He removed the ingredients and began to concoct a batch of the pain-killing potion. When he was done, he filled four glass bottles with the liquid and put stoppers in to seal them. He dug a hole with his hands and buried the old pack along with the tools used to make the potion. Taking the four bottles, Aakuta wandered through the woods, looking for four different places to hide the liquid drugs.

* * *

Lady Mystic stopped at the front entrance to the temple. The guards immediately stiffened and move their pikes to prohibit her entry.

“You know that you are not allowed in the temple,” stated one of the guards.

“I know,” Lady Mystic nodded. “Send word to my father that I am here to see him. It is extremely important.”

“The Emperor will not accept such a message,” the guard shook his head. “You do not exist.”

“You will go to the Emperor, and tell him that I am hear,” Lady Mystic said forcefully. “If you don’t, I will see that you are severely punished. Tell him that I know the secret of the air tunnel. Go!”

The two guards looked at each other for a long moment before one of them shrugged and stepped through the door. Lady Mystic waited impatiently for his return. The wait seemed like an eternity, but the guard eventually returned with a squad of soldiers.

“You will have an escort,” announced the guard.

Lady Mystic sighed and nodded. She had not expected her father to treat her so poorly, but she knew that everything would change in a few moments. She allowed herself to be escorted up to the throne room. She smiled broadly as she walked into the throne room. It felt like home to her. She gazed up at her father and smiled. The Emperor glared in return.

“You profess to know the air tunnel,” Vand announced bluntly. “Prove it.”

Lady Mystic halted halfway across the room. Half of the soldiers escorting her continued onward unaware of her halting. The other half stopped abruptly in confusion. Lady Mystic wove the air tunnel and aimed it at the Emperor.