Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Trevor

 Trevor's head wasn't in the game by the time he met with Melody on the platform near the top of the Ivory Tower. He could barely keep his eyes open, as well as his focus. He couldn't have been happier to see Blake again, but the timing couldn't have been worse, especially with his mother. She looked like Mercy, with her long, dark hair, and golden eyes, and the thought of his sister brought tears to his eyes.

"Hey, pull yourself together, Trevor," Illyria urged.

"I know," said Trevor. "I'm trying. Seeing my mother for the first time, though, that was..."

"Unexpected, surprising, uncalled for?" asked Illyria.

"Those are a few ways to put it, yeah," Trevor admitted. "It isn't exactly what you see, and then just go back to sleep."

"That's reasonable," agreed Illyria.

Suddenly, Melody called to him "Trevor!"

"You're late," Trevor scolded.

"I'm sorry," Melody whined.

"No, it's fine," said Trevor. Illyria stepped back as Trevor and Melody both ignited their blue lightswords. Melody lashed at Trevor with her glowing blade, and Trevor stepped back, then his blade clashed against hers. Melody stepped backward as Trevor's swings kept coming. He then flashed a blue light around himself, and right as he appeared behind Melody, she turned around and blocked a swing with her lightsword. She parried the attack, then jumped and kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

"Yes!" Melody shouted, throwing her fists in the air.

"Oh, I let you have that," Trevor denied, sitting up. "I'm tired."

"So am I, and I still knocked you down," Melody bragged.

"Yeah, because I let you have it," said Trevor, standing up. "Now, come on. Let's go again." Melody didn't lash at Trevor this time. She remained patient, waiting for Trevor to strike first. Trevor made a swipe with his blade, and Melody blocked and parried, then Trevor flashed a blue light around himself, and appeared behind Melody, and knocked her to the ground with a sweep of his leg.

"Stop with that!" Melody screamed.

"If you were ready to learn the warping, we wouldn't be practicing combat, now try again," said Trevor. Melody jumped to her feet, then screamed as she lunged at Trevor again.

"Don't lunge," said Trevor, as he smacked her on the back with the pommel of his lightsword. Melody stood up.

"You need to develop a technique," Trevor instructed. "You're sloppy." When they began to clash again, Commander Vestarr came out onto the platform.

"Trevor, Melody," he called, and they put their blades away. He was the last person Trevor wanted to talk to at the moment.

"Trevor, listen," he begged.

"Don't," Trevor snapped, but he immediately regretted it. He could at least listen to what he had to say. "What?"

"Did something happen last night, guys?" Melody asked.

"It's a long story," said Trevor, then he looked back to Commander Vestarr. "What do you want?"

"I know I have no right to ask this, Trevor," Garrett started. "But I need your help."

"With what?"

"Dedric Ingram's murder," said Commander Vestarr. Trevor did want to know how he died, and who killed him. He had a good idea, but it would be treason to suggest it. Of course, "treason" now meant any acts against the King, and he would gladly commit an action against King Robar, now.

"And before you say anything, yes, I know that you suspect Queen Alicent," Commander Vestarr insisted. "I suspect her, too, but King Robar will want proof."

"Well, there's the timing, isn't there?" Trevor suggested. "Her Grace was about to be tried for trying to have Darien killed, and then Robar suddenly called it off."

"Karlon told me about that," Vestarr agreed. "He said he felt something, something wrong."

"So did I," added Melody.

"Commander," Illyria suddenly said. "Where did Lord Ingram die?" Commander Vestarr led them to the chambers of the King's Council, where Illyria looked around with her eyes glowing blue.

"What is she doing?" Commander Vestarr asked.

"She's looking into the past," said Trevor. "It's how she found out where Princess Andrella went. Commander, let me ask something of you."

"What?" said the Commander.

"If I help you with this investigation, do me one favor," Trevor begged. "No more lies, please. I don't want to have to doubt everything you tell me, and I don't want a reason to get on the next ship to Alessia and..."

"Shh," Vestarr hushed. "I understand. It was wrong to deceive you for all that time. It won't happen again."

"Thank you," Trevor sighed. "Sorry I lost my temper last night." Commander Vestarr chuckled.

"You had a right," Vestarr admitted.

"Guys," said Illyria, as her eyes stopped glowing.

"Did you find out?" asked Commander Vestarr.

"I saw how he died, but not who killed him," Illyria answered. "He was poisoned."

"I knew it!" Garrett snapped.

"Could you tell which kind of poison?" asked Trevor.

"No, it wasn't that clear," said Illyria. "He just drank a glass of wine and went to sleep."

"Wine?" Commander Vestarr denied. "Lord Ingram never touched alcohol of any kind."

"Maybe it just looked like wine," Trevor suggested.

"He still would have refused it," Vestarr corrected. "So, who would have convinced him to do something he made a statement against?"

"There's the Queen, but she wasn't in here at the time of Lord Ingram's death," said Trevor. "She was in the throne room."

"Who else, then?" asked Commander Vestarr.

"Well, why don't we find out?" Trevor suggested. "Start interviewing everyone who was at the top of the Ivory Tower when he died."