Taking one step forward, my palm raised and Lightning resting in it, I look over the hall of kneeling men. Royal blood is bowing, senators and lords, men of the sword and common blood alike are all united in one thing. Their submission to the power running through my blood. Looking away from them, I find the one I came all this way to save and she meekly steps back, aghast with uncertainty.
"Mother..." I go quietly as Lightning returns to the rafters. My body starts to quake and I look at every bit of her, much my equal and greater in looks and alikement. Her arms wrap around me as I slip down her front, sobbing. She comes down to meet me and and my arms find her, her hand gently stroking my hair, dyed with the power of a god.
"Look at you, my little Einervaene... My precious Einervaene." she coos as wet drops splatter across my head, only to dribble further as weaker streams. I shake alongside her in an act of mutual, loving unity. I don't want to let go of her and I can barely move my eyes off of her as if we were something other than mother and daughter. She kisses my forehead at short intervals, never letting me fall further closer to her heart.
"They can't hurt you anymore... They can't. See...? My magic is gold now, golder than anyone in the land. I am Thunder herself." I think I am incoherent in explaining as I fail to keep my eyes focused on any one thing.
She pulls me against her chest, kissing the line of my head that bares my scalp.
"I'm glad you are safe, my precious daughter." she tells me as my mouth curves in an ugly manner, my eyes swelling with salted water that tastes of relief and joy.
Finally finding it within me to move up and away, I do so, trembling and shaking as I find my footing. Though I have no more need of one to cast my magic, I have Lightning recreate one similar to what I once had. He coils around it like a serpent and I step forward to the top steps of the short climb up to here. My eyes harden at the sight of the executioner and Burspharosa, however, I break down sniffling at the sound of my mother.
"I... I... I will not have it from anyone here in these halls or beyond them. Whatever crime of blood you have tried to inflict upon my mother is wrong. Untruthful and without foundation! I will suffer no lies from any of you, am I understood? If you still cannot believe what has occurred then look to where you prostrate yourselves, look to the metal and see the proof of my power." I explain with a nervous gulp as the adrenaline of what I saw before calling my dear friend to my side steadily runs dry.
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A man begins to rise with as much respect as he can, his posture still there even without the sash it is there to bear.
"Burspharosa..." I speak distastefully, Lightning crackling as he lurches forward towards the awe-filled man. He steps back, shaking his head and blinking before he looks at the ground ahead of my high-heeled boots.
"Great Lady-Heir, The Lady Bosphama is not being tried over concerns of your blood and its proven perfection."
"Do not be so quick to forget the words you spoke earlier!" I hiss, stamping my staff and cracking the ground as far as his feet with bolt-shaped splintering.
"...Your moth- The Lady Bosphama is on trial for murder. The murder of a fellow senator who had done nothing but help her in the efforts of the Bosphama clan to ensure your safety in these times as they have developed since you arrived so famously within one of my harbours." Burspharosa explains and I turn towards Mother as she looks away, her head low.
"W-Why were you so reckless...?" I question, horrified that she was even capable of such an act. Killing in the defence of others is one thing, having partaken in it myself throughout the years. I have even killed in desperation purely for my own life with the power used being in great excess of what was needed. But, to murder someone...
"The assassins that blinded you, his name was on the contract. He signed it." Mother explains, spitting non-literally at this man's name.
"ON BEHALF OF A SENATOR SETTING HIM UP FOR A SCAPEGOAT! I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE RETREATED FROM THE PUBLIC LIFE OF BEING AN OFFICIAL LONG BEFORE YOUR DAUGHTER ARRIVED ON MY SHORES BUT YOU MUST'VE BEEN AWARE OF SENATOR CAETUSI'S LOW ORIGINS! THERE IS NOTHING TO SUPPORT THE IDEA HE COULD'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE PARTAHINOBI!" Burspharosa roars furiously, the fear he once should at Lightning's power vanishing so he can rush up to my mother with a stern finger. She looks up to him without flinching and rises, an evil look in her eye.
"I would kill that man a thousand more times across a thousand more years if it meant avenging my daughter!" she hisses.
"A-Avenge...? No, Mother, no!" I snap, infuriated by the pair of them.
"Power of a god or no, your mother spilt the blood of a man of the people. A senator of Eusorochii, not in his home or the halls of our trade but in the Imperial Palace itself!" Burspharosa barks close to my face, his arm moving about with righteous dignity.
"ENOUGH!" I roar like the sky, its greatness blinding all who are foolish enough to look up. Covering my eyes, I sigh miserably and walk away with a shaking head. This is all over a murdered man...? What am I meant to do here, Lightning cannot resolve anything in this regard...
The concept of life and death lingers in my head and my staff clatters to the ground, both hands and my wings coming around to cover my eyes. Why is this sticking in my head like this? I know I should know why but the concept is slipping from me, at the edge of a clueless tongue. Moving to a great window, I look outside it, one passive palm holding up a tired head.
Banners flutter wildly but still clear in their depictions on the strong winds-
"BREWBRT!"