Chapter 102

Of Light, of Sacrifice

"We stormed the shores and lit the lights, and braved the thunderous sky. They pranced in after, bearing all the glory, beholden to all the cheers. We cheer on the living and forget the dead. That is how we prevail."

Fragments

Unmir sat in a dark and silent corner of a rather spacious tavern, swirling a cup of ale within his fingers, occasionally taking a sip. His eyes, hidden faintly beneath the lengthy bangs, darted about, seeming expectant. He nary heard the sounds of the taverns, the chatter of the dozens, the song of the maiden on top of the stage, the echoes of clanking cups, and the roaring laughter of the drunk. He'd gotten accustomed to the sounds to the point of being able to isolate them, to forget them, to ignore them. They were worthless, he reckoned, only there to affirm the reality for the weak.

He sat patiently, waiting. The search was over, he was almost certain. The grueling, exhausting, and soul-sucking search for the enigmatic Internalizer was all but over. In just a couple of weeks, he would be back in Elucido, and he would walk up to the Wheel and bask in its grace. And he would experience a metamorphosis the likes of which few ever do. All he had to do… was convince the man to come back with him.

Unmir firmly believed that the hard part was locating the man; he never had doubts about being able to convince him to tag along. If there was one thing he could ascertain, it was human nature. And, whether the man was an Internalizer or a completely ordinary person, the distinction was minimal. He would find a way, no matter what.

“… you've traveled a long way from home to find me." A soft voice that struck him like thunder caused Unmir to nearly drop the cup within his hands as his body shook. Eyes widening, he quickly glanced sideways where he saw a smiling face staring at him. The words that he was about to utter got stuck in his throat, his lips drying, palms of his hands sweating.

Silver hair draped over his impossibly beautiful face like a curtain, seemingly shining, a pair of piercing, golden eyes locking Unmir in place. He’d never felt anything quite like it; he knew it wasn’t due to Light, as he felt no such sensation. It was merely the effect of the man’s raw presence, the appearance that should not be possible. That faint smile was like a bolt of lightning, impervious to all defenses, reaching the depths of the onlooker’s soul.

“Wake up,” just as the man drew him into the sublime illusion, his voice drew Unmir out, like a rope tossed to the drowning man. Unmir’s stalled breath broke as he began panting, instinctively pulling back, sweat cradling his skin. He felt goosebumps reach every inch of his body, his heart beating frantically. “That was dangerous.”

“…” Unmir still found it difficult to speak, his eyes glued to the figure sitting right in front of him. Courage… was a fleeting thing, he’d come to realize. As was the brevity he intended to employ. He was at a loss for words, and at a loss for thoughts.

“Well, you’ve found me,” the man said, smiling. “Aren’t you supposed to give me your offer right about now?”

“… y-yes,” Unmir stuttered, taking several deep breaths to try and calm down, though with limited success. What the hell was I thinking?! “You… you are Lucent Lord Aevoy, I presume.”

“…” the man merely smiled, giving no reply.

“His Highness, Second Prince Sigmund extends his deepest greetings.”

“… this lowly one is flattered.” The man replied indifferently.

“His Highness,” Unmir gnashed his teeth, ignoring the man’s attitude. “Second Prince Sigmund had long since been taken in by Your Grace’s luminous reputation. Unfortunately, the Prince is unable to leave despite his deepest desires, and has instead sent me to extend an invitation to Your Grace.”

“… an invitation, is it?”

“Yes,” Unmir nodded. “His Highness believes that, with Your Grace’s help, he would be able to help Lumina Kingdom rise to even greater heights, and return to its founding glory.”

“… Lumina’s founding glory…” the man mumbled, his gaze suddenly dulling as though he was drawn into thoughts. “How much do you know about the founding glory?”

“… I…” Unmir found himself stunned for a moment by the question, quickly recovering. “Our Forefathers fought with all their hearts to vanquish the ills and evils of our home and to unite everyone under the same banner, founding the greatest Kingdom that ever was.”

“… histories are always muddied by quills of the liars,” the man chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. “History… is not like a river, I’m afraid. There is not just one source, and one path, and one truth. It is more akin to the rain,” the man added, meeting Unmir’s gaze once again. “Where each droplet can either represent truth… or lies.”

“Your Grace—”

“Our founding glory,” the man interrupted, locking Unmir’s eyes to his, making the latter unable to pull away. "Is one built up by lies, myths, and legends, I'm afraid. Beyond the veneer of holiness is a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood. Just like with every other Kingdom, and every other power that ever rose amidst the chaos. We are drawn to the beauty of unity, to the idea that a figure would always appear, and that he, or she, would inspire the world to follow them, and that nobody but the evilest and vilest of the bunch would ever dare stand in their way."

“…”

"Would you still want to restore our founding glory, young one, if that would mean commencing a slaughter the likes of which hasn't been seen in over six hundred years? Would you still want to go back to our days of glory if that would mean setting the whole Kingdom ablaze and using the charred corpses as bricks for the new, holy palace?"

“I…” Unmir found himself tongue-tied, not quite certain as to what the man was talking about.

“His Highness, Second Prince Sigmund… is not a good man, young one,” the man said with a bitter smile. “He’s proud, greedy, demented, angry, vain. But… you know that already. So… why? Why would you listen to him still?”

“… do I have a choice?” Unmir frowned after a momentary silence, replying.

“Of course,” the man nodded. “Life is nothing if not a string of choices that we make. You claim you have no choice, as he is, after all, the Prince, and you but a lowly guard. However, the truth is… that the greatest of changes tend to come from the smallest of hands. Light can be given,” the man added. “But… that Light is foul, weak, traitorous. You already have Light, young one. Why seek to drown it in filth and despondence?”

“… what are you talking about?” Unmir’s heartbeat quickened again as he asked.

“We are all fragments,” the man said instead of answering his question. “Carcasses made of stardust, adrift in this life, clueless as to where we are going. Lost and helpless, we latch onto the first thing we find is rooted. To some, it’s knowledge. To others, wealth. To some more, it is power. To many, it is love. To fewer, it is death. Why do you think Light exists, young one? To empower the flesh and then fade out, as though it was never there?”

“…I…”

"Just like we look toward the stars to guide us through the darkest of nights, when we feel lonely and lost… Light is there to guide us through the waters of our own desires and wants. What is it that you want, young one? To enamor yourself with Light and obtain status? Wealth? Power? Then what? Would you spend the remaining years of your life searching for more, or applying every inch of your wit to maintain what you already have? This world… is changing. The fake ones are quivering in the shade, their whispers growing fainter and fainter. And this Kingdom… is but one of many stages where blood, once again, will cast the throne anew, and remold the crown. There is Light in you, young one," the man said, his smile turning pained as he reached out with his arm and pressed the index finger against Unmir’s forehead, freezing him in place.

“The real Light,” the man continued as Unmir felt a warm stream of energy fill up his mind. He suddenly felt as though he’d slept for thousands of years, having just woken up from the perfect rest. He felt refreshed, reborn, cast anew. “The one that had long since faded from the annals of histories, and the supposed inheritors. Go back home, and rid the chains that bind you. There, you will find a new path to follow. A new star to look up to. This world is changing,” Unmir closed his eyes as he concentrated completely on the feeling that wrapped him. The man’s voice slowly began to fade, drifting further away. “And the Aspects are returning, young one. The throne… is but a seat. The crown but a piece of jewelry. The title but a string of letters. None of those bind you, so long as you don’t let them.”