The Burning Flowers

Chapter I

I was never supposed to be the Master of Light.

This is a thought that goes through my mind at least once a day, and it is something I do not deserve to forget. This role was thrust upon me because the one who was supposed to inherit it turned her back on it. To this day, I do not know whether I blame her for this, or whether I understand what she thought when she looked me in the eyes, apologized, and said goodbye. She knew what she was doing to me, how she was upending every plan I ever had for my life, and though it was obvious that she felt guilty about it, she still did not change her mind and decide to stay. My desires did not outweigh hers. That much was obvious.

I do think, at the very least, I consider her to have been a coward. She ran, after all. She was somebody who could not stand and oppose our father herself, instead choosing to flee with the man she loved. I wonder how she felt in those years between her flight from Noctalus and her death.

I wonder if she missed us.

I wonder if she regretted what she had done.

At the end of the day, even though she rejected the name “Luz”, it still followed her wherever it was she went, and it was responsible for her death.

***

Tanna Luz had been adored by everybody who met her. She was beautiful, charming, intelligent, funny, and one of the most pleasant of people to be around. She lit up every room she entered and could turn the worst of all moods into a genuine joy. Acostav always admired his older sister, knowing that he was far from being someone like her. He was irritable, less social, completely lacking in charm, and was certainly not good looking. Tanna had a talent he lacked, both for people and for magic. Her control over the affinity of light was magnificent—a prodigy even among prodigies. Where most Luz could not begin casting upper level spells until they were teenagers, Tanna started when she was only twelve, earning her the title of “Aurea Lux”, which was the term in the old tongue for “Golden Light”. Adding to her rather impressive resume was the fact that this name was given not by the people of the palace, but by commoners living down in Noctalus.

The people adored her, too.

Despite warnings from their father that she shouldn't go down into the city as often as she did, and especially not without a bodyguard, Tanna still paid daily visits to both the light districts and the dark districts.

“I know I’m going to leave Noctalus for Erika someday, but I want my people to trust in me as their future Master of Light! I want them to know that the position is in good hands and that they can rely on me to represent them!”

Nobody in the NightLight really agreed with her, but Tanna was not somebody whose mind could be so easily changed. Most called her headstrong, but Acostav considered her to be simply stubborn. She believed in her ideals no matter what anybody said. Even when their father’s words were given credibility by the attempt on her life down in the Glowing Plaza one autumn, Tanna just brushed it aside.

“Those guys who tried to kill me were the exception, not the rule! I’m not going to stop visiting my people because of a handful of bad apples! Besides, I’m a light mage! Very few are able to actually hurt me!”

Her attitude was criticized even more after that, but again, Tanna would not budge. Acostav and his little brother, Eldoran, often made fun of her behind her back, and even sometimes to her face. At the time, he truly had seen her as a fool asking for trouble, but looking back on it, Acostav knew he had been behaving immaturely. He loved his sister as much as anybody, and though the two of them never spoke of it, he knew Eldoran had as well. As for the Noctis, most of them shared Acostav and Eldoran’s outspoken opinions. Viiro often lamented that he would be serving beside a moronic Master of Light, and Nogara certainly didn’t hesitate to butt heads with Tanna every chance he got. There was one exception, however, and that was the brother aged between Viiro and Nogara, and the one who would be heir to the dark side of the palace.

Nackaal Noctis was well known to be Tanna’s best friend. The young man was rarely seen without her, and Tanna very obviously shared a love for him that was stronger than the love she had for the others. Acostav had been jealous of their relationship, for Nackaal might have been close to them, but he was not her brother. He didn’t understand why Tanna would show so much more favor for Nackaal over him and Eldoran, but he knew he would only come across as a petulant child if he put those feelings to words, so he kept his mouth shut and focused on his own studies.

Acostav was to be the next eraser in a long line of Luz who held that dangerous responsibility. He would be heir to the light side of the palace alongside Nackaal, and would always be a target of suspicion from the Iijis and those close to them. The erasers were never trusted or liked no matter how they were treated outwardly. Eyes would always be on them, and hatred would boil within their guts. Acostav’s uncle, the eraser proceeding him, drove this fact into him from the moment he was young enough to understand that vile magic and the nature of the erased realm.

“They can regulate us all they like,” his uncle said bluntly, “but at the end of the day, if we use our ability without the Iijis knowing, then they will be powerless to stop us. Should we decide someone needs to be removed, and are able to use erasure without getting caught, then we can cover our tracks and pretend we didn’t betray anybody. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never erased somebody behind King Callaan’s back, and you’d be lying if you made the declaration that you never would. Someday, somehow, you will find yourself before a person that the Iijis don’t want gone, but that must be removed. When that day comes, you must make the right choice.”

Acostav was terrified of the eraser power, but he did not have the choice to run from it. From a young age, he steeled himself for a life of isolation and ostracism. Even the Noctis didn’t always trust the Luz eraser, so the only ones he would find companionship with were his siblings. Tanna and Eldoran were his closest friends, and though his older sister’s tendencies irritated him, he still sought her affection and love.

“I’ll always be here for you, Aco,” she told him one time. “No matter what! When everybody else turns their backs, I’ll be right here to give you a big ol’ hug! Your sister’s got your back!”

Tanna lied.

Perhaps she meant it at the time, but in the end, that promise was no more than hollow words. She didn’t have his back. She wasn’t always going to be there. There was somebody more important to her than her little brother, and it was right before Acostav was going to start learning eraser magic that the truth came out.

Tanna abruptly got pregnant despite not having any known partners. She tried to hide it for a time, but eventually, their father sensed the extra mana in her body then ordered her to tell the truth. She desperately insisted that she had made a mistake and got too drunk one night with a friend down in the city. Since Tanna refused to turn over the name of the commoner who allegedly knocked her up, their father had her detained in her room so that they could use magic to identify the father.

He wasn’t a commoner as she had claimed.

The father of her child was Nackaal Noctis.

The NightLight exploded with drama and rage in the aftermath of that reveal, and it was then that Tanna and Nackaal admitted that they had been in a relationship for years. Unfortunately, Tanna getting drunk the night she got pregnant was the only piece of truth to her story. Both heads of the Houses were livid because it was a major taboo for Noctis and Luz to reproduce. Acostav didn’t know if it was just a myth or if it was scientifically proven, but there was a belief that if one with dark magic and one with light reproduced then the child would be weaker in both affinities. The power of dark and light was the pride of Noctis and Luz, so it was unthinkable that two of the heirs could stain their bloodline with each other’s magic. They were ordered to never speak to each other again, with Tanna’s father immediately setting about calling a nature mage to abort the child.

That night, Acostav was awoken by a knocking at his door, and though she was detained in her bedroom by six guards, he was unsurprised that Tanna was the one visiting.

“We’re running away,” she told him with a sad smile. “I really did look forward to being the Master of Light, but Aco, I love Nackaal more than I’ve ever loved anybody. I may not have intended to have this baby, but now that it exists, I want it. Father’s going to kill it, so I have no choice but to leave.”

“T-Tanna! Is this not going too far?! I’m sure we could talk to him, but—?!”

“Talking to him isn’t going to work. You should have seen him when he found out the truth. I don’t think he ever liked me to begin with, but I’m certain he hates me now. Besides, it’s too late. I killed the guards watching over me. They’re all dead, Acostav, murdered by my own hands. I’m a killer…”

“B-but—!”

“I’m so sorry,” she interrupted again. “This decision is going to upset the balance of things. You’re next in line for the Master of Light since you haven't yet started to learn erasure. You’ll be taking my place beside Viiro, and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled about that. The bitter bastard never liked me either.

“I love you, Little Brother. I always will.”

She hadn’t had time to remain behind for much longer, so with one final hug, she bid him goodbye and vanished into the night. Acostav never told a soul that Tanna stopped by to talk to him, and when morning came, both she and Nackaal Noctis were gone, the guards outside their doors dead as he’d been told. In the months that followed, there was a massive search in the city and in the countryside for the two of them, but they were not found, and eventually, the Noctis and Luz concluded they could not waste more time and resources hunting them.

Those who were left behind mourned them as if they were dead. Eldoran didn’t speak to anybody for a few weeks after that, Nogara was far quicker to anger since he took to alcohol for salvation, Viiro was unreadable as always, and Acostav was stuck struggling with feelings he could not decipher—contradictions that left him constantly wondering what he felt about Tanna Luz. As for the people in the city, there were riots and protests, with the commoners accusing them of driving their beloved Aurea Lux out of Noctalus—riots that were only quelled when the Master of Darkness returned from Erika and beheaded six of them with a wave of his hand.

As his sister predicted, Acostav was quickly pushed away from learning erasure and was given a much harsher regime to teach him more light magic than he had initially planned to learn. He considered himself a good student, so he picked up quickly, but he was never certain whether he was happy or sad that he lost the responsibility of erasure. It had been terrifying, but at the same time, he had spent years mentally preparing for it—years that now felt like such a massive waste of his time. To make matters worse, Eldoran was far from capable of taking his place.

“Your brother is a rebellious fool,” his father complained. “He refuses to listen to me, he treats me without respect, and he has no drive or motivation.”

A night after his father spoke those words, he and Eldoran got into a huge argument that revealed the source of the young man’s resentment.

“It’s your fault she’s gone, you old bastard! You’re the one who drove her away! So she fucked Nackaal, who cares?! Is your lineage really more important than your goddamned daughter?! I understand removing her as Master, but to try and kill her baby was too fucking far! I hate you, and I have no intention of doing anything you desire! I hope you die!”

As punishment for his words, their father refused to teach him erasure magic, instead turning to a talented and promising second cousin of theirs, Clara Luz. She was a good friend of Acostav and Eldoran, though since she lived out in the country, they only saw each other at the holidays. However, the decision to make her the next eraser meant she was in Noctalus far more often. Acostav found some comfort and solace in her presence that he lost with Tanna’s departure. She was everything Eldoran wasn’t, so she was treated even better than Acostav’s little brother, who certainly made good on his promise. The young man left Noctalus as well, taking up residence out in the country with a Noctis baron he had been close with. Eldoran always insisted he had no interest in continuing the Luz line, so he never married and he never had children. Because of this, their father was insistent that Acostav must have kids, for with Tanna gone and Eldoran refusing, the direct line could very well be ended.

“Your children will be my own direct descendants, so they must be strong! They must be powerful! Their control over light magic must rival every Luz in this land. For this reason, we should keep the bloodline pure. More light magic in their genes will make them more powerful.”

Acostav was betrothed to Clara under the logic that they both had control over light magic and weren’t related closely enough for it to be against Ijirian incest laws. Since Eldoran left, Clara was also declared to be the next ruler of the palace. Acostav tried not to think about the twisted logic behind his father’s actions, and since he truly did love Clara, he accepted the betrothal and married her as ordered. A similar event happened with the Noctis, for while he did not know the details, Viiro married a young noblewoman named Nium from the southern territories. Since Clara was already breaking the traditional succession, Nium was allowed to rule over the dark side of the palace.

From what little Acostav knew, the reason it was her and not Nogara was because the youngest of Viiro’s siblings had already been betrothed to the eldest daughter of an aging yet ridiculously influential Noctis baron. The deal had been struck before Nackaal’s flight, and any attempts to break off the agreement would risk angering the baron, who was a critical ally to the Noctis. In that sense, Acostav suspected that Clara’s breaking of tradition was exactly the excuse the Master of Darkness needed to keep the betrothal in place.

Viiro and Acostav would become Masters.

Nium and Clara would rule over Noctalus.

Everything had finally returned to order.

And then it was destroyed yet again by a report from the northern coastal town of Nalakar, detailing the first sighting of Tanna Luz and Nackaal Noctis in years. Acostav himself was not permitted to rush up north, but he heard of the events second-hand afterwards. They had apparently been hiding in that town under aliases, raising their daughter as a simple shop owner's child, but at some point, they were discovered. Their dead bodies were found in their house a few days after they went missing, and every autopsy reported that it was caused by poison that had been slipped into a bottle of wine someone had gifted them. A thorough investigation funded by Noctalus traced the wine to a gang of bandits that had been hiding out in Nalakar, and after assaulting their base and interrogating the survivors, they received the truth.

One of the bandits had lived in Noctalus when he was younger, so having recognized Tanna Luz’s face, he believed they must have been hiding a fortune in that house. He hadn’t realized they truly had abandoned everything, so they poisoned them and then slipped inside after they were dead, only to find little of value.

The daughter was kidnapped and sold off to a slaver before the bandits were located, and the trail went dark somewhere in Norania.

The girl was never found.

A part of Acostav had been certain he would see Tanna again someday. After all, once he and Clara took control, they could simply welcome them back to the city and things could return to normal. Her death was somehow more painful than her departure despite the fact that he hadn’t seen her in so long. It rekindled those old emotions that ripped him apart, so the only thing that managed to bring some joy back into his life was the birth of his first child, Eko. Raising his son gave him something to do with his existence, and it couldn’t have made him happier. He loved that boy with all his heart, and when his daughter Album was born, he felt the same overwhelming joy for her. His children were his life, and he wanted to watch over them the way he could not do for Tanna.

When Eko was six and Album was four, his father retired as Master of Light, allowing Acostav to go to Erika and take his place under the current king, Markreas Iiji. Viiro was appointed Master of Darkness in the same year, so even though he was sad to leave his children behind, he knew it was his duty, and he would simply have to be there with them whenever he could.

Yet, Acostav knew his mental state was on a thin line, being held together by the weakest of string. Tanna’s fate always ate at him, reminding him of what he failed to do and that it could absolutely happen again. Clara, Eko, and Album could be lost just as easily as Tanna if he wasn’t careful. He needed to make sure they didn’t walk the same path as she did. Unfortunately, Clara wasn’t as paranoid, so even when he requested Album be kept away from Nigreos and Eko from Lunara, she told him he was being silly and that he shouldn’t worry so much.

It was hard not to, being away for so long, but once again, things started to look up. Eko was a brilliant mage that probably could have rivaled Tanna, showing such amazing control and strength in his light magic. He was a beacon of hope for Acostav Luz, and even for Acostav’s father, whose final words on his deathbed were, “Eko will do what Tanna could not. He is the Master of Light this country needs.” Losing his father was hard, but the silver lining was that Eldoran visited Noctalus again, so he got to see his brother more in those few years than he did in all the time since Tanna left.

But once again, things took a turn for the worse when Album showed deficiencies in her mana. Nobody knew for certain why it happened or what caused it, but she could produce only an eighth of what the average mage could, meaning that light magic beyond simple castings of Luminetta were beyond her. Despite his father’s belief that his and Clara’s union would strengthen their affinities, Album was showing the exact opposite. This caused something to snap in Acostav—the final tragedy his brain could handle.

If Album can’t use light magic, then how the hell is she supposed to protect herself?! She’s going to be the damn eraser! She’s going to be the one the entire empire fears and despises! How is she supposed to take on that role if she’s weaker than even the most average of mages?! She needs to improve! She needs to get better! She needs to try harder! If she doesn’t, then she’ll die! She’ll die like Tanna did!

He did everything he could to snap Album into shape, to make her take things more seriously and try harder than she already was. He had medication shipped in from anywhere he could get it, hoping to artificially increase her mana production and get her up to a normal level. She infuriated him, for she didn’t understand what was going to happen to her if she couldn’t be powerful. Tanna was the greatest light mage of their generation and she still died, so how was a borderline magicless supposed to survive in this cruel world of theirs?

“They are scared of us!” he forcefully reminded her the night of her embarrassing orientation performance. “They have people in Noctalus watching over your mother. Markreas and every Iiji that preceded him are terrified of us, as they should be. We are terrifying. Now… You know all of this. You know this burden has to be yours, because Markreas would never allow me to give it to Eko as the next Master of Light. But if you can’t pull yourself together, then you will die. So why can’t you just do what I tell you to do?!”

Album had become a coward like Tanna. Everything she did reminded him of his self-destructing sister, so he beat his knowledge into her no matter what it took. Even when Clara looked at him like he was scum, he knew he had to give tough love to save her. Clara didn’t understand because she wasn’t in Noctalus when Tanna destroyed everything. She couldn’t understand the inescapable fear that dominated his mind at the thought of Album’s death.

If I must, then I will become a devil to save you, Album. I will be the biggest monster in all of Ijiria if it means you’ll be safe.

That was why he put on an uncaring and ruthless persona before Queen Toranei and King Markreas when they demanded to know more about Album’s condition.

“So you do not care if your daughter dies?” Toranei had asked him.

“I do not,” he had lied. “My successor is Eko, and Eko will surely serve as a respectable Master of Light when I retire. Album is unnecessary so long as there is somebody to inherit the powers of erasure. If she is on the team and lives, it will tell me that she is, in fact, worthy of such a power. In my eyes, I consider this team a test that she must pass. So even with all I have said, I still urge you to select that team.”

Despise me all you like, for I need her on the royal team! Yes, the team goes on missions far more dangerous than the other Academy teams do, but she will be safer with them. Ilirianna Iiji may be an idealistic and foolish girl, but she is still an Iiji. She is still powerful enough to protect Album. And loathe as I am to admit it, Abigail is a healer that Edwar Grunly’s professional opinion is supportive of. She will heal Album where it's needed. Nigreos Noctis is like her brother, so he will protect her too. Despite the dangerous missions, Album might actually be in a better spot on the royal team, but I refuse to let you know my true reasoning, Queen Toranei, for if you think Album’s loss would destroy me, you would never approve of her appointment. I will let you think of me as scum instead.

Somehow, someway, Album’s mana deficiencies vanished during her first year, solving every problem Acostav was facing. He had no idea what changed, but he didn’t care. Rushing to teach Album everything he could, he molded her into a mage befitting of what he needed her to be, and while she hadn’t yet reached Tanna and Eko’s level, she was getting there. Yet again, things started to look up in his life as Album thrived on the royal team and Eko prepared to take Acostav’s place someday.

But it was a constant in the life of Acostav Luz that when he got too high, he had nowhere else to go but down.

The Kosah-Rei made an unexpected attack in Noctalus.

His attention was drawn away by the appearance of Barron Kristoff.

And his beloved wife and longtime friend, Clara, was murdered.

***

“Acostav!”

At Viiro’s sharp calling of his name, Acostav blinked rapidly and returned to the present, having not even realized that he’d fallen back into the past. He was walking down the corridors of the light palace’s third floor alongside Viiro, Nogara, and Eldoran. Darkness had fallen on the NightLight, and in the morning, despite all that had happened that day, they would still be making for Stellareid.

“Are you even listening?” Viiro demanded when he didn’t reply.

“Er, I…”

“Damn it all, Viiro, lay off of him,” Eldoran growled. “Just because you’re so heartless as to brush off the death of your wife doesn’t mean my brother is! Give him a goddamned second!”

But the Master of Darkness scoffed and shook his head. “We do not have time for such luxuries. We have an assignment to accomplish, and this does not change that. You can mourn Clara’s death after we’ve handled Uma Miyon, but until then, pull yourself together, Acostav.”

“Right,” he muttered. “Of course… Yes, I still have preparations to make. When the sun rises, we depart. Everything will be handled here, I presume?”

Eldoran let out a meek sigh and nodded. “Yes, it will be. Nogara and I will remain for the moment and make preparations for Clara and Nium’s funerals. We’ll preserve their bodies, or what we have of them, until you guys can return. You have my word that we will not have the ceremonies without you.”

“And I shall send messengers to Erika immediately,” Nogara added. “King Markreas will need to know what happened. We’ll handle succession issues as well. After all, until Album and Lunara are finished at the Academy, somebody will need to run things here in Noctalus. Since Luna’s remaining behind, I’ll do my best to watch over her.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you both.”

Acostav could feel Viiro’s gaze on the back of his head as he excused himself and turned down a different corridor from the other three. He knew it was expected of him, but it felt so wrong to leave Noctalus. His wife had just died and he was running off to Stellaried instead of mourning her passing. Where the previous tragedies in his life left him with an amalgamation of emotions, this time, he was just empty, like he had nothing left to feel.

And to top it all off, we allowed them to kidnap Neah… That poor girl…

Acostav wasn’t sure where he was going, but eventually, he found himself just outside of Album’s bedroom, his hand raised to knock. His fist stopped midair at the sounds from within: His daughter’s sobbing and Eko’s soothing words as he comforted her.

What…am I doing?

Acostav turned and left without a word.