The Burning Flowers

Chapter VII

“That has to be one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve ever had,” Rennigan complained once his feet were firmly on the ground of Stellareid’s Third Ring. “I might actually vomit.”

Smoothing out his shirt and jacket, he then watched as Nigreos’s form returned to a solid shape, the dark mage melting out of the shadows with a satisfied grin on his face. “Well, I warned you, did I not?” Nigreos reminded him. “If you’re already throwing a tantrum, by all means, turn around, find a gondola, and march your pathetic ass back to the castle. Otherwise, let’s get moving.”

“I am not throwing a tantrum! Stop exaggerating! And for that matter, you did not warn me! You just asked if I was afraid of heights before dragging me over the side of a balcony! Truly, I thought for a second that you were gonna drop me!”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider it. Unfortunately, getting arrested for murder isn’t gonna help Neah. If it would, I’d have gladly dropped you.”

“Oh shut up.”

Rennigan rolled his eyes, glancing around the empty and dark alleyway that Nigreos had landed them in. The only light came from the crescent moon above and from the exit onto a road just up ahead, one Nigreos was already heading towards. Rennigan rushed after the dark mage, falling into stride just beside him as they emerged into what was immediately proven to be a residential neighborhood, though a quick scan of the architecture made it clear these were mostly owned by the middle class. Firelamps lined the snow-covered road, and at such a late hour, there wasn’t a soul to be found, something that made Rennigan a little bit more uncomfortable than he cared to admit. Nigreos stopped just at the mouth of the alley as he sought out a nearby street sign. Taking note of where they were, he turned right and continued without another word.

It was as Rennigan once again rushed to keep up with him that it suddenly dawned on him what he had just impulsively done. I’ve lost my mind. What the hell am I even doing down here? Everything I said to Noctis back in our quarters was perfectly logical! My argument was flawless, yet here I am, on my way to speak with Rickori Keskivaara himself, and for Nigreos Noctis of all people?

However, even as he internally whined about what he was doing, deep down inside, Rennigan knew exactly what had spurred him to action. At the end of the day, something had broken inside of Nigreos with the death of his mother and the kidnapping of Neah. He had been withdrawn and silent on the weeklong trip to reach Stellareid, and the way he lost his mind with both Uma Miyon and Master Viiro was completely out of character for the calm young man. Nigreos’s constant composure was one of the things that irked Rennigan the most, so to see it so thoroughly smashed to pieces was worrisome. To then find him perfectly willing to break the law and see Keskivaara, as well as how furious he got with Rennigan, resulted in the water mage insisting he should join, if only to make sure Nigreos didn’t get himself killed and ruin the whole mission.

Not that I’m worried about the bastard, and I wasn’t wrong in that an audience with Keskivaara could be beneficial for my father, but still… I don’t much like how Viiro Noctis spoke of his daughter either… To leave a girl as innocent as Neah to the mercy of these cultists just because she might die soon is utterly heartless…

Rennigan sighed, watching his breath rise up in a cloud of steam before him as they turned a corner and continued down another street. “So tell me, Noctis, do you actually know where we’re going? I mean, how did you get Keskivaara’s address? I doubt the Cartigans would have just told you.”

“It’s honestly not hard to find if you really want to know,” Nigreos answered softly. “The man is a beloved friend of the people, and from what I’ve gathered, he says his doors are always open to those who wish to see him. All I had to do was ask the right person and they told me exactly where I could find him.”

Rennigan frowned. “Kind of bold to be so open when he’s pissing off the government. Does he not think somebody without his best interests in mind is going to come knocking?”

“Hard to say,” the other mage muttered. “Maybe he just sees it as a necessary evil to gain the trust of the populace. He’s not called the ‘People’s Mind’ for nothing.”

Rennigan shrugged in silent concession at that point, but as he did so, something he had been wondering for a while returned to his thoughts, so he decided to finally put voice to the question. “What exactly does that mean? Why is he the People’s Mind?”

“I don’t know,” Nigreos admitted. “To be honest, before reading the mission briefing for our trip here, I hadn’t heard much about Keskivaara, so I’m no less familiar with the man than you are. That being said, if I had to make a guess, it’s because he’s an educated and powerful mage rallying the people. He’s helping them plan how to best get through to the government without getting themselves arrested. In that sense, he’s the brain behind their operation—the People’s Mind.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Rennigan mused. “Though I can’t help wondering why he’s staked his allegiance with the commoners. The briefing said he left Stellareid for years after his parents were killed and when he randomly came back, he began organizing against Lord Cartigan and the Company Lords. What changed while he was gone? Where did he even go?”

“Good question…but nobody except him, and I imagine his closest allies, would be able to answer that.”

The two of them fell silent yet again, leaving Rennigan to privately ponder the mysteries of this man that they didn’t even know for certain would be an ally. King Markreas believed that Vesh was attempting to recruit Keskivaara, and if that belief was true, then they were walking right into the belly of the beast. Back in their quarters, Rennigan had asked if Nigreos expected Keskivaara to have declined, but the dark mage ignored that question and never returned to it. His unspoken refusal to address that possibility indicated that he didn’t want to think about it, but since Rennigan didn’t exactly want to offer themselves on a silver platter to the Kosah-Rei, especially since the cult already made it clear they wanted him dead, he decided he wasn’t about to refrain from broaching the subject again.

“Noctis, if Keskivaara has joined forces with Vesh, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to ask him for help.”

With that response given almost immediately, Rennigan couldn’t stop himself from turning a baffled expression towards the mage beside him. “Even if he’s with the cult—the very people who took Neah in the first place? Is that truly wise?”

“None of what we’re doing right now is wise, Glaus,” Nigreos pointed out simply. “What I’m relying on is this: Keskivaara has proven through his actions that he does want to resolve these conflicts peacefully. He wouldn’t approve of an innocent person like Neah being kidnapped, so perhaps if he’s with Vesh and learns of this, he will convince them to give her back. Don’t misunderstand me, I will destroy the Kosah-Rei the very second I get the opportunity to, but only once Neah is safe. I meant it when I said I would do anything to protect her… She’s been through so much in her life and she doesn’t deserve this.”

“So you truly do not care?” Rennigan pressed. “What if Keskivaara just kills us on the spot? We could be walking towards our demise right now! Does that not worry you? Killing the two of us would be quite beneficial for those assholes!”

Nigreos grimaced, his lips drawing tight in an emotion Rennigan struggled to identify. “I know that. But what else am I supposed to do? Sit around and hope Lord Cartigan’s men find her for me? They aren’t willing to go as far as I am. Risks are necessary, I’ve known this ever since Neah’s condition first appeared. If Keskivaara kills me tonight, then a risk finally got me. I might not be able to help my sister if I’m dead, but I certainly can’t help her by doing nothing.”

“Fantastic,” Rennigan grunted bitterly. “Well, here's to hoping we don’t die then.”

“Cut the sarcastic tone. I didn’t force you to take this risk with me. You’re the one who begged to come along.” The dark mage then turned his head to glare at Rennigan. “Why are you here? Why are you taking such an unnecessary risk for the man you’ve expressed such hatred towards for years? Is it really just to get something for yourself out of Keskivaara?”

Rennigan snorted, turning away from Nigreos’s intense stare as he gazed instead at the darkened, two-story houses lining the road to his right. “Must I repeat myself? I don’t want your sister to die at their hands either.”

“But enough to ignore King Markreas and Lord Cartigan’s explicit orders?” Nigreos pressed firmly. “Enough to put your life in danger? Maybe you don’t want Neah to die, but since when did you care enough to potentially ruin everything you’ve been building?”

Rennigan smirked smugly, waving his hand dismissively in the air. “You think King Markreas is gonna touch me? Just as he can’t arrest a Son of Noctalus, punishing me is just gonna destroy his already barely existent relationship with my father. I’m untouchable to the Iijis.”

“But—!”

“And as for why I’m sticking my damn neck out for your sister, it’s because Viiro Noctis pisses me the hell off more than you do!” Turning back to face Nigreos, Rennigan’s smug grin shifted into a bitter one. “The way he’s so willing to abandon his daughter is revolting and represents everything I hate about the Masters of Ijiria! I understand that my father can be a pain in your asses, and I know every Master hates him, but it’s not like he’s doing everything for purely selfish reasons! Of course, I won’t pretend he doesn’t enjoy having power, but if you think he’s getting in your way for the hell of it then you’re dead wrong!”

Huffing with annoyance at Nigreos’s dubious expression, Rennigan went on. “The Masters of Ijiria are selfish people and my father seeks to ensure that scum like them never get the chance to decide everything themselves. They’re spoiled, pompous, and most would burn everything down for their own personal gain! Viiro’s willingness to sacrifice Neah just proves that! It infuriates me, so perhaps that’s another reason I’m walking here beside you! If Viiro isn’t interested in helping an innocent person, then I will. So, as much as I think you’re a spoiled asshole as well, I will at least give credit where it is due… At least you care…”

Nigreos’s eyes went wide, his expression a mix of surprise, confusion, and a little bit of pride. However, that dubiousness from before returned, and Nigreos unfortunately dragged the topic back to Kloras Glaus. “Well, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you saying that, but you can understand why I’d doubt Kloras’s intentions are as selfless as that. He’s screwed things up plenty of times because he prevented the Masters from acting when they could have.”

“I’m not saying my father is perfect,” Rennigan growled, his thoughts momentarily shifting back to Kloras’s comments about Jessi and Hiro back at the estate. “Like I said, he does enjoy his power. He likes wielding it even when he doesn’t have to. I’d be lying if I said I agreed with every decision he makes. And that’s why…”

The young man then paused, wondering why he was even confessing these things to Nigreos Noctis of all people. Though he supposed it didn't matter much, and at that moment, he felt like saying it, so he did.

“I’m not vying to become the Master of Water because my father tells me to. I want to be the Master of Water for myself. I want to be a Master this country can trust, and I want to counteract the effects of people like Viiro and Acostav. I want to be even better than my father, and that’s why you’ve always pissed me off. The title of Master of Darkness was dumped in your lap from the day you took your first breath, while I’m clawing my way to the top in order to succeed a Master who doesn't even want an apprentice. That’s why you risking everything for your sister was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like how easy this is for you, but at least you have more of a heart than your predecessor.”

Having said everything he wanted to say, Rennigan didn’t bother looking back at Nigreos, for he was sure the dark mage would still doubt his words. After all, the two of them had never liked each other, and Rennigan didn’t particularly like him even now. He wasn’t telling Nigreos all of this to get a reaction anyway, so he would have been perfectly content walking in silence for the rest of the trip. Yet, Nigreos eventually spoke, and it was in a warmer tone than Rennigan had expected.

“You know what, I understand that feeling,” he said softly. “I’ve been blinding myself to who my father was, trying to ignore all of the signs because I didn’t want to accept that he was a selfish scumbag. I told myself I needed to be the Master of Darkness to help Neah, and never questioned why the current one wasn’t already doing it. But at the end of the day, I think you just put my feelings to words better than I could. I don’t want to be the Master of Darkness because my father tells me to. I want to do it to be a better Master than him, to make sure somebody who actually cares sits in his seat when he’s gone. I’ll admit that I haven’t worked as hard as you, but I do hope that when I succeed him, you’ll be able to trust that the position is in good hands.”

Rennigan slowly raised his head, turning to gaze back at Nigreos, who was smiling at him with the most pleasant expression the dark mage had ever given him, and despite himself and everything he had always felt towards this individual, Rennigan begrudgingly let a smile of his own turn his lips.

“Yeah, well, my bar is pretty high,” he stated. “I’ll be right there in the Chambers with you, so mark my damn words, I’ll be able to judge everything you do from a front row seat.”

Nigreos chuckled. “Good. Keep me in line, Glaus, and I’ll do the same to you. You, me, and Abigail… Let’s make sure the next generation of Masters is one that this empire can respect.”

“Sure, why not. You’re still my rival, though. Don't think this changes anything.”

“Of course. Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Nigreos shot back. “But thank you for being here. I haven’t had a good laugh in a while, so I feel a bit refreshed.”

Rennigan frowned. “And what about all this was funny?”

“Who knows, really?”

Jeez, what the hell even is this? Noctis and I, going for a walk like friends? I suppose hell must have frozen over at some point recently. Whatever… I’d love it if Noctis really was different from the others, but actions speak louder than words, and I want to see his actions. He’s willing to help his sister, but how many others is he willing to stick his neck out for? I’ll be watching you closely, Nigreos Noctis.

***

Five minutes after Nigreos and Rennigan finished their conversation, the two mages arrived at the residence of Rickori Keskivaara, and to Nigreos’s surprise, he could just barely see in the curtained window that the building had a light on. He had been fearing he’d have to wake Keskivaara to talk to him, so the fact that he was already up made the situation far more ideal. As expected, it truly was a humble, one-story building that he never would have guessed belonged to somebody as high-status as the People’s Mind, so as Nigreos and Rennigan walked towards the door, he found his nerves getting even worse. Once he knocked, there would truly be no going back and he would have committed to this insane plan. He had to remind himself that this was for Neah, so shoving all thoughts of getting himself killed aside, he rapped his knuckles against the door and stood back to wait.

He was certain that whoever was inside must have been debating whether to answer the door at such a late hour and that was why they stood there for so long, so to make it clear that he didn’t intend to leave without getting a chance to make his case, Nigreos knocked again. This time, he heard the sound of somebody approaching the door followed by the mana flare of the security charm being dismantled just before it was pulled open by a woman with stern and annoyed features. She appeared to be somewhere in her thirties, with dark skin, narrowed brown eyes, and thick black hair pulled back behind her head. She stood a few inches shorter than Nigreos, but her presence as she gazed up at him was uncomfortably intense.

“And what inconsiderate bastards have come knocking on this door at such a late hour?” she demanded. “Have you forgotten what time it was, or did you just not care?”

Knowing how imperative it was to be polite, Nigreos bent his back in a bow and replied, “Forgive me, Ma’am , but this was unfortunately the only time I could come. My name is Nigreos Noctis, eldest son of the Master of Darkness, and I desperately require an audience with Dr. Keskivaara. Would he be willing to meet with me?”

The woman’s thin eyebrows raised, and when Nigreos looked back at her, he could see the heavy suspicion in her eyes. “Nigreos Noctis? Well that’s certainly not what I expected, and to be honest, I can’t say I believe you. For one, what would a child of Noctalus be doing here in Stellareid, and for two, why would a noble of your statue bow to me?”

“Because I need help,” he answered firmly. “If you want proof, I can cast some dark magic for you, and I swear I’m not here with any ill intentions. It’s the middle of the night, after all. If I wanted to hurt anybody, there’s very little that could stop me from doing so. If it makes you feel any better, use mana suppressing cuffs on me! I’ll do whatever you want to make you feel safer so long as I can talk to him.”

“That so?” She then turned to regard the silent Rennigan with a cocked eyebrow. “And who the hell are you? What do you want with us.”

The water mage straightened up once he was addressed, and he faced the woman with confidence. “My name is Rennigan Glaus, son of High Council Elder Kloras Glaus. I want what Noctis wants—an audience with Keskivaara.”

Her face remained stoic, but Nigreos could see the gears turning in her head as she processed both Nigreos and Rennigan’s introductions. He wasn’t sure whether he managed to convince her they were trustworthy or not, but it seemed she wasn’t about to turn them away without first asking Keskivaara himself, so she gave them a brief, “give me a moment,” and closed the door before disappearing into the building. When she returned five minutes later, she was holding two pairs of mana-suppressing handcuffs that Nigreos had suggested.

“He says he’ll humor you,” she informed them. “His doors are always open, but if you truly are a Noctis, then I would like you to be unable to use magic. You still don’t mind?”

Nigreos stuck his wrists out without hesitation. “Not at all. You, too, Glaus.”

“R-right…”

Rennigan was still clearly afraid Keskivaara was going to kill them, but he obeyed nonetheless as the woman clamped the cuffs around their wrists before ushering them into the entry hall. Given the small size of the house, they only had to round one corner before they entered a cozy little lounge within which sat three men around a small circular table, playing-cards in their hands and bottles of beer resting beside them. All eyes turned towards Nigreos and Rennigan, anger and resentment in all but one of them, and it was because that individual did not appear hostile that Nigreos was unsurprised when he introduced himself.

“Good evening, Gentlemen. You requested an audience, and here I am.”

Rickori Keskivaara did not smile at them, but his tone was still rather pleasant as he eyed them curiously. Even sitting down, Nigreos could tell that he was tall, with broad shoulders and toned arms that, while not the most muscular, still appeared strong. He had warm brown eyes full of clever intelligence and thin brown mustache and beard the same color as his shoulder-length hair. He was dressed in a simple tunic and trousers which failed to match his status in the same way his house did. However, what instantly stuck out to Nigreos was the intense mana signature emanating from the man, far stronger than the other three people combined.

Lord Cartigan wasn’t exaggerating… This guy might be able to match even Ilirianna…

“It is a pleasure, Dr. Keskivaara,” Nigreos began, bowing now to him and motioning for Rennigan to do the same. “I am Nigreos Noctis and this is Rennigan Glaus. We are beyond grateful for this opportunity and we thank you for allowing us an audience despite the time.”

Keskivaara gave a soft nod. “It is nice to meet such famous and well-known individuals. You clearly know who I am, but I’ll introduce my friends.” He then motioned to the other three, giving their names as he did so. “This is my husband Velanor Kinrono, my close friend Nickalous Arlando, and the young woman who escorted you in is Haleah Narkas.”

Nigreos gave each one of them a smile as he took a quick survey of the three. Having already met Haleah, he focused mostly on the two men at table on either side of the People’s Mind. Velanor had short, curly blonde hair and eyes a deep green, with handsome features that made him appear as if he were a softer, warmer individual than the others around him. Though, Nigreos could still sense a strength beneath that pleasant exterior that might have paled in comparison to Keskivaara, but was still something to be wary of. Nickalous was by far the oldest of the four, with a bald head and wrinkled, clean-shaven features. His brown eyes were intimidating and his lips were curled into a disapproving sneer that indicated he had not supported inviting them inside.

Keskivaara seems to be the only one openly interested in talking to us. Kinrono is hard to read, but the other two are hostile. I need to keep that in mind.

“Now, might I ask why you are here and why this couldn’t wait until morning?” Keskivaara inquired, returning to the topic at hand. “Of course, I’m not complaining, for I have been requesting an audience with people of your status for quite some time, but I can’t help being curious.”

Nigreos nodded his understanding. “As it happens, Lord Cartigan’s disinterest in negotiating with you is the reason for the late hour. Glaus and I are here without his knowledge because I believe the three of us can help each other. You just said you wanted to negotiate with someone like me, so here I am, ready and willing to start making offers.”

“But there is an issue in that you have far less you can offer us than Lord Cartigan,” Velanor pointed out. “Of course, don’t think we aren’t appreciative should your claims be genuine, but if I recall correctly, you’re in line for the Master of Darkness as opposed to any government positions within the Great Cities. Is this correct?”

“Yes, it is,” Nigreos confirmed. “But my younger sister, Lunara, is next in line and I am here on her behalf. It may interest the four of you to know that a week and a half ago, the Kosah-Rei made a small-scale assault on Noctalus that resulted in the deaths of my mother, Nium Noctis, and Lady Clara Luz.”

Since Uma had been aware of the plans for Noctalus, Nigreos knew with certainty that the Kosah-Rei were plotting that move months in advance. If Keskivaara was in league with them, he might also have been told about the attack, so it was important to carefully gauge his reaction. Unfortunately, the People’s Mind didn’t reveal anything in his subtle reaction of raised eyebrows, but the other three were quite visibly thrown off.

“Excuse me?” Haleah cut in. “Lady Nium and Lady Clara are dead?”

“They are,” Nigreos said. “Which means that when Lunara graduates from the Academy of Erika, she will immediately take our mother’s place. In addition, my close friend Album Luz will take Lady Clara’s position in a mere year and a half. Both will be willing to honor a deal brokered between you and me.”

Keskivaara gently closed his eyes, as if to take a second and ponder the news, before he looked back at Nigreos. “Well, I must first offer you my condolences about your mother. I imagine you know this, but I am quite familiar with a wound such as that.”

“Thank you,” the dark mage replied just before Keskivaara went on.

“I see you have more to offer me than was first apparent, but what is it you want? You’ve already stated Lord Cartigan is not permitting this, so you’re running the risk of angering the Lord of Stellareid to achieve your goals. What are they? And what does Mr. Glaus have to do with it?”

“I’m here to sweeten the pot,” Rennigan told him. “Noctis offers you the allegiance of Noctalus, I offer you the potential allegiance of Elder Kloras Glaus. But we can touch upon that in a moment.”

Rennigan then motioned for Nigreos to answer the first question, so the dark mage took a deep breath and did so. “In that attack, my littlest sister Neah was kidnapped by the Kosah-Rei, with only a note left behind claiming she would be taken to Stellareid. Neah is precious to me, and as her older brother, it is my duty to get her back. I know how much influence you have in this city, so am I here to beg for your help finding her. After what happened in Hiriech a few years ago, I do not trust Cartigan’s city guard to do the job right. I need somebody like you…”

Keskivaara leaned back in his chair, setting down his hand of cards as he glanced at the three allies around him. They seemed to share a silent word with one another before the People’s Mind turned back and made a very blunt statement.

“Mr. Noctis, I can see in your eyes that you have heard rumors of the Kosah-Rei’s attempts to form an alliance with me, and I presume that is why you are here to ask this. I will confirm that I have spoken to members of the cult personally.”

Nigreos’s eyes went wide as he and Rennigan shared stunned expressions. “Y-you have?” he stuttered.

“Yes. At the moment, I have not given them an answer, for they have placed me in a very precarious spot.” The man slowly shook his head, an expression of regret coming over him as he spoke. “I seek to improve the lives of my supporters without stooping to the evil the Kosah-Rei have. I truly wish to resolve things with peace and order, but Lord Cartigan refuses to talk with me. Progress cannot be made if he won’t give me the time of day, and as the months go on, I find myself wretchedly pondering whether the Kosah-Rei’s methods are the only true path to a future peace.”

Nigreos swallowed, suddenly getting an unnerving feeling. Keskivaara was admitting to some very treasonous thoughts that, if taken back to Cartigan, would have him arrested and executed without any further hesitation. A part of Nigreos feared they did not intend to let him leave, but the People’s Mind continued to speak.

“Rotana Vesh holds out hope that my followers will join him, and there is a growing movement among my people that expresses support for the Kosah-Rei. One of the three sitting here is of that mindset.” Keskivaara didn’t reveal who it was, but Nigreos supposed it didn’t really matter as the man got to the heart of his point. “I do not wish it to come to that, but you cannot offer what I need more than anything. I know nothing about the kidnapping of Neah Noctis, but yes, I imagine I could find her if I tried hard enough. What I do know is that the rest of the royal team is in Stellareid, so here are my terms:

“If you set up a meeting between me and Princess Ilirianna, then I swear on my name, I will do everything in my power to safely return Neah Noctis to you.”