So, here we are with chapter 10 - Aftermath. I pulled a Dracula and the story of this chapter is told through a lot of letters. I apologise. However if you do like this way of communicating the story, please tell me - I'd appreciate the feedback. I have another chapter planned like this though it would be helpful now to know, so I can change those plans.
Thanks to presea221 and Gwendolyn Yuki for reviewing last chapter - You guys are awesome.
Thanks to Defiance-of-Fate for beta reading this chapter - you are amazing.
Without further ado - chapter 10! Enjoy!
Aftermath
ND2018 The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city. There, the youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca, destroying himself and the city. Thereafter, the land of Rugnica will be enveloped in war, and Malkuth shall lose territory. Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall thrive, and this shall lead to unprecedented prosperity.
Sylphday 41, Shadow Redecan – ND 2003
Ward Princess Lythia Kari Malkuth,
I write this letter to you in hopes that you still cling to your stubbornness to never hear your Score again. I have done a horrible thing and made the wrong person Grand Maestro, and I fear that he will lead to the Order of Lorelei's destruction. He was Scored to gain great standing within the Order, and I believe his knowledge of that has made him arrogant.
I suspect that he is using his new influence to make some families indebted to him. The cathedral seems to be full of his spies now. I fear it won't be long before there is a spy amongst my Fon Master Guardians.
Enclosed with this letter I have written out the Score for ND2018, which I read for you last time you were in Daath. I hope it can help you.
I would also warn you against Grand Maestro Mohs, as he might plan your assassination as you are someone who doesn't follow the Score. I cannot remove him from his position anymore, and he watches me like a hawk.
I must leave this letter hear and send it, before Mohs discovers that I have written it.
Signed,
Fon Master Evenos
~Gnomeday, Ifrit Decan 7, ND2018 - 1 week and a day after Fall~
Peony glared at the letter in his hands, rereading it again as he stepped off the ferry with Lythia's retainer, Caius, flanking him. Arya and Arietta were carefully leading Lythia to follow the Emperor. The group then started walking towards their destination; the Governor's Residence in Keterburg. Once there Peony knocked and was greeted by one of Nephry's maids.
"I wish to speak to the Governess," he stated.
"Of course, your Majesty," the maid replied, ushering the group in. "I will take you to her."
The maid knocked on another door and spoke.
"Mistress, Emperor Peony is here to speak with you."
There was a sigh and an order to let him in. The maid opened the door and let the group walk in.
"Forgive me for the intrusion Nephry," Peony murmured as he walked in. "However I must ask you a favour."
Nephry looked up from her papers and noticed Lythia.
"Sister!" She gasped, taking in her older sister's appearance. Lythia's violet eyes were dead and her cheeks were stained with tears. The older woman's expression was one of utmost despair. Once Arya had led her to a chair, Lythia sat, unresponsive to the world.
"So Jade truly is dead?" Nephry asked quietly.
"I refuse to believe it," Peony replied, then his gaze moved onto the broken woman who had Arietta wrapped in her arms as she had the night before. "However it is hard to cling to such beliefs when his sister, who adores him, sits in her room and stares at the wall."
"Less than a year has passed since she told Jade the truth," Nephry whispered. "And now she's been told that he's dead... Peony, if... If Jade did survive, you know..."
"Yes, I know," the blonde man replied. "And I will let her."
Nephry stared at her sister for a moment longer before she turned back to the Emperor.
"I've never seen her like this before," she said meekly. Peony pulled the woman into his arms, Nephry didn't resist.
"Neither have I," he admitted.
"Welcome home my son."
"Thank-you Father, I hope that I can be of use to you."
"You are the Crown Prince now Peony, you have much to do."
"Of course Father."
"Excellent, now, come my son. You shall follow me to see your betrothed."
"O-of course. Lythia must have changed much since I last saw her."
"I can't have changed too much, Lord Brother."
"Lythia..."
~Before Jade's Return – Peony – Gnomeday 15, Ifrit Decan~
Peony sat on his throne in the Audience hall of his palace, with his chin resting on his hand as he glared at the floor. It was terrifying to witness Lythia so broken. She had grieved before yes, when Peony's sister died and even, surprisingly, when his father died, but neither had affected the woman as much as the news of Jade's death had. There were stories of a time before Peony had returned to Grand Chokmah from his confinement in Keterburg, but Sesemann had sworn that they were the rumours of palace staff and nothing more.
There was much about Lythia's time in Grand Chokmah that Peony wasn't aware of, and now he was starting to wonder what lies the blonde woman had told him. He would always hold unconditional trust in Lythia Balfour, that would never change, but it was Lythia Malkuth, the woman who was his father's puppet, that he had doubts about.
Lythia Malkuth was the woman who had greeted Peony when he had first returned. She was like Peony's older sister, Caela; cold and calculating. But her eyes expressed terror and begged Peony for help.
Peony knew that something about Lythia's time under Emperor Karl's command terrified her, something about that time that she wanted to desperately forget, and something about that time that had a few of the councilmen distrusting the woman.
"Emperor Peony!"
The voice echoing across the room cut through Peony's thoughts as he looked up to see three of the councilmen walking in. He quickly schooled his expression to blankness before he addressed the men who had interrupted his musings.
"Yes?"
The question was rude, but Peony didn't care about being polite in that moment.
"Your Majesty," one of the men called, his voice demanding. "There has been a murder in the city!"
Peony waved his hand for him to continue, staring more attentively, but wondering why this was being shared with him and not the military.
"We suspect Princess Lythia as the culprit."
And there it was. Peony sighed.
"I am afraid, good sirs," the blonde Emperor started with annoyance. "That Princess Lythia is in no way capable of committing murder at this present time, nor is she able to do anything in this city, for she is currently not in Grand Chokmah, nor in the state of mind to move anywhere, let alone out of the room she resides in currently."
"It is an act your Majesty!"
Peony glared at the man speaking.
"You are claiming that it is an act that she has been greatly affected by the news of the death of Jade Curtiss, her blood relative, whom she cared for greatly?" Peony demanded, hating the fact that he was bringing up Jade. Something about these protests felt like a trap.
"Princess Lythia assisted Kimlasca in destroying Akzer_"
"ENOUGH!"
Peony's furious roar echoed around the palace.
"Get out of my palace," the furious emperor snapped shortly. The councilmen looked up at the man and tried once more.
"Please your Majesty!_"
"Do not insinuate that Lythia Balfour was behind the destruction of Akzeriuth," Peony growled. "You insult me, and you insult her. So I shall repeat this only once; get out of my palace!"
From behind the throne where she was perfectly hidden due to her size, Arya dashed out with her rapier and stood between the Emperor and the councilmen when they tried to step forward again.
"His Majesty has asked you to leave," she reiterated coldly. The three men glanced at the child then turned and quickly left. Arya sheathed her blade and sighed.
"They dare insult my lady," the black haired child spat. Peony stood and placed his hand on Arya's head.
"Thank-you Arya," he murmured. "For doing that, and for returning with me to Grand Chokmah instead of remaining with Lythia in Keterburg."
The child sighed again. It had been a week since they had left Lythia with Nephry. Peony decided to write a letter to Nephry about the incident. Perhaps that would help.
Lunaday 9, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Peony-
Caius and Arietta have managed to get Lythia out of her room, but she still won't speak. I've heard rumours of strange happenings in Daath. Arietta has to return to the Order unfortunately. Tell me if anything happens.
-Nephry
Undineday 11, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Nephry-
Nothing has happened as of yet. Several con artists have come claiming to be Jade. I'm sure Lythia would happily execute them if she knew. I think some of the councilmen are up to something. I will write more as soon as either Arya or myself find out.
-Peony
Sylphday 12, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Peony-
Lythia is scaring me! I told her about the Jade imposters and fury just filled her eyes. I don't know what she's doing, Caius doesn't either. I hope your right about Jade being alive. He's the only one who can stop her from whatever she's planning.
-Nephry
Loreleiday 14, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Dear Arietta,
I write in hopes that you will be able to help me. Nephry has heard rumours about strange happenings in Daath. I have to ask if you might be able to shed some light onto this. Also, please do not write about any imposters of Jade Curtiss to Lythia, I believe grief has made her loose her mind. I enclose a copy of both my letter to Nephry and her reply with this letter that I am writing to you.
Please help me Arietta, I need to know what is happening in Daath, for the sake of my sanity as well as Lythia's.
Sincerely
Emperor Peony Upala Malkuth IX
Remday 16, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Nephry-
Stop her from whatever she's doing. The council is after her blood. I suspect they set up a murder in hopes of pinning it on Lythia. They came to me yesterday claiming that she had murdered someone in the city. Clearly they didn't know that she was gone, though I guess that was my plan. I'm sending Arya scouting for information. I've also sent a letter to Arietta in hopes that she'll be able to bring some light upon the rumours in Daath.
-Peony
Ifritday 18, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Peony-
I've managed to distract Lythia I think. I've heard that the Tartarus has been sighted in Daath Bay. Wasn't that stolen by the God-Generals?
-Nephry
Ifritday 18, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Dear Peony,
I have been unable to discover anything about the rumours here in Daath. Fon Master Ion seems to be acting strange however, and two prisoners were brought into the Daath Headquarters earlier today. I am not permitted to see them or ask who they are unfortunately.
From
Arietta the Wild
~Before Jade's Return – Nephry – Sylphday 20, Ifrit Decan~
"It might be a sign?" Nephry muttered in annoyance, reading over the latest letter that Peony had sent her. It was one line, signed with Peony's name, practically dripping with the Emperor's hope that Jade Curtiss was still alive.
With a sigh, Nephry placed the letter on her desk and stood up, moving to her sister's bedroom where she heard Lythia giving instructions to Caius. When she opened the door, Nephry saw Caius staring down at a book, with a quill in his hand and a sheet of parchment beside him. Lythia was standing behind the teenage boy as he wrote something down.
"What are you doing?" Nephry asked curiously. Caius glanced up at the woman who had just walked into the room.
"My lady is teaching me Ancient Ispanian," the boy replied, before returning to his page. Nephry glanced at her sister, noting the way her violet eyes still seemed dead, and the slightly monotone way she spoke. However there was more fury in Lythia's expression than grief. Nephry sighed again and decided to draw out the conversation.
"Is that so? And what Ancient text are you translating there?"
"It's an old fairy tale, something that Emperor Karl had me translate into Ancient Ispanian."
It was not Caius but Lythia that spoke. Nephry shivered at the softness of her sister's voice. This gave Nephry an idea.
"Will you read it to me?" she asked carefully. A rush of victory filled the younger woman as Lythia smiled childishly, a faint spark returning to her gaze. Nephry's violet eyed older sister carefully took the book that Caius was trying to translate. When the young teen tried to complain, Nephry placed her hand gently on his shoulder and shook her head.
"I'll explain later," she whispered into his ear. "For now just listen."
For the next hour the only voice speaking in the house of Governess Nephry was the voice of Lythia Balfour, as she read the fairy tale that Nephry remembered hearing before Lythia had run away when she was nine.
Later, at night, after Lythia had retired for the night, Caius and Nephry spoke in quiet tones in Nephry's study. When they had finished speaking Nephry wrote a final letter to Emperor Peony.
Sylphday 20, Ifrit Decan – ND2018
Peony-
I think I have succeeded in distracting Lythia. It is hard seeing my older sister so broken, I will admit. However I am grateful that I have discovered a way to help her. She was reading children's books today, and it was the most peaceful I've seen her for a long time. This will be my last letter to you on this topic. I hope you and Arya are well.
-Nephry
Oh dear! Whatever have I done? No Jade? And stuff is happening to Lythia? The flashback conversation revealed a hint too. I hope you haven't been ignoring the flashback conversations - they hold some very important clues. The Jade gang will return next chapter and another secret shall be revealed.
See you next chapter!
~Icetail of WindClan - Meta-If~
UNIMPORTANT NOTES:
So Lythia doesn't like the idea of Jade imposters. Oh dear, that could spell trouble!
I might have mixed and matched the official Abyss timeline a bit to fit my purposes, but nothing major shall go wrong, I've just moved a few things around to better fit my story, nothing major, though everything after the one month gap might happen a bit slower in my story than it does in game. Not the assumed few days.
Oh dear, the council is targeting Lythia and Peony is furious. This should end well. Something should be done about them!