Nathan Modernson woke up to Lily's voice cutting through his dream like a blade.
Her excited words towards today's gathering with V entered Nathan's fuzzy morning brain from one ear and advanced away through the other. Nathan could only hear faint traces of a couple of words pieced together, like how he should also "feel excited at their reunion."
Of course, Nathan was undeniably looking forward to seeing his mother once more. Even as he rubbed his eyes and arose from his bed lazily, his pounding heart was telling him enough about how much today mattered to him. His carelessness was more of an act before Lily, an attempt to keep his usual composure of being a calm boy too mature for his age.
Nathan had, in fact, dreamed of his mother the night before, a dream where the Modernson family had reunited and watched the sunset on top of Mount Mirra. For as long as he could remember, he had been ranting about his academy life in Endnest, telling them about the life he was living and the people he cherished or found interesting. Viviana and Eric Modernson were in front of him, embracing each other in quiet gentleness, their focus on each other more intense than on their son.
The return of The Indescribable was scheduled to be tomorrow, if nothing went wrong, but Viviana and other relevant members of the Rune Arts Federation could arrive today.
After washing himself and having breakfast under Lily's constant chatter, Nathan was ready to set out for the city. Waving quick goodbyes to Granny Bella and the children of the orphanage, they strode back into the city of Isterann with lighthearted energy.
"The Modernsons reunite today!" Lily announced happily, along with a quiet undertone of mischief.
"My father isn't here, though, sadly." Nathan shrugged, "I'll have to visit him after. If possible… I hope my mother can come along."
"Who is your father anyway?" Lily asked in curiosity, "To earn Viviana's heart is way too bizarre!"
Nathan sighed. He understood why everybody around him was so curious about his father's identity, but the repetitive answer that he had to give was starting to get dull, like a script that is read over and over.
"My father is just an ordinary Lostburg fellow, slightly richer than others around but nothing special otherwise." Nathan kept it brief this time, telling her no more than she had already known.
Lily made a face, "As if."
Nathan smiled but remained silent.
The city of Isterann was quite lively today, as if everybody was aware that one of the rulers of the kingdom, the strongest Rune Artist in Runalond's history, was taking a tour in their beloved hometown. Nathan watched the contented, yet peculiarly determined looks on the citizens' faces with a lingering suspicion that remained since he last traversed these streets. The alarm in his heart was ringing subtly, but also sharper than ever.
Once they finally arrived at the main gate, where the point of arrival was expected to take place according to Lily, the area was already crowded with citizens. It seemed like the entire city had come for the short yet solemn welcoming ceremony, but the looks on their faces were not particularly welcoming.
The horde lined up tidily on both sides of the street, leaving a large, empty lane in the middle that even giant vehicles could go through. Squeezing themselves among the crowd, Nathan barely noticed the group of people standing in the middle of the lane. For a moment, he met a familiar grey eye, sending a disturbing chill down his spine.
"Nathan, Squat down!" Lily commanded, almost screaming in excitement.
Nathan knew exactly what she was planning to do, "You are not getting on my neck, dear Mentor."
"Come on, you don't even pay me to get mentored!" Lily argued.
It wasn't so clear to Nathan what exactly Lily intended to achieve. Perhaps it was more than a childish delirium, an act that asserted her partial victory towards her rival, that is, of course, Nathan's mother herself.
Thinking about such, Nathan sighed and allowed Lily to watch the crowd sitting on his neck. No matter which was the case for Lily, Nathan was more or less annoyed at Viviana, for leaving him and his father behind. So if he could have an opportunity to express his irritation, he would without much thought.
"Hey, look! Isn't that the Fellvion guy we met before?" Lily shouted the moment she steadied herself above Nathan.
"Stop moving! I'll drop you!" Nathan tried his best to keep himself and Lily balanced, "Fellvion? It's normal for a shrine priest to be in charge of a ceremony. What's so special about him?"
Lily replied after a quick pause, "Why is he at the center, and in front of everyone? Shouldn't that be the position of the Lord of Isterann?"
Nathan didn't have the time to think or reply. The citizens pointed at the distant sky in awe and anticipation, where a cluster of colourful specks flew towards them like a meteor shower. Nathan watched in a thoughtless silence. When the grand moment he was waiting for was finally about to arrive, he suddenly found himself out of words. The endless stream of questions and accusations was congested by the excitement and sweetness of familial reunion.
Viviana and the other members of the Rune Arts Federation glided towards them, floating in midair. Instead of using any external RAPIs, standing on a support, or simply flying, there were rings of five elements circulating behind their backs. They were like divine beings themselves who descended into the mortal world and hovered before their creations, unwilling to touch the filthy ground of their own realm.
V was at the centre, her elegant white cloak fluttering amidst the winds, the expression on her face revealed behind the shadows as always. The other members of the federation nodded in respect towards the citizens, their faces stiffened, none of them keeping their heads low before the First Seat.
Fellvion looked up slowly, almost breaking his neck to meet their eyes.
"The people of Isterann hereby manifest their welcome to the First Seat." Fellvion announced in a voice so loud and solemn it almost sounded intimidating, "May divine blessings light your ways."
"My divine blessings light your ways!" The crowd echoed him in perfect harmony, leaving Nathan and Lily isolated in their silence.
"Under the presence of the First Seat… all citizens of Runalond shall keep their heads low to pay fundamental respect." V stated flatly, "Have you forgotten that you are a citizen of Runalond? Or is it that your position is more potent than the king himself?"
"We will never forget that we are citizens of Runalond. In fact, we speak with our heads proudly uplifted today, for the sole reason that we are citizens of Runalond." Fellvion's voice remained courageously firm, "But I must ask you, Mrs V, have YOU forgotten that you are also a citizen of Runalond?"
The officers of the Rune Arts Federation looked at each other in uneasy concern, expecting V's fury to extinguish the priest's treacherous attitude. V, however, only signalled Fellvion to continue with her silence.
"If you have not forgotten that we are all citizens of Runalond, then why should we mark ourselves as inferior?" Fellvion announced to V and the rest of the crowd, "As the First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation, do you not believe that it is the people of this kingdom who constructed its foundation? This tremendous castle, named Runalond, is its unyielding walls not cemented with its residents' faith? Are its elegant ornaments not the seemingly insignificant work of its people's collaboration? Is its throne not erected through the collective will of commoners?"
Nathan's muscles tightened under Fellvion's breathtaking speech. The splendid sensation it gave lay not in its questions, but within the answers that simply could not be answered, especially for someone like his mother.
The crowd looked as proud as ever, cheering for Fellvion with gazes of esteem. Their desire to cheer and celebrate was only hindered by the consideration of the seriousness of such an event.
"The Rune Arts Federation claims that they are representatives of us citizens, then why has your arrogance exceeded that of the royal family?" Fellvion's last question was quieter, yet more powerful than all before it.
"Nonsense!" An official cried, "The commandments have been passed down since the founding day of our kingdom. Who are you to critique its sacredness?"
"Stanson, who allowed you to speak?" V turned around calmly, the shadow under her hood an abyss that absorbed the official's passion. The atmosphere reduced into silence.
V stretched her arms and flickered her palms. The officials and her body descended to the ground, parallel to Fellvion's gaze. She drifted forward at a blinding speed, inches before Fellvion, before anyone realised.
"You are no Lord of Isterann." She said, "But since you are standing in this position at this moment, who you were previously no longer matters to me. Tell me your name."
"Fellvion Sheorad." Fellvion did not retreat under her suppression, "Newly appointed head priest of the Holy Shrine."
"Fellvion, how will you feel if I say I'm going to kill you now?" V pressed on.
"I feel deeply afraid," Fellvion answered instantly, "This is truly more horrifying than anything that could happen."
"You should feel that way too." He added without excess emotion.
V laughed. This man is dangerously sharp.
Lily laughed. This guy is wonderfully unique.
Nathan laughed too. This dude is outright insane.
Their diverse reactions to Fellvion's words rooted from a collective recognition of the meaning behind them. Fellvion's death would cause riots throughout the kingdom, from the citizens of Runalond, people of Isterann watching from the side, or the outside towns alike. Though futile to the eyes of V, it was something bothersome that the kingdom would never want to deal with.
What else could she do? Wipe the entire city out of existence? Nathan scoffed.
"Very well then, Fellvion." V said, "Mister head priest, under the home of the divine beings themselves, even I have to think twice before their most devoted worshipper."
Fellvion nodded slowly, "Do not blame the divine. If sin is allowed to happen at all, it means that such is what was supposed to happen from the beginning of time. Judgement is the responsibility of us mortals."
"You are a believer of fate, I see," V replied bitterly.
"For myself, yes. For others, they may choose for themself. As a priest, my only duties are to worship the divine beings with my soul and guide people with my heart; nothing more defines me."
"Then nothing more shall be said." V announced, "Lead us to the place of accommodation."
"Blessings to you, Dear First Seat." Hearing her words, Fellvion surprisingly lowered his head in respect. The other citizens followed. To an extent, even Nathan would think about going with the flow of the crowd if Lily were not on top of his neck.
The overdue acknowledgement did not brighten V's mood at all; in fact, it only made her movement more tense.
The crowd followed by the side in an orderly, zombified march as Fellvion and his men led the way, with Nathan and Lily awkwardly among them. Murmurs of admiration arose from their sides, mainly declarations that Fellvion was sent by the Divine Beings to liberate Runalond's people.
Nathan wondered, what people in Runalond require liberation? Definitely not the people of Isterann. What else could they be referring to? Was it perhaps… Lostburg? But why? And more importantly, how? What can a mere priest do?
No dramatic events occurred after the end of their conversation. Fellvion led the officials of the federation to a newly decorated hotel just outside the Holy Shrine. After a short, ceremonial welcome protocol, everyone except for Nathan and Lily dispersed back to their daily lives, as if nothing had happened at all. Nathan heard the officials sneer amongst themselves.
"This is a straight-up provocation, a provocation to our authority!"
"Us aside, how dare a mere priest usurp the position of a lord? The kingdom will never let such treachery slide. Just wait until we go back."
"It's difficult to challenge someone who has earned the people's trust. Who knows how this man brainwashed everyone in this city?"
"Enough, enough. Don't let such interruptions ruin our days." A recognisable man from before, Stanson, commanded the others, who obeyed his signal for silence without any thought.
The officials who followed V to Isterann for the meeting with the Indescribable were mainly members of the 5th and 7th Departments. That is, the Department of Interrealm Relations and Dominion, and the Department of Prophetic and Historical Continuity, respectively. Though it was the 7th Department that served a real purpose in this case, the officials of the 5th Department, especially its department head, Stanson Sothros, were known to always accompany her in long-distance travels.
Stanson received his position from his ever-positive and bright attitude in almost all circumstances, consistent in times when shame was thrust upon him or in desperate events. Even after what Fellvion had done, his expressions were as hopeful as ever, unaffected by him or by V's criticism.
At least before an old man walked past Nathan and Lily, and bowed towards him with slow, deliberate respect.
Stanson's face twitched in disbelief, his smile fracturing. "You… Aren't you… The Lord of Isterann?"
The old man nodded calmly. His voice was hollow, filled with a sense of emptiness and a loss of control.
"Please deliver my words to the First Seat and His Majesty, the Lord of Isterann requests to resign from his position, and willingly bequeaths this title to Fellvion Sheorad, the head priest of the Holy Shrine."