“There you are,” Amnur said, sticking his head around the door, interrupting the conversation.
“Sorry,” Sakura replied.
“No no, it’s fine. Thanks for keeping her safe.”
The guard gave Amnur a thumbs up, and the mage took that as his cue to settle down next to them. Once again, Sakura had her wound examined. She leant against him, enjoying his warmth. They remained together for some time before Amnur sighed.
“What’s bothering you? Well, aside from the obvious,” he said, noting her continued unease.
“The sudden and unwarranted aggression. He was calm, and then he had me pinned to the bed. Between those two, I don’t know what happened.”
“He was rather crass when he came out of the ruling chamber, but I never expected what did happen. Perhaps a slap or two, but not that,” the guard stated, shuddering at the thought.
“My persistence with him probably didn’t help, even if it did with Sebastian.”
Amnur and the guard shared a look, and he slung an arm around his daughter.
“Don’t blame yourself, nothing you did triggered his actions,” Amnur said, and the guard added his support.
They rested there for some time until Amnur decided that it’d be for the best for Sakura to finally get her wounds sorted out. He thanked the guard once more for his efforts, bidding him farewell. Sakura entered the healing chamber with a hint of nerves, peering around the room. She saw Sebastian, but there was no Ciel. The aether lamps in the room flared as Amnur also spotted the King, distracting Dumon from the situation.
Sebastian turned to Sakura and offered her a heartfelt apology, along with a thank you over her actions. The aether lamps spiked further, something Sakura observed.
“Thanks, Sebastian. How is Ciel, anyway?”
The King’s eyes went wide, surprised that she even cared. He let out a sigh, folding his arms. “He’s alive, and in the cells.”
"Wait, what?" Amnur interrupted.
"He may be my son, but I won't turn a blind eye to his actions. I'm just glad that the guard roused me before it got any worse."
Amnur relaxed his posture, and the lamps in the room dimmed back to their usual standard. Sakura could see that revealing that earned a lot of respect with her father, although it wasn't the intent. The King stood for justice, regardless of the perpetrator. Issuing justice hurt him though. It made him feel like he was abandoning Ciel, and Sakura could see that.
Dumon snuck in and evaluated her wounds, beckoning Solomon over once he was content there was nothing that needed further attention. As they sorted her out, she watched the situation between the King and her father. Amnur fidgeted, torn between focusing on her and continuing the dialogue with Sebastian. The King, on the other hand, was withdrawn.
"I don't understand the aggression. Nathaniel's more of a burden than I thought," Sebastian murmured, letting his wings droop.
"His actions are not your fault," Amnur stated, "none of this is your fault."
Sakura smiled at his choice to speak up, to comfort Sebastian. Such an action required him to take a leap, one that he had yet to be willing to do. The action was appreciated, too. As the two had a silent moment, Sakura's mind began to wander. It was the King's words about Nathaniel still being a burden that sparked it. Sudden and unwarranted aggression sounded familiar, with an unknown cause.
Her eyes turned towards to where she kept his journal stashed, and then to Dumon. He returned the gaze with a dubious expression. "Has any other King ever shown overly aggressive tendencies, Dumon?"
As she spoke, all eyes in the room fixed on her.
"Yes, but the angels were far worse than they were now. Uriel's remarkably tame in comparison. Why?"
She placed her hands on her hips, deep in thought. There was an explanation, assuming her knowledge was correct. The one with the greatest wealth of information on the subject was in the room, also. A perfect opportunity. Already she could see that Solomon's expression was turning dark.
"Solomon, is it possible that a curse or malicious spirit could cause such a thing?"
Solomon took a sharp breath, dreading that one question. It was true that yes, it could, but knowing that didn't solve anything. Removing such a thing was a tricky process, one that could result in Ciel's death. At best, it could leave him comatose for a long time and have him wake up a different person. He would also need another mage to help him with the endeavour, and he had no one in mind that could help. As this information poured out his mouth, Sebastian and Amnur recoiled. It was terrible news, but it also provided a glimmer of hope.
"Why did this never affect me?" Sebastian queried.
"You've shown aggression issues, but I don't think that's the key. Nathaniel was paranoid, and I wonder if Ciel was too. I've known you all of a week, but I wouldn't use the word paranoid to describe you," Sakura replied.
“That assumes it’s a spirit, but I’m inclined to agree with you. Curses aren’t usually discriminatory, spirits can be,” Solomon remarked, letting out a sigh. A spirit could cause far greater havoc for Ciel, curses were easier to sort out. The spirit would likely resist efforts to remove it, and that’s what the main cause of damage is with them. “Given that, I wouldn’t discuss any of this with Ciel. The best case scenario requires it to be taken by surprise, to snag it before it can grip on.”
“Keep him locked up, then?”
Solomon nodded to Sebastian. It would both keep him out of trouble, and keep him somewhere they could find him again. They had reason to have him detained, so the spirit shouldn’t pick up on the disturbance.
With all of that out in the open, Sebastian decided to excuse himself, and Sakura thought it best not to stop him. Amnur praised her for connecting the dots, but it filled him with a new fear. To hear that Nathaniel’s disposition was the result of a spirit, one that’s not dead, wasn’t something he wanted to hear. Ever. She assured him that she won’t let it get that far, although Sakura was unsure how to keep that promise. Still, the words worked. It left Amnur wondering what Nathaniel would’ve been like if that never happened. Would he still have been brought to the Central Isles?
He talked through his musings with her, with Sakura repeating what the King had said. It was a shame, Amnur thought that perhaps they could’ve had a good relationship. After a while, the topic reverted to Ciel. Despite Sebastian’s quick departure, Amnur told her that the words had a positive effect on him. She had told him that he wasn’t a failure as a father, this was something out of his control. The fact also meant that Nathaniel wasn’t an evil tyrant. Their family had been ravaged by a malicious spirit, one that could be stopped before it did any more harm.
“I’ll do some research and get back to you,” Solomon said, grabbing their attention. He had been talking to Abel, who had volunteered himself as the required second mage. Whether he was capable of fulfilling that role was a different question, but it gave Solomon options.
“I can help you on that front,” Amnur said, tapping his head. “Magical research is one of my favourite activities.”
“Thanks.”
Chapter 10: A Soft Tone
Sakura jolted awake when she heard the chamber door creak open, wary of who was entering. Ciel was in the cells, but such a fact didn’t stop her worrying. After the events of earlier, everyone was sleeping deeply. Rousing them could be hard. She stared into the darkness, trying to discern something. Light flooded in from the corridor, highlighting some aspects of the demon’s skin. However, a demon on a dark wall in otherwise pitch-black surroundings was a challenge to make out. Their height gave them away though, as well as their hesitation. It was Sebastian.
He checked to see if anyone was still awake when his eyes met hers. She beckoned him over, curious as to why he popped in so late.
“I hope you don’t mind, kid. The ruling chamber just didn’t feel right.”
“It’s fine, really. Let’s go to the corner so we don’t wake anyone up.”
Once they had relocate
d, they began to talk. The conversation avoided the events of the day, and instead focused on something that could keep Sakura talking: nature. Sebastian just wanted to listen to her voice, to be soothed by the words. Her enthusiasm enthralled him, even if he knew little of what she was saying. As the one-sided conversation reeled on, he began to drift off. Sakura saw this and continued until he had dozed off, glad that she could help.
***
Amnur woke several hours later, shaking his head to shift the grogginess. His sleep had been disturbed, the events of yesterday playing with his mind. He noticed Sakura missing from the bed next to him, so he scanned in the room. Bundled in the corner he saw Sebastian, with her laying against his chest. To see Sakura trust another person made him smile, such a thing was rare. With everything her mother did to her, trust was something she tentatively handed out. She didn’t distrust new individuals, but to lower her guard was something else. If she could trust Sebastian, then he could too.
Dumon tapped him on the back, checking in on him. He commented on the scene and then asked him if he was alright with it. Amnur put a hand on the healer’s shoulder, giving him a nod.
“That’s good. You two still have some stuff to heal, but it’s good to see you calm,” Dumon whispered, not wanting to disturb those still sleeping.
“He’s trying his hardest, even if I didn’t really want to know.” He let out a sigh. “I saw how much Ciel’s actions hurt him yesterday, he was truly sorry about what happened.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t pleasant, for anyone.”
“The only thing I need to overcome now is his appearance. When he’s angry, he just looks too much like Nathaniel. I need to see the rest.”
“Ah the fun of demons: on the surface, we tend to look like our parents, but when you look closer you see all the differences. Sakura is similar to you.”
“Up close, she’s a lot like her mother,” Amnur stated, drumming his fingers on his arm. Dumon noted the sour tone and stopped. The mage decided to explain the whole situation to him, putting his emotions in full view. Now that Dumon knew, he understood why Sakura’s trust was so important to him. It made the scene in front of them special, so the healer decided to enjoy it.
“You can’t catch a break, can you?”
“Apparently not,” Amnur said, letting out a laugh, “I wouldn’t trade her for anything, though.”
The chamber doors flew open, with one slamming into the wall. A guard rushed into the room, half carrying and half dragging another guard. He heaved his passenger onto a spare bed, staring at Dumon. Startled by the sudden noise, the others roused.
“Ciel’s escaped. I found this guy on the floor, unconscious but breathing,” the guard said, panting. “His head’s bleeding, but aside from that I have no idea what’s wrong.”
“Not a good sign,” Dumon replied, “Amnur, get me some tools if you will.”
Amnur jogged over to the desk and gathered a selection, unsure what he may need. He dumped them on the spare end of the bed and then turned his attention to Dumon’s other tool. Solomon was sat up, trying to make out what was happening. Within a minute, Amnur had given him a cup of water and a damp cloth. The young mage murmured his thanks, using his spare hand to rub his eyes.
Sakura meanwhile, had worked her way out of a disorientated Sebastian. She hustled over, taking up position alongside Dumon. While he cleaned the wound, she leant close to examine the pattern. It was crude, shallow and dirty. “Ciel did this with his fingers, but that shouldn’t have knocked him out.”
“I agree. I imagine he used the leverage to slam his head into the bars,” Dumon said, “concussion’s best served with rest, just need you to sort this scrape out, Solomon.”
With the victim in good hands, the guard turned his attention to Sebastian. “What’s the order now?”
“Keep an eye out for him, but take no action. If he’s going to react like that in custody, then forcing him back in may not be for the best,” the King replied, letting out a sigh. “If he does anything, and I mean anything, have him hauled back in.”
“Understood, I’ll get the word out to Shae.”
While Solomon swooped in, Sakura gathered up the unused tools alongside her father to give the injured guard space. Once the tools were back, she received a pat on the back from Amnur. He praised her skill in identifying the source of the injury and comforted her over Ciel’s escape. She didn’t feel uncomfortable though, as she didn’t expect the spirit to push the point just yet. Her attention shifted back to Sebastian, seeing him slumped in the corner.
“You alright?” Sakura asked, settling down next to him once more. He forced a smile for her, but his pain shined through. “Maybe the break out will work in our favour. We need to take the spirit by surprise, after all.”
“Positives, eh?” Sebastian replied, followed by a weak laugh. Once again, her presence calmed him. His legs stretched out, with his arms resting on his waist. “Mind working your magic again?”
Chapter 11: A Bird’s Eye View
Ciel sat perched on a rocky ridge, high above Shadekeep. The Skyrend Mountains offered a premium vantage point of the main demon settlement, one he was using to full advantage. He tutted as he observed the tiny black dots flit in and out of the keep. After his escape, he doubted that he’d be let back in without issue. Where did he go now? His memories told him that he had been accepted in the West, so that offered an option. There was also Springhollow if they didn’t ask why he was there. The final option was to scout the mountains for a cave and then steal some supplies to make it his new residence.
As he sat debating his options, a robed figure joined him up on the ridge. His head remained forward, with his eyes darting to the side to stare. They weren’t making any effort to accuse or accost him, a curiosity. Silence hung between them as they listened to the breeze whoosh around. The robe obscured any features, aside from their black wings. That alone said it was a demon.
“It’s a nice view up here,” a female voice remarked. The body, however, was stiff.
“Pleasant,” he replied. The voice was not one he recognised. “Good for observations, one might say.”
A chuckle escaped his companion in reply, making him curious, and wary. “What might you be observing, then?”
Turning the question back without aggression, it was interesting to him. “The inhabitants.”
“You can see that detail from up here?”
Ciel drummed his fingers and took a deep breath. “I can see the number, which can tell me enough.”
“In some trouble, are we?”
He huffed. The tone had hints of mockery, but none of accusation. “I might have had a disagreement with someone who doesn’t belong there.”
“Oh?”
“A Westerner. She’s a liar. She played with my emotions and then threw them aside when it was convenient.”
“How vile,” she replied. The conversation dropped until she started humming. Ciel turned and raised a brow, not that she could see it past the hood. “Tell me something: is she short? Does she have purple eyes? With an exile for a father?”
Hearing that exact definition filled him with anger and excitement. “Yes.”
“Do you want revenge?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, tell me what you know, my dear, and I shall present you with your prize in due time.”
The shade inside Ciel remembered much of the layout of Shadekeep. A wicked grin spread across his lips as he spilled the details, informing her of the best route of entry.
Chapter 12: Unwelcome Guests
It had been a few days since Ciel’s disappearance, and there had been no sightings. That offered Sebastian both pain and joy; on the one hand, he had harmed no one, but he also didn’t know if his son was safe. Sakura had been following him around to aid his sanity, a deed that was appreciated. Amnur too had mustered his nerves to spend time with the King. The two of them ended up bonding, although Amnur wished it were over better events.
Thi
s morning Sakura and Sebastian stood outside the ruling chamber, having a group chat with the guards. They tried to keep the topic away from Ciel, to keep the King cheerful. As the chatter rolled on, a group entered the main corridor. Three robed figures approached the throne room, and the conversation petered out. The member on the left stepped forward, offering them a stiff bow. He expressed his gratitude over catching the King as he did, explaining that they were travellers. His request was humble: directions and local information.
Sebastian obliged, giving them a run through of the lay of the land, including areas to be wary of. Uriel couldn't control every angel at any moment of time, so one could opt to be a nuisance. As the directions reeled out, Sakura observed the strangers. Her shorter vantage point was for once an advantage. She tried to peer under the hoods of the robes, but the one in the middle kept their head low. Hiding it from her, perhaps? A glint of metal peered out from the other two, either armour or jewellery. The tone of the conversation was soft, so the guards weren't paying too much attention. Sakura, however, was uneasy. Something wasn't right about this group.
The member in the middle took a step forward and told Sebastian that they were also looking for someone. She told him that it was a demon, leading on with the details. As the list went on, Sakura felt the breath ripped from her chest. Word for word, the demon was describing her. Worse, the voice was familiar and vile. Fear welled up inside her, causing her to take a couple of steps back. The action made the guards place their hands on their weapons, unsettled by her unease.
"It's been ten long years," the woman hissed, flicking her hood off. A pair of downward curving horns greeted the eyes of the onlookers, along with eyes of an eerie purple hue.
"Lilith!" Sakura exclaimed. Sebastian didn't need her to say the word mother to know who this woman was, her fear told him everything. He grabbed his blades as her companions threw off their robes, revealing full sets of armour. "She's a mage, careful."
Skies of Fyir Box Set Page 49
