The Stubborn Light of a Dying Flame [Isekai - LitRPG]

Rayna's mouth snapped shut with an audible click. She didn't have any response to that. She couldn't very well tell him that she could see his name tag.

Lord Myre's eyes narrowed. "What are you not telling us?"

"I—" Rayna began.

"What makes you think she's not a seer?" Din asked, her question overshadowing Rayna's attempt to make an excuse.

Rayna twisted in her seat to gawk at the Azuranian. "What?"

"Well, you got your Inheritance from one of your parents, right?" she asked.

"My parents were human," Rayna pointed out.

Din shook her head, looking exasperated. "I know that. At least, Nali told me as much. I'm talking about your Lerian lineage. Either your Lerian mother or father was a member of the Emberan royal line."

Rayna shifted in her seat so she didn't have to crane her neck to continue the discussion.

"That's theoretically true," she said hesitantly, still not sure where Din was going with this.

"It's undeniable," Lord Myre said. "The abilities that Naomi described were only found in the royal line in Helia. It was why we were in charge of maintaining the boundary."

Din nodded. "Precisely. So, it's confirmed that one of Rayna's Lerian parents were of the Emberan line, but what about the other?"

Rayna frowned. Was Din actually trying to suggest that she had prophetic abilities?

"Double Inheritances are rare," Lord Myre said doubtfully.

"As is a human in a Lerian body," Din pointed out. "Can't say I've ever heard of it."

Harry snorted. "You hadn't even heard of a Lerian before today."

"She makes a valid point though," Nali said. "Rare doesn't mean impossible."

"It doesn't matter if the point is valid or not," Lord Myre said, his voice impatient. "Rayna can confirm it right now. How did you learn the name Emberan?"

All eyes turned to Rayna, and she shrank into her seat, desperate to get away from their attention. This was precisely the situation she was trying to avoid.

"It just popped out of my mouth!" she said, not meeting anyone's eyes. "I don't know how I knew it either. Maybe I heard it somewhere. I've been hallucinating crap since that stupid dungeon. I'm not even sure what's real anymore."

Rayna meant to give an excuse, but what she said rang truer than she would have liked. She thought she was done seeing things after she evolved, but the vision of the Corvi in Ashen made it seem like she was going to keep seeing things until she could get out of her current body and back into a human one.

Rayna paused. But she had seen them… and they had been Corvi, right? Their shadowy forms hadn't been as terrifying as the beast that Silka showed her, but Rayna already assumed that Silka was either mistaken or prejudiced—perhaps both.

Was Rayna actually having visions?

"I don't know about you, Enathar," Naomi said as a grin crept across her face. "But that sounds very much like the experiences of a seer."

Despite having his answer—true or not—Lord Myre didn't look any happier about the situation. The general suspicion never left his face, but he moved on, giving Rayna a much needed respite from being the center of attention.

"If you are a seer, then that'll be another thing we need to teach you to control. In any case, I can't finish the story for you, as that's all I know. Cremble was supposed to wake us up when the area beyond the tower became safe again, but something went wrong. Our souls were preserved, but our bodies weren't. The only way to wake us was to send our souls into the recently deceased and give us a second chance in the bodies that were left behind."

"You're all zombies?" Harry asked, suddenly a lot more interested in the conversation.

"I'm not sure what a zombie is…" Lord Myre said hesitantly, glancing at Rayna for an explanation.

"Not zombies," Corban pointed out before Rayna could explain. "They have a pulse. It's more like reincarnation with extra steps, I think."

"Can we just not talk about it?" Rayna asked, suppressing a disgusted shiver. Zombie, reincarnation or ghost; Rayna didn't want to think about any of it.

Lord Myre nodded. "In any case, Cremble has been evacuating our people for the last three thousand years. It's difficult to do so. The physical age of the body must match the physical age of the soul when it was removed from its original body. It's not impossible to inhabit a body of a different age, but it can cause complications that usually lead to an early death."

"And that's why I came to Ember as a child," Rayna guessed. "Because twenty-seven years old looks a lot different in humans than it does in Lerians."

Myre nodded. "And that is the extent of what I know."

Corban frowned. "You're pretty light on the details for someone who promised Rayna answers."

"I would give more detail if I had it," Lord Myre said. "My memories from before the Cataclysm are somewhat vague. It's been a thousand years since I was revived. Imagine trying to remember something from when you were an infant. It's similar to what you are asking of me."

"Then I guess it's my turn," Naomi said. "I was brought back in the last decade, so my head isn't stuffed full of cobwebs."

Lord Myre looked offended.

Naomi snorted. "It's not my fault you got old. Now, from what I remember, I was on a mission to Ashen when the problems first started…"

* * *

Five Months Before the Cataclysm

Naomi fidgeted with her hair, trying to make it lay flat around her new set of horns.

"You'll get used to them," her mother said encouragingly, rearranging a few strands of her hair. "You woke a lot faster than I expected you to."

"I didn't wake too fast, did I?" Naomi asked, nervously checking her appearance in a mirror. She had heard horror stories of Lerians going into the first plateau and coming out as old, wrinkled messes because they rushed the process.

"You're fine," her mother said, the laughter in her voice irritating. "Perhaps it would have been an issue had you started your plateau a decade ago. You were wise to wait until you had more experience with Essence."

Naomi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She hadn't 'waited until she had more experience', she had been forced to wait so it wouldn't interrupt her studies. She was in her late thirties and all of her friends had evolved years ago, leaving her behind. Now she was playing catch-up and trying not to get discouraged.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Would she have to wait another decade to earn her wings?

Naomi pushed the thought aside. She had important work to do. She wasn't a child, and she shouldn't act like one.

"So, where are we going?" She glanced out the carriage window, noticing with some surprise that they had already left Ellis. "We're leaving the country?"

"We are," her mother said with a smile. "Though I had hoped to keep it a surprise. You know what it means that you've evolved, don't you?"

"My inheritance evolved?" Naomi guessed, trying to hide her enthusiasm. She had never been particularly good at the serene princess act. It was sometimes a relief that the rest of the world considered their family odd; it meant that Naomi didn't have to pretend as much.

"It did," her mother confirmed. "We're going to test your new abilities as well as meet some of the people you will be working closely with in the future."

Ashen.

Naomi had to pinch her hand to contain her excitement. She had been to Ashen a few times, but only for short excursions and never in an official capacity. The Miasma soaked landscape was only traversable thanks to her mother's bubble of protection that kept Naomi safe from the foreign energy. If Naomi was now able to make that bubble herself, she would be able to travel to Ashen whenever she felt like it. She could learn more about the Corvi and how they lived.

Someday, she might even find a way to bring the two worlds together and then they could all—

Don't get ahead of yourself, her mother said telepathically. Today is just about testing your bubbles.

Don't read my thoughts! Naomi snapped, more out of embarrassment than anger.

Her mother chuckled. "How could I not? They were written all over your face."

Naomi pursed her lips, but her frustration was quickly forgotten when the dungeon came into view. She would have preferred to go through Amon's dungeon. It was quiet and mostly populated by smaller monsters, but cleaners were in the process of clearing out the monster population since a redundant crack sent it into chaos last month. It didn't overflow, thank the goddess, but Naomi hadn't had the chance to talk to Amon in weeks.

The dungeon they were using to cross over was located in the middle of a valley. The tall spire that marked the dungeon's location glowed pink in the early morning light. Naomi hadn't visited this one yet, so she was interested to see what was in it.

The carriage stopped just outside and a figure in a long black cloak met them at the entrance.

"Hemma," Naomi's mother said with a slight bow. "Is the cloak working?"

"Well enough," the woman said. "I've written up a report on how I think the runes could be improved, but I haven't burst into flames yet."

Naomi couldn't stop the look of horror from reaching her face, which sent the woman into a fit of laughter.

"She's joking, dear," Naomi's mother said. "Hemma is strong enough to withstand this level of Essence on her own. If she was in real danger, we would be having this discussion inside the dungeon."

Naomi's cheeks flushed. She should have known better. Hemma was clearly stronger than Naomi and even she could stand Miasma for short periods of time. It was all dependent on your natural tolerance level combined with personal strength.

"It's good to see a young Lerian concerned for my welfare," Hemma said warmly. "So often your kind refers to us as demons or wraiths. It shows hope for the future, I think, that the Princess has visited us in our own lands."

"The process of change is slow, but even the mountains are worn down over time," her mother said. "Someday, your kind won't refer to us as demons either."

Her voice was humorous, but there was a hint of regret to it. The relations between Ember and Ashen had never been great, but Queen Nina had done everything she could to dispel the misconceptions surrounding their peoples. Naomi would be the next to join the cause, but she couldn't help but feel inadequate in the presence of these two powerful and confident women.

"Chin up, young one," Hemma said. "The progress in the last decade alone is more than we ever expected to make. And today we take another step forward."

Hemma led them through the dungeon—an unimpressive puzzle-style dungeon, to Naomi's disappointment. They chose it because it had recently been cleared, apparently. They emerged on the other side and Naomi's chest tightened. Her skin started to itch.

Naomi's ears twitched as the familiar buzz of her mother's magic marked the appearance of her protective bubble. A weight lifted off of Naomi's chest as the Miasma was repelled from the area around her.

Her mother let out a sigh, filling the bubble with Essence to make them more comfortable. "That's better. Stay close. We'll test your ability to make a bubble later, when there is less Miasma around."

Naomi breathed in the fresh crisp air of Ashen. Spring had just begun, and the deep scents of wildflowers and morning dew filled Naomi's nostrils. She sighed. Helia wouldn't enjoy the spring for a few weeks yet, and if it weren't for Naomi's bespelled cloak, she would have to shed a few layers to avoid roasting in the warmer temperatures on this side of the boundary.

An entourage awaited them; guards standing at attention and servants snapping into place as they realized that Hemma had emerged.

"Korsa would like to officially welcome the Princess of Ellis and extend to her an invitation to stay at the palace for the festival of Jenavee," Hemma declared, bowing gracefully to Naomi and her mother.

Naomi glanced at her mother, unsure if she was looking for approval or explanation.

Her mother just grinned. "Surprise," she said. "You're always saying how much you want to visit Ashen for longer than a few hours. Queen Hemma and I have matters to discuss, and we both thought it might be nice for you to see more of Korsa's traditions. When we are more sure of your Inheritance, we can see about visiting other countries."

Queen Hemma's smile faded slightly, but it didn't falter. "If you will join me in the carriages, we have warded them against Miasma for more comfortable travel.

Naomi's mother nodded. "Ellis extends its thanks for your hospitality, Queen Hemma. May our people's grow closer through the time we spend here."

Naomi bit the inside of her cheek to keep her expression pleasantly surprised. She wanted to forgo the carriage and run to the capital herself. How long was the festival? She would have liked more of a chance to plan. They wouldn't keep her at the palace the whole time, would they? She was dying for the chance to explore.

Settle down, dear, her mother said, not looking at Naomi. We can discuss more when we're in the carriage. We'll spend some time exploring, but there are matters of state to attend to and we can't squander this opportunity on sightseeing.

Naomi's excitement dulled at the thought of long stately meetings and boring proceedings.

Her mother's rich chuckle echoed in her mind. Don't worry, there are a few places that I intend to show you, and Hemma has a list of places we should visit as well. This visit won't be entirely business.

The carriage was simple but dignified. Runes that Naomi had spent so many years studying were etched around the outside of the carriage walls. Miasmic runes were more graceful than Essence runes. At least, Naomi thought so. They had an ebb and flow that reminded her of ocean waves. Essence runes were curly, but they flowed only in one direction: forward. They didn't wrap around themselves in the playful dance that made Miasmic runes so captivating.

* * *

"Is this really necessary?" Lord Myre asked, the exasperation in his voice clear.

Naomi frowned. "Is what necessary?"

"The level of detail," Lord Myre said. "The difference between Miasmic runes and Essence runes is unimportant for the current conversation."

"I'm enjoying the story," Rayna said, crossing her arms. "And it's not like you were giving me any information. I'll take too much detail over too little."

"Thank you, Rayna," Naomi said smugly. "All details are important. You don't know which one holds the answer to a question you never knew you had. Anyway, where was I…? right, the carriage… It took a few hours to get to the capital of Korsa—which was also called Korsa—and on the way, my mother taught me how to form the bubbles so that I wouldn't have to rely on her for protection."

* * *

Naomi grinned ear to ear as she adjusted the size of her bubble. As with everything else magical, she didn't find this new function of her Inheritance to be that difficult to control. She shrank it down until it barely hovered above her skin, using as little Mana as possible to maintain it.

"Don't get cocky," her mother warned as the carriage pulled to a stop. "If you lose control of your bubble, come find me right away. The Miasma density in the capital will burn on contact with your skin, but it shouldn't be deadly."

"We've taken the precaution of purging the Miasma from your rooms," Queen Hemma said. "But we're unable to add Essence to the environment. You'll have to do so yourself."

Naomi's mother nodded. "That shouldn't be too difficult. Thank you again for your hospitality."

Queen Hemma grinned. "I'll expect you to return the favor someday soon. I wish to see this capital that I've heard so much about, and my son is almost as enamored with Ellisian culture as Princess Naomi is with Korsa."

Son? Naomi wracked her brain, trying to remember the name of the Crown Prince of Korsa.

She needn't have bothered. As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, a young man greeted her with a grin on his face.

"Princess Naomi? It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I am Crown Prince Jorna, Son of Queen Hemma and heir to the throne of Korsa." He bowed formally and Naomi nearly tripped over her skirts trying to curtsy in return.

"Princess Naomi, Daughter of Queen Nina. Apprentice to the chief dungeon technician and the keeper of the boundary." Naomi wasn't even sure if that was the correct way to introduce herself. She normally just went by 'Naomi', but that didn't seem to fit the situation.

"Our future is in good hands." Prince Jorna took Naomi's hand and kissed it. A slight magical sizzle was the only indication that he had passed her bubble. He didn't seem to be bothered by the Essence that Naomi had filled her bubble with. How strong was he?

Queen Hemma stood beside her son, looking pleased. "Now that you're both acquainted, why don't we go inside. We've much to discuss."