**Arcane King's castle**
In a large meeting room where they had held the Kingdom's Guild Meeting, three Captains stood in the middle of this big empty space made of stone. They were in the center of the room, and the only light in the place was the natural sunlight from above, beaming down on them, the center of the stage.
On the center-left was the Vice Captain stand-in for the Snow Lily Knights, Sylva. A smaller-framed girl, probably five-foot-three in total height. She had short light green hair in a bob and had two longer strands, split from her bangs, trailing down longer and just under her breasts. Her ears were pointed, and was the only other Elf this high up in ranking besides Sirus. She wore black visor shades on her face and carried a bland look underneath them. Her cloak was both white and silver with a silver lily embroidered in the back of it, sporting the Snow Lilies' famous glittery white gloves.
Next to her was a large, burlier man in build, maybe mid to late thirties, standing at the height of six-foot-eleven. Captain Jecht of the Silver Shark Knights. He had gray hair that was slicked back and had faint wrinkles that decorated his face, topped off with a gray bolstering mustache. His coat jacket was a contrast of blue and white, and he had the collar down as it fit him, looking more like a button-up rather than a coat jacket. His baggy blue pants and black boots matched it, and he had a silver shark logo sewn on the back.
Next to him, lastly, was Captain Tubolt of the Purple Panther Knights, standing at six-foot-five, lanky and smug, with his dangling orb earring glinting from the natural lights of the room shining from the openings high above the ceiling.
The three of them stood there, waiting for the main host to arrive and start this meeting. A meeting for the four Guilds that had voted pro-alliance with the Mountain Kingdom.
Finally, the last to enter the room was Syemore as he had walked in through the large double doors. His long white hair hid in the shadows as he paced himself toward the group of three. When he stepped into the spotlight, the natural lights were projecting his white hair, contrasting nicely with his golden skin. He held a proud smile upon his face, a smile that of a man who had no doubt in his mind that he was going to succeed in the plans he had set forth. Undeniable. Full proof. In this moment, it seemed nothing could stand in his way.
"Welcome, Captains. It is an honor to be holding this very important meeting with the few that are pro-alliance with the Mountain. Your support on the matter will only promote this alliance to bloom—both Kingdoms, hand in hand. I thank you once again."
Each Captain had a different expression on their face. Jecht, with a weary look, Tubolt, a pompous smirk, and Sylva, emotionless—her black visors not allowing any view of her eyes…
"Now, I wanted to hold this symposium to discuss matters in preparation for tomorrow. Since concluding the Kingdom's Guild Meeting about two days ago, the Mountain has been notified of the results of that meeting after we had all voted. It takes about two and a half days to commute from the Mountain Kingdom to arrive here by airship. Thus, their estimated time of arrival will be tomorrow at 1000. As Valley Kingdom Knights, we all must be present for that welcoming. I, of course, with my connections, will lead this welcome," Syemore addressed, looking each Captain in the eyes as he spoke. He looked to Tubolt and nodded, knowing he had already shared his contributions earlier in their walk here.
"If the rest of you are contributing to the welcoming tomorrow, please let me know so we can plan accordingly. Of course, it is your choice. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do…" a subtle remark stating he would prefer if they did.
Silence came between the two remaining Captains—Sylva and Jecht. Though Syemore said they don't have to contribute, it seemed he had implied as if assessing the sincerity of their support.
"My Vice Captain is away on a mission and won't be back for a few days. So, you'll have one less man to lead your troops. I'm still curious where you would need my men if you have so much in place already…" Jecht paused. There seemed to be something else on his mind that was clearly bothering him.
"The more the merrier—as they say. The more Guilds we can show to the Mountain, the more prestigious we look to them."
"And why exactly are we trying so hard to impress them anyway?"
"Well, they did just gift us a new Zion Orb, Jecht," Tubolt replied for Syemore, giving Jecht a jeering look.
"Half of one," Jecht replied, slightly turning an eye to him and then back to Syemore. He inhaled softly then said, "Before we get into this, I need to get something off my chest. So I do have to ask you some questions, Syemore." Jecht looked intensely with his beaming teal eyes right at Syemore's glowing, haunting red ones before continuing, "Where are the other Captains? Wouldn't you be inclined to have their assistance since they lost the vote? The ones who relinquished their right to vote would be forced to support you. It is law, after all. Why not have them join us?"
The air thickened between them as shadows formed under Syemore's eyes. The natural sunlight beaming down upon them unforgivingly—the Keeper's grace. Their figures outlined like a glowing haze.
"It is true. However, I don't like making people do things they wish not to do. It's easier if they do things of their own volition. Since the Crimson Dragons and the Green Owls both voted 'no,' there was no need to force their hand. And the other two… the Golden Rose and the Black Wolves… well… I could not find Captain Belle after she exited the Trial with Greed, and right now, as you can tell from outside these walls… we are currently dealing with a small situation." Syemore lifted his face, and the shadows over his eyes went away, revealing only an innocent and friendly smile in Jecht's direction.
He gestured his head to a random wall in the meeting room, implying to the Black Wolves that were running amok in the Kingdom. "We are trying to clean up before the Mountain gets here after all," He looked Jecht dead in the eyes. Even for Jecht's large size, Syemore's red eyes were deeply intimidating. "You wouldn't want the Mountain to take back their offer simply because we couldn't contain our dogs, wouldn't you?"
"I couldn't agree more." Tubolt scoffed.
Weary still, Jecht retracted. He would submit for now. Syemore and the Blue Phoenix Knights were the newest Guild to the Valley Kingdom, and yet, here they are—four months in, and they were already cleaning up the Kingdom's messes. The look in Jecht's eyes gave off the impression that he wanted to say more, but he held his tongue for now.
"Now, if nothing else and while we're on the topic, I'd like to get to the true purpose of this meeting." Syemore began to pace, throwing his arms behind his back. His robe fluttered as he did so, back and forth.
"The Mountain has agreed to certain… terms with you all who voted pro-alliance with them."
"And what are these 'terms'?" Jecht replied, crossing his large arms now.
Syemore stopped his pace, unironically just in front of him as he asked his question.
"Well… because the Mountain Kingdom is so much bigger than the Valley Kingdom, the Mountain has offered the Valley to be one of their Sub-Kingdoms with our own rule, of course."
In slight shock, Jecht raised his voice, "Hey… This was not part of the deal, Syemore. An alliance does not mean amalgamation. This is not what we voted for." His stance changed after hearing this—his fists to his side now.
"Well, it is what I voted for," Tubolt interjected. His smug smile revealed itself from the light.
"Honestly, Jecht, you didn't actually think the Mountain would just up and agree to an alliance with another Kingdom—and especially a Kingdom that they've hated for so long." He stepped forward and revealed the palms of his hands, facing them upward toward the light as well. His hazy silhouette became clearer as he stepped in between him and Syemore. He went on, "They've already done a lot, considering… Number one, the Mountain has given us Syemore himself, a prestigious Captain and a well-renowned Guild with recognition from our Valley citizens, which, if I may add, have garnered more of a reputation than any other Guild within less than four months." He looked back at Syemore, giving him a reassuring nod.
"Second, Syemore is technically the middleman between us and the Mountain, which we've been trying to establish peace with for the past five or so years after our little 'blunder' with a past Valley Kingdom Guild that betrayed their trust. If you remember, that day, we were most definitely at fault for that… Yes, we abolished that Guild and banished them all from the Valley, which I don't intend to reopen old wounds, but if the roles were switched and that had happened to us, I'm sure we'd share the same feelings as the Mountain on that matter, would we not? The fact that after some time, they gave us one of their best and, on top of that, gave him HALF of one of their own Zion Orbs to give to us as a peace offering, shows they are willing to change. The Captains of their Eight Guilds, Arcane King, and Royal King are even on their way here to meet us where we are instead of making us go to them."
"I understand all that, but that doesn't let way of excuse for not mentioning such an important detail, of which I may add, would have swayed my vote for this 'alliance' the other way," Jecht replied.
"You and your pride, Jecht… I swear, that will only get the better of you one day. Look at the bigger picture here. Even though the Valley will become a Sub, we will gain two things: power and growth. Plus, we get to maintain our old Kingdom rules and traditions without succumbing to the Mountain's rules and traditions—all for the measly change of name."
"It's not the name I'm worried about. Though… it would go against everything the previous Valley Knights have fought for. What does the Arcane King have to say about this? Sirus? The Royal King? Where are they, now that I mention?" Jecht inquired.
"Don't change the topic, Jecht. Had you asked the right questions, you wouldn't be in this predicament you're having. Syemore told me he spoke with them already. Everyone is on board. It's your own fault for not knowing. Honestly, you're all muscle and no brains. Could you not have connected the dots even? Must I remind you what the Blue Phoenixes are doing around the Kingdom as we speak? They've even got the W.M.A. on their side to help them remove OUR problem—the Keeperforsaken Black Wol—"
"You need to watch your tone here, Tubolt. I have allowed your insufferable bias to go on way longer than I should have. Really now… It's like you're riding on his coattails simply because of that fact—a personal vendetta against the Black Wolves, and because of that, you'd even look past red flags if it means their demise. Listen to yourself speak, Tubolt. You know that is the sole purpose of why you back this up so much."
"How dare you, Jecht!"
At this time, Syemore interjected by clapping his hands a few times. "Now, gentlemen, let us conduct in a more civil manner. Tubolt, though I do appreciate your constant support, I do have to say that I understand where Captain Jecht is coming from. It's understandable to feel in such a way as he." He placed a hand on Tubolt's shoulder, gesturing him to step aside so he could speak to Jecht directly. "Let's be clear on one thing here, Captain Jecht. I do not wish to lose your trust on the matter. This is simply an offer. And I encourage you to look at it that way. It's not an offer you have to agree on. But in order to secure this partnership with the Mountain, certain conditions must be met in order to meet a goal that we so long to fulfill… As much as it pains me to say… this was the only option."
The whole time the three Captains were discussing, Sylva, the only one of them who was not an official Captain, stayed silent all the while. Her expressionless face was even harder to read behind that thick black visor she always wore over her eyes. Though at this time, she twitched a finger at what Syemore had just said…
Jecht, still standing stoic, assessed Syemore's words. There was obviously something else that lingered in his mind at this time. Something he had been dying to bring up but was waiting for the right moment. Everything up till this point had been fuel to the fire.
"As Captains, not only should we not base our decisions on emotions, we also need to be honest with each other and transparent. My unbiased stance brought me to vote pro-alliance; however, if I had all the facts beforehand, I would have probably voted no against this. This is me being honest and transparent with you," Jecht added.
Tubolt smirked and tilted his head at him from behind Syemore, who stood in between them now, "Well, sir Captain, I think you just said it best… 'We should not base our decisions on emotions.' So… would you not say the best course of action for the Valley is to fuse with the Mountain as a Sub for now and let them have the upper hand? Or… was that more of a one-sided statement? If you think of this with your pride aside, you will see this as a strategic advantage for the Valley. Imagine the amount of resources we would now have access to after tomorrow… After all, in order to propel the arrow forward, you have to reel it back first… This is not a step down, Jecht."
Jecht was silent now. Though Tubolt was pompous and aggressive in his approach, he did carry the Valley's best interests in mind. There was a reason he was a Captain of the Valley as long as he had been… is what he normally would have thought, had there not been another reason for his weariness, that alone might have sold him on the whole ordeal… However…
"Okay… Well then, I have one final question for you, Syemore. And depending on your response, this might end fairly for you."
"Jecht… still with your questions? Come now… and 'end fairly'? Is that a threat?" Tubolt jested, his palms to the front of him now, making a friendly smirk to Syemore. But Syemore did not pay him any mind. He held a serious look on his face that rivaled concern.
Jecht's head had tilted down at this moment, focusing again with an unreadable expression directly at Syemore's blood-red eyes that still continued to glow hauntingly under the rays of light from above.
"May we summon Sirus and the Royal King." More so a demand than a simple question.
Tubolt burst into laughter. The sudden question to summon the Royal King seemed so random to him. It had also seemed like he was calling out for help from higher leaders whom, in Tubolt's mind, had already agreed to these terms before their meeting.
"This is but a simple request, is it not, Syemore? I don't see that I'm asking for too much here." Jecht followed up. Even Tubolt had gone quiet, watching for Syemore's response.
Syemore closed his eyes and smiled in Jecht's direction, "Both of them are currently unavailable at this moment."
More silence filled the large, empty room the four of them occupied. Jecht's face turned cold. He looked at Syemore with doubtful eyes. The air was so thick it could be cut. Unmoving, Syemore kept his cheery-looking smile.
"If you have something on your mind, I would invite you to share it with me, Captain Jecht… We are partners after all…"
"Are we now? Okay. Well, since we're being honest with each other. What are your true motives here? You've been on edge since you entered the room. Though your heart rate has decreased exponentially since you entered, just before that, it was as if you were confronted before you entered with us. How was your brief exchange with Alphonzo? Didn't you see him on your way in? Because we did. And he was looking forward to speaking with you. So, I'm curious… How did that interaction go?" The shrewd Captain of the Silver Sharks implied.
Syemore's eye twitched. Tubolt, trying to help save face, interjected, "Jecht, really? What's with the interrogation? Syemore—"
"Quiet, Tubolt. Honestly. Though you make valid points for his stance, I still can't tell if you really do support his plan or if you're just being manipulated to do so." Stern now, Jecht kept his glare on Syemore as he addressed Tubolt at the same time.
Even if it meant going against another Arcane Knight of the Valley who was backed by the W.M.A. and the Kingdom itself. He was willing to risk this opposition on this hunch…
You better be right about that kid, Asura… Jecht thought to himself as Tubolt just about lost his temper and began strutting toward him.
He made it to Jecht to confront him, but Jecht pointed a burly finger to Syemore right then, disregarding Tubolt entirely.
"There was one sole purpose of meeting with you today, and that was to prove my suspicions wrong. Before I made my way here, I tried to get in contact with Sirus and the Royal King. But they seem nowhere to be found… How could this be when the two of them reside and usually stay here in the Arcane King's castle? I also tried to get in contact with Captain Ark of the Crimson Dragon Knights. I saw him make his way here after the Trial for that punk Black Wolves Captain, but when I went to follow, he had also disappeared… Then shortly after, you manage to 'convince' the Royal King to issue you a W.M.A. warrant to raid their castle and bring you Ryoku." He clenched his teeth at this time. "Where are all our key leaders at this very important time? Where could they possibly have gone?"
He let his words sink in before proceeding, "Then I thought about it. The last one to meet up with each one of them was you, Syemore. So I told Alphonzo of my speculations, only to find out that he had thought the same way after Greed's Trial this morning. Thus, explaining why he was waiting outside there by the entrance before you came in. Funny how you act like nothing happened after your encounter with him. Knowing Alphonzo, he most definitely confronted you about it… So what happened to him as well, Syemore? Where are Alphonzo and the others?"
Tubolt clicked his tongue and asked, "What are you saying, Jecht?" taken aback and speaking meekly now.
Shadows formed on Syemore's eyes once again from the peeking lights above. "I see now that I was a fool to think I had actually won you over, Captain Jecht."
"There's another thing, Syemore…" Jecht adjusted his stance, lowering his finger but not wavering from his glare to him.
"I had my 1st Executive, Marley, look into the incident last night. All the main suspects, like your 2nd Vice Captain Terek, are still being treated and are currently not conscious to testify, so I had her use her magic to gather from their minds. And the footage we obtained was shocking to say the least. Though there was no evidence of your involvement, Terek had not just been impersonating the Black Wolves and had fought Greed and Ryoku in the process, he was also acting under orders of a higher power… 'the plan to Hunt the Wolves'… Ring a bell? Alphonzo said you reacted, though slightly, when Greed mentioned it just before he was escorted out. What exactly does that mean, Syemore?"
Syemore stayed surprisingly calm, even though Jecht was hitting him with accusation after accusation. Before he got to speak, Jecht interjected one last time. "And don't even think of lying your way out of this. I now have reasons to believe you have been conspiring against the Valley with this so-called 'alliance' you claim to have with the Mountain Kingdom. The fact that you want the Valley to fall into a Sub under the Mountain once the alliance has been officiated had just made all this clear to me a moment ago."
Syemore sighed and looked up to the lights above this meeting room now. His face was almost angelic when his golden skin glowed a haze from the lights. "I didn't want things to end up this way, you see… I had hoped to do things as cleanly as possible before the Mountain gets here tomorrow. But looks like that's impossible now…"
"Syemore…" Tubolt pleaded from where he stood. A drop of sweat formed from the side of his head.
All the focus was on Syemore now as he still stared at the ceiling, and the three other Captains were awaiting his response. He stood there motionless, not even contemplating the situation. It's as if he were debating to do something rather than just talk…
Then, from where she stood, Sylva began shaking. She had not said a single word since this meeting began. Her black visors formed shadows from where, faintly, you could see her pastel blue eyes. Her calm, straightened out hands began to form fists slowly.
"How…" she muttered, trembling.
"How can you still continue to act like nothing's happened!?" she screamed. Her voice was delicate and under duress. There was a slight raspiness in her tone as she focused her trembled eyes onto Syemore—still standing there facing upward. All this time, she had been waiting for Jecht to confirm his speculations.
"Oh? Well, hello, Vice Captain of the Snow Lily Knights… I had wondered if you were alright. You hadn't said a word up until now."
"Quit the fucking games, Syemore! I saw it. I saw the memory footage from Jecht. My Captain—my Friera was there! You used her dead body as a damn puppet!! How can you desecrate her and the other dead like that!? How can you be so inhuman!?" Tears almost formed in her eyes as she shouted at him only a few feet away.
Unable to hold in his laughter, Syemore slowly burst into a maniacal cackle, then sighed at the end. Placing his right hand over his face. His eyes peeked through the windows of his fingers—a look that his subordinate, Terek, had picked up from him. "That's rich coming from a damn Elf."
The sudden insult triggered Sylva and both Jecht and Tubolt as well. His reactions were undeniable.
In an agonizing wrath that could no longer be contained, Sylva summoned two small tornadoes to her sides. Her stance was that of her arms stretched out behind her, her hands forming claws. She stepped back with her left foot for stabilization as her robe opened, revealing her all black outfit underneath. It was a crisp, clean tunic tucked into a tight short skirt. Her boots were pointed, thigh-high and slightly heeled at the bottom. The completely opposite shade of the white and silver robe she wore over her like a blanket.
Baring her teeth, Jecht shouted at her to try to control her anger. "Sylva! Please calm down! We still need him to confess!"
"Is that not confession enough!? If he truly cared… if he truly was a Knight of the Valley, then the death of a fellow Captain should be no laughing matter!"
She shouted back in response, speaking to everyone now. Though only a Vice Captain, she carried a demeanor that was respectable enough for even Jecht to see. He understood her pain all too well.
"He was there too… Your old Captain…"
Jecht twitched his lip, knowing this already. He recalled the memory footage from Terek and saw his previous Captain there as well, the one with Landmine Magic that died a few years back. His soul and his magic desecrated and forced onto a puppet. The same as Sylva's Captain, Friera, and the previous Arcane King before their current one. Three significant souls from last night. How many more could he have?
"So what else do we need him to say in order for us to stop him while he's in front of us? I was a fool to believe in you, Syemore… I was a fool to think that supporting you would be what Captain Friera would want. But seeing her soul trapped in a lowly tool for your subordinates' use… I see now the reason I am here, right now… is to put an end to you for the sake of the Valley!"
"SYLVA!" Both Jecht and Tubolt yelled. But they were too late. The tornadoes from her sides grew massive as she prepared to unleash her attack. At the same time, Syemore lowered his head and raised his right arm and hand out in a drawn-out manner, as if to counter. His red eyes reflected everything in macro view through a bloodshot filter—everyone was red…
Sylva unleashed her magic.
"Gale Magic: Wyvern's Wingbeat!"
At this time, the two massive tornadoes grew large and burst into Syemore's direction, raging vehemently toward him from both sides. The winds were so strong that even if he were to dodge somehow, it would just pull him back and mince him to bits. This attack was meant as a final blow right from the start.
As the tornado tempests drew closer, in an instant, Syemore had disappeared without a trace just before the tornadoes struck.
CRASH!!
The tornadoes clashed into each other where he once was, causing winds that made the other two Captains draw back, hands over their faces, and pushed them back a few feet.
But just as swift as it happened, Syemore had reappeared behind Sylva, and his shadow haunted over her like predator to prey…
"So much power, but all this anger doesn't make you stronger, child… it blinds you. And that is why you lost." He said, almost like a whisper into her ear. Fear flushed in her face as she slowly turned around to find Syemore lording over her. He raised his left hand in the air and, with one fell swoop…
"SYLVA!!!" Jecht yelled, just a second too late…
Clap…
She was gone.
All that remained was Syemore there as he dangled his arms and head.
"One down…" He said unforgivingly as he raised a small orb he held with two fingers, with Sylva sleeping inside of it.
"You bastard… Give her back!" Jecht outraged like a roaring wave.
"Or what? Captain of the Silver Sharks… You still have yet to make me confess. Will you attack me as well?"
"Your actions alone, plus the evidence we have, are enough… Besides…"
As he spoke, distinct shark features formed from his face and body. His size began to grow exponentially. Eyes were yellow with red rings within them, mixing with his natural teal and becoming multicolored. They were large and glowed. Teeth baring, each the size of a person. Patterns traced all over his body as if they were one organic tattoo, but glowed blue each time he breathed. Uncharacteristic of a shark, instead of fins by his side, he had two large, muscled arms that ended in massive claws and two muscled legs with clawed feet. The one fin he grew on his back shot out so large it was like a giant, scarred blade in itself. Rips and tears tattered his fins along with the pattern that followed throughout its body—all the way through the giant tail that protruded from him. And his head was that of a menacing great white shark. He was that of a mythical creature as he looked down onto Syemore in this form. The pressure thickened as the air pulsed a weight of its own that blew the air toward him.
"You've now given me a reason to give you hell." His voice, ethereal and powerful, echoed as if entering Tubolt's and Syemore's minds telepathically.
At this time, the face-off between the two remaining captains and Syemore, the traitor, had begun its deadly waltz.