Chapter VIII

After some further deliberation among the Masters of Ijiria in regards to the upcoming assault on Ankalla, a more concrete plan was formulated, allowing them to properly begin setting the pieces in place. As decided at the initial meeting, Nyx and Sinna would handle Kloras Glaus, and very recently, they opted to send Nigreos and Album south to Noctalus in order to inform Lord Nogara and Lady Ilum of what they intended to do, as well as what was expected of the NightLight in regards to their decoy. The idea was to have Noctalus supply a handful of soldiers to further disguise the group they were sending towards Krato, hoping to draw the Kosah-Rei’s attention and convince them that they were more interested in taming the southern wildlands than paying any attention to Harunhein. Noctalus would help to increase Vesh and Tali’s complacency, making sure that they wouldn’t expect an Ijirian assault on Ankalla until it was too late to do anything about it. Meanwhile, arrangements were being made to hire a handful of the most trusted independent mages in Erika, with Edwar Grunly using his connections within the medical guilds to recruit healers for the mission. Seiras Ka was the only Master not in charge of any important jobs, instead merely remaining on hand in the Citadel.

As he mentally ran through the various assignments that were given to the Masters of Ijiria, Nakoma Taurus couldn’t help smiling, deciding that he almost certainly had the easiest job to do, not counting Seiras lacking one. He and Koroha were ordered to head down into the city and to make their way to the offices of the Korrei-Tarr, which were the elite magical soldiers of Erika who specialized in combining magecraft with physical combat. They were highly regarded as the most powerful warriors Erika had to offer aside from the Masters themselves. Typically, the Korrei-Tarr would be headed by a sibling of the monarch, but given that Markreas was the only child of his generation, the leadership fell to Toranei once the King’s uncle passed from age. However, Toranei rarely did her duties as Captain, and that was primarily due to the fact that the Vice-Captain was a member of Markreas’s royal team and Nakoma’s roommate back at the Academy. Toranei wholeheartedly trusted him, and more-or-less made him the de facto Captain in her place.

But if any of us were to make a request of him, he would bend over backwards to see it done. Therefore…I think all three of us going to this meeting is a bit overkill…

The Master of Fire sighed, glancing first at Koroha sitting across from him in their large, fancy carriage, then to Queen Toranei herself, positioned beside Nakoma and perhaps a little close for his liking. He had been vehemently opposed to bringing Toranei with them and had insisted that he and Koroha could handle it, but the Queen outright refused, insisting that her presence wouldn’t hurt and that she wanted the chance to have the four of them back in one room again—an occasion that was quite rare these days. At the very least, she agreed to wear a cloak with the cowl pulled low to prevent any Kosah-Rei spies from seeing the Queen out in the streets, and since he couldn’t very well order her to remain behind, Nakoma shut his mouth and made his displeasure known through occasional grunts of dissatisfaction.

A part of him considered trying to spark up a conversation in the otherwise dead silent carriage, but he also wasn’t particularly sure what to say. It had been ages since he’d dragged himself down to the offices to see their old friend, and he knew that Toranei had only spoken with him once or twice since her coronation as Queen of Ijiria—a position that made it quite hard to find time to leave the Citadel for personal reasons. However, Nakoma knew that, even though she tried to hide it, Koroha often slipped out of the tower and met with him for dinner at least once or twice a month, and based on the uncharacteristically cheerful smile on her face as she gazed through the window of the carriage, she was more than excited to see him again.

“So, Koro, how’s Alharo doing these days?” Nakoma inquired, finding a sudden opportunity to break the silence.

Koroha snapped out of her thoughts, turning towards Nakoma with a faked expression of confusion. “Whatever do you mean? Why would I have any idea how Alharo is doing? I’m as busy as the rest of you, so I’ve not had time to see him in the last couple of months. However, if I had to guess, I’d say he’s quite well and that he’s happy at his job. Leading the Korrei-Tarr is fulfilling for him, though he certainly misses you two—er, us, I mean.”

Koroha shot them a wink, for she was well aware that Toranei and Nakoma knew all about her evening excursions to the city, but there was an unspoken agreement among them that they would never put it to words. After all, much like Nakoma and Toranei, Koroha and Alharo had loved each other back at the Academy, but even at school, they never allowed their relationship to progress past mere friends. They always went on about how their studies were important to them, and how royal team duties already took up so much of their time. Dating would only cramp their schedules further, and unfortunately, that didn’t change upon graduation. Koroha was selected as the Apprentice of Wind two years later and Alharo joined the Korrei-Tarr, filling their schedules even more. Time went by, Alharo fell in love with a fellow member of the Korrei-Tarr and eventually married her. These days, he had two sons and a daughter and was supposedly quite happy.

Their secret dinners are almost assuredly secret only on Koro’s half… To Alharo, I don’t imagine there’s any deeper meaning to meeting her aside from catching up with an old school friend. To Koro, well, I think it’s the highlight of her months.

Nakoma gazed at his friend’s warm smile, only to feel a painful stabbing of guilt in his chest as he saw in her what he knew he was supposed to be. Koroha loved Alharo, but she would never be caught dead stepping between him and his wife. She had made peace with the fact that they could never be more than friends, but Nakoma hadn’t been able to do the same. Even when Toranei and Markreas were married, he still selfishly sought to get in the way—something Toranei had encouraged. Even now, they met up in the middle of the night every once in a while, unbeknownst to Markreas, Koroha, or anybody else in that Citadel—a vile secret shared only by them.

As the carriage rolled to a stop just outside the gates of the Korrei-Tarr headquarters, the three mages waited for the door to be opened before stepping out onto the sidewalk in the mid-afternoon sun. Nakoma paused for a few seconds to scan the road, wanting to see if anybody was paying them unwanted attention, but there were few people around at that hour, with most being stuck inside the many three-story office buildings that lined this particular street. The Master of Fire then checked with Koroha, whose eyes could see through distortion magic no matter how powerful, and was only satisfied when she gave a nod to indicate they were in the clear. The Master of Wind then took the lead, pushing aside the black iron gate separating the inner courtyard from the sidewalk and leading them down a path that cut across a bright green law and headed towards the closed front doors of the headquarters.

She pushed them open, stepping into a rather dreary lobby containing a small area for visitors to sit and wait, a few windows that let in some natural light, and walls that were lacking in decorations aside from the bleak gray wallpaper that looked like it had been put there decades ago. Directly ahead of them was a large oak desk at which sat a young man watching them curiously, his mouth opening to greet them, only for him to get cut off when Koroha got right to business.

“Good afternoon. I have an appointment with Vice-Captain Bann. Can you tell him Koro and her associates are here?”

Recognition flickered across his eyes, though not because he recognized her as the Master of Wind, but more likely because Alharo had told him in advance to admit anybody by that name.

“Right, yes, he’s expecting you,” the young man told them. “His office is on the third floor, just around the left-hand corner from the lifts, which are down the hall and to the right from here. Are you proficient with wind magic or shall I call a mage?”

Koroha smirked to herself, then replied, “I’d say I’m proficient enough. Thank you.”

She then took Nakoma and the still-cloaked Toranei towards the indicated corridor before following the young man’s directions to Alharo’s office. Once they were on the doorstep, Koroha knocked, awaited a response, then entered the room. The second the door was safely closed behind them, Toranei lowered her cowl and all three of them took in the pleasant sight of their old friend, Alharo Bann, sitting behind his large brown desk.

The man was in his late forties these days, but he hardly looked a day over thirty with his charismatic grin, bright green eyes, and well-tended brown mustache and beard. His hair was cut so short he appeared bald from certain angles, and he had a powerful build befitting a man who headed one of the most powerful organizations of warriors in the Empire. Currently, he only wore the formal work attire of a gold velvet button-up shirt, dark green overcoat containing a handful of his medals, and peaked officer’s cap, but should he ever don his armor, he would become far more menacing than he already was.

Although, it is remarkable how he can go from terrifying to warm with just one simple smile, Nakoma remarked as he gazed at his old friend’s beaming features.

Alharo chuckled, rising to his feet and glancing first at Koroha before his eyes shifted to Nakoma and Toranei. “Well, well,” he began in his deep, booming voice. “So the two of you finally remembered I existed, have you? What do you have to say for yourselves, Tora, Nakoma? It’s been years and your dear old friend has grown lonely without you! At least Koro has the decency to make time for me! I’m wounded!”

Nakoma chuckled, noticing Koroha tense a bit as her evening excursions were so bluntly referred to, while Toranei just cocked an eyebrow at the large man.

“Please, give me a break, Alharo. I’m the Queen of this country and as such, it is not so simple for me to go lurking out in the streets so late at night. I have duties, I have expectations. Nakoma, on the other hand, has no such excuse, and therefore, you may rip into him as you see fit.”

“H-hey,” Nakoma grunted. “Whose side are you supposed to be on?”

Toranei shrugged. “My own, I suppose.”

“Well, Nakoma?” Alharo was quick to take Toranei’s suggestion to heart as he now turned his accusatory gaze straight for the Master of Fire. “You have the same duties as Koro, so why haven’t you come to visit me? My wife and kids would love to meet the famous Nakoma Taurus, after all! But you can’t even be bothered to join me for a mere dinner?!”

Nakoma chuckled with exasperation then motioned towards the office around them. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“Yes! For business!” Alharo retorted with a fake pout. “Are you telling me you only have need of me when it benefits you?! Come now, we were roommates once—the best of friends! Why must you treat me like this? I am frail of heart, you know?”

“You have my sincerest of apologies,” the Master of Fire said with a monotone voice. “We can work something into my schedule later, but for now, we do have business with you, old friend. And it’s business I think you’ll be very interested in hearing about.”

Giving an exaggerated scoff, the Vice-Captain plopped himself back down into his chair and folded his arms over his broad chest. “Yes, I’d deduced as much already given that Queen Toranei stands before me. And so long as you promise to take me out for dinner in the near future, I suppose I can hear you out.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Wait, I’m paying now?”

“Of course you are! It’s only fair given how you’ve treated me!” Alharo’s disappointed huff then shifted rapidly into an intrigued smirk as he eyed the three mages standing before him. “Anyway, what’s this about? I’ve been in terrible suspense for the last day, so out with it! For what purpose do you need the Korrei-Tarr?”

With the teasing finished and their business beginning, Koroha stood up straighter and got right to the point. “We’ve located the Kosah-Rei, Alharo—all six of them, and we intend to lead an assault on their base. It’ll consist of all eight Masters, Markreas, Toranei, Ilirianna, and a hand-picked battalion of your soldiers.”

As he had said, Alharo was clearly expecting something big, but the widening of his eyes told Nakoma that it was still far bigger than he expected. From there, Koroha swiftly got about telling him of her infiltration of the northern fortress, Ankalla, then proceeded to inform him of King Markreas’s plan to overcome any potential trap through sheer force, power, and number. Alharo listened intently, his earlier flippant demeanor now fully replaced by that of the Vice-Captain as he took in their decoy force for the south, the Distortion Generators, and their certainty that they could gain the permission of Kloras Glaus and the Council of Elders via Rennigan. Once Koroha had finished and he was up to speed, Alharo leaned back in his chair and scratched at his beard.

“I can see why you’d be worried, Nakoma,” he said with a furrowed brow, shooting the Master of Fire a concerned expression. “I do not like that the whistleblower remains anonymous, but I also can’t disagree with Markreas that this is a ridiculously important opportunity. Koro, did you check the leaders for biological magic? Are you certain these weren’t Sartella’s decoys?”

Koroha nodded. “Yes, I did. Obviously, Sartella herself was filled with it, so it’s possible the changeling wasn’t who she seemed to be, but the other five and Keskivaara were, without a doubt, themselves.”

“Shit… Then…I can’t fathom what they’re planning unless the whistleblower really did sell them out…” Alharo grimaced. “And you’re joining the fight, Tora? With Markreas?”

“I am,” the Queen confirmed. “Like we said, Markreas wants as much power at Ankalla as he can manage. That’s why the two of us and our daughter are going to be joining the force, leaving the Citadel under Anna’s leadership while we’re gone.”

Alharo narrowed his eyes. “And he’s not concerned that there’s any way the Kosah-Rei could take advantage of so many significant targets in one place? I mean, before the Battle of Stellareid, I would never even entertain the idea that such a force could have even one fatality, but they managed to slaughter two Noctalus Masters, a royal team member, two Cartigans, and even Acostav’s son—all the while not a single one of them was killed or captured, not even the one we already had locked away. If we somehow lose…” He paused and licked his lips. “Then Ijiria as we know it is over.”

Nakoma was internally disgusted with how much he agreed with Alharo’s worries. Like his old friend, he didn’t want to encourage the idea that such a group could ever fail with most of the cards stacked in their favor, but the Kosah-Rei constantly betrayed expectations and turned things against the Citadel. Alharo was right about the casualties of Stellareid, and though circumstances were different this time, the days before that horrific tragedy certainly gave them a false sense of confidence as well.

“We’re not playing on their terms this time,” Toranei stated, but Alharo shook his head.

“That’s only if this whistleblower isn’t drawing us out.”

“Even if they are, there’s only so much they can do to us,” the Queen retorted. “The Iijis are far too trained in fire magic to ever be marked by them and not notice, as is Nakoma. The other Masters are strong, and we know what to look out for since Liri was able to identify the ring they use to activate them. Anybody with such a ring will be executed at once, so not even Sartella’s magic can allow them to approach us in disguise the way we imagine they did to Viiro and Acostav. Things are different this time, and we’re going to capitalize on it. So, are you willing to supply us with the soldiers we need?”

Alharo sighed. “Look, Tora, so long as you’ve thought it through, I trust you. Besides, you’re my boss, aren’t ya? You can order me to do what you want, so of course I’ll supply you with whatever you need. On top of that, I’ll do you one better…”

The man then smirked smugly.

“I’ll join the assault myself.”

***

Nakoma was thrown off by Alharo’s suggestion to join given how much he seemed to oppose the idea of potentially falling into yet another trap laid by the Kosah-Rei, but at the same time, even though Nakoma himself felt a very similar way, there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d want to be left out of it either. Perhaps that was what Alharo thought, for whether it was dangerous or not, he wanted to witness it with his own eyes and have some semblance of control rather than remain on the sidelines. Therefore, he told them he would recruit his best and most trusted soldiers, ensure there was no biological foul play among them, and have them ready to depart on the indicated day. Then, as much as it would have been nice to properly catch up with him, the three of them were forced to depart in order to tend to their other duties. Nakoma and Koroha, especially, needed to figure out how much they were telling their apprentices since they would be taking charge of things at the Citadel in their stead.

The ride back to the tower was held in the same silence as before, and by the time they arrived at the Citadel, they had decided that Toranei would inform her husband of Alharo’s response while Nakoma and Koroha would seek out their apprentices, Plaseia and Triston. Once they had crossed the courtyard and were in the tower itself, they made their way to the nearest lift and only then did Toranei lower her cowl again, content that there was no longer an opportunity for Kosah-Rei spies to identify her.

She let out a huff, straightening her emerald green bangs and running a hand down her braid to make sure she was presentable. Nakoma absently watched her, always enraptured by the beauty and grace she had in even the most benign of actions, before quickly snapping himself out of it. The last thing he needed was Koroha suspecting anything, if she didn’t already. He was relatively confident that the Master of Wind had no idea about their secret relationship, but he couldn’t deny that she was observant and clever, so one wrong move could raise her suspicions. Luckily, a glance Koroha’s way proved that she was too distracted by her own thoughts to pay any attention to where his eyes wandered. Nakoma let out a sigh of relief, one that lasted a mere second before Koroha brought them to a stop on the residential floor, where Ilirianna Iiji was waiting.

It was like time froze for a second as the Master of Fire made eye contact with his daughter, whose expression morphed into one of anger, disgust, and hatred—emotions she had been expressing towards him for the last few years now. No longer did he have the opportunity to teach her anything or to help her spar, nor did she ever really look at him anymore. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time they spoke lightheartedly, which brought him so much pain he could hardly express it. Despite the illegal nature of her conception, Nakoma loved her the way any father would love his daughter. He sought to protect her, to care for her, to help her thrive in the world, but he was no longer permitted to do so for reasons he could not even discern.

It’s been since she returned from Stellareid… I can still remember that moment when I met her in the gardens downstairs and she looked at me with such anger. I’m not sure what I did, and for a while, I wondered if maybe she somehow learned the truth about who she was, but that’s just impossible. Tora and I are the only ones who know, so there’s nobody in Stellareid or Noctalus that could have revealed it… I’m at a loss…

His only conclusion was that she blamed them for the defeat in Stellareid. After all, she had made it perfectly clear before her departure that she wanted to align with Keskivaara and prevent his fall to the Kosah-Rei. He suspected she blamed their failure to work with him for the carnage she experienced, but even that answer didn’t really add up.

I mean, Markreas was the biggest opponent of that stance, and she still treats him with the same respect. So what the hell did I do?

“Ah, Liri,” Toranei greeted curtly. “Where are you off to?”

Ilirianna glanced away. “That’s not your business, now is it.” Her tone was venomous as she already made to turn around. “I’ll take the next lift.”

However, before Ilirianna could so much as step in the opposite direction, Toranei’s hand shot out, grabbing her by her forearm and yanking her backwards with blatant anger as she snapped, “You need to learn some respect, young lady! It’s one thing to treat your mother in such a way while we’re in private, and another to do so in the presence of the Masters. Learn your place, Ilirianna.”

In the past, their daughter would have made her displeasure known but would have still abided by courtesy as she apologized and obeyed. These days, that was never how it unfolded. Instead, she shook her mother off and glared at her with a dark smile.

“Make me.”

It was an undisguised dare, and based on the glimmer in her eyes, Nakoma got a bad feeling that she wanted Toranei to challenge her. It was a dare that the Queen would take easily, if only to protect her image and pride in the presence of her friends, so wanting to diffuse the situation, the Master of Fire was swift to cut in.

“Liri,” he began, barely holding back his flinch when she turned her glare on him. “Why don’t you join me for dinner tonight in the entertainment levels? I think it’s long past the time we had a conversation, yes? And with everything coming up, what better time is there than now?”

“N—”

“Yes, we should do that,” Toranei interrupted before her daughter could decline. “I’ll join as well, so we will see you tonight at the Niras Lounge. Be there, Liri.”

Ilirianna snorted, said nothing, then turned on her heel and walked back the way she had come, almost certainly to seek out a different lift. Nakoma and Toranei watched her go, the latter’s cold and stern expression melting into sadness once she no longer needed to wear the face of a mother. Her shoulders slumped, and she slowly shook her head.

“What did I do to her, Nakoma?” she uttered in a defeated tone. “What changed?”

He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know… I wish I did, but…I don’t…”

Nakoma then glanced over his shoulder, knowing that Koroha was still standing awkwardly on the lift, clearly uncertain of what she should say or do after witnessing an interaction she wasn’t supposed to see. However, she was quick to hop off the lift and step aside when Toranei murmured that she was leaving, and it was only once the Queen had ascended out of sight that the Master of Wind turned an inquisitive gaze Nakoma’s way.

“I’m not going to pry,” she said softly, “but you really have no idea what’s wrong with her?”

Nakoma clenched his teeth. “I don’t. I honestly don’t. I mean, does she treat you like this?”

“I’ve never really talked with her much, so I couldn’t say if there’s been a difference,” Koroha answered. “But I don’t think anything’s changed between us nor have I observed a shift in her attitude towards the others. As far as I can tell, she’s turned on the two of you, and only the two of you.”

I know… That’s what worries me, but…there’s just no way she found out. It’s impossible…right?

“Do you think it’s obvious to anybody else?” he inquired, to which she confidently responded,

“Oh yes… I think it’s obvious to anyone who's been in the same room as you three even once over the last couple of years. Obviously I doubt any of the other Masters would question you about it, but there have been whispers and speculation as to the cause of her change in attitude… That being said, I think the only person who knows the truth is Princess Ilirianna herself…” Koroha then laughed wryly. “And perhaps Caeli… Honestly, if you want answers, you might have been better off inviting him to dinner…”

Nakoma inadvertently cringed at the vile suggestion. “I’d rather eat shit, I think.”

“As would I, but it’s still an option.” The Master of Wind then turned and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before fixing him with one of her rare smiles. “Anyway, I should get going, but if I don’t see you again before tonight, good luck with dinner. Take care, Nakoma.”

“Yeah, you, too, Koro…” The man sighed with resignation as he watched his friend depart, suddenly finding himself wishing he wouldn’t have to attend the meal despite having been the one to suggest it. “Good luck, huh? Well, I’ll certainly need it…”