Arri was at least peaceful enough for her to walk in now. That was the plus side to the giant chains up in the skies. Angela with her blotches of black skin stayed in the manor for the time being. It was a love-filled house at the moment with Nerezza planning her wedding. There was some upset that Angela might not be able to make it but she hushed the girl. She was only doing what she thought was best for everyone. Her breath grew jagged as she coughed up some of the blue metal. She opened the window and dumped the metal out of her hand. She couldn’t remember the last time the sun felt so good.

“Can you fetch me Lucian, please? Tell him he can bring Episcia if he wishes.” The queen made her way out into the quiet Arriese gardens and waited for her son. Today she was making plans for her death and while it would upset some. She knew that Lucian was a good son and he would be ready if this was something he chose to do. If not she would have to ask one of the other children, though Lucian had been promised this. He would be asked first.

The Arriese queen sat down on a bench and looked up at the warm sky. The sun felt unnaturally good to her now. Maybe it was because she was feeling unnaturally humble recently. All the things that she had taken for granted she was now noticing. A deep sigh left her lips once more and she ran her hand through her red hair. As she pulled her hand back she saw that many strands of red were falling out now. She really had gone and used up most of her power. 

Closing her eyes she got some rest until her beloved boy came to find her. This would be the best way.

There was a war raging between two goddess, and though one attacked the other’s home, his mother wasn’t fighting back but protecting her realm and family. Lucian had learned long ago to not meddle in such affairs of deities, and instead chose to make sure that the others weren’t harmed. One of which were resting alongside him in bed as he read one of his novels. It wasn’t uncommon for such a scene to take place; Episcia pretty much was by his side, some would say that they were attached by the hip as it were and she would be enthralled by him reading from a small collection of his books.

It was small in comparison to his mother’s grand library but it was suffice for the young man as he read one of a squadron of knights trapped in an abandoned fortress while their nation’s enemies closed in on them after days of fighting. Despite the odds, the knights fought valiantly to no end. It was one of the many tales that lead him to romanticize becoming a protector of the weak and just. As he was getting through the third chapter, he heard a knock on the door and it was one of his mother’s servants. “Your mother would like to see you, young master. Episcia is welcomed to accompany you too.”

He gave a silent nod and closed the book before looking to the elf. “Hm, I wonder if she’s found a way to calm Dal down and end this whole affair.” He held nothing against the goddess, in fact he remembered seeing her once alongside with Father and felt that she was a good person and friend. Whatever had happened between them was unsettling but there was not much anyone could do save for the divine touched. He slipped off the bed and waited for her to be ready before coming outside and finding his mother. While he knew that she was not faring well in this, when he saw her Lucian frowned deeply before rushing over to her side. “Mother, what is going on?” he looked on with mouth grasping open at the patches of black of her skin and hair that was once radiant looked ready to fall out.

“This conflict has to end soon, who knows what else will happen to you if this prolongs any futher… “, he whispered as he took hold of her hand with his own. “Why have you summoned for me?” 

A gentle smile came to her face as she felt Lucian near her. She turned her grin to him and tilted her head. “Well the world is falling apart and the sun is shining…” She knew that wasn’t what he meant as he came over to her and held her hand. She brought it up and kissed his gently. He was one of her many children but she was quite fond of him. He was strong and noble. She felt like she had done the best job with him, as well as Raeguel. “It’s not a question of what. I know the what.”

Her words sounded harsh as she stood up and smiled at them. “I had a vision once that caused me to kill my husband and child. It took a long time for me to sit through and shift through that nightmare. In it, I saw Dalanesca’s face.” She looked up at the sky. “I just didn’t realize it until now.” 

She was humble as she coughed a bit more and held the blue metal out. “I did what I could to keep Dalanesca in her temple. It is not going to hold and when she breaks it… I’m going to die.” It came so easily now like she had made peace with that decision. “As soon as I’m dead the war will stop and everything will be fine. However, there are loose ends I need to tie up before that happens. Arri is one of them.”

She took his arm and beckoned Episcia to follow. “I want you to do the Rose Trial to become king. If that is really what you wish to do. I have always promised Raeguel that I would let you choose. However, you can only do the trial after my death. It won’t let you otherwise.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “You are my successor if that is what you wish. I was hoping to run down your duties if you want this.”

Ordinarily Lucian wouldn’t mind her optimistic words, but for once he was unnerved by it. Her apperance screamed to him that she was in dire trouble but there was nothing he could do to help her, not that he knew about. Perhaps there was and that was why he was called here. His heart sank when she spoke about the husband and child that came to be before he and the others crossed over. He knew nothing more about the losses of her previous family and never asked about them before. Something was terribly wrong here. He looked back to Episcia with sadness in his eyes, unable to figure out what was going on and he didn’t know how to ask for her help in comforting him. He turned around as he heard the coughing and his mouth dropped further at the sight of what sort of substance was coming out.

What the hell has she been up to?

He was somewhat happy that she was able to hold down Dalanesca, but then it faded when she said that it was breakable. Nothing, though, prepared him for what she said next. His whole world shattered when she said those four words. I’m going to die. No sooner than when she said that, he crumbled down on the ground, pounding at it angrily with his fist as tears streamed down his face. “No, you can’t..” He ceased his temper tantrum as he tried to control himself, but the tears wouldn’t stop no matter how hard he tried. He swore to protect her ever since he was young, and now when she needed him the most, he couldn’t do a single thing to help her escape such a cruel fate.

“Why do you do this?”, he said in between the sobs before looking at her, dumbfounded by her self sacrifice. “Why do you have to die for this? There isn’t another…” He ceased and fell silent. No, of course not- if there had been, she would be going through this, especially with her children having to deal with this, including Rohan. “Do my brothers and sisters know about this?”, he asked, thinking back to Nerezza. Hell, she was going to be devastated if she hadn’t learned already. Getting up, he obliged to her will and listened to the reason he was here. He shook at the thought of doing this trial thing and taking her place. He didn’t want to her to die, but fate spoke of other things for them. The choice was his, and though he didn’t want to do it, it seemed like the one thing he could to help her out in the grand scheme of things. It was a fate from back home when he was born and as he wiped the tears away with a sleeve, he nodded and kept his head low. “I said that I would do anything to protect my family, Mother. I failed in my promise to you…but I won’t do it again to the others. If you have to go to the other side, then I want you to go knowing that I will carry on your legacy and watch over those we love”, he said while sniffling. A part of him was still carrying on a torch of hope that she would make it through this ordeal still alive. He was still a little boy at heart that wanted his mother around.  

Episcia was quick to gun herself right for Lucian as she wrapped herself around him. She knew more than anyone that the loss of a parent was tremendous. They had the talk a while back about what their parents would do without one another but she didn’t actually think it would happen. 

With pain in her heart, Angela watched him and flinched a bit at his question. “Because it’s my job, Lucian.” That was the hardest part of everything. “It is my job to the world to stop Dalanesca no matter what I have to do and it is my job to protect all of you.” She knew that might not sound like a good reason to the boy but she offered up an answer anyways. Once he asked about his brothers and sisters she shook her head. “Not all of them no. I told Nerezza moments ago. As you can imagine she is taking it like you are but Kaiser is comforting her the best he can.”

Giving him the best smile she could the Rosenite hugged her son tightly. “That’s my boy. I am so proud of you. Not because you accepted my wish but because of the person I know you are and will become. I knew the moment I saw your face for the first time.” She pinched his cheek playfully. She didn’t want him thinking she was all gone just yet.

Holding him tightly she kissed his forehead and backed up just enough to give him a book. “In this book are portraits of all your siblings. Talking to the others will help you find out where they are. These are your greatest allies and they will never deceive you. There are a lot of them and I don’t expect you to know them all by heart but they are kind and they will help you. Rohan and Iva will need you as well. Drae will definitely need help.”

She took his hand that was free and held it. “But there are things here you will need to do. I know that your aunts are a pain in the ass but they are good people. Toya is short tempered but handle her like you do Aelwen.  Lily will try to hug you a lot and I know it’s not best most of the time. Cathrine is just silent and she keeps her wits about her, when you need advice go to her. Your cousin Kirika is a gentle heart and you will probably find yourself agreeing with a lot of what she says. Here’s another but – Once a week I go to the local orphanage in our district and I read to them. Can you keep doing that? I know it might be a little bit of a hassle but they do like it.”

She tried to think of it. “You would have to take care of the gardens too but I’m sure you could take Nerezza into it. OH and my poor nightmare Kyoto… Can you remember to feed him every day? I’m sure Espicia will stay with you so you can use the stables for your dragon.” This was a lot of information and it showed it was getting to her as she started to tear up. “And make sure to hug them for me. your siblings. Whenever you can.”

Why did have to happen? It wasn’t his mother’s fault that Dal had lost so much. It couldn’t have been, and this war was stupid and pointless. He hadn’t voice his opinions over the matter because he wasn’t worried about this and thought sooner or later the whole mess would blow over. But now he was learning that his mother could very well perish because of it. This wasn’t something he could ever prepare for, and every second felt like a crack to his heart since he didn’t know how long she had left on this realm. He felt Episcia’s embrace, but he felt so numb on the inside, too much pain to keep himself together despite the toughness he was trying to display. He had to keep himself together for all of their sake.

“I know, and at the same time I hate it”, he responded. It was her responsibility to keep the peace, even at the cost of her own life and he despised it. How would the rest of the family take this? Nerezza was told and she folded like he just did, which wasn’t surprising to him. It wasn’t fair, none of this was.

His mother embraced him too, and the numbness still resided in him as he stood, praying to himself that something would come and save her in the end. To spare her from the jaws of death. She pinched his cheek, something she did quite frequently and it often got on his nerves, but not this time. It was little things like that made him see what importance they were and that he took them for granted.

Misty green eyes fell onto the book he received and slowly opened it to see different people, those that were all his siblings. Some he had already knew about, others were seen once or twice in his lifetime, and many that remained a mystery to him. For long moments, he flipped through the pages, studying their names and what they looked like as best he could. As his mother stated, there was likely no way to memorize all of them but it wouldn’t deter him from trying at least. Rohan and Iva were still young and would need every guiding hand possible to make sure they were happy and safe. He was sure that Drae as well wasn’t taking the news well and would need help too.

His hand squeezed hers back as he listened to the responsibilities placed onto him here. The queens didn’t get along for certain, but when it came down to it, they united for the right reasons. He was sure that he could manage dealing with them, or in Toya’s case, talking to his uncle and cousins. Lily and Cathrine he had met in passing times, and both seemed level headed enough, even with the former’s need to hug. Kirika, he knew about but hadn’t formally met her but he nodded to what she said about her. “It won’t be a hassle…”, he spoke up, his heart saddened by the thought of others that had lost their parents one way or another too. He looked to Episcia and without warning hugged her tightly. He knew that she’d gone through this pain and he felt grounded around her now.

Even so, he listened until he thought he heard her voice crack and flew towards her, holding her by the waist as he buried his face onto her stomach. “I will, Mother. I swear that I will do all of that and more. I’ll make you proud of me…Fresh hot tears rolled down his cheek and he bit his lip as the possible reality once again caught up to him. 

Angela thought about it a bit. “That’s what it means to be a savior Lucian. Sometimes we do things that make no sense. Let me tell you a little secret though. I never wanted to be close to that. As far as I was concerned that was Cathrine’s territory. Rosenites don’t believe in gods not wholly. However, I knew that I have people I need to protect and that can make us a bit stupid. Someday when you have children, if that is what you want… or a spouse you’ll see that you’ll do anything for them. Like you want to do right now for me. It’s different when it’s them trust me.” She stroked his hair.

The sweet moment between Lucian and Episcia made her smile. “Don’t let each other go. You might not see it now but some of us waited a very long time to find a person like what you two have. It’s very, very special.” She wasn’t going to push it because honestly she didn’t know what their relationship was but friendship or otherwise it was the same thing. “Bonds are what make us strong.”

As soon as she had started to lose herself she found her son around her. She calmly wrapped arms around him and kissed the top of his head as he buried into her. “I’m already so proud of you Lucian. I was proud of you from the moment you first spoke to your first step. You’ve never not given me a reason not to be proud. I just want you to continue being you and I know everything will be fine. You are a fine man and the Courts will be well with you.” She wiped his tears away. Wiping her own with her sleeve she kissed the top of his white hair again and smiled.

“You both make me so proud. I’ve already recommended you to be knighted by the courts.” Episcia gasp a bit and looked at Lucian. “I had done it a month ago and was waiting for the right time to host a party for the two of you. It is such a great honor to be knighted but… I’m afraid things don’t ever work out the way you plan.” She pulled Lucian up and kissed his cheek and then his forehead. “You have to keep your father in line. Make sure that he keeps feeding Melina. She is really going to need him now. Make sure they don’t fight and get along. That shouldn’t be too hard. They are like two peas in a pod together.”

Angela’s voice was soft with him but it had a certain stern aspect to it as she held him there. “Court meets once a week so you can hear everyone’s problems. We alternate what days so we can use the castle for the concerns of the people. If you have any trouble your grandmother Willow will help you if you truly need it. You are going to be in charge of big decisions like if people die, if they are imprisoned, yada yada. You have to stay strong and I know you can be. You have Raeguel’s blood in you and that alone makes you strong. You are strong and passionate… You’ll pass your trial no problem.” She brought him back in for another kiss to the forehead.

“You have to have questions about all of this… You should ask them now Lucian.”

Perhaps she was right; he had strived to be a knight to protect all that he cared about. While he felt like he understood the concept of self sacrifice and was prepared to put it all on the line to keep his loved ones safe, Lucian had to step back and see the reality of it all. His mother lived it and continued to do so and he wanted her to stop. It would have been hypocritical of him to stand in her way, but still he wished for another way. Perhaps one day he would better understand when he was put into the position she was, with a spouse and children he would have to leave behind so that they could live to see another day.

His mother’s words didn’t fall on deaf ears- it hadn’t been very long ago that he had to hold and comfort Episcia when she felt her world crumbling down around her. Now it seemed like it was his turn to fall into her arms and it would be awhile before he would fully recover, if such a thing could happen for him. In hearing that both Episcia and him were to be knighted, he took in some comfort that he would live his dream, though the news of his mother still unsettled him. He wished that she could be there to see them knighted. His father would likely be there, and he would make sure that he and Melina would be happy and safe, especially since she still required his blood to survive being outside the realm.

He would have to be strong for the Courts and his family, he couldn’t lose heart now before the battle actually happened. Lifting his head up from his mother’s waist, he looked at her for a while before getting back to his feet. He had to man up at this moment and save his tears for when they would truly be needed. Right now his mother needed him the most. Lucian never had control over whether a person lived or died, whether to deem one guilty or innocent- it seemed as those things should have been taught to him beforehand, which he was until he recalled that much of it was largely ignored instead for his knight training. Fortunately he would get plenty of support, like she’d say.

After sometime, Lucian looked at her with a hint of curiosity. “Mother, I have heard of the trials in passing. I think it was back when Kirika had to take it to ascend to Queenhood, but what sort of tests do heirs of the Courts go through.”    

Angela kept her son close to her. She rubbed his white hair and smiled as she kissed his forehead. “I love you so much, Lucian. You will do so well.” She kissed his forehead again before she decided that it was time to walk. She took his arm. “Most of the time if you are escorting a Lady who is important you will hold her like this.” She was sure he would remember at least that. 

“Yes, your cousin had a gruesome challenge. Of the five the Trials of Light and Dark are the worst. Purging your heart of darkness or testing your dark intentions. The darker your intentions the harsher both things get. Toya’s trial was that of innocence… believe it or not, I suppose ignorance is what saved her. Toya was rather innocent of the world when she became queen. The Purple Court is a challenge of knowledge. It is a logic puzzle. Ours is a challenge of Passion. How great our one true desire is. How great we value our wants and desires. You, Lucian, have a lot of passion so I think you’ll be just fine. The spirits test everyone differently but these are the main things they look for.”

Angela coughed up some more of the blue metal and cast it aside so she could lean on her son. “Today you’ll learn about your court and soon you shall lead it. You can always ask for help. I know that you put a lot of weight on yourself while being so young. I think that you are the best for the job because you are so dedicated and I know you will make a righteous king. It might be tedious and lots of women might be around for your hand… but I think if Episcia stays around that it shouldn’t be too terrible.”

Lucian listened as closely as possible to his mother’s words and he adjusted himself once she took his arm, trying to present himself as gentlemanlike as possible. It was something that he was going to deal with in the near future. He’d will try to take it in strive as much as possible as he would make the transition over to taking the crown. While he would have preferred there be more time for him to prepare, they were on a timetable- one that he had no idea of when it was ending. He was his mother’s child though, and he hoped that would be enough to assist him.

He especially paid her mind when it came down to the Trials. He could hear his mother’s disbelief when it came down to his Aunt Toya’s passage, and stifled a bit of a laugh. Each of the courts had one that tested their mettle to some degree and their court was one of passion. Where did his truly reside in and how would he be tested? Lucian, like his mother, believed that he had much placed into his family and his goal of being a knight. He wasn’t too worried about it, though he would make sure not to hide behind a mask of bravado.

When she started to cough out more of the metal, he held onto her for support. “Mother…”, he spoke, deeply frowning as he worried about her days ending. “It’s fine. It’s nothing compared to what you are going through. I’m more afraid…of going through this world without your guidance than any trial.” Lucian had to believe that everything would work out and watch over his ever growing family with keen eyes. All that he would have to learn, he would do so no matter how hard or tedious. Although he wasn’t too keen about the part with him having to duck and dodge the flocks of women that would likely be after him- how his father had dealt with it, he didn’t know and he had a feeling it wasn’t a good direction to look towards, nor how his brothers did it.

Episcia seemed to be the solution towards that, at least his mother thought and he couldn’t help but to blush at the possible meaning behind it. He turned as to not face the elf with a red face. “Of…course. Everything will be okay on that front. I will do all that is required of me to ensure our court thrives, I swear it.”