Chapter 10: Interlude I: The Party I

The Plains of Ferdinand

6? Years? Earlier?

 

??

The carriage rolled along, the horses walking slow and leisurely, the passengers inside the wooden vehicle having no hurry to their destination, having left early to avoid needing to do so- even if met with unfortunate circumstances. 

"You are aware that we will be forced to go to a party since we are likely arriving early enough to, right Lana?" Asked Brio.

"Lyrica. And yes, I am aware."

"Whatever. And if so why are you dressed like that? You think the clothes you like to wear will fly at a party?"

Lyrica furrowed her brow. "You mean tight jeans and tight fluffy shirts? Or do you mean the dresses?"

"I mean the fact you've been wearing you nightclothes all week. Nightgowns are bad enough but you can't seem to be bothered to button the buttflaps on your others."

"Oh, and you look better? Brioche, you're wearing blue slacks with a red undershirt and a green tux over it."

"I'm colorblind."

"So am I, you just throw clothes on with little care to how they look. And that's coming from me."

"These colors go together."

"Not all at the same time- or at least that much of each at the same time."

"Just don't embarrass me if we go to a party."

"Fine, I'll allow you to be embarrassing all by yourself."

"Haha, really funny." Brio shook his head. 

Lyrica yawned, "Really, Brio, why am I coming along at all?"

"Uncle says I can... be a bit... you know?"

"I am aware of your name being a verb."

"Yeah, that. I need someone to stop me from staying inside and studying- and besides, weren't you planning on going here anyway?"

"After I finished classes, but I guess that won't matter."

"Why do you even bother going to school? You can't use a caster and uncle would take care of you."

"Why do you still enroll in the Academy if you just read in your room all day?"

"I'm a genius, I'm allowed to make dumb decisions."

"Being able to write runes isn't genius."
 

"Being able to write may be luck but reading them is hard."

"Really?"

"Yes, not everyone can learn them. It's complicated to be able to remember them all."

"I can read them. I think it's more of an access to the knowledge type of deal."

"Really, then what's this rune?" Brio asked drawing a rune in the air.

"Water. Come on that's literally the rune on the seal of the Water Committee."

"Most people wouldn't know or remember that."

"Most people wouldn't care."

"Fair. Anyways, anyone you looking forward to seeing?"

"No? I mean it will be nice to meet the other people who can write in the air like you- as a comparison. You know since I was barred from your coming out party."

"Don't call it that, Lyra."

"Lyrica."

"Whatever. And sorry for that. Guest list didn't have you on it, big mistake."

"Oh, but the Bloody Knight got in?"

"Why have you taken to calling her that?"

"Oh, just still peeved over that little secret of hers."

"Sins of the parent, not of the child."

"Be nice if we had heard it from her, our friend, and not a book."

"To be fair we shouldn't have learned it at all."

"Yes, but someone wanted to see the report to make sure it was accurate since no one was mentioning-"

"-Yes, but hey, she's apologized right?"

"To you. She still won't come near me."

"You did throw a knife at her. Hell, she doesn't even know about this roleplaying you're doing."

"I can just toss you out this carriage."

"I can just use a rune to stop it and get back in."

"Last time you tried that rune you froze yourself for an hour and you had to have Auntie move your hand to draw the runes to reverse it."

"I work best under pressure."

"Just shut up about me, would you? I ain't roleplaying."

"Fine. Moving on, you are prepared for hours in the background of boring meetings right?"

"My silly brother that is literally all I did from eight to nine. I barely got to do anything, with how focused on you everything and everyone was.”

"Basically, you mean basically. Also, you so wouldn't have wanted to be me. I can still hear the monotones." Brio shuddered.

"True. No one would want to be you though in general."

"Maybe I should be the one tossing you out."

"Go ahead, I can catch up pretty easily since I have stamina unlike you."

"I have stamina I just choose not to use it."

"You fainted when we asked the Bloody Knight to test our fitness."

"That was four years ago, and I remember a certain sibling of mine vomiting."

"I hope you would, you passed out into that."

"Ugh, please don't remind me. This carriage has no windows."

"You think that if we get roped into the Dominus's party that the rest of the rune drawers will come?"

"Mors, Faira- they were the only ones who seemed likely to go without being forced."

"So, all of them? I'm just going to guess the key word here is forced." Lyrica leaned back into the corner of her side of the carriage.

"Yes. The Dominus probably wouldn't let any of them skip- even if sick."

"So, I could skip?"

"I wouldn't let you."

"And you expect to stop me."

"Unless some idiot gives you a caster, I think I can handle you."

"So, why didn't the leaders just do this? A renegotiation of the continental peace treaty seems like above your access level."

"I wondered the same thing. But half the leaders are busy. Emperor Heinrich XVII as an example is currently with our navy crushing a rebellion in our island colonies."

"More like on a vacation. I doubt it's taken as long as he's been gone to crush a rebellion of that scale."

"He'd have your head for that slander, Lisa."

"Lyrica."

"Whatever. Just watch the tongue."

"Unlikely."

The carriage rolled on, slowly crossing the plains, the sun rising to an apex and then falling and the moon outside doing the same. The passengers slept, read and ate the on hand food they had prepared due to lack of towns on the route. The land had only three settlements and the route to the city where the Peace Summit was being held, one for each of the original conquerors whose descendants had created the kingdoms that now ruled over the continent. A few churches, burned out and abandoned could be seen past the over growth, reminders of the last war- when farms and villages lined the countryside- before Divina Regnum had been forced into being a neutral country and been demilitarized for its roles in the last wars. 

The carriage continued on the leisurely pace, until it rolled into the paved stone roads of Divina Regnum's Dominus City, the brown horses standing out against the white marble buildings and pillars and the citizens who walked around in white clothing. They passed through some open markets, with peddlers selling their wares, some trying to get the driver to pull over to buy some fruits or trinkets or other souvenirs to no success. Soon the carriage moved past a gate into the rows of mansions that the upper class in the city lived in.

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The carriage pulled up rather small one in the far corner of the gated community that the Alliance had granted Brio for the stay. The driver helped to carry the two's luggage into the still spacious abode before leaving.

Lyrica looked around the place, the rooms on the lower floor only separated by columns. There was a kitchen, a fireplace room and a bath. The bedrooms seemed likely to be up where the twin spiral staircases led. The lack of furnishing was the most obvious issue in the house.

"Did they expect us to bring our own chairs?" She asked.

"It's the style around here."

"It's stylish to sit on the hard floor?"

"Yes."

"Seems weird. Tell me they at least sleep in beds."

"Well, yeah. They aren't savages, Lyria."

"Lyrica."

"Whatever. Drag those chests upstairs. I suspect the Dominus's messenger will be here soon. And change out of that nightgown."

"Eat shit lazy ass. Drag your own chest, or use a rune to slide it up." Replied Lyrica dragging her chest towards the steps. 

Brio listened to the thud, thud, thudding of the chest as it was dragged upstairs before lying on top of his own chest and waiting. After a few minutes bootsteps could be heard from the left stairs as Lyrica returned, in a long red skirt with a blue undershirt and a red top. Her hair was styled into a feminine way despite only the top being long- the only concession her uncle had allowed for her breaking of the school's style code. The lightest traces of makeup, covering acne on her face and some gloss on her lips finished her look.

"I told you not to dress like that."

"Oh, no. Am I embarrassing you in this empty house?"

"Yes."

"Boohoo, you dickwad. Shut up about me or I will ruin your reputation at the party so hard you'll be exiled to the colonies."

"Fine, just stay away from me at the party."

"When have we ever stayed together during parties?"

"Point taken."

The siblings went to the kitchen and had some soup that was canned in the cupboards, that Lyrica had spiced up with some vegetable that were storing in the ice box and spices that had a good taste despite the smell. As the two basked in the aftermath of the meal, a knock came from the door. Brio moaned as he moved back towards the door. A man in a toga stood with a scroll. 

"Brioche Galahad, you and your guest are to give your presence to the party at the Dominus's palace tomorrow."

"I and my guest will grant the party with our presence." Brioche responded,

The messenger bowed and ran off as Brio closed the door.

"Party?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

"You know how to get to the palace?"

"It's pretty easy to see, so I would assume it would be easy to get to."

"That's what I thought about the Bloody Knight's house."

"The Dominus wants people to visit him unlike Lord Kaga."

"Doesn't mean the streets will be easy to follow, this place is pretty old."

"Roads are wide, I'll be fine."

"Sure, sure."

"Clean up the kitchen, I'm going to bed." Brio yawned as he drew a rune on his chest. The formerly heavy wooden box not lightened, Brio lifted it above his head and went up the stairs.

"It's only seven." Said Lyrica to no one in particular with Brio out of earshot before cleaning up and relaxing one of the three chairs in the entire house. The rest of the day quickly went by as she relaxed in the chair, glad to have respite from her brother. As the sounds of the city died down and the light outside turned dark, Lyrica stood up and went upstairs to get to the second of two bedrooms and bathe before resting up for the party the next day.

The next morning a small carriage pulled up and took the siblings into it. Brio was dressed in a maroon suit and blue pants with a dark blue undershirt. His hair was slicked back and hidden under a beret emblazoned with the Capital's Academy Logo. He eyed over at Lyrica, dressed in a simple dress with no real embellishments to it, hair styled in a way to complement her face and the lightest of makeup- applied with a hand that was still learning its ways. A gloved hand moved to fix the hair clip that was once their mothers. Brio moved his eyes out the window, watching as the crowd moved from regular pedestrian to the rich and peasants waiting to see people walk into the High Church Palace for the Dominus's party. They speed slowed to the crawl as each carriage was signed in, and the drivers had to wait for pedestrians to move before getting to move again themselves. As they went forward, Brio looked at some of the dress of his fellow partygoers, which made him feel poor. Even from the window he could see the threads of their clothes cost much more than his handstitched coat, their hair styled by the hand of a professional, their makeup removed any flaws without looking like they had worn at all. He really hoped that the rest of the guests of honor had the same fashion sense as last time.

Brio and Lyrica hopped out of the carriage and ascended the steps, their dress shoes clicking against the cold marble. The wide oak doors were swung wide open, to that even on the street one could hear the sounds of merriment and music from the party. The two stepped in and walked nervously around the edge of the room, until the Dominus himself noticed them and ran over.

"Ah, you must be Brio!" The Dominus said pushing Lyrica aside.

"Yes. I am. It is an honor to meet you, oh great and holy Dominus." Brio replied bowing deeply.

"Well, I haven't much time to talk, but the other two who have arrived are over that way. Here I'll show you to them." The Dominus began to push Brio towards another part of the party, with an annoyed Lyrica following behind.

He left them as they approached three girls. One was in a red dress, with stark black hair straightened down to the middle of her back, the next looked like she probably mixed between one of the central tribes and a Ruskalykan- some blue tattoos on her exposed arms and her hair was a earthen brown that was dulled by her brown skin- both of which only made her pale grey eyes stand out more. The last was a girl with short apple red hair and what was certainly two horns hiding in the mess and eyes the same yellow as the dress she wore with freckles on tan colored skin that all together made her look much more innocent than the grin she wore was saying she was.

The first at the approach of Brio laughed. "Oh, it's the Galahad boy. They trusted you with coming for this time?"

"A pleasure to see you again too, Lady Doch." He rolled his eyes.

The second girl spoke, "Excuse Morsie's rudeness, she is quite bored."

"It is no problem, Faira. It is also a pleasure to see you again." He turned towards the third girl, no hint of recognition in his eyes. "And this is?"

"I am Zurah." She said simply. She seemed to be more focused on Lyrica than him. His sister was too busy glaring at him to notice the attention.

"If Mors is paying you this attention you must be important." Brio stated.

Mors laughed, "Important? She's-" She paused glancing over at Lyrica. "Well, let us away into a more private room. Our type of business is being involved. Ah, but not now. I see Owens coming in." And she ran off to greet the newest Rune User arriving.

Brio shook his head and went off, abandoning Lyrica as easily as he tossed away trash. He wandered, not really sure what to do, what to say, where to go or who to talk to. The party droned on as the band played the most background noise level music at the very edge of being audible possible. The conversations he heard as he walked neither sounded interesting or something he would risk embarrassment by jumping in the middle of suddenly. Eventually, like a cliché from the novels his aunt read. The only others out with him were some smokers and a half dozen cats, who were hiding from the chaos inside.

Brio leaned against the railing, and looked out at the mid-morning sky. The sun was being framed by wispy white clouds that seemed to have no interest in blocking it out. Brio stared forward blankly, as though waiting for something. Someone.

A few hours passed as he watched birds and the clouds, until eventually a woman in a maid outfit approached him. Her skin was pale and her eyes seemed cold and dead. Brio felt a chill as she seemed to glide forward. 

"Brioche Galahad. My master would like to speak to you." Her voice was soft and flowed from her lips like lyrics to a song.

"Who's your master?"

She leaned in and whispered into his ear. He felt a weird chill as he nodded. 

"I would be honored to meet with him. Take me to him at once." He said suddenly much more excited.

The pale maid took his and began to guide Brio inside and down a hall off from the party hall, where no one else seemed to be. Brio wondered why he felt fine with this, usually he'd be leaving in a situation like this. Was he really that bored? 

They continued down a new hallway, then another, and another and so on until Brio was unsure if they hadn't been going in circles for the entire time. The maid stopped in front of a door and opened it. Brio went inside.

The room was barely lit by a dim lamp on the ceiling and a lone table was the centerpiece of the room. Brio sat down as he heard the door close behind him. The man in the shadows across from him spoke:

"Brioche Galahad. I welcome your presence. You know who I am, and you should be glad to accept me."

Brio nodded. This man, though hidden- just from his voice was one that Brio knew. One that his uncle knew, his teachers knew and the emperor knew. But yet still he couldn't remember the name as he sat there.

"I am here on the command of the Emperor. I want to ask you, are you ready? I take those I choose to work with like a priest takes the words of the twins. Once you agree to work with me, you will be as loyal as a priest to me and those we serve. You will become stronger, and the world will change for your better, but you will not be able to tell those who are unaware of your new role what you have done. Now, sign a rune onto this contract. The only thing you must offer is your pledge and you to hide those emotions and desires you use until the good the empire is achieved."

Brio did as he was told, the idea that the emperor need him was filling his head with joy. What was so important that he'd send- send... well something about the meeting must be important.

The man spoke, "We will send a letter to your residency with what you must do at the summit. And cut ties with your sibling. They are dead weight. Her loyalty is at an end. Her role has been removed from this draft. Cysgod be with you."

The man walked off and the light turned bright. Brio felt as though his head had cleared and he stood up. The name of the man still escaped him but the word that spilled out across his tongue was Cysgod. The word that the Empire knew but never had a reason to why they knew it, the word that even the spies that barely existed. The terror he felt as he repeated it was dwarfed by his excitement. Cysgod. The Cysgod and he would work-

"Heal, now." Lyrica demanded busting in, her face and clothes bloody and burned. The smell of magic was all over her clothes. Behind her was a worried looking Dominus who at the sight of Brio calmed down. 

"Oh thank the Twins, you're fine." The Dominus said. Brio noted that he looked more roughed up, his hair a mess and sweat drenched his body.

"What? Why?"

"A terrorist attack. Why if it wasn't for the other rune users and this girl, it could have been much worse. Please as soon as you heal her, you are free to leave- though I hope that despite it you can still enjoy the party to ease your worries." And he departed.

Lyrica scowled. "Heal me, Brioche."

Brio rolled his eyes, "Why? You got yourself hurt, using a caster when you know you can't control the output. If you die, then you died a hero at least. A big, dumb hero. Dying when you didn't have to. Just like dad and mom."

Lyrica's face held no emotion. "Heal me. Draw the fucking rune."

Brio laughed, "I don't think I will. Go to a hospital, I'm done with you."

"Done? What?"

"I've been mulling it over in my mind for a while but with a recent offer, I know I can be without you. The way you pretend to be now is disgusting and if I never see you again it would be for the best." Was that true. Mostly, but he had to do this. Why? For Cysgod. The name made him feel important and looking at his bloodied sibling only filled him with annoyance.

"Oh, I see." Lyrica smiled, a smile that would haunt Brio through all times hereforth. Her eyes grew slant as she walked closer and face bloodied and torn leaned into Brio and spoke, "I have an easy way to do that."

Brio's eyes grew wide as he felt Lyrica's hand travel down his leg and land on his rune inker. The smile grew wider. Brio grew to understand the reality of the situation, breaking out of his Cysgod mindset long enough to push off his sibling and draw three healing wounds. "There. Be gone."

Lyrica shook her head, "Tell Deidre goodbye for me. Oh, and by the way, congrats on being to only heir in uncle's will. I'll see you later."

  "I doubt it." Brio said as his only companion that had known him for most of his life walked out the door. He stood in silence for a minute before laughing, as tears slid down his face. 

Why.

Why did he do that? Why did he feel no love anymore when he saw Lyrica, or thought of his family. Maybe he should have read the contract- a rune signature was a powerful tool.

But then again who cared. He heard rumors that his uncle, and other high members of the court had joined Cysgod and they were fine. He'd make a new family. One that was normal.

Unlike Lyrica.

Unlike him.

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