The Burning Flowers

Chapter XV

Rennigan Glaus had absolutely no intention of going down into Noctalus for the festival. He didn’t like being around large crowds and he certainly wasn’t one to enjoy celebrations. Most of those in the palace weren’t bothering either, with both Masters, their wives, Princess Ilirianna, Iris Mackia, and Neah Noctis remaining behind, though the latter certainly would have gone if she had the physical strength to do so. Of course, Rennigan was unsurprised that his team, as well the remainder of the royal team, would be attending, and as was common, he doubted any of them wanted him to join them. They weren’t friends, after all, and they never had been, so when Fayela Rio practically dragged him out of his room and down into the city, Rennigan was thoroughly baffled. Why would Faye want him ruining the fun mood, and based on Jessi and Hiro’s expressions upon seeing him at the gates, he was certain the two of them hadn’t expressed their desire for him to be there.

So what the hell is Rio’s deal? Since when did she want me around?

Shivering in the ungodly cold of that morning, Rennigan stuck his hands in the thick pockets of his new white jacket, finding it warmer than his normal winter attire, something he was begrudgingly grateful for. He still had no idea why Ryokumo had gotten him a present, and even though he’d been wearing the jacket for the last hour, a part of him was still waiting for it to do something to him. Yet, it seemed to be a real and genuine gift, providing yet another anomaly that left him confused.

I don’t understand! Rio’s invited me to come hang out with the team, and Caeli’s buying me presents that aren’t an insult or prank in some fashion? Did I accidentally do something to give them the impression that I like them? If so, I may have to remedy that…

“Glaus, if you’re just gonna sulk over there then go back to the palace!” Jessi snapped from up ahead, shooting him a bitter glare that he promptly returned.

“With pleasure, Yuahl!”

However, even though he fully intended to take that as a cue to go home, Faye intervened before he could take a step in the other direction. “No, Rennigan, you’re staying.”

“Why?!” he demanded. “Rio, I know none of you want me here so I don’t understand why you’re forcing me to stay!”

Faye rolled her eyes. “Because it’s the shadow solstice, Rennigan! This is a time for celebration, so I’m not gonna let you lounge around your room all day! We’re in the Great City of Noctalus! Why not take this opportunity to explore and see all the sights?!”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I couldn’t give less of a damn about this infernal city!”

“Stop being a grouch and smile for once!”

“I’d be smiling in the warmth of my bedroom!”

Unfortunately, no amount of complaining would get through to Faye, and she shot him down with the same logic she used to get him there in the first place. “You owe me a favor for going to your father’s stupid dinner, and I’m cashing that in now! So shut up and have fun!”

But why would you waste my favor on this?! he snarled in the privacy of his mind, but outwardly, he gave a bitter grunt and shut his mouth as ordered, turning instead back to the rather crowded street of Noctalus’s light districts around him.

After departing the NightLight, they split into three groups, those being the one he was currently in, the one consisting of Album and Ryokumo, and the one made up of Abigail, Nigreos, and Lunara. From what he knew, Nigreos’s group remained in the dark districts while Album insisted upon taking Ryokumo to go see the large solstice tree in the Glowing Plaza of the light districts. For some reason, instead of joining one of those two and checking out tourist attractions, Faye led them toward the market—a spot so bustling with people that they had to fall into a single file line. He knew the markets were always busy in the Great Cities, but from what Nigreos was saying at dinner the previous night, the solstice brought even more people to the shopping districts, most likely to buy last minute gifts for loved ones or to capitalize on the supposed solstice deals the merchants vehemently advertised.

So what? Does Rio have something she wants to buy?

Rennigan sighed, glancing up at Faye’s back with a furrowed brow before turning to admire the scenery. As he had seen on the ride in, the light districts were colored mostly white and light grays, which made for a very bright setting that was even worse with the snow everywhere. The only color he could find came from the green and red wreaths hanging from the storefront doors and the small rounded ornaments dangling from the rafters. There were street performers at every corner, some playing festive music and others doing tricks with magic such as swallowing a flaming blade or using wind magic to allow the surrounding children to float in the air. One street had a bunch of people dancing to the upbeat song, “Shadow Man”, a piece describing a dark mage who joined the circus and used his unique magic to draw patrons from all across the Empire.

Though, from what I know, the song was written to mock the Noctis, so Nigreos isn’t fond of it. You know what, it’s really not that bad, is it? Grinning smugly, Rennigan turned to eye the different stores, finding places ranging from simple bakeries and clothing shops to more magical-based establishments with herbs, magic stones, and even one place that sold elixirs. I normally don’t bother with potions, but I wonder if Noctalus would have anything unique to this city?

“Want to stop inside?” Faye asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Rennigan frowned again, realizing she had been paying enough attention to notice his interest in the potions shop. “I mean, I might poke my head in. No need for you three to wait for me, though. I’ll just meet you back at the palace later.”

The water mage turned away from her, deciding this was a good chance to split off so he could go back, but to his dismay, Faye followed after him, calling back to Jessi and Hiro, “We’re gonna make a quick stop, okay? Be right back!”

Jessi glanced over and shrugged. “Alright sure! We’ll be right out here! Come on, Hiro, dance with me!”

Rennigan watched with dissatisfaction as Jessi and Hiro rushed out onto the street to join the dancers, and before Faye could head into the shop, Rennigan’s hand jolted out to grab her wrist, stopping her in her tracks as he sharply demanded, “Alright, what the hell are you getting at? This isn’t like you at all! Is this some sort of joke? Did Caeli put you up to something?”

Faye furrowed her brow with irritation, but to his satisfaction, she let out a soft exhale and answered him. “Alright, look… I know the two of us have never gotten along, but at the end of the day, we’re teammates. We’ve fought together for two and half years, so…” Oddly enough, she appeared a tad embarrassed to continue, her cheeks turning a bright red that wasn’t necessarily due to the cold. Before he could even wonder what that meant, she gave an annoyed huff and went on. “Look, I just felt bad that I got gifts for Jessi and Hiro and ignored you! When I saw Caeli got you something, I realized I was being stupidly petty, so we’re gonna go in this shop, you’re gonna pick out whatever you want, and I’m gonna buy it for you! So come on!”

Rennigan was at a loss for words and Faye didn’t leave him a chance to retort as she stalked into the potions shop, leaving him awkwardly standing on the side of the street. Huh? The hell?

Shaking the dust out of his head, Rennigan hurried after her, pushing open the door and heading into the rather large store. “Wait just a moment, Rio! Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not like I bought anything for you three either! We are not friends! How many times must I say it? I don’t know what possessed Caeli to get me this jacket, but you do not have to buy me anything!”

“I’m well aware of that!” she shot back. “But I’ve decided I’m gonna, so that’s it! Now go pick! This is also a part of the favor you owe me!”

“I only owe you one favor and that was to show up!”

“Well I’ve decided this is a part of it!”

“You can’t change the deal!”

“I just did!”

Faye folded her arms and narrowed her eyes, making it quite clear it was a waste of breath to continue arguing, but he wasn’t sure how comfortable he was having Faye buy a gift for him. It was just wrong, so to make things feel more proper, Rennigan decided to compromise.

“Fine then!” he snapped. “Given that it’s a gift exchange, I will only accept something from you if you accept something from me!”

Faye cocked a dubious eyebrow. “Huh?”

“Don’t look at me like I’m full of shit! I’m being dead serious here!”

The rock mage only continued to stare at him, and eventually, she must have come to the same conclusion as him—that arguing was a waste—so she slumped her shoulders and accepted his terms. “Very well. Thank you.”

“Er, yeah, well, thank you.”

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Rennigan turned to begin surveying the shop, only to find the nearby patrons watching them with smiles, only furthering the young man’s discomfort as it dawned on him that their stupid argument had an audience. He thought he might have even heard someone whisper, “Ah, young love”, and had he been able to identify who it was, he would have gone over and slapped them. Instead, he took a deep breath and eyed the tall shelves that lined the walls, filled with bottles big and small that had liquids of every color in the rainbow. Since potions were mostly meant to help train with magic, he hadn’t used them in some time, so he wasn’t even sure what to get.

I mean, I could go for something as simple as a healing potion since my team lacks a nature mage, but those bottles are such a pain in the ass to carry around at all times. Though, I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have on me at Stellareid should Vesh make an appearance…

However, as he was glancing towards the shelves containing nature potions, he saw Faye grab a healing elixir and wave the large rounded bottle towards him, as if to tell him she had picked out what she wanted.

Well damn it… Now it’s just gonna look like I chose that because it’s what she chose, and she’s not gonna accept that! Damn it all, Rio! Fine, I’ll look for something else!

Growling under his breath, Rennigan was half-tempted to pick something at random, for there was such a wide range of options that it was nearly overwhelming. He didn’t need any mana enhancers since his capacity was above-average, nor was he that interested in the fire potions intended to warm people up since Jessi could do that for free. Many of them had temporary effects such as making one taller or growing one’s hair, and near those were a few unmentionables he would never purchase even if he was by himself.

“Need help looking?” Faye inquired slyly as she approached him. “Cause I think I’ve found something perfect for you!” She held out another rounded bottle full of a blue liquid with the title “Elixir of Sweet Dreams” written across it.

Rennigan clicked his tongue. “And what the hell does it do?”

“Well, on top of guaranteeing one a good night of sleep, it also allows your subconscious to customize your dreams!” Her grin spread in an even more mischievous and mocking manner. “Figured this was the only way you’d get to experience being Nyx Rana’s apprentice, yeah?”

“Are you making fun of me?” he grumbled irritably.

Faye smirked. “Was that not obvious?”

“You know what, screw you! I’ll take it!”

Even though she was mocking him, Rennigan really didn’t care what she bought him, and since this particular elixir guaranteed a good night of sleep, he supposed he could use it on the trip to Stellareid. The dream would just be an added bonus. Faye was clearly taken off guard by the fact that he accepted, and she probably suspected he only said yes to get them out of there faster, but to Rennigan’s relief, she merely snorted and walked with him over to the store’s owner.

***

Since he and Lunara were more familiar with the dark districts, Nigreos decided to stay within their range throughout his tour with Abigail, and for the duration of their time together, he did his best to monitor her mood, hoping that this could help her feel better. He truly did wish she would confide in him, but since he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by pressing harder, he bit his tongue and merely offered her a hand for when she felt she needed it. The problem that was constantly scratching at the back of mind was the sudden shift in attitudes from Princess Ilirianna and Ryokumo. By the time the gift exchange rolled around, they seemed to have returned to their normal selves, but there was no denying that within the last two days, something happened that they were hiding from the others, and a nasty part of him feared it had to do with Abi—that she had confided in them but not in him. He didn’t like the thought that she would trust the others over him, for he wouldn’t have any idea what he would have done to lose her trust. He desperately hoped the two details were unrelated, but he couldn’t fully reject the possibility.

So Luna and I are just going to show her a fun festival! Maybe that’s all she needs!

Therefore, that’s exactly what the two Noctis siblings did. For breakfast, they took Abi to their favorite restaurant in Noctalus, a small cafe that served the best pastries Nigreos ever had in his life, and Abi appeared to enjoy them. After that, they brought her to Ninta Road, the site of Noreo Noctis’s last stand in the subjugation of Nocta and where, in modern day, one could find a memorial to the soldiers who fought to retain the country’s independence. It was a large black slab located in the plaza with the names of those men and women carved into it—a unique location in the Empire given that Nocta was the only one whose peace treaty included the right to honor their fallen warriors. Nigreos was grateful that Abi bowed her head in respect without having to be prompted, so he and Lunara followed suit, offering their own respect to the long-dead soldiers.

On this day of shadows, may your souls dance in the darkened sky. May the sun be blotted out, and the mages of darkness thrive.

There were others present in the plaza, but nobody seemed to notice the Noctis heirs among them, which Nigreos was grateful for. He was not about to push his luck, so he decided to take Abi and Luna to a more private location.

“I wish Neah could have joined us,” Lunara murmured as they were walking down a back-roads residential street, mostly empty due to its occupants being out celebrating in the city. “I know how much she used to love these festivals…”

Nigreos smiled sadly, certainly not missing the unspoken fear that she may not live to see the next one. “Yes, I do as well, but Father was right. Bringing her with us would just draw unnecessary attention. You and I can blend in a little better, but if we were pushing Neah’s chair, I do think people would start to put two-and-two together.”

“So?” Lunara grunted. “The people have always loved Neah. Nobody’s gonna hurt her if they see her. The only reason anybody in this city would have to harm her would be because of something Father did to piss the wrong guy off.”

Noticing that Abi appeared a bit uncomfortable by the turn of the conversation, Nigreos sought to quickly shut the topic down. “L-look, Luna, I may have agreed in another time, but you know as well as I do that the Kosah-Rei want the Great Houses wiped out. You and I can defend ourselves, but Neah can’t. She’s a target for them.”

“I guess…”

“And anyway,” Abi nervously added. “Both Healer Ryre and myself have been able to tell that she wouldn’t have the strength to sit up all day out here. It’s just too much, you know? I wish she could have come, too, but it just isn’t feasible.”

Luna exhaled softly, turning her eyes toward the ground. “Maybe… Even so…”

Luckily, the conversation was dropped as the three of them passed through the gated entrance of Soladnay Park, a large, seven-mile wooded area where citizens of Noctalus often went to enjoy nature. There were stone paths leading in all different directions, benches placed for visitors to sit on, and beautiful trees that were currently covered in snow, their leaves having fallen months ago. During the warmer seasons, the park would have been a lush green, but at the moment, it was blanketed in white, with even the path covered in a thick snow that crunched beneath their boots. As they walked, Nigreos was pleased that the park was also rather empty. On their way to their destination, they only passed by one young couple, a mother and her daughter, and a singular middle-aged woman sitting on a bench, none of which even glanced their way.

“And here we are,” Nigreos announced finally, grinning as he motioned towards the monument before them.

Placed on a small rise at the end of the path was a massive, black marble statue of a man. It was about fifteen feet tall with the obsidian pedestal beneath it included. He had long flowing black hair, a full beard, and a powerful build that almost certainly didn’t capture the presence he must have had in life. The statue’s eyes were fierce, and he was grinning confidently as he stood with a sword in hand and thick armor covering him. The front of the pedestal had a golden plaque, upon which was written in black lettering “In honor of Rulis Noctis, Founder of the Great Country of Nocta”.

“Founder?” Abi said under her breath, an air of curiosity in her tone.

Nigreos chuckled with pride. “Yup, the founder of Nocta. Not much is known for certain about him, with nearly all writings having been recorded after the fact, most of which were made from stories passed through the generations. This statue, even, was erected in the Third Age, long after the man himself was gone. It’s almost certainly not an accurate portrayal. Yet even so, I’ve always liked it. You can’t have a tour of Noctalus without seeing Rulis Noctis.”

“And how…? Well, how did he supposedly start the city? I mean, I know Nocta rose sometime during the Second Age, but…?” Abigail trailed off, and this time, it was Lunara who answered her.

“As far as the legends go,” she began, a smile turning her own lip, indicating Luna enjoyed discussing her family’s history as much as him. “This region, like much of the continent, was inhabited by various tribal communities, most of which had yet to really start forming proper civilizations. It’s said that Rulis Noctis appeared one day and soon became close to the leader of an influential tribe by revealing what all accounts indicate was dark magic. The tribes in this area were mostly at war with another, and Rulis could very easily tip the scales toward a clear victor.”

“He didn’t do that though,” Nigreos said. “Instead, he used his superior strength to force the regions’ many chieftains to sit down and negotiate with one another, and through means nobody can agree upon, he united them into a singular force under his rule. He took a wife and began facilitating the development of these people. Every legend and myth surrounding him describes him as a stranger who appeared out of nothingness, with knowledge and power more advanced than anything else found in Ijiria during the Age of Civilization. There are more theories than I can count trying to explain who he was and where he came from, but there’s one detail that often comes up…”

As Nigreos talked, realization dawned upon both Abi and Luna, the latter softly muttering, “They think he may have been from another realm.”

“They may have been right,” Nigreos replied with a wink, and in the privacy of all their heads, The Angel within Abi’s pocket chimed in.

“It’s a near certainty that Rulis Noctis came over from Cansi,” it stated. “In fact, from what I’ve been told, your second age roughly coincides with the fall of that realm. Rulis was a refugee who took advantage of his knowledge and turned himself into a king.”

“Jeez,” Lunara whispered. “I didn’t even think about that. Then again, I’ve only known all this for two days.”

She shot her brother an irritated look, to which Nigreos just spread his hands in surrender. “Look, give me a break! The Angel was forcing me to! I woulda told you a long time ago otherwise!”

“Sure, whatever you say, Brother.”

“It is fascinating though,” Abi mused, smiling up at the monument. “The Iijis can use dark and light magic, too, and Erika started to prosper almost around that time. I guess that means there was a Rulis equivalent for the Iijis who took a similar approach, yeah?”

“I would say that’s why this continent has an Age of Civilization to begin with. Across your world, countries started prospering all around the time Cansi fell. That isn’t a coincidence, nor is it a coincidence that the Great Houses that weren’t destroyed are so unnaturally powerful. Refugees from Cansi needed somewhere to go, and this fertile land was a prime place to rule over. The Iijis and the Noctis are simply the only ones left standing after the Ijirian Empire dominated the continent.”

“So this world’s government was built upon the ashes of that one,” Luna said with a shake of her head. “I still find it hard to believe, and I probably wouldn’t if The Angel wasn’t talking to me in my damn head.”

“You’re welcome, Luna. Now…”

The Angel suddenly paused mid-sentence, an oddity for the creature, but before anybody could question what was wrong, the black and white goo suddenly burst from within Abi’s coat, taking Nigreos’s form more rapidly than it ever had, it’s magic being drawn to its hands, its still forming features contorted in anger as it gazed at something behind them.

“Ah shoot. So you’re with them, huh?”

Nigreos, Abigail, and Lunara spun around to find the middle-aged woman they passed earlier standing just a few yards away, her features twisted in annoyance. The second she spoke, at least ten distortions suddenly dropped, revealing individuals standing within the trees behind her, their attire of a red cloak, triangular cowl, and porcelain mask of a woman’s face instantly giving away who they were: Rei’s Teeth, the best warriors of the Kosah-Rei.

And if they’re here in Noctalus then…

Nigreos’s body went cold with terror, knowing that the Kosah-Rei would not corner them in the park if they didn’t have others elsewhere in the city. Before he could demand to know anything of the strange woman standing before him, The Angel spoke a name he instantly recognized, and that only scared him all the more.

“Well it’s been a long time, hasn’t it. Did you think that face would fool my senses, Leiolai Sartella?”

***

Having randomly chosen the dream potion for his gift, Rennigan begrudgingly walked towards the counter where an elderly man awaited them. Faye went first, stepping forward and showing the storeowner the item she was purchasing before producing the necessary amount of coin from her little pouch. While he waited his turn, Rennigan spared a glance back over his shoulder, seeing through the glass front door that the dance was still going on outside.

Well, at least I know Pafran and Yuahl are keeping themselves entertained out there, he grumbled internally.

Once Faye finished paying, she passed the elixir off to Rennigan, who shoved it into a surprisingly large pocket inside his new jacket before stepping forward to pay for her solstice gift. Thrusting the healing potion out for the man to see, he then handed it off to Faye and produced his coin pouch that he made sure to fill to the brim before departing Erika. Fumbling with the strings, he took out six silvers and gave them to the merchant, satisfied that the gift exchange was finally over.

And maybe, since this was why she dragged my ass down here, I can go back to the palace and relax!

It was just as this irritated thought entered his mind that a loud crashing sound broke the peaceful aura of the room, sounding as if the glass of the front door had shattered apart. Unfortunately, Rennigan didn’t even have a second to wonder what had happened before a blade sliced straight through his back and pushed through his chest, the momentum shoving him forward as blood splattered all over the counter. His hands grasped the countertop to keep himself upright as the taste of metal filled his mouth, his golden eyes going wide with shock before the blade was pulled back into him and removed from his body.

What…the hell…just happened?

He only barely caught a glimpse of glittering red and heard Faye shriek out his name before he collapsed to his knees and all hell broke loose.