Morning everyone, sorry for the late post. The internet went out last weekend, and I had to have people come out and fix it, only for it to turn out not to be a problem on my end, so I delayed the chapter til today. Didn't help that school started back up as well. It's been a week, that's for sure.
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---
"Isn't she pretty?" Tsarra asked as she let the creature rest in her lap.
Pretty, amongst others, is not an adjective I'd use for these things.
"In a way…" I answered with a shrug.
Tsarra's smile faded slightly as she muttered and fidgeted with her choker, "You must think I'm crazy too… that I've gone mad, hearing a voice that isn't there."
That would make me crazy as well.
"I don't think you're crazy, Tsarra. There are many mysteries in this world. This…creature being able to speak to you in your head is somehow more believable than half the things we've lived through in the last few months," I said honestly.
She looked up at me with wide eyes and asked, "Really? You mean you believe me?"
"I do. But that doesn't mean there isn't cause for concern, right? I think having a healthy dose of caution right now may be for the best, given our current lack of knowledge. Don't you agree?" I asked.
"B-but Queen isn't dangerous. I know she isn't!" Tsarra shouted.
"Perhaps not right now. But do you even know what you are holding? It could very well be a dangerous monster for all you know. Even a Dragon has to start as a baby. And what do you mean, Queen? Is that its name?" I said.
Tsarra looked embarrassed for a moment, but picked the creature up and faced it toward me. "W-well! I gave her that name, but she is a Queen! Look!" she said.
Oh?
I wasn't able to see it, but sure enough, at the center of…the creature's chest, if it could be called that, was indeed a small, lime green gem. It was no bigger than the tip of my finger, but the blue one definitely didn't have such a thing. If that wasn't a mark for a royal, then what would be?
"A fair name then, I suppose. So what exactly is Queen saying to you?" I questioned.
"Ah—not much? It's still the same as before, but more direct now. It's mostly just feelings as words. She can't really communicate with me at all. I just sort of get the feeling behind them?" Tsarra said, sounding unsure.
I let my head rest in my hand as I thought about it. At first glance, it didn't appear that these creatures were doing anything hazardous. At least, not physically.
It's true, it could be some type of mental attack, not from something like pheromones or spores or the like. But magical in nature. But if that were the case, if it were something born of magic, then I would be able to see…
"Tsarra, can Queen only speak to you?" I asked.
"No, she can also speak to the others. Watch," she said excitedly.
Tsarra set Queen down at her side and, in a soft voice, asked, "Queen? Could you show Kaladin how you gather your guards?"
Queen let her glossy black eyes glide over me again before I felt her look away. I let mana flow to my eye and watched. Queen wormed herself away a few inches, and as the creature closed her eyes, I saw it.
A spell core.
It was a small one, but I watched as the mana left her body and flowed into it. Then the spell completed, and I watched the thin wisps of mana travel into the water and disappear.
At first, it didn't seem like anything had happened. From an outsider's point of view, there would have been no way to even tell a spell had been cast. The amount of mana was so minuscule; it wasn't a surprise that Bowen or the others hadn't noticed it.
But after a while, the water began to splash, and the other three creatures wormed out of the water and onto the bank. They inched themselves forward with…well, all the speed their bodies could muster. However, the creatures moved with purpose. As if being summoned by their queen.
The other three stopped just short of Queen, awaiting another order. I checked the other three to see if some magic was affecting them, but didn't notice anything of the sort. It honestly looked as if she had just summoned them to her, nothing more. And as if proud of her display, Queen wormed herself back to Tsarra, and the other three rolled back to the water without even a grunt.
"See, I told you. Queen can communicate, just not very well with me or anyone else. I'm sure one day she'll be able to," Tsarra said proudly.
"Yes, it does appear to be that way," I said with a nod as I stood up.
It seems I'll have to reevaluate things. These are not young Levithans; they are something entirely different.
"I know it's hard. However, please ensure that you keep Bowen and Varnir informed about these matters. They are just worried about you, Tsarra," I said.
"I—I will," she said meekly.
I looked down at Queen and felt her looking back at me. "It was nice to meet you. And it'll be interesting to see how you grow, Your Majesty," I said with a wave.
I left the small room and headed back to the researchers. Varnir was the first to ask, "Is she okay?"
"Yes, I don't believe there are any problems. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful. Keep observing her for any abnormal changes," I said.
Relief washed over Varnir as Bowen eyed me with a slight grin as he asked, "Do you think they are still Levithans?"
I had to shake my head as I answered, "No, they are something very different. They are intelligent, have a hierarchy, and that Queen, she can use a type of magic I've never seen before."
The room went silent as Professor Spring's eyes went wide. "It can use magic?" he asked in disbelief.
"It was a small spell core, faint as can be. It was no surprise that you didn't notice. However, as it is now, the magic seems harmless, like some form of magical communication. She did summon her 'guards' to her on command, after all," I said.
Bowen scratched at his beard and sighed. "This changes many things then," he said quietly.
"It does," I agreed. "I'm thinking we may have found an unsuspecting piece of history."
Bowen raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Oh? And what makes you so sure of that?"
"The nature in which we came across them. Eggs from the deep ocean were kept in a state that was the opposite of their natural state, not for breeding but for dissecting and studying. The creatures that emerged, although young, are clearly intelligent to a certain degree and capable of magic and rudimentary communication. Who's to say it's not a long-lost ancient race? Just like those Dwarves?" I reasoned.
"An underwater race…are they some kind of Dagin? A mutated form of them, perhaps? Maybe even Dagin royalty?" Professor Spring muttered.
"I don't believe so. They seem very different from them and their ability to stay out of water for long periods of time without magic proves that," I said.
"Then wouldn't they have left some evidence of their existence? They don't match up with any bones, nor has there been any mention of another intelligent race that lives in the water?" Professor Spring reasoned.
"That's only the case if they ever had a reason to go to the surface. And if there are any of them left to begin with. Those four could very well be the last surviving members of their species after the rest were wiped out completely, kingdom and bones lying at the bottom of the sea," I said.
Bowen let out a low chuckle as he shook his head. "Then you are saying the Dagin wiped out an entire race for control of the sea without anyone ever knowing?" Bowen asked.
"Kingdoms have done more for less. And who said anything about anyone not knowing?" I said with a grin.
The grin left Bowen's face instantly. He looked at me darkly and asked, "Is it that one's doing?"
"Yeah, the same one."
Who else would help it, the destruction of an entire race that could use a special type of mind magic if not Amon-Ra?
"The enemy of our enemy is a friend. Those creatures may prove useful," Kronos said.
Just what I was thinking.
—
I looked out the window as the early morning sun rose into the sky. The school was still sleeping, the halls devoid of the usual voices of students and teachers. Outside, the white barked trees with their verdant purple leaves swung with the wind. It was a peaceful place and time.
I heard a pair of footsteps behind me. Varir walked up beside me and stared out the window listlessly. His gaze was tired as he let out a long yawn.
"You should get some sleep," I said.
He nodded and chuckled weakly, "Yes, yes, I really should. Can't remember when I got more than a few minutes. I'm just worried, you know?"
"I understand. I'm sure if I were in your shoes, I'd be doing the same," I said with a laugh.
Varnir looked over at me with his pink eyes and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing in particular. Just admiring the peaceful scenery," I said.
Varnir followed my gaze and nodded. "Yeah, I guess it is," he said softly.
"It feels like a lifetime ago when we were attending school and doing normal things, like going to class. Worrying about tests and what we needed to study. Now I need to worry about gods, Dragons, traitors, monsters, and undead legions, and which one is going to attack us next," he said, exasperated after a bout of silence.
"Life has a funny way of doing that," I said.
Varnir nodded to himself and, with a determined gaze, bowed his head. "I never got the chance to say it, but thank you, Kaladin. For everything. For saving me. For saving Tsarra," he said.
"Nothing to thank me for, Varnir. We're friends and comrades. That's just what we do," I said.
Varnir's eyes cast down to the floor. A deep look of defeat etched into his face. "Even so…I felt so…useless. Seeing you and the others fight…it feels like I'm lacking in every way compared to all of you, that I'm just a hindrance. I shouldn't have gone with you to the dungeon," he said.
"Maybe so," I said.
Varnir's eyes widened, but I grinned at him and asked, "Just because you may feel that's the case, and even if it were true. Then why don't we change things?"
"Wh—what do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"Let's just say I'm putting together an…order of some kind. Why don't you join it when the time comes? You are graduating soon. And it won't be easy, though, and you won't be getting a free ride just because we are friends," I said.
"An…order? Like a knight order? Are you starting an army or something?" he asked.
"No, not an army. That's too large a scale. I need something smaller, more elite. A group of individuals tempered to the highest degree and tasked with things others can't. And I am a knight to a princess after all. Why not be a knight captain?" I asked.
Varnir let out a laugh. "You surprise me more every day. I'll think about it. But if you do go through with it…I might be the first person to sign up," he said seriously.
"Good. Because Sir Shadowstone has a good ring to it," I said.
"It's not bad at all," he agreed.
"Oh, and of course, a knight marrying a princess? Not that uncommon, right? Should be more than a suitable arrangement," I said playfully.
Varnir's face went pink as he sturred out, "T—that's not my reasoning!"
"Not your only one, I'm sure."
—
Sylvia Talgan's POV.
"Thanks for coming along," Kaladin said.
I shrugged and said, "It's not like I have class today. And it must be important if we have to meet with these hands or fingers of the emperor or whatever."
"Hands of the King," he corrected.
"But…is there any reason we are stopping by the Paine's house?" I asked.
"I need to speak with Lin about some things, in private. It just so happens to be on the way," Kaladin said casually.
Then he looked around and said in a low voice, "Also, probably shouldn't be saying these things out loud."
"Guess I'll hang out with Sylas or something," I said.
Kaladina chuckled to himself. "What? What's so funny?" I asked.
"Oh, it's nothing, nothing. When you see his room, you'll understand. You two are very alike in that regard," Kaladin said.
"Hey…I've gotten a lot better about those things," I pouted.
"That is true. You have indeed gotten better. It's just funny to remember those times. Feels like ages ago, huh?" he said.
"Yeah, sometimes I remember when you used to be a brooding child. Honestly, how did I ever fall in love with you?" I said.
"That—I've changed a lot since then," Kaladin said defensively.
"Sir Kaladin, Lady Sylvia, it's good to see you again. The young lady and lord are waiting," a butler said with a bow.
We were ushered into the Paine estate, and Kaladin waved goodbye as he was guided elsewhere. "Where's Sylas?" I asked.
"The young lord is in his study, second floor, fourth door on the right. I'm sure he is…busy as he normally is, but pay him no mind. He was informed of your arrival already," the butler said with an awkward smile.
"Then I'll do just that. No need to guide me," I said.
The butler gave me a final bow, and I made my way upstairs and to the door that the butler said. I gave the door a few taps, and Sylas's voice told me to come in.
I opened the door, half expecting a total mess, but the place was spotless. The books were stacked into their shelves, all the weird alchemical solutions neatly placed in their jars. And Sylas was sitting in a chair around a seating section, fresh tea brewed, and watching me expectantly.
This…this feels off?
"Sylvia, it's good to see you. Please, take a seat," he said with a practiced smile.
I took the chair opposite of him and took a long look at the man. Sylas, since the day I've met him, has always been an odd one. Eccentric would be an apt description for him.
However, the man staring at me felt very different. He observed me in the same way I had observed him, like a practiced and seasoned noble would. He was scanning me for weaknesses, my tells, how I felt. There was nothing friendly about any of it.
He poured me a cup of tea with practiced elegance and shifted it to me. I took a sip, placed it down, and sat forward in my chair. I met his gaze with my own, and his facade of a smile faded away.
"Cut all this nonsense out, Sylas. What do you have to say?"