The Burning Flowers

Chapter XVIII

Ryokumo Caeli sprinted as fast as he could, putting all of his magic into his legs in order to reach where the flare had been sent up before anything terrible could occur. Album remained close to him, using her light magic to flash across the rooftops, though despite his insistence that she should use her superior speed to get there before him, she made it clear she would not leave him on his own in the middle of the chaos. Ryokumo didn’t have any idea what was going on or whether the others were safe, but the fact that Rei’s Teeth suddenly jumped him and Album in the Glowing Plaza was more than enough to terrify him. Somehow, the Kosah-Rei managed to get some of their soldiers into Noctalus, and if the Teeth were there, then a cultist of some significance would be as well.

Since this is a Great City, I doubt a mere pastor is the one behind this! It must be one of the leaders, but…who? Vesh and Miyon should, by all accounts, be in Stellareid! His thoughts flickered to that red knight, Barron Kristoff, who nearly killed him back in Hiriech, causing his stomach to tighten up. If that man is the one who caused a signal flare to be launched…and if Yuahl is the one who sent it up…

He let the thought hang, grateful that he and Album managed to work alongside the city guard well enough to buy the two of them time to escape. His friend raised her hand to signal him that they had arrived before flashing down over a row of shops just ahead. Following her lead, Ryokumo cast Proto, soaring up into the sky and over the rooftops, getting his first good look at the street below. Aside from a bit of damage to the storefronts and the road, the area was mostly safe, and a frantic scan of the people present confirmed that none of them were dead. What was concerning, however, was the fact that he didn’t see an enemy anywhere nearby. Landing on the street, Ryokumo hurried over to where Acostav was already speaking with his daughter.

“The city guard is handling it, but the Teeth are strong, Father,” she was saying. “They’ll need backup, and quickly!”

Acostav nodded firmly, glancing off in the direction Album had indicated. “Right. Well done holding them off, Album. I want the two of you to take these four back to the palace and have Healer Ryre and the Kotonorish girl give them medical attention. Viiro and Princess Ilirianna should be on their way, so if you run into them, give them your report.”

With those swift orders, Acostav Luz’s body turned into a blindingly bright light before he vanished into the sky. Ryokumo watched him leave, then turned his attention to where Rennigan, Faye, Jessi, and Hiro were standing off to the side, nursing their own wounds, though Rennigan and Faye appeared to have taken the most damage with the former’s shirt and new jacket stained with blood and the latter’s face covered in bruises and swollen lumps. Sensing the tension in the air left behind with Acostav’s departure, Ryokumo decided to try and lighten the mood as he fixed Rennigan with a forced expression of mischief.

“Well now, Glaus, what happened to you? You’ve already ruined the jacket I spent so much time picking out for you!”

Rennigan apathetically glanced up at him, but he didn’t seem to have the energy to bite back. “Shut up, Caeli…”

“What happened,” Album added, turning the tone back to a serious one as she addressed Faye. “I mean, you four look like you took a beating, but…”

Faye shook her head when the other girl trailed off. “Well, loathe as I am to ever give Caeli any credit, I have to do so now. The red knight attacked us while we were shopping, almost killing Rennigan with that damn glaive of his. If Master Luz hadn’t gotten here when he did, I don’t think all four of us would have survived.”

“So it was Kristoff,” Ryokumo muttered under his breath, a part of him mildly annoyed that he missed an opportunity to redeem himself when it came to that knight. “Where is he? Did he escape?”

Jessi snorted with disgust. “Who even knows! Believe it or not, Master Luz actually managed to take his helmet off, so he should have been dead. Thing is, when we took a look inside the armor, it was empty.”

“Empty?” Album parroted. “Like, the armor was a puppet of sorts?”

“Absolutely not,” Rennigan stated with confidence. “Pafran and I managed to send some steam into that helmet of his, and I heard him cry out with pain. There’s not a doubt in my mind that, at least for part of that struggle, somebody was in that armor.”

Hiro nodded his agreement. “Master Acostav thought so too. He said he sensed a person inside right up until the moment he began to cast the spell—as if Kristoff just poofed out of existence. His armor disappeared not long after, too.”

What the hell? As far as I know, I’ve never heard of a spell that let somebody teleport. I mean, the light magic Album uses to move is so fast that it appears like teleportation, but if that was what Kristoff used, not only would Acostav have known, but the armor would have gone with him…

“So this nearly unkillable bastard has some sort of escape ability, huh?” Ryokumo grumbled. “Of course he does! These Kosah-Rei asshats just don’t know how to play fairly, now do they?!”

Sartella’s talent with biological magic, Miyon’s odd ability to predict the future, the mysterious combustions, and now Kristoff teleporting away… Every single one of them has some bizarre special ability… Even the fact that they located The Angel in Cansi… But how? How are they finding these things? How are they learning these spells?

“We should get moving,” Album suggested. “Healer Ryre and Mackia will be able to help you guys. Come on…”

She motioned for them to follow, and the four mages did so, but for a few seconds, Ryokumo remained behind, pondering the strange implications of that day. The Kosah-Rei’s leader was said to be in Stellareid while Uma Miyon was in the dungeons of Castle Saientia, so he couldn’t understand why Barron Kristoff and a handful of Teeth would be in Noctalus.

It would make sense if they knew we were here and decided to try and ambush the royal team, but that’s not what they did. Or at least, they only sent Teeth after Album and I… But that begs the question: Why would Barron Kristoff go after Glaus and the others?

“Rio,” he called out, causing the five to stop and look back at him with curiosity. “Did Kristoff do anything suspicious? I mean, I’m just trying to wrap my head around why he attacked you guys and not Album and I?”

The knowing looks shared between the four of them instantly told Ryokumo that they had picked up on something strange, but Faye’s answer was still very confusing to him.

“The only thing I can think of is that he seemed primarily focused on killing Rennigan specifically. He knocked me down at one point, giving himself plenty of time to take a pretty dangerous shot at me, but he immediately turned and targeted Rennigan instead.”

“Not to mention, Glaus was the one he attacked first when he ambushed us,” Hiro added. “There isn’t a doubt about it. Kristoff was not here to take out all four of us. He was here to take out Glaus.”

Kristoff was after Rennigan? Why?

“Glaus, did you ever do anything to offend him?” Ryokumo asked. “Or have you ever had any prior confrontation with him?”

Naturally, given how already irritated he was, Rennigan let out a sneer and spat, “Of course not! If I had, I would have reported it! This was the first time I’ve ever seen him! My only conclusion is that he deemed me as the biggest threat given the snow everywhere.”

The snow, huh? Ryokumo glanced down at the white powder scattered along the sidewalks and atop the roofs. Is that really it? The abundance of water would have certainly made Glaus tougher than normal, but would it really make a difference against someone like Kristoff when Rio’s the one with the offensive power? I’m not sure… Even then, would Kristoff have led such a risky attack on Noctalus just to kill Rennigan Glaus?

His eyes went wide. No, he couldn’t have. Nobody outside of a select few were even told Glaus’s team was going to come with us. They couldn’t have done this for Glaus alone unless somebody leaked this information or…

They have another goal, and Glaus was a last minute addition to the plan…

“Kumo? What’s wrong?” Album asked, her features furrowing with worry.

Ryokumo shook his head. “I have a bad feeling. Have any of you been in contact with Nigreos and Abi?”

“I mean, Abi said the Noctis were giving her a tour of the city,” Faye told him. “That’s all I know, though. They could be anywhere.”

We’re missing something. Could they be after The Angel? No, how would they know we brought it to Noctalus? Have they possibly targeted Nigreos, Abi, and Luna? Would there be a reason? I mean, they’re strong, but they sent their most powerful fighter after Glaus. Unless they have a better warrior we don’t know about… I suppose that’s not impossible…

Shit. I do not like this…

***

Nigreos Noctis was breathing heavily, his brow drawn tightly as he watched Rei’s Teeth abruptly cease their attempts to kill him and instead turn to flee. Of the ten Teeth that initially appeared alongside Leiolai Sartella, only three of them were left alive, the bodies of the other seven laying strewn about in the blood-stained snow, cleaved apart by the dark magic Nigreos, Lunara, and The Angel used to cut them down. Nigreos could only wish it had been darker out, for if they had been able to call upon shadows in the environment, they would have certainly managed to kill the other three. The Angel did rely on some light magic, and that was what enabled them to face the Teeth without any casualties on their side, but it wasn’t enough to get them an opening to go and find Abigail. Nigreos still had no idea who it was that snuck up on them before the battle began, but he did see her hopping through the trees in pursuit of Abi and Leiolai.

Now that an opening had appeared, he shouted to the other two, “Don’t let them escape! I’m going after Abi!”, before taking off into the forest at a sprint. As much as he didn’t want Lunara to face even three Teeth without him present, he forced himself to trust that The Angel would protect her. Darting through Soladnay Park as fast as he could, Nigreos scanned every possible corner until he finally came across Abigail sitting slumped at the base of a tree, alive but clearly out of breath.

“Abi, are you okay?!” he exclaimed, nearly stumbling to a knee beside her. “What happened?! Where’s Sartella and the other girl?!”

Abigail weakly raised her head, and the moment he gazed into her blue eyes, he saw such pain and agony that his concern only grew worse. “She escaped… I did my best…but like during my exam, I ran out of mana and couldn’t pursue her. Sartella’s gone… I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t apologize! I’m just relieved you’re alive!” he insisted, intentionally deciding not to comment on her mana supply going dry so quickly for the second time. “We handled most of the Teeth, but Luna and The Angel are finishing them off. I’m not sure what else is going on in the city, but I saw a flare go up at one point, so there’s no doubt this park wasn’t the only target.”

“R-right… Then we need to go help…”

“No, I’ll do it!” He could tell that she didn’t want to be left behind, but if she was truly out of mana then there wasn’t much else she could do. “Look, I’ll have Luna take you back to the palace, okay? Healer Ryre’s one of the best nature mages in this city, so she’ll be able to heal anything you need fixed. I’ll take care of Noctalus.”

Abi hardly seemed to process what he had said, as if she had fallen into her own thoughts, and it worried Nigreos that something must have happened between her and Leiolai that she was struggling to put voice to.

Given what she said back there at the statue, I can only fear that she thinks we’ve missed an opportunity.

“I am a changeling unlike any you could find in this Empire. If anybody can fix her, it’s me…so here are my terms: Assassinate the Masters of Darkness and Light, as well as the Ladies of the NightLight, and I will heal Neah. You have my word!”

Nigreos’s lips tightened, a feeling of self-loathing coming over him at the fact that he didn’t immediately shut down Leiolai’s offer. For just a split second, a part of him had wondered if that might be worth it—if getting rid of the leaders of Noctalus would be a fair price to pay to save Neah. It was revolting that he would even briefly humor trading his parents for Neah, so he shoved it deep inside of him, cursing himself for ever thinking that would be an okay bargain. Even if Leiolai wasn’t a liar, the idea of murdering his parents, as well as Lady Clara and Master Acostav, was unthinkable. He knew as a fact Neah would never accept her own survival at the expense of her parents.

“Abi—”

“Tali Firrik,” she whispered, cutting him off. “Tali Firrik was the other woman with Sartella. She was the one posing as Yoral Malloway back in Hiriech, and she’s one of the leaders we’ve never been able to identify.”

Nigreos exhaled sharply. “Then…two members of their leadership are in Noctalus? Did we get it wrong then? Could Rotana Vesh be here, too?”

“I don’t know,” she muttered. “I honestly don’t…”

The dark mage remained kneeling by her side for a moment, thinking about the implications of the sudden reappearance of two Kosah-Rei leaders in Noctalus of all places. In theory, it wasn’t unthinkable that the leaders wouldn’t act together. It was possible that Sartella and Firrik were making a move in Noctalus while Miyon and Vesh operated out of Stellareid.

Plus, there’s no word on Barron Kristoff…nor have we heard much about that potential sixth cultist. Either or both could be in either city…or Miyon in Stellareid is a diversion of sorts… I just don’t get—

What happened next was sudden and startling, for an explosion erupted in the distance, causing Nigreos to jump to his feet and turn to the sky, frantically searching for the source of that far off noise. He had initially expected to find it in the direction of the city, but as an orange glow caught his eye in the opposite direction, Nigreos’s heart sank. The room at the top of the NightLight’s eastern tower had exploded from within, the dark mage just barely catching sight of the black stone of the wall tumbling downwards and out of his view.

What the hell?! The eastern tower… That’s father’s private quarters! What could have blown up in—?!

“Your comfortable days are numbered! The Kosah-Rei will cleanse the world and create the utopia the goddess desired! LET THE SIN OF GREED BURN WITH YOU!”

No… The combustions!

“Nigreos!” he heard Lunara call from behind him. “What’s going on?! I don’t—!”

Nigreos Noctis turned on his heel and sprinted away as fast as he could, barely sputtering out an order for Lunara to watch over Abigail before he was running in the direction of the palace. There was no sign of The Angel, who Nigreos could only assume had split off from Luna to take down the last few cultists, but at that moment, the dark mage didn’t really care where the ancient being had gone. All that mattered to him was getting back to the NightLight and finding out what had happened.

If the combustions were set off in the palace, then that means somebody’s dead! But who?! There’s no way the cult could have succeeded in manipulating the fire mana of anybody in the Noctis and Luz houses, right?! I mean, it’s not like we know how they work, but it’s just not possible!

Yet, as he ran, a terrifying thought crept into his head. Sartella’s been in Noctalus. Is it possible then…that she used magic to pose as somebody our families would trust? If she did that, it would be easier to mess with their mana… Father, Mother, Master Acostav, Lady Clara… Could Princess Ilirianna have been caught up in it?! Or Neah?! Could Neah have been hurt by them?! I don’t know! I DON’T KNOW!

Emerging from Soladnay Park, Nigreos hooked a hard left just in time to see a bright ball of light blast across the sky from the city to the eastern tower before vanishing inside. Knowing that Album and Eko weren’t strong enough to make such a distance in one spell, he took a small amount of comfort in the thought that Master Acostav was alive.

Trying to keep his mind from spinning, Nigreos ignored everything around him, keeping his focus solely on nearby mana signatures just in case other Kosah-Rei members attempted to delay his return to the palace. Everything was forgotten except his family. The thought that the Kosah-Rei might have murdered his little sister mere minutes after offering to help her made his blood boil so powerfully that he knew without a doubt, if that were the case, he would tear them apart the next time he saw them. This time, he allowed Leiolai Sartella to speak, but he would never be generous like that again if this was the outcome.

He ran harder than he ever had in his life, reaching the castle gates and demanding the guards let him through as he heaved, his breathing raspy. He could tell they were concerned, but they would not disobey an order from Nigreos Noctis, admitting him entry immediately. He was in the gardens and running through the entrance hall within the minute, bolting straight for one of the stairwells that would take him up to the top of the eastern tower.

Just run! Run! Run! Run! RUN!

He felt like he was going to throw up from overexertion by the time he shoved past the two guards in front of Viiro’s private living quarters, shouting out, “What the hell happened?!”

There was surely sound in the background, such as the protests of the guards behind him, or the response somebody must have given, but none of them reached his brain. The first thing he saw was Acostav Luz sobbing uncontrollably, clutching a charred and blackened corpse to his chest, his eyes wide with disbelief. Beside him, Eko was on his knees, pale as death and almost seeming as if he had disassociated. The blackened hand of the corpse he hugged wore a ring with the sigil of the Luz family, given only to the Lady of Luz, confirming without a doubt that the corpse was Acostav’s wife, Clara.

Nigreos’s head then slowly moved to where his own father, Viiro, was knelt beside a second blackened husk, the front half of her body blown off just like all those victims back in Hiriech. Lord Nogara, who stood behind his brother, was stunned, but Viiro Noctis’s face was emotionless, as if he felt nothing at the sight down below him.

“F-Father…?” he uttered, refusing to check the corpse’s finger for fear of what might be there. “Who is—?”

“Who else?” the Master of Darkness snapped, cutting him off sharply and coldly. “Use your head before you ask stupid questions, Nigreos. Your mother is dead.”

Mother…? She’s dead…?

Nigreos took a weak step forward, finally forcing himself to get a full look at the exploded and unrecognizable body of Nium Noctis. Like with Lady Clara, the only identifying item was the ring on her finger.

“I don’t get it,” he breathed, dropping to his knees beside his mother’s body. “How? This was caused by the Kosah-Rei’s combustion magic, right? But how did they get to Mother…or Lady Clara?”

Viiro shook his head. “Who knows, really. You never did gain the answer to what caused them back in Hiriech, so there are any number of possibilities.”

What the hell? Turning away from his mother, Nigreos took yet another look at his father’s face, but there was nothing to be found. He might as well have been gazing at the body of some random person. What the hell is wrong with you?! Why are you so quiet?! Why do you look like you don’t care?! Master Acostav is crying back there and you’re sitting here like this?! Father…?

“What you want to do is save your sister because Viiro Noctis has no interest in doing it himself. Your father has already abandoned Neah to her fate like the cruel bastard he is, and if not for Neah, you would not seek to be the Master of Darkness either.”

Nigreos turned away, not wanting to entertain that line of thought any more than he was. The Kosah-Rei attacked Noctalus, and for the first time since Hiriech, the leaders of a Great City were dead. He realized then that Leiolai Sartella did not think he and Lunara would betray their parents. Clearly, they didn’t actually need them in order to assassinate the Ladies of the NightLight, rather they were simply ensuring that Nigreos, Lunara, and Abi were distracted long enough for this to happen.

I let her get in my head… I let Sartella play me like a fiddle. As if she would ever want to save Neah! Neah would be just as much a target as—! Nigreos heart felt as if it had stopped, a horrifying realization coming over him. She’s as much a target as Mother…so if they got Mother, then— Neah!

Nigreos took off running yet again, ignoring his father’s calls behind him as he rushed back to the stairwell and descended two at a time. The rooms of the Noctis children were in the western side of the palace, which meant he had a long distance to travel. He had no idea where anybody was, for a bunch of them had gone into the city that morning to celebrate the festival. It was possible none of the others had made it back yet, and it was possible there were other casualties of the morning. But he would give everything up to ensure that Neah Noctis would be safely in her bedroom when he arrived.

If she died… If she was killed not because of her condition, but because of the Kosah-Rei and my own ineptitude, then I’ll never forgive myself! It can’t be! I just can’t be! Neah, please be alive! Please! I cannot lose you! I swore to you I’d give you a future you could look forward to! I swore I’d walk through the greatest of hells to make sure you were safe! You’re my little sister, damn it! You and Luna mean the world to me! Mother’s dead! She’s gone, and if I lose you, too…then I’ll never be able to make amends! I’d never allow myself to! Please don’t leave me! Please, Neah! PLEASE!

Reaching the door of Neah’s bedroom, he didn’t even bother to knock as he shoved the door open and stumbled into the room. “Neah?!”

There was no sign of his little sister, but Nigreos immediately caught sight of the dead body at his feet. Healer Ryre lay on the carpet, her torso sliced open from neck to pelvis, blood and guts leaking out onto the ground and a horrified expression on her face while her unseeing eyes were wide. Nigreos silently leaned down to touch her neck, confirming with absolute certainty that she was dead.

Healer Ryre? I’m sorry…

Nigreos stood back up, his eyes shifting now to the open balcony doors just ahead. The dark mage crossed the room, stepping out onto the balcony, only to be greeted with the sight of Noctalus down below.

Where is she? Did they kidnap her and jump over the side? A strong enough wind mage could do it, but… Why? If they kidnapped her, then why? They’ve never taken mercy on us before?

He soon noticed the folded piece of parchment at his feet, a stone on top of it to keep it from blowing away in the wind. Nigreos knelt down and removed the stone, then unfolded the parchment to find the letter he had expected to find.

She’s alive for now. See you in Stellareid.

Eight words were all that had been written for him, but the point they were trying to make was crystal clear. They were taking Neah to Stellareid, and if he wanted her back, he’d have to go get her himself. Crushing the parchment in his grasp, Nigreos clenched his teeth tightly with rage and hatred, both at himself and at the Kosah-Rei who took Neah.

You cultists are so cocky…so perhaps you don’t realize the lengths I’d go to save my sister… You’ve pissed off the wrong guy…Leiolai Sartella!