Calm was restored at the battlefield, the siege having ended, if only for now. However, away from the front lines, things weren't quite as serene.
Khaexyn watched his instruments, observing even the final moments of his Colossal. Somehow, even his whole armada had fallen, which still felt in overall far too irrational. The colossal alone had the firepower to wipe the floor with several elites, its weaponry far too capable against the simplistic elemental properties of the gift, and overall vastly superior to other conventional weaponry. However, he did remember the kinds of forces that had assaulted his fortress, kidnapped his family, and murdered one if not both of their hostages.
While being also irrational, they had also been making use of their own mechanical stronghold, visibly using weaponry even he wasn't familiar with. There was as yet an unknown element to this whole situation, something directly competing with him. He had predicted they would have been left unable to deal with his assault, but they would have been the only feasible element that could have done anything about it. From his measures, considering that all four fronts of his assault had been handled at the same time, there was more than one such person behind this, but by his calculations, there couldn't be more than a score, maybe not even a dozen.
His massive direct force had been faced, and had fallen as a result. Meanwhile, none of his enemies had ever resorted to direct attacks. He thought back to the history of deaths. All attacks against his wife had been by an assassin, in fact there was belief that his parents had fallen because of an assassin. Measures of force were too predictable and too easy to deal with, that was becoming far too obvious. However, every success against him had been dealt from the shadows. If he wanted to deal with this threat, maybe it would be time to take from it's example.
He had two solutions in this mentality, and both would probably be a good move. One would take a lot more time, and still would involve some measure of force, but would be capable of no small measure of surprise. It was a project he had been working on for a while now, and it might be about time for him to personally oversee it. However, first he would have to make use of his other solution. He would need to find a way to provide his own assassin, one that was a collection of the greatest elements of his life's work, all comprised enough to sneak into their sanctuary, and bring death to them before they could react. Fortunately, he had just the proposal for such an endeavour.
Lwyn blinked awake to the faint light, finding Mhyl tending to herself with healing energies. Lwyn looked up at Mhyl, both sharing an expression that still remained exhausted. Nearby, Qheria relaxed, not looking quite as tired, but still very worn down. Thanrie was the only one of them not present. "Where's Thanrie, is..." "Don't worry, Lwyn. Thanrie is fine, she's just dealing to matters of.. politics." Lwyn relaxed again, hearing from Mhyl that things were fine. Qheria silently brought the two elf-kinds some tea, not missing how tired they both looked. She kept some for herself as well, it could only help at this point.
Lwyn sampled the tea provided to her, finding the flavour unfamiliar, but the scent memorable. It was like a sample of nostalgia, this was a tea she hadn't worked with since back at the Citadel Inn, tea she actually had never been able to try for herself. Mhyl finished with her treatment as she also set to enjoy the tea, it being a blend she had never tried before. She knew the elves took to trying other teas than humans, so that was probably why. Even in her single time in the Citadel Inn, she had never taken the opportunity to try such a thing. To her, it felt like exploring a brand new culture all over again.
Qheria however fully remembered this tea, reminding her of where she had returned to. They might have saved the day, but they had put themselves on a stage by doing so, their reputation soaring in hardly any time at all. There were rumors following the battle just how powerful the Crystalline Blossoms actually were, exactly how much power they commanded. People had already spoken of what little they had seen in the display of their actions across four battlefields, but it wasn't like the things they did were small at all. She could only imagine how dramatic her own actions would have looked to anyone who didn't know the things she did, to the kind of person she used to be before this had begun. This was much like how her mother had became a hero, just magnified several times more over.
Thanrie took this opportunity to enter, carrying a stack of clothes. "Good, you're all awake, holy F~~k things have gotten out of control. Everyone has to get changed, they are making a F~~~ing ceremony out of this." Thanrie handed out clothes for everyone quite unlike the clothes they had worn before. Mhyl however recognized the azure style right away. "What's going on? This is a formal dress of the Elniri..." More than Mhyl was used to in the past, the exact style was something closer to what she would have expected her mother to be found wearing. Qheria and Lwyn looked at what they were offered, dressed they were even less familiar with, all formal.
"So, it seems no one actually knows who the Crystalline Blossoms are, just that they have the biggest reputation in the world right now. Politics stepped in, and there are some really important people who want to take pride in where the Crystalline Blossoms fit in society. Brother even made sure I was thrown back into one of my dresses again, the most formal I ever owned." Thanrie looked down at the rose dress she wore once again, one she was very thankful she hadn't chosen when she fled initially, mostly because it would have been even worse to run around in. However, it wasn't like she had forgotten how to wear such a thing, everything was coming back to her once again. In fact, the one who had pressured her into this had actually been her eldest brother, even if it was only sent through her second brother.
Mhyl got her dress on next, not being all that unfamiliar with Elniri dresses. "Mhyl, Aelyiq sends word that your mother had personally made sure that was sent for you to wear. Something about being formal wear for the Saviour, and that you need to look the part and all that jazz. You're going to be formally presenting yourself as such, after all." Thanrie was still surprised how well Mhyl was able to handle herself in such a dress, missing the irony that she herself also held herself very well right now, if you ignored how she was speaking at the time. Everyone else was actually surprised how pretty Thanrie looked in that dress, it wasn't something they could imagine her wearing this well.
Thanrie helped Qheria with the dress, as she was drowning in the material. She had never worn something this formal before, not even in the best of occasions. She was however familiar with formal gatherings, the Shieldbearers and occasions with her mother had frequently put her into important celebrations. However, this emerald dress was still far unlike anything she had been forced to wear before, it made her most glamorous occasion look far more casual in comparison. "Qheria, you won't believe who is supporting you. The Qiciri crown had actually gathered together that dress for you, and made sure it was sent to you. It seems they want to reveal their second national hero, in all of her wonder, like you're continuing your mother's legacy." Thanrie shrugged, the Qiciri messenger involved having spoken with far more disdain directed at herself than she had used. The spite between the Qiciri and Wyxiri still had yet to go away, it seems.
Lwyn herself had still not even tried to get changed yet, staring at the dress before her in horror. It reminded her of her time back in the Fortress, her time as Yhse. Worse, while she had thus worn dresses this formal before, she still didn't know how to put one on by herself. All of her dresses had been put on with the help of her maids. Mhyl caught on to her line of thought, and stepped in to help. "Lwyn, don't worry, that dress is much like our own, you're one of us now, right?" Mhyl smiled gently, as Lwyn conceded enough to be shown how to put it on. She did however wordlessly insist on doing everything herself, not belittling Mhyl into the role of a maid again.
Lwyn looked at herself after she got the dress on, even the same violet tones as the one she wore back in the Fortress. It just wasn't the same style, and was actually even less comfortable and more frilly. "The Arch-Magus had been pressing for what to have you wear, and was thankful to see the dress you had taken back with you from the Fortress. He decided that it would be a representation of your own ability, your own personal style. Beyond that, you're actually wearing a dress that was a lot like one your mother used to wear, according to the Arch-Magus. It seems he feels it's best to finally come clean about the identity of his granddaughter, the heir of the Arch-Magus." Thanrie explained the last dress as Mhyl looked it over, herself then understanding just why this dress also seemed to have the feeling of an Elniri make to it. It probably was a customized Elniri dress, all things considered.
With everyone prepared, Thanrie guided everyone from the room. Once outside, Lwyn quickly figured out they were in the Citadel itself, somewhere. A quick glance out a passing window, she could see the Citadel Inn, far below her. She had actually never been inside the Citadel before this, none of them had. Fortunately, unlike the Fortress, the halls of the Citadel actually made sense, so Thanrie had no issues guiding them to their destination.
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Thanrie approached Ehryinae, who was standing outside the doors of the great hall itself. "Oh, you actually made it faster than we had expected. Everyone is waiting inside, with plenty to talk about as is, all things considered. The itinerary that was made had us expecting to hold out for another hour, but it might be better to not wait." Ehryinae turned to the doors before Lwyn could voice her thoughts, herself liking the idea of holding out another hour. Seeing things progress inevitably, she surrendered herself to her fate, there was nothing to do but to keep going with it. She took a moment in memory of her own promise to herself, to accept herself as both Lwyn and Yhse. That just implied that formalities like this would just become her future, as the heir of the Arch-Magus. She wouldn't be alone either, she had her friends there right beside her.
Ehryinae entered the great hall, catching the attention of everyone within. "Moving ahead of schedule, the four Crystalline Blossoms, as they have been taken to being called, have arrived. First up, hailing from Wyxir, herself fourth from the throne, lady Thanryitaeli Zyxaesteyln. Secondly, hailing from Qicir, leader of the Crystalline Blossoms, lady Qheriyaehyzeiri Aiylthhiylz. Thirdly, hailing from Elnir, declared as the Elniri Saviour, lady Mhylzhyine Ihrnaelzyhr. Finally, hailing here from the Citadel, heir to the Arch-Magus, lady Lwynitsse Duxaeyhlit." As Ehryinae called each of their names, the four girls individually walked into the rooms, all eyes on them. Whispers begun to echo through the room, as talk begun in earnest about this great reveal. A small fight broke out as arguments arose surrounding which of the Qiciri and Wyxiri should have been introduced first. Ehryinae had actually ensured to put neither above the other, by putting emphasis on Qheria's leadership, but mentioning Thanrie first.
The Arch-Magus interrupted the bustle with an augmented slam of his staff, bright lights flaring from it. "Thank you, Crystalline Blossoms, for your attendance to our gathering. I'm sure there are many questions and concerns already arisen from this great reveal. Instead of leaving things to speculation, it may be more prudent to present an announcement. Lady Lwyn's heritage extends far beyond simply being my heir. Over twenty years ago, I had taken in a young man who had parents from both the Qiciri and Wyxiri, Lord Jheiqs. He was one of the poor unfortunate nobles who had suffered the loss of his parents during the incident at the Qiciri coronation. I believe both royal families may be familiar with the noble couple involved." As the Arch-Magus paused, Thanrie noticed her parents were actually in attendance to this whole thing, not just her three brothers. Her parents were a lot older than her, so it was surprising that they had made this journey.
Both crowns were actually present, fully aware of the events that had occurred back then. That incident had been the spark that had lit their conflict ever since, for the reason of the self-same parents. This however pulled at their hearts, knowing Lwyn was the granddaughter of the couple they had cared so much about. After giving a moment for that to process, the Arch-Magus continued. "Meanwhile, Lwyn is the daughter of my own daughter. There might be some concern already, because I've never actually announced having a daughter, and I apologize for the lack of being so forthright. However, there might be some who recall Lord Jheiqs here in the Citadel, and remember that he was one who had taken in an unknown half-elf into his care, before the both of them had fallen in death due to half-elf hatred. The as yet unaccounted for half-elf that was thus Lwyn's mother was also my own daughter. After taking in and sheltering a Circle Elf, who had fled from the Elniri after failing to succeed a position as High-Seer, I had remained uncertain how to reveal this fact to the world. Recent events however have prompted a change, Lwyn having demonstrated that she deserves in full the recognition of her own birthright." The Arch-Magus paused once again.
The High-Seer listened to the translation, the facts dawning on her face as everything came together. The descendant of her long-lost friend, after several decades. The High-Seer remembered being thrown into the role of her adult friend as naught more than a young child. She had looked up to the woman as a role model and a form of guidance, almost like another mother. However, soon after being given her role, her friend had vanished without a trace. All these years later, to think that her own daughter had found the decedent of her precious friend. The solemn silence about the fate of her friend otherwise was not missed, giving birth to a half-elf, she had probably perished.. as was the fate of any elf who bore a child for a human. She would have complained about never being told about the matter, except for the fact of hearing that the same daughter had herself been killed for being a half-elf too. Clearly, this announcement was putting Lwyn in danger too, exactly what the Arch-Magus would have feared all this time.
Looking through the room, the High-Seer recalculated her assessment. That might have been true in the past, it most likely was. Even considering the visible protective impressions given from the two human nations, hearing how they were also friends of her grandparents, that might not have kept her safe from every common soul. However, being one of the Crystalline Blossoms, a legend in her own weight, that changed things. The rumors passing around how they were almost divine in their own right, immortal, there wasn't a single commoner who would have the courage or will to even make an attempt. Clearly, even their best attempts would fail, and then visit upon them and their family the wrath of the divine. As someone who could converse with the flow of nature, the things she herself had learned about the Crystalline Blossoms that the flow had deigned tell her, such assumptions might not be far from the truth.
The High-Seer's daughter, Mhyl, she knew to be the Saviour. That she had known for a long time. However, it wasn't until the past lunar cycle that she had been told that the flow of the world had been working with a chosen agent to gather the Saviour and three others. She was never directly told who the three were, not even very much about them, only that they would be part of the matter. The flow was considering dramatic changes to the world as they knew it, and the four of them would be central to the outcome it sought. She had also been informed that the time had finally arrived, marked by the passing of the chosen agent of the flow. It had been weird to converse with the flow of nature about a chosen agent who was not herself, and weirder still to never learn who it was, even after they passed away, but she had tried her best with what she was given.
Lwyn however felt that, if we were going to be so honest, she would have to keep sharing. It was only fair that everyone knew what threat they stood up against. "Thank you Arch-Magus, but I feel I should provide information it seems you might not be aware of. That night of my youth, all those years ago, neither of my parents passed away. That was only a ruse of my father to protect my mother from her assassins. Instead, he had fled and forsaken society, his thoughts buried deep in influence of the hatred that had surrounded him. The hatred from the conflict between Wyxir and Qicir, the hatred of half-elves, it had robbed him of all sense of sanity as he fled. In his insanity, it seems he had instead planned to lash out against the world that kept such hatred, to tear it down.. and the veil with it. My father no longer goes by his old name, just as I no longer go by Yhseliahysse. Lord Jheiqsylkhaexyn Duxaeyhlit has taken up a new name, Lord Khaexyn, the Fortress Lord." Lwyn was forced to pause at the sudden outbreak of her audience. Even the Arch-Magus had gone flush pale at this insight.
Lwyn picked up a cup, using it as a focus, and generated her own type of pyrotechnics. The air exploded in a whirl of darkness, the vortex stealing all sound in the room for a moment, returning the attention of the room to herself. "My mother has unfortunately since perished due to my father's insanity, his work having drained away her very essence to simply make his vision come true. She had left me with a mission to stand up against my father, to carry her will and to stop him. I intend to not let her down, to save the veil, to follow my fate in whatever way the flow of the world had revealed to her." Lwyn was practically glaring at everyone, her strength of will alone lending to her divine rumors. After everything her mother had left her, that was one thing she was certain she had to complete. Even her friends were shocked to see this level of resolve from Lwyn, even Qheria in all of her stubbornness.
Lwyn walked up to her grandfather. "Lady Sxeiva had told me that you have something that had belonged to her, a book from her own mother. She had told me that she was leaving it into my care, that I will have need of it going forward." Lwyn paused so that the Arch-Magus could compose himself. Oh, that book! He had almost forgotten all about it. "Yes, yes I can see why she might have left it to your care. I will make sure it is recovered, so that you can take it for yourself." The arch-magus had it still locked away, so that would have to wait until later. He would bring her the book after things had calmed down.
The High-Seer was again startled in her translation, elements dawning on her. The daughter of her friend, the mother of Lwyn, this was the chosen agent she had not been told about. Even as the translation was told to her, the flow of the world opened to confirm the truth, saying that it was time at last. In that moment, she also learned the nature of the book Lwyn was seeking, also a gift of the world flow, a legacy of her dear friend from long ago. Within it contained Elniri secrets, stuff that pertained to her position as High-Seer. In that knowledge, she herself had a responsibility to get involved. Not now, though, there were too many others around. She would need to find another opportunity.
The rest of the gathering passed into a diplomatic sense closer to when they had interrupted it, just with the four girls at the center of the small talk. Many others had came to the same conclusion, that there would need to be another opportunity to go over their thoughts in a more personal setting.