Andrellia

13. Alaric - Leon

The rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone echoed through the opulent carriage as Queen Ilara, Alaric, and the spectral figure of Phillip sped towards the harbor. The air crackled with a tension that transcended the urgency of the situation.

Queen Ilara, her usually fiery gaze fixed on the passing scenery, finally broke the silence. "Alaric," she began, her voice clipped, "while I appreciate your... enthusiasm, remember, this is a fact-finding mission, not one of your impromptu brawls."

Alaric, seated opposite her, straightened in his seat. A hint of his usual defiance flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly quelled by the seriousness of the situation. "Of course, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice respectful. "The safety of the Guild Master and the information he possesses are paramount."

Queen Ilara offered a curt nod, her gaze unwavering. "Good. Now, onto the matter at hand. This Guild Master Nikos - what do we know of him?"

"One of our own, Your Majesty," Alaric admitted. "A successful trader, Crown guard veteran, and known for his shrewdness and connections across the continent. He rarely gets involved in political matters, which makes this whole situation even more curious."

Phillip, his spectral form shimmering faintly in the dim carriage interior, spoke up for the first time. "Indeed," he said, his voice a mere whisper. "There's a distinct possibility this attack wasn't random piracy. Perhaps the pirates were after something specific, something in the possession of the cargo?"

The Queen's brow furrowed. "National security threats.." she mused. "What kind of secrets could a mere trader possess that would warrant such a brazen attack?"

Alaric leaned forward, his voice low. "Perhaps trade routes," he suggested. "Maybe Nikos stumbled upon a new, highly lucrative route and the pirates, whoever they are, want to eliminate the competition."

Phillip chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Or perhaps," he said, his words hanging heavy in the air, "the secrets are more... political in nature. Information that could tip the balance of power in the region."

Queen Ilara's eyes narrowed. The possibility of a foreign power orchestrating the attacks sent a shiver down her spine. "We can't rule anything out," she said, her voice firm. "Alaric, upon arrival, I want you to discreetly gather any information you can about these pirates their appearance, their methods, anything that might offer a clue to their origin."

"Consider it done, Your Majesty," Alaric replied, a glint of determination in his eyes.

The Queen turned to Phillip, her gaze unreadable. "And you, Phillip," she said, "any spectral insights you can glean from the Guild Master or the scene of the attack would be invaluable."

Phillip bowed his head, a mischievous glint in his spectral eyes. "Leave it to me, Your Majesty," he said. "Walls have ears, and even the dead can eavesdrop on whispers. Speaking of whispers, there's something else you should know. The Arcane Artifacts shop on Elm Street was also targeted recently by a group of thugs. The details are still murky because by the time the we had arrived, the thugs were all unconscious, knocked out by some unknown vigilante."

A flicker of surprise crossed the Queen's face. "A vigilante? Did they get a description?"

Phillip shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. The scene was chaotic. But it is curious timing, wouldn't you say? Perhaps this vigilante has a connection to Nikos, or maybe they simply dislike thugs who disrupt the good business of magical trinkets."

Queen Ilara pursed her lips. Another layer of mystery to this unfolding situation. The carriage rattled on in a tense silence, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them. They were headed towards a potential hornet's nest, a web of intrigue spun by pirates, secrets, and perhaps even a mysterious vigilante. As they neared the port, a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air, a premonition of danger that none of them could ignore.

A flurry of activity rippled through the docks as a grand carriage, escorted by an impressive entourage of Crown Knights, pulled up to the pier. Leon's heart hammered in his chest. It was Captain Alaric, the head of the Queen's military, but what truly stole his breath away was the regal figure seated beside him, Queen Ilara herself!

The jarring scene on the docks sent a jolt through Alaric. There, amidst the usual bustling chaos of the harbor, a chilling tableau unfolded. Several figures lay sprawled on the deck of the Star of Andrellia, their bodies tended to by frantic medics. Two forms, however, remained unnervingly still. Casualties.

Guild Master Nikos, his face etched with a mixture of grief and fury, stood near the railing. His hand, however, wasn't gripping the shoulder of a young boy, as Alaric first assumed. Instead, the boy, no older than fifteen, stood a few paces away, his scrawny frame oddly detached from the scene. His dark hair and green eyes held an unsettling calmness, devoid of the tears Alaric expected.

The Queen's eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. This was more than a simple pirate raid. This was a targeted attack with deadly consequences. Alaric, ever the soldier, moved towards Nikos and the boy, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword hilt.

Uncertainty clawed at Leon. What were they doing here? Was it because of his message relayed through Elias? A comforting warmth emanated from the pendant, and Alexander's voice, barely a whisper, resonated within him. "Remember, young Leon, just be honest and have confidence in yourself. Speak the truth, and the Queen will see your courage".

"Captain," Phillip's voice echoed faintly in his mind, a note of curiosity lacing his usual monotone, "Tough little thing must be a cabin boy from the ship." Phillip's spectral eye suddenly noticed the pendant around the boy's neck. "Interesting...." It was as if Phillip understood what the pendant meant and decided to keep it to himself.

Alaric reached them, the Queen's voice carrying over his shoulder. "Guild Master Nikos, Queen Ilara offers her condolences for your losses. We are here to assist you. Tell us what happened."

Nikos turned, his eyes blazing with barely contained rage. "Pirates, Your Majesty! Ruthless devils attacked my ship without warning. They... they killed my men and..." His voice cracked, but his gaze remained fixed on the horizon, not the boy.

The Leon chin held high, spoke in a voice that sent shivers down Alaric's spine. It was devoid of emotion, almost chillingly calm. However underneath Leon held the subtle guidance of Alexander it gave him a different kind of of confidence as if Alexander were standing there himself.

"They were searching for something specific, Your Majesty. They seemed particularly focused on acquiring it, even at the cost of these..." He pointed awkwardly at the fallen men feeling bad but he didn't want to cry in front of the beautiful queen "casualties."

Queen Ilara knelt before the boy, her voice gentle yet firm. "What were they looking for, child? Do you know?"

"I'm Leon, Your Highness," he said, a hint of nervousness flickering across his face for the first time. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He shifted his weight, the nervousness becoming more pronounced. "I have no idea. I am a simple cabin boy..."
He found himself fumbling over his words in front of the queen.

The man with glasses pierced Leon like a lion. Alexander immediately caught on."Leon be weary of this man... That is Carl Phillip von Clausewitz. He's highly known in the celestial realm as being cunning and he's a highly skilled tactical officer..."

Captain Nikos tapped Leon's back with a gruff affection. "Don't sell yourself short," he said, his gaze flickering to Alaric. "This young man has a natural talent for swordsmanship. He helped me save my men." Nikos had a fatherly bond with Leon and hoped Alaric could be a potential road into getting Leon into the Academy

Alaric nodded curtly, his eyes lingering on Leon. Alaric assumed the boy's composure, his practiced deflection of the Queen's question something didn't add up. Yet, Nikos' vouching for him muddied the waters. "Alright," Alaric finally said. "Thank you for all the information you've been able to give us. We must return to the Queen and investigate further."

Everyone bowed to Queen Ilara before dispersing. Phillip lingered for a moment, his spectral form shimmering faintly beside the Queen. "Intriguing, Your Majesty," he whispered. "The boy's calmness in the face of tragedy... it warrants investigation. And that pendant he wears..." His voice trailed off, replaced by a thoughtful silence. "There's more to this story than meets the eye, wouldn't you agree?"

The Queen, her gaze fixed on the Star of Andrellia, slowly nodded. "Indeed, Phillip. Indeed."