Kaera Shiho

 CHAPTER ONE

It was a fine morning, Shiho wakes up from the slumber. Stretching her aching body, she stood up slowly. It's a long day ahead. She didn't want to but it's her duty as the heiress of the kingdom. The king have expected so much from her.

"Your highness. You need to practice...

"I know I know. I'll be there. No need for servants to help me clothes myself. I know how to do it."-Shiho said harshly.

"Of course your highness."

And then it was silent.

"I wish it's like this every day. No practice. No lesson. Just relaxing around, doing nothing."-She said, watching the new buds of maples starting to sprout.

She forgot, about the weight of a longing heart's wish.

*A few hours later

She sat down on the east side of the castle. Waiting for lesson. And usually, her adorable younger sister will came running to her. But she was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is she?"-Shiho thought.

She saw a few servants running around in panic, carrying a few things with them. A bucket, few small clothes and herbs? What is going on? She decided to follow them without triggering any attention. They seems to be moving to...her sister's castle.

"What are they doing here?"-Shiho asked.

She continued tailing them until one of them noticed her.

"Your highness."

They all stopped and bowed down.

"What's going on here?"-she asked.

"Young princess is bedridden in her chamber today your highness."

As soon as she heard the word bedridden from the servant, she rushed to her younger sister's chamber. There she was, resting beautifully. 

"How long have she...

"Y...your highness. She already suffered this illness since she's a young child."

The fact shocked Shiho so much, she fell on the bed side.

"She's 15 years old now. How come no one told me about this before?"-she asked almost losing control of her rage.

"We c... can't answer that your highness."

"It was an order from the emperor."

"This is just preposterous. Why did father hide this from me."-Shiho thought.

"Take good care of her, alright. I need to speak with the king."-Shiho gave out orders and proceeded to walk away.

***

Shiho walked inside the main castle court and saw the king talking to a few guards. He saw her walking towards them and smiled. Shiho smiled back.

"Father, I need to talk to you for a moment...alone."-she said politely.

"Of course. Give me and my daughter some privacy."-The king said to the guards.

The guards bowed and left instantly.

"What is it, Shiho?"-The king asked.

"Father, I need to talk about Shiori."-Shiho looked at her father softly, hoping for answers.

"So you already know what happened. It's okay, it's time for you to know the truth."-The king sighed.-"Sit down my dear."

Shiho sat down a bit lower than the king. Waiting for him to start telling her the truth about Shiori's illness.

"Shiori have been suffering that illness from childhood. We tried everything dear but there's no way to cure her. We've searched everywhere yet we cannot find it."-The king replied.

"Does they know what kind of illness is it? Those physician."-Shiho asked.

"No one knew. They said it's new to them as well."-the king said with a sad face.

"So what should we do now father?"-Shiho asked.

"Keep on searching for cure. That's all we can do for now."-The king answered.

"I understand father."-Shiho replied weakly.

***

Shiho sat down beside her sister's bed, caressing her head gently as she watched her peaceful slumber. 

"Why hide it from me? Everytime you visited me at the castle. You're actually hiding your illness all this time. I wish you can just tell me Shiori."-Shiho said as she held Shiori's hand.

She felt a weak pressure on her hand. It was from her sister.

"Cause you'll be worried. I don't want you to. You're already busy as it is."-Shiori replied weakly.

She tried to sit down but Shiho held her shoulder firmly yet not strong enough to break the fragile girl.

"It's okay. You don't have to get up."-Shiho said.

"How do you know?"-Shiori asked.

"You're not at the archery practice. So I came here instead."-Shiho rubbed her hand on her sister's shoulder, trying to ease the pain that she couldn't see.

"I wanted to but I can't even get out of bed today."-Shiori said, tears started forming on her eyes.

"Hey it's okay. From now on, you don't have to go there anymore."-Shiho said.

"Why? You hate it?"-Shiori said, a single tear dropped to her porcelain cheek.

"What? Of course not. What I'm trying to say is that I will come here instead. So you don't have to go there anymore."-Shiho said, wiping the tear.

"Are you sure that's alright with you? You're already so busy with your battle and wisdom practice."-Shiori said.

"Of course it's alright with me."-Shiho moved closer to hug her sister.

Shiori returned the warm embrace, and not a single one of them speak anything. Just enjoying each other's embrace to the fullest.

***

Shiho opened her eyes slowly. 

"When did I fall asleep? I don't even remember."-Shiho grunted as she tried to sit down.

A flash of light came rushing in front of her eyes. It was too fast for eyes to follow.

"What was that?"-she asked.

From the distance, she saw a faint shadow waving at her.

"This is suspicious."-Shiho said and jumped down from her bed.

She walked as fast as she can towards the shadow. The shadow moved backward slowly, still waving to Shiho. She wasn't sure if it's a human or not, her eyes can't really adapt to the darkness. But then she stopped.

"What do you want from me?"-Shiho asked.

The shadow stopped moving. 

'If you want to know the cure of your sister's illness, come with me young princess Shiho. Come.'

"How do you know that?"-Shiho asked, getting suspicious of the shadow now.

'I know everything about the curse my dear. Come if you want the cure.'

The voice gets louder.

"Alright then."-Shiho replied.

'But will you risked everything for it? Even if your own life getting involved?'

"I will risked everything for her. She's my only sister."-Shiho said with confidence.

'Come then. Come and meet me. I will help you '

Chapter Two

Shiho have been following the shadow far enough from her castle.

"I think this is far enough. So what is it that you want to tell me?"-Shiho asked.

"Patience young one. Patience."-