Chapter 784: Lovely to See You (Patreon)

“Lydira gave you that chest because she had no other weapon to give. You already had it, or rather, you had her. Titania is the weapon,” Gale said.

“But…” Stryg furrowed his brow. “She’s a child.”

“And you weren’t? Your father spent a thousand years trying to create a being capable of wielding elemental chaos and the full spectrum of chromatic mana. If people knew what you were, what you were truly capable of, your potential for destruction, how many of them would consider you a weapon?” Gale asked.

“You’re saying she was created? Like some sort of experiment?” Stryg muttered.

“Possibly. I’m not ruling it out. There’s never been anyone like her,” Gale said.

‘You’re like me.’ The words Titania spoke in the cave echoed in Stryg’s mind. The relief in her smile as she realized they were the same. Neither had realized how similar they truly were. Guilt wrapped around Stryg like a cloak.

“We haven’t even considered if this Titania girl can potentially access the Realms’ leylines like Stryg,” Tauri said.

“She’s a prime mage,” Gale noted.

“But not a mortal one. A dragon’s body could handle the massive strain of communing with the raw energies of the leylines. And if she can do that, then… Who knows what she might do,” Tauri shivered at the thought.

“Titania wouldn’t do that. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone,” Stryg said.

“She’s a dragon, Stryg. They despise titans,” Gale said. 

“She’s just a kid.” Stryg frowned.

“For now. If people knew about her, they’d want that ‘weapon’ for themselves,” Gale said.

“It’s probably why Aleirune told Stryg to destroy the weapon that night,” Tauri said.

“Wait… no.” Stryg’s eyes widened slightly. “Aleirune didn’t tell me to destroy the weapon. She told me to find and secure it, otherwise, it would fall into the wrong hands. She wanted me to protect Titania. And I let her go…”

“Why would Aleriune want you to protect the person that might become the titan’s bane one day?” Gale wrinkled her brow.

Stryg broke into a wry, bittersweet smile. “Because she’s just a kid. She’s not a weapon. She just wants to play in the sand, explore new places, and learn magic.”

“Stryg… I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. You care about her,” Tauri said gently.

Titania’s wide, bright-eyed smile flashed in his mind’s eye. “Yeah… I do,” he said softly. “She’s like me. Alone. With powers she doesn’t understand. And the one person who believed in her lied to her about everything. Gods, I’m just like my mother. Fuck.” Stryg stared at the ground in frustration and clenched his fists until they bled.

Tauri pulled him into her embrace and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re not like Aurelia. Well, in some ways, definitely, but not like that. Trust me.”

Stryg sighed into her shoulder. He didn’t know if he believed her words, but he wanted to.

“...So how are we going to get the kid back?” Gale asked.

Tauri looked at her as if she were crazy.

“What?” Gale shrugged. “Aleirune told Stryg to secure her, right?”

“Yeah, but this time it feels different. Like, we’d be kidnapping a kid,” Tauri said.

“Maybe that’s why Aleirune didn’t tell Stryg who the weapon was to begin with. To stop him from hesitating,” Gale said.

“Or maybe we shouldn’t assume we can comprehend the reasoning of the goddess who literally created all life as we know it,” Tauri said.

“She didn’t create the dragonbane,” Gale noted.

Tauri glared at Gale. “You know what I mean.”

“Meh, either way, we should talk to Titania about all of this. We don’t have to ‘kidnap’ her. Just make sure she’s safe. For all we know, Sidus might be planning an attack on that castle to get her,” Gale said.

“Gale’s right. We should at least make sure the kid’s safe,” Stryg nodded.

“She’s with her family of dragons. Did I forget to mention her mother is a dragon lord? I don’t see how she wouldn’t be safe,” Tauri said.

“If Sidus is really after her, Titania won’t be safe in that castle,” Stryg said.

Tauri cocked an eyebrow. “You told us he fled when the dragons arrived.” 

“He did, but something felt off about Sidus when I fought him. He seemed more worried about something happening to Titania than about the dragons themselves. No doubt he wants to use her as a weapon. But if Sidus thinks he can’t have the child, then he’ll probably kill her to stop anyone else from having her,” Stryg said.

“Did you forget the part where Titania is surrounded by dragons? She’s safe,” Tauri said.

Stryg looked her in the eye. “Sidus has the Astral Light.”

“What?” Tauri blinked.

Gale stumbled forward. “And you’re telling us this now? Dammit, Stryg. We should evacuate from the city while we can.”

“I’m not leaving Olduun until I know Titania is safe,” Stryg said.

“My job is to keep you safe. I took an oath, several, in fact,” Gale said.

“I’m not leaving,” Stryg said adamantly. He glanced out at the window and the castle that lay beyond in the distance. “Not yet… Not without making things right with the kid.”

Gale sighed. “You’re always like this. Stubborn as a mule. Fine. How do we make sure the kid is safe?”

“It’s like you said. We’ll talk to her. Warn her parents about Sidus, too,” Stryg said.

“Fine, but then we leave,” Gale said.

“Good luck talking with any of them,” Tauri said. “Lydira hates you, Stryg, remember? Now that she has Titania back, I doubt she’ll let you just waltz into her castle.”

“Dammit, I hate to admit it, but the orc’s right,” Gale said.

“Wow, thanks,” Tauri said dryly.

“So, what’s the plan? We sneak in?” Stryg said.

“Sounds like a bad idea, but I don’t really have any others,” Gale said.

“And how are we supposed to sneak into the most fortified castle in the city?” Tauri crossed her arms.

“I can help with that,” whispered Evander in a hoarse voice from his bed.

~~~

The pastel ceiling covered in painstakingly intricate roses was the same as Titania remembered. She lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling as she had done a thousand times before. She used to imagine the painted flowers were real and come up with stories of where the flowers might have originated. Perhaps the roses were from the Jade Realm, from the ever-green castles of the Knight Orders that patrolled the lands and kept the peace. Or perhaps the roses had grown atop the mountains of the Bronze Realm, where the fire from deep beneath the earth would rise through the mountain’s veins and keep even a single, pale flower warm.

Titania had come up with a hundred stories, a hundred places that she hoped to one day see. But now, as she stood up at the ceiling, all she could think about were the four walls enclosed around her, and the castle that would probably be her cage for many years to come. Her mother would no doubt keep Titania close for years to come. Titania had hoped the caravan trip would have proven her capability to be independent, but it had proven the opposite.

Ever since they had arrived back home, Lydira had servants escort her daughter back to her room. It had been two hours since then and Titania was getting hungry. She had tried the door, but it was locked. She would have to wait for a servant to come.

Life on the road, despite how lacking in sweets and comforts as it had been, was far more freeing than this. Try as hard as she might to forget the last few days, Titania’s thoughts drifted to the Golden Desert and the stranger who had traveled by her side. Stryg had protected her, taught her magic, and told her to not be afraid. How much of what Stryg had said was a lie?

How much of his words were true? Probably none.

He had told her she was special. That her magic was a gift not to be ashamed of. That she had potential to be great someday. How he must have laughed at her behind her back. Titania buried her face in her pillow and held her breath, trying as hard as she could not to cry.

Stryg had lied to her. He had caused the Midnight Sun and had killed Naomi and everyone else. He had almost killed her, too, had it not been for the vault. All for the sake of some stupid weapon, which her mother had to give up just to save her. Gods, her mother was going to punish her for that one, wasn’t she?

As if to answer her thoughts, a knock resounded on her door, followed by Lydira’s voice. “Are you awake?”

“Yes, Mother.” Titania scrambled to sit up and wipe the corners of her eyes.

The door creaked open and Lydira walked in. Her amber eyes swept across the room before settling on her daughter. “Come along, it’s time for dinner.” She didn’t wait for a response. Lydira turned on her heel and walked away.

Titania ran after her. Usually, servants would fetch Titania for whatever it may be, dinner, studies, etc. The fact that Lydira had personally come to find her meant she wanted to talk. 

To chastise, Titania thought grimly. She needed to get ahead of it, lest her mother think she wasn’t remorseful about everything. “I’m sorry.”

Lydira glanced at her as they walked down the hall, her expression unreadable. “For what?”

Titania swallowed. “For getting captured by the enemy and making you give up the weapon.”

“Hm,” Lydira said nothing more for a few long, tense moments. “That wasn’t the real weapon.”

“What? Then what was it?”

“Nothing of consequence to us. And now that we have the key, none of that matters anymore.”

“Oh! Right, the key.” Titania unclasped her necklace and handed it to her mother. “Naomi told me to never let it go.”

Lydira looked confused for a moment. “Your aegis. It’s broken.”

“It was cracked when the Midnight—the Astral Light happened. I’m sorry,” Titania mumbled and bowed her head.

Lydira pocketed the aegis. “No matter. I’ll have one of my brown mages look into it. They’ll have it fixed soon enough.” 

“Aren’t you angry?” Titania asked hesitantly.

“Why would I be angry? The aegis did its job in protecting you. And now you’re here, that’s all that matters.”

“But, the key?”

Lydira twisted her lips in a hint of amusement. “You thought the aegis was the key? It was enchanted to open many doors around the castle and outside, but it wasn’t the key. The aegis was simply an enchanted artifact designed to protect you, nothing more.”

“Then, where is the real key?” Titania asked.

Lydira stopped in front of a large ornate door that led into her study. “All will be revealed soon enough, child. Come, I have someone I’d like you to meet.” She opened the door and gestured for her daughter to enter.

Titania walked into the study and found her father sitting next to the fireplace, sipping tea. Across from him sat a stranger, chatting merrily while eating a slice of cake. The stranger turned at the sound of the door and Titania froze in recognition.

Sidus smiled. “Hello, Titania. It’s lovely to see you again.”