A Knight's Lilies

“The Rising Star

From the castle of Monte De Trisse, a new power has arisen in Gratia. While reports from within the Shroud are still few and far between. What we managed to learn from the few trading caravans miraculously allowed to travel in and out of the shroud might shock you. Dear readers, the merchants and guards describe a land largely safe from all dangers. That the undead there are tamed and fully in control, taking the fight to threats such as goblins or raiders without the unnecessary loss of life. They describe the new administration of Princess Annabelle-Elise Adeline Montroi as a ‘firm but fair’ monarch. Someone whom they see as an advocate of stability despite the gloomy entourage she surrounds herself with. Whether or not this will have a greater impact on the Gratian civil war remains unclear. Though news from the borders are that the Republic and the Kingdom of Gratia are both eyeing up this upstart and seeking to nip the threat in the bud. A statement from the press office of the President…”

- Transcribing the Trannoire, Section: Gratia, “New Stories”

Sincerity and conviction. The two dragons that need to be wrestled with, to be tamed. Someone insincere but filled with conviction could easily betray you. All because you never learned where their true convictions lie. Someone fully sincere but without convection is equally as worthless. They can preach their beliefs to the world, about their ties with you, but they would never lift a finger to defend you.

Those with sincerity and conviction are those most welcome in court. For a friend with both can become an ally. A stalwart guardian willing to do whatever it takes to defend their beliefs, to stand steadfast against that which attacks you. Just as a clear enemy makes their hostility clear. You can expect their schemes, frustrate their plans, but they will never betray you. For they were your enemy to begin with.

That is what she must now determine. To ascertain the truth of the matter, forbidden magicks or not. She had a duty to her people, her own convictions in the safety of the sanctuary for those who needed a wing to lay beneath. For the first time in decades, she had willingly opened the inner sanctum to outsiders, and ordered Kermenadies to bring them deeper into labyrinthian structure.

There, she would interrogate them, determine what threat they posed to her people. For they were an unknown factor, an upset in the careful balance that had been the Frostwinds. Demons, monsters, undead, tribals. All clashed in a terrible struggle that only ever weighed against the humans. Never ending hordes, curses, betrayals, and the malice borne from years fighting a war no one would ever know. Tales of heroism, sorrow, glory, and sacrifice. All forgotten, all left unheard by the people in the world below. The desperate grasping of the clan holds as they battled tooth and nail against the Darkening Tides. Where their young died just as quickly as the old.

So it was that she offered them a sanctuary, a place protected by the light of the stars themselves. A place she could defend, a place to protect. For centuries it has been her home. For centuries she was its protector, just as it sheltered her. Yet, now they were at a crossroads. For the secret had slipped, as she suspected it eventually would. Her tireless years of keeping her people safe from the world was coming to an end, one way or another. They had been discovered and now, the unknown variables were here.

It was meant to be a sanctuary cut off from the world. In truth, it still was. The only problem was that the world caught up. Whatever changed outside the Frostwinds had brought the region back to the brink of war. More and more tribes now fled from the chaos of the demonic invasion. Over a dozen had already joined her people since the start of the year, a sign of how much worse things could become as the Dark Tide begins flowing fourth once more.

Princess Luna stared at the mirror. She could feel tears trickling down her face, but her voice held firm, silent. She had fought so long and hard. She was tired. Perhaps this was the way it would end. She couldn’t hide from the world anymore.

The initial meeting had gone well enough. Kermenadies and his praetorians had escorted her in a palanquin to avoid attracting too much attention. From there, she had been able to get a sense of those who she would have to meet.

At the very least, she couldn’t sense any of Pyra’s influence over any of them. Nor did she notice any visible masks attached to their bodies minus a helmeted man. Though he lifted his visor soon enough and she couldn't see a mask there either. What did strike her as odd though, was that three of them were purportedly from the Astral Church. For such a large amount of clergy to be present, she wondered if they knew the true secrets that this sanctuary held.

Whatever the case, she did find it odd at how the clergymen dressed. Two wore blackened leather armor strengthened by arcane enhancements. One wore enchanted steel armor painted silver, the warrior of the group from what she could tell. The last one was a scribe, a historian as he was introduced.

Out of the four, he was the one who made her the most suspicious of Pyra’s influence in recent events. After all, his presence brought about some questions of her own that she couldn’t quite find satisfying answers to. Why was a historian travelling with some clergymen? Why did the people of the church travel to such a remote location? What exactly did they mean when they said they were seeking arcane answers to the barrier?

It was all very confusing for her. She took solace in the fact that they didn’t seem to give off any sense of malice. And that despite Kermenadies’s disapproval of their presence, he also stated that he didn’t outwardly feel any hostility in their actions or words. They even brought tribute in the form of crates of supplies and clothes. A most definitely welcome reprieve for some of the more folk living around the base of the sanctuary.

A goodwill gesture was still a goodwill gesture. She wasn’t about to reject a chance like this to get more supplies. It also engendered a small amount of her own goodwill. Enough that she was willing to force herself to at least hear and listen to their pleas and arguments, whatever they may be about their designs for this place.

A heavy knock on the door. Kermenadies had brought the outsiders.

Luna sighed, the breath escaping her only making her more anxious. Allies? Enemies? Scavengers? Scouts? Pyra’s lackeys? Or just people who will leave soon? Who knows. Time to find out.

She put away her mirror and marched to her throne. A makeshift comfy chair style in the shape of a throne, planted in the center of a long since repurposed prayer room. Beside it rested a scepter, long since dormant in its position but now called into action once more. She grabbed it and tapped the end against the ground.

There was a pause. Then Kermenadies opened the outer doors and with him, were the outsiders.

They were about as she expected when she had seen them from within the palanquin. But now that she saw them more up close, she found that they looked relatively human, but smaller. Much like many of her new subjects. Unlike them however, these were not outcasts, refugees, or lost wanderers. These people had come here with a purpose, one that she still remained skeptical of.

“Announcing guests from the Church of Astralis. Lord Inquisitor von Krantz, Inquisitor Lionel, Templar Gallus, and HIstorian Cairnmaker.” Kermenadies proclaimed using speech the guests would understand, “Are you willing to receive them, your highness?”

“I am.” She replied dutifully.

“Please enter.” He instructed the outsiders.

They did as they were told, filing into the room before the lead man in black dropped to one knee. “My thanks for seeing us, your majesty.”

She nodded, then beckoned for Kermenadies to close the doors behind him.

The praetorian then moved to her side, ensuring that should violence occur, he could jump between her and the assailants. Her attention then turned to the kneeling man.

“So, speak, outsider. Explain to me why exactly you are here. Explorers rarely travel these parts if at all, and none of you look to be explorers.” Luna spoke, her modern speech feeling almost sluggish as the words left her mouth.

The four outsiders appeared momentarily surprised. With their gazes directed at her, she could guess why.

“Well?” She prodded, a little more self conscious.

“Ahh, pardon your majesty. It’s just that we didn’t expect you to speak such fluent common.” The historian quickly scrambled out.

Ah, so it’s called common. What an odd name for it. “Mmmh.” She grunted, “I’m still waiting.”

“Right, your majesty. We’re here because we received reports about a beacon in the darkness that repels the daemons that haunt the Frostwinds. We figured it’d be more beneficial if we headed to the source of these rumors and investigate ourselves. After all, it is better to be able to verify such matters in person.” The leader of the group, Von Krantz spoke.

He was a more calculated man than she had originally thought. He was careful with his words, that much she could feel. It didn’t help her analysis that his face showed very little changes in emotions.

“Perhaps, perhaps not.” She replied, “And what is it about this ‘light in the darkness,’ Why is it so fascinating to you?

“Well… eer, it repels the forces of demonkind relatively easier. If we can learn or even master it, we can then take the fight to demonkind instead of always being on the defensive.”

“Hmm, interesting.” Luna tried to appear indifferent.

On the inside however, she squirmed at the attention she was receiving. Yet she needed to represent her people, and her people are a resilient bunch, therefore she had to endure it.

“Your majesty, may I ask thee a question?” The historian spoke up.

She tilted her head, amused. “You may.”

“Well it’s just… oh, I may? Oh!” The man shuffled awkwardly, clearly having expected to be shut down.

Luna grinned, but hid it well.

“Right. I was wondering, your majesty, if it isn’t too intrusive. Do you uh… happen to know how old this place might be? “

Luna narrowed her eyes. That’s a dangerous question. Is he a plant? He is the most suspicious one. She twirled her scepter in her hands, unsure of how she should answer. She looked around the room, Kermenadies remaining stoic and offering no real suggestions.

“Older than you would think.”

“Oh… that’s… oh.” The historian looked a little sad.

“I apologize. But I do not think our trust extends far enough for us to cover the history of this place.” Luna answered as stoically as she could.

“Oh! But of course, your majesty. It’s just that the ruins and inscription here look… dated. In a, in a good and lasting way, miss err, sorry your majesty.” He hastily bowed.

Luna turned her gaze to Kermenadies, “Did you not introduce me?”

The praetorian knelt before her and bowed, “My apologies for forgetting.”

He moved to her side as her herald should.

“Announcing, Princess Luna Kastiane.” Kermenadies spoke nonchalantly.

The one who reacted the most, to Luna’s surprise, was the lead man in black. Von Krantz, was it?

“Pardon?” He seemed to stammer, alarming even his colleagues. He looked like someone had just sucker punched him, leaving him reeling from the blow.

She could tell that he recognized something about her name. That was worrying. People in the modern age shouldn’t know much about her people. Even the records that her scouts had managed to access in the cities didn’t speak much more than the general overview of her time. For his reaction to be so visceral meant that he knew something. Which only meant one thing, Pyra.

As Kermenadies moved to repeat her name, she stopped him, raising the scepter and then gesturing to the outsiders.

“Why do you need to know?” She growled, "Why does that name seem familiar to you?"

The praetorian glanced at her, his expression uncertain. Hold. Wait.

“Err, well…” Von Krantz tried to collect himself, “It’s just that I’ve seen it in a report. Do you… if I’m not being too presumptuous, do you happen to know of a girl called Sophie Kastiane?” Kastiane? Someone with the same family name? Possible but...

Luna narrowed her eyes, “No, tell me about her, now. If you wish for there to be peaceful talks between us.”

She lowered her scepter, Kermenadies having finally caught on when the man mentioned the other name. Sophie Kastiane… who the fuck is that?

The Inquisitor clicked his tongue, even his colleagues looked to be interested in whatever he might have to say, in particular the historian. At least they don’t seem to know what’s going on either. So only one.

“Well…” Von Krantz sighed, finally regaining a semblance of control over himself, “It’s a long story…”

“And we have plenty of time…” Luna retorted, glaring at him.

Two musicians played a soothing melody as she lounged about. With only a small territory to manage, Annalise found herself at first overwhelmed with work. But with the bureaucracy reestablishing itself and Seneschal Alain’s guidance, she had risen to the occasion and now found herself with naught left to do.

Despite her resentment, even Lady Collisse gradually fell into her role of castle maid. Many others of the Gratian old guard found a semblance of stability here, even when Pyra was using her to run rampant.

What was once a chaotic world in the center of tumultuous purple maelstrom had now calmed down. For within the quiet that was the eye of the purple death, the lands of Monte de Trisse and its nearby towns and villages began adapting to the new order. Few of the strongholds were willing to stand against an army that had breached a fortress city. Fewer still, complained when the very same undead were the ones expended to clear out land for the settlement projects.

She hadn’t dared say anything about it after the initial takeover of the castle and the weeks spent trying to patch things up. But now that she had the chance, she found that she enjoyed the peace quite a bit, much to her occupant’s dismay. Perhaps the only thing that continued to shatter her growing idyllic lifestyle was the fact that Kimmie constantly seemed to be doing worse and worse by the day.

There would be hours when the girl could barely respond, her vacant haunting expression scaring most passer-bys besides for Annalise. Worse still was when she had pressed Pyra about this, the masked princess replied that she had already released Kimmie of her thralldom, meaning that she was a free thinking undead. Annalise didn’t know what to think either. For she had more than once told Kimmie that if she wanted to leave, no matter how much it hurt, Anna wouldn’t stop her. Despite all that, the very next day, Kimmie was still distant, but had chosen to remain by her side. An act that warmed Anna’s heart greatly.

Anna groaned, she had done too much thinking and coupled with her sore arm from archery practice, she wanted to rest. She hopped her way back towards her room in the castle. Though there were many she could’ve chosen from including the proper king’s quarters. She had naturally drifted to her childhood room. One that she spent a tragically small amount of time in before she had been driven out.

It always felt odd stepping back in, but she would do it anyway. Kimmie’s presence, however dour the undead might be feeling, was always a welcome surprise.

Though she supposed there were just some things that always changed. From how half the blurry faces that drove her from her home were now likely dead, no revenger to ever be had. Just souls lost in the endless attrition that was the Gratian civil war. One thing she did slowly learn to take in stride was the loss of her leg.

She had accepted the fact that it would always be a hindrance. Something that would draw even her own ire when she was in a rush and had to be carried to keep pace. It was only recently that she regained enough confidence in herself to return to practice her skills in public.

She hoisted herself up into an armchair and sank into it. Kimmie had not arrived yet and thus she had no one to cuddle. But that would be fine, she was looking for a moment to herself after all. For she had honed into a feeling boiling away within her, a deep sense of unease that had only continued to spread ever since.

It was a desire to explore, to go back out into the wilds. To embrace the thrill and joys of exploration and questing. To experience the happiness she felt whenever others also smiled. Here, in court, there was a certain sense of detachedness within everyone. A need for them to be more presentable than they were or wanted to be. None more so than her, the leader and princess of this nascent little piece of territory.

A hurried knock surprised her, barely giving her enough time to ready herself when one of Pyra’s soldiers opened the door. Ah, the Tribune, he seems a little concerned.

“What’s the matter, Tribune?” Anna asked on behalf of her still currently dormant other half.

“Pardon me for the intrusion my lady.” The man bowed deeply before presenting an envelope to her, “We have received some word about the investigations happening within the city of Arteria to the west.”

That brought her to full attention. Though she couldn’t rouse Pyra, she received the letter and nodded at the Tribune.

“That will be all.” Anna said.

“Your highness?” Tribune Lyran questioned.

“Your lady is off doing whatever it is she does. I will ensure that she is informed. For now, if there is nothing else, dismissed.”

“Of course your highness.” The man gave her a deep salute before leaving the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Curious, she opened the envelope and unfurled the letter within. Almost instantly she could feel her stomach churn. Arnold’s handwriting was front and center and her thoughts about the man were very much less than pleasant. Still, his bargain with Pyra somehow extended to the return of her adventuring party. Now they were in the same twilight state that Kimmie was in, but a little more active and alive. Anna wasn’t sure what was different between them, but she hadn’t worked up the strength to confront Pyra just yet. After all, with how mysteriously the princess brought people back, Anna was equally worried that with a snap, they could disappear from her life once more.

Pushing her distaste aside, she began reading:

“To my lady, a report on the situation in the west. While we have yet to be able to physically acquire this Elara Kastiana, we have managed to learn a few things about them throughout observations. Firstly, they surround themselves with an elf possessing skin far darker than normal, enough so that it often means they are surrounded by crowds of curious people. “Secondly, that they are, indeed, a renowned bard as the newspapers had suggested to us. They have performed at quite a few places throughout the city in highly public locations, making a snatch and grab quite difficult.”

The first part wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary. In fact, Annalise found it almost a little disappointing given what Pyra’s reaction had been at the time when they first learned about the bard’s existence, much less about whatever they were doing. She did however, snigger a little at his misremembering of the girl’s name, Kastiane not Kastiana, dumbass.

She heard footsteps and looked around, but whoever it was passed by her room and continued down the hallway. Her shoulders sagged a little, it wasn’t Kimmie. Disappointed, she turned her attention back to the letter and continued reading.

“Thirdly, this bard is incredibly proficient at weaving subtle spells, suggesting a high level of spell control akin to that of a professional mage. In the opinion of the mage Sarah, whatever it is that she could do, she is likely to be a very dangerous individual.”

Sarah huh. You don’t deserve her, she growled. She still remembered it all, far too vividly for her to ever forget. The way in which everyone fell in battle, and then poor Sarah. The healer had been stricken by undead hands and spent the last moments of her life calling out for Arnold, seeking what little comfort she could. Anna then remembered the look of horror on her face when Arnold fled, the soft tinge of disappointment, then the sad smile that died on the healer’s face alongside her.

She felt her own expression sag, the memories only reminding her of her failure, her powerlessness, and the missing leg that still reminded her of that time ever since. With a sigh, she continued.

“Finally, we have also learned that she attends the prestigious Academy of Arteria in which we have limited legal access and whose wards limit the usage of outside magic, making it almost impossible for us to seize her there. And then perhaps most important of all, we can report that she is not alone in familial matters either. If you had doubted their lineage at first then you can rest easy, my lady. For she is claimed to have two sisters, twins to be certain. One Sophie and Sophia Kastiane. Unless you knew the twins yourself, I have little doubt that these people have any true connection to the House Kastiane.

Your Loyal Servant,

A.”

Anna leaned back, more disappointed at having read what was essentially a useless dossier. All this information felt like something one could uncover without all the skullduggery that was going on. Certainly not enough to be worth sending out an entire party. And then her eyes landed on one last line, a line that stole her breath away.

“Addendum: My lady, you can inform your other half that her friend Sophie is doing well enough and had survived a trial with little more than a slap on the wrist. That she is in fact, the Sophie Kastiane in question with a twin and sister to Elara.”

Sophie, oh goddess. I had forgotten. Anna breathed a bit more rapidly. Her fingers unconsciously balled up into a fist, scrunching up the letter at the same time. I just… I just left everyone being, oh goodness.

She sank deeper into her chair, a sense of despair and disgust washing over her. Amma tried to relax but failed. And what the hells did he mean by this letter? A twin? Sister to the bard? What?! Wasn’t she an only child? What the fuck did I miss, argh.

She threw the balled up letter away, the paper bouncing off the nearby wall. Stars above, I just… what the hells is even happening with the world outside. She cradled her head in her hands and sighed deeply. The world outside… the world outside… does it even matter?

Another soft knock echoed from the doorway.

“Ah!” Anna screamed, confused at having been dragged out of her thoughts so violently.

“S-s-sorry.” Came the soft little stammering from behind the doorway.

“Kimmie?! Is that you?” Anna called out.

“Y-yes?”

“Come in, it’s uhh, it’s fine.”

The door clicked open once more and Kimmie walked in. The girl seemed concerned, a twinkle of worry creasing her forehead as she caught sight of Anna. Though Kimmie had her own problems, in that moment, Anna could feel the outpouring of emotions coming from her.

“Kimmie…” She whispered, her arms outstretched.

Kimmie seemed a bit confused but caught the message soon enough, walking closer and wrapping Anna in an embrace.

“Anna.” Kimmie answered, “What happened?”

“I got a letter. About the search.”

“Oh?”

“It was drivel for the most part, the bastard trying to make himself sound useful. Haha.” Anna forced herself to snort.

She wrapped her arms around Kimmie a little together.

“Then what seems to be the problem?” Kimmie asked.

“He added something about the bard. About how the bard has a family with her. Sisters. One of them being a former companion. Hah. She told me she was an only child and I believed her. What the hells changed? What did I miss?”

"I... I don't know/?" Kimmie let out a panicked squeak.

"Hah, sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. It was a rhetorical question."

"Oh."

"But if you don't mind Kimmie." Anna mumbled out, her eyes growing unfocused from the sheer torrent of thoughts now trying to occupy her mind.

Doubts, fears and concerns all raced to the surface. Whatever peaceful feelings she had by this point were already gone. She didn't know what she was seeking, what she wanted to hear from Kimmie in response. But she knew she needed to hear something ,be it vindication or accusations of her failures. She needed something, a reason to latch onto, a reason that she could point to. Have I really been this cut off from the world? What... stars... the past few months were so... She burrowed herself deeper into Kimmie's torso, her own breathing refusing to calm down.

"My lady... whatever you require of course."

"Do you think me being here is mistake? That what I did the past few months, all this... was it all a mistake?" Anna asked.

Kimmie seemed uncertain and Anna felt even more guilty at having forced this upon her. There was a look on her face that Anna recognized all too well. The same look that many adventurers held whenever they had to report in to the guildmaster after having failed or messed up a commission. A look that implied whatever answers they had would not be liked by the receiving party. Knowing this, Anna's chest tightened.

"Sorry." Anna mumbled, "I-"

"It was." Kimmie whispered.

"H-huh?" Anna's head jump up at the quick response.

"I think this was mistake. All of this." Kimmie continued.

Anna could feel the nervousness in the girl's grip. The weight behind their embrace only growing.

"Kimmie... what do you mean?" Anna asked. But she already knew the answer, and she already felt herself tearing up.

"I... must I?"

"Please." Anna's voice grew shakier.

"I should not be alive, Anna. This land, these people, they might suffer. But we should not be here. The dark powers, your old team. Whatever benefits they bring, the taint, the corruption in their hearts, my heart. It grows the more power there is. None of this should have happened." The undead girl's body began trembling as well, "I... I... I love you. But I should not be here. You know that, and I know that. All of this suffering, for that princess of yours." Kimmie seemed to sigh, "Was it really worth it? I'm sorry."

There was a silence that followed. One that seemed to stretch for an eternity. And though the undead could not cry in a way that a human could. Anna could feel Kimmie trembling, the girl feeling even more emotion than expected. Anna herself held out for a moment longer and then she began wailing.