A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
"You wanted a conversation, but why are you not talking?"
Prince Valerian has lost his patience. His teacup had long been empty. He bet everyone's cup were, too. They just don't know how they will open a conversation.
They are sitting with the Matriarch's children. Yet, it's crazy how they're not overrracting about it. Must be because these past few days have been the craziest days in their lives. Not forgetting the moment that happened earlier between Ohms and Watts. It shook them to the core and left the light-headed.
"Forgive me. I do not know where to start. Also, how would you like me to address you? And where is your eldest brother?"
Prince Valerian looked straight at him, "You seem interested about our eldest brother. Address me the right way. You have no right to call me by my name."
The Ki'zaar hold his son's hand. The Prinsiaze didn't take his eyes off of Vulre.
"I understand, Your Imperial Highness," smiled Vulre, "Your eldest brother, His Imperial Highness Prince Zodiac, is very special in many ways. But of all, I'm very interested about his father---"
"He's gay!"
"Shut it, boy!" Emperor Maxism stressed and widened his eyes at him. Prince Maximilien rolled his eyes on him and ate desserts.
"What is she like? Orithyia." His Equal.
Vulre straightened his back and think. He's aware about His Equal and her missing memories. Oh, he definitely know her.
"Of all the creations in this world, she's the most wonderful and most beautiful. She's amazing, she's great... And she didn't deserved what we did to her."
It instantly shifted the mood of their atmosphere.
"After fulfilling her duty, she fell into vegetative state for a century. And we, as her children, took things under our control. As the eldest, I acted as her regent and ruled on her behalf,"
Their throats dry. They distracted themselves by if not playing with the food, then staring at it.
"The gravest and cruelest thing we've ever done is take her son, the rightful Emperor, away from her,"
Helesys closed his eyes now that Vulre said it. The Earthlings were breathless; even if they tried to breathe, it's just so difficult to. It gets stuck at the bottom of their chests, the gravity of the revelation will be the death of them.
"W-What... What did you do!? She had a son!? Then... Where is he?"
"Lower your voice," warned Virion to Emperor Maxism, but it's normal for him to react to a shocking news that way.
Vulre brought the teacup to his lips. He knows what he's doing. He can't delay anymore; they have the right to know, specifically, the Warlocks among his visitors. They've kept it all their lives, in two lifetimes. He won't hesitate anymore and he will be direct.
That way, he can finally ask his mother for atonement.
But what they did is far beyond forgiveness.
They hid in their domain to cover up their crimes. Their cowardice and sin led to the fall of the great Warlock Empire. Everything the Matriarch worked hard for to establish the Empire and her name went down the drain.
If not for the Earthlings, for Empress Siofra...
Vulre gently blow a breath and smiled at them.
"I see that you found Daro. We'd like to meet him,"
***
Their tea session is done and they are now in Watts's Office. Wattroid accommodated them after asking about his Master. After their assurance that he's fine, the robot composed himself and did his task. Everyone is in the living room, expanded and with enough couches for the visitors, waiting for Wattroid to bring Daro out. King Liorei should be the one doing it, they though to themselves, but he doesn't want to.
Soon, they came. Daro is in a wheelchair and Wattroid is pushing it. He's almost completely healed; he regenerated up to his forearms and legs already. Soon enough, he will be complete again.
Vulre raised from his seat. Miracyne looked up to him, then to her brothers, and followed his lead. The only one who remained sitting was Helesys.
"He's a brat!" Prince Maximilien commented. Emperor Maxism covered his mouth and shook him.
"Ah," Daro looked at them; the Matriarch's children are eerily familiar to him. His memories are playing in his mind. They seem like a distant memory; he can't narrow down who they are honestly but his body can remember that he reveres them.
"Your Graces,"
Daro tried to get out of his wheelchair to kneel before them. Vulre spared him that.
"No need. We greet the Great Knight of our Mother and the bone of Voinair,"
And at once, they bowed before him.
Daro found it uncomfortable, "Don't do that. You shouldn't... To me...?" He's so confused.
Daro sighed and accepted their respects and asked them to have a seat. When he found his son, King Liorei, he gave him a smile.
"Son... How are you?"
King Liorei furrowed his eyebrows, then he ignored him.
"He's asking you! You should answer!" Miracyne huffed.
"Then, answer him."
Miracyne gasped and turned to her brothers to cry.
"He's so mean! He's not like Daro!"
Daro halfly smiled, "I am not...who you think I once was. I've changed."
"We know."
"So..."
Vulre made himself comfortable. Miracyne lay down to his lap, where he gently brushed her hair. Miracyne giggled. She liked it.
"Have you found the boy?" Virion.
All eyes went on Daro.
"Does it have something to do about his journey to the Other Side?" King Liorei finally got his turn to ask.
And they nodded.
"To find the rightful Emperor,"
"You threw him and you sent Daro to find him? It's your job to!" The Mistress of Death.
Vulre looked down to Miracyne. She's slowly falling to sleep.
"I know you would say that. All of you will think of that. Truly, it's our responsibility to... However, only the Great Knight can. We don't know what and how he looks like, because when we threw him, he was still in the process of taking his form. We tried to find him, believe us. At this point, only Daro can."
"But why him? The Matriarch is long gone. It's not his responsibility anymore, should be. He's serving the Second Empress now. The death of the Matriarch meant the end of his service to her and whatever links him to her. As Knight and Lord."
"What else do you think?"
They were taken aback. They hate to jump into conclusions, but they did jump.
King Liorei fell into silence: he's cold and stiff, most of all, angry.
"The rightful Emperor...was conceived through the blending of our Mother...and Daro. The blood and flesh of the Matriarch from the blood and flesh of the Creator fused with the strongest bone of Voinair. That's who the rightful Emperor is. The only one who can recognize him is no other than his father---"
King Liorei rose from his sit and loudly stomp his foot, damaging the floor.
"Stop."
"I understand your rage. It's unfair for you and you feel threatened. The rightful Emperor is your eldest brother and you should be happy---"
Vulre slightly tilted his head to the side to avoid the sword King Liorei threw at him.
"How dare you harm us!" Sarifiel stand up to face him. Vulre pulled his brothers back down. Miracyne was startled and was about to get up but Vulre held her back down. Then, she sleeps.
"Happy? You said I should be happy? I wish he never find that boy. That's how things will be fair between us. I don't give a single fuck if he's the Matriarch's son! You think he will treat him right? He never to me! What made you think that he will be a good father to that boy?"
"Because he's his son. With the Matriarch, his love."
King Liorei was silenced by his simple words. It made him feel bitter---and pathetic. Because it was the truth.
"Love." King Liorei nastily looked at his father. He cackled, and then he snapped, "LOVE!? Right, that's the difference between us! He never loved me! That must be why he set out sooner to find him, because he loves him! A better son from a better woman! The son he will build and mold to his liking, like how he did me! What? You will sculpt him as the opposite of me? Flawless, good, pure, merciful---Is that it, DAD!?"
They stand up when the King finally lost it and grabbed his father by his collar. Voltage Xirquit went between them and pushed him.
"Calm down. Do not measure how much you suffered. We don't even know the state the boy is in. Billions of years have passed since, think about how he might be faring,"
"Don't fucking step into this and sit, Xirquit. I don't care. I don't care if he's starving to death or well-fed. If he's alive, then I will go find and kill him."
"LIOREI!"
Virion blocked his way, gritting his teeth.
"Harm us, we will take it. But do not touch the rightful Emperor. We are to be blamed so put it on us. It is not his fault if Daro treated you differently. He's the Matriarch's son, his son from the woman he loves and ever loved. You should understand---"
"Wow!" Prince Maximilien clapped his hands with twinkling eyes after witnessing how the King punched Virion.
"I understand. I do, believe me. The boy is a product of love, I was not. He just created me to be his tool. That's all. And I hate that indifference between us. If killing the boy means destroying him, then I will kill him. Then, he will finally realize how evil his tool had become."
"You---!"
Sarifiel launched to attack him. King Liorei waited for him, only for Stellandriavia to manifest and block his path to the King.
She's angry.
"Close your distance an inch more and I will destroy you. Take this warning as my mercy."
Miracyne jumped awake when she felt the presence of a rival.
"Stellandriavia!"
Now, both are baring their fangs at each other. Vulre sighed, he expected things to be messy. He must control the situation. But how?
"Get me popcorn, bot. Some action! Exciting!"
Emperor Maxism picked up the Prince and shook him.
Stellandriavia swept Virion aside to clear the King's path, "Please go, Your Majesty. I will hold them back."
Now, that's a different matter.
Vulre sharply gazed at Stellandriavia. She flinched and bit her lip. She knew where it was coming from and can't dare to look at it.
"Let us...be a family."
Ice colder than His Equal's coated their atmosphere.
'He must be kidding,' they thought to themselves.
"We can't. We're all fucked up." King Liorei sarcastically smirked and took a step forward to do what he must.
"Liorei!" Called out Daro and even raised his hand, trying to reach him out.
"Please! Please, son... I beg you, don't harm him."
King Liorei balled his fists as hard as he could.
"Then, cry."
Daro was dumbfounded.
King Liorei, with a grim and darkest expression on his face, tilted his head halfly to see him.
"I want to see you cry. The tears I shed, the blood I have to shed and spill FOR YOU; Cry blood, then I will reconsider."
Daro slowly dropped his hand.
Daro, for Ancients, is a symbol of manhood. Honorable, loyal, unbending, and strong. The only strongest among people with magical powers. With Excalibur, he can cut through magic sent to him. He can carry the heaviest boulder, even the world if you dare him.
Born from the strongest bone of Voinair, he had nobody to call his 'mother' and 'father'. Voinair is his creator, therefore, he worships him. He never had childhood because he's already grown when he was given life.
'The Perfect Man', but the Deity had forgotten to bless him emotions. He's only programmed to serve and nothing more. But when he met the Matriarch, everything changed for him. She taught him how to think for himself, how to have a 'will', how to comprehend---and most of all, how to express emotions.
An empty shell without a void.
Just empty.
Simply put, he's never cried. He's never shed a tear. He's as pitiful as them.
The strongest man is the weakest.
What could possibly make him cry?
The Matriarch used to pull tricks on him, poking every spot of him because she wanted to see him cry as well. Because Daro saw her cry, she wanted things to be even. Would it be a marvel? Will his tears be a greater treasure than hers? Maybe crying will make him look ugly. At least, just once. Maybe he will look funny, then she will tease him. Maybe... Just maybe...
Daro sat down as if he finally surrendered all his defenses. He sat on the wheelchair with his shoulders down.
"Don't be ridiculous. Daro never cry. He cannot," Virion claimed, but he was expecting, waiting like the others, too.
"That's why I said that, idiot."
Vulre tapped his foot once when Virion made a step closer to the King. It stopped Virion from what he's about to do. He held himself back but deep down, he want to pummel the King.
Virion clicked his tongue and turned his back around. Things would've calmed down if not for his next words,
"No wonder anymore, you are really that witch's child,"
King Liorei didn't let that slide. No, he won't let that slide. His memories about his mother are unsettled. He can't remember her face anymore but he had memories of her. Memories of her contributing all throughout the war... But was it even truly his mother?
His mother, her name was Alessandra.
She was kind, she was warm, and most of all, she loved the King so much.
For Virion to talk shit like that about his mother... Pushed all of his danger buttons.
Even the quickest to react ones were not quick enough. The next thing they knew, his Veil fist went through Virion's chest. The punched pushed his heart out and it landed on Miracyne's chest. At first, she was too stunned and horrified. Next, she was shrieking.
"No wonder your kind are inferior to humans. Not only you're an idiot, you have no sense of survival instincts at all."
King Liorei drew a dagger out of his space storage and slit Virion's neck.
And just like that, Virion's life ended. What's made of clay will return as clay.
The Matriarch's children are made of clay. She mold them, spilled her blood over their heads, and shared the breath of life to their mouths. That's how they came to life and flesh.
"VIRION! NO! HE KILLED HIM! OUR BROTHER!" Miracyne wailed hysterically while tweaking her hair. She slide down to her knees, grieving.
Gerson Liorei walked and punched her face.
"Have you gone mad!?"
"Son---Enough!"
"Woah! Amazing! He punched a girl!"
Stellandriavia put up a barrier between them, one that they can't go through. Only her, Gerson Liorei, and the Matriarch's children are inside.
"Since we're all here, how about you tell me what you know about my mother? Then, I will spare you. If it's true that the Palaces have eyes and ears on its walls, then you must've heard about my history. Speak. Tell me about my mother!"
Stellandriavia smirked and sweetly chuckled at Miracyne's distress. She's bleeding: her ability would not suffice against the King.
"Let her go," Vulre, though sternly he said it, was calm.
"Tell me about my mother first."
Gerson Liorei pulled Miracyne up and subdued her hands behind her. His other free hand squeezed her throat.
Helesys was shaken, but he can't act out recklessly. Gerson Liorei is experienced and seasoned as a murderer. Virion is dead and Miracyne will be, soon.
"What do you want to know?"
"Vulre!" Helesys grabbed him. He wanted to oppose him, but when he saw how determined Vulre is, he faltered.
He's not determined to answer the King's questions.
He's determined to face death.
"My mother's name... Her name was Alessandra Slaynov. I know it's not her true name, and I think her identity is not true either. Begin by telling me her name and identity."
"No!" Helesys rose from his seat and blocked Vulre with his hand, "Anything but that!"
"My Glorious King, he's afraid of the curse," Stellandriavia.
"What curse?"
"It is forbidden to speak about our Patron Deity. Anyone who will speak of her name or even talk about her the slightest will be cursed. The curse did not come from our Patron Deity, it's from the other Deities. So that she will be forgotten and known as the evil Deity who created the Veils."
"Is that so?" Stellandriavia nodded, "I wish I had another fuck to spare. Either they tell me as they die, or I will kill them one by one in her honor."
Miracyne grabbed onto his arm when he tightened his grip in her neck. His nails were dug deep in her flesh and she could feel it poking and scratching against the bones of her throat.
"Her name---"
Helesys stomp his foot as he stand up and owned it, "She's the Deity of Darkness, creator of Veils, the dragon descent Zin Draji Teivel, and the moons. She's the twin sister of Lleu, the Deity of Sun and Light! She used to be in their circle: our mother, His Equal, and the Great Knight. Most of all, her name..."
Miracyne's tearful eyes widened at her brother. She shook her head, screaming, begging. Vulre remained in his seat: he's ready. Helesys sacrificed himself for him. This must be their divine retribution. Their deaths will answer to their crimes.
Sarifiel, on the hand, had perfectly concealed his presence. He became one with the air and he spread without anyone noticing. He thought it was a smart thing to do to ambush the King.
Gerson Liorei is an experienced and seasoned murderer. His defenses may be open, but that is so he can lure his prey to attack him. Sarifiel did and died without anyone knowing but Gerson Liorei. The dark smoke swirling slowly around the King touched the air where Sarifiel is, killing him.
"Say it." King Liorei touched Miracyne's throat. Helesys gritted his teeth.
Then he calmed down.
"I'd like to make a confession first. Will you let me?"
King Liorei rolled his eyes and nodded. He kept his hands on Miracyne.
"I did it," started Helesys, "I threw the Imperial Prince, the rightful Emperor. Our mother, after executing her duties as a God, fell into deep sleep and was beyond recovery. She does not regenerate, and if whenever we try to heal her, her condition worsens. Daro guarded her day and night to keep the other royals from killing her so they can finally seize the throne. I found them blending. I am sorry."
Helesys lowered his head and clenched his fists until they were white. He closed his solemn eyes to keep his tears from falling.
"It's not because I am against their love. Daro has proven his worth and he's not a mere Ancient. He's the bone of Voinair. His destructible strength with her Bloodline, there is no doubt that her lineage would be unstoppable. But that's not what I feared most. I feared we will be replaced. Her own blood and flesh, a son at that who will carry not only her Bloodline but her name. So, I threw him. I don't know where the portal I opened led to, but I threw him."
Miracyne watched her brother. She grieved for his mistake, but that won't change anything. Helesys committed the most unforgivable sin and this might be his way to escape the guilt and responsibility.
By dying.
"Her name... That forbidden name. The Deities never named her. At first, she was only 'The Darkness' and the 'the opposite of Light'. Our Mother is ever generous and merciful, so she named your mother."
Miracyne turned her head away as she sob.
"Lioran. Your mother's name is Lioran, and it meant the 'darkly chaos which existed before or with time'. And your name, Liorei, meant the 'the light in or of the darkly chaos'."
Stellandriavia curtsied by the mention of her creator's name. The Zin Draji Teivel, except the Prinsiaze, lowered their head to pay their respects. Lord Feryzen even went down to his knees.
At last, their Patron Deity's name had been revealed.
King Liorei pushed Miracyne when he freed her. But that did not end there, because a tentacle from his shadow pierced through her chest.
"NO!"
Helesys and Vulre cried out as they ran to catch their sister.
The Earthlings saw it coming, but they were still...
"That's for my daughter. For tolerating everything that has happened within the Palaces then and now. Her fate would've been different had one of you interfered, had one of you protected her. But you didn't. You didn't do anything."
"YOU PROMISED!"
A thunder struck before the King. It did not hit him.
And he smirked. The Matriarch's remaining children were hopeless,
"And you believed that? Most of them are meant to be broken."