Origins: The Absolute

Chapters 23-25: Origins Part Two

A week had passed since my walk through the city. Life within the palace had returned to its usual rhythm, but a sense of unease lingered in the back of my mind. My days were filled with studies and lessons, the responsibilities of being the heir to the throne weighing heavily on me. I immersed myself in my duties, trying to quell the restless energy that had settled in my chest.

The sun streamed through the tall windows of the study hall as I sat at my desk, meticulously reviewing documents on Eldoria's history and governance. The words blurred together after a while, and I found my thoughts drifting back to the conversation I had with my mother. Her concern for my safety, the tension I had seen at the military base, and the strange feeling that something was on the horizon all played on my mind.

As I absentmindedly flipped through the pages of my study materials, a faint murmur of voices reached my ears. They were coming from just outside the study hall, near one of the small courtyards where the palace officers often gathered for brief discussions.

I tried to focus on the words, but the voices were too low. My curiosity piqued, I quietly rose from my seat and moved closer to the door, careful to stay out of sight.

"...the Honomakul... strategic positions... Empress's orders..."

The words were fragmented, but one term stood out to me: "Honomakul." I furrowed my brow, trying to recall if I had ever heard that name before. It was unfamiliar, and the way the officers spoke it with such gravity made my heart skip a beat.

I strained to hear more, but the conversation ended abruptly, followed by the sound of footsteps moving away. I hesitated for a moment, then quickly returned to my desk as if nothing had happened. My mind raced, the name "Honomakul" repeating over and over. What could it mean? Why had it made my pulse quicken with a sense of dread?

Unable to focus on my studies any longer, I stood and left the study hall, my feet carrying me down the familiar corridors of the palace. I had to find my mother, she would know what it meant, and perhaps she could ease the growing unease in my chest.

The palace was unusually quiet as I made my way to my mother's private chambers. The guards outside her door bowed as I approached, and I gave them a brief nod before entering.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, the heavy drapes drawn to block out the midday sun. My mother was seated at her desk, her posture rigid, her eyes focused on a series of documents spread out before her. She looked more on edge than usual, the lines of worry etched deep into her face.

"Mother?" I called softly, stepping further into the room.

She looked up, her expression softening slightly when she saw me, but I could still see the tension in her eyes. "Aerith, my dear, what brings you here?"

I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my question. "I was studying when I overheard some of the officers talking outside the hall. They mentioned something... something called the 'Honomakul.' I didn't recognize the name, and I... I thought you might know what it means."

For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes, an emotion I couldn't quite place. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by her usual calm demeanor. But I knew her well enough to sense that whatever this "Honomakul" was, it was serious.

She set aside the documents and gestured for me to come closer. "Aerith, there are matters in this world that even I cannot fully control. The Honomakul is... an old name, one that I had hoped you wouldn't have to hear for many years yet."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. "Who are they? Why are they being mentioned now?"

She sighed, her expression pained as she searched for the right words. "The Honomakul are... a race of beings who have long been a threat to our people. They are powerful, relentless, and their methods are... brutal. There have been tensions between Eldoria and their homeworld in the past, but we have always managed to keep them at bay."