through her fingers. Nothing but flashes, sounds, and blurred images. There will be times when she can see them clearly only to forget them in mere seconds.

It is maddening.

With all her memories, shed have already regained her glory. She is sure of it. Even in her diminished state, she has gained access to the Storm Dragon Palace. This is where she needs to be because because

She is Su Daji.

She will rise again.

Lady Su, I did not expect to see you in this part of the palace.

The voice roots her to the spot. A single breath passes before she turns around.

Good Morning, General He, she says. Her bow is without flaw as it rightly should be.

Shouldnt it?

Forgive me, she says. There is no need to fake the affliction in her voice. She turns away and covers her face with one hand. It seems this part of the palace does not agree with me.

Allow me to escort you back to your quarters then. It is no good for a woman to be alone in such an empty place.

Su Daji is glad she is not looking at him when he says that. It makes it easier to hide her displeased expression.

There is no need for that.

A deep and rumbling voice echoes throughout the hallway. Dark clouds full of lightning manifest between them, making Su Daji and General He take a step back. Thunder echoes as the clouds take on the shape of a dragon with long horns and red eyes.

The eyes are the right shade of red.

Great Old One! The general immediately drops to his knees. Su Daji does the same. You grace us with your presence.

Stand, the deep voice says. General He, you have yet to report to the Emperor. That should be your priority.

Of course, Great Old One, General He says as he stands up. He glances at Su Daji.

The dragon snorts. The sound is the rumbling of a coming storm.

You believe she could come to harm in my presence?

Of course not! The general bows his head. Forgive my insolence! I shall do as you command and present myself before the Emperor, Great Old One.

He gives Su Daji a slight nod before leaving. The girl and the dragon stare at each other until even the echoes of the generals footsteps have faded away.

Fox, you wander in where you are not wanted.

Fox. Su Daj shivers. The name feels right. It feels proper.

It feels Divine.

I apologize for causing you undue trouble, Great Old One, she says with reverent submission. In front of this creature, there is nothing else left to do.

Why have the various powers within the empire not deposed the Emperor?

Why does the Grand Storm exist?

Why is it not one of the Three Heavenly Generals who sit on the throne?

The answer to those questions is one and the same. Because the Divine Storm Dragon exists. The shadow of the Divine Progenitor of the Qing Dynasty lingers within the palace. He is the Fist of the Emperor. The Guardian of the Dynasty. So long as he exists, no one without Qing blood can move against the Emperor.

The power of the Divine Storm Dragon is not absolute. It can only act on places covered by the Grand Storm. Outside of that, it is the Three Heavenly Generals who rule. Not that it matters to Su Daji. She lives within the palace.

It is the Divine Storm Dragon who rules over her.

An apology. From you. How novel.

Su Daji flinches. From the moment the Divine Storm Dragon first appeared before her, he has made it clear he knows who she is. He knows and is content to hold the knowledge over her head.

If you find me so objectionable, she says, Why not throw me out of the palace?

The Divine Storm Dragon laughs.

This is not a henhouse, Fox. To catch a young dragon, bait of a proper sort is required. You shall do.

~~~