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Side Story: Izuiel 4

Banners and Flags appeared over night. Beautiful garland hung from the doorways and the castle was dressed up for a celebration which it wasn't when Izuiel retired for the night. They were beautiful and Izuiel would have taken time to admire the purple flowers and banners if they we're so wrapped up in their own head.

A new knight was again assigned to escorting Izuiel. They dress for the celebration in a long blue coat and a gold crown one they didn't dawn often. They could imagine what Navi would have said when he saw them.

"Wow Honored Heir you may just steal the show." and he would laugh and Izuiel would scold him. Instead they walk down the hall of the Palace with a somber face and only briefly in passing does Izuiel spot Navi. And only for an instant do they exchange glances. No greeting other than a formal salute.

Izuiel's heart was breaking.

The morning was busy as the other lords gathered and Izuiel was glued to their father's side. The whole celebration was strict and had many important steps that cant be missed. Izuiel can't remember any of the activities They know there was a lunch, there was a ritual in the church, there was a parade throughout Luka's streets but none of it stuck.

The final Part of the declaration of descendance for the fate kingdom is a formal decree from the Lod themselves on a stage outlooking what seemed like the entire kingdom who had traveled to watch.

"We are Gathered to make the long awaited announcement of who will be the next lord of the fate Kingdom." Aldrich's Father stands and addresses his people. "I have been blessed by Istus with two wonderful children and what's more miraculous both were born with the qualities of a great leader. I Have thought on this for a long time and choose to take on my Eldest child to rule the kingdom. Who Istus gifted to me first for a reason. I choose to follow her will."

"HE IS NOT GOING TO BE HEIR!" Davia who was seated only a few seats down form Izuiel states.

"What are you doing Idiot?" Aldrich stands in protest.

The air is tense

"I challenge you! If your succession is truly Istus' Will then you will beat me in combat. The winner is unknown to us but she knows all." Davia drops her coat to reveal not the gown she was wearing all day but her riding pants and a long sword at her side.

The crowd begins yelling and panicking. The Fate's Lord looks mortified and the siblings begin fighting in a way Izuiel had never seen before. They often argued and even would fight physically but never with intent to actually cause harm. This was different. The intent to kill is heavy in the air and Izuiel no longer felt safe.

"Izuiel come." Baron grabs Izuiels arm and pulls them back. Before they can comprehend anything Dion is helping them onto the back of a horse and they are being rode away from the situation. Izuiel held onto the knight driving tightly and focused on breathing.

They ride for a long time and its night fall before they stop. Izuiel had at some point fallen asleep on the back of the horse because when they stop outside of the city at a small cave in the side of a cliff.

Izuiel woke up in the middle of the night to the flicker of a campfire. The sit up and had been draped in a large knights coat and gingerly laid down. The cave was empty despite. Izuiel slips their arms into the jacket and just sat by the fire.

"What happened?" Izuiel asks themselves. "Who won?" they let out a deep sigh. Then the sound of a falcon comes form the mouth of a cave.

"Shhhh they're sleeping." a soft familiar voice says. Izuiel stands up and walk to the mouth and right outside is Navi in his undershirt tying a note the a messenger falcon. He smiles at the bird and then releases it.

"What's that?" Izuiel says referring the the letter at Navi's side.

"Oh, I though you would stay asleep." Navi stands at attention. "Honored heir."

"Can I read that." Izuiel says, the sight of Navi standing at attention makes their throat go dry and their stomach feel heavy. They grab the note and begin to skim it. Its orders from their father to return to the kingdom and then He will follow back in a few days after settling the Fate debacle. "It doesn't said who won."

"I got a letter a while back stating that Princess Davia Won and both her and her bother are receiving medical treatment. They haven't come to a decision whether to honor the victory or continue as was planned." Navi hand them another letter form their back pocket. "If you want we can head out now we have a lot of land to cover and we shouldn't waste time."

"Yeah." Izuiel turns the note in their fingers. "Oh you're coat."

Izuiel removed the jacket and hands it to navi who puts it on. Izuiel quenches the the fire and navi readies the horse. They are quiet as they ride nothing more than one or two word exchanges. They stop once more to rest in the forest at the edge of the logic kingdom.

Izuiel stretches their legs and watches Navi as he cooks them some small creature he managed to hunt. The horse is resting in the shade and its quiet. Izuiel hated this quiet. Before when they were together and it was quiet it was sweet. Those days were over.

"I had no idea that Princess Davia was going to do that." Izuiel says while picking at the meat Navi cooked eating very slowly

"Oh you didn't talk about that during your 2 am rondevous." Navi who had already finished his says in an uncharacteristically snappy tone

"No...." Izuiel goes silent and eats. After a few minutes they speak back up "she barged into my room because I over heard her and Evangeline talking. We don't have that kind of relationship."

"You don't have to justify to me. I am but your knight and I fully support my honored heir finding a fitting suitor." Navi stands up and starts to walk toward where the horse is tied up.

Izuiel finished eating and immediately feels sick to their stomach. They wonder a bit deeper into the woods and hunch over. This was worse than anything they endorsed with their father. Navi's cold attitude and snippy comebacks were unbearable. They proceeded to loose the food they just ate.

"Izuiel where are you?!" Navi's voice carried from the camp and as Izuiel regains their composure Navi beaks through the bush. they make eye contact for only a moment when Navi's gaze turned angry "For the future lord of the logic kingdom you're so stupid."

"Watch you're tongue."

"I'm not the one who pushed the only person who I love away and now is making myself sick about it."

"You are the one disrespecting their superior."

"You're impossible." Navi sighs "I readied the horse lets go we can be home by day break."

"The sooner the better." Izuiel follows him back and they both mount.

Izuiel lightly holds Navi's waist but it honestly felt weird for them to make any physical contact at all. They were stiff and their blood felt cold.

"If you don't hold on properly you'll fall." Navi says before taking off. Izuiel is started by the sudden movement and holds tighter.

The news of the coup had already reached Shihon by the time Navi and Izuiel reached the city. News papers were scattered around the wet streets and inside is entirely speculation. Nothing had been decided and if it had Izuiel was sure they would know before the papers did.

"Escort the Heir to Their room its been a long ride and they're tired." Navi says to one of the knights standing guard at the gat to the palace.

"Sir!"

It was a muggy day the sky was over cast and the air was thick with condensation. Izuiel dismounted the horse and as soon as their feet hit the ground their head started reeling. Then before anything could really settle down their vision goes dark.

"Heir?!" "Izzy!" the two panicked voiced call as Izuiel falls to the ground.