Suikoden VI

Chapter Four: Part Seven

Part Seven

The last time they were in Sol-Falena they were taken straight to the Parliament building. But when it came time to be fifteen minutes before their audience with Queen Lymsleia, they were escorted directly into the Sun Palace. It was surreal; the palace was larger than life, possibly bigger than even the Grand Citadel of Mlkwt Alsmwat. There were multiple guards on duty as they walked across the bridge and entered through the giant front doors. They passed through an entryway before reaching the main entrance hall.

The surroundings were immediately familiar to Daunte and he paused in his tracks. Without any of the tables and the decorations the entrance hall looked much larger. But...But this had been the place where Archana had her wedding reception with her husband. This was where they were poisoned. He looked to his left and even saw the place on the floor where Darrick and Archana had collapsed.

"Daunte?" Arin looked up at him. "Are you all right?"

Daunte quickly shook his head. "Y-Yes, I'm fine."

"You all will be announced in shortly," Cius told them. "In the meantime, please wait out here. If you'll excuse me, I must return to work."

"Thank you for the escort," Caesar told him.

"Yes, thank you," Daunte added.

Cius nodded. "You're welcome."

Cius took his leave, and the group took the opportunity to look at their surroundings. Almost everyone was in awe, including Caesar. "I can see my reflection in the floor," he said idly. He laughed a little. "This reminds me of the palace in Gregminster..."

Daunte tried to shake the unease of being in the main hall and leaned his right hand against the wall. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Get yourself together, Daunte. You'll need to have a clear head when you present yourself before Queen Lymsleia.

The Rune of Restoration then suddenly glowed, and Daunte shouted and retracted his hand. No, not now! he clutched his hand to his chest and closed his eyes.

"See? Didn't I tell you this looks much better?"

Daunte opened his eyes and looked to his left. And gaped.

"Oh, I love it when a plan comes together!" a teenaged girl declared, laughing heartily. She had long silver hair that was tied in two long braids. She wiped at her forehead, which left an emerald green smear. "Didn't I say that the color was perfect?"

There was emerald green paint everywhere. It stretched nearly across the length of the wall and puddles of paint were all over the floor. The oldest girl stood there, covered in paint but admiring her "work". A younger teenage girl with silver hair was pressing her hands in the puddles and slapping handprints on the wall. A little black-haired boy and tawny-haired girl were giggling and flicking wet paint brushes at each other. And an even young boy and girl, both with dark hair, were painting the walls with paintbrushes so big that they had to hold them in both hands. Every single one of them was covered in green paint. Behind them stood two maids, who looked very distressed but clearly were too afraid to stop the group from doing what they were doing.

"Remember when she got the bright idea to paint the main hall of the Sun Palace emerald green?"

Daunte knew then what this memory detailed and burst into loud laughter.

"Once we're finished with these walls, then we need to move on to the ceiling!" Archana declared. She struck a triumphant pose and pointed upwards. "Yes—Yes, it will be perfect!"

"Cousin Archana, how are we going to reach the ceiling?" Surya looked up from flicking his paintbrush at Mokuren. Mokuren took the opportunity to flick her brush at him, and a glob of green paint hit his cheek.