“....Omri?”
Tears started to pour from Omri’s eyes, he was glad to see his adoptive mother survive from her injuries. Sagitta has finally regained consciousness and the sight of it greatly relieved Athos and Omri.
“M-mother… Thank goodness you’re safe…” Omri wrapped his arms around Sagitta and gave her a generous hug. “When we got separated last night, I feared the worst.” Omri’s teardrops were relentless and Sagitta’s gray hair was getting drenched as she lay on the floor.
“My son.” Sagitta then reached out her hand and cupped Omri’s left cheek gently, wiping his tears. “I’m sorry if I made you anxious…” A soft smile appeared on Sagitta's face. “Thank you for finding me.”
“Mother…!”
Observing the mother and son made Athos slightly envious. Athos had been finding ways to locate his parents after being separated from them. The only difference was, Athos was initially alone and had difficulty using his foresight. He tried using the Filial Bonds between his parents and him but was fruitless as it was too weak to invoke. It felt like something had obstructed his Moira abilities as he departed the palace last night.
Fortunately, he was able to reunite with Omri and Sagitta, Athos felt relieved that he was no longer alone.
“It’s been a while, Sagitta.” Athos smiled meekly.
Sagitta turned her head towards Athos, her jade irises dilated and expressed shock and relief. “Little prince! Thank goodness... you are safe.” Sagitta then extended her hand toward Athos, gesturing for him to come close.
Athos edged closer to Sagitta, he then gently grasped her outstretched hand. “Did my parents escape?” Athos' eyes lit up as he anticipated Sagitta’s reply.
Sagitta’s grip tightened on Athos’ hand “I’m unsure, I’m sorry prince Athos.” Sagitta’s face darkened. “Turris urged me to go on ahead and rally the surviving guards in the palace grounds. We parted ways shortly after their majesties evacuated the study room.”
Athos’ face became dismal, Although Sagitta’s information wasn’t sufficient, Athos tried to see it in a positive light, ‘At least, Turris came along with mother and father, they have a good healer with them’ he thought.
“Then tell me Sagitta, how did you get hurt?”
“Little prince, there was a man in a red manteau who ambushed me when I exited the imperial residences…” Sagitta then stared at Athos’ eyes, it was tinged with dread.
“The man was quick, the moment I noticed him standing outside the residences, he managed to injure my legs. I cast a teleportation spell to escape as fast as I can, but he managed to cut and stab my limbs and my chest before the spell fully activated. He was terrifying.
“I’m sorry Sagitta if only I was stronger… This wouldn’t have happened.” Athos’ brows arched and his fists clenched out of frustration.
“Hush, little prince. Please do not think of such thoughts. Their majesties would be sad if they see you beat yourself up. This tragedy was no one’s fault.” A feeble smile appeared on Sagitta’s face. “No one blames you.”
Sagitta then let go of Athos’ hand and gave him a comforting pat on the head. Athos was touched by her sincere gesture and tears started to well upon his eyes as well.
Athos and Omri cried their hearts out. Their sobbing echoed through the room.
Sagitta then mustered her strength and slowly sat up. Sorrow was etched on Sagitta’s face, seeing her son and Athos weep beside her brought back memories. She recalled the times when she and Turris were nursing the infant Omri when he was disinherited from the House of Fidelis. She stretched her arms to embrace both of them.
It took about five minutes before their sobbing settled down. Athos and Omri’s eyes were swollen and snot was all over their face. Sagitta let out a soft chuckle and caressed both Athos and Omri on their backs, soothing them of their worries.
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“It's okay now my son and little prince.” Sagitta gently whispered to both of them.
“Mother… where is the father?” Omri’s pale green eyes were filled with apprehension. “I… I couldn’t feel his bond until now.” He then looked at Sagitta with a weary face.
“Omri, your father is safe, he just temporarily sealed off his blood bond with you. I can still feel his bond with me” Sagitta hesitated a bit then sighed. “He insisted on accompanying their majesties and is with them.”
“Omri, do you recall what happened when we got out of the Emperor’s study room?” Sagitta stared at Omri with an inquisitive expression.
“A little… Mother, to be honest, some of my memories last night were a bit vague.” Omri scratched his head and mulled over the events he witnessed last night.
Athos' ears perked up at the conversation. Now that Sagitta was conscious and Omri was with her, he may be able to determine what transpired last night after he departed from the palace.
Omri pondered for a bit and groaned. “When the Empress told us, servants, to evacuate, she opened a portal for us to escape. Afterward, there was a loud sound of cracking along the hallway, then people from the Church appeared, they threw a lot of spells towards us. I heard you shout something at father and then... I saw blood, it was utter chaos! ” Omri then looked at Sagitta with an uneasy expression. “And then I felt you push me through the portal that the empress opened.”
Sagitta gazed at Omri with a puzzled expression.
“When you said utter chaos, that was your father, Omri.” Sagitta’s brows arched with annoyance. “He’s crass as always…” Sagitta mumbled.
Athos and Omri were flabbergasted with Sagitta’s remark. Their jaws dropped with sheer astonishment.
“What do you mean by it was the father?” Omri looked at Sagitta with a perplexed face.
“Your father...Turris enjoyed bringing things to ruin.” Sagitta massaged her forehead with her right hand.
“He invoked his Divinity and went berserk at our attackers last night. The cracking sound you heard? That was him unleashing his mana which shattered the windows and possibly breaking some human bones as well.” Sagitta groaned. “I shouted at him to show restraint, but he lost it. The bloody mess you saw was probably from people being cut to pieces… I didn’t want you to see how merciless your father can be so I pushed you through the portal.”
Athos and Omri froze. The thought of Turris unleashing his wrath and causing a massacre was foreign to both of them, they only knew Turris’ admirable side which they saw daily. Hearing the truth from Sagitta shook them to their core.
“Then, the ruin of the House of Fidelis...Was it-” Omri gasped.
Sagitta nodded. “That was driven by Turris’ desire to protect you as well as the wishes of your paternal parents Omri.” She then gazed at Omri with a forlorn expression and hugged him. “Duchess Avery and Oscar, your real parents, knew how corrupted the Fidelis Family had become…”
“When Avery gave birth to you, their vassals learned of your parentage and vehemently protested against your legitimacy.” Sagitta grit her teeth. “Turris, my husband received a Misfortune Dream, he saw you in that dream Omri!”
Teardrops started to form from Sagitta’s eyes. “You were scheduled to be murdered on your 3rd month anniversary which was a week away from that time. Turris immediately informed Avery and Oscar about it and we mutually agreed to hide you and raise you as our own.”
”But alas, it was a Fated death the vassals arranged, in retribution, Duchess Avery took your place alongside Oscar. They were murdered by your blood relatives. It was then that Turris and I decided to bring them to justice. To honor the death of our dear friends and to protect their only son Omri.” Sagitta slowly wept and her embrace tightened as she told Omri the truth.
Omri was taken aback.
In the past, when the Cura couple explained Omri’s lineage they did not include the specifics. The truth about his paternal family had come into the light. This gave Omri feelings of closure, it was liberating to know that he wasn’t abandoned by his real parents; they treasured him. The guilt of existence started to fade from Omri’s heart and relief slowly settled.
Tears started to fall from Omri’s eyes, he felt his cheeks grow wet. “I’m crying? ...I’m not sad, what is this?” Omri used his shirt to wipe off his tears.
Seeing Omri’s tears, Athos felt immense sympathy towards him. He knew about Omri’s past as his father, Lucis, had educated him about the ducal houses related to the imperial family. If Omri’s father wasn’t a commoner, they would have been second cousins.
Athos also felt remorseful as his departure from the palace last night was relatively secure, unlike Omri who witnessed violence first-hand and had to struggle just to escape.
The sight of a mother and son reaffirming their feelings during a turbulent time had a sentimental effect on Athos. It gave him a small glimmer of hope that he will be able to meet his parents soon and safely escape the city of Anima.
Having her strength recovered and her feelings calm down, Sagitta released her embrace from Omri and slowly stood up.
“Mother… Do you feel better now?” Omri looked at Sagitta with a concerned expression.
“I feel a lot better now. Thank you for healing me earlier Omri.” Sagitta then glanced at Athos and stared at him with an inquisitive expression. “Little prince...may I ask something?”
“Ask away, Sagitta,” Athos replied casually.
“You used Divinity on me earlier.”
Athos hastily wiped the sweat on his forehead and collected himself. “H-how did you-”
Sagitta cut off Athos. “Your mana was gentle and warm, prince Athos… I felt it earlier in my chest when I opened my eyes, strangely, my body seemed to have gotten a bit younger. My left knee is no longer aching as well, considering I got a painful injury last year.”
Sagitta took a deep breath and groaned. “I am truly grateful when you saved my life earlier, little prince… However, don’t ever use that method again, it is unstable especially with your current state.”
“Unstable? What do you mean by my current state?” I feel fine overall, but a little tired.
“Your eyes, little prince… It is a little faint, but your pupils... They are still golden unlike your irises, they have reverted to emerald..”
When Moirais invoke Divinity, their eyes turn into a brilliant golden hue, it then reverts to its natural color once the Moira cease the channeling of their Divinity. There were no documented cases of a Moira maintaining an active Divinity for prolonged periods as it required the host to possess a near unlimited mana pool.
Athos' face slowly became pale.
“What happened to you, Prince Athos?”
~~~~~
To Be Continued.
~~~~~