The Pillar of Enera

[Chapter 17 part 2] Light - The Wall of Legends

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…

Simon nodded once, “Indirectly, yes. He’d never engage in something as crass as broadcasting your existence. His messages are ‘written in blood’ so to speak. Check the news tomorrow. If my hunch is right, you’ll understand.”

Light’s stomach turned, “So we’re screwed? Is there any point in disguising ourselves?”

“Yes, it’s more critical than ever. Even if your existence is leaked, it’ll be seen as an unreliable rumor. People will naturally be skeptical that Sola’s doppelgangers have suddenly reemerged. As long as you aren’t unmasked, doubt will remain. To be clear, even without today’s mishap, it was always a matter of time before suspicions circulated. The real trouble only begins once your identities are officially confirmed.”

So the situation might be salvageable. Light sensed his siblings’ determination too. We can’t mess up again.

Flames flared outside, and Lily strode in, “So, what was the emergency?”

Lily said nothing as Simon conveyed what had happened, but Light felt the temperature rise. Why do fire types always release heat when upset?

“Idiots!” She fumed. “On the very first day… To the Laughing Man of all people… Are you suicidal? And Kate, what were you doing?” Kate shrank in her seat. “I trusted you to watch over them. You were supposed to bring them to the Inner Palace. How could you let them climb the Helix?”

What followed was five minutes of soul-crushing admonitions laced with profanities. Lily drove into their skulls how irresponsible and brainless they were. Although scarves hid their faces, he could see eyes watering. Hell, I’m about to cry myself. Towards the end, she began repeating herself, but no one had the will to point it out.

When the diatribe ended, Simon spoke up, “Lily, I’m sure Astra will want to know how the Laughing Man could sit so close to the Rose Palace undisturbed. Why isn’t that area patrolled?”

“There are always visitors climbing the Helix.” Lily explained tiredly. “My birds chase them off if they linger nearby, but otherwise leave them alone. If I made them more aggressive, innocents would fall to their deaths.”

“That sounds reasonable, yet, after the Laughing Man stood up and revealed his face, why didn’t your birds react then?” Simon said emotionless. He’s got a great poker face.

“That…” Lily struggled for words. “Why’re you interrogating me? Whose side are you on? It was these fools who went out there.” She waved at them.

“You know my history.” Simon answered coldly. “This isn’t a topic I play around with. I’m extremely disturbed to find your familiars aren’t conditioned to attack on sight. This means that psychopath has had the run of the Isle. Before Arther’s death, this oversight might’ve been forgivable. Now it’s not.”

Lily recoiled, “I was mourning and overwhelmed. Besides the Isle’s policing is done by the defense force. My phoenixes only provide support against major threats. What’s the point of an attack command anyway? They can’t kill someone stronger than Arther. At most, they’d force him to retreat. There was also no way I could’ve predicted these kids’ arrival or his visit.”

“Do you believe those explanations will satisfy Astra?” Simon asked solemnly.

Lily paled, “You figure she’ll be upset?”

“Astra expected the Rose Palace to be safe. To discover that Arther’s killer was able to parade close by unchallenged… I don’t imagine she’ll be pleased. I further suspect, if you attempt to place all the blame on her children, she’ll be enraged.”

“Importantly, there’s another issue.” He continued. “I don’t imagine the Laughing Man camps outside the Rose Palace on a daily basis. He was alerted to Astra’s arrival. Any idea how this came to be? The leak didn’t come from the Black Citadel.”

That’s true. With the oath, loyalty could be readily confirmed. There are no traitors at Xarst.

“Aside Kate, I kept everything secret.” Lily said. “But yes, I did tell Sarah to empty the south wing. Depending on how far she spread this, it might be hard to narrow down the culprit…”

“So you asked the Steward of the Isle to keep the staff away and her children were put in danger as a result. Considering she’s already unhappy that office still exists…” Simon trailed off.

“…She’s going to kill me, isn’t she?” Lily finished.

“Perhaps.” Simon concurred. It won’t be pleasant for any of us.

“Let’s go to the wall.” Lily stated, standing up.

Simon frowned, “Is this really the time for tourism?”

“It isn’t sightseeing. Well, maybe it is, but that’s incidental.” Lily responded. “Basically, you’ve made some good points. Astra might partly blame me, and that’s a little scary. I must take steps to placate her. Hence we’ll go on a little trip before she gets back.”

“Which might be sooner than you think.” Fayla said, manifesting from a wall-mounted brazier. “At her current pace, she’ll be done in less than two hours.”

“What?” Lily said incredulously.

“Check the news yourself.” Fayla motioned the projector. In an instant, two newscasters appeared besides a gigantic cavern with airships hovering over frozen ground.

“…Everything’s been sealed under a dozen feet of ice.” The man said. “What’d you make of it?”

“Either records are wrong or Astra has powered up substantially.” The woman shock her head. “Chilling an active magma zone the size of a small country… There shouldn’t be anyone capable of——” The image cut off.

“My god… She’s gotten stronger.” Lily mumbled.

They shifted uncomfortably. This seems normal. “Is it that amazing?” Silver asked.

Lily scoffed, “You’ve lived with her at Earth’s End. Of course she’s obscenely strong there! But that…” Lily gestured to the vanished cavern. “was the fiery depths of Enera! If she can do that there, then…” She paused. “Fayla, we’re going. Have the gondola prepared.”

As they followed through the Rose Palace, Simon commented, “Only the Laughing Man knows the children arrived with Astra. It would’ve been best to keep it that way.”

Lily winced but didn’t respond. Eventually, they found Fayla at the end of a corridor. “Sarah’s waiting ahead.” She warned.

“What a pain.” Lily said. “Simon was right.”

“Maybe you could pick us up on the terrace?” Kate offered.

“Don’t bother.” Simon said. “I’ll just cast a cloaking spell.” He touched each of their shoulders, and they transformed into blurred silhouettes. I must learn a technique like this.

Lily nodded, “That’ll work.”

Next to him, Silver whispered, “Who’s Sarah?”

“She’s the Steward of the Isle. She and Lily don’t get along.” Kate answered.

“That’s an understatement.” Lily grumbled. “No more talking.”

In the hangar stood a beautiful brunette in her late twenties. Behind her floated a rectangular booth of tinted glass. It’s like a mobile observatory.

“The gondola is ready.” Sarah said. “Care to fill me in?”

“Not really.” Lily responded. “You can leave, thank you.”

“It’s disruptive to clear an entire wing. You didn’t rescind the order even after Astra left. It’s obvious you’ve more guests.” She glanced towards them. “Why the secrecy?“

“I don’t have to share anything.” Lily replied calmly. “It’s my palace.”

“Which I’m in charge of running.” Sarah retorted. “Doing so is hard enough without your selfish whims——”

“Excuse me.” Simon interjected. “I hate to break up this productive discussion, but I’ve a small matter to discuss. I’m Simon Black by the way. Remember me?”

“Yes, you’re the one who was working with Arther. What’d you want?” Sarah was thrown off balance at the intrusion.

“About the south wing being empty today… Could you provide me with a list of those who knew?”

Sarah appeared baffled, “I posted a notice and made an announcement this morning. The entire staff knew. Why’s it important?”

“That information found its way to the Laughing Man, and several guests were placed in danger.”

“Perhaps if Lily had explained the situation, I would’ve known to be cautious.” Sarah said derisively. “Who’re they anyway?”

“That doesn’t matter.” Simon replied, taking a darker tone. “What does is that I’ve had a run in with that madman, and my disposition has yet to recover. You’ve just displayed a remarkable lack of concern after learning of his involvement. Please don’t make me suspect you’re in league with him. You won’t like what I’ll do…” A chill ran down Light’s back. A threat from someone who can’t lie…

“I… You can’t… This…” Sarah fumbled before gathering herself. “You know my mother and brother are both immortals?”

“And you should know how deeply and eternally I loath that man.” Simon countered. “Someone at the Rose Palace is cooperating with him. Whoever it is doesn’t deserve to live. Your relatives aren’t part of the equation. I expect that list before the day’s end.”

“And if I fail to provide it?” Sarah countered tentatively.

“Then I’ll inform Astra Skyfell of your lack of cooperation. As you might’ve seen on the news, she favors brute force solutions. This will end with you indefinitely frozen in a block of ice.”

“There’s no way she’d dare——”

“Yes, she would. She’s a relict from an age when problems were dispatched with ruthless efficiency. If she believes you’re incompetent or worse, she’ll remove you from the picture. Lily can attest to this.”

Lily nodded, “She doesn’t play around. You and I will both be facing her later. You’d best prepare for that. That’s what I’m doing.”

Understanding dawned on Sarah’s face, “You’re visiting the wall for a favor?”

“Yes.” Lily answered.

“I guess if you’re going that far, then I should make some efforts too.” Sarah sighed, retreating.

Once her footsteps had faded, Lily sent a wave of green flames washing over them, burning their cloaking away. I wished people would warn me before bathing me in fire. She then addressed Simon, “While I enjoyed watching Sarah squirm, did you have to be that confrontational?”

“Whether it was Sarah or not, I wanted to pressure whoever is aiding the enemy. It’ll make their prying less aggressive. Make no mistake, people will die because of today.”

“What do you mean?” Lily asked.

“You’ll see tomorrow.” Simon said wearily, following Sarah out. “I’ll return to the Guild. Astra must be informed upon her return.”

“That’s true.” Lily said half-heartedly. She isn’t anxious for that reckoning either. She lead them into the gondola. The interior was basically a platform with a podium. It’s designed for tours.

Soul approached Dawn, “Are you sure you’re fine with this?”

“Yes, well no, but I’m coming anyway.” Dawn said. “I’m not missing the Wall of Legends.”

The hangar doors parted, revealing the docks opposite, and Lily accelerated through the opening. They soared Southward over miles of nothing.

(continued in part 3)