Star Bound Sorcerous

Having two ancient and extremely powerful beings appear from nowhere was going to be quite the headache. Zee really was hoping they didn't want to hang around for too long. Having Tar around wouldn't be too big of a deal, but having Halico and her penitent for experiments was trouble.

That crazy old lady was no good. Not to mention the fact they both had a long troubled history together. Having them both in her empire at the same time was a recipe for disaster.

Zee silently prayed to the gods, but sadly, none were around, or if they were, they didn't sympathize with her plight.

Tarnival glanced around the immaculate imperial gardens, his expression thoughtful.

"Quite the interesting empire you have. Hmm, I might as well explore your capital while I'm here. Raina, would you like to come along?" Tarnival asked, ruffling his daughter's auburn hair. 

Raina perked up. "Oooo, can we go to the lower district? I hear there is a carnival," Raina exclaimed excitedly. 

Tarnival nodded.

"Of course we can, my dear," Tarnival said.

Halico stepped onto Raina's other side, a smile adorning the old woman's usually expressionless face.

"I think I will come along too. Raina, would you like to get some sweet pastries?" Halico said.

Raina's expression brightened further. 

"Really, let's go!" Raina shouted. 

Halico gave Tarnival a victorious smirk. Taking Raina by the hand, she snapped her fingers, and a swirling vortex formed. It was an incredibly stable gateway, simple yet elegant.

It punched through the palace's anti-gate protections like they weren't even there, and even more impressive, the vortex didn't leak any spatial energy at all. Zee was more than a bit curious as to how the old woman did that, but questions could wait for later.

"After you, my dear," Halico said, gesturing towards the gate. 

Grinning, Raina glanced once at Tarnival, before jumping headfirst into the swirling vortex. 

Halico followed right after Raina, giving Tarnival a dirty look.

 "Find your own way you old coot," Halico said, the vortex closing behind her.

"What an insufferable woman," Tarnival muttered.

"So, you two were actually married once?" Zee said dryly..

Tarnival grimaced. "I was young and stupid once. She had the looks and the smarts. If only I would have seen that craziness hiding behind her eyes back then.. It would have saved me so many headaches," Tarnival said wistfully.

Zee laughed. 

"We all make mistakes, but marrying that crazy lady is a big one," Zee said.

"No arguments here. Good to see you, brat, but I should probably go and join them before Halico decides to start experimenting on our daughter," Tarnival grumbled. 

Zee raised a hand to stall him. "About that… I need your help with something. Would you mind looking at my core? One of Halico's keys, or experiments to open the eternal throne was a wisp of the apocalypse. She said the ancient treasure I absorbed to form my core would counteract it, but I don't trust that shady old lady," Zee said.

"That's for good reason. Sure i guess i can help out," Tarnival said. He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he looked not at her, but through her. An immense pressure washed through her body as some of his power was released. She felt as though she was nothing more than a bug in the face of his domineering presence. They were roughly the same height, and yet she felt as though he was a towering god looking down at a mortal. Just as quick as it came, his immense presence faded.

"What is it?" Zee asked anxiously, noticing his troubled expression. 

Tarnival scratched the gray stubble on his wrinkled cheek. 

"Everything seems to be okay. Halico was not wrong, but she left out some important details. Your core is in a delicate balance, with the ancient treasure you obsorbed and the wisp of the apocalypse holding each other at bay," Tarnival said. 

Zee's heart skipped a beat at his words. "That wisp is still inside my core?" Zee asked. 

"Yes.. It has blended with your inner world, held at bay by the spirituality of the treasure you absorbed," Tarnival said.

"Will it be an issue in the future?" Zee asked nervously.

He slowly nodded. "You should be fine for now, but progress forward is going to be rough. Each step forward in your cultivation will agitate the delicate balance, giving the wisp the energy it needs to regain power. Once it gains too much, the heavens will take notice, and come for vengeance," Tarnival said with utmost confidence.

Zee grimaced.

"Is there anything I can do to keep the wisp from gaining energy?" Zee asked. 

"Not that I am aware of. You can delay its resurgence with certain rituals, but only for so long. The heavens will discover you eventually, and if you lack the power to survive its wrath, you will be annihilated. I know what you are going to ask, and no, I cannot step in again. I already pushed the limit once by defying the heavens for you. This Is the cost of your path of cultivation. You are striving for the peak, daring to steal power and longevity from the heavens. There is nothing saying you need to push any further than middle D grade. The choice is yours, you can either cower in fear of heavens wrath, or keep pushing forward," Tarnival said.

Zee slowly nodded cold sweat trickling down her back. Tarnival was right. This was the universal law. Those who sought power had to pay the price for what they stole from the heavens. If she wanted to reach for the stars, then she would have to take risks. Continuing down this path towards the peak of all creation, she may very likely die, but then again, defying all odds was her thing.

Long after he left, Zee sat on the bench underneath the towering tree at the center of the imperial gardens, going over his words. 

Despite the dangerous road ahead, things were looking up for her. Troubling things aside, she had much to look forward to.

After all the stresses of the last half year in office, she was more than ready for the party her parents were throwing the next day...

The soft sound of a lute playing filled the air, echoing through the large estate, bouncing off sheer rock face. Tables were set out across the manicured backyard, with several dozen people milling about, chatting and sampling the drinks on offer.

The party at the Viotti estate was meant to be just a family and friends affair, and yet somehow a lot of very distinguished people milled about. How they got invited was still a mystery, considering it was meant to be just a family event. 

Considering the empress was attending, they had likely traded quite a few favors to get invited. It had somehow turned from a small gathering of friends Into a gathering of the upper class. 

With a tall glass of fine red wine, Bastion was in his element, rubbing shoulders with the elite of the empire. 

He might not be of noble birth, or an adept politician, but being the consort of the empress had its perks. Bastion was more than a bit excited. His business had hit a bit of a fugue after his unexpected coma, but no longer. He had been forced to root out a bunch of scoundrels who had started robbing him blind while he was gone, but that was long since dealt with. Now his wallet was growing thicker by the day, his business ventures expanding to encompass over two dozen worlds in the empire.

There was no rest for the industrious. This might be a party, but there was plenty of profit to be made in this crowd. 

There was at least one representative from each of the six high noble houses, and a few others he didn't recognize. Two older cultivators in particular, were making some waves. They seemed completely ordinary, their auras so indistinct they might as well be mortals. And yet, the three celestial grade at the party were walking on eggshells around them.

It was as if Julian, and general Danma could sense something that the others could not. Bastion was no fool. He could sense a predator when he saw one, and these two were just that. 

He approached the two, a smile on his face. 

"I don't believe we have met. I'm Bastion," Bastion greeted, offering the old man his hand.

The old man raised a wispy eyebrow, ignoring the hand. "Call me Tar. You're that brats partner aren't you?" the old man asked.

Bastion felt a cold sweat run down his back at that name. Zee had, in no uncertain terms, told him who Tar was. Tar, or Tarnival went by many names, most of them unflattering, like the butcher, or the tyrant. No wonder Julian and Danma were keeping their distance.

He was also the father of Raina, and Zee's mentor. Knowing that did nothing to calm Bastion's racing heart.

This was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Hiding his brief lapse of hesitation, Bastion smiled. 

"So, Tar, Zee tells me you have your own empire? You wouldn't happen to be open to discussing some business, would you? Setting up a trade route could benefit us both," Bastion said, the promise of piles of ether crystals overcoming his earlier hesitation. 

The old woman next to Tarnival scoffed.

"What is it with you playing house with mortals? Why even bother with this?" The old woman muttered.

Tarnival scowled at her.

"That's big words coming from you. Don't think I haven't noticed the experiments you have been casting out into the cosmos. You are just as bad as me," Tarnival retorted.

The old woman scowled. "My experiments are not beyond the agreements. You conquering that empire is bound to tempt fate and draw attention to us," the old woman said. 

Tarnival waved a hand dismissively. "I know the limits and will not push past them," Tarnival said.

Bastion didn't know what they were referring to, but the last words were like music to his ears.

"So, what kind of resources does your empire need? I have quite a few channels with a wide range of items, from array components to high-quality building supplies," Bastion said, ignoring the old woman's glare.

Tarnival hummed to himself thoughtfully. "My empire is quite distant from here, but given enough resources, I suppose we could set up a transportation network," Tarnival said.

"I'm willing to absorb the cost of creating the trade route, in exchange for favorable taxes," Bastion offered. 

Tarnival laughed. 

"You are a shrewd one… Let's call it a fifty-fifty split. If you provide the materials, I'll provide the labor. Personal goods traveling along the route are given special remuneration. All taxes received for other materials to pass through the trade channel will be split fifty fifty," Tarnival countered.

"You have yourself a deal," Bastion said. 

The two shook hands.

As if summoned from thin air, a portly man, with a hefty build and a wide smile appeared.

"What is this I hear of a trade deal?" The imperial treasurer asked.

Bastion swore under his breath. "It is nothing lord treasurer, just idle conversation…"

"Really? You wouldn't be trying to avoid imperial channels again, would you?" the treasurer asked with an accusing tone.

Desperate to change the subject, Bastion looked around the yard. As if summed, Zee appeared, striding gracefully into the backyard. She looked just as stunning as always, with that long silky red hair, sharp features, and light purple eyes.

Today wore a green dress, one that hugged her toned body in all the right places. It was the proper fashion for a high lady of the court these days, though openly carrying a sword was not the norm. Since she had ascended many old costumes had seen quite a few changes. After all, Zee was still Zee. 

Empress or not, here was no way she would go anywhere without that sword of hers. To cap it all off, she had a silver circlet atop her head, much less gaudy than her official crown. 

Taking her arrival as a blessing, Bastion didn't hesitate. "Oh look, the empress has arrived, i should really go greet her," Bastion said, slipping away from that unreasonable man. 

"This isn't over!" the treasurer called after him.

He only waved without looking back. That damned man just wouldn't leave him alone. It was like he was allergic to anyone else making money.

Zee noted his rapid approach, and paused, giving him that stunning smile that always made his heart race. 

"What the rush, is everything alright Bas?" Zee asked, cocking her head at him. 

"Ahh, it's nothing. I was just wondering when you are going to get a new treasurer. That one is no good," Bastion said. 

"The lord Treasurer is incredibly competent at his job. If you do not want him harassing you, perhaps you should stop doing back room deals," Zee suggested.

That sensory skill of hers really was a pain sometimes. Bastion gave her the best winning smile. "Well, you see love, mingling with that persistent man is uh…Not good for business. He keeps putting his enormous nose in all my ventures. With him all up in my business, it's getting quite difficult for a guy to make an honest living around here," Bastion said.

She raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow.

"If it were an honest living, you wouldn't need to hide it. Perhaps you should actually talk to him instead of avoiding him like the plague?" Zee pointed out.

Bastion masked his distaste at the idea of colluding with that scrooge. He gave her a cheeky smile. "I love the new look. I must say you look absolutely stunning in that dress," Bastion said, quickly changing the subject.

She raised an eyebrow at him, but thankfully didn't press.

"Thank you. I couldn't help but overhear. I am assuming the treasurer was up in your business because you and Tar are going to set up a trade route?" Zee asked.

Letting out an internal sigh of relief, he nodded.

"Just a verbal agreement for now, nothing concrete, but it's all in the works. The details can be sorted out later," Bastion said.

Zee bit her lower lip, a habit that looked absolutely adorable on her.

"Hmmm… That has me thinking… I know you don't like him, but you and the lord Treasurer really should collaborate on this endeavor. I know you have an astounding amount of resources to fall back on, but this is a massive venture that could affect the entire empire. The heaven fall empire is a vast distance from us, and will take immense resources to establish a trade route," Zee said.

"An excellent proposition, your eminence," came that overly polite voice. Bastion's hair rose on end as the portly man appeared from nowhere, bowing politely towards Zee. 

"Ahh lord treasurer, thank you for coming. How are you enjoying the party?" Zee asked.

"Your family home is quite the marvel. I had the pleasure of touring your family's extensive herb gardens. The nightmare mushrooms were quite the nice touch to guard the entrance. The Ailee ploom fill the air with such vibrant and pure energy. I must say, I was stunned to see a world rot tree. It was truly marvelous, already towering like an oak. I dare say no other clan can boast such a valuable array of treasures," he said.

Zee smiled. "My parent's will be pleased at your praise," She said.

A soft chortle filled the air as another figure strode over, decked in the pristine robe of high nobility. He was obviously one of the representatives of the six great houses. 

"The lord treasurer's praise does not do the herb garden's justice. Your families estate is not as large as most, but it makes up for it in quality," 

Zee gave the man a forced smile. "I appreciate your words lord Vandamire,"

Bastion internally rolled his eyes, deciding to flee while the getting was good. As always, more people flocked to her side, wanting to be seen rubbing shoulders with the empress. 

He met her eyes as he slipped away, speaking softly, knowing she would hear him, even if the others could not.

"Meet me by the river in your family gardens at sunset. I have something I want to show you," Bastion said.

Zee didn't reply, in the middle of greeting a fourth person, but her slight nod let him know she heard him. 

Noticing familiar figures inside the kitchen through the back window, Bastion perked up. The back door swung open, the delicious smell of baking pastries filling his nose. 

The two turned as he entered. Both shared a striking resemblance, with short cropped wheat blond hair, athletic physics and striking purple eyes.

It was Zee's father Alister, and her brother Nathan. 

"Ahh, Bastion, not enjoying mingling with the nobility?" Nathan asked.

Bastion grimaced, "Like a gaggle of snakes that lot. I would rather sleep in a lizard stable than mingle with some of those courtiers," Bastion said.

"Sound's like you need some wine," Alister said, with a laugh.

"Yes please," Bastion said.

Alister poured him a full glass, handing it over. He inhaled deeply of the heady aroma, taking a deep gulp, and sighing in contentment.

"Thank you. Uhh, i needed that," Bastion said.

Nathan laughed.

"A bit more excitement than we usually have at the family estate," Nathan said.

"You don't appear to be unhappy about that. I noticed you mingling with at least four separate young ladies," Alister said, reclining back on the counter near a platter of glazed pastries. 

Nathan smiled. "What can I say? Many of the noble ladies are quite easy on the eyes," Nathan said.

Alister rolled his eyes. 

"I really hope it doesn't end in another disaster like the last time you tried to court the two Halen sisters… At the same time," Alister said.

Nathan cleared his throat loudly.

"Ohh, look, it's grandpa Julian. Talk to you later Bas," Nathan said, practically fleeing the kitchen. 

Alister shook his head at his son's behavior. 

"Nathan's letting all this fame by association go to his head. I swear, he gets obsessed with a different woman every other week," Alister said.

Bastion shrugged. "He's still young, he's only thirty six, young for a D grade cultivator. I'm sure he will grow out of it," Bastion said. 

"Isn't he older than you?" Alister laughed.

Bastion shrugged.

"I have no idea how old I actually am," Bastion said.

"Didn't you say you had foster parents? Surely they have some idea how old you are?" Alister asked.

Bastion shrugged again.

"My adopted mother was a poppy addict, and my father was a drunk. They didn't seem to know where I came from, " Bastion said.

"Are they still alive?" Alister asked. 

Bastion looked away, regret and sadness crossing his face. He clutched a small chain around his neck. "I ran away when I was ten. A stupid reason, really. My adopted parents had their flaws, but they weren't abusive. With their bad habits, they almost nothing, and yet i knew they went hungry many nights to keep me fed. I lasted only a couple days, begging for Dara on the streets of the slums before I realized my mistake." Bastion clenched his hand around the necklace. He took a deep calming breath.

"When I came back, I found them dead. It looked like our dingy house had been robbed. Like all the others in the slums, we didn't have much. Orian, and Utan grey were killed for almost nothing. Their lives were snuffed out for nothing more than a few dara," Bastion said.

Alister placed a comforting hand on Bastion's shoulder.

"That's horrible. Did the authorities catch the murderers?" Alister asked. 

Bastion let out a breath. "They said they did. Some poor sod got hanged for the crime," Bastion said.

"That's fascinating. You said you were ten at the time. Did the authorities find you another family to stay with?" Alister asked.

Bastion shook his head.

"No, they didn't seem to give a damn about another orphan. There were hundreds of us. Armenia was at war with the Allevark at the time, and war orphans were a dara a dozen. To survive, I committed petty theft, begging and burglary. That's where I met Greg, who was large even then. I saved him from drowning in the canal. A good thing I did. He has repaid the debt a thousand times over. We lasted a good four or five years until I was caught. They gave me two choices after I was in chains, the noose, or be conscripted into the army," Bastion said with a wistful smile.

Alister nodded.

"I didn't realize such a ruffian was seeing my daughter," Alister said.

Bastion laughed, noting the joking tone in Alister's voice. 

"My criminal antics are long behind me. I am an honest businessman these days," Bastion said.

Alister's raised both brows.

"Right…. You forget we are equal partners in The Drunken lizard corporation. I am only aware of half your illegal deals, but the ones I do know of are quite astounding," Alister said.

"Illegal is such a strong word.. I would call it good enterprising business practices," Bastion replied, frantically glancing around to make sure a certain zealous portly man wasn't listening in.

Alister grunted noncommittally. 

"I think I see what Ilukna was talking about. Being your your business partner is quite stressful," Alister said.

Bastion slapped the Alister playfully on the shoulder.

"It is lucrative, though. At this pace, you might be able to acquire the resources to form your inner world in no time. You could finally catch up to your wife," Bastion said.

Alister laughed, dispersing the serious mood. 

"I just reached peak D grade recently. I'm not ready to attempt that step yet," Alister said.

Bastion chuckled.

"At this rate, your daughter is going to reach the celestial grade before you do," Bastion teased.

Alister shook his head, and grinned.

"I would never hear the end of that. Given her rapid rise in power, it's only a matter of time before she passes me. A father couldn't be prouder," Alister said.

One of the inner doors to the estate opened, and they both turned as several people entered. The whole crew funneled in with Malden in the lead, needing to bend over as he walked through the door. The Allevark princeling was large for his species, and amongst humans he was at least a head and a half taller than most of them.

That Pyromaniac, and Yukna followed close behind, with Taylor and Greg right on their heels.

As they entered he could hear them arguing about something.

"Are you really leaving Malden?" Allison asked, sounding upset.

Malden nodded.

"Yes, I should get back home. It's been too long since I left Iztara. It's about time I return home, and make sure the kingdom is alright," Malden replied.

"How will you even get there?" Allison asked.

Malden's ears flattened in uncertainty. 

"As i said, I already talked to Zee about it. She said she knows a guy, and that if I want to go home, i need to make up my mind within the week," Malden said. 

"But, I thought you liked it here? We might never see you again if you up and leave," Allison said.

"This place isn't so bad, but let's be honest, I don't really fit in here. The Lorrocan empire is quite fascinating but there are no other Allevark here. It's mostly humans and other species," Malden said.

Bastion decided to take that moment to intercede.

"Who says it has to be a permanent thing? I'm not sure where Iztara is in relation to the Lorrocan empire, but who knows we could set up trade channels?" Bastion said.

Allison didn't seem convinced.

"Prey tell, how would we go about doing that? I know you are filthy rich, but the galaxy is vast, and we have no idea where Iztara even is," Allison said.

He raised his hands in surrender.

"It's just a suggestion. With his power, Malden will undoubtedly be crowned king on his return. With that kind of influence, who knows, we might be able to accomplish a lot," Bastion said.

Yukna wrapped an arm around Allison's waist, pulling her close. 

"Bastion is right. It's not like we are completely out of options. We can find a way to reconnect. It's not like we will never see Malden again," Yukna said.

Allison let out an unhappy breath. She didn't look convinced, but seemed to drop it for now.

"Hello again, Mr Viotti." Allison greeted.

"Not this again. I have told you like a hundred times. Call me Alister," 

Allison gave Zee's father a half-hearted smile.

"Of course Mr Viotti,"

Alister laughed.

"Well, who wants a drink?"

"Got any whiskey. I need something strong," Allison said.

"Of course, anyone else?" Alister asked.

"I'll take some wine if you have any," Greg said.

The party drew on well into the afternoon, with many departing as the light began to fade.

To Zee, with all the unexpected guests, she didn't get much time to relax.

Parties were meant to be fun, but as the empress, she couldn't relax her guard, especially when there were prominent figures around.

With so many approaching her, wanting to propose ideas, complain about another noble pressing at their borders, or probe for some deal or another, it really was tiring.

It was no wonder Farsaic had done whatever he could to cast this position onto someone else.

She sighed internally. Well, at least it wasn't all bad. Being the empress had a lot of perks, from the relic she wore that constantly supplied her inner world with a stream of energy while in the palace, to the extensive amount of resources and protections for her family.

For the first time in a long time, things felt quite stable. Sure she had a lot on her plate, like running an empire, but she had a lot of competent people to help out. As Farsaic liked to say, proper delegation of tasks is the key to success. 

Her job was to find competent people, put them in charge of their branch, then leave them to do their thing. That's exactly what she had been doing. The treasurer was a great example. 

She had basically given him full rein to do whatever he wanted. He was like a one man army, rooting out corruption in her empire. He had been so effective in rooting out corruption that there were multiple assassination attempts in the last month alone. 

By now, she had Dern, and a member of the imperial guard shadowing him day and night. The thought made her smile as she watched the treasurer leave the party. The man seemed harmless on the surface, but he had an incredibly keen eye when it came to discrepancies in business or finance. 

For his part, Dern seemed to enjoy smashing the assassination attempts. He seemed in high spirits lately, especially since Sersie showed up from out of nowhere, with Kur Zul of all people.. It felt like a conspiracy. That untrustworthy ghost, and Sersie showing up at the same time seemed too good to be true. They both gave the same vague answers as to how they fled the endless storm, and their replies were even more sketchy when it came to how they got back to the Lorocan empire.

After his admittedly unhelpful actions in the labyrinth, she was reticent to trust him again. Zee was unhappy with Zul, and he knew that.

That untrustworthy ghost was on his best behavior, though that might be because Halico was still around. Zee still didn't know all the details, but that crazy old lady was the reason Kur Zul had been locked in that tower for a long time.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Julian strode over, holding a glass of wine in one hand.

"That went better than expected," Julian said.. 

"Yeh i guess. No one got into a shouting match about honor or some other nonsense, so that can be counted as a win," Zee replied.

Julian laughed.

"Ahh yes, the joys of politics. This is why we tried to keep knowledge of your imperial heritage a secret. After your grandmother died, I wanted to give you a choice in the matter," Julian said with a wistful expression.

"I wish I would have listened. Sendredie seems to enjoy it though. I didn't expect that from the mad witch," Zee said.

While they talked, the woman in question was already striding over. Zee couldn't remember when the woman showed up, but her presence had made more than one noble anxious. It had been quite amusing to watch some of those noble fops tiptoe around her. 

Dressed in an extremely low cut grey dress that left little to the imagination, the mad witch looked for all the world to be completely at ease. She was still technically a criminal of the empire, but no one had the guts to make a stink about her showing up.

Sendredie sauntered up next to Julian, running the tips of her fingers across his back as she walked past him.

"Well, it looks like everyone is leaving. I should probably get going as well." She glanced over at Zee.

"Are you sure you don't want to take me up on that offer to come on an adventure with me? I know just the place to hone you into an absolute monster," Sendredie said.

Zee shook her head. 

"I think i will pass, I have had enough excitement for a while," Zee replied.

Sendredie pouted, "Well, when you get sick of playing empress, hit me up. What about you Julain?" Sendredie asked hopefully, having sidled up in his personal space.

Julian seemed more than a bit uncomfortable with her closeness, though Zee noted he did not push her away.

"I think I will have to pass, Sen. My aura will reek of Taboo for at least a century or two after our last caper," Julian replied.

"Well, it's been an absolute pleasure as always, Julian," Her fingers traced a line up his neck, and across his chin, making him swallow hard. Sendredie leaned in so close their lips almost touched. When Julian didn't move closer Sendredie paused. She stared into his deep brown eyes for one long moment before taking a quick step away.

She bobbed her eyebrow at him. "You can call me anytime… Ta Ta Julian, until next time," Sendredie said, disappearing with a clap of air. 

"Well, that one is quite persistent," Zee said, raising an eyebrow at Julian. 

"You have no idea," Julian replied.

"Well, I can remove her criminal if you want," Zee said.

"That's not the main issue, but I appreciate the concern," Julian said.

Zee smiled over at him, she rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's none of my business, but it's been three decades since grandma Verrenia died. Perhaps it's time you moved on. You deserve to be happy," Zee said.

He didn't reply, but then again, she didn't expect him to. She left him to his devices as she strode away, walking into the dark tunnel that was the cave entrance to their family's gardens.

She hadn't had the time to explore in quite some time, but navigating the cave was as easy as breathing. She knew every turn, and switch by heart, the dimly glowing mushroom lighting up her path.

The toxic haze released by the nightmare mushrooms did nothing to affect her, repelled by her family's insignia. She pushed thoughts of grandpa Julian to her mind, wondering why Bastion wanted to meet her in the gardens.

She exited the cave to the sound of a thundering waterfall, the chill of mist, and the fragrant scent of Ailee plume filling the air.

She took a deep breath, looking over the hidden valley that was their family gardens. It seemed like just anyone could fly in, but in actuality, this was a subspace created by Julian. 

Even so, the sky was a reflection of the outside, the star already setting painting the far edges of the valley in hues of pink, red and orange. Surprisingly, it appeared the valley had expanded while she had been away, with the river forming a lake at the far end with an island at the centre.

Curious, she following the dirt path, crossing the first of several bridges over the wide river. While she walked, the buzz of insects filled the air, the smell of Heart wheat growing stronger. Walking this path brought back so many memories from her childhood, bringing a smile to her lips. 

The river extended for about a mile along the entirety of the valley, ending in a lake that took up the far.

It was a new addition, with crystal clear water, surrounded by blooming trees cultivated for their medicinal sap.

Zee was more than a bit surprised when she passed through the trees, coming to the end of the path. There was a small dock, with a rowboat and Bastion standing there. He leaned on the pier, staring out across the lake, a smile on his face as he spotted her.

"I thought you weren't coming? Did you think it was a trap?" Bastion asked with a wide smile.

She laughed, remembering the first time he had invited her out on a boat. 

Bastion gestured to the boat. "Come on, let's go," Bastion said.

Zee smiled, walking over, and climbing down into the boat. It jostled as he stepped in, water splashing as he unmoored and pushed off. 

The water was crystal clear and calm, the darkening sky absent of clouds as he rowed. Wind tousled at his curly brown hair, his grin infectious as he pulled on the oars.

It took only a few minutes to reach the middle of the small lake, upon which the sun had already mostly set. With the light fading, the stars finally appeared, filling the expanse above. 

Bastion grinned, tossing an anchor into the water, With a splash, the rope unspooled as the anchor sunk into the depths.

'It's quite beautiful isn't it?" Bastion said.

"Woah," Zee said, stunned by the glimmer of stars reflecting off the water. With the crystal clear water, and the stars shining above, it was almost like they were out there, amongst the stars.

Bastion laughed, a sound she could never get tired of. 

He grasped one of her hands in his drawing her attention. She looked over, her heart racing as he stared into her eyes. 

Bastion was on one knee in the boat, holding something in his open palm. 

"Will you accompany me into the unknown, to be mine until our hearts stop beating, the universe comes to a halt?" Bastion asked hopefully.

Zee's throat was suddenly dry, her heart beating so loud it threatened to jump out of her chest. 

By imperial law, the emperor or empress wasn't allowed to get married. But so what? It was just a stupid law, and she was the one in charge damnit. Bastion couldn't become the emperor, but so what, there was nothing saying they couldn't formalize their partnership.

He had proven time and time again that he was loyal and trustworthy to a fault. Bastion was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she was willing to move the heavens and the earth if it meant making him happy. 

It wasn't even a question. Of course, she would accompany him into the stars. No matter what life threw at them in the future, the ups and downs, the good and the bad one thing would be certain.

It wasn't going to be easy, but Bastion grey was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. With him by her side, not even the stars were the limit.