Chapter 329 - Facades

Brought to the castle by medics of the Fighter's Guild, Eira's still unconscious body was placed into her chambers. Scared for the worst, the maids and butlers were in disarray to what had happened. By turn, the servants came to check on their princess – a doctor was called. The latter, after an examination, told there was nothing to be worried about. A mild concussion caused by battle. 

"What happened to her?" dressed in better clothes, Ysmay, and the mage's team – walked to her door.

"Unconscious," said Simone with a not so invested gaze.

"What happened?" pried Kim intently.

"She got injured, that's about it," nonchalant, Tony's voice said more than the words. One of not wishing to speak, one that had the others skeptically yearn for more answers. 

"I'd let the situation go If I were you," sighed Fletcher who stood beside Harold.

"It's a matter concerning Royalty, we're guests here," shook Harold who had second thoughts on the whole matter.

"Don't you think it senseless?" turned to Tony, Harold's seaweed hair felt as if curtains over his lonesome gaze. 

"What is wrong, what is right, I'm not Tharis," he shrugged.

"Class 2A," deep, an immense presence came out of nowhere.

"Majesty," they bowed as the clopping of his shoe grew close.

"I see," glanced at the door to return at Ysmay, "-Eira was injured by me."

"What does that mean?" asked Christina who had held her breath in fear, fear for her friend and not hers.

"Since thou art her friend tis normal for thee to know what transpired," on that, he explained further what had happened. Shock and speechlessness clinched onto their throats. A feeling of suffocation, one unrivaled, any attempts of speaking out was met by a feeling of nausea. "In a nutshell, that's the whole matter at hand. I won't voice my matters for tis up to thee to decide. Eira made her decision when our blades crossed. Tis in her hand. I'd strongly advise on resting the next day. The masterclass on Alchemy will be hosted at a university the day after. All who wish to join, thou art welcome," nonchalant, he walked down the hallway where Youst and Rosetta waited. 

"What's this about?" turning the corner, green hair with red eyes stood with arms crossed. "What did you do to Eira?" strict, Xula's anger raged.

"I did what was needed," nonchalant, he stared with an equal presence. 

"That doesn't answer my question, Blood King, what did you do to the princess?" she pressed on with reckless abandon. Around, maids gathered with shuddered gazes. 

"Should you really care about my actions?" from neutral to one of the abyss, the crimson glare burnt as if magma, "-why don't thee ask of what Eira has said. Her truest feeling, do you know what she feels? Have those answers ready and then we can continue to argue. As for now, I've no interest in clashing heads. Have a nice day, Queen Shanna," redressing the suit jacket, the king marched with a change in the aura. 

"Don't anger the king any more than you have too," whispered Adete who buzzed as if a fly.

"What does that mean?" she turned with an intimidating gaze. 

"Figure it out," smiled, her hands rubbed against one another as if prophesizing of a coming future. 

Walked to the royal chambers, Staxius stood facing a cradle of which rested Lizzie. Far away to where Eira rested, Xula waited patiently beside her bed with a warm smile.

"Lizzie," stopped, "-am I that bad a person?" sat on the bed, "-am I qualified to be called a father." No response, "-emotions, they've grown on me for the ages. Long are the days where I felt nothing. Xula, Eira, and everyone had a part to play in unlocking my cold heart. I felt love and was able to love. Not that it matters, Eira voiced her feelings strongly. The path left to me is to voice my resolve. If Mana Control is the host of the problem, then I'll devote myself further into its intricacies. Enough of playing house, enough of caring for the people around me. I've had enough," stood with a deep breath, the room's warmness dropped. 

'Intherna, I think it's time for you to be awakened,' teleported to the alchemic tower. Suit-jacket off with only a white shirt and pants – hair tied in a bun with locks on either side of the face; the mind slipped into the Arcane Library.

Minutes turned to hours, breezy swayed the curtains above Eira's head. "Where am I?" awoke with her hand intertwined with Xula, her face flushed. 

"Mother," called, the queen awoke.

"Eira," said sharply, "-you're here," embraced tightly, "-I thought you were injured badly." 

"The back of my head does hurt," gently grazing the area, her eyes met with one of sternness. "What's the matter?" 

"What's the matter, are you serious. Don't you remember?"

"Remember what actually," confused, she actively sought for answers, "-oh… I remember." The perfect recreation of what had happened played as if a movie. "My parents are the royal family of Hidros," holding her mouth, the heart raced, the chest heavy, tears flowed, a thousand needles made itself known at the back of her mouth. "-Y-you're n-not my d-dad," a few tears turned into an overflowed river during the rainy season, whimpering turned to sobs. 

"Eira," caressing her head, "-I see what happened now," the tone changed to one soft and caring. 

"I knew it," laughed a voice. "-I knew it," emerged from the shadows, white hair stood with blade drawn. "Queen of Arda and princess of Hidros," walked Courtney, "-I sensed the trouble in my other self's heart. I wonder, could it be that Eira said something hurtful."

"Majesty," came forth Prophecy with a Five-Star barrier around the bed. 

"Daemonum Gladio," said Xula unimpressed, "-who are you truly?"

"Me," laughter ensued, "-the name given is Courtney Haggard, thy husband's real support. Once upon a time, I was wife to the ruler of the underworld. Stolen and turned into a weapon as a means to free my soul, Lord Death gave me the power that could rival the gods. That doesn't concern those of the mortal realm; to answer thy question simply, I'm Staxius Haggard's support. You might have saved him during Lizzie's death or the many instances of which he would have fallen into the abyss. Yet, I was also she who'd pick him up. The one who came when called, the one who had to fight on his behalf when the journey grew difficult. My quest has yet to be accomplished, Staxius's is my other self, he needs to grow strong for us to be one." *Death Element – Daemonum Gladio Variant: Shift,* merged into the barrier, "-quite a lovely bed," she sat inches away from Eira.

"Highness," 

"Don't move," ordered Courtney with her blade against Eira's neck. "That goes the same for you, ruler of Arda."

"What do you want?" asked the queen trapped by the twin-sister.

"Nothing," she smiled, "-I only came to add a little fuel onto a burning fire. Tis not in malice; I warned that thy husband would soon change. Guess the time is here – Eira's words spoken in anger, defy it as you may now, defend and say it was on impulse, naught will change. The Blood King has always believed in the wise word of his father, one of the many lessons, words said in anger are always what the person thinks deep down. So, you see, child of Piers and Gallienne, none shall ever comprehend how he thinks. Don't even try, thou hath lost said privilege. Family has thy back, I would so take thy head," spat onto a tiger patterned rug, "-disgusting, for all he wanted to accomplish was a stable way to gather mana and turn it into an engine abled to sustain the inhabitants."

"Enough," yelled Xula, Eira's hands trembled in fear.

"Whatever," *Click,* the barrier broke with Prophecy on the floor, "-legendary fighting spirit," mocked over the shoulder, "-I long for the day he abandons such an ungrateful province." 

"Mother…" red from crying, Eira's sniffling grew loud.

"I know," peered with the same look of bafflement, they embraced one another. The words spoken by Courtney, vague on the top, held a deeper meaning. She knew all along what brewed underneath. Xula, virtuous as she might have seen, held more than was let onto. Smirked, the alter-ego knew best. 'What does that twin know? Arda may be at peril. Staxius, dearest husband, forgive me.'

Lost in the sea of knowledge, a hand reach over yonder. Came with was a message, '-beware of Arda. Light always has darkness. Blood King, thee should start to amass support from the nobles. Bleak as it may sound, the four clans shan't betray thee. Nightwalkers are bound by more than loyalty; they've sworn their survival on their leader. If the latter can ensure said survival, expect to have a very warm everlasting bond.'

*Gasp,* '-I nearly drowned,' scanned, the surrounding felt strange. 'What did that message mean, Arda has darkness?' papers filled with notes laid at his feet. 

"O' brother," 

"Courtney?" 

"That's right," materialized the twin with a wink.

"Did thee come after sensing my disarray?" 

"Was that rhetorical?" leaned on the table, "-I'm glad to see that the emotionless visage has returned." 

"What are you on about?" to which she lifted a mirror, '-she's right,' touched the cheeks, it held nothing. 

"See what I mean," paused, "-that's not the issue at hand. I've come to say this – thy wife isn't the person you think she is. I dare say you were blinded to the truth. Brother, I've watched everything from a differing point of view. Eira too, why did she suddenly lash out. I don't want to add to any more conspiracy, but do be careful – this isn't what they seem to be."

"You're right," monotonously, "-I've sensed the discontent so many times before. Mana control, it's not just about the survival of the province, there's something that many don't wish for I to know. The lie about a distortion being able to tear apart Arda is a load of bullshit. I scoured the Arcane Library for more than a week, nothing came of the sorts. Courtney, I've a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"I'm about to start the ritual – could you have the circle drawn over at the mansion. The attic should do just fine."

"You've sensed it now?" spoken through telepathy, Courtney side-glanced the wall. 

"Yeah, I did, we're being watched." 

"What ritual?" she asked.

"Nothing much, just an enchantment process for a training dummy. I plan to sell it to the fighter's guild." 

"Sure," she smiled to take away all the necessary materials.

'Foul play is at hand,' he thought, '-good thing that all my material is encoded so that only I can read. In the eye of another, it looks as if an essay, or poetry. Xula, Arda, Eira – it's over. I've known about it but choose to remain silent. Xula's attitude changed so much it made me on edge. Every time something of value was accomplished, there always remained a little stench of hate behind her words. I best find out who is on my side and who is not.' 

"My queen," voiced a man hidden by shadows.

"Speak," sat inside the office with a less than desirable attire, "-what have you found?"

"The king was speaking of making training dummies for the fighter's guild as a way to apologize."

"Are you sure it to be true?"

"Yes, the words seemed sincere without any misdirection."

"Then it should be fine," green to black, Xula's elbows rested against the table. 'What are you to do, Blood King. Will you betray Arda or comply – Eira's seed of distrust has been sown."

"Majesty," teleported in the sage with a staff.

"What is it?"

"Lord Ryul has come."

"That boy," she stood with a passionate look, "-he doesn't seem to get enough, does he? addicted beyond belief."

"Are you sure it wise?"

"Shut it, I'll do what I wish."