Chapter 81 Valley

As the three men drank the morning away, somewhere else in the city, a group of people are making their way through the crowd.

The group consists young individuals. Their number is five individuals.

They casually strolled through the streets, occasionally greeting people they bump into with friendly smiles.

"We probably should hurry." Said a young lady with feline features while looking back towards her group.

"Careful sister. Listen to your older brother and look where you are walking." Said a young man with canine attributes.

The feline lady then looked at the man and said. "I don't have to listen to you. You're only three years older than me. So in another three years, I'll be same age as you. Ha! Take that!"

"In three years, I'll also age by three, not just you."

The feline lady seemed dumbfounded before looking back to the rest of the group, looking for confirmation.

"Your brother is right. That's how time works." Said an older woman with furry arms.

"I can confirm. We all age three years in three years." Said a lady with chubby cheeks.

"Sorry. They're right." Said an older looking man with antlers.

"Hmph!" The feline-like lady turned around and walked with her arms crossed as she continued to sulk.

Her older brother that have dog-like qualities landed a soft karate chop on her head as he said. "That's another win for me."

After a few more steps down the street, the group encountered a man wearing protective equipment. The man noticed their approach and ran over to them.

He offered his hand as he asked. "May I see your identification?"

The group then grabbed from their person a badge depicting a phoenix holding the sun in it's wings, and showed it to the guard.

The guard gave them nod as he stated. "I'm sorry for not recognizing you, I'm new. Her Highness is already on the way."

"We are aware. Lead the way."

The guard then led the group into a wide open road. But the road was not occupied by normal people, it was instead occupied by a large number of guard forming an organized formation around a carrage being drawn by two large and beautiful birds.

The group went over to the carrage as the guard that was guiding them returned to his assigned position.

As the group of soldiers continued to march through the wide and open street, the group walked alongside the slow moving carrage.

The carrage has a cloth hanging on it's side, preventing people from seeing the person inside. But, an insignia depicting an ablaze bird holding the sun in it's wings is painted on it's side.

As the group continued silently walk alongside the carrage, a tap was heard. The one you would hear from wood hitting wood.

The woman with furry arms stepped closer the carrage as she introduced herself. "Your Highness, it is I, Yasashi."

The young man with canine features then said. "Nuno, greets Her Highness a good morning."

The young lady with cat-like features did the same and introduced herself. "I, Kinu, is also here to greet Your Highness."

The man with antlers then said. "I, Shiro, also sends his regards to Your Highness."

The lady with with puffy cheeks then said. "I, Shiru, presents herself to Your Highness."

She then continued. "Five out of your seven Weavers are glad to be in your presense."

The person inside the carrage did not respond, but instead made another tap.

Yasashi stepped closer and said. "Your younger brother has safely made it home. Your Highness shouldn't need to worry, for his safety is secured."

"...."

"Please, save Your Highness' energy for the meeting up ahead." Said Yasashi before backing off and continuing their escort of the carrage.

During the time they were talking, the amount of people on the sidelines are expanding. All watching woth admiration in their eyes as the carrage came to pass.

Suddenly, a group of children pushed their way through the crowd in order to get a better view. Then almost immediately, a guard walked up to them and said. "Children, may I ask you to stay back a bit?"

The children looked a bit intimidated, but still held their ground. After a few seconds, a child stood in front of the guard and said. "We just want to see Her Highness."

Seeing the determination in the children's eyes, the guard let out a little chuckle before saying. "Maybe next time, little one. Her Highness is currently busy making her way towards an important meeting."

Hearing the adult's reply, the children backed down as they took a step back. After confirming the children were no longer in the way, the guard soon returned to his assigned position.

The marching army continued their advance down the wide open road with nothing to stop them. Their destination can be seen from far away. A long line of mountains that seems to divide the world and the sky.

After treading down the road for a couple more minutes, the army arrived at the foot of the mountian.

A fortress made out of stone is built within the mountain side. The group marched their way towards it in an organized manner.

Once in front of it, a man wearing a different kind of armor from the rest took a step forward and yelled at the stone building. "The ruler of the Sun region, Her Highness, Queen Ame, is here for the monthly meeting with the Jade region's ruler."

Then suddenly, the massive gates in the stone fortress raised. Allowing the entirety of the army to march forward inside.

The inside consists of a long massive hallway, large enough for giant to walk comfortably. A group of soldiers ran up the man, who yelled earlier. They then said. "Commander, we report that there is no suspicious activity within the valley."

The Commander then said. "Good job, soldiers. Return to your stations."

As the group of guards left, the Commander turned around and faced the army behind him. He then yelled in such a manner that it echoed through the large hallway. "Men, forward!"

The army then continued down the hallway with double their speed. Easily reaching the end of the tunnel.

The outside of the gates seemed to lead into a fertile valley with a river flowing freely down below. A sturdy wooden bridge leads from one side to the other.

Just as the gates were about to open, the gates on the complete opposite end of the bridge opened at the same time.

The army walked throught the open gates and onto the bridge just as an army from the other side emerged from the gates and did the same.

The two armies seemed to be in a crash course of each other. The wooden bridge shook from their fearless marches.

The soldiers from both side are cold and unyeilding, making it look like a war was about to happen.

The Commander leading the Sun Region's army stepped forward. Almost at the same time, the Commander on the opposite end did the same.

Then suddenly, at the top of their lungs, the two men yelled. "Soldiers, Halt!"

Just then, both armies stopped dead in their tracks, silencing the entire valley. As the two armies stood menacingly before each other, the Weavers stepped forward with the carrage placed on their shoulders.

On the opposite army, a group soon emerged carrying an equally luxurious looking carrage on their shoulder. A mark depicting a green dragon lifting a piece of earth with it's five toes, is painted on the carrage's side.

A small group of people occompanied the two carrages as they both headed up their own flight of stairs.

The stairs on each side is built on top of the natural curve of the valley, allowing them to follow it up higher towards the valley.

The two carrages left their armies down on the bridge, leaving them barely armed. But even though they no longer have their large armies on their side, a calm and noble demenour is still eminating from both the carrages and their escorts.

Even though they are treading two seperate paths on the opposite side of the valley, the two groups only had one destination in mind.

A large palace, at the highest point of the valley. With two bridges from both side, allowing the two groups to come in from either side.

Directly when the sun was at it's peak, the two group reached the high palace. They entered on opposite ends, but an unerving tension could be felt not just in the palace, but also through out the entire valley.

After a few minutes, the two groups gathered in one room. They occupied a large, highly detailed room. A variety of plants, furniture, and art pieces are carefully placed around the room, giving them a noble feeling.

The two groups sat on opposite ends of the room. With one side surrounding a blind with a phoenix holding the sun in it's wings.

With the other surrounding a blind with a green dragon using it's five claws to hold a bit of earth.

Two elderly men, around the age of fourty, stepped forth from their respective groups. They sat down on opposite ends of a small table, placed directly in the middle of the room.

They both took a deep breath before saying in unison. "The meeting between the Sun Region and the Jade Region will now commence."