Chapter 33: Audience on Ero
"Long ago, a sporadic Meridian King had three children. Since only the oldest daughter could inherit the throne, there used to be the custom that the firstborn son is killed and any other daughters get married off to other royals. Since this king loved all his children equally, he sent the son and younger daughter away. The boy came to Ero, and founded this great kingdom."
Disclaimer: This is a special crossover chapter written in collaboration with Madam Ioanah, here, on FanFiction. Her stories (for example: The Prince's Frozen Heart), about the past of the Escanors and their extended family, I find fantastic, and I think that you wouldn't be wrong if you checked them out for yourselves. ;) The kingdom of Ero and her original character, Queen Seras, will be featured in the longest scene, in the longest chapter "The Dark Descendant" has had so far! Enjoy!
Meridian, 6:05 AM
"Elyon. Elyon, wake up, it's just a nightmare, sweetie, wake up! Elyon!"
Blackness and fear. Loneliness. Destruction. Bare trees. Saddened, Meridian burned in golden flames, as her subjects fell as if struck by invisible lightnings, one after another, as though a black catastrophe, clad in golden colors, sucked all the life out of their bodies...
Elyon shot straight up in the big bed, pressing the satin covers against her chest. Her breathing was rapid and she was drenched in cold sweat. She needed a whole entire minute to regulate her hectic heartbeats before she could focus her attention on her adoptive mother's worried face:
"I-I...What time is it?"- the Queen asked distractedly. "I have to get ready, Andan is going to wait for me- "
"Elyon, dear, wait a second. It's early."- Miriadel assured her, wrapping her fingers around her wrist and gently nudging her to remain in bed for a few more minutes. "It's only six a clock, don't fret. Tell me, is everything alright? You had a nightmare, didn't you? Would you like to talk about it?"
Elyon didn't reply. She shivered in her cold nightclothes, remembering the vivid dream she had just had. Her night terror. Such a truly vivid and horrifying one it had been. With all the stress in her life, the young Queen was used to the occasional nightmares every now and then, but this one had been something else. This one had almost made her heart stop...
"Nagadir, bring fresh water and breakfast for the Queen. What are you waiting for?"- Miriadel turned her attention to the royal servant, having seen that Elyon needs time to gather her thoughts.
Nagadir nodded obediently, heading for the kitchens. Miriadel watched her leave and then turned her attention to her daughter once again:
"Tell me what's torturing you, dear. Was it another nightmare about Galgheita? She'll recover, Elyon, I know it. In fact, your father and I spoke to a new priest the other day. He believes that together you can find a way to wake her up- "
"No, mom, it's not that."- Elyon shook her head tiredly, her straw-colored hair getting all around her. "I mean...I'll be more than glad to have someone finally help with that for real. If that priest has ways to achieve it...But, mom, my nightmare wasn't about Galgheita."
"Then?"
Elyon hesitated. Then she turned her fear-filled eyes to her mother:
"Mom...I saw terrible things, mom. I saw my kingdom perishing. It was so real..."- she whispered, ready to burst into tears any minute now. "So very real..."
The Army Captain's eyes went wide and then small again. She just blinked at what she had just heard. She knew that her daughter had the desperate need to be comforted, yet she seemed to face hardships in finding strength for herself. This nightmare disturbed even her, more than it should've, but she had her reasons...
"Elyon...It's. j-just a bad dream. A nightmare. It has nothing to do with reality, don't worry. Put this on and come with me."
"Where?"
Miriadel didn't answer, she just kept leading her. Elyon blinked in perplexity, having had the time to just throw a cloak over her nightwear and a pair of shoes. Her adoptive mother was obviously in a haste to do something.
"Miriadel?"- Alborn met them in the corridor in front of the Queen's chambers and started following them, because his wife didn't stop. What was the matter with her? Their daughter looked just as confused as him. "Miriadel, what's happening?!"
"Nothing... Nothing, her Majesty had a nightmare...She should complete a ritual to get it off her mind."- she explained, cautiously meeting her husband's gaze.
"A ritual?"- Elyon blinked. "What..."
"Yes, dear. You know of the ritual we do to cast our nightmares away on Meridian. We're going to go to one of the wells in the royal yards and have you mumble it down while pouring a bucket of water back in. They say that voicing your fears and night terrors above falling water, before noon time, is sure to prevent any part of them from realization."
Elyon opened her mouth and then closed it again. Was this what her mother was so impatient to do?
"Miriadel, please! Since when are you into these kinds of nonsense."- Alborn exclaimed, obviously sharing his daughter's bafflement. "Nightmares are just projections of our fears-"
"I'm not saying anything different, dear."- his wife interrupted him in an odd tone. "I'm just saying that this will help bring Elyon some peace of mind for the day that lies ahead. It's just a little spiritual practice, it won't hurt a thing..."
"Good, dear, but still..."- the man wasn't quite ready to accept the suggestions as a sensible one. "Couldn't that have waited until after her Majesty gets ready and eats-"
"I'll do it."- Elyon announced and gave her parents a weak smile." I'll do this now, then I'll get my morning activities done and all that. I'm meeting Andan soon, I don't want to waste time."
"Alright, honey."
The morning was cold and the sun was just rising above the horizons when Elyon and her adoptive parents reached the inward yard that offered a few wells to choose from. Miriadel and her husband remained under the roofs, while their daughter got ready to go ahead and complete the morning ritual that was supposed to free her of the terror of the nightmare.
"And, Elyon, remember. Once you voice your night terror over the falling water, you shouldn't talk about it again."- her mother reminded her. "It's how the ritual works best, alright? It means that yours shouldn't discuss it with Andan or anyone else till the sun sets..."
Alborn looked at his wife in disbelief as she was saying that, but Elyon nodded with another smile and then walked towards one of the wells, leaving them alone.
Miriadel watched her walk away with arms folded on her chest and a few concerned mumblings under her breath...
"Hey. Look at me. What's wrong?"- her husband guided her face towards his. "Why do you look so spooked? What did Elyon dream about-"
"I fear that she had no ordinary nightmare, Alborn."- Miriadel said seriously, making him raise both eyebrows.
"Why?"
"She described it to me. And her fear...her fear was so great. Alborn; 24 years ago, her mother had a similar dream. She saw her kingdom dying in the embrace of black thorns and dreadful misery, and then, just a few months later, Phobos succeeded in usurping the throne..."
"How do you know that."- Alborn furrowed his brows. The two of them had both been relatively new to the royal court at that time, they hadn't been close to the late Queen. "The nightmare part, I mean-"
"Queen Weira and her closest ones had an old maid, who they trusted openly. She told me about this after Phobos took over the kingdom all these years ago. She told me that the Queen always foresees her kingdom's doom..."
"Is this maid you're talking about that...that Lychinda, the one who had taken care of Queen Weira's grandmother?!"- Alborn tried to remember. "Miriadel, that woman was more ancient that time...are you sure that you have to believe her senile talks? Elyon is under a lot of stress, because of her wicked brother and the wedding which she was skeptic about from the beginning. She needs time and peace and we need to provide it to her by being realists-"
"Alborn, don't miss my point! Since I still remember this story after so many years, then it must be profoundly impacting. Don't you agree? Even if there's just a pinch of truthfulness to Lychinda's story-"
"You fear that the Light of Meridian might have prophetic dreams. OK, good, but why now?"- her husband asked. "Everything's under control. The tyrant and the crazed princess are prisoners. Arkhanta no longer harbor grudges against us. What could possibly issue threats to Meridian?"
Miriadel's gaze flowed into the distance. She shook her head in a disquieted manner.
"That's what frightens me. The abeyance. You know that the invisible enemy is the most dangerous enemy one can have."- she said in a low voice. "I am sick of shadows lurking around our daughter with evil intentions and poisonous trump cards...We have to be ready for everything, Alborn-"
"We will. Don't worry; we will keep our eyes open."- the man nodded and placed his hands on her tense shoulders. "We'll have Aldarn check on the prisoners at Gray Woods. We will have the army train harder and we will ask the Mage to-"
"No."- Miriadel cut him off. "Nobody should learn of this just yet. Especially not she. I don't think that she knows the story of Weira's fated nightmare. And that must remain so!"
"But why-"- Alborn couldn't wrap his mind around it. Miriadel looked around herself and then at him. Sternly. How could he not be getting it?!
"Because I don't trust Nerissa enough. It is a ten to one chance that exactly she's the evil which Elyon sensed in her dream. Nerissa hates us and she certainly hates Elyon. She's a deranged and dangerous woman, who already benefits enough from the fact that Galgheita is in that state...Galgheita used to be a permanent protection for our daughter, but now that she's not here, Nerissa has had all chances to manipulate and take advantage of Elyon's youth!...What if she betrays the Queen and tries to get to ultimate power here, on Meridian?"- her eyes shone like two coals. Miriadel shook her head again: "No, Alborn. We do not want to give her any ideas. Nor precedence."
Her husband opened his mouth to say something, but at the sight of the captain's face, he gave it up and nodded instead. A part of him could make sense of her, at first hearing, paranoid words...
"We have to be very careful. "- Мiriadel murmured. "Even the walls have ears; Nerissa has people who have long stood on her side. We can't take any risks."
"And the guardians?"
"That's also a tricky one...Alborn, I realize that my decision might come off as paranoid and headlong, but I'm scared...I've seen how the sorceress behaves and does with Elyon. She'll push her off the throne in a split second if she gets the chance to...As long as we can handle the situation without the guardians' interference, we will... If anything starts to go out of control, we'll tell them, but not now, please- "
"Alright, Miriadel, we will do as you wish."- Alborn was quick to say. His wife smiled weakly as he patted her shoulder. "You're her mother; you know what's best for her."
"Thanks dear- "
As the couple went in each other's arms, amid the columns of the outbuilding, they didn't notice the male shadow that hid behind one transverse wall. The shadow of a man, that had just eavesdropped on their conversation and was now off to delate it...
Heatherfield from an airplane view... The tall buildings in the city center and the coast, bathed in the colors of the rising sun. The big bridges and the industrial zone in the distance. The wide streets and narrower lanes that connect to them...The city wakes up on a cold Saturday day.
In one of the ace residential neighborhoods, in the big family house of Cornelia Hale, the blonde guardian was up unusually early. That was so, because she was about to take a flight. A flight linked to an unexpected, but golden opportunity, which she couldn't miss on.
Cornelia knew that it was most probably not the best time to leave Heatherfield and her friends in the midst of all their problems, but she had to be selfish. Otherwise she'd never have a career of her own...
The beautiful young woman went through the pockets of her skinny jeans and then through the compartments of her Valentino bag. Her phone, documents and wallet were all here. What else, what else...
"Stop fidgeting already, you're all set to go."- Caleb, who had just come from upstairs carrying his fiancé's two large suitcases, laughed. "You'll be fine, Cornelia, it's just four days."
"I'm not worried about myself; I'm worried about you and Killian."- she retorted. "You'll manage, I guess. But it's the first time I'm leaving my son's side. I don't know whether he's old enough to be without me even for four days...Actually, I do, he is so not! Maybe I should-"
"Relax. I'm with him. Mom's here."- the rebel leader listed. "We're all here. We'll manage to hold the front for 4 days."
Cornelia smiled meekly. She was relatively new to motherhood and she knew she had yet a ton of things to learn, but her maternal instincts were already well developed. Caleb and their son were her world, which she'd always protect zealously, much like her mother in-law.
"Blunk here too!"- the passling's voice sounded from the kitchen. "Blunk always holds front!"
"That's so what I wanted to hear."- Cornelia rolled her eyes, but smirked. She ignored the crash which was created by Blunk dropping yet another frying pan on the floor and busied herself with her lips. She needed another coat of liquid lipstick before getting to the airport.
Caleb smacked her ass playfully before heading for the car in the driveway. He had to get her luggage in the trunk.
"Heyy! We're just here to wish a certain someone safe travels and to bring you a little banana bread."- the man had opened the door just before Taranee could ring the bell.
"Morning, you guys. Plank it on the table, I'm starving!"
With Nigel by her side and a big smile on her face, Taranee walked in the house. Cornelia gave her a little side hug:
"Thanks a lot, Tara. You shouldn't have; it's criminally early for anyone to be awake-"
"No, don't mention it! We had to be up already, anyway."- Taranee beamed, setting the baking down on the coffee table. "We have some early errands to run, then I'm off to Jensen's. I wanted to see you before you left-"
"We're meeting my mother's new caretaker today."- Nigel explained what his girlfriend had purposely forgotten to specify. Taranee looked over to him with a sincere smile; sometimes Nigel was too open minded and good for her to believe it. "She's moving back to her place and we found someone to help her around on a daily basis."
Cornelia stopped looking at her reflection at that part, shooting them a look of compassion:
"So, the renovations are over."- she concluded, putting the wand back in the liquid-lip tube. "How is Monica feeling about moving back to her old place?"
"Actually, she's quite excited. "- Nigel replied, placing his hand around his girlfriend's shoulders. " I think that she liked living with us and all that, but she wants for us to have our privacy."
Cornelia nodded and smiled.
"Well, that is nice. You two are more or less a family by now. Over ten years of dating with barely anything ever coming between you is something remarkable."
"Look who says."- Nigel returned the ball with a smirk. "You were the first girl from the group to settle down. Now that's remarkable."
"Yeah, Cornelia, you surpassed us all."- Taranee agreed.
"Don't I always?"
Taranee and her boyfriend exchanged amused glances at the sight of their blonde friend and her braggart hair flip. She certainly liked being praised.
"Yeah, look at yourselves. You're the power couple."- Nigel joked just as Caleb was returning back in the house.
Cornelia gave him a quick kiss and then pulled her two friends in for a quick hug:
"Thanks, you guys. I'm so happy to have you! Now, if you'd excuse me, I want to see Killian one more time before heading for the airport. I have a plane to catch!"
With that, the Earth guardian left the setting for good. She went on to do what she had said before leaving for the airport with Caleb, who was going to drop her there. It was all set. All set to go and to keep going, just like time did, for everyone and everything. Time didn't stop its course and at end of the day, that which was left to stay still was only Heatherfield. The city where the five elements would always meet up. Heatherfield from an airplane view...
Two hours later, Will was rushing towards Cornelia's house after an urgent call. Abandoning her tasks and the fact that her mother was still unreachable, she just parked in the driveway of the big lot, fidgeting in her seat. She had to be fast, the other girls were all already here and she had had to come with the car, because she had things in the trunk. Things which she was supposed to get to "Thunder Princess" and the pet store later. Otherwise, she could've as well just teletransported at Cornelia's.
"Hey, sorry I'm late."- she uttered once Taranee opened the front door for her. She had a thing going on with the electronic gates; they knew her and opened themselves. Normal doors, however, she still needed assistance with. Assistance in the form of hospitality, for preference.
"Come in."- Taranee made way for her. "We're just discussing our options."
The redhead nodded and followed her friend to the well-known living room, where a bunch of people had already formed a discussion.
"Hi Will. Sit."- Hay Lin patted the seat on the sofa next to her. "Grandma and Raythor just arrived too. You guys. Would you fill us all in?"
"In a jiffy!"- the ex-guardian's voice came from the kitchen which she then exited with a tray, teacups and a teapot. Yan Lin carried her usual warm smile as she set her goodies on the coffee table and then turned to the girls. Hay Lin and Will were sitting next to each other on the smaller sofa. Raythor, Caleb and Taranee were all on the bigger corner couch while Irma had seated herself on one tabouret.
"Don't be quick to tense up, girls; have some tea. Raythor came to the Dragon with information that he needed to share with the guardians and the Mage, and that's why I took him here with me, calling you all in on the way."- the old lady explained. "It's not an emergency, it's more of a...preventive measure."
The guardians all focused their eyes on the captain, who kept rubbing his palms together.
"Something quite intriguing happened in the palace this morning."- Yan Lin went on. "We should work this information carefully in order for it to be beneficial to Kandrakar and our mission to preserve the balance in the kingdoms."
"Any minute now, Raythe."- Irma invited him, impatiently.
The man escaped her eyes and looked at the staircase in anticipation.
"We're still waiting for-"- Taranee began, following his gaze, but didn't need to finish.
"I'm here and I'm all ears."
Nerissa made her way down the stairs and stopped right in the middle of the living room area. A sweetish, yet bold smile played on her lips as she focused her attention on Raythor:
"What did the fools do this time, my honorable knight?"
Five minutes later, she already knew, and she wasn't thrilled about it:
"Why am I not surprised? Miriadel and her husband have always had the wrong ideas and ambitions. They'll never be anything but short-sighted."
"Elyon had a nightmare like her mother did just before Phobos went all mondo on Meridian?"- Hay Lin exclaimed. "Well that can't be good! I guess we should tighten the shackles around his ankles."
"I'm sure that if we were to question her Majesty about this."- Caleb went back and forth around the room. "I mean, obviously without putting Raythor in a uncomfortable situation-"
"I just know that this has to be connected to the Dark Descendant prophecy.- Taranee muttered. "We have to get answers, girls. We have to get answers before its too late. Elyon's nightmare needs to be explained by someone who has witnessed it before. Someone who has seen it-"
"Who has seen what before?"- Irma insisted. "Elyon had a bad dream, big deal! Hay Lin didn't and she's the one who gets the prophetic dreams, right? Her power always picks them up for Elyon or anyone else, liberating them of any actual hardship. That has happened in the past. Who knows? Maybe Elyon had a regular-ass nightmare and her mother's right- "
"You're right, but only in part, Irma."- Yan Lin shook her head. "The Air guardians are usually the ones who have the strongest powers over foreseeing dreams, but that doesn't mean that we're the only ones that can sense such things. You've all altered dreams before, thanks to your powers, but you've all had nightmares before becoming guardians too. Nightmares that usually mean something. Nightmares based on hunches. Dreaming is not to be underestimated in general. Taranee makes a very valid point-"
The water guardian was about to say something else, but Will was faster:
"You mean that Elyon is so tightly connected to her kingdom that she can actually sense if something endangers it beforehand. Just like Weira did."- Will nodded back at Yan Lin and Taranee and then turned her attention to Nerissa: "Hey, this happened after the whole Mage twist thing. How come you haven't heard any of it? I thought that you kept a close eye on everything that went on in Meridian."
"Well, I tried my best, but still, I couldn't exactly divide myself into numerous copies."- Nerissa replied a tad irritated. She had never liked being preached. "Even I have the need to blink once in a while. Besides, by the time Weira has had that dream, the entire kingdom knew that her son would end up double crossing her."
"True. Even we who swore in oath to him didn't even suspect the magnitude of what was to come."- Raythor confirmed darkly. "He didn't simply take over the kingdom. He assassinated his own parents in the name of power. You've seen nothing like those days-"
"It was inevitable."- Yan Lin interjected. "After C.H.Y.K.N disbanded, Halinor, Kadma and I lacked the balance to ahold the power of the Heart correctly. Our harmony was diminished. We thought that our presence on Meridian is no longer needed, each of us went on with her own life, while in fact, the worst of things happened in our absence. We thought that just because we weren't being called, we're not required. How wrong we've all been...We understood the vastness of Phobos's menace when he tried to attack Zamballa and we actually received a calling...But it was too late then. In the matter of months, Phobos had managed to usurp his entire kingdom and was already looking for new horizons. It was something unheard of, even to us...The veil was raised and Meridian was quarantined from the other worlds, but its people were condemned to sure misery. And there was nothing which we could do to help."
There was silence for a whole entire minute in the living room before Caleb stood up and slammed his fist in the coffee table, affected and enraged by these stories:
"That's exactly why I've always said that Phobos should be dead! That he must be shown no mercy! He showed no mercy, did he? No! We lived like roaches for 13 years because of him. And what are we all doing now? Letting him live in peace and isolation after his umpteenth transgression?! That man has more sins than all other prisoners put together, and he's not even in a proper prison!"- he fumed. "This situation could've been avoided!"
"You know what, it could've, and that what makes me angry."- Irma joined in. "It makes me angry with certain people, but it also makes me wonder: If so many people were aware of that sicko's intentions over 24 years ago, then why the hell did no one just kill him!"
"Irma..."- Hay Lin gasped. "Killing is hardly ever the thing to do. Especially with a 14 year old boy-"
"Oh, bite me, Hay Lin! How many other children have died because of him? How many people? Directly or indirectly. There, I've said it! I know this has been discussed many times, but its-"
"You're hilarious, you think than no one tried to stop the insane brat? They tried, so many fools tried, years before he killed his parents."- Nerissa exclaimed, drawing their attention.
She had stood up, her long sleek ponytail getting tossed around as she shook her head grimly:
"You don't know what it was like. You don't! What you got to see thirteen years later, in the dawn of that devil's last days on the throne, is a candied version of the initial picture!"
"She's right."- Yan Lin agreed softly, meeting her granddaughter's shocked expression.
"Many tried to plot against the crown. To take them down, to take Phobos and dispose of him. The aristocrats were shook, for they knew they'd lose the most, but all these ideas of a coup came too late. That much in love they were with the light of their days. Weira...But she was no longer with her sanity, unfortunately."- Nerissa kept narrating. "For one summer, that which used to be mere rumors had turned into an inevitable reality. Weira and Zaden had become puppets in Phobos's hands, and the palace was his impenetrable playhouse! Three more years passed in silence and more rumors. Phobos was ten, but the future of his subjects was a thousand times darker. Why do you think that I waited too? I knew that only time could turn the tables. Time, careful planning and patience; I knew that the Heart of Kandrakar by itself wouldn't be enough to save the Universe from Phobos, what was left for Kandrakar! Their decision to raise the veil was the only thing they could do, because at the time, no power matched that of the mad prince, who was sucking out the life force of an entire planet! I came to terms with the tragic facts quite fast, apparently so did the Oracle. Of course, while he selfishly chose to lock himself in his beloved Kandrakar, I chose to remain on Meridian. The heart of poverty and pain at the time! Because I had much bigger dreams. And a son."- she turned to Caleb, gently framing his face in her palms. "And a vision. And look at us now. It was all worth it..."
Caleb returned the smile and covered her hands with his own. Who would've thought... Not him, certainly. Not all these years ago, when he had thought that his mother has died, just like in many of his friends' cases.
"The situation is repeating itself now and I don't like that."- Will concluded in the end. "Elyon has a dream like her mother did. A nightmare that foretells a new dark era for the people of Meridian. Everyone knows that something bad is coming, but none of us can put our minds to it and figure it out on time to stop it."
"It's worse this time, for all I can conclude."- Hay Lin murmured. "At least the last time they knew what to expect... This time its all just one big...anticipation. An eerie calm before a terrible storm. I can't help but-"
"It's not worse that last time, please."- Nerissa interrupted her in a snap, sitting herself back. "Last time Meridian had to wait 13 years for the rebellion to grow stronger, a new team of guardians to come fresher and more united, and for the rightful heir to reach a decent age. Now we have all these components. All we need is a little light in the tunnel."
"To locate where the malignant cell is and to direct all our powers there, destroying it prematurely."- Taranee finished.
"Exactly."
"Ok, that sounds good, but how do we divulge that? Weira's maid, the one who supposedly stood by her side after she had the fated nightmare, is long dead."
No one had an answer to that for a short while. All up until Taranee recalled something in Raythor's story:
"Didn't you mention a cousin? Weira's cousin was also closely related to the late maid?"
Raythor blinked as if the young woman had just shown him the pot of gold under the rainbow.
"Blimey! I did! She did, Miriadel,...but I didn't think about it...A cousin of the late queen..."- Raythor, who was sitting astraddle, rubbed his chin deep in thought.
Nerissa made a face, not sharing his enthusiasm.
"Yes, but which cousin. She had a ton of worthless relatives like every other monarch."
"Yes...it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."- Will sighed, but Raythor shook his head:
"No! I've been a part of the royal court for over 30 years! In all these years, the Queen has been keeping her privacy, and my rank back then was obviously not high enough for me to be in the center of events...but this one woman that came to stay during the scum prince's younger years... I remember her quite well. She was a helluva of a woman."- Raythor almost whistled under his nose. "She has to be the cousin; the Queen wasn't close to many-"
"Even in comparison to me?"- Nerissa teased him, making Irma and Taranee exchange meaningful glances.
The man waved his hand:
"Not like that! I mean, the woman was beautiful, very beautiful, but she was also that minatory. By you, I don't feel threatened. She has to be that cousin, I'm certain..."
The ex-guardian pursed her lips and swung her hand attempting to slap his face, but in jest. The man caught it and brought it to his lips, gentlemanlike.
"But who was that woman, a Nordic Goddess?!"- Irma exclaimed. "Judging by the description-"
"She was a Queen too."- the captain muttered, falling in thoughts again. "But what kingdom did she come from..."
"Ero is a kingdom in the Metamoor, one approximately near to Meridian and also, quite related to it. By history and mystery."- Himerish smiled at the group in front of himself.
The guardian team had arrived in the Court of the Council, reduced by one for Cornelia was off to run her personal errands. The four young women had arrived to ask and receive information about a very quick intelligence mission, which the Oracle had already foreseen. Not for this particular time, but in general. Sooner or later, it had to happen.
"Seras Ero, who happens to be a distant cousin of Weira Escanor, might be able to give you the answers you seek, guardians. I'm glad that you've managed to come to this source of information, that even we didn't consider up until today. Be wise, patient and be proud of your positions, no matter what."- the bald man made a pause in which his warm smile faded a tad. "I can go on, showering details about the planet of Ero and its inhabitants upon you, though I'll leave that to the Queen. She's not a person to hold the Fortress of Infinity in high regard and we wouldn't want to give her reasons to be angry with us from the start."
"What a big surprise."- Irma couldn't help herself.
Himerish met her devilish sparkling glance and just chuckled under his breath with a gentle shake of his head:
"You're a jocular soul, Irma. You never fail to bring a smile to my face with your wisecracks. Off you go now. Mage, right on time."
Himerish smiled, having sensed her arrival even before the portal opened in the middle of the court, letting Nerissa, Yan Lin and Caleb in.
"Had to get my grandson ready to spend some time with Julian, alone. Glad to be punctual"- she explained briefly and gifted the seer with a cold glance.
"But of course. You may now open the fold."
"Where to?"
The girls gathered around Caleb as the older woman exchanged last words with the Oracle. Hay Lin wrapped her arms around her grandmother's shoulders:
"Ero."- Himerish replied softly, as Nerissa raised her eyebrows and threw her long ponytail to one side. It quickly fell back in place though; it was high and straight, secured with a strand of hair that covered the hairbands underneath.
"Ero? Isn't that riveting." - she murmured and activated her ring.
"It certainly will be. Guardians."- the Oracle turned to them just before they crossed through the fold. "Be mature and proud of who you are. I sense the difficult times looming above us to be nearer. I strongly believe that your short mission on Ero will be favorable, but that must not let you be caught off guard. Some things will always come as a bolt from the blue, no matter how painstakingly we try to keep track of them."
Ero, 4:15 PM
The royal palace of Ero greeted the new comers solemnly as they made their way through its corridors. The castle guards had been hesitant at first, but seeing that they come from Kandrakar, they had stepped back. The Queen would deal with Kandrakarian ambassadors herself. One way or another.
The royal saloon, they were led to, was dimply lit, but the group could make out the silhouette of a woman standing by the big windows, with her back turned to them. The silhouette of the former Queen. She was dressed in a voluminous red gown. Her long sand-colored hair covered her back.
Irma and Taranee exchanged glances.
- Here goes nothing...
Will cleared her throat tensely, getting ready to speak on behalf of the entire group:
"Your Majesty. Your Majesty, we're the guardians of Kandrakar and these are allies of ours, we're here to discuss an urgent matter with You. An urgent matter concerning Meridian..."
"Did you say, Meridian?"- Seras turned to them with a voice filled with excitement at the mentioning of that. "It has been ages since I have heard of that place."
With a quick and fluent motion, she pushed the stained-glass window aside to get a better glance at her visitors. Her lips were colored red to match her dress, but her bright smile faded when her eyes landed on Yan Lin:
"I thought I said that I never wanted to see you or any other of the Oracle's lackies ever again! Haven't you done enough damage already?"- her eyes then focused on Will and the rest. "The rest of you may stay and I'll answer any question you may have, but she- "- she pointed at Yan Lin."-must leave. I have seen the damage the Oracle and his devout followers can do and I do not wish any of it in my kingdom."
That line of Seras's had the group baffled, but Yan Lin just gave them a sign to remain quiet. Her eyes slowly moved from the former Queen, who was but a mere memory in her mind. In her years, she had gained enough wisdom to demonstrate during such situations. She might have met her Majesty in the past, but she failed to recall with certainty. 58 years had passed since Yan Lin had become a guardian for the first time, but only 24 since the first veil. Many turns of events had taken place during these long years and many of them were better left unquestioned. All the ex-guardian knew was that she understood the display of resentment. Kandrakar has always had supporters as well as resisters...
Nerissa, however, failed to understand and couldn't hide her indignancy. If there was one quality of her old friend's that she had always admired and hated at the same time, it had to be her indulgence.
"What is she talking a- "
- Nerissa, don't. - the old lady told her telepathically. - Don't forget why we've come here and what we're to do. Do not make this a pride thing. Let it be. The stakes for Meridian are too high for any risks to be taken.
Then she turned to the rest of the group and added out loud:
"I'll be waiting for you all outside."
Will stole a quick glimpse of Hay Lin, who appeared frustrated, but still silent, and then looked at the others who just keep their cool. Nerissa's ice-cold mask of an expression exuded disdain. The redhead knew that she had to get to talking before her:
"Your Majesty, Queen Seras, right? My name's Will. Me and my friends are also loyal to Kandrakar, but we didn't come to create inconvenience for anyone-"
Irma snorted at that part, interjecting a quick comment:
"I'd rather say that we think of ourselves as independent young ladies who've taken the path of righteousness. Kandrakar is like a stop for us, you know. Like a sponsor- "
Will glared at Irma deathly and silenced her with a look. Only then could she finish her own words.:
"- we come with peace. That being said, I'd love for you to answer a few questions and probably make a few confirmations...Your exact relation to Meridian is?"
Now that the older guardian was gone, Seras smiled warm and kindly at the others:
"Long ago, a sporadic Meridian King had three children. Since only the oldest daughter could inherit the throne, there used to be the custom that the firstborn son is killed and any other daughters are to get married off to other royals. Since this king loved all his children equally, he sent the son and younger daughter away and the boy came to Ero, where he founded this great kingdom. In simpler terms, I am a distant cousin to the dead Queen Weira."
She then glanced at Hay Lin and offered her a soft and comforting smile.
"I do apologize for sending your older friend away, but I have my reasons to distrust the Oracle and his devout followers. Especially those who served him before the veil... I do not give you girls the same treatment as you are young and easily deceived."
Nerissa frowned slightly, but said nothing as the Queen returned her attention to the full group again:
"Are there more questions? If there are, I'll ask a servant to bring you some refreshments."
- She varies, this Seras. I like her. - Irma claimed in telepathy.
Will smiled amicably and nodded:
"No, thank you, your Majesty, but that won't be needed. Unfortunately, we can't stay long, but thank you for showing us hospitality. We came here because Meridian is facing hard times yet again. You care about Meridian, right?"
Taranee took a step forward, just before Will could get her answer:
"Your Majesty, do you happen to have ever heard anything about the prophecy of the so-called Dark Descendant?"
Irma rolled her eyes in the back as Hay Lin bit her lip:
- Seriously, babe? You're gonna hit her with that?
Taranee frowned:
- What? Don't give me that look, you girls, the prophecy is connected to all this, whether you like it or not-
- Now you're just repeating Icona! Chill out already! That's not why we came to this place.
Hay Lin interfered in their telepathic argument, seeing the situation threatening to become awkward for their hostess:
- Taranee, Irma's right...We came to talk about Elyon and Weira, and their nightmares, not about the prophecy...
Will nervously tugged on the sleeve of her guardian uniform. Hearing them argue the entire time distracted her from her diplomatic approach. She turned to glare at her teammates, just when Nerissa's voice echoed loudly in their heads.
- Get a hold of yourselves, amateurs!
Caleb gawked when his mother stepped forward, but she just nodded him off with an evasive smile. Watching the brunette take the front line, turning her attention to the former Queen, Will suppressed the desire to facepalm. So much for the diplomatic approach. The least bad she could do was take on with passive-aggressiveness.
When Nerissa started to speak to the Queen, her smile had already melted into an impenetrable expression:
"Pardon me, I'm the Mage of Meridian. Taking the word, because I cannot afford any more surprises from your late cousin's eldest scion, nor lose any time, you see. I assume you are well informed of his... life choices? Prince Phobos."- she spat at the name, but smiled icily. "You seem to know a lot about Meridian, yet I don't particularly know anything about you. You and Weira couldn't have been very close, not during her last years, at least. Why was that? Did something bad happen just before...oh you know, the entire kingdom went down in black thorns and the infamous veil was raised?"
Seras narrowed her eyes at Nerissa and stood up from her seat, easily towering over the Mage of Meridian despite her pregnant belly causing her to hunch over a little:
"I am well aware of the Prince's actions, but I will not allow the insinuation that Weira and I weren't close. I grew up in Meridian at her side, and we were as close as sisters before we married our spouses. I would have done anything for her and would still do today, despite everything she caused. I came when she worried about her kingdom's future, stood by her side until she conceived her daughter, and helped her give birth to her son only three months after I gave birth to my own daughter. Think of me as you want, but never suggest I wasn't close to her."
Nerissa raised her eyebrows as the other woman winced ever so slightly; the baby in her belly kicked and forced her to take a seat once again. Huffing and rubbing her stomach, she kept her glare direct towards Nerissa, but kept her voice calm and collected, nevertheless:
"I know plenty of the Dark Descendant mythos and my oldest daughter studied many of them in great detail, but there is no evidence that another Meridian King has ever overstepped his boundaries. According to all the existing records, the Meridian Kings were decent at their job; then again, how well can a man do his job if the public expects him to be a rotten egg. As for the reason I cut contact with Weira; I lost my temper with her over how she treated her son back when he was her only child. He was just a child..."
Her voice then softened, and she returned her attention to Will, whom she presumed was the leader.
" Think of Prince Phobos what you want, but know the full truth first. Back when he was a child, he was very bright, kind, and held a promising future; however, the Oracle filled Weira's mind with nonsense and encouraged her to risk her life to birth a second child. People were against him from the minute he was born. Soon after she had a son, Weira got obsessed with birthing a female heir. All the while, the boy suffered in silence. He tried hard to win her favors, but no accomplishment of his satisfied her. Once she conceived her daughter, she tried to marry the boy off to one of my daughters; she even offered to sell him to me as a concubine. I was disgusted with her. I was a young mother myself and couldn't believe a mother could speak about her child like this. Before I left Meridian for the last time, she said he was born evil and I told her the following: 'We all carry a seed of evil in us, but it is the surrounding environment that allows it to sprout into a horrid tree.' Looking back, I should have taken Weira up on her offer. Maybe then my friend would be alive and you girls wouldn't have to worry about Phobos. I would have raised him as my own. If you want to blame someone for the troubles Meridian is facing, then blame either me, Weira, or the Oracle."
Nerissa curved her lips in a patronizing smile, her eyes darting to the Queen's baby bump:
"Oh, I'd say. But you didn't quite understand me, your Majesty, I only asked that for I wanted to explain certain...abnormalities to myself. What you said explains why I've never met you before. You are near Weira's age, yet again you are expecting? Congratulations. Thankfully, Raythor managed to remember you and here we are now- "
Will, who was taken aback a little bit, quickly regained her confidence, interrupting Nerissa:
"No, your Majesty, we didn't come to seek faults. We're here because as guardians, it's our job to find the most adequate solution to Meridian's current problems."
"Yeah."- Taranee backed her up. "Crying over spilt milk is pointless anyway."
"And Queen Seras, I personally don't doubt that your nephew was once a little boy whose heart was untainted."- Hay Lin interjected sincerely." What happened to him in his childhood was terrible... But as times go by, we can't hold out hopes for him anymore...We fought him twice over ten years ago. I think that it's time to think of his child. If we are to avoid for him or her to have their father's fate..."
That had the effect of a thunder in a clear sky. Queen Seras looked at the girls with an open mouth.
Irma folded her arms casually and explained:
"Oh, yeah, didn't we mention that Phobos had a little 'romance' after he escaped the last time? They're now happily expecting to become parents while under house arrest."
The Queen was still assimilating the news, as Caleb was about speak for the first time since they arrived. His voice was dry as he tried his best to suppress his hatred for the prince and the patriotism that made his blood boil each time, he would hear justifications for Phobos's actions:
"A very mild sentence, if you ask me or anyone born on Meridian in the last 30 years. But our Queen is merciful, she has been sparing her brother for over a decade. She's been sparing him and that's been affecting her... This morning she had a terrible nightmare. Actually, the biggest reason for us to be here today- "
"Yes, you see, that nightmare happens to resemble one that your late cousin had, just weeks before her son usurped the power."- Nerissa interrupted her son and shot another cold smile at the tall woman. "I think you'd agree that this resemblance is quite alarming. And since the Oracle's power and authority so unfortunately stand above all of us, me included, I'm... we're forced to seek more...pacific ways to prevent a second greater crisis in the borders of Meridian."
Seras, who had by now secretly decided she didn't like that woman, glared at Nerissa once again:
"That I am expecting has nothing to do with my age. Weira only managed two children in her years, and I managed four. Fertility is not a matter of age and I do not need to be congratulated on my fourth little demon. All I hope is that this last one will be a boy; I already have three daughters that worship their father, I only want one to treat me the same. Then again, there is the saying that girls are their fathers' babies while boys are their mothers'."- she sighed and turned her attention to Hay Lin with a smile: "As long as he breaths and his heart beats, I'll hold out hope that Phobos can change; Even if surprised, I am glad to hear that he will be a father soon. Then he will know what it is like to be a parent and worry about your child's every step; I wish him luck and hope his wife is competent enough to be of aid, the gods know Zaden wasn't of much use in raising kids."- her voice lowered to a mutter: "I bet a brick wall could have been a better father than him."
The Queen sighed, getting her mind off a topic which obviously brought her a great deal of pain. One last sigh and the smile was back on her red lips. "I am also grateful to know that Weira's daughter has been merciful to her brother; the gods know he became what everyone expected of him. It is great to know that there is one person to think differently of him, which would make her greater than her own mother. If I ever get past my friend's death, I shall gather the courage to travel to Meridian and meet her. I owe her that much. As for her nightmares, I have to know what it was. Weira suffered from nightmares quite a number of times. Before the birth of her son, she suffered from one that wouldn't let her rest until I arrived to comfort her. If you wish me to help prevent a future crisis by studying the past, I need to know the present."
Nerissa estimated the robust woman with a half-smile-half glower. This tall, gigantic human porcelain doll was Elyon's aunt? She had to be three times the sizes of the Whelp, yet something in her reminded the sorceress of her niece. It wasn't the long blonde locks, it was this...this manner of speaking. Genetics do be swimming in the borders of their own pools, even if between distant relatives...
"Elyon's adoptive mother...the woman who raised her on Earth, has only heard rumors of this, but the fact that she was genuinely terrified by the possibility ignites our own worry."- Will had already started explaining. "Your Majesty, you'd know this best, but just two months before Meridian fell under Phobos's sway, Queen Weira allegedly had a very vivid nightmare. What happened after that?"
And Will looks like a cockroach in comparison to her Majesty too...Nerissa snickered at her own thoughts, but that didn't go unnoticed by her replacement who took her to telepathic sermon:
- This isn't about going head to head with people, Nerissa. Please, quit being shady and let me talk. We need to leave Ero with some sort of new knowledge. Don't you ever get tired of catcalling?
- Now what have I done? - Nerissa snapped in response. - Please, it would take you forever to get to the point. I didn't come here to watch you chit-chat. Neither has she been on Meridian in the last 20 years, nor does she intend to come. Also, her friend's death that she can't get over, was all her sweet Phobos's doing. What am I, to pretend that I care for that brat? Let it be, you're faking it quite well, I'll give you that, Ms. Moral Keeper-
Will suppressed the urge to roll her eyes while Irma took the word:
"Black thorns that suck out all of the life force from the Meridianites. Anarchy, misery... pretty much what followed. Only it coming to her in her dreams didn't help prevent it in real life, by any means. And that blows, because Elyon is supposed to get married. She can't have her mother's fate right now."
Taranee took a cautious look of all of her friends' faces before adding to the Latina's statement:
"Yeah, we're trying to determine whether a Queen can actually sense her kingdom's future fate and whether its always a scaffold to dream of it in peril. Basically, we need some inside information on life in the castle during those years when Phobos started to gain control over his parents. When his powers started to increase. You expressed some dislike for Zaden?"
The Queen nodded confidently, but Caleb couldn't help but feel like the guardians were going out of line with their questions.
"Clearly than won't happen again."- he stated sharply. "Phobos is a prisoner and the birth of his child will be when his so-called trial will start. Just tell us about that dreaming. Is it prophetic or not?"
Seras ignored his words, taking a moment to think over the meaning of the dream, remembering the letters she had received from Weira. She closed her eyes and appeared as though asleep for a moment before opening them again and staring at the people before her, like a teacher would at a difficult class:
"The devil is in the details, my dear, but if I had to intemperate the dream as it corresponds with the letters I received from Weira, there is a strong suggestion that the events are related. From what I learned through the letters, her son became more and more withdrawn from the public in the months before she died and it worried her, but she did nothing to combat it. In her last letter to me, she worried that her end is near since her son began to experiment with rose vines and managed to drain the life force of a servant; she claims it was an accident, but I doubt it. I think she wrote it like that to ease my worries. She planned on sending him away to a different world to protect her kingdom and daughter from him, but it is clear that she never got to that point. If you ask me, a Queen like Weira and her daughter, Elyon, have the ability to sense what troubles their kingdom might face, but Weira's downfall was brought onto her by her own actions. If you worry about the baby making the same mistakes as its father, then I can ease your mind. I did mention that all of us carry a seed of evil in us, but it requires outside influences to help it sprout. If you want to keep the baby from repeating history, then give it a good reason to stay on the path of light. As for you other questions, life in Meridian wasn't as bright a cheerful as the older generations want you to believe. There were famine, droughts, and floods; but people still praised their Queen. Once the public discovered she birthed a boy, people immediately blamed all their misfortunes on his existence. After realizing that his subjects would never accept him, and he found no comfort from his parents, he kept it all to himself. Any acts of misbehaving on his part could be written off as him discovering a new ability and, by all accounts, his abilities were nothing short of what was expected of him. Honestly, when I visited, Weira might have been aware of the threat her son posed, but accepted my explanation of him simply being a curious child... If you ask me, the Prince mostly planned to usurp his father, since he was the one who posed the greatest threat. To him...Zaden made no secret of despising his son and tried a few times to kill him in ways that looked like an accident; teaching him to swim by having him thrown into a pond, forcing him to walk the perimeter of the castle no matter the weather, and sending him out into a blizzard after taking a warm bath, in the hopes the boy would freeze to death... Weira simply let it happen since she both loved and feared her husband. Well, love is a strong exaggeration; she got used to being married to him as she wasn't allowed to choose whom she married once her first love left her."
Seras looked away from the girls and their hanging jaws, and turned her attention to Caleb in what seemed to be the hopes to ease his worries:
"If the unborn child worries you this much, then it isn't the father that you must worry about. Considering everything he has done, it would be a miracle if he is in the child's life at all, as I sense Phobos will either be executed or imprisoned for life. Despite her mercy towards him, I doubt Elyon would be able to protect him forever. Worry about the effects the mother will have on the baby if you want to worry about anyone. Or to help..."
She then turned her attention to Nerissa and returned an exact copy of the Mage's smile at her:
"As for you and your worries, I might have been absent for Weira's demise, but I am not unaware about events in Meridian. I know who you are, Nerissa, and I am surprised that your son did not end-up sharing the same fate as Phobos. I think that is thanks to his father and not you."
Nerissa's smile quenched faster than a burned-out bulb.
Irma struggled to hide her pep; mentally screaming to the other three guardians:
- YIKES! I'm torn between loving the end and fearing the Evil Queen's ballistic reply. And I'm NOT talking about the actual Queen in this room-
Taranee closed her eyes:
- We're over. We are...Get ready to be thrown out of the palace and be banned from Ero.
- Right... she did hit her in her Achilles heel. Nerissa's not gonna take that lightly. She won't stop embarrassing us wherever we go-
Hay Lin, who seemed to be the only one trying to keep a positive up tone despite the situation, added:
- At least we got some reassuring answers...If Seras thinks that it was Weira's actions and inactions that led to her fate in end, then with Elyon, we'll just have to make sure that no wrong choices will be made on her behalf until her little nephew or niece is born-
Will nodded evasively, but couldn't come to rationalize everything together before at least trying to prevent an ugly scene from their side:
"Your Majesty- "- she began out loud, in spite of her concerns, only to be interrupted by a familiar male voice...
Caleb had brought his hands together in a prayer-like position, crossly lifting them up as he looked at the Queen with all the respect he has been taught to display when talking to royals, as much as he could fight against his desire to snap:
"Thank you for your time, your Majesty, we'll now leave you to wrap up with the guardians, for I don't want to present myself in the bad light of someone who doesn't respect the crown."
Will covered her eyes with her left palm, resting her left elbow on her ribs in an attempt to hide from the shame that was about to be inflicted on their name once all parties have spoken, as the rebel leader went on:
"Believe me, I do, but I would have been the first one to throw myself in an ice-cold pond to drown, had I ever seen any resemblance between my path and that of Phobos. Furthermore, you're right, the tyrant's baby isn't to be feared, it's just sad and nauseating that it was created with the sole purpose of his parents to try overthrowing Elyon, who's been nothing but a sacrificial lamb that did not learn to hate her brother, even after all his evil deeds … Hope I wasn't too blunt. All my life I've fought against your nephew's tyranny and she-"- he pointed at his mother. "- she has always only fueled my desire to see a free Meridian while watching over me. From the shadows, from her endless disguises and through all the covert ways you can think of, true. But she has never left me alone. My mother's a very strong woman, your Majesty. Much stronger than any other woman I've met, in all aspects of the word. She could lead the rebellion while fooling the entire Council of Kandrakar and many others in the name of her goals and dreams... It's people's distrust that she can't fight alone and I, as her son, am obliged to defend her from that. I apologize if we've both crossed lines today, if she taunted you in some way..."- Caleb looked over at Nerissa, who was simply looking back at him with affection. Affection that had made her forget about any anger. "She does that quite a lot, but I promise you she means well. This taunting, it's a reaction which one can get when she's baffled, I too am. I feel like we're baffled by your stance on Phobos. Do you really think that he can change after all these years?!"
"Caleb, what you said was beautiful, but don't do that now. Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Just like you can't have someone speak bad of your mom, Phobos is also someone's child and object of affection."- Hay Lin tried to reason with him. "Queen Seras is his aunt, its normal for her to- "
"No, he was someone's child. But he killed his parents, didn't he?! She appears to love him more than his birth mother did, its appalling to me that one can consider him worthy of any new chances after all the blood he has on his hands!"- Caleb yelled ardently.
To Will's surprise Seras smiled at the group and just relaxed a little in her seat:
"There is no need to apologize, Caleb, I was merely showing your mother that if she keeps playing with fire like this, she will get burnt eventually. I will not be made a mockery in my own castle without getting a few strikes in myself."- she said calmly. "But to answer your question, I believe that anyone with a beating heart has the ability to change with the proper incentive. He was never given a proper reason to change; from what I have observed of his actions, he doesn't care for anything but power and would even risk his own health for it; power is all he knows to achieve. The baby might give him the push he needs to snap out of the belief that everyone is out to kill him. I know his hands are caked in blood, but so are those of the Oracle and the Oracle is always forgiven, so why not Phobos? Caleb, you would not be the first to throw yourself to a water grave if you went down the same path as Phobos. The path of distrust and evil is gradually walked on... If he was born as evil as he is now, then he would not have survived infancy. Him killing his parents was simply the breaking point; probably an act of self-defense. Afterwards, he simply kept telling himself that his actions were necessary to survive. I have seen it many times before and I will see it many times before I die, Caleb; you could have easily been just like him and not even know it. I can see your disgust and understand it, but I want you to hate him for the right reasons, not because of some belief you were brought up with. Behind every evil tyrant, there is a person with their reasons. Like your friend said, put yourself in his shoes if you want to keep your Queen and kingdom safe. Only in understanding your enemies' mindset can you properly fight them without lowering yourself to their level."- she interlaced her fingers on her knee and nodded a strand of long sand-colored hair away. "My advice for the baby is to put it into an environment that won't allow the evil within them to sprout and grow."
Seras moved her eyes to Will, once again. The royal saloon had seen more talking than it was used to, but she felt the need to settle everything with the guardians before having them leave. It was what she felt right in her heart as far as her deceased cousin' legacy was concerned:
"Don't be ashamed of your friends. If anything, it is heartwarming to see such affection in the face of all this trouble. If you have any more questions or need clarification, I and all my knowledge of Meridian are an open book. You can trust that not a single word of mine is a lie; it is known that lies are bad for developing babies."- she smiled warmly and patted her swollen stomach.
No, I'm not ashamed, Will thought calculating all that she had heard. Caleb's a great guy, but he and his mother have the biggest egos. So big that at times they fail to keep a low profile when it's needed...
"The right reasons. Right."- the man muttered under his breath and looked away after a quick nod. His outburst was wearing off and he could return to being a pacific companion. His mother seemed totally carried away in her own worlds, but she was peaceful. That was all that mattered. He nodded at Will, ignoring Taranee's frantic whispers:
"She never said that, Caleb!"- the fire guardian hissed, trying to isolate herself from the Queen's hearing. "What's the matter with you today, nobody expects of us to reprieve Pho-"
Irma elbowed her, annoyed, before she could even finish:
"Clam up, will ya, babe? Helmi's talking."
Will gave her a little side glare having heard the unconventional nickname, but just shook her head and aimed her attention at the hostess again. They had avoided a worst-case scenario due to Seras's tolerance and Nerissa's sudden loss of interest in feuding. Both had fired stray bullets of words, not causing that much damage, but her task as the guardian leader was still heavy. She had to put all new information they had received into use and benefit to Meridian: "Thank you, your Majesty. Your answers were satisfactory. I think that we've gathered most of the information which we needed. I don't know how exactly events will be coming together from now on, but I can assure that we're all unanimous in one thing. Phobos's child won't be treated worse than any other child on Meridian, just because of who his parents are. He or she will get a fair start in life. That's Kandrakar's will, that's what Elyon wants. We're going to do all in our power to support that decision."
Hay Lin beamed in her usual optimism, as the other girls nodded:
"Grandma's generation couldn't, because of many outside factors, but we will surely manage to prevent one more child from turning to the darkness in the future, especially if it's a boy."
That statement of hers had Nerissa snap out of her ruminative spell, caused by her son's words for her. She pierced the younger girl's back with an irked glance.
"Our generation didn't have certain luxuries that you five are now benefiting from, Hay Lin. Don't be so cocky. Once upon a time, Himerish chose not to get involved with Phobos directly, now he's just trying to avoid making the same mistake a second time. That's the entire reasoning behind Kandrakar's involvement with his progeny. She's right."- the sorceress nodded at Seras, offhandedly. "But obviously, only partly. Once again."
Irma rolled her eyes:
"Oh, here we go again. I knew you'd never think of leaving before striking a few more times. However would you get to leave without having the last word-"
"Your sarcasm is out of place, but so is your attitude in general, water guardian."- Nerissa averred, making Irma frown. "I was profoundly concordant with what the Queen had to say, that's why I did not reply. It's true, had it not been for Julian, Caleb wouldn't be standing where he stands today. His father raised him all alone, I will never deny that. There's just that- good fathers and bad fathers. Fathers who support their sons in war and such who throw them to drown in a lake."- she stated coldly, turning her eyes to the Queen once again. "It's just how life is. I have to agree with that. What I don't agree with is your views on the ex-guardians and their contribution to your dear nephew's fate- "
Will suddenly stood in front of the older woman, her lips turning into a straight line:
"I don't see how that's relevant to what we've been discussing. We're wrapping up, Nerissa."- she hissed through gritted teeth. "We don't have time for ranting."
Nerissa wasn't impressed by that one bit, she put her hand on her waist daringly and looked down at her:
"Pardon me, but I am the Mage. I also get to express my views-"
"You've been expressing yourself ever since we arrived-"- Irma said from behind, but the other woman just ignored her:
"- if you think that Meridian is your responsibility more than it is mine, you're quite wrong, Will. I've been Meridian's magic patron from before you were even born. Ero is neighbor to us, isn't it? No things should be left unsaid between the two kingdoms. Better set things straight now than face new hardships in the future, wouldn't you agree, your Majesty?"
Seras smiled at Nerissa, but it was the kind of smile an opponent has in a game of chess when they see an opening:
"So you don't agree with the contributions to my nephew's fate? Then let me ask you a few questions. I know the Oracle saw the future of Weira and Meridian, so why didn't he stop it? He could have prevented Weira's death; allowing Elyon to grow up in Meridian, despite the downsides to it, and kept all the hardships you and your friends have faced. Where were you and your teammates when Weira suffered from her prophetic nightmares? Where were the great guardians when my nephew suffered in silence and became the monster you see him as now? Are you telling me that the Oracle never told you? If that is the case, then why do you serve him if the lives of thousands mean nothing to him? Haven't any of you suggested sending Phobos away instead of Elyon, since he is the unwanted one and she is the Light of Meridian? If the Oracle is so powerful, why not have Phobos stripped of his ability to use magic? He could have stayed in Meridian, if he wasn't allowed to leave. You can't tell me you and your friends were so blinded by the Oracle's glory that you never questioned him. Sheep of the poorest peasant must have more sight than the guardians then!"- she concluded harshly, narrowing her eyes at Nerissa again as her tone became bitter: "If Zaden and Weria are guilty of the monster they let their son become, Phobos is guilty of his crimes, and I am guilty for abandoning the boy, then the blood of all that have died under his rule also stains, not just the Oracle's, but your hands as well!"
Nerissa's cold laugh echoed in the saloon, but the smile never left her face: "You see? I agree with you on so much, yet so many of your self-made conclusions need clarifications! That's all I want to give you today. If we are to know the right reasons to loathe Phobos, then you should also learn to blame the right people for what happened with him; when the Oracle chose to take the Heart of Kandrakar away from me, our guardian group was broken apart. Terrible incidents ruined the overpraised, yet important harmony, that made us strong, for decades to come, and that happened years before Weira even came to rule! Before that, we had other successful missions in many other worlds and realms... For 8 years, we were an unstoppable force for good... But then."- the ex-guardian paused with a grave scowl on her face. "Then the incident happened. Cassidy lost her life and I lost everything. And the rest of them? Their lives were marked by grief and pain for what seemed that would last forever! And a group of guardians deprived of their leader cannot function the way it has functioned before. The original guardians were broken before your nephew's life began. Yes, Yan Lin, Halinor and Kadma kept being on duty, but the Heart no longer served them. Their powers decreased and their senses were numbed...the three of them have neither sensed being needed nor had the efficiency to be of any help. As for Elyon, when the rebellion sought help years later, it was already too late. She had to be removed from the planet, because her brother wanted her dead. But back to the start; the one who has always known what is happening on Meridian is indeed Himerish...The Oracle."- she smiled bitterly. "But he's just an observer. Yes, that's what he calls himself. If he could foresee Cassidy's death, one of his very own guardians, and still did nothing about it, then do you really think that he'd move his finger for Meridian and the royal family? It sounds awfully unfair, but he is who he is. He doesn't intervene, he watches the worlds burn, that's why the guardians are so important. Without guardians, the Council of Kandrakar won't interfere directly. In anything. Ever. I've long learned not to be dependent on the Oracle, not entirely, at least. That's how I restored Cassidy's life, 40 years after she died from my hands! I was this close to turning Kandrakar into dust and ashes!"- Nerissa gesticulated, as to show how little was left to be done, with her long-manicured nails. Then she smirked bitterly again and just shook her head: "Well, that obviously didn't happen. We've entered the 11th year post these events. Time truly is something dangerous and astounding. Almost 60 years have passed in total, since I first became a guardian at 13, and I'm back at being somewhat related to the man who almost ruined my life by sending me to rot on the top of a mountain. I know one can't tell; I take great pride in my appearance, after all."- she added smugly, tossing her long jet-black hair to the back. "But perhaps it does appear baffling. Why am I working with Kandrakar again? Why are we, the former guardians, loyal to the Fortress, some of us more than others, after all that happened? Why when it's them who get all the glory, anyway?" - Nerissa added, turning to the girls with pursed lips.
Will kept her own lips in a straight line, but didn't reply. Irma endured the green burning look, crossing her hands on her chest:
"Oh, no, no objections. I'm just amazed by how you made everything about you. Again."
But Nerissa gave her her back and returned her attention back on the sitting Queen:
"It's because we were chosen by the five elements. We were chosen to protect the Universe from war, famine and pain, and we will keep doing that, no matter what it takes! No matter the injustice. We are guardians. You can blame the Oracle, you can blame whoever you want, I guess that you wouldn't be wrong. I said what I wanted to say. Just know that it's pointless. I'm awfully sorry for what happened with the royal family if that makes any difference. All of them...Unfortunately, altering the past is beyond any of us. We have to make the present worth living."
Seras took in what Nerissa was saying and thought over it for a minute:
"For a being with the ability to see it all, he surely chooses to let thousands suffer instead of taking actions. However, the fact that only three members remained does not absolve the guardians of their faults."- she insisted. "Neither you nor the next generation ever questioned Himerish's actions or suggested ways to solve the problems in Meridian before they got to where they are now... Is he even worth the title of Oracle if he does nothing with his abilities? Are you worth the title of guardian, whether you were chosen by the elements or not, if you can't do your job even when stripped of your powers? I was told the role of a guardian is to serve and protect even if they are not granted the powers of the elements, is that not the case? What I am saying, is the same as you, all are at fault. I know I won't convince you to think differently of the Prince, but now you know more about him and what caused his descent into evil. You can't fight a monster, but you can fight the man within when you know what he has gone through. When you leave, promise me one thing, if you can please spare the Prince's life and that of the child."- Seras added seriously. She sighed as her eyes met those of Nerissa. "If not for my sake or that of Weira, then for Elyon's. The mercy she shows for her brother is a true sign of the Light of Meridian and I worry that it might dim if more harm came to her family. We shouldn't focus making the present worth living, but we should work on studying the truth of history and keep it from repeating, so our descendants don't suffer the way we had to. Another thing I do want to make clear, is that the Oracle should count his lucky stars that I haven't paid him a visit, for if I did, I would prove the old saying that 'A Single Hand Cannot Clap' is wrong. Anyway, when you leave, make sure to rescue your elderly friend from my servants. Knowing them, they have probably swaddled her in blankets and offering her one cup of tea or cake after another."
The Queen allowed her vocal strings to rest as she submerged into thoughts for a moment before smiling the same way she used to when with Weira: "Which reminds me."- she reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small bag. Opening it, she revealed pearl-sized orbs of candy. "These are an Ero specialty. May I offer you all some for enduring my depressing recount of the Meridian royal family?" - the Queen laughed a little having remembered an event from the past. "My eldest daughter offered these to Phobos when we stayed in Meridian before Weria conceived Elyon. They were sweet enough to make the young Prince ill to his stomach; he probably hates them to this day."
Nerissa stole a moment to reflect on everything, studying the expecting Queen with an astute smile. Perhaps it was time to drop the topic; she would take this token of hospitality as a truce proposal of sorts. The Queen of Ero had proven to be a more intelligent collocutor than she had expected, and also, quite respect inspiring, which was a nice change from the meek royals she had had to endure lately. But of course, Seras was stubborn. As any other queen.
"Well. It would be rude to decline the Queen's hospitality. As for that unborn child...worry not. Whereas Phobos's future depends on Elyon and primarily his own actions, his baby will never be harmed. I'm a mother. A grandmother... every one of us, whatever flaws we might have, would never sacrifice an infant."- the Mage promised before putting one of the orbs in her mouth.
Will and the other girls also approached to take some candy.
"Not gonna lie, your Majesty, when you reacted like that with grandma, I wanted to leave at once, but now I know that you're a good woman."- Hay Lin smiled. "Maybe you should really consider coming to Meridian some time. Elyon would benefit from meeting someone like you. You are her family."
"Yeah, it might be a little bit more difficult now with the veil and all, but Elyon really knows very few of her relatives."- Taranee agreed, checking her watch. They had spent over 90 minutes on this special audience. "She's past her identity-crisis moments, but some more family is never otiose."
"Yeaah! Think about it. Her wedding is a perfect occasion."- Irma winked at the smiling Queen. "We'll make sure to send you an invitation."
Will gave a little curtsy:
"Thank you once again, Queen Seras. Nerissa said it, but I guarantee that we will give all of ourselves to do the right thing in this entire mess that Meridian is again. Our standpoints are barely ever identical, but we usually aim to do the same and we can be a good team. Your help won't be forgotten, thank you for giving us some needed details. We now have a clearer idea how to proceed. Thank you for having us. We will be leaving you to rest now. All the very best!"
From the back, Caleb smacked, chewing on the Ero candy:
"No wonder Phobos fell ill to his stomach."- he smacked with displeasure. "What's in this hell of candy, sugar boiled in maple syrup?
A smiling Nerissa offered the hostess one last line, while stroking her son's hair:
"You know, your Majesty. May you really have a son this time. I wish it upon you. Sons are just differently connected to their mothers. They are something else. If only Weira had recognized that, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation today... Anyways; Ta-Ta!"
Seras smiled sadly and even laughed a little:
"When I knew what you were here for, I just had to show you the man behind the monster, so you all can properly protect Meridian. I can't say anything about his wife, as I know nothing of her. I know I tend to ramble, but I am glad I managed to help and should you need any more information from me, then I'll be glad to provide. The candy is made from the crystallized syrup of Ero's national flower and chewing makes it worse."- she told Caleb. "Just let it melt or swallow it like a pill."
She then returned her attention to the group with a warm smile, one last time: "I would be honored to meet my niece and possible see my nephew again. I wish you all well and may the gold gods smile upon your quests."
Susan Vandom woke up to utter darkness and the humid air of the tiny space she had been thrown into. How had she found herself here!? The last thing she remembered was driving back towards Heatherfield when...
It all came to her. The chain of spikes that had trashed their tires; their fight, Tony had really gotten on her nerves...and last, but not least, the ambush. The ambush that had gotten them into this place and situation.
How long ago had that happened, though? Susan tried to move only to find that her hands had been tied with rough ropes of some sort. She kept fidgeting repeatedly, but it was of no use; she tried to stand up, but was quick to fall back on the cold stone floor, the only thing she could feel in the dark room. Apparently, someone had tied her legs as well. She was tied up like an animal ready for slaughter.
"Hello? Does somebody hear me? Hello! SOMEBODY?!"- her voice, the only thing that she could use without restrictions, came out hoarse and weak, and Susan realized two things. First, her throat felt incredibly dry and second, yelling out for her kidnappers to hear her probably wasn't her best idea. But then again, what else could she do? She couldn't just lie on the ice-cold floor until passing away again...
The woman stopped moving helplessly and listened. Footsteps. She could hear footsteps approaching from the upper floor. She, herself, was in a basement of some sort. That theory was proven once the door up the rough spiral stairs, she had been unaware of up until now, opened, blinding her eyes with all the light it let in. It wasn't much, it was just plain sunlight, but Susan felt like someone had just shone a signal flashlight in her face. God, how long had she been here...
"Hi, Susan. Nice of you to wake up. Tony's been asking about you whole night."
The voice she recognized, even before she turned on the lanky lamp above her head. That godawful beast of a woman...
"Serena, why don't you just DIE, you witch!"- Susan yelled on the top of her lungs, glaring at her. "What have you done this time!?"
Serena looked down at her, not hiding the hateful smirk that overtook her face without a trace of joy. Her face was still beautiful like always, but Susan hated it. She hated everything about that woman, from her dark hair to her youthful petite curves.
"Really, Susan? Where's the fear? Where're the agony and pleadings? The eagerness to do whatever it takes just so that you can go on with your perfect little life? You were awfully good at being an obedient coward in the past, aren't you a little too brave for your own good now?"
Susan clenched her teeth as hard as she could and kept fighting with the ropes again. She would give anything to snap free of them and tackle the bitch down.
"You look like shit. You look old and tired, Susan."- Serena went on, spitefully. "You'll never get to have your little revenge for I poisoned your daughter, oh...ain't it sad? She pulled through, but her baby..."- Serena's eyes shone in grotesque as she tossed her head back and laughed: "Her baby died! She didn't even know she was pregnant, can you believe it-"
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP, MISFORTUNATE EXCUSE OF A WOMAN!"- Susan screamed and kicked violently, desperate to set herself free. "WHAT WOMAN ARE YOU AT ALL?! UNTIE ME AND FIGHT ME! I'LL-"
"You shut up, screwball! What do I look like, a fool like you?"- her abductor shook her head and threateningly pointed at her with the wooden plank she held. "You let me go so many times, because you wanted to prove that you're something better than me, didn't you? You thought you were better, but you're not."- Serena announced, meeting her mad stare. "Your fake sympathy and the disgust which you felt for me were always walking hand in hand."- the younger woman said, starting to go in circles around her prey. "But I don't need your shit. All I need is for you to pay! You and your dickhead of an ex won't pull through this one, you have to pay for all that you've done! Don't look at me like that! You get what you deserve!"
"Oh, my God, WHAT IS WRONG with you?! You killed my daughter's unborn baby, what did Will ever do to you?!"- Susan cried. "You're a monster, Serena, a monster!"
"Shut up!"- Serena warned. "Shut up, or I'll-"
"No, I WILL NOT SHUT UP!"- somehow, in her inconsolable suffering and rage, Susan had managed to set her legs free and now stood on her feet, shaking ever so slightly as she glared at Serena through tears.
The other woman took a step back in utter bewilderment.
"You killed Will's baby!"- Susan repeated, her red eyes pinning Serena down. "WHY?! ANSWER ME!"
"Don't even get me started on your crazy daughter and her friends! They killed Jessie, I'm sure! They...they're lunatics!"
"What?! Your evil brother found his fate after he confessed to murdering Will's child! Why did you do it, Serena, why! You could've have done whatever to me and Tony, I would've taken it, but you hurt my daughter! How could you BOTH sink so low, I spit on you!"
Susan's angry cries made her opponent even more furious, she pointed at her with the plank and yelled:
"I SAID SHUT UP! SHE DESERVED IT!"- she stated in a deathly tone, shocking the older woman to the core. "She deserved it, for she had no respect, no understanding, no nothing! Ever...she hated me since day one, she even ruined my plans to get ahold of the money, despite not needing it! That's the least I could've gotten after what Tony did to me! That's why she deserved it! She didn't even want it!"
But Susan wasn't listening to her anymore. Her fury was about to take over new horizons. She wiped her face with her tied hands, before shouting as loud as her vocal strings allowed her to:
"WELL MAYBE YOU DESERVED TO BE INFERTILE!"
It was Serena's turn to be left speechless. In shock. As she blinked a few times, almost as if she couldn't believe what she had just been told. That was it...their eyes met one last time, before she screamed and swung the plank, hitting the other woman in the face.
The wooden plank broke in two from the impact, but Susan ignored the pain in her left cheek and attacked back with all the might she had left. Her tied hands were like a mace as she struck Serena back, knocking her on the ground, where she straddled her:
"Get off me! You- "
But she couldn't finish, because Susan kept slamming her tied hands in her face, again and again, until Serena passed out in the blood of her own broken nose. She hadn't expected it. No one would, but an angry mother had just done it. She had just beaten the living daylights out of her kidnapper, despite feeling dehydrated and weak. Her anger for all the injustices provoked by Serena had given her powers.
The ropes were finally loose enough, she managed to slip free and ran up the stairs without looking back.
A/N: For more on Meridian's, Phobos's and Nerissa's past, pre-series, check out my newly-updated "The Tears of the Traitress" story. :) See ya soon!
