“Can those deflect blades?” one of the students queried while another ran a finger over the smooth surface.
“Small ones, I wouldn’t risk it against anything big.”
That answer satisfied them, the risk of losing an arm outweighed the defensive capabilities past a certain point. One of them mustered the courage to ask about her eye, which allowed Uriel to step in and explain who she was. To hear it was her who he spoke about gave her a new level of respect, regardless whether it was her intent or not. With all the new found glory she received Sakura opted to keep that fact hidden, however. New angels filtered into the hall, unable to resist their curiosity any longer.
All of the prodding and questions amused her, their genuine interest outweighed any discomfort or irritation. After a while, Uriel decided to break it up. He had other places to show her, but he was impressed by how well they took to her. Uriel also praised her for her willingness to put up with all the attention.
“It was sweet, don’t worry about it,” Sakura remarked as they marched up the endless staircase, with Sariel in tow now his training session had been disrupted. The second time around, the stairs wore her down more. “Was this building not built with winged individuals in mind?”
“Stairs getting on your nerves?” Sariel teased, “no one knows who built Eriden, or Shadekeep for that matter. Written history just shows them as being there.”
“Huh, strange. Explains the human styling, though.”
“Over the many years, angels have retrofitted it, though we’re limited by its weaknesses.”
Uriel interrupted the conversation with a brief phrase in angelic, though Sakura could hear him reference Arariel. Sariel responded in kind, which brought their stair journey to an end. Sakura could tell they had ascended to the higher floors, the corridor was pristine and ornate. The higher ranked individuals lived up here, guarded against demon threats due to the sheer height of Eriden. Uriel’s intention was the door at the end of the corridor. As he knocked on the door, Sakura noticed the silence. No rabble hanging around these halls.
Arariel poked his head out the door, his hair flopping down by his sides.
“Sakura!” Arariel said, darting out of the door to present himself. His clothes were drooping down and he was rubbing his eyes, sometimes shaking his head.
“Were you napping?” Uriel remarked, staring at the dishevelled appearance.
“Is… is that a problem?”
Sariel laughed, stepping forward to sort out the mage’s hair. “It’s not a problem, silly. Just explains your appearance, is all. I don’t need to punch someone, or better, set her on them.”
“I might’ve shown someone up,” Sakura said. Hearing the calm conversation, Arariel relaxed, letting Sariel finish sorting his hair out.
“What are you doing here? Did something happen?” Arariel queried.
“Just a social visit.”
The mage nodded his head, dislodging a lock of freshly pruned hair. Before Arariel could speak, or nod further, Uriel got their attention.
“Do you mind if I have a quick word with them both, Sakura?” Uriel queried. Sakura nodded and took a few steps back, aware she was unable to understand the language regardless. It offered them some privacy, at least. Uriel lowered his voice as he spoke, making any futile attempt to understand him impossible. She gathered it to be regarding her, and her potential magic. Arariel’s eyes wandered over for a moment, but neither angel reacted negatively.
Once he was done, Arariel showed her a warm smile and ushered them inside the room, a tiny room she soon noticed. Fitting all four of them inside was a challenge. Uriel teased that it was a good thing she was so small, someone Sebastian’s size would’ve been impossible to slot in. After a brief catch up, Arariel opted to detail some of his research to her. His choice of topic was relevant to recent events, chaos magic. Sakura froze up, the angel was perhaps too accepting.
A soft tap on the back from Uriel told her to relax, the youngster was just eager. Arariel told her that finding information had been hard, as those tomes had been hoarded by the Council. Instead, he decided to study the Council and their antics. Studying the pattern of attacks on suspected chaos mages, along with threats and other such activity netted him some information. What this information showed, he was unsure, but it was a start. The only thing he could report on was that chaos mages were taken down at a range of ages, although they were all still children. As mages showed from a young age, opting to take one down several years after came over as odd to him. Arariel suspected something changed while they were alive, the details of what would be a key piece of evidence.
Once Arariel had finished his endless discussion, with dragging Sariel in a few times, Uriel thought that Sakura should consider heading back. He thought that Sebastian may be starting to worry, along with her father. Sakura consented, Amnur was one to stress if she was missing for any undue period of time. With that decided, Arariel asked for a few minutes to get himself dressed, so he could see her off.
"Do we have to go all the way down the staircase again?" Sakura queried as they stood outside Arariel's room, waiting for him.
"There are shutters up on the top floors, though the clouds tend to obscure them from the ground," Uriel said, chuckling as she breathed a sigh of relief. "Glad to hear that, I see."
"I don't think I could've endured those stairs much longer, no idea how you do it on a daily basis."
"Keeps me fit, and rather bitter," Sariel replied. As he finished his sentence, the door began to open from the other side. Arariel emerged, dressed and pruned.
“That’s better,” Uriel remarked, giving the young mage a pat on the shoulder. A goofy grin spread across his face, eager to receive the praise. To Arariel, everything the Monarch said had a greater impact on him, for better or worse. It helped that he had Sariel to keep him level, to ensure him that Uriel’s message was not misinterpreted. “Come along then.”
They continued upwards until they reached the first floor with a shutter, giving her access to the outside. Sariel bid her a fond farewell and Arariel offered her a firm hug, but Uriel remained silent. He watched the scene before him with a smile and a thought.
“Why don’t you two fly her back, make sure she gets there in one piece and all,” the Monarch said, rubbing one hand against his chin. “I should check in with Gabriel anyway, make sure he’s not feeling neglected.”
Arariel’s wings twitched, his feathers puffed up. Sariel laughed, agreeing for the both of them. If he said no, the mage may die from disappointment. Sakura opened her arms wide and then gestured to the open shutter, inviting them to go first. Once the two angels were in the air, she turned to Uriel.
“I hope I did some good for you today, let me know if I can do anything else.”
“Likewise,” he responded, offering her a smile that felt genuine. Uriel smiled a lot, but she knew many of them to be false or forced. “It takes a lot to change history, but you gave some individuals a true insight. Just, take it easy, alright?”
Sakura gave him a brisk wave and took to the skies, coming up level with the two angels outside. They dove towards Shadekeep, racing each other on the way over. It was a close race, but Sakura landed first. Sariel drifted in behind her and they turned around, staring at Arariel as he descended. A chill ran down her spine as the cold tinge in the air caught up with her, the membrane of her wings tingling in the cold.
“Any chance I could borrow those feathers of yours?” Sakura said as she shivered.
“They don’t work like that, I’m afraid,” Sariel responded, “a bit hard to stick back in and all of that.”
She laughed, beckoning them towards Shadekeep’s main entrance. The guards regarded them, their focus on Sariel. He earnt a scowl, but they allowed entry. As she stepped inside, Sakura paused to check in with the interior set of guards. It was still the same two on from earlier, so they should have seen Amnur both leave and return. They looked at each other, remarking that her father had not returned. No
w that they thought about it, it was strange.
“I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation,” Arariel said, holding on to her arm to calm her.
“Why don’t you get Sebastian to try Shae? If he’s anywhere in the forest, she’d know where,” Sariel stated. Sakura thought on it and nodded, he may have just visited her, losing track of time. He may have returned West to the house also, to give himself a secluded place to think. A light tug from Arariel directed her towards the King’s potential location, the ruling chamber. The guards outside there confirmed that, opening the doors for her.
On seeing the two angels flanking her, Sebastian assumed she brought good news. When she told him that Amnur had not returned, his expression sunk. He agreed with Sariel’s suggestion to contact Shae, it would be a quick solution. The King also warned her to take someone with her if she were going back West, it could be a trap.
“Arariel, can you fly back and inform Uriel? He’ll want to know about this,” Sariel said. The young angel deliberated for a moment, before agreeing. Sakura received one last squeeze as the mage departed, hurrying for Eriden. “I’ll come with you to the West, I imagine you want to fetch the tall one?”
“Abel, yes,” Sakura replied. She gave Sebastian a nod and a bow and then left the room herself. Sariel trailed her as she picked her way to the healing chamber, the place she expected Abel to be. As she stepped inside the hall, Dumon went to greet her but stopped short when he saw Sariel. He let out a sigh.
“While normally I would be excited to see an angel here, I take it there isn’t good news,” the healer stated, crossing his arms. His expression soured as Sakura explained, to hear Amnur targeted once again struck him hard. With Sebastian going after Shae and Uriel being informed by Arariel, there wasn’t much he could do to help, however. “I’ll get my tools ready in case of anything foul. Hopefully, he’s just off somewhere, though.”
“Thanks. Are you ready, Abel?” Sakura queried, seeing him helping with one of the guards on the far beds. He was shooed away by Solomon, who ensured him that he’s fine with the rest of the work.
“You expect him to be at the house, yes?” Abel said.
“I doubt he went to see Crono, as I’d imagine he’s pissed about the fact we left for the East.”
Crono’s opinion of the East was dire, and he was one to hold a grudge. Somehow she doubted that he was alright with them gallivanting over to the dark side, regardless whether it was intentional or not. Her father wanted quiet thinking time, not aggressive argument time. Abel agreed with her suspicions, the guilt over their disappearing act aiding his opinion. He didn’t want to face Crono, either. If he’s not there, then there was nowhere else in the West he would be.
Their pace was rapid as they exited Shadekeep, taking to the air as soon as they were clear. The sun was starting to sink as they approached the gap in the trees that Sakura knew as home, throwing ominous shadows over the boggy ground. Sakura landed on the ground below the porch and ascended the steps, taking a deep breath. She had her hand stopped by Abel as she went to open the door, with the demon pointing at a cobweb on the handle.
“This door hasn’t been opened for days,” Abel said, examining the spider web in detail, “there’s far too much here for a spider to have made today.”
“Shae might have the information we want?” Sariel replied, but even his voice failed to hide the doubt in his mind.
“Yeah. This place is dangerous now, anyway,” Sakura stated, letting out a sigh. Sariel’s tone echoed her thoughts; this is where he should be, given his desire for privacy and familiarity.
The flight back was fraught with worry. How was she going to react if the answer was no? If he wasn’t on the Central Isles, then where was he?
They touched down and stepped inside, with Sariel placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Sebastian was stood in the hallway with Shae, discussing the matter. The King turned his head towards her and frowned, shaking his head.
“It looks like our conclusions are the same,” he remarked. “Did your father have any past enemies that your mother may have known?”
“She knew his past, but he didn’t have enemies that I’m aware of. The family might’ve, though.”
“What’s the family name?”
“Firebringer,” Sakura replied. Sebastian thanked her and excused himself, leaving her with Shae and the others.
“He’s off to talk to someone in the South,” Shae explained, alleviating Sakura’s confusion. A sigh escaped the young woman’s lips, the situation had become complex. Another continent being involved could make acting difficult, along with the time gap to even get there in the first place. Amnur’s fate was uncertain, and at the mercy of Lilith.
Chapter 18: Confusion
Sebastian settled down in the communication hall, next to an underused orb. He placed his hands on the object and waited. It was some time before he heard anything crackle on the other side. The South had not been expecting a call. After a few moments of static, he heard a voice on the other side.
“Hello, can I help you?” it said, repeating the initial hello a few times. Due to the distance, the connection could be erratic. This time, however, it was just Sebastian debating his words.
“I have a question for you,” he said.
“Go on.”
“What does the name Firebringer mean to you?”
They stuttered in reply, before taking a moment to compose themselves. The King was unsure whether it was a male or female demon he was talking to, their voice was ambiguous.
“They’re a troubled family: the parents died twenty-five years ago, the youngest son never came home and the oldest two turned dark.”
Sebastian didn’t need Sakura to tell him that Amnur was the youngest in question, which gave him a lead as to who may have a grudge.
“By that you mean?”
“They turned against the remaining younger siblings, don’t know why. No one with any sense has any dealings with them to find out,” they said, giving Sebastian a warning. It gave the King what he wanted, even if he didn’t know how Lilith got in contact with them. That was a question for another day.
“Do you mind keeping me informed of anything new in regards to that?”
“…Sure.”
A strange request, or so his companion thought. He thanked them and broke the conversation off, changing his attention to Sakura outside. She needed to know, but he was wary of her response. The situation swam in his mind as he made his way back to the main corridor, spotting the group still waiting there. Shae was working on keeping Sakura calm, an deed she appreciated. When they spotted him, they turned their attention back towards him.
“I found something, but you’re not going to like it,” Sebastian said. Sakura’s bottom lip turned down, revealing the tips of her teeth. A sharp breath slipped past, awaiting the King’s verdict. As she heard it was down to a related family member, her dread switched to confusion. It matched Lilith’s ideal partner in crime, someone selected to cause Amnur maximum pain.
“A family member makes sense, though. No one heard a confrontation, nor is there any sign of one,” Shae remarked, placing a firm hand on Sakura’s shoulder. “Amnur knew his attacker.”
“It also means he’s not dead, hopefully. My contact didn’t say any of the siblings were dead, so they want something.”
Sakura twitched her wings as she thought on the matter. There was only one way to get Amnur back, and that was to go to the South. Lilith was too injured to be there herself, so it was whatever forces the siblings had mustered. She could get allies while out there to aid her, assuming she couldn’t save him herself.
“I need to go there, Sebastian,” Sakura said, her tone firm. His expression remained soft, her statement had not come as a surprise.
“It’s going to be a trap, but I’m not going to stop you. I can’t ask you to give up on your father.”
Sakura inhaled, stared, and then nodded.
“Take Solomon with you, he’s the bes
t I can offer you. Too many people would be suspicious and would hinder your efforts.”
Sebastian had a point, it had to look like a sightseeing trip. Whether the dubious siblings had any support in the South was unknown, so they had to avoid drawing attention to themselves. They were already going to be notable enough with one half-blind demon and an overly tall one with peculiar horns, but the less extra the better. Solomon was plain enough, at least. She excused herself to fetch the mage, leaving Abel trailing in her wake. He tossed Sebastian an apologetic gaze as he went, but the King just chuckled in reply.
Solomon’s jaw went slack as he heard the news, before having it propped up by Dumon. As he took the time to absorb the situation, the healer excused himself for a moment. He returned with a new set of clothes for him, better designed for walking around than his current robe.
“I don’t think I need to warn you that Amnur’s relatives are powerful mages,” Dumon remarked as he waited for Solomon to change. “That also applies if you get any onside, though.”
“A family war isn’t what I’m after, but they would provide the best support,” Sakura replied, taking in a sharp breath. “Assuming they don’t hate him, anyway.”
“Can’t give you an answer on that one, unfortunately. Just keep it in mind.”
Solomon distracted the conversation by presenting himself, now clad in some loose-fitting shirt and trousers. Compared to the iridescent robe he wore on a daily basis, he looked normal. The clothes weren’t to his taste, however. He fidgeted with them, with little success.
“You’re fine, don’t worry,” she said. Her words quieted the fussing, replacing it with a subtle blush.
“I’m just used to having easy access to my skin for, well, you know…”
Dumon clapped him on the back, reassuring him that it’ll be fine. He excused himself once more, this time returning a large rucksack. Inside the bag, Sakura could see spare clothes for her and Solomon, though anything for Abel was lacking or hidden. The lack of notice had caused a shortage of clothing, not that Abel wore much to start with.
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