Monarch Denis Irista

Kristel walked up the steps of the High Palace as she pocketed her M.O.B.I.L.E. “Still can’t reach him…”

“Venry?” Scuti asked, following closely behind her.

“Yeah,” Kristel sighed and moved on.

After discussing their plans, the group had gone their own ways. Frill had brought Xiv along to show him his private quarters, while Katherine and Frein had gone to the library to study, albeit not to the restricted section yet.

The princesses, on the other hand, had spent the rest of the afternoon fixing their room. Time went by quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was already evening. So the two went on their way to speak with the Monarch.

Kristel sighed, facing the door to her father’s personal dwelling. It was far larger compared to the other steel doors of the palace, with only the main doors of the hearing chambers as its only exception. When she was a kid, pushing or pulling them open had been a chore, and a Royal Knight had always been there to help her.

“Maybe we can just try tomorrow morning?” Scuti whispered nervously. “It’s already night time.”

Kristel raised an eyebrow. Her sister should have no reason to be this shaky. “What did you do?”

“Hmm?” Scuti looked away. “Nothing…”

“Did you get into another fight?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” The Second Princess’s guilty face was apparent. She tried to act cute, taking stolen glances at her sister. “I skipped class today.”

“Because you heard I was coming home?”

Scuti nodded, pouting.

Kristel couldn’t stop her hand from covering her face in shame. Of course she did… And because of her prestigious title, such a misconduct would instantly reach the Monarch before the day even ended. Their father was nothing if not strict.

Kristel already knew what her sister wanted to say. “Fine, fine. We’ll say you skipped classes because of me. It’s true anyway.”

“Really?” Scuti squealed with glee, almost jumping for joy. “Thank you, thank you!”

Just then, the door opened. The image of their father loomed over them as he pulled one of the heavy, metal doors with a single hand. Scuti quickly hid behind her sister, struggling because of how much taller she was.

Monarch Denis, still in his formal work clothes, stared at them from a height similar to Frein’s. Both of them weren’t very tall, in fact, but the intensity of the Monarch’s eyes was completely different from the Visitor’s. Years of leading an entire nation had given him a permanent scowl. He had a knack for making Kristel aware of how much she lacked in height.

The Monarch had his eyes trained on Kristel, completely ignoring Scuti. The First Princess wished she had figured out Frein’s Mesiffera by now, but all she could rely on was her normal observation Meiyal Art. True enough, his meiyal was moving at a rate common enough for someone who was Drawing.

Does he know how to Draw it?

Monarch Denis gave a smirk, barely noticeable from his aging white, full beard. “After all this time, you still look the same, Kristel.”

The First Princess was stunned, unable to make sense of his father’s words. Was he proud? Disappointed? What was that smirk about? Was he underestimating her? Before she could ask, however, her father continued to speak.

“What you lack in physical growth, seems like you’ve more than made up for in meiyal strength. Welcome home, my dear Princess. Come in. I’m sure we have much to discuss.” He turned to Scuti. “And you. I’ll let you off the hook tonight, but you’ll take double classes tomorrow whether you like it or not. Understand?”

Scuti could only nod so fast.

“Thank you for taking it easy on her, Father,” Kristel said.

Denis waved a hand before returning to his room. The metal door immediately closed as soon as he let go of it. Kristel reached out just in time, almost instinctively. It was too late when she realized the weight might crush her fingers.

She was just as surprised as Scuti when she held it in place instead.

“Talk of formality between us is over, Kristel,” Denis said, not waiting for them. “I can tell that you’ve long surpassed my strength. Evanclad’s Destiny has favored you. I’m sure you know this means that you’re more of a monarch now than I am.”

Stunned by her father’s words, Kristel dumbfoundedly pushed the entire door open. It was so easy now, so natural, as if the door weighed lighter than a feather. Scuti, behind her, was just as lost for words as she was.

“Ah, but I’d much rather you don’t forget your manners and make your elders wait,” Denis said as he sat on his study. “I do not wish for you to grow into a disrespectful lady.”

The two princesses hastily entered the room. The door closed softly, despite its weight.

The room was just as Kristel remembered it. One side filled with the absolute grandeur that the High Palace could offer, and one side filled with comforts and fond memories. Family portraits were scattered all around, and luxurious drinks were stationed near the study.

Kristel’s eyes went straight to her mother’s image. Meiyal swam all over the frame, providing it some semblance of realism.

Youni Irista looked exactly like Scuti. Dark royal blue hair, azure eyes, and a smile that could outshine whichever rays the sun chose to be. She had been taken far too early, back then. And while the years had allowed the hurt to subside, it never really went away.

“You never did bring a picture,” Denis commented, he gestured for them to sit down.

“I didn’t realize then that I was staying there for three years,” Kristel admitted, taking one of the seats in front of her father’s table. Stacks of papers were neatly organized on the side, but otherwise, it was empty, save for the black and gold cloth over it.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Now that you have returned, tell me what you’ve been through.”

“I…” Kristel didn’t know where to begin.

“Start with the most interesting one.”

“Katherine’s back,” she said.

“Ah, yes. Somehow I’m not surprised you would start there.” With a flick of Meiyal Weaving, Monarch Denis summoned to him three wine glasses and a bottle. In a single snap, meiyal turned to ice, filling the glasses, while he manually filled two of them. He summoned a different bottle for the third.

He then gave one of the glasses containing wine to Kristel, and the other—a non-alcoholic beverage—to Scuti.

“It’ll be your birthday soon. No harm in starting a few days early,” he explained before turning to the Second Princess. “None for you, though.”

“That’s fine for me,” Scuti said, taking the glass with both hands.

Kristel took hers, and with a signal from their father, they made a toast. He urged her to try it. She took the fragrance first. Fruity, yet strong. The sip took her by surprise.

She understood, then, what the drunkards at Minaveil Province had meant when a drink went down smooth. It was cold, then warm. The taste was strong and lingering, making her wanting for more. She lifted her glass again, but her father held out a hand.

“Pace yourself, young lady. The night has just begun, and you have many stories to tell.” Monarch Denis summoned his M.O.B.I.L.E. and commanded it to play a soft tune.

Just like that, Kristel felt like she was back in The Big Mess, during hours of lull, where entertainers played soft, relaxing music for its patrons. She saw her father smile, and then she understood.

He had been looking forward to this moment. A chance to sit down with his daughters to drink and chat throughout the peaceful evening.

The next few hours quickly went by as Kristel went from story to story. She had covered most of her early years in Minaveil Province within that time, mentioning a few significant topics here and there.

She fast forwarded to her highlight; Frein and Katherine’s arrival. From here, she took her time, retelling every moment she remembered. All the while Scuti was skeptic, asking verifying questions at every turn. Kristel continued, up until it was time to tell of her experience with Brymeia and Destiny.

Her father read her like a book. “I know of it, Kristel. You need not worry. I know regarding Destiny, regarding Brymeia, and even the fact that Zerax’thum may have sacrificed himself for this world instead of the other way around.”

“How?” Kristel asked. Scuti said the same, but her tone was more exclamatory.

“We are connected through a singular Dream Realm,” Denis began. “I may no longer have access to it as you do, but I can find glimpses of it through my own Mind Palace. Besides, I’ve also spoken with Brymeia, years ago.”

“What?” Kristel almost stood. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did, but then I had to modify your memory.”

“Huh?” This time, she actually stood up.

“Please, calm down, Kristel. You too, Scuti.” Denis held out a hand again. “I’ll explain. About time I take my turn to tell you a story.”

The Monarch started by taking an entire glass of wine, speaking as he refilled it. “Do you remember your birthday from five years ago, Kristel?”

She tried to go through her memories. And just as quickly, she found it a blur. She could recall her birthdays, but they all melded together. Slowly, she organized them, determining which celebration she had done for which year. There was nothing for her thirteenth birthday.

It was baffling. How did she not notice it?

She blinked multiple times, trying to invoke any sort of memory, any name, anything… Her head hurt. “There’s nothing.”

“Same here,” Scuti said. She was struggling the same way.

“First, allow me to apologize,” Denis said, interrupting their concentration. “It was a necessary action.”

“How?” they both asked.

“A Blessing. It’s called Time’s Eye. Brymeia granted it to me. It allows me to erase, reconfigure, or restore entire sections of your memories. The requirements are, aside from the absurd amount of meiyal, direct eye contact and an equal amount of time spent within the presence of each other.”

Kristel churned on the information. She committed it to memory, not in the way Frein could literally paint them—she was still learning the technique—but she made a mental reminder to tell the Visitor about this as soon as possible. Of course, Monarch Denis saw it on her face.

“I’d much rather this information only reach the people you can trust with your life, Kristel. The Blessing can be resisted, so the less people know, the better.” He pondered a little. “Not that I have any capability to use it now…”

“I can trust Frein and Katherine that much,” she said with finality. “And Frill as well.”

“What about this Xiv, the man from Vyndival?”

“Yes. Him, too.”

“You don’t find him a risk?”

“He knew he might die when he went to us. I’ll never forget that bravery. He has Liona’s meiyal core, and as long as Frill trusts him enough that she’s willing to maintain a relationship with him, then I will do so as well.”

Monarch Denis nodded. “Alright. I trust you.”

Of course, the next natural question then was, “Why then? Why erase our memories?”

At this, the Monarch pinched his forehead. “I’m sure, now that you’ve spent some time in Minaveil Province, you’ve wondered why we don’t send help to Vyndival Kingdom, yes?”

Kristel nodded quietly. The question might be completely irrelevant to her question, but she knew her father would eventually get around to giving her an answer.

“It’s because The Cult of the Fallen Dragon has a more prominent presence there than here in Irista Nation.” Monarch Denis waited for a response or a follow up, spending a moment to sip from his wine. When neither of the sisters said anything, he continued.

“Five years ago, members of this Cult from Vyndival infiltrated the High Palace. Up to this day, we still don’t know how they did it, but they were able to get past George and the Royal Knights. Because of this, they were able to take both of you away on the eve of your birthday, Kristel.”

Monarch Denis waited again, and this time, he allowed for the moment to truly sink in.

Kristel, once again, tried to recall her memories. And again, she failed. “We were kidnapped?”

“Yes,” Denis said, his voice deep with regret. “It was my greatest failure as a Monarch. I thought I would never be able to face your mother. I thought I would never be able to face anyone ever again.”

“But how are we here, then?” Scuti asked.

Monarch Denis reached out, and a small box atop a stand near his magnificent bed floated slowly towards his hand. “Does the name The Letterman sound familiar to you?”

Kristel felt as if she was going to faint. “Are you telling me, that he saved us?”

“He did mention that you will know him by now.” Denis only gave a single nod. “He covered himself in dark meiyal, completely taking out all of our knights. But he returned you girls to me. And for that, I’m forever in his debt.

“He only asked me for one thing in return. Erase everyone’s memory. Somehow, he even knew I had Time’s Eye.”

“Did he tell you why?” Kristel asked, assuming that her father would naturally ask the question.

He simply shook his head. “He told me that knowing would affect Destiny too much. He also knew that I would do it regardless of whether he answered or not. And so, I did as he asked. I erased everyone’s memory. In the High Palace, in Central, all the Great Cities and Provinces, and even in Vyndival Kingdom.

“With the Letterman’s help, I traveled in secret and spent a months searching for everyone involved. He knew exactly who to find and where to find them. Then I spent the required amount of time to alter their memories. And every time I did, I paid the price.

“Time’s Eye isn’t cheap. If I was able to tie my Destiny with Evanclad, I might’ve been able to supply it with the required meiyal. But alas, I was not chosen, nor am I a genius. So instead, I paid every second I had to alter with my own lifeline.”

“But that’s…” Kristel swallowed her hesitation and tried again. “That’s too many people.”

“And now you know why I’m dying.” Monarch Denis finished his glass. “If you wish, I can restore your memories. It’ll only—”

“No!” Kristel and Scuti said together. The First Princess continued, “There’s no need, father. We believe you.”

The Monarch smiled and presented the box in his hand. “The Letterman said, that if you told me not to restore your memories, I should give this letter to you instead.”

Kristel opened the box, her mind too blurred at the moment. It was racing too fast, wondering how far back had the Letterman been involved. Did Monarch Denis actually erase everyone’s memories? For what purpose?

She was too distracted that it took a second for the one line in the letter to register in her head.

Zerax’thum’s skull won’t save you.

“Father!” Kristel almost screamed, causing Scuti to yelp from the shock. “There’s something important we need to talk about.”

Although she had enjoyed their drinking time together, the Letterman’s letter brought the First Princess back into focus. They spent the entire night discussing their preparations for the Nightmare Incursion.

She was so immersed that she forgot to ask about the reason behind the Monarch’s succession competition.