Mirror Soul

Chapter Fifty One: The Heir's Coronation

“You are a zenith! And my one true heir!” Even as the words reached Layva’s ears they did not register.

“W-what.” She said quietly, Bruce’s unconscious body still in her arms. “Y-you’re cra-”

“Am I?” Meridian asked. “Did you really think it was all a coincidence?” He began to walk around Layva. “First you were attacked by a kaiju, the second rarest nadir there is. And what do you know! That very kaiju has the power to distort light around itself so that it could reach you without giving you a chance to run.” He circled the girl like a vulture, taking in her expressions as she pieced together the clues. “And I suppose that by another miraculous coincidence that this kaiju was also the smallest and weakest around? I wonder how such a set of circumstances could be arranged.”

“No!” Layva growled in objection. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I know what I am!”

“Do you?” The nadir king whispered from behind her. “Tell me have you ever… lost yourself in any recent battles? Felt unbelievable power and gained new abilities, but lost the merciful side of yourself?”

Memories of her battle with Didrick began to flash into her mind. The way she’d been hurt by that rhinoceros, how a well of strength and bloodlust overflooded her sense to the point of blinding her to anything but killing the Court member. She remembered how she had only been snapped out of that feeling when she realized that she ran through Kai.

“And if I’m not mistaken that ability to change your blades in midair is quite new, correct?” The nadir said mockingly. “You discovered it after taking a devastating stabbing to the side, yet you simply got back up and proceeded to defeat your sister.”

Sister? Layva whipped her head to face the zenith. Meridian smiled as his provocations succeeded.

“Peculiar how my Marquis immediately challenged you, isn’t it?” He wondered out loud. “Did she say anything strange? Nothing too cryptic, I hope.”

‘Your guess about the nature of that black box was correct. If you have any questions go ahead and ask them.’ Marquis’ words echoed in Layva’s head. 

At the time the Horizon had not paid the words much meaning, but now all Layva could do was recall the petite woman’s cryptic phrases.

‘I’ve seen enough. I can’t tell if it was because of lack of time or lack of skill. Either way, you’ve failed, Layva.’

“And as for concrete proof that you are mine.” Meridian grabbed Layva’s wrist roughly and hauled the girl to her feet, leaving Bruce to hit the ground.

He held the girl’s arm out so she could see the black stone-like skin that covered it. “Look at you.” Layva squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. “I said look at yourself!” He shook her. The Horizon used all of her new strength in an attempt to escape the monster, but his grip on her wrist was as strong as iron. “You can no longer deny who you are, what you were destined to be.” 

Layva finally opened her eyes and  examined her body. Her black arms and legs had the same color and texture as his. She looked from his glowing iridescent nails to her own.

They… they’re the same. She finally admitted to herself.

She stopped struggling and fell limp in Meridian’s hold. “You are my child, my flesh and blood.” He released her arm, letting her fall back to the ground. “You are my one true heir. The events of your life have been pre-arranged by myself for this very moment.” Layva was unresponsive as she simply stared at the ground.

“Your transformation into a zenith is only in it’s earliest stage.” The king informed her. “Now that it has started, the evolution process can’t be stopped.” He extended a hand down to her. “The phase to come will be much worse. Return with me and I’ll teach you how to utilize your new power.” Layva still did not move, only kneeled in defeat.