by Billy Wong
Maybe they should've communicated with the lower world, but up here they'd never needed to. The continent had seemed a world enough in its own right, which they stayed on since it floated into the sky in a long forgotten time. Besides, "I've thought about visiting them, but the old stories say the magical energy level was lower down there too. If I couldn't fly back up..." Not to mention it could be hard to hold her body together.
"You shouldn't risk that, Mom. Better to send another mage—though I doubt many would volunteer."
"Wait," Keith said. "That mechanical knight you fought had magical energy stored inside it. If a mage who went down brought a similar magic container with them, might they not be able to draw from it to fly up?"
She frowned. "That's a thought, but I'm not sure it would store enough for the whole trip. Flying uses up power pretty fast. Still, it seems worth at least asking Ostuh about."
They shared a brief silence. "So you aren't taking back the throne?" Julian asked.
Finally she came to a decision. "At least for now, no. I can't be hampered in my movement right now. I'll probably let you stay on it long term. This Saint Princess' reign over Aerilea is at an end, though she'll give its new leader plenty of assistance."
"I'm grateful that you'd trust me with this, Mom."
"You've already ruled for three years in my absence. It would be rude of me to snatch the crown back from you."
Julian laughed. "I wouldn't exactly be strongly opposed to that. But since it's your wish I stay monarch, and for practical reasons, I'll do it." His eyes lit up as with an idea. "Mom, if you're not going to rule, do you want to be High Knight? You have a more impressive fighting style than Dad."
Keith grumbled while Julianna blinked. That came out of the blue... "I refuse. You can't dismiss your father from a job he's done well just because his style isn't as aesthetic as mine. Besides, being High Knight might limit my ability to move around sometimes too. I'd better just go forward as a generic advisor for now."
"I was joking, but you do have a really breathtaking style sometimes."
"Being smaller and lighter than your dad helps me there. Anyway it doesn't befit the equivalent of a king to be so awed by your old mom."
"I guess." He wrapped her in a sudden embrace, and his voice grew choked up. "But I love you so much. I hope I'll never lose you again."
She stroked his hair, uncertainty in her heart. She didn't know whether she would be immortal now since she didn't age, or if her magical body would lose its integrity at some point and she might not even have as long as if she hadn't died. "I can't guarantee that. But I'll definitely make the best of our time together, no matter how long that might be."
"I remember staying up late many nights when I had tough decisions to make shortly after my ascension, waiting and waiting for you to advise me. It was so hard to accept you wouldn't come, that you'd never again..." Julian sobbed.
It hurt her chest to picture him back then, in his sorrow and desperation. "You made it through despite your inexperience though, didn't you? Everyone here tells me you became a respectable prince, though the other nations failed to see it that way, and you even managed without your father's help when he left. I'm proud, and absolutely consider you worthy of being my successor."
He glanced towards Keith. "I'm still a little mad at Dad about that, but I guess everything's all right now. And thank you, Mom."
Though all of Aerilea knew about her return by now, they officially announced it from the balcony to a host of cheers from the crowd gathered before the palace. When people asked when she would take back the throne, some insistent that she should, she evaded the question and told them things were still being decided. She intended to let Julian stay monarch if possible, but in the end couldn't completely rule out taking over for him if things got really bad. If there was a war or other calamity, she might have to even if temporarily to give Aerilea a needed confidence boost.
Over the following weeks, Julianna joined Keith in helping their son with his duties while their people searched for more clues about the magical decline and the organization that had sent Eve. She did feel relieved to be near Julian now, in case those people took action against him. If they tried anything like that, she would make them regret it. Her fellow advisors treated her with perhaps too much deference, overeager to agree with her on everything until she explained clearly that she would prefer to get honest second opinions. Meanwhile loyal General Duncan still acted skeptical of her being who she claimed, and she wished to win him over soon. They also heard stories of a hooded man who talked to monsters, stopping their attacks with speech incomprehensible to the humans who heard them. Must be the one they had met before... while he didn't seem to be doing anything threatening yet, even being helpful so far, Julianna hoped it would stay that way. Such a strange figure—she wondered if she should have a talk with him to assess if her worries were warranted, and had Julian order that the soldiers bring him in for such if they should see him. For now though, his whereabouts remained elusive.
Awaiting word on her concerns became more and more stressful, especially when it came to the continent's magic problem. She had no idea how long they had left and felt growing doubts they would even get to try anything before their land fell, which would be the end for most of them. Sure, she might fly off it, and save a couple people she held most dear. But what then, would there be enough of a world left for them to live in? And to know she'd failed to prevent the deaths of millions would be difficult to swallow.
Julian noticed her worsening mood, and one night while they were alone with Keith in the master bedroom asked, "Why don't you contact the old seer, Mom? He might know something that can help you."
Keith scowled. "I hardly think he'd welcome the sight of us."
"And whose fault is that?" Julianna asked. "You're the one who drove him away in your anger over his visions."
"He said you would die!"
"Well I did, didn't I? You shouldn't have reacted so emotionally to mere predictions, it's not as if he would've been responsible for my death."
He looked down. "Still, it was you. You know the thought of anything happening to you scares me more than anything else."
She touched his face. "It's all right, I know it's because you love me. Anyway, Julian's idea is sound. I should pay him a visit, and hope he doesn't begrudge us to the point he refuses to help."
"What if he predicts the continent falling? That won't help us at all."
And it would make her outlook even more grim, considering she had seen his prophecies come true before. "But that's just one possibility. He could also see me stopping this disaster, and then tell me how I do it."
"That's almost like cheating!" Julian said giddily. "Actually, I think it would be cheating."
Julianna chuckled, but replied, "Only if we luck out that much. It seems unlikely, but even getting a hint from his visions could be worthwhile."
"Should I come with you?" Keith asked.
"No, this time I should definitely go alone. I'd expect your presence to make things even more awkward, when it'll already be so."
She left Myrrhise and after little more than a week reached the village nestled within a valley that the seer Thaddeus had retired to after his falling out with her and Keith. Julianna regretted allowing her love's unwarranted rage to push away a man who had served the kingdom well for many years, and couldn't deny she bore part of the blame. She snuck into town at night to avoid drawing attention from the residents and knocked on his simple hut. After a minute or so, she heard footsteps approach the other side of the door. "Go away," a hoarse old voice said, "I have no need to see an arrogant young princess who thought she could never be defeated."
"How did you know it was me?" Had he seen her coming in one of his visions?
"I can see you through the peephole. You appear different, but I remember your face from when it looked that way."
Oh right, the peephole. Technically she hadn't been defeated, given she'd slain Ga
len and the Father of All Monsters before succumbing to her own wounds. But she scarcely possessed the hubris he implied. "I'm not that young anymore. If I gave off too much confidence back in the day, it was in part to inspire the people whose hope dwindled as the One Army swept north. Right now I feel on the verge of what would be my ultimate defeat, so please listen to what I have to say. I apologize for the disrespect Keith and I showed you."
He opened the door a crack. A frail man in his seventies with scant hair left on his scalp, he stood stooped unlike three years ago so that she saw eye to eye with him. "Your voice carries an air of desperation," he said with mixed contempt and curiosity. "What so troubles the mighty Saint Princess?"
"It concerns not only me, but the entire continent. Can I come in?" Slowly he opened the portal enough for her to enter. "Thank you," she said, walking to the shabby table in the middle of the single room but not knowing if she should sit.
"Go ahead. It is hardly this old servant's place to force his monarch to stand."
She sat down, and he took the seat across from her. "Haven't you heard? Julian rules Aerilea now. I'm little more than a ghost, why would I keep the world from the hands of the young who inherit it?"
"You show false humility, but still you give your countenance an illusion of unmarked youth and stand before us defiant of even death itself. I am hard pressed to believe you do not retain the true power behind the throne."
Julianna touched her face. "Well, I..." She could probably take back power and be accepted easily if she so choose, and she was beginning to question if she should have indulged the whim to look younger and prettier. "Whatever you think of me, I matter little in the big picture. A catastrophe may be on the horizon for all of us, and I'm hoping your talents can help us find a way to stop it."
Thaddeus' tone finally softened, seeming to be convinced at the seriousness of the matter. "What is the catastrophe of which you speak?"
"Have you heard of the outer islands falling?" Even in this relatively secluded village, she figured they must've.
"Yes, what of them?"
"They seem to be connected to the weakening magical energy of the land, which has been going on since before we last saw one another. We can't be totally sure it will happen, but we fear if it continues to progress, the whole continent might fall. At the very least, half of Kureau would likely collapse, and that by itself is something I'd very much like to prevent."
He pursed his lips as with uncertainty. "The thought is terrifying indeed, if the threat is real. But how do you expect me to help?"
"I was wondering if you've seen anything in your visions that might give us a clue as to how this can be stopped. I thought maybe you could even have seen how we eventually try to stop it, and finding that out this way instead of researching it normally might give us a head start."
"That would admittedly be an interesting shortcut. Alas, my visions become few and far between in my old age. Especially with regard to you, I haven't seen you in them for the longest time."
She took a moment to think about it. "Maybe it's because you've been away from the world, and immersing yourself in its workings again will bring back some of your gift."
"You wish for me to return with you to the capital?"
"If you aren't too opposed to it... I know Keith treated you unfairly before, but that's in the past now. After being closely involved with running the country for a few years, he's matured a lot despite not being so young." Then again, Thaddeus probably did view him as quite young like he did her. "He might even feel bad about how he behaved then, whether he admits it or not." When he didn't respond, clearly hesitant about joining them again, she tried something else. "Do you think if you held my hand, maybe that could inspire a vision? I remember you doing that before, when you wanted a glimpse into the future of something specific."
"I have not done that in a long time. I suppose I could try." She extended a hand and he touched it. Nothing happened at first, but he continued to maintain contact, closing his fingers around hers. "Your body is not flesh. I had thought you resurrected in full, but you're..."
"Not quite human, yeah. It still feels weird in some ways, but I deal with it. You can tell? Most people don't notice a difference."
"Yes, I sense the energy under your facade. Remarkable that you survive like this." He closed his eyes. "But I have my doubts as to how this might affect-" His head snapped back with mouth agape, making her start. He must've been about to express concern that her magical nature might interfere with his power, but it didn't seem to be the case. She waited while he sat there shaking as he stared towards the ceiling, eyes half rolled back. It was rather unsettling, and she wondered if at his age regular visions wouldn't suit him. After a minute the trance ended and his head tipped forward while he let out a huge sigh.
"Are you all right?" she asked. "What did you see?"
He took deep breaths before looking up with a hand on his chest. "I'm fine for now, but my fluttering heart tells me many more of these might not be a good idea. In any case, I saw you going into a golden place."
"A golden place? I didn't happen to be dead in your vision, did I?"
"No, at least it didn't seem so to me. You were in a natural environment, what looked to be a cavern or cave, and then moved into an area full of golden light."
Recognition dawned in Julianna's mind. "That sounds like the wellspring of magic! An underground cavern, in one end of which golden light glowed—but that was in the past, not the future. And the glow was so faint, like a dying glow... nothing like a golden place or full of golden light. Maybe it means I'll go to another wellspring, and that one will be stronger than the last." She paused. "I don't know how that'll help solve our problem though, but it wouldn't hurt to keep investigating these locations."
"What now?" Thaddeus asked. "Do you still require me to go back with you?"
"I won't force you, since I don't have to travel too far to visit you. But would you mind it? Staying at the palace may trigger more informative visions." Maybe even ones about the group Eve belonged to, if they could be that lucky. "If they aren't too hard on you, I promise my family won't mistreat you again."
He held her gaze in silence briefly, then said, "All right. I've hidden away for long enough, I suppose I should do something useful with these last years of my life."
His choice of words were a tad depressing, but she felt sympathy towards him sensing the end drew near. "Your talents and aid will be appreciated."
Thaddeus packed what belongings he could carry and they departed from town, him leaving behind a note for those few he called friends. Thanks to her having brought a sturdy horse that could carry them both, he didn't slow them too much on the return trip. She reintroduced him to the palace staff, and had them set up for him the room he'd used when he served her father and herself after. When he met Keith again in the hall, the latter apologized to him. "Sorry. I shouldn't reacted the way I did to you simply reporting the visions you saw."
"You are forgiven. There is a time in every person's life for youthful folly, one just hopes for them to someday mature past that as you seem to have."
After Thaddeus had gone, Julianna said, "Not the most flattering assessment to finally be considered mature at almost forty."
Keith laughed. "He is an old man. His standard for maturity is probably different."
"He did call me a cocky young princess a few days ago, so maybe..."
"Cocky? What have you been hiding down there?"
Her brow rose. "Not funny. Speaking of hiding though, we already know where the nearest wellspring of magic is right?"
"Yes, the locations of the two in Aerilea proper are documented. You had them declared off limits for fear of others using them remember, so of course we'd have to know where they are to do that."
"I was just confirming it. I should go to the one that's closer soon. Thaddeus saw me entering a place of golden light in his vision, and since the wellspring of magic emitted such light... I figure visiti
ng more of them might help us learn something, though I'm not sure what yet."
"That sounds reasonable. Should I go with you? You know, to protect you in case you run into trouble."
She hugged him. "Always appreciate the offer. But it shouldn't be far away, and there'll be soldiers of ours there. I can handle it fine, you needn't shirk your regular duties over me."
"I guess you can take care of yourself decently enough. When will you leave?"
"I'll head out tomorrow. It's already a bit late to go now, but I'm flustered enough with the lack of progress I don't want to delay any longer than we have to."
The next morning, she gathered her travel gear, bid Keith and Julian farewell and departed the palace. On the way away from it, though, she heard a commotion from a store along the main avenue. Guards had gathered around it, as well as a crowd of muttering passerbys. She walked over, asking, "What's going on?"
"Saint Princess?" a broad-shouldered young guard said. "We sent somebody to inform you, but your timing makes that unnecessary. Unfortunately, we don't have good news."
She stepped forward while he and his comrades parted for her. It could just be a common accident or even murder by robbers, but the way he had spoken sounded especially foreboding. A body came into view on the ground, half in and half out of the medicine shop's door. Blood pooled around a slit throat. Her gaze drifted down and she gasped as she took in the wrinkled head topped with thin white hair. Thaddeus?! What the hell—she had just gotten him back and already this happened... Fire rose up from her gut, filling her with heat. Whoever had done this would pay dearly, once she got her hands on them.
#
Julianna stormed into the throne room, angry mainly at the seer's killer but so much so that her demeanor frightened all who saw it. Julian shrank back from her though she hadn't said a word to him yet. "Mom? What happened?"
"Thaddeus is dead."
Keith stared. "Dead? How? Don't tell me someone murdered him."
"That's sure what it looks like. I don't know if it was a random act of violence, but that would be too much of a coincidence to be likely."
