"Well, are you going to answer me or remain a statue?"The moment the words leave Irva's mouth, Myles collapses, unconscious. She sighs. "Disgustingly dis—"
Before she can finish, a black blade appears a breath from her throat.
"Why have you come here, Plervia?"
Irva is slightly shocked by the name. She retreats from the wielder as quickly as she can. "I haven't been called that in many a period. Who are you?" Her face grows pale the instant she realises it is Myles.
"It matters not who I am. You have greatly disturbed me today— you and your husband. He only lives because I have chosen not to intervene. You will leave this boy alone and speak nothing of what you have seen today, or expect death."
He pauses. A thread of dark criole spears through Irva's heart. She feels the overwhelming difference in power between them; it nearly makes her soil herself.
"Not for you. Do you understand?"
Irva drops to her knees, shaking her head in frantic affirmation as tears fill her eyes.
"I showed you mercy and revealed only a single atom of power to you. You will return that with respect and answer with your words."
Irva almost yells for her life — and her husband's. "Yes, sir!"
Myles' eyes stop glowing, and his body slumps to the floor.
Irva forces herself out of the room, shivering.
"Hey, you're leaking," Daena complains to Clav.They are inside the ship's vent system. Measures had been put in place to prevent anything living from entering, but the two came even more prepared — mostly Daena. Stealth is crucial in serving her dear mother; she is second only to the family genius, at least in matters of criole: Terrene. Fortunately, the family standards are high, so the security posed no challenge.
"I literally learnt this skill from you thirty minutes ago," Clav mutters.
Daena smirks. "I bet Myles could manage it in five."
Her bait works. Clav focuses on keeping his form small, and more importantly, keeping his criole lines thin and close. Daena giggles.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Daena stops. "I've found him," she says quietly.
"What's with the tone? Is he okay?" Clav, now worried, steps closer.
"Well, he's alive. I can tell that much."
"What are we waiting for, then?"
Daena leads the way.
The two slip out of the vent and into the room. "This boy is always knocked out," Daena mutters, frustrated. She shrinks his body down to their size and gestures for Clav to pick him up.
As they make their way back the way they came, Clav realises something. "Umm… Daena, we didn't think this through."
Daena partially turns. "I can contact my mother at any time, and we can also just ask Rai to send us back."
Clav looks visibly confused. "Is she not coming along?"
"I really want to stop talking now."
The two continue in an endlessly awkward silence.
Back on Phase Two, Lia has awoken. She looks different, however — she seems to have lost a great deal of weight, a dangerous amount. Yet somehow, she is stronger. Her temper has reached a new peak, and all the guards seem terrified of her. At this moment, she is on her way to see her sisters; they have much to discuss.
Meanwhile, someone has arrived at the mansion, and both Allyser and Julian go to greet them. Everyone in service is on edge. No one has died, but they can feel the unrest radiating from their masters. Naturally, it unsettles them. Their original purpose was to handle matters their masters should never need to concern themselves with. They looked up to the family, saw them as immovable pillars. But now they have witnessed a usually stoic, peerless, poised, and elegant leader become helpless and fall into raw rage when her daughter was taken.
Generations have revered them, and now they appear reduced to simply a family. Some servants feel anger, others defeat, and most question reality and their own existence. Even so, this is the first time they have ever seen the couple greet anyone personally. It becomes quite the spectacle. The arriving individual shares their fury — except their bloodlust far exceeds anything any of them have ever witnessed. Julian places a firm hand on their shoulder, and the murderous aura dissipates.
In a private hall, the mysterious figure kneels before the couple as they take their seats. He removes his cloak, revealing his strikingly beautiful face. His hair is white and short, yet flows like fine silk with even the slightest movement. His skin is dark, his muscles lean but well-defined. His proportions alone would make him an ideal model. His sense of style is nothing to scoff at either: a sleeveless cropped top, ankle-bell trousers, and dark platform boots accented with gold metal buckles. The top is a deep, dirty red, while the trousers fall somewhere between red and brown. His belt is black, paired with three black rings — one on his ring finger, one on his right index finger, and one through his nose. His ear holds a dark hoop earring with a beautiful lustre, and around his neck sits a simple black choker.
"Mother. Julian. Here I am." He bows his head.
"Rise, my son," Allyser says.
He lets out a small chuckle as he stands. "You mustn't humour me, Mother. My siblings have been taken. Sebbeh, that fool… has he forgotten about me?"
"Dear boy, you know better than to hurt him. Do you wish to lose favour with your darling little El?" she smiles, touching her cheek lightly.
"Mother! Of course not. But please, stop trying to make light of what's happened. He took our girl. It's alright if we are enraged."
Allyser shakes her head gently. "You and I rule over many, and we will continue to for a very long time. Because of this, Julian and I have decided to give Rai succession."
"I have no qualms about that," he answers, pride flaring in his voice. "In fact, I intend to support her."
Allyser's smile deepens, as though she has noticed something."Oh? Then it will please you to know the girl has fully mastered her craft… and even invented new runic applications of criole."
A bright smile spreads across his face."As expected of my genius student."
Allyser pouts."Where are my grandchildren?"
He pauses, then sighs."They're here… but they have plans of their own."
Allyser hesitates before asking, "And is he…?"
Cerve's jaw tightens."No. I have disowned him. He is no longer my son."His fist clenches so hard that blood begins to run down his knuckles.
"Cerve! He is still my grandchild."Allyser rises slightly from her seat, but Julian holds her back, giving Cerve a steady, understanding nod.
"I do not care," Cerve growls. "Anyone who hurts my family is my enemy. That one is a lost cause. There is no reforming him. Know this — if I ever see his face again… he dies."
Allyser gives him a small, defeated smile.
"Hello, aunties."A voice comes from the side of Thia's room, accompanied by three light taps on the floor.The sisters had been discussing Myles. They turn towards the source of the sound.
Three young figures stand there — a boy on the right, a girl on the left, and another girl in the middle.
"And who might you be?" Thia asks, flat-toned.
"We are your nieces… and nephew," the girl in the centre replies."We've wanted to meet you since the moment you were born. Exceptional among the exceptional."
Vedure steps forward toward them.
"Ah, ah, ah — no. Careful," the girl warns.
"Hmm. Quite sharp. All I did was tense a muscle," the boy remarks.
"Our nephew and nieces? Whose children are you?" Terrene asks, curiosity piqued.She can sense all three of them are either close to Rai's age or older — which means whoever their parent is might know something about Myles.
"I believe Daddy told us his mother called him Cerve. Cerve Bras Luminé," the other girl says.
The girl in the middle sighs."I am Ulda. That is my sister Yuri, and my brother Esthvan. We're here for Rai. We heard Sebbeh took her."
"Sebbeh?" the girls echo simultaneously — except Thia.
Thia pulls up an image of Sebbeh stepping through the portal. Terrene recognises him instantly from that day and seethes, though not nearly as much as Lia. Lia remembers him snatching Myles and hurling him through the portal. When she tried to help her lover, Sebbeh beat her back — even frightened her. She could heal the scar, yes, but the memory remains.
"Woah, woah, woah—" Ulda cuts through the rising pressure."Relax, would you? Our father has decided to take you with us."
The girls stare at her, confused.
"Grandma has no time for you, but with good reason. So for the next four years, you'll train under us… unless we find that fool on the way."
"On the way where?" Thia asks.
"You'll see," Esthvan answers.
Over on Sebbeh's ship…
"Tell me, my dear husband…"Rai leans in close, her nails dragging lightly along his throat."What made you think that stupid stunt you pulled was a wise decision?"
Sebbeh can't help enjoying the attention."It wasn't. I was desperate. Now I know he'll come — obviously not alone. You're precious. I wouldn't leave anything to chance either."
"Ugh, get another room — or leave me this one," Kaelen mutters, disgusted.
Rai clears her throat and releases her man."Sorry, I got carried away. I missed him," she says, smiling so brightly it almost radiates warmth.
Kaelen is taken aback.In all their years together, Rai's smile has never shone so brilliantly — and to think it was caused by that lump of blue meat kneeling there… it pisses her off more than she wants to admit.
She sighs."Any defence against the Spliers?"
Sebbeh clears his throat."Ah, yes. We intend to get a sample soon."
"What?" Rai and Kaelen say in unison."Sebbeh, who is we?" Rai asks, trying to remain calm.
"She volunteered. I rejected her many times, then I got fed up."
"Sebbeh…" Rai says, voice full of disdain.
"Surri is strong and fast. She'll be fine."
"Alone?"
"Of course not. I sent the men and women who can keep up with her."
"Oh, Surri…"
Far away in space, beyond all light, a flicker of purple hums softly.
It whispers:
"You have awoken, finally… DEVINr."