Time/Date: Late Afternoon, TC1853.01.02
Location: Rose Pavilion → Selene's Private Quarters
Silence stretched after Raven's departure like a wire pulled taut, heavy with things none of them wanted to examine. Kael didn't move, jaw locked tight as he processed what he'd witnessed—accusations, blood, the sheer nerve of those words painting pictures he found uncomfortable to consider.
"Well," he said finally, voice controlled but brittle. His fingers found his signet ring without conscious thought. "That went considerably better than expected."
Amara glided to her mother's side, examining cuts on Selene's hand with apparent concern. Bleeding had slowed, but glass fragments caught light from embedded positions in pale skin. Amber eyes bright with worry—though beneath the surface, her mind worked through solutions to this unexpected problem.
Host, came the whisper across consciousness, urgent. Repair this immediately.
The Devourer System pressed against thoughts with barely contained irritation. Something powerful lurked at awareness edges lately—made it nervous about the Keeper discovering unauthorized presence here. Communication had to stay minimal.
Jinx. Prophecy, it hissed, then retreated like a serpent seeking shadow.
Understanding crystallized. Amara's eyes brightened. Perfect.
"You can't blame Mother entirely, Imperial Heir Kael," she said, voice trembling with delicate emotion as she turned toward him. Tears gathered like morning dew on rose petals, catching afternoon light. "You don't understand what she's suffered."
"Amara," Kael said helplessly, running a hand through dark hair while the other stayed clasped behind his back—unconscious authority. "This goes beyond personal suffering. If word reaches the imperial court..."
"I know," Amara said, moving closer with fluid grace. She placed gentle fingers on his arm, leaning into him with practiced intimacy. "But Mother's treatment isn't mere cruelty. It's based on something deeper. Prophetic."
"What do you mean?" Wariness flickered in dark eyes like distant lightning.
Amara glanced meaningfully at Selene, who watched with sharp attention despite her wounded-mother performance. "You know how Mother calls my sister a jinx, harbinger of misfortune. There's an ancient prophecy behind it."
"What prophecy?" Kael's voice took that clipped, authoritative tone. "Why mention this now?"
Selene understood where this delicate dance led. Holding bleeding hand against chest, she let beautiful features crumble with heartbroken sadness—a transformation from manipulator to tragic victim.
"Just before Mara was born," she began, voice barely above a serpentine whisper that forced others to lean closer. "I'd moved to the Eighth District, near my beloved Darryn at the military outpost. One day, purchasing supplies for his unit, a fatewatcher approached me."
Dramatic pause, pressing bloodstained handkerchief to eyes. "He told me I carried disaster's seed in my womb. Naturally, I was furious—how dare some stranger make terrible predictions about my unborn child?"
"But the next day," Selene continued, voice breaking with seeming anguish, "devastating news arrived. My beloved Darryn had fallen in battle against shadowbeasts. My world... simply shattered."
Amara moved to embrace her mother, creating a perfect tableau of a heartbroken family supporting each other through grief.
"Mother," Amara whispered, voice thick with emotion, carrying a distinctive lilting quality. "You don't have to relive this pain."
Selene took a shuddering breath, steeling herself for painful revelation. "For the longest time, I refused to believe the events were connected. But once that cursed girl was born..." She struck her chest hard, leaving a bloody handprint on the silk. "Disaster after disaster struck. I lost my home, security, and everything built for our future. I was forced to accept what that fatewatcher warned."
She turned into Amara's shoulder, voice muffled and desperate. "I know I shouldn't blame her. Know it's not truly her fault, being born under dark stars. But I simply can't forgive her for taking my Darryn. She was the disaster he predicted, bringing misfortune ever since."
Kael stroked his chin thoughtfully, tactical mind focusing on political implications. "A prophecy," he murmured, gaze sharpening. "That changes the dynamics considerably. Who was this Fatewatcher? His name?"
Selene stiffened against Amara's shoulder, mind racing desperately. Where could she produce a fatewatcher now? But Kael was caught up in political calculations, missing her momentary panic.
"I... don't remember his name," Selene mumbled into Amara's embrace, voice carefully muffled. "Such traumatic times..."
"Even without names," Kael said urgently, beginning sharp, agitated pacing, "he'd have documentation. Official seers travel with guardians, chroniclers—vision keepers recording every significant prophecy. Few true seers exist in the Empire, all strictly monitored by imperial oversight."
Pacing intensified as implications struck. "Whenever seers travel, movements are tracked, documented in official records. I should identify which seer was present in the Eighth District seventeen years ago easily enough."
Selene's stomach dropped as she realized the trap they'd walked into. All prophecies by official seers were meticulously recorded, stored in imperial archives accessible to someone of Kael's status. If he investigated and found no record, their fabrication would collapse spectacularly.
"Actually," she said with manufactured timidity, "now I recall more clearly, I don't remember him having anyone with him. Completely alone."
"What?" Kael stopped abruptly, disappointment clear on his sharp features. "No entourage? Then he wasn't an official seer at all. Must've been merely fatewatcher."
Relief flooded through both women like cool water, though they concealed it expertly. Fatewatchers were far less regulated than true seers—minor practitioners sensing broad fate patterns but rarely making specific predictions. Most operated independently without imperial oversight or documentation requirements.
"That explains the informal approach," Kael mused, interest already waning as political implications diminished. "Fatewatchers aren't strictly monitored by imperial authorities. Only powerful ones maintain official positions, guards, and chroniclers. Most are relatively weak—typically determining whether someone possesses a powerful or insignificant fate."
He frowned slightly, considering details. "Unusual for a Fatewatcher to specifically call an unborn child 'disaster,' though. Perhaps he perceived something genuinely significant in her fateline, warranting such a strong prediction."
Then he shrugged dismissively, a gesture carrying aristocratic indifference. "Regardless, no bearing on current imperial concerns. If unborn Mara possessed a powerful fate affecting Empire stability, the fatewatcher would've been legally required to report to local authorities. Since there was apparently no follow-up investigation, clearly the prediction only affected your personal circumstances."
Kael's attention shifted to immediate political concerns, voice taking formal authority learned from imperial training. "Lady Selene, I understand complicated feelings toward your daughter, but you need to comprehend your current position. More importantly, consider how this affects Amara's standing."
He moved closer, presence carrying the weight of someone accustomed to being obeyed. "You need to calm that girl's accusations. There is no lasting enmity between mother and daughter that can't be healed with proper effort. Most likely, she's simply jealous of the attention and affection you show Amara. Try spending more time with her, demonstrate maternal love."
"Imperial Heir Kael, Mother's been trying her best," Amara said, voice carrying defensive loyalty mixed with theatrical vulnerability. "She even prepared a beautiful gown and matching jewelry for my sister for the New Year banquet on the sixth day. My sister will be transformed into the belle of the ball."
"Encouraging to hear," Kael replied, though his eyes remained fixed on Amara with obvious admiration. "But no one could truly outshine your natural beauty and grace." The compliment came easily, naturally—Amara's radiance drew people like moths to flame.
"Why don't you attend to your mother's injuries," he continued, "and I'll return this evening. We need to ensure this doesn't escalate into something more damaging."
"Of course," Amara said, managing a brave smile despite apparent distress. "Come, Mother. Let's properly treat these wounds. Really, I don't understand what's gotten into my sister lately. She seems so... different."
She helped Selene to her feet with obvious tenderness, supporting her as they walked toward Selene's chambers.
***
Once safely within private quarters, well protected by privacy wards, both women's facades dropped completely. Selene straightened immediately, injured hand forgotten, while Amara's sweet expression shifted to something calculating and predatory.
"Amara, why bring up prophecy fabrication?" Selene demanded in a sharp whisper, carrying serpentine authority. "You know how seriously the Empire treats anything involving seers or fatewatchers, even minor ones."
Amara's lips curved in a cold smile, amber eyes glittering with triumphant amusement. "Isn't that damned girl going to bring complete disaster to our family in four days?" she said with obvious satisfaction. "The prophecy will be fulfilled exactly as predicted, just not how anyone expects."
Selene's pale eyes widened as understanding dawned, then she smiled—expression transforming beautiful features into something utterly predatory. "Clever girl. Very clever."
What Selene didn't know was the full scope of Amara's elaborate banquet plan. She knew Amara intended trapping Mara in a compromising scandal, but Amara had never revealed specific details—especially not the identity of the man involved in her sister's downfall.
If Selene had known Amara was planning to tie Kael and Mara together through an elaborate drugging scheme, she'd never have permitted it. Selene wanted Mara bound to some lowborn man who'd make her life thoroughly miserable, not elevated through marriage to imperial royalty, regardless of circumstances.
But Amara's system had entirely different requirements. According to the cosmic entity's intricate plans, she needed a child born from Mara and Kael's union to fulfill certain prophetic conditions cementing her own power. Specific details didn't matter to Amara—she remained confident that with Kael's rigid personality and aristocratic prejudices, he'd never allow Mara to step into society as his equal, regardless of any marriage contract resulting from their trap.
Still, Amara knew she could never reveal the complete truth to her mother. Selene would never believe someone as politically astute as Kael could be manipulated so thoroughly, and Amara would never reveal her deepest secrets, even to the woman who'd given birth to her.
The game was too delicate, the stakes too high, for complete honesty.
***
Meanwhile, Raven had returned to cramped servant quarters, her precious prize clutched carefully. Opening fingers like a blooming flower, she smiled with grim satisfaction at the blood-soaked silk napkin. She was somewhat surprised Selene had bled so freely from seemingly minor cuts, but then again, all those nourishing soups and cultivation tonics Selene consumed regularly probably enhanced blood flow considerably.
Retrieving small scissors from meager possessions, Raven carefully cut away silk pieces most thoroughly saturated with blood. Then, drawing a metal canister from soul space with a trace of precious energy, she opened it, revealing four glass vials nested in protective foam.
Opening the first vial, she placed blood-soaked silk pieces inside before replacing the lid securely. Taking up a pen, she wrote "S. Lin - Mother" on the label already affixed.
For the second vial, she quickly pricked her finger with a needle, squeezing out several blood drops before sealing it and writing "M. Brenner - Child" on the corresponding label.
The third vial required more extensive preparation. She reopened the small wound on her finger, already beginning to clot naturally, and squeezed out more than a tablespoon of blood. This sample would be for a comprehensive medical analysis—she wanted Federation's advanced facilities to identify every foreign substance systematically introduced to her system over the years. The label read simply "Blood Analysis - Complete."
Replacing all three vials carefully in the metal canister, she twisted the cap according to Grandpa Coop's precise instructions. This would release cryogenic preservation gas, ensuring samples remained fresh as when first collected, even after weeks of transport.
Settling at the tiny wooden table in her room, Raven began composing a letter to the Federation Medical Research Institute. Handwriting was careful and precise, befitting someone making a formal request to such a prestigious and scientifically rigorous institution.
***
To the esteemed researchers of the Federation Medical Research Institute,
I am writing to request urgent genetic analysis of the enclosed biological samples. Specifically, I require:
Comprehensive parental relationship analysis between samples labeled "S. Lin" and "M. Brenner", determining biological connection. Complete toxicological analysis of "Blood Analysis - Complete" sample, identifying any foreign materials, toxins, or unusual substances present in the subject's system.
I understand the sensitive nature of such requests and am prepared to make this investigation a matter of public record upon completion. Time is critically important, as this evidence will be required for legal proceedings beginning seventh day of the first cycle.
Your institution's reputation for incorruptible scientific standards and transparent methodology is precisely why I've chosen your facilities for this crucial analysis. I trust your findings will be made available through official channels regardless of external political pressure applied.
Respectfully,M. BrennerConcerned Citizen of Eastern Empire
***
The letter was carefully crafted, remaining neutral, giving no hint of a larger conspiracy while emphasizing urgency and the public nature of the request. Federation's well-known reputation for scientific transparency meant they'd likely publish findings regardless of any suppression attempts from imperial authorities.
Not only would this conclusively prove she and Selene shared no biological relationship, but the institute's advanced analysis should detect various toxins and poisons Selene had been systematically administering over the years. Evidence would be comprehensive, scientifically unassailable, and politically devastating.
Sealing both letter and canister in a protective package designed to withstand rough handling, Raven allowed herself a moment of deep satisfaction. Every piece was falling into place with clockwork precision.
Nearly there, she whispered to herself, words carrying the weight of accumulated lifetimes. Just four more days, and this particular game will finally reach a conclusion.
Four days until the banquet. Four days until Selene and Amara discovered their carefully orchestrated trap had become the foundation of their own complete destruction. Four days until the real contest of wills reached an inevitable resolution.
All pieces were positioned exactly where they needed to be. Now she simply had to execute the final moves with perfect precision and timing.
In her soul space, the golden blood essence bead pulsed gently, as if responding to her unwavering determination. Whatever ancient power resided within that mysterious artifact, it seemed to approve entirely of her quest for truth and justice.
Soon, very soon, the light of honesty would finally pierce through decades of carefully maintained lies.
The reckoning was almost at hand.