"No…"
I laughed.
"You're mistaken."
Another laugh escaped me.
Thin. Hollow.
"What does he mean by Aethon's grandson, heh heh…" I thought. "There's no way..."
Mar'gareth rose on one knee.
"If you don't mind, I could verify…"
My brows furrowed. "How?"
"And…" I added. "If I'm his descendant… why can't I remember anything?"
Mar'gareth exhaled. "That is something I'm sure will reveal itself to you, just like how it did now."
"The heir to the throne of Ardor…?" Arturia murmured, his head down. "I thought both twins perished."
Mar'gareth stood and walked over to Arturia, placing one hand on Arturia.
"I saved one of the twins before Zyrakar had his hands on both." He said, "and I left him in the care of two Writers I found who had escaped the purging of Writers at that time."
He turned to me.
"That might explain the elderly lady you mentioned."
I remained silent.
He walked closer to me.
"Now hold out your hand, please." He said.
"W-why?" I asked.
"After checking the eyes. I need to check your flames too." He answered.
Arturia stepped forward. "Zandren, remember I told you that each Emberia is unique to its Family or Bloodline?"
I nodded. "Yes…"
He nodded, and smiled slightly.
"But I don't know how to make the uh… fire." I said, tapping my foot nervously.
"Close your eyes." Mar'gareth said, grabbing my wrist gently.
I obeyed.
"Imagine a pile of dry timber before you."
I nodded.
"Now… walk toward it."
"In your hand is a piece of flint."
"Strike it."
My eyes remained closed, and did exactly as he said.
"Uh… it's not working. I don't think this method works." I muttered.
Mar'gareth laughed. "What are you talking about? Open your eyes."
My eyes opened, and widened slowly.
"That's all I needed to see, Your Highness." Mar'gareth said, smiling. "The red flame of my old companion lives in you."
Above my palm…
…a tiny crimson flame danced quietly.
It gave off no smoke.
Yet…
I couldn't look away.
"I have no answers for the form you took when you transformed." Mar'gareth continued. "Maybe it's from your mother…"
His expression darkened.
"Or ...Zyrakar already tainted Royal Blood."
"But."
He held both my shoulders.
"Whatever happened to you…"
"Whatever Zyrakar may have done…"
He looked directly into my eyes.
"None of it changed the truth."
"You are Zandren Ignivar. The rightful heir to the Throne of Ardor."
He gave me a little pat.
Arturia stepped forward.
"Are we leaving now?" he asked.
Mar'gareth thought for a moment.
Then, he turned to me.
"Zandren…"
I nodded slightly. "Yes?"
"Now that we know who you truly are, your freedom is guaranteed after the trial…"
He paused.
"But what do you intend to do after?"
My head tilted slightly.
"I don't quite understand you."
He exhaled softly.
"After the trial, will you return back to lectures and training at the Academy? He asked. "Will you return back to...her?"
I looked down.
Then glanced at Mar'gareth.
"I'm…"
"...leaving the academy."
"..."
Mar'gareth didn't argue.
He simply looks around, then stands.
"In that case…"
He turns to leave.
"The trial will be held the day after tomorrow. I'll have Arturia bring you whatever you need to prepare. Also…"
He glanced at me over his shoulder.
"I won't let Eimira know about your decision yet…"
I smiled. "Thank you…"
Both Mar'gareth and Arturia quietly walked out of the chamber. Leaving behind a bag containing boxed lunches.
The chamber fell silent. A silence I know all too well.
I looked down at the tiny crimson flame still dancing above my palm.
"Ignivar."
The name still didn't feel like mine.
"Now…"
I frowned, shaking my hand violently.
"How do I put out this flame…"
—-
The grand doors of House Aevorah swung open as Mar'gareth stepped inside.
Arturia followed closely behind.
Warm light spilled from crystal chandeliers, washing over the polished marble and wooden floors. The comforting scent of fresh bread and roasted meat lingered through the halls, accompanied by the distant chatters of family and servants.
Yor walked out from a room, closing the heavy door behind.
It closed with a low thud.
"Oh, Mar. You're finally back." She said, smiling.
Mar'gareth hugged her. "Yeah. What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just someone has been waiting for you to return." She answered.
Eimira quietly stepped out from behind the pillar, revealing herself.
"Welcome back, Father." She greeted, bowing slightly.
Mar'gareth smiled warmly. "Awwn, my little snowflake, how was your day?"
Mar'gareth spread opened his arms.
Eimira slowly melted into them.
"My day was boring." She replied.
"Uhm, Commander…"
Arturia stepped forward.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I will be going to bed now…"
Mar'gareth tilted his head. "Finally… You've decided to rest. But what about dinner?"
"I'll have that when I wake up." He answered, already walking away.
"So, Dad." Eimira spoke softly. "How's he?"
Mar'gareth glanced downwards at Eimira.
"Eimira, we need to talk…"
He turned to Yor.
"Please have everyone seated for dinner, I'll be right there.
The clattering of cutlery filled the dining hall as everyone dined and talked about their day.
Everyone including Feona, Chichi, Tabbi and Ryona were all present chatting amongst each other.
Yor ended up scolding them for talking while eating. Mostly because Chichi ends up choking a little.
Mar'gareth smiled. "I've missed this chaos."
He continued.
"At Nymirel, everyone's just so formal with me, I find it difficult to relate with them. Aside from Arlen and Arturia of course.
"Uhm, Dad? What about Zandren?" Eimira asked. "You said to gather everyone here, now that we are here, won't you say something?"
Mar'gareth chuckled. "Eat your dinner, Mira. What I'm about to say…"
"...It's a bit hard for me to just say it."
Eimira's expression turned sad. "Noo…"
Mar'gareth jolted slightly, realising that Eimira misunderstood him.
"No, it's not that." He said. "Zandren will be fine after the trial."
Eimira relaxed. "That's good."
"But, what could make something difficult for Mar'gareth to say?" Ryona asked.
"I know right." Arlen chimed in. "Working with the commander, he never wastes time to give the news, whether good or bad."
"Yeah, I heard he's called the commander with the heart of stone, haha." Chichi spoke, chewing her food.
"Chiessa dear, You're going to choke again." Yor scolds.
Chichi turned to her, flashing a wide smile.
"Let's just wait till everyone's done eating." Mar'gareth said. "I would have had my thoughts gathered by then.
Moments passed, and the chatter went on through the dinner.
The servants quietly cleared the table.
The clatter of cutlery gradually faded until only the crackling of the fireplace remained.
Mar'gareth rested both hands on the table.
His gaze slowly swept across every member of House Aevorah.
"...Thank you for waiting."
No one spoke.
"Firstly.."
He turned to Eimira.
"Zandren will be fine, so there's no need to worry about him anymore."
He paused.
"Secondly, I have returned with news as to why Zandren will be fine…"
He turned back to everyone.
"...news I never believed I would live long enough to deliver."
Yor's smile faded.
Everyone unconsciously straightened in their chairs.
Mar'gareth drew a slow breath.
"Ardor…"
He slowly reached for the straps of his mask and loosened them.
"Shall rise again…"
Withered flesh clung to his features, scarred beyond recognition.
"I never believed I'd say that…"
His voice trembled.
For the first time in years…
Mar'gareth could no longer hold back the tears.
Everyone remained silent, already knowing the truth.
Eimira sunk into her chair.
"Zandren…"
She whispered.
"...Ignivar."
****
Night had long swallowed the forests beyond the Academy.
Moonlight slipped through the gaps between the wooden planks of a small, weathered shed hidden deep among the trees. The faint chirping of crickets echoed outside, accompanied by the occasional rustle leaves, as the cold breeze wandered through the clearing.
Inside, the room was humble.
A single lantern burned dimly upon a wooden table. Two chairs stood beside it, both unevenly carved by inexperienced hands. A shelf nailed against the wall held a handful of bowls, herbs, and a few folded clothes.
It wasn't much.
But unlike the luxury they had abandoned.
Every plank, crooked wall and furniture has been built by their own hands.
Upon the only bed the shed could fit, Yunok jolted awake.
"...Tch."
He gritted his teeth, itching, as cold sweat soaked through his shirt, irritating the burns Zandren's crimson flames had left behind.
Beside him, Zeth stirred almost immediately.
"Yunok?"
She sat up, concern already filling her voice. She pulled Yunok's hands away from his body.
"Don't scratch it. It makes the itching worse."
Yunok breathed heavily.
"I-I know but…"
He involuntarily yanked his hand out of her grip.
"...I can't stop."
"You have Morvethis, why aren't you healing?" She asked.
"That's the thing."
He glanced at her.
"I can't."
He itched.
"There's something about those flames, the wounds just won't clear out."
Zeth stood, heading out of the room.
"Wait here…" she said. "I'll bring the cloth and water to help soothe the pain."
The grass door rustled as she walked out.
Yunok remained seated in the bed, hunched over and still itching.
"Morvethis…" he stirred. "Come here."
Whoosh.
Morvethis floated from beneath the bed and rested against the wall opposite Yunok.
"I told you, I can't heal the burns…" he said
"I know I know. I just have a few questions." Yunok replied.
"Go on…"
"Why…"
He stared at Morvethis.
"...did we retreat when Zandren transformed?"
Morvethis remained silent.
Yunok continued.
"And why haven't these wounds healed?" He asked. "Emberia wounds can be healed, I know this because my little sister gets hurt all the time during her training."
"And she responds to the healing of a one-eyed Writer, not to talk of the regenerative ability of a void ruler."
"I do not know, Yunok." Morvethis replied. "I retreated because his power was something I had never come across before."
Yunok tilted his head..
"What do you mean?"
"Hmm…"
Morvethis hovered before Yunok.
"For instance… we all saw that he awakened Emberia, which is the blessing of the Primordial bugs."
"Bugs?"
"Yeah." Morvethis sneered. "I don't like them. So yeah… Primordial bugs."
Yunok chuckled slightly. "Grudge?"
"I don't wanna talk about it. Anyways…" Morvethis continued. "Aside from awakening the blessing of the Primordials, I felt a contamination in his flame…"
"I couldn't tell… But I did hear that there was a vessel of Ignisia who had the same type of Emberia."
"And finally… I felt a saintly presence in his flames. The flames of Purgatory, which is what might be responsible for the wounds refusing to heal…"
"My powers don't work against those of the saintly descents. He added. "Sure, I can kill them, but the wounds they would inflict on me would never be healed."
Yunok stopped itching as the sweat dried.
He adjusted to the edge of the bed. Sitting right in front of Morvethis, staring into the eyes of the serpent head guardrail.
"What or who are the saintly descents?" He asked.
"I don't know…" He floated away. "Just some bunch of moon obsessed black freaks that sacrifice their first daughters to Ahkmen Yhui, the God of the Dark Forest's moon."
"Sister of Ahkmen Yha, The God of the Dark Forest's sun. Another bunch of dick heads as followers."
"I had an encounter with them once, and thought they were easy pickings."
He chuckled. "I learned the hard way."
Yunok lowered his gaze, pondering on what he had just heard.
"So, Zandren's Emberia is something we have to be careful of…" he muttered.
Morvethis spoke, already resting in a corner.
"Yeah, I advise against fighting him head on till we find a way to put him down for good."
Yunok exhaled. "That bastard just keeps getting in the way…"
"Why?"
"If he had three sources of power that enhanced his flames right from awakening, it's a miracle these scars are the only thing I have to worry about.", he thought.
"Sadly, my face got scorched a bit…"
He scratched, then stopped.
"Wait, The river isn't far away…"
"KYAAHHHHHH!!!!"
A scream.
"Zeth!"
Yunok sprang out of bed, grabbing a cloak and dashing out of the small shed.
"Morvethis!" He yelled. "With me!"
Morvethis flew beside him.
He slashed through the dense bushes, making way for Yunok.
"Zeth!" Yunok yelled, running, ignoring the wounds that had reopened and are now bleeding.
Yunok got to the river's edge, then stopped.
Mar'gareth hovered beside him.
The chirps of the crickets had long gone silent. Only the rustling of the leaves remained.
Rustle!
He glanced to the left.
And Morvethis immediately followed up with a powerful slash that flattened the trees and bushes in its path.
"Woah…"
A voice came from behind.
But Yunok didn't move. He couldn't even turn.
Neither could Morvethis.
They were both frozen.
"Easy there…"
Footsteps approached, slowly.
"The innocent trees did nothing to you…"
"...Prince Yunok."
Thud!
"Urgh." Zeth grunts.
"Seraveth!!!" Yunok muttered, gritting his teeth, his words barely escaping his lips.
"Aww, you remember me." She teased.
She stepped before him
Her eyes, completely bereft of the whiteness it's supposed to have.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Yunok."
She spoke slowly.
Calmly.
"My last instructions to you was to lay low till the time of the eclipse."
She walked past him.
"And what did you end up doing?"
She stopped a few metres away from him.
"Tell me, what?"
Her head turned slightly.
Then
She instantly appeared right in front of Yunok's face.
"You went ahead and started a fight with the third captain!"
She exhaled sharply, then stepped away.
"Now, words about what you've done have spread."
"You can't return to the Academy." She laughed. "You can't even return to your own home."
"Now… you stay in a poorly built shed, with this failure of an experiment." She mocked.
Yunok gritted his teeth.
"Zeth… is not… a failure."
Seraveth eyes widened..
"Oh what's this?"
She stepped closer.
"Don't tell me…" She glanced at both of them. "...You both have fallen in love?"
She laughed, hysterically.
"I guess that solved the problem you had with the other girl, at the cost of drawing attention to yourself."
Seraveth drew a deep breath then exhaled. And her tone softened slightly. "Whatever… I have no say in what you choose to do with your lives."
She blinked, and her eyes returned back to normal.
Yunok and Morvethis regained their ability to move.
"I am here because of something els—"
Whoosh!
Yunok attacked.
Seraveth dodged, effortlessly.
Yunok grunted, trying to cut down Seraveth.
Seraveth yawned. "Oh please."
She grabbed Yunok's face.
"Settle down…"
Thud!
"...kid."
BOOM!
A huge crater formed beneath Yunok as he was slammed.
His eyes went blank, as if dead, for a moment, before coughing hard.
Seraveth dusted her hand.
"Your little rebellious phase caused the unexpected awakening of a third party who seemed to be carrying the blood of a king my master put down decades ago."
"I think his name was…" She tilted her head. "... Aethon?"
She scoffed. "Well, that's no longer relevant since he's dead."
She crouched before Yunok. "It seems to me that he also carries the blood of the goddess of the moon dwellers, worshipers of Ahkmen Yhui."
She ran her fingers down his face, before examining the scar on his body.
"I guess I do not need to explain what their power does to curse bearers."
She placed a hand on Yunok, and a blackish purple mist rose from underneath her arm. Engulfing the scars Yunok had, healing them.
"The reason why I paid a visit is to tell you not to let that abomination near my plans to take over Terraka."
She stood, making her leave.
"Afterall, he's the product of your stupidity."
Yunok remained.
Zeth slowly crawled towards him.
"Ah, one more thing…"
Seraveth stopped.
"I advise Zeth to sit this one out." She chuckled slightly. "There's a little one growing inside her."
"The eclipse is soon to come."
"...Be ready."
The blackish purple mist enveloped her and…
She vanished.
Gradually, the noise of the forest slowly returned.
"Y-Yunok, can you walk?" Zeth asked.
He coughed."Yeah, I think…"
"I'm just gonna lay here for a while." He said, laying down, and staring at the stars through the forest canopy
Zeth laid beside him. Her head in his chest.
"What the fuck…" He chuckled. "The heir to the throne of Ardor is Alive?"
"And my lover is pregnant?"
He sighed.
"Fuck."