5.

“What?” Aeron hisses out, not believing his ears. “How? How did the Mage – a MAGE – manage to get the blood of one of the most powerful people in the world?”

“A question I ask myself too.” Leona mutters.

“Did your ancestor perchance asked how they got it?”

“He did, but the mage evaded the question.”

There was a heavy silence, which Aeron breaks a moment later. “To get the blood of the Earth Guardian is to get the key to eternal life. If they managed to find a way to dilute the toxic contents of the blood and succeeded, they would live for thousands of years to come.”

“What?” Leona whispers, forehead folding in a frown. “Wait, how do you know all these?” She squints at him suspiciously. “And why am I telling you all these?” She places her fingers on her lips.

“It is common sense my lady, and you, like every reasonable person, just like being honest.” Aeron answers back immediately, without a pause. “The Earth Guardian is said to represent their name. Nature is life and it is eternal. It will still be here, even if thousands of years go by. That is if the Gods or humans don’t destroy it first. And if I remember correctly, the Guardians are said to be immortals. The Earth Guardian is the perfect key to gain immortality.”

“…” Leona stares at Aeron, eyebrows lowered into a frown.

Mages are known to live long but their lifespans don’t cross more than two hundred and fifty, that is, if they are lucky to reach that age. It is human nature to be cruel. Just because the mage helped the Empire doesn’t mean that they are pure-hearted. For any human to gain ultimate eternal life, that is a recipe for disaster.

“Did the mage give Zoraen his name?”

“No. Maybe? I don’t really know.” She sighs. “A page is missing from the ancient journal. I asked my grandmother but she said it isn’t any concern of mine.”

Aeron makes an inquisitive noise at the back of his throat. “How doesn’t it concern you? You are the heiress of the family, are you not? It is unethical to hide such historical matters from you. Are they perchance hiding something from you?”

Leona eyes narrows into slits at that.

That was a very good question.

Is her grandmother hiding something important from her?

Because Leona has a deep feeling that she is.

____________________

“It turns out that the Mage managed to get the blood of the Earth Guardian.” Caelum repeats, staring at Arkona as if she was slow. His look just makes her pissed off the more, and she made it known to them.

Arkona straightens her back and looks down at them with a blank glare. A glare that promises retribution if she was spoken too like a fool again.

The temperature suddenly drops, making the two Vermilions to involuntarily shiver.

Caelum immediately corrects himself, a bead of sweat trailing down his face. “Um, what I mean is- ah, the Mage somehow got a vial of blood from the Earth Guardian, according to Zoraen’s journal. No one knows how, not even the prince.”

“Hmmm.” Arkona holds out her cup, the maid taking it away permanently from her hand with a bow. “Did Prince Zoraen perchance mention the name of this Mage?”

“No, my Lady. The Mage didn’t tell him how he got the blood, neither did he tell Prince Zoraen his name.” Caelum hurriedly replies, making Arkona’s questioning gaze to intensify the more. She stares into his eyes, holding eye contact for a moment before staring into Marbethta’s.

Arkona gives a cold and deadly smile.

“I see.” Her voice was icy, matching her cold smile. “Please, go on with your narrative.”

“As previously stated, the Mage made use of these two ingredients and concocted a deadly poison.” Caelum continues. “When the goblet touched Zaelak’s lips, the tyrant screamed in agony and died a painful death. His organs were liquefied. Our family has always theorized that it was the ingestion of the blood that made him die an agonizing death.”

“Caelum.” Marbethta pinches the bridge of her nose, wondering how she got a moron for a son. “Please. Stop. Talking.”

“Yes, mother. Sorry mother.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Blackwater, but there are some things we can’t tell you.” Marbethta smiles sharply at Arkona.

“Can’t? Or won’t?” Arkona cocks a brow at her.

“Can’t. Just like everyone else, there are certain family secrets kept secret. We don’t share vital information to outsiders.” Marbethta says this whilst looking sharply at her son, who flinches at her harsh stare. She returns her gaze back to Arkona, her sharp smile still on her lips. “But rest assured, those secrets will not be at the detriment or a disadvantage to you or your son.”

Arkona stares impassively at the two, eyes and face unreadable. After what felt like hours, she grunts and nods.

“Yes, you are right Lady Vermilion. We all have our secrets and we like them to remain that way; secrets.” Arkona gives them a blank stare. “Nevertheless, please, carry on with your narration.”

Marbethta nods. “After successfully killing Zaelak, the prince, joined by the people battled the Necromancer with the help of the Mage. Although there were fatalities, they managed to drive the Necromancer away from the empire.”

Arkona silently scoffs at that. Necromancers are hard to defeat. If he left the empire it will only mean that’s he was bored. Necromancers tend to play with their food. If they got bored, they leave.

“The people crowned Zoraen the new king. The prince, now king, sent missives a few years later calling back the exiled families. They hesitated and ignored the invitation, hearts still shrouded in fear. But after five or six years later, they came back to the Empire. From there onwards, we have been the ones making sure that the empire doesn’t fall into ruins.” Marbethta ended with a solemn tone.

Arkona’s lips twitches at the rushed ending, staring at both Vermilions in hidden amusement.

“I believe, Lady Blackwater, that it is your turn to shed light about your family.”

Arkona gives a silent exhale, crossing her legs again. She takes a glance at the clock on the wall before focusing her attention on her guests.

“Well, there isn’t anything much to say.” She places her elbow on the hand of her seat, resting her cheek on her fisted hand. “I was a street rat, who made a name for herself, due to a little help from certain people. I am a merchant by trade. Due to that, I travel often, going from one empire, even continents, to another. My travels brought me to my now Wards. They too, like me, were street rats, on the verge of dying. Their lands improvised by the fat pigs who oversaw said lands. I tried to help in a peaceful manner, but somethings, it's best to kill the problem straight from the root, which I did.” She calmly says, as if she was merely talking about the weather and not about killing people.

Marbethta and Caelum share uncomfortable looks between themselves.

“Anyways, let me introduce my Wards.” Arkona continues.

The woman raises her hand, palm pointing at the only portrait hanging on the wall in the room.

“My first ward is the beautiful damsel with the grey hair with blue tints here and there, clothed in black leather and looking all unimpressed.” Arkona snorts. “That’s Seyla, mostly known by her real name; Seylafina Blackmoon.”

Caelum snaps his head towards Arkona, eyes wide. “Your Ward-Daughter is the Lightening Knight?” He whispers out breathlessly. Marbethta inhales sharply at her son’s question.

“Oh? You have heard of her?” Arkona cocks an inquisitive brow.

“Of course I have, Lady Blackwater. Everyone knows about her tale. She and the bastard Prince of Magia brought an end to the tyranny of the previous royal family. Right now, the empire is ruled by democracy. The people vote who they want as their new Sludain and the new royal family, and can call for the removal of said family and Suldian if he wasn’t doing his duties as expected. If I remember correctly, the Prince is still the ruler, right?”

“Correct.” Arkona nods, her lips tilted in a ghost of a smile. ”As you both know, Seyla is the personal knight of Suldain Varuna. When she becomes bored or have nothing else to do, she crafts furniture such as the ones you see in this room. But sadly, they are only for family eyes. That girl has a pride as big as the Holorey Mountain.” She gives a light chuckle.

“My second ward is the dark handsome gentlemen with glasses, standing beside Seylafina. That’s my first male ward; Mortimer Blackwood.”

“The Blood Mage?”

“The Black Death?”

Both Caelum and Marbethta asks as one, disbelieve in their voices. Arkona answers them both with a nod.

“And my third, and hopefully, final ward, is the golden skin red head in between Aeron and I; Indra Blackwell.”

“My goodness! Your wards are extraordinary.” Marbethta gushes. “Not only is the legendary Lightening Knight of Magia your Ward-Daughter, the Death-Bringer Mage of Loren and also the famous Red Fury of the Mithra Empire are your Ward-Sons? You are one lucky woman, Lady Arkona.”

Arkona chuckles deeply. “In this life, everything has a reason and purpose. I learnt early on that mine was to be a stepping stone for their success, and thankfully, I did a great job.”

“You sure did.” Caelum nods. ”If I may, Lady Blackwater, why do they have different names after ‘Black’? I’m sure bearing surnames with them will bring honor, especially of their caliber.”

“Well, it’s quite simple, Lord Caelum. I want the three of them to be individuals of their own. I want the world to know that they made it on their own, with their own efforts, to be who they are today.” She huffed, giving a light shrug. “But my wards are stubborn as they come. I could only convince them to change the ‘water’ to any name they liked. Seylafina chose ‘moon’ because I found her under the illuminating lights of the moons; Mortimer chose ‘wood’ because I found him in the woods hiding from traffickers; and Indra chose ‘well’ because I found him in a destroyed village, hidden in the well for three days, somehow miraculously surviving.”

The mood becomes somber after her reply, and it is thankfully broken by the entry of a differently dressed maid(?).

“Mistress, lunch is ready.” They announced, head bowed and hands clasped in front of their dress.

“Thank you, Mora.”

Arkona gets two looks of disdain when she utter her thanks, but as usual, she ignores them. It isn’t the first time those looks were aimed at her and it surely won’t be the last. She arose gracefully and effortless, smoothing her dress.

“Shall we?” She gestures at the door, getting two nods of confirmation. The occupants in the room all walked out, Mora leading the way.

“Now then, do you have children Lord Caelum?”

“I do, Lady Blackwater.” Caelum replies, a small smile on his lips. “Three in fact.”

“Ohhh. Please, do tell.”

“Well…” Caelum begins, seeing this as a chance to build bridges in order for one of his daughters to marry one of the men of the Blackwater House. After all, not only the brat will take the glory for herself.