"I did it. I killed King Azrael." Ariel's declaration echoes through the prison hall, followed by a deafening silence.
After several moments, the fanice king is the first to react. His eyes turn red, and Ariel falls to her knees.
His rage replaced with a glassy stare, Gabriel looks down at the woman. She doesn't even attempt to counter his attack, instead glaring straight at him. "Why are you so mad? I did you a favor."
"He was all I had left, Ariel! I didn't agree with him, but he was still my father. He cared about you and all the fanice." He pauses, his fists shaking. "Why did you do it? You of all people… you've always respected the sanctity of life, yet you'd take that of another?"
"You are a way better king than he ever could have been," Ariel says resolutely. "I believed that then, and I still do now."
"And the rest…" Michaela finally says, her voice low. "Are you responsible for that too? You wanted to kill us? Your own people?"
"No!" Ariel shouts. "That's not it. At least, that's not what I thought would—"
"Your actions nearly doomed us all!" her girlfriend interrupts. "Without Azrael's death, we wouldn't have needed as many forces on the surface, and the server room would have been properly guarded!" She tries to continue, but her breath grows shaky. "All you had to do was sit back and let us handle things, but you couldn't even do that right. Now, you're responsible for everything. How could you be so stupid?"
"Let me explain!" the woman screams. "For once, listen to me, Michaela! Don't interrupt me. Don't tell me how to think. Just. Listen."
That demand takes Michaela aback. She must not be used to Ariel speaking that way.
"Blinded by hatred, the fanice would never know peace, even with the humans gone. They couldn't see that, but I could. So, I sought ways to put Gabriel in charge after The Vanishing. However, not many full fanice agreed with my beliefs." She narrows her eyes at Michaela. "My girlfriend called me crazy and said I needed to know my place. Then, one day, a solution came to me. As I did the daily gardening in the village, I found a half fanice who had snuck in. Part of me thought of calling the guards, but another wondered why she was there. It turns out, we had a similar goal, she and I." Ariel turns to the professor, her eyes narrowing. "My only regret is trusting her further than that. I thought she only wanted to kill Azrael. I didn't realize she'd try to end the whole fanice race."
She goes on about how the professor told her she wanted Azrael dead to improve the lives of the fanice. When Professor Faramund took her plans further, Ariel panicked and tried to disassociate from her to avoid being caught. Her involvement has become clear. Unlike many others, she hated what was done to the half fanice. She wanted a change, and then Professor Faramund was there. Terra isn't sure if that was a coincidence or the professor planned that encounter. Although that means little now. All that matters is that they've found who they were looking for.
And Ariel being the culprit is the worst-case scenario.
There's no way they'll punish her over the professor.
Michaela stares at her girlfriend as if she doesn't recognize her, and Gabriel's clenched fists get tighter and tighter, turning bone white. Terra, too, tries to process the bombshell that just dropped. She checks on her sister, who is still standing beside her. However, Eila is not looking at Terra nor any of the fanice. She's staring at the professor, her face etched with fear. The little girl is smart enough to piece together what's likely to happen, and Terra isn't sure how to stop it.
"How…" the king starts. "How did you do it?"
"What?" Ariel asks. "I just told you. I had help from Damira."
"Tell me exactly how he died!" Gabriel shouts. "I… need to know."
The woman pauses and, for a moment, looks apologetic. "I-It was a skin patch. When Azrael returned from his mission, I hugged him and stuck it to his arm, under his toga sleeve so no one would notice." Then, her expression grows stony again. "When he died, all I had to do was pretend to examine the body. Then, I removed the patch. He didn't suffer. The whole process was… completely painless."
"Transdermal poisoning," the professor adds. "A technology common in the black market of Nadura City, but something the fanice could never detect. You weren't meant to know this happened."
"Okay, you need to shut up," Ariel seethes. "No one asked for your input. You're a traitor to our kind!"
For once, Professor Faramund does not respond with a countering remark.
And Michaela snaps out of her trance. She approaches her girlfriend, pulling a rope from her pocket. "Ariel, under the authority of the royal guard, you are hereby under arrest." Her voice nearly breaks halfway through the sentence.
"What? No! Are you seriously considering letting that monster go? I'm not the one you want! She is—"
"I'm doing this to protect you!" the captain of the guard screams. "You make those idiot girls look innocent. Don't you understand what you've done? You committed regicide! You killed what was left of Gabriel's family! I must keep you safe so you can't hurt anyone else."
"Are you seriously still trying to control me? What is wrong with you? I am not a pawn subject to your whims. I make my own decisions, and I don't regret a single one!"
Ariel struggles in Michaela's grip, but it's too strong. Then, her eyes turn pink, and the captain of the guard goes flying down the hall, rolling onto the stone floor like a loose barrel.
Michaela instantly recovers and slams her girlfriend against the wall with her mind. Overwhelmed by the invisible force, Ariel can hardly move. However, her rage sparks a literal fire in her eyes. Ariel's arm inches away from where it's pinned, her hand erupting with a bright yellow flame. Michaela returns the gesture. Terra shoves Eila behind her.
Before this can turn into a full-blown fight, Gabriel holds up his hands, and instantly, the two women fall to the floor. No matter what they try to do to get up, they cannot move a muscle, and their electrokinesis is reduced to mere sparks.
"Seriously? You're fighting now of all times?" He holds out one arm toward each of them. "We've got an ever more impatient city of fanice right outside our doors, and you choose to add to the animosity? You both should be ashamed of yourselves."
His hands shaking, Gabriel turns to the girls. "Terra, can you open the door adjacent to Damira's?"
Terrified, she obeys, and the second the cell opens, the king throws Ariel into it, pulls a key out of his pocket, and locks her behind bars.
The magic in her hands is instantly snuffed out.
Then Gabriel lowers his arms, and the invisible force holding Michaela down subsides. Slowly, she gets up. "Sire… I'm sorry. That was unbecoming of me."
"It was more than unbecoming. How dare you decide Ariel's punishment without my approval!"
Michaela looks between the professor and Ariel. "Are you saying you disagree? Don't tell me you're still on that wretched family's side despite everything they've done!"
"We made a deal, Michaela."
"No, you made a deal! A foolish one, at that. Damira is the cause of everything that's happened. She deserves to face justice. No one else!"
"Oh, now look who's picking sides," Gabriel says. "Earlier, you were fine with the terms, but now that your girlfriend's the culprit, you sure have changed your tune."
"She's more than just that!" the woman shouts desperately. Her voice echoes down the hall. "Look, I know you're enraged because of what she's done, but this isn't just anyone. It's Ariel. She used to visit you in confinement and braid your hair. She was always obsessed with decorating the village so it'd look less like a cave we were forced to live in, and more like a home. She's always been there for us. Sure, she did a horrible thing, but she doesn't deserve to die!"
At that, Gabriel's shoulders slump, and he exhales. He closes his eyes, no doubt remembering that before everything got messy, the woman he's thrown in that cell used to be his friend: one of his oldest friends. "Perhaps you're right."
…
At that chilling response, the light leaves Eila's eyes. She opens her mouth, likely to beg them to show the professor mercy or to remind the king of his promise. Terra holds her breath.
"But…" Gabriel continues, "Damira can't take the fall, either. That would not go well."
Both the girls exhale in relief.
"What are you talking about? She's the reason we're in this situation! No one deserves it more. Don't tell me you're still trying to keep that moronic deal you made with the girl. Your feelings have blinded you."
"I have not," he says calmly. "Do you really believe I made that deal simply because I am fond of Terra? I'm not an idiot. Think of the bigger picture here. If we came out saying that a half fanice orchestrated everything, we'd be right back where we started. The prejudiced ones will take that as an excuse to torment innocent people, and the royal guard will be unable to stop it. I doubt you want to deal with a crisis like that."
"Come on. Are the half fanice all you care about? Ever since we moved to the surface, it's been 'half fanice' this, 'half fanice' that. You're obsessed with them."
"And you went along with it. Although you complained about it all the time, you upheld my ruling. You easily could have refused. I'm the only full royal left. I have no real power."
"Th-That's not true! You're the strongest of us, and there's certain magic only you can perform. I had to follow you, as many did before."
"No, you didn't, and you know it. However, the fact that you have done what I said tells me you must believe it, at least a little. No matter how one feels about half fanice, infighting is bad for everyone. We finally have peace. We cannot put that in jeopardy."
Michaela grits her teeth but doesn't say anything. Miraculously, Gabriel has gotten to her. Even the professor looks surprised, but Terra isn't. His way with words is immaculate.
"Then…" the captain of the guard says reluctantly. "Who will take the fall?"
"I don't know." He looks at Ariel, who is listening quietly from behind the bars. "Maybe we… fake her death?"
"That's impossible. If she were found, it would ruin everything."
"Well, who do we use, then? I don't know about you, but I'm not keen on pinning the blame on an innocent person."
"What about the prisoners down the hall? I know you aren't fond of them."
"No one will believe that!" he shouts. "They've been here for months and aren't exactly known as human sympathizers."
"Then we don't have any other option! Sometimes, as a leader, you have to make hard decisions. We need to punish the one who deserves it. We'll figure out how to deal with the fallout later."
"What do you think I'm doing? Do you think I want to blame one of my people instead? That would tear me apart! It's better than starting an all-out massacre, though."
"Be quiet! Both of you!" Ariel screams. Gripping the bars tightly, she huffs and puffs as if she's just run a marathon. "I'll do it, okay? I'll take the fall. Tell them I manipulated the Faramunds into doing my bidding, that they were innocent."
"Ariel, no," Michaela says. "You can't do that."
"I can make my own decisions. Look, if it'll keep the peace we've worked for, I'm okay with dying. It's a small price to pay."
Gabriel sighs. "I'm sorry. I wish there were another way."
"It's all right. I want to do this. Hopefully, it'll make up for what I've done."
"Ariel, do you seriously think that will work?" Michaela asks. "Blaming you will raise way too many questions. You're too close to us. The people will wonder if Gabriel and I were involved. Our authority could completely fall apart!"
"So, that's what you're actually worried about," Ariel says. "I wish you'd said that before, instead of pretending you care."
"No, I do care about you! Despite what you've done, I don't want you to throw your life away."
"Well, if you have another idea, I'm all ears, but I didn't do what I did just so half fanice would be persecuted again. Gabriel, if you want to do this, I'm in."
Gabriel seems deep in thought, his expression pained. Terra, too, doesn't know what to do. Michaela has brought up some valid points. This plan might not work, but what alternative is there?
Meanwhile, the professor seems… agitated. No, that can't be right. They just found a way to save her. "Oh, come on. Why are you people such pansies? Don't you forget I just tried to kill you all? I'd do it again, too. If you leave me here, it's only a matter of time before I escape or find someone else to do my bidding. Sacrificing that girl accomplishes nothing."
"Professor…" Terra whispers. "What are you doing?"
She ignores her. "You've never cared about half fanice. You only want to stroke your egos. What you're doing is only a band-aid. It's only a matter of time before it falls off, and you're back at each other's throats. So do it already! Doom us all like I know you inevitably will!"
The fanice stare at Professor Faramund, confused. Terra and Eila are equally baffled. Does she want to die?
"That isn't true," Gabriel responds. "I know it's difficult for you to comprehend, but there are those willing to coexist. I'm sorry for what happened in your past, but it does not justify taking everyone else down with you."
For once, the professor seems rattled. She bites her lip, and her pale hands start shaking. The expression does not last long, though. She takes a deep breath and says her next words slowly. "Don't act as if you're above it all. I know you have no intention of keeping the deal you made with my daughters. After all, what they're asking for is impossible. Once this is over, you'll keep them trapped forever, keeping them subservient through empty promises."
At that accusation, Gabriel's eyes turn red again. He looks like he's about to let the professor have it, but then Michaela interrupts.
"What is she talking about? What other 'deal' have you made, sire?"
Terra's heart sinks. The captain of the guard doesn't know about the king's promise. Of course, she wouldn't. She's the last one who would support it.
"Don't worry about it, Michaela," Gabriel says, still trying to keep it together.
"Oh, it's not a big deal. He simply told my girls that if they sided with the fanice, he'd bring the humans back."
Now, it's Michaela's turn to change eye colors. "He… what?"
"Michaela, it's not what you think. I—"
"I have let a lot slide, King Gabriel, and I mean a lot, but this… it's too far, even for you."
"I would never do it in a way that endangered our people! We've been trying to find a way that would keep the peace, I swear."
"If you believe that's possible, then you aren't fit to lead." She approaches the king, pink particles surrounding her. So much for friendship.
Realizing there's no reasoning with her, Gabriel prepares to fight.
However, Terra isn't about to let things get out of control again. As the two fanice hold out their arms, the particles growing thicker, Terra jumps between them, canceling both their attacks at once.
"H-Huh?" Michaela stammers. "How did you just stop that?"
"I'm immune," she answers, "and you need to calm down. You don't even know the full story."
"And so what if the king made you immune? I can deal with you easily." She reaches for the axe strapped to her back.
"Stop it!" Terra shouts. "Gabriel is not a traitor, and neither am I. There's no need to fight. Just let us explain, and we can come to an agreement."
"She's right, Michaela," he says. "You know me better than anyone. I would never put out people in harm's way."
But Michaela doesn't seem to be listening anymore. She draws her weapon and holds it in her hands, but strangely, she does not attack. Instead, her gaze stays locked on Terra, and it is stone cold.
"Please, put the weapon down," Terra begs. She doesn't like the way the captain of the guard is looking at her right now. It's almost accusatory.
Then, she throws the axe straight at her.
Unable to do anything else, Terra drops to the floor and hangs her head low, hoping the weapon will fly over her. Several seconds pass without her hearing it clamor to the floor. Slowly, she opens her eyes, and of course, the weapon is floating in the air, Gabriel's hand holding it there.
He grabs the axe and throws it behind them. "What is wrong with you? You're hot headed, but this… you could have killed her!"
Michaela still doesn't look at him. Her gaze is locked on the girls, as if she's in a trance.
"Are you listening to me? What has gotten into you?"
"Terra…" she finally says. "Can you do a spell for me? Right now?"
Her heart sinks. "Why?"
"It's strange. I haven't seen you or your sister do any magic since you were captured. Then, when Gabriel and I were about to fight, you relied solely on your immunity to stop us. That's a risky move. And now… when I threw the axe, you still didn't retaliate. I didn't put any spells on it. Even a half fanice could have stopped that attack easily, yet you ducked and made Gabriel do it."
Terra stands frozen in place. She knows. This is bad. No… catastrophic.
"Michaela, it isn't what you think," Gabriel starts.
"And you…" she says. "You know. You've known for a while."
"They aren't like the others," he explains. "They chose our side."
"I knew you were naïve, but a traitor, too? You've caught me by surprise, Gabriel. I never thought you'd stoop so low."
Terra's fear is replaced with rage. She takes a step forward, tired of this stubborn woman's baseless accusations. "Again, you don't know the full story. So, why don't you shut up and listen for once?"
"That's enough, Terra!" the professor shouts, unable to hide the panic in her voice. "Stop being stupid. You, captain of the guard. You know everything now. You know for sure that I'm guilty and my girls are powerless. Just take me away! Leave them out of it!"
"Be quiet, halfling!" Michaela demands. "I knew you were awful, but enlisting humans in your twisted plan? You keep getting lower, Damira."
"I was trying to save them! I didn't want them to disappear. I wanted to build a world where they could be safe from people like you." Unable to hide her emotions anymore, Damira's eyes have turned a bright crimson.
Michaela's jaw drops. "Wait a minute… You're… royalty?"
"Again, I'm the one you want. Not them."
Finally, the captain of the guard doesn't have a comeback. She simply stares at the Faramund family, trying to make sense of it all.
"Are you ready to hear the story now?" Terra asks.
Those violet eyes fall on Terra, and she nods slightly.
So, she tells the captain of the guard everything: from what her life on the surface used to be like, to The Vanishing, the professor's backstory, and all the way to the confrontation in the server room. Terra talks about how saving the missing people meant everything, but it wasn't right. So, she and Gabriel made that deal. He wants to make good on it, but he's also made it painfully clear that he won't let his own people be hurt. "He's not a bad leader. He's just trying to right the fanice's wrongs. That takes much more strength than ignoring or trying to justify them."
At first, it seems the story has moved her. She looks between Gabriel and the girls, a glimmer of sympathy in her gaze. However, it doesn't last long. When her attention snaps back to Terra, the rage returns.
In half a second, Michaela closes the distance between them and pins Terra against the adjacent cell. The back of her head slams against the bars. Gabriel moves to help her, but she holds out a hand, gesturing for him to stop.
With the wind knocked out of her lungs, it's difficult to breathe, much less speak. Still, she manages to get a few words out. "Gabriel… changed. What makes you think… that we can't either?"
"I should have known you weren't one of us," she says, holding her tighter. "From the beginning, I knew there was something off about your family. How did the system not detect you and your sister during The Vanishing? How were you able to do magic?"
Terra tries to respond, but Michaela is extremely strong. She's starting to have trouble bringing air into her lungs.
"Let her go," Gabriel demands. "She can't explain anything like that."
Reluctantly, Michaela backs off, and Terra's feet touch the ground again. "Thank you," she wheezes. "As I was trying to say, we could do magic because of a device the professor invented. It casted illusions that were barely passable. As for how we got through The Vanishing, I have no clue."
"That was also me," Professor Faramund adds. "A few days before The Vanishing, I injected microchips into their bodies. It tricked the system into believing they were half fanice. They did not know of it. It was all me."
"What?" Terra pats her head and arms. "Wh-Where is it? How did we not notice?"
"Trust me, that part was very easy," she mocks.
"Come on! I thought you were done keeping secrets. Are there any more crazy devices I need to know about?"
The professor shrugs.
"Well, well…" Michaela says, finally calming down. "It's all coming together now. No wonder you and your sister are so dumb."
Terra sighs. "Well, it's hard not to be when you're kept in the dark about everything. But, you understand now, right? You get why Gabriel made that deal with us?"
"I sure do," she says darkly.
Her tone is still ominous. Why?
"I know exactly what to do now. Gabriel, why didn't you tell me the truth from the beginning? We could have saved so much headache."
"Because I figured you'd kill them. Why are you so calm now?"
"The answer has been right in front of us all along. You're right. Damira shouldn't take the heat. Neither should Ariel, but Terra…" She grabs her arm. "She's perfect. All we have to do is tell everyone she's human, and no one else will be blamed."
Terra's eyes widen. She didn't think of it that way, but it makes sense. Her death, ironically, would be the best of both worlds. She shudders at that damning thought.
"Don't kill her!" Eila screams. "Please." She tries to get in between, but Michaela pushes her away like a ragdoll. She falls to the floor. Finally caving under the pressure, the little girl breaks into tears.
Gabriel approaches them, forcing Michaela to let go of Terra. "No," he says.
"Don't tell me you're against it. I thought you said you weren't letting feelings cloud your judgment. This is the best of both worlds. Ariel will be safe, and you'll get your utopia. It's a win-win."
"She's innocent, and you know it!"
"You don't give a damn about innocence! Only minutes ago, you were willing to sacrifice Ariel. You know she was also a pawn!"
"That's different. She volunteered—"
"There is NO other option! The time for talk is over. We've found a solution. Now it's time to act."
Despite the threat, the king helps Eila up and shoves Terra behind him. "I. Said. No."
Terra wants to fight with him, to believe there must be another way, but she has no ideas. There's no need to keep protecting her, to keep this pointless back and forth. Despite her heart pounding in protest, Terra grabs Gabriel's hand. "It's okay. If this is how it must be done, then so be it. I knew what I was getting into when I chose your side. I'm the one who should bear the weight of that decision. All I ask in return is that you keep your promise."
Gabriel's grip tightens, refusing to let her go. "No. You don't deserve this."
"You heard the girl. She even volunteered. So, let's get on with it. If you stand in my way, Gabriel, I will call the other guards."
The king still doesn't budge.
"Guar—" she starts.
"Don't you dare!" the professor interjects. "I have a better solution!"
Everyone turns to her.
"I'll install a chip in myself," she says. "I'll ensure it does the opposite of Terra and Eila's devices. I'll make it identify me as human, and you can tell the fanice I was lying the whole time. You can have the best of both worlds without any guilt."
"Professor…" Terra says.
"And why would we trust you to do that? How do we know you won't trick us?" Michaela growls.
"You can keep an army of fanice around me while I do it. I don't care. Just please… don't hurt them." There is no venom in her voice, no ulterior motive—only genuine concern. Despite everything, she truly cares for them. Terra can't help but feel undeserving of that love.
Michaela seems to consider the offer, and horrifyingly, Gabriel does, too.
After all that, they're back to where they started. Terra thinks of begging the king of the fanice to reconsider, but she has no idea what to say. There's no way he'd let her sacrifice herself. Maybe Eila was right. The professor was doomed from the start.
Finally putting the nail in the coffin, Gabriel lets go of her hand. "I'm sorry, Terra. I don't see another way. I hope you can forgive me."