Verita - The Guardian of Darkness

60 - Returning to the Roots

Ruffled bed sheets and a lingering scent which couldn't hide the absence of the one responsible for the state his bedroom was in. That's all he got after he'd opened his heart last night.

"I'm really going mad", muttered Aetrian, while he put his head into his hands. "Why aren't I mad?"

"It is absolutely mad." Ayzede scrutinized the object in front of them, before breaking into a satisfied smile. As usual, the older mage was completely oblivious to the kind of thoughts his students was having. "Yes, it will do perfectly."

Aetrian breathed out audibly and tried to focus on the semi-finished mechanism lying in front of them. It was more important than anything else right now, that they could help Elanthin destroy the darkness inside of her body.

"In a year or two it might be ready for a trial launch."

"In a year?"

The men stared at each other, both confused about the other's surprise.

"Of course. We are talking about something that has never been attempted before. Something with enough power to split the continent in two if it malfunctions or ends up in the wrong hands."

"It has been used before", held Aetrian against Aydeze, ignoring his other complaints. "Once at least."

"That may be right but that was a three hundred years ago. You'll never receive my approval without elaborate testing and configuration", promised Aydeze with a stern expression. Crossing his arms in front of his violet robes, he stared down at his former student. "There are rules in place for a reason; even for you, Your Majesty, even if the world was ending."

Aetrian knew better than anyone else that it would be near impossible to proceed without the mage tower's approval. Even if he managed to secretly remove his project from the tower under Aydeze's watchful eye, his actions would cause considerable backlash if the trial run were to end in disaster.

In addition, the mages weren't powerless against the royal family as their fates were intertwined since the establishment of the Eternal Barrier. Acting against their explicit wishes would endanger everyone in Gratia – Aetrian and his position included.

"Then, let's get on with testing. I don't think we have a year or two to spend on this."

He softly nudged at the magic mechanism in front of them which looked nothing like a replication of the genius invention they needed. This mess of carved jewels and wavering substances, caged inside copper wire, looked anything but mighty. Still, all his hopes rested on it. If it failed, they would have to start over from scratch.

The feeling of disquiet, which had befallen Aetrian when he'd woken up alone this morning, was growing steadily.

"If we don't hurry, she might decide she'd rather fight the monsters one by one", he muttered.
Aydeze lowered his head without asking whom his student was referring to. He likely didn't have to, seeing as Aetrian hadn't been talking about anyone other than Elanthin of Verita since his arrival.

"I'll send a few mages up who will help you."

And guard the mechanism, guessed Aetrian. Outwardly, he put on a more or less graceful smile. Going against the head of the mage tower had never gotten him anywhere but perhaps he could accelerate the process of improving and testing. His armies would surely be able to hold off the Deep's monsters for a few months until the mechanism was complete.

The portal frame behind them started to buzz and both their heads turned around to watch Ves step through. He stumbled forward as if he'd been running into the portal.

"Your Majesty, there's been a report – perhaps it's nothing – but a mage from the border has written –" Ves paused to catch his breath, hands propped on his knees.

As he rose, the paleness of his face had Aetrian flinch.

"Is – is Her Majesty around?"

#

Ves didn't spare his cousin any of the details. They'd found Elanthin's room deserted in the morning, her cloak and travel boots removed; her advisor's letters had been placed on top of the bed, as if she wanted them to be found. The contents didn't leave much to imagination for either of the men: Elanthin's destination was the Deep's abyss.

For a while, Aetrian just stood there, in the middle of Aydeze's study, feeling like he'd just lost the final battle in a war he didn't know he'd been fighting. His mind raced, displaying everything that could have happened to Elanthin already. The portals weren't calibrated to take anyone farther than the palace grounds or, in the other direction, the woods along the border.

"Has she used the portals?"

"No, I don't think so. There's a horse missing from the palace stables", replied Ves quietly.

At least she hadn't been dissolved by a dysfunctional portal trying to teleport onto the Plains; however, everything behind the Eternal Barrier was out to kill you and it was unlikely that Elanthin was in a good place mentally.

Aetrian gripped the smooth fabric of his robes until his knuckles whitened. Was there anything he could do, even if he caught up to her? Moreover, was he allowed to keep her from fulfilling what she deemed to be her duty?

"I would like to be alone", he stated in a low voice. With his cousin and former teacher staring at him, he couldn't bring order to the chaos inside. Their gazes burned through him, searching for clues on what was going on in their friend.

"Perhaps we should discuss on ho–"

"You need to give me a damn second." Aetrian's voice was breaking off at the end, betraying the depth of his emotions.

Suddenly, neither Ves nor Aydeze seemed to have a clever comment. Instead, the older mage bowed his head. Grasping Ves by the arm, he dragged him through the portal without another word.

As soon as they were gone, Aetrian collapsed onto the desk and buried his face in his hands. When had Elanthin decided to leave? Had she already known what she would do before she'd come to his room?

I will make her answer for that, he thought to himself, while his eyes came to rest on the whirring mechanism. This wasn't how it would end; not if he had a say in it. If she wanted to sacrifice herself, she would have to convince him face to face. Sneaking away at dawn was nothing but cowardly.

Her absence had felt wrong from the beginning, but now he was facing a future in which she didn't exist. Could he even return to the days before her arrival? The hours dragging on endlessly, constantly humoring greedy nobles and their spoiled daughters; her presence had given him the respite he'd needed direly without knowing it.

If she were gone ...

He didn't want to continue the thought.

Suddenly, Aetrian became aware of the fact that he was completely alone. Aydeze and Ves had teleported elsewhere to give him space.

In other words, they've given me a rare opportunity. As soon as the thought had crossed his mind, Aetrian sprung up from his chair. Crossing the room, he grabbed the magic mechanism whose contents flared-up with a low buzz.

"You're coming with me", he murmured, eyes locked onto the semi-finished creation.

If Elanthin was bent on ending her life, he wouldn't let her do it alone. Perhaps what he was holding would backfire and kill them both – but there was a slight chance it would work and he was willing to take it.

The border, he thought decided, while stepping into the blue wall of light.

#