SÓLMÁNUÐUR DAY OF FRIGG

My spoon stopped midway right after Sullien materialized in the middle of the room. Every time Sullien appeared unexpectedly, he became the messenger of the worst news.

"The treasure of Hasfor had been found by the Cattivos. Only the Lost Treasure of Deliora is missing and all the Lost Treasures are completed. We need to find it as soon as possible," he spoke with haste and I was not wrong from what I had assumed.

It was indeed bad news.

All treasures had been ultimately found. It was a matter of time who decided to do the offense first. However, we probably had an advantage as the Lost Treasure of Deliora was not something easily acquired unless they knew about the secret of the Mark of Deliora.

"We found it already," informed Reichen who also stopped eating.

"Truly?" Sullien's expression shifted from alert to aghast in a second. His gaze directed at me as if asking for confirmation.

"Yes," I affirmed.

"At this rate, we'll have a conference tomorrow. Go and inform all the members. We need to move in haste and turn the tides in our favor," ordered Reichen

"I understand. By the by, I'm actually curious what it looks like since it's been centuries since we heard about it and there were no clear records about the jewel."

"It is quite complicated."

"How so?" Sullien delved.

"Well, then, since all the Lost Treasures were found, we don't need to go out tonight?" I interfered to change the topic as Reichen had no plans to reply when he reached out for more soup.

Reichen inclined his head. "Apparently."

The door burst open with a bang before I could speak. It was a new guest. Definitely another messenger of bad news.

"Good thing, you're here also, Sullien. Ace, can you leave us for a while," he asked right away.

I agreed immediately as he seemed to be in a hurry, I put down my utensils and stood up.

"Here. You're probably still hungry." Reichen also got up and gave me the basket of bread.

We didn't have breakfast as we both woke up late after we arrived just this morning from our fruitless search at Hasfor. We were having our luncheon but with visitors who had something urgent to discuss, I could not complain.

"I don't need this much," I muttered and only took one piece before exiting.

***

I proceeded to the garden and tended the flowers. The rose bush had simply been planted but they were not trimmed so I grabbed the pruning scissors and kept myself occupied while I waited.

I guessed since I was a new member I was excluded from their private meetings. I wondered what they were talking about. It must be crucial if they didn't want me there. I felt undeniably left out but who was I to whine? I should be even glad I was accepted here. 

I only hoped they would not abandon me. I didn't want to return to that palace. I hated to go back but I knew I would return in a heartbeat if something went wrong. 

The problem was, that I still heard nothing about Ezriel. For some reason, it was too silent that there were not even mindless gossip when I loitered on the borders of Ezriel as if the whole kingdom was a peaceful one.

The nobles and royals had always been a favorite topic of commoners, I had gone missing but no one had been chattering about it. Even the knights seemed to have given up. I had roamed the streets daily these past few days but I never saw them dallying again.

Knowing Father, he would have placed plenty of knights in this kingdom to lure me out. He knew that I was 'Ace' but that was it. Nothing as of import happened related to my family. Or maybe not that I am aware of?

I had bothered Reichen about that but he had no idea about it as well. Night was the only one who kept me posted about the palace but he had not returned yet. Reichen said his mission was still ongoing. He was no longer part of the Crusaders but he was doing a lot of errands for them.

Maybe after all the struggle, they had found a new lead, and nothing motivated Night more than the whereabouts of Lady Mhilrim. Ever since Lady Mhilrim had gone missing, there was one thing I noticed about Night.

I caught him not only once but several times completely dazed as he stared at a silver necklace in his hand. What caught my attention was the pendant on it. One was a pendant of square-cut amethyst and the other was a citrine vintage ring looped in the sterling silver chain.

Yellow and violet were not a common combination and it reminded me of the secret garden of Mother where those were the only two colors that stood out.

"Ow!" I was too sidetracked and small drops of blood flowed on my finger from the rose thorns.

I check my pocket watch but only a couple of minutes passed. I should have brought my portier so I could at least talk with Cindra or Willow.

Oh, never mind. Willow was not possible since I did not know if she was in public, unlike Cindra who preferred to stay in her estate. However, even Cindra had not contacted me. Usually, she came at least once a week to have tea.

I exhaled a deep breath and a mocking laugh escaped my lips. It was not even a month yet but I could not handle being alone already when in the past it could even take months before I could see them. It was difficult to turn back to those moments when I experienced a lot of bliss in this short amount of time. The weeks here could never compare to almost six years in that hell.

***

Half an hour must be sufficient for their conversation so I returned to the cottage.

I arrived shortly after and honed my senses as I walked nearer the porch. It was quiet so they must be done but I was wrong. I twisted the knob open but they were still talking inside.

"I apologize but I need to find my mother first and I could not lead tonight's search. Mother can escape but if she had an enchantment cast, I'm afraid something would happen to her---"

"What happened to Cindra?"

Three pairs of eyes landed on me.

"Have you been here for long? I was not even able to sense you," said Reichen.

"Not that long. So, what happened to Cindra?"

The three men exchanged looks and it was Blaze who spoke first.

"Cindra had currently gone at the Far East so Sullien's worried."

Blaze had a frivolous personality at parties but I realized he was quite serious in his job here in the organization. When it came to discussions, he never kidded around and talked with sternness, different from the typically playful tone he had.

"Then what do you mean by 'escape' and 'enchantment'?"

"Women and their attention to details," Reichen remarked followed by a chuckle as he explained. "Sullien had a bad selection of words and despite what he looks like, he is a Mother's boy and pansy against Cindra. He was afraid she might be trapped in an enchantment so he had to follow her around like a big baby, right?"

Sullien let out an awkward laugh. "Yeah. That's t-true."

My gut feeling was telling me something was off but I could not point out what.

"If that's the case, I can help out the search since we don't have to find the Lost Treas---"

"No!"

The abrupt rejection from Reichen startled me.

"That's quite a strong refusal."

"You don't need to come. You only need to stay here inside this house and don't leave this place."

My arms crossed as my brow arched after what he said. He found another way to irk me again. "Ha! Am I supposed to wait and be dutiful to you?"

"That's not what I mean, Ace. You know I prioritize your safety more than anything."

"Then explain to me properly why I can't go instead of imploring me to stay without my opinion." My eyes became narrower as I spoke.

"I'd rather we leave than be caught in this crossfire," intervened Sullien.

"I think it is better to assume it as a lover's spat," commented Blaze.

The two men were ignored and they left after but we did not care as I and Reichen had a staring competition with each other. He was the first one to look away.

"What happened to that?" he asked at my forefinger which was wrapped in white linen.

I untangled it since it must be healed already but to my surprise, there was still a tiny dot from the prick earlier. This small wound shouldn't even take half an hour to disappear but it was still there. Nonetheless, that was not my main problem. I resumed glaring at Reichen who was outwardly avoiding me.

"So you don't plan on explaining yourself?"

Instead of directly answering, he reached out and stroked my hair. "Just know that this is all for your good. I'll tell you everything when the time is right."

Why was he acting like Night now? Those were all the sentences Night loved to say when he declined to say more. I heaved a sigh. I had no option but to leave it like this as of the moment.

***

I was holed up in my bed the whole evening. I fought the urge to sleep as I listened on the other side of the room. The ruckus was quieter today. I would not have noticed he was going out if not for the hard click of the knob.

Reichen and I spent our mornings together and missions in the evening but when we got back, he would leave mostly after midnight if he had time to spare. I did not pry too much as he must be doing his responsibilities as the leader.

But I could not lie still tonight. I scurried and decided to follow him.

"My name is Verdari, awaken."

After I learned how Reichen implemented his magic to be undetected, I did mine too and cast the barrier within me to weaken my presence.

He whistled for his horse and went ahead while I waited minutes before calling Lightning. I expanded my barrier to wrap the both of us and we tracked Reichen's whereabouts.

I tried to slow down as much as possible not to cause unnecessary noise but it took too much effort when I was tramping the damp forest of Druir Woodlands.

Reichen came to a stop and I jumped down from Lightning. The forest was not completely dark but with the trees crowding together, the moon could not fully illuminate the place. I barely recognized Yulia, Orela, and Karios if not for the white streaks on their mask. Sullien who was supposed to be looking for Cindra was also there along with Blaze and several more masked people that I had seen during the meetings.

I thought they stopped when they failed to intrude on the place. Reichen even told me that it was a false alarm yet there they were gathering here. I was not stupid to think they were just here for a simple assembly when a number of Cattivos were located in this place.

"How was last night? Hasfor is in the Far East so we could not come yesterday. Is your magic not working here?" I heard Reichen.

Sullien nodded. "I cannot directly teleport from outside last night. I'm afraid that goes as well with Yulia's invisibility."

The first time I beheld Yulia's magic I was surely astounded. No wonder she was also part of the infiltration team.

"All spatial abilities are useless unless you use them directly inside but element users like me had no problems. The tricky part was there were only a few like us," stated Blaze.

"Morphing also worked but when I went inside, there was a part of the cave that my magic dispelled while another part was completely condensed with magic."

"I know. You reported that already before we went to Hasfor."

"I had no choice but to remind you countless times because we need Ace here. You even forbid us to tell her that everyone except for her is part of the search. I can morph into an animal but hers is much useful since she can take the appearance of anyone here," Karios quibbled.

"I told you we don't need her to get involved."

Why is he so adamant? I asked myself since it didn't come off like he was being overprotective but more like he was hiding something from me.

"I concur. King Enmir only wants her and we had confirmed this was their hideout. If she stumbled into the devil's lair, we might not just lose Lady Mhilrim but also the only person who can help us," said Blaze.

They continued their discussion until they decided to go before long. Even beneath their masks, I could almost see the tension in the air as they came closer. I should have brought my mask. I was in a hurry that I completely forgot about my bag when I left it just right at my bedside.

I could not even disguise as of the moment since I had not touched anyone today.

We dove deeper into the forest and each of them awakened. However, they went opposite the opening of the cave. Orel used his power and the rock cave deformed from his touch. A huge opening was made enough for a person to pass through.

Reichen and Sullien were the last to enter but before they could, a voice halted their steps.

"So this is where the moles dug their hole." Xenon's voice resounded.

Reichen positioned his spear as he rebutted. "Took you long enough to catch us, Anon."

In the blink of an eye, weapons clashed in a battle of black haze and white glimmering metals. Sullien tried transporting everyone back while I remained rooted on the ground, contemplating if I should intercede. But as I was pondering, the worst situation occurred.

"It's pointless, Reichen. Your goddess was deteriorating and so did all your magic," said Xenon as his sword pierced Reichen.

It scarcely avoided his heart. Xenon was about to strike Reichen again and I rushed without thinking. I did not even have my dagger and took one of the weapons lying around.

"No!" I threw the sword to deflect his attack.

Xenon's eyes rounded when he saw me and mouthed inaudibly, "Princess..."

I ignored Xenon and kneeled beside Reichen with blood gushing out but upon closer inspection, it was not a dark red liquid but an oozing black liquid that flowed in his body.

I sharply turned and glanced at Xenon. "What did you do to him?"

Xenon was staring into space and recovered himself when he heard my words but it was not an answer that came. He pulled me up and we disappeared in a second.

***

The image of Reichen bloodied on the ground still haunted me as we emerged into a stone chamber complete with a bed and all necessities. 

"What did you do to him, Xenon?" I repeated. "Reichen's still your brother!"

I hated my siblings for a while but I never once wished for their death. Even Father. I loathed him but I could not vow I could kill him myself when he deserved to die with all the misfortunes he caused.

"No, I'm not his brother," he denied.

"You don't have to lie. You both have the Mark of Deliora, Xenon."

"The previous king was not the only son, Princess," he clarified curtly.

"Then you're... Are you doing this all for retribution?"

"Yes. Those people killed my whole family in the guise of killing the bastard children. I won't die unless I kill the person who orchestrated all of this."

I understood him. If it was before I would have helped him but it was a different matter now that I knew of Reichen. He was not part of this yet he was the one enduring the consequence of his parent's mistake.

"'Revenge will only weave an endless string of retaliation that in the end, you will not be the only one who will suffer but everyone around you. Those were your very own words that I always kept in my mind. You always told me to let go of things than seek vengeance but you're not heeding your own advice!"

I was practically screaming every single word to let him see reason but Xenon was still calm.

"My revenge is the only thing keeping me alive, Princess. I had to do everything to extract the life that I lost. These are all means to an end."

"Then what did you do to Reichen, Xenon? Did you cast an enchantment?"

"No, Princess. It was poison."

"Then it's futile. Amicas are all immune to poison."

Xenon was wholly aware of that as he was there when Father tried to feed me all types of poison during one of his sick experiments.

"Haven't you noticed, Princess? Your magic is diminishing. One by one. Until all of you become regular mortals."

Silenced passed amongst us and my eyes landed on my forefinger. There was still a small dot that should have been healed. Perhaps he was indeed telling the truth. Our magic was dwindling.

"Please rest, for now, Princess. I will bring you to His majesty later. His Majesty informed me of your abilities as Ace and you cannot use your magic here."

I scowled. "Are you really going to send me to that Father of mine?"

Another silence and he retreated but I held on to his hand.

"One thing. Tell me one thing before you leave, Xenon. Are you that Anon who killed everyone in Riglos City?"

I dreaded his answer but I wanted verification.

"Are you?" I goaded.

"They deserved it," he replied without looking back.

"Did Father order you to?"

He pivoted around and our eyes locked. His stormy gray irises reflected the exhaustion. Xenon was only a year older than Reichen. He would turn two and twenty by the end of this year but his eyes looked like he had seen the worst of everything in this world.

"It was my own will, Princess," he confessed.

His hands slipped from mine as I got what I sought. Xenon was Anon, the ruthless murderer. 

"Why?" My voice cracked.

If Father ordered him, I could live with that fact but he declared that he did it on his own. I had known him as an honest person. He preferred to say nothing at all than make a lie. The words that came to his mouth were all true.

"The whole city was a slave trade." It was a short and precise response but he didn't even bother to explain himself.

"But you didn't have to kill everyone!"

"I marched in that place with a grudge, Princess. I would have rotted away in that city as a nameless slave. Those people got what is coming. They are jaded and made Riglos their own version of hell."

Xenon vanished into thin air after the last syllable left his mouth while I stood there gaping at his statement. All this time, just like how Father called me a monster, he sometimes referred to Xenon as a slave. I thought it was a mere insult. Slavery had been abolished years ago so it never occurred to me that he was a real slave.

There was a time when I became prejudiced against the family of Deliora and despised what they did to Xenon. They lived like a happy family and enjoyed the benefits of a royal while Xenon had to work hard as a knight but it was way worse.

From a royal to a slave.

There was nothing more degrading than being a slave. If the adults didn't meddle in their lives, Xenon wouldn't have to suffer like this and Reichen wouldn't bear the brunt that would lead to all this misery they were all facing.

I steeled myself and did not waste any moment. Xenon must have underestimated me. I did not become a renowned thief just because of my magical abilities. Night taught me several things and picking a lock had always been the easiest.

It only took me several minutes to fully open the door. The empty corridor had no light and I tried adjusting my eyes to the dark. It only improved slightly unlike the previous times when walking in the dark was never a problem.

I walked further away and magic poured into me. I had not awakened but I felt like I did with the dense magic in the air. With this potency, it felt like it called on to me and I followed the source. How could an Amica's magic be so strong in the den of the Cattivos?

I ventured deeper until I reached an opening. The arched entry was lit that I was able to see what was happening. Xenon was holding a sword drenched with blood and a person that I hadn't seen for a while lying in her own pool of blood.

It was Cindra.

***

Note: Dedicate this chapter to SavageQueen150. Thanks for appreciating Xenon's character! Hope you'll still like him after this xD

Anyways, I'm not just randomly killing her, okay? Her death is essential to the story as you will see in the next chapter. Thanks for reading, cutiefries!