Nic reached up and messed with collar of his shirt. It felt unusually stiff that morning. Nic knew why. How could he not? That day was the most important day that they have been through in a while.

Aria reached around from behind Nic and pulled him into a soft hug before whispering into his ear. “It's going to be okay. You can relax a bit.”

“I want to. I really do. But I can't help but feel like something is going to go terribly wrong today.” Nic whispered back without moving his head.

His gut was telling him that something was off.

Something was going to happen.

And Nic wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

“If something goes wrong, we'll deal with it, together. All of us.” Aria moved her hands down to Nic's as she spoke. She twirled him around, forcing him to look away from the mirror in their room.

The two of them were in their room in the Ito estate where they had slept the night before. Sarman was supposed to sleep in the room with them, but he had been absent all night, resulting in an unused third futon sitting in the corner of the room.

Aria was wearing a brilliant emerald green dress that Nic's mother had given to her the past time they had passed through Aric. This was Nic's first time seeing her in it, and also her first time wearing it in general. His hands found their way to Aria's bare shoulders.

“Are you sure that you'll be fine like this? You sure you don't want to wear something that will keep you a bit warmer?” And safer? Nic didn't say the last part out loud, though he didn't need to.

“I'll be fine. I'll wear a cloak till we get to the senate chambers. From then on, this is all I'll wear. As the main delegate of Aric, I have to dress for the part. And if fighting does break out, I have Aerial to keep me safe.”

Nic was originally supposed to be Aria's co-delegate for Aric, but after speaking with Yuuki's father, Nobu, and the Shogun, it was decided that Nic should enter the senate chamber not as a delegate, but instead as Aria's guard.

There was some political strategizing involved, but Nic simpthaagreed to this as it would allow him to bring both swords that Yuuki had gifted Nic into the room. He would he the only outside delegate allowed this opportunity. The only problem was that he couldn’t have the swords on his waist like he would have preferred. Instead, they were both strapped to his back in an x form.

The other thing that this planned allowed Nic was to not dress up as much as Aria, Sarman, or Yuuki. Nic was instead wearing a somewhat nice coat over his normal light plate armor pieces covering key points on his upper body.

“I know I’m the one that brought this plan up, but I still don’t feel comfortable letting you look so defenseless in there.” Nic couldn’t stop himself from worrying.

Aria smiled softly at him. Her hand cupped his face before bringing it close to hers. She pulled him in till their foreheads were touching, till their eyes were locked together. Nic stared into Aria’s brilliant blue eyes. He could always find comfort in them.

“I believe in you. I know you’ll keep me safe.”

Before Nic could respond, the door to their room burst open with a loud bang. Sarman, slightly frazzled, stepped into the room and closed the door.

“I! I need to talk with both of you! Right. Now.”

“What, did you have a really good night?” Nic laughed as he watched Sarman look at him puzzled, before shaking his head.

“No, well, yes, but that’s not what I meant.” Sarman walked up to the two of them and pulled them both in close. “Aria, last night Aerial met with Salamander, correct?”

Aria paused for a moment, clearly conversing with the spirit to confirm what Sarman had said, before speaking up. “Aerial says they did. But he won’t tell me what they talked about. Just that they won’t let me interfere in your plans.”

“That’s… I’ll explain those plans later if I get the chance to. Right now I have more news. Remember the poison that killed Crystal and my mother?”

Nic felt his stomach tighten at the mention of the poison. He still remembered seeing Crystal’s face twisted in agony as she lay dying in front of him. He wanted to learn more about his ancestor from her. He wanted to learn more about the curse that his family had been stuck with. He wanted to learn more about her.

But it had all been cut short by that poison.

Of course, he remembered it.

Seeing through their faces that they both knew what he was talking about, Sarman continued. “That poison will show up again today. The person who created it is here, in Kyoku. They will most likely try to break into the meeting. You both need to be prepared to protect yourselves. And, if possible, protect Yuuki as well.”

“What about you?” Aria asked, voicing a concern that Nic also had after hearing what Sarman had said.

“I have Salamander. The flames of my armor should be able to burn the poison before it can reach me. Aerial’s coating around you, Aria, should be able to deflect it as well. But Nic, you and Yuuki don’t have that protection. You have to be on guard to protect both yourself, and her.”

He was the guard going in for the delegates.

Nic was no longer just Aria’s protector.

He had become Yuuki’s as well.

Three loud knocks on the door broke the small group apart. The door slowly opened to reveal Nobu, with Yuuki in a colorful Kimono not far behind.

“It’s time for us to head to the Senate building. Are you all ready?”

While both Nic and Aria were clearly ready, the question seemed to be aimed at Sarman who was still wearing what he had worn last night.

Nic and Aria quietly stepped out of the room while Sarman quickly changed his clothes. In just a few minutes, the last member of the delegate joined them at the estate entrance, wearing a suit similar to the ones that every member of Sanum’s government wore.

It was a look that Nic couldn’t help but think suited Sarman perfectly.

“Good luck, you guys.” Kiara said as she stood away from the group. It had ultimately been decided that only one delegate from each city state would go, with Nic accompanying them both as a separate external force, and as their sole guard. Because of this decision, both Kiara and Sara were being forced to stay at the Ito estate.

“We’ll come back with good news.” Aria was the one who responded, hoping to sway any doubts that their companions had in mind.

“I know. Still, I want to say it.” Kiara smiled and went around hugging each of them. When she got to Nic, she whispered into his ear. “Make sure to keep everyone safe if something goes wrong”

Nic silently nodded, letting her know that he had heard her.

Nobu silently led the group through the streets, up towards the Shogun’s palace in the heart of the city. The Senate building was alongside the palace, snuggles safely into the center of the city.

The city was silent.

They met no one on their way up, despite it being close to midday already.

There were dark clouds coming in from the ocean as well. It would rain by nightfall.

Nic’s gut was screaming that something horrible was going to happen. The day had felt off since that morning, and then Sarman had told them of the poison, and now the skies were darkening.

The group soon found themselves in the entrance to the Senate chambers. Nobu stopped them all from entering. “Wait until you are called in. It shouldn’t be too long.”

The room they were in was a side room to the main room. Only two doors interrupted the blankness of the walls. One led to the hallway they had come in through, and the other led to the Senate chambers that they were going to.

It didn’t take long for the door to open again.

They were being called into the Senate room.

Yuuki went first, followed by Sarman, then Aria, and finally Nic.

The senate room was massive. It was circular, but far smaller than Nic had originally thought. The only things in front of them were the Shogun sitting on a throne, with Nobu standing just behind him to the right. In front of the Shogun were two tables. The one to the right of the Shogun, and closest to Nic, had four empty chairs. One for each delegate. The other table, on the Shogun’s left, only had two empty seats.

After looking at everything in front of him, Nic’s eyes drifted to the ceiling. It was there that Nic saw the expansive room that he had first thought of. The surrounding walls went up about 3 mer, before becoming pillars between which the entire Senate sat. There were a bunch of politicians slowly watching the group walk to their table. 50? 75? Maybe even a hundred. Nic wasn’t sure.

“Have a seat.” The Shogun was the first one to speak to the group as they slowly shuffled into the room. Hearing him, Nic focused back on the table, where Yuuki was already taking a seat. The rest of them quickly took their seats next to her.

As they did, the Shogun began to speak again. “These four have come from the Irradiated Forest Region, acting as delegates for a number of different City-States in the region. However, we have another visitor today as well. Please let her in.”

As the Shogun finished his sentence, the door opposite on the left side of the Shogun opened, letting in two more visitors. Their appearance created a stir among the Senators above them.

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Nic’s fist clenched under the table.

If he hadn’t already known about her, Nic was sure he would be having the same reaction as those above.

She wore her face.

She looked around with her eyes.

She styled her clothes in much the same fashion as her.

But the woman in front of them wasn’t Crystal.

Crystal was dead.

No, this woman was her clone.

A clone that had originally been created to help him.

This helper now stood as his greatest obstacle.

She sat down at the table across from him.

When she saw his gaze, she gave him the smallest of winks.

“Ruby…” Nic whispered her true name.

A hand covered his. Its warmth calmed him down.

“Don’t do anything rash.” Aria whispered a warning to Nic from besides him. Her hand had calmed him down, but Nic could feel it shaking as well. He was sure that Sarman and Yuuki were in a similar position.

They all hated the woman in front of them.

“Mother!?”

“Luna!?”

It was Yuuki and Nobu’s sudden outburst that forced Nic to look away from Ruby and finally look at who was accompanying her. He was just as shocked as the others to see Yuuki’s mother sitting next to Ruby. Not only that, she had the sword that Yuuki had so often used attached to her back.

Just as Nic was the guard of their side, Yuuki’s mother was Ruby’s guard.

“Mrs. Ito, I hope you understand what it means for you to sit there.” The Shogun softly spoke, yet his words carried a gravitas that let them resound through the room.

“I do.” Luna Ito responded without opening her eyes to look at any of them. “This is my decision and mine alone. My family have had nothing to do with it.”

“I see. In that case, I shall allow this.” The Shogun took a second to compose himself before speaking much louder, his words echoing throughout the entire room. “Since the Blood Queen was the first to arrive here in Kyoku, she shall be given the time to talk first.” With a simple wave of his hand, the spotlight in the room was given to Ruby.

“Thank you, Shogun, and may I just say, you look to be in much better health than I was led to believe. Congratulations on your speedy recovery.” Ruby slightly bowed to the man on the throne, who slightly bowed back, honoring the woman’s title.

“Senators. Governing body of Kyoku. I come to you today to ask for your help. I am like many of you, a Demi-human created by the first Irradiated Winter oh so many years ago. We have spent these long, many years living alongside those unfortunate enough to continue to be human. But I say, “No More!” No more should we act like humans are equal to us!”

Hearing her speech, and the murmurs around the room that were coming from it, Nic felt that same sickness in his gut. It was getting worse.

This is what his senses had been trying to warn him about.

“I lived through that first Irradiated Winter! When I didn’t know better, I helped humans got on their feet. Since then, they have always treated us like second-rate citizens! In City-States where humans are in charge, they put us down! They-”

“That’s not true!” Sarman cut Ruby off. “There are many City-States where Demi-Humans and Humans are treated equally. Even Kyoku, as a nation, values both, despite being a Demi-Human majority.”

“You are?”

“Sarman Chapman. My father is the Head Minister of Sanum.”

“Ah. See, you get to live in one of those Utopia’s you get to spout about, but the rest of the world isn’t like that.”

“But it isn’t like what you said. You haven’t traveled nearly enough to say that.”

“Hahaha! That’s a good one!” Ruby burst out laughing. “I have travelled more than you will ever hope to travel. I’ve been across every inch of this planet multiple times over. I knew the original Verilo who caused the first Irradiated Winter. And I know that if he were to see the world today, he would despise it. He would create a second Irradiated Winter! One to wipe out humanity once and for all, replacing them all with Demi-Humans! And that’s what I have come to ask for. Join me, Kyoku! Join me in spreading the glory of Demi-Humans!”

Nic saw red. His hand pounded on the table, shutting Ruby up. He slowly stood up, shaking as he barely controlled his anger from overflowing.

“I was going to stay quiet. I was going to let you finish. But you have gone too far, Ruby.” Nic didn’t care about keeping up her pretense. He knew who she was, and he was going to say it clearly. “You can lie about how far you have travelled. You can lie about who you are. But you do not get to lie and twist Noah Verilo’s feelings! He regretted the first Irradiated Winter from the day he caused it. He lived his entire life wishing that he could go back and undo that singular wish that caused it in the first place!”

Nic wasn’t going to allow anyone to desecrate his ancestor’s legacy for their own gain. Especially if that gain involved creating a second Irradiated Winter.

“And you are?” Ruby’s voice asked a single question.

Nic realized the trap he had walked into.

It wasn’t just Ruby who was asking that question. Every single senator above them was asking the same question.

‘Who is this kid speaking like he knows Noah Verilo?’

Nic would have to reveal his identity.

He looked at his companions, all of which nodded in approval of Nic speaking the truth.

“I…” Nic decided to stand up straight. He looked at the senators, all looking down on him from above. He looked at Nobu, and the Shogun, who silently nodded their own approval.

“My name is Nic Verilo!” His declaration caused the senators to stir in their seats. “I am the descendant of the one who created the first Irradiated Winter. The true Blood Queen, Crystal, bore Noah Verilo’s child. I know how they both felt. I know what they both wished.” Nic extravagantly motioned towards Ruby. “And I know that this woman is lying to all of you. She is not the Blood Queen. She is not the Blood Elf. Ruby is a clone, created by Crystal to help me. But she didn’t believe in the same things as Crystal. Ruby wants to create a second Irradiated Winter, while I carry on the legacy of the true Blood Queen: I want to rid this world of Irradiation entirely!”

“That is why we have come today!” Aria stood up next to Nic and took over speaking for him. “My friends and I all are delegates sent here by three City-States; Sanum, Aric, and Crysallia.”

“Crystallia was the last city that Crystal created.” Yuuki spoke up this time. “It was named in her honor after Ruby ordered the death of Crystal. They succeeded in killing the Blood Queen, but not before she passed to me the job of leading the people of Crystallia.”

“Together,” Sarman spoke up last. “Sanum, Aric, and Crystallia have formed an alliance. The Alliance of Free City-States. Our goal is, with the help of Nic, to rid the world of Irradiation, once and for all. We will fight any who want to create a second Irradiated Winter.”

The combined words of all of them had created chaos within the senators. They were torn on who to believe. Ruby smiled as she watched the chaos.

“Order!” The Shogun stood up as he shouted, forcing the senate to quiet down.

“How do they plan on riding the world of Irradiation?” One senator called out the most important question.

Nic motioned for the Shogun to wait as he turned to look at the Senator who had yelled the question. “I understand your skepticism. To answer your question, I have the ability to absorb Irradiation and purify it within my own body.”

“Can you show us?”

Before Nic could respond, the Shogun spoke up instead. “He has already shown you. How do you all think I was able to be here today? I was almost dead from Irradiation Sickness when Nic came to meet me privately. He only wanted to inform me that he was within my countries borders, but when he saw how sick I was, he absorbed the Irradiation within me and purified it before my very eyes.” The Shogun held up a bare arm, showing no signs of Irradiation were left on it. “If you believe me to be your leader, then believe me in saying that this young man is telling the truth.”

With the Shogun’s support for them, Nic felt like they had gained Kyoku’s government’s backing.

They had beaten Ruby at her own game.

So why did it feel wrong?

“So it comes to this, then.” Ruby spoke up from her side. “If this is the case, then I formally announce that I am going to war with Kyoku. And the war shall end here and now with the deaths of everyone in this room. Luna.”

Speaking her guardian’s name, Ruby smiled a devil's smile.

Nic reached for one of the swords on his back, only to have his hand stopped by a vine. His legs were similarly caught.

Everyone’s were.

Luna was sitting in her chair, one hand on the hilt of the Katana strapped to her back, while the other was full of vines. Vines that crawled along every surface, trapping every person where they were,

Everyone except for Yuuki.

“Yuuki, join us. You can still be saved.” Luna spoke softly to her daughter, only to be met with a scorned stare.

“You were always with her, weren’t you?” Yuuki spat at her mother in disgust.

“You were always headstrong, just like your father. There is something keeping you over there. Maybe someone.” Luna looked at Sarman, a glint in her eyes. “If I had to hazard a guess, it would be you, young man. So tell me, what are you to my daughter?”

Sarman stayed quiet. It was his form of defiance against the woman holding him hostage.

Nic squirmed against the vines, trying to break free, only to find them getting tighter and tighter.

“Aria, can’t you use Aerial to free us?” Nic whispered to the woman next to him.

“I can’t.” Her voice was stricken with grief.

“What?”

“Aerial won’t let me. They’re saying that this is the agreement made with Salamander last night. We can’t get involved.”

Every warning bell was going off in Nic’s head.

Why couldn’t they get involved?

What did Sarman know about this moment?

Had he learned something from M’kara?

Had Salamander?

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to say anything. I know it’s you.” Luna’s words snapped Nic’s attention back to what was going on. “I guess this is goodbye.”

A vine snaked out in an instant.

Nic only heard a soft grunt.

Then came the sound of something dripping onto the floor.

Nic looked over at his friend.

The vine had stabbed itself through Sarman’s abdomen.

“Sarman!”

Nic wasn’t the only one to shout his friend’s name. Aria, Yuuki, and Nobu all did as well.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be dead soon. That vine was coated in the poison of Azure Lilies. A rare poison with no cure in the entire world.”

Sarman’s warning from earlier that day echoed in Nic’s head. The poison that had killed Crystal. The poison that had killed Sarman’s mother. This was it.

Azure Lilies.

“AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A scream of agony was the last thing that Nic heard before the world froze.