Sya should have known that her Demon Father would not give her even a moment’s rest.  The very next day, before the sunlight would even rise, four maids entered her courtyard and brought with them news from their Demon Master.  

“Princess Sya.”  Hetri said as she knocked on the door before kneeling to the side along with the other three girls.  She was the most senior maid there and had to gather her courage to deliver the message their Demon Master ordered her to deliver.  “I have a message from our Demon Master.”  

They waited for an answer, not daring to enter more than they have already intruded upon Princess Sya’s home.   The silence made them tremble in fear.  Should they not do their job, they would be punished severely.  

“Speak.”  Sya said as she opened her eyes from the lotus position she held on her bed.  She had been cultivating since the moment she got back last night and their disturbance made her grumpy .   

The four maids lowered their heads and quickly delivered the message.  

“Princess,  Demon Master requests that you join the Arena of Blood today at mid-morning as per tradition.  There will be a feast there in celebration of your return.”  Hetri said.  “We are to help you get ready since---”   

“No need.”  Sya said coldly.  “I do not need your help.  Come back when it is time to leave to the Arena of Blood.  I will be ready then.”  

The four maids bowed quickly again before quickly leaving.  They too were scared of the consequences that they might face, should they defy Princess Sya.  

Sya got up and went to the bathing room.  She stared down at the prepared herbal bath that had cooled down.  Last night on her scouting of the island, she found the medicinal shed where they kept the herbal plants.  Before she returned to her courtyard yesterday, she stopped by the shed and gathered five bag full of herbs for an herbal bath.  She soaked the herbs in hot water for over three hours before the bath would be ready for her to soak in.  

Sya took off her clothes and got in.  The once hot water was now cool, but Sya didn’t mind it.  The herbs have boiled down to make the medicine she needed to clean her dantians and meridians.  Focusing on the qi the surrounded her, Sya gathered the qi and pushed the energy into the bath, causing the bath to swirl clockwise around her body.  The energy along with the medicinal water slowly cleansed her body.  Her body soaked in the qi and medicinal water and cleaned any blockage within her.  No matter how small or how big the blockage was, it was wiped clean.   

From the neck down, Sya’s body was plunged in the medicinal bath, the circulating qi that was added caused a white shining light to glow in the predawn of the morning.  Any servant passing by could see the glow of power shine through the cracks of the closed windows and door of Princess Sya’s courtyard.  The power increased over time as more qi was absorbed into Sya.  

Those that saw the white light, stopped what they were doing to watch in awe.  Never, in their lives have they seen such pure and raw power.  Never would they have thought their own Princess would have such talent.  

Never would they have thought that she would use that power to overturn their entire world and free them from what they have always known.  Leaving them in a state of helplessness yet happiness.  Never did they ever think so far as the next day.  So instead they lived for today.  Making it the best day, for it may be their last.  

After two hours in the bath, Sya’s eye opened up to an empty tub.  What was left were the herbs she used for the medicinal bath.  Getting up and drying herself, she could smell a slight scent of herbs on her body.

After going through the clothes chest that Captain Corr provided, she dressed in all white fighting robes and pinned half of her hair up with a white lily jade hair pin.  There was a fan at the bottom of the chest that Sya also took with her.   As she opened the fan, there was a drawing of a phoenix flying over a cave.  Inside of the cage there was something the glowed orange and blue.  

Sya stared at the picture for a long time before she closed it with a whack.  When she flicked her hand once again, the picture on the fan changed and on it was instead peony flowers that were in bloom.  After staring at the picture again, she closed it and opened it again and it was of a town.  One that looked similar to the one she entered yesterday.  After closing it again and opening it again, it showed her courtyard.  

Sya smiled.  Captain Corr was trying to tell her something as well.  He too took a chance to trust her.  To help her find her way to the entity that controlled the island which gave her Demon Father, his powers.   Whether it be a trap or not, the fan showed her the way.  And she wasn’t going to waste it.  How did he know to trust her or not, Sya couldn’t think of it at the moment.  But what she did know was that she couldn’t let this opportunity go.  

The four maids walked in once again as they came to get Sya.  Before they could even walk halfway across the courtyard, Sya met them and they parted as Sya made her way to the Arena of Blood.  She already knew the way there.  She didn’t need escorts, but seeing how controlling her Demon Father is, she didn’t want to make the servants job any more hard then it already is.  

As Sya walked, she saw her siblings also making their way to the Arena of Blood with their Shade Hunters.  They all stopped and made way for Sya when they crossed paths.  Sya looked as saw that within each pair of eyes, there was either a light of hope, or a hard stare of disdain.  

Those that looked at her with hatred, Sya had no qualms of taking their lives should it come down to it.  In the end, they were all practically strangers to her.  Even though they shared the same Demon Father’s blood.  To Sya, it didn’t mean she owed them anything.  

Sya passed several siblings and their Shade Hunters, but was suddenly stopped at the next intersection.  There, standing tall and arrogantly with his nose in the air and his Shade Hunters behind him.  He did not step aside when Sya came forward.  Instead he looked down at her with a sneer.