Fire. Screams. Bloodshed.

  That's all that could be seen, heard, or smelt. The small village of Saomi in the Eru District was being attacked by the Borun Clan. The sky was orange, but not like the beautiful sunsets that everyone in Feudal Japan saw each dusk. The mountains looked like they were covered in soot instead of snow.

  The leader of the Borun Clan  was a tall man with pitch black hair tied into a bun. His eyes were gray, but they were colder than the harshest winters. He always looked like he was in a bad mood.  He looked to be in his mid 40s, and the clothes he wore was only the most expensive clothing he could he his grubby hands on. No one knew his real name, but many have called him Lord Shi, meaning he was the lord of death. And his name fit him well, he brought pain and agony to all that came across his path.

  The man looked over the chaos he just caused, and felt an odd sense of pride in him. Just as he was about to take his next kill, an arrow shot past him, cutting his cheek. Shi turned and saw the Emperor of Feudal Japan, with a bow in his hands. The Emperor's name was Akihiro Tokusi II.

  Akihiro was a handsome man indeed. Short black hair shaped his round and almond shaped eyes. His eyes were surprisingly more beautiful than the most brilliant blue orchid. His armor was slightly rusted, but still in the best shape royalty could buy. He was around 20 years old, but still had a older appearance than meets the eye.

  "Well well well, if it isn't Emperor Brat. I'm impressed, you usually let innocent men fight your battles." Shi said as he slowly clapped his hands. "Those men chose to protect me and their country, and you better start addressing me by my name." "Heh, why would I address someone I hate as a person who is supposedly higher class than I?" "It's called respect, something you should've learned long ago." The two men started circling each other, waiting for one of them to make the first attack.

  "Respect? You of all people talking about respect?! HA!" Shi laughed, as if he heard the funniest joke on Earth. "You tax the innocent, when they have nothing. You take away their food, even when they are hungry. You have no shred of respect, you only respect those who are in the same class as you." Akihiro was starting to let his anger take control. His blood fuming and boiling with anger and hatred towards Shi. "You, Emperor Akihiro Tokusi, are nothing more than a rich snob, only wanting the best for himself."

  "SILENCE!" Akihiro roared, as he ran towards Shi. He took out his katana and swung it hoping to hit the man who brought so much pain. Shi dodged, but the blad cut off some of his hair. Not much, mainly about a few centimeters. Enraged, Shi took out his katana and attacked the emperor. The two fought for what seemed like hours. Both men were bruised and out of breath.

  "Haa..Haa...You..think you can beat the Emperor? I..Haa..I have an army, and your men are dead. Surrender now, and I may let you live." Akihiro pointed his sword to Shi's face. "I..will NEVER surrender to you!" Shi pulled out a glowing orb from his cloak. The lord mumbled a few words, making the orb glow a fiery red.

  "To the fall of the Tokusi Empire!" Shi threw the orb at Akihiro, hitting him directly in the chest. The young emperor yelled out in pain as the surge of energy flowed through his body. An explosion soon emerged, knocking Shi and a few people back. When the smoke cleared, Akihiro was gone. "That..wasn't supposed to happen, it was supposed to knock him out!" Shi yelled out in pure rage. "Find me that witch, NOW!"

  Meanwhile, Akihiro was laying in a feild of grass, as the sun warmed his entire body. He slowly woke up, in a lot of pain and somehow he had the feeling...

..He wasn't in Japan anymore...

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END OF THE PROLOGUE

Thank you for reading the first chapter of Empress From Afar. If you like it, feel free to like, and leave a comment telling me what you think about it! And as always, stay nerdy!

~MK