Twilight was nearing its end and the sun's rays barely hit the barred windows of Lila and Ni'ra's cell. It was then that the doors slammed open. Two heavily armored knights stood before them, towering over the usual Sol that lived in Vrondi these knights were very tall and held weapons brimming with magical enchantments. They approached them with a separate chain and would attach it to their cuffs. They would free them from the wall, but with their cuffs on all magical abilities would be turned against them. The chains they used now let them pull the two with them, requiring them to stand to their feet.
They would be brought down a hall with other prisoners chanting and jeering as they walked by. A stone door was opened on the other end by more Vrondi knights, waiting in a line as the others brought the two prisoners to a rounding staircase. Going up the staircase with knights in front and behind them, they would be forced to keep a steady pace, despite their unfed weakened state.
Eventually, after almost an hour of walking, they ended up in a high place overlooking many citizens beginning to gather below. An execution booth was awaiting them. But they did not immediately have to go to it. Instead, the two were left presented over the balcony for all to see. The high morning winds bring the warmth of Vrondi's bright sunshine. The crowd looked in awe and shock, and many with anger, at the two small women responsible for what brought them here today.
"I present to you the open trial of the two here! Lila Mythue and her basilisk accomplice! Do not let their appearance fool you. They hold fangs bared to the throat of our very love and joy. The seraphim of Vrondi." The man speaking spoke loudly, loud enough for all to hear as if resonating his voice through their minds. Telepathy was a common trait of the Sol after all. He wore a white tunic and trousers with golden etches and gold chains wrapped in green vines and sprouting flowers. He sniffed one of his flowers deeply before continuing. As he went seraphim began to fly down from above. One of them having a distinct blue tinge to their wings and attire. As this seraphim descended from the skies above it looked at Lila with disdain.
"We have here ladies and gentlemen! Mirror the Frozen! One of our greatest leaders and seraphim proudly called a Vrondi knight!" The crowd cheered at the sight of him. Their hero, Mirror. He landed with two other seraphim at his side. Right where the man spoke, which was on a high stage for everyone below to see and hear him, Mirror raised a hand to the crowd before bowing. "Thank you all." He said stoically, not smiling for this occasion. He merely looked back up to Lila with a glare and finally a disappointed glance away to the ground. He seemed still deep in thought.
"Please! Present your side dear Mirror, let us all know how you defeated this treacherous fiend!"
Blood for Blood
The words of Lila and Ni'ra were loud enough to reverberate in the minds of all the citizens here to be witnessed today. Thanks to telepathy entering the minds of all those susceptible every member of the crowd was able to hear the voices clearly, even from a vast distance. After Lila's question did the crowd grow quiet and mutterings of the possibilities were whispered between a handful. Mostly rejecting the idea that the seraphim were in the wrong against known blood drinkers affiliated with assassins. The Dolofon threatened to bring many kingdoms to ruin by eliminating their lords and forcing them to choose new leadership. Even word of attempts on their very own king made many wary of the Dolofon, even if their king was immortal.
"You speak of them as if your heritage isn't stained with its own blood! Blood spilled by royals of Nero!" Mirror shouted in reply to Lila's words. He then turned to his people, the crowd, and those high above watching from the sky or rooftops. The sun's rays shined through his wings and illuminated the cold mist constantly emitting from every inch of his body. The heat of the sun refracted off of his ice-cold form.
"The truth is the early seraphim who wished revenge were blinded by their hatred. To say they slaughtered indiscriminately any who were involved in the trade of seraphim is unfortunately an understatement. With only a clear goal in mind of making them suffer did we attack and cut down this young girl's family? For that crime, I have already stained my blade with the blood of those who sought to continue such acts. Ambushing Nayu blooded citizens in the streets, framing murders, and attacking more of the weak who were loosely connected to the crimes of seraphim trading. All in an attempt to strike fear in the hearts of those who dare cross us!"
Gasping many in the crowd found the development quite eye-opening. He continued, a somber look in his eyes as if the memories pained him. "Ever since then I was actively fighting to make sure our operations were clearer, and with newfound clarity, we were able to find who was responsible for a majority of the seraphim trades. The royals of Nero, the descendants in the shadows who hide and use their powers for their own gain! Tell me! Is that the people you defend, Lila? Was the life of your lost family worth their survival? I say not! Yet you are responsible for guiding them to me!"
He touched his chest revealing the symbol of a feather floating downward on a crest while turning midair to face Lila again. "For I am Mirror the Frozen, knight of Vrondi and the leader of the Aion! And as such, I declare you guilty! Your only hope for redemption lies in accepting your fate and denouncing your royal status in Nero. You may be able to live the rest of your days in our dungeons! That, or be executed here and now!" He shouted at Lila, fury in his voice, the cold air mixing in with the heat, creating a gust of wind that moved with his emotions.
The crowd's collective awareness sharpened; Mirror was the leader of the Aion. While it seemed quite obvious now, it was surprising to think that such a controversial enemy of the Therosi was allowed directly under the King of Vrondi. Why such a thing was kept secret was now becoming clearer. With the Nero royals being consumers of seraph blood their connections to the Therosi were clear, and the involvement of the Aion to stop such trade put Vrondi under stress. Were these two kingdoms finally coming to a head? Would war break out between the two over seraphim blood? Many in the crowd grew silent out of fear.
"You are correct," Mirror said to Ni'ra's words, looking at the clear blue sky, his strands of hair covering his eyes, casting a shadow over them. "Blood for blood will only produce a river of crimson that flows throughout time, pouring its pain into the hearts of future generations. Perhaps there is hope for your people, I know now that your kind has no will to do us harm, only to survive. For that, I declare you innocent." Ice formed around Ni'ras chains, breaking them in an instant. "I cannot see the Basiliskin suffer for being enslaved, what say you judges?"
A small council of judges observed and in their absence; their avatars made of ethereal light stood midair near the seraphim who flew about. They were astral projecting themselves there and had no issue with moving about free of gravity. "Hmm." One with a large white mustache hummed while stroking it. Another held a flower to their nose and breathed in gently in thought. "Perhaps she is worthy of freeing and having refuge here. She does not seem as hostile as the princess."
With their word Ni'ra, the Basiliskin was free of charges in this open court. "But the issue of the princess is quite troublesome indeed. She has ties to the Nero royalty so deep she has been declared one of their heirs to the throne. Surely though they will understand, that is why it is wise to have more than one." One of the judges spoke. "You accuse Mirror of being responsible for the death of your innocent family, yet you come to this land to shed more innocent blood. Regardless of Mirror's involvement, it does not justify trying to take the life of our citizens. We will let the matter of Nero's involvement beyond this woman here, or the involvement of the Aion when regarding Mirror up to another trial and day. For now, we are deciding whether this woman here, Lila Moriarty is guilty of indiscriminate murder. To that, we the high judges of Vrondi, who speak with the King's convictions, declare you Lila Moriarty guilty!"
Part 2
The crowd seemed overall joyous for the verdict but awaited the sentencing. As they did so the
light of the sun gleamed over the edges of the high buildings, bringing even more sunlight to those below but also flaring up incandescent lights all around from the crystal ceilings of each building in this royal district. Shining a colorful brightness on the crowd who watched in anticipation. "It's time." A black-robed figure grasped the shoulder of a citizen who stood next to them. They immediately began to writhe in pain before their mouth spewed a black smog. It began to engulf many in the crowd, directly taking the attention of the Vrondi guards standing by.
Leaping out of the distracting smog were the black wings of the hooded figure. They flew
towards the high spot where Lila stood, but an ice barrier formed midair blocking his path. With an immediate portal of darkness forming ahead of them they vanished and appeared midair above Lila. Landing where heavily armored knights kept guard of their prisoners. Blades of light were fired and swung at him, their wings being cut in half before they could reach Lila. They grabbed Lila, placing cold withered hands over her mouth. "Sleep..." He whispered, a black smog engulfing them emitting from his own mouth. This made Lila and him impossible to see through normal sight.
Therosi's Plan
The door of light closed behind the red hooded figures who fed through it by the dozens. They were immediately met with the bright sunlight of an early morning's sky. A dome like building stood high up in the city of Vrondi. Blessed with sunlight unlike any other, a stark contrast to Nero's dark city. With hair almost glowing in the light shining through the emerald glass ceiling the Therosi leader dropped entire cloak to the floor. She stepped forward to a man standing by watching them all enter this polished white and emerald mansion. Gold fountains and paintings of cities stood high on the wall, the elegance and beauty of a flower garden spread throughout. The white polished floor reflected the healthy flowers and vines wrapped around the pillars.
The sweet aroma spread by the flowers was intoxicating. They were actively being pollinated
by small flying creatures going about silently throughout the building. The man had long white hair and antler like horns were decorated with green vines with a few flowers of their own on them. He wore an elegant white and gold tunic set and gold sandals. He held a flower to his
nose and watched the seraphim woman walk his way. He took her hand and with a fanciful dance twirled her around.
As she did so plants began to grow from his arm onto her. Covering her with clothes made of leaves and flowers like a dress. She chuckled softly and her wings appeared again on her back, a white halo began to glow over her head. She stepped back to the Therosi members all standing in watch. "Welcome to the city of Vrondi my initiates." She clasped her hands together. "This is my associate, a friend in high places here. They will replace your clothing so you may fit in better in such a place. You will also need a blood marking to avoid your thoughts being read. The guards here are often known to intrude into the minds of those they deem suspicious."
Each member removed their attires and replaced them with fresh vegetation much like the Sol born in this place. After that a few of the chosen leaders of the initiates were assembled around a table with a map. They began to go over the plan of action. The Seraphim leader pointed to their location and the target location. "We are near the castle of King, where the trial will be taking place. In order to complete this mission, we have two options. To save the princess, or to save her unborn child. Either will complete the task. I will plant myself near them, for a seraph cannot be suspected of misdoing. There I will conjure a portal to allow you all through. You must be prepared to fight off those who will try to stop us. Use your wishing vials wisely, do not fail me. If any of them follow through the portal I will have the princess's pet dragon fight them off."