The Burning Flowers

Chapter XIV

Across Ijiria, it was tradition for friends and family to exchange gifts with one another on the morning of the solstice, but since the Houses of Noctis and Luz were always so busy managing the festival down in the city, they had long since created their own tradition of gathering in the living chambers on their respective sides of the palace to do the gift exchange the night before. Most years, the Luz and the Noctis did this separately, but with so many guests present in the NightLight, they decided that this time, they would have a joint gathering. Since the welcome banquet had been held on the dark side, Nium suggested that the gift exchange should take place on the light side, so after a large and wonderful Solstice Eve dinner in the Luz dining hall, they all made their way to the third floor where the massive living chambers containing the solstice tree was located. The room was big enough to comfortably fit all twenty-seven of them even with the decorated pine taking up much of the room’s center. Large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light glittering off of the white marble walls, and on the far right side was a glass door leading to a beautiful balcony overlooking the city.

Album had yet to see their solstice tree since she had spent most of her time on the dark side of the palace where her friends were staying, and like always, she was utterly in awe of the multi-colored ornaments adorning the twelve-foot tall pine. In addition, her mother had cast a few charms that created floating balls of light no bigger than her thumbs that lazily floated around the branches, changing colors every couple of seconds. The very top of the tree sported an acrylic angel that had been in her family for generations, dating back to when the Luz were still religious. Naturally, for the last few years since Hiriech, she could never help but eye that small angel with a smirk, for it didn’t really resemble the angel she had come to know.

Then again, it has always said that name wasn’t descriptive anyway, she reminded herself. It was just something Uma Miyon came up with to call it.

Beneath the tree were so many wrapped presents that Album didn’t even try to count them. With her two uncles, one aunt, five cousins, and her immediate family all with gifts, it was hard to approach the base of the tree, and though the members of the royal team had agreed not to get each other anything, Album and Nigreos had secretly snuck a few for them beneath it as well. Album was excited, for even though the summer solstice was the one her family took more seriously, she found she always preferred the one in the winter, and she was so happy to get to share this holiday with her closest friends in her home.

And yet, even though everything was okay on the surface, Album had noticed a strange shift in her friends’ demeanor. Abigail had been behaving distantly ever since her failed exam, which was understandable, but for the entire day, both Ryokumo and Ilirianna had become withdrawn as well, with the former skipping breakfast and only eating a small bit for lunch. He did partake in their dinner, as if his hunger finally caught up with him, but he didn’t talk as much as he normally did. Even stranger was an interaction she witnessed at lunch.

“Well you’re being wonderfully silent this morning, Caeli,” Rennigan had sneered. “Not that I’m complaining since your voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard, but I have to wonder who I should thank for this solstice gift? Hmm?”

Not once in the entire time they knew each other did Ryokumo not have an instant and witty retort for Rennigan, but that time, all the wind mage did was let out a soft chuckle and shrug. “Not sure what to tell you, Glaus. I’m just sleepy.”

“Since when have you not had the energy to be an ass?” Rennigan shot back, to which Ryokumo shrugged a second time and excused himself from the room

Album knew Ryokumo Caeli better than almost anybody, so there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that something had happened. That brief interaction with Rennigan solidified it beyond all doubt. That was why she approached him shortly after lunch, having gathered her resolve to do whatever he needed to help him feel better, but she was slightly hurt when he brushed her aside.

“Huh? Oh no, I’m perfectly fine, Album! I think the long trip here has finally caught up with me! Like I said to Glaus, it seems I need to be getting better sleep, yes? Worry not, my dear friend!”

It was a lie and she knew it was a lie, but it seemed he didn’t want to tell her what was wrong, so she decided not to press him. She still couldn’t help wondering why he felt unable to confide in her, and a part of her feared that he didn’t trust her as much as she thought he did. Naturally, Album didn’t try to get information out of Ilirianna, so she instead approached Nigreos to see if he knew anything, only to be met with a similar experience to hers.

“I know, it’s strange, isn’t it? Just out of nowhere, the three of them have begun behaving weirdly. I don’t know what’s the matter, but Ryokumo insisted he was fine, and Abi did the same. I just…don’t know what they would trust each other with that they couldn’t include us…”

She was disappointed that Nigreos didn’t know anything, but she at least took some comfort in the knowledge that she wasn’t the only one being left out, and she had to remind herself that Ilirianna, Abigail, and Ryokumo were her friends. They might not feel like talking at the moment, but she was certain they would reach out to her once they were comfortable. If they weren’t going to tell her what was wrong, then she would simply have to do her best to make them feel happy and loved until they were ready, so she steeled herself for the gift exchange, excited to show them what she bought for them.

They’re gonna love it, I know it!

Normally, the Noctis and Luz would take turns opening gifts from one another, but with twenty-seven of them in that room, that method would take all night, so they decided they would open gifts at the same time with the singular rule that you had to go find the person whose gift you were opening so they could watch. The two families didn’t exchange gifts with one another, with the exception of Nium and Clara, who always refused to abide by that tradition. On top of that, both Eko and Album never failed to get something for Neah, and that year the two of them had worked with Ryokumo to create a wind magic-powered device for the back of her wheelchair that would make it easier for her to move around the palace herself. From her family, Album received a really fancy metal hair clip with a flower design from her mother, a small orb that could change color with light magic from her father, and a white scarf hand-knitted by Eko.

Since her family came first, she couldn’t give her team their gifts immediately, but she did keep an eye on the others to see what they were up to. Abigail and Faye were the only ones who got anything for Iris, who had mostly kept to herself the whole time they were in the palace, with the former creating a charmed flower bracelet similar to her crown and the latter gifting her a rather expensive hairbrush that was enchanted so as to not get tangled easily. Faye, Jessi, and Hiro all exchanged gifts as well, with Rennigan being unsurprisingly left out. The water mage remained sitting against the wall, separate from them, and Album couldn’t help feeling a bit bad for him, even if his solitude was entirely self-inflicted. She wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but just as she was about to turn away, Ryokumo marched over to Rennigan holding a wrapped box with a smug grin on his face.

“Happy Solstice, Glaus! Thank you for being my best friend!”

Rennigan narrowed his eyes. “Alright, what’s that gonna do to me, Caeli? Is it going to explode? Or perhaps you stuffed a stink bomb inside? Oh, or maybe it’s another terrible joke about my father like that infernal stuffed creature you gave me?”

“A stuffed creature you kept,” Ryokumo pointed out. “Besides, I predicted nobody was going to get you anything, so I took precautions! On my name, this is but a normal gift!”

It was obvious Rennigan still expected a prank as he begrudgingly swiped the box and began to open it, and even Album had a feeling it might actually explode in his face. Both of them were surprised when Rennigan pulled out a rather nice, white and gold-trimmed jacket that did not, in fact, explode.

“It was the closest thing I could find to my Omaruan leather jacket, so now we can be twins!” Ryokumo declared with a thumbs-up. “Behold my generosity, Glaus!”

Rennigan was unusually at a loss for words, gaping at the item with true disbelief, and before he could snap out of it, Ryokumo had already sauntered off to go grab another gift. Album watched the water mage sitting alone in confusion for another few minutes before she decided it was time to grab her own presents. She started with Ilirianna, who was sitting quietly as she watched Nigreos’s three cousins excitedly handing each other wrapped boxes, and when Album approached with a small one for her, she seemed surprised.

“I thought we decided we weren’t exchanging?” she inquired with a soft smile, to which Album innocently shrugged.

“It’s not an exchange if you’re not giving anything to me, right? So technically, this does not break our agreement!”

“That logic makes me look like an inconsiderate jerk, you know?” the princess teased. “But thank you, Album. Let’s see here.”

The gift Album picked out for Ilirianna was a book written by one of the Nocta lords back during the Age of Expansion, when Nocta was still an independent country. It detailed the First Ijirian Civil War from the perspective of the Noctis, which wasn’t often discussed in history classes. Given Ilirianna’s respect for Oralia Iiji, Album figured she would enjoy it, and the grateful grin on the princess’s face confirmed that.

“Thank you,” Ilirianna repeated, pulling Album into a brief hug. “I can’t wait to give a read.”

Relieved to see a genuine smile on her face after how distracted she had been that day, Album considered that gift to be a success as she turned next to Abigail. Abi was the hardest to choose for since she rarely expressed her desires, forcing Album to have to use knowledge gained from being her roommate for three years to figure something out. After five hours wandering through the market, she finally decided upon something very simple, but something she knew Abi would be appreciative of.

“A notebook?” Abi murmured, gazing down at the small, leather-bound book clutched in her hand.

Album smiled. “A spellbook. See, it’s got specific outlines for where to put incantations, descriptions of the spell, the affinity, and so on. Since you’ve been teaching yourself the other four affinities, I thought it might be easy to get overwhelmed. Most mages don’t use them since most just stick to one affinity, which is why you’ve probably never seen one. I just figured it’d make your last few semesters easier!”

“Oh…” Abigail didn’t smile, rather a brief flicker of sadness crossed her eyes—something she quickly covered up. “Thank you, Album! I’ll make sure to start filling it in right away!”

Did she…not like it? I mean, I guess she wouldn’t tell me if she didn’t, but I really thought that was perfect for her…

Album wasn’t sure what to make of that reaction. She hoped Abi only seemed sad because it reminded her of her exam, but the light mage wasn’t about to press the matter. She swiftly went to collect Ryokumo’s gift, now a bit anxious that she wasn’t as good at picking presents as she thought she was. However, there was no going back since the gift was already purchased and wrapped, so she put on as happy of a smile as she could and walked over to where Ryokumo was showing off Nigreos’s present: Charmed knee braces designed to moderate the flow of wind magic through his legs and prevent knee damage in his old age. When he noticed her approaching, Ryokumo gave an exasperated sigh and chuckled.

“What did you Noctalus not get about our agreement? Not that I’m complaining, of course.”

Well, at least he seems a bit more cheerful tonight…

“Here, Kumo,” she said, extending the long, thin box towards him. “I hope you like this cause I had to send a letter and money all the way here to get it done on time.”

Recognizing the suspicious size and length of the gift, Ryokumo must have realized what it was as he carefully took it into his hands. “Album… Is this what I think it is?” Untying the bow and removing the paper, Ryokumo revealed a fancy leather box beneath. Upon taking off the cap, he found himself staring down at a long, thin sword with a slightly curved blade, a rounded guard, and a green-wrapped grip. “You’re kidding…”

Album grinned. “Nope! You’ve talked about joining the Korrei-Tarr after graduation, so I thought it was time you got yourself a sword to practice with! I actually wanted to have it done in Erika cause there was this Sukonese blacksmith there that knew how to make these, but it wasn’t gonna be done until we already left. Luckily, he had a friend that worked here in Noctalus, so he gave me a recommendation. Just finished yesterday, in fact. How lucky, huh?”

“It’s beautiful,” he murmured. “And as far as I can tell, it’s perfect. I haven’t seen a sword like this since I left Sukon. Master Daisuke had one.” Gently pulling the blade from its sheath, Ryokumo admired the glittering weapon with awe, drawing attention even from some of the cousins nearby. “Magnificent.”

She really wanted to go in for a hug, but she didn’t want to overstep his bounds and ruin the moment, so she was thrilled when he initiated it, pulling her close and embracing her warmly. Album could feel his gratitude, telling her that the sword had been the right thing to get, though she had a feeling her father, who was almost certainly watching from a different spot in the room, would chew her out for going through so much trouble for Ryokumo. Then again, she really didn’t care what he thought about it. If Ryokumo couldn’t talk to her yet, she wanted him to know that she cared about him, even if she kept quiet on the type of feelings she had.

I love you, Ryokumo…

“Happy Solstice,” she said instead.

***

When the gift exchange concluded and everybody began to mingle, Abigail Reiner subtly made her way toward the glass door and stepped onto the balcony to find that a gentle snow had begun to fall, covering the marble floor in a thin blanket of white that crunched beneath her boots. Abi let out a sigh of relief, her breath visibly rising up in front of her as she leaned her arms against the railing and gazed down at the city of Noctalus, the lights sparkling in the night. She could hear the cheerful chatter on the other side of the glass, and she was happy that the others were having a good time, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t even put on a mask of joy. Her headache had yet again returned with a vengeance, so she just didn’t have the strength to pretend, leaving her feeling horribly guilty for the way she reacted to Album’s surprise present. Abi reached into her inner pocket and produced the leather spellbook, tears forming in her eyes as she gazed at it.

“Since you’ve been teaching yourself the other four affinities, I thought it might be easy to get overwhelmed. Most mages don’t use them since most just stick to one affinity, which is why you’ve probably never seen one. I just figured it’d make your last few semesters easier!”

Abi slowly shook her head, marveling at how sweet and considerate Album was. Her friend clearly gave a lot of thought to her present, and from Album’s perspective, it was the perfect gift.

But there’s a good chance my last semester at the Academy has already ended, she thought somberly. I might never even go back to Erika… My tea visit with Grunly may be the last time I ever see him, and that terrible nature exam might be my last magical class… Gosh, I’m so stupid… How could I have forgotten the charm?

Abi flipped open the empty book, silently swearing that even if she never needed it, she would fill out every single page with each spell she knew. She would not let her friend’s gift be a waste, and perhaps it would come in handy someday. Abigail returned the book to her pocket, her hand then rising up to just below her neck where a small pendant with a green gemstone was hanging, a solstice gift from Faye.

And Faye… I really don’t deserve you…

“Just a little something to remember me by if you do choose to go to Omaruo,” Faye had whispered when giving her the pendent. “You’ve been one of my best friends, and as much as I wish we could have had more time together, I’m happy to have known you at all, Abigail. And know that I wholeheartedly support your decision, no matter what you choose to do.”

Clutching the necklace with one hand, Abi used the other to reach up and wipe her tears away. She continued to pretend like she had two choices, but deep inside, she knew she couldn’t possibly abort the child. Going to Omaruo was the only thing she could do, but it crushed her heart to do so when there was still so much in Ijiria that she loved. On top of that, there were still things that needed to be done. If the mission to Stellareid did not go as planned, then she would be leaving the war with the Kosah-Rei unsettled. She would be running away from her responsibilities like a coward. It was one of the reasons she struggled with what realm to choose for all this time.

But I guess this kid has forced me to finally decide. I wish I could talk to Scott about it, but…

“You know, I’d be perfectly willing to find some secluded spot and let you jump back to Omaruo,” said The Angel in Album’s voice, speaking telepathically in her head. “I’ll let you back in, too, before anybody knows you’re gone.”

Having brought The Angel with her to the exchange by the creature’s request, the canister was tucked within the same pocket as the spellbook, allowing it to speak with her while still suppressing its mana from those in the room.

Thank you, but no. The portals blend in easier at the Academy because of all the strange magical relics and items brought in for the classes, but here in Noctalus… Someone's bound to sense a portal opening, and I can’t justify causing more problems for the people around me. The next time I jump…will be the last time…

“If you say so,” it replied. “But then I want to ask…if you do decide to go to Omaruo while in Stellareid, when are you going to tell Nigreos and Album? Or do you plan to just disappear. They aren’t just gonna forget about you, you know?”

Actually…I thought about asking you… I mean, you’ve become them from a certain point of view, so you’d know better than me… How would they react if I not only told them I’ve been hiding Scott and Wilham from them all these years, but also that I’m pregnant with a magicless’s baby and that I have to leave everything behind—that I’m never going to see them again? How much do you think they’ll hate me?

The Angel didn’t reply right away, most likely considering the answer—an answer that wound up being unsatisfactory. “I do not know. I copied them two and a half years ago, and ever since, we’ve deviated from each other. Even setting aside my meager memories of Cansi, I’ve now had experiences that differed from them. They’ve formed relationships with you that are not the same as I have…but…”

“I do not think Nigreos would handle it well.” The voice abruptly shifted to Nigreos’s, filled with a sad longing that made Abi’s chest tighten. “I’ve refrained from doing anything that might disrupt the balance of your team, but given the circumstances, I feel you should know something: Nigreos Noctis is in love with you.”

H-huh?

“He’s in love with you,” The Angel repeated as Abi’s mind went blank. “When I first copied him, he had a minor crush—an infatuation with you. Perhaps that is why I took such a liking to you so fast. But I’ve seen the way he looks at you, talks to you, smiles at you… It’s evolved long past a simple crush. He loves you the way you love Scott. Were he to find out you did not trust him enough to reveal your secrets, and that you have been in love with another all this time, I think it would crush him. He…is more emotionally fragile than he appears…”

Abi’s eyes were wide as she swallowed back the increasing sickness in her throat. A part of her was unsurprised, as if she had known about Nigreos’s feelings and had just been ignoring them for her own comfort—to avoid having to face the inconvenient reality that was Nigreos loving her. She certainly loved him, but more as a friend and brother. It was not the same as what she felt for Scott, so it wasn’t what he sought from her.

“In a way…” The Angel went on after a moment. “It might be easier for him if you just vanished. But…I cannot say that for certain.”

And Album? What of Album? How would she take it? Would she hate me too?

“I don’t know. I really don’t… Her feelings would certainly be hurt, and she may resent you for not trusting her when you trusted Ryokumo, Fayela, and Jessi… That might be worse in her eyes than you leaving…”

Then what the hell am I supposed to do?! I’m a horrible friend either way, but I’m terrified! So many people have come to hate me over these last few years! Screaming that sentence in her mind, Mikea forced its way back to her head, reminding her of how the hatred in her eyes had been more painful than the dagger that cut open her stomach. I couldn’t handle it if Nigreos and Album came to hate me too! I know I should have told them the truth back then, but I feared what they would say to me… I feared them not supporting me! But I should have—

“Abigail… It no longer matters what you should have done, for the past is the past. I cannot tell you what the right choice is, though I wish I could. All I can do…is take you to Omaruo when the time comes.”

Why? She shook her head. Why are you looking out for me? What do you want from me, Angel? I don’t have Cansi blood! I wouldn’t be a good host for you! So why should you care? I don’t—

“Abi?”

Her heart dropped at Nigreos’s voice behind her, her hand shooting up to quickly wipe the tears from her eyes. When she glanced back at him, she found Nigreos smiling warmly the way he always did when he saw her, though where it normally brought her comfort, in that moment, it only furthered the chill spreading through her body.

“Why, you ask? It’s like I said before… Because I am part of him, and he loves you dearly.”

It was an answer she didn't want to hear, so she ignored The Angel’s words, and addressed the real Nigreos with as much confidence as she could. “Yes? What’s up? Are they finished in there?”

“No, not yet,” he answered, walking forward to stand beside her at the railing. “I was just a bit concerned. Why are you standing out here all alone? It’s freezing.”

“I… Well, I just wanted some time to think, is all.” Since that wasn’t technically a lie, she hoped it sounded believable. “You don’t have to worry.”

He chuckled softly. “I do worry, though. I’m not going to pry since you’ve made it clear you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m not blind, Abi. I know there’s something going on, and when you’re ready to talk, I’ll lend an ear. Until then, I’ll keep worrying. You’re my friend, after all.”

“R-right…”

Abi and Nigreos fell into silence as the two of them turned back towards the view, the latter smiling with joy as he gazed upon his home. The snow was beginning to pick up, so Abigail knew they ought to head back inside, but a part of her feared going back where everybody else was. The other part feared remaining there, for this was the perfect chance to privately tell Nigreos the truth: That they were about to embark on their final mission together.

But she couldn’t do it.

She couldn't bring herself to say the words, because her fear was far too dominating.

“Did you like your gift?” Nigreos asked, pulling her out of her thoughts, for better or for worse.

“Oh yes, it was very nice, thank you.”

The present he was referring to was a set of rather rare healing roots he had picked up at an herbalist’s shop down in Noctalus. Most of them were used in far more potent healing elixirs, which would have come in handy had she been planning to remain at the Academy and take the Advanced Nature Brews course. Like Album’s gift, she wasn’t sure how useful it would be when she jumped to Omaruo, but she fully intended to hold on to them, if only to serve as a reminder of the close friend standing next to her—the one she was leaving behind.

“So, I was wondering,” Nigreos began. “Would you be interested in walking around the festival tomorrow with me and Luna? I’ve always promised to show you around the city, but we haven’t had the opportunity yet. Given we’re here in Noctalus for a far shorter time than we initially planned, I realized tomorrow would be the only opportunity we’ll have. What do you say? You still up for a tour?”

The only opportunity, huh? You don’t understand how painfully true that is…

Perhaps some might say accepting his offer was leading him on, but even if it couldn’t be in the way he wanted, she still loved him and was going to miss him greatly. This would be an opportunity to spend some quality time together before she left, so she just couldn’t bring herself to pass it up.

“Of course, Nigreos. I’d love that.”

***

From her position atop the roof of the four-story inn, Leiolai Sartella could clearly see Nigreos Noctis and Abigail Reiner up on that balcony, her eyes having been enhanced by biological magic. Naturally, she couldn’t hear what they were saying, so there wasn’t much of a point in observing them, but it gave her comfort to keep a close watch on the happenings in the NightLight. Ever since the royal team and the Masters arrived in Noctalus, she had watched the windows of the palace, keeping tabs where she could in order to ensure there weren’t any surprises to take them off guard. Tali’s visions were, after all, not always flawless, for they only activated when she touched somebody, and she would only see a vision centering around that person. Therefore, she would only know what her targets would know, leaving a few gaps in their plans every time they relied on those visions.

And in a perfect example of that, there are more guests than we were prepared for, she bitterly mused.

Tali’s visions of the upcoming assault on Stellareid had been gained by gazing into the futures of the Kosah-Rei leadership, and none of the visions revealed anything about the presence of Rennigan Glaus and his team. Therefore, since their actions couldn’t be predicted, they were wildcards that could prove dangerous. Like Tali had said, she didn’t actually know who would come out on top in Stellareid between the Ijirians and the Kosah-Rei, so if they also wanted to win the battle, it would be smart to remove any and all unknown variables.

With any luck, the reason Tali never saw them in her visions is because we’ll succeed in killing them.

“Sartella.” As her name was spoken, a mana signature appeared behind her, signaling the dropping of a distortion as her ally reached their rendezvous point. “Everything is in order. We’re prepared for tomorrow.”

Leiolai smiled, watching as Barron Kristoff dropped to a sitting position on the slanted rooftop, wearing not his usual red armor, but a long brown cloak that covered his bulky frame. “That’s good. We’ll operate as planned then.”

“You really trust this?” Barron pressed, a flicker of concern on his bearded features. “I mean, I don’t want to doubt Lady Firrik’s words, and I know she has never led us astray before, but I can’t help it. I mean, can we really trust—?”

“We are trusting Tali and nobody else.”

She cut him off firmly, wanting to leave little room for argument. She fully understood his skepticism, but Leiolai knew that if their allies doubted Tali even a little, then things might unfold the wrong way. After all, their planned operation during the following morning’s festival had never been seen by Tali, so the success of the plan was assumed based on visions she saw of Stellareid. That was why Leiolai was so nervous, and that was why she needed Barron giving it his all.

“With that said, I’ve given it some thought and I want to alter the plan,” she went on. “Tomorrow, instead of just attacking at random, I want you to put everything you have into killing Rennigan Glaus.”

Barron raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Glaus? May I ask why? I understand his presence on this assignment wasn’t in the visions, but that’s true of the rest of his team. Why Glaus specifically?”

“Simple,” Leiolai muttered. “Targeting all four would be too much of a hassle, so it’s best to pick one and increase our chances of eliminating unknowns. That being said, from my understanding, Rennigan’s father is on the Council of Elders and has always been the biggest hurdle the Masters have to overcome to get anything done. Kloras Glaus doesn’t trust the Masters, so…” An amused and satisfied grin turned Leiolai’s lips as she marveled at the selfishness and greed of the elite. “What do you think would happen if Elder Glaus’s only son tragically lost his life under the watch of Ilirianna and the Noctalus Masters?”

“Ah, I see,” Barron said with a laugh. “You want to further drive a wedge between them in order to limit how often the Masters are permitted to act against us.”

Leiolai nodded. “Exactly. So, Sir Kristoff, kill Rennigan Glaus. And for a little extra spice…make it as painful and grisly as you can. Make the boy suffer…and make sure Kloras knows it.”