The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

False Treaty Arc: The Wakamiya Signature

There was a dark wind in the air. Not that it was literally dark, but it felt so oppressive it might as well have been. For a moment he thought it might have just been another odd feeling when he realized he must be in a dream. First of all the castle was different than usual. It was certainly the Wakamiya Kingdom throne room. However, there was only one throne and he was sitting on it. There should have been two, right? Even though no one sat on it, it was obvious that it should at least still be-

He couldn't get up. Slowly he looked down and saw he was quite literally attached to it. His hands and arms were practically being held in place by some dark metal. His legs matched while his neck felt an ache already from how he was practically forced against the reinforced wood and metal. Around the throne he saw a simple, yet effective bird cage around him. It matched the metal and every time he tried to move it… It drained at him.

"I tried so hard..." A voice brought him to look towards the black hooded figure. The back of it was to him now, so he tried to figure a way to speak to it. "I tried so hard to make it better." The voice continued as it turned, head lowered as it moved up the steps of the throne platform. "Why didn't you hear it?"

"Hear what, exactly?" He asked as he saw the hands hold onto his rather new cage. "I cannot hear it if you don't say it."

"I didn't have to say it!" The green eyes were crying. He couldn't make any other details of the face out. "All I wanted was to keep this world going. That's all I wanted. No one ever listened to me. Even when..." Her hands slowly moved away from the cage as it seemed ready to do something. The castle was starting to shake in a way that hadn't before. "Even when I told them, they demanded it." the figure's tears still flowed as it looked at him. "Why didn't you keep your promise? All of you made a promise with me and broke it!"

The castle was still shaking horribly and only one did he realize why he was held so tight. He was in the air with what was left of the throne platform and the castle.

"I'll keep to it if you tell me."

"Can people truly not be trusted to keep such a simple wish?" The cage door opened slowly as the figure entered. "If you break it this time, I won't give a second chance." The Green eyes closed as it leaned near his left ear. "You cannot let this world fall. Even if I am to die." As if all the power holding this set up left with it, the figure, throne, and his body began to fall. Free from whatever it was holding him, he grasped the figure and focused.

"Vimuku," the wings were rough and painful coming out of his back, but he managed to land in what looked to be his mother's rose garden. He slowly looked at the figure in his arms that no longer felt cold. It felt… empty. He slowly drew the hood down and felt his mind…

"Alice!" Kyo's body lifted up from his bed and was half off it when he realized he was awake. The castle was not in rubble all around him. Why had Alice been that figure? What in the world was Alice's face doing on anything in his dreams?! He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. Kayna would be here for at least a morning greeting to him. He stood up slowly and looked at the mirror. Certainly if his mother was here, she'd say something like it was an omen to be followed.

The storm itself was gone. Why was he having it after it the storm had been pushed away by a purification? Hearing the welcoming knock made his mind start to forget at least most of it. He made a sound to allow Kayna to enter the room. The woman looked a little concerned, but simply smiled while she brought the basin of water needed to wash his face.

"How is Alice doing?"

"She's doing as well as can be expected." He began to carefully wash his face. "Is there a reason you are worried so?"

"Just feel off this morning." He spoke, wiping his face off with the towel. "Mother would demand I bring it to father and figure it out, but… I don't think it is anything bad."

"Is it a fever or simply a bad dream?"

"A bad dream, most likely." He answered, watching her seeming to think. She simply continued her current care in getting him into his archery uniform. "I'm guessing she's coming today too?" She nodded again.

Given that Mayura was also trying to keep up with his likes and dislikes, she did do some archery. Every morning after her arrival in the parade she did morning practice while trying to butter him up more each time. He could tell how she tried to show off. Still, a part of him wanted to avoid Mayura at least for his morning practice.

"Make sure Alice gets escorted safely to the Ball." The maid bowed lightly in response. The dream made him even more wary of what might happen tonight.

It was a note given to him rather randomly that brought him out to a place he wouldn't normally go. He'd been going through the motions of the day and finding his mind preoccupied with how close his father was to demanding he steal a Lotis tutor. Not that Mayura's words were helping either, but in the middle of it all he was given a rather normal looking piece of parchment.

If you wish to stop what might happen soon, go to the Rajei archives.

The Rajei archives were a simple but royal only area accessible area of the Wakamiya Lotis Library. It was only used when he came is, as his father was incapable. Still, to meet there meant that it was someone he couldn't know right away. He barely talked to any of the people in the army after all. Still, the fact that it came at a time like this felt like it was important. He could feel the power of Lotis in the writing.

"It's cutting it close, but I'm glad you came." A blonde haired man sat in one of the seats. His blue eyes were the color of the sky. He slowly sat down where he felt the most Riiya had been cast.

"I don't know you, but..." His mind wandered to the past dreams he had been having along with the very odd storm. "I'm not comfortable despite how good everyone feels right now."

"Smart masters simply know when it isn't right." The figure placed an older looking sword down on the table. "Much like people who know when to 'stay' dead."

"The Roland Kingdom..." The Roland Kingdom had once been the highest of all Lotis kingdoms. It was a long time ago according to history. Still, the kingdom's fall had been horrible and many deaths were known to be attributed to it. The fact even one heir or soldier was left after the fall of it was a sign it was not as simple as a Darva strike. "And why did you send it to me?"

"We sent them to Mayura and Alice as well, but..." He seemed to be thinking of how to answer. "One of them simply dismissed it as nothing. The other was not even allowed to know the note existed."

"Are you implying someone in the Seno Kingdom will do what happened to yours?"

"I'm simply implying that whoever was involved is still trusted too much." He answered as he took the sword back. "What has been going on lately?"

"From what I can tell, a storm."

"That I could tell." He seemed to be silent as if waiting.

"Someone keeps telling me to protect Alice."

"Considering her Lotis power purified a storm without a mirror." He moved a piece of parchment forward towards Kyo. "I can't tell you my name yet. For your safety and mine. I'm simply part of the Lotis thieves. We comprise of various destroyed Lotis kingdoms, including a few friends of your mother's."

"Are you saying-"

"Her death was natural." The blonde stood up for a moment and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Given the situation, we did look into it. She was simply overworked on top of some not very nice things. None, however… was assassination."

"Then why are you being so cautious if you know?"

"Whoever is causing this trouble will be doing it soon. When you know people are in danger, please tear this parchment. It'll activate a Sama to see what we can do. If it's a normal darva issue, this should be fine." He seemed tense as he said it.

"If it isn't?"

"We can at least try to make it less disastrous."

"And why should I trust you?"

"I'm not asking for your trust." The figure turned and moved back towards where he had been sitting. "I'm asking for you to save what's left of the offensive against Darva." He lifted a parchment he had in his pocket and tore it, a light slowly forming nearby. "Don't say anything to anyone about my presence. I don't know who you can trust to start with, but you can trust I want you to live." As he walked into what looked to be a portal into some sort of trees, Kyo was now alone.

Alone and uncertain to what disaster was potentially going to happen.

It wasn't simple to hide something from a person you didn't know. It was easy, however, to do it with someone you trusted. He couldn't find reason to distrust the man he met in the archives. And even more so that both Mayura and Alice had somehow not followed his guidance. That meant something was going on in the Seno Kingdom that he was unaware of. He kept the parchment very close to his body, so much so that he didn't allow the maids to pat him down in a certain area to be sure it was smooth.

He examined himself in the mirror for a moment. He wore a rather elaborate garment this time. Nothing like the Lotis uniform, but that was more or less a given for a Ball. It would be horrible to wear just a military like garment for it. Gold colored buttons with various words put into them caught his eye first. Following the buttons was a white-gray fabric with the collar being a bit more ornate like the buttons. He looked exactly like a prince at the moment.

Taking a deep breath, he prepared to hope for what was not an event that would lead to something wrong. He began to walk out of his room and followed the maids to where the elaborate waiting area was for the Seno Kingdom. The heavy wood frame opened as he first saw Mayura in her own gown. It was an elaborate, Lotis antique Riiya fabric. Now he knew why it had taken so long. Some crazy people had to hound the Weilhausen's for this priceless artifact.

The gown was rather angelic around her figure. The top flowed to her shoes and left her mirror the most shining gem on her neck. He wanted to vaguely ask if she meant to bare her shoulders again, but what sort of man asks that? Either way, he could see the glowing gems and elaborate makeup.

Alice, by contrast, was not wearing the brightest of colors. It was a darker Jade green that with long gloves. It looked like it fit well, though. What made him a bit wary was the chocker she wore on her neck. It was rather unique and while it matched the dress, the gem in it felt wrong. However, he could tell that she was elaborately made up like he had requested. He turned his attention back to Mayura.

"Is Alice going to have an escort?"

"What sort of question is that?" It surprised him to see Eric in a Lotis uniform. He knew that the man was of the military before, but it felt odd. "As Frei Weilhausen has not come, I will take care of her escorting for now. Fear not, I shall not dance."

"I wasn't worried about that." He commented back and tried to avoid the thoughts in his mind. The fact was that he had never truly felt comfortable around the guy. Yet, he did get results. Calmly as he could, he walked towards Mayura. "Is it our turn?"

"Almost," She seemed to glow a bit as she brought her hand to go around his arm. Almost time for what, though?