Post

“Elmirant Alexios, the landings have progressed as planned. Shall we prepare to march forwards?”

“Marching will come soon enough Commander, but you’ll recall the terrain we’re working in isn’t the most welcoming to foreign invasion. We’ll bring in more resources here, as our enemy will be doing the same.”

“Good choice sir. Shall we send for the 1st Grand Army?”

“I already did, they should arrive soon.”

“Ah, even better. Anything else we can do, sir?”

“Not presently, though I’ll be taking a brief walk. I’d like to remain undisturbed if possible.”

Alexios stepped out of the war room, onto the still hot streets.

He walked, not to find somewhere.

Rather, to find himself somewhere.

In the end, it was a small church tucked away in a back alley that caught his eye. Alexios found himself walking to the altar, not entirely sure why. He began to search. For what, he didn’t quite know. Throwing open cabinet doors, overturning tables, until his eyes settled on a small compartment. His hand moved not for the hosts, but the wine.

Seating himself at the base of the altar, Alexios poured the wine into a small bowl. With one fluid motion, he pulled flames from the wine. He stood in silence. Watching. Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

And nothing came of it.

In a scream of anguish, he slammed down, and the bowl shattered, scattering flames across the room. Alexios stormed out.

“Eden? Where are you?”

A servant poked his head in. “Good morning, Isaac. She’s in the garden.”

“Thank you.”

Isaac walked to see his sister seated on a stone in the pond. Eyes closed, she sat breathing, letting the scented candles around her dim and glow.

“Eden, I just found out -“

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. My uncle, he’s-“

“Dead. I know.”

He paused. “How? Nobody else has been told.”

“You cannot feel his absence? Unfortunate.”

“And you do know that Alexios has already been selected for our Uncle’s place?”

“Yes. Unlike you, I actually care a bit about what the Council does.”

“Not like it’ll get you anywhere. They’re still not the most open-minded people, those old husks.”

She smiled. “No, I suppose not.”

“Now, if you’re almost done here, we’ve got duties to tend to. House Cysaren is now without clear leadership.”

Eden turned back to the candles. She began the movements, and the sparks seemed to dance around her.