SCULPTURED DESIRE

Amira stares at the people of An from the balcony of Uncle A Rai's house, where she also resides.

They had been her comfort, after Jin long had saved from the woods years ago she had decided to Change her identity completely she was no longer the Amira everyone knew.

The door shrugs open, and Jin Long comes in, his sword on his belt like he always carried it about; he comes to a halt beside her, joining her in and staring at the view.

"Are you thinking about what happened earlier?"

Amira sighs, if I don't make things right, I will only be dishonoring the tradition. Uncle A Rai told me about the oath both tribes made years ago; anyone could be the master. Why must it be from our bloodline?

"Both tribes were joined by marriage, and since your mother had cut off that tradition by neglecting her duty and marrying into another, it was only right for the next in line to take up from where she stopped.

"Why wasn't there no next in line up till now?" Amira asked.

"The young master had run away from his duty," Jin long said, chuckling, Amira scoffed along with him.

"It a good thing he ran away, imagine marrying a complete fool" Amira commented.

"So I was the only one available"

"You shouldn't miss this Opportunity Amira, they could give you all you want if you want to succeed in this game of chess, you have to grab every opportunity available," Jin long told her.

Amira looks out the balcony again.

A week passed, and it was finally time to coronate Amira, she was taken to the jade sect located high up in the mountains.

It was unlike what she had expected it was a beautiful place where nature resided. She had expected it to be cold, damp, and dull of life, but it was nothing close to her imagination. Where has Roger gotten his foul mood from, she wondered.

She was dressed in a white attire adorned in gold streak lines embroidery.

She was helped down the stairs by Jin Long, who helped her stay stable on her feet.

"This is heavy," she complained, pointing to the ornaments fixed on her hair.

"You are expected to wear something like this every day once you become the master," Jin long informed her.

"That's the first rule I am changing," Amira told him.

Jin long burst into a laugh.

"How am I expected to move in this or fight the most? A leader shouldn't stress themself out with unnecessary things.

We would be called in, you don't have to do the talking. The elders will be the ones doing the talking. Their sect member is quite curious about the new master. But you must know that one has to be worthy of the title," Jin Long said. He turns away to join the rest in the hall.

"What!! Hey come back I....ah" she winced stepping back as it felt like her head was heavier than before.

"Is it the movement?" she muttered as she stood back still.

It was finally the auspicious hour to be coronated. Xi Feng walked in with the help of some maids into the grand hall, where several members and elders were seated.

The Elders Of An tribe were also there, Amira walked forward at the gesture of the man standing at the seat in front, behind him was another man holding a sword and a necklace, which looked like a complete pattern of her mother's necklace.

"The auspicious hour is here," they announced. Xi Feng stepped forward and stepped on the first step of the alter, and as she was about to take a second step, the maids who were assisting her took a step back. She stared at them, confused.

She heard the unsheathing of a sword behind her, and her reflex kicked in. She had no weapon on her, and her attire was heavy to move around with.