Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

Thomas and I were fetched by Mildred as per usual. Andrea also rode with us since her house was on the way. When I reached the Celestine Mansion, I was greeted by Vyfal who was finally returned to her fox cub form. Looks like Bai really did help her with her shrinking ability problem.

That same night, Aunt Zaira returned home. It was quite a festive night since everyone was present. And by everyone I meant Edmund, Eliza, Sebastian, Zach, Torii, Aunt Zaira and I.

I spent dinner listening to my adoptive older siblings’ stories during their internship in their respective fields, student council work for Torri. I was glad Aunt Zaira did not mention anything about what happened at the academy. I understood it was quite the confidential case so I respected that.

“I heard Luna is quite famous at school!” Sebastian suddenly said which changed the topic of the conversation.

“Ooh, I heard that as well.” Eliza added and clapped her hands in anticipation. “Torii, tell us!”

I couldn’t help but shake my hand and sigh. I eyed Torii, somehow hoping she would get the signal I was trying to convey using my eyes; don’t say anything ridiculous.

“Luna is quite a legend in school alright.” Torii said, still devoid of emotion.

“Torii…” I warned.

“But she’s a good student and she gets along with most of the students. At least she gets along with the commoners and those noble-born who does not mind commoners.”

“Eh… I see. That’s quite a good reputation Luna.” Edmund said as praise. I couldn’t help but blush at his compliment.

“But she’s also quite the troublemaker.” I gasped and almost choked on my food at Torii's added statement.

“Torii!”

Torii decided to spill the troubles I was part of in the academy, at least the small-scale ones and those that were allowed to be revealed. Later on, my elder brothers and sister started teasing me which I found a little annoying but I did not react violently at it.

“Luna.” Sebastian called. Again. “I heard a lot about you from Kai. Looks like my shy and introverted cousin really likes you as a friend. Even Peter. They wouldn’t stop talking about you whenever we meet up.”

“We’re just friends Seb.” I pointed out.

“Exactly. Kids from the royal family do not make friends easily due to the threats of our lives. If we do have friends it’s either for political reasons or because our families were friends in the first place.” he suddenly smiled. It was a smile filled with warmth. “That’s why being friends with my introverted cousin and arrogant younger brother is a big deal for me Luna.”

“Pfft! I guess they’re Kai and Peter respectively.”

Sebastian only smiled.

Sebastian was a really nice guy, so I was wondering why Peter hated him.

-I should ask him later.

After dinner, Aunt Zaira asked me to go to her study. She said she wanted to speak to me privately. I took this as the perfect opportunity to give Bernard’s strange note to her. I sat at the chair opposite of her once I was inside her study. I took note of the paperwork stacked on her desk.

-Right. She’s busy. She’s the prime minister after all.

“Uhm…”

“Now then.” Aunt Zaira suddenly seemed like her attitude turned one-hundred-eighty degrees. “Now that we’re home, we can finally talk freely.”

“Uhm… pardon?”

“I couldn’t ask you to tell me the truth back at the academy since I’m not sure of the security, but right now you can finally tell me the truth.”

The room suddenly became stifling and it was getting harder to breath. I realized that Aunt Zaira was using her magical energy to pressure me. And to be honest, I felt like my body was getting squished by something I couldn’t see.

Aunt Zaira was the most powerful mage in central continent, possibly even in the entire world, but growing up with her, I was trained to be able to withstand the pressure of such powerful magical energy. I could even withstand the pressure of most mages’ magical energy because of how I was brought up. But Aunt Zaira was giving off more than the usual pressure which was unusual of her.

“You lied to me back there. So I want to hear the truth.”

I was already on the brink of collapsing to where I was seated at the crushing pressure. But all of a sudden, warmth exploded inside me and I was finally able to breath normally again.

-What is this? At my level, even I couldn’t withstand Aunt Zaira’s full power, but why am I suddenly…?

I suddenly remembered that I was finally reunited with my core, my spiritual core as a fox deity. I realized that my core was protecting me from the crushing pressure of my adoptive aunt’s magical power.

“That energy ore below the old alchemy building, the one Omar Alkis has been experimenting for the last ten years, you have it.” Aunt Zaira suddenly said while staring at me.

I could only freeze on the spot. She was looking at me with anticipation and curiosity, and maybe even a hint of anger.

-Anger? Why would she…

The pressure was suddenly gone and Aunt Zaira relaxed. At the same time, the warm feeling that enveloped me also vanished and I sucked in a deep breath I did not know I was holding.

“So, are you going to tell me the truth or do we have to go for round two?”

I swallowed the nonexistent lump on my throat. The scene of the crushing pressure of her power was replayed in my mind and I couldn’t help but shiver.

-Dang it! Aunt Zaira can never really be underestimated!

“Fine. What do you want to know?” I asked.

Aunt Zaira leaned closer and placed both her hands below her chin. She stared at me intently that I felt shivers run up my spine.

“That energy ore is no ordinary ore. That was the spiritual core of a deity that met an unexpected death. Whoever's the owner of it can be revived using the proper procedures. Now… how did a brat like you get a deity’s spiritual core?”

I took a deep breath. I was still a little guilty at lying to my friends regarding the same topic, but I knew I couldn’t hide anything from Aunt Zaira. And besides, despite my adoptive aunt’s strangeness and weird habits, she was probably the person I trusted the most at the moment. Sure she had her own secrets and dark ways, but I had the feeling I could trust her and tell her just about everything. And besides, if there’s anyone I trusted enough to know my real self, it would be her. She was powerful enough to protect herself even against the Celestial Race that the inhabitants of the human realm deem as gods.

I took a deep breath.

“What if I tell you, that spiritual core is actually mine?”

She looked at me skeptically. I already knew that would be her reaction.

“If that core really is yours then that would mean you’re a god. And with such a powerful core, then a high god at that. Are you telling me you’re a goddess?”

“Yes.” I said accompanied with a nod of my head.

“Which one?”

“Nyxtriel Wetcheit li Stedus.”

Aunt Zaira stared at me. She said nothing and just stared at me. I understood such a thing was unbelievable and very shocking to hear, but it was the truth. I was only hoping she wouldn’t say I’m crazy and cut off her ties with me.

“Nyxtriel?” I nodded again. “The Fox Clan princess of Liada? One of the goddesses of war in the legends?”

“Yes. I know it seems unbelievable, but it’s the truth.”

“Nyxtriel…”

I was already sighing in defeat. I was thinking that maybe Aunt Zaira really thought I was crazy. What I did not expect though was the tears coming out from her left eye.