A Myriad of Mysteries

18

"Izin!" her voice seeped with anger before she jumped back and dashed once again. Sending Izin inches away.

"Wait!" Izin shouted as he took on her heavy slashes, "I can explain."

"Explain?!" She fumed as her attacks continued. "You abandoned the palace to fend for its own, you neglected your duty as the kingdom's protector and...," she briefly paused as tears started forming in her eyes, "You left me, you left us."

She collapsed on the ground and began wiping away tears of sadness, anger and regret. Her conjured weapons turned back to particles of light and vanished into the air.

Izin dispersed his shield and walked towards her. He leaned in close and gave her a hug while he was on his knees.

"I'm sorry," he apologized as he gently caressed her hair. "I gave Nadier the stone of desire not knowing that it had consequences," he said as he hugged her even tighter. "They captured me and threw me in the southern dungeon."

"What about HER," Seira asked as tears still fell down.

"We'll ask Nadier himself," he pulled her to a stand and lead her to his companions.

Eirisinia was skeptical and took one step back. She viewed the Queen from head to toe. Her dress looked old and worn out. Some beads and decorations had already fallen. Visible tears were present from the bottom to the top.

Their eyes were similar in color. Their physique was also alike, yet earlier she managed to push Izin back. Her wavy hair fell up to her hips.

"These kids helped me get here," Izin explained as he walked infront of them with his arms on Seira's shoulder leading her towards them.

"Forgive me for the way I acted," Seira took a hard glance at all of them before her eyes landed on Reiynia. She kneeled infront of the girl but Reiynia stepped back and hid behind Reyzenar.

She was visibly saddened by the girl's suspicion of her. She took in a deep breath before standing up again.

"And here I thought that I have to look for you myself," a voice so familiar began to echo around the the dungeon despite having no walls. "You must all be idiots to come here."

He descended from the water floating above and fell on the slippery floor. His feet stuck to it as if they were binded by a strong adhesive ubstance.

"You all should know by now that these dungeons are full of marticules," his grin was visible even from afar.

All the peculiar floors began to move at once until it finally surrounded the only solid ground they were standing on.

"Who are you?" Seira shouted at the unfamiliar face.

"Who am I?" He let out a snicker. "How could you forget Queen Seira, I'm the boy you all neglected."

"Nadier?" She grew pale as she mentioned that name. "This is impossible! H-how have you attained an adult form?"

The floors surrounding them began to rise and soon, Nadier was looking down on them.

"Thanks to the stone, I was able to separate my marticule blood from my body," he laughed even louder. "If you miss my childlike appearance, then you're welcome to play with him."

A boy with black hair and eyes descended from the sky. His eye had a large scar and he immediately ran towards Eirisinia. She took out her dagger and shielded against the child's arms that were now claws as sharp as steel.

Metal clashed with claws as Reyzenar rushed towards Eirisinia's side, together with the twins.

"By the way, you can't escape me this time," he grinned once more.