LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR..

     "Without our investment, what are the chances that the princess would sit on the throne?.."

     The veiled woman denies an answer to the man's question but the slight change in her breathing shows a hint of building agitation.

     "..I do not expect you to give an answer and I'm not interested in the believes of a mere messenger. Everything comes with a price including our very generous plans of investment. Although nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to the throne we are confident enough to say that we triple your very low chances and if it still doesn't work out then we'll try our best to even it out and withdraw..".

     "My master doesn't exchange vows with people who are 'Not exactly in the light'..

     "Unless absolutely necessary..", The man confidently cuts her off much to the veiled woman's annoyance as she stares at him with narrowed lime eyes.

     "Fifteen years. You have the time span of fifteen years to make a decision as we are not in a hurry..", The calm mystery man says as he puts a small Scarlet coloured crystal on the table right in front of the veiled messenger.

     "The sooner you make your decision the better because anything above fifteen years would be too late. Tell your master to input her aura in the crystal when she realises how much she needs us..", The man says with a small smile meant for provocation as the veiled woman keeps staring coldly at him obviously imagining ripping him apart for his rudeness and cockiness.    

     Reminding herself that she's just the messenger and middle-woman, the veiled woman takes calmly the crystal off the table without any extra actions.

     Fei Lin who's been following the entire conversation sighs inwardly. What were the possibilities that he caught such a shady exchange at the right place and timing?..

     He must be either insanely lucky or insanely unlucky or both and his curiosity definitely didn't help the matter.

     Now, he's a hundred percent solid on the fact that the Princess being referred to in this conversation is the most unpredictable card in the Imperial heirloom game,.. 'Princess Seflim'.

     And so the master being referred to must be her mother, Imperial Consort Tamara with this clues, the veiled woman present for the exchange must be either the Consort's Counsel or a highly trusted confidant.

*PANG*

     Without a change in his trained expression, Fei Lin moves another black piece to counter a possible red move.

     So,.. very shady people are extending very volatile branches to the Princess's side of the situation and the fact that they give such people listening ears means they are either desperate or about to hit desperation in terms of resources(Power, Wealth, Influence and sway) that a Consort is definitely lacking compared to the competition.

     "Interesting..", Prince Fei Lin could not help but mutter to himself as he makes a black piece dance on the board.

     He has no plans on getting himself involved in such an obvious storm that would either sweep him off or claim his life and so he keeps himself firmly at the position of a spectator hoping that one day he can anonymously use this information to his benefit.

     The spy barrier soon disperses as the man makes a calm exit from the room after taking a sip of his already filled cup. Being cautious, he once more releases wave after wave of mana for cross inspection as his legs move to the stairs.

*PANG*..*PANG*..*PANG*..*PANG*..

*PANG*..

     With a sigh, Fei Lin suddenly moves a red piece and clears five black pieces in one go!. A couple more clever moves and the game is over with him winning against well,.. himself.

     The veiled woman then makes her Exit after without drawing much attention.

     Turning to Lorin who has been diligently refilling his cup with Alcohol, Fei Lin asks like nothing ever happened..

     "Do you play checkers?..

...

     *In the Small house of the upper sector of the Outskirts of 'Eclipse of the Ocean' on Planet Gieă..

     Navi is seen in a bathroom tying a small slick white towel around his waist as he looks towards a steamy mirror with indifference and a bit of exhaustion in his gaze.

     Supporting his body by resting his palm against the basin, he looks towards the blurry mirror with water steam on its surface before moving his right palm on its cold and glassy surface.

     With an almost silent motion of his palm against the glass, he removes most of the steam blocking his facial reflection on the mirror as he looks at his face with his face staring back at him.

     The reflection of Navi in the mirror shows a light pale face that's still undergoing developments with a deeper pale tone of dark semi-circles beneath his eyes that shows testaments to sleepless nights.

     Blurry pink thin lips placed under perfect straight nose heightened his visuals but the most distinct of his features remains his distinct layered orange iris.

     Slightly Oval iris just as dark as ink is surrounded immediately by shades of deep orange followed by a lighter shade of orange that's finally braced by a thin layer of fiery brown by the edges which separates his iris from his whites.

     His eyes holds the greatest of his charm as they were a rare work of nature's art appearing piercing in even his softest stares yet gentle the longer you stare intk them.

Most would be but Navi doesn't seem at all impressed or proud of his breath taking visuals as he sweeps back stray wet strands of ink black hair back into position.

     With a small sigh, he uses a small bowl to take water from a larger bucket before slowly pouring the cold water over his head as he stares at himself in the mirror with an unflinching intensity.

     He must not sleep!..

     No!.. He cannot sleep.

     He tells himself inwardly as the water grazes over his back and pale skin in order to remind himself of the pain he would have to bear if he so as much as closes his eyes for too long.

     That powerful voice full of madness and passion..

     THE TERRIFYING ECHOES!..

     THE SCENES OF BLOOD AND DESTRUCTION!..

     THE EMOTIONAL PAINS HE CANNOT EVEN UNDERSTAND!!!..

     AND FINALLY, THAT ONE QUESTION. THE ONLY THING HE COULD CLEARLY HEAR IN THOSE HELLISH HALLUCINATIONS!..

     WHAT IS BALANCE?..

     WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BALANCE?!!!!..

     WHAT. DO. YOU. THINK. IS. JUSTICE?!!..

     Remember all of this, Navi hand that's griping the basin became pale from the force as his breath quickens with a drop of blood flowing down the side of his nose from his right eye like a tear drop.

     The bowl of cold water he is holding drops down to the ground as he holds on to the sink with both his hands in order to support his feet from failing.

The trauma is evident in his breaths and eyes and even more in his mind.

What truly is balance?..

He would do almost anything to know the answer to this.