"Aucelen, are you there?" Emperor Lam softly spoke as he kept staring at the solid black in the mirror surface.

After few seconds an image starting to appearing, first it"s all twisted and blurry, then it became clearer and turn into a young woman wearing a white right lappet cross-collard robe sitting on her bed. The young woman appears to be in her mid-twenty, ethereally beauty was her face. The stare of her icy blue eyes can make one feel like she"s staring directly to one"s soul and yet still give off a warm loving feeling, her lips are pinkish-red and full like a ripped peach. The lantern light in her room reflected off her pale smooth skin and her golden hair, made them softly glow like an angelic halo. Her ears, long and pointed similar to the shape of a bamboo leaf. This woman is the Empress of the Varlan Empire, Emperor Lam one and only wife.

Empress Aucelen push her golden locks behind her ear as she softly spoke.

"What is it, my love? Why did you call me this late at night?"

"I… I just want to see your face and hear your voice that"s all." Emperor Lam smiled

"Thank you, I miss you too my love. How is the situation in Qualoh?" Empress Aucelen softly smile

"Well… there a good news, the Imperial Navy had struck a heavy blow on the monster and the bad news is… a Brocade Cloak Guard has die today at the victory feast." Emperor Lam said

As the news caught her ears, Empress Aucelen face went through all kind of emotion known to man, for surprise to fear to worry, gave off a sigh she spoke

"Then we must honour his sacrifice for the empire with a proper burial ceremony."

"I already take care of that." Emperor Lam said

"But… why is he die? What has happened?" Empress Aucelen spoke while staring her icy blue gaze directly into her husband eyes, as if to tell him do not hide anything from her.

Irritated by his wife"s stare Emperor Lam rubbing his forehead

"I hate it when you do that, it"s just… uh… there was an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt."

"An a.s.sa.s.sination attempt? Are you hurt? Have the a.s.sa.s.sin been apprehended?" Empress Aucelen gasped, her face full of dread, her eyes filled with terror.

"Don"t worry I"m unharmed, and the a.s.sa.s.sin already been throw into lord Buh Huy"s dungeon." Emperor Lam rea.s.sure his wife

"That is a relief, do you have the a.s.sa.s.sin name? we must find out who behind him." Empress Aucelen said

"Well… about the a.s.sa.s.sin… here"s the thing… I don"t think he working for anybody and there"re somethings that make me worry, that"s why I need your knowledge." Emperor Lam said.

"Pfff… As you always do." A mischievous smirk appeared on Empress Aucelen"s lips.

"Ugh… spare me already, women." Emperor Lam annoyed

"First thing first, about the monster, after the battle today I have the men collected some tissue samples and sending it to the capital, can you a.n.a.lyse those samples for me." Emperor Lam said

"a.n.a.lyse the monster"s tissue? May I ask why?" Empress Aucelen asked

"This monster seems to have magic neutralize ability, even my magic having a hard time effecting it." Emperor Lam said

"Well, that is interesting." Empress Aucelen mumbled with a curious look on her face

"Good, then about the a.s.sa.s.sin. Here"s the thing, he claimed that… this monster is an agent of the old G.o.ds and he can hear the old G.o.ds voice." Emperor Lam said

"Agent of the old G.o.ds, voices?" Empress Aucelen curiously inquire

"Do you remember the incident with the cerpidar tree that me and my father once encountered?" Emperor Lam asked

"The large cerpidar tree and the strange village surrounded it? Yes, I do." Empress Aucelen answered

"Yes, so I wondering if the monster and this a.s.sa.s.sin might have any connection to that incident?" Emperor Lam said

"Very well, I will look into it." Empress Aucelen answered

"Thank you my love, and how"s the boy?" Emperor Lam asked

"Well, Tua just finished his twenty pages long research paper about "the relationship of astrology and human"s behaviour and character", scholar Pan is quite impress about it." Empress Aucelen said

"That my boy." Emperor Lam smiled

"Er… why"re you look so displease about this?" Emperor Lam asked

"Because the idea of astrology effect on living organism"s behaviour and characteristic is totally and utterly rubbish." Empress Aucelen spoke with a big frown on her face.

"Aucelen, don"t be so harsh on him, the boy only eight. Take your time." Emperor Lam said

Empress Aucelen sigh

"Oh, I suppose… well, Lam, you be careful out there alright."

"I will, my love, good bye." Emperor Lam smile