Jack ran up the steps to Alear's bedroom, Céline in tow. Others around the Somniel joined in; he saw Vander at the front, iron axe in hand with Framme and Clanne in tow. Close behind, he saw Etie, Boucheron, and Alfred, their weapons brandished as well. Briefly turning around, he could see Louis and who he assumed to be Chloé, her long turquoise hair waving in the wind like a cape.
Swearing that the thundering of their combined footsteps was shaking the island the Somniel rested on itself, Jack was second at the balcony overlooking the cafe terrace, just behind Vander. Jack expected to find nothing there before they were going to enter the bedroom, however, it was open, and Alear was on the bannister overlooking the terrace. His shoulders slumped, his head down, he certainly didn't look the part of someone who had just gone through a near-death experience.
"Divine One!" Vander exclaimed, at his side in a moment, his tall form looking from the slouching Divine Dragon to the opened door into the bedroom. "Are you unhurt!? Is Queen Lumera alright!? Is the-!?"
"Everything is fine, Vander," Alear finally said, looking up. His face was devoid of emotion as he looked at the adjacent wall. "Everything's… fine. Veyle's in there right now. Moth- Queen Lumera is fine, too. Everything's fine."
"What about that explosion?" Alfred asked, moving forward and looking into the bedroom. "How the heck did that happen?"
Alear shrugged. "She could tell you more, if you want. I'm sorry, but… I'm really not in a good way right now. Jack, Alfred, could you stay here a second? Everyone else, you can do what you want. Go inside and talk to Lumera if you wish, or leave and go back to doing what you were, but I need to have this conversation alone."
The stone in Jack's throat made it difficult for him to swallow nervously as he looked behind briefly to see Céline giving him a stern glare, before walking away, letting him know that their conversation was far from over. Just as quickly as everyone had gathered, they went away one by one. Vander looked lost for a few moments before bowing.
"As you wish, Divine One," he said.
"Please, Vander," Alear hissed, shaking his head. "Do not call me that. I am not worthy of it."
"I-I see," Vander said. "I will… assess the situation on my own, then."
Vander entered the bedroom where Lumera and Veyle still were, as Jack moved forward and leaned against the bannister beside Alear, while Alfred did the same on the opposite side. Somehow, the cafe terrace seemed a little darker than usual, even though it was night outside.
"So," Jack said, crossing his arms. "I guess you know now."
Alear let out a humorless laugh as he shook his head. "I wish I didn't."
"Am I missing something here?" Alfred said, looking between Jack and Alear. "Know what? What's going on?"
"Sorry, Alfred," Alear said, pushing himself away from the bannister. "I really only needed to talk to Sigurd, too, but you should hear this as well. Sigurd? Marth?"
On cue, the two Emblems showed themselves. Although they could manifest at the Somniel at will, either Alear forgot about that, or he desperately wanted to hear from someone other than the Emblems and Jack. Jack himself had no idea which it was.
"I realize my apologies may mean nothing to you, but you have them regardless," Sigurd said, bowing at the waist slightly. "I made a vow to Queen Lumera on the night of the attack on Lythos Castle that I would not reveal your lineage. Perhaps it was a mistake to keep it even for this brief time, but I wished to keep my vows, as vacuous as they may be."
"Your 'true' lineage means as much as you let it, Alear," Marth stated, "I was not lying to you that night when I said that you were a kind person, even back then. Whoever your parents were does not matter; what matters is what you do, the strength of your character and heart."
"I'm… very lost right now, I gotta be honest," Alfred said, brow furrowed.
"Alear isn't Queen Lumera's biological child," Jack said, "his father is Sombron, and his mother… his mother has been lost to time."
Alfred's eyes widened. "That… well, if even the Emblems are talking about it as fact…"
"Why didn't you tell me, Jack?" Alear said, turning to look Jack in the eye. "Why? Why keep this secret? Why wait for my mother to spell it out for me?"
Jack took in a deep breath. "Maybe because it isn't my secret to tell? What good would it have done you if I had told you that morning?"
Alear went silent as he looked back down at the bannister.
"I know I haven't known you for very long, though I've had more than a few one-sided conversations," Alfred said, laughing at his own words before coughing. "But… the Emblems are right. Even though you may be Sombron's child, what have you done? Fought against his creations and started a quest to recover the Emblem Rings. Way I see it, you're still the same as before."
Jack snorted. "You really are a good person, aren't you, Prince Alfred?"
Alfred tilted his head. "Er, thanks? That feels like a back-handed compliment, almost."
"It wasn't meant as one," Jack continued, "you wanna know how this went down in the timeline I saw, Alear?"
The Divine Dragon lifted his head, looking weary as ever but ready to listen.
"It would've been months after Lumera's death," Jack said, crossing his arms. "You would storm Elusia Castle, whereupon an enemy of yours would've figured it out. You want to know how?"
Alear gestured for him to keep going.
"You use incantations," Jack said, "Fell Dragons do that. 'True' Divine Dragon pray. But doing that, these Emblems would be red. They're not red, Alear, which means, well…"
"Which means we have our own free will, and honor your call of our own volition," Marth finished, nodding. "You truly do have a gift for speech, Jack."
"I just got snarked at by a floating night light," Jack grumbled. "This day's going great so far. Thanks, Marth."
"You are very welcome, Jack," Marth replied. "He is right, for the most part. Take it from me, Jack, and Sigurd, Alear - whatever your origins, you are as you always have been: a good person. Being the Fell Dragon's progeny does not change that."
Alear looked down at the bannister one last time before he sighed and pushed himself away from it. "A part of me wants to believe you're just trying to make me feel better and that something is definitely off. But… I suppose I'd rather believe in your words now than curse myself for not heeding them. Thank you, Marth. Sigurd."
The two Emblems bowed and disappeared into light, and Jack took in a deep breath.
"It's better that you know now," Jack said, "I hope you didn't say anything awful to Lumera for what she told you."
Alear shook his head. "I needed to get out, not talk. I think my silence may have been as bad as shouting at her, though…"
"She's the Divine Dragon Monarch," Alfred shrugged. "I'm sure she'll be fine. But, uh, maybe go in and talk to her again, if you're feeling better? Don't wanna just leave that hanging, you know?"
"I don't know of any life-altering secrets regarding you in particular," Jack said, "so, you know, she probably doesn't either. And… Alear?"
Alear turned to Jack, his face somewhat less fierce looking than it was before.
"She's your mother in every single way that matters," Jack continued, "don't be too hard on her."
Alear closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, nodding and smiling. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you, Jack."
Jack waved as Alear reentered the bedroom, and he turned to Alfred before tilting his head toward the stairs.
"Let's give them a little while alone."
"So, Jack, I've been meaning to ask," Alfred started once they were down the stairs and in the cafe terrace. "How much do you actually know? Apparently, you know the Divine Dragon's true identity, and only Queen Lumera knew that. So, I'm curious now."
Jack shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "Not much more than that, in all honesty. That's about all that'll be relevant for a long, long while. I'll let you guys in on things as they become relevant. Just deluging you all with info will drag us down, or you'll just forget and I'll have to tell you again, so, you know."
"Is that why you didn't tell me my sister was in danger? Or that Firene Castle is under attack by Elusians?" Alfred asked, his voice suddenly much lower than normal.
Jack's small smile faded entirely as he narrowed his eyes. "Would you rather I had told you on the ship and you spend the entire voyage worrying?"
"It would have been good to know is all I'm saying," Alfred replied, bringing his hand to his lips as if to sip a teacup. He put it down, probably hoping Jack didn't notice. "But… maybe you're right. I probably would've done the same, though I guess I'll never know."
"Oh really, brother? I shudder to think what you would do in this man's shoes."
Jack took in a sharp breath as he looked behind his back to see Céline standing there, her hands clasped in front of her legs as she walked past him.
"There anyone else hiding around?" Jack asked, looking around wildly. "Anyone at all? Louis, maybe? Is he out there too?"
"He may or may not be observing us at this moment, but that is not the point of this conversation," Céline replied, "You know why I am here. You didn't finish answering my question."
"Your question? Oh, yeah," Jack sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was hoping I'd have more time to think again. Was this your plan, Alfred?"
Alfred held his hands up. "I didn't have anything to do with this. I didn't even know you were talking to my sister before this!"
"More like I was accosted," Jack noted bitterly.
"Enough," Céline said simply. "I want to put an end to this as much as you do, but I cannot in good conscience abide your presence without knowing your reasoning. This is a sacred place, Jack, and you have already stated that you do not believe in the Church of the Divine Dragon. So, tell me, why interfere as you have?"
"Because I couldn't let an innocent woman die when I could do something about it," Jack exclaimed, "because I want her help in getting me home. Because I want to get back to my friends and family in the US. Because I want to find my sister! Is that enough for you, Princess Céline? Have I sated your curiosity? Good. Because that's all I got. That's all I know. There's nothing else."
Céline was silent, and Alfred scratched his head for a few moments before he laid his hands on the table. "I think those are pretty good reasons. Don't you, Céline?"
"My apologies. It appears I became carried away," Céline said, looking over Jack with softer eyes. "I can understand the need to return home. If… you do not mind my asking, who is your sister? What is her name?"
Jack turned to the left for a moment before replying. "Natalie. Her name is Natalie. Or Nat for short."
Céline nodded, closing her eyes. "I see. It is good to know your reasoning, regardless. I did not suspect you of having ulterior motives, to be frank. Not truly. I just-"
"Needed to know what my game is, right?" Jack finished.
"Something to that effect, yes," Céline said.
Jack whistled, looking up to the ceiling. "I am sorry for not telling you about what was happening in Firene, Alfred. And I'm sorry for snapping like I just did. Whatever you guys think of me, well, let my actions speak louder than words. There's a little girl upstairs who would have made our lives a living hell if I didn't tell you about her beforehand. Hopefully with what I share with you later, we can keep altering this crap for the better."
"The small barefoot girl I saw running up to the Divine One's bedroom, yes? How would she have made our lives, as you put it, 'a living hell'? I am genuinely curious about this," Céline continued.
"Apparently, she's Sombron's daughter," Alfred said, "Which could mean a lot of things, you know."
"It's not gonna happen now, so I won't waste your time on what could have been," Jack said, "but let's just say, you and Celica wouldn't be together by the end of that whole ordeal."
"So, she would have found a way to either kill me or steal the Emblem Rings, I take it?" Céline asked.
Jack closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, something like that. Wasn't fun seeing it then, and if I did nothing to stop it while I had all the time in the world to prevent it - definitely would damn me further than any small secret I hold from you, right?"
"That depends on if Firene Castle is not breached, and if mother is still alive," Céline said, standing up straight. "I must admit, I misjudged you, Jack. I am glad we could clear this… misunderstanding."
Jack shrugged. "You had every right to distrust me, so I won't hold it against you. Be pretty hypocritical of me if I did, ya know?"
"Mother will be alright, right?" Alfred asked, leaning forward with a furrowed brow. "Because now that I know there's a bunch of Elusians bearing down on her door, I admit, I'm kinda worried."
"See? See what I mean?" Jack exclaimed, looking toward the ceiling. "Leave the worrying to me, alright? As far as I know, Queen Ève survives this brief occupation by Elusian forces, you're reunited, and she is not in any danger from Sombron's forces after that. She's fine, you're fine, Céline's fine, we're all fine."
"If you say so, Jack," Céline stated, performing a small curtsy before turning away. "Good night to you, Jack. And do not stay up too long, Alfred. We will be marching come the morning."
"You don't need to worry - I'm an early riser and you know it!" Alfred replied, as Céline retreated into the night.
Jack wiped his forehead. "That was probably the most stressed I've been since coming here and I nearly had an artery severed."
"You get used to it after a while," Alfred said, "She really does care, she wouldn't be badgering you like that if she didn't."
"Helluva way to introduce yourself to someone, Prince Alfred," Jack muttered.
Alfred laughed. "Yeah! Yeah, it is. But that's just who she is. Keeps me from getting complacent, I guess. I'm glad she's here now."
Jack smirked. "Me too."
Jack slept in the newly acquired tents that were set up along the Somniel. It was definitely more restful than staying on the ship had been, or sleeping out in the middle of the wilderness. Of course, that meant it wasn't going to happen very often, especially as the Somniel was only so big, and if all went well, there'd be over thirty people in Alear's army. Too many for there to be much room for people to set up tents to sleep in, or perhaps even build housing.
It would be a while before such a thing became a reality, however. They still had months of trekking through the Elyosian wilderness, followed by jaunts through the mountainous Brodia and the fierce and cold Elusia. And that wasn't even getting into the deserts of Solm.
They would begin marching towards the capital of Firene within the hour, so of course, that was when Jack was waylaid for preparing himself fully by a small, black-and-white-haired girl with shackles around her ankles and a feather-like dress, at the crossroads near the pool.
It was there that Jack once again noted how frail and small she looked. During the brief time he had seen her at Lythos Castle, she had seemed like such a dominating presence, but before him all he could see was a frightened little girl. Whatever Zephia had done to her, it must've been truly terrible to behold.
"U-um," she stammered, "you can see the future, right? And your name is Jack?"
The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, and Jack squinted at the Fell Dragon as if he was staring at the sun itself. Her eyes were still purple; Jack saw no signs that anything about her other than that had changed.
"In a manner of speaking. And yeah, my name's Jack, and you must be Veyle," Jack replied, "I didn't get a chance to apologize for tricking you yesterday. You must have more than a few questions."
"More than I can count, yes," Veyle replied, stepping forward. "I must ask, though… My brother, he has been telling me how he knew to keep me from going away, from letting my, er, 'evil half' run amok. I don't remember anything I did while I was her, and…"
"Do you really wanna know about that? It's over now. Your evil half is purged, right?" Jack asked.
Veyle nodded her head, far longer than she needed to. "Yes! Yes, definitely! At least, I feel like she's gone. It's so weird, I only felt her there in the back of my mind once she was gone. But, that's not what I'm trying to get at. You can see the future-"
"In a manner of speaking."
"You can see the future!" Veyle repeated. "So, I want to know… just what I would have done, had you not tricked me into coming here."
"Are you certain you want to know? Really?" Jack asked, crossing his arms. "I'm telling you, kid, it ain't pretty."
"I need to know. I may not commit those actions here, but… I just need to know," Veyle reiterated.
Jack sighed. "Alright. Let's go somewhere else, less public."
It was on the narrow strip of land at the farthest end of the Somniel that Jack told Veyle of what she would do. He kept some of the most harrowing details to himself - such as Alear's death at Lythos Castle, or the Emblems fading away - but everything else, he told her. From the end of Chapter 10 all the way to Chapter 22, he told her everything.
By the end of it, Veyle looked like she was on the verge of tears, slumped against a weathered post near the edge of the Somniel.
"I… did all of those things?" she whispered. "I killed Queen Lumera? Murdered innocent Firenese townspeople? I stole all the Emblem Rings? I wouldn't… I never…"
"You didn't," Jack confirmed, "not here, anyway. You wanted to know, so I told you. You are better than this, though. That wasn't you; that was your other self. I mean, hell, Queen Lumera is still here now. And you have Alear's dragonstone, right?"
Veyle nodded, "I-I gave it to him. And Queen Lumera- I shouldn't be here. I do not deserve to be here after everything I-!"
"You haven't done anything," Jack interrupted, "You have done none of this- this was a bad idea. Very bad idea. Good job, Jack."
Veyle stood up and began pacing. "I-I still need to atone. I can't return to papa, not now- I-I'll never see Mauvier or Marni or Zephia or Griss again! I-If they'll have me, I'll stay here. I'll help! I'm not just a Fell Dragon!"
"You aren't, yes!" Jack said, "Look, Veyle, I'm sorry about what I said. Maybe I shouldn't have told you, but I didn't see a way outta it. But listen, you aren't like that. You aren't! It's not gonna happen and it's never gonna happen. So just-"
"An interesting conversation is going on here, I see."
Jack stood at attention as he turned to face the direction the voice came from. Queen Lumera stood there in all her glory, Alear by her side with wide eyes.
"Is something going on here?" Alear asked, his voice carrying a dangerous tone to it.
Jack shook his head vigorously. "Nothing! Nothing at all! I screwed up, alright? I told her about what she'll do and I thought it'd put things in perspective. Instead I put her through an existential crisis."
"I trust you didn't neglect to tell her that none of it will come to pass?" Lumera asked.
"I-It's not his fault, really!" Veyle stammered out, waving her arms in front of her. "I'm the one who asked, because I wanted to know what would've happened if I'd… just left, when my brother spoke to me."
Alear looked down at that.
"So now I know, and I want to tell you that no matter what happens, I am with you until the end. I won't let that possible future define who I am. I'll help you defeat papa!" Veyle declared.
"Child, you need not face your father if you do not wish to," Lumera stated gently, "No one here would blame you for not raising your blade against him."
"If even half of the things Jack said are true in another world, then I must do this," Veyle said, placing a hand against her chest. "I am with you all until the end. Just… please, no more tricks?"
"Maybe you can fix the damage you did to the Somniel while you're at it? It's the biggest casualty in this timeline," Jack muttered.
Veyle giggled awkwardly, her hands behind her back. "Maybe I could do that? I'd need some help, though."
Alear bowed his head. "I'd be willing to do that, as an apology for tricking you."
Jack turned away at that, letting the two siblings conversate alone. However, he couldn't get away that easily, as he felt a hand against his shoulder.
"Leaving so soon, Jack?" Lumera asked. "I was hoping I could speak to you again before you leave."
Jack's shoulders sagged. "Is it another lecture? I've had a lot of stressful conversations in the last few hours. It's exhausting me before we even set out to march."
"This one will take but a moment. Trust me," Lumera said, placing a hand on her chest. "I just wanted to thank you once more."
"Thank me?" Jack asked, surprised. A moment later he began rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You really don't need to thank me. I'm serious. This is just-"
"-what any person would do? You sell yourself short," Lumera finished for him. "Whatever your true motivations, whatever lies you tell about yourself, you saved that girl's life, and you have saved mine, no matter how foolish you might have looked doing so. Before we part, let me gift you with advice."
Jack took a deep breath and listened carefully.
"Stop being so hard on yourself," Lumera whispered, "you are not being humble, you are not being sincere. You only hurt yourself."
"I…" Jack began, only to find that words were failing him as he placed his face in his hands. "Just my luck that I get to be psychoanalyzed by the thousand-year old dragon lady. You're right, probably. But if I don't check myself, then who will?"
"There is no need to 'check yourself', Jack," Lumera continued, "be humble, but do not deride yourself. You have done good things in this world so far. And regardless of what happens after this, Veyle and I owe you a great deal. And perhaps Alear will, too, someday."
Jack shrugged. "Cold day in hell if that happened. But… fine, I'll try to be less severe, I guess."
Lumera smiled. "That is all that I ask, Jack. Take care of yourself, and they all will take care of you, as well."
Jack hoped Lumera was right.
Bit of a shorter chapter this time around at 4k words, but it does what I need it too, and the next possible chapter ending was after a giant battle in the middle of a castle, so that'd inflate the word count beyond what I'm comfortable with lol.
Anyway, Chapter done, and on to the next one. Just gotta keep trucking along. This is genuinely some of the most fun I've had writing a fic in a long while!
Here's a link to our Discord: discord. gg/u89gs745fn
See you guys next time!