Ashes Take Flight

CHAPTER 15: A Dinner With Family

Touya's POV:

I awoke to the sounds of armor rattling. With blade in hand. I jumped to my feet and got in a battle stance.

"Are you Dabi?"

"Depends on who's asking."

"You have been invited to the castle for your skills. The empiror wishes for you to meet with him over dinner. There, you'll discuss terms for your freedom, and a body guard position. As master enji has watched you take on countless people. You are the only one he wishes to save."

"Is that right?"

I rolled my eyes but then a thought crossed my mind.

^This might be the chance I need to kill that bastard.^

"OK I'll hear what he has to say, but my knife stays with me."

"He had a feeling you would say that. Which is why guards will be close by during your talk. Please follow me to the guest room. I'll get you when it's time."

The shrubs moved to reveal a large path. However there appeared to be another path leading away from where we were going. Once inside,  the labyrinth went back to normal. I was placed in a tall tower and left there until sunset. I tried to open the door, but I was locked inside.

Keigo's POV:

When the mask was removed. I growled at the Natsuo.

"Don't be like that. I just want answers that's all. So tell me. Are you really icarus?"

"Icarus is a legend. He isn't real."

^nighteye told me to keep it a secret. So I'm trying to keep my word.^

"Don't lie to me. Father isn't the only one who has been watching you both. I know what you've been up to. Which is why I wanna help."

I was genuinely surprised by his words.

"Huh?!"

"You can't take him on by yourselves. He has miriko helping him, and a dark secret."

"Why are you against your own father?"

"He destroyed our family. I heard about my brother who died on his first day of life. A servant told me how he was thrown in the labyrinth for looking too weak and sickly. So I tried to put all my free time as a child towards war strategy and tactics. So I became of some use to him. However my sister Fuyumi wasn't so lucky. Father used her as a pon to lure leaders from other nations to be we'd. They were all used as hostages or killed if their country didn't surrender to them. Those that fought back were enslaved and worked to death as gladiator practice dummies. Each death was his entertainment. Before shoto was born Fuyumi killed herself, or so father claims. While giving birth to shoto. Mom followed Fuyumi. Shoto was given a slave from a nation that tried fighting back. Then he was sent away to the coliseum and told to come back once he became the strongest. Since then I've never seen him."

"So you're an only child now?"

"No, I still believe shoto is alive somewhere."

"Well I've got some good news. Your older brother is the guy I was with."

"Dabi is?"

"Yep, Dabi is Touya."

"That's not good. If Father finds out.- * gasp* oh no, he already does because of miriko. She came over yesterday to tell him the family wasn't dead."

"We gotta stop enji before it's too late. Release me so we can help him."

"Yeah sure thing."

As Natsuo pulls out the keys and reaches for the locks. His shirt starts turning red by his left shoulder.

"Natsuo?"

He collapses by my feet in a pool of blood. At that moment a guard was passing by, and saw that I had one hand free. As natsuo laid bleeding out.

"You son of a bitch. You attacked our prince! For that you'll pay with your life."

"No you've got it all wrong! I didn't-"

Just then the guards began to add more chains and drag me away. As we reached outside. I saw the night sky, and miriko waving at me with a smirk on her face from the castle roof.

I lunged at her direction, but was forced into a carriage.

Driver: "Where to sir?"

Guard 1: "This prisoner is going to the coliseum. He's giving our leader a good warm up act for the main entertainment tomorrow."