Post by The Searching on Jan 29, 2010 19:45:23 GMT 10
It was a strange feeling.
All of a sudden, where there was nothing before, Kyou felt strong myst connection across Central.
It was like none he had seen before, which was rare for the Sire of Serenfas.
Perhaps we were set up?
He tried to imagine where such a connection led to, when he remembered just days before the suspicious sensation he felt when passing the Chapel.
Who there could have so much power?
He turned his head to the direction of the street once more, waiting for Kitharis' confirmation, when he noticed guardsmen turning the corner.
You're kidding me... Kitharis has been caught?
He waited as the guardsmen looked around and then turned back into the street.
Kyou swallowed and waited for minutes longer before he gave up.
Idiot.
Kitharis stared out the window and watched as the guards trudged up and down the street.
Someone must have recognised me.
He looked back at the woman he had knocked out, checking her breathing and pulse just in case.
"Sorry, but I needed somewhere to hide."
Back at the Chapel, mixed feelings floated loosely about the atmosphere.
McKenzie was sitting alone in his room, his head lying on his arms, eyes closed, just listening to the thoughts in his head.
Empress... I hope I am stopped. When the day comes... Forgive me.
There was a soft knock at his door before Father Treed entered slowly.
"Treed?" McKenzie acknowledged with his tired voice,
"You're alright, Father?"
"I have a lot on my mind."
"Hah, that's an understatement. It was a shock for all of us that the late Father would die the morning of the Empress' leave, but you still managed to pull off a proper farewell. You're a hard worker, Father. Don't strain yourself too much."
"...You're very kind, Treed."
"Shall I get you some tea?"
"That would be appreciated."
As Treed left, McKenzie sunk his head back into his arms.
"Speak to me... Speak to me..."
Rine repeated the words over and over.
He wanted to hear her voice again, the voice of the kind one.
"Where are you? Who are you? Are you even real or are you just a sign of my own madness! TELL ME!"
Tears were rolling down his cheeks now, his wings lying lazily on the ground where he sat.
"Please... Tell me you're real. Tell me I can have a friend... Tell me... Please... I just want to be normal... Please."
The flowers all around Lilly bounced wildly about in the sudden gust of wind that surrounded her.
Her hair, neatly done by the Father, now hung disorderly about her shoulders.
Her eyes momentarily widened as she felt something inside of her burst open, the likes of which she had never felt before.
But the sudden moment suddenly passed, leaving her with the lingering feeling inside her stomach.
"What... Was that? Father, are you talking to me, from wherever you are?"
She knew it was not him. But it was not even Inspiration. It was something entirely different.
And she was frightened, for the first time she could remember.
Fern's mother-daughter time had been cut short by the imminence of her duties. Although it was rare for all the Maidservants to be invited to a state dinner, Fern herself was somewhat dreading the festivities.
She herself were sometimes invited to things that the other Maidservants were not, but to have to keep a sharp eye over all of them tonight would be most displeasing indeed.
She huffed as she put the last box of roses on the table in the Maidservants Assembly Room.
"Right, everyone!"
Some of the girls turned their attention to Fern promptly, whilst the others, still chasing each other, giggling and screaming, paid her no attention.
"EVERYBODY!!"
The screaming continued, unmoved by Fern's sobering attempts.
Cassidy, the oldest maidservant, approached Fern during the Madness.
"May I, Fern?"
"Do whatever it takes."
Cassidy smiled politely and turned around, "EVERYONE SHUT THE HELL UP OR I'LL MAKE YOU SHUT UP. FOR THE MOST ELITE SERVICE IN THE EMPIRE, WE SURE DO SEEM A BUNCH OF 5 YEAR OLD BRATS, DON'T WE!?"
The screaming ceased.
Someone started crying.
"There," Cassidy smiled, handing back over to Fern.
Fern was relieved. She respected Cassidy. Although she was the oldest of the Empress' Maidservants, she had not been given Fern's position due to Fern's family ties and strong training as a child.
"Alright girls, listen up. Stop crying, Marrian."
The youngest Maidservant pouted and ran off.
Fern sighed, "Somebody please bring her back. Alright, so, we have been given the great honour of, attending tonight, the Empress' state dinner. No doubt you will all be on your best behaviour, but please remember this dinner is to in the presence of royalty."
As she was speaking, Violet entered the room slowly. She had forgotten she was supposed to be here a while ago, and she didn't want to leave Siberius.
Thankfully, noone turned around or even gave her notice as she entered.
"That means none of you will speak unless spoken to, unless you are politely asking one another for something. Under no circumstances are you to ask anything of a guest. You may ask any of tonight's staff anything of relevance, but please remember to keep your manners. You are here to be seen and not heard.
Is this understood?"
"Yes, Miss Fern."
"Great! Now, there are two sets of clothing for tonight..."
Violet felt very out of place. She sincerely hoped that she would be able to reconsider. All she wanted was to stay with Siberius, anyway, and if becoming a maidservant allowed her to stay in the Palace where she would be closer to him, at least for now, then she would do just that.
But that didn't change the fact that this really wasn't her piece of cake.
The afternoon sun was beginning to drop.
Kyou's heart skipped a beat.
There was a familiar feeling embedded in his gut... He grimaced as he felt the arrow digging into his soul, eager to burst out, but he was able to control his spirit beast and keep it locked up inside him once more.
“D-Damn... What now?”
It was the thing that had resided in the Palace, only to go frenzied in the Demon War, the thing that they chased and nearly grasped just a month or two ago... But it was back.
The feeling that vexed Kyou the most, that always bewildered him and made his spirit uneasy... Was Fate. And it was at work once again.
“You like to play games with us, don't you?” He smirked, not expecting an answer.
But it was easy to tell where it came from.
He began to run towards the Chapel of the Auder.
They were lined up in the strictest fashion, an assembly of the Empress' Private Maidservants, the most elite civilian service in the Empire (or so it was presumed).
There were two lines of them, one on each side of the wall leading to the throne room, each maidservant staring at the one opposite herself.
It was a large hall, and on both sides of the door stood one of the Empress' Guards.
In the middle of the room, pacing up and down, analysing and patiently waiting, was Fern.
Every time she caught even a whisper or sideways glance, she would make an announcement of it.
“Why does she always act so bitchy before something like this?”
Fern's back was turned, she was at the other end of the hallway,
“It's her job, now shaddup.”
Finally, a silent reliever to all of them, one of the palace servants turned the corner in a hurry, skipping quietly across to the expectant Fern, “You're all set?”
Fern nodded,
“Alright, it's time we call the Empress out then; guests are being issued to the dining hall now.”
“Alright,” Fern acknowledged, and raised her voice as she walked down the hallway, “Here we go! Girls, serious faces!”
The servant from earlier dashed past Fern gracefully and addressed the guards, “Palace servants.”
The guards pushed open the doors mechanically, one hand each opening one door, and then she disappeared up the steps as the door closed behind her.
Eleanore studied herself and the movement of the women around her as they finished touching up her hair.
“Yes, that should be it,” said one of them with satisfaction.
Purea stepped out from behind and stood diagonally in front of Eleanore, studying her from every angle.
“As always, Ms. Rose, this attire is astonishing,” Eleanore complimented, happy that her dress, a deep, emerald green with complimentary black adornments similar to, yet of course more grand than the Maidservants', was not, as was previously the norm, bright.
She had a feeling Purea may have noticed her like for the darker décor.
“Don't give me too much credit,” Purea laughed, for in fact it had been Fern that alerted her to Eleanore's somewhat different tastes (fortunately Purea already had this outfit set spare and waiting).
“And Mrs. Mury and co., thank you for the help.”
There was a knock on the door and one of the women walked over to it as a voice called from behind, “Palace servants~”
The door opened, and the servant from earlier announced the guests' migration to dinner.
“Thank you,” Eleanore acknowledged as the servant left.
The Throne Room was large yet cozy. The main doorway was situated to the left of the room (well, left from the point of the person on the throne, anyway).
The floor was of the highest-quality polished wood, with matching stairs arising in all directions to the best seat in the Empire – well at least in a metaphorical sense, seeing as every leader who visited Hangyakunin would've much preferred that throne in their room, but that's an entirely different story.
The throne here was carved from the ancient tree that, once upon a time, stood high and mighty in the center of the Center of the Council of Sera ((lol recetitive)), and for a time still stood in the Palace Square (which, since then, has been replaced with a fountain-bust of Empress Nides in all her apparent splendour ((Shelrair can tweak it to look like her ;D))), and was adorned with subtle yet comfortably-placed stones and jewels of much value, cushioned with very deep velvet luxuries.
In front of the throne was it's sister, a desk made from the same wood, which had been used by each reigning hand since Emperor Nides himself had it placed there.
Behind the throne was a single, yet dominating stained glass window showing the top half of the Immestrial Dragon, a majestic beast sporting a tongue of a sword, alluding to Immestrial's first female warrior, Vaen, with a likeness to the Dragon, an Ancient myth.
On either side of the window was a mural of the Imperial Crest, and opposite that wall was the glass wall, named so because at it's dead centre lay the famous glass door salvaged from the old Council, accompanied on both sides by three smaller windows, leading out to Throne Room's large balcony overlooking all of Central in it's grandeur.
But as the servant exited the dressing chamber and left through the hidden servants entrance, she took none of this in, and the room sat still, appreciating itself with a sense of superiority ((new character: Throne Room)).
Kyou scrambled up the wall and collapsed in a heap on the other side. He was in the Chapel grounds now, which were amazingly larger than he had expected for such an old and unused building. There were people inside, and if there was a chance that they were working for Vivian, he didn't want to be seen.
It's close, isn't it? Kyou thought, following the invisible arrow that continued to urge him on.
He carefully made his way through the unkempt garden and soon came across gravestones. He was in the chapel graveyard. The feeling was getting stronger, and he thought he could see a figure in the distance now.
...But an odd figure. It seemed to be crouching or sitting on something...
The wind grew stronger, and his silky hair blew with it. It was a nice feeling. The Sun was almost gone, the sky now a dark purple.
He carefully made his way across the open graveyard, stepping over stones, and keeping his eyes mostly on the figure. The wind continued to show it's strength, and he squinted his eyes as old and dead flowers brushed past him on their journey through the sweeping sky.
He could make out the figure now. It was a young girl, holding flowers. She was looking down, seeming almost lifeless, and she was definitely sitting on some kind of chair.
It was melancholic just to stand there, the sky hanging over them the beautiful colour it was, the wind seeming to urge him on and her, sitting there unmoving.
And so he approached until he was but a few metres away, and he said nothing. He just watched.
The flowers, dead and new, seemed to congregate in a circle around her.
After several minutes had passed, she had turned her head and stared into Kyou's eyes. It was horrifying to him, but he remained unmoving, like a predator stalking it's prey. His heart beat too fast, and the spirit beast inside of him desperately wanted to scream forth into life. But it didn't.
“Oh.. Hello.” Her voice was just as empty as she looked.
“Are you feeling alright?” He asked, as if the two were long-time friends.
“I don't know.”
“Why are you sitting there?”
“Father Treed left me here. I wanted Inspiration.”
Kyou didn't reply.
“...Do you know my Inspiration?”
Kyou felt a little odd, “Tell me what inspires you.”
“Umm...” And that was all she said. A moment of silence passed between them, before the wind picked up again.
“My name's Kyou. What's yours?”
She blinked, “Oh. Um. Lilly... They call me Lilly...”
“Do you often come to this Chapel?”
Lilly was a little confused, “Oh... I think... Yes... I have a room... Here.”
“You live here?”
“I think so...”
Her vagueness made her frightening, yet interesting. His heat pounded harder yet in the tense atmosphere,
“This is my first time here.”
“Oh... Do you want me to ge-”
“I came here because I wanted to find you, Lilly.”
Her head shot up, and suddenly she was filled with immense confusion.
“But... You aren't...”
“Hmm?”
Lilly frowned and bit her lip, “You... Aren't... You don't feel like... Oh no...”
Kyou narrowed his eyes, “I don't feel like what?”
“What have I done? Is that you? Inspiration? Something happened... If it's... I felt just now... A feeling...”
Fate? Kyou remained silent.
Lilly shook her head and then stared, her eyes venomous, “You aren't Inspiration, so why did you come here?”
I'm not inspiration? I don't... Inspire?
Lilly bit her lip, “I felt something and now I don't know who he is anymore... Who my Inspiration is... It's too strong...”
The flowers around them picked up in the wind and darted around their heads.
“The Fate chose you,” Kyou said softly.
Lilly calmed down, and the flowers dropped back to the ground, swaying in the air.
“I don't want it,” Lilly responded tiredly,
“Lilly... I want to be your friend.”
Lilly looked up, “Why?”
Kyou smiled, “The Fate chose you. You're special. And even if that weren't the case, you're interesting. And kind.”
“K-you? Okay... Then... We're friends.”
“I can't stay here, it's getting too dark... Lilly, shall I see you soon?”
“When? When will I say you?”
“In two days, let's meet here again, okay?”
Lilly nodded, “Okay, friend K-you.”
Now, the majority of the guests were seated and comfortable in the dining hall, save of course, the Empress and her entourage.
The majority.
This was why the guard outside the dining hall was slightly alarmed at the noisy clicking and clacking of heels down the quiet hallway, a very distinct and outstanding noise.
The heels belonged to two very respected, very old women, who, in their apparent youthful reminiscence, decided it would be exciting to arrive 'fashionably late'.
They chuckled and giggled to themselves as they turned the corner, relieving the guard as he realised it was nothing more than two late guests, but they were a noisy pair.
As they reached the guard, the skinniest of the two stifled her childish giggles and gave the guard an even more childish look, accompanied by a voice that reeked of order and history, and yet the hid the softness of royalty within, “Sorry we're late. I believe you have been expecting us.”
“This way, m'ladies, you should be greeted inside,” the guard informed, opening the door as he did.
Without another unnecessary word, the two stepped inside and opened the second door to the dining hall.
Hearty conversation was abuzz within the room, the Imperial band playing to the comfort of their diners ears, however, as soon as the doors opened, the musings of royalty fell and the instruments of the band halted harshly as all eyes darted to the door.
There was an awkward silence, born of confusion and killed by banter,
“Don't mind us,” chuckled the skinniest again, “We're just a little late for the festivities.”
Warm laughter lit up the atmosphere again, and the band, who had thought the servants had made a dangerous error and forgotten to tell them of the Empress' arrival, breathed a united sigh of relief and took up where they left off.
The other woman giggled and whispered to the former, “Who did they think we were? The Empress? Dear, entering in these we had might as well been ghosts!”
The two were dressed in dark attire, suitable for the widows and the grim, old things they were.
The skinniest, Amery Altaliun, wore only black. Everything, including her vainly dyed hair, reeked of her widowed status, which for some reason she felt, even as royalty and as someone of her age, she had to announce.
Of course, it was only the attention she craved, of which she already had enough to boast about.
The second, Nea Munrae, at least wore a dark blue, although almost-black dress under her black, woollen shawl, with her hair dyed dark brown rather than Amery's black.
A man approached them, “Welcome, ladies, I'm honoured you were able to make it here. If I could just have your names? Lady Altaliun, and?”
As he spoke, the man revealed, from under his arm, a black notebook, which he opened as he awaited a response.
The pair hesitated, Nea hoping this didn't mean seating arrangements.
“Nea Munrae.”
“Ah, yes. Lady Munrae, you're sitting over that way," he said as he pointed to his left, then making some notes in his notebook, “And Lady Altaliun, you're on the opposite end, over beside Lady Weddor."
He smiled and was off as quickly as he could be.
Nea looked mortified in Amery's direction, who returned the look before Nea huffed over in the direction of the servant, “Excuse me, but we'd like to sit together, if that could be arra-”
“I'm terribly sorry,” interrupted the servant in a hurry, “Perhaps if you were here earlier we could have made amendments, but the Empress Herself will be here in soon time, and it's far too late to go changing things like that now. My apologies.”
As he hurried off once more, he ignored her cries for reconsider.
And so it was decided.
As Amery, now filled with concealed rage, approached her seat, she felt even worse as she smiled a deceitful smile in her companions direction.
Lady Weddor. There she sat, all calm, placid and covered in soft white dressings, sipping at her tea gently, the steam arising from it curling elegantly above her in an equally elegant dance.
“Hello,” she offered back plainly.
Lady Weddor.
Amery thought she would gag.
At last the doors of the Throne Room were pulled open, and the guards stoically saluted without even turning. The Maidservants all bowed together, silently appreciating Eleanore's presence as she walked to Fern and smiled.
Fern looked up from her bow, stood next to Eleanore and addressed the Maidservants on her behalf.
Dear Purea, these clothes are actually quite lovely, Eleanore thought silently to herself as Fern spoke.
The Maidservants all wore the same dark-grey dress, each with one small, matching flowerbud, an unadulterated version of the ones that decorated the ribbon around her own waist, attached to their own ribbons of matching colour - apart from Fern, who possessed a bigger, ebony flower in it's place, the same one that sat upon Eleanore's left shoulderblade as to compliment its... Well, its wholeness.
Eleanore, lost in thought, was suddenly brought back to reality when Fern's short address stopped, and she raised her head expectantly to Eleanore, who cleared her throat gently,
“Thank you all for waiting for me. As an appreciation of your help so far, and a much bigger appreciation for the help to come, I am honoured that you will all join me for dinner tonight, as guests rather than employees. So please enjoy the night and it's festivities.”
Fern bowed at this, and as she did, so did the rest of the Maidservants, all at once, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The formality of it all threatened to drill relentlessly into her skull.
She smiled a fake smile and she begun down the hall, accompanied to her left by Fern, and to her right by the beautifully-clad High Officer Shea, the Maidservants following robotically behind them all.
“How are you faring, Amery?” asked the placid Lady Weddor as she settled her cup gently to the table,
“Coping,” she replied. Barely.
"Ah. Well, it has been a frightening and drastic year for all of us, yes?”
Amery really hated this woman. Jennifer Weddor was akin to a wart blossoming in the most inconvenient of places, as far as she was concerned.
She was only here because of who she married, and they were long gone. She didn't even do her husband justice by wearing the traditional black clothing, in fact she wore white, creamy things, serving all the more to disgust Amery.
She had adopted the noble style of speech and manner, however she did not seem natural.
And what made it worse was that, years ago, when Sei was still fresh on the throne, Amery made it terribly clear that she wanted to have nothing to do with Weddor. This was respected, and the Palace made sure to keep them as far apart as possible on these kinds of occasions, and even though Weddor noticed it, she kept polite and never mentioned it or brought it up.
The fact that the servants had made such a terrible mistake did not do well for Eleanore in the eyes of Lady Altaliun.
"New staff,” Jennifer noted, as if she had read Amery's mind, and took another sip of her tea.
"I realised. They don't seem as efficient as the previous, wouldn't you agree?”
Jennifer shrugged, “It certainly doesn't feel as comfortable.”
Oho, you bitch, Amery thought quietly, smiling as she did, Damn right, you aren't comfortable. And it'll only get much worse for you now that I'm in the house.
Jennifer drained the tea of it's contents gently, “I haven't seen you since the last meeting.”
"Oh, please. Harvery likes to make us look bad, doesn't she? I wonder, she must've fucked that 'Lord Feyanrer' a right number of times to be where she is now.”
Jennifer, a little shocked by Amery's language, remained silent.
"Honestly, where did Sei pick up that sack of a Vizier?” Amery chortled, “Vani had the right idea. Too bad he didn't learn from him. I wonder who taught our dear old grandson to act like a fool?”
Jennifer was silently insulted, as she was the one who had opted to organise Sei's education.
The two grandmothers had their polite war in the middle of the table, blending in with the rest of the guests colourfully.
"The Empress is outside now,” whispered one of the servants to the band leader in the middle of a song, before rushing off again.
The song finished, again accompanied by little bits of applause by those not drowning in too much conversation. The band members flicked through the pages on the stands and the head of the dining staff addressed the guests,
“Thank you all for being able to make it here tonight, it is truly an honour to able to serve you. Before dinner begins, however, allow me to introduce to you all your host for tonight, Her Majesty the Empress.”
The guests all stood and faced the door, and the band played the Imperial Anthem as the doors opened, and Fern and Shea walked through, Fern curtseying and Shea saluting as the rest of the Maidservants entered to the continuing applause of the guests, and sat at their respect seats.
And as the last notes of the anthem rung out, the Empress appeared, and the applause grew much louder as she waved to the guests and stood behind her seat, and Fern and Shea moved to theirs.
Eleanore smiled, “Welcome, all of you, to dinner tonight. As you know, this dinner is held for two reasons. I have just returned from a hospitable stay in the Chapel of the Auder, who have been supporting the Empire sincerely after their reformation this year, and this dinner is partly a welcoming-back for me. However, the more important motive behind this evening was a message I would like to convey to you all as Empress. But of course, I will not leave you waiting! Let's all enjoy the dinner first before we get into the more serious matters of tonight. Enjoy!”
Applause was once again given, and voices began to mingle once more.
“Oh! And thanks very much to the band as well, who will be playing for us tonight!”
More slight applause and then everyone was seated, and dinner had begun.
The purple sky had disappeared now, leaving darkness in its place.
Kyou was tingling with excitement after meeting who he knew was the new holder of the Fate. It was the first time he had met face-to-face with someone chosen by the Fate, as the only time he ever saw Cassandra personally, she had a bullet hole through her neck, and had long passed away.
He pushed open the door of the abandoned building and snuck inside, carefully checking each direction for sign of Kitharis, who was nowhere to be seen.
Kyou was disheartened. His only bodyguard was now either in chains or dead. He was on his own again.
There was a bag of apples near the front door, so he nibbled on one as he sat near the window and stared out to the chapel.
So much is happening... I think Vadaa should prepare itself for another Demon War.
And I'm... Partly to blame.
Vivian sat at his desk, pondering.
The Empire has realised the power and the benefits of Demons. Well, at least this will serve as a better excuse to the public once we take over.
Remembering the tea Shelrair had brought him a while ago, he sipped a bit. It had already gone cold, so he downed the lot in one go.
But for there to have been a demon under our noses is bizarre. We knew something was out there, but it's obviously not very powerful. Word would have reached my ears from the Organisation if it were of concern...
Still, the Empire confined it for about a day before it broke out, and now it's roaming around Central.
He made a quick note of something and then got up from his desk, leaving the teacup behind.
I'll have to talk to Jezebel soon, perhaps we can find some kind of agreement with this rogue demon.
Leaving the store, Vivian almost ran into a young woman with a basket in her arm. She apologised before pasting something next to the shop door.
Vivian eyed it suspiciously, and the woman noticed this. She moved aside and made a gesture as for him to read the poster and tell her what he thought.
It was titled 'Missing Child' and underneath, had a picture of someone who Vivian instantly recognised as John's new recruit.
Vivian shook his head as if he had never seen the boy, and left without a word.
Bowen had immersed himself in conversation with Siberius after Eleanore had begun chatting with some apparantly noble guests, most of which he had never seen before, even in his role as Vizier.
Even so, Siberius was the cause of much conversation throughout the entire dining hall, and many people had attempted to talk to him or had requested to do so after the meal.
“Look, it's the boy who passed up monarchy for nothing!”
“Lord Feyanrer, it's nice to see you back!”
“What are your future plans, sir?”
This kind of talk arose all night, much to Siberius' displeasure. Of course, everyone in Central knew who Siberius was. After all, he had been a Vizier suddenly thrust into the position of Emperor, and the denial of this position was a massive event when he handed it over to someone else. It was a first for the Empire, and it was drastic. At the time, there was much controversy and noise about the issue, but it had mostly died down after a few months.
Bowen was finding it hard to get a word in with Eleanore, not just because she was always talking to someone else, but because since that night, they had both been a little more awkward with each other than usual.
But dinner continued, Fern was talked to much more than she had expected, and it was a lively event.
Eleanore tapped her glass a few times after the band had stopped playing and had taken the time to leave for a bit of rest.
Standing, everyone grew silent and all attention focused on her.
“I think it's about time I all brought to your attention what I wanted to discuss with you tonight.”
She paused, smiled and then continued, “As you may have already known, I have been serving this Empire since I was a little girl. My life in the Palace naturally brought me much knowledge of the political world, and although I never expected to be where I am today, I always held my views and my visions close to my heart.
On the day of my coronation, I had no time to rehearse a speech or to plan a grand entry. All I could do was speak from my heart.”
As she said this, Eleanore glanced at Siberius in the corner of her eye,
“I promised that as Empress I would lead the Empire out of the hate it had been placed in, I would make those of us in poverty grow to be wealthy and I would strive to pull us free from the debris left behind in the Demon War that devestated this very nation, and the entire Empire, just over seven months ago.
“Tonight I want to tell you how I will do this. I do not expect you to agree with my plans, nor adopt my paradigm. But I do ask of you, please open your hearts and listen to what I am about to say, for I do not plan to just change this nation, nor this continent, nor even this Empire, I plan to change the world with you, so that the name Immestrial will be praised all over Vadaa.”
There was a short applause and then silence.
“Alright. Now, we all know the anger and the hate that has been placed over our Empire these last few decades. In order to make this nation prosper, we have sucked others dry. And true, we have prospered. But more than empathy, I think this Empire needs fear.
“We were all hit hard by the Demon War, we know what it feels like to lose someone or something precious. And there may be enemies out there growing, waiting for the moment to hit us once more and cripple this nation to its core. We were all under the delusion that we stood upon the very center of this Empire. Central, the capital of Immestrial; Central, the blood-sucking leech of Vadaa. This is where we went wrong. Because Immestrial is so focused on Central, so Vadaa has grown to despise it. The planet itself despises it! We can see this clearly, through the actions of the demons sent to destroy us. We have to fix it.
“Central... Cannot be the center of Immestrial anymore. We can no longer afford to drain nations of their trust, their hope, and their respect. Sei, Vani, Geore – these were all powerful leaders, but they couldn't foresee the destruction they would bring upon themselves.”
The guests were all shocked with what had been said so far, it was all quite drastic.
Eleanore took a moment to breathe and continued, “So I'm setting a date. In five months time, I will be celebrating the first anniversary of my rule over this Empire. In my speech, I shall announce the changes that shall occur...”
Bowen and Safroth eyed the looks of the guests. They, along with McKenzie, were the only ones who actually knew what these 'changes' were.
“This nation shall no longer be called Central Immestrial-”
As soon as she said this, the dining hall erupted with voices, some yelling, some consoling, some praising, some provoking.
“Everyone please be quiet,” asked Safroth, blanketing the voices for a while.
“Please. This nation will henceforth be known as Gardaine, after the first ruling Empress of Immestrial, and no longer will we be the great mouth of the world, sucking it dry, but the heart.”
There was a pause, and everyone remained silent this time, until Jennifer Wedor raised her hand and spoke, “Then where will you reside? All this talk of hearts and mouths is silly; without a head, the heart is useless.”
There were murmurs of approval here, and expectation fell on Eleanore again,
“Of course, thank you Lady Wedor. I understood this from the beginning, and since the conclusion has come to me only recently, I haven't had time to talk to you about my next change yet.
Whilst this Palace - and even others - may do as a residence for myself and future rulers of Immestrial, this Palace will also no longer be known as the symbol of the Throne.
Let's start from the beginning, shall we? Our dearly beloved late Emperor Sei had constructed for himself a ship that rides the skies, after research into the newly-discovered Energy. More examples would be the air fleets of the Rebellion, which I'm sure we all laid eyes on during the war, which were based off the original research of Sei's private ship, the Imperial Phoenix.”
“You aren't planning on rebuilding that monstrosity, are you?” spoke an older man at the table,
Eleanore quickly spoke before others saw this as an opportunity, “Actually, Sei had already begun development of a second ship similar to the Phoenix using research gathered from the first, which he never planned to use as a permanent means of transportation in the first place.”
Wedor spoke again, mumbling to herself, but loud enough for those close to hear, “So he named it Phoenix because it would be reborn, new and improved, after sufficient results had been gathered from the first.”
Eleanore smiled, “I hadn't thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right, Lady Wedor.”
There were murmurs of conversation arising again as many began to see what Eleanore was planning,
“I was only recently alerted to this development, which I've ordered to be completed as soon as possible. I know that the previous ship, Phoenix, had been critically damaged during the war, resulting in a tragic end, but from what we've seen of the Rebellion's own fleets, these vehicles are actually the turning point in the history of the entire world, and our Empire has been given the reins. The future might even see these 'airships' as a common thing, the skies becoming as popular as the land to walk on.
And so, with this in mind, and after what I have said earlier, if this new airship, which has been under construction in Hangyakunin for the past year, is completed, then why not give it the honour of housing the Immestrial Throne? And, if I may use Lady Wedor's lovely example once more, why not give it the honour of being the Head of Immestrial, teaching the heart how to spread it's glory?
With a flying castle in the sky, capable of being both an imperial residence, throne and transport to Immestrial, will the world not see we have changed our ways?”
Talk arose among the guests again, and for a few minutes, Eleanore stood silently, allowing debate and the ideas spoken of so far to rest in their heads.
“And one more thing,” the cue for silence, “As it is the general tradition that the Emperor or Empress visit Great Hangyakunin during their second year of rule... I'm thinking it'd be fashionable to travel by Castle.”
There was a bit of laughter and claps from the guests before she continued, smiling, “And not just to Hangyakunin, either! I'll visit the prominent nations of our Empire, bidding them my goodwill personally! One nation cannot be the center of this Empire anymore, but this Empire can be the center of this world, and if I can dream it, I will see it be, and soon. Now is a turning point in the history - we have the reins, so let's take this chance whilst we've got it, and show whatever else is hiding in our world that we won't fall behind and let them overtake us!”
She held up a glass, feeling the leadership of High Officer all over again, and yet feeling more excited then she thought she had ever been in her life, “For the Empire!”
The guests all stood and joined in the toast, “For the Empire!”
Back in her room, Lilly was crying. She was confused, and filled with the presence of this 'Fate', as her new friend Kyou had called it. She wondered if he had something to do with it. She wasn't sure, but she knew they were connected somehow.
She was also sure that Kyou wasn't her Inspiration, and yet, she couldn't sense it anymore through all the... Well, through the mist in her head, and the overpowering aura that seemed to suffocate her presence in the world.
Why had he come to her, sensed her, if he wasn't her Inspiration?
“Please,” she chanted over and over again, leaning on the pane of her bedroom's open window, half-sitting on her wheelchair, half-attempting to stand, “Please, please, please.”
Rine could hear her. He was trying to talk back, but apparantly she couldn't hear.
”Don't let me lose you... Please...” The voice continued to chant, it pestered him,
“You need to find me first.”
Apparantly, this time she did hear him, “Inspiration, you're still here! You're still here...”
“Why do you call me that? Inspiration?”
”...You.. Inspire me.”
“But you were the one who taught me to fly.”
”No.. I asked you to live.”
Rine hardly flew since that night. He knew he would be found if he was caught in the open, so the most he could do was hide.
”Inspiration...?”
“...Where are you? And who are you? Please, just answer me that!”
She hesitated a bit, pondering his confusing questions, ”I'm in the same world you are... And I am me, I think...”
Rine was glad he at least got any kind of answer, for all the previous times he had asked something like that, their conversations had stopped abruptly. So he was glad it seemed they were making progress, the voice and he, “Why don't you show yourself to me? Are you frightened like the rest of them?”
Lilly felt a little sad, “I-...I'm not afraid.”
”So come to me..! Please!”
She smiled sadly to herself, “Even though I don't know much about this place... I'm just a caged bird.”
”So was I, until I grew wings.”
“So you've accepted it, then?”
”...I can't change fate, but I can deny it.”
“I'm glad you are okay, Inspiration.”
”I want to see you.”
“Then fly, you have wings.”
”I can't fly, they'll take me away again.”
“Look up. The moon reigns this world now, not them.” There was no response, but she continued anyway, “When day turns to night, humans flee. Those who are not human embrace the darkness, for in the darkness, everything is hidden, humans sleep and silence falls.”
”...So I'm not human.”
“You can't change Fate.” As she said this, she thought back to Kyou and the new feelings surrounding her, but she shook her head and refused to think about it again.
”Then where are you?”
“This place... They call it a chapel.”
After dinner was done, the guests had spoken words of praise and warning to the young Empress and left, and the servants began to clear the tables, and the musicians played their final songs, Eleanore arose.
Being the host, she was also the last to leave, but she was accompanied by the Viziers and Siberius as they left.
“Empress..”
Eleanore mumbled so they could hear, “I hate formalities,” but she responded in an amusingly happy voice, “Yes, Sibey?”
“I'm glad I handed over the throne.”
Eleanore turned to him and smiled, “Oh yes, I never did get the chance to thank you for that.”
Siberius tried to cover the cheek where Eleanore slapped him as they left the dining hall.
“Oh, but Siberius, in all seriousness, I hope your vacation's been more than enough rest and meditation, or whatever it was.”
Siberius stopped and she turned around once more,
“Because, about the whole new King of Gardaine thing...”
“I thought as much,” Siberius sighed, already getting her point.
After her speech, Eleanore had announced that Gardaine would be issued with a monarch of her decision to rule the country and also make any administrative decisions whilst she was gone. Along with this monarch, she was going to form a group to supervise any decisions made for the Empire on behalf of the Empress herself ((think of it like Parliament without the Houses, just a small bunch of guys and gals [10-15 of them at most] who will stop the King or anyone else from doing irrational things)).
Safroth smirked, “You won't run away again, will you, Siberius? That was embarassing, last time, y'know?”
Siberius chuckled lightly, even if he didn't want to, “...The past hurts. If someone up there really wants me here so badly, I might as well see how it turns out for now...”
Bowen laughed, “This will be awesome! I never got to get to know you well, Siberiuuus. ((lol, accidental gay line))”
Siberius laughed as well, “As long as I get my mansion back.”
“Trading the Palace for a mansion. Hmm. I guess that's fair,” Eleanore spoke lightly, “But as King you'd receive the Palace as your private residence as well.”
Bowen, who had drunk a little to much and completely forgotten his awkwardness around Eleanore, beamed, “We'll all be roommaaaaates!”
Everyone laughed.
“Lord Feyanrer!”A voice called out from behind them, not realising he was talking with the Empress, and relentlessly apologising as he did.
Montecore padded down the hall towards them slowly, next to the man who had spoken. He hadn't been allowed in the dining hall, so one of the servants had looked after him instead.
Eleanore couldn't help smiling, “Look who it is! I haven't seen you in ages, Montey!”
And as unbecoming as it was for an Empress, she bent down to pet him as Siberius and the servant talked,
“Was he a good boy?”
The servant laughed, “Ah, well let's just say we don't need to dispose of tonight's leftovers!”
“Oh, he will make a good addition to the Palace regulars,” Safroth exclaimed, to general amusement.
“Excuse me... Siberius?”
It was a girl's voice. She really didn't look like she should have been in those maidservants clothes, but Siberius didn't tell her that, “Oh, Violet. Did you enjoy the dinner?”
“It was delicious,” she spoke plainly, “Um.. Do you wanna check out the balcony? It's got a nice... View.”
“My, someone's popular. And I'm glad it's not me,” Eleanore smirked.
After the new maidservant had gone and dragged Siberius off somewhere, Eleanore had met once more with Fern, and Bowen, probably realising he should have been a bit more gentlemanly around her, said his goodnights and left.
They began making their ways up the stairs, after seeing off several important guests.
“Oh, dear, there you are!”
Eleanore turned to see an old woman in widows garments that even she found repulsive. Lady Altaliun, Sei's grandmother on the father's side.
“Oh, may I help you, Lady?”
“I just wanted a few words, that's all..”
“Of course, how may I be of service?”
“Well, it's just your 'ideas' tonight. I think they aren't very... Noble, if you understand my meaning.”
Safroth wanted to roll his eyes, I hate this woman.
He noticed that her group of friends - also aged women without husband in sight – staring like schoolgirls over the corner, probably coaxed into believing she was having a very serious talk with 'her good friend, the Empress'.
“Please explain,” Eleanore urged,
“My family built this Empire up to what it is today. I don't mean to sound rude, but just because you get a fancy chair to sit your bottom on doesn't mean you get to make history's decisions, you understand?” She provided a horrifying smile, teeth missing and all.
“...No, I don't understand.”
She stopped smiling, “Well then, I suppose you've had a long day, my dear. But I'll make sure to duck down to your secretary before I go and organise a meeting with you within the next few weeks, yes, deary?”
“That would be lovely. Goodnight.”
“Yes, goodnight.”
It had taken Rine almost 2 hours before he flew past the chapel,
“You're here.”
His heart fluttered with his wings as he lowered himself to the window, and their eyes met for the first time.
But it wasn't love at first sight, no. They loved each other long before that.
His feet on her windowsill, they embraced each other long and wordlessly, because they each understood that they were each each other's world.
…..
The sound of footsteps approached, and their eyes tried to take in as much of each other as possible before Rine clambered up onto the roof and spread his wings.
Father Treed burst into the room, and even through his scolding of trivial things – the window being open, she still being awake, all she could think about was her Inspiration that night, and many nights into the future, too.
Night after night the Dawn Team would assign new gunmen to the task of roaming around the Palace ground, and many were positioned about Central high up, keeping watch for anything that shouldn't have been roaming those grounds or those skies.
But only one had ever caught sight of the demon, and startled, he just watched as it flew by, and never told anyone else of his sighting.
And so they started to lose belief.
And so the weeks began to pass.
Kyou had grown used to living alone, every so often visiting in the Chapel in secret to talk with Lilly, with whom his bond was slowly increasing, but his understanding was not.
Initially he wondered about Kitharis too, and his whereabouts, but even those thoughts began to grow dim.
Kitharis, however, had gained much more insight into the 'backstage affairs' of Central Immestrial, and was doing his job perfectly as requested by Kyou.
He figured that someone like him, wanted by the police, wouldn't do well protecting anyone in full view of the street, and besides, he knew that information would protect Kyou more than physical defence, and so on his frequent visits to Waurd's Antiques, Kyou was never around to get harmed whilst Kitharis silently began to put the pieces together as he observed the plans to come.
He wasn't one to take sides, whether it be the Empire or an insurgence, with anyone seperate from his employer. And so it was.
Savannah found the book she had previously put on hold to be very intriguing indeed – written in a language she couldn't read, but translated roughly under each line of text was the one she was familiar with. It spoke of creatures not of this world, of objects containing soul and memory fragments, and of the shells of living humans being worn by creatures frightening and old.
Her memory shifted back to the Demon War she had heard about, but held no memory of. That was the event that triggered her memory loss, and the book was connected, definitely.
So she wondered if perhaps she had known, all along, about what was to come in the past, and she wished her past self would be as kind as to write a note explaining everything.
Unfortunately, the only note that was in the borrowed book that fell out upon inspection seemed torn from another text, old and again unreadable by herself.
Violet continued to admire Siberius from afar, not doing particularly well in the Maidservants at all... In fact, being scolded nonstop by the older maidservants and even, on occasion, Fern.
Siberius himself became a great piece of public interest.
“He's back to take the throne!”
“There's a new demon threat in the skies!”
“He's engaged to Eleanore! Of course, no wonder she was the one he chose for Empress!”
Rumours flooded and circled around, speculation grew, and numbers also amassed in Central, hoping for some kind of exciting unplanned event to occur.
And when news came of the Empress' Important Speech in one month's time, everything was left up to their wild imaginations.
It was as though Siberius himself was an advertisement for the plans ahead, a duo figurehead for the new Immestrial that was soon to come.
Or should I say, new Immestrials...?
Eleanore was busy with planning for a while, but after setting a date for the Central Assembly, her workload slacked a bit.
And she had respectfully 'forgotten' about Bowen's failed proposal, never mentioning it, never taking it literally in his presence.
But he hadn't forgotten. And so it took all his courage one morning, when they were alone, to ask,
“Elle... It just pecks at my mind..”
“What?” asked Eleanore dully,
“That night we saw the demon... And I asked you a question...”
Eleanore felt a little sick inside and sighed, “Oh, Bowen.... What about it?”
“You never gave me a proper answer.”
Eleanore wanted to laugh and yell at him all at once, just because his naivety annoyed her too much. He knew very well what she meant that night, and telling himself anything otherwise was just a stupid waste of false hope, an unneeded distraction to the both of them.
“Well, Eleanore? Just come out and say it... Yes or no?” Bowen knew the answer. He also knew what was going through her head – but this was something he needed to get off his chest. Even if he looked like an idiot, until he asked what needed to be asked, until she said what needed to be said, it was a block in his life... And he needed the courage to jump over it.
“Bowen... I'm sorry. I really am... You are an excellent man, a great fighter... You're trustworthy and respected enough to be my Vizier, Bowen... And I can't say I never thought I loved you.”
Bowen clenched his fists. She dragged it out. It was like torture, rather than one quick blow. It hurt all that much more.
“But Bowen, I can't escape my past. It's something I have to deal with myself, not with you. And I don't think you would understand...
I loved him, I still love him. The feeling never goes, even after death.”
Bowen sighed, That's the reason?
Eleanore muttured, more to herself than to him, “'Memories are precious'... So... If I foolishly replace something precious with something newer, I'll lose the first one, and the value of those memories will decrease. The memories I would make with you would also then... Have less meaning. And if I keep his memory with me 'til the day I die, it's value will never die.
So, you see? We're friends. We can make new memories, too... But nothing can replace him. I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. I was too rash.”
And with that, he left.
So the days were hereby filled with excitement and tension, and the nights filled with the dance of the cursed, as Rine had visited Lilly twice since that one night, and this night would mark their third.
She waited at the window. This time it was cold, for it was below freezing, and the window has painted itself a frosty colour. Lilly kept wiping the frost away with her hands, hoping to catch a glimpse of something in the darkness, her breath turning to ice as she waited, despite the cold.
And something came into view, and she opened the window wide, and gently he came down again, moved the hair out of his eyes and smiled the same welcoming smile.
They talked for hours.
“You've never left this cage?”
“I told you, my wings are clipped,” she spoke back, her face dug into the clothes that barely seperated her from his warm chest. Tonight he had completely entered her room, a first.
He thought for a moment, and savoured the silence, “I'll be your wings.”
“My wings...?”
He pulled away for a moment, and clambered back onto the windowsill. For a second, Lilly was afraid the Father was returning, but quickly realised what Rine was planning.
“Here, I'll hold you.”
“What? But, will y-”
“I'm stronger than I look. You made me go into your room, now I want to show you mine, Lilly! I'll be your wings...”
She hesitated for a moment, and stared at her legs, and the spots where they abruptly ended.
Silently, she gave him her hands, and as he pulled her closer, her whole body was pulled toward his.
And the moment they dropped from the windowsill, well... It was all too fast.
Suddenly, they were flying, and they both felt truly seperate from the world. Perhaps they were. After all, night is just a new world overlapping the old, a playground for those nonhuman.
That's why, just before they returned to the chapel, Rine touched ground and returned to reality for a moment, and under the streetlight, they kissed.
And then the weeks filled in, and the day of the Empress' Central Assembly had come.
((Forgive me forgive me forgive me for taking so long; originally this was planned to go even longer, but I thought screw it. You can all help me with this day.
ALSO-! Serynn is not forgotten, nor is Brelair, John, Shelly, any of them, they really had no importance in THIS post, but they will be very important very soon.
Again, forgive my incomptence >w< You all get the option of 16 punches at school, all at once or saved and kept hidden, as this post took 16 Word pages on size 12 font! -dies-
SORRY I'LL POST MORE QUICKER I PROMISE OR ELSE KILL ME ;A;
-Farr))
All of a sudden, where there was nothing before, Kyou felt strong myst connection across Central.
It was like none he had seen before, which was rare for the Sire of Serenfas.
Perhaps we were set up?
He tried to imagine where such a connection led to, when he remembered just days before the suspicious sensation he felt when passing the Chapel.
Who there could have so much power?
He turned his head to the direction of the street once more, waiting for Kitharis' confirmation, when he noticed guardsmen turning the corner.
You're kidding me... Kitharis has been caught?
He waited as the guardsmen looked around and then turned back into the street.
Kyou swallowed and waited for minutes longer before he gave up.
Idiot.
Kitharis stared out the window and watched as the guards trudged up and down the street.
Someone must have recognised me.
He looked back at the woman he had knocked out, checking her breathing and pulse just in case.
"Sorry, but I needed somewhere to hide."
Back at the Chapel, mixed feelings floated loosely about the atmosphere.
McKenzie was sitting alone in his room, his head lying on his arms, eyes closed, just listening to the thoughts in his head.
Empress... I hope I am stopped. When the day comes... Forgive me.
There was a soft knock at his door before Father Treed entered slowly.
"Treed?" McKenzie acknowledged with his tired voice,
"You're alright, Father?"
"I have a lot on my mind."
"Hah, that's an understatement. It was a shock for all of us that the late Father would die the morning of the Empress' leave, but you still managed to pull off a proper farewell. You're a hard worker, Father. Don't strain yourself too much."
"...You're very kind, Treed."
"Shall I get you some tea?"
"That would be appreciated."
As Treed left, McKenzie sunk his head back into his arms.
"Speak to me... Speak to me..."
Rine repeated the words over and over.
He wanted to hear her voice again, the voice of the kind one.
"Where are you? Who are you? Are you even real or are you just a sign of my own madness! TELL ME!"
Tears were rolling down his cheeks now, his wings lying lazily on the ground where he sat.
"Please... Tell me you're real. Tell me I can have a friend... Tell me... Please... I just want to be normal... Please."
The flowers all around Lilly bounced wildly about in the sudden gust of wind that surrounded her.
Her hair, neatly done by the Father, now hung disorderly about her shoulders.
Her eyes momentarily widened as she felt something inside of her burst open, the likes of which she had never felt before.
But the sudden moment suddenly passed, leaving her with the lingering feeling inside her stomach.
"What... Was that? Father, are you talking to me, from wherever you are?"
She knew it was not him. But it was not even Inspiration. It was something entirely different.
And she was frightened, for the first time she could remember.
Fern's mother-daughter time had been cut short by the imminence of her duties. Although it was rare for all the Maidservants to be invited to a state dinner, Fern herself was somewhat dreading the festivities.
She herself were sometimes invited to things that the other Maidservants were not, but to have to keep a sharp eye over all of them tonight would be most displeasing indeed.
She huffed as she put the last box of roses on the table in the Maidservants Assembly Room.
"Right, everyone!"
Some of the girls turned their attention to Fern promptly, whilst the others, still chasing each other, giggling and screaming, paid her no attention.
"EVERYBODY!!"
The screaming continued, unmoved by Fern's sobering attempts.
Cassidy, the oldest maidservant, approached Fern during the Madness.
"May I, Fern?"
"Do whatever it takes."
Cassidy smiled politely and turned around, "EVERYONE SHUT THE HELL UP OR I'LL MAKE YOU SHUT UP. FOR THE MOST ELITE SERVICE IN THE EMPIRE, WE SURE DO SEEM A BUNCH OF 5 YEAR OLD BRATS, DON'T WE!?"
The screaming ceased.
Someone started crying.
"There," Cassidy smiled, handing back over to Fern.
Fern was relieved. She respected Cassidy. Although she was the oldest of the Empress' Maidservants, she had not been given Fern's position due to Fern's family ties and strong training as a child.
"Alright girls, listen up. Stop crying, Marrian."
The youngest Maidservant pouted and ran off.
Fern sighed, "Somebody please bring her back. Alright, so, we have been given the great honour of, attending tonight, the Empress' state dinner. No doubt you will all be on your best behaviour, but please remember this dinner is to in the presence of royalty."
As she was speaking, Violet entered the room slowly. She had forgotten she was supposed to be here a while ago, and she didn't want to leave Siberius.
Thankfully, noone turned around or even gave her notice as she entered.
"That means none of you will speak unless spoken to, unless you are politely asking one another for something. Under no circumstances are you to ask anything of a guest. You may ask any of tonight's staff anything of relevance, but please remember to keep your manners. You are here to be seen and not heard.
Is this understood?"
"Yes, Miss Fern."
"Great! Now, there are two sets of clothing for tonight..."
Violet felt very out of place. She sincerely hoped that she would be able to reconsider. All she wanted was to stay with Siberius, anyway, and if becoming a maidservant allowed her to stay in the Palace where she would be closer to him, at least for now, then she would do just that.
But that didn't change the fact that this really wasn't her piece of cake.
The afternoon sun was beginning to drop.
Kyou's heart skipped a beat.
There was a familiar feeling embedded in his gut... He grimaced as he felt the arrow digging into his soul, eager to burst out, but he was able to control his spirit beast and keep it locked up inside him once more.
“D-Damn... What now?”
It was the thing that had resided in the Palace, only to go frenzied in the Demon War, the thing that they chased and nearly grasped just a month or two ago... But it was back.
The feeling that vexed Kyou the most, that always bewildered him and made his spirit uneasy... Was Fate. And it was at work once again.
“You like to play games with us, don't you?” He smirked, not expecting an answer.
But it was easy to tell where it came from.
He began to run towards the Chapel of the Auder.
They were lined up in the strictest fashion, an assembly of the Empress' Private Maidservants, the most elite civilian service in the Empire (or so it was presumed).
There were two lines of them, one on each side of the wall leading to the throne room, each maidservant staring at the one opposite herself.
It was a large hall, and on both sides of the door stood one of the Empress' Guards.
In the middle of the room, pacing up and down, analysing and patiently waiting, was Fern.
Every time she caught even a whisper or sideways glance, she would make an announcement of it.
“Why does she always act so bitchy before something like this?”
Fern's back was turned, she was at the other end of the hallway,
“It's her job, now shaddup.”
Finally, a silent reliever to all of them, one of the palace servants turned the corner in a hurry, skipping quietly across to the expectant Fern, “You're all set?”
Fern nodded,
“Alright, it's time we call the Empress out then; guests are being issued to the dining hall now.”
“Alright,” Fern acknowledged, and raised her voice as she walked down the hallway, “Here we go! Girls, serious faces!”
The servant from earlier dashed past Fern gracefully and addressed the guards, “Palace servants.”
The guards pushed open the doors mechanically, one hand each opening one door, and then she disappeared up the steps as the door closed behind her.
Eleanore studied herself and the movement of the women around her as they finished touching up her hair.
“Yes, that should be it,” said one of them with satisfaction.
Purea stepped out from behind and stood diagonally in front of Eleanore, studying her from every angle.
“As always, Ms. Rose, this attire is astonishing,” Eleanore complimented, happy that her dress, a deep, emerald green with complimentary black adornments similar to, yet of course more grand than the Maidservants', was not, as was previously the norm, bright.
She had a feeling Purea may have noticed her like for the darker décor.
“Don't give me too much credit,” Purea laughed, for in fact it had been Fern that alerted her to Eleanore's somewhat different tastes (fortunately Purea already had this outfit set spare and waiting).
“And Mrs. Mury and co., thank you for the help.”
There was a knock on the door and one of the women walked over to it as a voice called from behind, “Palace servants~”
The door opened, and the servant from earlier announced the guests' migration to dinner.
“Thank you,” Eleanore acknowledged as the servant left.
The Throne Room was large yet cozy. The main doorway was situated to the left of the room (well, left from the point of the person on the throne, anyway).
The floor was of the highest-quality polished wood, with matching stairs arising in all directions to the best seat in the Empire – well at least in a metaphorical sense, seeing as every leader who visited Hangyakunin would've much preferred that throne in their room, but that's an entirely different story.
The throne here was carved from the ancient tree that, once upon a time, stood high and mighty in the center of the Center of the Council of Sera ((lol recetitive)), and for a time still stood in the Palace Square (which, since then, has been replaced with a fountain-bust of Empress Nides in all her apparent splendour ((Shelrair can tweak it to look like her ;D))), and was adorned with subtle yet comfortably-placed stones and jewels of much value, cushioned with very deep velvet luxuries.
In front of the throne was it's sister, a desk made from the same wood, which had been used by each reigning hand since Emperor Nides himself had it placed there.
Behind the throne was a single, yet dominating stained glass window showing the top half of the Immestrial Dragon, a majestic beast sporting a tongue of a sword, alluding to Immestrial's first female warrior, Vaen, with a likeness to the Dragon, an Ancient myth.
On either side of the window was a mural of the Imperial Crest, and opposite that wall was the glass wall, named so because at it's dead centre lay the famous glass door salvaged from the old Council, accompanied on both sides by three smaller windows, leading out to Throne Room's large balcony overlooking all of Central in it's grandeur.
But as the servant exited the dressing chamber and left through the hidden servants entrance, she took none of this in, and the room sat still, appreciating itself with a sense of superiority ((new character: Throne Room)).
Kyou scrambled up the wall and collapsed in a heap on the other side. He was in the Chapel grounds now, which were amazingly larger than he had expected for such an old and unused building. There were people inside, and if there was a chance that they were working for Vivian, he didn't want to be seen.
It's close, isn't it? Kyou thought, following the invisible arrow that continued to urge him on.
He carefully made his way through the unkempt garden and soon came across gravestones. He was in the chapel graveyard. The feeling was getting stronger, and he thought he could see a figure in the distance now.
...But an odd figure. It seemed to be crouching or sitting on something...
The wind grew stronger, and his silky hair blew with it. It was a nice feeling. The Sun was almost gone, the sky now a dark purple.
He carefully made his way across the open graveyard, stepping over stones, and keeping his eyes mostly on the figure. The wind continued to show it's strength, and he squinted his eyes as old and dead flowers brushed past him on their journey through the sweeping sky.
He could make out the figure now. It was a young girl, holding flowers. She was looking down, seeming almost lifeless, and she was definitely sitting on some kind of chair.
It was melancholic just to stand there, the sky hanging over them the beautiful colour it was, the wind seeming to urge him on and her, sitting there unmoving.
And so he approached until he was but a few metres away, and he said nothing. He just watched.
The flowers, dead and new, seemed to congregate in a circle around her.
After several minutes had passed, she had turned her head and stared into Kyou's eyes. It was horrifying to him, but he remained unmoving, like a predator stalking it's prey. His heart beat too fast, and the spirit beast inside of him desperately wanted to scream forth into life. But it didn't.
“Oh.. Hello.” Her voice was just as empty as she looked.
“Are you feeling alright?” He asked, as if the two were long-time friends.
“I don't know.”
“Why are you sitting there?”
“Father Treed left me here. I wanted Inspiration.”
Kyou didn't reply.
“...Do you know my Inspiration?”
Kyou felt a little odd, “Tell me what inspires you.”
“Umm...” And that was all she said. A moment of silence passed between them, before the wind picked up again.
“My name's Kyou. What's yours?”
She blinked, “Oh. Um. Lilly... They call me Lilly...”
“Do you often come to this Chapel?”
Lilly was a little confused, “Oh... I think... Yes... I have a room... Here.”
“You live here?”
“I think so...”
Her vagueness made her frightening, yet interesting. His heat pounded harder yet in the tense atmosphere,
“This is my first time here.”
“Oh... Do you want me to ge-”
“I came here because I wanted to find you, Lilly.”
Her head shot up, and suddenly she was filled with immense confusion.
“But... You aren't...”
“Hmm?”
Lilly frowned and bit her lip, “You... Aren't... You don't feel like... Oh no...”
Kyou narrowed his eyes, “I don't feel like what?”
“What have I done? Is that you? Inspiration? Something happened... If it's... I felt just now... A feeling...”
Fate? Kyou remained silent.
Lilly shook her head and then stared, her eyes venomous, “You aren't Inspiration, so why did you come here?”
I'm not inspiration? I don't... Inspire?
Lilly bit her lip, “I felt something and now I don't know who he is anymore... Who my Inspiration is... It's too strong...”
The flowers around them picked up in the wind and darted around their heads.
“The Fate chose you,” Kyou said softly.
Lilly calmed down, and the flowers dropped back to the ground, swaying in the air.
“I don't want it,” Lilly responded tiredly,
“Lilly... I want to be your friend.”
Lilly looked up, “Why?”
Kyou smiled, “The Fate chose you. You're special. And even if that weren't the case, you're interesting. And kind.”
“K-you? Okay... Then... We're friends.”
“I can't stay here, it's getting too dark... Lilly, shall I see you soon?”
“When? When will I say you?”
“In two days, let's meet here again, okay?”
Lilly nodded, “Okay, friend K-you.”
Now, the majority of the guests were seated and comfortable in the dining hall, save of course, the Empress and her entourage.
The majority.
This was why the guard outside the dining hall was slightly alarmed at the noisy clicking and clacking of heels down the quiet hallway, a very distinct and outstanding noise.
The heels belonged to two very respected, very old women, who, in their apparent youthful reminiscence, decided it would be exciting to arrive 'fashionably late'.
They chuckled and giggled to themselves as they turned the corner, relieving the guard as he realised it was nothing more than two late guests, but they were a noisy pair.
As they reached the guard, the skinniest of the two stifled her childish giggles and gave the guard an even more childish look, accompanied by a voice that reeked of order and history, and yet the hid the softness of royalty within, “Sorry we're late. I believe you have been expecting us.”
“This way, m'ladies, you should be greeted inside,” the guard informed, opening the door as he did.
Without another unnecessary word, the two stepped inside and opened the second door to the dining hall.
Hearty conversation was abuzz within the room, the Imperial band playing to the comfort of their diners ears, however, as soon as the doors opened, the musings of royalty fell and the instruments of the band halted harshly as all eyes darted to the door.
There was an awkward silence, born of confusion and killed by banter,
“Don't mind us,” chuckled the skinniest again, “We're just a little late for the festivities.”
Warm laughter lit up the atmosphere again, and the band, who had thought the servants had made a dangerous error and forgotten to tell them of the Empress' arrival, breathed a united sigh of relief and took up where they left off.
The other woman giggled and whispered to the former, “Who did they think we were? The Empress? Dear, entering in these we had might as well been ghosts!”
The two were dressed in dark attire, suitable for the widows and the grim, old things they were.
The skinniest, Amery Altaliun, wore only black. Everything, including her vainly dyed hair, reeked of her widowed status, which for some reason she felt, even as royalty and as someone of her age, she had to announce.
Of course, it was only the attention she craved, of which she already had enough to boast about.
The second, Nea Munrae, at least wore a dark blue, although almost-black dress under her black, woollen shawl, with her hair dyed dark brown rather than Amery's black.
A man approached them, “Welcome, ladies, I'm honoured you were able to make it here. If I could just have your names? Lady Altaliun, and?”
As he spoke, the man revealed, from under his arm, a black notebook, which he opened as he awaited a response.
The pair hesitated, Nea hoping this didn't mean seating arrangements.
“Nea Munrae.”
“Ah, yes. Lady Munrae, you're sitting over that way," he said as he pointed to his left, then making some notes in his notebook, “And Lady Altaliun, you're on the opposite end, over beside Lady Weddor."
He smiled and was off as quickly as he could be.
Nea looked mortified in Amery's direction, who returned the look before Nea huffed over in the direction of the servant, “Excuse me, but we'd like to sit together, if that could be arra-”
“I'm terribly sorry,” interrupted the servant in a hurry, “Perhaps if you were here earlier we could have made amendments, but the Empress Herself will be here in soon time, and it's far too late to go changing things like that now. My apologies.”
As he hurried off once more, he ignored her cries for reconsider.
And so it was decided.
As Amery, now filled with concealed rage, approached her seat, she felt even worse as she smiled a deceitful smile in her companions direction.
Lady Weddor. There she sat, all calm, placid and covered in soft white dressings, sipping at her tea gently, the steam arising from it curling elegantly above her in an equally elegant dance.
“Hello,” she offered back plainly.
Lady Weddor.
Amery thought she would gag.
At last the doors of the Throne Room were pulled open, and the guards stoically saluted without even turning. The Maidservants all bowed together, silently appreciating Eleanore's presence as she walked to Fern and smiled.
Fern looked up from her bow, stood next to Eleanore and addressed the Maidservants on her behalf.
Dear Purea, these clothes are actually quite lovely, Eleanore thought silently to herself as Fern spoke.
The Maidservants all wore the same dark-grey dress, each with one small, matching flowerbud, an unadulterated version of the ones that decorated the ribbon around her own waist, attached to their own ribbons of matching colour - apart from Fern, who possessed a bigger, ebony flower in it's place, the same one that sat upon Eleanore's left shoulderblade as to compliment its... Well, its wholeness.
Eleanore, lost in thought, was suddenly brought back to reality when Fern's short address stopped, and she raised her head expectantly to Eleanore, who cleared her throat gently,
“Thank you all for waiting for me. As an appreciation of your help so far, and a much bigger appreciation for the help to come, I am honoured that you will all join me for dinner tonight, as guests rather than employees. So please enjoy the night and it's festivities.”
Fern bowed at this, and as she did, so did the rest of the Maidservants, all at once, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The formality of it all threatened to drill relentlessly into her skull.
She smiled a fake smile and she begun down the hall, accompanied to her left by Fern, and to her right by the beautifully-clad High Officer Shea, the Maidservants following robotically behind them all.
“How are you faring, Amery?” asked the placid Lady Weddor as she settled her cup gently to the table,
“Coping,” she replied. Barely.
"Ah. Well, it has been a frightening and drastic year for all of us, yes?”
Amery really hated this woman. Jennifer Weddor was akin to a wart blossoming in the most inconvenient of places, as far as she was concerned.
She was only here because of who she married, and they were long gone. She didn't even do her husband justice by wearing the traditional black clothing, in fact she wore white, creamy things, serving all the more to disgust Amery.
She had adopted the noble style of speech and manner, however she did not seem natural.
And what made it worse was that, years ago, when Sei was still fresh on the throne, Amery made it terribly clear that she wanted to have nothing to do with Weddor. This was respected, and the Palace made sure to keep them as far apart as possible on these kinds of occasions, and even though Weddor noticed it, she kept polite and never mentioned it or brought it up.
The fact that the servants had made such a terrible mistake did not do well for Eleanore in the eyes of Lady Altaliun.
"New staff,” Jennifer noted, as if she had read Amery's mind, and took another sip of her tea.
"I realised. They don't seem as efficient as the previous, wouldn't you agree?”
Jennifer shrugged, “It certainly doesn't feel as comfortable.”
Oho, you bitch, Amery thought quietly, smiling as she did, Damn right, you aren't comfortable. And it'll only get much worse for you now that I'm in the house.
Jennifer drained the tea of it's contents gently, “I haven't seen you since the last meeting.”
"Oh, please. Harvery likes to make us look bad, doesn't she? I wonder, she must've fucked that 'Lord Feyanrer' a right number of times to be where she is now.”
Jennifer, a little shocked by Amery's language, remained silent.
"Honestly, where did Sei pick up that sack of a Vizier?” Amery chortled, “Vani had the right idea. Too bad he didn't learn from him. I wonder who taught our dear old grandson to act like a fool?”
Jennifer was silently insulted, as she was the one who had opted to organise Sei's education.
The two grandmothers had their polite war in the middle of the table, blending in with the rest of the guests colourfully.
"The Empress is outside now,” whispered one of the servants to the band leader in the middle of a song, before rushing off again.
The song finished, again accompanied by little bits of applause by those not drowning in too much conversation. The band members flicked through the pages on the stands and the head of the dining staff addressed the guests,
“Thank you all for being able to make it here tonight, it is truly an honour to able to serve you. Before dinner begins, however, allow me to introduce to you all your host for tonight, Her Majesty the Empress.”
The guests all stood and faced the door, and the band played the Imperial Anthem as the doors opened, and Fern and Shea walked through, Fern curtseying and Shea saluting as the rest of the Maidservants entered to the continuing applause of the guests, and sat at their respect seats.
And as the last notes of the anthem rung out, the Empress appeared, and the applause grew much louder as she waved to the guests and stood behind her seat, and Fern and Shea moved to theirs.
Eleanore smiled, “Welcome, all of you, to dinner tonight. As you know, this dinner is held for two reasons. I have just returned from a hospitable stay in the Chapel of the Auder, who have been supporting the Empire sincerely after their reformation this year, and this dinner is partly a welcoming-back for me. However, the more important motive behind this evening was a message I would like to convey to you all as Empress. But of course, I will not leave you waiting! Let's all enjoy the dinner first before we get into the more serious matters of tonight. Enjoy!”
Applause was once again given, and voices began to mingle once more.
“Oh! And thanks very much to the band as well, who will be playing for us tonight!”
More slight applause and then everyone was seated, and dinner had begun.
The purple sky had disappeared now, leaving darkness in its place.
Kyou was tingling with excitement after meeting who he knew was the new holder of the Fate. It was the first time he had met face-to-face with someone chosen by the Fate, as the only time he ever saw Cassandra personally, she had a bullet hole through her neck, and had long passed away.
He pushed open the door of the abandoned building and snuck inside, carefully checking each direction for sign of Kitharis, who was nowhere to be seen.
Kyou was disheartened. His only bodyguard was now either in chains or dead. He was on his own again.
There was a bag of apples near the front door, so he nibbled on one as he sat near the window and stared out to the chapel.
So much is happening... I think Vadaa should prepare itself for another Demon War.
And I'm... Partly to blame.
Vivian sat at his desk, pondering.
The Empire has realised the power and the benefits of Demons. Well, at least this will serve as a better excuse to the public once we take over.
Remembering the tea Shelrair had brought him a while ago, he sipped a bit. It had already gone cold, so he downed the lot in one go.
But for there to have been a demon under our noses is bizarre. We knew something was out there, but it's obviously not very powerful. Word would have reached my ears from the Organisation if it were of concern...
Still, the Empire confined it for about a day before it broke out, and now it's roaming around Central.
He made a quick note of something and then got up from his desk, leaving the teacup behind.
I'll have to talk to Jezebel soon, perhaps we can find some kind of agreement with this rogue demon.
Leaving the store, Vivian almost ran into a young woman with a basket in her arm. She apologised before pasting something next to the shop door.
Vivian eyed it suspiciously, and the woman noticed this. She moved aside and made a gesture as for him to read the poster and tell her what he thought.
It was titled 'Missing Child' and underneath, had a picture of someone who Vivian instantly recognised as John's new recruit.
Vivian shook his head as if he had never seen the boy, and left without a word.
Bowen had immersed himself in conversation with Siberius after Eleanore had begun chatting with some apparantly noble guests, most of which he had never seen before, even in his role as Vizier.
Even so, Siberius was the cause of much conversation throughout the entire dining hall, and many people had attempted to talk to him or had requested to do so after the meal.
“Look, it's the boy who passed up monarchy for nothing!”
“Lord Feyanrer, it's nice to see you back!”
“What are your future plans, sir?”
This kind of talk arose all night, much to Siberius' displeasure. Of course, everyone in Central knew who Siberius was. After all, he had been a Vizier suddenly thrust into the position of Emperor, and the denial of this position was a massive event when he handed it over to someone else. It was a first for the Empire, and it was drastic. At the time, there was much controversy and noise about the issue, but it had mostly died down after a few months.
Bowen was finding it hard to get a word in with Eleanore, not just because she was always talking to someone else, but because since that night, they had both been a little more awkward with each other than usual.
But dinner continued, Fern was talked to much more than she had expected, and it was a lively event.
Eleanore tapped her glass a few times after the band had stopped playing and had taken the time to leave for a bit of rest.
Standing, everyone grew silent and all attention focused on her.
“I think it's about time I all brought to your attention what I wanted to discuss with you tonight.”
She paused, smiled and then continued, “As you may have already known, I have been serving this Empire since I was a little girl. My life in the Palace naturally brought me much knowledge of the political world, and although I never expected to be where I am today, I always held my views and my visions close to my heart.
On the day of my coronation, I had no time to rehearse a speech or to plan a grand entry. All I could do was speak from my heart.”
As she said this, Eleanore glanced at Siberius in the corner of her eye,
“I promised that as Empress I would lead the Empire out of the hate it had been placed in, I would make those of us in poverty grow to be wealthy and I would strive to pull us free from the debris left behind in the Demon War that devestated this very nation, and the entire Empire, just over seven months ago.
“Tonight I want to tell you how I will do this. I do not expect you to agree with my plans, nor adopt my paradigm. But I do ask of you, please open your hearts and listen to what I am about to say, for I do not plan to just change this nation, nor this continent, nor even this Empire, I plan to change the world with you, so that the name Immestrial will be praised all over Vadaa.”
There was a short applause and then silence.
“Alright. Now, we all know the anger and the hate that has been placed over our Empire these last few decades. In order to make this nation prosper, we have sucked others dry. And true, we have prospered. But more than empathy, I think this Empire needs fear.
“We were all hit hard by the Demon War, we know what it feels like to lose someone or something precious. And there may be enemies out there growing, waiting for the moment to hit us once more and cripple this nation to its core. We were all under the delusion that we stood upon the very center of this Empire. Central, the capital of Immestrial; Central, the blood-sucking leech of Vadaa. This is where we went wrong. Because Immestrial is so focused on Central, so Vadaa has grown to despise it. The planet itself despises it! We can see this clearly, through the actions of the demons sent to destroy us. We have to fix it.
“Central... Cannot be the center of Immestrial anymore. We can no longer afford to drain nations of their trust, their hope, and their respect. Sei, Vani, Geore – these were all powerful leaders, but they couldn't foresee the destruction they would bring upon themselves.”
The guests were all shocked with what had been said so far, it was all quite drastic.
Eleanore took a moment to breathe and continued, “So I'm setting a date. In five months time, I will be celebrating the first anniversary of my rule over this Empire. In my speech, I shall announce the changes that shall occur...”
Bowen and Safroth eyed the looks of the guests. They, along with McKenzie, were the only ones who actually knew what these 'changes' were.
“This nation shall no longer be called Central Immestrial-”
As soon as she said this, the dining hall erupted with voices, some yelling, some consoling, some praising, some provoking.
“Everyone please be quiet,” asked Safroth, blanketing the voices for a while.
“Please. This nation will henceforth be known as Gardaine, after the first ruling Empress of Immestrial, and no longer will we be the great mouth of the world, sucking it dry, but the heart.”
There was a pause, and everyone remained silent this time, until Jennifer Wedor raised her hand and spoke, “Then where will you reside? All this talk of hearts and mouths is silly; without a head, the heart is useless.”
There were murmurs of approval here, and expectation fell on Eleanore again,
“Of course, thank you Lady Wedor. I understood this from the beginning, and since the conclusion has come to me only recently, I haven't had time to talk to you about my next change yet.
Whilst this Palace - and even others - may do as a residence for myself and future rulers of Immestrial, this Palace will also no longer be known as the symbol of the Throne.
Let's start from the beginning, shall we? Our dearly beloved late Emperor Sei had constructed for himself a ship that rides the skies, after research into the newly-discovered Energy. More examples would be the air fleets of the Rebellion, which I'm sure we all laid eyes on during the war, which were based off the original research of Sei's private ship, the Imperial Phoenix.”
“You aren't planning on rebuilding that monstrosity, are you?” spoke an older man at the table,
Eleanore quickly spoke before others saw this as an opportunity, “Actually, Sei had already begun development of a second ship similar to the Phoenix using research gathered from the first, which he never planned to use as a permanent means of transportation in the first place.”
Wedor spoke again, mumbling to herself, but loud enough for those close to hear, “So he named it Phoenix because it would be reborn, new and improved, after sufficient results had been gathered from the first.”
Eleanore smiled, “I hadn't thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right, Lady Wedor.”
There were murmurs of conversation arising again as many began to see what Eleanore was planning,
“I was only recently alerted to this development, which I've ordered to be completed as soon as possible. I know that the previous ship, Phoenix, had been critically damaged during the war, resulting in a tragic end, but from what we've seen of the Rebellion's own fleets, these vehicles are actually the turning point in the history of the entire world, and our Empire has been given the reins. The future might even see these 'airships' as a common thing, the skies becoming as popular as the land to walk on.
And so, with this in mind, and after what I have said earlier, if this new airship, which has been under construction in Hangyakunin for the past year, is completed, then why not give it the honour of housing the Immestrial Throne? And, if I may use Lady Wedor's lovely example once more, why not give it the honour of being the Head of Immestrial, teaching the heart how to spread it's glory?
With a flying castle in the sky, capable of being both an imperial residence, throne and transport to Immestrial, will the world not see we have changed our ways?”
Talk arose among the guests again, and for a few minutes, Eleanore stood silently, allowing debate and the ideas spoken of so far to rest in their heads.
“And one more thing,” the cue for silence, “As it is the general tradition that the Emperor or Empress visit Great Hangyakunin during their second year of rule... I'm thinking it'd be fashionable to travel by Castle.”
There was a bit of laughter and claps from the guests before she continued, smiling, “And not just to Hangyakunin, either! I'll visit the prominent nations of our Empire, bidding them my goodwill personally! One nation cannot be the center of this Empire anymore, but this Empire can be the center of this world, and if I can dream it, I will see it be, and soon. Now is a turning point in the history - we have the reins, so let's take this chance whilst we've got it, and show whatever else is hiding in our world that we won't fall behind and let them overtake us!”
She held up a glass, feeling the leadership of High Officer all over again, and yet feeling more excited then she thought she had ever been in her life, “For the Empire!”
The guests all stood and joined in the toast, “For the Empire!”
Back in her room, Lilly was crying. She was confused, and filled with the presence of this 'Fate', as her new friend Kyou had called it. She wondered if he had something to do with it. She wasn't sure, but she knew they were connected somehow.
She was also sure that Kyou wasn't her Inspiration, and yet, she couldn't sense it anymore through all the... Well, through the mist in her head, and the overpowering aura that seemed to suffocate her presence in the world.
Why had he come to her, sensed her, if he wasn't her Inspiration?
“Please,” she chanted over and over again, leaning on the pane of her bedroom's open window, half-sitting on her wheelchair, half-attempting to stand, “Please, please, please.”
Rine could hear her. He was trying to talk back, but apparantly she couldn't hear.
”Don't let me lose you... Please...” The voice continued to chant, it pestered him,
“You need to find me first.”
Apparantly, this time she did hear him, “Inspiration, you're still here! You're still here...”
“Why do you call me that? Inspiration?”
”...You.. Inspire me.”
“But you were the one who taught me to fly.”
”No.. I asked you to live.”
Rine hardly flew since that night. He knew he would be found if he was caught in the open, so the most he could do was hide.
”Inspiration...?”
“...Where are you? And who are you? Please, just answer me that!”
She hesitated a bit, pondering his confusing questions, ”I'm in the same world you are... And I am me, I think...”
Rine was glad he at least got any kind of answer, for all the previous times he had asked something like that, their conversations had stopped abruptly. So he was glad it seemed they were making progress, the voice and he, “Why don't you show yourself to me? Are you frightened like the rest of them?”
Lilly felt a little sad, “I-...I'm not afraid.”
”So come to me..! Please!”
She smiled sadly to herself, “Even though I don't know much about this place... I'm just a caged bird.”
”So was I, until I grew wings.”
“So you've accepted it, then?”
”...I can't change fate, but I can deny it.”
“I'm glad you are okay, Inspiration.”
”I want to see you.”
“Then fly, you have wings.”
”I can't fly, they'll take me away again.”
“Look up. The moon reigns this world now, not them.” There was no response, but she continued anyway, “When day turns to night, humans flee. Those who are not human embrace the darkness, for in the darkness, everything is hidden, humans sleep and silence falls.”
”...So I'm not human.”
“You can't change Fate.” As she said this, she thought back to Kyou and the new feelings surrounding her, but she shook her head and refused to think about it again.
”Then where are you?”
“This place... They call it a chapel.”
After dinner was done, the guests had spoken words of praise and warning to the young Empress and left, and the servants began to clear the tables, and the musicians played their final songs, Eleanore arose.
Being the host, she was also the last to leave, but she was accompanied by the Viziers and Siberius as they left.
“Empress..”
Eleanore mumbled so they could hear, “I hate formalities,” but she responded in an amusingly happy voice, “Yes, Sibey?”
“I'm glad I handed over the throne.”
Eleanore turned to him and smiled, “Oh yes, I never did get the chance to thank you for that.”
Siberius tried to cover the cheek where Eleanore slapped him as they left the dining hall.
“Oh, but Siberius, in all seriousness, I hope your vacation's been more than enough rest and meditation, or whatever it was.”
Siberius stopped and she turned around once more,
“Because, about the whole new King of Gardaine thing...”
“I thought as much,” Siberius sighed, already getting her point.
After her speech, Eleanore had announced that Gardaine would be issued with a monarch of her decision to rule the country and also make any administrative decisions whilst she was gone. Along with this monarch, she was going to form a group to supervise any decisions made for the Empire on behalf of the Empress herself ((think of it like Parliament without the Houses, just a small bunch of guys and gals [10-15 of them at most] who will stop the King or anyone else from doing irrational things)).
Safroth smirked, “You won't run away again, will you, Siberius? That was embarassing, last time, y'know?”
Siberius chuckled lightly, even if he didn't want to, “...The past hurts. If someone up there really wants me here so badly, I might as well see how it turns out for now...”
Bowen laughed, “This will be awesome! I never got to get to know you well, Siberiuuus. ((lol, accidental gay line))”
Siberius laughed as well, “As long as I get my mansion back.”
“Trading the Palace for a mansion. Hmm. I guess that's fair,” Eleanore spoke lightly, “But as King you'd receive the Palace as your private residence as well.”
Bowen, who had drunk a little to much and completely forgotten his awkwardness around Eleanore, beamed, “We'll all be roommaaaaates!”
Everyone laughed.
“Lord Feyanrer!”A voice called out from behind them, not realising he was talking with the Empress, and relentlessly apologising as he did.
Montecore padded down the hall towards them slowly, next to the man who had spoken. He hadn't been allowed in the dining hall, so one of the servants had looked after him instead.
Eleanore couldn't help smiling, “Look who it is! I haven't seen you in ages, Montey!”
And as unbecoming as it was for an Empress, she bent down to pet him as Siberius and the servant talked,
“Was he a good boy?”
The servant laughed, “Ah, well let's just say we don't need to dispose of tonight's leftovers!”
“Oh, he will make a good addition to the Palace regulars,” Safroth exclaimed, to general amusement.
“Excuse me... Siberius?”
It was a girl's voice. She really didn't look like she should have been in those maidservants clothes, but Siberius didn't tell her that, “Oh, Violet. Did you enjoy the dinner?”
“It was delicious,” she spoke plainly, “Um.. Do you wanna check out the balcony? It's got a nice... View.”
“My, someone's popular. And I'm glad it's not me,” Eleanore smirked.
After the new maidservant had gone and dragged Siberius off somewhere, Eleanore had met once more with Fern, and Bowen, probably realising he should have been a bit more gentlemanly around her, said his goodnights and left.
They began making their ways up the stairs, after seeing off several important guests.
“Oh, dear, there you are!”
Eleanore turned to see an old woman in widows garments that even she found repulsive. Lady Altaliun, Sei's grandmother on the father's side.
“Oh, may I help you, Lady?”
“I just wanted a few words, that's all..”
“Of course, how may I be of service?”
“Well, it's just your 'ideas' tonight. I think they aren't very... Noble, if you understand my meaning.”
Safroth wanted to roll his eyes, I hate this woman.
He noticed that her group of friends - also aged women without husband in sight – staring like schoolgirls over the corner, probably coaxed into believing she was having a very serious talk with 'her good friend, the Empress'.
“Please explain,” Eleanore urged,
“My family built this Empire up to what it is today. I don't mean to sound rude, but just because you get a fancy chair to sit your bottom on doesn't mean you get to make history's decisions, you understand?” She provided a horrifying smile, teeth missing and all.
“...No, I don't understand.”
She stopped smiling, “Well then, I suppose you've had a long day, my dear. But I'll make sure to duck down to your secretary before I go and organise a meeting with you within the next few weeks, yes, deary?”
“That would be lovely. Goodnight.”
“Yes, goodnight.”
It had taken Rine almost 2 hours before he flew past the chapel,
“You're here.”
His heart fluttered with his wings as he lowered himself to the window, and their eyes met for the first time.
But it wasn't love at first sight, no. They loved each other long before that.
His feet on her windowsill, they embraced each other long and wordlessly, because they each understood that they were each each other's world.
…..
The sound of footsteps approached, and their eyes tried to take in as much of each other as possible before Rine clambered up onto the roof and spread his wings.
Father Treed burst into the room, and even through his scolding of trivial things – the window being open, she still being awake, all she could think about was her Inspiration that night, and many nights into the future, too.
Night after night the Dawn Team would assign new gunmen to the task of roaming around the Palace ground, and many were positioned about Central high up, keeping watch for anything that shouldn't have been roaming those grounds or those skies.
But only one had ever caught sight of the demon, and startled, he just watched as it flew by, and never told anyone else of his sighting.
And so they started to lose belief.
And so the weeks began to pass.
Kyou had grown used to living alone, every so often visiting in the Chapel in secret to talk with Lilly, with whom his bond was slowly increasing, but his understanding was not.
Initially he wondered about Kitharis too, and his whereabouts, but even those thoughts began to grow dim.
Kitharis, however, had gained much more insight into the 'backstage affairs' of Central Immestrial, and was doing his job perfectly as requested by Kyou.
He figured that someone like him, wanted by the police, wouldn't do well protecting anyone in full view of the street, and besides, he knew that information would protect Kyou more than physical defence, and so on his frequent visits to Waurd's Antiques, Kyou was never around to get harmed whilst Kitharis silently began to put the pieces together as he observed the plans to come.
He wasn't one to take sides, whether it be the Empire or an insurgence, with anyone seperate from his employer. And so it was.
Savannah found the book she had previously put on hold to be very intriguing indeed – written in a language she couldn't read, but translated roughly under each line of text was the one she was familiar with. It spoke of creatures not of this world, of objects containing soul and memory fragments, and of the shells of living humans being worn by creatures frightening and old.
Her memory shifted back to the Demon War she had heard about, but held no memory of. That was the event that triggered her memory loss, and the book was connected, definitely.
So she wondered if perhaps she had known, all along, about what was to come in the past, and she wished her past self would be as kind as to write a note explaining everything.
Unfortunately, the only note that was in the borrowed book that fell out upon inspection seemed torn from another text, old and again unreadable by herself.
Violet continued to admire Siberius from afar, not doing particularly well in the Maidservants at all... In fact, being scolded nonstop by the older maidservants and even, on occasion, Fern.
Siberius himself became a great piece of public interest.
“He's back to take the throne!”
“There's a new demon threat in the skies!”
“He's engaged to Eleanore! Of course, no wonder she was the one he chose for Empress!”
Rumours flooded and circled around, speculation grew, and numbers also amassed in Central, hoping for some kind of exciting unplanned event to occur.
And when news came of the Empress' Important Speech in one month's time, everything was left up to their wild imaginations.
It was as though Siberius himself was an advertisement for the plans ahead, a duo figurehead for the new Immestrial that was soon to come.
Or should I say, new Immestrials...?
Eleanore was busy with planning for a while, but after setting a date for the Central Assembly, her workload slacked a bit.
And she had respectfully 'forgotten' about Bowen's failed proposal, never mentioning it, never taking it literally in his presence.
But he hadn't forgotten. And so it took all his courage one morning, when they were alone, to ask,
“Elle... It just pecks at my mind..”
“What?” asked Eleanore dully,
“That night we saw the demon... And I asked you a question...”
Eleanore felt a little sick inside and sighed, “Oh, Bowen.... What about it?”
“You never gave me a proper answer.”
Eleanore wanted to laugh and yell at him all at once, just because his naivety annoyed her too much. He knew very well what she meant that night, and telling himself anything otherwise was just a stupid waste of false hope, an unneeded distraction to the both of them.
“Well, Eleanore? Just come out and say it... Yes or no?” Bowen knew the answer. He also knew what was going through her head – but this was something he needed to get off his chest. Even if he looked like an idiot, until he asked what needed to be asked, until she said what needed to be said, it was a block in his life... And he needed the courage to jump over it.
“Bowen... I'm sorry. I really am... You are an excellent man, a great fighter... You're trustworthy and respected enough to be my Vizier, Bowen... And I can't say I never thought I loved you.”
Bowen clenched his fists. She dragged it out. It was like torture, rather than one quick blow. It hurt all that much more.
“But Bowen, I can't escape my past. It's something I have to deal with myself, not with you. And I don't think you would understand...
I loved him, I still love him. The feeling never goes, even after death.”
Bowen sighed, That's the reason?
Eleanore muttured, more to herself than to him, “'Memories are precious'... So... If I foolishly replace something precious with something newer, I'll lose the first one, and the value of those memories will decrease. The memories I would make with you would also then... Have less meaning. And if I keep his memory with me 'til the day I die, it's value will never die.
So, you see? We're friends. We can make new memories, too... But nothing can replace him. I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. I was too rash.”
And with that, he left.
So the days were hereby filled with excitement and tension, and the nights filled with the dance of the cursed, as Rine had visited Lilly twice since that one night, and this night would mark their third.
She waited at the window. This time it was cold, for it was below freezing, and the window has painted itself a frosty colour. Lilly kept wiping the frost away with her hands, hoping to catch a glimpse of something in the darkness, her breath turning to ice as she waited, despite the cold.
And something came into view, and she opened the window wide, and gently he came down again, moved the hair out of his eyes and smiled the same welcoming smile.
They talked for hours.
“You've never left this cage?”
“I told you, my wings are clipped,” she spoke back, her face dug into the clothes that barely seperated her from his warm chest. Tonight he had completely entered her room, a first.
He thought for a moment, and savoured the silence, “I'll be your wings.”
“My wings...?”
He pulled away for a moment, and clambered back onto the windowsill. For a second, Lilly was afraid the Father was returning, but quickly realised what Rine was planning.
“Here, I'll hold you.”
“What? But, will y-”
“I'm stronger than I look. You made me go into your room, now I want to show you mine, Lilly! I'll be your wings...”
She hesitated for a moment, and stared at her legs, and the spots where they abruptly ended.
Silently, she gave him her hands, and as he pulled her closer, her whole body was pulled toward his.
And the moment they dropped from the windowsill, well... It was all too fast.
Suddenly, they were flying, and they both felt truly seperate from the world. Perhaps they were. After all, night is just a new world overlapping the old, a playground for those nonhuman.
That's why, just before they returned to the chapel, Rine touched ground and returned to reality for a moment, and under the streetlight, they kissed.
And then the weeks filled in, and the day of the Empress' Central Assembly had come.
((Forgive me forgive me forgive me for taking so long; originally this was planned to go even longer, but I thought screw it. You can all help me with this day.
ALSO-! Serynn is not forgotten, nor is Brelair, John, Shelly, any of them, they really had no importance in THIS post, but they will be very important very soon.
Again, forgive my incomptence >w< You all get the option of 16 punches at school, all at once or saved and kept hidden, as this post took 16 Word pages on size 12 font! -dies-
SORRY I'LL POST MORE QUICKER I PROMISE OR ELSE KILL ME ;A;
-Farr))
Then we can -finally- skip ahead to the big day when Eleanore skips onto Ashrose and jigs off))