United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 19 - Falte

Falte's mind was reeling. Even though he was usually capable of taking in large amounts of knowledge, everything that Shintaro had just told them was still swirling in Falte's head. Everything he'd been told as a kid - that Dark Magic didn't exist anymore, that the world was safe from any kind of evil magic - was wrong. What Shintaro had just told them basically took everything Falte knew and threw it down the drain. 

It wasn't that what Shintaro had explained didn't make sense. Falte understood everything that Shintaro had said - Shadows were the ones responsible for everything that had happened to Ariel in the last couple of months - it was that Falte's heart and mind refused to believe it. Everything he knew about Dark Magic was abruptly flipped completely around. 

Falte almost wanted to laugh, it was that shocking. This was reality now - Ariel was under the danger that almost wiped out all of humanity the generation before. There were very few people still alive that survived The Dark War, something that hardly anyone talked about - that was how horrible it was. Falte had been nineteen when the Shadows were banished for good, but he hadn't been involved in it. He had only heard of the victory over the Darks. But now they were back - or they hadn't left at all. Was this the beginning of another reign of terror? 

Taking a deep breath, Falte bit down the hysteria that was rising in his chest. Absently, Falte pulled a ribbon out of his pocket and started twisting it between his fingers, unsure of what else to do with his hands - but needing to move them to let out at least a little bit of his stress. 

Queen Ruby was staring at Shintaro as if he'd just thrown her whole family name in the trash - her expression was mixed with wild, shocked horror and unbridled, revengeful fury. Her hands, which were resting on the desk in front of her, were clenched into fists so tight that her knuckles were turning white. 

King Marcus looked like he'd been punched in the gut. His mouth was parted slightly and his eyes were trained absently on the floor in front of him. His whole body was loose in outraged disbelief. 

Amy didn't look quite as shocked as everyone else, but she did carry an aura of anger that Falte wouldn't have expected from her. Her jaw and shoulders were tight as she stared with vehemence up at Shintaro. Her arms were crossed over her torso, but her fists were clenched. 

Aaron, as Falte had expected, was wearing a look of surprised thoughtfulness. One arm was wrapped around his waist, while the other was lifted up so he could rest his hand over his mouth. His eyes were narrowed in thought while he looked up at Shintaro reflectively.  Of course the former king was handling this shock better than the rest of them - that was what he was used to. As a former king, he'd been somewhat required to get over the shock and take action quickly. He'd grown accustomed to the habit now - and he was just the kind of person that thought first.

Ruby slammed her hand down on the desk so suddenly and loudly that Falte nearly jumped out of his skin. The queen shoved herself away from the desk and turned around, lifting her arms and dragging her hands into her hair exasperatingly, tilting her head back and staring at the ceiling. Though Falte couldn't see her face, he could tell that she was probably red with fury. 

Marcus raised his head and watched his wife as she stomped her way to the back of the room with her hands still in her hair. "Ruby," he said faintly. "I know you're mad, but you should probably calm down so we can discuss this." 

"He's right, Your Majesty," Amy said with a small shrug of her shoulders. "You can be mad all you want, but maybe tone it down a little while we talk about this." 

"Don't talk to the queen like that," Shintaro said roughly to the tracker, narrowing his golden eyes at her. "You may not be an Arielian, but she is still royalty."