Chapter XXIII

In the aftermath of Eric’s departure, Album immediately cursed herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. She had been telling both herself and Nigreos that they couldn’t afford to lose their composure when dealing with the boy, and not less than a week ago, she criticized her partner for doing just that. And yet, there she was, making the exact same mistake. Eric Reiner was good at getting under her skin, and as he kept pushing for answers he didn’t need, she found herself growing more and more angry before lashing out with what she knew would cause him the most pain. But by doing that, she essentially confirmed for him that she knew something everybody else did not, and that single mistake could be detrimental. Of course, she wasn’t worried about him telling Reigious or the rest of the Masters for she was certain most of them would never take his word over hers. Instead, she was worried about him bringing that information back to Ryokumo.

He already suspects I’m lying to him, so if Eric tells him what I just said, I doubt I’ll be able to convince him that the boy is wrong. And if Ryokumo starts putting his theories in Nigreos’s head, I may not be able to keep denying it. Damn it!

Album slammed her fist against her coffee table before putting her head in her hands.

I’ve gotten so good at keeping my emotions in check, then this damned child comes along and suddenly I’m making amateurish mistakes? Why? Why does he have this effect on me? Why do I care so much about shutting down this little investigation into his mother? Have I been wrong all this time? Does Abi still have such power over me, even now?

The Master of Light clenched her teeth before leaning her back up against the couch. Eric needs to go—either to erasure or to death. He has too much power over us between his blood protection and his resemblance to his mother. I don’t believe Nigreos when he says he can kill Eric if he’s forced to. When the time comes, he won’t be able to do it, which means I have to be the one to kill him. It has to be me. If Nigreos has to bear the burden of killing Abi then I’ll bear the burden of killing her son.

She just hoped that Nigreos was able to acquire anything useful from Nuvo Tannath that might enable them to break past the blood magic. If that trip into the market was successful, then she wouldn’t even need to kill him. She could just erase him the same way she had with the others in Omaruo. That way, everybody would win. Nigreos, Ryokumo, and the rest of Ijiria would forget he ever existed, and Eric could spend the rest of his days with his friends, oblivious to magic once more. It was the ideal conclusion.

And you’re preventing it, Abi. If you hadn’t put that protection over him, he could be happy right now. But instead, he’s pushing far too close to a truth that could ruin everything. Was this what you wanted? Was this what you foresaw when you protected him from me?

Part of Album wished that Abigail Reiner could be there to see what her protection had done—for her to know that even that had failed. Everybody praised her like a golden child, and yet, when had she ever truly succeeded when it mattered? She failed her family, she failed her adoptive children, she failed her friends, and she failed Ijiria.

And all for what?

Album’s thoughts were then cut off by a knocking at her door, telling her that Nigreos had returned from his meeting with Nuvo. She quickly calmed herself and got to her feet before calling out for the visitor to come in. Yet, to her utter dismay, Nigreos Noctis wasn’t the only one who entered into her quarters. Following right behind him was Ryokumo Caeli, a smug grin on his face, telling her that he had expected such an irritated expression from her upon his arrival.

“What are you doing here, Caeli?” she demanded instantly, briefly glaring at Nigreos before turning back to stare at the Master of Wind.

The man chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly. “Good to see you, too, Album. As it so happens, I ran into Nigreos on my way back from investigating in the market and, when he said he planned to come speak with you, I thought I’d tag along. We haven’t spoken in quite some time, after all, and it saddens me that our relationship has become so distant.”

Album narrowed her eyes, sensing sarcasm behind his tone. “And why were you in the market so late at night? Cartus has been here all day so I didn’t think there was any investigation taking place today.”

“Yes, well, as it so happens, I am an adult and, therefore, do not need Sinna Cartus to chaperone me every time I head into the city,” he replied wryly. “And besides, it wasn’t officially an investigation. I suspect that Hannah and Kirisan go into the market for food and other supplies and, since I spent so much time with them in the dungeons, I know their mana signatures quite well. I was hoping I might find them, but alas, I found nothing aside from my dear friend.”

He indicated Nigreos with a wave of his hand, and when Album turned to regard her partner, she could see him staring at the ground, as if feeling awkward while listening to their back-and-forths.

“And while it’s on my mind,” Ryokumo went on. “What were you doing in the market, Nigreos? I didn’t realize you appreciated shopping.”

The Master of Darkness shrugged. “Nothing all that interesting, to be honest. I just went down there to visit Abi’s monument. Everything going on with Eric has made me think of her more often than usual, so I thought it was time to pay my respects again.”

Album internally scoffed as she realized that, while Nigreos had left out the details surrounding Nuvo, he wasn’t lying. He must have actually stopped by her monument before returning to the Citadel.

Well, that explains what took him so long.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Ryokumo said, his tone suddenly softening. “I’ve been thinking about her alot, too. It’s been a strange few months, hasn’t it?”

“It has,” Nigreos murmured.

For a moment, the room went quiet, and Album could tell that both men had gone deep in thought, probably reminiscing about the past, much like she had been before they arrived. However while she was certain that they were looking at it with fondness, she had only seen it with anger and anguish.

“So, why are you two here?” Album inquired, wanting to move the conversation along so she could get Ryokumo out of her quarters. “What did you want to discuss?”

She knew Nigreos had intended to fill her in on what happened with Nuvo, but with Ryokumo present, he would have to come up with some other excuse.

“Nothing all that important,” Nigreos said. “I guess…I just didn’t feel like going back to my quarters yet so I figured I’d check in with you.” He paused for a moment as he took a seat on the couch, then went on as if something had occurred to him. “Have you spoken to Reigious within the last few days?”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t. Why?”

“Well, it seems he’s considering sending the two of us up north within the next few weeks or so,” Nigreos replied with a grimace. “Tensions on the Trovian border are getting worse and he fears a potential uprising in Harunhein. While we were in Omaruo, he sent Master Taurus up there to deter any attacks, but with the hunt for Malt Territh going on, he hasn’t been able to return to his post.”

“And so he wants the two of us to trek up there just to scare off some Trovians?” Album rolled her eyes. “He’s being too paranoid. Trovia’s all talk. They’re not stupid enough to actually wage a war against us—a war they know they’ll lose. Say what you wish about King Tyrus, but he’s not that much of a fool.”

“While I agree with you there,” Ryokumo chimed in, “It does make you wonder if perhaps the Trovian King knows something we do not. Malt Territh is a guide, and if he were to find his way into Trovia and make contact with the capitol, then the entire army could be granted guideship, making the protections on the Citadel pointless.”

Nigreos nodded solemnly. “And I’m sure the prince has that in mind, but Album isn’t wrong either. After all, any Trovians gifted guideship would still have to reach the Citadel to make it worth anything, and there isn’t a version of reality where they ever achieve such a thing.”

“Which is why I think sending us to Harunhein is unnecessary.” The Master of Light scoffed. “No… If I had to guess, Reigious isn’t considering sending us north for the Trovians. I think…he simply seeks to separate us from Eric Reiner for a little while.”

Nigreos sighed as he leaned forward and folded his hands on his lap. “The thought…had crossed my mind.”

“Well, can you really blame him, though?” Ryokumo muttered. “I do think Reigious wants Eric to feel comfortable here. He’s cautious of the boy, as we should all be, but at the end of the day, he has Abi’s blood and he has talent. Should we succeed in gaining Eric’s trust and loyalty, then he could be a valuable asset to both this Citadel and this country. Reigious no doubt understands that…as I’m sure he understands just what stands between gaining Eric’s trust and losing it.”

Album noticed Nigreos’s features tense up out of the corner of her eye, and she knew that her partner was already thinking along the same lines as Ryokumo. However, she didn’t feel that it was a problem at all. Especially after talking with the boy herself, she knew she couldn’t allow him to remain in Ijiria.

“Yes, as long as Nigreos and I remain alive, Eric will never truly become loyal to this country,” she growled. “After Nigreos’s dinner with him the other night, that’s crystal clear. Were you told about that incident, Caeli?”

The Master of Wind chuckled. “Yes, Nigreos and I already spoke of it. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t go well, but I do agree that the outcome was inevitable.”

“Yes, it was, and conflicts between us will never end,” Album said. “You’ll both probably be interested to know that, not ten minutes before you arrived, Eric Reiner stopped by to speak with me.”

Since she expected Nigreos’s surprised expression, she focused her attention on how Ryokumo reacted. She wanted to know if he had been behind Eric’s visit or if the boy was acting on his own. She assumed it would be the former, so she was slightly thrown off when she found his confused look to be genuine.

“Did he now?” he stuttered. “And what about?”

“What do you think?” she snapped irritably. “He’s investigating his mother’s rebellion. He used his blood protection to force his way in here and then grilled me to see what I know about Abi and her death. I can tell he’s already decided he’s going to learn the truth behind why she rebelled and his forceful actions only prove how far he’s willing to go.”

Nigreos grit his teeth. “And what does he think he’s going to learn by doing this? Nobody knows why Abi rebelled except her. There’s nothing he can learn from us.”

“Unless he suspects you’re hiding something, Album” Ryokumo suggested. “Which isn’t impossible. Perhaps he thinks one of you…knows something more than you’re letting on?”

Album narrowed her eyes as she noticed her old friend’s eyes briefly shift her direction, as if wanting her to understand that he was speaking only to her. She knew Ryokumo suspected her of hiding something, though she had always denied it. Part of her had expected him to confront her again once she returned from Omaruo, but to her satisfaction, he had left the subject alone.

But I know Ryokumo well. I never truly convinced him that I’m not keeping something from him. If he hasn’t confronted me again, it means he doesn’t have anything new to confront me with. So he’s almost certainly going to try and find something else to use as leverage…and I just gave it to him by saying what I did to Eric.

“Well, that wouldn’t surprise me,” Nigreos grunted. “He doesn’t trust us so there’s no reason for him to believe us when we say we don’t know anything. What about you, Ryokumo? How much do you think he trusts you?”

The Master of Wind considered the question for a moment before shaking his head. “I can’t really say for sure, but I like to think I’ve bonded with him, at least a little bit. If anything, I think he trusts me as much as any other Ijirian. It’s only been two months since our country took everything from him, so there’s only so much trust he’s willing to give.”

“Well, at the very least, could you do your best and try to convince him that there’s nothing more for him to investigate?” Nigreos requested. “I understand why he would be so insistent to understand what happened. Hell, I probably want to know the truth just as much as he does, if not more. But the truth died with Abi, and I fear what Eric might do on his misguided quest for answers.” He clenched his fists and Album could see the conflict and fear in his eyes. “I don’t want anything to happen to him. I want him to be happy, Ryokumo, and I’m not just saying that because he’s her son. Eric isn’t a bad person. He’s a good kid with a bright future and I don’t want him to throw that away.”

Ryokumo stared back at his friend, his eyebrows raised in what appeared to be surprise, before a warm smile spread across his face. “Do not worry, Nigreos. I’ll take good care of Eric. I’ll make sure he’s safe. I swear it on my life. So if the two of you are sent to Trovia, you can rest easy knowing that Eric will be in my care.”

Album kept her features unreadable as she listened to Ryokumo’s response, and couldn’t help but feel as if she would be more worried about leaving Eric in his care than anybody else’s.

I don’t trust this. I have to talk some sense into Reigious. Going north and leaving Eric with Ryokumo and Mackia… I just…have a bad feeling that this can’t end well. Something has to be done! I can’t stress this enough and yet…

...there isn’t a soul in this Citadel that shares my sentiment, and that’s going to be Reigious’s biggest mistake.

***

After leaving Album and Nigreos, Ryokumo headed directly toward his own quarters where he hoped Eric would be waiting. There was a lot the two of them needed to discuss, and now that he knew that the boy had paid Album a visit, he was curious to know what he might have learned. So, the Master of Wind quickened his pace and soon arrived at his front door. With a brief flick of his wrist to unlock it, Ryokumo stepped inside and entered his living room where he found Eric quietly sitting on the couch, his right arm stretched out and his palm facing the ceiling where a small ball of light was hovering. However, Ryokumo’s sudden arrival must have thrown off his focus as the light suddenly flickered, before going out all together.

The Master couldn’t help but smile wryly. “I see you’re already getting the hang of light magic.”

“Somewhat,” Eric replied with a frown. “I mean, I’ve gotten as far as producing light but there’s not much I can do from there.”

Ryokumo crossed the room and took a seat on the couch’s armrest as he regarded his apprentice. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. As long as you understand the basics of light magic, the plan should be able to work. Have faith in your abilities, Eric. That being said, it’s possible we may have to move our schedule up a bit, so it would be smart to keep at it as best you can.”

“Move it up? W-why?” the boy stuttered, sitting up straighter to face him. “I thought you said you needed a few more weeks.”

“I did, but it sounds like circumstances are changing. Nigreos has informed me that Prince Reigious is considering sending him and Album up to the Trovian border. If he does that, the two of them might not return to the Citadel for weeks, or perhaps even months.” Ryokumo paused and took a moment to collect his thoughts. “The longer we wait, the greater the chance of us getting caught, especially now that we’ve made contact with the Children, so I would rather act sooner than later. That means we have a few weeks at best to make our move.”

Eric nodded, his eyes focused on the surface of the coffee table before him. “And Arisa? Were you able to get her and the other Children passage out of Erika?”

“I spoke with my associate and have confirmed that he can smuggle them out of the city in a little over a week…”

“And can we trust this guy?” the boy quickly demanded. “You said he was some black market merchant, right? Are you sure he won’t sell them out?”

Ryokumo shook his head. “I’m not certain of anything, but we don’t have much of a choice. From what I know, Nuvo Tannath is our best shot of slipping them out of Erika. It’s either trust him or have the Children fight their way through the gates, and unfortunately, trusting Tannath has the lowest likelihood of death.” Ryokumo sighed. “But I have enough information on him to drag him down with us if he betrays us so I’m choosing to believe that he is intelligent enough to not try anything.”

“Alright then. If that’s what we have to do,” Eric murmured, “then I’ll trust him, too. Have you told them yet?”

Ryokumo shook his head. “No, not yet. I planned for the two of us to head back down there in a few days to fill them in and so I can meet with Tannath to finalize the deal. Which means it’s probably time for me to make a move of my own.”

“A move? Against Album, you mean?” Eric frowned. “That’s the one thing you still won’t explain to me. I can’t see any way she ever willingly tells you what you want to know so…what exactly do you plan to do?”

He paused and glanced down at his hands, folded atop his lap. Eric was right in that it was the only part of their plan that he had kept to himself, though it wasn’t out of any lack of trust in him. In fact, it was because he trusted and respected the boy so much that he chose to keep it secret. What he intended to do was risky and dangerous, but as he kept telling himself, it was those risks that needed to be taken.

“That is because it’s between me and her,” he answered after a moment. “For better or for worse, Album and I have known each other for a long time, and while our history is complicated, that’s not something I can forget. I need to confront her myself…for my sake as well as hers.”

The boy seemed like he wanted to press the subject further, but to Ryokumo’s relief, he merely nodded and turned back to look at the spellbook he was holding. When he didn’t speak, the Master decided to bring up the topic he had intended to discuss when he first arrived.

“So, Album told me that you paid her a visit earlier,” he said with a sly grin, watching as the boy’s posture stiffened. “She also said you were there to investigate your mother’s rebellion. Kind of an interesting thing to do considering you just told me that you don’t think she’ll tell us anything.”

Eric sighed, closing the spellbook before settling on the coffee table. “Yeah, fair point, but…I just had to talk to her, Ryokumo. I think I understand Nigreos, at least to a certain point, but her… She just doesn’t make sense to me. Master Mackia told me that Album and my mother were really close back at the Academy, yet Album has never once looked as if she cared for her at all. I can’t even imagine my mom ever getting along with somebody like her so…I just…wanted to see what she would say if I confronted her.”

I suppose I can understand that. Especially given the fact that, should our plan succeed, Nigreos and Album will soon be dead, it’s only natural that he searches for answers while he can. I can’t fault him for that.

“And?” Ryokumo inquired. “What did she say?”

“That she hated my mom,” he replied softly. “That she believes my mother deserved to die for what she did and that…the three of you would have been better off without her.”

The Master of Wind let out a soft breath and then got to his feet. He was sad to realize that he wasn’t surprised in the slightest, and yet, he didn’t think that was the entire truth. Album most likely believed everything she said, but Ryokumo knew those were only her present emotions. There wasn’t a chance in hell that she always felt that way.

After all, if that were true, then you wouldn’t have been so torn up over Abi’s disappearance, now would you, Album?

“And, one last thing,” Eric went on hesitantly. “When I confronted her about possibly knowing why my mother rebelled, she said…that I was better off ignorant. She said it was a nightmarish truth and that she wished she could tell me, if only to torture me with that knowledge. It was like…she was admitting to knowing something.”

Ryokumo was careful to keep his body calm but inside, he found his thoughts racing. He had considered the possibility that whoever Album erased may be related to the rebellion, so he wasn’t too surprised by that. What threw him off the most was that she essentially admitted as much to Eric.

You’ve stated for years that you don’t know a thing no matter how much I questioned you. You were so stubborn about it…but Eric confronts you once and you admit to knowing something? What’s your game, Album?

“That is interesting,” Ryokumo murmured. “I’ll have to give it some thought, but thank you for telling me this, Eric. You did well.”

The boy smiled. “T-thanks.”

“Now, go back to your training. I’ll be in my room if you need me. Have a nice night.”

Ryokumo then turned and headed to his room and it was only once the door was shut and he was alone that he clenched his fists and shook his head.

I never expected him to get a confession out of her. This doesn’t change much, but it’s at least solid confirmation that she knows something she isn’t telling me. But why? Why would she tell him? What scheme is she working on by doing this? It just isn’t her!

The man crossed the room and sat down at his desk before sliding open his drawer and producing his own spellbook. His mind continued to consider possibility after possibility as he flipped to the page where Aniextiam was kept. Then, just as he was about to brush the issue aside and begin his own practice, a possibility came to mind that he should have immediately set aside. It wasn’t anything like the Album Luz he knew in the present. Instead, it was a possibility that should have only applied to the woman he once knew.

Could it be…that she told him that to try and get him to stop investigating. Could Album…actually be trying to protect him from whatever horrible truth she’s keeping locked away?

There was a sudden pang in his stomach as he furrowed his brow.

Is that possible…?

***

When sleep failed to come to her, Arisa Kirisan slowly crawled out of her blankets and walked toward the window on the far side of the room. After meeting with Ryokumo and Eric, they had moved to a different location on the chance that they were being lied to, though Arisa didn’t think that was the case. The others had told her that she’d been too quick to believe Ryokumo Caeli, but she trusted her instincts and she would never mistake that look in Eric’s eyes. He was who he said he was. He was Abigail Reiner’s son and that made him one of them. She didn’t need to know anything about him. The Children of Reiner were a family and that meant that he was her brother. She would protect him the same way she intended to protect the other Children currently sleeping in that abandoned house with her.

I just wish…I could get the chance to know him better.

Based on the plan Ryokumo Caeli put forth, she would likely never see him again after she and the others were smuggled out of Erika. If she had any other option, she would have fought for it, but she knew that their choices were limited. There wasn’t much she could do anymore so she had to focus on keeping the survivors of the Children alive. Ryokumo and Hannah had sacrificed a lot for her, and so, she needed to be ready to do everything she could.

After a few more moments of gazing down at the darkened and empty street below, she heard rustling behind her, and when she glanced back, she saw Irin sitting up and staring back at her. A quick glance around told her that the only other person in the room, Lyla, was still sound asleep, so she turned back to Irin and whispered, “Did I wake you?”

The girl shook her head and got to her feet before moving to join her at the window. “No, I couldn’t sleep either. Too much to think about.”

Arisa smirked. “Yeah, honestly. Between everything Caeli told us and meeting Eric, I feel like my world’s been turned upside down for the millionth time.”

“Do you…?” Irin paused, her features strained as she attempted to pull her thoughts together. “Do you believe him?”

“Who? Caeli or Eric?”

“Oh, er, well…I meant Eric, but both, I guess,” the other girl muttered. “I just… The thought that Mom’s son could not only exist, but actually be in Erika and be willing to help us… It just sounds a little convenient for me.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to find out that Caeli made it all up to manipulate us.”

The older girl smiled, then placed a comforting hand on Irin’s shoulder. “I understand that, and I think it’s a good thing to be cautious, but…I honestly do believe Eric. After talking to him and getting to know him a bit, I just can’t see any way he was lying. His words were genuine and his emotions were real. He’s Mom’s son, so he’s our brother.”

Irin placed her hand atop Arisa’s and leaned her head against her shoulder. “I feel like there’s so much about Mom that we don’t know. I wish she was here. I wish she could tell us what to do. I don’t like putting our lives in the hands of…” She grit her teeth, probably biting back the fear and pain and that always came to mind when thinking of their time in the dungeon. “...Ryokumo Caeli. He scares me, Ari’.”

“And I don’t fault you for that,” she replied. “I don’t like trusting Ryokumo either, so instead, I choose to trust Eric and Hannah. They both say we can trust Ryokumo, so I’ll trust them.”

Irin laughed softly. “I guess…that’s one way to look at it. And I do trust Hannah. Without her, we’d be dead…or we’d be getting tortured by Master Ka. Or Master Taurus, if he ever returned.”

“God, I never thought I’d have considered Taurus to be the easy one,” Arisa mused in an attempt at a joke. “His fire suddenly seems warm and welcoming whenever I think about Seiras and that cursed spell.”

“Honestly,” Irin whispered. “What a shitty year this has been. I just hope…the future can be a bit brighter. I don’t want to lose anybody else. I’m sick of death.”

Arisa leaned her head against her little sister’s. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you guys. I promise I…”

She trailed off as she noticed something down on the street below and for a moment, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was a small, blue light casually floating down the road and normally, she would have believed it to be a threat, but this time, she knew that wasn’t the case. It was a signal—a signal she never expected to see in the streets of Erika again.

“Irin, do you see that?” Arisa breathed. “That light?”

“Light?” The girl raised her head and stared out the window, and the moment she saw the entity, her eyes went wide. “There’s…no way. That can’t be…”

Arisa didn’t hesitate to lean forward and push open the window before holding out her hand and whispering, “Ekidon.” In the palm of her hand, a small red light began to appear and after a few seconds, it took the shape of a small bird before fluttering out the window and gliding down to the blue one below. The two girls waited with bated breath as the blue light stopped, and when the red one reached it, they began to circle each other, as if they were old friends greeting each other for the first time in years.

“It’s…him…”

Arisa turned and departed the room with Irin close on her heels. The two rushed down the stairs to the main room where Hannah was sitting on the floor, her legs folded and her eyes closed, as if meditating. When she heard the two, she glanced up at them, but Arisa merely nodded to confirm that they were okay before rushing through the front door and stalking out onto the street. The blue and red birds were still fluttering around one another, but now, they were no longer alone. A large man was standing beside them, garbed in a pitch black cloak with his cowl pulled over his face. His shoulders were broad and his arms were large, giving him an intimidating presence, especially in the dark. Had she not known who he was, she would have already been prepared to fight.

But she knew this giant figure was a friend.

“Arisa Kirisan. Irin Vixal,” he said, his voice a deep baritone. “You look like shit, little sisters.”

Arisa grinned smugly as she folded her arms across her chest.

“Malt Territh. How in the living hell did you get into this city, big brother?”