SOPHIA STONECLAW

I was in the council building at Leif as I walked through a flight of stairs accompanied by a few soldiers. I couldn't stop thinking about Orlyo. I wasn’t concerned about how he fared during the battle. In fact, I wasn’t concerned about how anyone fared. I just wanted to see the enemy gone. Things turned out badly and I was left at the mercy of Svan. If he had the same mindset I had, I would have been dead. The battle was over so I had enough time to reflect on it. That was the moment Orlyo’s absence struck me.

I was certain that the Choryths and I were the only survivors of Brisdow’s aftermath. Orlyo was most probably dead, and I didn't feel the sadness that came with losing someone I’d known for a long time. That was the moment I realized my attachment to this world was superficial, and the only person I truly cared about here was my father. For Orlyo, I just felt something was missing. I got used to having him around, so I wasn’t sure about how I would feel if he wasn’t around anymore.

I was led into a room. It was unfamiliar to me since it was different from the hall where I held a brief meeting with Tarde and a few other lieutenants before departing for Brisdow.

The room was circular, and its size was a bit too much for a room. I was struck by its grandeur and the intricate details that adorned every surface. The walls were crafted from a dark stone that seemed to shimmer and glow in the dim light, etched with magical symbols that pulsed with a soft light. The room was spacious, with a high ceiling that was lost in the shadows above. The lighting in the room made me draw comparisons with that in my father’s throne room. Though they were very different, their oddness was very similar.

In the center of the room stood a long, rectangular table, crafted from a dark and mysterious wood that was unlike anything I had ever seen. Or maybe I hadn’t just seen enough. The table was surrounded by high-backed chairs that appeared to be crafted from the same material, their designs intricate and clean.

The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting mythical creatures and ancient battles, each one, more elaborate and detailed than the last. The floor was made of polished marble, with intricate patterns etched into its surface, and was so shiny that I could see my reflection staring back up at me.

The room was empty, save for me, who stood at its entrance, taking in its grandeur and intricate details. The air was cool and musty, etched with magic and mystery that only added to the room's allure. As I made my way around the table, I marveled at the carvings and designs that adorned its surface.

I pulled one of the chairs noiselessly out of its place before sitting softly on it. I sat thoughtlessly for a brief moment, trying to immerse myself in the aura that filled the room. The sensation was familiar as my body subconsciously resonated with it—magic. An essential component of life in this world. I remembered how much I struggled to get used to it in the beginning. To be fair, I struggled to get used to a lot of things; my body included, and being a teenager in a child's body was the hardest. Though I wielded magic, and to a great extent, understood it, it still felt foreign to me, and that feeling came alive as I entered the room. The magic in the room was pulsatile, almost like every item and artifact in it had a unique magic signature. It was soft, friendly, and welcoming, unlike the violent ones on a battleground.

The aura the room emanated was soothing, making me lose track of time since I couldn't tell how long I sat there. I was reminded of perception when the door handle clacked. I turned in the direction of the sound and watched the door open. Vayr walked in first and Octavia followed closely behind.

“Hope I didn't make you wait too long. I came over once I got the news.”

Vayr’s baritone which didn't peculiarly match his figure was as calm as usual. I thought he would sound a bit unsettled, but he didn't give off any hint of worry.

Gesturing with a little gap between my thumb and index finger, I said to him,

“I was this close to sleeping.”

Vayr sat opposite me, and Octavia stood beside him.

“You look pretty relaxed even though I was almost flatlined two days ago.”

I used the word flatline on purpose. Though he didn't know what it meant, the context of what I said to him should give him an idea of its meaning.

Vayr chuckled.

“You know, I had imagined different possible realities, one in which you are dead. And I must tell you, they didn’t look good, not for me at least. So believe me, looking at you now, I haven't felt this relief in a long long while.”

“Well, I was lucky to have the Choryths with me. It would have been a different story.”

Vayr leaned forward,

“What happened?”

“Maybe I was overconfident and underestimated the Arcanes that fought for the Imperium. I did just fine against a single opponent, he was young but I took care of him quite easily. But it wasn't over as three more came at me at the same time and fought me till exhaustion. They weren't just strong, they were skillful too. They fought in unbelievable synchrony, like each of them was a component of a three-part machine. Every single Mana in my nexus was drained, and for the first time in a battle, I got scared.”

I sighed and leaned backward on the backrest of my chair.

“Hey, Vayr. Have you ever been run through by a blade?”

“A couple of times I guess.”

“I was down on my knees as I felt the cold steel pierce my flesh. Pain followed, searing through my body like a white-hot flame. My strength failed me, too weak to even scream. For a moment, I couldn't breathe, couldn't move. I was in a frozen place, struggling to process what had just happened to me.”

Vayr still listened attentively, even though what I had just said wasn't necessary.

“Just when I thought it was over, the Choryth, Svan appeared from nowhere and disappeared with me. Thankfully he was just in time, else I would have lost my head.”

I chuckled, not sure about what I found amusing.

“He didn't stop there. With a single spell, he killed every Arcane there.”

Vayr seemed interested in this part of my narration,

“What kind of spell did he use?”

“I don't know. I haven't seen it before. There was an explosion, and after that, no traces of life were left, not even remains. But it seemed he could only use it once, as a last resort, because he passed out for almost a day after he used it.”

“Once upon a time, you wanted the Choryths killed, but they'd just turned out to save your life.”

“You don't have to rub it on my face. I am not an expert in matters of politics and war,” I replied.

“We still have to tread carefully with them. It's quite obvious they will make new demands, given the incident in Brisdow. They know your status, right?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” I replied.

“It makes it worse, but it's okay.”

Vayr drummed his fingers on the table, seemingly indulging his thoughts until I called his attention.

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“Vayr, I have two questions for you.”

The look on his face gave me a go-ahead.

“Firstly, given the current turn of events? Do you think you can still win this war?”

“It's a difficult question to answer because there are still some unknown variables that can affect the outcome of the war. Currently, I think the odds are still in our favor. A lot of time and effort has been put into getting us here so we just have to do our best.”

“So you are saying we can still lose it?”

“I'd rather not consider that possibility,” he replied.

“Alright, here is the second question. Why did we start this war?”

Vayr looked at me with scrutiny in his eyes.

“This question, is it coming from a place of fear?”

“No. I was asked the same, and I didn't have an answer.”

“Me too. I don't have an answer to that question. I'm just a soldier following orders. If anyone here should know the reason, it should be you. You are the Emperor’s daughter after all.”

“Until recently, I wasn't interested in all of this. I guess I will have to ask my father. But I will do that when I have done enough.”

We both went silent for a brief moment until I broke it with an unexpected request. Something suddenly struck me, though it was a result of the anger I felt recounting what happened at Brisdow. I remembered relishing the aura the room gave off but I wasn't interested in knowing the workings behind it. Only results mattered. I'd already acknowledged the mysterious nature of magic, so what mattered was if or not it worked. There and then, I thought, maybe I shouldn't care about what I do to get stronger. After all, strength in this world depended on how much magic one wielded.

“I might sound like a hypocrite but at this point, I don't care anymore. Prepare the Erkvare ritual for me.”

“The Arcanes really did leave a scar on you,” Vayr said, before turning to Octavia.

“Get it done.”

***

Octavia led me to the room where the ritual will be performed as we walked side by side along a narrow passage.

“Your Majesty, if I may?”

I nodded in approval.

“Why did you choose not to perform this ritual before now? All El-bloods take pride in this ritual. It gives them a sense of superiority over the normal folk since this ritual would kill them should they take part in it.”

I turned in her direction,

“You've been through this ritual, right?

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“If we should fight each other to death, who will be the one standing?”

“That would be you. You are special even among El-bloods.”

“So, do you understand why I didn't feel the need to undergo the ritual? I've always felt this way—special, just like you said. But I don't feel it anymore. I got too comfortable and forgot there is a reason for my existence here. What happened in Brisdow made me realize that I'm nowhere near being special.”

Octavia was silent. I knew she wanted to ask me more questions but she chose not to.

We arrived at the room. Four people in it prepared everything needed for the ritual. Upon our arrival, the two males among them left, leaving two middle-aged women behind.

“Why did they leave?” I whispered to Octavia.

“For privacy, your Majesty.”

“Privacy? Does their presence affect the ritual in any way?”

“Not really. But you will need to take off your clothes, so it will be grossly inappropriate if they were to be present.”

“Oh, I see,” I said, pretending not to be overly concerned before muttering afterward,

“I knew this was a bad idea,” I muttered.

“Whenever you are ready, your Majesty.”

I took off my clothes and stood in front of a transparent circular chamber. I was a little embarrassed but that was the least of my problems. One of the women brought a bowl containing a colorless thick greasy liquid and handed it to Octavia as she carefully and thoroughly applied it all over my body while I stood.”

“You seem a bit bold with my body, don't you think?” I said to her.

“I am just doing what I'm supposed to,” she replied shyly.

I smiled,

“Don’t mind me, I was just teasing you.”

She responded with a faint smile. While making sure every part of my body got a taste of whatever substance the bowl contained, she said to me,

“No matter what happens, don't trigger your innate flames.”

I nodded.

When she was done, she handed me an Erkvare pendant which I held with my left hand. I didn't take my eyes off her, lest I missed any step of the ritual. She took a dagger from what looked like an altar and made a deep cut transversely across my right hand. It stung but it was bearable.

“Once you get inside the chamber, hold the pendant with your bloodied hand, and don't let go. Whatever happens, don't try to hold your breath.”

I stepped into the chamber as Octavia shut the door behind me. Inside the chamber, I did as I was told. As the pendant touched my bloodied hand, it burned. I grit my teeth so hard and was on the verge of screaming, but I still held the pendant firmly. Suddenly, black fumes began to seep from my right hand. It was obvious that the fumes came from the pendant.

The black fumes clouded the whole chamber, and breathing became difficult. The words, “Whatever happens, don't try to hold your breath,” echoed in my head. I was suffocating but I still tried to breathe through the fumes. It wasn't long until I started choking and I responded by coughing violently. My consciousness was gradually fading and it was just a matter of time before I collapsed.

Just before I completely lost consciousness, my breathing began to ease up until I started breathing properly. The fumes were gone and the pendant stopped burning. Surprisingly, there were no burn scars on my hand, and it still bled. Suddenly, I felt a weird sensation inside me. It felt as though something was spiraling around my nexus in a ring-like manner. It became obvious where the fumes went.

Oddly, I felt a surge of strength from within me. I couldn't explain it but I could feel it. I stood still, listening to my body in case I noticed more changes but I was distracted as Octavia opened the chamber door.

“Your Majesty, the ritual is complete,” Ocativa said to me as she covered my body with a white robe.

“That was an awful feeling.”

“You handled it well. The majority pass out, only to wake up hours later.”

“What about this pendant? I need to wear it always, right?”

I looked closely at it but it didn't seem to be special. I wouldn't have believed that such a simple artifact was a means to become more powerful if I hadn't witnessed it. I didn't want to concern myself with how it worked. A lot of things in this world were difficult to explain, some didn't just make sense, yet they existed. That was magic. Mysterious, yet workable.

“No, you don't. It has served its purpose,” Octavia replied.

“So, why do most El-bloods I come across wear them?”

“No reason in particular. It's just an unspoken rule. But I think most of them wear it since it's the easiest way to identify an El-blood.”

I tossed the pendant to her,

“I don't think I will be needing this.”

I channeled mana to my right hand in an attempt to heal the cut, but it disappeared instantaneously. I smiled. I knew my healing was quick, but this was rapid.

“Tell the attendants to bring me something to eat, I am famished,” I said to her before leaving the room.

I was a bit surprised to find Vayr standing in front of the door. He led the way as we walked slowly through the passage.

“You just reminded me of Orlyo. Are you going to take his place now and act like him?”

“I’m afraid not. I hear he is still missing but we haven't stopped searching for him. Hopefully, he isn't...”

“He is dead. In case you find his body, let me know.”

I felt guilty. The words I said were harsh, and I didn't mean them but they gave me a false sense of strength which was much needed. I'd always seen Orlyo as a nuisance but now he is seemingly gone, I wished he was around. Deep down, I wished he was alive somewhere, but I had to accept what could be a bitter reality.

Vayr noticed I was going through an emotional conflict so he changed the conversation.

“How was the ritual?” he asked.

“It felt like shit.”

He chuckled,

“Shit can be good sometimes.”

“Probably. So, what's next?” I asked him.

“Well, the Southern Republic is completely under our control although what happened in Brisdow could happen again, so we just have to be prepared. The situation in the Northern Republic still needs to be properly addressed so that's our next destination. Before that, we need to meet the Choryths. It turned out that I need them more than they need me.”

“We could do anything later, but right now, all I want to do is to eat a hearty meal and have a good sleep.”