(Jacob, 16)

"Your Highness!" Raphael, one of the Captains of the Royal Guard, bows after entering my office.

"Rise," I command, and he does. "I take it you have some report for me? Otherwise, I need to return to this."

My university homework. Even if I am acting as king at the moment, I still need to continue with my studies and earn decent grades. Taking a break right now is not feasible because of juggling that and my new duties. Even if I did, there is not much I can do. Just leaving the palace earns me glares and stares of disgust.

Even if many do not care about the rumors of heresy, they are still prominent throughout. Many have taken to believing what happened last weekend as a sign from the heavens, while some have taken it as foul play – caused by magic of man, not god.

"Yes, Your Highness," Raphael responds to my inquiry. "We believe we have found the Leviathan. He has been detained and is in a Trial Chamber."

The Leviathan struck again a few nights ago, taking out yet another noble dealing with the sex trade, this time in young men. So far, all but one of their targets have dealt in the sex trade, all of whom Papa has not been able to gather enough evidence to act against. Someone with a grudge against them, unwilling to wait for the evidence to appear.

"A Trial Chamber?" I ask. "Not a cell? He is a noble?"

Nobles are given the chance to confess in a Trial Chamber when there is a strong cause to believe of them of a crime, but no concrete evidence. If they refuse and the ruling judge determines them to have suspicion based on the evidence provided, then they will be sent to interrogation. If they confess and allow themselves to be inspected by an interrogator willingly, their sentence can be lightened based on their reason for their actions.

Unfortunately, it is only allowed in some circumstances, which is why we cannot simply take every person we know to be involved in the sex trades and put them into the Trial Chambers and under investigation.

"Yes, Your Highness," he answers. "We believe it to be Alex Amarxik, your Royal Rival."

"Alex?" I frown. "Did we not already clear him of suspicion? He does not possess the ability to conceal his residue."

"Sir," Raphael says. "Alex Amarxik has six members to his crew, and the Leviathan has six soldiers. Alex Amarxik is known for hating nobility, and all of the targets are nobility. Alex Amarxik and his half-brother, Jeddy, were the results of the sex slave trade, and all but one target dealt with the sex trade. We have investigated the whereabouts of each of his crew members, as well as Alex Amarxik himself, for the times of the attacks, and none have been found outside of what those seven claim."

In other words, they act as each other's alibis, which means there is no concrete proof of non-participation if all seven of them are suspected of participating.

Theoretically, there is enough cause to put him under interrogation, so I will need to rule that if he denies being the Leviathan. Alex is a known mind mage after his attack on an ogre, which means it is also possible he is adjusting memories to make it seem as if there is no residue, if he is the Leviathan.

"Very well," I stand. "Let us question him."

"Yes, sir!" Raphael nods, then leads me to the Trial Hall.

Alex is held is Trial Chamber One, and a small group of nobles are already present. Jason and Sage Elena are as well. I frown at their presence. More specifically, at Jason's. He is exhausted, and has barely slept this past week. I know he did something that nearly killed him, too, even if no one will say what. My friend and cousin is pale and shaky at all times now, and he needs to rest.

Were Jason a citizen of Varil, I could simply order him into bedrest. Instead, all I can do is request it of him as his friend, and of his papas and mamas as their ally. To make matters worse with Jason, it has become clear to all of us by the look in his eyes and change in his posture that something has depressed him.

He refuses to talk about it, putting a smile on his face, but the signs are there. We Magi can spot them easily, even if we have only memories and not the experiences with Nolan.

Alex waits on a stand, dressed in semi-decent clothes for once rather than the usual commoners' garb he ordinarily wears. The six members of his crew stand behind, all wearing commoners' garb, which suggests they were not with Alex when the Royal Guards brought them in.

Connor and Hailey are present as well, along with Lord Amarxik, who is giving Alex a disapproving stare. That does not surprise me. For him to find out his son may be accused of murdering nobles so soon after he declared Alex legitimate is a major issue for his status, especially if Alex is found guilty.

With a brief check as I walk to the dais, I determine that all of the seats are filled. More than one hundred observers to the proceedings which will occur. Word was likely sent out before I was alerted to this, so that nobles could potentially see justice being brought.

I step onto the dais and approach my stand, briefly skimming the notes left on it regarding this situation.

"On this twenty-fourth day," I say. "Of the year 1648 of the Varilite Calendar, I, Jacob Varil, Crown Prince and Acting King of Varil, begin this Nobles' Inquiry into the matter of whether or not Alex Amarxik is the entity known as the Leviathan who has been slaughtering members of the noble class.

"The cause of suspicion for this," I say, observing that Alex has his head held high, defiance in his eyes. This might not be the best thing to happen here. He will deny it, I can see it in his eyes, and he will fight back with his mind magics as the royal interrogators attempt to delve in. "Is several factors. By themselves, they can mean nothing. When placed together, however, they lead to reasonable suspicion.

"Alex Amarxik," I say. "These reasons are-"

I cut off as seven forms appear in the room between Alex and myself. One stands in front, the other six in a line behind them. All seven wear dark blue cloaks and masks, not a single trace of their bodies visible, not even their eyes.

The supposed outfits of the Leviathan and his soldiers, and the one in front is around Alex's height. A quick check informs me that the other six match the heights of Alex's crew – the supposed heights of the Leviathan and his soldiers were matching with Alex and his crew, another point of suspicion towards them.

"Alex Amarxik is not the Leviathan," a voice shrouded and layered by magic to mask it speaks. "I am the vigilante known as the Leviathan, a name taken to honor my papa, the Leviathan."

The man in front pushes back the hood of his cloak as he pulls off his mask, allowing us to see the unworldly beauty of the being within the cloak. He possesses hair the green of seaweed, his skin smooth and flawless, silver streaks swirling around his temples and jaw. Silver eyes fixed on me, the god removes his cloak, hanging it over his arm, revealing a dark outfit beneath which exactly matches that which the Leviathan and his soldiers were said to wear.

The moment his cloak is off, his divine aura fills the room.

"Sralnar!" Jason calls out, pure rage in his voice. "What is the meaning of this?"

I look over as Jason speaks, finding my cousin pulling Reaper out of his tooth's storage, its disturbing presence. I do not remember Sralnar, but Jason's reaction suggests this is not one of the rare good gods.

"Hello, Jason," Sralnar speaks, inclining his head towards my cousin. "I am simply here to disprove the accusations against Alex Amarxik. I mean no ill harm."

"I find that difficult to believe," Jason growls. "Do you remember why I sealed you away? What you did to those people was unforgivable! Consider yourself lucky to still exist!"

"You cannot fool me, Jason," Sralnar says. "I have observed you these last few months. You may have that sword, but it is a tool for threats with your current state. If we fought, you would lose. As I said, I have no come for ill intent."

He gestures to the six behind him, and they remove their masks and hoods, revealing six very mortal faces of varying nationalities and of both sexes.

"I had more than two thousand years," Sralnar tells Jason. "To think about why you, of all beings, would take a personal interest in the war. Why your rage would peak so high as to personally descend upon this mortal world, taken mortal form.

"My conclusion," Sralnar says. "Was that you were furious about what we were doing to Midlaris and his children. You wished to protect them, so you and the others personally came down, taking mortal forms. You could have simply ended the battle with a single appearance of your true self. Instead, you acted as a mortal.

"The reason for that puzzled me," Sralnar said. "After the seal on me wore away, I spoke with various mortals in my attempt to understand what could possibly motivate you to do that. Eventually, I came to the realization that you had done it not just to end the war, but to make it clear to we gods that mortals are not as helpless as they might appear. That mortals can acquire the power to fight us on equal terms, and we should be more mindful of them.

"So I created a new purpose for myself," Sralnar told Jason. "If you wished to protect mortals, then I would as well. For the last thousand years, I have watched over them, restricting myself into a certain region, a certain town. A sanctuary, built for victims of results of the sex trade, something both you and my papa would hate. These six behind me were rescued from such things.

"While doing this," he continues. "I also kept a sense out for other gods, while still concealing my presence. Enaveka and Moltriossa are not easy beings to evade the notice of. If I sensed another god become free, I investigated them, and if they turned out to be a threat to the mortals you love so much, I killed them.

"A few months ago," Sralnar says. "I realized that despite my efforts at protecting the victims, the actual trade itself was flourishing even more than before. So I decided to take action and begin putting it down. I did not mean to cause issue for Alex."

Sralnar turns and steps past his… people. Then, he kneels before Alex.

"Alex Amarxik," he says. "Ambassador of Their Majesties, I ask that you forgive me for the trouble I have caused you."

Alex looks both startled and stunned, and I realize that Sralnar has an even bigger motive for coming. He has specifically referenced Jason as something other than mortal, and just called Alex an Ambassador of 'Their Majesties'. For a god, that would mean the King and Queen of the Gods.

Tasha and Niko have been suspected of being Magi as well, due to their betrothal to Lina and me, and we know it is only a matter of time before the rest of the Magi are ousted. Sralnar saying what he just said does not reveal our true identities, yet still suggests that what Enaveka said about us serving a higher power is true.

A god bowing to Alex in front of more than one hundred nobles is pretty strong evidence of that.

"A-accepted," Alex manages to say, then Sralnar stands and faces Jason, bowing again.

"My Lord," Sralnar says. "Please forgive me for not revealing myself to you before. I realized early that if I did, that if you saw my village, you would misinterpret it as me attempting to regain power and attempt to slay me over what I did during the war. Were it not for your current state of injury, I would have approached Lord Jacob when you were not present, and not revealed my divine aura, as you would have slain me without hesitation. What I did back then is an unforgivable issue to you, and I have come to realize this. I pray to Their Majesties that you will see my actions now are meant to protect mortals. It appears I still have much to learn."

"Cease slaying them," Jason says. "If you wish to protect them, then they are to be brought to justice. This is not a war, and you do not simply slay those who break the law. They are criminals, not enemies."

"Y-yes," Sralnar says meekly. "I will assemble all of the evidence required to bring them to trial, then."

The god hesitates for a moment, then looks at Jason with a frown.

"What is needed to take them to trial?"

Jason sighs, then looks at Sage Elena.

"Can you give me a paper and pen?"

I do my best not to snort at that. As Jason puts Reaper away and begins writing with the supplied tools, I examine the nobles. Nearly all of them look stunned and feeling a mixture of awe and fear. The normal response a mortal has to a god's presence. Sralnar has suppressed the part which causes mortals to bow, which might be why Jason is considering believing him. Connor and Hailey are watching with wariness, something Lord Amarxik has noticed. Alex's crew seems to be staring at Sralnar in a different type of awe from others.

When Jason finishes writing, he uses air magic to send the paper down to Sralnar, and it seems to be a rather lengthy writing in the ancient tongue. I suppose he wishes to ensure Sralnar understands what is necessary.

"Thank you, milord," Sralnar inclines his head once more. "I will see to it the necessary evidence is brought forth."

"And remember," Jason points at finger at him in warning. "Do not falsify the evidence. Only true evidence. Do not think I am powerless just because of my state. I fed Enamas to a leviathan, and he was three times as powerful as you are."

Sralnar gulps, clearly intimidated.

If Sralnar is weaker than Enamas, it seems he will not be able to lift the curse of the beast god's ill intent on Jason.

The god turns to me, and gives me a slight bow.

"Lord Jacob," he says. "Forgive my intrusion, and for the hassle my actions have caused. We shall be leaving now."

Sralnar and his soldiers disappear, and the room remains silent for several moments as the nobles attempt to process that a second god has shown that we Magi serve a higher power. I sigh, then look at Jason.

"Who, exactly, is Sralnar?" I ask. "I do not remember him from the war."

"A son of Leviathan," Jason answers. "Who caused some hassle for us towards the end of the war. He was one of the first gods I sealed away."

He scratches the back of his neck as he thinks for a moment.

"I'd forgotten about him until he appeared here," Jason shrugs. "He was a little too powerful for me to kill, so I tricked him into a trap and sealed him away, the normal method for me against gods too powerful for my at the time of the end of the war. He wasn't one of the ones I sealed away as punishment, like the one in a certain crown."

The Crown of Anotis, into which he sealed a god as punishment to serve as a healer and life-giver to the mortals the god had abused.

"I see," I say, then sweep my gaze across the room. "It appears the identity of the Leviathan has been solved. Alex Amarxik, you and your six crewmates have been cleared of suspicion on this matter, as a god has personally identified himself as the one taking on that name and mantle. This session is now over. Thank you, everyone, and please travel safely on your way home."

I retreat out of the room and hastily make my way to a break room, collapsing onto a couch. The presence of a god there was terrifying, and I am grateful that he did not hold ill intent towards us. It is doubtful the normal humans here will remember what he said clearly, so I will need to wait and see what their memories say occurred here.

After several minutes, I am joined by Jason and Sage Elena, and a single look at Jason is all I need to know.

"Sage Elena," I say. "Please order Jason into bedrest for at least a week. If he continues as he is, he will kill himself again."

"The only way they can stop me," Jason says. "Is to put magic-draining cuffs on me, and if they do that, they'll set back my healing further, as I won't be able to hold myself together. I'll be fine, Jacob."

"So that is the presence of a god," Sage Elena decides to ignore my request, probably because Jason is right. "It was… terrifying."

"Be grateful he wasn't hostile," Jason says. "I may have had to try and use Reaper. You saw the aftermath of my fight against Enamas. Sralnar may not be as powerful as that beast god, but he's still a God of the Second Order. To think he'd cover for Alex… that's impressive. But it's a sign he was genuine."

"Covering for Alex?" I ask. "What do you mean?"

"Hm?" Jason asks, and Sage Elena gives him a hard stare. "I, ah, had ordered Fox Alpha to stick near him after the coup. The word of a stuffie isn't admissible in court yet, though, so I couldn't exactly say 'my stuffed fox just watched Alex slaughter a noble and rescue victims of the sex trade'. I did tell him after that to stop Alex from doing it again, as well as to investigate the source."

"So it was Alex?" I ask. "I suppose his hatred of the sex slave-"

"Had nothing to do with it," Jason shakes his head as he collapses onto the couch opposite me. "He told me that Alex has been receiving letters, then just going off and doing stuff around that time."

"Letters?" I ask. "Someone is paying Alex to?"

"Fox Alpha showed me the handwriting on the most recent one," Jason shook his head. "It was your Papa, Jacob. Alex was acting under the orders of the King of Varil. Sralnar must have wanted to protect Alex. The fact that he was doing it from the start suggests he'd been watching his papa."

"Protecting-" I start to ask, then realize that Jason is referring to the concealment of magical residue. "Right. I never did quite understand just what it meant when you said that there might be gods you forgot about or did not detect. This was quite the slap to make me realize that."

"Yeah," Jason scratches the back of his neck again.

"Jason," I say, deciding not to let him say whatever he is contemplating. "Your illusion is fading. It is obvious that you are suffering pretty badly because of your work ever since the attempt. Please get some rest."

"I-"

"Think of your mamas and papas," I interrupt, even if I know that is against the codes. Here, now, I am not Prince Jacob, Crown Heir to the throne of Varil. Right now, I am Jacob, friend and cousin to Jason. "They cannot force you into rest without setting your healing back, but they are worried about you. It is stressing them out to see you hurting yourself like this just to help me and protect me."

His gaze turns downward.

"Think of Niko," I tell him. "You are his rock more than anything, his first friend, and the person who has helped him the most when it comes to overcoming what his childhood did to him, what his treatment by his people and family did to him. It is you who helped him begin to speak Varilan better, who helped him better understand the fundamentals of magic and remind him of his full standing from the past. Think of how seeing you destroy yourself to protect your friends is doing to him."

Jason's gaze turns down even more.

"Most importantly," I say. "Think of Alex, Jason. He is your love, and you are his. Right now, he is destroying himself mentally because you are destroying yourself physically. Put yourself in his boots, Jason. How would you feel if the roles were reversed, and it was Alex doing this?"

Jason's face flushes red, though only the part not created by an illusion. He sighs, then stands and looks at Sage Elena.

"Gate to home, please?" He says quietly, and she opens one.

Jason steps through it, then she closes it and looks at me.

"We tried that already," she says. "It seems coming from a friend hit it harder than from us."

"Or just hearing someone else saying it, too," I stand. "A god showing up is going to be quite the hassle to take care of, and I need to finish my homework. One of my instructors wants an essay regarding the Battle of Fort Zenval by tomorrow, assigned today, and we have not learned about it in university, so I need to look things up."

"Good luck," she smiles. "Are you giving Tasha time as well?"

"I am attempting to," I tell her. "But with university and my duties as acting king, it is not easy to squeeze in any time for her. Do you know how Papa is doing?"

"I wish I could say," she says sadly, her gaze turning downwards. "But unfortunately, the guardian of the sanctuary will not talk to me, or even allow me in, without Jason's token, and Jason claims he cannot just communicate with her."

Does that mean Papa's condition has worsened?

"I am sure he is fine," Sage Elena smiles at me, and I realize my worry must have shown on my face. "Jason is likely as worried for your papa as you are. If his condition were worse, Jason would have mentioned it."

"I am worried for Jason as well," I tell her.

"We all are," she steps closer and places a hand on my shoulder. "Jason is willing to hurt himself more just to help you or others be safer. Alyssa had a difficult enough time convincing him not to work on the statues."

Several of them have already been set up. The initial ones are being placed around the palace grounds, then once those are set up, more will be set up throughout Varilsy, until the entire city is protected by them.

"There is more to it than that," I hesitate for a moment. "Jason is a member of the Dragon Clans. Recently, I remembered a legend I had heard as Ethan which regards them. It was told to me by a shaman living near where they are located around two hundred years after the war."

"A legend?" She asks.

"Yes," I nod. "And it might explain why Jason – and Nolan – is so intent on protecting those dear to him, even at the cost of his own health or life.

"In the time of dragons," I begin the tale. "Five stood upon Midlaris. Red, of rage and fury. Black, of arrogance and sloth. Copper, of magic and greed. Silver, and lust and strength. Gold, of all the others. Pride throughout, the dragons reigned the world.

"Then came the Dragon Wars," I continue. "Which shattered the land, leaving little behind. The dragons, no longer in the numbers they were in, split apart, taking to their own regions to live. Only a handful of each remained, living alone and in peace, ruling over the mortals below.

"Then came the plague," I continue. "Which targeted the copper dragons. Perhaps it came from another dragon, perhaps from mortals, or perhaps it came from Pestilence. The copper dragons began to weaken and die.

"Near the time of the last of the coppers," I continue. "A great being descended from the heavens, the Dragon of Dragons, King of All Beasts and Lord of All Magic. The deity looked upon the coppers and asked 'what is it that you wish for?' The coppers responded 'to die among the mortals which we ruled, so that we may see what death is like from their perspective'.

"And so," I continue. "The Dragon of Dragons granted their wish, twisting their words to grant it. He transformed the coppers into the forms of mortals, though humans they were not. The blood of dragons ran through their veins, their old ways still within their hearts and souls. But their wish had been granted, for they would live as mortals and die as mortals, rather than as the mighty dragons they were within."

Sage Elena frowns as she hears the tale, but I know she understands the message. Even if she knows that Jason is the Divine Dragon, that is something a lot more difficult to really comprehend than this, especially with what she knows of reincarnation.

This tale I heard back as Ethan, however, makes it more clear. It is in Jason's blood to act as a dragon would, and he has told all of us how the silver and gold dragons vary from red and black. They care for their family, living in groups as opposed to alone.

If the tale is true, then it also means the Delvarkari are dragons. Or at least, their ancestors were. It explains a lot about them, too. Why they are so powerful, why they can see magic, and many other things.

"So Jason will continue," she says. "If it means protecting you all, no matter what happens to him?"

"Yes," I tell her. "I mean, you already knew this, but I hope that tale tells you more about why. Jason cannot help it, it is part of his ancestral instincts, not just a part of his personality."

I laugh as I remember something else.

"Just be glad," I tell her. "That we are not at the point yet where Jason is sniffing out danger towards us before it happens. Many a time did that happen during the war, and it annoyed all of us. We would be sitting at a campfire, then Nolan would suddenly announce a god has sent a plague towards us, or an army of demons is headed our way, or some such thing."

Sage Elena laughs at that news, and I take a deep breath to calm myself back down a little, then stand. I need to return to work.

(Niko, 16)

"Good job," Lina pats me on the back as I grab a cup of water and drain it.

"Thank you," I tell her, then turn to face Adam, who is taking his own drink at the moment.

Adam has spent every moment he can training his magic since we returned from the training camp. Even if he was only middle green at its end, his intense training has brought him up to lower blue, even if barely. I am at upper blue, nearing lower indigo, so I am around three times as powerful as him.

Despite that, we decided to train together today. We have our aural sheaths active, as no one can spy on us while we are in the warehouse. Lina and Elise have theirs active as well, as do Eli and Lina's guards. The five of them are doing it to help train their magical power, while Adam and I are doing so for that and to help shield us against the other's attacks.

Our training today was sparring, but not with our affinities. Adam fought me with curse and earth magics as I attacked him with fire and energy magics. This is intended on helping us raise our affinities for those, increasing our abilities with them. As we sparred, we gave advice on the other's spells to assist them with errors we caught in them.

"Good job," I tell Adam.

"You as well," he tells me. "You are improving with the flame whip quite nicely."

"You are improving with the spike manipulation quite nicely," I return the compliment.

"You are both improving quite nicely," Lina tells us, and I look at her. "Time for Elise and I to spar, now."

I pull Lina in for a kiss while Adam does the same for Elise, then the two ladies step into the shielded space. Elise might be warrior, but that does not matter for this fight. Lina is lower green, bordering on middle green, while Elise is lower green, around halfway through it. Their power levels are quite close to each other, and this is a training match.

Both are skilled enough to hold against the other, but they are not using their normal styles. Lina will be fighting with a sword while Elise fights as a magician. They will work on helping the other, much like Adam and I did with each other.

"Good luck," I tell Lina.

"Good luck, "Adam tells Elise.

"Good luck, both of you," Eli says. "Begin!"

Even if this is a training match, I hope Lina beats Elise.