The Return of the Expedition
Hours passed as the automaton wagon kept its plodding pace, advancing towards their destination to the southwest. At one point Kaito woke up and the three friends began discussing what to do in hushed tones. Alfonso had already sent a confidential message to the mage city to inform them of the situation. Given Rossemara's temperament, Gakupo was convinced she would order the army on the north to stop while they still were in allied territory, or even to retreat.
"So, if we keep our friends here from avenging that bastard, we'll keep the situation from scaling into full war," Kaito surmised. He was sitting cross-legged on his cot, facing Gakupo and Luka.
"For the time being, at least. Alm-Ardjalus will be too busy handling the succession issues to bother with invasions." Gakupo paused for a moment, caressing Luka's hair while he considered other potential problems. "To be honest, I think that our immediate neighbors might become more of a bother than Shinwa. Verdigris promised them a share of the spoils of the campaign in exchange from safe passage and resources for the troops."
"Hmm…That's for politicians and diplomats to solve, I'm just a peasant." Kaito scratched himself behind one ear.
"Mages are politicians and diplomats in Alm-Ardjalus… Or at least we're supposed to act in that capacity," Gakupo observed softly.
"Right, I really felt the deft negotiation skills of that green chick," Kaito retorted. When the other two cringed, he laughed self-consciously. "Sorry, I shouldn't make jokes like that. It must've been an awful sight."
Gakupo shook his head. He had no adequate words to describe how he had felt during the brief period when he became convinced that Blanca had killed Kaito. His friend was staring at him with a knowing expression, so much so that he guessed Kaito knew exactly what he was thinking, although that was hardly a surprise. The pause in the conversation finally ended when Luka shifted slightly in Gakupo's arms and said, "I just thought of something. Do you think anyone knows that Invicto is dead yet?"
That line of thought was comparatively more innocuous, if only a little, so Gakupo gratefully latched onto it. "I doubt it. The original plans had him commanding the troops going through Heini, but he was alone when we fought him. My guess is that my master ordered him to leave the men near the northern pass and distract Shinwa while the forces moved into position."
"So his troops are still waiting for his return?"
"I'd say that's the safest assumption, Luka."
"How long do you think they'll sit around until they send a messenger to the city or to our friends out there?" Kaito gestured with his thumb towards the wall of the automaton wagon.
"That I don't know." Perhaps Verdigris suspected he could be a risk to the invasion if he was allowed too much information, or it was simply the older mage's penchant for secrecy and control, but Gakupo knew little of the specifics of the campaign. As a result, the specifics of the standing orders in case of extraordinary circumstances were a complete mystery to him.
At that moment, the wagon creaked and swayed even more than before as it began to climb a sharp incline. The implements around them clattered and some fell to the floor and rolled towards the back of the wagon. Outside, the sound of pebbles rolled down as they were pushed by the wheels, adding to the cacophony.
"What's going on?" Luka asked loudly to be heard above the ruckus. Her uninjured arm squeezed Gakupo's waist.
"They must've set up a base near the top!" Setting up camp in elevated terrain had its own risks for a reduced fighting force without supplies for a long stay, but at least it was harder for Shinwan soldiers to sneak upon them.
The wagon swayed sickeningly for a while longer, until it finally stopped with a loud creak. The door at the back opened and a couple of medics and Alfonso climbed in. The medics waited respectfully while the officer approached the cot with Gakupo and Luka on it.
"Lord Mage, apprentices." He bowed, and the gesture was repeated by the men behind him. "Lord Mage, are you ready to assume command?"
"I am." In truth, Gakupo had never felt close to ready to assume command of anything, but what choice did he have in this case?
"The men are here to assist you getting dressed if you need it, and we have a stretcher prepared for the apprentice." One of the medics took one step forward, and Gakupo finally noticed the clothes in his arms. An officer's uniform, from the looks of it, and an extra shirt and jacket to replace the damaged ones Kaito had been wearing. Probably dressing up a lady in men's clothing was outside of the realm of imagination for these soldiers, since nothing was provided for Luka, except for a thin blanket; Gakupo decided not to comment on it for the time being. He carefully laid Luka on the bed and stood up to take the uniform from the medic's hands. "Thank you, but I don't need help. I'm fine."
Kaito jumped to his feet and patted his chest confidently. "Yeah, this is nothing." Whether he felt any pain or not, his face displayed an unwavering smile as he tapped the place where the dagger had punctured his skin. He took the offered shirt and jacket with a quick word of thanks.
"Wait outside please, I'll be ready in a few moments."
"As you wish, lord mage." As he expected, the men meekly exited the vehicle, giving him another glimpse of the nocturnal landscape beyond the walls of the wagon. That was one of the things about Alm-Ardjalus that was perniciously easy to accept but ultimately troubling: no matter what he did, people usually accepted it as a mage's prerogative.
Gakupo pushed those thoughts aside from the moment with a small shrug and changed quickly. Then, he picked up Luka and carried her outside in his arms, walking at a studiously slow pace. Without even meaning to, he ignored the men with the stretcher waiting by the wagon; when Gakupo noticed them, he made to double back, but Luka's arm squeezed him harder. "Carry me." He nodded and turned again towards what seemed the command tent. Kaito followed him closely, illuminating the uneven ground with a handful of blue flames.
The moonless night was very dark and chilly, despite the coming of spring. Only a few lights illuminated the camp around them, so its shape remained indistinct. Gakupo wondered silently if it was an attempt at concealing their location, in case Shinwa decided to attack after all. He was abruptly brought to reality when he realized that Luka was shivering in her torn gown despite the blanket wrapped around her, and he quickened his pace as much as he felt safe given the conditions of the path.
The change in temperature was immediately noticeable once he crossed the heavy fabric folds serving as a door for the big tent at the center of the camp. Several officers were gathered inside, arguing around a table covered in food and drinks. When they saw Gakupo and the others come in, they stood up and greeted the mages respectfully. Gakupo nodded at them, then looked around. At the far end of the tent, there was a section covered from view by a curtain. Suspecting what it was, he approached it and pulled the curtain aside, revealing a small sleeping space complete with a rather lavish camp bed. He placed Luka over the covers and pivoted to face the officers.
"Lord Mage, there is some disagreement between the officers." Alfonso took the initiative, making some of the other soldiers frown. "The apprentice directed us to leave the territory of Shinwa without a direct confrontation with the princess, but some of us believe there are alternatives we can pursue," at this point the scarred man gazed at the other soldiers, and a couple grunted their agreement.
"Surely with your arts, there's something we can do to rescue Master Verdigris!" Another man piped up. "Whatever trickery that girl has used to thwart our Master and us, it will be render meaningless once you three join forces with him!"
Gakupo narrowed his eyes. "You don't believe he perished?"
"We shouldn't trust anything that little bitch says!" The man replied hotly. Then he apparently remembered Luka was within earshot, because he turned towards her, contrite. "Lady apprentice, please excuse my language."
Luka muttered something unintelligible and shook her head. To Gakupo it was obvious she felt somewhat annoyed by the attempt at gallantry, but the soldier seemed satisfied. The brief exchange gave him an idea, though it was likely to add to her annoyance.
"She's not just an apprentice, lieutenant. Lady Luka is my fiancée and I will not place her in undue danger. Kaito and she were supposed to observe our Master, not get involved in the fighting. How can I ensure her safety if I'm the only mage around? We already got ambushed while traveling to meet you, and now you want me to go back and seek trouble? I won't change my mind on this." Gakupo stared hard at the man, hoping he would sound sincere enough. Behind him, he heard Luka muttered irritably at a barely audible level; as expected, she wasn't keen on being portrayed as helpless.
"We have yet to hear back from the capital or Lord Mage Invicto. If your lordship wants my advice, I'd say we should avoid provoking the locals until we get a response," Alfonso proposed.
"Rossemara will want us to head back without taking action, I have no doubt about that. As for Invicto…" Gakupo focused his eyes on the table to gather his thoughts, but the combined effect of remembering the demise of both of his teachers and the sight of food made him nauseous. He decided instead to turn and meet Luka's gaze; almost instantly her expression softened and she gave him a tiny nod. Emboldened by that gesture, Gakupo stated firmly, "There's hardly a need for speculation, we'll hear from the north soon enough." Just not from Invicto himself, he added mentally.
Keeping his expression as neutral as possible, Gakupo faced the officers once more. "For now, we'll keep heading towards the coast. Once Rossemara's message arrives, I'll issue further orders if warranted. You're dismissed."
The men didn't seem all that happy by their situation, but they saluted and left without complaint. Gakupo waited until they were out of earshot to let out a little sigh. "This is really not my thing."
"I'd say you are doing well so far," Kaito asserted. He had been standing on a corner during the whole exchange, hands in pockets and looking pretty relaxed. That phrase seemed to settle matters for him, because he began walking towards the flap covering the entrance. "Now, forget about all this mess for tonight and rest."
"Where are you going?"
"I'll see if they can spare a bedroll for me in one of the tents. See you tomorrow."
"But-" Before Gakupo could finish his sentence, his friend had already crossed the opening and disappeared into the night.
Luka merely shrugged. "I'm sure they'll have something for the 'apprentice mage.' Come here." She patted the bed beside her.
Gakupo took another look at the table. It was around dinnertime, but he wasn't all that hungry. However, Luka might need a bite. He took a plate and filled it with cheese, bread and wild berries. He approached the bed and presented his offering without a word.
"That's a nice idea." Luka took the plate and placed it on the squat pillow next to her. "Sit down." Gakupo obeyed and she half-climbed and half-crawled into his lap. "Not very graceful, but you try to move around with a broken arm and leg," she commented, then helped herself to some cheese.
Gakupo softly ran his hand down her bandaged leg as she munched. "Once I get my hands on another batch of potions, I'll mend this."
Luka swallowed and smiled, a bit of pink dyeing her cheeks. "I sure hope so. A bride should be able to stand during her own ceremony."
Gakupo laughed quietly.
Luka grabbed another morsel and examined it with a pensive face. "I remember other girls in town being so excited about the ceremony itself. A day when they'd be the most beautiful and celebrated woman in Oto!" She shook her head. "It never seemed all that important to me. Not when compared to years and years of married life. But maybe that's why- at least some of them are going to be wed to men they don't like or even know all that well. One special day before that is not much to ask." She then popped the food into her mouth.
"I can't say I ever gave much thought to such things." Luka's eyes darted towards him as a drop of sadness dampened her expression. Gakupo could guess why: She had been worrying about becoming the bride of an inane husband at a time when he had nothing to look forward, not even adulthood itself. However, he didn't begrudge her for it, not at all. "However, I'll try my best to make sure those years and years of married life won't disappoint you," Gakupo said with a smile. In response, his lover chuckled lightly and kissed his cheek.
After Luka was done with her food and made him eat a little as well, they sat there for a while caressing one another. Conversation slowly died out and was replaced by a comfortable silence. The little world illuminated by the dying candles on the table and near the bed was encapsulated by nothing but the tent's walls; nevertheless, the space was peaceful and separated from the world outside. Luka's half-lidded eyes were overflowing with the same feeling of tranquility and promise. Her body felt warm and full of acceptance as Gakupo held on to her all that night, trying to preserve every sensation in the deepest parts of his soul. It was an impossible task, impossible and utterly joyful as well. He was ready to spend the rest of his life fulfilling it.
The column of soldiers advanced slowly through the landscape to the south of Oto, heading for the sea. Their goal was Awae Bay, where their ships were moored. Despite the sunny, slightly breezy weather, a cloud of pessimism hanged over the men. They had come to the lands under the control of Shinwa following a leader they thought was invincible, expecting glorious conquest. Instead, their leader had disappeared under confusing circumstances and now they were running back home covered in shame.
The only faces with a smile were those of Gakupo and Luka, riding together on one horse at the head of the column alongside Kaito and Alfonso. Despite her broken bones and bruises, Luka had rejected staying inside one of the automated wagons that lazily rolled after the troops. So she rode side-saddle with her good arm hooked around Gakupo and talked to him in whispered tones, sometimes breaking into a twinkle of shy laughter.
Whenever that happened, Kaito stole a peek at the couple, wondering what the joke was. But the conversation seemed too intimate to interfere, so he mostly kept staring at the horizon, immersed in his own thoughts. In any case, he was glad Gakupo seemed to be doing so well. He had been afraid the stress of battling Verdigris would be too much for his friend, despite not having another choice. But he seemed calm, almost suspiciously so. For now, that was good enough for Kaito. Gakupo had all the time in the world to come to terms with what happened, after all.
"The sea is near…" Alfonso's muted whisper attracted his attention, and Kaito turned to see him staring at a bird drawing circles in the skies ahead of them. He didn't know much about zoology, but presumably the older men was correct. Kaito then saw the man's eyes focus on Gakupo, as his scarred brow creased. The blue-haired mage sensed the soldier wanted to speak with the leader of the comitive, but felt as reticent as he was to interrupt Gakupo's and Luka's little tete-a-tete.
"They look really at ease, don't they?" Kaito commented to Alfonso in a low tone.
"Ah...Yes, yes they do." The man focused his gaze on him and his expression took an appraising quality. "May I speak to you in confidence, apprentice?"
"Hm? Sure, Al."
The man blinked in surprise at the moniker, but then nodded in acceptance. "The birds we sent to the city haven't returned yet. Without further instructions, we are supposed to obey the senior mage in attendance, in this case Lord Gakupo. But he is…inexperienced. I also worry that the presence of his bride might affect his judgement."
"Our ships are moored away from the populated centers of the coast, but there's a small garrison of our allies guarding them. If I may be so bold, I'm afraid Lord Gakupo may say something to the leader of the garrison that may place us in disadvantage if they were to pass it along to their superiors."
Alfonso looked away with a grave expression. "It's bad enough that we're retreating without a fight, but if we display weakness in front of their rulers, it could lead to the end of our understanding. The war against the church must continue, whether Verdigris is there to lead us or not."
"You are committed to the cause," Kaito commented. Time and again, he had seen first hand the blind devotion the people of Alm-Ardjalus felt for their mages, but this felt slightly different. He could certainly empathize; the faith had played its part in warping the lives of his friends when it stirred the poison inside of his neighbors back in Oto. And even now Meiko remained trapped in its clutches. However, it wasn't within his immediate plans to help in the fight to rid the land of the belief of the Lady of Light. He wasn't a devotee, and frankly most priestesses he knew were snobby and close-minded, but it wasn't his place to tell other people what to believe.
"Indeed, I have sworn to see the end of their offensive influence upon our continent." Alfonso's tone was as full of conviction as any church's sermon. "But unfortunately, ideals are meaningless when it comes to political alliances. They are built on similarities of goals and convenience, nothing more. So we need to be careful in order to keep the other nations in our side. This goes double for the Lord Mage."
"You know I have even less experience than Gakupo, right? I hope you don't expect me to negotiate with anyone."
"Yes... But you're his close friend, from what I can tell. Just make sure he understands the need to be prudent. Let me handle the leader of the garrison and don't divulge any unnecessary details."
"I think they're going to be perplexed if we march into Awae without the leader of the expedition," Kaito pointed out with a crooked smile.
"Yes, yes," Alfonso traced the scar on his forehead with a couple of fingers, as if gathering inspiration from the gesture. "I wasn't suggesting we kept completely quiet, it will be too suspicious. We need a concise, believable story."
"I guess we-" Suddenly, a sound not unlike the tolling of a great bronze bell echoed in the sky. Everyone looked up, but for a moment Kaito couldn't locate its source. Then, seemingly from the brilliance of the sun itself, a dark pebble descended, going straight for the head of the comitive. The pebble took the shape of a bird as it grew, a mechanical falcon of shiny feathers of polished metal. Gakupo extended one of his arms and the falcon landed on it with unexpected gentleness, given its rapid approach. The artificial bird and the mage then touched foreheads, and remained in that position while the others waited. Kaito guessed the device was relaying Rossemara's message directly into his friend's mind, somehow. After a couple of minutes, Gakupo straightened up and the falcon jumped back into the air and rushed towards the western skies.
"Any news, your lordship?"
Gakupo stared at Alfonso for a few seconds with an absent expression before replying, "...Not quite. Rossemara wants us to keep quiet about my Master's...passing. If anyone asks at port, he's going on a separate mission and needs the common soldiers out of the way for a while. Officially, the ships are going to take us further to the east, but the precise landing spot must remain secret under Verdigris' orders."
"But we're heading the opposite way. Won't someone along the coast notice that?" Kaito inquired.
"We'll be far from Awae before we change course." Alfonso returned his gaze to Gakupo. "Anything else, Lord Mage?"
"Hm? Oh, yes… Us mages, we're not supposed to make our presence known."
Alfonso nodded, satisfied. "Lady Rossemara is right. You three should go back into the wagon for the time being. I'll take care of everything...If it pleases you, of course."
"Please do," Gakupo replied, then refocused his attention on the young woman in his arms. Despite of his words the previous night, to Kaito's eyes he looked much less interested in politics than in fooling around with Luka. But the gruff soldier didn't seem to mind his new master's attitude, as long as things went smoothly.
And things did go smoothly for the most part. Before the bay of Awae came into view, the trio retreated back into the healer's wagon. Kaito briefly considered getting a helmet or a head wrap to stay outside with the soldiers; even if the deception was to last only until the shore was out of sight, he preferred the open air and wanted to see the vessels of the most advanced nation of the world. Nevertheless, it was more prudent to hide. By now, Luka and he had been seen working magic all over the place, and there was no knowing who could be present at Awae. So he went into the wagon and pretended to nap so the other two could chat more freely. He stubbornly kept his eyes shut even as the wagon shook and tilted back and forth when it was somehow raised and stored inside one of the ships. Then there was a long stretch of inactivity before the swaying and slight creaking told him they had begun the sea voyage. It all felt too easy, after so much struggle. But Kaito shrugged internally and went outside to find a quiet place to look at the waves.
The wagon was stored inside of a ship far different of the merchant vessels Kaito knew. Despite that, he soon found himself standing on a massive deck, taking in the salty air. He stared at the wondrous extension of glittering waves and sighed in something close to relief. He'd be ready, if he ever needed to be a shield again. But now it was time to marvel at the sea and the vessels crossing it. Everywhere he turned there was something to examine in amazement, whether it was the dazzling natural scenery or the artificial wonders of Alm-Ardjalus' fleet. He almost felt like a child again, hungry for adventure. It was easy to imagine that the strange ship of metal carrying him and his friends was headed for strange new lands, instead of just going back to the mage city, so he indulged in the fantasy for a while, leaning on a handrail with narrowed eyes and slightly upturned lips.
The trip was without incident, or even further birds from the mage city. Gakupo informed the other two that the port they were heading for, Kimbalha, had been originally a separate town from the capital itself. However, in the course of Verdigris' rule Alm-Ardjalus had grown so much that it was hard to tell where the limit between one settlement ended and the other started.
"In terms of government they're still under mage rule, but I've heard Kimbalhas are very insistent they are not Ardjalians," Gakupo informed his friends while pushing a lock of stray hair out of the way.
The trio was observing the coast as it grew larger and more defined. Kaito was resting his forearms on the rail next to him, while Luka sat on a chair on the other side, her legs covered with a blanket.
Soon, the group of people waiting in the docks were close enough to identify. Their elegant clothing contrasted with the stony pier and seaside buildings, and the drab uniforms of the sailors and port workers. Rossemara was there with one of her girls, surrounded by a group of bureaucrats and high-ranking servants of the palace. They all looked sincerely happy to see Gakupo back, which surprised him on some level. Rossemara had done a good job preventing anyone from realizing he had deserted, it seemed.
No sooner the trio reached ground, Rossemara rushed up to Gakupo and pulled him into a fierce hug. She muttered about silly children with her face pressed against his chest, while he looked down at her unsure of what to do. A small part of him wondered if his mother had such a strong grip. A moment later, it dawned on him that he should be hugging her back, and he did so.
"My boy, I'm so glad to see you safe!" Rossemara wiped her eyes inelegantly with the back of her hand, before the little girl behind her handed her a handkerchief. "Oh, thank you Kanon!" She eyed Luka in her stretcher and Kaito while she wiped her cheeks. "We have a lot to talk about, don't we?"
"Yes, er…" Gakupo hesitated, as any good explanations for what was going on swiftly abandoned his brain.
"Oh, I don't mean right here in the open! It can wait until you are washed and rested. Come on, the carriages are this way. Your...friends will accompany us to the palace, I assume." After Gakupo nodded in response, Rossemara turned to one of the servants surrounding them. "Get the second carriage ready for that young lady. Make sure she will travel comfortably."
"Do you have any potions I can use to heal her?"
As Gakupo expected, Rossemara shook her head. "Afraid not, dear. You know it's not my thing. But hopefully the laboratories back in the palace will have something you can use, even after what happened."
"What do you mean?"
At this, Rossemara eyed her surroundings wearily. "Let's get inside the carriages first." There was a line of elegant carriages waiting for them a small distance away, decorated with the sigil of the mage city. Rossemara gestured vaguely in the direction of Kaito and Luka. "Perhaps it's better if your friends travel together in the second carriage. The boy can see to it that your pretty friend is safe and sound, yes?"
"Our names are Luka and Kaito," Luka interjected somewhat drily and leaned on her good elbow to half-sit and meet Rossemara's eye. "Kaito should go with you, I'll be fine." Gakupo examined her serious expression curiously. Wasn't it a bit late to be suspicious of the older woman? Although Rossemara's sudden reticence was a bit odd...
"Yeah, I'm going with you," Kaito replied and patted Gakupo's shoulder. He was grinning, but Gakupo could sense he was on his guard as well.
Rossemara smiled as well, but she seemed less enthusiastic than usual. "Very well then, hop in."
Gakupo met Luka's gaze for a moment, but she nodded encouragingly, saying "Seriously, I'll be fine."
He nodded. "See you at the palace."
Gakupo climbed into the carriage, and Kaito sat by his side, curling his arm around his shoulders with what seemed like a carefully calculated relaxed attitude. Rossemara and Kanon sat across them, the older woman observing Kaito's arm with a slight crease of her forehead. Kanon tilted her head, her eyes going back and forth between her master and Kaito. The carriage's wheels creaked loudly in the awkward silence as it began to roll over the cobblestones.
Only moments after, Rossemara gave out a big sigh as she eyed the scenery passing by. "This is exactly what I was telling you before, Kanon dear. I just hate intrigues and drama." Her matronly face clouded when she turned her head to stare at Kaito. "You would've made things so much easier if you had accompanied the girl."
"You… What were you planning to do?" Gakupo asked with apprehension.
Rossemara leaned over and caressed his cheek. "It must be really hard right now to determine who's on your side. But I won't allow the people of Oto to hurt you ever again."
"Luka and Kaito are not going to hurt me!"
"They made promises, I'm sure. But-"
"You don't even know who they are!"
"I know they took you away from me! From us!" Rossemara's eyes were glittering but remained dry as they focused once more on Kaito. "What else is there to know, Kaito of Oto?"
"I'm the one that took Gakupo's eye out," Kaito stated almost in a monotone voice. "I almost killed him all by myself, two years ago."
Kanon gasped and covered her mouth with her tiny hands. Rossemara didn't move nor say anything, but her stare became so intense that Gakupo almost expected her to leap and attack Kaito with her bare hands. Her face turned frighteningly pale; even her lips seemed to lose color.
"Kaito! What are you-" Before he could finish, Kaito placed a couple of fingers on his lips, silencing him without even breaking eye contact with Rossemara.
"I did that, I'm not going to deny it. I'm never going to forget it either. That day I failed both him and my father." Before Rossemara could interrupt him, he added quickly, "But I don't plan on repeating that mistake. I'm not working for Oto or the church, I swear."
Gakupo brushed Kaito's hand away from his face, then covered his sunset eye with his hand. "This doesn't matter anymore. I trust him."
"Oh, child…"
"Rossemara, I trust him. He's not like the others. He's my friend."
"And a mage, I should add." Kaito produced a small blue flame that danced and jumped from one fingertip to the other. "The good people of Oto wouldn't like me either, if they knew."
Rossemara blinked. Warmer tones gradually began to return to her cheeks as she examined the tiny flame. "And to think he assured me-" The words escaped her mouth slowly, dropping one by one like heavy weights. The great technical mind of Alm-Ardjalus seemed lost in thought, contemplating the little flame like a miraculous thing. "The girl...is she one of us as well?"
"Luka's a mage too, if that's what you mean. To be honest, the only 'us' I recognize as valid is Luka, Gakupo and me." Kaito smirked. "By the way, she's very powerful so I hope for the sake of everyone involved that you keep it civil."
Gakupo could tell Rossemara's mind was working overtime processing the implications of what she was hearing. Her gaze rested on the tiny flame, but her eyes were clearly turned inwards, analyzing the past, "It doesn't make sense. Unless..."
"How about we tell you everything? From the day Verdigris first came to us," Kaito offered. After Rossemara's stiff nod, he began speaking about the drought and that horridly warm summer. Then the results of Verdigris' deception, all the misery succinctly condensed in a few sentences. Gakupo listened chewing on his lower lip. How small the suffering and the destruction of his family became through simple words. A few syllables later came the tower. So much of the years inside the cell was beginning to lose its edges, blurring like sketches under the rain. Gakupo did his best to contribute to the discussion, but his tongue tripped on occasion, even when the mental images were strong enough to cling to his brain. The eye that wasn't there throbbed. But Kaito next to him bridged the gaps, and effortlessly pressed on. He even seemed to relish the opportunity to describe their confrontation on the night before the execution. Only recalling the death of Captain Fuuga gave him pause for a few seconds.
Next came the retelling of the long search. By then, the carriage was past the midpoint between Kimbalha and Alm-Ardjalus; behind the trees lining the highroad, peasants could be seen harvesting early spring crops in verdant state-owned farms that once were aristocratic country estates. The tentacles of Alm-Ardjalus's urban expansion were visible further away in the distance, and even a flying machine or two could be seen surveying the constructions. But the passengers of the vehicle ignored the lively scene, engrossed as they were in Luka and Kaito's adventures as they crisscrossed the continent and visited many settlements big and small.
The carriage was almost to the gates of the heart of the city when the topic turned to Verdigris' demise. Gakupo wasn't keen on delving deeper on the exact details...It was bad enough to remember the warmth of his master's blood on his face. Thankfully, Rossemara didn't press him, perhaps due to Kanon's presence. Finally, the older woman leaned back rubbing her brow.
"You've given me lots to think about, boys." She eyed the busy street outside the carriage for a few moments before continuing. "I'll admit I had my suspicions about some things. And yes, the process of claiming Alm-Ardjalus wasn't bloodless. I knew that when I came to work with him."
"Then why work with him in the first place?" Kaito asked a slightly acerbic tone.
"I'm a penniless, unmarried woman with no political connections, and with magical gifts to boot. Do you think I would be able to pursuit my work in any other place? There are so many enemies out there, starting with the Church of the Lady of Light. But under Verdigris' protection, I could make a difference."
"Oh sure, that makes it all worth it. Right, Gakupo?"
"Kaito, please don't." Gakupo grimaced. "Rossemara had no part on what Verdigris did to Maika, and she didn't know what he did to us."
"Of course I didn't!" Rossemara seemed almost offended at the idea. "He promised that if I helped him, other mages wouldn't experience what we went through!" The woman hung her head, studying her rough hands on her lap. "And I did my part. I helped this beautiful mechanism come to life! Alm-Ardjalus, where our mage children could be cherished and protected..." She raised her eyes once more and stared affectionately at Gakupo. "I built this city for you. I knew you were going to be our legacy since the moment I saw you."
Gakupo didn't know what to reply to that. Next to him, Kaito rubbed the skin between his eyebrows as he asked "...Alright, alright. What happens now?"
"This city is yours, Gakupo. I've been ruling it for you, but you just need to say the word and I'll step down-"
"No, I- I wouldn't know how… We came to help you change it!" Gakupo waved his hands in front of him.
"Change it? What do you mean?"
"I don't want them to be our tools," Gakupo pointed towards the masses outside of the carriage. "We aren't entitled to their lives, just because we have these powers."
"They are happy, they live well," Rossemara replied, her face set in surprised disappointment. "Through our gifts to them, we taught them to love and respect you, there's nothing wrong about that!" She grabbed Gakupo's hands and held them between hers. "Verdigris went too far, I'll admit it. But you don't need to throw away everything we've built so far."
"I don't… I don't intend to do that. Just…Leave the rest of the continent alone. You can't uproot the Church without hurting a lot of people in the process. Theirs and ours."
"What about the mages in their lands?"
"We'll get them out through covert means. If they want to leave. Otherwise, just let them be."
Rossemara hesitated, then gave a tight-lipped nod.
"And the people of Alm-Ardjalus… I don't want them to worship us. There has to be something between hate and mindless adoration."
"What if they become disillusioned or dangerous? No, you need to give me time to consider all of this. People can react in wildly unpredictable ways when their view of the world is challenged. Just think of Milena."
"Milena? What about her?" Gakupo hadn't really thought of Verdigris' lover and servant since that strange vision after the battle.
Rossemara's eyes widened. "Oh. You really don't know?" She and Kanon eyed each other briefly. "After the news of Verdigris' death reached us, she went into the laboratories and almost destroyed the place. I guess he ordered Milena to protect his secrets."
"No!" Gakupo's hand went into his jacket and gripped the crystal tucked inside the inner pocket. He needed Verdigris' research papers and devices to save Maika!
"That's not the worst part. After that, she ran into their private quarters and…" Rossemara sighed. "That poor child."
"What child?" Kaito pressed her after a moment.
"Their child. I guess Milena decided their lives were worthless without him." Rossemara shook her head repeatedly.
It took a moment for Gakupo to realize what she meant, shaken as he was about the loss of the research data. Then the pallid daughter of Verdigris and Milena surfaced in his mind. For some reason, she had sent to have lunch with him repeatedly during the last couple of weeks before his escape, although the girl mostly spent the time staring down at her plate, tongue-tied and red-faced. Val had nothing of her parents' confidence. She was nothing but an ordinary girl left in the background while her parents shaped the world as they saw fit.
And now she was gone.
Gakupo stared down at his lap. He couldn't say that he knew her, not at all. He barely even remembered what her voice sounded like. Trying to focus on the girl on the edge of his memories just made him feel hollow and nauseous.
"I already took care of the funerals." A pause, then Rossemara continued. "Unfortunately, the mess at the labs will take awhile to sort out. You will help us with that, right? You might have a better idea than me of what to do with some of the things we have found in there."
"…Yes."
After Rossemara's nod of acknowledgement, silence reigned inside the carriage for a while as it crossed the palace gates and approached the imposing building. Then just before the carriage stopped, the older woman added quickly, "We also need to discuss your wedding. Forgive me for saying this, but the timing is very fortunate."
"How so?" Kaito asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What better way to distract the people than to present them with a massive ceremony?" Her smile turned rueful. "And we'll need the distraction, now that Verdigris is gone." As soon as the door of the vehicle opened, her expression changed. She clearly didn't want the servants gathered outside to see her with anything other than a placid smile.
"I didn't expect her to be quite like this, from your stories," Kaito whispered into Gakupo's ear.
Gakupo nodded. The Rossemara he was seeing now seemed ever so slightly different from the warm motherly figure he was familiar with. Perhaps it was just the pressure of sudden leadership. Whatever the case, he was determined to keep an open mind.