CHAPTER NINE - AUTONOMY

Chen thinks he went back in time.

Chen "nahhhhh" he draws the word "no way that's possible" trying to throw off the idea "but what other explanation could there be, unless this is a dream or a very well thought prank" deep in thought "but it can't be a prank, because I called Mrs Wang, Ai just. So, it's a dream" claps his hands "that's it, I'm having a very freaking dream and the people I know are in it, but hold up I don't know Dai Yu, did I meet her somewhere and just can't remember" thinking, gives up "oh whatever, the point is that all this is a dream and that it will soon be over...right"

A shadowy figure appears "wrong"

This scared Chen out of his wits "ahhh" and he almost fell off the bed but was saved. He is floating on air. He is shocked he checks to be sure if what is happening is actually real.

The Shadowy Figure "Hi Chen" he speaks with a distorted voice.

Chen "hi shadowy figure that exists in light...who are you, what are you"

The Shadowy Figure "I am an elemental that exists in this world...or rather in this book"

Chen "this book? huh"

The Shadowy Figure "My name is, and you are inside the Authors world"

Chen "huh"

The Shadowy Figure "the place you currently find yourself in is the Empire of Quanli and this is the place the story starts, continues and ends"

Chen "you are saying that I am in a book"

The Shadowy Figure "correct"

Chen "why I'm I in a book, how I'm I in a book"

The Shadowy Figure "a ask a lot of questions. This is the book you have been writing for the past 5 days"

Chen "me I wrote this, how" confused, because he cannot remember

The Shadowy Figure "you cannot write it, the very same way you will not remember this experience if you fail"

Chen "fail?"

The Shadowy Figure "Like I earlier said, I am Yin Ying, and I am the spirit of this brush" brings out grandma's brush and presents it to Chen.

Chen just looking at the brush

Yin Ying "take it"

Chen takes it from him

Yin Ying "I am an elemental of the books that my writers have written. This brush has been passed on from one generation to another, and for one to be considered worthy of owning the brush, they must prove it. If they fail, they lose every memory of this happening, and the brush will wait for the next descendant. You are that descendant today"

Chen "so you mean after my grandma no other person has come to claim the brush"

Yin Ying "someone has come, but no other master has been chosen after your grandmother"

Chen "there was someone before me, who"

Yin Ying "your sister Shu"

Chen "Big Sis, I guess she failed then if I'm here. How did she fail"

Yin Ying "she burnt the world"

Chen trying to stop himself from laughing " I never knew big sis to be violent"

Yin Ying "mph"

Chen " anyways what is my role in all this"

Yin Ying "you are an elemental like me"

Chen "does that mean that mean everyone in this book is an elemental"

Yin Ying "no, we are the only two. The others are just mere characters, working to tell this story. I am the storyteller, the elemental of Fate. I make sure that everything is in place, everyone performs their role, and the story happens as it is written"

Chen "if that's how it is, how'll making me a character matter"

Yin Ying "yes, you the only Living thing in this world. You are the elemental of Autonomy. You are special and your fate is undetermined, it means anything can happen. Now the test is for you to play the part of this character and see it to the end. Make sure you follow the storyline of this character, if you are successful, you'll become the new master and your reward and fortunes would be infinite, but if you fail, then..."

Chen "then what"

The Shadowy Figure "I'll leave that one for another day, for now" touches his forehead "this is the whole story for now"

Chen dazed.

Yin Ying "now go and greet your father" the figure vanishes.

Chen stands up from his bed and calls the maid "maid"

The Maid comes in.

Chen "I need to get dressed" Chen dresses up in the formal attire of a prince and heads to his father's morning assembly at the royal court. On his way there he memorised the story.

"So, my name is Prince Mu Chen, and I am the fourth prince, fourth son of Emperor Mao Zedong, of Quanli Empire. I have 6 stepbrothers, 3 stepsisters, 1 of which is dead and 1 adoptive sister. I have 3 older brothers and 3 younger brothers. My real mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and the first wife and empress of Mao Zedong. I had two sisters, but they both and my mother were killed on their way from the temple, where I was born. But the father of my adoptive sister saved me. And after two years he dies, without meeting his new-born daughter. My father the emperor, felt remorseful and gave his wife the title of Queen Consort Hua, without marrying her. She adopted me as her son and became my mother, and her daughter became my sister. Before then, for about a year after my mother's death, I was left in the care of my father's second wife, the now empress Yan Mei and she traumatised me. Convincing me that I am all alone, that I am useless, telling me not to have any ambitions. For those reasons the character I play in this book is that of a heart broken traumatised, unambitious prince. My father realised this and that was why he had my mother adopt me, she is kind and very loving, she was my saviour. But the damage had already been done, I'll end up living the rest of my life as a coward. My elder brother by two months Third Prince De Guo will become king, and I'll sacrifice my life to stop my evil adoptive sister - Dai Yu, who is a threat to the royal family. She is the villain, who grew ambitious. Her change was due to an emotional breakdown that turned her evil, although she has always been strict and mean. She killed the first and second prince who tried to kill her while she slept. As revenge for disgracing them in court. Dai Yu will be hurt when her explanation is not heard, and she was sentenced to death. She rebelled and killed everyone in court that day, even the emperor and took over the Empire. I, De Guo and Prince Zi Han, my sister Jia Yi's fiancé, crown prince of the next kingdom will raise an army and defeat Dai Yu. But my actions, was what ended the battle, with it causing death of I and Dai Yu. From the beginning to end my life was never mine, I was a wonderer with no achievements, would always drink and misbehave to convince the empress that I am useless and have no ambitions. Regardless she still made attempts on life, and each time I would grow to fear her more and retract my actions to prove I have no hidden plans, so that I could live. I am weakling, a coward, who believes his life belongs to others, and is scared of them taking it. The only thing I believe that I have ever done for myself was willingly sacrificing my life to stop my sister and helping my brother. But at the it turns out I did it to feel accomplished, to be useful. This is going to be easy peasy, what better guy to play the role of an unambitious man other than one with no achievements.

The court room doors open.