RIN

The last sliver of the sun vanished behind the towering walls of the Western Empire's palace. Moonlight painted the leaves in shades of bone and silver as two figures drifted among them.

Imperial soldiers stood in the front with burning torches and spears in their hands. When two figures on a horse came to view, the officers raised their weapons.

"Who goes there?" One of the soldiers commanded in a cold voice.

A middle-aged man with a long scrawny beard and dark hair dismounted from the horse. Staying on the horse was a youth dressed in white robes and a bamboo hat concealing their features. When the man approached, he stepped a few feet in front of the soldiers, his features composed.

"My master and I come bearing important information to your Emperor."

The officers shifted their eyes from the man to the figure on the horse, then back. "The Emperor is not expecting nor seeing anyone at the moment. Take your so-called master and leave."

Following those words, the figure sitting on the horse moved. Their white robes fluttered like soft rose petals as they landed gently on the ground. Stepping a few inches in front of the middle-aged man, they lowered their head.

The youth wore a bamboo hat, tan and nondescript. The night and pale moonlight made it hard to make out the face beneath.

"My subordinate and I understand we are coming during difficult times. Even if we can not see the Emperor, please relay a message to him. I assure you; it will be valuable information to the Emperor."

Studying the youth under a scrutinizing gaze, the officer's eyes narrowed. From the youth's form and way of speaking, he was no normal commoner. This made him even more suspicious.

"What's your message?" The soldier couldn't help but ask.

The youth's head tilted up a little. A faint smile could be seen twisting on their lips.

…

In the Western Empire's imperial palace study, a eunuch knocked on the door, only entering when he heard a man's grunt.

Entering, the eunuch found the Emperor hunched over a table by a window, surrounded by parchment scrolls that might have come from men in the frontlines and heavy leather-bound books with bronze and-iron hasps. Beeswax candles as thick and tall as a man's arm burned on either side of where he sat, on ornate iron holders.

"What is it?" The Emperor's tired but authoritative voice sounded through the room.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for seeking you while you're busy, but two men at the gates request an introduction." The eunuch closed the door behind him.

Emperor Guan Hong never looked up from his scrolls, dark circles beneath his eyes.

He sighed heavily. "Tell the guards to have them sent away. I do not have time for unwelcomed guests."

While nodding his head, the eunuch suddenly appeared hesitant for a moment before he spoke up again.

At this, the Emperor finally elevated his head to stare at the eunuch across from him. Chin propped on his palm, he stared at him with a slight frown.

"And what is it he wishes to tell me?" He asked in a flat voice.

The eunuch stared at him uncertainly. "He says he's a strategist from the Northern Empire."

The moment the Emperor heard the words 'Northern Empire', the depths of his eyes darkened and a scowl bore on his clean-shaven face.

It was known out of the four empires, only two were united in an alliance – the eastern and northern empires. The southern and western empires were independent and did not collude with either the north or east.

Even though it wasn't a crime for a northerner to enter the western territory, they wouldn't be treated leniently as their presence only brought suspicion.

"What is a strategist of the north doing here?" The Emperor's tone was darker than before. Colder.

Catching the thread of hesitation on the eunuch's face, his expression blackened.

"He…He claims he wishes to help your Majesty assemble a stronger army."

There was silence for a while. Emperor Guan Hong's brows were heavily furrowed in uncertainty, but those eyes somewhat sparked with curiosity. On normal occasions, he would have not bothered with such a person. But at this point in time, his army was suffering dearly.

There was a conflict between the western and eastern armies for the last month. Naturally, his forces weren't as strong as the easterners, and thus, he was failing miserably.

In desperate times, he had no choice but to carry out risky decisions.

"Is he still here?" He asked.

The eunuch responded with surprise but nodded his head. "Yes, your Majesty."

"Good. Escort him to the Qianqing Hall. I'll see him at once." Emperor Guan Hong hadn't even folded the scrolls on his desk before he stood up and stepped out of the study.

The eunuch watched the Emperor rush out with a startled expression. It was the first time in a month since he saw the Emperor look so hopeful. Remembering his task, the eunuch quickly scurried to bring their new guests.

Qianqing Hall within the palace.

Two figures stood in front of the tall doors in silence. When a eunuch came out to invite them in, they followed behind him quietly.

Upon hearing the footsteps of the approaching figures, the Emperor looked up from the imperial reports and gazed upon the two people walking behind the eunuch. There was an unreadable look in the Emperor's eyes as he studied the two. The moment he saw their appearances, however, his previous enthusiasm crumbled.

It was just a frail-looking kid and an old man.

The two figures bowed their heads and body slightly, giving the Emperor an appropriate salute, not an inch more or less. The eyebrows on the Emperor's face raised. At the very least, they knew how to give a proper bow.

His eyes dimmed a little as his gaze moved to the older man. "I hear you're a strategist from the north. You've traveled a long way to be here."

The middle-aged man scratched his cheek awkwardly with a crooked smile. He didn't seem nervous at all, rather incredibly calm and comfortable.

"This old man is undeserving of such a title your Majesty, for you see I am not a strategist, but a mere humble servant."

The Emperor's frown deepened. "Then you mean…"

His eyes shifted to the youth beside the man. The youth's body was dressed in white robes with a bamboo hat veiling his face. He looked ordinary but decent.

"You're the strategist?" The Emperor couldn't conceal the shock in his voice.

He was so young. Too young.

"Is this a joke? Do you dare take me as a fool?" The Emperor's cold gaze pierced down on the two from above his seating.

Although the look in the Emperor's eyes was terrifying, the youth remained calm and lowered their head to remove the hat from their head. When they raised their eyes again, the Emperor's anger paused for a moment, replaced by shock. Even the eunuch standing behind him was stunned.

A pair of sparkling, emerald eyes stared back at him. The look within them reflected a serene calm, similar to that of a running stream in the spring. They lit up like the purest of jade.

For some unknown reason, the Emperor felt the look within those eyes was too clear – too calm.

The youth bowed his head. "This humble one greets your Majesty. It is true; I am a strategist from the north. And no, I would not dare take your Majesty as a fool. I've simply come to help establish a stronger army."

"Is that so?" The Emperor leaned forward a little in his seat. "Then tell me, how do you plan to do that?"

Elevating their head a little, the youth's smile revealed a small dimple on the left that added a touch of aptitude to his appearance.

"If your Majesty grants me a group of your newest recruits, I can promise to have them trained and readily skilled at the same level as your best men within one month's time."

A look of surprise came upon the Emperor's face, but it was quickly concealed.

"That's a bold promise."

"Bold promises often come with a reason."

The Emperor stared fixedly at the young man's appearance and in a split-second, his previous dissatisfaction diminished a little.

"Why do you wish to help? What do you get out of this?"

The youth tilted his head as if in deep thought. With a smile still on his face, he replied, "Perhaps you could say your Majesty and I share a common goal. Truth be told, I wish to maintain peace amongst my people as does your Majesty."

The Emperor was pleasantly surprised by the youth's words. There was silence within Qianqing Hall. Two pairs of eyes just stared at one another. One looking down with a doubtful gaze, the other looking up with composure.

"I will see what you have to offer me, northern strategist. Tomorrow morning, I will assign you new recruits to train. Until your worth is to be established, I will have my imperial guards observe your movements. If by any means I hear that you do not carry out your promise, I will decide to have you banished...or killed. It all depends on how poorly you fail me."

Despite the Emperor's last words, the youth's expression hadn't changed from the beginning. He smiled and bowed his head.

"Thank you, your Majesty. I promise I will not disappoint you."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed before he turned to the eunuch beside him.

"Have the servants set up a room for the strategist and his servant."

Catching the Emperor's gaze, the eunuch nodded his head.

"Yes, your Majesty."

Standing up from his seat, the Emperor looked down at the two figures below before twisting his body, his heavy robes sweeping behind him.

…

In the imperial palace's study, the Emperor leaned back in his seat and stared out the open window. The moonlight shone down on his figure, lighting up his yellow, dragon robes.

"Your Majesty, the northern strategist…is it wise to trust him?" The eunuch from before asked with concern.

"Are you questioning my decision?" The Emperor's voice dipped a few degrees.

Trembling, the eunuch shook his head. "This lowly servant doesn't dare question your Majesty's decision."

Coldly glancing away from the eunuch, the Emperor's dark eyes stared at the starlit sky.

"Did you see his eye color?"

The eunuch nodded his head. "Yes, your Majesty. Perhaps he's of mixed blood. I have never seen a color like that before."

The Emperor was silent for a moment. His eyes were deep and unreadable.

"I have." He mumbled to himself, lips pulled back into a bitter smile.

"Your Majesty?" The eunuch tilted his head in confusion.

The deep pools of the Emperor's eyes flashed for an instant, quickly masking over the change as if he had never been dazed in the first place.

"It's nothing. Just keep watch on him. That boy…he's smarter than he appears."

After saying so, the Emperor looked back down at the view below, his eyes filled with a faint gleam.