The Burning Flowers

Chapter X

Had it not been for the sudden and concerning arrival of his little sister, Nigreos wouldn’t have hesitated to rush with Abi to the healing quarters. Her collapse had been completely unexpected, and since his eyes had been on the princess when it happened, he didn’t have the faintest clue what might have caused it nor did he have the chance to ask. Iris and Faye were the ones who helped the semi-conscious Abigail out of the room, both assuring them that they would take care of her before departing. Nigreos clenched his teeth with frustration, and a part of him really did consider just getting up and at least going as far as the quarters, but Lunara had been adamant about waiting for Ilirianna before she gave her report, and since he needed to know why his sister had come to a place as dangerous as Stellareid, he reluctantly bit his tongue and remained seated. Beside him, he could sense how desperately Album wanted to do the same, so to communicate that they were feeling similarly, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave her as reassuring a smile as he could.

“Well then, before we begin, I must ask out of my own curiosity,” Lord Cartigan said. “Has something like this ever happened to Miss Reiner? I mean, should we be concerned that somebody might have done something to her while she was in the city? Omorossa, perhaps?”

Despite often remaining silent in important discussions like these, it was Jessi who was quick to give an answer. “No, Omorossa never touched her, and I think if he had tried anything, one of us would have caught it. We were right next to him, after all. Hiro, Glaus? Did you guys sense anything?”

Hiro gave a soft shake of his head while Rennigan merely grunted, “No, it was not Omorossa.”

“Very well,” Cartigan murmured, though he was still somewhat dissatisfied. “In that case—”

“Actually, if I may.” Cutting the Lord of Stellareid off in his typically disrespectful manner, Ryokumo cleared his throat and gave an awkward smile. “I do think it was nothing more than a bout of illness. Abi has not been feeling well these past weeks, and has often complained of an irritated stomach and a nasty headache. I think all the excitement that’s taken place since our mission to Piriit has finally caught up with her, and all she needs is a bit of care from Mackia and the castle healers. It’s nothing to fear.”

A stab of suspicion struck Nigreos as he listened to Ryokumo talk, for while Abi certainly hadn’t been feeling that great, he wouldn’t even slightly brush this incident aside as nothing to worry about. There was a massive chasm between feeling somewhat sick and dropping to the ground, convulsing. When he analyzed Ryokumo’s features, he not only caught a subtle warning look sent to Ilirianna, but there was also a hint of deceit, telling him it was highly likely Ryokumo did have an idea of what happened to her and was trying to hide it.

But why? Who in here is he concerned about? Could this be in regards to The Angel?

That answer was completely unsatisfactory, but unfortunately, Viiro turned the discussion back to the main issue. “Well, whatever happened to Miss Reiner is a problem for the healers. As you said, she’s in safe hands for now, so I want to get to the point. Luna, what the hell are you doing here? You were given explicit orders to remain behind, so your answer better be to my liking.”

Thus far, Lunara had been worriedly dazed, her amber eyes unfocused as she bore witness to Abigail’s incident. That wasn’t to say she hadn’t been scared for Abi’s well-being, but her exhaustion was certainly hindering her alertness. According to the guards that had escorted her to Castle Saientia from the First Ring’s outer walls, she had arrived alone and not in carriage, rather she had been on a singular black stallion that Nigreos knew was her personal steed. She had meager supplies left, and had admitted on her way to this very room that she had ridden on only four hours of sleep each night to increase her pace. It was obvious she was in a desperate rush to reach the City of Starlight.

Yet, Luna’s eyes suddenly turned sharp as she glared up at Viiro Noctis. “Well, Father, knowing you, I’m certain you won’t be satisfied, but I made my choice and I am confident it was the right one.” Then, not giving the man a chance to comment on her disrespectful tone, Lunara gave them the answer they sought. “The night you guys left Noctalus, I was confronted by Leiolai Sartella in my quarters.”

“Sartella?” Acostav spat, the name bringing to the Master of Light the same feelings of hatred and disgust as Nigreos instantly experienced. “So the changeling was infiltrating the palace? How? Did she give any indication of how she got inside?”

Lunara reluctantly shook her head. “I mean, we told you that when Nigreos, Abi, and I confronted her in Soladnay Park, she revealed to us that she could shapeshift into other species. I really do think it’s as simple as that. She used her powers, became a cat or a bird or something small that wouldn't draw attention, and crept past the guards. That’s almost certainly how Neah was kidnapped and Healer Ryre was murdered. For Mother and Lady Clara, well…” The girl lowered her eyes to the ground and grimaced. “Who can really say how they did it? Without understanding those combustions, there’s any number of ways.”

“Well, seeing as you’re alive, clearly your death wasn’t what Sartella was after,” Ilirianna pointed out. “So I’m guessing she wanted to talk with you?”

Lunara snorted. “Threaten is more the word we’re looking for here. Honestly, it’s simple. Sartella told me that if I didn’t go straight for Stellareid, they would kill Neah without question. She said if I wanted her to live, I needed to be on the highway by morning and in the City of Starlight by the end of the week. Then she transformed into a bird and flew out the window. It was quick and abrupt, but it was more than enough to snap me to action.”

Nigreos’s body went cold as Luna finished her explanation. He couldn’t fathom why the Kosah-Rei would want Lunara in Stellareid since they should desire her death given her noble blood.

But if they wanted to kill her, Sartella would have just done so. It’s the same contradiction as their sparing of Neah… Why haven’t they tried killing us Noctis? We should be massive threats to their victory? I, personally, have more cultist blood on my hands than anybody else on my team because of my dark magic. We’re some of their biggest threats, and now they’ve gone out of their way to spare us twice? What the hell are they getting at?

And yet, despite knowing he was a fool for allowing them to get in his head, he couldn’t help recalling the words spoken to him by Leiolai and Uma.

“From my understanding, Neah Noctis’s current condition is not something modern nature magic has been able to heal, right? You need a changeling, somebody who can safely use biological magic on another person to alter Neah’s body and enable her to handle the dark magic ripping her from the inside. You need me, don’t you?”

“What do we want with Neah Noctis?! We wish to heal her! We wish to extend an olive branch to the next generation of Noctis mages and do our best to ensure your sister lives to see her eighteenth birthday! Who said anything about a ransom?! Who said anything about a barter?! All we said was we’d see you in Stellareid, yes?! We will save your sister!”

Nigreos clenched his fists in his lap, despising himself for momentarily wondering if that was actually the truth. Were the Kosah-Rei really intending to cure Neah? And if they were, why? What would he make of that? If the cult who was slaughtering the elite did what his father refused to, then where did that place him?

What did that make him?

“Luna…” Viiro began softly, a low rumble in his tone that sounded like the growl of an animal. “You were given orders and you defied them. Are you really trusting the words of a Kosah-Rei traitor? You think they’ll spare Neah now that you’re in Stellareid? All you’ve done is give them exactly what they want! Are you really that stupid?”

Nigreos was then stunned by the look Lunara turned on Viiro. It was cold, threatening, and full of such raw anger and hatred that a part of him truly believed she was about to attack him then and there despite knowing Luna wasn’t a violent person. He was clearly not the only one who felt this way, for he sensed a brief and instinctual drawing of mana from Eko, and when Nigreos glanced at Album’s brother, he found a look of shock on his face, as if even he was thrown off by that reaction.

“Father.” Luna spoke the word like a poison. “I made my choice.”

That was all she said, but the underlying meaning within those words felt like she was egging him on, as if trying to get Viiro to strike her. Having no idea what was going on, Nigreos found himself on his feet and speaking before he even knew what he was attempting to do.

“There’s no helping it now! Luna’s here and it’s too dangerous to send her back alone. She should stay with us until we depart with Miyon!”

“And when will that be, son of mine?!” Viiro snarled, turning now on Nigreos. “Our departure is uncertain because of your selfish desire to waste time here in this city while we have Doctor Miyon at our mercy! Not even a hint of Neah’s whereabouts has come to us!”

“We’ve only been here for three damn days!” Nigreos retorted before he could think better of it. “Did you think she’d just spawn out of nothing if we started searching? Of course we haven’t found her yet!”

“Then—?!”

“Viiro, Nigreos, enough!” Acostav intervened, his features now turning angry as he glanced between the father and son. “For the love of mercy, control yourselves, all of you! Viiro, a Master of Ijiria should not be behaving as you are, nor should a Son of Noctalus, Nigreos! What are you, children?! Pull it together!”

Nigreos and Lunara both stood their ground, though the former couldn’t help internally acknowledging Acostav’s point. The way he had been speaking to his father was taboo and embarrassing, especially in front of Ilirianna and Lord Cartigan, but he simply couldn’t help it. He was frustrated, scared, angry—all those emotions wriggling inside of him like a bunch of life-sucking parasites. Neah’s safety dominated his thoughts, so how could he not scream at the man who was vehemently trying to leave her behind—to abandon her?

He stopped and glanced at the others in the room, wanting to determine their feelings on the situation. Rennigan, Jessi, and Hiro merely appeared uncomfortable, as if wishing they didn’t have to sit in and witness this again, though when Rennigan noticed Nigreos’s gaze, he gave him a subtle nod of approval and encouragement that was strangely comforting. Eko still seemed a bit in shock from the earlier mana-drawing while Album clearly wanted to intervene but didn’t know how to do so. Lord Cartigan was regarding them with disapproval, though he appeared to be infuriatingly on Viiro’s side. Ilirianna was merely observing, and he suspected she was about to step in herself. As for Ryokumo, when Nigreos spared a quick glance at the wind mage, he found his lips drawn tight and his brow lowered in an intense expression that might have contemplation or maybe even rage.

“Well, Nigreos isn’t wrong in that what’s done is done,” Ilirianna stated, doing as expected and inserting herself into the conversation. “Lunara is here, and we have a search to finish. With that said, I must ask, Luna, if you have anything else to add?” When Lunara irritably shook her head and averted her eyes, Ilirianna nodded and went on. “Good. Then I think it’s time I give my own report on the protest down at the Operon Company.”

“Yes, please do, My Princess,” Cartigan agreed, antsy to change the subject to anything else. “Was Keskivaara the one behind this madness? And was the problem handled?”

Ilirianna eyed the Lord for a moment before smiling pleasantly and responding. “Yes to both of them. Keskivaara was not only the one who orchestrated it, but he was present at the protest. Thankfully I managed to quell the rage of the populace and convince them to leave by agreeing to meet with Keskivaara and talk things through.”

Because the princess made her declaration so casually, as if there was no fault in it, those in the room didn’t react right away. However, as the meaning of her words properly processed, Viiro, Acostav, and Cartigan all gazed at her with fury, meanwhile Album and Nigreos exchanged relieved and excited looks.

“You did what?!” Cartigan spat, jolting to his feet so fast that his chair began to rock quite rapidly.

“I agreed to meet with him,” Ilirianna repeated, though this time with a challenging and slightly smug tone. “I sensed that if things carried on the way they were then people were going to die, so I made a spur-of-the-moment decision and concluded that the only way to satisfy that mob was to do as Keskivaara requested.”

Viiro’s rage, which was already burning quite violently, only seemed to grow worse as he took a step towards Ilirianna and breathed, “Is every member of your royal team mentally impaired? You would concede to a crowd of violent toddlers throwing a temper tantrum?! You would give them exactly what they want after they threaten to vandalize the Operon Company and kill their leaders?! You would show them that this treasonous behavior will get them what they seek?!”

“The people of this empire are not toddlers,” Ilirianna snapped, keeping her tone calm and composed. “What I am doing is communicating that the government hears them. I am telling them that their princess and future queen acknowledges their struggles, believes them to be valid, and has not forgotten them.”

Acostav then muttered, “But King Markreas said—”

“Master Acostav, with all due respect, I don’t give a damn what King Markreas said.” Ilirianna’s blunt disregard for the desires of the Ijirian Empire’s King seemed to leave Acostav and Viiro stunned, allowing Ilirianna to continue. “I am not going to sit idly by while one of my Great Cities is on the cusp of ripping itself apart. That protest was massive. The people were angry and scared. All they ask is for their lives to be a little bit better, and Keskivaara has only demanded—no requested a chance to negotiate. And you, Lord Cartigan, couldn’t even do him that?”

Cartigan smirked darkly, and Nigreos was certain that had he not been speaking to Princess Ilirianna, he may have ordered her arrest right there. “Let me lay out for you what you have done. Yes, I rule Stellareid, but the Company Lords have influence. They have power, money, other resources, and are the ones backing the scientific discovery that defines this city. I cannot afford for them to become my enemies, and they have all made it clear that they will not cooperate with me if I negotiate with Rickori Keskivaara. Do you really think I don’t know how dangerous that man is? I am thinking, Princess, but it seems you are not.”

“That so?” Ilirianna raised her eyebrows. “Well, My Lord, maybe you should think about the implications of the fact that people outside of House Cartigan are in control. Are you really so weak of a lord that you have to bend the knee to someone else? Does Lord Eganno Cartigan rule Stellareid, or is it the Company Lords? From my position, you appear as a mere puppet dancing in their palms in a desperate attempt to appease its masters. Your duty is to your people, not the merchants.”

“False.” Cartigan sneered at her, his lip curling up in a snarl as he licked his teeth. “I do not expect a child like you to understand, but I suppose I just have to wait for your father to hear what you’ve done. He’ll beat you into shape.”

The princess shrugged casually. “Maybe. But by then, I’ll have spoken to Keskivaara and solved the situation. What happens to me is irreverent so long as the people of Stellareid are cared for.”

“And what the hell do you plan to offer him?” Viiro demanded, and spying a wonderful chance to piss his father off even more, Nigreos decided it was time to step in.

“The allegiance and support of Noctalus.”

The Master of Darkness slowly shifted to stare now at his son, who was smirking victoriously as Viiro, Acostav, and Cartigan all tried to process his words. “What?”

“Noctalus will provide Keskivaara with its full support. His movement will not be persecuted in our domain and resources will be provided to him and his people for his actions in Stellareid. Of course, when I made this offer to him, I was only assuming Luna, as the next in line, would agree. Do you, Sis’?”

As he asked his question, he watched with pleasure as Lunara’s features lit up with excitement and mischief as she gave her firm affirmative. “Yes, of course! As the Lady of Noctalus, I will do just that.”

“And for that matter, I will also be petitioning my father.” Surprisingly, despite the tense state of affairs, Rennigan opted to stand against them as well, getting to his feet and narrowing his eyes. “Given his position on the Council of Elders, the cooperation of Kloras Glaus will be quite beneficial to him. King Markreas’s opinion of the People’s Mind will become irrelevant if the Council votes against him.”

“Glaus…”

“And I’m planning to do the same!” Album sputtered, though she refrained from looking at anybody. “Luna and I…will be on Keskivaara’s side! Like Nigreos said, he will have Noctalus in his corner.”

“And as if it wasn’t already clear, the princess will be with him as well,” Ilirianna added with a laugh she directed for Cartigan specifically. “So weigh your alliances, My Lord. Who is more important to you? The Company Lords, or Erika and Noctalus? Make your choice however you like, but in a few hours time, I will be meeting with Rickori Keskivaara. End of discussion.”

The baffled powerlessness of Viiro, Acostav, and Cartigan was more pleasant and satisfying than even Nigreos had expected, for with all of them standing in favor of Keskivaara, the desires of the Masters of Noctalus became meaningless and they knew it. The royal team, along with Rennigan of all people, had shoved them into a corner.

So bitch and whine all you like, Father. You’ve already lost.

***

Even though it was probably pointless, the one thing those gathered in that room could agree on was that Uma Miyon should be questioned about Lunara. He wasn’t going to tell them anything, but it was always possible that in his hubris, he would let something slip, so after their discussion, Acostav took Album and Eko to the dungeons to do just that. Neither her father nor her brother brought up the fact that she voiced her support for Nigreos, and while Eko might not judge her, she was certain Acostav was disappointed. She felt bad that she turned on him given the conversation they had that afternoon, but as scared as she had been to stand up, she knew it was the right choice. Keskivaara might have a means of locating Neah, and even setting that aside, his movement was far more respectable than the Kosah-Rei’s. Turning him into their enemy was stupid, so as much as she hated the way things unfolded, she did not regret what she did.

I hope Father understands that… At the very least, he’s not bringing it up, so I guess that’s good.

The trip was held in complete silence, and eventually, the guard accompanying them opened Uma’s cell and motioned for them to enter. Acostav and Eko had been present during the initial interrogation the night they arrived, but Album had never seen Uma before, and despite having heard plenty about him from the others, nothing they said truly expressed how disgustingly creepy the man was. He was covered in both dry and wet bodily fluids, he was shackled to the wall, he was missing his legs, yet he grinned sadistically at them, as if excited to see them. She did notice that he still had both eyes despite Eko claiming Viiro ripped one out, so she could only conclude that a healer put it back.

I wonder how many times that’s happened…

“Back again, Master Luz?” he rasped just before his eyes shifted to Album. “Ah, and your beautiful daughter is here this time? A pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Album, given how much I’ve heard about you. I am Doctor Uma Miyon.”

Acostav clicked his tongue, stepping to the side and blocking Album from his view. “Speak to my daughter again and I’ll fry just enough of your face to keep you alive and breathing. Do you hear me, you sniveling little shit?”

“Oooh… Scary…” Uma weakly sat up a bit straighter, wincing from the pain caused by his movements, before he raised his eyebrows in expectation. “Well let’s not keep me in suspense! You three are down here for a reason, so let’s avoid the cliche threats and get right to the point. What is it you wish to ask me this time?”

Given that her father was in front of her, Album couldn’t see the face he made, but the sharp tone in his voice when he spoke made it clear how irritated Uma was already making him. She wondered how Acostav was going to go about this interrogation, but it seemed the Master of Light had no intention of beating around the bush, for he got to the point swiftly and bluntly.

“Why does the Kosah-Rei want Lunara Noctis in Stellareid?”

Uma’s tongue flicked out through his pursed lips, a scratchy laugh escaping with it. “Ah, so dear Luna is already here? Perfect. Things are going according to plan then.”

“What plan?” Acostav demanded, stepping towards the bars separating Uma’s half of the cell from theirs as he extended his hand through them and formed a ball of light in his palm. “You listen here, Miyon! I’m sick and tired of your mockery! Answer the godforsaken questions! For what purpose do you need Lunara?! Where is Neah?! What is Rotana Vesh plotting here?!”

“No, no, and no!” Uma shrieked back, his eyes going wild as he cackled maniacally. “Just as you are sick of repeating yourself, I am tired of making my stance clear! I will not cooperate under any circumstances! Ask me all you like, but every time you come down here and demand answers, you are simply giving me a status report! In your desperation to squeeze information out of me, you have kept me up to date despite my incarceration deep in this dungeon!”

For a few seconds, a part of Album wondered if her father was about to let his light loose and end the doctor’s life. The Master’s body was shaking with frustration, so she wouldn't have been surprised if he did just rid them of the revolting man, but after taking a deep breath, Acostav lowered his hand and stepped back, giving Album a good look at the smug grin now on his face.

“You said you were familiar with my daughter,” he stated softly. “So then I would hope you understand that she possesses erasure magic. Miyon, you said the other day that you know about erasure, correct?”

Uma smirked. “Don’t I? It’s one of the most fascinating elements of this magical world of yours. I’ve read books upon books detailing your ancestral magic, Master Luz, so of course I know what Album can do to me. Are you implying you plan to erase me right now?”

There wasn’t even a touch of fear in his eyes, and it unnerved Album more than anything else about him. Most people were utterly terrified of being erased, with every criminal she had ever used her ability on freaking out and screaming in desperation as they begged for a simple death. To be forgotten by everybody was terrifying, so she didn’t like how calm Uma was being. It was as if he knew as a fact that she couldn't erase him, like he had some invulnerability to the magic.

I’d say that’s impossible. Nobody is invulnerable to erasure, but the Kosah-Rei have proven time and again that they possess abilities and relics beyond that of the average mages. Kristoff’s armor, Sartella’s changeling powers, Miyon’s ability to see a few seconds into the future, and of course the combustion magic are all examples of this, so what if he does have some immunity?

“Perhaps we should just erase you,” Acostav was saying. “If you truly do not want to cooperate with us, then why are we keeping you around? Why shouldn’t we just ship your pathetic ass into the erased realm? That is what our laws dictate should be the fate of the magicless who stumble upon our existence.”

“Then do it.” Uma called Acostav’s bluff, weakly leaning back and making his chest a wider target for her. “Erase me, Album Luz! Come and do it! I dare you! Plunge me into your erased realm and be rid of me, if that’s what you desire! Or are you lying just to scare me?! Are you not authorized to erase me yet? Are you waiting on something?! Huh?! Go ahead, you cowardly fuckers!”

A chill went through Album’s body, and she got the terrifying feeling that Uma Miyon was controlling the situation. She didn’t know how that could be possible, for he was their prisoner, but the way he acted made him seem like a puppet master, and if not for their explicit orders to bring him back to Erika, she may have made good on her father’s threats.

Uma broke out into laughter as he slumped back down, bending his head forward and sticking his tongue out to wet his cracked lips. “You can’t…or you won’t. Either way, I will not be erased nor will I be killed. I have been promised survival, so to kill me, you would have to best fate itself. Somehow, someway, all attempts to end my life will result in my survival.”

“You’re delusional,” Acostav snapped.

“Then prove me wrong, Master. Go on and kill me.”

Uma and Acostav stared at one another for a long moment, both daring the other to be the first to turn away, and in the end, it was Acostav who scoffed to himself, spun on his heel, and stalked from the room with his silent children in tow. Uma celebrated his victory with more laughter, but just before the door was shut behind them, he screeched out one last sentence.

“It was a pleasure, Acostav Luz! Goodbye forever!”