What Lies Below the Surface

Chapter 29: Blades Drawn

As we continued to walk through the castle, looking for the throne room, I sighed and looked around. "Ugh...this place is a huge maze...it's very frustrating."
"You're right," Azura said with a sigh. "It might be easier if we split up so we can search the castle."
I nodded. "Right. Everyone, we're going to split up! We'll regroup when someone finds the stairs."
Azura then spoke up. "Call out when you find the stairs. I'll sing to alert everyone, then we can regroup, and continue forwards together."

I then began to walk around, and I eventually found the stairs. "Aha! Found them. Hey! Everyone! They're over-"
I was cut off by a mysterious, yet familiar voice. "I am the forgotten dragon. The betrayed king. The entombed god..."
I then looked around in confusion. "What the hell?"
"In the name of the King of Valla, I sentence you to DEATH!"
Then, before I could react, something attacked me from out of nowhere, and I blacked out.

When I came to, "Gunter was by my side.
"You're coming to. Thank the gods," he said with a smile.
"I...I was attacked by an incredibly powerful magical spell..." I muttered.
Gunter sighed. "I thought I sensed something...Listen, milady. The enemy probably escaped down the corridor. Let me chase after them- please wait here and recover."
I shook my head as I stood up. "No, Gunter. I'll go with you. It will be easier to capture them if we work together. There's...also something I need to check."
"...alright. We'll go together," Gunter said with a sigh.
I shook my head, thinking about what had just happened. "I think that whoever attacked me just now was also Scarlet's killer."
"What?! Are you sure?" Gunter asked, clearly surprised.
I nodded. "Yeah. 'I am the forgotten dragon. The betrayed king. The entombed god...' I heard that as I was attacked earlier, as well as when Scarlet and I jumped."
"This same attacker is trying to catch you while you're alone," Gunter said with an annoyed sigh. "Did they know that we'd split up...? I'm afraid your original suspicion is correct, Lady Kai. The attacker could very well be part of our group."
"I know- you and Ryoma both said before, but we can't be hasty," I said with a sigh. "Scarlet would've hated for us to turn on each other for no reason..."
"Scarlet...you're right, milady,: Gunter said with a nod. "The sight of her with that flower before the jump...I don't want you to meet the same fate, milady."
What Gunter had just said slightly bothered me, but I didn't bother mentioning it. We then began walking, and eventually stumbled upon Azura.
"Is that you, Kai?"
"Azura? I didn't realize you were nearby," I said with a smile.
"Kai,you look pale," she said with a sigh. "Is everything okay?"
"What are you doing here, Lady Azura?" Gunter asked, crossing his arms. "The only way to get here is by using this corridor. I saw no other way..."
I slightly gasped, understanding what Gunter was getting at. "Gunter, don't tell me you think...you believe Azura is the one who..."
Azura gave me an odd look. "Kai? What are you talking about? What happened?"
However, before I got the chance to respond, two enemy soldiers appeared.
"Azura! We're under attack! Alert everyone to gather here!"
With a nod, Azura began to sing.

A shadowy figure then appeared as everyone else started to gather.
"Heh..." it said with a chuckle.
I growled, immediately recognizing who it was. "You! I know who you are! You're the one who appeared in Hoshido and killed my Mother!"
The figure slightly chuckled. "Do you have any idea how amazing this feels? Not only have my own children come to fight me, but you've all grown so strong... There is no greater challenge of my abilities than this."
"What are you saying?! Ryoma...is this..." I said in confusion.
Ryoma bit his tongue. "It...it can't be...this must be another deception. Or could it really be...Father?"
I sighed. I didn't know for myself, but now that I could make out certain features of the man, he somewhat reminded me of what I remembered Sumeragi looking like.
"Well done, Ryoma," Father said with a smile. "I was once king, but now...I'm a lowly servant to Anankos. My fall did bother me for a time...but no more! I'm so happy, my children. Look at how strong you've become! Come! Show me what you're capable of- show me how much you've grown!"
Takumi was obviously unsure about how to handle this situation, as he was slightly shaking, so I gently grabbed his hand. "Hey, it's going to be alright. We'll get through this- together."
With a nod, we started to make our way to Father, and the fight had a fitting ending, as Ryoma landed the final blow.

Sumeragi was now resting up against a wall, and all five of us were surrounding him.
"You've all...become so strong," he said with a slight smile, obviously in pain.
"Father!" Ryoma cried out, trying to hold back his tears.
"How could this happen? How could our father..." Hinoka said, already tearing up.
"Sakura! Quickly, heal Father, please!" Takumi suddenly called out.
Sakura nodded and did so, but nothing was happening.
"No effect?! Damn it!" Ryoma yelled out. "Why isn't this working?!"
Father then shook his head. "Why are you crying? You've met and surpassed my hopes for you...as warriors and royalty of Hoshido. Be proud of who you've become. And...know that I am."
"I will...Father," Takumi said with a slight smile as he tightly gripped my hand.
"Kai, I must apologize to you," Father said to me.
"Why, Father?" I asked him.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you..."
I sighed. "Father, I still have faint memories of my childhood...I know you gave your life to protect me."
"...did you find Mikoto?" he asked as a follow-up.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"That's good," he said with a smile. "Though I loved her dearly, the time I had with her was short. But I'll never forget the day we met. She'd come alone to Hoshido from Valla. Even I first saw her by the lake...I knew I was in love. When Anankos took over Valla, she fled to Hoshido with you, still a newborn. I'm glad I got to spend my last moments with you. I'm so glad...we could meet again..." he said before dissolving, just as Mother and Arete had before.

Takumi then burried his face in my chest, breaking down into tears.
I gently stroked his hair. "Shh...it'll be okay. We'll win this war...for Mother and Father. Their deaths won't be in vain."
He then looked up me with a smile, tears still in his eyes, and kissed me, and I kissed back.
"Let's go find that son of a bitch, and shows him who's boss! As well as what happens when you mess with the Hoshidan and Nohrian royals," Takumi said with a slight smirk.
I chuckled. "Now there's the Takumi I know and love."

I then heard someone sigh, and when I turned to see who it was, I saw it was Leo. "Hey, don't forget about us, Kai."
I chuckled. "Don't worry, Leo. I haven't forgotten about my Nohrian siblings."
Azura sighed. "Come on, Kai. The throne room is waiting for us."
I nodded. "Right."