The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

Lotis Theives Arc: A Ghost's Memories

Eric didn't like to think he was immortal by any means. Immortality meant that he actually had a reason to feel he could lord over people. On the contrary, his immortality really only came from his mastery of Maram and inheritance of a power beyond his means. In the Roland Kingdom, there had been a single person who controlled the balance of a crystal that tried to sift out the Maram. Unfortunately, they hadn't expected someone would want to destroy it so actively.

It had taken him years and destroyed many loyal to him. The only ones left were Kayna and Samuel. The others were loyal to him, but their history was shorter or perhaps based on war efforts. So when he noticed something was different, no one could doubt him.

It all started when he noticed the Guardian's protective tendencies were stronger than usual. Normally the guardian simply remained standing. Now, the guardian would find most any reason to maintain physical contact with Lotsuan or stay as close as possible. He couldn't understand, but the figure was almost more powerful than usual.

Still, looking at the current situation made his plan even more important. Right now Lotsuan was in the middle of the circle. It was a simple part of his plan. The only reason the maram would seep is if Master Darva allowed it. Therefore, Lotsuan willing it coming through the various gems and waves of maram that could be grasped. Still, how close the Guardian was bugged him a bit more than usual.

"Do you have a reason to doubt Master Lotsuan can handle this, guardian?"

"What reason do you have to doubt my intentions, promise holder" The figure spoke, not looking towards Eric. The silence remained as Lotsuan formed dark particles around her. The particles changed sizes multiple times. He could see all the words that that had formed as the power behind them was able to keep him speechless. The amount of power imbued was not that of a normal maram master, but of a number of them.

"What will become of you when this war is over?"

"That is your business?"

"Considering if I win, I know the trial that I could face."

"Eric," the guardian's face turned for a moment. "Do not assume any end of this war. Lotsuan is only doing your task as needed."

"And you can decide?"

"I'd like to think I have more trust than someone who forced this situation faster." The words started to fly out of the circle and into the air, clouds forming as the clusters moved. It was strange to feel fear in the wake of such things. Still, a part of him was afraid at the sight. The guardian had moved forward as the circle waned in the power being fed in.

"Guardian, did it travel?" the voice sounded weak, but only temporarily. The figure picked up the woman's figure.

"Yes, Master Lotsuan."

"Eric, was it enough for your storm?" The gaze was the same as before towards him. He nodded as her eyes closed, but she wasn't asleep. "I will summon more if necessary."

His first look over the Seno Kingdom was that it was quite ripe for the coming storm. The area around was tense and he could feel the uncertainty from the bones of even the strongest soldier. The current situation was seemingly in control for now. He could tell from the current replacement noble for the temporary King of the Seno kingdom that it was not going to end well. The poor fellow was dealing with the sickness spreading through the stone.

Given that most of the nobles that had Lotis ability were doing the best to keep anyone who wasn't sick from getting it, he found it rather ironic. He walked slowly towards the castle, sneaking in where the maram was easiest to not notice. The servants were sparser than usual, but that wasn't abnormal. Most of the servants did their best to follow Mayura.

Still, the stability here had to be maintained by something more than a few powerful Lotis users. He was keeping his presence as hidden as possible. Certainly he could be prideful and think no one can find him, but still… There were ways to find any person not welcome. He was currently following the path to the makeshift headquarters. Even if a replaceable noble was on throne, they couldn't just use the throne room for meetings without permission. Most likely they were using a royal lounge or study to replace it for now.

"The situation so far is hard to get details on." He heard a familiar voice. Ah, it was his father… Well, his adoptive father in this case. No matter how one looked at it, Eric could not have been born from this man. However, he was related to the man he once called father. Slowly, he approached and followed another person in the meeting and placed himself out of sight just in case. "Right now any messengers being sent to the Lotis Forest are either coming back injured and exhausted or not coming back at all."

"Do we know the general situation at least?"

"We know for certain the treaty's Yugu broke. Once that paper broke, there was a massive outpouring of maram."

"Did we get any news on casualties?" His father looked quite tired. He looked towards an equally tense noble.

"So far the messengers have been able to find out that both King Seno and Wakamiya are deceased." The faces paled a bit. "Queen Seno and Princess Mayura are in a place for their safety, but there are talks they will leave after an incident that has not been disclosed. Prince Kyo Wakamiya is well, but took quite a bit of time to recover."

"Princess Alice?" His father raised a brow, a bit confused.

"That's the thing," the person spoke in a softer tone. "What we do know is that she was at the event. However, no one will say what happened to her or why she's missing."

"That doesn't make sense. We can't just be happy Mayura is alive if another royal is missing." Ah, so the thieves and Wakamiya's were trying to hide the whole identity of Alice. Well it might be smart, it made the Seno Kingdom a big question for future negotiations.

"Prince Frei Weilhausen arrived where the safe spot is. He's currently leading an army to help out what remains of the royal family and try to figure out the situation with Princess Alice. However, no news about her whereabouts have reached our messengers that survived."

"What can we confirm about Princess Alice?"

"Princess Alice was alive and well at the ball. In the aftermath of the ball, she simply disappeared at some point and was not seen by anyone that can confirm her whereabouts."

"Very well, I'll look into my own resources. Is there any news about Kazuki and Eric?"

"We're afraid at this point no messenger has been able to come back with any news on them." His father's face looked great with how worried he must be. He did not chuckle as the meeting continued with the usual security issues.

As expected, his father indeed was in a place familiar to him. A tutor only stayed at the castle if teaching or as a guest for an event. However, his father was neither and was staying in one of the many noble manors they owned. Still, where he was made him wonder if his father was hiding a considerable amount of wealth. The office was beyond expensive in his opinion. Still, he was waiting for an important event. If this could be the trigger, why not?

"I know a servant has not been in this office." The man spoke as Eric took a moment look him over. Tired eyes and facial hair that hadn't been groomed well enough lately. He was certainly showing his age. Well, he shouldn't keep the man waiting. He should get the man answers before the mess truly came to his doorstep.

"I never thought to come here, father." He removed the concealing maram. "Or is it you simply thought I'd never come see this?"

"Eric?!" He blinked and waited for a moment. "Shouldn't you be with Princess Alice? Why aren't you helping the messengers for the Seno Kingdom?!"

"I thought you wanted to know what happened, father?" His voice was calm as he looked over the room. Ah… it truly was full of as much maram as he hoped.

"I suppose so," he slowly sat down in one of the cushioned seats. He didn't call a maid for obvious reasons. "And is Kazuki with you?"

"Well, in a way." He smiled and simply stood near the seat. "Though, the fact you're here means that the Weilhausen's must have thrown you out?"

"I wouldn't say that. They wanted the mess cleaned up. What about my questions?"

"Princess Alice is alive and well." He thought to Lotsuan. "She's doing what is necessary for the war."

"And your brother?" His answer was probably being processed.

"That's pretty simple," he spoke as he muttered a matsu under his breath. His father, unaware of the power of the maram storm above, probably thought he could easily break them. However, as one not branded with the promise…

It was practically a joke seeing what looked to be the threads and cloth of the chair he was sitting in forming straps. The man's lotis was weakening considerably these years. He seemed to glare as without any warning a cloth strap moved over his mouth.

"I killed him," the man's sura was sure strong. If only he was as strong as a maram master. "Princess Alice is a beautiful paragon of power. And yet, you thought Mayura to be Lotsuan's reincarnation." He put a hand to his father's mirror, which was struggling to form his robes. Eric had formed his Maram robes as he spoke. He let his maram taint the mirror as he whispered the last words his father would hear. "Alice is one who has the world in her hands. How dare you treat her like trash?" The mirror was starting to crack as he felt the life force leave. In a way, a lotis mirror could be an ultimate shield.

And yet, it was the weak point for most lotis masters that were not able to fight without their robes. His father was unaware of just how weak he had become over the years. The man's eyes remained wide open as the matsu released. He slowly lifted his head as one of his men in the lotis thieves came in.

"Throw it in the pile." He motioned towards the body. "Then report to your 'leader' about the opulance. The attack on the kingdoms will start any minute."