Chapter 45 - The Empire's strength
2nd Verdant Rain Moon; Imperial Year 1186
Edelgard sighed. It wasn't a good day to execute Cornelia. However, she still was human (or at least as close as a being living in the dark and hiding there could be). Not knowing then to die on a death row was terrible. She knew it because Jeritza suffered the same until she decided that he was worth for her rebellion. But if he wasn't… then he would be dead.
No. She wasn't going to think in that direction. She should focus her strength on debating if her mother should attend the execution of Cornelia. After all, they were supposedly friends back in the Kingdom. She kind of thought that it was only a one-sided friendship because Cornelia clearly used Patricia for her own gain.
But the Empress also knew that she had to set an example to those who dare to threaten the Empire. She had to prove to everyone that the Empire wasn't weaken by the Church, despite the losses they had in Linhardt, Dorothea and almost Hubert. She was beyond thankful that somehow Petra managed to survive this long. She needed her, after all, for future negotiations between Fódlan and Brigid. Without her… These negotiations were going to be much more difficult. She should probably tell Macuil to keep Petra away from any dangerous battle scenarios, although she knew that the Brigid woman wasn't going to like it considering that she was a rather fierce warrior.
Speaking of Macuil… Edelgard had asked him to remove her Crests after Rhea was defeated. She needed those Crests, no matter what. Unlike Lysithea who never truly relied on her Crests, she was relying on them too much. It wasn't healthy for her… But without them… Defeating the Immaculate One was much more difficult, even with the help of Byleth and Macuil who could turn into dragons. She wasn't going to rely on them. They were Children of the Goddess… They could turn against her at any point. She was still expecting from them to do that, even though they had proved their loyalties to her on several occasions.
A knock on her door, let Edelgard open her eyes again. She looked over her shoulder to see a soldier walking in. She was shortly hoping that it would be Hubert coming in… However, she was happy that he wasn't here. He definitely needed rest after that terrible wound which almost costed him his life. Every minute he spent in rest, the more likely he would survive this war.
The soldier bowed paying her the needed respect. She mustered him with a neutral expression on her face. She already knew what was going to happen. So, she stood up and nodded her head. Then her hand grabbed a silver axe and left the room. Closely following her were the soldier. Once she reached the open area, she could already see Cornelia in a cage which was dragged by one ox. She was gagged and a silence spell hung around her rendering her magic useless. Next to the cage stood Jeritza with his scythe drawn and riding his horse and Macuil who didn't seem to be prepared. However, this could only be a farce.
With a raise of her hand, the carriage was led away to the town nearby Garreg Mach. Her eyes followed Cornelia until she saw Seteth out of the corner of her eyes. She turned her head towards him questioning herself what he was going to say. But he didn't say anything. Instead he narrowed his eyes and followed the cage. Part of her actually regretted that he and his daughter had to attend the execution. But it would be better. She would scare them into submission, if necessary.
Another soldier neared her signaling her that it was time to follow the carriage. Several more soldiers surrounded her for protection. She raised her head high and started walking after the carriage. Next to the soldiers, Byleth was walking. Her hand was on the hilt of her sword. Edelgard shortly wondered if she was bothered by the public execution. But she somehow doubted. Byleth had been a mercenary… She should be used of seeing people getting killed by others.
Finally, Edelgard reached a huge plaza. A pedestal was placed near the end to the street to Garreg Mach. Cornelia was kneeling on the mentioned pedestal. Her hands were bound behind her back. If Edelgard looked closely she could see terror on the captured woman's face. So, she was afraid of dying.
In front of the pedestal a line of soldiers was standing separating onlookers from the pedestal. They would also make sure that no one was interfering with the execution. Also, it was because of a safety measure for her. Anyone could take the chance and kill her. Although a line of soldiers wouldn't truly protect her from an arrow.
The Empress stepped onto the platform and stood beside Cornelia. She shortly looked down onto the woman, then back to the crowd. She remembered that Rhea had held a public execution for the members of the Western Church because they tried to steal the Sword of Creator and failed due to the interference of the Blue Lion's students. She also remembered pushing these people to do such a thing as the Flame Emperor.
Edelgard shook her head and took a deep breath before saying loudly:
"This woman here has conspired against two members of my family. She led them to suffer physically and psychologically. She stood against us then we wanted to conquer Arianrhod. She almost killed Hubert von Vestra, Minister of the Imperial Houshold. She was part of an underground organization known as Those who Slither in the Dark. Thus, her sentence is death by an axe."
Cornelia started to tremble and then screamed on top of her lungs. Edelgard ignored her and raised her axe high. She could feel the crowd holding their breath. The Empress closed her eyes shortly.
"No… Please no! I… I can give you information about us, the Agarthan! Or I could remove your two Crests! How about that, Your Majesty? It sounds good, doesn't it?" Cornelia offered in a high-pitched voice.
Edelgard opened her eyes and with great force… the axe… came down…
4th Verdant Rain Moon; Imperial Year 1186
Flayn couldn't forget the execution of Cornelia. Even after two days. She could still hear the terrible scream Cornelia had released from her throat. Yes, she was an Agarthan… But still… That didn't mean that she had to be executed.
And then all this blood… It reminded her of the War of Heroes. Of her own mother who was drenched in blood. She could still hear her scream then her torso was ripped open by Goneril and his Heroes' Relic. She shuddered and was forced to sit down onto a bench. And then… she covered her ears and shut her eyes tightly. She sometimes wondered what might have happened if she hadn't been participating in the War of Heroes. Would her father be dead? Would her uncles be dead? Would… would they have not won this war?
Flayn released her ears and opened her eyes again. She didn't want to remember those moments of her already long life. But forgetting them were always difficult. She also wondered how her father and her uncles were cooping with this terrible war. Her father had become more closed, uncle Indech excluded himself from any business with mankind and uncle Macuil… He was a shell of his former self. Originally, her youngest uncle was kind but still a little bit sarcastic. But now? He had become filled with bitterness and hatred. At least that was what her father said. However, Flayn still could see the kind man because Macuil still cared about others.
The green-haired woman shook her head and looked to the side. However, she tensed then a hand slid onto her shoulder. She slowly turned around somehow expecting either Hubert or Jeritza touching her. However, she saw her uncle and relaxed again.
"Let me guess… The execution is still clear on your mind." Macuil suggested and sat down nearby her.
"Yes… It just… somehow reminded me on the War of Heroes…" she replied. "How… mother was killed by Goneril…"
"For you it had been only some years, had it not?" he questioned.
"It had. I just… wonder… If I had been awake… what might have happened? Would Seiros… would she have not fallen under madness?"
"I do not think anything would have changed. Your father would also have become overprotective of you. And Seiros… well… Do you know about the curse of us Nabatea? The Degeneration*?"
"I have heard about that… From uncle, Indech… However, what exactly is this Degeneration?" she asked.
"It is a process in which a Nabatea loses their mind and become more and more aggressive as time passes. This is because of our powers. They are like a double-edged sword. The more you use your powers as a Nabatea, the more you lose your mind. That is also a reason as to why Heroes' Relics hurt their owner and turn them into Demonic Beasts if the one does not bear a Crest." he explained and closed his eyes.
"So, Rhea is degenerating… Is there a way to stop this process?"
"She has to sleep. If you sleep the process is halted and the body begins healing. Many old Nabatea of Zanado slept for hundred of years. Even if our ancestor, Sothis, were not healing the land of Fódlan, she would have fallen asleep due to the Degeneration process."
Flayn nodded her head in understanding. She pulled her legs to her chest and mulled over his words. So, she was going to get just as mad as Rhea currently was. The question was, when she would receive such a state. Or had she already begun degenerating?
"Do not fret, my niece. The Degeneration only starts if you transform between your human and Nabatean form constantly." Macuil soothed her.
"Then what about you? You are using your Nabatean form constantly."
"Well… I am still a young Nabatea in comparison to the old ones. Despite this, you lost your ability to transform into your other form. In other words… Your Degeneration can never happen."
Flayn visibly exhaled in relief and closed her eyes while putting a hand to her chest. She wasn't going to turn mad just like Rhea. She was going to be okay. Still, that didn't cheer her up too much. The Degeneration was a depressing subject. While she and her father could not be affected, her uncles could because they still managed to transform between their two forms.
Macuil seemed to notice that her mood wasn't lifting. That was probably why he put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly. She turned towards him raising an eyebrow in question. She saw a smile on his face.
"If you want to we can visit Indech again. How about tomorrow?" he suggested.
It was a weird thing to change so suddenly the subject… But she welcomed it. And visiting her other uncle again… That sounded so good! She missed him greatly. And maybe… maybe he would join Edelgard as well. Flayn smiled brightly.
"I would love to!" she exclaimed happily.
"Of course, we should not tell your father. He might get really worried." he added as an afterthought.
"You are right… However… Would you not think that father might want to see Indech as well? Despite everything that had happened, they are really close."
"Hm… I doubt Edelgard would let him go so easily. Cichol is a threat. Letting him walk so freely outside of Garreg Mach would be unwise."
Flayn's mood dropped again. But Macuil was right. It was a terrible idea. However, the two of them were able to visit Indech. And, to be honest, she was looking forward to it. Edelgard just needed to agree.
