The Ruler's Rift

Condone Corruption

"She must remember. There's no other way."

The group of Nova's most trusted and most useful disciples looked at her as if they disagreed. She furrowed her brows back at them. "I spoke with her one-on-one; she has so much pride and ambition, yet she's lacking vengeance. In other words, she doesn't remember her motivation"

Lucian tapped his fingers against the table, orange light from the candelabra glistening against his scales. "Can't we just sabotage her or something? Get her to be mad?" He asked.

Such simple thinking. Nova snapped, "Unless you want to kidnap your own sister, then no. That won't work." She laced her fingers, eyes scanning those she'd get the most use out of. "We all know what happened to her in her youth. If she remembers that, I know she'll want to wear her crown."

Another cultist, one with more age and a scratchy voice, piped up. "Memory spells don't exist, so we better hurry on up with another idea, then. Better make it quick." He leaned onto the table with his elbow and groaned. "Universe was so much better with Queen Violet's rules...I want her daughter up on that throne this instant."

Nova leaned over the table, where she felt the warmth of the candelabra against her fur. She rested her hand atop the cultist's. "I feel the same way...don't worry," she cooed. "I think I'm onto something."

"Are you gonna show her the body?" Lucian asked. "Seems like that'd jog her memory pretty good."

"Ugh, Lucian..." Nova took a deep breath to calm herself. "That will be a good final nudge. But it's too soon. If I show her that now, she'll only panic and think it's fake."

Lucian's tail swished in annoyance. "Sure, okay..."

Nova would have him removed immediately if not for his worth. She rolled her eyes under her hood and continued, "No, my idea is much more subtle yet effective. When I visited Mystearlia, I took a lot of Queen Violet's books and parchment. Some of them may have been Cassius's, because I found a text that's...quite interesting." A grin overtook the fox's face. Tiny embers and wisps of soot crackled from her eyes, quivering in excitement. "I learned a bit of what happens when a Mystearlian breaks their one law. It can dig up past memories. I think that could aid us..."

"And how the hell are we gonna get her to do that?" Another cultist interjected.

Nova huffed, magic fading from her eyes. She said, "It pains me, but we may have to be patient...although my infiltrator did report that Miss Superbia's bloodlust is increasing...recently she nearly killed her boss."

Lucian crossed his arms and he broke the silence which followed. "So, basically, we do nothing," he said.

Nova cut in, "That's not-"

"It's literally what you just said. We wait for her to feed on some poor person, she gets fucked up, and then she remembers stuff, yeah? You said yourself once she remembers she'll seek the throne on her own."

He had the wrong idea, but countering his brash tone and oversimplification was like balancing a pencil on an egg. Nova shook her head. "It may seem like that, Lucian, but we will have our hand in the details. I'm-"

"I'm not going to sit around and do nothing!" Lucian yelled. He stood. "You all have as long as you want to make Celeste queen, but my sister is on a time limit!"

"Forgive him, everyone," Nova chuckled after she saw their glares toward the angry shark. "You're dismissed. I'm going to have a word with Lucian here."

The others left the dim room, and Nova's ears pivoted towards the exit. Their footsteps faded as they traveled upward, ascending the stairs away from the underground space. She turned to Lucian and let her voice soften. "Please listen," she started, "I know you're concerned for your sister but we're doing everything to help her."

Lucian's voice cracked a slight and he huffed with considerable weight. "I don't want a repeat of my father. I can't do nothing..."

"You are doing something," Nova assured. She put her hands on his shoulders. "That's why you're here. Lucy won't die if we succeed."

"Yeah...I know..."

"Please trust me, Lucian. I'm not cutting any corners because this is important to me, too. To all of us."

"I get all of that but please be quicker."

Nova nodded. "I'll do my best...Queen Violet saved my life so I know her daughter will save your sister's life."