Empress Khione: Her Revenge

The Final Test

A/N: I have changed Ruben's name to Jassper. So if you come across a Jassper, please don't be confused. He's Khione's best friend who we met at the beginning of the story. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. 

***

The dream-like melody of the flute hummed throughout the entire mountain. The plants and birds all listened in great awe, wondering where the beautiful sound was coming from. Even the moon watched her in wonderment as it shined its light down on her. 

Khione continued to play in brilliance, each note flowing out like water. The song she played was called The Wolf King and The Snow Lotus. It was a forbidden love story between the king of the wolves and his accidental saviour: the alpha of the roguish pack preparing a dangerous coup. It was a tragic love story and it had a heart wrenching end in which the king was forced to put his lover to death – all for his Kingdom and his people. After taking the life of his lover, the king picked up the instrument and poured his heartbreak and sadness into the very same song Khione was playing.

From what Princess Electra had told Khione, the Prince's mother - the deceased Luna would play this song often for the prince. However, as it was not a very popular instrument or story, not many knew how to play it. 

Once the last note left the instrument, Khione slowly pulled it away from her mouth and looked up at the Princess. 

"Excellent!" the princess praised, much to Khione's pleasure. She had spent all of her hours practicing the song without rest, she would have been disappointed if she had failed the princess's evaluation. Especially since it had been a week since she started practicing. 

"You just need to focus on your emotions," the princess added. "If you play such a song you need to portray the same emotions. Put yourself in the lover's place. You were both left to die by your lovers, 

Khione felt her heart sink at the reminder. It had been a year since the incident had taken place and although she had been trained to excellence, she still felt bitter whenever she remembered what her mate and family had done to her. She had managed to numb out almost every other feeling known to mankind but the feeling of betrayal - the heart break that followed after it was engraved in her memories. 

"Yes, that's it!" the princess said, witnessing Khione's fallen expression. "Think of your past the next time you play it. Playing an instrument with no soul is the same as not playing it at all. You're not just playing a song, you're relaying a story." 

"Alright," Khione nodded before she lifted the instrument to her mouth to continue practicing. 

However, before she began, she heard the sound of rustling leaves and snapping sticks from within the forest. She wasn't sure how close or far they were, but she was certain that someone was walking on the outskirts of the mountains. She could hear their footsteps coming closer and closer.

"Someone's coming," she told the princess as she placed her instrument down. 

The entire time Khione had lived with the princess, there had only ever been intruders once and they were invited by Khione and the princess. However, as far as Khione knew, the princess had not invited any guests. So the intruder was an unexpected guest in every way. 

"They're still far," the princess said, "and I can smell the brief scent of a werewolf." 

"It's a werewolf?" Khione asked in surprise and confusion. Why would a werewolf suddenly come to this side of the land? The only pack they would find here was the Mountain Gale pack and they were a secluded pack that although were not as territorial as other packs, still did not react kindly to outsiders. 

"No," the princess said, a pensive look on her face. "They're human." 

The footsteps drew nearer and nearer until the face of the intruder became clear. 

Khione gasped, shocked to see the person grumpily making his way towards her.

"You know him?" the princess asked, unaware of the intruder's identity.

Khione nodded, for the first time in a very long time feeling true and genuine happiness.

"He's my best friend, Jassper," she told him, a smile naturally brightening up her face. 

Jassper had kept his promise - he came for her. 

"He told me he would find me once he's of age," she filled the princess in. "He's the son of the Blue Valley Pack's herbalist." 

"Is he trustable," the princess asked with narrow eyes as she watched the young boy stomp his way through the forest, looking frustrated. And it wasn't without reason either. He looked as if he was someone who had never gotten his hands, or his clothes dirty before. Yet here he was walking through wet, muddy grounds. Had the princess not had many other thoughts in her mind, she would have laughed at him. 

"He's the one person in the world that has my unwavering trust," Khione told the princess without any hesitation.

Jassper truly was someone with a pure heart. He was the only person in the world who had never lied to her and the only person who had shown her over and over again that he truly loved her too. If she couldn't trust Jassper, then there was no one in the world that she could trust. 

Khione giggled for the first time since entering the mountains as she watched her friend before she made her way out towards him. 

Before she could even set a single foot out though, the princess stopped her. 

"I don't think you should go," she told Khione, her face showing great solemnity. 

Khione's face fell and she felt her beating heart stop dead in its tracks. 

"Why not," she asked breathily. "I told you he's trustable."

"I don't doubt that," the princess responded quickly. "But I have to think about the future. How will meeting him benefit us and our mission? Frankly speaking, it won't. He'll be a liability in our plan." 

"He doesn't have to be a part of the mission. I'll send him on his way after I catch up with him." 

"He left the pack and his destiny to find you. Do you really think he'll leave you after breaking ties with his family for you?" 

Khione knew the princess was right but it didn't mean it hurt less. Jassper was the only person in the world that may ever genuinely care for her and she was forced to let go of such a precious person. She couldn't bring herself to do it but at the same time, she knew the significance of the action. 

This may as well be the princess's final test for her. If she was able to leave aside something so precious to her for the sake of the bigger goal, then it would mean that her training was not in vain – she was ready to proceed. However, if she went after Jassper then that would signify failure. If she was not able to give up something for her own sake, then had another situation like this presented itself to her in the future, she would fail due to being short-sighted. 

Knowing what was at stake and remembering why she had suffered so much over the past year, Khione bit down on her bottom lip and nodded. 

"Alright," she said softly as she watched her friend stumble before he vanished into thin air.

A gasp escaped Khione's mouth as her heart and brain stopped for a few moments too long. 

"W-What just happened?" Khione asked, aware of the situation but also very confused. She slowly removed her eyes from where her friend was minutes earlier and lay them on the princess. 

"That was my final test for you," the princess said nonchalantly. "I wanted to be sure that you were ready. I couldn't account for any mistakes."

Khione gasped, shocked by the princess's heartless test. 

"I can't believe you did that to me," she said, feeling upset. She had felt her heart beat in happiness for the first time in over a year and the princess managed to ruin that happiness for her. "Even if it was a fake, why couldn't you have pretended he was real at least?" 

Khione turned away from the princess with a sad sigh. Maybe she was being dramatic but she really needed something to make her feel alive again and there finally was something, only to turn out to be a game. 

The princess watched Khione and realised that even if they had a million years of training, a child would still be a child. A soft chuckle left her lips causing Khione to turn to her with a small glare. 

"Don't be too upset," the princess softly implored, "the real Jassper will arrive in a few days." 

It took a moment for the words to sink in but once they did, Khione jumped from her seat. 

"Really? Why?" she asked, her mood doing a one eighty degree change. She was happy but also really curious. 

"You'll be joining the mating ceremony as a contestant of a respectful and strong she-wolf from an influential family. Does it make sense to send you in alone?" 

"He's going to act as my guardian?" Khione asked, feeling ecstatic. That would mean her friend would be with her throughout her mission.

"The ladies who join this competition are expected to be powerful enough to defend themselves if a dangerous situation arises, however, they all also have guardians who serve to them and only them. They also act as the bridge between the she-wolf and her birth-pack if she ends up entering the palace." 

"Does it matter that he's a human?" 

"The royals are suspicious people so they prefer that the guardians are humans. That way if needed, they can easily confine them and remove them. It'll be harder with a werewolf." 

Khione smiled, feeling glad to have a friend with her. Soon her life was going to change completely and she didn't know if it was for the better or the worse. However, what she did know was that the more time she spent attaining power, the more her morals would be tested. Not to mention, her Qi hadn't completely accepted her yet so she was yet to feel the evil side-effects of her new powers. Having someone beside her that can help her and take care of her was more than she could have ever asked for. 

"Thank you," she found herself saying to the princess. She was truly grateful for everything she had done for her this past year. She really did not know how to repay her. 

"Repay me with success," the princess said, once again listening to Khione's thoughts. "If you fail after everything I have gone through to train you, I will never forgive you." 

"I will succeed," she told the princess. "Even if it kills me."