I stored Stylnyx as I stood from my seat. “What’s this about?” I asked.
Turning back toward me, the light bearer answered, “The enlightened one has requested to see you, and the witch in your company.”
Whispers filled the tavern as patrons began speculating about the situation. At the table on our right one woman gasped, “Isn’t he the elven prince?” If she intended to ask quietly, her voice didn’t get the memo. Her words carried through the tavern sparking a louder chorus of gossip.
“I heard he travels with the dragon princess.”
“Wasn’t Avantia taken by cursed mages?”
“They say he’s one of ‘em. Maybe that’s why—”
“Silence!” The light bearer shouted, his voice booming like thunder.
In an instant the chatter stopped. Patrons returned to their meals, though not fully. Most were still watching my table. Some mumbled with their company, but none dared talk loud enough to draw attention to themselves.
Pointing at me, the light bearer continued. “You should be grateful for a summons from the enlightened. Quit wasting time and start moving.”
I lifted my cup and finished my plum cider before turning to Silvia. I wasn’t quite ready to end our reunion, but I had a sword to return to Amara, and I needed to speak to Lila as well.
Silvia returned my gaze with an understanding smile. “You know where to find me when you’re done.”
With a nod, I followed Melinda and the light bearers outside where Lumia was playing ‘I spy’ with Mirina.
Seeing us escorted out by light bearers, both girls hurried over.
“Silv, is everything okay?” Lumia asked as she stepped in front of us.
Before I could answer, one of the knights said, “Please step out of the way, miss. We’re taking these two to see the enlightened one.”
Lumia shook her head. “Wherever he goes,” she pointed to me, “I go too. Besides, I’d like to see my sister.”
Just then, Silvia stepped out of the tavern and Mirina ran to her mother’s side. I smiled and waved at my little sister as she and our mother made their way back towards the inn.
One of the guards cleared his throat. In an even tone he said, "I’m sorry miss, but our orders say to bring the elven prince and the witch, no one else. I wouldn’t mind letting you tag along, but orders is orders, miss.”
Lumia smiled. “Do your orders say anything about stopping me from visiting the church?”
The man shook his head.
“Good, then you won’t have a problem if I just follow behind you," Lumia replied simply.
The light bearer looked at his companions for support, but both remained silent. With a deep sigh the man shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. “Do as you please, just get out of the way. Lady Amara is wound up tight as a spring this mornin’ and I don’t want to get chewed out."
Nodding once Lumia stepped aside to let the guards pass. As everyone started walking again, she stepped between Melinda and I, giving a less than pleasant look to the seductress. When we crossed the street, Lumia wrapped herself around my arm.
It had been a while since we walked this closely, though I suspected her intent was more to taunt Melinda than to reward me. Still, I couldn't help but enjoy it.
We passed down a narrow alleyway, which led to a plaza with a teleportation platform. The guards guided us onto it then one of them sent mana into the plate.
I knew exactly what to expect and yet I was still awed when the light flashed and the scene around us changed in a blink.
"Whoever created these must've been a genius," I thought out loud.
One of the light bearers pushed his elbow into my back, shoving me forward off of the platform.
The area around the church was still being rebuilt so there weren't many people around. Just a few teams of mages working to restore the building.
Most of the small debris had already been cleared away, but larger pieces of the wreckage were being used to quickly reconstruct the destroyed structures. One mage lifted a large chunk of stone back to its original position on a tower, then two others filled in the gaps and cracks with stone and pebbles. Once everything was in place another mage went behind them and recompleated the stone carvings.
The tower was restored to its former appearance. When the mages finished working, I couldn’t even tell the building had been damaged. They were already moving on to the next structure, making quick work of the wreck. At their pace, it was possible the remaining damage would be repaired by the day's end.
Before we reached the entrance, Amara rushed out of the church. Her eyes quickly darted between us as she slowed to a stop in front of our group. As her gaze settled on the light bearer ahead of me, her face twitched. She was already tense, bulging veins were visible on both sides of her face and her movements were abrupt and rigid. “You're late,” she said sharply then pursed her lips and crossed her arms.
The three men snapped to attention with the leader saying, "I'm sorry ma'am. He was where you said he'd be, but we had to—"
"There’s no time for your excuses." Amara groused. Then, pushing the knight aside, she locked eyes with me. "I need you to convince the enlightened one to return to Volgatha."
The three light bearers jerked with alarm at her words. Lumia frowned, and I stammered out, "Wait, what?"
Lila’s entire purpose for being here was to be the dragons’ voice to the people of Seraphina. If she left, it might be seen as an abandonment by those who followed the church of illumination, and King Tesiam would certainly be annoyed if not angered by it. The dragons might not care about any tantrums he might throw, but everyone else on the continent certainly would.
Melinda nodded. "That sounds reasonable. Liriel would struggle to mount an effective offensive on the floating islands, so that would certainly keep her safe. Is there some reason your enlightened is refusing?"
Lumia’s expression darkened. Without giving Amara a chance to respond, she demanded, "Take me to my sister."
With a nod, Amara spun on her heels and led us into the church.
Aside from a few light bearers, Lila, and a priest, the building was empty. The halls were near silent and peace spread through the air like a pleasant aroma. My building anxiety faded immediately, though Amara still appeared on edge.
"Amara, have you spread your anxiety to our guests?" Lila asked with a smile as we entered the sanctuary. "I’ve already told you, I won’t go.”
“That dragon has become an eidolon. As long as its gem remains, the beast will not die. Lord Andrhei will not send dragons to guard the city and Lumia and Silvon must leave as you’ve said yourself…” Amara’s voice was taught with emotion as she spoke—some mix of anger, sorrow, and fear. “…you have to leave. If you stay, then we rescued you for nothing.”
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“Leave us.” Lila demanded, her voice carrying authoritatively throughout the sanctuary. The priest and light bearers dropped what they were doing and swiftly made their exit from the building.
Amara remained with Lumia, Melinda and I as Lila floated across the room to meet us halfway down the center aisle.
“I must speak with Silvon." Lila said, looking directly at Amara. “You have duties to attend to.”
With a small hand gesture, Lila dismissed the dejected light bearer. Amara opened her mouth, but closed it without protest when she met Lila’s stern glare. The knight bit her lip then huffed, bitterly, out of the sanctuary.
Turning to me, Lila asked, "You seek to stop Liriel's ambitions?"
I didn't answer immediately. Something was off, I felt it the moment she first began speaking. I had limited experience with Lila, but she seemed completely different now than any of our previous encounters. The last time we spoke was odd, but there was still some semblance of the Lila I met at the proving; now the only thing familiar was her soft voice and her face.
Turning to Melinda, Lila continued on without waiting for my reply. “…and you seek to…?”
Shrugging her shoulders Melinda answered casually. “I don’t have any noble goals, but Silv promised me a reward for helping him free you.”
Lumia rolled her eyes. “You’ve got some nerve, asking for a reward when it was you and your friends that kidnapped her to begin with.”
“I had nothing to do with that. Besides, I'm not asking you for a reward. It’s something between me and Silvon.” Melinda shot back fiercely.
I could feel their anger, like sparks leaping off fire. I suppose I should have known better, but I guess I hoped they’d get along easily like girls in shonen manga.
Lila raised a hand to stop their bickering as she asked, “Do you have knowledge on Liriel’s plans?” Her words seemed directed at Melinda, although she wasn’t looking at any one of us in particular.
Melinda nodded. “He wants the twelve lights, and he already has three—actually, probably four of them.”
Lila grimaced. “Then it’s as I feared. The dark one has returned.”
Lumia stepped toward her sister. She reached tentatively for Lila's hand, but stopped short and pulled back. "You aren't my sister…” Lumia said, her voice trembling. “…is she..." Lumia trailed off leaving the question hanging unfinished.
"Do not fear, child. Lila will be returned to you when the time is right." Lila—or the enlightened—stretched out her arms and the runes all over her body began to glow. "I have not revealed myself since the time of saints. Even the High Lord is ignorant of my true identity..." Lila's form changed—her voice too; it became deep and smooth like music from a finely tuned instrument. Like wings unfolding, multiple blades of light spread out from her back. Her horns disappeared, swallowed by bright light that radiated from her body. Looking directly at her became somewhat painful, so I looked to the left but kept her in my peripheral vision. "I am Illudrasile." She finished, although her voice sounded masculine now.
I was only mildly surprised. I'd heard several of the cursed mages refer to Lila as Illudrasile and Melinda had even suggested that I had a misunderstanding about her identity, but I didn't truly believe until now.
Lumia backed away, her emotions becoming like an unreadable twister. I reached for her, pulling her close and rubbing her back.
She leaned into my shoulder, but didn’t hug me back.
Illudrasilee continued speaking. "Liriel has likely worked out my identity; that is why I can neither run nor hide. For him to have discovered who I am…and the spell you were taught, he must be the incarnation of Grievezon."
“So you’re saying my uncle, is Grievezon?” I asked, struggling to wrap my head around the idea. A ritual was performed on Lila to give her access to Illudrasile’s memories or implant his spirit within her, whichever it didn’t matter; the point was nothing like that happened to Vale—not that I could remember anyway.
Illudrasile shook his head. “No, your uncle is merely a vessel, though I imagine that even with the dark one’s spell, his body will soon give out.”
“What about Lila’s body?”
"That's impossible.”
Lumia and I burst out at the same time.
Illudrasile shook his head as he folded his arms across his chest. “Your sister will be fine. I promise, she will be returned to you. As for the impossibility…am I not proof enough that it’s possible?”
“My uncle isn’t like you; he still seems human.” I said, feeling less certain than I sounded. “Besides, the black dragon has been dead for over ten thousand years. How would he just randomly appear now?”
“I don’t think that’s entirely accurate either.” Melinda said. “The elf is definitely a vessel for Liriel, but I don’t think Liriel is the same as Grivezon. I knew him before he became what he is now, and he definitely wasn’t Grievezon.”
“Oh?” Illudrasile said with a hint of intrigue.
“When I met him, he was already cursed and on the verge of becoming a monster. A strange little dwarf brought him to Selvaris for help. Long story short, Liriel said he needed to collect twelve lights and I offered to help.”
"If he is looking for the lights, then he either is Grivezon or he’s in communication with him. No one else besides me knows of their existence. The black dragon wants what belongs to me and once the twelve lights are gathered back into one, he will attempt to claim my power.”
“Your power?” Lumia asked. “Actually, never mind that; why are you so certain that Grievezon has returned? And what would he want with these twelve lights or whatever?”
Illudrasile floated up towards the stained glass, stopping in front of the frame depicting him as a dragon. “Long ago, before the fall of Zeledoana, there was a light that guided and blessed this continent. My power flowed through all the land, ensuring prosperity for everyone who trusted and listened to my wisdom. For many centuries the kingdoms of dwarves, men, and elves lived in harmony because of me.”
The shining figure drifted left, toward a carved stone dragon as it flew by him. He waved a hand towards it and the animated stone turned dark and began to orbit him. Then he spoke again. “There was one, a young prince, to whom I offered more than any other. I laid bare all mysteries and knowledge for him. He was a wonderful pupil, but eventually he lost himself to greed and grief. He sought power to right the wrongs dealt him.”
The darkened stone dragon stopped circling Illudrasile and instead flew towards him. Its mouth opened wide to devour the light, then slammed shut, leaving us in complete darkness.
“The prince of light, as he was known by his people, used my teachings to craft a spell that would have stolen my power. Instead of allowing him to use his dark magic on me, I divided myself in twelve parts and scattered them through the land.” Twelve small orbs of light floated out from behind the dragon, each stopping near a stained glass frame depicting a different saint. “My light flowed into my twelve chosen saints and filled them with power.”
Illudrasile emerged from behind the stone dragon and drifted back toward the stained glass. “My saints followed my instructions to the letter and laid a trap for the dark one, but when it came time to spring this trap, one of the twelve lights failed to do her part.”
Mirin’s frame on the glass window darkened at his words and the light next to it flew into the stone dragon. “Mirin warned Grievezon of what was coming and the two hatched a plot of their own. Grievezon went willingly into my trap. Things seemed to be going well. I thought all was done; the twelve lights should have returned to me and I would’ve then finished the dark one, but the lights didn’t return.”
Floating back down towards us, Illudrasile said, “All these years, I have held this knowledge to protect my secret. I put in place a new plan, but recent events have led me to accelerate things somewhat.”
I wasn’t the most astute when it came to history, but Illudrasile’s words seemed to challenge the foundations of everything I was taught, while also filling in blanks. His story also seemed to confirm what Zidg had told me—not that I trusted the dwarf much. Still it felt like he was purposefully leaving out details.
Lumia appeared deep in thought and Melinda nodded along as if she already knew all of this. It seemed reasonable, but I wasn’t ready to accept it as fact.
Speaking again, Illudrasile said, “I can see that you need time to digest what you have just learned. Unfortunately, you don’t have time. The reason I have called for you is because I need your help to collect my lights, and Liriel is already ahead of you.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” I replied.
Illudrasile’s light faded and he reverted to Lila’s appearance. With a smile, the enlightened one said, “Use Grievezon’s magic.”
I looked at him deadpan.
He continued, “When you come across individuals who possess a piece of my light, you’ll have to take it by force. You can try asking nicely, but I doubt any of them will willingly give up the power my light grants them.”
Melinda raised her eyebrows. “From what I’ve seen, your light is even more dangerous than forbidden magic. Surely you don’t expect Silvon to—”
“Silvon already has one of the lights. I can sense it in him. His body will not reject the light and provided he doesn’t use my power, it will not affect him.”
Lumia shook her head. “No.” She pulled free of me and positioned herself between Illudrasile and me. “No, he won’t do it. We won’t do it. Find someone else, ask one of your light bearers, but we—”
I understood her feelings, but I wasn’t so ready to just walk away. “When you have your light back, can you cure the curse of forbidden magic?” I asked, interrupting her.
“Silv, no…” Lumia pleaded as she turned around to face me. “It’s not worth the risks. We’ll find another way.”
“What other way?” I asked. “If I don’t use this magic I’ll turn into a cursed beast and if I do…” I recalled the joy I felt as I watched a man wither away to feed my greed. “…I might turn into something worse.”
Illudrasile smiled. “When I am restored, I will purify the stains of dark magic from your soul.”