Votran Academy: Headmaster’s Office

“Keldin, Report!”

“Yes sir! Unfortunately we have still been unable to find them.”

“Come on, Dangit! Give me something to work with!” Earlstine said, as he slammed his fist on his desk in frustration. “A whole squad of mine ends up going missing, just like that, and we can’t even find a clue?”

“Sir!” Another voice echoed as a man rushed into the office. “We found something.”

“What is it?”

“We discovered a fire pit nearby their objective, one that had apparently been used recently.”

“Oh?” Earlstine looked up.

“And that’s not all. We found an anomaly-an area that contained a concentration of a strange type of energy, consistent with our research on the shade. But here’s the interesting thing-all the shade had been annihilated, but it had apparently been done after the squad had left. Furthermore, we found poison on sever cuts on the shad beasts-the kind hemlock uses.”

“Hmm. In reference to some incidents a few years back, it would appear that Hemlock is searching for someone…”

“Vwrrr”

A man clothed in black steel armor stepped out.

“Votran secret service? What are they here for?”

“Alright Keldin, Endel, keep it up. You may go”

“Sir!”

“Clink, clink, clink” “Thunk” The man walked in, locking the door behind him.

“Earlstine.”

“Yes? How may I help you?”

“Orvan requests an audience with Reylor and Elany. Escort them securely.”

“I am afraid that will be a bit difficult right now… Their squad has gone missing recently, and we have yet to locate them, though rest assured, we will put forth every effort to find them.”

“Find them soon, or there will be consequences.” “Vrrrooop”

The man left through a spatial gate without even waiting for a reply.

Earlstine sighed. Something is going on…

*** *** ***

Two days later:

“Find the most open route to the destination. That’s right. Strengthen the weak channels outside of combat, but only use the strong ones while fighting, if you can help it. Nope, nope, not quite. Yes, that’s it, that’s the right path for this spell.”

“So, are you guys ready?” Xendus asked, as he approached the pair of individuals.

In the past couple of days, Lucy had been instructing Reylor on ways to channel magic more efficiently. His meridians already made him superhuman, but that did not mean he couldn’t improve further. In fact that was probably a necessary lesson before the big event, considering how much magic is necessary to maintain a magical domain.

Reylor dispersed a ball of water magic, and Lucy dropped her hand off Reylor’s arm as Xendus approached.

“I think so,” Reylor replied, while Lucy nodded her head.

“Alright! I’ve discussed the rest of the plan with everyone else, so let’s head back and get this show started!” Xendus said, clapping his hands together.

“Yes, let’s get this over with.”

*** *** ***

The royal palace, at the center of the Vilnor Empire:

Several spatial gates opened at various locations around the palace, and several people walked out. They walked to their respective posts, each wearing a mysterious ring, and thereby melding in with the crowds.

The proceedings for Orvan’s meeting would be held outside, in the courtyard behind the palace to accommodate the number of people—which was great. Several thousand people filled the seats laid out. The ranged anywhere from regional lords to Vilnor Secret Service agents. Of course magic academy headmasters also attended as well. It was a grand occasion.

Reylor discreetly slipped in, as well as Xendus, Elany, and Eric, using documentation forged through Xendus’s connections.

Meanwhile, everyone else stayed outside the intended are of the domain, to catch anyone who should try to escape and to repel any reinforcements Orvan might summon.

Reylor looked over at Xendus. Xendus nodded.

“Zrrroop” an official erected a sound barrier over the convention area.

“Light of the angels, brought to this world of fate.

Hear the song, hear the chorus of the light that once was…”

Reylor mouthed the words as he slowly chanted words born not from letters, but from a living picture, once printed on the scroll, and now imprinted in his mind.

“Let the morning end, and the day return to rest.

“Let the judgment of mortals and end of demons be. Hear the sound of what was lost and return to time immortal.

“This our song: Angelic Elegy!”

Orvan stood up to speak, as the words flew from the mouth of Reylor with power.

Orvan's eyes widened, as Earlstine’s shrank to needles.

“Zzzt” It was as if a shock exploded from Reylor’s position. The ground turned to a golden-white color that was very harsh on the eyes.

Reylor and Xendus stood up and took off their rings. Elany followed behind them, but left her ring on at this point.

Seeing who it was, Orvan began to tremble, slumping into his chair. “g-g-guards! Kill them!”

Several people stepped forward and began chanting incantations and making motions. If it weren’t for the seriousness of the situation Earlstine and several educators would have doubled over from laughter. Even in this circumstance, he couldn’t help but give a snort. “They’ve got us good. Our magic is useless, and they have an auramancer.”

“Well played Xendus,” Earlstine called out, as he slowly clapped his hands. “I assume that you wanted our attention? Well, you have mine undividedly. We are cornered, and I know it. Yet I have a feeling that you aren’t here to murder us all, though, so tell us: What are you here for?”

“What is going on? Why aren’t you guys doing anything?” Orvan asked with a wavering voice.

“Earlstine is right. I am here for your attention. For the rest who are ignorant of your situation, let me explain,” Xendus began. “Right now you are under the effects of the divine domain “Angelic Elegy,” hence all non-divine combat magic is now useless. Furthermore, my friend outside of here has also enveloped the area in a spatial lock, so teleportation without a relic will not be possible.

“So now that you have your most immediate concern answered, I will continue with the pressing matter at hand. I could tell directly what concerns me, but I believe a little show-and-tell will be more effective for this lot.”

Xendus pulled a stone out of a sack he held in his other hand.

“He knows the elves,” a scholar voiced with reverence, after seeing an inscription on the stone.

“Crunch” Xendus crushed the stone. Strange energies immediately dissipated, but then came back together to reveal a faint picture. It was a picture of Orvan sitting in his private office.

The picture began to change, revealing a silent video.

“Wh-wha-what is this?” Make it stop! Guards, kill him! Why haven’t you moved?” None budged. They knew that attacking Xendus at this time would only be a futile waste of their lives.

The Picture continued moving, showing Orvan walk over to a rug and move it away from a trap door it had been covering. The trap door opened, and a man walked out to converse with Orvan.

Now the picture was too blurry to make out exactly who this man was, but still, it brought questions to the minds of those present.

“Everyone, this meeting is over, you are dismissed!” Orvan summoned what little courage he had to attempt a salvage of the situation.

Many people got up and began to heading out.

“Grrr” “Arf, Arf!”

But it was only for them to be met with a legion of shade beasts. Khes had been sent off to the Votran woods earlier and dutifully killed and collected a plethora of shade beasts. After Reylor shuttled the remaining crew to the palace, he set up a semi-permanent spatial gate, which Khes then used to return from the woods of Votran with his hoard. Everyone was here to stay until Xendus could say what he needed to.

“Now, does anyone know where that entrance leads to?”

No one spoke.

“Do we have any wind mages here that would like to verify?”

“I’ll go” the scholar voiced out.”

“You dare?” Orvan squeaked out. By now his face was so pale that it was a wonder he hadn’t fainted yet.

“To be honest, I’m a lot more scared of that guy than you right now,” the scholar said while motioning to Reylor. When one invoked a domain, their eyes would reflect that, so it was quite obvious that Reylor was the one holding it up.

“Khes!” Xendus shouted, and the shade beasts opened a path into the palace.

Eric had already undone any enchantments blocking the way, so the scholar entered with ease, and returned shortly with dull look.

“So? What did you find?” Earlstine asked.

“I’m afraid I cannot safely guess where it leads,” the scholar said flatly.

“Well put,” Xendus said. “However, I am not afraid to say the truth. The tunnel leads nearby the camp of Hemlock!”

Xendus then pinched various stones in rapid sequence, showing more people coming and going from the tunnel. Some would just talk and then leave. Others would receive documents and currency sacks from Orvan.

“Lies! He’s framing us! We are in a mind-altering domain!” Orvan stood up, his pale face now replaced with red and accompanied with a murderous aura.

Xendus snapped his fingers and Orvan immediately passed out, falling back into his seat.

“Even if he has done business with Hemlock, that still does not excuse your insubordination.” Earlstine said with a glare.

“Think of the most extensive actions Hemlock has taken. How many assassinations have taken place or at least been attempted. What has been similar is that in every single case where the person was not extraordinarily rich. What did these people have in common?” Xendus asked.

“They have blood from conquered nations. Think of Helen,” Xendus looked directly into Earlstine's eyes. “She was originally part of the Shildwell Empire. Do you think it is a coincidence that she was the only person in Votran who was ordered to be assassinated by a hand other than yours? “

Another voice broke their locking gazes. “Who’s the girl? Why are you putting her through this?”

“Tell them.” Was all Xendus said, to the girl as a few tears of anger and sadness rolled down her cheek.

“I’m Elany.” She choked out before managing to clear her voice a bit. “My name is Elany, and my home town is, or was, Splendor!”

“Woah.” A murmur spread through the crowd.

“Our town was beautiful. Yeah, there were shades there, but Uncle and Queen protected us. We were a farming village, and I was the assistant to our chief. We lived simple lives, but we were happy just being able to live and love each other.

“And then one day it all changed. Reylor and I went on a trip to a nearby village for an errand. When we came back, Splendor was gone. Wiped out. There were over 60 people there, and over half of them were women and children, but Vilnor… Vilnor murdered them all!”

“They are gone. Nearly all of them. My friends and my family.”

More murmurs went through the crowd, some of them were quite moved by this point, and were eager to hear what else Xendus had to say. Still, not everyone was convinced.

“Away with all your mumbo jumbo! So what if that was the case? What right do you have to speak against the royal household?” A noble called out from the crowd.

“Proof? You want more proof?

“Very well, then. I suspected there would be people here whose hearts had become numb to the cries of your charges. In that case, let us answer you as thus!”

“Queen” Xendus called out.

A woman in white mage robes gracefully walked in, while the shade beasts surrounding the area dispersed. Khes’s service was no longer needed, considering that Xendus had the audience’s attention fully captured at this point.

“Woah” “Is that who I think it is?” “Wow, they are in league with her, no wonder they are doing these things!” “Yeah, it’s her. I saw the whole incident with my own eyes that day.”

Many things were said as she—the Crystal Witch—walked down the aisle to the front.

A smooth, glassy voice followed. “Do we have a scholar of history in the audience?”

“Many of us know history quite well. Go on.” Earlstine said curtly. His mood had become even worse when she entered the area.

“Can someone tell me what happened at the beginning, how Vilnor became a kingdom?”

“Of course, the race of the Praefecti g-granted the land and resources to begin with, and supported them through their unification of the various cities within the region.” Earlstine stuttered upon noticing something. A small knot started forming in his stomach.

“And what were the conditions of rulership over your fellow man?”

Earlstine wore a blank look. “Conditions? I don’t remember hearing anything about conditions before.”

“They were these.” A sagely voice came from an old man in one of the back rows.

“They were to protect those they ruled over and to live in harmony with the other races around them.”

“Correct. And what would happen if they failed to keep these conditions?”

“The Vilnor bloodline would be cut off.”

“Oooh.” Another murmur went through the audience.

“This is correct.”

“Now, how has Vilnor kept these conditions?”

No one spoke. It was obviously a rhetorical question, seems how Vilnor was out to subjugate every other nation and race; and Vilnor's tactics to remain in power included atrocious acts against the common populace, including what happened to Splendor.

“And how did Vilnor treat the Praefecti, who so graciously brought it to rise as a nation?”

“Have you become so dull you don’t even know what happened 40 years ago? How you murdered them in cold blood?” Queen asked with an unnaturally sharp voice. She paused for a moment to keep her emotions in check.

“Well, it does not matter at this point, for the fate of Vilnor had already been set.”

At this point Orvan had reawakened, but this time he shut up and didn’t dare to make anymore of a scene, though his rage was boiling inside of him.

“With such an elaborate, deceitful, back-stabbing trap, you thought you had killed them all, and were now free of your oath. But you were wrong.”

“My name Queensilvia Praefectus. I am here to avenge my family, and to reclaim the kingdom that is mine by right!”

The final words deviated from her normal soft, cool tone. Instead they carried power like a flood, as a domineering, yet ethereal voice rang out. She discarded her white robe to reveal her true self. White hair cascaded over her shoulders, ending partway down the back of a light-blue sleeveless dress which was trimmed with golden thread and embroidered with mystical shapes. Her eyes glowed with a white color, as did her veins as well. She appeared like a goddess who had descended from the clouds. Everyone was dumbstruck

With graceful steps, she floated over to the seat of the emperor, Orvan Vilnor.

And she plunged a dagger into his heart.