I laid in bed wide awake. Belle and I had just finished round… I wasn't keeping track.
We were like catrabbits, the way we mated. And it had only been a week since the whole thing with Syemore and the Blue Phoenixes had gone down.
I knew exactly why I was this way…
As I sat there in silence, the echoing voices would always find their way to the forefront of my brain. Remorseless. Unforgiving. Never letting me forget.
I'm sorry...I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!
I placed my hands over my ears and shut my eyes tightly, as if that would help…
The voices went away, but it wasn't my doing.
I felt a soft, gentle hand on my cheek that wasn't there prior, and I gravitated my point of view to her.
"I didn't knock you out this time?" I said.
"You make it sound like domestic abuse," she replied.
"Weird kink. That what you're into?"
"Rough… ruff, ruff, ruff!" she said playfully. I could listen to her voice all day. "But gentle when you need to be. That's just like you, my Greed."
I knew we were flirting, but my mind went elsewhere. The voices… the people who—
"Hey," Belle said so sweetly. Like a soft caress from a mother to a child under a rustling, rooted trunk with the sun's rays flickering through the pockets of the leaves. "I don't know what you're thinking about, but whatever it is… I'm here for you. I'm here with you. And I fucking love you."
All my senses in that moment were locked in on her. My ears that hung on to every word she said. My nose that breathed in her aromatic scent. My mouth that tasted her. My skin that invited her warmth. And my eyes that beheld and renowned her.
She was the only one in the world to me now.
The blue in her eyes swirled like an obsession as she stared unwavering into the black void of mine.
"You're perfect." I managed to say.
She smiled and I took a mental picture. I never wanted to forget the way she looked at me just now—or ever for that matter.
She lead with her head and slithered down, reaching with her smooth hand first to a part of me that loved her as well, if not more.
Her hand was so much smaller and slender in comparison as she directed me into the wet silks of her mouth.
Another thing she was—unrelenting. And she was fucking good at it.
I wasn't sure when the thoughts would emerge again, but they were gone for a moment more—replaced by ecstasy.
***
**Arcane King's castle**
Approximately 0900 at a meeting room of the Arcane King's abode, an important meet up had been appointed involving eight individuals: the Royal King, Sirus—the Arcane King's assistant, Ark—the Captain of the Crimson Dragon Knights, Jecht—the Captain of the Silver Shark Knights, Sylva—the Acting Captain and previous 1st Vice Captain of the Snow Lily Knights, Tubolt—the Captain of the Purple Panther Knights, Alphonzo—Vice Chairman of the Valley Magistral Parliament, and Ryoku—the 1st Vice Captain of the Crimson Dragon Knights.
This was a meeting to discuss the dreaded day six days ago involving the traitorous Blue Phoenix Knights and Syemore. All the attendees present today had been directly affected by the incident. There was one more attendee; however, they were a fill-in for a certain individual—an individual who was theirs and the entire Valley's savior. But she was currently preoccupied at the moment…
At this time, a man wearing a royal blue cloak stood up. The man was Sirus, and he opened the meeting for the King and Captains there, "Thank you all for attending today to discuss the event of six days ago regarding Syemore and the Blue Phoenix Knights. Realistically, this meeting should have been held earlier following the incident, but because almost all of us—myself included—had just been dispelled from the imprisonment by Syemore's Compression magic, I wanted to make sure everyone here had some time to rest after being freed. Without the Arcane King present currently, we had to rely on one of his rooms to dispel the magic. Again, we can thank Captain Belle and her sister for that."
Sirus looked around the meeting room, meeting the eyes of everyone there, and then the last person sitting at the round table, "1st Vice Captain Lance of the Golden Rose Knights, thank you for filling in for Captain Belle today. I understand that she is currently recuperating due to having shrouded the Kingdom with the Celestial Dome and fighting such a dangerous threat on her own," as he said this, Lance glared at him and found Ryo's nervous throat clearing and Alphonzo's suspicious eye wandering over him, "We send her our regards once more for saving the Kingdom against this past threat." Sirus finished, speaking only to Lance now.
He sat at the direct opposite side of Sirus at this large round table. His gold-armored elbow was on the table, propping up his head. Clad entirely in it, his revealed blond hair seemed like a simple slick back style, but could be longer within his armor. He continued to give Sirus a disinterested look, thinking of something that bugged him immensely and hindered his ability to focus on the present moment.
"I will make sure she receives your regards…" He said disinterestedly like a statue.
"Thank you… Now," Sirus redirected his glance to Ryo, "1st Vice Captain Ryoku. Since you were involved and present throughout the whole ordeal below the Dome, would you please lead us in this meeting? If you could please cover the events that took place so we can all be aligned. We will discuss the next steps and future for the Valley accordingly."
Ryo stood up at this time and bowed to the center towards them all, "Thank you for inviting me here. Gladly."
"I had briefed both Captain Ark and Alphonzo, upon request, two days ago about this already. But I will happily recap for everyone else here. The incident six days ago was indeed a dark day for the Valley; however, thanks to the Captains here and Captain Belle of the Golden Rose Knights, we were able to defeat the traitor Syemore and banish him permanently from the Valley. Banishment by death."
Captain Jecht spoke up at this time, "You don't have to be modest, kid… All of us here know we were all utterly useless in that battle against Syemore. I, too, am grateful to Belle. The Valley Kingdom does not deserve her, and we are all forever in her debt."
He glazed his eyes to every one of the Captains there; all held their heads slightly lowered at this time. One in particular, Captain Tubolt, looked almost irritated at the thought of something. Like he wasn't mentally present at all. Uncharacteristic of his personality, he kept to himself.
"I disagree, Captain Jecht. It was the combined efforts of everyone here that led to Captain Belle's victory against him," Ryo added. Captain Jecht closed his eyes and scoffed at the comment but allowed Ryo to go on, gesturing with a large hand.
"Until recently, when we were able to dispel you all, I'm sure you already know"—he lowered his head and closed his eyes in respect to them—"we were not able to retrieve your magic abilities back along with yourselves."
The room was dull. Each one, excluding Tubolt and Ryo—and Lance, who was the only one besides them who was not captured—had lost their magic abilities after Syemore had imprisoned them in orbs.
"According to Captain Belle, when Syemore captures you and uses your magic ability, you then lose it forever… Per Sirus, we are currently figuring out a way to reverse this effect. Following this, the Arcane King is said to return in a few days from Tartarus because of the incident, to help assist with the research to get your abilities back, and other matters of course…"
Nothing Ryo was saying was news to them all. In a sense it was more of a recap before they discussed the real issue at hand.
"In addition to all of this, it turns out that Syemore of the Blue Phoenix Knights wasn't just from the Mountain Kingdom… In fact, he originally was not from the Mountain Kingdom at all… rather, a mercenary from the Maven Lords themselves—a Maven Knight."
Shock filled the room along with widened eyes.
"Did you say the Maven Lords?" Captain Jecht hesitantly voiced. Regardless of his large physical attributes, even he shuddered at the mention of the Maven Lords.
"Correct, Captain. Trust me, when this information was passed down to me from Captain Belle herself after the battle, I, too, was shocked to hear it… The Maven Lords are said to be allies of ours in the World System; however, it was made known that Syemore's father was banished from the Maven Lords and the Olympus Kingdom, along with his family, due to his unorthodox beliefs. We believe that, though Syemore used the term 'Maven Knight,' he is not actually affiliated with the Maven Lords, and the situation is much more complicated beneath the surface… Apologies, but my knowledge on the subject only goes this far."
"Thank you, Ryoku. You may sit." Sirus gestured with an open hand, pointing to Ryo's seat. He bowed to Sirus and sat down politely. Sirus crossed his palms on the table. His composure was perfect as he pondered, then said, "I am ashamed to say that even as the Arcane King's assistant, I do not possess any knowledge that can conclude Ryoku's intel. I am in the dark along with you all." The room had fallen silent for a moment.
It was only then that Alphonzo spoke up, eyes closed, fingers crossed over his mouth, and elbows propped over the table before him, "The act alone is treason against the World System… if… and dare I say, that Syemore truly was affiliated with the Maven Lords on the incident." he closed his eyes and breathed in and out hoarsely, "It's something that could crumble the very roots of the World System—the Great Alliance—altogether. Though Kingdoms within the Four Kingdoms pact may quarrel among each other, the same does not apply with the other parties of that System—the other parties being the World Magistral Army, W.M.A., and the Maven Lords. Such an act would be considered overstepping even though the rights of the W.M.A. and Maven Lords allow them to—quote—'overstep'… the act of sending one of their own to infiltrate a Kingdom and destroy it from the inside seems beyond them… Let's face it. If the Maven really wanted us out of the picture, they wouldn't have to resort to such underhanded methods—they would just knock on our gates and annihilate us on the spot." Alphonzo opened his eyes slowly, finishing his thought, "Though I'm stating all the facts, I am not disregarding the possibility. The Maven Lords aren't exactly… a 'reasonable bunch'." he set his crossed fingers on the table now, his stern face now revealed from behind them, "I have sent an anonymous contact to our allied Kingdom—the Ocean Kingdom, for further intel. I should be hearing from my informants in the next few days. And if not, I will go there and acquire the intel myself along with my new subordinate… There is the possibility that the Ocean was affected by this, too, in some way, being that they are allied with us." His voice was monotone and serious as he said all this.
"Are you saying they might have been infiltrated by another 'Syemore' type individual as well? In other words, a Maven Knight?" Captain Jecht replied from across the table.
"It's a possibility. If this infiltration was really the Maven Lords, then they would not just strike in one place. All in the Great Alliance know that the Valley and the Ocean are allied Kingdoms. They either chose to strike twice at the same time or tried to absorb us in an attempt to take them down next. With the Valley and the Ocean under control, it would make it easier to absorb the Sky next after—thus amalgamating the Four Kingdoms to one."
"Amalgamate the Four Kingdoms?" Sirus asked.
"Precisely. As sustained as the World System is, there is only one flaw to it, and I hate to say this, but it is the Four Kingdoms." he paused there for a second and no one in the room interjected, so he went on, "The Maven Lords and even the World Magistral Army are—to each their own—one entity; whereas the Four Kingdoms are the only separate party. Because of this, we are prone to disputes amongst ourselves—aka the other neighboring Kingdoms. We debate: whose ways are better, whose laws are more sustainable, rights, equality among people, even protection, and who gets control over certain jurisdictions. All these variables are constantly on a scale of 'who gets what'. And if a Kingdom, or Kingdoms, don't agree, it causes friction within one of the legs of the Great Alliance. I'm sure I don't have to remind you all of the Great Magistral War that we all participated in five years ago?" Again, he paused, letting anyone interject—it was a sensitive topic after all. He looked at Ark, the blind Captain of the Crimson Dragons, and the nasty scar that trailed horizontally through both his eyes. A blindness he had received from that very war. Alphonzo waited, but not even Tubolt was in the mood to speak up. "Therefore, instead of having four different Kingdoms, it would be best to combine them all into one entity just as they are."
The room was dead silent now. The news and theory of it all were completely out of scale for solving between them alone.
After a few seconds of silence, Sirus spoke up, "This is quite the dilemma now, isn't it? Nothing can be done from our side at this time. The Maven Lords are of the highest order in the Great Alliance and at the top of the pyramid within the World System. Even if we want to inquire about this with them, coordinating a meeting would take half a year just to receive a response from them, no matter the urgency. And because of their ranking, they have the choice to disregard it simply because it does not interest them." Tubolt scoffed at the end of that as Sirus kept talking. "The last meeting between the Maven Lords consisted of the W.M.A. and the other three Kingdoms as well. That alone took almost six months to coordinate. A meeting with one Kingdom would not even be considered important to them at all. We would need the consent of the other three Kingdoms to make it even a fraction more attractive to them to attend. And well… we could get the Ocean and maybe the Sky to consent, but the Mountain… After the stunt they pulled with Syemore, even if we were to humble ourselves and request their consent, there is a very low chance—and I mean, almost zero—of them accepting. After all, there is a lot of animosity between us and them, even after five years."
"You think? They only sent a 'Maven Knight' to corrupt us from the inside. My… When you put it all like that, it makes it sound so much more hopeless, Sirus. I suppose we should do as we always have and just take it up the ass." Captain Tubolt finally spoke. His tone was sarcastic as he gestured with his hands in the air from where he sat.
"You certainly gave Syemore your ass when he was here…" Jecht jabbed.
"Shut your fucking mouth, Jecht. I ended up fighting back after you got captured. At least I didn't let my guard down enough to get kidnapped, you dumb oaf," Tubolt jabbed back. The two are now unsophisticatedly butting heads.
"Was thinking you lost your wits after the incident there, Tubolt. It's good to see you in high spirits again." Captain Ark replied. Though blind, he faced Tubolt completely from the round table.
"Says the one who blindly walked into the trap Syemore laid out for him, losing his famous Spirit Transformation ability in the process." He prodded at both his blindness and uselessness, and even took a shot at his powerlessness, in the incident. Captain Ark smirked and raised his hands in the air as if surrendering, chuckling all the while. He took no offense to it, knowing how Tubolt is.
In this exact moment, a golden-clad fist struck the round table, "Seriously? First, Captain Belle, and now you lot? How can you all poke fun at a time like this? This is a declaration of war within the World System itself. We need a plan."
Surprised, they all looked at Vice Captain Lance curiously—studying him as he made the scene.
At this time, a quiet, reserved Captain—or rather, Acting Captain spoke up, "Well then, Lance. What do you suppose we do?" Her voice was gentle, daring to even address him informally as an official Captain would even though they were both technically the same rank.
Her hair was a light, pastel green, short, with two long strands from both ends of her face that flowed down to her collarbones, ears—long and pointed —and a visor over her eyes that was sleek and glossy black.
Lance looked at the elf girl and then up to the ceiling, where some of the sun's rays were entering through. He studied the dancing particles of dust that entered each spotlight, thinking but failing to find a good response. He sighed, "I don't know, Sylva. But I was hoping coming together with you all would evoke such a plan… guess I was wrong."
Sylva gave him a soft smile and responded, "As much of a dilemma this is, because of the ones who oppress us, we cannot do anything that doesn't take time. In times like this, we need to uphold patience and demonstrate resolve to our people. You of all know this, Lance," she said, pausing there to take off her black visors, which she seldom does, and had her eyes closed as she removed them for all to see. When she opened her eyes, they were a pastel blue so soft in hue that it made those who beheld her stop in their tracks. It was as if they carried a power behind them other than the Gale magic she once had, now gone forever. A part of herself that she could never get back. She went on, "Unlike you right now, I am utterly powerless… I was the first to lose when we confronted Syemore. I lost my temper, and as a result, I lost my magic in the process." her words getting through to him, he was still in awe at the innocence that her eyes shouted, "Getting angry doesn't make you stronger—it blinds you. I learned that from the enemy. Ironic, if you ask me…" the room was silent once more, as if sending their condolences to the ones who no longer had their magic. She was bringing sentiment into view to remind not only Lance but all of them now, to see a different perspective. "So don't make the same mistake as I did and rush into action. Sometimes the best course of action is patience… and trust in your allies."
"So, your solution is to sit tight and put on a brave face?" he responded, snapping away from the trance of her eyes.
"I'm saying we need to focus on what we can control, like: diverting the pain of the people and making moves in the shadows. As Alphonzo said, he has contacted his sources in the Ocean Kingdom. All we can do now is wait, plan, and prepare. Until, at least, we have more compelling evidence that can support our claim on who to call 'the enemy'." Sylva finished.
"Well said, Sylva. Lance, though I appreciate your concern and loyalty to the Kingdom. Save that passion for when the time is right. Though it has only been six days since the incident, we have not gotten word from the Mountain at all after Syemore's defeat. Prior to that day, he had contacted the Mountain and said they were coming. We would have confronted them then if they came, but they never did—and it was a good thing they didn't. I have someone coming soon who will answer the question we're all thinking of on the matter. Regardless, they have been quiet since. We will not retaliate at this time; we will handle this diplomatically. Until the Arcane King comes back in a few days, and he has been briefed on the situation, he and the Royal King will make the final call. And when they do, that is the time we will act."
The Royal King, who has said nothing so far, simply nodded his head with his eyes closed. He never talked in meetings, most of the time, and was simply a witness to the decisions made within the Kingdom's knights and the Arcane King. Though of royal bloodline for a powerful magic ability, he was utterly useless in battle. A waste, one would say, but in his position here in the Valley, many powerful mages stood before him. Because of this, he knew his place well and respected the decisions of the Kingdom. A figurehead born of royalty after all. This was a demonstration of humility if anything else.
At this time, Lance calmed down and said no more, exhaling. Though he didn't like it, he kept to his own, leaning back and propping his head on a golden-clad fist on his armrest. He was but a stand-in for Belle anyway, and nothing else… What good would his words do here… which ironically was the reason for his attitude today. In his mind, he had told himself he would address this with her later. He scoffed at his own thought.
"By the way…" Tubolt pompous added. "This whole time it was 'Captain Belle this, Captain Belle that… What of the mutt—"
"Ah, yes, Captain Tubolt!" Ryo interrupted, remembering that Greed had told him that Tubolt had also been present when he arrived to fight Syemore in this very room, "The Black Wolves Captain, Greed, has been discharged of all offenses to him and his Guild. By acquittal, they have been deemed innocent, leaving no ties to the sudden outburst of 'Black Wolves' across the Kingdom that same day. A confession from one of the Vice Captains of the Blue Phoenix Knights, Henza, was addressed in court the other day, admitting that all the 'Black Wolves' that ran rampant in the Kingdom were either disguised Blue Phoenix Knights or hired thugs from outside the Valley. It was the Blue Phoenix Knights who staged and orchestrated the whole event."
"That's not what I was referring to, Ryoku. And why are you so formal? Are you not close friends with the mutt? Keeper, you act like we all don't know. I was talking about what happened to him during the fight with Syemore?" he asked finally, the dreaded question that Ryo had hoped would not come up. With one eyebrow raised, Tubolt shot a glare right into his usually blazing yellow eyes, which were now a snuffed-out flame at this time.
The question itself made the rest of the Captains curious as Ryo shuffled his thoughts, "Why? I'm not sure, sir… After the Trial that morning, he was nowhere to be found until the whole ordeal was over," he said with all the confidence he could muster, knowing full well that was not entirely true. Though the way he worded his sentence had made it seem so, he had no idea where Greed was until he had hopped aboard their moving Wolves Den from the outer layer of the walls… but per Greed's request…
"That's a load of shit, and you know it, Ryoku. He was there when Belle arrived. He brought the Arc Slayer. I even saved his ass," Tubolt said as he opened his robe, revealing a huge gash on the center of his chest, clearly having been healed by healing magic after the incident.
"You know where he was, Ryoku, though indirectly, I can see it in your eyes… and if you won't say, I will just ask Captain Belle personally… she was there too after all. Unless she's in on it too. She and the mutt seemed suspiciously close during the incident. That's what I noticed after he brought the Arc Slayer!"
Lance's eyebrow twitched at the mere mention of him… that stray, Greed… with Belle in that moment. This wasn't the story Belle had told him.
Curiosity silently ravaged the meeting room. That's when Jecht added, "The mutt?... and then the Arc Slayer you say, Tubolt?" He chuckled loudly. "Even Captain Belle couldn't hold that sword for more than ten seconds—and twenty with a spell—let alone bring it here all the way from the Desert Kingdom where they were safekeeping it… Are you sure that gash on your chest was the only wound you received?" He joked and pointed to his head, inquiring if he had also probably received a brain injury.
Tubolt could have definitely kept explaining, but the fact that he brought up the Arc Slayer was already talk enough. Only a few select mages could use that blade and, aside from Belle, their identities had to remain a secret per the Arcane King's orders. He wasn't sure who else in this room could use it aside from him. So he said nothing more.
"I know what I saw, you big lug," Tubolt said quieter, "Never mind… Maybe you are right. Maybe I did hit my head…"
Jecht raised his eyebrows, and his eyes widened, surprised Tubolt was actually submitting for once, "Wow… Perhaps you did."
To Ryo's relief, inhaling and exhaling deeply, he had let his guard down for only a moment. Enough time for Alphonzo to glance over with a prying side-eye right at him on the other side of the table. Ark, in turn, still had his head faced toward Tubolt; he didn't have to rely on his eyes to 'see' through him.
"If you all are done with your commercial, I was thinking of doing something for the citizens of the Kingdom." Sirus interjected, changing the topic entirely, "How about we hold a Valley Tournament?"
The room perked in interest. Lance had completely disengaged from the conversation. He seemed bothered by an entirely different issue now… and the sound of a 'Tournament' had seemed below him at this time.
Greed and Belle…
"What are you doing, Captain…" he muttered quietly to himself.