|Present Day|
Nikiro shook his head, banishing the memory. Thinking back to how Kairo looked at him, he sighed. Their relationship hadn't been the same since he divorced Kashino. He couldn't really blame Kairo for being angry with him, but it was the only solution he could think of, not only to reconcile his conflicted feelings but to let go of someone he had once loved, knowing that staying with him despite his fading feelings wouldn't have been fair.
He was shocked that Kairo even agreed to become Faustus and Sirius' tutor. Not that he was particularly complaining. With things the dreary atmosphere of the palace, it was nice to have family around, even when they weren't necessarily on the best of terms.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
"Family" was complicated, but not always because of one another. Sometimes all it took was a word or two from those on the outside to expose the cracks from within. At least that's what Isabelle thought. She could hardly even remember the last time her family was able to sat down and have a meal together.
One uncle was still in exile, her father was always off with Callisto and Ray searching for Illya and Avarice was busy heading the investigation having to do with the highly unflattering statues of her grandmother. Even her mother and Ri-is were in a constant tug of war with the courtiers about a lot of things but recently it had been the topic of whether or not Dez was some evil temptress that had used pregnancy as an excuse to capture Sin's heart. Those rumours weren't anything new, but they certainly worsened after she fell pregnant again a year after giving birth to Faustus.
She had been a part of the resistance for so long that sometimes it felt as though people forgot she was also a Solarian princess. Perhaps that's what gave them the courage to mock her nephews and aunt so boldly in front of her. She was not the only forgotten princess however.
"Isabelle, they're saying that only women are allowed inside. You'll have to do the talking for us."
Isabelle hopped off her horse and smiled up at Egan. "I could always dress you up so you can tag along!"
He laughed, raising his hands to grab hers before she could reach his head to ruffle his hair. "I think I'll pass on that for now...you think she'll listen to what we have to say?" He asked as they approached the looming temple in front of them.
"Hard to say. You know how fickle she is."
Slipping her shoes off she greeted the priestess at the front gates. "Welcome to the Temple of the Ashen Eyes your Highness."
Isabelle gave her a nod before turning back to Egan. "Don't worry, if she doesn't want to speak to me I'll just break the door down and drag her back with us."
The courtiers weren't the only ones who had the gall to say things they shouldn't in front of the very people they should know to be more respectful to. With a twisted expression, the priestess led Isabelle inside.
"The High Priestess has been awaiting your arrival."
Isabelle took a deep breath. "I'm sure she has."
The doors to the inner chambers swung open to reveal a girl clad in white. The golden sash around her waist shimmered as she turned to face them.
"High Priestess, Princess Isabelle has arrived."
Hecate, now 17 years of age smiled, her clear eyes settling mysteriously on Isabelle, almost making her forget that Hecate was blind.
"It's nice to see you again aunty..." said Isabelle.
Hecate dismissed the priestess, leaving her and Isabelle to speak alone. Her fingers touched a small gem embedded in her throat. It lit up as she channeled shi into it and the gentle sound of a girl's voice crackled out.
"I hear you've reached a wall where that statue fiasco is concerned."
Isabelle's eyes widened upon hearing the static crackle of the voice that floated out of the gem. "Where did you get that contraption?"
"It was a gift from Ri-is. Apparently mother was trying to make something for me to help me speak, but she wasn't able to finish it because of well...you know. Ri-is finished it just last year and gave it to me for my birthday." Hecate's eyes narrowed. "Enough of that, what can I help you with today?"
Isabelle was reminded of why she always felt so uncomfortable around her aunt. She was always a mystery. No one knew what her real voice sounded like, much less what she saw when she locked eyes with you, but she always had a look about her, as though she knew what you were thinking at any given time. Isabelle often found it difficult to make eye contact with Hecate. When she would it seemed like Hecate was staring straight through her, like she wasn't looking at her but rather something else entirely.
Clearing her throat, Isabelle shifted on her feet. "Yes. Avarice isn't able to decipher the runes we found beneath them. They're not native. He says they seem to be much older."
"Let me have a look." Hecate extended her hand and waited patiently.
Isabelle pulled the piece of clay she kept in her pocket for emergencies and channeled her power into it. The clay molded itself, creating ridges on its surface resembling that of the runes on the paper Isabelle had copied from Avarice. She handed the clay to Hecate and watched as she ran her fingers across the ridges before reaching up to touch the gem in her throat.
"Ah, I see. I'm afraid you won't find any records on these kinds of runes. It a type of magic that originated from Li-ah I guess I should say Queen Li's cult. There are no written records that speak of them or their magic since they had to remain hidden after the fall of Aruma An. At least none that are public."
Hecate returned Isabelle's clay. "Then...how can you tell its from them?"
Hecate stepped closer. "It's been around two years since I became a priestess hasn't it? I must say I've learned a lot in that time." She leaned down to mimic a whisper. As she did, the voice that she used to speak with quieted down as well. "I shall tell you since you are family and I understand how difficult it is to believe in something without evidence."
Stepping back, Hecate threw her veil over her head. "You ever wonder why our veils look so similar to the ones that Queen Li's followers wear?" She playfully lifted one side of the veil. "It's because the order of the Ashen Eyes once used to be a part of Li's cult."
"WHA—"
While Hecate couldn't see "Isabelle," she could see her shi grow irate. To prevent Isabelle from making a scene, she reached towards the formation of shi that stood in front of her and pulled it close.
"Before you ask, no, we are not working with them nor do we currently have any connections to them. As far as I know, the order split soon after the fall of Aruma An and haven't been in contact with them since."
"...why did they split?" asked Isabelle.
"I don't know. The High Priestess before me gave me access to our library. That's how I found out about our history. There are books on ancient Arunian magic that was developed by Li's cult, but a large chunk of it was destroyed so I don't know the full sto-sto-sto-sto-sto-sto-ry-ry-"
Hecate's gem began to fade into weak blinking. She smacked it and it crackled before returning to a steady glow and the voice resumed speaking. "Darn thing. I'll have to charge it soon. It always does this when I use it for too long. Lets cut to the chase. Bring me to the statue, I can break the magic."78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJpgVTqiOu
