Perhaps

For the latter did not seem to be totally focused on this discussion. Something else was clearly on his mind, something that seemed to have to do with the young magician Abios, so that he looked at him in a way that concerned me.

- As soon as the rulers were murdered, the portals closed, or warped or broken, or however to describe it, but the important part is that nothing or no one can pass through anymore, none of us. But as one or more Zeog beings are the authors of the centennial crime, only they are able to circulate wherever they want, without any difficulty, and without forgetting to grant to each of their emissaries the mark of the evil so that they can enjoy the same privilege.

So it is sure that the only way out of here is through the borders, and even if we reach them, which would be an almost impossible feat, we won't be able to cross, since none of us is a Zeog, nor does have this specific mark.

- But on the other hand, intervened the ruler of the flying with a singular voice which alerted me, if the royal line of Orios is established something would change, no?

- Obviously, exclaimed uncle Lécrange, he cried out with annoyance, showing that even though he knew perfectly well about this case, it was a waste of time to talk about it since it was an unachievable option. The absolute border will disappear, and thus the heir will be able to create a bridge between this kingdom and the others. However, he clarified well.

- But no one here is of royal birth and no one is a suitor either, so why talk about it? Intervened Abi with a voice more dry than necessary.

- I'm looking for any possibility. Seiran only shrugged his shoulders in a falsely casual manner.

- Isn't your blood strong enough, Duchess, for you to be among the contenders to the throne? I advanced this time, not grasping the hidden exchanges of the discussion.

- Alas no...all the sovereigns must belong to the direct branch, also called Orionis branch, all the members of this particular branch are of pure blood, the rest, as noble as they are, are of hybrid blood. Therefore, it is simply impossible for me or my beautiful little bright daughter to ascend the throne, since we are of hybrid blood. The royal power will never accept us.

- So we're stuck here.

The atmosphere became heavy, everyone showed a dejected face. All except Seiran, he was not so much impassive as he was tempted to bet everything on something that only he could see the value of.

***

After the meeting he went to his room and I wandered around the underground, contemplating the macabre stories that were exposed on the walls, and whose atrocity I could feel. I felt that something had to change.

- You were looking at these incomprehensible paintings, Dania?

- Yriane, have you come to keep me company?

- Since there is nothing else to do, we might as well spend the time talking.

We strolled in the cold corridors of this underground kingdom, it was even more immense than we imagined. It seemed as if it stretched to infinity, changing shape according to its whims, but despite everything, the air contained seemed to be weighed down by something, it seemed like an immense pain.

- Tell me Yriane, how did you meet Abi?

Yriane looked at me first, trying to assess the reason for my question, then probably satisfied with what she saw or simply, it did not matter all in all, she decided to answer me.

- Abi, well, my blond girl concentrated to remember... one day, during the vacations, mom took me to visit the countryside. She kept saying that I needed to rest because of the spells I used all the time to do the household chores, if you could call it that, what I was doing, but in my mind as well as in hers, it was especially urgent for her. So we went to visit an old friend who lived in a large cottage. He was said to be a crafty old magician who mostly liked to fix broken things. He and Mom just ate, chatted and rested, happy to be together, so I was free most of the time, so much so that I went for walks, always alone, wanting to go on adventures, imagining myself a princess and a great magician. But once I had gone too far. And worse, I slipped on a rock engraved with a rather sinister spell. In my fall, I lost consciousness, and only woke up hours later, maybe even days, I didn't know. Since then, no matter how much I cried, no matter how much I screamed, no one heard me, no one came to my rescue. Every time night fell, in total despair, I sat down in the grass, ready to spend the night, praying hard that the characters of evil witches and orcs existed only in tales and legends. Fear nagged at me, as I fearfully lay down on my makeshift bed. When I reached the bottom of despair, a little boy suddenly appeared, a boy I knew nothing about but who didn't scare me, I was even a little curious and grateful.

Yriane shook her head, still moved and tenderized by this distant memory.

- How can I explain this feeling to you Dania, this certainty of having discovered something that gave you the impression of happiness and light, and that's what he did for me. He told me that he knew these places better than anyone else. So he showed it to me in a way that left me speechless, and that drove all fear and trauma out of my being. Hand in hand, he showed me his house, his toys, his secret garden, his favorite tree, and so on...At that time, and the voice as well as the expression of blondie changed progressively, as if she was finally realizing something essential that she couldn't or didn't want to recognize at that time, I was too much of a child to wonder what was wrong, or rather I didn't want to understand yet, but now...

- Yriane...?

We turned around all at once, frightened, not having felt the presence of the subject of our conversation, a guilty blush appearing on our faces, did not help matters, for it attested that we were indeed caught in the act of indiscretion about his past with Yriane, and that I felt he would have liked to keep secret, but especially about what had vaguely intrigued her about him, but that she could only grasp now.