by Isu Yin
“The Crystal Empire,” Hero said. “The forest is a remnant, but Ussan was the name of the Crystal Empire.”
“Is that a joke?” Fate looked between him and Chi. “It’s not. When you say we, who are you talking about? You don’t mean Hero is from Ussan as well, right?”
Chi filled her cheeks with air and exhaled slowly. “Maybe. We are not certain.”
“What the hell does that mean? Someone needs to tell me. I’m so fed up with the secrets.” She pointed towards the window. “Do I need to go and find Akira? This whole time, I thought I was a part of the Rebellion to recruit Hero, and everyone lied to me! Why do I feel like I can trust this strange man more than my allies? It’s awful.”
“Fate, please listen,” Chi implored. “I can explain everything.”
Hero interrupted, swallowing hard. “It was my idea. I wanted to know if any of the Rebellion’s accusations rang true. I have been told that my mother was an Oracle. There are rumors that she made a deal with the Grim and planned with the leaders of the Rebellion. We still do not know the full story. Only Lady Heqet and Akira seem to know the full truth.”
Chi sat beside him, seeming stiff and protective, yet somehow nervous of Fate. “There is a huge debate about whether or not Hero might be the reincarnation of a family member, a remnant of the fall. My sister was very secretive about his birth and her plans. She did not tell me, or even Kyou, about what she intended to do. All we know is that whatever she did was buried. She left Hero behind without any clues about what she had been doing before her death, and even that is strange.”
Fate absorbed the information despite her irritation. She couldn’t help raising a brow at their explanation. “Strange, how?”
“Because he’s a crystal elemental,” Akira said, suddenly beside her. He stretched an arm over the back of the cushion and crossed one leg over the other. “Why didn’t Elaine try to protect her son if she knew about the murders? Also, if her husband was a target, why didn’t she leave behind some clue about the perpetrator of the crimes? Are we supposed to believe an Oracle didn’t foresee her own death? Missing pieces, folks. It doesn’t make sense.”
Fate jerked back. “How do you keep doing that?”
His eyes seemed sunnier when he had her attention, but he said nothing.
As she sat there, surrounded by her supposed allies, her gaze fell on Hero. In the end, he had lied to her just as she suspected, but now it was too late to erase her feelings towards him. She needed to understand his intentions.
Akira’s polychromatic eyes gleamed in the shadowy room. “How can we expect loyalty from our allies if we lie to them?”
Chi appeared pressured by the atmosphere. “Stories about Ussan are hard to come by, Lady Fate. They are buried like the crimes in Mu. Since Hero has already been sealed, we thought it better to keep our knowledge of Ussan hidden from the Council’s watchful gaze.”
Akira explained. “The founders of Ussan—Caeles Viro, and our Spinner, Fati—vanished on the day the Empire crumbled.”
Fate placed her hands on her lap, avoiding him as best she could. “Viro and Fati?”
This sounds like more than a coincidence to me.
He tilted his head back slightly, letting off a casual air even though he spoke of a heavy subject. “Do you know how Dolls are created?”
She shook her head.
“Puppeteers summon back Ancient souls that have been cleansed, and place them inside vessels. Everyone who knew about your summoning immediately reached out their dirty paws to see whether or not you’re the Spinner. After all, what kind of girl comes back with the same name and constitution as our lovely spinner? Coincidence? I think not.”
Exactly.
Chi disputed. “It was concluded that she was not. She is a Feh. Her intended name was Fehyt, not Fate. This is all just a horrific mistake.”
“Ah, ah.” He shook a finger at her. “The mistake is yours. If this is true, how can she see with the Eyes of the Abyss? Someone did not do their homework.”
Hero pushed the hair from his eyes and, simultaneously, seemed to push their banter to the back of his mind. “When I first started having dreams, everyone speculated I might be a Doll instead of a natural born Ancient.”
Akira chimed in. “What he means is—they feared he might be the, supposedly dead, emperor of Ussan.”
“Because of that,” Hero resumed, “things became complicated, and the higher powers vied for my favor. I did not say anything because I do not know if any of this is accurate.”
Fate still listened to the odd change in Hero’s manner of speaking. If he did this because of anxiety, it told her that it was his first time sincerely suffering from stress.
At her side, Akira still explained the predicament like an expositional fountain. Truthfully, she doubted him just as much as the others. No one had swooped in to explain anything before, so it struck her as odd that he did so now.
Maybe he just likes to hear himself talk.
“The Council panicked,” he said, making dramatic hand gestures. “You see, there are rumors that Caeles Viro was one of the first tainted, and many suspect that he may have escaped during the fall. The Council puffs up every time they hear his name. Sounds like guilt, don’t you think?”
So they think Hero was a hidden Doll, not born.
Fate wrinkled a brow. “So what is the truth?”
“The Council trembles at the thought of their sins returning to haunt them. Dead are the soldiers of judgment. At least, they should hope so.” He laughed softly. “No matter how much time passes, we seem to ask the same questions. Do the Tainted deserve to live or die? Who are the real heroes of history? Who has committed what heinous crimes?”
She understood what he meant, though she hoped to stop his prattle. “In your long-winded explanation—what you’re trying to explain is—the problems here merely echo questions left unanswered from Undal. Is that right?”
“You understand me.”
She gripped her head. “This is preposterous. What happened in Undal? I thought everything was a myth. How can it be real? I don’t know what to believe.”
“You can believe in me.” Akira’s eyes gleamed again, which appeared to hold some underlying meaning.
“What role do you play in all of this? Who is Solaris? Why does he claim to have known the Spinner first? Are you him? Who are you?”
“All wonderful questions. Have you taken an interest in me? I hate to brag, but I am a loyal and amorous magician with many tricks up my sleeve.”
Hero made a throaty noise and rolled his eyes. “Please, spare me.”
“At least I’m honest.”
“I’m not interested in listening to you two argue,” Fate said. “I just want answers.”
Akira shifted his polychromatic eyes towards her. “What if I told you that we were Bound?”
“I’d say tell me who you are, and maybe I’ll remember.”
“I like a good challenge. Your spark intrigues me, Lady Fate.”
Fate extended her hand and shoved him back by the mask. “Since you’re not adding anything, I’m done listening to you talk. What is our goal here? Are we still against the Council? Are we just trying to uncover the truth? If everything you said is true, it’s easy to assume that the Council may have been responsible for the deaths of Viro and Fati. If the Council assumes that we’re Viro and Fati—aren’t they already trying to kill us? Maybe this is all a terrible understanding, and Hero is just Hero, and I’m just Fate.”
Akira adjusted his mask and his body, so he was sitting upright again. “Regardless, we’ve agreed to reform your pact tomorrow afternoon. Since no one knows the truth, we’re left in this predicament. The general consensus seems to be: restore the Empire to balance, uncover the truth about the events in Undal, and put all the rightful successors in their place.”
“I get the distinct impression that you know exactly what’s going on, and you just don’t want to say.”
“I don’t mind telling
you.”
Fate squinted, and her mouth tensed. She already sensed that his next comment would be another flirtatious remark. “No, thank you.”
“Wait, you interrupted my punchline.”
“If you try to flirt with me one more time, I’m going to ruin you.”
He sang. “Meil ou.”
“Don’t like it.”
“Oh! Ilrn ei ya? Baen ou!”
“I don’t know the language that well. Hero just started to teach me.”
Hero translated. “He said.... You know it? I’m surprised.” He then turned to Akira and complained. “Ilrn dei, cai! Mir pa!”
Fate interrupted. “Enough of that. I’m still upset that I was lied to. Akira, even if you told me the truth, I don’t know who you are. And Hero, I don’t know what to say to you right now. I need time to think.”
Akira sat forward. “This would be a good time to take your trip to Nex. No?”
“That might be for the better,” she said. After a moment, she frowned at him. “Wait, how do you know about that?”
He gestured to himself with a wave of his hand. “I volunteer to be your escort.”
“What about Firmus?”
“He seems to be busy.”
“It’s your fault, isn’t it? You did this on purpose.”
“Prove it.”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll go back to Nex with you. Hero, I’ll speak with you again when we return.”
Hero averted his gaze. “I’ll stay and translate.” The rift between them deepened, and miasma raced from his body like a swarm of insects.
Akira and Chi left the room, murmuring.
As soon as they were gone, Fate moved forward and placed her hand on Hero’s head. “I just need time to think this through. I want to believe that you lied for a good cause. Please, prove me right.”
He twiddled his thumbs.
“I fully understand that being a part of the Rebellion means keeping secrets, but please, from now on, don’t keep things from me.”
He leaned his head against her, burying his face in her shirt. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how much of this information is accurate. Everyone is guessing. They could be wrong about everything. Akira is the only one who knows the truth. That’s why I don’t think you should trust him. I may have lied to you, but he really does know everything. He might be the worst liar among us.”
“That doesn’t make you any less guilty, does it? There’s definitely something unusual about Akira. Hopefully, by spending time with him, I can figure it out.”
He grumbled under his breath.
“What? Are you protesting? Don’t forget I’m mad at you.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“That’s better. While I’m gone, I want you to think about whether or not you’re hiding anything else from me.”
Akira hurried back into the room, almost in song. “Reinka, it’s time to go.”
Chi stormed after him. “Listen to me!”
Fate stood still while he grasped her by the arm. “What’s going on?”
He pressed a hand over her eyes and held her close to his side. “Chi is pestering me. Take a breath. We’re going to escape.”
She did as instructed, for safety, and the air rushed. The floor seemed to drop out, causing her heart to sink to her stomach. She yelped and clutched Akira’s hand.
“You’re okay,” he said. “I have you.”
The cold air whisked past Fate, and Akira’s hand slipped away from her face to reveal Nitor Palace. She put a hand against her chest and gasped. “How did you do that?”
“Magic? I am a magician of many unique endowments.”
“I don’t believe in magic.”
“Magic implies unknown and perceptibly inexplicable talents. I am unknown to you and talented. Therefore, by definition, I am a magician.”
“That seems true,” she said, inspecting him carefully. Every time she had seen him, he wore a polished suit and a red tie. He obviously had money and did as he pleased even in front of the High Queen, or as Fate had seen, to Queen Heqet.
“Am I being praised?”
“Maybe a little.”
His eyes widened, then relaxed shortly after. “How dangerous.”
“Pardon?”
“Be wary, for men are beasts at the best of times.”
“I don’t know how to handle you. You’re vexing.”
He snickered. “Joyous is the day.”
“Whatever you say.”
He dawdled briefly, then ran off with his arms out. “Bes!”
She spun to watch him. “What?”
He plucked a black cat from the ground. “Not what, but who.”
She approached him cautiously and rubbed the cat’s velvety nose. “So cute. You know this cat? I’ve never seen a black cat with blue eyes.”
“His name is Besil.” He cradled the cat in his arms.
“I’m don’t think cats enjoy being held like babies.”
“My affections for you may burn bright, but I shan’t allow you to come between me and Bes.”
“You speak so strangely.”
“Also, he has a name, don’t call him that cat.”
“You’re more affectionate than I thought.”
Besil cooed and nuzzled against Akira’s neck.
She stroked Besil again, and the cat purred, though it only rubbed against Akira. “That... I mean, Besil really likes you too. How did he find you here in Nex?”
“Oh, he knows my scent well. We’ve been together since I was a child.” He scratched Besil’s head while trying to see around it.
“Is it because you can suppress the miasma? I don’t know many people with pets like this.”
“Pet? No, he’s my friend.”
“Sorry if I offended you.”
“All is forgiven. That is, if you answer this question. What is the word for meow in the Language of Ages?”
She stiffened. “I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
“It’s niau.”
“Niau?”
He pinched her cheek. “Aa, ma’ail!”
“Hero said that too. What does that mean?”
“I wonder.” He walked ahead and entered the palace.
None of the guards even glanced at him. They simply greeted Fate.
“It’s like they don’t see you at all,” she said.
“Perceptive as usual, Reinka.”
“Why do you keep calling me that? Ugh, you two keep using the L.o.A. against me.”
“L.o.A.? What kind of slothfulness brought about that acronym?”
“Hero.”
“I shall prevail.”
“You make no sense.” She treaded upstairs after him and stared at the cat peeking over his shoulder. She gazed up and down Akira’s back, studying his stature.
“Is it that I speak drivel or simply that you don’t understand?”
“I can’t answer that. Kui! Stop asking me impossible questions.”
“Ai, Reinka. Don’t speak like that.”
“Why?”
“My singular, most undying, wish is for you to treat me with compassion.”
“I can see that you’re fond of me, but I don’t know you at all.”
Besil pressed its paw against Akira’s mask and purred. The cat seemed to indicate Akira’s emotional state.
He cuddled it. “Yes, friend, I’m glad to have you. The universe is indeed callous.” He pretended to weep. “I’m like a stray dog left to die in the street.” The exaggeration of his behaviors drew curiosity and confusion, though he may have wrapped his insecurities in a blanket of deception. Much like Solaris, he snapped back from his antics as if nothing had happened. “Did you ask where Hero placed the journal?”
“No, I was so upset that I forgot. It’s too late to ask now, so I’ll just have to search his room. That’s a good revenge.”
“You have a mean streak. Meil ou.”
“I thought you just complained that I was too mean.”
“Yes, to me. You m
ay be mean to others.”
Fate stared hard at Akira. His presence before her was like a hand print on a window. He caused distraction, frustration, and seemed to lack purpose. “I feel like the universe was playing an awful prank when it created you.”
He blinked hard and stood back silently.
She waved her hand in opposition. “Sorry, that came across too serious. I wasn’t being sincere.”
“Oh... yes... of course.” He held Besil close to his chest and opened the door of Hero’s room. “Take your time.”
She regretted trying to align with his ploys. No response seemed proper when speaking with him. She wallowed in her remorse as she searched around Hero’s night stand and eventually found the journal tucked deep between his mattresses. The more she considered her own ruthless words, the less she understood how or why they’d left her mouth.
Akira’s entire state of being disrupted the balance. Somehow, he managed to be both invisible and extremely distracting. Some part of him pleaded for help, even though the man himself merely rattled off nonsensical prattle.
She exited Hero’s room with the journal between her hands, and found Akira staring at the chandelier from the stair railing. “Um... Akira.”
“You found it?”
“I’m very sorry. I got too riled up, and I said something really cruel.”
He paused for a long time and rested his head against the cat cooing in his arms. “Fear not. I am well.”
“I found the journal. I wanted to look in Macellarius for more information.”
“It’s too soon. You’re not ready.”
“For what?”
“Depraved are the halls of Macellarius Palace, Reinka. I wish no ill upon you.”
“Your way of speaking is confusing. There’s no consistency.”
He overlooked her comment and brushed a finger against the side of Besil’s face. “My friend has grown tired. I must be returning soon.”
“Oh, he fell asleep.” She bowed her head as she observed the sleeping cat. “I know I said a lot of harsh things, but I don’t think you’re a bad person. I just don’t understand you yet.”
“Yet? I’ll presume you intend to learn.”
“Yes, I wish to. I said so, didn’t I? I want to listen to Solaris and Leoht. I feel like our fates are intertwined, so even if I’m Bound to Hero, I want to understand you.”