Chapter III

“Deep breaths, my friend,” Ryokumo said with a grin. “This duel isn’t going to be about beating him. Instead, you’re merely expected to give it your all and show the prince what it is you can do.”

Eric nodded meekly, taking the man’s words to heart but finding that it was doing very little to calm his nerves. The day was moving way too fast for him and he was having trouble keeping up. In barely under two hours, he went from sitting alone in the dungeons under the Citadel to preparing himself for a duel with the Ijirian prince. After Reigious Iiji made his declaration that the two of them would be dueling, Eric was once again led back to the lift and onto a different floor where he and the Masters made their way to an arena. It was fifty yards in diameter and was surrounded by bleachers that reminded him of the football stadium back at West Wilham High. He was on the farthest side of the arena while Reigious was standing opposite him. In the stands to Eric’s left were the other five Masters, serving as the only audience this duel would be receiving. The only Master not in the stands was Ryokumo, who was right at his side, giving him quick tips to prepare him.

“Out of curiosity,” the Master of Wind went on. “What is your magic affinity?”

Eric considered the question for a moment and then shrugged. “I mean, I’m rather proficient in them all, to be honest. At least the basic ones, that is. But if I had to choose, I’d say I’m best at wind magic.”

Ryokumo’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Ah, that’s perfect! I was hoping you’d say that. If that’s the case then you should prioritize wind magic. Like I said, just do your best.”

Eric took the man’s earlier advice and breathed deeply, trying to calm his racing heart as a plethora of questions kept bombarding his thoughts.

“What’s the prince’s affinity?” he asked, finally settling on the most important one.

But Ryokumo merely chuckled. “All of them.”

“All of them?!” the boy exclaimed. “But I thought…I thought magic users only prioritized one!”

“That is true,” he confirmed. “Almost all of us do, but Reigious is an exception. He is the crown prince and will take over as king once Markreas passes, and it is the duty of the king to be at the head of the Masters. Before Markreas was almost killed, he was the one who led us, and now that Reigious has taken his place, the prince has practiced every known affinity…with the exception of a few. Piura, too, is skilled in all affinities, though only because she is Reigious’s successor should anything ever happen to him before he has an heir.”

Eric swallowed as he took the information in, realizing not only how terrifying the royal children were, but also coming to terms that he was about to face one of those children.

“Does that include…dark and light?” he managed to inquire.

“It does,” Ryokumo answered. “The only magic he isn’t strong with is mind magic, but that’s only natural. We can’t have a prince risking his sanity, after all.”

Having never heard of mind magic, Eric forced himself to push the oncoming questions aside. He wasn’t even sure he would last a minute against the prince. If not for his mother’s protection, Nigreos and Album would have defeated him quite easily back in Wilham. If Reigious not only had control over both of their powers, but all the other ones, then he was almost assuredly screwed.

But then again, Ryokumo said I don’t have to win. I just need to give it my all, so that’s what I’ll do.

“Well, thank you for the advice,” he murmured. “I appreciate it.”

The man placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Of course. I meant it when I said you could trust me. As long as you’re in the Citadel, I can be your ally and your friend. And perhaps…we can help each other.” Ryokumo winked, and while it appeared as a simple gesture to comfort him, Eric could sense the hidden meaning behind it.

“Good luck, Reiner.”

With those final words of confidence, the Master of Wind hopped over the small, silver barrier that blocked the arena off from the stands before heading up to join the others. Eric watched him go, desperately wanting to talk with him more but knowing that he didn’t have any option other than waiting.

“Are you ready, Mr. Reiner?” Reigious called from the other side.

Eric turned back and frantically nodded. “Yeah…er, yes, my prince!”

His attempt to follow Ijirian formalities caused the man to smile ever so slightly before he made a swift motion with his hand. The moment he did, a long item began to float across the fifty yard distance before stopping just in front of Eric in midair. He couldn’t help but stare at the glittering sword floating in front of him for just a second before he reached out and gripped the pommel. He’d never held a real sword in his life and he found it heavier than he expected. It was of simple make, with a leather wrapped pommel that reminded him of the many fantasy books he used to read as a kid. However, he was surprised to find that it wasn’t a wooden training sword, but a real, sharpened one.

“Now, Reiner,” Reigious began, projecting his voice across to him. “I want you to fight like your life depends on it. Try to kill me. Use whatever spells you want. The only rule is that you cannot leave this arena. Remain within its borders. Otherwise, everything is fair game. Understood?”

Try to kill him?! Eric was thrown off by those words before he realized what the implication was. Reigious knows I’d never be able to kill him, so it doesn't matter how hard I try.

“Yes, understood!” he replied with as much confidence as he could muster.

With a grin, the prince raised his own sword, and Eric quickly realized that it wasn’t as simple as the one he was given. Even from that distance, the boy could see the emerald colored blade and the golden pommel. It was a beautiful weapon and part of him wished he could get a better view, before reminding himself that he would soon have that opportunity.

“Nigreos! Count us down!” the prince ordered.

The Master of Darkness nodded then got to his feet and looked between the two.

“Three…two…one…fight!”

He never even heard the prince speak an incantation. All he knew was that barely a second after Nigreos finished the countdown, Reigious vanished from his spot, immediately reappearing mere feet from where Eric was waiting, the emerald sword arching down toward his head.

Shit!

“Proto!”

Eric’s first instinct was to put as much distance between them as he could, so he shouted off the incantation to launch himself to the right, just barely dodging out of the way of Reigious’s blade. The prince grinned, as if having expected him to do something like that, then spun and turned his body sideways, the sword raised so that its point was directed Eric’s way.

Ryokumo wasn’t kidding when he said there was no hope of winning! I just need to throw everything I have at him and hope I can at least survive a minute!

As much as he loathed this country and what they did to him, he still found himself wanting to impress the Masters. He wanted to at least give Reigious a challenge and so, he took every strategy he had incorporated against Nigreos and Album into his mind, ready to do whatever it took to claim victory.

“Condite!” he shouted, casting the spell that would create ropes of air which he hoped would at least hold the man down long enough for him to make some attacks of his own.

Yet, the ropes never even reached him. With one graceful motion, Reigious swung the blade around and cut each rope before they could touch him, as if he could see their invisible forms, then propelled himself off the ground and crossed the distance between them again. For the second time, Eric barely reacted, this time swinging his sword up to block the strike, only to find utter pain shoot through his arms as the force of Reigious’s attack resonated through his body.

The prince didn’t give him even a second to think as he sent strike after strike at him, moving so quickly that he could barely follow. Since they were too close for him to avoid the swift attacks, Eric decided that defense was his best bet, and he recalled one of the spells that he hadn’t had a chance to use to its fullest potential back in Wilham.

“Durumi!” he managed to shout, just as Reigious sword swung toward his chest.

There was an impact as it collided with his left shoulder, but Eric didn’t feel it at all. The spell had hardened his upper body below the neck into rock, protecting his vitals and causing Reigious sword to bounce backwards without harm. The only downside to this spell was that it increased his weight and therefore, would make him far less maneuverable. So, he knew he had to take advantage of the rock magic while he had the chance. He’d hardened his fists as well, so he released his right hand from his pommel and swung toward Reigious’s face. The prince smiled, as if pleased by the sudden move, just as Eric’s attack hit home…yet Reigious’s head didn’t even recoil backwards. Instead, he remained in place, as if the attack didn’t hurt him, and when Eric rushed backwards, he found the prince’s face hardened into rock as well, allowing his skull to take the full impact of the punch without taking damage.

Damn it!

Knowing he didn’t have much time before Reigious attacked again, Eric returned his grip to his sword, a different idea coming to mind. There was a spell in his mother’s book that he never got the chance to use, but now that he was armed, it was a perfect opportunity to give it a try.

“Infundite!” he chanted, sending wind magic through his hands and infusing it into the blade.

The spell worked similarly to what Nigreos used the previous night to combat his mother’s protection. The spell enabled him to move faster, decreasing the weight of the blade and amplifying his own movements. It wouldn’t match the prince’s speed, but at the very least, it would cover some ground.

Eric jumped on the offensive just as Reigious rushed him, both swinging their blades at their opponent. There were numerous clangs of metal on metal as the prince parried Eric attacks with ease, looking as if he were hardly breaking a sweat while the boy was putting everything he had into it. Eric’s moves were faster and more graceful with the aid of his magic and he made sure not to focus on any one spot. He swung for Reigious’s legs, his torso, his neck, and his face, wanting to avoid being predictable in the foolish hope that he could catch him off guard. But of course, he knew he would be the one to tire out the quickest, so he pulled another trick from his bag.

“Infernus,” he breathed, removing his left hand from the pommel and aiming at Reigious.

There was a brief look of surprise on his opponent’s face just before a massive wave of fire exploded from Eric’s hand. The boy propelled himself backwards, soaring toward the other side of the arena as the giant inferno burned all the way up toward the ceiling, creating a wall of fire in the center. He spared a brief look up at the Masters, and noticed a variety of expressions on their faces, before turning back toward the flames.

Then, the fire vanished, revealing Reigious unharmed on the other side, already rushing across the arena.

“Perkari!” Eric shouted, sending blades of wind cutting through the air, but Reigious didn’t even break stride as he sliced them down before they could touch him. Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to strike him, Eric hurriedly hardened his body again, just as the prince reached him. “Durumi!”

His wind magic still enveloping his sword, Eric swung it upwards to parry the prince once more, and again, he found himself locked in close combat, frantically trying to prevent his swift strikes from landing a blow. But, just as Eric felt himself slowing down, Reigious smirked.

“Coreas,” he said softly.

That familiar and terrifying darkness erupted from the prince, rushing Eric before he even realized what was happening. It lunged through his mouth, cutting off his airflow and dragging him into the air. The sword fell from his grasp and he flailed around, trying to escape, but without being able to breathe, he knew it was futile. It was then that he realized just how much Reigious had been holding back. Had he used that spell to start the match, Eric knew he would have lost in mere seconds. It only forced him to truly accept that the only reason he ever survived his encounters with Nigreos and Album was because he was protected. If not for his mother, he would have died numerous times.

And Reigious is even stronger. How is that possible?

“That was impressive,” Reigious mused. “For a boy without any proper training, you sure had some fascinating tricks up your sleeve. No wonder you gave Nigreos and Album such a hard time. With blood magic on your side, you could be a real challenge.”

With a wave of his hand, Reigious caused the shadow to vanish, sending Eric collapsing to his knees, coughing and gasping for breath. The prince grinned, then held his hand out.

“Good game, Mr. Reiner.”

Despite his frustration at losing so suddenly, Eric nevertheless reached up and shook the man’s hand.

“Yeah, good game.”

***

With the duel ended, Reigious cast some healing magic on Eric before they all returned to the Chamber of the Masters. Once they were settled down in their seats, Eric found himself once again standing before the table, facing the six Masters, as well as the prince, with apprehension. They all had differing expressions as they regarded him. Ryokumo and Nyx seemed rather impressed, Sinna and Iris were unreadable, Album still looked annoyed, and Nigreos was smiling, most likely having enjoyed watching him fight without his blood protection giving him an advantage.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Mr. Reiner,” Reigious began, “I would first like to ask how you became so proficient with magic. If my calculations are correct, your mother would have left sometime when you were seven or eight. That’s far too young for her to have trained you. So who taught you? How did you come to be so good in a magicless world?”

Part of Eric wanted to lie but, fearing that if he did, he would only serve to anger the group, he decided to just tell the truth.

“I’ve never been trained,” he answered. “It’s just…before Mom left, she gave me her spellbook and told me that, when she returned, she would teach me properly. She said to study it closely so that I would be ready when she came home. Obviously…my mother never did come home, but I did as she said and studied that book relentlessly. For ten years, I’ve read it every night, memorizing the incantations. I know that book front to back.”

Reigious considered his words before nodding to himself, as if unsurprised by the answer. “That’s…rather impressive. It seems you inherited Abi’s natural talent. And where is this spellbook now?”

Eric glanced away. “Um…well, it should be back at my home. I didn’t have it on me when I jumped to Ijiria so…”

“Actually, I returned and retrieved it,” Nigreos said, reaching into his suit pocket to produce the familiar, leather book.

Eric’s first instinct was to do anything he could to rip that book from the Master’s grasp, but he held himself in check. He was revolted to see Nigreos touching something so precious to him, but there was no longer anything he could do about it.

“Good,” Reigious said. “Thank you, Nigreos. Now, if you could return it to the boy…”

“My prince!” Album immediately interjected. “Return it? You can’t be serious?”

He frowned and cocked an eyebrow. “And why wouldn’t I be? It’s his property. Abi entrusted it to him, so it is his. Nigreos, return it.”

To Album’s clear dismay, the Master of Darkness nodded and slid the book across the table. It came to a stop at the edge and Eric gratefully stepped forward and took it, feeling a small amount of comfort just having it in his grasp again. It was one of the only remnants of his mother left to him, and in this foreign world, it was relieving to have it with him.

“Thank you,” he managed to say, though he made sure he was looking at Reigious and not Nigreos as he said it.

“Of course,” the prince replied. “Now, I want to discuss your future here in this Citadel. Our duel gave me plenty to consider, and like I said, you have a natural talent that should not be wasted. Normally, in circumstances such as these, you would be admitted to the Academy of Erika and trained there. However, you are a unique case, and I think it would be best for you to remain here where we can keep an eye on you.”

Eric nodded, knowing that after what happened in Wilham, Reigious would want him under observation at all times.

“After all, I think it would be foolish to believe you don’t hold some resentment toward us,” Reigious went on. “And given all that’s happened, I do not fault you for that. Your world was turned upside down and your friends were erased, and now you are being told that you either swear fealty to us or die. It is understandable.”

He could tell that the Masters other than Ryokumo and Nigreos were looking at him with obvious suspicion. Reigious might be understanding and willing to give him a chance, but that didn’t mean the others were. Album had already made it clear that she strongly opposed his presence in the Citadel, so it was only natural that there would be other Masters that would detest him as a criminal.

“Now, tell me, Mr. Reiner,” Reigious said. “How do you feel about us? I do not want you to lie. You will not be harmed for telling the truth. You will, however, be harmed for lying. So, be honest with me. What are your feelings at this moment?”

He took a second to consider the question. He was put into a spot that was hard to get out of. He had a feeling that Reigious would be able to tell if he lied, but he also feared that it was a trap to get him to admit to his hatred for Ijiria. Yet, when he looked to Ryokumo for some form of guidance, the man nodded, as if telling him to be honest. So, deciding to do as he was told, he faced Reigious and replied.

“If you want my honest answer, then I can’t deny that I am conflicted,” he admitted. “Just a month ago, I was living happily with my friends. My life was good. Sure, I lost my mother, but I was enjoying myself at school. Then, in just a few weeks, Nigreos and Album took everything from me. I am left with nothing now. All my friends are gone, sent to whatever place people are kept after being erased. I fought with everything I had, but even my blood magic couldn’t prevent them all from being taken. I wasn’t good enough. I failed in every sense of the word.”

He stopped to gather his thoughts, trying to determine how to best continue. Reigious’s features were still, not showing any of what he was feeling. He didn’t say anything, and before Eric could go on, it was one of the Masters who broke that silence.

“I wouldn’t say you were a complete failure,” Nyx said as she regarded him. “I think the fact that you even made it here alive speaks to your skill. You were never going to be able to prevent their erasure, even if you were trained.”

She didn’t seem to be trying to comfort him as much as stating a simple fact. He knew she was right, but it didn’t change how he felt. So, he went on.

“My prince,” he said. “If I am supposed to be honest, I can’t say there isn’t some resentment to Ijiria, but at the same time, it was my idiotic actions that brought the attack down on me. When I found that stone, I had never used magic before. I had never even properly seen it. So when I learned of its power, I couldn’t stop myself from screwing around with it. I was careless. I never stopped to think about where the stone might have come from or what the repercussions of using it could be. One of my closest friends…well, he warned me many times, and I brushed his fears off, simply happy to have found magic. I brought their erasure on them because I was a fool.”

Reigious narrowed his eyes, seeming to process everything before asking, “You say you had never seen magic before finding the relic? Explain that…”

Eric shrugged. “W-well, I might have had the spellbook, but I couldn’t cast anything no matter how hard I tried. For a while, I didn’t even think I had magic, and it was a few months after finding the stone that I found myself able.”

“Curious,” Sinna mused. “Perhaps your half-blooded nature wasn’t enough for you to be a proper mage. In that case, it must have been the mana in the relic that enabled you to access the power.”

Nyx nodded. “In which case, you have only been able to cast spells for a handful of months. It makes your performance even more fascinating.”

Yeah, I’d considered something along those lines. It probably was the stone that unlocked my potential.

“Well, go on,” Reigious prompted, and Eric composed himself again.

“So with that said, I am aware that I shoulder much of the blame,” he said. “And while I can’t say I enjoy the thought of bowing to Ijiria, I do think I’ll move past it. You’ve treated me well, my prince, and I do think that with time, I’ll move on and come to accept what happened.”

With that, it was enough of a truth that he didn’t think Reigious would notice. Interacting with Reigious, Piura, and Ryokumo, Eric did think that he could come to accept them and not despise them. They had treated him kindly, but at the same time, he knew he would never accept what happened in Wilham. He would fight to bring everybody back until the day he died. So, to mask that brief lie before anybody could find it, he continued on with the pure truth.

“However, while I do believe I can be happy here and respect you, I will never forgive Nigreos and Album for what they did. I will never be able to overlook the torture and pain they put me through, and I know as a fact that I will hate them with every fiber of my being for the rest of my life. They are despicable pieces of shit and while I swear to you that I will not make any moves to harm them or take revenge, I will never forget what they did to me.”

He spoke as if the two Masters weren’t present, and took great joy in the looks of fury and shock on their faces as he spoke. On the flipside, the other four Masters seemed almost amused by his bluntness, and even Reigious had the ghost of a smirk.

“Nor do I think they will ever like me,” Eric went on, feeling a bit more confidence in himself. “Album, in particular, will probably never forget how I blasted her arm off…twice or how I beat her into the ground so hard that had Nigreos not stopped me, she might be dead right now. I will never see eye-to-eye with them, nor will they with me. I will bow to Ijiria. I will refrain from violating any laws. But no amount of time passed will heal the scars they inflicted on my mind and on my life.”

He took great pleasure in the amused grins on Sinna and Iris’s faces, as well as the redness that had creeped into Album’s pale features. He feared he had gone too far, but at the same time, he wanted to embarrass Nigreos and Album. He wanted everybody present to know that a simple untrained boy was responsible for Album’s lost arm. He wanted her humiliated, and if his words caused Reigious to cast him back into the dungeons, part of him felt it was worth it just seeing the loathing that Album Luz fixed him with or to see the embarrassment present on Nigreos Noctis’s features.

“I see,” the prince murmured after a moment. “Yes, well, that would be expected. And I see you didn’t hold back. I asked for the truth and you gave the truth, but I hope you understand that I cannot overlook that hatred for two of our Masters.”

“I am aware,” he replied firmly. “But you said that if I lied, I would be harmed, so I told the truth. Honestly, I have nothing against anybody else in this room. I do not know any of you, after all.”

Reigious chuckled. “I suppose so. In that case, I have made my decision. Ryokumo, you requested that you be allowed to train him, and I have decided only to give you half of what you request.”

Ryokumo, having perked up at the sound of his name, then quickly frowned as he took in what Reigious said. “Half, my prince?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “As it stands, I do sense that Reiner meant every word he spoke about Nigreos and Album, and while his hatred is understandable, I fear that he may be overcome by it. Which is why I am banning him from either learning or using combat magic until he has proven his loyalty.”

Yeah, that’s to be expected, Eric thought. It’s not going to be easy for them to trust me, even if I hadn’t been so bold.

“But, what good will I be to him then?” Ryokumo inquired.

“He will be your apprentice in name only,” Reigious answered. “He will live in your quarters and you will serve as a mentor to him. Your friendship with his mother should make you an easier person for him to get along with. I want you to guide him and watch over him…as well as kill him should he ever force your hand.”

Reigious’s last words held enough meaning that Eric could tell he fully meant it. If he ever did anything that could be considered treasonous against Ijiria then he would be killed on the spot. That was the condition they were setting.

Ryokumo bowed his head. “In that case, I thank you. I will watch over him and mentor him.”

“But…my prince…” Album cut in, her teeth clenched as if biting back her humiliation. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Wouldn’t his friendship with Abi make him too emotional to do what needs to be done should Reiner betray us? Should the boy not be entrusted to another? I, for one, do not think Caeli would be able to bring himself to kill Reiner should he force him to.”

Eric noticed Ryokumo’s smile turn stiff and a brief flash of anger entered his eyes. At the same time, Sinna and Iris turned to face Reigious, as if curious to know what his answer would be, and Eric wondered if the two of them shared a similar sentiment. The prince, however, eyed Album with annoyance.

“Album,” he said sharply. “I trust Ryokumo. He has never given me any reason not to. He will do what needs to be done.”

“But do you not think his attachment to Abi would—”

“Abi Reiner was his friend!” Reigious snapped, cutting her off. “Regardless of what she did, that hasn't changed. It is only natural that he would still hold some love for her. In fact, I think it is that attachment that will give him the open mind necessary to take care of the boy in the best possible way. Understood?”

Album grit her teeth and turned a furious look toward Eric, so he grinned smugly back at her. She had always been so confident and arrogant back in Wilham and he quite enjoyed watching her get challenged and shut down by Reigious.

“Now,” the prince went on once Album had backed down. “While Ryokumo will be watching over you, I would still like to help your talent grow, Mr. Reiner. Which is why I have decided it would be best if you follow in your mother’s footsteps. You are banned from using combat magic, but I would like you to learn to heal, which is why I have decided that Iris will be your true teacher.”

Eric raised his eyebrows, having not expected that as, it seemed, Iris didn’t either. The Master of Nature sat up straighter and looked at the man curiously.

“M-me?” she stuttered. “You want me to teach him?”

“I do,” Reigious confirmed. “I believe healing magic is the best route for him to take, and seeing as you are the Master of Nature, it seems fitting for you to teach him. You can consider him to be your apprentice as well. Is that okay?”

Iris hesitated, then turned her yellow eyes over to Eric as if trying to decide. “Um, of course. Yes, my prince. I will teach him.”

“Perfect,” Reigious stated. “In that case, Ryokumo and Iris shall be your masters, Reiner. I will be watching over you very closely, boy, and I hope we can have a harmonious relationship in the future. For now, I have more to discuss with the Masters, so if you would wait in the anteroom, Ryokumo will lead you to your quarters when we are done.”

Eric bowed, satisfied to be able to leave. “Yes, my prince.”

He then turned and hurried from the room. He wasn’t sure what to think, but he was happy that he was being given the opportunity to live in the Citadel. Ryokumo and Iris were the only ones his sense didn’t mistrust, so he couldn’t have received better teachers.

I can’t let this chance slip away. I’ll pretend to be loyal. I’ll do what I have to do to earn their trust. And when the time comes, I’ll take that erased realm down. I will save everybody…no matter what I need to do. And if it becomes possible, I’ll take Nigreos and Album down with it.

***

Had she not been in the presence of the other Masters, and especially the prince, Album felt as if she could explode with rage at any moment. It felt as if everybody but her was blind to the risk of allowing Eric Reiner to remain in the Citadel. With the blood protection left on him by Abi, she and Nigreos were disadvantaged, and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that the boy would try to take his revenge. He wouldn’t bow to Ijiria. If she knew anything about him, it was that he was stubborn. He might pretend to be docile for the moment, but if given the chance to have revenge, he would take it in a heartbeat. That much was clear with his humiliation of her and Nigreos. After he had left, Reigious had ordered that she and Nigreos disclose all that had happened in Wilham, and by the end of it all, she found herself more embarrassed than she had ever been.

“So you got your asses kicked by a bunch of magicless children?” Sinna sneered. “How pathetic. To think that the great Masters of Light and Darkness couldn’t handle something so simple.”

“I doubt you could have done better,” Album retorted harshly. “We weren’t prepared for his blood protection. Without that, as well as the strange pocket realm that kept us prisoner for weeks, we would have been done almost immediately.”

Nigreos smirked. “And besides, at least we succeeded in the end. From the sound of it, while we were gone, you allowed Seiras to be killed, Hannah to betray us, and Arisa Kirisan, a guide to run free. Sounds like you were a far larger failure than we were.”

Album took joy in the Master of Rock’s sudden fury. As problematic as their mission in Omaruo had been, she had been shocked when they returned to learn that the Master of the Mind, Seiras Ka, was dead and that both his killer and a guide had been set free. She had never held any love for the halfling, but he was still a Master, and a rare one at that. His death was a massive loss for Ijiria, so for Sinna to insult them was laughable.

Sinna clenched her teeth, but before the argument could progress, Reigious raised a hand to silence her. “Enough. The past does not matter. We simply need to focus on where to go from here. Reiner’s existence is surprising, but as it stands, he is the least of our worries. Erika is on lockdown. Hannah Lynn and the Children are still in the city so we must do all we can to find them. Nakoma is still up north, and with any luck, he will find Malt Territh soon. We need to focus on the issues here in the capital. The Assassination Gem is safely returned to the vault and Omaruo is cleansed.”

Reigious furrowed his brow then continued. “My only fear is that Eric Reiner couldn’t have erected that pocket realm. Somebody else did that, though I can’t be certain whether it was Abi or someone else entirely. For the time being, Ryokumo, I want you to see what you can learn.”

“Of course,” the Master of Wind said. “I’ll see if I can gather any information from him.”

The prince leaned back in his golden seat and sighed. “The future is quite uncertain, but we must avoid fighting amongst ourselves. Set our sights on killing Hannah Lynn and Arisa Kirisan. That…is our biggest priority.”

Album grimaced. They’re being too lenient with Eric. Even Ryokumo and Nigreos have themselves so obsessed with Abi that they’re overlooking his threat level. But I won’t be so foolish. If everybody else wishes to focus on Kirisan, so be it, but I will never take my eyes off of Reiner. If he does anything, I won’t wait for Ryokumo Caeli to act. They might have forgotten, but I won’t. Ryokumo and Eric together are dangerous, so if given the chance…

I will deal with them myself.