Act 1, Part 3: Knight of Light

The Senate Hall was the second-largest building in Ereve, dwarfed only by the massive House of Noblesse. Idalia found it misleading to call it a hall when it was shaped more like a coliseum. Despite there only being a hundred Senators, there were well over a thousand seats in total. In centuries past, the Senate Hall had been the venue for continental conferences, which necessitated the extra seating. Now, however, barely a tenth of the hall was filled with the bird-like Piyo Senators and the Council of Elders. No matter how many times she had been in the Senate Hall before, Idalia couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness to see so many empty seats in such a beautifully-decorated room, despite her mixed feelings about the people currently sitting in them.

The royal banner of Ereve – a golden bird spreading its wings against a red backdrop – was hung all around the room, and everything from the seats to the carpet had been carefully chosen to match the royal colors. The bird was meant to represent Shinsoo, the divine beast who had created not only Ereve, but the entire Piyo race. Idalia had met Shinsoo a number of times before, and while she appeared harmless enough, Idalia knew that looks could be deceiving. It was no secret that ancient power rested within the divine bird. That power, however, had remained dormant for centuries, as it could only be channeled through the covenant between Shinsoo and the Empress.

The absence of the Empress was perhaps the most closely guarded secret of Ereve. For obvious reasons, the Senate had taken great care to ensure that Maple World remained oblivious to the fact that it had no leader. Without an Empress to wield the power of Shinsoo, Ereve was helpless to stand against invasion in the event that another nation attempted to seize control of the capital. Because of this, entry to Ereve was carefully controlled. For the most part, any request to meet with the Empress or Shinsoo was automatically denied. In fact, the only people who had been allowed to enter Ereve in the last few centuries had been potential recruits to the Noblesses.

Idalia looked around again. It seemed like almost all the Noblesses had trickled into the Senate Hall, along with most of the Senators. Just then, fanfare began playing and everyone, including Idalia, stood up as Shinsoo and the Council of Elders entered the Senate Hall. From what Idalia understood, Shinsoo's great wellspring of power wasn't hers to use, but rather, it was meant only to be used by the Empress. Shinsoo had consumed nearly all of her personal power ages ago to create both Ereve and the Piyos. Nearly depleted of her energy, Shinsoo spent all her time resting in the gardens. Ereve wasn't a large island, but it had likely taken a toll on the great beast to even make it to the Senate Hall, which showed just how important today was.

Shinsoo laid on the ground near the Empress' vacant throne, right next to where Idalia sat on the seat at the Empress' right-hand side. Meanwhile, the elders sat in a special podium on the bottom level. It was only once they all took their seats that Idalia and the rest did too. She turned to greet Shinsoo, but as Elder Kida arose, she merely gave a quick nod before Kida began speaking.

"To everyone gathered here today, I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude. To Shinsoo, we humbly thank you for your esteemed presence." Kida gave a quick nod to Shinsoo, who bowed hers in reciprocation.

"Countless ages ago, our world was reborn into a new age. To lead us in this era of balance, the world itself chose the Empress and Shinsoo, who created this divine city as our capital. And at the dawn of this new age, countless brave heroes banded together under Shinsoo's ideals of peace and justice. We know these heroes today as the Noblesses."

Kida raised a hand and gestured politely to the Noblesses in the audience. Many of the newer recruits cheered for themselves. One or two even whistled. Idalia couldn't help but grin at some of the Senators' affronted faces. Kida went on as though he hadn't heard them.

"But there is one here who was chosen as the best of us, chosen to serve the Empress as her protector and her hand. The Knight of Light, wielder of the mighty Soul Shield. Today, we honor Ser Idalia."

The Noblesses – even the older ones – gave Idalia a standing ovation. Idalia raised a hand in acknowledgement and chanced a quick glance at the Senators. Most were politely clapping, though more than a few had dissatisfied expressions on their faces. A couple of them even sat motionless and stony-faced.

"As we all know, the Knight of Light is perhaps the greatest warrior in Ereve, and the responsibility that she burdens is even greater. Centuries ago, five legendary heroes faced a darkness unlike any other. To fight against this threat, those heroes entrusted a great treasure to us – a gemstone of untold ancient power. When this gem was given to us, it was said that it held the power to save Ereve from destruction. Shortly after, Maple World faced a calamity like never before. Our beloved Empress Aria was taken from us, decades before her time, and Ereve's future hung in the balance. In that moment of crisis, the Knight of Light stepped forward to shoulder the burden of the future. They became the guardian of the gemstone, cradled safely inside the Soul Shield. Today, we know that gemstone as Shinsoo's Teardrop, named aptly in memory of the senseless tragedies that devastated our nation."

Kida looked down solemnly, with the others following suit. In the brief moment of silence, Idalia felt the weight of her responsibilities more strongly than usual, now that it had been proclaimed in such a way. It was said that a Knight of Light only truly awakened in service to their Empress. Every time she recalled the fact, she was reminded that she and all her potential had been wasted. Shinsoo disagreed vehemently, but Idalia told herself that Shinsoo couldn't understand. It was true enough that both of their power manifested with an Empress, but Shinsoo was already held in high esteem. Idalia, on the other hand, was not. And to know that the power was there without being able to make it known, to be able to prove that it really existed, was her eternal curse. She kept her head down, even after Kida and the others raised theirs.

"The Knights of Light have continued honoring Ereve through meeting the demands of their profound responsibilities. And perhaps one of their most sacred responsibilities is to pass down the Soul Shield, for them to bring a new dawn to Ereve. Historically, the Knight of Light has scoured Maple World for their successor. Regrettably, however, the situation has changed. The absence of the Empress remains Ereve's most closely guarded secret. We cannot risk this information being known to the rest of the world."

Idalia was all too familiar with the Senate's security measures, as it was her responsibility to oversee the recruitment and training of new soldiers. Those who wished to become Noblesses were required to meet many strict requirements. Priority was given to those who could prove that they had Noblesse ancestors, which was verified through a thorough background check. The Noblesses weren't a blood clan, however, and so outsiders were also welcome. However, it was much more difficult for those applicants to make it through the strict vetting process, as the Senate was adamant about ensuring that only the most trustworthy could begin training in Ereve, as there was nothing riskier than an information leak.

"The Senate has passed several emergency acts to preserve our safety, including several on the recruitment and training of Noblesses. In addition to this, however, the Senate has approved a contingency plan on the selection of a new Knight of Light – the Succession Ritual Act," Kida cleared his throat and began to read. "In the event that a successor to the Knight of Light has not been found within ten years of the Knight's appointment, or if the Knight of Light passes away before a successor is chosen, the Succession Ritual will be held to determine the interim Knight of Light until such a time that a true successor is found."

In general, most Knights of Light found their successor within five to ten years of their appointment. Even after Empress Aria's death, Idalia knew that most of her predecessors had found their candidate amongst the Noblesses. However, the number of Noblesses had severely dwindled over the past centuries, exacerbated by the Senate's new policies. The Succession Ritual Act had been passed around two hundred years ago, when it was clear that the pool of candidates had drastically decreased. Idalia feared that the day would come when there would be no Noblesses at all.

"As it has been ten years since Ser Idalia's appointment as the Knight of Light, and as a successor has not been determined yet, an interim will be chosen today to succeed Ser Idalia through the Succession Ritual. Over the course of this year, the Noblesses have been assessed through three trials, carefully crafted by the elders in accordance with the laws of the world. The Trial of Life tested their spirit – their regard for the people of Maple World. The Trial of Time tested their wisdom, to determine whether they were worthy of leading others into battle. But while these trials were conducted in private by Ser Idalia and the Council of Elders… today, all may bear witness to the final trial: the Trial of Light, a test of inner strength and courage. And our champion who will undergo this great trial is… Ser Tianbao."

Idalia clapped as the Noblesses cheered loudly for Tianbao. Even from a distance, she could spot her best student grinning as he walked down to the arena. Tianbao was a panda from Mu Lung, which distinguished him from the other Noblesses, nearly all of whom were human. The Noblesses accepted people from all walks of life, though humans being the most populous race in Maple World meant that it was reflected in their ranks. The warriors of Mu Lung were quite famous for their martial prowess, which Idalia had seen first-hand through Tianbao's unique style of sword fighting. As Tianbao reached the ground, Idalia got up from her seat and walked up to meet him at the center.

"How are you feeling, Tianbao?" she asked.

"Would I be disqualified if I say that I'm nervous, sensei?" Tianbao asked. He was smiling, but Idalia could see the cracks in his façade.

"I wouldn't expect anyone who passed the Trial of Time to say otherwise," Idalia laughed. "It's not every day that you find yourself facing your sensei in a gladiator match."

Most of her students called her Ser, or even Master, but Tianbao would always call her 'sensei', and somewhere along the line, she had started using it herself while talking to him. Tianbao smiled inside whenever she used it. It made him feel close to her, like he was back at home speaking to his Jie Jie, or as he would say in Ereve, his big sister.

Idalia then slipped off the Soul Shield from her arm and held it up to Tianbao, who took it from her reverently. It was customary for the examinee to wield the Soul Shield during the battle. It was a final opportunity to see whether their inner light would awaken the shield, when they were being tested and pushed to their limits.

"The Trial of Light is simple, yet deceptively so," Elder Kida announced. "Ser Tianbao will be armed with only the Soul Shield and a standard-length sword. Ser Idalia, in turn, will be armed with a dull practice sword and will attempt to pierce through his defenses. The trial will end in failure if Ser Idalia lands even a single hit on Ser Tianbao. However, Ser Tianbao will emerge victorious if he can knock Ser Idalia off her feet… or if he makes the Soul Shield light up."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Combatants! Ready yourselves."

Both Idalia and Tianbao took their stances. Idalia chose a standard offensive pose, while Tianbao took a more defensive stance by bringing the Soul Shield in front of his body. Idalia was glad to see that all his earlier nervousness had vanished, replaced with only a single-minded drive for victory.

"Begin!"

Idalia wasted no time in rushing forward and thrusting her wooden sword against the Soul Shield. Tianbao immediately leapt back, but Idalia gave him no choice to recover. Tianbao switched to a more balanced stance and swung his sword to parry hers. As their blades clashed together, Idalia immediately pushed her weight forward in an effort to drive him back. She continued batting at Tianbao's sword, driving him further and further back towards the wall of the arena.

Tianbao knew what she was doing. He was better-armed against her, but he wasn't used to fighting with the Soul Shield, which weighed heavily on his arm, more so than his usual shield. In truth, Idalia had the advantage between them, as all she had to worry about was to not get knocked off her feet. For him, it was all over if she landed even a single touch on his body.

"Getting tired there, Tianbao?" Idalia asked, grinning when Tianbao didn't respond. The panda's face was contorted in pure concentration as he kept up his perfect defense.

Idalia had a fairly good idea of what he was hoping to do. He wanted her to think that he was being pushed back, that all she had to do was to corner him against the wall to win. The trouble was that she knew every skill in his arsenal. Sure enough, just as Tianbao came close enough to the wall, he jumped into the air and used the wall to propel himself forward with the Soul Shield squarely in front of him. If it were anyone else, Idalia might not have seen it coming in time. But she easily sidestepped him and swung for his elbow. However, Tianbao wasn't about to lose there. Like a hinge, he swung his sword into a reverse grip to parry her strike. A neat roll and he got right back up to face her.

"Not bad," Idalia laughed. The crowd was going wild. She took a quick look at the Senators, all of whom were at the edges of their seats. No one could resist a good fight, especially not its spectators.

Before the match had begun, a part of her had wondered whether to ease her way into the fight, but now, she decided that she wouldn't make things easy for him. With a grunt, Idalia rushed forward. Tianbao followed suit. The sound of clanging metal filled the arena, the two knights' blades nearly indistinguishable with how fast they were swinging. It was almost like a dance between the two, charged in speed and intensity.

Idalia knew well enough not to get caught up in it, and she knew that she had taught Tianbao just the same. Which was why she saw it coming when Tianbao suddenly bent down and swept his legs in an arc to knock her off her feet. She immediately leapt up. Tianbao thrust the Soul Shield, hoping to knock her in mid-air. Just as Tianbao himself had done, Idalia used the Soul Shield as leverage and pushed off against it. She then flipped into the air and landing gracefully on her feet. Idalia saw Tianbao's eyes widen in surprise for a moment before they narrowed back in concentration.

The pair then slowly began circling each other. Idalia knew that she shouldn't give him a reprieve to strategize, but she herself needed a minute to catch her breath. Tianbao was her best student for a reason, after all. He was one of the few Noblesses who could hold their own against her, at least until she resorted to using a few tricks to take back the upper hand. Tianbao knew it too, which was why she knew that he wouldn't want to drag out the fight any longer than necessary.

Just as she thought, Tianbao charged straight for her. Only this time, he began spinning like a whirlwind. Suddenly, his blade lit up and sent out beams of energy at her through the maelstrom. Idalia's eyes widened as she took the full brunt of a beam blade, which brought her to her knees. She was the one who had taught him the beam blade attack, but she had never seen him combine it with his whirlwind technique, which had doubled the force of the beams. She knew that at the rate that his velocity was increasing, another full hit would knock her down easily.

She took a deep breath and began channeling her inner spirit into her blade. Even without the Soul Shield, she still had some command over the light within herself. Her blade glowed golden as she sliced straight through the beams as though they were silk. Tianbao slowly stopped spinning as he realized that his technique was having no effect.

"That's a new one, sensei," he said, speaking for the first time since the fight began. "I didn't know that you could use your powers without the Soul Shield."

"You've been holding out on me too, kid," Idalia said. "That was a pretty clever trick."

"I've been practicing it in secret for a while now, for just such an occasion." Tianbao explained.

Idalia kept her eyes on his face, but through her peripheral vision, she saw him slowly shifting his weight. That he was only talking now meant that he was buying time. He was going to throw his sword at her, she was sure of it.

"Or it could be the Soul Shield," a part of herself said.

There was no way. Not in front of the Senators. In front of Shinsoo. She felt her mind jumping back to all the times that she'd been called before the council – every scolding, every chide drilled into her.

"The Knight of Light is a symbol," Elder Kida said. "And the Soul Shield is part of that symbol."

"Every Knight of Light… every Noblesse who ever hopes to be a Knight of Light," Elder Kio grumbled. "They must treat that shield as if it holds their very life."

"For it holds the very salvation of Ereve," Elder Kirima simpered.

She was sure that she had explained it all before – to Tianbao especially, since she'd known for years that he had the best chance of succeeding her. She couldn't imagine that she would have forgotten to drill it into his head, the same way that the squawking elders had drilled it into hers. What she said, what she did, what she didn't do, all of it was being judged every minute of every day. All of them thought that she was a failure as it was. She made the fatal mistake of glancing at the elders' podium, giving Tianbao the opening that he needed. Her eyes snapped back to him and widened in shock as Tianbao threw the Soul Shield like a discus.

She barely registered the Senators' shock as the weight of the spinning metal caught her squarely in the chest. She dropped her sword in pain, and even as she willed her body to fall on its knees, she knew that it wouldn't matter. Tianbao floored her with his body and cleanly knocked her down. The crowd exploded as Tianbao graciously helped her up. Idalia smiled and raised his arm into the air.

"You've done it," she yelled, her voice barely audible over the crowd.

She took a look at the Senators. Some were cheering along with the crowd, but the rest looked as displeased as the elders. Her eyes wandered over to meet Elder Kio, who nudged his head and pointed at her left. She turned to see the discarded Soul Shield lying on the ground. Idalia immediately let go of Tianbao's arm and rushed over to reattach the discarded shield on her arm. It felt heavier than usual, as though the moments that it had spent parted from her had made her a stranger to it. She looked back to Kio, who still wasn't smiling.

One hour later, the Noblesses, the Senators, and even Shinsoo had left the Senate Hall, leaving only Idalia and the three disgruntled elders.

"Is this the kind of education that the Noblesses have been given under your care?" Kio asked indignantly. "To blatantly throw the sacred Soul Shield, like a dart of a common thief, in the midst of the Succession Ritual itself?"

"Elder Kio, I don't-" Idalia began.

"What I'm most shocked about is that instead of picking it back up that very instant, you willfully ignored it and let it sit in the dust." Kio said, shaking his head in disgust. "You are the keeper of the Soul Shield, are you not?"

"I am, but-"

"Then has its magnanimous important not been imparted to you, as the Knight of Light?"

"It has-"

"Then why was the Soul Shield allowed to be tossed aside in such a manner? The symbol of Ereve's salvation itself… for you and Ser Tianbao to have disregarded it in such a manner, you may as well have spat at Shinsoo herself!"

"Tianbao has nothing to do with this!" Idalia snapped. "It was my failing to explain the importance of the Soul Shield in the ritual, and to explain what he could or could not do with it. Please, do not penalize him for my mistake."

Try as she might, she couldn't push down the anger welling up in her throat. It wasn't new for them to act as though she was a terrible teacher, but she also knew that even if she were to explain that Tianbao had acted in the heat of the moment, there was no way that they would want to hear it. From personal experience, she knew that the elders liked to exist at least three levels above her on the moral high ground.

"Peace, Elder Kio. I'm sure that Ser Idalia has given adequate instruction to her knights, in spite of her… situation," Elder Kirima said. Idalia stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Here came the false sympathy. "In any case, Ser Tianbao performed admirably to be able to best Ser Idalia in combat. Not to speak ill of you, dear, we all have our off-days."

"I'm fin-"

"And as Ser Tianbao has claimed victory in the Succession Ritual, the rules are clear. He will be the next Knight of Light." Kirima finished.

Idalia felt a rush of relief mix in with her annoyance. The last thing that she wanted was to break the news to Tianbao that he'd been dismissed from the position before he ever got the chance. Perhaps it was a bit too obvious, because Kio's white eyebrows furrowed.

"That, however, does not mean that the situation has been resolved. This council will thoroughly review your teaching methodologies and curriculum in order to ensure that they meet our requirements." Kio said. "What is more-"

Idalia couldn't hold back anymore. "And when you inevitably find nothing to criticize, will I be able to expect an end to these endless reviews? Or, in the absence of finding a problem, will you make one up, as always?"

Kio opened his mouth to argue, but Kida raised a hand to quiet him. Kio immediately bowed his head and deferred to the council leader.

"Idalia, this council does not dispute your achievements. The Noblesses – indeed, Ereve itself – would be lost without your guidance and wisdom. As the Knight of Light, you play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Maple World. However," Kida said. "All of this is to say that there is a greater responsibility that falls to you. I fear that this responsibility may become a burden, in light of your… condition."

Idalia retorted furiously, "I have never once let that get in the way of my duties – not once. I will not allow my integrity to be placed into question because of a circumstance beyond my-"

"Dear, this isn't-" Kirima began in a placating tone.

"Don't interrupt me!" Idalia yelled, causing the feathered old woman to squeak. "And I'm not 'dear', I'm Ser Idalia."

"This behavior is precisely what we're talking about!" Kio huffed indignantly. "All these bouts of anger… weeks spent in isolation… do you never find that it's too much for you? For it is certainly too much for me. And to be candid-"

"Kio, enough," Kirima said warningly.

Kio ignored her and continued. "To be candid, were it not for the word of Shinsoo, this council would have searched for an interim Knight of Light much sooner."

Idalia, who had been ready to interrupt, shut her mouth in shock. Kio, who was pleased to see that he had finally gotten Idalia to shut up, looked to find that Kirima was glaring at him in annoyance.

After a heavy pause, Kira said lightly, "While it's not the way that I would have gone about it, Elder Kio speaks true. This council feels, and has felt for some time, that your responsibilities may weigh too heavily on you. No one wishes to see you suffer as you have, Ser Idalia. And while we do not have the authority to alleviate that burden from you, we strongly suggest that you consider passing on the mantle. Ser Tianbao is a fine knight, and though-"

"And so you want me to go quietly," Idalia said in quiet fury. "That's what this is all about."

"That's not how I would put-"

"That's precisely how you would put it. I don't conform to your narrow little paradigm, and suddenly all the fault lies with me. I'm too unstable, or else I'm too unreliable, or too impulsive to be a symbol for you and your council to flaunt around, as though that'll bring back your glory days, or even the Empress herself."

"Ser Idalia, I won't listen-" Kio began in frustration.

"No, you listen. I never asked for this responsibility. I was fourteen when I became the Knight of Light. Ten years. Ten years, I've fought and struggled to grow into what I am today. To shape the Noblesses into an army that you're all too afraid to use. I understand the meaning of duty. I've struggled more than any of you feathered imbeciles have in your entire lives. I don't care if you don't think I'm worthy. You and the whole damn Senate can think so, for all I care. But the Soul Shield picked me. Not you, not even Tianbao. Me. And until the day its light slips from my hands… I'm not going anywhere."

She strode from the Senate Hall, ignoring Kio's flabbergasted cries and gesticulations. If there were a door, she would have slammed it. She walked, and kept walking, with no regard about where she was headed. Her head was hurting again. Part of her wanted to go back to the Senate Hall, to drag the three elders out of their seats, and to throw them off the edge of Ereve, just to see if their tiny little wings would carry their lumpy bodies back up. But she knew that it was a bad idea. And the fact that she knew that let her know that she was alright. Perhaps not okay, but alright. She barely realized that she was on the edge of the island herself until Shinsoo's voice broke through her muddled thoughts.

"I wouldn't go that way if I were you," Shinsoo said. "The Soul Shield allows for many things, but flight is not one of them."

"O-oh, sorry about that. Thank you, Shinsoo," Idalia said, shaking her head from her fantasy.

"Something on your mind?" Shinsoo asked.

Idalia loved Shinsoo's voice. It was like a mother – soothing and genuine. Unlike the idiots on the council, Idalia could always believe that Shinsoo had her best interests at heart.

"It's nothing," Idalia said. "At least, nothing that'll matter."

"But as long as it matters now," Shinsoo said. "It's important to me."

Idalia relented. "Okay, you're right. It's the stupid council again. They phrased it a lot more poorly, but they basically want me to retire. They think that I have no business being a Knight of Light in my 'damaged' state."

"I know that you're joking, but I still don't like to hear you talk about yourself like that."

"Maybe you should've made the Piyos differently then," Idalia laughed grimly. "They clearly don't share your point of view."

"I made the Piyos with the intent that they would help defend this world and its people," Shinsoo explained. "But I am not their master. For better or for worse, they have their free will, as we all do. Naturally, their ideas about how to secure peace may differ, and some may be more… zealous than others, but they have Maple World's best interests at heart, I'm certain of that."

Idalia sighed and flopped herself on the grass next to Shinsoo, who moved her wing to cover Idalia.

"You know, this does bring back memories," Shinsoo said, smiling. "Empress Aria loved to do the same thing as a girl."

"Empress Aria sat in the grass like this? Didn't she have… I don't know, Empress stuff to do?"

"The role of Empress is quite different from what outsiders might suspect. Empress Aria ascended to the throne around the same age that you became the Knight of Light. As a child, the Empress cannot fully handle the vast power that I store for her. That is why she rests as I do under my wing, where I can protect her until adulthood, until the day that she can lead the world below."

"The world below…" Idalia said softly.

She hadn't left Ereve since the day that she'd arrived. She knew every detail about what happened down there – the chaos in El Nath and the Sultan's plan to seize Magatia. But the Noblesses were under strict orders to standby and observe, against Idalia's many protests before the Senate.

"Through my power, I can feel the world suffer every day," Shinsoo spoke sadly.

"Then why not tell the Noblesses to help? They're your soldiers, right?"

"Dear child, they are not mine any more than the Piyos are mine. I gave the Noblesses only their name, but they gave themselves a purpose. They chose to walk the path of knighthood because they wanted to help those who could not protect themselves. They aid the Empress, but they are not hers to command."

Idalia sat up and looked at Shinsoo. If what she was hearing was true…

"…then the Noblesses don't answer to the Senate? They've been free to carry out their mission all this time?" she asked. Shinsoo nodded gravely.

"Then why do we answer to the elders at all? Surely, all this time, we could have been helping the world below, instead of being stuck up here like some impassive observers!" Idalia cried in frustration. "Shinsoo, you have to tell me – do I have obey them?"

"The question you have is not one answered easily. But I shall try to help you understand by asking you this. The Noblesses follow their creed. You, the Senate, the elders, and all the world obey the Empress. Who, then, does the Empress obey?"

"No one," Idalia answered hesitantly. "The chain of command ends with her."

"Then is the Empress a tyrant?"

"N-no, of course not!" Idalia stammered. She hated the feeling of being tested. "The Empress… she answers to the laws that she created, just as we all must."

"Laws, perhaps," Shinsoo said. "But just as the laws of the Empress govern the people, so too do the laws of the world govern the Empress."

Idalia was too tired to want to understand. Shinsoo must have sensed her frustration, for she continued on without pause.

"I'm sure that you know of the three laws of life, light, and time. But have I ever told you why these laws came to exist? You see, before the rule of three, this world – and countless others – fell to chaos. I was born in an age when countless gods roamed the world and ruled with impunity. The world itself cried out in anguish, unable to abide such madness. Its will forged chains of law that dragged the gods back into darkness. And in their absence, a new age of order began. The world created three laws and three keepers to maintain them. And as decreed, a day of great imbalance will befall this world. When the keepers scatter to dust, the Empress shall awaken and correct that which has gone awry. That is why I protect her and her bloodline, until that prophesized day. I am merely an observer for the world, nothing more. The power that I hold… the power that the Empress holds… it is all for keeping balance."

Idalia nodded, slowly beginning to understand. "The Empress obeys the will of the world. And its people… she must follow them as much as they follow her."

"Indeed. Power goes only where it is directed. The keepers, the Empress, even you… the power that you wield stems from those who believe in your leadership. It is no trivial thing, for one to willingly place themselves in another's hands. But never forget that this power is given freely. Those who seek to take it by force… they shall find themselves weaker. No being, not even a god, is invulnerable. A lone candle may not dissipate the darkness… but light a hundred, a thousand, and it is as if the sun itself has arisen."

"…And if the Empress serves the people, for me to serve her… it's also to serve them." Idalia felt warmth inside her chest. It was as Shinsoo had said. Candles were being lit inside her, chasing away that murky sense of helplessness. "All these laws of the Senate… they were taking power when it should have been given. If those laws are hurting the people, then it's my duty as a leader to resist them."

Shinsoo smiled sadly. "I'm glad to see that you have found your own path. But, dear Idalia, do not judge the Piyos too harshly. I've said before that they only want the best for the world. The Senate was made to represent the people, to hold that precious connection between the Empress and her subjects. This world was built on one representing all. In the absence of that one, the Piyos struggle to keep to order… to even know the best way to keep order. There is no one to guide them, for even I cannot see the path. The keepers… disappeared some centuries ago and have taken their chains of law with them. I can no longer hear the will of the world. I fear that all of us are as children stumbling in the darkness, in this world that we find ourselves in, where neither chaos nor order exist."

Idalia opened her mouth to retort, but closed it soon after. She had little sympathy for the elders and the Senators, but maybe she could at least empathize, if even by a small bit. For everyone to look to them for guidance, to be expected to have all the answers at all times… she didn't need to put herself in their shoes for long to feel their predicament. They probably wanted everything to be as perfect as it could be. Things that couldn't be predicted were a liability. That was probably why they distrusted her, despite everything that she'd done. It wasn't that they didn't believe that she could succeed, but that the didn't believe that she could succeed reliably – every single time, at every single moment – especially if it came to the point that everything was dependent on her.

"I can see where they're coming from," Idalia said finally. "But they're wrong. I'm not a liability, and I'm not a failure. I have the power to change things. And after what I've learned today, I've realized that I can't change things from here. I may have no Empress to serve, but I still have a purpose. Every citizen of Maple World who's suffering, who needs my help… they're my Empress now. I will lead the Noblesses and quell the chaos of this world together. No matter what the Senate thinks, the Noblesses believe in me, and I believe in this world."

Shinsoo smiled. "You really do remind me of Aria. I've sat in this garden for so long now… mourning her… mourning the world. Once, long ago, I had the power to protect others. I thought that with my power gone, I no longer had the strength to help. But, I'm glad… I have enough strength yet to soothe a hurting soul."

. . .

Kirston watched the red sand trickle down to the bottom. Twenty-two years. It had been twenty-two years since he had turned the hourglass over. Now came his favorite part. On his considerably messy desk, he brushed aside scrolls and research papers and unfurled a scroll, revealing a detailed map of Maple World. From his pocket, he took out the ancient ring. It wasn't glamorous by any means. It was chipped and cracked all over. The only sign that it wasn't an ordinary ring was the fact that the copper hadn't rusted, despite its considerable age.

He strode over to his potion rack and retrieved a flask of green liquid. Bringing the flask to his mouth, he used his teeth to pull out the cork and used a dropper to pour a bit of the potion onto the ring. As the ring faintly glowed, he carefully grabbed it and placed it upright on the map. The ring began rolling on its own in a large spiral, slowly homing in on northern Ossyria. The last cycle had been in some remote continent called Edelstein. But this time, the ring circled around El Nath before falling over.

He traced a circle on the map with the inner part of the ring. The spell wasn't perfect, but he had a general idea of where to start looking. It would be tricky to find her in El Nath with so much chaos there, but perhaps that chaos would make it easier for him to slip in and extract her. He couldn't stop himself from grinning in anticipation. The start of the cycle always brought up memories of their first meeting. In a way, this would be another one.

"Elmina… we begin again."