Jerren and Ami on Jurai Part 25

Part 25: the Lady Seto Kamiki Jurai

Jerren and Ami sat in silence during the flight on Azuza’s ship; the Kiroto. Staring out a viewport, Jerren and Ami were completely unprepared by the appearance of the Mikagami. The ship was ring shaped, with another ring spinning inside of it. A harsh contrast of yellow and steel blue exemplified the utilitarian harshness of the military flagship of the Jurian fleet.  

"OH my goodness!” Ami blurted, “The size of it, it's...it's...I can't even to begin to describe my feelings about it!
"It’s larger than Ayekas’ ship…!” Jerren commented. “And it’s even wider than the Soja!"
Ayeka scoffed in disgust, walking past the two humans as the Kiroto docked with the Mikagami.
“Again it is the size that impresses,” Ayeka muttered rolling her eyes, “Humans!”
The group disembarked and walked up floating steps that somehow positioned themselves perfectly underfoot. When they reached the uppermost platform a lady with a cloth veil covering her face and wearing the uniform of a servile functionary waited patiently for them.
"Mistress Seto has been expecting you…” the woman bowed respectfully. “Please follow me.” Without waiting for assent, the woman walked steadily up another set of floating steps. Following after the retreating servant the group was led into a large empty chamber. Once the last person entered, the room sealed itself and a flash of light enveloped the party.
Blinking smartly, Jerren and Ami looked in wonder as the insides of the Mikagami were revealed. A landscape of trees and frolicking animals dotted a landscape larger than the ship’s hull could possibly have contained. The sky was bright blue as the sun shone its warm rays over the land.
"It's just like Ayeka’s ship!” said Jerren, “Her ship had the exact same thing inside with all the nature and stuff.”
"This is...unbelievable…and truly fascinating,” Ami gawked at the ship, running her fingers over the living wood that formed the walls, “To fit an entire systemic ecosystem inside a spaceship is...is…”
"Is what?” Ayeka snapped, “Say what you want to say without stuttering like some brain addled primate.”
"It defies the convention of third dimensional space; your race must be extremely advanced technologically to put even the fundamentals of such a mathematical theorem into practical application.”
"…And that surprises you?” Ayeka smarmily waved, “The citizens of Jurai are an intelligent and sophisticated people…unlike you primitive humans!”
Amy bridled at the Princesses words, but held her tongue.
The woman led them up through the wooded area into an alcove that led into a vast hallway of the ships main interior where three people waited while a fourth was speaking.
Funaho stooped beside an elegant and stern woman whispering quietly in her ear. As the party entered she stood formally and moved to stand slightly behind the commanding central figure.

A woman with pale skin and purple hair stood on the left near Funaho. Immaculately dressed and presented, her name was Minaho Masaki Jurai, first daughter of Prince Yosho and Lady Seto’s most trusted intelligence officer.
The man on the right had brown hair kept tightly kempt in a pony tail. He wore a rich if casual outfit as befit a noble, comfortable of his position in the presence of the unofficial leader of the Jurain Empire. His name was Harada and not much was known of him.
The lady in the middle was sitting in an incredibly ornate red velvet chair with what looked like gold fixtures, waving a small fan at an inscrutable face framed by lime green hair. With her pale skin wrapped in an impeccable pink and white Kimono, it would have been easy to underestimate the reclining woman, until you noticed her flashing violet eyes that bespoke steel earned through uncountable trials, eyes that missed nothing. Her name was Seto Kamiki Jurai.

"My lady, your guests have arrived!” Minaho stated more for the guests benefit than Lady Seto’s, in order to let them know they now had the Lady Sovereigns full attention. Seto rose from her chair and turned her gaze on them.
"Ah good, welcome all of you, welcome to my Mikagami!” Seto gestured signifying the ship. Jerren and Ami stayed at the back of the group as the formal greetings began, but once Lady Seto locked her eyes on them her gaze never wavered as she smiled.
"And these must be the two heroes that I have heard so much about,” she said as she waved her fan slowly, “Come closer so that I may better inspect the ones who saved my granddaughter.”
Jerren and Ami suddenly found a clear line between the throne and themselves. Gulping the pair buried their nervousness and walked steadily towards the imposing dais. Walking forward, Ami took the chance to study the woman that caused so much fear in the rulers of the Empire. When Seto unflinchingly returned her gaze Ami flushed and looked down.
"Whoa,” Jerren exclaimed quietly as he looked on Lady Seto’s features, “For someone who’s supposed to be a grandmother she sure is beautiful!”
Ami sent icy daggers from her eyes, making Jerren feel an itch in the small of his back.
"Uh, not as beautiful as you, Ami,” Jerren hastily rectified, “Naturally…!”
“She is beautiful in the way a viper is hypnotic to its prey, keep that in mind. This woman has a death grip on the politics of entire planets in a vast Intergalactic Empire...” Ami then bowed her head before Seto.
"Greetings Lady Seto, I am Ami Mizuno Anderson and it is a pleasure to meet someone of your high royal station, your majesty!” Ami said in a respectful manner.
"The pleasure is all mine,” Seto replied, “You may raise your head young lady.” Ami looked up.
"I have heard that you are a seamstress for the Misaki house, and with the high praise from my granddaughter Sasami…I am led to believe a designer of most exquisite taste as well.” Lady Seto folded her fan tapping it on her palm, “I must say I would not mind trying some of your ensembles myself.”
"Your majesty I would be honored,” Ami blushed, “I would love to personally design something for you.”
Lady Seto turned to Jerren.
“And what is your name young man?”
Jerren bowed and introduced himself.
"Hello, uh, your majesty, my name is Jerren!”
"Well it is nice to meet you Jerren,” Seto smiled, “Lady Funaho has informed me that you wield the light hawk sword. Regardless of any other factor, that is indeed, a most impressive feat.”
“Um, th…thank you Lady Seto.” Jerren stammered rubbing his neck. “I have it right here if you want it…uh, no-one seemed to want to take it back.”
Jerren took out the sword and activated it, waving a few arcs before deactivating it and holding the hilt towards Lady Seto. Hesitantly she reached out and tenderly touched the contours of the hilt.
"Well, well, a demonstration before my very eyes,” Seto said astonished, “And so humble to so willingly offer up the most coveted weapon in the Empire. I heard that with the help of this sword, you and Ami vanquished Kagato; a truly formidable villain…keep it Jerren, I am sure you will need it again."
Lady Seto pushed the hilt back into Jerren’s hand.
"Thank you, your majesty, we owe our gratitude to this sword, it has saved our lives many times...”
“And, I suspect, it will again…” Lady Seto said.
“If it’s not too forward I do have one question concerning you though Lady Seto.”
"A question about me…? My, how flattering,” Lady Seto nodded, “what is it you wish to know?”
"Well...If you’re Ayeka’s grandmother, then how is it you look like you’re in your late twenties?”
"Oh my age,” replied seto, “well if you must know, I am a little over 5000 years old, does that help?"
"Oh well, that’s not...wait, what...over 5000?”
"Did she just say that she was over 5000?” Ami recoiled.
"Why does that surprise you…?” Ayeka chuckled walking casually past the flabbergasted pair. “I cannot help but laugh at the expressions on your faces. But…I think I see why you are surprised; we do not age the same way you humans do, our life spans can extend for centuries, even millenniums, unlike a human who only lives for about 100 years.”
"I am sorry for interrupting my lady, but we did come here to talk about the matter at hand regarding everyone here...”
"No apologies necessary, Lady Funaho,” replied Seto waved her hand, “I was so entertained I almost forgot myself. Please proceed…”
"Yes my lady,” Funaho walked forward. “Well as I told you before, this young man and woman saved Jurai from Kagato.”
"So I heard,” Lady Seto waved her fan, “The holy council of Jurai told me five days ago about my granddaughter’s abduction at the hands of that madman. I was preparing a battle fleet strong enough to stop him but another fleet of space pirates chose that moment to wreak havoc in sector 3157-k. I could not resist...having a ‘word’ with them.”
"Of course my lady,” Funaho pulled her lips back into a cold smile, “Kagato probably planned it that way.”
"Yes I know,” Seto shrugged, “I detest pirates more than anything, a well known fact that a monster like Kagato would be a fool not to take advantage of…but please continue...” Funaho bowed her head in compliance.
"Well as I was saying, this boy and girl saved Jurai and Princess Ayeka’s life in the process. The problem lies in what Azuza and Misaki promised them if they came back victorious. They promised political power as nobles in the Misaki house, authority over the royal guards and militia as well as vast riches, all apparently meant as a cruel jest, but sanctioned as an official verbal contract by the recording made in the local surveillance archive.”
"Oh really...?” Minaho nodded in affirmation and Seto turned her attention to both Azuza and Misaki with an unpleasant look on her face.
The pair turned their faces away from Lady Seto, shying away from her piercing gaze.
“I have only one thing to say about this fiasco,” Seto raised herself from her throne, “Give these two heroes what you promised them.”

To be continued...