Chapter Four
Let the revolution begin.
Soundlessly, she slipped the gloves onto her hands. She wanted to marvel at how the smooth, silky fabric felt nothing but a second skin clinging to her perfectly, but the lump in her throat made her do otherwise.
There were so many people, so many people watching her, more than she had ever known in her short-lived life of seventeen years. They were a stark contrast to the comfortable feeling the gloves gave her— the stares seemed even more piercing than the usual ones she got when she passed through the Foxfire hallways, more venomous, more dangerous.
It felt like the whole world was breathing down her neck. It felt like the entirety of her house crashing down on her family once again. It felt like the very split second when her twin sister's boots struck her table lamp and sent it shattering into a million itty bitty pieces.
Twelve elves, ominous and intimidating, sat regally on their crystal thrones before her eyes, their piercing eyes fixed on her and her alone. Most of them were glaring at her, a bunch of them were giving her stern looks that matched Dame Alina's, and only two of them were looking at her with pity and sympathy. Usually, Sora hated anything, anything to do with the Council, but at this moment, she strangely found those two Councillors affectionate and warm.
Sora wasn't exactly sure what their names were, but she did not want to seem rude, so as she pretended to smooth down a non-existent wrinkle in her right glove, her eyes stole a quick flicker at the two Councillor's thrones, which were positioned next to each other, as if fate had brought two kindred spirits together. Suddenly, their names popped up in her head.
Kenric and Oralie.
Despite her attempt to try and sneak, her eyes accidentally locked with Kenric's. Kenric looked surprised for a moment, but after that, he got over himself and smiled warmly at Sora.
Sora was stunned for a second— she had never had anyone on the high and mighty Council even break the slightest smile at her, a soon-to-be banished elf. But if Kenric knew that she was a member of the clandestine organisation, the Black Swan, he wouldn't have even thought to be cordial to her Shaking her head to clear her brooding thoughts, she turned away abruptly and focused on something of unimportance, such as how pointy Councillor Bronte's ears were. With those super-pointy ears, she wondered how he would put on a hat, or even his circlet that he had managed to place perfectly on his head.
"Miss Heks," Bronte said suddenly, after clearing his throat loudly and receiving no reply from Sora, who was still concentrating on the pointiness of his ears. "Miss Heks!"
Sora jumped in surprise, making the audience sitting behind her explode in amused laughter. Even Kenric, Oralie, and a whole lot of other Councillors she didn't know cracked a smile. "Y—yes, Councillor Bronte?" She dipped an awkward curtsy just in time. That was supposed to mollify Bronte, but he only narrowed his eyes at her even more.
Sora tried not to notice Soreas, who was sniggering behind her. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked like he had been crying, but Sora knew his laugh when he had one. She did not realise she was staring at his face in a wistful expression, until their eyes met. Soreas sat frozen for a second, but after an uncomfortable second, he smiled sadly at her, making her wonder if he had also guessed what her punishment would be already.
She tried to scour out Mr Forkle in the crowd, but she knew he would not be here. He was probably still in the Forbidden Cities, looking after the suldreen.
Thinking of Project Moonlark made her gather her nerves together and clench her fists to help her concentrate. She was the one who made Sophie Foster possible. Not the only one, but the moonlark would not be who she was now if it was not for her.
She needed to stay strong for her. For the Black Swan.
She could not break in front of the people who had destroyed this world, who did not even believe that the Black Swan existed, who would face their downfall and see what kind of world they had shaped out of their own hands.
"I see you're paying attention now," Councillor Emery told Sora bluntly, eliciting a few snickers from the crowd. "You are in no position to space out at all. Have you no idea of what you have done?"
Sora now knew the reason why Councillor Emery was the spokesperson for the Council. He had a certain way with words that made people feel whatever he wanted to feel. And now, having been reminded of everything that had just happened in the short period of less than an hour, her throat went dry and her hands became slick with sweat again. The world flickered before her eyes like it was trying to replay all her wrongs, and she started to tremble uncontrollably. Blurry images flashed before her eyes, morphing Councillor Emery's face into Soreas's scared one, and the whispers in the crowd behind her suddenly became clear to her ears.
"She killed Calsa and Krebbe…"
"Talk about an unfilial daughter…"
"I've had enough of her…"
"Banish her from here! Send her to Exillium!"
"She's just out of control…Isay we throw her into Exile instead…"
Emery sighed, cutting through the whispers and sending Sora back to reality. "Please quieten down as the other Councillors and I make our final decision. Miss Heks, please step back and take your seat beside your brother for the moment. Prepare yourself for the worst."
What does he mean? What does he mean?
You know what he means.
Sora barely remembered to nod and curtsy again as she stumbled into the seat beside Soreas. Everything in her seemed to hurt, and she stared at her gloves, then her feet. Jin's boots had been recovered from the debris, and it had been sent to her, but she had the horrible feeling she would have to wear a different pair of boots from later onwards.
"Hey," whispered someone from above her. The whispers had died down, only leaving a few murmurs here and there. Sora frowned at the sudden voice— was it speaking to her? It seemed so, and it obviously wasn't Soreas. But it could be only trying to personally spite her…
Then again, it could actually be someone from the Black Swan, trying to communicate to her. Although anyone trying to communicate Black-Swan-related things in front of the Council was an idiot.
Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and turned her head around slightly, her eyes scanning for the one who was trying to speak to her. Everyone flinched at her gaze running through them, and immediately averted their eyes, but it was clear that one person didn't falter from her stare at all.
Sora frowned again. She immediately recognised that boy— she would know his parents anywhere. They didn't really talk in school, and they didn't really know each other as well, but often being the centre topic of gossip of the whole Level Seven cohort, Sora was pretty sure he knew her only from the small talk about her.
Elian Fellers might not know anything about her at all, but she knew him like the back of her hand. It was one good thing about having two abilities— it often came with a flawless photographic memory and a wondrous skill to remember everything she'd been told.
"Yes?" she asked stiffly, silencing all the other elves' conversations and turning their attention to the two of them. From the corner of her eye, Sora could see Soreas narrow his eyes at Elian— but she was used to that. Soreas was often overprotective of who she often interacted with, but that was especially strange in this case, since Soreas actually knew Elian quite well.
Elian tossed his fawn-coloured hair out of his eyes, and gave Sora a subtle wink. Sora frowned even more, but made no move to interrupt him as he said, "Everyone knows you'd be sent off to Exillium, and since we'll never see you in the Lost Cities anymore, I just wanted to make use of this time to say that I don't actually think you're that bad. My parents often speak good of you and you sound like a great person. I—I know we haven't really talked to each other before but I will miss you. So will my parents."
The only thing Sora could think of right after he finished his speech was, "Oh boy, I don't think you know what connections exactly your parents have with me."
Also, are you kidding me? You'll miss me? Who do you think you are? You didn't even make the effort to talk to me at all before this happened.
But all she said to him was, "Well, you're right about only one thing, and that is, I'll really be sent to Exillium. No one here will ever see me again. And how can you say you'll miss me? I bet you'll forget all about me afterwards."
Elian only smiled at Sora's challenging and dubious tone. "That's why we're lucky that you and I both have a photographic memory. We'll never forget each other as long as we live."
Sora snorted at that. "'We'? 'Never forget each other as long as we live'? Who do you think you are, my husband? Dream on."
Yet, the affectionate words kept repeating over and over again in her mind, causing heat to rush to her cheeks. Probably because of how outrageous he had been. Elian Fellers was as weird as his parents, who worked in the Black Swan as helpers and messengers like her. Who was he to declare her to do anything? He didn't even know that his parents were members of their order.
A bell rang and drowned out Elian's reply, and everyone turned their attention back to the Council. Sora wanted to clutch Soreas's hand in hers, but realised with a pang that Soreas was not looking at her at all. She bit the inside of her cheek and fumed silently when she played back the happenings just now and realised that if Elian didn't interrupt, Sora and Soreas could have had their last moment together in peace.
But now, there wasn't even any time to do anything. And Soreas probably hated her now for spending all her final time in the Lost Cities with a guy she barely knew personally.
Then again, it was her fault that she caused all this to happen. Even if she was a child, even if she had only just manifested her second ability as a Terrakinetic, even if it was not on purpose, there was no erasing the fact that she had singlehandedly destroyed her family's house and murdered her parents in a blink of an eye.
She was dangerous.
She was not to be mercied.
"The Council has made their final decision," Councillor Emery began, his voice booming all around the Tribunal Hall, reaching into everyone's ears.
The hairs on Sora's neck stood up, as if actually bracing for the critical hit. He motioned Sora to rise, and she urged her knees not to bang into each other as she stepped closer onto the podium, right in front of all the twelve Councillors.
"On the 29th of February, Sora Heks manifested as a Terrakinetic and lost complete control of her ability, destroying her family's residence area, Mettle Manor, beyond repair, and taking away two innocent lives, Calsa and Krebbe Heks.
"From this moment, Sora Heks will thus be banished from all of the Lost Cities for as long as she may live, and never to come back unless granted full permission directly from the Council."
She had already been preparing herself for this moment, but somehow it still hit her hard. Feeling a need to get away from the suffocating scene, she stumbled back a few steps, bumping into Soreas. She bit back her gasp and stepped up to the podium again, cursing herself for messing up.
"Take off her registry pendant," Councillor Emery ordered. It could just be her ears playing tricks on her, but Sora thought she heard him mutter, "Why do I always have to deal with nonsense like this? That Shade girl already caused enough trouble by giving everyone nightmares and injuring them. Now this Terrakinetic girl has to show up and become a murderer." The last word echoed in Sora's mind, playing over and over again like a broken record.
Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.
The whole Tribunal Hall was filled with tense silence as Councillor Zarina rose from her throne and made her way towards Sora slowly and meticulously. Her heels clicked against the speckless floor, echoing Sora's frightened heartbeat. She listened to the sound of her heels, never looking up. The sound seemed rather rhythmic, and soothed Sora down a little, until it—
Stopped.
"Please, if I may just have one minute of your time," someone said, breaking Sora's concentration and eliciting a collective gasp from both the Council and the audience behind.
Hesitantly, Sora turned around, already knowing who it was.
She would know that voice from anywhere.
But what was he doing? Did he have a death wish, interrupting the Council like that?
The Council all exchanged glances with one another as Emery frowned and rubbed his temples rigorously. It seemed like they were having a telepathic debate, and it was clear he could not concentrate.
"What do you wish to say, Mr Heks?" Councillor Oralie finally asked, breaking the silence with her sweet, silvery voice. The rosy colour in her cheeks had faded, and she looked a little jittery as she, too, rose from her seat and beckoned Soreas to approach her. Placing a gentle hand on Soreas's shoulder, Oralie closed her eyes and waited for a second. Then she said, "You have one minute. You may begin."
What is she doing?
Sora watched in both fascination and confusion as Soreas took a deep breath, and opened his mouth to speak. "Well, you see, Councillor Oralie, my sister has just manifested as a Terrakinetic. We all know that elements are very versatile and hard to control, especially since she'd just had this ability. Sending her to Exillium would mean that Sora would not be trained in Terrakinesis at all, only in skills. If she doesn't receive proper training, more disasters like what happened last night—"
His voice hitched for a second, before he cleared his throat and continued-" and— and I think I speak for everyone when I say we don't want any more of that to happen."
Everyone nodded in agreement, including some of the Councillors. Sora was stunned by his words, and a little amazed at how much Soreas could pull people over with his words. But… what was he doing, exactly? Was...was he trying to… tell them to let her… stay?
No, that was impossible! The Council would never let someone like her continue staying in the Lost Cities. Soreas might know how to argue well, but he could never change the Council's decisions.
Everyone knew once the Council wanted something, they got it.
"I'm not proposing for Sora to stay here— much as I would want her to, I know that the Lost Cities have to stay in peace and harmony, and we have certain regulations to upkeep. However, sending her to the Neutral Territories by herself is ultimately the most dangerous thing that could ever happen to her, and that might create unrest and tension between the elves and the other intelligent species, since a huge majority of the intelligent species, such as gnomes and ogres, live there. So to prevent most of this from happening, I propose that I be banished along with Sora to accompany her to Exillium, and guide and help her make the right decisions."
Silence fell like a rock crashing down with gravity.
Sora turned to look at Soreas with wide eyes, not believing what he'd done.
Did he have any notion of what exactly he had sacrificed for her?
Emery shook his head as he placed a hand to his forehead, trying to navigate the Council's thoughts and sort out the mess.
After a while, all he said was, "Mr Heks, you have a future in the Lost Cities. Your results have topped the cohort several times. You are guaranteed a high position in the nobility if you continue to keep up your good performance. And yet, you wish to sacrifice all of this for your Unworthy sister." Sora felt like she'd been slapped in the face.
Your Unworthy sister.
"Yes, I do. After all, I am the only one left in my family now. I am an orphan and a single child if I remain in the Lost Cities. I am her only family left, and I wish to care for her and treasure her as much as I can."
"Soreas…" Sora whispered, feeling tears prick her eyes.
"What he says is genuine," said Oralie quietly, making Sora realise Oralie must be an Empath, trying to get a sense of his emotions to judge his character.
"You don't have to say anything, Sora." Soreas gave her a small smile, then turned back to face the Councillors, of which some looked heavily conflicted, Councillor Emery being one of them. "Please just grant my request. I hope you realise that this is for the best."
"We know what's for the best, Mr Heks," snapped Councillor Bronte. "And since you are so disrespectful, I don't wish to see your face in the Elven nobility as well. I say we grant your request."
Sora gaped as she watched the rest of the Councillors slowly nod their agreement with Bronte, until the final vote was nine against three.
Nine as in nine Councillors agreeing to banish Soreas along with Sora.
Sora couldn't believe her eyes, and she turned to look at Soreas as she asked, "Why are you doing this?"
You could have had it all, you know.
Soreas wrapped Sora in a big hug. "Because I'm your brother. And staying behind here would mean I would have nothing left."
Tears streaked down Sora's cheeks, and she returned her brother's hug as she whispered, "It's just going to get worse from here onwards."
"I know. But… we won't be alone. And that makes all the difference."
When her registry pendant was removed along with Soreas's, Sora felt like it was the start of something new. She took one last look around the crowded Tribunal Hall, one of the very last places in the Lost Cities she would be in.
Her eyes met Elian's for a second, before breaking off.
She sent a last goodbye to Kenric and Oralie, smiling slightly at them to know that their efforts hadn't been wasted on her.
This is for a brighter future. This is for a time where everything will be perfect and everyone will be happy.
This is our time.
The last thing she saw was two children with pale silvery-blue eyes and jet-black hair staring at her in wonder before she was taken away to an unknown future.
AUTHORS' NOTE
Xylia: I love my children, I have nothing else to say. You should be able to guess who these two children are!
Audrea: Well, so I suppose my update soon isn't that soon after all. Welp, not gonna say much, I know how everyone hates these. And now i sound like Yvonne… Well, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
Yvonne: Damn, this is taking a while to get the ball rollin'! But don't worry, its coming. ;)