Notes: First chapter into this whole adventure and I'm really excited. Leave comments and feedback, it's really appreciated! I like to see where our heads are at in the story and what we think about characters and such.
It was always dark.
A time couldn't be remembered when it wasn't dark, even when the sun of red broke through the clouds and showered the city with its rays. It was always dark.
This could be because of the locale itself, or it's inhabitants. Or both, perhaps. The city hadn't been built up from the ashes of Solheim to be beautiful and magnificent and breathtaking, the rebuild was to ensure that it would prosper, that it posed an immediate threat against its unfortunate neighbors, that it was raw and surged with power. All of this was apparent in the dark architecture that the capital called its buildings.
Plated and proud, almost standing tall enough to match skyscrapers, the coloration had been tainted with glossy iron- maybe this was where the beauty of this dreadful place lied. Bright lights of red had been placed on each overshadowing tower, revolving and taking in all of its surroundings, just in case someone tried to attack the abandoned home of darkness and metal.
Above was just the same, large mechanical ships floated through the skies with a terrorizing air. The Air Force ships were made with the same metal materials as most of the places in the city, but yet, they were still darker. Dark was always a theme around these parts. They had vibrant bloody red windows in a very hard to miss beehive pattern and red lights on the sides, above, and below... except these lights weren't indicators of a watchful eye but of pulverizing capabilities. Those ships were the black blades of Niflheim, with the blood of enemies decorating it.
Below? The inhabitants stayed behind closed doors. No movement could be seen, or even heard; the only movement one could see was the soft flow of the dark green river that ran throughout the horrific place with roaring waters. It was about the only peaceful thing there, until a nasty soul decided to throw someone in and summon the Luciferian piranhas.
In the center, is the largest watchful eye that there was. It was the one to be feared. Every other building had been taller than those on the ground, but this was colossal, humongous, altitudinous. Constructed from iron and onyx, unlike most structures in Niflheim that were made out of dark iron, this important landmark was pitch black, making its surroundings look a lot less dreary. It also took a different shape. Hexagonal, meaning in every angle there was a window. Whichever direction you turned in a room, enabled you to spy any event taking place in the outside world.
Not only was this magnificent piece of architecture the center of the city, but it was the Royal Palace. It was where the emperor slept, where his Imperial guard resided, where his advisers kept the peace, and last but not least, where the precious jewel remained. The first and only daughter of Iedolas Aldercapt, it is quite depressingly odd that the emperor only had one child and no wife left to have others. No one quite knows what happened to Aldercapt's wife, Estella Clare Deorum-Aldercapt. The queen was said to have disappeared when the princess was only of age three and was never seen again. It was a mystery that no one really wanted to solve. He presumed her dead, after a few years of no return and no one questioned it, they figured it was his business... He was the emperor, if he had little care so did they, therefore the only reminder that he ever had a wife was his one and only, precious daughter.
Many things took place at the Royal Palace, things that citizens should not know about, things that citizens would come to know about, meetings, plans of war; of action in a war, lots of things of importance like parties, galas and masquerade balls, of course, the emperor was the one who decreed these things of lesser importance. He wasn't one to please his citizens.
What was taking place at the moment just so happened to be considerably much more nefarious than the planning of his daughter's 22nd birthday party. Emperor Aldercapt was planning to have Prince Noctis of Insomnia assassinated. It was unclear if he was still the prince now, considering his father fell with Insomnia, so wouldn't that make him king?
Aranea Highwind, Ravus Nox Fleuret, Chancellor Ardyn, and a dozen men in a parallel line, starting from the throne to the entryway, stood before the emperor. One would think that the princess of the kingdom would have been invited to this little get together of death, but she was left in her quarters away from it all.
She had seemingly been in a deep slumber for the entirety of the day. Aldercapt made it known not to bother her and not one person question him. She, in fact, was not asleep. Her Highness was gazing from one of the many windows in her quarters, gazing down upon her kingdom. A goddess gracing the gazed upon with her stare, only there were no people down there to play shepherd with. If there were, they would have been her followers.
Her name was Sybella Deorum-Aldercapt. She was no mere girl, she was a woman. Fairly tall, with long, scarlet red hair that she wore in a low ponytail with strands hanging down in the front, along with one strand on the right was braided, whilst the other was left alone. Her faintly pale arms were calmly resting behind her cold, armored back.
Oh, she had not been sleeping indeed.
Sybella had already clothed herself into her standard black form-fitting garment, which exposed her legs, with the lighter obsidian colored breastplate that stopped just above her waist. The rest of her attire consisted of straps going across her chest, which made her dark red shoulder armor stay in place, on top of her gloves, dark silver wrist armor protected up to her forearm. There was a belt strapped around her waist that gave away into a lower body transparent cape, which was red on the inside, black on the outside.
Her weapons were not equipped at the moment as she figured she needn't use them now, in her home, her eyes were a weapon themselves. Her eyes were not a cold light azure like her father's, they were fiery- a bright amber color, fire seemed to dance in her eyes with every blink and getting a stare from her could mean comforting warmth or cold-hearted incineration. That was one of the reasons why she decided to keep Deorum in her name, she was most definitely her father's daughter- but she was her mother's daughter as well.
Sybella brushed a manicured hand over the dark dragon insignia on her shoulder armor, there hadn't been but a speck of dust on it. Her armor was constantly polished; there was no room for dust and blood, things of that nature didn't make the statement one should as a princess. The gesture was only something she unknowingly made a habit out of doing. With her other hand, she pressed a short oval-shaped glass, to her dark rosy lips. The red substance slowly went down her throat and a sigh escaped behind it, as she turned on her black heeled boots and exited her quarters.
"Your Highness!" A man exclaimed the moment Sybella stepped out of her living area. He was one of the imperial guards. Two of them stood in the entrance way of her room at all times, always different faces, but always remaining the same number.
"Is there anything we can help you with?" The second one questioned, moving forward a little bit and extending his hand out.
In return, she chuckled and looked at the two of them, "Boys! You act as if I have died and come back to life within the last twenty-four hours, just because I wanted a moment of solitude does not mean that I am in ailment."
The first one bowed in return, on behalf of both of them, "Our apologies, your highness. We are only doing our duty as your guards, apologies again if we have bothered you..." They stepped back to their posts and got back into their position as dominant soldiers who were ready to put up a fight to any threat, evidently still keeping an eye on Sybella until she decided to leave.
"Both of you, Ser Barristan, and you, Ser Drakaine, have all my thanks for what you do for me," she said, a smile on her lips, small and almost noticeable. "That will be all."
With guards and royalty, it was known that they needed to be dismissed in order to 'be off their guard'.
She started to swiftly saunter down the hall until she realized something. She turned back around. "Actually..." Sybella trailed off, "gather some basic necessities and pack them in a small bag, nothing too extravagant."
"Yes, right away," Sir Barristan complied, immediately after the clanking of his sword against his armor could be heard as he traveled down the hall.
Before Sir Drakaine decided to do the same, he asked questions. It was something he was known for doing even though he knew very well that he shouldn't. Questioning royalty was almost always a bad idea, especially those with an impatient soul like the emperor. "Are you traveling somewhere, princess? For why do you need all of these things?"
The redhead stiffened slightly and did not turn around to answer his question, "If I wanted to disclose details to you, believe me, I would have," she said, her tone stern and cold, much different from how she spoke to her protectors earlier. Either she was a little annoyed or drunk, or both... to have such a random tone of voice with such random actions. That could be up to one's guesses. Sybella took another sip of her tasteful potation, glancing over her shoulder, "Please do not question me again, Sir Drakaine," her voice contained some emotion now, "I know it is a habit, but I only look out for your life as you do mine."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see him nod swiftly. "Yes, your highness," he said, as his departing statement, without saying another word, dropping the topic.
Sybella continued to walk down the dark corridors, her steps making as much noise as it could possibly be made while walking on carpet, she could say that she was walking on the blood of her enemies because of the crimson hue that the designers chose for the palace. And she had many, many enemies. The princess had made a name for herself, not only was she to be the ruler of the empire if her father were to ever die, but ever since she was younger, she vowed that she would have other roles. She didn't just want to be the princess or- the queen, she wanted to be someone that helped her country in more ways than one. Which was why she was about to carry out this specific task.
"I want the boy dead." Emperor Ieodolas sat on his throne in front of all of his subjects. He looked slightly agitated, his tone seemingly impatient. His eyes, his cold blue eyes portrayed nothing, but madness. Yet it was the kind of intelligent madness that couldn't be beaten. He wore white, red and black; The white was the caped robe with the large collar, with sleeves not tight to the body and red trimmings with black decorative patterns of sinister spirals. Underneath was a white shirt with small ruffles, over this was a black robe. Different gold ornaments were what he was decorated with. Below his neck was a fastened golden ornament with emerald jewels. This ornament resembled a dragon in flight. It was a common thing within his palace. It was also a common thing for him to say that he wanted someone dead. "I've come far too close to achieving my empire in Eos and that boy will not ruin it for me. I want Noctis Lucis Caelum dead. I want to see his head on one of your swords as a valuable trophy. I want his body to be emptied of blood and I want it brought back to me, so I can drink it out of a golden chalice and savor such taste!" he projected his voice, he stressed every word to the point where you thought he was going to lean over right into your face. He always wanted someone dead... but this was clearly different.
Sybella hadn't known how long this meeting had gone on, and quite frankly she didn't care. It probably only consisted of her father speaking about how much he wanted the prince's head to hang in his throne room, while all of his subjects quietly listened- like always. It was not something she needed to listen to. It didn't really concern her. It was only the same speech, just a different person, a different, more important person. The woman, neatly folded her arms over her chest, slowly tapping one of her black nails on her plated shoulder armor, the glass of red wine had been refilled before she arrived at the throne room.
She strongly cleared her throat, hoping to get everyone's attention. It was already known that she would, one of the guards would've announced her presence if his higher up hadn't been talking. The three people standing in the middle, stepped a little to the side when they saw who was standing at the entrance. Ardyn was the only one who seemed reluctant to move out of the emperor's way.
Striding to get somewhat closer to her father but still moving at a slow pace as if she wasn't wasting anyone's time at all. "I have arrived! Surely, I haven't missed anything too important. If I have, I'm sure I'll be able to get the gist of what's going on... because of the simple fact that I know my father," Sybella announced her presence in a calm fashion, but she was naturally full of life. Her voice wasn't the type to drag on with an uninterested pitch. It was quick, snappish, with a certain groundedness to it. A voice of someone who was comfortable, and used that comfortableness to her advantage, maybe even let it get to her head.
"Ah, yes. The Princess. Late as usual. Ignoring her duties just like any other day," Chancellor Ardyn spoke up, in a sarcastic, yet polite manner, although there was something hidden in his voice that wasn't polite at all. Something malicious. "Dear, Sybella, don't be offended by my words. I am only trying to advise you in the most amicable way possible. It is only what you deserve," he added on, resting his chin on the side of his hand as he made direct eye contact with the princess, clearly audacious.
This seemed to tick the princess off more than what her guard did earlier. She may sound calm and composed, but others that knew her well were not foolish enough to believe that about her. She was like a fuse, and the chancellor would always be the hottest flame to ever light her up. "Oh," she fake whispered, and then her voice got louder, "Chancellor, I don't ever remember giving you permission to speak to me. If I'm not mistaken... you're my father's advisor. I have my own and he's far better at giving advice than you are." Sybella innocently tilted her head to the side, but her words were cutting, "You should take notes." She continued with a sly smirk.
Chancellor Ardyn smiled at Sybella, his eyes narrowing as he did, "That is very true, your highness. After all, you are the heir to the throne. It is my place to listen to those higher than me, but I often wonder, at what point should I deem those orders to be foolish? When the person giving them is clearly intoxicated? Perhaps even too intoxicated to rationally think."
"Ahahaha!" Sybella gave a laugh, full of bitterness, "Why, you're so hysterically funny, aren't you? I think not! They aren't laughing-" she looked around at the men and women in armor, "Laugh! Everyone laugh! Laugh at the funny man." She teased.
Before they could do as she wished, the emperor stepped in before the situation got even worse than it already has. He knew his daughter well, and he knew how she hated Ardyn. He wanted no bloodshed among his own people. "Be quiet! All of you! Silence! And if any of you dare laugh, it's your tongues that I'll have indeed."
Sybella took a sharp breath and looked away from Ardyn, to her father who was really the person that she wished to speak to. "Father," she started, as she kneeled down before him, "Emperor of Niflheim, listen to what I must say with care."
"Out with it," he said, a white eyebrow raising in curiosity.
The princess looked up from the ground and make direct eye contact with him, "I would like to eliminate Noctis of Insomnia myself if you'd let me."
Iedolas narrowed his eyes at what his daughter was proposing, his lips pressed into a tight frown. He wasn't disapproving of this idea, he knew she was fully capable of taking The Prince down. It was the why and how, that made him question her. "Why should I allow you to do that, my dearest, Sybella?"
"For the simple fact... that I am apart of your Royal Guild. I am the Lieutenant Obelus, I have made a name for myself and I have made a reputation that is not a force to be trifled with. What I do- I hunt. I track down the enemies of Niflheim and I end them. Your enemies are mine," Sybella explained while her eyes narrowed with fiery determination; if Ardyn said something to her at this moment he was sure to be left charred. She stood up and pulled her free hand into a strong fist, "let me be the one to kill him. My plan is foolproof."
The emperor had designed a small squad to be called the Obelium. At his command, they killed any beast of Niflheim- but there was a twist, they also killed people that threatened the power of The Empire.
He raised his head to look up at her, yet he didn't utter but a word. Which told her to continue. This was usually a time when a special someone would interject but no one did, perhaps they all wanted to hear what she had to say as well.
"You've been going about all of this the wrong way, father. Sending troops behind troops to kill him and his band of friends," Sybella stepped closer to him and a small smirk crossed her lips, one that said she believed herself to be clever but not over the top, "what we need to do is use manipulation and deception to ruin them. We need someone on the inside. Someone to befriend them. Someone smart enough to make them trust them. Make one of them fall in love. Everyone knows there's weakness in the heart."
The old, worn out emperor stood up from his throne with a sudden quickness. His frigid eyes held some sort of warmth to them when he looked at his daughter. "You. You would be the one to do this?"
"Of course, I would be. I would infiltrate their little team and feed them all the lies they would want to hear. And the moment they begin to trust me, I would take Noctis' broken little heart," she chuckled and sipped the last of her wine. "It's perfect."
"That could work," Chancellor Ardyn said, finally. She just knew that he would've had to say something to make himself feel important, he would use the excuse that he was 'the advisor'. He was, and for once, he agreed with one of her ideas. At long last. Sybella flashed him a triumphant smirk, which was soon gone once he said his next statement, "but, comrades of her own should be sent along with her. In the ghastly event where the unexpected occurs."
Sybella sighed and rolled her eyes, growing tired of him and his ideas, always trying to overshadow her own. "There is no need for that. The point is to seem the least amount threatening as possible. They are meant to trust me, not fear me. The more people I bring, the more suspicious I will become."
"Both of you have a point," Iedolas said, quickly diffusing another argument that spawned between the two. "Which is why I have already decided to send some of the other members of the Hunters with you. They will stay hidden, while you do what you must. There will be a signal if you need them to come out of hiding."
Sybella nodded, not feeling like convincing him otherwise. It would have been a waste of time. Her father always listened to his advisor. Always. Sometimes she felt as if he preferred his say over his own daughter's. The one who would inherit his throne, his country, his people. It was like he had adopted Ardyn as his only son and had decided to make him the heir. "I will begin to prepare, in order to leave the next morning."
"Very well," he said, sitting back on his throne. This was both an agreement and a dismissal. No 'Farewell' or 'Be safe, my dearest daughter', her and her father had not the traditional father-daughter relationship, instead they had this- something that many people stared confused at. Was she related to him? The love between them is purely invisible, like the aether holding the world together... Iedolas did love his daughter, Sybella loved her father. It was a known fact between the both of them as their love was unconditional, whether anyone else knew it was impertinent.
With that being said, she turned around and nodded to the other two people who made way for her. "Aranea. Ravus. My apologies are grand for not acknowledging the both of you." The red woman tried her absolute hardest not to add a snide remark about Ardyn not being as important as the two of them.
Sybella adored Ravus and Aranea, far more than Ardyn, as if they were twisted siblings. They all held high ranks within the emperor's war forces. Ravus was the land. Aranea the sky. Sybella the shadows.
"No need," Ravus' deep voice echoed throughout the room, when he answered so simply, sounding as if he had little care that she hadn't acknowledged his presence. This was all apart of his attitude, always acting as if she couldn't get to him in more ways than one. As if she hadn't done so already.
On the other hand, Aranea nodded at Sybella, giving her a quick wink before she was out of the princess' sight.
Being that the late greetings were over and done with, Sybella began to walk out of the throne room. They watched her as she left. Her walk was always like a mystical flame being guided through a forest, yet to burn down any of the trees and plants surrounding it. What would happen when that magic disappeared and all that was left was the flame? With no force field left to protect everything around it, what would happen?
"Wine! Wine! I require more wine!" They could hear her demanding and impatient shout, even though she was already down the hall and making her way back to her quarters to prepare. "Someone get me my astrals, be damned Dragonwine, before I have to get it myself!"
If one pitiful thing isn't protected against the flame, it would be forced to do a terribly simple and utterly terrifying thing. It's quite self-explanatory.
It would burn. All of it would burn.
Ending Notes: What do you think of Sybella?
If you were on a journey, is she someone who you would want on your trail?
