The Province of Fire (Hi-no-Kuni) was one of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces of the Yamato Empire.
Although its territory was only one percent the size of the massive Central Province where the Ryuzaki Clan resided, it was still a vast land of volcanoes and ancient shrines.
Ruling over this land was the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom (Suzaku-no-Kuni). Along with the Azure Dragon (Seiryu), White Tiger (Byakko), and Black Tortoise (Genbu), they formed the Four Symbols Alliance. However, the Vermilion Bird Kingdom had been in decline for decades.
Inside the Palace of Eternal Flame, the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow.
A middle-aged man in crimson robes lay on a bed of fire-jade. His breath was shallow, his life force flickering like a candle in the wind. This was the King of Suzaku.
Standing beside him was a young woman of breathtaking beauty.
She wore a dress of red phoenix feathers that accentuated her long legs and snow-white skin. Her hair was a cascade of living flame, and a cinnabar dot marked her forehead. She was Princess Suzaku (formerly Bai Yuer).
"Father," Suzaku whispered, biting her lip. "I will find an Immortal Elixir. I swear it."
"My child..." The King shook his head weakly. "An Immortal Elixir is a treasure of the gods. Even the Great Clans possess only a few. Who would give such a thing to a declining kingdom like ours?"
"I will find a way!" Suzaku's eyes burned with determination.
She was the jewel of the Fire Province. Countless young prodigies had courted her, feeding her arrogance. She believed her beauty could open any door.
But reality was cruel.
"Those sycophants are useless," Suzaku muttered, walking out of the palace. "And my fiancé, Prince Seiryu... he promised an elixir as part of the betrothal gift, yet years have passed and he has delivered nothing."
With her father dying, Suzaku couldn't wait for the Azure Dragon Kingdom any longer.
"Who else do I know?" she pondered frantically. "Wait... Ryuzaki Reika."
Years ago, she had met Reika at a secret realm event. They had gotten along well, bonding over their status as high-born noblewomen.
"The Ryuzaki Clan is the oldest and most powerful. They definitely have Immortal Elixirs."
Desperate, Suzaku took out a jade slip and sent a message.
The Calculation of the Divine Son
In the Ten-no-Kura (Heavenly Emperor Palace), steam filled the air.
Ryuzaki Haruto, now eight years old, relaxed in a bath made of hollowed-out spirit jade. The water glowed with medicinal herbs. His body was lean and muscular, his skin radiating a faint golden light. He had grown into a youth whose beauty could topple empires.
Ryuzaki Reika, now twenty and more elegant than ever, entered silently. She placed a cup of Enlightenment Tea on the floating tray.
"What's wrong?" Haruto asked, taking a sip. He didn't even open his eyes.
"Nothing, Your Highness," Reika lied, her eyelashes trembling.
"Reika," Haruto smiled lazily. "Do you really think you can hide anything from me?"
Reika sighed. She couldn't deceive her master. She explained Princess Suzaku's request.
"I see," Haruto mused. "She wants an Immortal Elixir?"
"She is desperate," Reika said apologetically. "I know they are priceless treasures. I intended to refuse her..."
"I don't need them," Haruto interrupted, shrugging.
Reika blinked. "Pardon?"
"I got three from the Takachiho Stele and five from the Eighteenth Ancestor," Haruto counted on his fingers. "I ate three like candy. I still have five left collecting dust in my spatial ring."
Reika stared at him. 'He ate Immortal Elixirs like candy?' She felt a headache coming on. The gap between the Ryuzaki Clan and the rest of the world was truly unfair.
"Since she is your friend, invite her over," Haruto said, waving his hand. "I can spare one."
"Just... like that?" Reika was stunned.
Haruto opened his eyes. They were cold and calculating, contrasting with his relaxed posture.
"Of course not," he smirked. "I'm not running a charity."
He stood up, water cascading off his perfect form. Reika quickly averted her eyes, blushing, and handed him a towel.
"The Vermilion Bird Kingdom is in decline, but it still controls a quarter of the Fire Province," Haruto explained, drying his hair. "If I save the King, they will owe me a life debt."
"You want a vassal?" Reika realized.
"Exactly," Haruto nodded. "Even Cousin Kenji has the Ancient Sword Sect backing him. As Sequence Zero, it's embarrassing that I don't have a single vassal state."
He walked to the window, looking out over his domain.
"I will save her father," Haruto said softly. "But in exchange, I want the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. And maybe the other three kingdoms too."
The Misunderstanding
Thousands of miles away, Princess Suzaku received Reika's reply.
Her hands trembled with joy. 'They agreed! The Ryuzaki Clan agreed!'
But as she read the details, she frowned. The elixir wasn't coming from Reika's personal stash. It was being offered by a "Prodigy of the Ryuzaki Clan."
"A male prodigy?" Suzaku narrowed her rosy eyes.
She looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She was undeniably beautiful.
'He must have heard of my beauty,' she thought with a mix of relief and disappointment. 'He is willing to give an Immortal Elixir just to meet me? He must be another lustful suitor.'
Suzaku sighed. She had hoped the Ryuzaki Clan would be different, but it seemed all men were the same.
"Fine," she whispered, hardening her heart. "If he wants my body, so be it. As long as he saves Father."
She packed her things and summoned her flying chariot.
"I'm coming to the Central Province," she declared. "Let's see what kind of man this 'Prodigy' is."
Unaware that she was walking into the web of a monster who cared more about territory than her beauty, Princess Suzaku set off for the Ryuzaki Clan.