Chapter XLIX

As the covered wagon rumbled down the forest road, Arisa Kirisan lazily fiddled with the little orange gemstone in her palm, feeling the warmth of its mana and the smoothness of its surface. Outside the wagon, the sun had finally risen and she could hear birds chirping as they welcomed the arrival of the morning. To her, it felt as if the previous night had gone on for an eternity, and there were plenty of instances where she feared she might not live to see the sun again. In fact, when Nakoma and Sinna cornered them at their hideout, she was certain that at least some of them would die, yet that tragic result hadn’t come to pass. As she glanced around the bed of the wagon, she smiled at the sight of her fellow Children. Ardan, Lyla, and Tylo were asleep next to one another, their heads resting on each other’s shoulders. Malt was quietly muttering healing incantations, his words slightly slurred due to the teeth he had lost in battle. Irin was sitting beside Arisa, silently gazing at the relic as well, and Hannah was off beside the driver. The former apprentice had claimed to want to enjoy the sunlight, but Arisa knew she was keeping an eye on the man who helped them escape Erika in the first place.

Nuvo Tannath sat beside Hannah, having spoken very little to them since their meeting, and it was clear to them all that Ryokumo had pressured him into helping them one way or the other. They at least knew he wasn’t helping them out of the goodness of his heart, and that was enough for them to fear that he would betray them the first chance he got.

And he’s certainly a clever man. Despite his appearance, he’s almost certainly one to be cautious around.

Ryokumo had explained to them that he was a black market dealer disguised as an average shop owner. He bought and sold talismans that Ijiria had either banned or tried to regulate, and had worked under the table with Nigreos Noctis on numerous occasions. He had influence among the merchants of the market, and even had friends in high places. That was why the Master of Wind had believed he could help them escape, but even then, Arisa hadn’t been prepared for the way he got them out.

Unsurprisingly, the gates were all ordered to remain shut for the foreseeable future, so when Nuvo drove the wagon to the northern gate, the guards, and even Korrei-Tarr that had been stationed there, immediately ordered them to turn around.

“But Sir, it is crucial that I leave the city at once!” Nuvo had protested. “I have a very important business transaction to make down in Carrolyn and if I do not arrive in a reasonable time, I will lose quite a lot of coin!”

“Doesn’t matter, Master Merchant,” the head of the guard had growled back. “The city is on lockdown until further notice, as ordered by Princess Anna-Piura. There will be no further discussion so please turn you cart around and depart at once.”

“But Sir…” Nuvo’s voice had gone suddenly soft. “You will do as I ask, won't you?”

At the time, Arisa had been certain that things would have to get violent once again, but suddenly, the man’s mood changed. “Yes, of course I will. I’m sorry. Open the gates, now! Let the man through!”

The surprise was obvious by the sudden silence that came over the gatehouse, followed immediately by words of vehement protest.

“But Captain, we can’t!”

“Have you gone insane? This was a direct order from the princess!”

“We can’t just let him through!”

Yet, Nuvo met each one of their arguments with a calm response. “I assure you all that I do not intend to smuggle anything vile out of this city. I merely seek to continue my business ventures. And I doubt the princess would bat an eye at the departure of a single individual, especially if nobody tells her I was here. You could always just keep this between us, couldn’t you?”

“I suppose he has a point.”

“Yes, we could allow one man through.”

“If it’s just for business…”

To Arisa’s utter shock, the guards swiftly moved to open the gates and ushered them through, all without even checking what he might have been hiding in the bed of his wagon. She kept waiting for some form of pursuit from the city, but after nearly six hours on the road, there wasn’t any sign of Erikan forces. At one point, Hannah had confronted Nuvo about what he did and how he got away with it all, but all he said in reply was,

“I like to consider myself a procurer of rare and powerful magical items, and most of the time, I enjoy the money that comes from selling them. However, on occasion, I find something that I deem too useful to sell, and so I keep it for times when it’s necessary. That, Miss Lynn, is all you need to know.”

She’d pressed him further but the man refused to tell them anything else, and that alone increased Hannah’s distrust in him. But for the moment, Arisa was content letting him keep his secrets, so long as they made sure it wasn’t used on them. After all, it actually seemed as if they were going to get away safely, so clearly his powers had been useful. Though she knew she wouldn’t feel safe until they finally passed over the Trovian border. Once they were in the north, the Ijirians would have a harder time pursuing them.

And then…we can use the Assassination Stone to barter for our safety. And if we spread guideship among the capital, Ijiria should be even more hesitant to make any irrational moves. We really could live a peaceful life and never have to worry ever again. But…

Arisa exhaled softly. She still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do going forward. Malt had already expressed the same opinion he did back before they split up the first time: He wanted them to put the fighting behind them and just move on with their lives, but to Arisa, she just wasn’t sure she could live peacefully with all of the memories of what Ijiria had done to them.

Then again, Nigreos Noctis is dead. He’s the one who killed Mom and my friends, so who would I really be fighting against? Even Seiras Ka is gone from this world. Do I really have an enemy at this point or am I just trying to fight against the whole damn country?

Though, as she was thinking about the situation, she suddenly found herself picturing the faces of Nakoma Taurus and Sinna Cartus, the Masters who would have killed them had Eric, Ryokumo, and Iris not intervened. Specifically, she found herself recalling that giant phoenix of raw power that Nakoma had unleashed, and how close she had been to her death. She had never seen anything like it and probably never would, and it still sent shivers down her spine as she recalled the pain of those flames.

Master Taurus, huh?

Perhaps her path would cross with him again somebody, and she hoped that if it did, she would be strong enough to confront him and win. Though that would require a lot of training on her part, and until she had a better picture of what the future would be like, she wouldn’t know if that was feasible.

“You know, I can’t believe we’re finally free,” Irin whispered at her side. “After being stuck in those dungeons and all those weeks we spent in the city, part of me was starting to worry that we’d never get away.”

Arisa smiled warmly, taking her free hand and wrapping it around her little sister’s. “I know what you mean. We lost so much and I was terrified that we’d lose more, but now, I actually think the worst is finally behind us. Despite it all, last night was the biggest victory we’ve ever had.”

It wasn’t until she’d spoken those words out loud that she realized the truth behind them. They may have failed to win against Nakoma and Sinna, but there weren’t any casualties, Nigreos and Album were dead, and Eric had safely gotten back to Omaruo, even going as far as to leave them with a relic and a realm dagger.

“I guess that’s true,” Irin replied. “And I’m happy. I’m happy I didn’t lose you guys.”

“I am, too…” Arisa laughed softly, feeling as if a gigantic weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “I wish Eric could have come with us, but I’m sure he’ll be happier with his own family. Though, I’m sure he would have loved the little ones.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he would have,” Irin agreed.

They both went silent for a moment, and Arisa took that time to think about the little kids that had gone with Malt when he departed the Citadel. Naturally, the young ones couldn’t have participated in the assault so Malt had taken them up to Trovia where they were apparently still in hiding with a few of the older Children that had opposed attacking the Citadel. She had a lot of fond memories of caring for her younger siblings and playing with them. She was so happy that they hadn’t gotten caught up in the fighting and that Nakoma never found where they were hiding. While she didn’t want to think that the Master of Fire would kill innocent children, she could only recall the torture he inflicted upon them back in the dungeons, and she wondered what limits that man might actually have.

Well, regardless, they’re safe and that’s what matters.

She smiled, turning her gaze back to the Assassination Stone as she gently closed her fingers around it. She knew what its power was and so, she was aware of just how much strength it could provide them. It certainly wasn’t the most ideal relic they could have gotten, but it was leagues better than nothing.

And it’s prettier than I thought it would be. Just looking at it, you’d never guess just how much power it holds inside its little form.

She realized that she’d never gotten a chance to look at it back in the Vault since it had been kept in its pouch. She’d wanted to be the one to hold onto it but she was opposed by—

All at once, she was hit by a wave of dizziness and sat forward with a lurch, almost certainly startling Irin. Images were flashing through her mind, showing her moments that she held dear despite having completely forgotten them for so long. She saw the face of a man barely older than her, one that she had spent a considerable amount of time with. Instances from the many years they’d known each other swirled around in her mind and she felt her body going cold.

“Arisa, what’s wrong?” she heard Hannah call from somewhere in the distance, but she barely processed it as she jumped to her feet and rushed to stare through the opening in the wagon, back in the direction of Erika.

“Arisa?”

This time, it was Malt speaking, and she realized she probably woke the others, yet she couldn’t help it. As her mind began to clear and everything corrected itself within her thoughts, she could only let out a soft exhale as she spoke the name of her best friend and fellow Child—the man who had possession of the relic on that fateful night and who was almost certainly somewhere in Erika at that very moment.

“Rista.”

***

A brief glance around the table in the Chamber of the Masters was more than enough to show just how shocked and confused they all were. The Citadel was supposed to be the most protected building in all of Ijiria, and the Masters were the most powerful magic users in the realm, yet for the second time in only a handful of months, they were breached. Seiras being murdered had been a real blow, but he’d been killed by a rogue apprentice who had access to the building to begin with. They knew where their defenses fell short and so, they all believed it would never happen again. Seiras’s death was a fluke—a man who went so mad with power that he brought his death on himself. However, they couldn’t use those excuses for their current situation.

Nigreos and Album had both been killed on the same night, and the common belief among them was that Eric Reiner had been the one to do it. The Assassination Stone had once again been taken from the Vault and the boy was nowhere to be found. The Masters of Darkness and Light were dead, their bodies discovered in Nigreos’s quarters, side-by-side. There were few signs of fighting and their corpses were unharmed, so the cause of their death was still being debated. They had already been checked for signs of poisoning, but the nature mages that had completed the investigation didn’t find any foreign substances in their systems. Normally, that task would have been delegated to the Master of Nature, but unfortunately, she was just another mystery to be debated.

Iris Mackia had disappeared. The last time anybody had seen her was the previous night when she and Ryokumo came across Reigious and the bodies. They had been ordered to join the other Masters on the hunt for the Children, but on their way back down the lift, she had said something that surprised the Master of Wind.

“Take care of yourself, Caeli. This isn’t something that can be so easily swept under the rug. Eventually, they’ll figure out what happened, so perhaps it would be safer for you to go into hiding.”

Ryokumo sighed internally, recalling the genuine concern with which she spoke. Did you take your own advice, Mackia? Did you take advantage of the chaos and flee Erika? If so then I have to admit that I’m surprised. Your tracks were covered better than mine, so I’m sure you could have kept the luxurious life of a Master. Yet you set it aside?

His instincts told him that she truly had departed the city, or else she was in hiding somewhere until the opportunity to flee presented itself. It was unlikely he would ever see Iris Mackia again, or at the very least, not for a very long time. Perhaps he’d never know the answers to his questions, but in the end, he never really understood that woman to begin with. He’d trusted her simply because Eric had urged him to, and in the end, her help had been worth more than he could have imagined. Part of him wished he could have properly thanked her, but there was nothing he could do now. She was gone, and he prayed that wherever her life took her, she would be happy and safe. He still wondered if he should have gone with her, but for the moment, he knew the response he gave had been the right choice.

“Maybe I’ll leave one day, but until my memories of Ilirianna return, I must stay here.”

Even now, his memories still hadn’t come back, and he didn’t know why that was. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall what he had forgotten, and the longer it took, the more frustrated he became. He was already beginning to fear that he and Eric had messed up somewhere.

Ryokumo slowly glanced up from where his hands were folded on the table and turned his attention back to the others. The room felt oddly empty now, with half of the Masters either dead or vanished. As always, he really wasn’t sure what Nyx was thinking, and his inability to read her emotions was made harder by the fact that her white hood was pulled up over her face. Beside the Master of Water, Sinna’s fists were clenched together and her eyes were flickering left and right as she continued to process everything that had gone down the previous night. Even Nakoma, a man who rarely expressed emotion beyond smugness and confidence that often bordered on arrogance, looked like he just couldn’t accept the news he was given. His hand was placed over his face and his skin was slightly pale. And as for Prince Reigious, the last individual in the room, he didn’t even seem to be mentally there with them. His eyes were distant and his finger was repeatedly tapping against the table's surface, serving as the only sound in the room.

I can’t imagine the turmoil going through their heads right now. This has to be the most embarrassing failure the Citadel has suffered since the murder of the Queen. For both Nigreos and Album to be dead, they’ve now lost two of their strongest Masters, and that’s after Seiras was already taken. And hell, if they ever found out that one of their own Masters was responsible, they would look even more pathetic.

It wasn’t a simple matter to replace Masters. Normally, apprentices were chosen and raised to be their successors, but as it stood, the only Masters with apprentices were Sinna and Nakoma. Seiras, Nigreos, Album, and Iris had all refrained from taking on a pupil, though Ryokumo recalled Nigreos claiming he would have liked to someday.

“S-so…” Nakoma began softly, seeming as if the silence had finally become too much for him. “Is Mackia truly not coming?”

Reigious, too, seemed to snap from his dazed state, and when he turned his head toward Nakoma, his expression turned sad. “I’ve sent for her twice now, but still nothing. Nobody has seen her since last night. My sister has the Korrei-Tarr and the City Watch scouring the city for her, but there is still nothing to report.”

Sinna’s jaw clenched tightly as she listened to the Prince’s response. “You don’t think she was killed, do you? I mean, if she ran into Lynn and got struck with Aniextium…”

“That…is not something I wish to think about,” Reigious replied with a shaking voice. “But unfortunately, we can’t disregard the possibility. At the very least, we have not found her body, so I pray that she is still alive. If another Master were to have been killed last night…”

“Well, I am curious,” Nakoma began, his crimson eyes shifting to Ryokumo. “You, Caeli, would have been the last one to see her, yes? She was supposed to be watching you, and the two of you left the Citadel to join up with us together. Where did you last see her?”

Ryokumo didn’t allow his gaze to waver as he faced Nakoma’s subtle accusation with a bitter smile. “We split up once we arrived in the market. She told me that I was quicker and would be able to reach you sooner if I went alone. We both felt it crucial to inform the three of you that Nigreos and Album had been murdered and that Eric Reiner had infiltrated the Vault.”

“And while that is true,” Nyx chimed in. “You knew that Seiras’s spell was out there somewhere, and that Mackia isn’t exactly a warrior. Yet you left her on her own?”

He could feel the piercing gazes of Nakoma, Sinna, and Nyx, and he couldn’t help but silently curse Iris for leaving him out to dry. However, he pushed his irritation down, knowing she made her decision based on her own safety, and so, he kept his features calm as he nodded.

“I did,” he confirmed. “Now, I’ll admit that I wasn’t exactly in the greatest headspace after discovering the bodies of my old friends, but I thought it was the correct decision at the moment and Mackia agreed. If you would like to accuse me of murdering her, go right ahead, but I have done nothing wrong.” He then scoffed. “And of course, if we’re assigning blame here, I seem to recall the three of you once again failing to find the Children of Reiner, and here we are, down three Masters, the Assasssination Stone has been stolen for the second time in two years, and Arisa Kirisan continues to elude us. We have all made mistakes, yet you desire to place the blame only on me? Give me a break.”

He was challenging them, wanting to push the attention away from himself, knowing that Reigious would, like always, want to refrain from infighting. Ryokumo looked to the prince for support, but the moment he did, a chill went down his spine. Reigious’s features were neutral and he still seemed to be struggling to take everything in, but when he looked into Ryokumo’s eyes, the Master of Wind saw a brief flash of anger.

“Ryokumo…” Reigious said softly, preventing the other Masters from retorting. “Tell me something… How are you feeling right now? You’ve just lost the last two members of your old team…so I worry for you.”

He frowned, finding the sudden question strange. Normally, he wouldn’t hesitate to answer Reigious, but something in the way he asked the question made him feel as if there was some trick to it.

“Well, of course I’m sad,” he replied hesitantly. “But unfortunately, I do not have the time to mourn them at the moment. Chances are high that Eric Reiner has met up with the Children and I do believe he was the one who killed Nigreos and Album, almost certainly in some desire for revenge. With Mackia missing and Aniextium in Hannah’s possession, I do not have time to deal with my emotions. Only when this matter is settled…can I mourn my friends.”

He didn’t know what answer Reigious was seeking, but his response seemed to satisfy the prince, and he turned back to address the other three. “Caeli is correct. Reiner is almost certainly with the Children, so if we find them, we find the boy. We no longer have the luxury to try and detain him. We must kill them all on sight and finally wipe our hands of this mess, whether we like it or not. Especially not with the riots in Harunhein and…” Reigious paused, his lips tightening.

“And?” Sinna inquired. “Is there something else?”

“Er, that…is a matter for another time,” the prince murmured. “For the moment, we need to act fast before things get out of hand. Nyx, I want you to leave for Harunhein before the morning. We need to crush the uprisings and, if Sarillia Martov is involved, she must be killed. With Nigreos and Album dead, I need to rely on you.”

Nyx slowly bowed her head. “Of course, My Prince. I can leave right away.”

“Good. Sinna, Nakoma,” Reigious went on, now addressing the other two. “Erika is in your hands. Find and kill Eric, Kirisan, and Lynn, and if possible, learn what became of Iris. I want each and every one of those traitors dead. You’re authorized to use whatever force you deem necessary.”

“Yes, My Prince,” Sinna and Nakoma instantly replied, both following Nyx’s lead in bowing before him.

Seeming satisfied, Reigious once again turned to regard Ryokumo, and for the second time that morning, he felt as if there was something hidden behind that stare. “As for you, Ryokumo, there is something I would like to discuss in private, if you wouldn’t mind. It’s a…delicate subject and I think it would be easier if we discussed it in my office. Are you free?”

That last question was a mere formality. The tone in Reigious’s voice told Ryokumo that whether he was free or not, he would be ordered into that office regardless. He wasn’t sure what the prince might want with him alone, but he had a hunch that it had to do with the strange looks he was receiving.

“Of course I’m free,” Ryokumo replied, sensing the suspicion from Sinna, Nyx, and Nakoma.

“Perfect,” Religious said. “In that case, you are all excused.”

The room was tense, yet like always, there wasn’t a single one of them that would argue with Prince Reigious, and so the other three Masters got to their feet and departed the Chamber one after the other, and Ryokumo didn’t fail to notice the glares Nakoma and Sinna sent his way. And while Nyx never once looked back, Ryokumo knew she lacked faith in him as well. Even having covered his tracks as well as he did, his position was too suspicious to begin with, and soon enough, he was sure his involvement in Nigreos and Album’s murder would come to light.

So maybe I should take Mackia’s advice. Once I learn the truth about Ilirianna, I’ll leave the city and try to find her. I’ve already done my job of hiding the fact that Eric jumped realms, and even when Reigious learns that the erased realms fell, he’ll be too preoccupied with Trovia and the stolen relic to bother sending any forces to deal with Eric’s friends in Omaruo. A few magicaless with magical knowledge will be the least of his worries.

Ryokumo silently followed Reigious from the Chamber before turning right and heading toward the lift. Normally, the two of them would have struck up a conversation, but on that morning, the ride to the upper levels was completely silent. He knew Reigious had a lot on his mind after their numerous losses the previous night, but he still got the feeling that there was something else causing his odd behavior.

Though, perhaps that’s what we’re going to discuss.

They arrived on their designated floor and Reigious quickly stepped off with Ryokumo right behind him. The silver hallway was quiet aside from their footsteps, and he didn’t even see any of the researchers or soldiers that he normally saw at that time of morning. He couldn’t help but feel a little on edge as they reached the end of the hall where the golden door of Reigious’s office was located. His personal guards, Jax Krispin and Cray Pollik were already present and waiting for them. When they arrived, they silently bowed their heads as Reigious opened the door and stepped inside. Yet, unusually, the two guards didn’t wait in the hall, but instead quickly moved in to stand behind Ryokumo as they followed him inside. That sent his instincts into even higher alert, knowing that Jax and Cray rarely ever entered the office.

What’s going on?

He remained facing forward, his eyes narrowing as he followed Reigious across the empty anteroom before they reached the prince’s personal office. The room wasn’t empty, however. Waiting for them, her arms folded behind her back with her military uniform on and her swords at her hips, was Reigious’s sister, Anna-Piura Iiji. Her deep blue eyes instantly moved toward Ryokumo, and to his surprise, she looked almost sad.

“Princess Piura,” he greeted with a bow, keeping some of his attention directed toward Jax and Cray as they stopped in front of the door. “This is a surprise. I was under the impression that you were down in the city.”

Piura nodded stiffly. “Normally I would be, but something important has come up.”

Reigious had already moved to take a seat in the throne behind his desk, his fingers already tapping anxiously against its surface, much like he had been back in the Chamber. The tension in the room was so obvious that Ryokumo knew without question that something seriously bad was happening. Every bone in his body told him to bring his magic to the ready, but Reigious and Piura would instantly sense that, and he knew that if he was forced to fight them, he would lose miserably. He couldn’t beat either in a one-on-one fight to begin with, let alone at the same time.

Do they know? Did Reigious somehow figure out that I helped Eric kill Nigreos and Album? He felt as if he’d done a better job of hiding it than that, but he knew there was the possibility that he had overlooked some important detail. Well, even if they figured me out, as long as they don’t realize Eric escaped to Omaruo, then it doesn’t matter what they do to me.

“So, what is it you wanted to discuss?” Ryokumo began when neither royal spoke. “You both seem on edge.”

Reigious narrowed his eyes and just stared at the Master, and Ryokumo could tell that he was sizing him up, once again attempting to determine something.

“Ryokumo,” the prince began. “What do you remember about the Battle of Noctalus?”

The Master of Wind immediately frowned. “Noctalus? Well, very little, to be honest. I spent most of it in the palace, remember? Of course, Album, Nigreos, and I did participate a bit, but it was only once you arrived and Abi’s treason was revealed that we went into the city itself. Why?”

“And when I arrived?” Reigious continued. “Why was I there?”

What is he getting at? He’s checking my memories so…does this mean he’s remembered something? Has Album’s erased magic already been removed from him? But if so…is this related to Ilirianna?

“You arrived to tell us what Abi had done,” he answered truthfully. “You were there to give the order to…to kill her.”

Still not understanding the angle Reigious was getting at, he decided to respond truthfully and just allow the conversation to play out. Yet, once again, the prince didn’t say anything and instead just eyed him. He was looking into his words, trying to find the deceit within them, yet Ryokumo hadn’t lied once.

“What do you think, Anna?” he finally asked the princess. “You believe him?”

Piura nodded softly. “I do, yes. He has yet to remember.”

Reigious let out a soft sigh and shook his head. “Very well. Do it.”

There was barely a second between that command and Piura’s movement, leaving him unable to react as the princess went from standing still to rushing toward him. He raised his hands through pure instinct, bringing his mana to his fingertips, but he never got the chance to cast anything before Reigious’s voice echoed out across the room.

“Foreeze!”

Ryokumo’s body went stiff, his limbs stopping midair as his body became petrified, preventing him from doing anything as Piura reached down to her belt and produced a pair of handcuffs. He could sense the charm on them and he knew they were the cuffs they always used to restrain magic users. Once strapped around his wrists, his mana would be inhibited and he would be powerless to do anything.

What’s going on?! They must have figured it out, but where did I misstep?! What did I forget to consider?!

He could only watch helplessly as Piura grabbed his wrists and yanked them behind his back, cuffing him in only a handful of seconds. Jax and Cray had their weapons drawn, though Ryokumo knew they were just there as a failsafe. Reigious and Piura were more than enough to apprehend him. The petrification spell was finally released, but by then, there was nothing he could do. One of Piura’s swords was drawn and placed against his throat as she held him in place.

“Struggle and we kill you, Caeli,” she whispered. “And whether you believe me or not, I do not wish to slit your throat.”

Unable to see her expression, Ryokumo instead looked Reigious dead in the eyes as the prince weakly leaned back in his chair, seeming as if all his strength had left him. However, Ryokumo knew it was simply his mental strength that was weakening in the aftermath of the night’s tragedies. Reigious Iiji could still snap him in half even if he wasn’t cuffed.

“I’m sorry, Ryokumo,” he muttered. “I truly am, but we do not have a choice.”

So this is where it ends, huh? Yes, you made the correct choice, Mackia. Perhaps I should have done the same as you and ran, but if this is where I die then so be it. I’ve already won. Reigious can’t take that victory away from me, so what does it matter.

Ryokumo’s lips spread in a bitter and smug smile as he gazed darkly back at the man. “Do as you like, My Prince. I’ve already beaten you. Nigreos and Album are dead. So is Mackia. And you will never find Eric, Hannah, and the Children. I’ve already put you in checkmate and there’s nothing you can do. Send Nakoma and Sinna on whatever hunt you wish. You’ve already lost.”

He felt the sword press tighter against his throat as droplets of blood began to trickle down his neck, but he never looked away. If anything, he wanted to lead Reigious as far away from the truth as possible and take everything onto himself. As long as the others remained safe, his fate didn’t matter. Yet, Reigious’s reaction wasn’t what he expected. Rather than anger or hatred, he only saw surprise.

“So you…were behind this?” he uttered, seemingly horrified. “You killed Nigreos and Album? You killed Iris? But…they were your friends! Nigreos and Album were your friends and you killed them?!”

Ryokumo’s smile quickly vanished as he beheld Reigious’s shock.

Was this…not because of that? But then why…?

“I did,” he growled, knowing he didn’t have the option to back out now. “My friends, you say? Nigreos murdered Abi. Album screwed with my memories! Tell me, Reigious, do you remember Ilirianna?! Do you know who the woman is that Album took from me? You call them my friends but they’re the ones responsible for everything falling apart. Yes, I killed them. I snuck Eric into the Citadel and I stole the Assassination Stone. I murdered Nigreos and Album, and when Mackia started wising up to my schemes, I killed her, too! I helped Hannah murder Seiras! I helped her get away when she attacked Cartus! I provided her with Aniextium and I cast that spell on Nakoma to save Kirisan! Do you understand, my dear prince?! I’ve been working against you since the start, and you only figured it out when it was far too late!”

Breathing heavily, Ryokumo finished shouting at Reigious, feeling Piura’s grip tightening around him. Yet, despite laying everything out before him and admitting to his treachery, Reigious still didn't appear angry. Instead, he just looked broken and defeated, as he really had wanted to trust Ryokumo.

“You…?” Reigious’s voice was shaking. “All of that…? For what?”

Ryokumo grinned maniacally. “For Abi. And for Ilirianna, whoever she may be.”

“So you don’t remember her?” the prince murmured. “You did all of that…without even knowing who she was. Then perhaps…you were always a traitor, Ryokumo Caeli, no matter who’s whispers got in your head.”

“Always a…traitor?” he parroted, once again feeling Piura’s grip tightening. “Meaning?”

“You really don’t remember?” the princess demanded. “You don’t remember her, Caeli?”

Still unable to see her expression, Ryokumo could only continue to gaze at Reigious as he narrowed his eyes. “Do you? Do you know what Album took from me? Do you know what she’s been hiding all this time?”

The prince clenched his teeth and for the first time since they arrived, there was a hint of fury in his eyes. “Yes, it seems Album, too, has gone behind my back and betrayed us. She caused more of this than we ever realized. However, I must correct you on one thing, Ryokumo. It wasn’t just you she stole from.”

“What do you—?”

Before he could even finish his question, Reigious waved his hand and undid a distortion spell. Up until that moment, Ryokumo had been so focused on the royals that he hadn’t even realized the discrepancy in the room. Yet now, it almost seemed glaring. Just above the throne, hung on the wall, the painting of the Iiji family reappeared, and as Ryokumo turned to look at it, it was as if that single action flipped a switch inside him.

“Ah,” he breathed sharply, and all at once, images began to return to him, the memories he so desperately sought unleashing upon his mind. He knew history had been changed, but he never knew by how much. He was almost overwhelmed by the flow of images and emotions, and he soon understood just how drastically Album Luz had changed the world. He felt anger, fear, but the strongest emotion that went through him was love—love for the woman who finally returned to his thoughts.

His eyes flickered back up to the painting.

He saw the father and the mother, Markreas and Toranei Iiji, standing tall and confident, the former with a boisterous grin and the other stern and cold.

In front of them and on either side were the younger Reigious and Anna-Piura, smiling and almost seeming innocent, though the confidence and maturity of the two were still visible even at that age.

But his attention only remained on them for barely a second before his eyes shifted to the individual that, up until that moment, hadn’t been in the picture for a very long time, and despite everything happening around him and everything he had just remembered, he couldn’t help but smile as he finally and once again got to gaze upon the beautiful face of the eldest daughter and the true heir to the Ijirian throne, Ilirianna Iiji.