The Burning Flowers

Chapter XI

The journey from Erika to Noctalus was one that took up the better part of a week, and in all of the many trips Nigreos Noctis had ever taken between the two Great Cities, this one was by far the most fun and eventful. As excited as he was to go home to see Neah and his mother, a part of him almost wished the carriages could take a few days longer. Naturally, who rode in which carriage changed by the day, and by the time the Great Lunar Walls surrounding Noctalus were coming into view, he had ridden alongside everybody at least twice. For most of it, they simply talked of silly nonsense, played card games, and found other means of entertaining themselves that could be as pointless as counting the number of dark spruce trees that appeared along the highway. He was actually quite surprised by how fun it was given that he hadn’t initially been too thrilled that Iris Mackia, as well as Rennigan’s group, would be joining them on a holiday that was supposed to be limited to the royal team.

Yet, he found himself oddly enjoying hanging out with them, and while Iris didn’t speak much to anybody that wasn’t Abi or Faye, Nigreos got along far better with Rennigan’s team than he ever had before. That wasn’t to say he disliked Faye, Hiro, and Jessi, but he had rarely ever gone out of his way to hang out with them casually, and was often only in their presence when he was fiercely studying for his classes. Having the chance to sit back and relax alongside them further solidified their relationship, and he was quite pleased by how much Lunara was getting along with all three. Rennigan was, as always, a different story when compared to his team. He mostly kept to himself, only speaking when somebody either pissed him off or forced him into the discussion, but strangely, he did partake in games the few times Faye strong-armed him into it, and Nigreos couldn’t deny that he seemed slightly more engaged with them. His words had not gotten less biting or sharp, but Rennigan was certainly a bit more social than he used to be.

With all of that said, Nigreos was quite happy, even knowing the potential unbearable disappointment that may await him upon reaching his ancestral home. When The Angel analyzed Neah, it may very well declare she could not be helped, and that thought was terrifying. As for the ancient being, it was tucked safely away in Abi’s inner pocket, and despite being in such close proximity to the Masters of Darkness and Light, neither of them ever got a slight hint that it was there.

As was expected, Viiro and Acostav rode in the same carriage the whole trip and only ever invited their children and Ilirianna to join them, which Nigreos had expected. They didn’t particularly like any of the others, and the lower the class they came from, the more they seemed to dislike them. Had Nigreos not been one to always respect his parents, he would have gone off on them the few times they spoke of Abi and Ryokumo like shit scraped off their boots.

But just leave them be. There’s no reason to get into trouble with Father and Master Acostav. So long as they leave Abi alone, I’ll let it slide.

Lunara, however, was a little less forgiving, and though she didn’t speak up against them either, Nigreos was rather surprised by the disgust she fixed upon them once they had gotten out of the carriage and made their way towards an inn they were planning to stay at.

“Luna, you okay?” he had asked. “I know they were being kinda rude, but…”

His little sister had merely smiled, as if her previous rage hadn’t come out, and replied with, “Of course I’m okay? Why wouldn’t I be?”

Nigreos chose not to press the matter, but he made a mental note to check up on her later. In addition, Lunara wasn’t the only one who had been behaving a little bit strangely, for Nigreos noticed on the second day when the royal team rode together that Abi was very quiet and distant. When they were playing a game of cards, Album, Ryokumo, and Ilirianna bantered with Nigreos, but Abi just sat there and only spoke when she was spoken to. Once again, the dark mage opted to refrain from bringing anything up since he had a feeling tht she was still depressed by her performance on her nature exam.

Album’s already told me that she’s tried talking to Abi. I doubt I could get her to open up if Album couldn’t, so there’s no reason to pry. It’s best to just let her relax.

On the seventh morning after departing for Noctalus, roughly an hour before noon, they were able to see the towering black walls off in the distance, a sight Nigreos loved more than almost anything. It was the sight of home—a place he had lived in nearly all his life. There was a comfort in Noctalus that couldn’t be found anywhere else in this realm or any others, so he couldn’t help grinning with powerful joy as the carriages approached the northern gates. The guards were probably informed they’d be arriving, and since Viiro and Acostav both rode in head carriage, they were admitted to the city instantly.

Noctalus was considered the historic home of the Houses of Noctis and Luz, and while that was true from a certain perspective, the Noctis had ruled over this city for far longer. Like every Great City, Noctalus had once been the capital of a nation that Ijiria conquered—the nation of Nocta, where the Noctis family ruled as kings and queens. With their dark magic, they were one of the most powerful countries in the realm, serving as the greatest threat to the bordering country of Ijiria and the Iiji monarchs. The two of them were rival nations, having come into conflict multiple times throughout the first four ages of the Empire’s history. That was why Nocta was the first one to be subjugated by the Ijirians in the Nocta-Iiji war that ended the Age of Ascension.

There were two reasons the Noctis fell where the Iijis didn't. The first one was that during the Age of Ascension, Ijiria went through a technological revolution, researching magic in ways that nobody else had ever done in history. They made such significant advancements, and because the Noctis always believed their magic to the be superior affinity, they didn’t have the same drive to improve that Ijiria did, so when the Ijirian forces declared a war of subjugation, the Noctis were wholly unprepared for the sudden gap in knowledge between them. The second reason was due to the rise of the House of Luz, a family born with the ability to control the natural enemy of dark magic. Andara Luz, the head of the house during the war, garnered a ton of prestige due to the number of Noctis warriors she slayed, and the light mages were the deciding factor in the Nocta capital’s fall to the Ijirians. Once the city had been invaded, the Luz House was given authority over Nocta.

But the defeat in the capital and the death of King Nikta Noctis did not end the war, for Nikta’s younger sister, Imara, escaped the city and continued leading her forces in the countryside. Even with the Luz leading the Ijirian armies alongside the Iijis, they could not defeat Imara and eventually, after great losses of life on both sides, they decided to form a treaty. The terms of this treaty were as follows: Nocta would become a part of the Ijirian Empire but would retain some of its independence in regards to the governing of the region. The Noctis and Luz would be equals in the capital, granting the Luz as much authority as the Noctis and turning Noctalus into the first established Great City. In addition, Imara could choose either herself or a relative to go to Erika and serve as Master of Darkness, a role that Imara demanded be forever held by a Noctis. She stated that the Master of Darkness would be inherited unlike the other Master positions, and after much debate, this term was accepted, making Imara the first in a long line of Masters of Darkness. Eventually, this same rule was extended to the Luz, and though there was a lot of tension between the surviving Noctis and Ijiria in the decades that followed, eventually they came to trust each other and work together.

Due to this complex and unique history, the structure of Noctalus was unlike anything one would see in other Great Cities. The inner districts surrounding the palace were the oldest parts, taking on a darker color in its architecture, with roads, buildings, and decorations all made with blacks, browns, and dark grays. The outer districts around the Great Lunar walls were the complete opposite, all made of whites, light grays, and marble. The buildings and markets themselves also seemed more modern in their style as opposed to the medieval appearance of the dark districts.

The palace underwent a similar shift, for what was once a pitch black and ominous fortress was now only like that on its western half. When the Luz took over, they were not thrilled about sharing a home with Noctis, so a beautiful white palace was constructed just beside the black one, connected only by a large courtyard between them. In the modern day, members of the two houses crossed over frequently, and it was now known by all as the NightLight. Nigreos took pride in the expressions of awe on the faces of Ryokumo and Hiro as they watched the sudden shift in the colors around them. Even Rennigan, the only other person in the carriage, failed to conceal his own enrapture with their surroundings, a slight grin twisting his lip.

“So this is Noctalus,” Ryokumo muttered under his breath. “You weren’t kidding, Nigreos. This is gorgeous! Glaus, get up off your lazy ass and come to the window so you can see!” Rennigan ignored him, but the water mage did lean forward a bit more to get a better view. “I mean, damn… Hiriech had nothing on this!”

Nigreos chuckled. “Glad you guys like it, but just wait til you see the palace.”

The anticipation was short lived as the multiple spires of the NightLight looming in the distance came into view, the black and white surface glittering in the late morning sunlight. This time, Ryokumo and Hirokol dragged Rennigan over to the window despite his complaining, and even Nigreos scooted over in his seat to get a good look. Due to the previous night’s snowfall, the city was blanketed in a white that blended in with the light districts but was a stark contrast to the dark ones. Nigreos could see mages wandering the streets, using wind magic to remove snow from the roads while the surrounding citizens continued to prepare for the festival. Wreaths were hung from the doors, and Nigreos knew that a few blocks down, in the Glowing Plaza, would be a massive pine tree decorated with ornaments and garland. Those who noticed the coloring of the carriages stopped and bowed, for they would know that people of importance rode within them.

I always forget how much I miss this place until I’m back…

Eventually, they passed through the dark districts and rumbled towards the western gates of the NightLight. Like with the city itself, they were given entry with hardly a stop, and where normally their carriages would park just outside of the palace gardens by the stable not far from the gates, this time, they rode through the colorful gardens and towards the courtyard just in front of the palace's large and towering doors where his breath instantly caught in his throat.

Not only were Clara Luz and his mother, Nium Noctis, waiting just in front of the doors, but Neah was also there, sitting a wheelchair beside their mother and watching them with a wide smile, her eyes fixed on the carriage he was currently in, telling him she had quickly noticed his face in the window. Nigreos bit back his sudden swell of emotions, not wanting to cry so soon, as he grinned warmly at his littlest sister.

“I take it that’s Neah then,” Ryokumo whispered, placing a comforting hand on Nigreos’s shoulder.

“Yeah, that’s Neah.”

Despite telling himself to behave with dignity and patience, the very second that the carriage came to a stop, Nigreos shoved the door open and rushed into the cold morning towards Neah, only to find himself beaten by Lunara, who had her arms thrown around Neah by the time he came to stop in front of her chair.

“It’s so good to see you again!” Luna exclaimed, clutching Neah with a wide smile and tears of happiness in her eyes. “I’m so happy you’re okay… I’m always afraid…you know?”

Neah giggled to herself, embracing her sister gently with her unhealthy thin arms. “I’m happy to see you, too, Luna. Welcome home.”

Knowing just how much Lunara worried about her, Nigreos waited patiently for her to finally release the young girl as the others began filing out of the carriages. He spared a momentary glance at Clara and his mother.

“Mother,” he greeted politely, bowing his head before the woman. “Happy Solstice.”

Nium smiled back at him, stepping forward to give him a hug as she placed her hand on the back of his head. “Happy Solstice, Nigreos. It’s so good to see you again. I hope the trip was safe?”

“It was,” he assured her. “We got here without issue, though as I’m sure you’re aware, we have brought a few more people than initially planned.”

“Yes, your father told me a bit about it in his letters.” When they broke off the embrace, Nigreos could see the exasperation in her eyes before she motioned back towards Neah, whom Lunara had finally released. “Now go greet your sister.”

He turned away from his mother to find Neah beaming up at him, and though he was more than thrilled to see her again, he felt his chest tighten at the fact that she appeared even more unhealthy than before. Despite now being sixteen, she had hardly grown since he last saw her, placing her still just barely up to his chest. Even though her body was concealed by the heavy coats and robes she wore, he could still see in her hands and face that she had lost more weight. It seemed like a strong enough breeze could blow her over, but her expression of pure joy could easily convince someone that there was nothing wrong with her. She had the same amber eyes that the rest of the family had, and her thick curly hair was well combed and cared for.

The young man moved forward to kneel beside the wheelchair, gently pulling her close to him. “I’ve missed you more than I can express with words,” he whispered softly. “You’re a hell of a warrior, you know that, Neah?”

“A warrior, huh?” she laughed. “I dunno about that, Brother. From what I’ve been hearing, you’ve been on the front lines of the war with the Kosah-Rei, right? Sounds like you’re the one doing all the fighting.”

“Fighting doesn’t always make one a warrior,” he told her. “Though I can’t say I’m not curious to hear what rumors have made their way down to Noctalus about me. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

“Definitely, so long as you tell me what’s actually true and what isn’t! Now, introduce me to your team! You can’t keep me in all this suspense!”

Releasing her, Nigreos glanced back over his shoulder to see Viiro and Lunara greeting Nium while Eko, Album, and Acostav were speaking with Lady Clara. Those unaffiliated with Noctalus, Princess Ilirianna included, were by the carriages, helping to unload the baggage and cheerfully talking amongst themselves. Nigreos waved his hand and, once Abi noticed, he beckoned her over while pointing at Ryokumo to indicate that he should come as well. Abigail nodded, tapped Ryokumo’s shoulder, then made her way over to where he and Neah awaited.

“Alright well, you wanted to meet them, so here you go,” Nigreos began, motioning towards his friends with a grin. “Go ahead, introduce yourselves.”

Normally, he would never so willingly allow Ryokumo free reign over his introduction, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Neah would highly appreciate the wind mage’s over-the-top demeanor. As expected, Ryokumo didn’t hesitate, moving towards her and dropping down to one knee as he gently took her hand and planted a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“My lady, Neah,” he began with a laugh. “The stories told about you could not properly convey your grace, for I am honored to have this chance to meet you. My name is Ryokumo Caeli and I hope to gain your favor!”

“Kumo…really?” Abi muttered with a sigh, but Neah had already burst out into laughter, very clearly amused by what was certainly the strangest introduction she would have ever experienced.

“Well you know what, Mr. Caeli? The stories told about you could not properly convey how weird you are! I like you! You can have my favor any day!”

“You honor me! As much as I am uncertain how I should feel about you calling me weird, I shall look past it and accept it!” Getting back to his feet and bending low in an exaggerated bow, Ryokumo stepped back and obnoxiously motioned for Abi to go next.

Shaking her head, Abigail’s expression shifted from embarrassed to warm as she, too, knelt down beside Neah and bowed her head. “I’m Abigail Reiner, but you can just call me Abi. It’s wonderful to finally meet you. Nigreos has told us a lot about you, after all.”

“And were they all good things?” Neah inquired wryly.

“Yes. Every single one.”

“Well, my brother has only said good things about you too, so I’m really happy to meet you! You’re as beautiful as I imagined you'd be, and I love your crown! The flowers are really pretty!”

Neah stretched her arms out for a hug and Abi instantly accepted. Nigreos couldn’t have been more happy. He had known that Neah and Abi would get along with each other. For a few more seconds, he and Ryokumo stood quietly before Princess Ilirianna wandered over to the spot on his other side.

“You mind if I say hello, too?” she inquired, and Nigreos instantly shook his head.

“Of course not! Go ahead, Princess!”

Abi must have heard them since she released Neah, and when Nigreos’s sister realized the princess was standing before her, she weakly bent forward and lowered her eyes to the ground.

“Princess Ilirianna!” she stuttered. “A pleasure! I’m Neah Noctis!”

Then, to Neah’s clear surprise, Ilirianna bowed back at her. “Hello, Neah. I’m delighted to meet you. I, too, have heard a lot about you from Nigreos, and your brother has served me very well over the years. The Iijis owe the Noctis much, so I am grateful to your family as well, and I wish nothing but the best of health for you in the future. Should you need anything, let me know and I shall give it, if it is in my power.”

His sister didn’t seem sure how to respond to such a statement from a woman as powerful as Ilirianna, so she only managed to get out a brief, “T-thank you,” before the conversation was interrupted by their mother.

“Princess, why don’t we take this inside?” she offered. “It’s far too cold out here, and our staff has put together a large banquet lunch to celebrate your arrival in our Great City.”

“Of course, Lady Noctis,” Ilirianna replied. “With pleasure.”

With that, more of the NightLight staff emerged from the palace to help collect their belongings, assuring them that they would be carefully transported to their designated rooms. Nium and Clara then began leading them to the dining hall in the dark half, and the whole way, Nigreos and Lunara cheerfully pushed Neah’s wheelchair as they enjoyed what could always possibly be one of their final conversations with their dear sister.

***

Having spent roughly three years among the Ijirian elite and having witnessed the Citadel, the Academy, and Castle Aquesen in Hiriech, Ryokumo Caeli had begun to notice a pattern when it came to the decorations of the rich living spaces. Everything was always brightly-colored, overly fancy, and full of unnecessary decorations, so he was rather shocked by the appearance of the NightLight dark palace. Perhaps the Luz’s half would be more to his expectations, but the Noctis’s home was built of dark stone that resembled what he had heard the castles in Trovia appeared like. Suits of black armor, as well as black banners displaying the horned helm that was the sigil of Noctis, were the only decorations in sight, and once they entered the dining hall, it was about the same. There were black walls, a singular banner behind the head of a long, dark oak table, and not a single gemstone to be found.

Well, I could certainly get used to this! This is much more my style!

Ryokumo was quickly overwhelmed when they entered the banquet hall to find far more people already gathered than he had been prepared for. The Ladies of Noctalus immediately began to introduce them as Nigreos and Album’s extended family. He didn’t consider himself the greatest with names so he was sure he would forget who was who within a day, but he tried his best to remember them.

Firstly, there was Viiro’s younger brother, Nogara, as well as his wife, Lia, and their three daughters, Saranna, Miklan, and Tomelia, aging seventeen, fifteen, and thirteen respectively. They all had the same dark hair, olive-colored skin, and amber eyes as Nigreos and his family, though since Nium had more Noranian blood in her, Nigreos’s cousins had slightly lighter skin than they did. As for the Luz, Clara had a younger sister named Ilum while Acostav had a younger brother named Eldoran. The latter of the two was unmarried and childless, but Ilum had two twin sons, Jonah and Falah, who were sixteen years old.

Yup, there’s not a chance I’m going to remember all these details, so perhaps I should avoid using anybody’s names… That would probably be for the best…

The guests with the higher honor sat among the Noctalus families, with Viiro taking the head of the table due to them being on the dark half of the palace, and Acostav sitting with Nigreos, Album, Luna, Neah, and Eko, the Noctis and Luz facing one another. Ilirianna, Abi, and Ryokumo then took their places across from each other, with Ryokumo beside Lunara and Ilirianna between Album and Abi. Since Iris and Faye’s team were the lowest of status, they all sat on the opposite end, Iris, Faye, and Jessi placing themselves in that order beside Abi while Rennigan and Hiro sat beside Ryokumo, who ensured that Rennigan was forced to sit right next to him. They were served high-quality steaks, vegetables, and some mashed potatoes, a dish Ryokumo was beginning to realize was normal for elite banquets.

Due to the fact that none of the Noctalus aside from the ones he personally knew gave much of a damn about him, Ryokumo made the rare choice not to talk and instead opted to simply observe the dynamic between the Noctis and Luz. He couldn’t deny a curiosity since Nigreos and Album only ever spoke of their immediate families, though he did imagine the cousins must have come up once or twice. He considered himself pretty decent at reading people, a trait he had been able to confirm over the last few years due to Abigail’s sense, so it did not take him long to pick up on the fact that Viiro hardly spoke a single word to his wife. There was a figurative distance between them that couldn’t simply be explained by exhaustion from the ride since Viiro was deep in conversation with Nogara. The same couldn’t be said for the cousins since Nigreos, Album, Eko, Luna, and Neah were all cheerfully catching up with them.

Ah, the Great Houses… Always full of tension, they are… Not like Nigreos hasn’t alluded to the fact that his parents aren’t exactly close…

Letting out a sigh as he concluded it wasn’t his business anyway, Ryokumo decided that, with his food finished and the meal winding down, he would have just a little bit of fun as a reward for behaving himself. Therefore, he shoved the Noctis and Luz momentarily from his mind and turned to gaze at Rennigan Glaus, who was not partaking in the joyful chatter between Faye, Hiro, and Jessi.

“Now Glaus, why the long face?” he inquired with a cocked eyebrow. “You’ve been strangely quiet. Are you telling me you’re not excited to be in Noctalus?”

Rennigan snorted, shooting Ryokumo one of his trademarked sneers. “Not in the slightest, Caeli. This is but an unnecessary detour, and if I had my way, we would have gone straight for Stellareid. The Kosah-Rei aren’t going to be celebrating the solstice, after all. Do Master Viiro and Master Acostav not think Miyon could be freed while we dally around here?”

“Oh Glaus… Silly, ignorant, stupid Glaus…” The wind mage clicked his tongue, putting on an air of superiority as he puffed his chest out. “You just don’t get it, do you? Doctor Miyon is safely locked away in the dungeons of Castle Saientia in the Fifth Ring of the Great City of Stellareid! If the Kosah-Rei wanted to get to him over the holidays, they would need to wage an all out assault on the city and the castle, and while it isn’t impossible that they’ve infiltrated Stellareid the way they did to Hiriech, Lord Eganno Cartigan has been thorough in his investigations. So far as we know, Stellaried is secure.”

“Exactly… So far as we know…” Rennigan scoffed and shook his head. “You don’t need to lecture me like I’m a five-year-old. I’ve read the briefing fifty times over and I’m certain you haven’t read it once.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“But the Kosah-Rei have proven themselves to be bold, dangerous, and powerful…” the water mage went on. “Anything is possible, so I think it’s rather arrogant to assume we can just relax in Noctalus for the holidays. We have Uma Miyon in our clutches after almost three years and this is what we’re up to?”

“And in your gracious words, you don’t need to lecture me either,” Ryokumo replied. “Unlike you, I have gone toe-to-toe with leading members of that cult, and am the only person in existence responsible for eliminating one. I was, as you should know, the one who killed Mallicent Malloway, and I heroically survived a sudden ambush by Leiolai Sartella and Barron Kristoff! I know their threat level better than you.”

“Well, from what I heard, you only barely survived Kristoff’s attack,” Rennigan retorted. “Abigail told Faye who told me that you were a bloody mess on the cusp of death who had to run away like a little craven!”

“Bah, that’s not true! I scared Kristoff away!”

Hmm…Seems I’ll have to beg Abi not to tell Faye anything more about that one…

“Listen here, Caeli—”

“Alright boys, enough with the dick measuring,” Faye interrupted, leaning forward and glaring at Rennigan and Ryokumo like an exasperated mother. “Look, Rennigan, don’t think I don’t understand what you’re saying, and if I had it my way, I also would have gone straight there, but think about it like this: If the Kosah-Rei had infiltrated Stellareid, the city would have fallen by now. They’ve made it very clear that they intend to destroy the Great Cities, and the only reason they were subtle with Hiriech was because it was their first attack. So for now, we can somewhat safely conclude Stellareid has not been compromised.”

Narrowing his eyes, Rennigan gave a sharp huff and folded his arms across his chest. These days, he conceded to Faye a lot more than he did to anybody else, and from an outsider’s perspective, she seemed to be the only person outside of his family that he had even a small modicum of respect for. Therefore, as predicted, he stayed quiet and didn’t complain any further.

Roughly an hour later, the banquet was drawing to a close, upon which they were informed of their sleeping arrangements for their stay. Naturally, the Noctalus would be returning to their personal bedrooms and Ilirianna would get her own quarters. As for the rest of them, Ryokumo barely managed to suppress his laughter until after they had split off from the nobles. Once they had done so, he cackled louder than he had in a long time.

“Well, well, well, Glaus, are you excited to room with me?!” Ryokumo teased mercilessly.

Rennigan’s eyes were blank and unseeing as he seemingly muttered subconsciously, “This trip is terrible. Why is it always you? Why are you inescapable? Noctis, did you do this on purpose?”

Nigreos, who was leading Ryokumo, Rennigan, and Hirokol to their lodgings, smirked and glanced over his shoulder with a shrug. “No, I did not. It’s just logical to have you three put in the same room. The girls need their privacy, after all.”

“Besides, it’s only going to be for a few more days,” Hiro pointed out. “Just grit your teeth and bear it. He forces entry into our dorm back at the Academy all the time anyway, so it’s not gonna be that different.”

“Sure, but think about this, Pafran… It’s not like Stellareid is going to be different. By this same logic, I’m going to be stuck with him there, too, and probably on most of the carriage rides! It’s like a sick joke! Hell, at this rate, I’m probably going to be stuck with him for the rest of my goddamn life!”

“And I’m looking forward to it!” Ryokumo declared.

“I hate you, Caeli. With all my heart.”

“I love you, too, Glaus.”