3 The Sunlight is Not Bright

Zhen Mei woke up from the continuous banging from her door. Annoyed with the situation, Zhen Mei sarcastically shouts "Who is that person who plans to destroy my door!?". "Its Ai Bao! Open your door please!". With her magic, she opened the door. Ai Bao entered the room that gleams when reached by sunlight.

"ZhenMei! YOUR BROTHER! YOUR BROTHERS!". Ai Bao screamed and grabbed Zhen Mei on her bed. "Big sister Ai Bao! Please calm down. What's wrong?". Asked by Zhen Mei who was still half asleep.

"It was a setup! The whole mission! It was a spy who gave the information. Your brothers were supposed to attack the rebels but instead, the person who was staying in that camp was the crown prince of Shi. Your brothers end up getting cornered and God knows what the prince might do! What should we do!?". Ai Bao desperately cried. Hearing the alarming news from her sister in law, Zhen Mei wished she was only having a nightmare.

Finally realizing that nightmares do not willingly come, the half-asleep lady started to compose herself. Seeing the lady crying in front of her, Zhen Mei knew that though the pounding of her heart was already deafening she must act intact. "It's useless asking the other generals for help. Knowing her eldest brother's past actions, surely it would be their pleasure to see his demise".

"The nobles! There were nobles supporting your eldest brother!", Ai Bao exclaimed while her face lightened up. "I'm not crushing your hopes, big sister Ai Bao but to them, he is just another pawn. Let's say there are some who genuinely cared for my brothers but the person involved in this incident is the crown prince of Shi. It would be risky on their part to support them". At that moment, Zhen Mei was aware that neither the nobles nor the royal family could help them but she did not have the courage to tell her crying sister in law that the utmost solution was a head.

"Please stop crying big sister Ai Bao. I promise you I will bring them back home". Zhen Mei assured. "What can I do to help?", Ai Bao asked brightly. "I need five mages to help me evocate a five-point star pentagram for the spell is quite complicated and strenuous. Xia Ni and Ah He are probably in the library. Ask them to choose another three from the top scholars and tell them to come here as soon as possible. Also, grab the complete list of soldiers who went to the mission. Also, you are on your first trimester! Please be more careful with your body". Zhen Mei instructed. "Ok got it!". Ai Bao answered as she summoned a black dark raven and flew into the sky.

"In the end, I do lack ambition huh?". Remembering her eldest brother's word made her regret a moment in her life. As she gently closes her eyes she envisions, "Ask" said by a man with long red hair. Zhen Mei smiled bitterly while she was staring into the sky and sweetly whispered, "Young man it seems like you won't be able to keep your promise".

It was two days after that fateful night conversation with her brother. The sun was shining but she realized that her day will not be bright.