She finally took out the object that was hidden with her sleeve and handed it over to Princess Ceni.
It was a white jade talisman with three rotating dials and 24 symbols she had never seen before. And before Princess Ceni could ask what it was she explained its purpose.
"This is a magical item that the entire Luna Empire was created upon. His majesty entrusted it to me yesterday because he expected something like this to happen. Now it's yours."
Hearing that even Princess Ceni couldn't help but get interested. She inspected its surface in more detail.
Each dial moved independently than the others and they were all pointing in different directions. The symbols she had no idea about but surely the real owner of this body would recognize them.
"What does it do? Why it is so important?"
"His Majesty said the princess must figure out its real purpose by herself, so that she may prove herself worthy to wield it. But until then you can still use the dials like anyone else. The first one points to the nearest vein of spiritual energy, it's where all the energies of the world congregate."
"The second dial points to the nearest location where a hidden treasure will be buried. But the third dial is a little different. Once you have made the talisman's spirit submit to you, you can make the last dial point to any single thing you want."
"Right now, his majesty has made so that the third dial points to the true successor of the Empire's Sword Technique."
Princess Ceni's brow immediately locked in a tight furrow the moment she heard about the sword technique. The books she had read didn't mention much about it other than that it was created by the first king and only passed down to one person every generation.
And as expectantly, only the next crown prince was allowed to learn it. But aside from that, she didn't even know what it was called.
Even as a child she found it odd because it looked like all information regarding this sword technique was purposefully erased from the annals of history, which was even more strange when considering the fact that it was one of the defining pillars of the Luna Empire.
It was said that no one that had learned this sword technique in its entirety had ever tasted defeat in single combat.
It would be a lie if Princess Ceni said that her heart didn't waver for a moment recalling these facts. She didn't use swords but even then she wanted to at least see it once.
'From the older generation only the current king knows the sword technique and since he doesn't have any sons it has to be an outsider. But considering who he sent for me it should be the captain of the royal guard, right?'
She looked down at the last dial, her grip unknowingly tightening around the treasure medallion of the Luna Empire. Something like this could make or break a kingdom.
Able to find spiritual veins and hidden treasures, there was no way to even measure how available it was. With it in hand, anyone could become the ruler.
'Too bad all this is nothing but a dream. If I had something like this I would not need anything else.'
By the time she awoke from her stupor the head maid was already gone. The only entrance was closed shut although she could hear the sound of fighting from the other side.
"CATCH HER ALIVE! SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHERE THE PRINCESS IS!" a blaring voice ordered.
*Sigh*
'It's not real,' she told herself before turning around and venturing deeper into the dungeon.
There were multiple pathways going in each and every direction but thankfully she was able to navigate them by using the third dial which was leading her towards the successor.
She walked for what felt like at least an hour, passing by some truly horrid places. The smells of rotting corpses, feces and all kinds of other decaying matter were accompanied by guttural roars and beastly howls along the way.
'I don't even want to imagine what horrors are imprisoned within these dungeons. But for an empire that lasted millions of years it can't be anything good.'
She could quite literally see the light at the end of the tunnel as the exit appeared not soon after. She unknowingly let out a breath of relief. Without the dial there was no way even an army was getting through that dungeon anytime soon.
As her thoughts reached this point she paused for a moment to consider the significance of those words, 'Then does that mean the princess somehow made it out? And this treasure medallion with her?!'
More than a little excited to find out what really happened, Princess Ceni picked up her pace (and dress) to sprint towards the exit.