BEGIN MOVEMENT 4: DOWNFALL
All good things come to an end. You know that, don’t you?
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On the road back to the Capital, Alisson was consumed with thoughts of Celis. Being away from her for so long led his mind to ramble to itself. He wondered what she would think of Dascha and Firo.
She would probably be able to smell Dascha’s scent all over him, and briefly wondered if he ought to bathe before seeing her just in case. He could already picture her being jealous over Dascha’s presence and clingy nature. The same could be said for Firo – Though she was less a sentient being and more a tool, a talking suit of armor in effect, but it would probably take Celis some time to fully appreciate what Firo even was.
He wondered if into the future, Firo could duplicate itself and Celis could have her own Firo. He would need to inquire further on the specifics, as there seemed to be some requirement for specialized resources before a slime could grow or reproduce.
He wrangled his mind onto the matters at hand – What to do with Firo and Dascha within the city? He was assured by Firo that no one would be able to sense or detect her presence on him, so he could forget about her. Alisson thought it over and decided to go public with Dascha, and simply tell the truth – That she was a survivor of Sabasa that needed refuge for the time being. It just so happens that the traumatized Sabasa princess was fully capable of following Alisson’s orders and fighting on his behalf, and would join him on further exploits.
All and all, Alisson was quite happy with himself when he entered the city proper. He returned mounts and then sought to report to Sidonia, but firstly, he stopped at the Nuam Keep.
“Stay here, Dascha. Don’t make a ruckus.”
Dascha bobbed her head subserviently.
He briefly informed the servants about her and told her to stay in his room for the most part. He asked where Ashlynde, Marenix, and Celis were, not immediately seeing them anywhere in the compound. Apparently, Marenix was out of the city with Lady Salchyon on a training mission, but was slated to return later in the day. Celis and Ashlynde had been spending their time in a separate wing of the Nuam Keep and had instructed the servants to leave them be – And Alisson knew why this was. Therein, the servants hadn’t seen them very much of recent, and didn’t know their whereabouts.
Alisson was about to pay a visit to that wing when Lente stopped by.
“Ah, so it’s true, you cheat death once again.”
Alisson broke into a smile, and nodded. “What have they been saying about me?”
“That you and the whole 56th got wiped out…But I guess those rumors weren’t true.” Lente’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “Sidonia requests your presence. It sounds important.”
Alisson nodded. “I was just about to report on my own. I’ll be off, then.”
His personal matters would have to wait, ignoring a direct request from Sidonia wasn’t an option. Sidonia knew that Lente and Alisson were good friends, and since Lente spent a lot of his time in the science laboratories near the Rolaign, he was often her messenger to Alisson. It was quite informal for such important business between important individuals, but having a high level of trust among the top invited a looser, more familial way of bureaucracy.
He walked toward the Rolaign, hearing the news that later in the day, executions of some ten heretics would be held. This was a fairly common occurrence – Those branded with heresy were saved up for a few months or years, and then executed all in one go every so often. The rate of executions and subsequently the number of heretics killed had seen a dramatic uptick since Alisson had returned to Sidonia from his Freigat mission.
Like he had done so many times before, he made his way through the most important building in Sidonia, the Rolaign. It hosted many floors of varying purpose, all furnished immaculately. The carpets were colored blue like most Sidonian affiliated paraphernalia, and various bureaucrats fluttered to and fro. Finally he reached a pair of large doors which led into Sidonia’s inner sanctum, where the Lady Sidonia herself resided.
The organism that was the Sidonian Empire had its central nervous system here, its brain, its most important organ – The being that all Nekomata would sacrifice themselves to protect. The two golden guardians standing at either side of the doors parted and let Alisson enter. Within he saw the all-too familiar sight of Sidonia sitting at her little white tea table. He strode toward her and dropped to a knee with a flare of his cloak.
The room was dark as usual other than a single shaft of light that beamed down into the center where Sidonia was. Its edges were covered in shadows.
“I have returned, my Lady.”
Sidonia smiled at him, tilting her head a little. “…So it would seem.”
He looked up to her and met her eyes. “The 56th was wiped out in the tunnels underneath the sea to Sabasa. There is a beast infestation there; I fear I was only able to survive due to my experience in Freigat. Once I reached Sabasa, I found evidence that Andestine had crushed the Sabasa as a nation and as a people. They have now deployed hunter-killer teams to exterminate the Sabasa.”
He withdrew the patch of the Monolithians. “They bore this insignia, but I’ve not seen it before. I figured it was in your best interest for me to escape and report my findings rather than take unnecessary risk in attacking the Andestinian occupational forces on my own – However, I did take one offensive action in collapsing a secondary tunnel which led to Andestine proper. I assumed this would’ve been the safest option to prevent the Andestine army from having a direct route to our lands through Sabasa.”
He awaited Sidonia’s words, fairly confident that she would understand the situation he was placed in. Sidonia murmured in agreement.
“Very interesting. As always, you have performed well above expectations.”
Alisson bobbed his head. “I will pen a comprehensive report for you in the coming days as always, my Lady, but I believe there exists no present threat to the homeland or any action to take – I fear the Sabasa have already been completely wiped out, and that to take action to save them will only put our own forces at risk.”
Sidonia nodded. “Yes, my thoughts exactly.”
Alisson stared into her smiling face for a moment.
It was Sidonia who lowered the blockade in the first place to let the Sabasa be attacked – She could’ve ordered them to fight, but she opted to cede the waters. She was just as guilty as Andestine in Sabasa’s destruction.
She was also the one to haphazardly sent in the 56th to their deaths after Alisson joined them. Though he didn’t know if this was an attempt to get him killed or if it was just how she normally used the 56th.
“Although the report you have for me is very interesting, that isn’t why I called you today, Alisson.”
Alisson’s brow piqued, looking up at her.
“I value you, Alisson.” Sidonia started, setting her sights squarely on Alisson with that small smile of hers. “You’ve done so much for me and your siblings throughout your life, you’ve performed uniquely well in your ability to take the initiative and act on my behalf without requiring my orders. Which is why I wanted to bring this matter to your attention, without further disgracing your name in making it a public affair…”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
She lifted a hand and motioned with a finger for someone to come closer. “Bring her out.”
Alisson heard the roll of wheels and looked behind him, to see something coming out of the shadows. Two servants covered in deathly white apparel rolled a standing bed. Strapped to it, wearing a straitjacket with innumerable belts that restrained their body tautly, was Celis. She was blindfolded and gagged, and her hair was disheveled, but he could still recognize her.
Alisson’s eyes widened, for a moment not believing the sight. How could he have not sensed her before? It must not have been her. Alisson would’ve been able to tell if she was near. Alisson’s heart began to beat rapidly.
He spotted a line of phlegm leaking out of mouth. He didn’t think it was a fake.
“N-no…” He let slip from his mouth.
His eyes shook and his vision blurred as he looked at her. A million thoughts ran through his head. Was she compromised? What happened? Was she okay? Why was she in such a state?
Alisson could barely restrain himself. He couldn’t tear his vision away from her.
Sidonia. He had to assume that Sidonia knew everything. The gig was up. He found his hands shaking and covered in sweat.
“Alisson…” He jumped in response to Sidonia’s calling, “Don’t look so frightened. Please look at the person you’re speaking with.”
Alisson took a long moment before he finally mustered the power to look away from Celis, swallowing a knot of saliva that had formed in his mouth.
“Celistine there was found to be involved with a heretic operation.” She motioned with her hand, her movements slow and dreamlike. “She was found adjacent to a heretic, so she has undergone re-education. Rejoice, for she has been saved from heresy, Alisson.”
Alisson looked back at Celis out of the corner of his vision, his lips shaking.
“Eyes on me, Alisson.”
Alisson’s shoulders jumped and he snapped his eyes back to Sidonia.
“The heretic she was involved with will be executed, and everything about her involvement will be covered up. You can think of this as a favor for your diligence and loyalty, I wouldn’t do this for just anyone…”
Sidonia continued to smile her little smile down at Alisson. He could barely keep eye contact with her.
“You’ve been awfully quiet, Alisson. Do you understand everything I’m saying?”
Alisson opened his now suddenly dry mouth, and swallowed nothing before answering, “Yes…” He said breathlessly, “I understand, Lady, Sidonia.”
His chest heaved up and down with his words.
“Well then, cut her down.” Sidonia motioned to the servants. They withdrew knives and cut through Celis’s harnesses.
“Why…Why tie her up like that…?”
Alisson asked under his breath, not looking at Celis. He immediately regret asking the question, but Sidonia still answered,
“She was found in contempt of me, it’s for my own safety. All our safeties. She’s quite an aggressive little bundle of Regadonian blood when she gets going, but you can attest to that better than I can, can’t you?”
Alisson again lost his will and glanced back at her, to see them cutting the blindfold and gag off her face, in the process cutting her skin slightly.
“Don’t…don’t hurt her…!”
Alisson’s breath turned into a growl and his chest started to rise with rage.
“Alisson, could you be saying that traitors shouldn’t be harmed?”
Alisson’s rage subsided and he clenched his fists and teeth. “N-no, not at all. I fear this is all a lot to take in and I may be emotionally irrational, pray…pray forgive my outbursts.”
Alisson said on shaky words. The blindfold fell and he could see her eyes. He realized then why he wasn’t able to sense Celis earlier. That wasn’t Celis. She wasn’t there.
Her eyes were empty, soulless, glancing off into space without any thought or life. The gag fell and her mouth hung open as if she were a zombie.
“Let’s wake her up.”
Alisson looked back to Sidonia to ask what she meant when Alisson suddenly felt a overpowering energy burst outwards from Sidonia’s person. He was so overwhelmed by the abrupt wave of pressure that he fell back onto his rear, shielding his eyes. He swore he could’ve seen the room go dark with the light that was emitted from Sidonia. He had never seen something like it before. Was that the power of her influence? Uncapped and unrestrained?
It was over before Alisson could think further about it.
“Hello, Alisson.”
Celis was suddenly above him, looking down at him. Her eyes were still empty, but there was now movement in her face. She wore the slightest of smiles on her countenance, but her eyes and her brow remained blank. He looked into her large, empty blue eyes. There was nothing there. No matter how deep he looked in them. There was nothing there.
“Behold your new subordinate, free of heresy. A gift from me to you, Alisson.”
Sidonia spoke but Alisson didn’t pay attention.
“Celis, you’re okay?”
He got to his feet, and desperately resisted the urge to lay his hands on her and embrace her.
“Yes, Alisson.”
Was all she said. It wasn’t a monotone voice she had, it still had some sort of life, but the life that was there was artificial, implanted. It wasn’t Celis. Alisson’s eyes twitched. It took all his willpower to stand still and not lash out in any way.
“Celistine will diligently guard you and execute your orders as she always has, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, master.”
Alisson stared at Celis, and then at Sidonia. Sidonia was…the master.
“Well, Alisson?” Sidonia tilted her head.
“Y-yes…” Alisson said slowly, and laid a hand on his heart. “Thank…thank you. For this…”
He sputtered.
“Good.” Sidonia replied, apparently satisfied with his gratitude. “That’s about all I wanted to discuss, Alisson. You may be on your way.”
Alisson, still in a state of shock, bobbed his head, and turned, his bones and muscles locked and stiff. Before he reached the doors out of this abhorrent place, Sidonia once more echoed words through the chamber,
“Oh, there’s one last thing I wanted to discuss. Come hither.”
At her behest, he walked back to the center of the room, feeling Sidonia’s gaze burn at his skin while Celis shuffled alongside him. He didn’t feel her. He only saw her bobbing at the edge of his vision, like a walking corpse.
"I understand that you wished to be transferred to an army, and that you have expressed a desire to destroy Irine.” She leaned in and whispered slyly, “Let’s just save ourselves the time.”
Alisson heart felt as thought it were going to beat out of his chest.
“Effective immediately, you are no longer of the 56th. You are now General of the 7th Army, and I charge you with the destruction of the Irine Principality. Is that clear?”
Alisson was in a state of shock for a moment.
He fell to a knee out of muscle memory and laid a hand on his heart. “O-of course, My Lady. It will be done.”
“Good. Now fly.”
She shooed him away with a hand. Alisson stood on shaky and legs and walked all the way back to the entrance, fearing she would call out to him again.
“Don’t choose a foolish path, Alisson.”
Was all she said. Alisson hastened to get through the doors, and almost collapsed when they closed behind him.
He looked to Celis. She looked blankly forward at the wall. Alisson resisted his urges to embrace her and was frozen stiff for a long few minutes. He could feel the gazes of the door guards burning into his back.
There were no thoughts in his mind. His train of thought which on every occasion before would begin to formulate a course of action was completely shut down.
One thought popped into his head. He looked at Celis. Something was missing. Someone was missing.
Alisson’s eyes widened. The execution grounds. He needed to get to the execution grounds! He ran down the halls, the sun outside was falling fast – It would be time soon.
Celis shuffled along to keep pace with him wordlessly.
He was out of the Rolaign in minutes, and dashed through the street, adrenaline pumping through him. People turned and looked at Alisson, wondering what was going on.
Among the people who spotted him, one called out to him, “Oh, master! You’re back!”
He looked to see Marenix flashing a smile at him. It seemed he had just returned from his training mission with Louise.
“What’s wrong? You look pale…”
He asked, suddenly confused. Alisson’s heart sunk when he looked across Marenix’s innocent face.
“The grounds…The execution grounds…” Alisson didn’t spare him any more mind and then continued running toward one of the clearings in the city.
He eventually reached an opening of buildings, that was used as a park. A small crowd had gathered, where there was gallows set up. The one being pushed down to her knees was a familiar face. The heretic that Celis had subdued in the month prior – Odariss Fael. It seemed her time was finally up.
Her eyes were dulled and her expression was gone. She had clearly been on the receiving end of a lot of ‘interrogation’. She had no last words to say as the headsman’s axe fell. Her lifeless head rolled across the gallows, and the headsman kicked her body aside.
Alisson’s eyes widened as he saw the next heretic in line. She had long blonde hair and large, fearful red eyes. Ashylnde Chasettes. Alisson’s hand twitched for his sword.
He didn’t know what to do. Start fighting and save her? Risk everything to save Celis’s apprentice? His hands clenched and his eyes, wide with indecision, were locked on Ashylnde. They pushed her forward, and onto her knees, her hair falling over her face. She looked side to side across the crowd, like a scared dog who didn’t know what they had done wrong.
Alisson didn’t listen to the verdict or the crowd’s cheers. He sat frozen stiff. Ashlynde caught his eyes, and he saw her pleading to him. He reached for his sword, gripping it tightly. He suddenly felt a pair of hands on his sword hand, and saw Celis looking up at him with wide, empty eyes.
The headsman raised their axe.
“Wow, you run fast…” Marenix came up behind them, breathing heavily. “Didn’t know you liked watching executions, master…”
Marenix’s voice trailed when he saw who was on the gallows. Ashlynde met Marenix’s eyes, and suddenly broke into a smile. She mouthed something then.
The axe fell and her head was severed from her body.
It was a surreal few moments that Alisson observed as her head, free from her body, fell through the air. Alisson wagered that at least for a fraction of a second, she was still alive as her head fell. Her head hit the ground and rolled along with the others.
***