Gaea - Chapter 14

Author's Note: First part we see Kilirae prior to his regular scheduled appearance four chapters late. Cein and his discussion will all be key points later, and more importantly the eavesdropping Raina also becomes the target of their anger. Aphonia did not give a clear enough description of the offending sin, but this reoccurring seething anger is not limited to just her and for good reasons. Raina committed a pretty grievous sin by attempting to cast a spell from Ars Arcanum, if you bother to check latin you'll notice all these spells have their meanings. Latin is referred to as the mother language here, clearing up some use from Belrusi previously in Chapter 11.

For those of you who don't know what Raina's failed spell was, it was Harbinger's Annihilation, Spiritual Death. Raina was willing to destroy herself to get what she wanted. A spell which will come up later, way way WAY later when the name Harbinger and the Ars Arcanum are given deeper meaning. For now, it is essentially magic for those uneducated. On to the story.

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Chapter 14

The night began like any other in the Golden Palace, with Cardinal Cein reading an endless pile of reports dealing with matters of Marham finances, with his position the entire matter of taxation and finical law rested upon his centuries of experience. The Golden Palace was invaluable because it stored the main copies of every finical transaction in the nation's history, all authorized by notary and transcribed with excessive detail, going so far as to detail past generations of the parties to determine the value and risk of any loan or transaction. His golden desk topped with a massive slab of polished granite had started to buckle in decades of abusive use from the sheer weight of the books which it supported. A dozen bottles of ink and large supply of fine quills each held a separate purpose for approval, denial, claims and various notes of importance made the Cein's gifted hand.

Dwarfed by the piles over him, he reached up one at a time and took the oldest unchecked record and poured over it meticulously, the particular volume read, “Gealre Transactions of 867-868 MC”. A volume of no particular importance or merit, Cardinal Cein's work was interrupted by the only man who dared distract him only several pages in, the Holy Knight Kilirae.

“Working as hard as ever, dear brother?” Kilirae's voice came from behind the mountain of books, his sudden appearance did not frighten Cein or warrant even a glance, “Sorry to intrude, but I would like to discuss matters of the south.”

Placing a dry quill within the pages before closing the book, Cein turned his attention to Kilirae at last, “You have my attention.”

Kilirae was the acting boss of Belrin's affairs and directed the Cardinal's efforts for the betterment of the whole, he was the highest authority from which his title was beneath the reality of his rank. To be called a Holy Knight when the actual rank was akin to Emperor or Patriarch as the absolute authority over both political and religious bodies. Unlike the immature bodies of the cardinals, Kilirae was trapped in eternal youth at the striking physical prime of a man in his early twenties. The size of his frame was wide from the appear of his thick armor emphasizing impossibly large shoulders and girth. No aspect of his limbs were visible in the thick steel shell which was further wrapped in the holy banner and phoenix of Vale. His head was all that one could see and what a face he had! His face lacked hair follicles, thus making his features youthful and fine, he even lacked eyebrows which imparted the sense of mental supremacy with an exaggerated forehead. The rest of his features showed his holy linage, piercing wide silver eyes which never blinked or flinched and flowing silver hair which cascaded down to his ankles in traditional fashion amongst the oldest and wisest of all noblity.

His voice was soft and sweet, but the effect of his seemingly feminine voice held a weight of the booming voice of a god, “Cardinal Belrusi has unleashed everything he had to destroy the Ebon Hand and you are in possession of Saverz's woman. Verin, the Blue. Have you reviewed the method for extracting information?”

Cein sighed, “You know I do not like having to abuse women to garner information about the uncatchable Saverz.”

“It cannot be helped,” Kilirae's right hand appeared from within the breast of the armor and took a book from off Cein's desk and thumbed through it, “Surely you are aware that Saverz has been wreaking havoc on the ports. The loss of those three ships do not outweigh the thirty thousand tonnes of goods stolen.”

Cein took to his feet and stretched his back and legs as he rose, “Koenig Herdin already has my plan for more sailors to combat Saverz on the seas. We will be able to crush him in several months, I am sure of it.”

Kilirae closed the book and set it back upon the pile, holding back his anger as best he could, “We do not have several months. Hilga's disappearance was defection and Belrusi no doubt failed to eliminate the Ebon Hand if he resorted to blowing up the area. Equally problematic is that Saverz is clearly planning to challenge Leviathan to battle.”

“Then we do not need to do anything for Saverz, Leviathan will eliminate him for us,” Cein started to walk towards the vast lines of bookshelves to grab the appropriate source for his argument. Kilirae reluctantly followed, knowing what he was already trying to do.

In several minutes, Cein had found the correct volume and read aloud, “Leviathan can only be effectively destroyed by a constant barrage when anchored in shallow water or by the efforts of at least five Cardinal ranked nobles. Even if we tried, the four of us could not defeat that monster... even if we wanted to.”

“The Ebon Hand will be using professional hunters as well, some are arriving from the main land to take on the challenge as we speak. The matter has begun to concern me, they might actually succeed at this rate and harvest the crystal scales.”

Cein growled in anger, “Saverz is not after those damned scales, he's after my sword.”

“How long were you planning on keeping this secret from me,” Kilirae placed his hand on Cein's shoulder, “When did you lose it?”

“A decade ago, during the eleventh professional hunter attempt. I was swallowed by the beast and could not even dent it from the inside, with my speed I was able to escape when it opened its mouth, but my sword hit its teeth and the thing was wrenched from my hand,” Cein lowered his head in shame, “Sisial's fleet must be Saverz's and I can do nothing to interfere because the attempt is legitimate under the assumed name.”

Kilirae shook his head and leaned the bulky shell of his armor over so he could place a soft kiss on Cein's head, “They already have one weapon, another will not change the balance of power. Though you are correct in assuming command of your mistake, please let me know about these matters in the future. Saverz may outsmart you with your own laws, but Koenig Herdin can break those under my judgment. This matter is too late to avoid, but please try to prevent them from succeeding.”

“Yes, brother,” Cein blushed red from embarrassment, “I am sorry for not telling you sooner. The dominance of Marham will remain absolute and Saverz shall surely be crushed.”

“I must return to the Celestial Church now and meet with the kings. Belrusi will come to see you in a few days and I must tend to the matter of the new Cardinal Louis Wentz.”

“Accursed position for an accursed bloodline,” Cein scoffed, “Frae would be stronger if one of the Wentz's could live longer then fifty years.”

“The young Louis Wentz is just eight, but seems very experienced in diplomatic affairs,” Kilirae smirked, “Perhaps he is not a true Wentz after all. If he is worthy, I will introduce you and Belrusi to him.”

Cein laughed, “Truly it would be a senior moment for us all if he ever came close to our intelligence! They are nothing but a bunch of rule breakers and optimists, all absolutely mad about the workings of the world.”

“Thinking like that promotes weakness,” Kilirae turned and started towards the exit, if he were to use his lightning speed everything within the Golden Palace would be ruined in an instant, as the most capable of nobles the greatest caution came with using divine power.

As Cein replaced the book back upon the shelf, Raina poked her head out from further down the aisles and asked, “Why is big brother, Kilirae upset at you?”

“My incompetence bothers him,” Cein admitted, “You know better to eavesdrop, don't you Raina Fillie Herdin?”

Raina lowered her head just a little, “Yes, Master Cein. I was concerned when you mentioned my father's name.”

“He has gone to speak to your father, the union of Marham to Frae and Fegoria needs a strong man to lead the direction of kings, he is that man,” Cein ushered her closer to him, “Have you been neglecting your studies again?”

“No sir,” Raina held up an old leatherbound book and showed it to Cein, the title read, “Powers of Divinity” and Cein narrowed his eyes on her immediately.

“Where did you pull that book from? It is not part of the main library,” wind started to come from his body as he subconsciously acted to protect himself from the threatening knowledge the young girl possessed.

“The lowest chambers... I snuck in...” Raina admitted, “I just wanted to learn about my Master, without the misdirection and lies.”

“Raina... not even your father is aware of the knowledge in that book. It is forbidden for a reason,” Cein's wind enveloped her and pushed the girl back, the shelves of the library started to creak and bend away from the boy's body, “You are not supposed to know these things.”

She reached out both arms and grabbed onto him as she struggled against being blown backwards, “Master Cein, I really love you. Why must you hide yourself from me? I am not afraid of what you really are.”

“Really are?” Cein scoffed and the library shuddered as the rows of books fell and took flight, the shelves snapping and collapsing into the wind. Shrapnel shot out at lethal velocities slammed into the stone supports, smashing into a flurry of deadly fragments.

“Fallen Angels,” Raina's grip started to loosen and she cried out in pain as her neck of her shirt started to choke her, “I think you are beautiful, Master Cein.”

At last he was swayed by the girl's pleas and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her close to him as the wind's died away, “Don't ever scare me like that, Raina. I cannot control myself that easily.”

“Master Cein!” Raina hugged him tightly, “You are lonely, even with everyone here. You hurt so much! I can't stand to see you suffer anymore.”

Cein closed his eyes and rest his head on the girl's shoulder, “It is the weight I must bare. I've learned to distance my affections from everyone, but you. We can not be together though and I am sorry, but that is how things are to be.”

“Then I will become an angel,” Raina said as if the answer was obvious.

“If only it was possible,” Cein sighed, “Love is not possible for us. I am to be the servant of the people until the day I die. My life is not my own, it is the same burden of royalty, so you should understand.”

“I don't have to understand to know that is wrong!”

Cein pulled away from her and shook his head, “Sorry, but things are not black and white. You will know that when you grow up. I cannot simply get involved with you.”

“Then Marham has no future,” Raina closed her eyes and started to chant, “Harbinger's letum, mor mortis phasmatis.”

Cein raised his hand and struck her across the face, sending her through three bookshelves in a single instant. The girl's fragile body battered and bruised instantly, but her cries let Cein know she was still alive. He spoke the spell of the mother language, “Ars Arcanum.”

Swords of light formed over Raina's body and plunged through her hands and legs, binding her to the spot as she cried out in pain and sadness. She struggled to stand as he walked towards her, a cruel look in his eyes, frightening her to paralysis.

“Stop being selfish! You may be used to getting what you want, but you need to be disciplined when you go too far,” Cein raised his hand and another sword of light appeared in his hand, “We are not supposed to kill royalty or fellow nobles without good reason, but you are pushing it. Even a child should know what is off limits. Ars Arcanum is a power you cannot even begin to comprehend, let alone use.”

Raina struggled and the swords which bound her to the floor finally shattered, allowing her to stand, “Master Cein, I will become an angel! By my 18th birthday I will prove to you that I possess the same blood and power as you.”

“Pardon me for not believing you,” Cein thrust the sword of light into head, and Raina fell unconscious, as he pulled the sword from her forehead, she fell to the floor at his feet, “You will never hold that power, Raina. Your life began under my watch and it will end under it.”

Though no physical wounds came from the swords, the internal injuries inflicted upon her body had healed and her short term memory vanished all together with the final blow. Cein did feel bad for hurting her so, and the fact only he would remember committing this sin against the beautiful and only daughter of his king. Turning his attention to the damage of his library he sighed, knowing it was up to him to clean up this mess before the other girls became aware of what happened, “Things are becoming troublesome again.”