A Bloody Beret

by Readstoomanybooks

This is my theory about who was behind the doorway in A Very Medoran Kaldoras. Content warning for graphic depictions of violence, Angst and Alexandra Jennings acting out of character. Who was behind the doorway? I'll guess we find out.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Medoran Chronicles.

Spoiler warnings for the whole series and A Very Medoran Kaldoras, warning for graphic depictions of blood and other violency-things

I woke up this morning with an incredible fan theory, and had to write it as fast as humanely possible, because A Very Medoran Kaldoras: Part 2 is coming out tomorrow. So here it is, my last ditch attempt at a fan theory before we have canon.

But when the figure stepped out of the bushes and into the light, it wasn't who she expected.

It wasn't Aven Dalmarta.

Alex gasped loudly, the pie falling from her fingers and smashing on the ground.

Eanraka frowned, "That's a bit wasteful."

Alex blinked, staring at the aged face that was oh so familiar. "How are you—why are you here? Where's Aven?"

Eanraka shrugged. "I've always been in the Library, where else would I be?"

"But—I thought you were…"

"Dead?" asked Eanraka, smiling. "Yeah, that's the way I like to keep it. Gets me out of those council meetings and whoever else wants to bother me. Leaves me free to explore—right Library?"

It certainly does. Said the Library. Two thousand years of exploring, to be exact. I'm happy you finally listened to my suggestion.

Alex frowned. "Why is the Library so snarky all of a sudden? And what was the suggestion."

Eanraka shrugged again, holding a much too casual pose for an ancient being. "She's snarky because the author is lazy. And, the Library has been bugging me to go see you for the past year or two."

Alex pressed her lips together, staring and the silver-leaved trees surrounding her. "You've been here the whole time, and I didn't know about it?"

"Well, yeah, have you seen how big the Library is? If you're done answering questions, we have important things to go over. Come with me."

Alex stepped closer to Eanraka, the Valispath forming underneath them, launching them towards the empty city of Meya.

The wind buffeted at Alex's face, as they swept through the city, arriving in front of two Myrox doors. Eanraka, pushed them open, inviting Alex inside.

Alex blinked, staring at the perfectly pristine room—the same way it was long ago.

"Why did you bring me—"

Alex cut off, and she saw phantom shadows appear around the room. A collection of Meyarins—including Astophe Dalmarta, sitting upon his throne. Looking peaceful—and alive.

"It's a memory," said Eanraka. "The thing you remember most about this place, preserved here."

The people seemed see-through, like ghosts, as they milled around the room.

"H-How? And why? What memory is this?"

"Have you ever wondered how these paintings functioned?" asked Eanraka. "You might assume that it is a perfectly accurate version of Meya, always updating and changing. But, that is not true."

"What do you mean it's not true—of course it's true."

"Let me ask you a question, Aeylia. During the war, did you ever see Aven's cages strung up from the castle in this painting?"

Alex paused. "No, but I don't think—"

"Do the skies ever match the weather that is happening at this moment?"

"Also no,"

"I could find many more examples to list, but my point is, the paintings here are not copies of their subjects. They are replicas. Made from memories."

"From memories?"

"Our memories, specifically, and some of them become embedded in the place, because we cannot recall them without bringing to mind a certain event. This is one of them."

Alex blinked. "So this must be one of your memories! I don't remember this dinner party, or whatever this—"

Before Alex could finish, the phantom doors burst open, Niyx running through them.

All of the breath rushed out of Alex, as she watched him collide with the king, blood spraying out of his stab wound.

"No—" breathed Niyx, so quiet that Alex could barely hear it, even with her Meyarin hearing.

He stared to his right, at empty space—wait, not empty, it was Jordan. An invisible, phantom Jordan.

Niyx disappeared, Jordan grabbing him and taking him out of the room.

Alex's stomach dropped, and she felt sick and queasy. A light flashed, and the room became empty once again.

Alex gulped. She took in a deep breath, trying to gather herself. "Why is it—" she choked, then tried again. "Why is it empty, now?"

"The memory ended," said Eanraka, his voice softer than before. "To reactivate it, we have to touch the trigger object." He pointed at the doors. "For this one it was those carved doors—do you see the little splotches of blood on the handle, and the hinge that broke when the door was swung open.

Alex looked at the door, realising that yes, it did have those things.

Alex blinked, staring at the door once more, picking up on the details she missed before. "That's… strange." she said. "And a little creepy."

Eanraka smiled. "The Library has always been a little creepy."

"So why did you bring me here?" asked Alex. "Other than to explain how the paintings work?"

"I am trying to chronicle the events that lead to Aven's fall, which is much more difficult than it sounds. Over the many Millenia, his memories have been tainted, along with all the other Meyarins. All, that is, except you."

Eanraka rested a hand on Alex's shoulder. "While the rest of us experienced these events thousands of years ago, for you they were only last year, weren't they?"

Alex blinked. "You need to see my memories?"

Eanraka nodded. "I understand that this will be distressing, but your memories are the least tainted."

Alex paused. "You're asking me to relive all that stuff? So you can record it?"

Eanraka nodded solemnly. "It will be a difficult undertaking, but these events need to be recorded."

Alex held her breath, thinking over what she would witness.

Whatever choice you make, Alexandra, know that you will be supported.

"You mean I can say no?" Asked Alex. "I don't have to do this, even if it helps the greater good."

Eanraka nodded. "Of course. The greater good is a faceless phrase, used by people who want to control your decision. Choose whatever you want."

Alex paused, taking her time to respond. "I think… I kind of have to do this, don't I? I mean, it's important, and it'll help me process things, right?"

Eanraka didn't say anything.

Alex felt a twinge in her gut, knowing they would have to touch on many things, including… Niyx. And Aven. And Aeylia, she would have to relive Aeylia. That poor girl who was thrown in way out of her depth.

The thought of it was making her shake, and she wanted Kaiden, she wanted to hold his hand and let him carry her burden.

"I don't think I can do this alone." She said, her voice soft. "Library, can you get Kaiden for me?"

A door appeared in front of them, and it clicked open, Kaiden stepping through it. He looked around the bedazzled Myrox throne room, before his eyes landed on Alex.

"What happened?" Said Kaiden. "And who are you?"

"Kaiden, this is Eanraka. He wants to…"

"I am trying to chronicle the events that lead to Aven's downfall, by watching people's memories." Said Eanraka. "However, all of the Meyarins I've brought here have had their memory tainted by time, and remember them how they want to remember them. All that is, except Alex. Alex experienced these events last year, as opposed to last Millenia."

"He needs me to rewatch all those memories, including the… the ones I have nightmares about."

Kaiden walked over, cupping Alex's face with his hand. "I understand, Love. You need support."

Alex melted, her cheeks flushing red.

"Will you watch through these with me?" She asked. "You can say no, if you want to."

"I already know about most of them, anyway," said Kaiden. "And I want to be there for you."

Alex nodded, feeling—feeling proud of her boyfriend.

"Then let's begin," said Eanraka.

Beckoning them close, he took off on the Valispath,

Let's go through the place," said Eanraka. "Find out what we can, here."

Alex nodded, despite knowing that most of the core memories would be outside its walls.

The first significant room they came across was the Palace library. Opening the doors, Alex noticed two objects out of place. The first was a single open book on one of the desks, and the second…

Kaiden's hand tightened in hers as he saw the set of chains hanging against the far wall. And Alex knew why. They were the chains Kaiden had been tortured in—willingly tortured in, for her.

"There are two Significant Memories in this room," said Eanraka, frowning.

"Only one of them is to do with Aven's fall," said Alex. "The other is… after he fell."

"Are you sure?" asked Eanraka.

Alex certainly knew what the chains would reveal, but she wasn't so sure about the book. She walked over to it, looking at the open page. She saw the words The Bonding Ritual written in Meyarin, and clarity dawned on her.

She placed her hand against the open book, watching the phantom shadows appear. Phantom Alex, in all her Meyarin glory was hunched over the book, her brow crinkled. She whispered, "Trae Menada sae. I Claim you."

A moment later, Phantom Alex whispered, "Trae Gaverran sae. I Release you."

Phantom Alex jumped when Aven entered the frame, and Alex had to look away, trying not to groan as the scene progressed.

Phantom Alex's face grew distressed once Aven left, realising what she had done.

If only she knew that was just the beginning.

Alex felt wobbly as the memory ended, and she lifted her chin high, trying to hide how much that simple memory had affected her.

Kaiden saw right through it, giving her a reassuring squeeze of the hand.

Eanraka stared at the book in contemplation. "Why were you researching the Claiming Ritual?"

"I needed to find out how to save my friend," said Alex. "Back then, I knew nothing about Menada Dae Lenorsa, and I wanted to help him."

"I see," said Eanraka. "Let us continue to the next room."

They made their way through the lifeless palace, stopping whenever Alex recognised a significant object. Most of the memories Alex watched were ordinary, common place occurrences that had stuck with her, making her nostalgic for Meya of the past. Most of these commonplace moments took a role in Aven's corruption.

Then they had reached the ballroom, Alex had to resist the urge to vomit as the memory replayed. Kaiden held her tighter and tighter as the memory continued, he was struggling just as much as she was.

Once the memory had finished, Alex felt like she was chocking, like there was a weight on her chest.

Eanraka noticed her discomfort, and said, "We've covered enough of the Palace for now. Where should we go next?"

Not wanting to dive too deeply. Alex directed Eanraka to Draekora, where she placed her hands on the boulder Aven and Aeylia had hidden behind long ago.

Eanraka and Kaiden watched the memory play out in silence, until the two of them disappeared on the Valispath.

Eanraka's eyes widened. "Aven loved you. He… was actually—"

"Yeah," said Alex, her voice growing hoarse.

"When did it go wrong? How did you go from this to him stabbing you, and leaving you for dead?"

Alex flinched, Aven's words echoing through her head.

I swear by the stars, you and the others slain tonight will be the first of many. Of that you have my word.

"Raelia," she managed to croak out. "It went wrong at Raelia."

Eanraka inclined his head, taking off in the Valispath once again. Alex buried her head in Kaiden's shirt the whole way there, steeling herself up for what she was about to witness.

Raelia was… covered in objects. At least seven. Alex saw a little mushroom figurine, Skyla's makeup kit from their SAS trip, she saw Kyia's arrow, the boots she wore for her Varrunguard, she saw the door handle from when Eanraka had taken her to Akarnae, she saw a shadow ring, and…

A tree branch.

Alex gulped, reaching down to touch it.

The memory burst out of it.

"Aeylia, surely you must know how I feel about you."

"Aven, I'm not sure—"

"I am, Aeylia. I've never been more sure about anything in my life."

The phantom Alex paused, having a mental conversation with Niyx, her face growing more distressed.

"Aven, I'm so sorry. I just don't feel the same way about you. You're a wonderful friend, I would hate to jeopardise that when I know I can't return what you feel."

"No—Just no," said Aven, turning and marching off into the trees.

Alex hesitated, before following after him.

Alex pressed her face against Kaiden's. If only she hadn't gone. Why did she have to be so kind?

"Aven, please," she said, pushing through the trees.

A branch whipped into Alex's face. "Ouch!" she said.

"Stars, Aeylia, I didn't know—"

"I'm fine," said Alex. "Didn't even hurt."

Phantom Alex continued to ramble, not noticing Aven's darkening expression. Then, he disappeared.

Eanraka's eyes widened as the memory finished. "That's… completely different to how Aven remembers it," he whispered. "I mentioned memory distortion, but that amount is unthinkable for a Meyarin, maybe even a human."

"How does Aven remember it?" asked Alex.

"He thinks of yo cunning snake, who tried to force him into marriage, but he discovered your deception at the last moment, by whipping a tree branch across your face.

"Wait…" breathed Alex. "He actually thought that?" Alex's eyes widened. "He thought he was the good guy, and I was the evil one?"

"I'm afraid so," said Eanraka.

"Aven thought he was doing good? He thought he was the hero? That's so messed up."

"Let's continue," said Eanraka. "Where did you go after this?"

"I went to Niyx," said Alex. "I didn't know what to do, and I—" she swallowed. "I found the humans he killed."

Eanraka nodded, taking them to the plaza in front of the palace. In the centre of the plaza laid a dull, brown beret, stained with blood.

Bensie's beret.

Alex reached down to touch the beret, and she watched the horrible memory play out. The chaos, the screams, her realisation that Niyx was innocent. Releasing him, and then blurring away, leaving Niyx standing in the square.

He stared at the silver blood on his hand. Watched it drip onto the ground.

He broke into a run, following after Alex.

The memory ended, the chaos disappearing, leaving the still clearing once more. Perfectly pristine.

Except…

There was a tiny pool of blood, silver blood, right where Niyx was standing.

Alex shook, walking over, touching the blood with the tip of her fingers.

It was real.

Her Meyarin senses recognised it instantly. It was the blood she had smelt every morning on Mount Paedris, the smell she imagined every time she thought of the golden cliffs, It was the smell she thought of every time she drew Ae'nara. It smelled like devastation from Vae'Varka, like amethyst eyes and sliver scars.

It smelt like Niyx.

"How is that here?" whispered Eanraka. "How did a phantom affect—"

"It's Niyx's." said Alex. "Niyx's blood."

Staring at the silver pool, which reflected her face, Alex's eyes widened, her voice becoming soft. "I could bring him back."

"What?" said Eanraka, sounding incredulous.

"I could bring Niyx back. Right now."

"No, Aeylia, you shouldn't. You don't know the consequences this could reap.

"The Menada Dae Lenorsa was used to heal people of mortal wounds, right?"

"Alexandra, think about what you're saying, please."

"What if there was a wound so deadly there was only a bit of blood left?"

"It will kill you, Alexandra. It will drain your life force and willpower until you die.

"I am gifted with supernatural willpower," said Alex. "I can do it."

"No!"

"I will do it."

Kaiden put a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Are you sure about this?"

"N-No," she whispered back. "But I—I need to try—I have to."

With shaking hands, Alex summoned Ae'nara, making the tiniest slice in the pad of her thumb.

Be careful, Alexandra, said the Library. It is not wise to mess with time.

"Even the Library wants you to stop!" yelled Eanraka. "Please, Alexandra."

Alex placed her thumb in the pool of blood, whispering, "Trae Menada sae."

Her head burst into pain, making her see stars and clench her jaw.

This was worse than claiming Aven—it was so much worse.

A bright light burst from the pool of blood, Alex falling to her knees, vomiting all the food in her stomach. The pain radiated from her head, taking over her whole body. Every inch of her burned. She was being set on fire, stabbed, she was drowning, she was falling. She was—

The pain stopped. The light grew to a blinding flash, and there he was.

Niyx.

Someone was shoving Laendra down her throat—Kaiden—and she struggled to sit up. Her vision started to spin, Kaiden whispering, "Just stay still, Love."

Then, she heard it. The words she had dreamed of over and over.

"Kitten?"

Alex gasped, pulling herself upright, staring at Niyx.

He was… he was… different. Younger.

"Kitten, where am I?"

Alex stumbled to her feet, ignoring the pain splicing through her legs. She stumbled over to Niyx and enveloped him in a hug. "I missed you so much," she whispered.

"I… appreciate the sentiment, Aeylia, but I just saw you. You were running towards the Palace… then I was here."

Alex blinked. "You mean you don't—"

Eanraka caught on before Alex did. "Niyx, you've been brought to the future by Alex. Who—uh—hasn't seen you in a couple years."

Despite Eanraka omitting the part about Niyx's death, he put together the pieces himself. "I'm so sorry, Kitten," he said. "Sorry you had to go through that." He pulled back, staring at her face.

"Look how much you've grown," he said, cupping her cheek. "And you're so much stronger, now. I could feel it when you healed me."

The ground around them shook, Alex nearly toppling over and an earthquake hit the empty city. There was a stabbing pain at her heart, and she was on her knees, clutching her chest as her heart burned. She looked over to Niyx—and he was doing the same. Niyx, who had the pain tolerance of a machete.

The rumbling stopped, and the pain in Alex's chest eased, and she took in a deep breath.

Niyx stared at Aeylia. "We don't have long, do we?" said Niyx, his voice soft.

Alex nodded.

Kaiden stepped forward, helping Alex back to her feet. The stabbing sensation in her feet had eased, now, but her chest still ached.

"I know you," said Niyx. "You're Kaiden, aren't you?"

Kaiden nodded, staring at Niyx.

"Have you been taking good care of Aeylia?"

Kaiden nodded again, and Alex said, "Yeah, he's been incredible."

Niyx placed a hand on Kaiden's shoulder. "Treat her with all the love she deserves, son."

Kaiden nodded, "I will, Niyx. With everything I have."

Niyx smiled, turning back to Alex.

The ground shook again, more violently, knocking Alex off her feet. The pain in her chest increased tenfold, and she could hardly breath.

When the rumbling finally stopped, Niyx stood up, gasping. "I have to go soon," said Niyx. "Or it will kill you, Kitten."

Alex shook her head. "Stay—please, Niyx, stay."

He placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "You know what you need to do, Alex."

Alex stared at the ground, tears filling her eyes.

"Kitten, look at me."

Alex looked up, her lip wobbling.

"You have to send me back, Kitten."

Alex nodded, this time, tears streaming down her face.

Summoning Ae'nara, she made another slice across her palm, intersected by many white lines before it. Niyx held out his own hand, letting Alex slice it with the burning blade.

"I'm glad it all turned out well, Kitten," said Niyx. "And your boyfriend isn't half-bad, either."

Alex choked. "Stop making this so hard." She said, a smile pulling at her face.

"You have a good life ahead of you, Kitten."

Alex could barely see past her tears, but she found Niyx's hand, pressing them together. "Trae Gaverran sae," she said. "I release you."

"Remember that I'll always love you, Kitten. For as long as there are stars in the sky."

Staring at her, Niyx cupped her face. "I accept my Release."

In a flash of light, Niyx was gone.

Alex burst into tears.

Thanks for reading, if you enjoyed this story, consider leaving a favourite and/or a comment, to tell me what parts you enjoyed.

,,, this story was a trip to write. I woke up with the idea in my brain, and just had to start writing. I didn't eat a proper meal until dinner time. I started writing with my laptop, and kept going until that went flat. Then, I was typing on my phone (which was slow and painful), until that went flat as well.

I resorted to writing in a notebook, only to fill up the notebook, write all over the back page, using ever bit of space, only to have 1 sentence left. Then I spent ages typing it out.

Again, thank you for taking the time to read, I hope this might inspire someone to write another story for this tiny fandom.