Janir walked on cautiously and curiously, eyeing everyone he passed; none but one acknowledged his existence. It was Rein of House Valla, the third son of Henriet, the pillars of strength and might, and the chosen heir of their house. He was giving Janir a look of contempt and disgust.
"Weakling", Rein, the boy only a year older than Janir himself, proclaimed in a murmured manner. Although it was whispered, there was no doubt that everyone in that room had heard it.
Janir's face flushed in what he could only imagine as crimson colours. He was left with no words, and when he looked up, no one, not even his own uncle, had made remarks to chastise the other for his rude and inappropriate comments. That short interaction was enough to embarrass him, ushering him to haste to his seat. There was no need for more awkward and humiliating encounters; one was more than enough.
Janir got seated beside his uncle, who was now adorned with a unique cape with the insignia of both Telram and the Magis embroidered on the lapels.
Janir picked up the cape-like robe folded neatly by his seat. He wore it to signify his attendance to the council. He felt a sense of pride, having worn the symbols of his house in front of his peers, that he almost forgot Rein's earlier comment, almost.
The others also found their seats. Janir could tell they were as impatient as he was curious about this meeting. They all knew the sooner it commenced, the faster it'll end. Janir was sure that many House leaders had better things to do than sit around and chat. But still, he was young, and he could not help but feel excitement even from the mundane.
But something was very quaint; there was one house absent. House Rothsani, the mages of Death and Plagues. From what Janir had heard from his father, their absence was common. He had also told Janir that this was due to them being reclusive people who find their powers to be a burden. How can power ever be regarded as a burden? Janir would never know.
"Now that everyone is seated, the meeting of the Twelve, under the eyes and guidance of the Holy Magis of the Tower, shall commence." A man of no distinctive feature had come in while Janir was engaged in his musings, which house was in attendance.
The man was sitting at the end of the table where the blank wall was facing. He appeared to be one of the magistrates of the Tower. He dispassionately continued his speech.
"You're all probably wondering what circumstance evoked such an urgent appeal for such a meeting." He gestured around the room with a simple wave of his hands, indicating all the families, but the way his hand shook with tremors showed his state of comfort.
"Well, to tell you the truth, there are two reasons, one most of you already know- as you were the ones who petitioned the appeal. And the other, well," the magistrate paused as if he did not quite know how to broach the subject and wanted to dance around it for a little while.
"The other," he started once more. "Well, the other is an issue that requires the utmost secrecy and attention from you all. And will need further discussions." Once again, the man danced around with his statements, and with one glance at the people in the room, anyone could tell they were growing more impatient and annoyed at the prolonged speech.
"So this is the issue I do recommend we discuss first. So, to begin-"
"Whatever this issue may be, I think it is well understood that the first issue requires precedence in this meeting." Alleah of House Groufray spoke, her mouth a stern line, and her chin lifted in a regal posture, her eyes scanning the room as did Janir's, and he was surprised to see that there were slight head nods to be found within the others in the room, intriguing Janir observed.
While most nodded in agreement, Janir found it very interesting that some faces in the room had turned grim, like a terrible secret was to be unearthed, and they did not want to be there for such repercussions of revealing said secrets. While a few seemed to relish in this with mischievous grins hidden behind their hands and one bold enough to reveal it openly, Rein.
Such a silly name, Janir sorely thought.
"Ahem, then, uh." The magistrate cleared his throat, seeming to be taken aback by the progression of the meeting thus far. He looked around the room before stopping to address Alleah, "Seeing as this matter involves, well, the Twelve, umm, I suppose one of the Twelve, I can presume that you yourself, Lady Groufray, will be the one to start the discussion?"
Alleah looked offended at the magistrate, a man who one can imagine to be a good few decades older than her. She expressed her displeasure openly as she grew from grim to wary.
"I…Cough cough.. do it!?" Alleah asked, her face incredulous, aghast at the thought.
This reaction alone was enough to pique Janir closer to the edge of his seat, his hands fisted beside him, awaiting to know what exactly this was all about until he could no longer, "Uncle", he whispered to his right.
"What is this all about?" Janir's tone had an urgency to it like no other.
Reimar looked at his nephew sternly, his mouth a thin line, and shook his head only once. It worked as it was enough to silence Janir, but only for now. But it was evident to Janir that his uncle knew what this was about, and something told him that he was not looking forward to how it would play out.
"Oh, for the sake of heavens, some of us have travelled from far and great. Any more time wasted is a day not lived!" Someone exclaimed, "Out with it now, Groufrey or who-bloody-ever, and aye be done with it." A voice, deep and smokey like an old rum barrelled for years, aging rich and potent.
It held a heavy accent from the highlands. It was a voice that held enough timbre and hoarseness that can only be from lasting through the perpetual winters of the North, and only one family was crazy enough to live in such conditions, Bhorisov of House Earrow.
They were walking gods among not only drifters but Arucanians themselves. Or at least they were built like one. Broad and stark were their features; bearded giants were what they were to the nation.
They stood at least half a man taller than most folks. They had skin as rough and thick as scales, and their bodies were built like boulders and mountains standing tall, weathering all that came to pass. They were also known for their facile tongues that spit hard truths.
"Fine," Alleah said, her eyes smouldering and cheeks flushed. "We, myself and the other members, have decided that it is due time that," she said, looking around the room before her eyes fell on the two figures seated in the House Elyseen's seats.
Then continued, her tone suggested caution rather than nervousness, "that a seat on the Twelve should be replaced with another." Alleah stated while she casually crossed her arms and stared down at them, avoiding eye contact and putting emphasis on one particular word, "Fortify our place."
Janir looked around the room, and many had averted their eyes down before looking in one direction and without an utterance of a word. Their manners implied that this had been spoken and decided for in previous and assumably also secret meetings.
There was only one thing clear to Janir, all of their eyes had fallen on House Elyseen's dignitary Cielo and his wife, Sadin.
My god, can they do this? Janir wanted to ask out loud but thought it unwise.
An audible "Ah" was soft and feminine. Sadin had a hand over her mouth while she shook her head vehemently. The shock was the only expression that was evident on their faces.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"What is the meaning of this?" Cielo's voice was low, almost like a whisper, that slipped out; it held befuddlement and, most of all, disbelief.
"Who exactly is we?" Cielo laughed out a nervous chuckle as if it was all a joke, not quite landing.
Janir also wanted to know who had put such an absurd notion as an appeal.
No one answered for what felt like an eternity. The air in the room had become heavy and cumbrous, and no one was filling it with words or anything for that matter. The silence had grown very uncomfortable for the whole group until, eventually, someone spoke.
"We as a collective believe that this-"Matthieus of House Ardir looked for the words that would come next. "Change would not only benefit the whole group, but I would like to perhaps even suggest to you as a house. You will no longer be burdened by your response-"
"How dare you all!" Sadin spoke out this time, her tone spilling like venom.
"I am of child. How can you say that this preposterous decision will benefit my husband, myself, this child, and our house?" Her hands rested atop, a small bump that would have otherwise been undetectable had it not been for the dramatic display to the crowd.
Cielo, who seemed to have finally found some of his composure, pulled his wife to his side. Lowly chiding her into calm.
"What is this all about?" he addressed the room again, his voice hinting desperation.
"Well, it is obvious, is it not? Your house lost its power a long time ago. It is only appropriate that we adjust to changes in time. And that sometimes means cutting our weak link." Rein's father sat lazily on his seat as if it were his very own throne answered.
"Weak Link?!" Sadin repeated, her voice held much malice. A swishing sound echoed throughout the room, and the air became heavier. A loud, quivering sound manifested all around, getting louder every second.
"Sadin, please calm-" someone started to say but was halted.
"The great house of Elyseen was monumental in defeating the Onhor's army, and you forget that this family helped every house get to safety during the Great War of Gods. It was this house-"
"That is precisely the point, my dear cousin. This was all then and not now, and it will never be how it once was. Without the Amulet of the Sun, they, you, and this child of yours will not have the gifts of the Gods." Sadreas of House Margiotta interrupted, her voice clipped and short as if to state widely known facts.
"We are Arucanian! How can you say we are not gifted? Do not dare to bracket us to those who drifted!" the wind circulating her body carried her words; some were as turbulent as the twisted accusations she was hearing. It was easy to imagine the betrayal she felt in that second as she hurled her words at her cousin.
"Your child, no matter how sad it may be for me to say it- will only be as great as every other Arucanian; they will not be as strong as one of the Twelve. The truly gifted," Sadreas countered. She held her ground, but there was now a violent current of winds lapping at her face and her hair like a swirling tornado from Sadin's charges.
"You, how dare you speak ill of my child- when you yourself would not have been here at this table had I chosen to. "Sadin's voice rang loudly throughout the room. "Had I chosen not to step-"
"Calm now", Cielo whispered, touching her belly as he consoled his wife. The violent wind all around eased, but not by much.
"No, of course, I meant no harm. I, we-" Sadreas waved her hand around the room to indicate the rest of the group. Perhaps she was hoping someone would take over. Her skin had changed to a dusty shade of pink when no one did.
She looked almost flustered and embarrassed as she resumed, "We do not suggest such preposterous ideals. We merely think that it is time that you, Cielo," this time she looked on towards her cousin's husband," as the head of your house, you, should step down from the Twelve for the better good of our empire."
"The nation?" this time, it wasn't the fiery Sadin who spoke but rather her quiet-natured husband.
"How can our stepping down from our position do this nation any good? And who is to replace us, who knows more than we do of every inner working of how this empire is run and should be run."
"Without the amplification of your Amulet, of Yarrak, your powers are as limited as an ordinary Arucanian. And as to who will rep- take care in your stead, well, there are a couple in the runnings, one being the royal family Belagass of the kingdom Verdga," someone answered, their tone logical and analytical.
"They have an influence on not only our kind but also the Drifters within their realm, including those of the Ardovi lands as well but also all throughout Elthralme; they can be the diplomats this faction needs so that no more blood will be shed among our people and those of other nations." Janir didn't see who spoke, as he was too shocked at the whole ordeal.
"We have been one of the pillars for over a millennia. How could you, all of you, suggest that we are the clan that will ruin the good of Ardovi, and do you also suggest it is because of us that we are plagued with war?" Cielo spat out.
"We do not think that; we only think that the fortification of our empire starts with having unity between other nations and expanding our reach, and that can all start with an alliance with the Verdga's royalty," Alleah spoke, her tone gentle to the point of careful.
"Besides, they too are considered pillars of Eltralme.' She argued further.
"You speak as if you all care how much blood is spilt and of peace in the same sentence as you speak of the Royals. They are why we are at war within our nation and with all the others, too!" Sadin's voice was icy as the room had turned. Her ever-changing emotions were altering the atmosphere, projecting every emotion outwardly.
Sadin continued her relentless assail, "And when did the mighty Ardovi ask for help, especially that of such a small nation! Pillars? Don't make me laugh." Her eyes were wide and manic while she flailed her arms out wildly, as did the cold wind within the room.
Janir held up his foreman to block the turbulent wind rising and falling.
This woman's emotions are as stable as a hurricane, Janir wanted to state out loud but ultimately kept to himself. Did these people realise that they were inside? Janir wanted to curse at them.
"Careful now, cousin, you do not want to speak of the Belagass distastefully, do you? They are our brethren descending directly from the blood of Reddark. They are the first Arucanains, after all." Sadreas seemed to have found her composure to speak.
"And especially since it is of an irony that they are only in power because of your husband's so-called House," Sadreas added, this time, her tone matching the same iciness of her counteract.
"They are COWARDS! They do not deserve to be called Arucanian, let alone be the ones who will replace us as pillars. They are mages of the dark. They are-"Sadin was shouting; she had turned hysterical at this point; she looked ready to kill. Exactly who? It was anyone's guess, but Janir would bet that her first target would be her very own cousin.
Fortunately, someone interrupted her; Janir could only imagine what would have happened if she had let loose the power surging and growing.
Anyone with enough magical knowledge and experience could tell that her core was at its peak; her energy was only waiting to be unleashed, and he could tell if she were to attack with it, there wouldn't be anyone in this room that would come out unharmed.
It was Janir's uncle who had stopped the outburst. "That is enough, Sadin," Reimar looked at her with sympathy before addressing someone more willing to listen.
"Cielo-" he started gently, then resumed, "you must understand that the empire is in turmoil; rumours and speculations are spreading that our power has diminished within Ardovi and beyond. Many countries are envious of not only our rich resources but also our special gifts from the Gods. And what they envy, they choose to have, no matter the method. You and your family must know this more than any others."
Wow, this was not what I expected for my first meeting, Janir thought as he looked at his uncle in pure disbelief, roused by the many things happening in the meeting thus far.
"That is also why we are here; it is due to another alarming factor," Reimar explained.
"Yes, that I know of it all! But you must also understand what you're all doing to my family. This not only takes away our position but also our reputation as a house. We will be ruined!" Cielo reasoned the last word was significantly emphasised.
"This will not take away what you already lost long ago." Rein, the arrogant boy, said. His face was a sneering picture.
"You were ruined hundreds of years ago when your house carelessly lost Yarrak" He added more fuel to the raging fire. "You were lucky enough that the other house had been merciful all these years."
Sadin's eyes bulged out, and veins showed at her temples. The fires that illuminated the space started to flicker uncontrollably, some dead and gone, the wind lashing out from all around her was now of icy temperatures. It was becoming close to unbearable to most.
No one said anything to defend their honour. It seemed that they had lost more than just their power but also their long-held connections.
"Shush, child! You speak on matters you know nothing of!" Cielo's face was flushed with both anger and embarrassment.
"I was invited to this meeting, same as you, although I don't particularly see your purpose." He sneered with a malicious smile curving up his lips.
"But nevertheless, to answer you, it is simple. Your ancestors lost your precious Amulet, leaving your house vulnerable and weak. You can only point the blame at yourselves for being so careless. Being one of the Twelve means proving to others that your existence on this plane means that Gods still exist and they exist in you." Rein's words bombarded down like a hailstorm; each was as hard and cold.
"Why should you reap its benefits if you can't uphold that responsibility." Rein pressed on and said in a matter-of-fact way that was hard to dispute.
Cielo and Sadin looked at the room, and Janir found himself doing the same. Each member sat still; it felt like hours had passed. The wind at Sadin's side subsided to a halt. "It seems that no amount of objection will change what was already set in stone. There is no more need for us to be here." Cielo finally spoke dejectedly.
"Husband, this cannot be?" was both a statement and a question. Sadin's face held confusion and bewilderment; she shook her head at her husband, not entirely understanding why he had stood down this fight.
"No! We will leave with our heads held high while we can do so. We will not be dragged out." He spat out.
Cielo looked amongst the faces of those who turned on him, dismay clear on his face. "But remember this day. Should you all be doomed to the same fate and lose it all, know that it started here when you chose not to unite as one and turned on House Elyseen." After Cielo made his statement, he ushered his wife, who had tears streaming down her face; they both looked grief-stricken and grey. It was easy to see that the turn of events had blindsided them.
"And heed my warning, this will come back to you all." Cielos last words rang with vengeance, regret, and a final warning, "The Belagass can not be trusted."
The room, full of people, watched as the couple quietly made their way out.
When the couple was well and out, the magistrate, who stood awkwardly, cleared his throat, "Shall we discuss the other matter?"
No one seemed to care that a family so well-regarded in society and that had stood with their own for centuries had left. Janir should not be surprised, and yet he was shocked to his core. They, indeed, were monsters in their own right.
And when the doors finally shut behind them, not a minute was wasted. Janir was once again reminded that this world was not cut out for weak people. Only the strong prevail.