Immortal

The Divine Pearl Lotus serves as a symbol of Earning Rather than Demanding Devotion. The lotus symbolizes the ultimate power—to be cured from any illness or ailment—much the way a throne represents ultimate power over a kingdom. Just as the lotus can only be given with a willing heart, Liyen believes that loyalty and devotion also can only be given willingly, not demanded. Liyen’s grandfather introduces the lotus, telling her that it “is the antidote to what you suffer […] as long as you want to live” (6). This passage establishes the connection between the lotus’s purpose and the willpower of the individual wielding it. It is more than a magic, physical cure. It is a manifestation of personal agency, meaning that the change it invokes has to also be enabled by the person wielding it.

The concepts that govern the lotus’s use mirror Liyen’s attitude toward her rule. She does not inherit the lotus, but her grandfather freely gives it to her. While she also inherits the throne, her people do not simply accept her rule, challenging her until she earns their support. Liyen becomes a ruler that is chosen by her people, just as she is chosen as the host for the lotus.