Lucid, Ayame, and Arthur were brought into the inner palace chamber with cuffs binding their wrists. The queen sat upon her throne, her hair without blemish, without fault, without even the slightest disarray. Her skin remained crystal clear. Her eyes were deep sapphire, cold and calculating.
She looked down at the three of them and descended the steps. Slow. Measured. Each footfall echoed through the vast chamber.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur yelled, struggling against his restraints.
Ayame pulled at her cuffs, but to no avail. The metal bit into her skin, drawing thin lines of blood.
The queen stopped in front of Arthur. She crouched before him, meeting his eyes at his level.
"Arthur," she said softly. "You have been a fine man. You have taught me everything I ever needed to know. I want you to be my knight."
Lucid could not help but feel pissed off. After what she had said inside that soulscape—that she had planned all of this, used them all like pieces on a board. She was responsible for their deaths.
"Oh... I see that the princess—or the queen—"
A foot came down against the side of his cheek. His face snapped to the side. Blood filled his mouth. He healed in the process, white light flickering weakly.
The blue figure, cloaked in a cape with their head concealed—Lyssandra—told him to remain silent.
Ayame watched desperately, wanting to intervene. Her eyes flashed red.
The queen ignored the commotion.
"You may become my knight this very moment. I am the queen; there is no need for any graduation ceremony. All I ask is that you remain by my side and forget these people."
Arthur looked to his side. At Lucid, bleeding on the floor. At Ayame, straining against her bonds.
"Swear a new oath to me, Arthur."
The queen pressed his chin with her hand, forcing him to meet her eyes.
Arthur laughed. A bitter, hollow sound.
"I swear an oath to myself first, then to the people, and only then should I swear an oath to you."
Lucid smiled. A bloody smile, teeth stained red.
The queen's innocent expression cracked for just a moment. Her cold, hardened gaze met Arthur's.
Then she smiled.
"Very well. You pass."
Arthur looked bewildered.
"What?"
"I knew you were not naive enough, Fredri... oops, I almost slipped."
She resumed a more casual tone, standing up.
"Good. You remain true to your principles. That is what I require."
Lucid yelled from beneath the feet of the paladin.
"What do you want with us?"
The foot threatened to cave in his skull. Lyssandra shifted her weight, prepared to crush.
The queen raised her hand. Lyssandra stepped back.
"It is simple. I wish to sponsor you. I wish for you to head down—"
"Hell no!" Lucid yelled.
The foot lifted, and he was kicked into a shelf in the armory where silver swords lay and armor hung. He crashed into it. Metal clattered to the ground.
Ayame briefly stood up, but Arthur pulled at her sleeve.
"Wait."
The queen looked down at their confused faces.
"I shall send you to the New Order. Well, they are simply called the Order. Every leader, every representative of each faction, kingdom, and empire participates in the Order. Of course, some do not care for such things. Others do."
She walked back toward her throne, hands clasped behind her back.
"There once existed another like it. It was called the Old Commission. But it was destroyed long ago by a single person. Though I cannot blame her actions. The Old Commission was composed of factions that supported Materna, though Materna herself did not truly participate."
Lyssandra carried Lucid back to where Ayame and Fredrick were. His wounds were already healing, torn skin slowly knitting itself back together.
For a brief moment, Lucid looked toward Ayame and Fredrick, his expression sharp and dangerous—a look that suggested he could lay ruin to this entire place if he chose. Ayame met his gaze with quiet understanding, but Fredrick simply tilted his head in a subtle no.
To challenge Elara, the Queen of Vex, while Lyssandra the Paladin stood beside her—the most feared warrior in the scattered realms—all while surrounded by more than a hundred guards, would be suicide.
Lucid sighed inwardly.
Their deaths still twisted something deep inside his gut. The memory refused to leave his mind.
They had to be avenged.
Elara had to die.
He lowered his head slightly.
But I need this wretched whore.
The Queen of the entire kingdom of Vex sponsoring me. With her vast funds, I can find my way home.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
And then when I find a way, I will murder her in cold blood. I will rip her neck open, gouge out her eyes—
A sharp kick struck the side of his head.
Elara spoke calmly.
"I can hear your thoughts. You are fortunate that I am merciful."
"Play along with me, and I can promise you a way home."
She can?
Lucid grew cautious. The situation reminded him too much of Alice. Mind reading again. He hated it.
Then a different idea formed in his mind.
If she could hear his thoughts, then he would make sure she heard exactly what he wanted her to hear.
He began thinking loudly, deliberately. Violent thoughts. Gruesome thoughts. Vivid images of what he would do to her one day. He let them pour out without restraint, painting himself as an open book for her to read.
Not vengeance for the academy.
Not for the Silver Badges.
For Garfield. For Mary. For Brian.
Elara suddenly clenched her teeth.
For the first time, her cold composure cracked.
Her eyes widened like a frightened girl who had seen something she should not have seen. She clutched her chest and turned away from him.
Lyssandra spoke at once.
"Is aught the matter, Your Highness?"
For a moment, there was silence. A heavy tension filled the air as Lucid wondered whether Lyssandra might crush his skull simply because Elara felt violated.
Lucid sighed quietly.
He would have his revenge one day.
It was only a matter of time.
Until then, he would play along.
Lucid spoke, his voice strained as he broke the silence, hoping the negotiation was still possible.
There was a moment of silence.
Elara cleared her throat.
"No... it is nothing."
She continued.
"I am an Awakened," she said, her tone low and matter-of-fact. "Lyssandra, the Sky-Sundered Saint, is an Enlightened of the Ascendant rank. My powers are physiological. I do not wish to discuss them so freely, but know that I can grant you an illusion."
She looked at Arthur, her hand beneath her chin, a smile playing at her lips.
"Of course, some illusions may prove true. But who is to say they are not?"
"Do you need to be an Illuminated to enter the Transcendence race?" Lucid asked.
"No."
"But what is in it for us? Why should I follow your scheme?"
Her eyes narrowed into a cold glare.
"What is it you desire, Lucid?" She spoke his name like a weapon. "Riches? Power? Fame? Honor? I can grant it to you."
He looked down, thinking. Then looked back up.
"Yeah, about six diamond coins will do. Plus interest."
He lied. What he sought was her head.
She laughed, genuine amusement lighting her face.
"My, you truly are an unpredictable variable. Very well."
She looked at Ayame.
"And you?"
Ayame spoke quietly.
"To revive my clan."
The queen nodded.
Then she looked at Arthur.
He remained silent.
Lyssandra spoke in an overly formal tone.
"Thou shouldst speak, lest thy silence lead thee unto consequence."
The queen's voice was low and teasing.
"What troubles you? Do you not wish to be my knight? Do you not wish to be my most trusted subject?"
Arthur glanced at Lucid, then down at himself, remembering something from long ago. His jaw clenched.
"I wish to protect you. My oath remains unbroken. And I also wish to protect this kingdom. Therefore, no amount of words shall persuade me from doing so, even should you command otherwise."
"So my duty remains the same... I wish for your utmost success, Your Highness."
Lucid looked at Arthur. He felt betrayed, but also impressed in a way. To go against her orders. Truly.
"Very well, then."
The queen's voice became formal once more.
"Transportation, as well as any costs and fees, shall be covered under the royal decree of Vex. You are hereby sponsored by Queen Elara, and I wish you safe travels. Upon your expedition, you may encounter others sponsored by rival factions. You shall not have the protection of the Transcendence rules, so remain prudent on your journey. And abide by my orders."
An orange glow traveled up Ayame and Arthur's arms, coiling around their wrists and hardening into ancient bands etched with burning runes.
"This is the Mark."
"And you are to carry it to the southern reaches of Osteria—to Port Vexis."
"There has been a concerning rise in deaths, and cultists opposing the Luminari Covenant."
"I want you to go there and rid the city of them."
"Of course, should you stray from my path..."
"The Mark shall carry the wrath of Mother Alisia. And her wrath can be... exceedingly brutal."
Lucid spoke, his voice challenging.
"So when you do get your Grail thing, what will you do? How am I supposed to believe you will not go around committing genocide? Because your actions do not align with what you say or what you've done."
"What do I want, and what do I wish for? Hmm, an interesting question."
She paused, considering his statement.
"I wish to decide the fate of my kingdom."
"But that is not for you to decide."
"I agree. But is it for Mother Fate to decide? We are all connected to her. All our wills, our acts, our generosity, our every intention, is driven and foretold by her will before we may act."
Who was this wretched creature, wearing human skin as a disguise, to ask him that?
It made him laugh.
"No. We have free will."
"Do we, Lucid?"
Her voice was soft yet dangerous.
"What is to say that you will return alive? What is to say that you will drink coffee over tea this evening? What is to say that you will die tomorrow by my hands?"
He looked down. Thought. Then looked back up.
"I'll make it back alive because I want to—no, because I need to. I usually drink tea over coffee. And I alone am responsible for my own death."
She laughed.
"My, how splendid. Arthur, you have found a worthy partner. Journey well. You may contact me through the pendant House Valerius gave you."
"Since when did you—" Lucid started.
"I have my ways," she said.
The gates remained closed.
***
That day, down through the kingdom, Lucid walked. Ayame stayed close. Arthur walked beside them as well, unsure of what they had walked themselves into.
Arthur spoke.
"I forgot to mention that she can read minds. By the way, the manner in which Lyssandra treated you... you did not promise her any pain, did you?"
Lucid continued walking forward without breaking stride.
He had already made himself clear. He was more a willing participant in this arrangement, and she would have to take great care in how she treated him. Whether she chose to cooperate out of curiosity or caution was entirely up to her.
The answer, however, still remained.
Lucid chuckled.
"What is so funny?" Arthur asked. He looked rather down, shoulders slumped.
"My hair has grown!"
Lucid touched the back of his head like a curious child with both hands.
Ayame sighed and gave an imperceptible smile. Barely visible.
As the three of them walked side by side, a certain figure sat at a table by the roadside, wearing a wide-brimmed hat that obscured their eyes, green hair spilling beneath it. Watching them pass.
It was the fortune teller.
She spoke to herself, her voice quiet.
"I followed your script. As always."
"How interesting. This is the path you envisioned, yes?"
"How interesting indeed. I am rather curious as well."
The fortune teller smiled and took a sip of tea.
The three figures disappeared down the street, unaware they were being watched.
Unaware that every step they took had been planned long before they were born.
The fortune teller set down her cup. Looked at the leaves at the bottom. Read the pattern.
"Yes," she whispered. "I am quite curious as well."