Chapter 1

# **The Truth**

"Empress."

She called. The mentioned woman stood up from her gorgeous silver throne, decorated with a pale blue cushion and a piece of diamond.

"Yes, my dear, Mizuno?" She replied.

"I have doubts about whether we can trust Uromi." The teenage girl replied, "He has not shown any respect to any of us."

"I trust Uromi Sendew as much as I do you, Mizuno." The Empress said. Mizuno looks at her for a moment in defeat, before bowing and walking away. Her personal knights, Arianna and Steve, followed her to her room. Mizuno Kujaku was a noble who's family died, so she lived as a princess under Empress Saphona Equoite's roof.

"Mistress, Sir Sendew is trustworthy, I assure you." Arianna says. She speaks formally, but is actually a good friend of Mizuno's.

"Thank you, Arianna." Mizuno replies, entering her large room and replacing her sapphire hairclip. She turned around and faced her guards.

"I will speak with Uromi myself." Mizuno decided, "Let's go see Anemo."

Her guards followed her out of her room and down the hallway to another wooden door. A blue and cyan circular shape was drawn on the door- a Ritual Paint.

In this world, people have elemental magic. They come from the Rino Gemstones. A person's magic is decided upon birth, and can only be used when within range of a Rino. When in range of a Rino of a matching element, they become stronger.

Ritual Paints are certain patterns with special effects. Anemo's Paint was supposed to seal out others.

"Anemo?" Mizuno called, careful not to touch the door. As a Oceani Rino Mage, she's incredibly weak to Glaci.

"Mimi?" Came a reply. Mizuno confirmed, impatiently tapping her black shoes against the wooden floor.

The door swung open. Nakoro Anemo Equoite used to be the sole Princess of the Equoite Kingdom. Her jet black hair seemed truly dark Her eyes were cyan-blue, meaning she was casting magic.

"Oh, I thought you were being followed." Anemo said as she saw Mizuno's guards, "Anyways, what do you need?"

"Well, you know I don't trust Uromi..." Mizuno started.

Anemo instantly cut her off, "Mother trusts him, and so do I."

Mizuno sighed, then left the room without another word. Anemo waved her goodbye as the noble headed down the fine white hallway. She reached the newest door, with a golden plate that read N. SENDEW meaning something Mizuno didn't quite get.

Her hands flew to the silver moon knocker and softly knocked. No reply. She opened the door. Uromi held a small travel bag and jumped at the sight of Mizuno.

"Ever heard of privacy, princess?" He snorted. She angrily walked over and snatched the bag from Uromi.

"Listen up, Sendew. You aren't supposed to leave the castle." She spat. Uromi blinked, as if in confusion and snatched his large, old leather satchel back.

"I-i'm not leaving, princess." He retorted, almost stuttering.

"I'm turning you in." Mizuno said. She snatched the bag back yet again and stormed out of the room, slamming shut the door. She hurried down the regal gold stairs towards the Empress' throne.

"Mizuno?" She blinked, "And Uromi?"

"It's nothing!" Uromi yelled and pulled Mizuno away n almost a hurry. Frowning, Mizuno let loose a blast of water, pushing Uromi away from her.

"Listen, you can't trust Equoite." Uromi said. Mizuno shook with fury.

"Empress Equoite took me in, and she took you in. How can you say that?" She spat, letting loose another water blast.

"I trust Equoite, but this isn't her." Uromi replied simply. The noble glared at the strange guest.

"How DARE you!" She yelled. Uromi used his Psychi powers to drag Mizuno towards... the camera room.

He nodded to the guard, Yuxi. Normally people are forbidden from entering the camera room, but Yuxi didn't try to stop Uromi. Mizuno got dragged inside, and the guest played a video of the night before.

"You remember that Equoite left last night?" He said.

A video footage played, showing the empress leaving, wearing emerald green robes. Back in the morning, she returned... in black robes.

"She's been weird ever since. So I did some research." Uromi continued. He brought out a crown. THE crown of the Empress. She had been wearing it a moment ago.

"What-where-" Mizuno stammered.

"That Empress? Is a fake." Uromi concluded simply.

He beckoned to Mizuno, who followed him to get more information on the 'fake Empress'.