My heart was nearly in my throat as I stared at the entrance to the Palace.
This is it. This is what we've fought so hard for. To those of you who've lost your lives in the cave, your sacrifices will not be in vain, I thought as I swallowed dryly.
"Form a line over there at the top of the steps, and don't let anything get through. Leona and Meliss, you'll have to stay within the hall; you two will guard them," the Master said, gesturing to Bernar and I. "How long do you think you'll need?" Thorsen asked over his shoulder. "As long as you can give me," the Master replied solemnly.
It was strange to hear him use that tone, especially now, but I figured there had to be a reason for it. "It's time to go, Thorsen. Lead the way," he said, tapping Thorsen on the shoulder, prompting him to move. We crept behind the stones that held the trees and other such plants in the garden outside the palace. Luckily for us, the architects had placed the ornaments in a perfect line, giving us good concealment as we approached.
Once we reached the base of the steps, the Master signaled Thorsen and the others to form a line. Bernar, Leona, Meliss, and I followed in behind the Master, but as soon as we stepped beyond the threshold of the shattered door, I felt a chill race down my spine.
That must be him, I thought, seeing a prominent masked figure sitting in a glowing, violet throne with a swirling portal behind him.
The Master gestured for us to move off to his right along the wall as he took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, do not interfere. Do you understand, Thoma?" he asked me directly. "I do, Master," I gave him a nod he didn't see.
Why is he only telling me that? Does Bernar already know something I don't? I wondered, ushering Meliss in the direction he indicated.
I looked around the hall and noticed that its former glory seemed like a distant memory, as the throne, pillars, glass, and long, red carpet were damaged almost beyond recognition. It was clear that whatever had happened there wasn't caused by weapons but by a powerful, rageful spell.
"You have a true taste for destroying other people's beautiful hard work, don't you?" the Master asked as he stepped forward and gestured around him. "I never would have thought a mage as powerful as you would throw a tantrum like a child," he scoffed. "Tantrum? I was looking for something," the Masked One said, rising from his violet throne and exuding a powerful aura, causing Leona and Meliss to stumble briefly under its pressure.
If he's that powerful, why the hell is the Master taking him on alone? I wondered, glancing at Bernar, who was observing their approach carefully, as the Master exuded his own golden aura to counteract the mage's.
"Given the state of this place, I'm going to assume you've found it," the Master said, watching the mage descend the steps with heavy footfall. Each step he took sent another wave of his aura toward us, and I could even feel my legs beginning to strain against the weight of his aura.
"I have, but if you think I'm going to stand here and tell you why I'm taking it, you're mistaken. However, I do want to know what you've told the others, since there are many of your Synners outside wreaking havoc on my forces. How many of them will sacrifice their lives for the truth you've hidden, brother?" the mage asked, shocking me to my core.
Did he just say brother? I wondered as I saw the Master's expression shift into one of pain and confusion.
I could tell that it stung like a wasp for a moment, but his expression immediately shifted into one of uncertainty and fear. "A-Ardrin? Is that really you?" he asked, his voice trembling just enough to tell me that his feelings were conflicting. "Alive and in the flesh, Taegin, but I am the Masked One, now," Ardrin replied, spreading his arms.
Holy shit. I don't believe it. That story he told us really was about him, I realized, recalling that night in Taegin's study.
"How is this possible? Where the hell have you been all these years? Do you know how long I spent looking for you?" Taegin asked with a slight amount of anger in his voice. "Well, that doesn't matter now, does it? I'm serving a higher purpose, though I'm surprised that you, of all people, seem to know nothing about it," Ardrin chuckled maliciously, causing Taegin to draw his sword with gritted teeth.
"What higher purpose? I don't think becoming a pawn of the Undergod would be considered a higher purpose," Taegin snarled, but Ardrin only shrugged. "I don't have to answer any questions you ask, but I will tell you that there are far worse things than that, brother," Ardrin said as he walked forward. "I know that already, but I wish you had come to me with whatever troubles you," Taegin shook his head defeatedly.
"And why would I do that?" Ardrin scoffed. "Because I still care for you, brother. I spent decades looking for you, only to find you in his clutches," Taegin admitted with an unmistakable bitter taste in his mouth as he said the words, causing Ardrin to laugh wickedly. "Oh, Taegin. You've always had a bleeding heart, and it makes you predictable; a weakness I don't share," Ardrin snarled, causing Taegin's aura to flare.
As the two glared at each other momentarily, I leaned in toward my brother. "Did you know?" I asked quietly, hoping he would give me a proper answer. "I've known since I went to train in Caegwen, but I didn't know his brother was behind all this," Bernar sighed.
I was dumbfounded. There was still so much I didn't know about the world, let alone my own family. Meliss and Leona were still struggling to stay conscious under the combined weight of their auras, prompting Bernar to cast a small golden dome around them when he realized they were suffering. "Anything else you want to surprise me with?" I hissed. "A lot, actually, but I'm not the one who should tell you," he nodded in the Master's, rather Taegin's direction.
Needless to say, any questions I had at that moment would have to wait, as the two brothers began to flare their mana once more, nearly making me stumble under their combined weight.
Taegin and Ardrin approached each other, then stopped a few paces apart. "You've grown taller, even if it's more than apparent that it was not of natural causes," Taegin said, noting his brother's increased height. "This is the sort of thing you could have had for yourself, had you gone down the same path I did," Ardrin replied with a snarl.
"You mean burning two Synners alive because you were bullied a little bit? That was murder and childish, but I don't think I have to tell you that," Taegin said, but Ardrin shook his head. "That wasn't murder, that was an eye opener. I realized that if I wanted to accomplish anything in this world, I would have to throw everything and everyone away; something you evidently struggle with," he replied.
I couldn't see it clearly from where I was, but I don't think I saw Taegin's expression shift when he heard that. "So you decided to side with him just to attain your goals? That's ridiculous," he scoffed. "What's ridiculous is that you can't see beyond him, even though you already know better," Ardrin replied with a snarl. "Ardrin, please. You know there isn't much we can do about that," Taegin sighed and shook his head.
"Spare me the lecture; you know nothing of what's happened since I left," Ardrin snarled. "You've sided with the Undergod, brought death and destruction to innocent people, and you're stealing something that does not belong to you; I'd say I know enough for now," Taegin growled, spawning a Kyr spell in the blink of an eye that he launched at Ardrin.
He deflected it with a speed I couldn't hope to match, causing the bolt of mana to shatter part of the thick stone wall behind him. "You've gotten stronger. Consider me impressed," Ardrin said, briefly staring at his smouldering hand before the charred skin healed. "I'll only ask you one last time, brother: Why are you doing this?" Taegin snarled.