Chapter XVI

  The last twenty-four hours had been stressful and chaotic for Reigious Iiji, so given that he had not been present for much of what transpired that day, he could only imagine the weight upon the shoulders of his father, mother, and sister. It had just been a normal night when he ran into Nigreos up at the entrance to the royal corridors, and while he had been able to tell that something was off about the Master of Darkness, he would have never expected the turn of events that followed. The Prince led Nigreos back towards their suite, brought him to Ilirianna, then waited down in the sitting area with Piura, Toranei, and Markreas. Originally, he had been heading for the dining hall on the floor below so he could get a snack, but his gut urged him to linger around a little while longer just out of curiosity. The others didn’t seem to have any clue as to what Nigreos may have wanted, so when the Master stormed out of Ilirianna’s room and shouted out, “King Markreas, Queen Toranei! Abigail’s alive in Omaruo!”, all of them were left stunned for a few seconds.

  Ilirianna emerged moments later, and as Nigreos detailed his accusations, a fierce argument broke out between him, Ilirianna, Markreas, and Toranei. Reigious and Piura were left as mere observers to a sudden shift that could upend everything. His eldest sister was firm in her opposition, her features almost feral as she fought in defense of her actions and of Abigail. The glint in her eyes was almost unrecognizable to Reigious, and eventually, he silently departed the suite for his own peace of mind, wondering if perhaps this secret had anything to do with her distance over the last few years. It pained him, for he had been on the verge of approaching her—of trying to bridge their gap, but as things stood now, Reigious knew his prying would only make things worse between them, so he only returned to the suite much later to sleep, then departed early the next morning so he wouldn’t have to be around for the drama that would occur.

  However, he spoke with Piura briefly, learning that Ilirianna was confined to the suite and that Markreas was summoning the eight Masters for a trial that would decide the fates of Abigail, Ryokumo, and Grunly. If he was remembering correctly, that trial should have concluded not long ago, and since he knew it was his duty as the Prince to at least be aware of what had gone down, Reigious made his way to the residential quarters of the Citadel to seek out Nakoma, who had always been like an uncle to him and his siblings. He figured that his father and mother may be too busy with everything, so not wanting to bother them, Nakoma seemed like the next best option. Yet, as Reigious rounded a corner, he slowed to a stop at the sight of his father just down the hall, standing before the open doorway to Grunly’s quarters, the Master of Nature just in front of him.

  Father? And Master Grunly?

  For a moment, he pondered turning around and leaving them be, but as his brain paused to consider, Markreas either sensed him or noticed him out of the corner of his eye, for the King tilted his head and regarded his son for a moment before smiling.

  “Good evening, Reigious,” he greeted. “Come here, please.”

  Knowing he would never refuse an order from the King, Reigious obeyed, stalking down the hall to stand alongside Markreas. He quickly noted that Grunly’s eyes were red, most likely from tears, which he felt did not bode well for the old man’s fate. Nevertheless, the Master of Nature smiled up at him, an ever-present warmth in his demeanor even when he seemed at his lowest. Reigious respected Edwar Grunly with all his heart, so he truly hoped that at the very least, the old Master was not dealt too harsh of a punishment.

  “How can I help you, Father?” Reigious inquired, curious as to why Markreas would beckon him over.

  The King let out a rumbling sigh and shook his head. “I just wanted to apologize, Son. It’s been a stressful day, and I’m sorry I could not provide you with any assurances. Even I wasn’t really certain what would unfold. Are you doing alright?”

  “I suppose so,” the Prince muttered. “Or as alright as I can be. What happened at the trial? I mean…” He glanced down at Grunly, then added, “Were any punishments handed out? Master Grunly, are you doing alright?”

  The Master of Nature hung his head. “I…regret that things ended the way they did. I have retired from my position, My Prince, and your father will be seeking out my replacement. The King took mercy on me, and for that, I will always be grateful. My punishment could have been far more severe.”

  Father’s picking the next Master? Reigious internally frowned. So then, it won’t be Iris Mackia, after all. I know he strongly opposed having a Kotonorish as a Master of Ijiria, so I guess this was his way of nipping that in the bud. I wonder who’ll replace him then…

  “Well, as I was saying moments ago, I don’t blame you for what happened,” Markreas stated. “I love Ilirianna dearly, but she’s very stubborn, headstrong, and clever. She took advantage of your attachment to Abigail to manipulate you—to get who she thought was a smart pick for your successor. I’m proud of her cunning, and as such, I don’t consider it your fault that you fell victim to her. This is a more than fair means of resolving this.”

  Grunly’s features tensed, but while it was clear he was uncomfortable, Reigious struggled to identify just what he felt in response to Markreas’s words. Was he offended that the King implied he was made a fool of, or that he wasn’t smart enough to not become a puppet? Or did he disagree with that assessment? Did Grunly know full well what Ilirianna intended with her actions? Reigious couldn’t help feeling inadequate at the fact that not even he could state with any confidence what Ilirianna had been up to.

  Ha! Some brother I am. How pathetic can I get?

  “My King,” Grunly began with a trembling voice. “I understand that I am in no position to ask this of you, but please… As one of your oldest friends, I beg of you, do not punish Abi for what she’s done… Do not execute her… I couldn’t bear the thought that…such an unfair fate befell her.”

  When he was reassuring the Master, Markreas’s features held some semblance of warmth, but as he listened to Grunly’s request, they turned stern and darker. “But would execution truly be unfair for a breaker of such an ancient law? Or for a thief, a woman who stole one of the most priceless artifacts Ijiria has ever claimed?” The King snorted. “Ed, you’re right, you are in no position to ask that. I won’t guarantee her execution, but I won’t promise against it either.”

  “B-but Father…” Reigious cut in before he could think better of it, earning himself a sharp look from Markreas. “I won’t deny what you said, but… I mean, it’s Abi Reiner, right? There’s no way a person like her could have done any real damage, or committed these crimes vindictively. I’m sure some mercy could—”

  “It’s been seven years in Omaruo,” Markreas growled. “A person can change drastically in that time, so who's to say what kind of woman she is now.” As the King watched Reigious slink back with embarrassment, he took a deep breath, then muttered, “Walk with me, both of you. I’d rather not dwell on it, especially since Master Noctis should be back soon, so keep me company in that time, would you?”

  Reigious and Grunly exchanged uncertain glances, both sharing in an unspoken desire to not be around the King at that moment, but neither were about to refuse him, so they did as Markreas ordered and went for a walk.

  ***

  Ilirianna Iiji breathed in and out, slowly and calmly, wanting to make sure she didn’t panic. There was no time to change her mind, no opportunity for second thoughts, for the orders had already been given, and Ryokumo would currently be in the process of freeing Keskivaara from the dungeons. As she rose through the shaft, standing silently on the levitating silver disk, she knew that Nigreos Noctis was in Omaruo that very moment, making his way through Wilham in an effort to retrieve Abi. There was no time to further ponder the morality of what she was about to do. She did not have the luxury of preserving any sense of purity in her heart, for she was a vile person no matter what she did. She would either allow Abi to die, or actively kill Markreas and Toranei.

  She was a coward or a murderer, whether she liked it or not.

  Arriving on the golden level of the royal corridors, Ilirianna stepped off the disk and began to stalk towards their suite, the only sound in her ears being the soft patter of her feet against the emerald carpet below. She was walking with purpose, her jaw clenched tightly and her fists gripping the fabric of her pants. Her heartbeat was remaining steady, but she feared it wouldn’t stay like that for long as she approached the door to the suite and moved inside, pausing in the entryway to scan her surroundings with disappointment. The only person present was her little sister, Piura, who was sitting quietly on the couch with a book in hand and a confused gaze sent Ilirianna’s way.

  “Yes, Sister?” Piura inquired, clearly sensing the determination behind Ilirianna’s body language.

  “Where’s Mother? I need to speak with her.”

  Her sister frowned. “Throne room, I think. You know how she often goes there to clear her mind.”

  “Brilliant. Thanks, Anna.”

  “Wait, Liri!”

  Piura abruptly called after her as Ilirianna was already in the process of spinning around, but at the sound of her name, she paused and waited. “Yes?”

  “Are you okay?” Piura pressed. “I mean, I know it’s been a rough day, but…I’m here, if you need somebody to talk to. Reigious is, too. We’ve both been worried about you, and well…” The other woman took a second to gather the rest of her thoughts, leaving Ilirianna feeling impatient as the clock continued to tick. “I’m sorry things ended up like this. I can’t support your breaking of the law, but I can understand your attachment to Abigail. I remember how you spoke of her, back in the day. So yeah… I’m here, Liri.”

  Ilirianna didn’t turn around, nor could she bring herself to look Piura in the eyes as she made such an innocent and heartfelt declaration. After all, Ilirianna was about to depart that room to go and murder their mother, so how could she possibly accept her little sister’s words? The woman that Piura was concerned for was about to die, and in her place would rise a monster that a loyal Ijirian like her could never accept. These last few years, Ilirianna had been distancing herself from her half-siblings, mainly because the revelation of her father left her unsure of how to feel about them. Too many thoughts had been dominating her mind since Stellareid, and because of that, she struggled to process any of them. But now, as Ilirianna prepared to choose a path Piura and Reigious wouldn’t follow, she decided that the distance between them was preferable—would be better in the long run.

  So all she said in response was, “Thanks, Anna.”

  She closed the door, spun on her heel, and marched back towards the lift so she could take it one floor down to the throne room. Piura was shoved from her mind, placed in a deep corner where she couldn’t dwell until the deed was done and Toranei Iiji was dead. Ilirianna was ready, and as she reached the double emerald doors of the throne room, she steeled herself, slipped the Teritus onto her right ring finger, shoved that hand in the pocket of her pants, then used her left hand to push open the door and step inside the majestic golden room.

  It was exactly as Piura said.

  Her mother was sitting on her throne, her back hunched forward and her head resting against her fist, her eyes distant with thought. But as Ilirianna closed the door behind her and began walking down the length of the room, towards the two thrones on the other end, Toranei snapped back to reality, sat up straighter, and fixed Ilirianna with a neutral gaze that revealed nothing of what she thought inside.

  “Evening,” the Princess greeted curtly. “Anna said you’d be here.”

  Ilirianna’s eyes were narrowed, her lips drawn tight with barely-restrained anger as she regarded this woman. While, even now, she would have never wished death upon her could she help it, Ilirianna had long since come to loathe her. After years upon years of being looked down upon, of getting ridiculed for not being a perfect daughter, it was a surreal experience to learn Toranei’s deepest, darkest secret. It made everything she had ever said feel hollow and empty, exposing her for the hypocritical person she actually was deep inside. She sought power, and that was the only reason she married Markreas, but even having gained power, she would not make the sacrifices needed. Because of that, Ilirianna now confronted her—the bastard girl who should have never existed and who was brought up believing she was something she wasn’t. Toranei gave her a fake identity, convinced her she was a Princess, and for that, Ilirianna would never forgive her.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Liri…” Toranei murmured, her voice turning curt as she said, “You need something then? Have you come to apologize for your foul attitude? Or perhaps you have more explaining to do in regards to your breaking of the Oralian Isolation Act?”

  Ilirianna chuckled inadvertently, not finding her mother’s words amusing as she laughed anyway. “You’re so funny.”

  “Funny?” Toranei parroted sharply, slowly rising from the throne as she stepped down to her daughter’s level. “Pray tell, what was funny about what I said?”

  “I don’t know,” Ilirianna replied with another soft snicker. “But it’s not important. I just figured that, after all this time, we ought to have a little conversation, just between the two of us. A bit of mother-daughter time. That was what you wanted, right? When you tried to drag me to that dinner with you and Nakoma? You said you wanted to talk, so let’s talk, Mother.”

  She could feel something breaking inside of her, her words tumbling from her mouth without her giving them much thought. It was almost cathartic, knowing she was finally going to confront Toranei after all this time. It was then that Tali’s words from that infamous night racketed through her skull, playing over again just as it had been ever since.

  “Yes, you were born from your mother, but King Markreas was not the father! Toranei lied to him, to the Masters, and to this entire country to protect herself, for if the truth came out, she would be executed! You are a bastard girl! …Your father is Nakoma Taurus, the Master of Fire.”

  It upended everything, destroying who she thought she was, and though she tried to write it off as the Voice’s means of manipulating her, The Angel confirmed her lack of Cansi blood when it departed alongside Abigail. There was no doubt that it was true, a fact Ilirianna had been living with ever since.

  “What is wrong with you?” Toranei breathed, taking a few more steps so that she was right in front of her daughter. “I can tell you’re holding something back, so why don’t you just come out and say it? I’m tired of you behaving like an immature toddler.”

  Ilirianna nodded, subtly slipping her right hand from her pocket as she reached out and carefully gripped her mother’s arm, keeping her touch gentle so that it wouldn’t seem threatening. Toranei cocked an eyebrow, certainly confused as to why Ilirianna would reach out for her mother under those circumstances, but knowing she may very well wrench her arm away, the Princess wasted little time as she tapped into the Teritus’s magic and flooded Toranei’s body with it. The Queen tensed, obviously feeling the reaction of her fire mana as she tore her arm back and stepped away, her lips pursing as she prepared to demand what Ilirianna had just done. But the words never came as she lifted her right arm and allowed her mother to see the glittering red ring wrapped around her finger.

  For the first time in her life, Toranei seemed to not immediately process what she was witnessing, as if despite feeling the shift in her mana and seeing the Tertius with her own eyes, her brain couldn't comprehend that it was Ilirianna who just cursed her.

  Corsikei.

  Having been practicing her silent incantations, Ilirianna twisted her left arm and sent a shockwave slamming into Toranei’s body, launching her off her feet and sending her slamming into her precious throne. The Queen exhaled sharply as her back collided with the chair, her body slumping into it as her eyes went wide with shock. Ilirianna kept her magic drawn, ready for a potential counterattack, but Toranei didn’t move nor did she even draw her mana. Instead, she just sat there for a few seconds gaping at her daughter. Perhaps she briefly wondered if she wasn’t really Ilirianna, but the lack of a biological residue would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was who she appeared to be.

  “Why?” she uttered, stunned. “Liri? What have you…done?”

  Ilirianna slowly shook her head, bitter that Toranei wasn’t reactivating aggressively. “What have I done, you ask? I’m going to save Abi, Mother. You’re cursed, and so is Markreas. One surge into this ring, and that throne is mine.”

  “No…” Toranei gripped the throne’s armrests, propping herself up as she fixed Ilirianna with an almost desperate gaze. “Don’t do this… You can’t… You would betray your country, turn on your parents, all for a deserter—for a woman you only knew for a few years? After all I’ve done for you—”

  “All you’ve done for me, huh?!” she snarled, the volume of her voice cutting Toranei off and echoing through the empty hall. “You want to go on about betraying my country? Alright, Mother, let’s talk about that, cause I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the fucking tree. I know what you did. I know your secret.”

  The Queen frowned, the blood gradually leaving her face as she replied in a shaky tone, “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Nakoma’s my father, not Markreas. I’m your bastard…not a Princess.”

  With that, the unspoken knowledge was now out in the open, forcing Toranei to face her sins whether she liked it or not. In some ways, Ilirianna felt utterly disgusted at the raw satisfaction and euphoria she felt as her mother’s typically proud and pompous demeanor was nowhere to be found, and in its place was an expression so horrified, so guilty, that she was almost like a different person. Ilirianna wondered if she would try and deny it, or if her reaction would seem like enough of a confession that she wouldn’t waste her breath. But Toranei said nothing, so Ilirianna decided to continue the conversation herself.

  “Yeah, that’s right… You kept asking why I stopped treating you and Nakoma with respect, so there you have it. I found out you’re not deserving of my respect, and if I’d ever wished it, I could have had you both dragged to Markreas’s feet to face his wrath for what you did! What would your dear husband have thought and felt had he learned of the betrayal wrought upon him by his wife and friend?! Sure, Abi committed a crime by going to Omaruo, but I would argue fucking Nakoma behind your King’s back is a far bigger betrayal than what Abi did! Do you disagree?!”

  “N-no… No, I…” Toranei weakly pushed herself to her feet, causing Ilirianna to instinctively raise her right hand as a reminder that her life was easy to snuff out. “How did you find out? Who told you?”

  Ilirianna smirked and shrugged. “Who knows? That’s not your business though. Glad you’re confessing…”

  “No, you don't understand!” Toranei shrieked desperately, her face somehow even paler now. “It was a mistake, I’ll admit! It was a moment of foolishness that I understand was a betrayal towards Markreas, but it wasn’t done out of any ill will towards him!”

  “Nor was what Abi’s done,” Ilirianna snapped back. “But you were prepared to let her be executed for it! How the fuck is that fair?! Why should Abi have to suffer while you get to keep marching around the Citadel as the fucking Queen?!”

  “That’s—!” She stopped herself, almost certainly about to attempt an argument that they were different circumstances, and while she was right, those circumstances made it clear that what she did was worse than what Abi did. “Liri… You’re my daughter… My first-born child… I didn’t want to lose you… I didn’t want to give you up, to take away your chance at life… So I gave birth to you and passed you off as Markreas’s, but I… I did it for you, because I love you…”

  “You’ve got a curious way of showing that,” she spat. “All these years of reminding me I’m not good enough, of being cold towards me, of never once treating me like you held any respect for me. Makes what you’re saying now seem hollow—a desperate last-ditch effort to save yourself. But it’s too late, Mother. That throne behind you is mine, and I’ll make sure this country is made better in your absence.”

  “Liri, don’t…” Toranei hesitantly said, on the verge of pleading for her life. “Don’t do this… This isn’t who you are… Just…hand me the ring, and we’ll forget this ever happened. I’ll convince Markreas to pardon Abi… Just don’t use that thing… If you do, then you’ll never come back from it. Once you kill someone, it becomes easier to justify doing it again… It’s a slippery path that isn’t who you are… If you want to be a good Queen, then do you really think you can achieve that by forcefully taking the throne?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I won’t pretend like this was my first choice. For years, I told myself I would improve this country once I became Queen, but as Abi’s getting dragged back here for execution, I fear I don’t have a choice. I will not let her die, Mother.”

  “But I said I would—”

  “I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAID!” Ilirianna roared, her voice shaking with rage. “Oh, you’ll talk Markreas down, will you? Why didn’t you do that earlier then? Why are you only willing to stick your neck out for Abi when I’ve got you by the fucking throat? Do you see how fake it all seems?!” The Princess then laughed coldly as she regarded her mother with hatred. “But I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s all you are. You’re fake, Toranei… Right down to your core.”

  The Queen could only stare at her like she didn’t recognize the person before her, and of course she couldn’t. Ilirianna already felt herself changing into something she didn’t want to be, and she could sense the eyes on the back of her head. Rotana Vesh was smiling at her from beyond this world, watching as she became exactly what the Kosah-Rei wanted her to be. The cult she despised, the one she worked so hard to eradicate, was taking possession of her—was molding her into one of them. They wanted an infiltrator in the Citadel, someone who would use the Teritus on the biggest targets in the Empire, and there she was, about to do just that.

  “You’re making me proud, Princess…” Vesh was whispering in her ear. “I’m glad you’ve come around to Rei’s gospel…”

  Suddenly, Toranei began to lower herself to the ground, and surprising Ilirianna, the Queen prostrated herself before her. “Please, Ilirianna. Don’t do this to yourself. Don’t choose this path… We can move past this… We can talk this through… You don’t need to become a killer… I beg of you, as your mother, don’t do this…”

  “I have to,” she breathed, her voice trembling. “Nigreos may already be back. There’s only so much time left, so I’m sorry, but this is how it has to be. Don’t worry though…”

  “LIRI, DON’T!”

  “I won’t tell a soul the truth about you and Nakoma.”

  Blue fires erupted around the Queen the very second that the Teritus lit up a bright orange. The deed was done, Toranei and Markreas’s fates were sealed, and all she needed to do was keep her mother at bay long enough for the Teritus to do its job.

  “Nex!” Ilirianna snarled, extending her hands as a massive wave of blue flames engulfed the throne room, rising up into the form of a majestic phoenix above Toranei.

  An overwhelming heat flooded their surroundings, the previously lit firelamps fading as the deep glow reached every corner of the room. It seemed the Queen had decided that her only choice was to try and drag Ilirianna down to hell with her, but unfortunately for her, the Teritus worked quite fast. Tensing as the flames bore down on her shield, Ilirianna sent as much wind mana as she could to reinforce it, praying it would be enough to withstand the blue Phoenixio, but almost immediately, she could feel the power behind it wavering, the giant bird of flames losing its form as it faded into a more unrecognizable mass.

  “LIRI!”

  She could hear the screeching within the fires, could see Toranei topple to the ground as she began to writhe in agony, her hands clutching her chest tightly. But then, something abnormal happened. Instead of erupting into an orange explosion, it was instead blue fires that ripped through the Queen’s body, as if her usage of such powerful magic in the end interacted with the Teritus in a way that hadn’t taken place before.

  Shit! Ilirianna cursed internally.

  The explosion was intense, shattering through the room as the entire floor cracked and crumbled, the pillars collapsing and the walls barely withstanding the assault. This time, Ilirianna’s shields couldn’t quite hold as her body was blasted backwards, through the doors of the throne room and into the golden hall beyond just as the entire floor shattered, dropping into the space below and taking Toranei’s blackened corpse with it. Ilirianna’s head slammed into the wall before she hit the carpet and frantically tried to send healing magic to her wounds. She was breathing heavily as she painfully rose her head to stare into the throne room, but it was unrecognizable—a ruined husk of the majestic place it had been mere seconds ago. Perhaps, once upon a time, she would have mourned such a famous and historic place, but at that moment, Ilirianna Iiji couldn’t bring herself to care one bit.

  It was done.

  Toranei Iiji was dead, and if all went well, so was Markreas.

  ***

  As Reigious walked with Grunly and his father, nobody really spoke, not even Markreas despite his insistence that they keep him company. Though, perhaps that was all he really wanted—to not be alone after the events of that day. He knew his father wasn’t the most talkative or loving of men, but Reigious supposed he was grateful that Markreas still appreciated his presence. He wondered if Grunly felt any similar emotions, for even after his crimes were exposed, Marrkeas still asked him to join him like a friend. Yet, it seemed the Master’s concern for Abigail was too dominant in his thoughts, for the old man never once appeared anything other than depressed. It was the Prince’s instinct to reach out a hand and try to give him comfort, but just as Reigious was about to do just that, Markreas randomly stopped and cleared his throat.

  Since he and Grunly had been lingering a bit behind the King, Reigious stepped forward and eyed his father with concern. “Are you alright?”

  Markreas’s brow was covered in sweat, his features drawn tight as he reached a hand up to clutch at his heart. “Y-yes, I should be… I’m just feeling a little…off, all of a sudden. Ed, would you mind providing a bit of healing?”

  “Oh, uh, yes, of course,” Grunly stammered, hobbling forward so he could abide by the King.

  But Reigious held up a hand in alarm, stopping the Master of Nature before he reached Markreas. The Prince couldn’t believe what he was seeing, couldn’t accept that he wasn’t hallucinating, as he noted that the King’s skin was beginning to glow a dull orange.

  “Ed, come on! What’s the delay?” Markreas growled, but Grunly just shook his headband muttered,

  “Er, Prince Reigious, are you—?”

  “GET BACK, MASTER GRUNLY!”

  Reigious shouted out as he hurried forward and pressed his hands against his father’s face, trying to direct him away from the old man and towards the windowed wall. Markreas could no longer formulate words as his mouth made choking sounds and his eyes began to bulge from his head.

  “It’s the Teritus! He’s been cursed!” the Prince cried. “Benedio! Benedio! BENEDIO!”

  He could see his words process in his father’s eyes as Reigious desperately tried to pump magic into him, wanting to do everything in his power to stop this baffling tragedy from occurring. Grunly was older, not in a strong enough condition to heal a curse nobody had ever succeeded at stopping before, but Reigious had Iiji blood. Perhaps he could do something? Perhaps he could stop it!

  “Rei…” Markreas choked. “Don’t…”

  “It’s okay!” Reigious tried to assure him. “I can do it! It’s going to be okay, Father! I’ve—!”

  Orange light suddenly engulfed the Prince, his body not even processing the pain or the meaning of that light, when suddenly, he was outside, feeling the rain falling all around him, and he began to plummet.