The flaming torches lining the walls of the never-ending corridor offer Aine no warmth as each step feels like it is leading her closer to the cold, unfeeling hands of Death. Perhaps this really was Min Chinsun and Preacher Elisedd's elaborate plan to be rid of her, and she'd foolishly complied.

The stone architecture begins to widen, and Aine prepares for the worst, only to set her sights on a grand, well-lit chamber. She withholds a gasp at its magnificence, just in case an assassin is waiting in the shadows ready to pounce. Cautiously entering further to get a closer look, Aine notices the looming statues circling the chamber are of each Kingdom's sigils. Intricately carved and posed as if fiercely protecting something.

Why would Vulstis have statues of any sigil other than their fox?

She studies the statue closest to her, the stag of Nalentus, antlers pointed and rutting, nostrils flared in its defence of a...golden trowel? Furrowing her eyebrows at why this odd combination seems somewhat familiar, Aine moves on to survey the roaring lion of Belltoria and its guard of a ruby-encrusted sword. Then, she is met with the icy cold glare of Verectias's snow leopard and its vigil over a silver pocket watch. Vulstis's fox snarls warningly at her as she glances at the emerald ring it fortifies. Finally, she stops before the proud owl of Nocriam. Its talons are bared menacingly, wings extended to their fullest and large eyes watching beadily, daring her to steal...nothing? The owl of Nocriam guards nothing.

Aine's eyes dart between the statues. The Fabled Five. The stupid children's story she hates. If there was ever any truth Mr Verectias had written in that story, it was without a doubt about the founders' artefacts. He was far too specific about them. She just didn't know the Kingdom of Vulstis took their care of them, and their job as the Protector of the Past, this seriously. But obviously, not seriously enough, because...

"Preacher Nocriam's necklace is missing." Aine deducts aloud, staring at the statue of the owl.

"Your surprise at this revelation is quite insulting."

Aine whips around, and swears that this time, it really is the Grim Reaper that has come for her. Instead, she comes face to face with the stone-cold King Min Yoongi. In the light of the chamber, only the scarred half of his face is illuminated, and with the lack of human emotion surfacing upon his pale skin, he may as well be cosplaying as Death himself.

"Aine Sampson, will you ever cease to appear before me?" he asks, but the connotations of his words are much more sinister. He stands before her, the destroyer of all her happiness, cause of all her trouble, creature of darkness cloaked from head to toe in shadow and nonchalance, and he dares to ask her why she is always in his way?

"Your mother and Preacher Elisedd sent me here because they believe me innocent before the eyes of the Gods." Aine pleads her case, staring this shell of a man right in the eyes.

King Min sighs, sending a shiver down Aine's spine.

"You expect me to believe that? Are you sure you're not down here to steal something else?" King Min interrogates skeptically, stepping forward so that more of his face is illuminated. His pointed gold and emerald crown glitters, another reminder of how dangerously powerful this man is.

"I didn't know this place existed until five minutes ago! If you're insisting that me or my father stole Preacher Nocriam's necklace, then you're sorely mistaken! Are you that miserable that you just blame everything on the Sampson family?" Aine counters, the invisible weight of the heir of Nocriam's crown upon her head spurring her on.

The comment seems to hit home and King Min retracts slightly. "I'm a Protector of the Past. I am not allowed to feel. So, pray tell, how would you fair if you had to live every day in the past as I do?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Aine thinks for a moment. If she had to live every day in the past, she would probably be as cold as King Min, too. But that does not explain his unfathomable hatred towards her and her father.

"I would probably be as cold as you are. That does not explain why you go after my father and I like you do, though. Why start the war with Nocriam? Why use the Parish of Patrinis to steal me away from my father and Nocriam?" Aine levels.

"Your father started the war when he stole Preacher Nocriam's necklace! I was merely trying to get it back as it is my duty as the Protector of the Past. But, the Sampsons, ever-so-righteous, fought back and acted like I was the villain. My advisor read about the Celtic Goddess Aine and believed that would be a good enough excuse to convince the Parish of Patrinis to get you away from your father- you are his biggest weakness." King Min monologues, his eyes never leaving Aine's.

"So you never believed I was..." Aine's eyes widen, "why are you telling me this?"

"Because I believe you." King Min states simply.

"What?" Aine says incredulously.

King Min hands Aine a piece of paper. Quickly recognising the official seal of Verectias on it, she scrambles to unfold it.

'Dear King Min Yoongi of Kingdom Vulstis,

The invasion of Coimeach Pass by King Caylus Sampson and Nocriam is a danger to Patrinis's future. If you dare to engage, you will endanger even more lives. King Caylus Sampson has, too, been warned and advised to retreat. If he does not heed this advice, he will be dealt with by the Knights of Subsequence.

From mountain to forest, sea to sky, past to present to future, the lands of Patrinis will prevail.

King Park Jimin of Kingdom Verectias.'

Aine rubs her temples. "You were testing me?"

"Yes. I had be sure you weren't our rat. This just arrived, express, so my mother and Preacher Elisedd have no idea about it. Since your story aligns with King Jimin's, I know you're not lying." King Min confirms, playfully revelling in Aine's stress.

Aine huffs. "At least this means my father will back off now. Who is the rat, then? Did they steal Preacher Nocriam's necklace?"

King Min's expression goes from nonchalant to a frown. "Advisor Hwang, and most likely. I didn't want to believe it as it means one man has played the entire Kingdom of Vulstis like a fool."

"That creep?! He's played not just Vulstis, but Nocriam, too. He was probably the one who told my father it was okay to invade Coimeach Pass." Aine states, biting her lip. Is her father okay under the now looming threat of King Jimin and his Knights of Subsequence?

"So, Aine Sampson, will you cease appearing in front of me as an enemy from now on?" King Min proposes, rewording his earlier threat. He still looks like the same creature of darkness as before, except now Aine had unearthed the slightest sprinklings of humanity under layers upon layers of pale, impenetrable skin.

"How? I am the Sun, and you are the Moon; if one of us rises, the other must fall." Aine states smugly, crossing her arms.

It couldn't be. Is that the ghost of a smile gracing King Min's lips?

"Maybe so, but the fate of Patrinis rests upon us becoming allies." King Min reasons, dangling King Jimin's letter in front of Aine's eyes.

"Fine, but a brand new bow and arrow better be a part of this alliance." Aine demands, raising an expectant eyebrow.

King Min tsks, leading the way up a set of stairs she had not noticed before.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Coimeach Pass

"Your Grace, you have had a response from Sir Davys."

"Thank you, Mr Hwang," says King Caylus curtly, "anything from Verectias Palace?"

The scruffy-haired ex-advisor puts on his familiar fake smile, sneakily stuffing King Jimin's warning letter into the folds of his brown robes to be discarded later. "No, Your Grace. It seems I was right- my allowance of this as an advisor to the King of Vulstis seems to be keeping the King of Verectias at bay. It masks it as a peaceful entry."

King Caylus nods slowly before opening Sir Davys's letter.

'Caylus,

The King suspects Aine is behind all of this. He is angry. I don't think she has long left. Come quickly, old friend.

Caim.'

King Caylus is a reasonable man, but much like his daughter, when it comes to family, emotion clouds his judgement.

"Arm the men, we are going to Vulstis Keep to get my daughter back!" King Caylus bellows, his army rallying behind him.

Hwang smiles once again, but this time it is menacingly sincere. He wouldn't be joining them on their venture to Vulstis Keep, instead, he'd be retreating back to the shadows of the northern Nnidhal District. He's planted the seeds for Patrinis's destruction, and Caylus Sampson would be the one to nurture them.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼