Chapter 5

Nova

Nova sighed as her paw slid across the parchment she was using to record the council's words. As usual, they were wrapped up in an argument unrelated to the issue at hand, and the din was making it impossible for her to write it all down. With a huff, she dipped her quill into the ink and continued to record what she could, despite how useless it was. She shook her paw as it started to cramp. What was the point of all of this? Was there some inherent value to the mess that was unfolding in front of her, or was this all a part of her punishment? It was hard to tell.

Not being fully invested in her task, she snuck an upward glance at her dad, who looked ready to topple over. His head bobbed in rhythm with his eyes as they repeatedly closed, highlighting how tired he was. The sight of him sent a pang of guilt through her chest. She had been the source of a lot of his stress. Many saw her actions as a reason to punish her deeply, but Spyro had argued tirelessly in her defense. Through the demands for conviction, he had stood strong and used his political capital to land her in her current position. It wasn't the most interesting job, sure, but it beat the many machinations others had in mind for her. For that, she was grateful and promised herself that she would somehow make it up to her parents. They deserved better, and she wanted to preserve the last shreds of respect others had for her parents.

Shaking her head, Nova locked back in on the current argument. Vesper and Arca were bickering, as they often did, and she winced at the biting words that were flung back and forth. Would anyone be able to use what she recorded in a beneficial way? She doubted that, but it wasn't her job to question what was said. Instead, she shook her paw and jotted down the jeers that were flung across the table. She paused as Vesper took a breath, and silently thanked the Ancestors that Terrador interrupted them to put an end to things.

"That's quite enough, both of you!" he snarled. "Seeing as neither of you seem to have anything to add to what we've decided, I think it's time that we moved on to the main topic for today." Vesper snorted angrily and threw her paws up in surrender. Nova perked up a bit, both in thanks for the change of topic and for the brief respite for her paw. She smiled to herself as Terrador continued. "Before we do, however, an introduction is in order."

Introduction? That was news to her. She didn't remember there being anyone else on the docket for today. She took a quick look at her notes, but there wasn't mention of it. A surprise, then? Who approved that decision? A quick look around the room made it clear that she wasn't the only one confused by this development, so it must have been an executive decision by her dad. Said dragon seemed to wake up from his impromptu nap at the announcement, and Nova swore he was now grinning to himself. And he almost never smiled in the council chambers.

This certainly made the day more interesting.

"Hunter, you can bring her in," Terrador said.

A short nod was all Hunter gave before stepping out of the room. A low hum filled the room as the council murmured amongst themselves, and Nova straightened up to get a better view as he returned with another cheetah in tow. She was old, had an arched back, and leaned heavily on her staff. One of her eyes was glossed over, but her good eye held an intensity that Nova thought matched — if not exceeded — the authority of anyone else in the room. She wore simple clothes, far different from the robes that Vesper wore, but she held herself confidently despite the deep breaths of air she was taking in. The cheetah ran a paw along her forehead to wipe away some of the sweat that had accumulated on her brow.

That's odd. Nova's head tilted in confusion. Why is she so out of breath? Did she run here?

The cheetah continued as if she wasn't exhausted and performed a courteous bow to the room while Hunter introduced her. "Thank you all for allowing former Chief Leah of the Adsila tribe to join us today. She is a good friend of mine, and as I'm sure you're all aware, a well-respected servant of my people."

Leah? Wait, wait! That's who Kiran went to meet earlier! Nova was interested before, but now her attention skyrocketed to new heights. Quill at the ready, she decided she could write down a few extra words on the day's recording and followed along intently.

Leah, though short on breath, smiled and dipped her head to the room. "Thank you for having me. I consider it an honor to be welcomed here today. It may come as a surprise to some of you that I've returned after such a time, but Hunter convinced me to do so. It may only be for a time, but I hear that an old relic like me may be able to impart wisdom unto the newer generations of leaders."

Leah made a point to look at Vesper. There was a small chuckle that filled the room, but it held a hint of nervousness. Nova noted that Vesper in particular was not pleased at Leah's arrival and decided then and there that something more was at play. What that was, she had no idea, but it only made the upcoming meeting all the more exciting.

With her introduction finished, Hunter went back to his chair and Leah found a seat next to him. Her eyes flashed in Nova's direction, glinting with what she thought might be curiosity, before her focus was back on the room. She took particular notice of the few non-council members present and made a point to scrutinize each of them. The first was Strongfang, who had been visiting the council often, standing behind Umak with another ape at his side. That ape, Mortimer, had been chosen to help research the dark crystal. He was well known for his work with magic and smithing, among other things. Flanking Arca, a white dragon named Lumen sat, holding his head proudly with a condescending smirk on his face. As Arca's personal aide, he was heavily involved with the city guard but was also notable for his uncommon element: Light. It was a rare element to see, and it was supposedly perfect for dealing with the dark crystal.

Too bad it can't help his attitude. I bet it's going to drive Kiran crazy. A grin found its way onto her face, and she held in a laugh.

The final person, Vesper's aide, someone who had only been present today, was a mystery. She was a cheetah but hadn't spoken a word or been addressed. Her face was covered with the cowl of the cloak that she wore, but Nova could almost swear there were times that her eyes were glaring at her from underneath the shadow. It was unnerving, but Nova refused to let it get to her and played the worry off as her imagination.

The only person that was missing was Kiran, though that was only because he hadn't been let into the room yet. With Leah settled and comfortable in her seat, Strongfang was allowed to retrieve him. Kiran entered the room with a smile, but there was something about his face that was off. His hand was rubbing his shoulder, and Nova could tell that it was bothering him. His eyes searched the room, narrowing slightly as they passed over the occupants, and stopped when they fell upon Vesper's aide. He stared at her for a long moment before moving on with a quickly fading smile.

Oh, he knows something, doesn't he? Does he know who that is? Do I?

A hefty thump made everyone pause, and the attention quickly went to Spyro. "Good morning, everyone," he rumbled, blinking slowly in what Nova assumed was an attempt to stave away his sleepiness. There was a small grumble that filled the room. Spyro let a bright smile shine through his tired eyes, combating the negative air, though that only seemed to sour some even more. Nova smiled, rolled her eyes, then caught a quick glimpse of Kiran glancing her way before she set to scribbling down notes, grinning despite herself. It was good to see him, even if she couldn't actually talk to him.

"Today is an important day," Spyro said matter-of-factly. "After an exhaustive amount of discussion and consideration, we have finally decided who will be assigned to assist us in researching dark crystals. Mortimer, could you step forward?"

The ape next to Strongfang stood and bowed respectfully, despite the few groans and sour looks that were now on the faces of some of the council members.

"As we discussed," Spyro continued, "you will be leading the research and inquiry into this matter. As one of Volteer's trusted understudies, I have no doubt that you will be able to find the answers we are searching for. You will have access to any resources you need, and we have provided you with the space required to perform your tasks. Do you have any questions?"

Mortimer cleared his throat. "I don't have any questions. Our last meeting was sufficient." Mortimer's thick hands wrung the strap of his sash excitedly, and he gave a short bow. "I promise that I will do all that I am able. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this exciting project!"

"Of course," Spyro dipped his head. "Thank you for your willingness to assist us with this matter, though this is less of a project and more of a safety measure. Remember why we're doing this, and don't get carried away in the intellectual aspect of what we're doing." Spyro said with a sense of finality.

Mortimer bowed a second time. "Of course. I won't."

He stepped back, and Spyro waved a paw deferentially toward Terrador who dipped his head.

"Lumen, please step forward," Terrador said, his deeper voice filling the room.

Lumen did so, taking Mortimer's spot. He stood stiffly and kept his posture rigid as if standing at attention. He held an expression of focus and respect for the dragons he was stepping up to, though Nova had seen enough of him to know this was just a facade for the council. Much like Arca, he had shown clear racism and had the type of irritating confidence that made her think he would clash with anyone he worked with. It was a wonder to her that he had been chosen at all, but perhaps his work in the Guard and position with Arca had played a major part in that decision.

He might be useful, but is that worth the cost? From what I've heard, he can be insufferable. Nova snorted quietly and saw that Kiran was looking at Lumen with interest and could tell right away that he was concocting some sort of plan. She had told him that a dragon's color often correlated to their element; he was probably putting the pieces together and realizing that Lumen didn't hold a common element. Considering Kiran used the Light element, she wouldn't be surprised if he was thinking about training. Whatever the case was, she felt that his ideas would most likely be dashed by Lumen's abrasive personality. Hopefully, he wouldn't end up giving Kiran too much trouble when he realized what he was dealing with.

"Lumen," Terrador said whilst holding himself in a similarly rigid manner. "As both a light dragon and Arca's trusted assistant, you have been selected to oversee the research, report back to the council, and act as you see fit if any dangers or unforeseen events arise. The safety of the Dragon Realms is your top priority, and we trust that you will do whatever it takes to ensure that the city remains safe."

"I will," Lumen said soberly. "I promise that I will keep everyone safe."

"Good. I'm counting on you. Show us why you've earned your place as a captain in the guard and make your father proud."

Nova saw Kiran light up at the mention of the Light element, confirming her suspicions. She would laugh at how predictable he was, if not for the fact that she was in the council chambers. She attempted to get his attention but gave up in short order as Lumen gave a concerted bow and stepped back to his original position. He'll figure it out soon enough. I bet I can tease him about it later, though. Maybe I can act surprised at how awful Lumen is and pretend he's wrong? That would rile him up for sure.

She barely stifled a laugh while Spyro called Kiran forward with a small wave of his tail. Kiran held his head evenly and ignored the glares that Vesper and others were directing towards him.

"Kiran, I know you may have questions, but Mortimer and Lumen will be able to answer any that you may have," Spyro said. "They've been given a full understanding of the situation and know everything that we do."

"I understand. I'll defer to them if I have any questions."

Spyro relaxed at that reply and tilted his head. "Thank you. Before you go with them, allow me to give you a brief summary of what we've decided: You're being placed under the charge of Lumen and Mortimer. They are both trusted and respected individuals in their own rights, and we trust their judgment. If at any time they feel something is too dangerous or wrong, or if they feel that the study should be put on hold, you are to listen to them. I know you have a lot of stakes in what will be happening, but for us to move forward, you must promise to listen and respect what we're asking of you. Additionally, if you feel that something is wrong or have concerns, let us know so that we can adjust accordingly. This is uncharted territory for all of us, and we'll be figuring things out as we go."

"I will. Thank you for helping me."

Spyro smiled widely. "You're welcome. Now, unless anyone has anything specific they'd like to say, I officially give Mortimer and Lumen charge of Kiran."

There was a brief period where no one spoke. The faces of some of the council members in the room made it clear that they weren't happy. This was worsened when Arca grinned smugly across the table toward Vesper, who was seething. At the sight of her glinting teeth, Vesper erupted.

"I have something I'd like to say!" she spat.

Nova could tell that Dad didn't want to let her speak, but he hid his annoyance well. With a wave of his paw, he relented and gave Vesper the room. She stood from her chair, and all eyes went to her.

Well, almost.

Nova watched curiously as Kiran looked back at Vesper's aide, his eyes searching for an answer while being full of questions. Nova shrugged when he threw a quick, questioning glance her way, making him sigh in response. When he turned back to the mystery cheetah, she was looking back at him, taking her eyes off the room for the first time that day. Whoa, what? What's going on here?

Nova had a few guesses as to who Vesper's aide could be, but until now she didn't have any concrete proof. Now, with Kiran staring them down, Nova could take a guess as to who it was. It would make sense, in a way. Vesper's been pushing for her aide to be involved in the study, and I can imagine Amber wanting to be a part of that. For better or worse.

Kiran must have thought the same because he closed his eyes in concentration and attempted to do something. Nova could feel the shift in the air as his energy began to move through the room, and she flicked her tail nervously as Dad and Terrador noticed it as well. You'd better be careful, or you're going to get into trouble, you idiot! Nova could only watch as Kiran let his energy creep along the ground, similar to how she would manipulate a shadow. The difference here, as he had explained to her once, was that he was feeling the space with his chakra. By doing this, he could sense others, and if he recognized the chakra, could confirm who he was sensing. Not many ninjas were able to do this, and he had said that he was still a beginner with the technique and therefore slow when attempting it.

In a few moments, he'd know if it was Amber or not.

"I would like to formally and thoroughly state my displeasure at the state of affairs!" Vesper shouted.

Kiran grimaced, and his concentration broke. Even worse, the veiled cheetah must have noticed something happened, because she crossed her arms and appeared to glower underneath her cowl.

Nova almost rolled her eyes. Typical, if that's Amber. I don't understand why he's trying so hard to find her when she's so terrible. It was something Nova had pondered as Kiran had searched for her in the previous weeks. There had been a few moments where she was tolerable, but aside from those few moments, she had been prideful, angry, and disingenuous. She had caused Kiran grief, and it was clear beyond doubt that she hated her mom and Nova.

Why he pursued her, then, was something she didn't understand. It's like he's in love with her or something. She scoffed at the thought. She didn't really think it was the case, as she knew how much he valued his friends, but she couldn't help her mind from speculating. Hoping to dismiss that train of thought, she watched as Kiran made another attempt, only to fail as Vesper continued to shout.

"Though it has been decided against my and several others' wishes, the safety of the city and its inhabitants has been placed in the claws of a dragon and ape!" Vesper threw her paws onto the table and growled while throwing an accusing glare at Arca and Lumen. "What a mistake, considering how susceptible both races are to a dark crystal's influence. It is a shame and atrocity that my assistant is being barred from overseeing the research, in place of another."

Arca hissed and stared back with a curled lip that bared her teeth. "Yes, yes, you've made your reservations clear on several occasions, Vesper. However, as a dutiful member of this council, it is your responsibility to listen to and follow the commands you've been given. Further forms of protest or action would be detrimental to the legitimacy of the council and only spread dissent throughout the city."

"Really? Is that how you justify this mistake?" Vesper said with a swipe of her paw. "You speak of legitimacy, but the council itself seems to have lost that long ago."

A murmur rose from some of the other members, making Vesper grin.

"Be careful where you tread, Vesper. You undermine your position with your idle tongue," Arca snapped.

"Hah! Spoken like a true dragon. You talk of commands? I will remain steadfast, so long as they are just and right. I find it frightening that the council is making such radical decisions and ignoring the plight of those beneath them, in light of the circumstances. Your arrogance and idiocy may just rip this city apart!"

"You little worm!" Arca snarled while standing from her seat. "After all the things I've done for you, how dare you question the decision that was made! If you feel that you can't hold the responsibilities that your position requires, then perhaps it's time we petition for your replacement!"

Nova barely caught the rough elbow that Leah gave to Hunter. He rubbed his arm but grinned like a child with his hand in a cookie jar. The gears in Nova's head started to turn and pieces fell into place. Oh, no way. They wouldn't, would they?

The room erupted into chaos, and it took several minutes for things to calm down again. Spyro looked too worn out to stop the dissent, and Terrador sat perfectly still with his eyes closed during the ordeal. If Nova had to guess, she would say he was holding himself back from exploding, which was probably for the best. Aside from Spyro and Terrador, only two others remained calm during this time. Hunter was his usual, relaxed self, and Strongfang, who had been standing behind Umak, was forcing said ape to sit in his seat and not participate in the shouting that was enveloping the rest of the council.

Once the shouting died down and peace was found, Spyro took command of the room again, though not without a great deal of exasperation. "Now that you're all finished with your excellent display of self-control, why don't we continue as we were? Are there any more objections? Or can we move on to other matters, now that this has been settled?"

Murderous glares were present everywhere, so it came as a shock when Leah stood and garnered the attention of the room. Nova herself was curious, as she didn't know enough about Leah to understand what gave her the ability to address everyone. Whatever it was though, she knew it would be good. Vesper appeared as if she was going to blow another fuse.

"I find it discouraging that after a decade of peace, this council is squabbling like children. I left Warfang, assuming that the positions and grandeur of these roles would be upheld and maintained over time, but I see that this is not the case." Leah made a point to look toward Vesper, whose face was twisted into a scowl. "It is an insult to me and our people to find you, Vesper, behaving in such a way. Where is your honor? Where is your pride?"

Nova could hardly believe her ears and prepared for the verbal assault that Vesper would return. It was a shock to her, and everyone else when that wasn't the case.

"My pride and honor are alive and well, Leah," Vesper growled through clenched teeth. "I defend our interests and the status of our people within the city."

Leah scoffed. "Defend? You are dragging our honor through filth. Your speech and behavior are a shame to bear witness to, and I am horrified to learn that this is what we've amounted to. Empty threats and bickering. Bah! You act like a child, and Arca may have spoken the truth before. It may be time for you to vacate your seat if only to learn what it means to be humble."

The room was silent as death. Everyone waited with bated breath for what would be said next. Nova thought that surely, Vesper would snap now. Right?

"You insult me, Leah. You know nothing about me and yet speak into these matters? How dare you—"

"How dare I? How dare you!" Leah's voice rose above Vesper's, silencing her. "I left a legacy for our people. How grievous is it then, for me to learn that my legacy has been tarnished by the very people that I served during my time in leadership! You've taken my gift and stomped it into dust, and for that, I feel as if I have no choice."

"No. You wouldn't." Vesper's voice was as cold and hard as ice. "To do this now—"

Leah cut in once again and planted her staff on the ground, sending a reverberating thud through the room. "As is my right by tradition, I demand that you grant me your place, until such a time that I deem fit for you to return."

This is what they were planning? Wow, I was not expecting this today. Nova scribbled down the conversation, drinking in the drama that was unfolding in front of her. If this could be the daily occurrence, instead of yelling and screaming, she'd take it in a heartbeat.

Spyro leaned over to Terrador and whispered just loud enough for Nova to hear. "Is… that allowed? To give your seat to another, I mean."

"... Per the founding documents, specific traditions such as these may supersede procedure." Terrador sighed deeply. "I believe, then, that it is possible."

Vesper was livid and couldn't form the words to speak. Then, in a move that almost made Nova's eyes pop out of her head, Arca came to Vesper's defense and tried to argue in favor of her. "I know I often speak harshly toward Vesper, but we're not considering this exchange, are we? Leah can't—"

"She can," Terrador interrupted. "Unfortunately for you, Leah has a deeper understanding of the rules regarding the council than even I do. As odd as it is, I'm afraid Leah's within her rights to ask this of Vesper."

Arca was stunned, but only for a moment. She turned, narrowing her eyes at Leah. "Is this really necessary? Perhaps it would be best to take some time to consider such a rash decision. In fact—"

"Arca, just shut up." Vesper hissed. She stood from her chair, eyes boiling over with rage, and made a gentle wave for Leah to step forward. "If Leah asks this of me, it is not my place to deny her request."

Leah had the grace to nod thankfully before stepping forward and clasping a paw on her shoulder. They exchanged hushed words before Vesper brushed herself off, beckoned her aide to follow her and left the council chambers. Almost as if nothing had happened, Terrador cleared his throat and waved a paw toward the doors. "Kiran, Lumen, Mortimer. You may leave. Everyone else? I believe we will have to postpone or recess in light of what just occurred. Adjustments must be made before we can move forward."
There was a collective sigh, but no one argued. Nova caught Kiran's eye once more before he was shepherded out of the room, and then he was gone. She leaned back into her chair, trying to process the events of the morning, before others began to speak and she had to return to her duties. She'd have to process this all later, and hopefully, she'd have something to share with Kiran.

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and all that came with it. Big shout out to my Beta Reader, Author-san 9001. He's pretty cool.

Please leave a review to let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts!