Chapter XXIII

Before heading up to the Niras Lounge where Seiras requested they meet, Ryokumo made his way down the Citadel and back toward the residential floor. Due to his morning interrogations with Seiras, he had been holding his training sessions with Hannah in the evenings so as to not sacrifice her learning time. However, now that his plans had changed, he saw fit to speak to her himself rather than sending a messenger to inform her. He regretted how poor their recent sessions had been due to his stressed state so the fact that he was now skipping out entirely weighed heavily on his conscience.

But I can’t miss this. Seiras is up to something and I have to be present for whatever it is, regardless of the risks it might entail. And that’s especially true with the other Masters attending.

While he trusted what Sinna and Nyx had said to him that afternoon, he was also aware of the possibility that they would take matters into their own hands. He didn’t need them confronting Seiras without him present, so that was just more motivation for him to go to the lounge. With Iris, a woman well known for enjoying mischief, seemingly excited to go, that room was going to be a volcano that could explode at any second, and Ryokumo hoped to prevent that from happening. Between the Children’s attack, the loss of the relic, and Seiras’s new spell, the Citadel was already tense enough. He didn’t need things getting more chaotic.

And especially not if Nigreos and Album succeed in bringing Eric here. If he does safely arrive in Ijiria, I would prefer it to be under calmer circumstances.

Ryokumo sighed, wondering just how much he could actually do to prevent anything, as he arrived outside Hannah’s quarters. He knocked a few times, hoping his apprentice was actually home, and luckily, the door soon opened and Hannah’s concerned features appeared from behind it.

“Good afternoon, Master,” she greeted with a polite bow. “Is everything alright? I thought we weren’t meeting for another hour?”

He forced a smile and nodded. “Y-yes, everything is fine, don’t worry. It’s just that we have a change of plans. The Masters are meeting in the Niras Lounge tonight for dinner and I feel the need to attend. I thought I’d quickly stop by to apologize and let you know you have the night off.”

“Ah, so we’re skipping our training tonight.” She twisted her lips in thought and for a moment, she seemed disappointed, but those feelings were quickly covered up and she continued. “Okay then. That’s no problem at all. You don’t need to apologize, Master. If you’re busy then you’re busy. Not much we can do about that, right?”

She seemed genuinely understanding despite whatever she may have felt internally, and even though she assured him that it was okay, it only made him feel that much more guilty. She was very accommodating of him and while he appreciated it immensely, he knew he needed to be a better master for her. She was talented and he wanted to be there for her to help her hone that talent.

“On the bright side,” he began, “my business with Master Ka has ended, so we can return to our morning sessions. Hopefully, everything should be normal from here on out.”

“Oh, okay. That’s perfect. In that case, I’ll be ready tomorrow morning,” she replied chipperly. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

Ryokumo thought for a moment. “Yes, assuming nothing else comes up, that should be perfect. Though, I can’t be certain of anything anymore. I’ll keep you posted if anything should change, but for now, we can meet at the training arena just after breakfast.”

“Understood, Master,” she said with another bow. “Just send me a messenger if anything changes. And…” Hannah then smiled wryly. “Good luck with your dinner. I’m sure you’ll need it.”

He chuckled, realizing how poor he was at concealing his distaste for his fellow Masters. “Yes, that is much appreciated. Have a good night, Hannah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You, too, Master.”

Bidding her goodbye, Ryokumo turned and retraced his steps back to the lift. Once he had stepped on, he cast the spell and slowly began to rise higher up toward the entertainment levels of the Citadel where the Niras Lounge was located. While much of the Citadel was dedicated to the governing of Ijiria and its territories, it had its levels that were more light-hearted. Most of those who worked in the capitol building also lived there for their own safety and few ventured out into the city without some form of protection. Because of this, the entertainment floors had been constructed to give the residents of the Citadel a place to relax and socialize outside of their work. In the past, Ryokumo used to visit it quite often with his friends, but in recent years, it became more and more rare for him to venture up there. He no longer had anybody with which to accompany him, and he was far too busy with his own duties.

When he arrived on the top floor of the entertainment zone, he found it a stark contrast from the other, quieter floors of the Citadel. Rather than a silent, empty hallway lined with windows and doors, it was instead bustling with denizens of the building, milling about and making their way toward the restaurants or game halls that the floor provided. He spotted researchers and government officials moving about and chatting amongst themselves. The doors on the various sides of the silver halls were wide open, with people standing right outside, waving to those who passed in an effort to gain their patronage. Smells of cooking food reached his nose and caused his stomach to grumble, and despite his desire to move through it all quickly, he couldn't stop the nostalgic memories from resurfacing.

It’s just as I remember. If only…I could return to those days…

But he knew that was impossible and so, he pushed the thoughts deeper into his mind and proceeded down the hall. Unsurprisingly, he got numerous stares, which were common whenever he roamed the more populated floors of the Citadel. He was a Master and that alone put him above the others in their eyes. Some looked at him with fear and distrust while others seemed more awestruck, like he was some kind of celebrity. Both caused him discomfort and thus, he picked up his pace.

The Niras Lounge was located further into the floor and wasn’t so easy to get into. It was often reserved for the higher ups of the Citadel to have a place to relax away from the masses. It was mainly used by workers for the royal family, elders in the council, and the Ijirian Masters. Nakoma was especially known for renting it out, though when he did, Ryokumo rarely attended. When he approached the lounge, he found a rather large man dressed in emerald and gold armor standing in front of the entrance. The Master made eye contact with him briefly and the guard stepped to the side, instantly recognizing him. Ryokumo nodded his thanks and walked through the double doors and into the room beyond.

It was a cozy place with plenty of velvet couches and finely crafted wooden tables for people to sit at and enjoy their drinks. There was a bar in the far left corner where a young woman was chatting with two men who were sitting there, seemingly drunk by the way they wobbled in their chairs. Overall, there were only seven people present and so the chatter was soft, almost like they were in a library. He didn’t see any of the other Masters so he instead turned his attention to the closed door in the back left and made his way toward it.

So Seiras managed to get his hands on the private suite, huh? Just what the hell is going through his head?

Ryokumo walked toward the door and pulled it open, then stepped inside. This private lounge was like a smaller version of the main room. There was a seating area with expensive couches and recliners facing a glass coffee table. The window in the back was slightly open, letting cool air flow about the fire-lit room. As he surveyed his surroundings, he found that the others were already present. Sinna and Nyx were sitting side by side on the couch while Iris sat across from them in one of the chairs. Nyx had once again donned her white cloak and so her face was concealed from him, though he doubted her expression was anything other than neutral, as it often was. Seiras was pacing around the back of the room, his typical twisted smile on his face. Each turned to look at him upon arrival.

“Well you certainly took your time, Caeli,” Iris mused, her fangs showing in a wry smile. “We’ve been waiting for nearly twenty minutes, you know?’

He shrugged, wanting them to know how little he cared about keeping them waiting. “I had other business to attend to first. But I’m here now so we can begin whatever business Seiras had planned.”

“Business?” the halfling parroted. “What makes you think I have business with you? I merely wanted to celebrate with my fellow Masters. After all, we’ve learned some critical information on this day. Since we never interact as friends, I thought this would be the perfect chance. If only Taurus could have joined us.”

Iris snickered. “Oh, I doubt Nakoma would have come even if he had been in the Citadel. But I, for one, agree with you, Seiras. We don’t spend enough quality time with each other and I think that’s sad. I happen to like you all very much.”

Ryokumo narrowed his eyes as the Master of Nature spoke. She’s already enjoying this. She’s excited for whatever’s going to happen.

“Well, drinks are on the way so why don’t you take a seat, Caeli,” Seiras offered with an extravagant motion toward the chairs.

He gritted his teeth but did as he requested, moving to take a spot in the chair beside the couch. Seiras, however, stayed standing, continuing to pace around the room, muttering to himself and occasionally skipping a bit. It wasn’t odd behavior for him, but it still put Ryokumo on edge given the circumstances and he had to try hard not to tap his foot impatiently.

“So, are we just gonna sit here in silence or are we actually going to talk?” Iris inquired. “Cause it seems like you guys never give me the time of day. We’re all Masters here so we should be friends. I’ve always thought we could be a pretty happy group of buddies.”

“Is that so?” Sinna growled with an annoyed click of her tongue. “And what gives you that impression, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Iris shrugged. “I dunno. It’s just a feeling I’ve got. Obviously, since I’m the newest member, I don’t know you guys as well as you know each other, but since you’re all my seniors, it feels like there’s a lot I could learn. After all, you’ve all got so many experiences under your belts. I want to know what you know.”

The other woman snorted. “Perhaps we do, but that doesn’t mean I have any reason to trust you, Mackia. In fact, your love for trouble is more than enough for me to prefer to avoid you.”

“Aw, what’s so wrong with a little bit of mischief every now and then?” she pouted. “I’m just trying to have some fun. I’m all alone in the Citadel so I have to entertain myself somehow. Hey, don’t you agree, Caeli? You get what I mean, right?”

Ryokumo cocked an eyebrow as she abruptly turned her yellow eyes his way . “And what gives you that impression?”

“Well, you always go out into the city on your visits to the traitor’s monument,” she replied. “Isn’t it cause you’re all bored and lonely here in the tower?”

She’s trying to get on my nerves, I can tell. Just ignore her. Don’t let her get to you or else she wins.

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“That is my business and mine alone, as I have said many times,” he stated. “I would prefer it if you stayed out of it.”

Iris sighed and glanced around, seeing the mistrusting gazes directed her way. “Gosh, what is wrong with you all? So much hatred and not enough trust. Why can't we all be friends? Why do we have to look at each other like enemies? Wouldn’t it be better for this country if we all got along?”

“Yes, I wonder the same thing,” Seiras rasped. “We may all have different ambitions, but our allegiance is to the same place. We all seek to better Ijiria.”

Sinna turned an irritable look upon the halfling. “Is that so? Because I’ve always gotten the feeling that you’re merely here for yourself and your devious little schemes.”

“You wound me, Cartus,” he replied softly. “How could you say such a thing after how much my research has helped us this past week. Without me, we would still be torching Kirisan with little avail. But now, she has spilled all her information and we finally have a lead into what may have happened. Yet you imply that my best interests aren’t for the sake of Ijiria?”

“Yes, I do,” Sinna said sharply, slowly getting to her feet as she faced the little man, who appeared even smaller in her presence. “I’ve known many people like you, Seiras—people who say whatever they have to in order to achieve their goals. You want power and the more you research, the more you have. Tell me, what’s stopping you from using your new spell on any one of us right now?”

“Sinna,” Nyx whispered. “Is this wise?”

“It is,” she replied, then turned back to Seiras. “So? Care to answer me?”

The Master of the Mind clapped his hands together and snickered. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing is stopping me. I could have you on the ground with a mere utterance. Does that scare you, Cartus?”

Sinna scoffed. “You don’t even deny it?”

“I don’t,” he said with a cackle. “I am nothing if not an honest man. But I would never raise a hand against my fellow Masters! You are my allies—my brothers and sisters! I love you like a family even when you toss such cruel accusations my way. After all, siblings bicker from time to time, but it doesn’t change their love for each other, yes?”

Ryokumo clenched his teeth, wanting to intervene but knowing how little it would accomplish. Wouldn’t raise a hand to a fellow Master, huh?

“Yes, very true,” Iris piped it, looking like her enjoyment was increasing by the second.

“Love?” Sinna spat, ignoring the Master of Nature’s comment. “At least make your lie more believable, you little goblin. Don’t pretend like you care for us. And don’t act like an honest man! I already know that you used the spell on Caeli.”

Seiras cocked an eyebrow then regarded Ryokumo with a meek sigh, as if he were merely expressing disappointment. “My, my, Caeli, tattling are we? And here I thought we could keep that as our little secret.”

Ryokumo narrowed his eyes, irritated that Sinna had to bring that matter up and, knowing there wasn’t a way around the subject anymore, he rolled his eyes and spoke.

“What’s your plan, Seiras? What are you up to? What’s your damn goal in all this and hell, what’s the real reason we’re here? What are you after?”

“Why must I repeat myself so often?” he inquired. “And why am I distrusted so? I merely want to get along with you all! Time and time again I am looked down upon and not just in a literal sense. So why can’t we just talk?”

He’s lying. This is…something else. If anything, he’s at least trying to use this to his advantage somehow. Is he showing off? Or is this…a means to an end?

“Fine, let’s talk,” Sinna hissed. “Tell me about your spell, Seiras. What is it? What can it do? What are its limitations? If you want me to trust you then I want information. Your magic is foreign enough as it is and I don’t like you having some mystery spell up your sleeve. I want answers and I want them now!”

“Answers?!” Seiras almost screamed, a complete shift from his soft speaking of moments earlier. “Is that what you want?! You want to know what my spell does?! Why?! Do you fear what I could do to you? Do you fear me, Sinna Cartus, a man less than half your size?! Am I so terrifying to you that you’re quaking in your boots?!”

“Not in the slightest,” she snarled back. “I could crush your head like a watermelon if I wanted to. However, I am cautious. You’ve already proven how damaging your spell can be with Kirisan. So, if you want our trust, then answer our questions. That is my demand of you and if you can’t do that then I have nothing else to say to you and I will walk through that door.”

The halfling began to shake with laughter, though whether he was amused or furious was hard to tell. “Is that so?! You’ll leave, will you? You’ll walk out on our precious dinner time because I won’t reveal my secrets?” He violently shook his head. “Very well then. You want to know what my spell does then I shall show you!”

Ryokumo instantly realized what he was about to do, but couldn’t react in time. Both he and Nyx jumped to their feet just as the halfling screeched, “Aniextiam!”

He had expected the spell to hit Sinna, but to his surprise, the room suddenly faded and began to warp. He realized too late that Seiras’s spell had once again been cast on him, but just as the realization struck him, everything vanished and he found himself standing alone in one of the darkened corridors of the Citadel. He frowned, his memories growing foggy, and as he glanced around the hallway, he failed to recall what he had just been doing. Yet, before he could properly gain his bearings, the sound of a girl sobbing reached his ears.

Someone…is crying?

He took off in a sprint, heading down in the hall in the direction of the sound. It wasn’t far off and when he rounded the next corner, he saw a young woman crouched on the ground, her hands covering her face as tears dripped down her cheeks and onto the floor.

“Album?” he softly called out, fearing what had caused such a breakdown. “Album, what is it? What happened?”

“Why?” she sobbed. “Why couldn’t you have been there for me, Kumo? Why did you reject me? Why does everybody reject me?! Why am I always being left behind?!”

He took an involuntary step back, failing to find his words. “I… I don’t…”

“I needed you!” she shrieked, rising to her feet to glare furiously at him. “But you weren’t there for me! You…and Abi… You all left me all alone! You abandoned me! What did I do wrong?! Why was it always me being left behind?”

Ryokumo frantically shook his head, desperately trying to process this sudden outburst. “N-no! Album, please! I’m sorry, but I couldn’t be there for you because—”

Wait…why? Why couldn’t I be there? What was stopping me from being the man she needed me to be? I can’t remember! Wait, why can’t I remember?

“I hate you,” she uttered. “I hate you so much. You, Abi, and !”

Who? I couldn’t hear the last name. I don’t know what she said!

“What happened to me is your fault. You turned me into this. You all did.”

“Album, wait!”

He shouted her name, but his friend simply turned her back to him and began to walk away, leaving him standing alone, unable to follow after her, as if his legs had been frozen to the ground. He extended his hand, but he couldn’t grab her, and she vanished into the darkness just as the scene faded, the world warping back to the Niras Lounge and the present day.

He opened his eyes, his body shaking as if he were having a seizure as he tried to get his bearings. He was lying on the carpet so he grabbed the edge of the coffee table and tried to pull himself up. The first thing to reach his ears as his senses returned was the maniacal laughter of a man he utterly despised and when he turned to look, he found Seiras dancing around the room, his arms raised in celebration.

“Lay witness to it all!” he shrieked. “You wanted my power so behold it!”

Ryokumo’s eyes went wide and he realized that the spell hadn’t hit just him. Sinna, Nyx, and Iris were all collapsed on the ground, the latter two shaking while the Master of Rock’s features were twisted in such utter fury that it caused Ryokumo to almost recoil, and he feared that she might be about to make good on her earlier threat. She looked disturbed yet she rose regardless, her fists clenched so tightly that they were shaking.

“How dare you?!” Sinna snarled.

But Seiras just continued to dance, as if unafraid of her. “What ever could be the matter? You asked to see what my spell could do so I showed you! I did only as you asked, Cartus!”

“Durumi,” Sinna chanted, and moments later, her hands were enveloped in a dark stone as she lunged toward Seiras.

Ryokumo couldn’t tell if she was lunging to kill, but it didn’t matter. Seiras didn’t even move as he cheered, “Aniextium!” Without any resistance, the Master of Rock went limp and collapsed, the sound of her large body reverberating throughout the room.

“Geldai!”

This time, the shout came from Nyx, who had managed to pull her trembling body upwards enough so she could get a clean shot at the halfling. Yet, once again, Seiras merely sidestepped the oncoming icicle and spread his hands out in a theatrical gesture.

“Aniextium!”

Just like Sinna, Nyx’s eyes glazed over and she collapsed back to the ground. Ryokumo could barely process what he was witnessing. Seiras was taking on the Masters and besting them as if they were mere novices. Without a way to defend against it, there was nothing they could do to prevent him from tormenting them with his visions. As Seiras reveled in his victory, he turned his smile toward Ryokumo.

“Would you like to take a shot at me, Caeli?” he inquired smugly. “Please, I want to see you try! I can show you more, you know? I can show you so much more of your tragic and dark past!”

Ryokumo forced himself to look away, not wanting to even acknowledge Seiras, and gazed down at Iris, who hadn’t moved from her position. She was sitting against the chair, hugging herself and trembling, her earlier mischievous expression all but vanished. Instead, she looked almost like a child praying for her parents to come and rescue her.

“Mackia?” he uttered. “Are you alright?”

“I-I…don’t know,” she stuttered. “I don’t…”

With the spell wearing off once again, Sinna and Nyx both managed to drag themselves to their feet, but the defiance was all but gone. The second vision seemed to have been enough to shake even Sinna up.

This is too much power, Ryokumo thought as he crawled around the table and toward where the other two women were, hoping to help them up. Reigious needs to put a stop to this. We can’t allow Seiras to run free. He has to be taken into custody!

“Look upon me and understand what I am!” Seiras snarled as he jumped upon the coffee table. “You Masters, the greatest mages in all of Ijiria, brought to your knees by a mere halfling like me! Do you see it now? Do you understand how truly weak and pathetic you are? There is nothing you can do to me! All of your threats are meaningless before my control of the mind!”

“I’ll kill you,” Sinna hissed as she dragged herself to her feet once again, but the threat didn’t have any of the confidence she’d previously spat his way.

But Seiras was already shaking his head. “No, you won’t. You’d never get away with it! I’m far too precious to dear Prince Reigious! He’d never allow a Master of the Mind to slip through his fingers! If you killed me, you would soon join me in death, Sinna Cartus!”

In the face of Seiras’s declaration, nobody could speak a word. Sinna was barely staying on her feet, Nyx was huddled on the ground, and Iris was almost in tears. Even Ryokumo couldn’t push the images of Album and his failures from his mind to properly confront the halfling. He was too scared of seeing more of those visions.

Seiras Ka was suddenly terrifying to him.

They were powerless.

The Masters of Ijiria, on their knees.

“Now bow to me!” he shouted. “Bow before my—!”

For a moment, he thought he had imagined it. He had been so desperate for the halfling to drop dead that he thought another vision may have overtaken reality. Yet, as he blinked, he realized that what he was seeing was real. A single arrow was protruding from Seiras’s chest, blood oozing from the wound and dripping down onto the table. Seiras gazed at with a still and emotionless expression before raising his head, his eyes wide as he stared at something behind Ryokumo.

“Aniex—!”

But he never finished the incarnation before another arrow struck him straight in the throat and he crumpled from the coffee table in a spray of blood. Ryokumo stared, stunned, before managing to turn his head and look over his shoulder.

There, in the open window, was a singular cloaked figure crouched on the windowsill with a shortbow in hand. He couldn’t see their face and before he even got a chance to take anything more in, they jumped backwards and plummeted from view. Ryokumo forced himself to his feet and lunged toward the window, but when he stuck his head outside, he couldn’t find any trace of them.

What the hell? Where did they go? Did they glide down into the city? No, I’d be able to see them. I— Just then, he heard the sound of a window closing and looked up in the direction of the sound. They went through the window? So they’re still in the Citadel?!

“Mackia!” he heard Sinna shout from behind him. “Mackia, snap out of it and help him! If he dies…”

Ryokumo slowly turned and saw Nyx and Sinna kneeling down beside the door. He weakly moved toward them and approached where Seiras was laying. All it took was one look for reality to strike him. The halfling’s eyes were wide open and bulging with blood dripping from both his mouth and the arrow wounds in his neck and mouth. His body wasn’t moving nor did his eyes seem to see anything.

“It’s no use,” Nyx whispered. “There’s nothing we can do for him now.”

Ryokumo let out a quiet breath, understanding what these events would mean for the days to come. Right before their very eyes, Seiras Ka had been assassinated and the assailant had escaped.

A Master of Ijiria was dead.

And yet, despite that, Ryokumo felt an emotion flowing through him that he knew was horrible, yet he couldn’t deny that it was his true, genuine feelings.

Seiras Ka was dead.

And he couldn’t be more relieved.