Chapter 2

Juno City was abuzz with preparations for their guests. The guest quarters had to be dusted and cleaned for the coming Preators and their Sybils. The accompanying Guarde would be given accommodation within the village. It would take weeks for all the Preators to arrive. Especially those from Lily and Jade as they were the furthest from Juno. Whilst they waited, the Juno clan would have to entertain the Preators who arrived first, those being the Preators from Kesmet Valley and Sage Mountain.

Preator Caeden, of Kesmet Valley, was the first to grace the Juno palace with his presence. His son, Enid, joined him. Kesmet Valley was situated in the very centre of a large valley within the Kesmet region. It was a land of craft, known for their exquisite craftsmanship. All the best blacksmiths came from Kesmet. Trinkets, charms imbued with magic, and other material necessities came from Kesmet. It was also known for its river which ran through the valley and led to the largest lake in all of Melgaesia, Kaia Lake.

Enid, with his brown eyes and charismatic smile, was a natural leader, having been taught from young by his father how to lead his people. He was disciplined, righteous, and had a strong set of morals. He wore a brown robe with green lining and a short staff, no longer than a foot long, was tucked into his belt behind him. The top half of his brown hair was fastened in a braid leading down the back of his head.

Preator Caeden also wore a brown robe but had an extra robe that was open and flowed as he walked. With the same brown hair as his son, two braids from either side of his face were fastened behind his head to keep his hair back.

Then there was Preator Silas, of Sage Mountain, who arrived two days later, with his daughter Ezra. Sage was a land filled with herbs that specialised mostly in healing and were known for their exquisite cuisine. Sage was a pacifistic region. Like any other region, they had their Guarde, those chosen to protect the villages along with their residents, but they were more guiders than protectors. They did not understand the point of conflict when all issues could be solved with words. Within the region, the women were required to learn the arts of Healing whilst the men tended to the fields and farms. Sage was an important distributor of natural produce. They were the farmers of Melgaesia.

Ezra was a quiet, shy young Lady with emerald, green eyes and long brown hair that was held back by several golden chains and pins. She wasn't a very outgoing person as she spent her entire life within the walls of the mountains that surrounded her homeland. With no friends or acquaintances, she felt more nervous than she cared to admit. However, she followed the orders of her father to put up a strong front. She wore a light-yellow robe, and, in her hand, she held a pale-yellow fan, a painting of a branch with leaves and pink flowers decorated its surface.

Preator Silas looked similar to his daughter, a thin golden crown rested atop his head which allowed his long brown hair to flow freely.

After about a week, the next guest to arrive left the servants of Juno City in awe. Men astride the backs of magnificent stags arrived dressed in white. Preator Lilo and his brother Sybil Kai, of Jade Forest. It was the region of peace and harmony. A region of knowledge and scholars much like Preator Lilo himself.

The brothers dismounted in sync and handed the reins over to the two waiting servants of Juno palace. Preator Lilo smiled gratefully at the servant who took the reins from him before looking over to his brother. Lilo and Kai were the exact opposites of each other. Lilo wore his emotions on his sleeve whereas Kai disliked showing any form of human emotion.

Lilo was known for his gentle spirit and understanding nature and was often summoned for his opinion on various matters as his wisdom was always appreciated. Kai however preferred to be left alone and didn't speak much but that didn't overrule the fact that he was one of the brightest in the Jade region.

Both brothers had silver-white hair, Kai’s top half of his hair was tied in a bun atop his head and Lilo’s was braided from his hairline down to the middle of the back of his head. They wore a thin silver patterned circlet which rested around their foreheads leading behind their heads, beneath their hair. Their silver white robes hugged their bodies tightly and several charms hung from Lilo’s belt which clinked as he walked.

The last to arrive was Preator Oriel and Nyla. Oriel wore a black robe beneath a dark blue robe that hung open. His daughter, breaking all the norms for a Lady, wore a thin and sleeveless short robe that only made it past her bottom, tied with a knot by her side, with dark blue tights. She wore a blue corset and long black gloves stretched from her upper arm to her hands, leaving her fingers exposed. Two dark blue forearm guards wrapped around each forearm. She had three braids on top of her head and her short black hair was tied up in its usual high pony. On her back, two identical axes, with the pattern of a water lily, we're strapped.

With the arrivals from Lily, the Five Clans were finally united in Juno City. All the clan leaders and their kin assembled in Juno palace’s great hall where a round table in the centre with no chairs rested. The large hall had circular windows lined across the top of the four dark grey walls letting light into the otherwise dimly lit hall and a large chandelier hung above them. Two sets of large doors, opposite each other, were closed, one leading further into the palace and the other towards the courtyard. Each clan leader stood near the table edge while their kin stood a little behind them, as per tradition for formal meetings.

The large doors which led further into the place, opened, and Preator Roland and his son, Rowan, entered the hall. Both were dressed in black robes lined in dark red. Half of Roland’s hair was tied and Rowan’s short black hair was completely tied in a man-bun with a few rebellious strands falling in front of his face. Two swords strapped behind his back. Roland reached the table and all the Preators bowed together.

“Preator Roland, you honour us with your invite.” Oriel began. No one would admit it, but Nyla’s father was the most respected Preator among them. His wisdom and skill were unmatched, and he was always the voice of reason in difficult situations.

“Yes, but of course, you had to summon us during Kesmet’s Night Hunt Festival.” Caeden retorted, crossing his arms. If Nyla could think of one word to describe Preator Caeden, it would be the word pessimist. Preator Caeden always seemed to see the bad side of every situation. Nyla was just glad that his son, Enid, balanced him out by viewing a more positive side to things.

“My apologies, Preator Caeden, but it was an urgent matter,” Roland said. He looked over his fellow Preators and their kin before his eyes rested, distastefully upon Nyla. “Where is your general, Oriel?” Nyla resisted the urge to squint her eyes at him.

“Sybil Nolan is away on business, as per my command. You’ll forgive him for not being able to join us today.” Nolan was Oriel’s eldest son. He and Nyla were inseparable since young, but since he had begun his training to take over Lily Region, he had been kept busy and hardly had the time to spend at Lily palace.

“I see.” Roland replied before turning his attention back to the rest of the Preators present, “I trust you all know as to why we have gathered today.” The Preators shifted uncomfortably on their feet. “The piece of the Althea Sphere entrusted to the Juno clan has been stolen.”

“Have you any idea as to who?” Lilo asked.

“Who?” Caeden spoke before Roland could answer. “I think the question we need to be asking is how?”

“All factors need to be taken in consideration, Caeden.” Oriel said. “The ‘how’ matters less than the ‘who’. We need to know if the thief has ill intentions.”

“Of course they have ill intentions! Why else would they have stolen it.”

“Perhaps we should allow Preator Roland the opportunity to explain everything before we begin to ask questions.” Lilo said.

Roland nodded and gestured for the Preators to follow him into the palace and led them toward the throne room. Once they entered, they saw that the throne had been destroyed. Pieces of black and red rock were scattered across the floor, and cracks split the remaining of the throne’s surface.

“It was infused into the throne?” Silas asked, amused.

“Yes, my great grandfather had the piece of the Sphere merged into the rocks of the throne as he spent many days here and would be able to keep a better eye on it,” Roland explained, admiring his now ruined throne with sad eyes.

“Sure he hid it there to keep an eye on it,” Nyla whispered to herself as she crossed her arms. The entire Juno clan was, in Nyla’s opinion, a group of egotistical narcissists, always seeming to have to prove that they have some form of power. That they were better and above all the other clans. Roland was no different.

“You’re right.” Someone whispered into her ear. “He hid it there to show power.” Nyla looked over her shoulder and saw Rowan standing there with his hands behind his back and a cheeky smile on his face.

Rowan could be described as a mischievous, trouble-seeking, cheeky boy who found joy in others’ misery. It was Rowan who had stolen his father’s crown many moons ago and underwent heavy punishment for being the cause of the meeting with the other four clans.

“Typical,” Nyla muttered, turning to face the Preators again.

“There’s no trace of Spirit Energy,” Lilo said, having observed the throne. Spirit Energy was where the Conjurer's magic originated from, the very core of their being. A concentrated centre housing all their magic and abilities and with training the Conjurers, those with the ability to wield magic, could use this very centre to gain access to their magic.

“So, it had to have been destroyed by force,” Caeden contributed to Lilo’s observation.

“Correct,” Roland said.

“But Judonian Rock is indestructible, how did they manage to break it?” Silas asked.

“A different form of magic perhaps?” Nyla offered, suddenly wanting to voice her opinion. She knew the qualities of Judonian rock, and the strength required to break it, never mind destroy it. There was only one force strong enough to break rock, another form of magic. One no one used as it was seen as quaint and simple. Conjurers preferred to use a more brute form of magic, therefore any other simpler form of magic was often overlooked.

“Dear Lady,’’ Nyla squinted her eyes at Roland’s words, not being able to hold herself back. Roland knew she did not like being called ‘Lady’, even though it was courtesy to do so, but she was sure he did it just to spite her, “magic originates from our very core, our Spirit Energy.”

“Not all magic comes from Spirit Energy,” Kai said, mediating between the two, turning all attention to him, “Some use Natural Energy.” As usual, Kai caught on faster than he let on. Natural Energy was a force of nature, indestructible, treacherous, and unforgiving. “Have you experienced any natural disturbances recently?”

“Yes,” Rowan replied, “there was a land shift a few days ago.”

“The thief must have used the energy given off by the land shift to conjure enough Natural Magic to destroy the throne.” Caeden smiled. “Our thief is quite skilled.”

“Now is not the time to admire their ingenuity, Caeden.” Roland said. Caeden huffed.

“Indeed, and yet, it is a factor we cannot ignore. Whoever this was knew what they were doing, and how to cover their trace. I’m afraid investigating the Natural Magic is not going to lead us to the culprit.” Oriel said.

“What shall be done then?” Silas asked.

Oriel looked over to Roland. “Do you know who had access to this room when the incident happened?”

“Nearly the entire palace staff.” Roland replied. “Why would I deny anyone the honour of gazing upon my throne?”

Nyla couldn’t help but roll her eyes. The narcissistic Preator has finally made his appearance.

“Why indeed.” Oriel muttered.

“I can have the Guarde, and servants questioned.” Rowan offered.

“That would be a good start.” Lilo said.