Zane and Rommel put a tent up, but had the guards remove the top for a semblance of privacy. His brother, crown prince Asturias had sent no less than a dozen alerts demanding they open a line of communication. Zane shivered as the last ward was put in place, then he and Rommel sat at the makeshift table to speak to his brother.
Asturias didn't bother with pleasantries, "Lady Alaina was injured and has cut all communication, what happened?" He demanded before either could speak. The entire palace had shaken several times. Thousands of gold in damages had already been tallied, buildings had fallen, animals panicking. In less than an hour no less than three dozen nobles had arrived at the palace demanding answers. Now his and her majesty were organizing expeditions to check on Lady Alaina.
Zane explained everything he'd seen in the last two hours, along with Rommel supplementing details from his perspective. When they got to the part about Young Song speaking of Lord Caius, Asturias had them pause as he ordered their priest to attend. Elijah was tall, ancient, had a grey beard past his belt, and rarely spoke in anything other than riddles. Zane was thankful Elijah decided to speak straightforwardly today.
Elijah paced back and forth, "I believe, this Young Song has broken the oath Lord Caius gave when he ascended in this land."
Asturias took a deep breath, "Yes priest, now, what does that mean, and how much of an impact on Lady Alaina does this have?" They couldn't keep up this communication all day, they had already used three 4th tier mana stones for half an hour.
Elijah didn't comment on the prince's rudeness, "I will make it simple, like our oaths of fidelity, to break them usually leaves our mana channels irreparably damaged. I believe Lady Alaina is facing the backlash of having Lord Caius's oath broken on her end, rather than release it of her own free will."
Asturias rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Why would Lord Caius want the oath broken? Surely having Lady Alaina's protection is not so lightly discarded."
Elijah hesitated, he had not reached his current age nor position without seeing the darker side of beast politics. "Not lightly no, but if this Young Song is aspiring a new coalition of beasts… he has already proven strength beyond what we have seen. I believe many Sin beasts would find him… more appealing as a leader."
Asturias cursed under his breath as someone had the gall to knock on his door after he'd ordered not to be disturbed, "Not now!" He roared over his shoulder. Only the knocking didn't stop, Asturias cursed again as he stood to open the door. A relay mage was ghastly pale as two guards helped him remain upright. Their expressions equally grim.
"Highness… the Isles… have been burned to ashes." The mage reported handing over the encrypted missive.
Asturias snatched the report up, not just burnt to ashes, more than seven tenths of the population had apparently turned to ash upon touching sunlight. The islands had all caught silver and golden fire that could not be put out, some of the survivors were reportedly melting, and… after an hour all the fires had died out… but since then it was like night had fallen upon the isles. Waters of the Sea… the isles were little more than sandy lumps…
Zane and Rommel paled hearing the report… the only survivors were currently on boats manned by foreigners who had not been affected by the sun.
Asturias stared at his brother with red eyes, "Finish your report Prince Zane, and don't leave anything out." This time Asturias listened all the way through… Waters of the Sea… what in the darkest ocean had Lolani and Vaha been hiding… "What does it look like? My report says Lolani thought it was a siren." While many believed mermaids and sirens to be the same, he knew otherwise.
Zane hesitated, "I didn't get a good look, but it didn't look like a siren… it was completely white, with long tail feathers, about… the size of a large watermelon? Young Song was able to carry it in one arm. Its voice… was ethereal… if I only heard the voice I could be convinced it was a siren."
Rommel thought back, "It had crystal blue eyes, it was pheasant shaped, kind of like a peacock, but the neck wasn't so long. Young Song was called Nix, and he called her his Beloved."
Asturias nodded, "See if they tell you what manner of beast it is… and what Young Song is… Nix… I will have the records custodian search for those names." Foxes, bears, birds, a naga, flowers, and now this… creature with a siren's voice.
Rommel hesitated, "Young Song, or rather, Nix, he's a songbird… it would make sense if his mate was also a type of songbird… they may even be of the same breed. It could help narrow down what they are. Red, silver, white birds." He could still hear Nix humming tunes he'd never heard before…
Asturias hesitated, "I'll take that into consideration. Do not draw attention to yourselves. Just record and report."
"Yes, your Highness." Zane and Rommel promised with a nod as the connection was cut. Zane sighed at the seven used mana stones…
Rommel looked over the report of the isles… seven tenths… those were the ignorant, innocent victims of Nix's wrath… with a shudder he tucked the report into chest plate to share with the others.
Melia had been wondering closer to the nest, something felt off… if Ash had a Beloved… shouldn't he have mentioned it to her mother? Especially since he'd considered taking her as a mate? Was Ash not monogamous? Azarius was laying on the ground, Kaveri over his eyes like a blindfold… boys!
Ashton was well aware most of everyone's attention was on his nest. Luckily, only the Inago were tall enough to peer over the edge from any distance. He saw Melia's head bob in and out of view, along with fox ears circling around. Of course, he wasn't the only one to notice. His Beloved was slowly withdrawing her white soul fire.
Ashton flexed his mana channels. She had coated them, ensuring they wouldn't merge until he started the ascension process. The pain was also significantly reduced. Ashton took a deep breath as the feathered form elongated, changing to a petite human. Inhumanly pale white skin, giant crystal blue eyes, she didn't bother with shoes, just a simple dress of feathers. Ashton blinked. Beloved Blinked.
Ashton kept his songs wordless, this time, Beloved echoed the melody.
Caius perked his ears, still he didn't raise his head to look into the nest yet… Aiya! His heart would break if they were doing more than cuddling! Aiya!!! All these brats taunting him! He should throw littlest in the nest to check the situation out!
Littlest's fur bristled, then he took off running. Only if Papa Caius could catch him! Though… maybe his owl would carry him over the nest to get a look from up high! Oh! He was so smart!
Beloved raised her head to peek out at the crowd, then she ducked back down.
Ashton only smiled as they continued to sing as she assessed her surroundings. Bobbing her head over the edge of the nest as if no one would notice.
Beloved stilled when she locked eyes with the biggest fox she'd ever seen. It also had…. One, two, three, four five six, Seven tails!!! Then, she slowly slid back into the nest, "Nix, Nix did you see? That's the biggest fox, will he eat me?"
Ashton coughed into his fist, "That I would doubt, but just to be sure, stay far from his mouth." Beloved sat on his stomach as she peered over the edge of the nest again.
Caius pretended to be offended as he jumped up, paws on the edge of the nest, he just happened to come nose to nose with the white bird. Her already large eyes seemed to grow, then…. Well then he was looking at the sky on his back, ears ringing. Were those tiny white birds flying in circles above his head?
Beloved sang at the top of her lungs, startling the giant fox. She did not scream! Then seeing the giant fox fall onto his back dazed, she burst into giggles. "Nix Nix did you see! Let that be a lesson! Don't try and eat me!" She retorted puffing her chest out.
Ashton wrapped his arms around Beloved as he sat up to glance at the stunned fox, "I think he is startled, perhaps a bit stunned, not sure if her heard you, give him a moment Beloved." Ashton adjusted her so she sat on his forearm as he jumped out of the nest to check on the poor unsuspecting fox.
Caius shook his head as he rolled over, Aiya… what happened? Did… did a scream just stun him? Aiya… really? He hadn't missed her eyes changing color for half a heartbeat before she attacked… could his Little Snack do the same?
Neolani watched… for just a moment, right before she screamed, her eyes had turned wholly black… she shuddered. That single burst of sound had laid out a legendary beast of sin… even if he wasn't prepared. When Ash landed on the ground the girl's gaze and Neolani's locked. Even though all she saw was a bright smile, innocent blue eyes, Neolani shuddered.
Ashton glanced down at the fox, "Psst, a word for the wise, better to move slow, Beloved might not like a surprise."
Caius flattened his ears in grievance, aiya, this was his fault??? "I didn't! Aiya! I just wanted to see your pretty birdie." Caius whined as he waved his tails enticingly. Since his Little Snack was being biased, he would play along. His goal was already half achieved… perhaps this Beloved would help… rather than hinder.
Beloved stared at the dragon kin blankly, then hugged Nix's head to her stomach, "Nix, my poor pretty Nix, what did they do, why hurt you?"
Caius was taken aback with the sudden change of her mood. She looked on the verge of tears. Caius looked the at the human emperor with narrowed eyes. Had they done something?
Ashton patted her back, "No need to worry, no need to cry, a couple days longer, and the limit the sky. Now we don't have much time, our days are so few, rather than them, let's focus on you."
Beloved clutched him tighter, finally noticing… "Nix, I could be confused, I could be wrong, but Nix you are fire… who made you blonde?" Beloved leaned as far back as she could to really look at her Nix, and her heart broke all over again as tears started pouring down her face.
Neolani hesitated, looking over Ash… when she'd met him as Alphonse he'd already been blond… was hair color… that important?
Ashton shrugged, "I am still fire, I am still great, don't worry Beloved, just a little longer, my feathers worth the wait."
"Nix you are fire, Fire is red, what happened to you, what pain since we last met?" How had she missed all his injuries… how many times did his heart break? Was it not enough, how could he forgive?
Ashton smiled even as her tears fell on his face, "Come my beloved, why so many tears, have there not been enough, over the last 400 years?"
Beloved shook her head, "Nix I want to cry, I want to grieve, give me your pain, let me lay it to sleep."
Alexei frowned, this Beloved was making Neolani nervous… and their connection was still closed… something about her just seemed off. Not to mention, Ashton was so adamant about not sharing his pain, surely she would know that.
Ashton smiled, "Then cry my Beloved, grieve as you wish, I will hold you, your goals ours to accomplish."