The Dark Before The Light

Acacia and Bella hurried down the grand corridor, following the faint, unsettling trail of lavender peacock feathers. The air thickened with anticipation as they approached the throne room doors. With a decisive shove, Acacia pushed them open.

Inside, Edwin stood before the assembled nobles, his hands clasped behind his back. Yet, from his sleeves, the distinct shimmer of lavender peacock feathers betrayed his carefully composed demeanour.

"Ah, there she is!" Lani-ka's voice, startlingly bright, cut through the murmurs. She rushed towards Acacia, gripping her hand with an almost manic cheerfulness and pulling her into the centre of the room. Lani-ka's smile, wide and unwavering, was disquieting. "Give me your powers."

Acacia blinked, tilting her head as if the words had been a trick of the echoing hall. With a gentle yet firm motion, she detached her hand from Lani-ka's grasp. "I'm afraid I misheard you."

"Oh, no you didn't." Lani-ka's smile never faltered. "I want you to give me your powers. We, the royal court, have decided we cannot trust an outsider to be a vessel. How can we be sure you won't be intoxicated by power and betray us?"

"Acacia would do no such thing," Bella interjected, stepping protectively beside her friend. Her brow was furrowed in a deep frown directed at Lani-ka. "She has no reason to be your enemy."

"Don't misunderstand," Lani-ka replied, still unnervingly cheerful. "I trust her, but the people cannot trust outsiders. We have the best knowledge of these things."

Acacia raised a brow, a quiet challenge in her tone. "Why don't you use your own abilities? You're a vessel, after all. And isn't being a vessel for two gods rather… greedy?"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the nobles.

"There's no need for that," Edwin cut in, his voice firm. "Acacia can handle it."

"Until she loses control!" Lani-ka's voice rose in desperation as she turned to the crowd, clasping her hands together.

"Just give it to me, Acacia! What is there for you to lose? We'll give her all the protection, security, and even a title! Let the power be in the right hands. Don't you want the world to go back to normal? Aren't we all tired of being scared, hiding in bubbles and barriers?"

'Give it up?' Acacia's thoughts raced, her wings fluttering imperceptibly beneath her clothes. 'Live in someone's shadow again? What use are titles if I have nothing to defend myself with? There's no telling if she'd actually protect me. I trust Edwin, but I don't want to be helpless. I haven't even killed Lucian yet.'

"No," Acacia stated, her voice resonating with conviction. "I will not give you anything. I don't share or surrender what is mine."

Lani-ka's hands slowly lowered, her smile finally dropping as she turned fully to Acacia. "You're quite a selfish being, aren't you?"

"That's enough. I have enough headaches as it is," Edwin snapped, his frustration clear. "Since you claim to be a vessel, you can work together instead of playing these games."

"But I can't, Your Majesty. I don't trust you with Edwin," Lani-ka retorted, her gaze sharpening. "You've changed. You've been weakened by the outside world. I wonder if you can truly handle this position anymore."

"You speak a lot—" Edwin began, but his words were cut short by the sharp thud of a staff against the tiled floor. Lani-ka's grandmother, a formidable figure, now held everyone's attention. She pointed her staff directly at Acacia.

"You carry the power of a dangerous god. Your soul is locked from my gaze."

'Now I have to deal with this old lady after the young annoyance,' Acacia thought, her left index finger twitching.

"Dangerous? What sort of danger?" Murmurs rippled through the nobles again, fear creeping into their voices.

"She is not dangerous! You are taking this too far!" Bella bristled, stepping closer to Acacia.

"My grandmother is not a liar," Lani-ka declared, her voice cold. "State the name of the god that holds your soul."

"The god of rebirth and destruction," Acacia replied plainly. The air in the room instantly thickened. Nobles gasped, their postures stiffening with anxiety.

"How could you bring someone so dangerous into our midst?!" someone cried. "This is not a saviour! That is a curse!"

"That god is one of the most tyrannical! No temple has ever been dedicated to them because they care nothing for human life!" another shouted.

Bella stepped in front of Acacia, addressing the terrified nobles. "You said a vessel is used by a god who wants to help when they can't physically manifest! Don't suddenly act so scared because of the gods' past! Acacia has shown no signs of being a threat to humanity!"

"You would obviously defend your friend!" a noble retorted, their voice laced with suspicion. "Why would we trust the word of an outsider? Why would such a god grace us?"

"Is it a sign of our extinction?" another whimpered.

"Silence!" Edwin's voice boomed, filled with raw anger. "I have been by her side for a while now. She would not harm us because some gods asked her to. If she wanted, she could have simply killed us all! Why wait? Please, think with reason! And Lani-ka, control your grandmother!"

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"You have been insolent since you were a child. Your brother was far better, though he left us too soon," the old woman stated, tapping her staff deliberately on the ground. "You have to choose, Your Majesty. Stop letting your emotions cloud your judgment. We are your family, your culture, your home. Do you choose us, or outsiders you barely know?"

Edwin fell silent, his jaw clenched, a conflicted expression darkening his face. Feathers began to sprout faintly on his neck. If he chooses us, he'll be branded a traitor, a king who preferred outsiders. But if he chooses his family, he'll be on their good side… what will happen to us? Acacia noted his troubled gaze, seeing him shrink in on himself, as if on the verge of fleeing.

"Please answer us, Your Majesty!"

"At least let us know where you stand!"

"Give us a reason to trust and support you!"

The nobles' demands grew into a cacophony, and Edwin seemed to visibly shrink, smaller than Acacia expected, as if he were about to run.

"Your—"

"I will prove myself." Acacia's voice, loud and clear, cut through the din, drawing every eye to her. "Edwin doesn't need to answer. This involves me, and your fears and concerns. I will prove that I'm not a threat to anyone here. Will you all be at peace then, if you see it with your own eyes?" She glanced at Lani-ka's angered expression.

"...that doesn't sound so bad," someone muttered.

"But how will she prove herself?" another whispered.

Edwin looked visibly relieved, though a flicker of guilt immediately crossed his face. Bella stared at Acacia with worry, but Acacia offered her a reassuring smile.

"You have two choices," the old woman declared, her voice heavy with finality.

"Either give my granddaughter your power, and our consciences will be clear. Or enter the Pit, and come back sane. Then, we will believe."

"Come back sane?" Bella echoed, her voice laced with dread.

"The Pit is not ordinary, and we have a dangerous individual in our midst. Why must we sacrifice the safety of our people based on your emotions?"

"I will do it," Acacia stated, her gaze unwavering.

"Good, then—"

"Enter the Pit. It was my reason for coming here in the first place, after all. I'm rather curious about it," Acacia finished, a challenging glint in her eyes as she watched Lani-ka's furious expression. "Will that satisfy you all?" she questioned the nobles, who nodded in unison.

"Alright, but you will leave tomorrow. The earlier, the better," the old woman declared, her voice sharp. She gave a curt bow to Edwin before turning and sweeping out of the throne room, Lani-ka quickly falling into step behind her.

"Everyone is dismissed," Edwin said, his voice barely above a whisper. He strolled to the throne, sinking into its plush depths as the remaining nobles bowed and hurried out. Once they were alone, he finally spoke again. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Acacia replied, her tone even. "It was my reason for coming anyway."

"You're not a bad person, Acacia. Don't let what they say get to you," Bella interjected, stepping closer. She offered a warm smile. "I know we don't know each other that much, but... don't forget that you have people by your side."

Acacia hesitated, then a small smile touched her lips. "...Thanks."

Bella then turned to Edwin, walking to the throne. She reached out, ruffling his hair with a gentle yet firm hand. Edwin flinched, looking up at her with wide eyes.

"Stop being a bum," Bella chided softly. "You'll just keep getting used to it if you don't learn when to be strict and when to be lenient. I know it's a hard position, but you need to relax... you'll only add to your stress."

"Thanks, and stop messing up my hair!" Edwin chuckled, swatting Bella's hand away and meticulously rearranging his hair with his fingers. He then turned to Acacia. "I could try to postpone it, you know."

"No, the old lady's right. The earlier, the better," Acacia replied, shaking her head and resting her hands on her hips. "By the way, we couldn't find anything remotely useful about the vessels."

"I had a feeling it wouldn't be easy," Edwin scoffed, tucking a stray strand of hair into place. "Like I said, it's just a story for kids here. A fantasy until recently. I doubt anyone's written anything truly meaningful about it."

"What about Ramiel's book?" Bella asked.

"His book is with the old lady. I doubt she'd give it to you willingly," Edwin said, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"Hmm," Acacia hummed to herself, deep in thought. "I've also noticed beast-men are freely walking around here?"

"We believe it's because of our ancestors' sins that we beast-men go berserk and magic users get scarred," Edwin explained. "We don't chain anyone up like Encer. Instead, we let everyone be free and only apprehend those who do turn berserk."

"Seems more civil than Encer," Bella commented, a thoughtful frown on her face. "I understand the fear, but it's suffocating to be divided by it."

"We'll be fine. I'll be fine, and I'll be back in a few months," Acacia assured them, her voice firm. "By then, I'm sure you'll have sorted things out here, and I'll go back home."

"Yeah, I'll pack some things for you. Just be careful," Edwin nodded, his gaze lingering on her.

"I'm always careful," Acacia replied with a dismissive wave.

Bella snorted in response, earning an eye roll from Acacia. "Let's quickly pack up and get ready for tomorrow. Do you need clothes?"

"No, food is enough," Acacia said.

"I'll have the kitchen pack up plenty of food, but are you sure?" Edwin pressed, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "I can still try to postpone the date. I could say you need more time to 'prepare spiritually' or something."

"I'm very sure," Acacia reiterated.

"Besides, I'm curious. And if Ramiel left nothing behind, there's a high chance I'll come back even earlier. The less time I spend here, the less Lani-ka can stir up trouble." She glanced pointedly at Edwin. "You have your own battles to fight. Focus on winning those."

"Yeah, you can play hero later, when you actually have the power to do so," Bella said, a hint of wry amusement in her voice.

"Now, I want to go tour around before all that," Acacia announced, a restless energy about her.

"I'll follow," Bella quickly agreed, falling into step beside Acacia.

"You girls enjoy yourselves," Edwin muttered tiredly from the throne, already looking more relaxed now that the nobles were gone. "I'll take a break."

"Take care, we won't be long," Acacia called back, waving a hand dismissively as she and Bella walked towards the exit. They stepped out into the crisp air, looking around with newfound freedom. Their path led them towards the docks, where a scattering of small boats bobbed gently on the river.

Acacia approached a nearby servant.

"Can you show us around?" she asked. The servant looked at them, confused and hesitant.

"King's orders," Bella added firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You can ask him yourself, if you like."

"Ah, no, no! Please, this way!" the servant stammered, quickly pointing to a small, elegant boat. The girls boarded, and the man skillfully manoeuvred the vessel onto the river. As they glided through the water, they passed a fascinating array of houses built along the banks, some on stilts, others seemingly floating.

"Aren't they scared that someone might fall in?" Bella asked, peering over the side at the dark water.

"Maybe that's why they built those small, connected bridges between them," Acacia mused, nodding towards a series of wooden walkways linking several homes. "But yeah, someone has definitely fallen in before."

Bella chuckled, but her expression swiftly turned grim. "Why didn't you just give up your powers earlier?"

"No. What I have is mine, and I won't surrender it," Acacia stated, her voice cutting through the air like a honed blade. "Without this power, I am nothing. I am gone. I cease to exist to you, to everyone. My goals are already a distant horizon, and I cannot afford a single moment of weakness until I reach them."