Chapter Text
‘A single drop of water has the power to change the flow of a river.’
‘One tiny ripple bursts into many and disturbs the flow. It is something born from nature, yet all the same we have the power to change it to suit our whims. Those that are the catalysts of the single drop of water, those that activate the ripples on our lives, they… are known as wishes .’
A woman leaned over, her hand lightly dusting across the glowing pond in front of her. Despite her movement, the pond remains still. Her long blue hair billowed along her shoulders, yet none threatened to brush the water below. No rustle of wind on the water would shatter its pristine glass. Her lips quirked into a faint smile, but it faded. Her eyes lifted.
A guest. The smile returned and her red eyes crinkled.
A girl, no bigger than a child, stood at the edge of her little pool. Her eyes were lowered, staring emptily at the pond in front of her. Those eyes were pointed at the pace between her shoes, purple dress mingling with the quiet blue that radiated from the water. The woman pulled her legs closer to her, laying down rather than sitting properly. Her hand twisted and moved a strand of blue from her face before she turned her attention back at those foreign, empty eyes.
No light shone within the small girl’s pupils. In fact, nothing was there at all. Just an empty void. Perhaps she was a wandering soul and found herself trapped here. There are plenty of thoughts that can amuse the woman. Neither speaks. The stillness isn’t even broken by the small girl’s presence. After many moments, the woman raised her head.
“Do you have a wish?” Her voice is as smooth as the glass of the water’s surface. Despite the darkness that surrounds them, it feels almost as if it belongs in this place. Nothing is out of the ordinary; save for this one little girl. The woman’s voice finally stirs something within her. Her blank, red eyes slowly lift to stare up at the woman sitting across from her. Her face remains ever neutral, not even cracking at the query she brought across. Finally, the girl’s face broke. Her mouth parts.
“A.... wish?” She asked slowly, as if she hadn’t heard the woman’s question. Her chin tipped down towards the pool again. She takes a measly step forward, and her reflection comes perfectly into view. It’s a perfect painting of her, matching every detail down to the hem of her dress. The woman leaned forward from her perch on the side of the pool. She moved her head rest on her palm, her smile widening more akin to a cat that had sunk its claws into a fresh kill.
“It is something that you desire above all else. You would yearn to make it come true, no matter how much it pains you or hurts you. You’ll cling to it in life and death until it is realized.” The woman’s words were hard, but the softness of her voice eluded that claim.
“What a farce…” The girl almost scoffed at the mere idea. The woman only smiled in response, closing her own red eyes. The pool’s ethereal glow never changed. Silence threatened to consume both of them, but the woman’s light laughter filled the air.
“A farce, hm... But I suppose that is why humans are so interesting. They’ll never give up to obtain their wishes, no matter how pointless it seems.” She cracked her eyes open a tad, staring back at the girl whose eyes had locked onto hers.
“You came here for a similar reason, did you not?” The woman’s eyes creased. The girl’s hair brushed over her eyes as she moved her gaze down to the pool. The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. The girl’s eyebrows knit together as she began to think. The woman only watched her. The girl's eyes lowered again towards her reflection, scowling at it.
“You’re right… There is something I wish for.” She spoke quietly, as if she were whispering to herself. The woman leaned forward in interest.
“This is a place for granting those wishes… but you must already be aware of that.” The woman’s eyes lifted again, “So… what is it that you yearn for more than anything?”
The girl’s lips pressed into a hard line. She stared and stared at her reflection, as if it would change in that very moment. Then, slowly, a smile cracked its way across her face. A spark flitted through those empty eyes and all of a sudden they were ablaze. Her chin lifted proudly, showing off a smile that carved her face in two. Her eyes swirled with a mixture of something the woman couldn’t make out, but the woman remained composed.
“I wish… that all the humans below would die .” The words bubbled in the girls throat, but the woman didn’t flinch at the sound of them. The small girl lifted her hands and clutched the sides of her teal hair. She stared at herself in the pool again.
“Their screaming never stops. People do horrible things to each other in a never ending cycle of torment. Human beings have wishes ? All they wish for is to die! They want their suffering to end, they want poverty to cease…” Her hands pulled away from digging into her scalp. She lifted her head and stared down directly at the woman in front of her.
“I remember now why I came here… This is the origin of our power. I want that power. I want the power to kill those humans… to grant that very wish!”
The two stared at each other for a long time. After a few heartbeats, the woman closed her eyes and smiled. The girl’s own crazed smile turned into a deadly scowl.
“What? What are you smiling about, wretch?!” She demanded.
“You are not who I expected you to be.” The woman said frankly. The girl looked stunned. She threw her arm out behind her in an exasperated gesture.
“Who do you think I am?! I am—!” The woman held out her palm to stop her words cold. The words faded from the air, as if a vacuum had sucked them all away just like that. Finally, the woman began to drag herself to her feet. She stood tall compared to the small girl at the edge of the pool. She wrapped her arms around the white shawl that coiled around her chest. This time she was the one staring down at the little girl. The girl didn’t flinch at all, keeping her ground while her hands balled themselves into fists.
The woman remained quiet, until she turned her gaze to the pool below. Suddenly, a wind kicked up from below, tussling their hair behind them. The girl flinched and brought up her arms to protect herself. The woman stood frozen in place; the only sign of movement coming from the wind whipping at their clothes. The water began to swirl, cracking the carefully carved glass shell it once had.
“You are not one who truly owns our shared power.” The woman said, gently reaching out her hand above the pool. In response, the body of water warped. It sucked in on itself, before bending and warping once again. It began to rise towards the palm of the woman's hand as the air filled with magic. The girl watched the demonstration in awe, completely absorbed in the woman’s work to deny her previous words. The pool stretched. A single drop of water escaped and touched the woman’s hand.
She grabbed the bead of water quickly. Before long, the water splashed down back into its hole in the floor. It lapped at its sides and flew up in a spray towards the two of them. The girl flinched at the spray, but the woman stood undeterred. Finally, the woman turned her attention back to the awestruck girl still keeping her fist closed.
“Do you still hold that wish knowing you do not have the power to change it?” She asked. The girl was shocked by her question. She flinched, staring hard at the floor below her shoes. However, she soon raised her head proudly.
“Yes.” The girl replied. Her eyes held a pain so deep that the woman felt it in her own soul. For a moment, it looked as if pity had crossed her face. It was gone before either of them could blink, however.
“Then maybe you are not so different from the humans who cause you to suffer.” The woman smiled. The girl shot her a look of disgust. Before she could sharply reply, however, the woman stepped forward. Instead of falling through the water, she practically balanced on top of it. She crossed the threshold towards her. The girl stayed in place, determination passing over her. Before she knew it, the woman was standing tall and proudly over her.
“Would you still continue that wish… even if a human comes along with a wish that is stronger than your own?” The woman asked once again. The girl’s eyes narrowed at her.
“Of course. My wish is stronger than any humans.” She growled back. The woman’s smile widened. It seemed she had chosen the correct answer. The woman moved the hand that held the drop of water towards the girl. Slowly, she opened her closed hand. Inside was a brilliant shining stone. The girl’s eyes watered staring at it, for it was so bright it nearly blinded the two of them. However, the woman looked at it as if it were a regular pebble on the side of the road. Its glimmering, bright blue hue almost enraptured the girl in it’s light. The light was harsh, but somehow it held a soothing aura to it.
“If you want to grant your wish… then you will need to destroy this.” She said coolly. The girl’s eyes widened. Her head jerked upwards towards her, as if to ask if she was serious. When she made no motion, the little girl was already winding up her arm to grab it. However, the woman’s arm shot backwards, just in time to avoid the girl’s own swipe.
“Hey!” She snapped back at the woman. However, the woman’s smile was full of mirth. The girl glowered below. Her eyes questioning her for some sort of explanation. The woman only turned around, putting her back between her and that fiery gaze.
“I have given you a hint to obtain what you desire. This is a place for granting wishes… but I do not grant wishes of those who are not human.” She turned her head to stare back at the stricken girl. Her eyes were wide with shock. It was not long before it melted into another expression of rage. Her arms shook and her stance widened. She looked as if she were about to lunge, but she continued staying frozen in place. Her expression shifted.
“Fine… I’ll obtain it by my own means. You can stay here in your darkness for all I care.” The girl spat her words, “I am going to end this cycle of suffering… No matter what!” She trailed off, staring back at her reflection in the pond once more. It was dimmer now, unlike the vibrancy of it before. The girl recoiled. She stepped backwards, staring at her hands. Tiny flecks of light ripped themselves from her body. She sharply tore her head towards the woman, who continued that awful, cat-like smile of hers. She glowered back at her, but the woman’s face remained flat.
“Tell your Mother when you see her… That I wait to see how she will win this bet of ours.”
Before any response could be made, the girl was swallowed up by the darkness. Her last attempt to grab the woman's throat died in that moment. She was alone once more; her only company being the glimmering pool behind her now. The woman’s smile faded.
She turned to her closed hand, gently opening it to reveal the shiny gem inside. She stared and stared, lost in a thought that coiled against her heart. Gently, she closed it back into her palm and shielded its light from the crawling darkness. She lifted her hand and kissed her fingers softly. Its light was warm and calm… a light that was slowly beginning to weaken the longer she held it here. The woman shifted on her heel before turning back to the pool. Unlike the girl before her, the water did not show the woman’s reflection at all.
Tenderly, she reached out her hand gripping the gem and placed it back into the pool. A ripple was cast as it sunk below the surface. It melted with the glowing pool, but the ripple was still cast. The woman’s eyes lowered and she found herself speaking.
“All for the sake... of one man’s wish…”
‘And so… to punish humanity for their crimes, God stole away the humans’ ability to produce songs. Only maidens pure of heart would be blessed by God with a gem known as a Qualia. Henceforth they would be hereby known as Witches. God decided on five witches to gift power to serve as God’s own hand, each representing an element found within the world below; Water, Wind, Fire, Earth, and Time. Only these special maidens were allowed to perform the mythical songs bestowed by God.
‘These songs converted into magic; a magic to heal the world and converse with God Themselves. God would continue to bestow Their gifts in the form of minor Qualia; stones still harnessing magical power. Through these gifts, God decided to leave this world in the care of Their people once again as a test; one to prove that they could atone for their previous sins. They retreated to reside with our Mother, the Moon, still keeping a close eye on all of Their creations in case such crimes would happen again.
‘However, the stars that were also born of God pitied the humans. Wishing for a way to help the humans show God they had atoned, they decided to give their own gift to humanity. They chose a single man; one filled with kindness and bore hope for humanity in his heart. They gifted him a magic that wasn’t bound by the rules created by God. This man was to be known as the Conductor. Through the power known as ‘Tuning’, he could converse with the witches who aided God and bear their hearts to him. He would serve as one who would bring the witches together and thus create a way to deliver the wishes of the people to God.
‘Once every thousand years, a rite is performed as a way of passage to meet God. Once all five of the Witches of origin have gathered, alongside the Conductor, the path to the Throne of God will open. Our Mother shall extend her arms down to bring them to God’s Throne...’
Xeno couldn’t help but release a yawn trapped in his throat. He lifted his head from his reading, rubbing at one of his eyes with a free finger. The sun was still high in the sky, but somehow Xeno felt sleep prickling at the edges of his mind. His duties as King of the holy Kingdom of Regnant were starting to wear him down it seemed...
“Xeno!”
Xeno’s head lifted from the pages of his book towards the source of the voice. He pressed his gloved thumb into the edge of the page, making sure he didn’t forget which one exactly he was on. The voice’s owner was trotting up to him, followed slowly by one Xeno hadn’t expected to see.
“Ah, Ana… what are you doing here?” Xeno asked with all the warmth in the world. The little blonde girl was already running up to him, a bright smile plastered all over her face. Behind her was his best friend, Elcrest. His knight looked much more worn down than Xeno had expected, but he couldn’t help but be distracted by his niece to linger on it for too long. It was still quite early for her to already be tiring out Elc… but Xeno supposed she could be a handful at times.
“We came t’ visit!” She exclaimed, gently putting her hands on the tea table Xeno was seated at. She was just barely peeking over the top of it, not quite tall enough to completely overshoot it just yet. The table was just barely outside the balcony door, showing off the lovely spring view of the capital city of Lambert down below. It was a perfect spot for reading… not to mention, tasting a wonderful selection of Lambert’s finest confectionaries. Xeno supposed that was just a benefit of being King, however. A beautiful view with a wonderful friend to accompany him… Which said “wonderful friend” was looking at him with indignation.
“I thought you were supposed to be busy… but here you are, just reading!” Elcrest groaned, scratching at the side of his head with a frown to match his discontented words. Now that he was closer, Xeno could get a better look at his friend. His once adorned armor already looked covered in dirt and scratches, not to mention his dark blue hair was sticking out in all sorts of spots. Just what did Ana drag him into, Xeno couldn’t help but wonder.
“I could say it was for work, but I’m not sure how much you’d believe me.” Xeno laughed despite the accusatory look Elcrest was giving him, “You did offer to watch her for a little while.”
“I thought you were busy, that’s why I offered.” Elcrest sighed a little, but his expression soon faded back into a smile. Xeno was helpless to butterflies wiggling in his stomach at the sight of his smile. Even if it wasn’t directed towards Xeno, Elcrest’s warmth filled the room better than a pastry bursting with jam in one's stomach. The knight wandered over towards the two of them, getting a closer look at the book Xeno held.
“Oh, you were workin’? Sorry!” Ana frowned a little, “Uncle Elcrest said he wanted to check up on you!” Elcrest almost looked stunned that Xeno's niece would expose him so frankly, but Xeno only laughed again. He gently patted her head, shaking his own in turn.
“Not to worry. You caught me during one of the slow periods.” He smiled back at Elcrest, who looked away hastily. Xeno caught the faint sign of a blush on his cheeks, but he simply cast it off as the embarrassment of being caught in the act. Still, Xeno couldn’t deny how happy he was to see both of them. Elcrest had offered to watch his niece while he was busy with his duties as King, considering Ana’s parents were away on business. Her mother would be returning shortly, but her father… that was a guess only God could make. Ana’s smile widened again and she turned her attention also towards the book.
“What’cha readin then, Uncle?” Her blue eyes peered at the book eagerly. Xeno picked up a golden colored bookmark he had discarded on the table and gently pushed it between the pages he had held. With that task done, he showed her the cover itself. It was a thick leather bound book, with gold encrusted on the title and the strips that bound the pages together. The title itself read, “Teachings of God”. While the title may not be anything extravagantly named, it was in fact the scripture pertaining to Theiaism; the religion they all followed in the holy Kingdom of Regnant.
“A holy scripture?” Elcrest was the first to ask, leaning forward a bit out of curiosity. His pale yellow eyes roamed over it with newfound interest. Xeno nodded in turn.
“Yes. I wanted to refresh myself before the rite comes in a few days.” Suddenly, Elcrest’s expression shifted at those words. His eyes lowered a little and his frown returned, looking as if something else had caught his attention instead. Xeno blinked back at him curiously. What had caused his mood to shift so? Everyone knew about the rite in Regnant after all. While most people who practiced Theiaism lived within Lambert, the religion itself was practically a basis within his Kingdom. Only two countries didn’t practice Theiaism, after all.
“Ah, right… The rite of passage to converse with God.” Elcrest spoke, but before he could say much Ana was already poking at the book. She struggled to reach her arm quite over, but getting to point at it was enough.
“Oh, oh, that’s the book all the people in fancy white clothes read!” She said proudly, looking up expectantly at her uncle for a response. Xeno returned it with a gentle smile.
“Yes, that’s right. You remember the witches too, correct?” Xeno asked her. Ana paused for a moment as her face screwed up in thought. Then she nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, they’re all those pretty ladies who can use all sortsa magic! God gave them songs so they help everyone!” She was so earnest it was hard not to want to bundle her up in a hug right there. Elcrest’s face softened at her display. Her expression could rival the sun itself with her sunny disposition.
“And the Conductor! He’s the one who leads ‘em all! He can make the witches super powerful and help protect the world!” She added, and Elcrest’s eyes shifted away again. Xeno eyed him carefully, but made sure his attention was focused on Ana instead.
“Yes, but the Conductor hasn’t been seen since those writings. We don’t know if they exist on this plane anymore.” Elcrest said, putting his hands on his thighs to lean down towards her. Ana blinked only once, but Xeno patted her head again.
“Even so, you remember quite a lot. Your father must be proud.” He praised.
“Of course! I’m gonna be a witch when I’m all growed up!” She puffed out her chest proudly, “Then I can help all sortsa people and be queen!” The two adults laughed a little at her display, but it was hard to fault her earnesty. Her pure honesty was hard to come by these days.
“I’m sure you will be a wonderful witch queen.” Xeno beamed back at her. The little girl smiled back, giggling a little at his praise. Elcrest gently rubbed the top of her head, earning another laugh from the girl.
“Just make sure you don’t cause anyone trouble, okay?” Elcrest warned, but his scolding was more lighthearted than upset. She turned to look up at him, but nodded with an equal amount of vigor.
“I won’t! I’ll be really really good and make God happy!” She giggled again. Both Xeno and Elcrest couldn’t help but let out a little sigh between them. Before the conversation could continue further, a knock sounded at Xeno’s door. The three of them paused at the noise.
“Xeno, it’s me.” A gruff voice muffled by the closed door alerted them all of an arrival.
“Ah, yes, come in.” Xeno replied, turning his chair outwards so he could get to his feet. At Xeno’s response, the door opened with a soft creak. Standing there in the doorframe was a tall man, adorned in similar armor to Elcrest’s but with a much more… well, royal flair to it. His brown hair was tied back in a ponytail and his brown eyes practically pierced into the room. However, his stern expression was broken as soon as Ana saw who it was.
“Daddy, you’re home!” She squeaked, abandoning her uncle in favor of running towards her father. The man’s once stoic expression melted into a smile. He bent down slightly, gently reaching out his hands for his running daughter before catching her in a hug.
“Ah, so that is where you went Anastasia.” His voice was much softer than the one who had announced his presence before. She reached up for him to lift her, and in response he scooped her up with relative ease. Elcrest and Xeno both straightened themselves up in his presence, though Xeno was much more relaxed than Elcrest. After all, he was in fact Xeno’s brother and the Grand Master of the Royal Knights of Regnant. Xeno found himself relieved to see his brother back from his travels in one piece.
“Ah, Brother, I did not realize you were coming back so soon. It’s good to see you.” Xeno greeted his younger sibling with a faint, but warm smile. The man cupped his daughter in his arms, who was already tugging at his neck with a happy smile. He nodded to him with regards to the King’s words.
“As it is to see you. I delivered the necessary preparations for contacting the witches of Wind and Water. I’ll hand the rest to my subordinates. With the appearance of the Conductor only a few days away from the rite, it has tied our hands. I did not want to waste time when I can trust my knights to handle the rest.”
The news suddenly struck Xeno dead in place. Conductor? While what Anastasia had said was true, that the Conductor was the one who was like a catalyst for the witches powers, one hadn’t been seen since the holy scripture had been first written. How had he missed such a notable fact? He as Regnant’s holy king should have been informed… It wasn’t like he had left the castle much these past few days to hear the gossip among the people either.
“A Conductor has been found? When did this happen?” Xeno asked urgently, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and worry. His brother met his gaze evenly, though he noticed his eyes drifting slightly off to the side.
“It was while you were on your royal visit to Kashmistan. A man from Lambert was discovered tuning a witch whose powers had gone out of control.” His brother’s eyes narrowed slightly. Xeno couldn’t almost believe it. How on earth had this been kept under wraps for so long? His attention turned towards Elcrest, who was staring back at the Grand Master.
“Kallias… Elc… did you both keep this from me?” Xeno asked, almost appalled for humoring the thought. This was a huge discovery! Before the rite to meet God in fact… Perhaps this was Their divine will. Kallias and Elcrest shared a glance between them. Ana looked between all three of them, but she didn’t dare interrupt. It was Xeno’s brother who spoke first.
“I was asked to keep quiet until he could tell you more.” Kallias shrugged, “I repaid a favor for the gesture, that is all.” Xeno couldn’t help but pout a little bit. A favor more important than telling him… it must be some favor. Xeno felt wounded all the same by the mere thought of it. A secret so important… he couldn’t imagine why. Elcrest’s eyes lowered a little and he turned towards Kallias' even expression.
“I would like to speak to His Highness alone, Your Majesty.” Elcrest gave a little bow towards Kallias at that. Xeno flinched, but held it in as best he could. While the title of royalty was a gift, and serving his people henceforth, he still had a hard time dealing with being on a higher pedestal than his people. Even when Elc referred to them as such, it sunk an ugly thorn in his heart. His brother, however, reveled in it. The current Grand Master of the Royal Knights of Regnant was more than pleased by Elcrest’s honorifics, but it did not linger on his face.
“I understand.” Kallias said, gently bouncing Ana in his arm. It earned him a giggle from his daughter, lightening the tense atmosphere of the room. Both men looked relieved, but Kallias hadn’t budged from his spot just yet. His gaze was focused back squarely on Xeno.
“I will assign the rest of my men to be dispatched to the eastern and western parts of the country for the witches of Fire and Earth respectively. That witch the Conductor tuned…. That was the queen of Hildegaria to our north, Queen Hilda. We will not have to worry about her arrival.” Xeno couldn’t hide the surprise on his face.
“She had already arrived? I got word of her coming, but I didn’t realize it was so soon.” Xeno was already lost in thought, wondering just how she was doing. While his attempt to merge their two countries hadn’t gone swimmingly before, they had ended up becoming sort of pen pals together. Thankfully so, the relations between the Hildegaria Empire and the holy Regnant Kingdom were in good standings. In fact, even Hilda had grown quite fond of Elcrest too during diplomatic visits.
Xeno could consider the three of them good friends... but Hilda showing up here so early before the rite? Something must have happened in Hildegaria if she were to venture this far out. Her letter had spoken of her arriving a day before the rite, not days prior. Something awful sank in Xeno’s stomach, and Kallias could see through him easily.
“Many of my scouts say there’s been discussion of civil war on the border of Hildegaria,” Kallias informed.
“A civil war?!” Xeno blurted out. Elcrest looked shocked, though he refrained from making an outburst unlike his King. Xeno knew that Hilda had mentioned her advisors pushing for certain reforms, but this? This was far beyond his expectations. Xeno’s eyes turned towards Anastasia then, noticing her confused stare between the three men. Right… he needed to compose himself for now. He shook his head gently, that one fickle strand of brown hair wagging just in front of his face.
“We’ll discuss this some other time. I shouldn’t keep you from visiting your wife. She ought to be back by now,” Xeno smiled back at his brother. Kallias only let out a tiny sigh, shaking his head just a little. Despite bringing the subject up, he looked the most reserved of the lot of them.
“It is only idle gossip. You know how the ranks love to mutter amongst themselves.” Kallias grumbled, “But you are right, Eleanor doesn’t know I have returned yet. I came straight here in order to deliver my report.”
“Let’s go say hi to Mommy then!” Ana piped up, tugging on her father’s collar once again, “I wanna give her a present I made with uncle Elcrest!”
“Oh, is that so?” Kallias asked, that soft expression lighting up his face again, “In that case, I shall see you both later. Do take care.” He bowed slightly, though it was a bit awkward while carrying a small child.
“Bye bye uncles!” Ana smiled and waved to the two of them. The two returned the gesture, and before long Kallias and Anastasia had left the room. The tense atmosphere soon flooded in all at once. Xeno wasn’t sure why Elcrest or Kallias would hide this news from him… it could affect the whole kingdom! As it’s King, he needed to know if the Conductor truly existed. His eyes turned towards his friend, who seemed to be contemplating something.
Elcrest… he was truly Xeno’s best friend. They had been friends since childhood, long before they held titles of the King of Beasts or a knight of the Holy Regnant Knights. At some point they were just children, reading endless amounts of stories and swinging their weapons in hopes of protecting those they loved. Xeno’s eyes lowered a little. He would never doubt Elcrest… he just didn’t understand why he would keep such a thing a secret. Just who was this man, the Conductor? How had Hilda gone berserk in the first place? It was hard to imagine her power going out of control. She was the most calm one of the three of them.
“Xeno.” Elcrest’s words snapped him out of his trance. He looked back at him curiously, staring at Elcrest’s worried eyes.
“I’m sorry… for keeping it a secret.” He rubbed at his arm, not quite meeting Xeno’s gaze entirely. Xeno couldn’t disguise the frown on his face, but at the same time he couldn’t be mad either. It wasn’t the first disagreement or fight they had in their long span of friendship. Xeno could fondly remember a time he had eaten all of Elcrest’s cookies and blamed it on his brother. A silly memory, but Xeno humored it. He stepped forward closer to his friend before gently rubbing the top of his head with his hand.
“Please, do not think much of it. I know you must have a reason, especially if you dragged Kallias into it.” Xeno’s voice was gentle. Elcrest hunched down from the force of Xeno’s hand, but quickly looked up at him and into his eyes. There was a moment that lingered between them, what almost felt like an hour. Xeno found himself gazing at his warm expression, but Elcrest soon broke the trance. He gently lifted Xeno’s hand off his head, sighing just a little as it dropped to his side.
“I didn’t want to keep it a secret on purpose but… I know how you would react when you heard the news. I don’t…” Elcrest paused, as if he were unsure of the words he wanted to say. Xeno didn’t push him either, merely waiting for him to continue. At least, Elcrest gathered the courage in his heart.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Xeno.” He looked up, a bit more determined this time. Xeno blinked once, unsure of what he meant. How could the Conductor hurt him? Was it some sort of conspiracy? If that was the case, surely his title as a “King of Beasts” would be alone enough to dissuade Elcrest that he was some weak thing needing to be protected.
“What are you talking about, Elc?” He asked, arching an eyebrow. Elcrest’s eyes lowered to his armored shoes. They paused again, all the while Xeno mulled over the possibilities of what Elcrest wanted to discuss.
“I… am the Conductor.” Elcrest said finally. Xeno blinked. At first, the words didn’t quite register in his mind. It felt almost unreal; that such a mythical person was in fact his friend from childhood. Elcrest didn’t look any different than he did the day before. Maybe, sure, a bit more disheveled, but… Xeno’s lips curved into a frown. Elcrest’s eyes were hardened. He wasn’t lying to him.
Somehow, something ugly bubbled Xeno’s heart. A twinge of envy, maybe? The Conductor was famed to be extremely powerful. A thing born from the stars, in fact, able to wield powerful magic and touch the hearts of Witches. To a simple human like Xeno, he couldn’t deny there was a part of him that was envious of having the power to change the world.
Or perhaps… it was a fear that God would suddenly whisk him away far out of Xeno’s reach. The Conductor was a thing that wasn’t born from God, but the heavens above. Some may think of it as blasphemous for that reason. However, the Conductor held the hopes of the people; a shining beacon in a world that was often filled with strife. To be honest, Xeno couldn’t think of a better person to fill such a role. Elcrest was always kind and caring, often taking care of others before himself. He radiated such a light that the more Xeno thought about it, the more right it seemed.
Before he knew it, his hands were lifting to Elcrest’s shoulders. He gently gripped them, causing Elcrest to gasp a little in surprise at the gesture.
“Elc, that is wonderful news!” Xeno exclaimed with a broad smile. Elcrest blinked back at him with uncertainty.
“I-It is?” He looked bewildered by Xeno’s actions. The stare Elcrest was giving him looked like Xeno had downed a mountain of watermelons in one sitting. However, Xeno continued to beam back at his friend.
“Of course! I can think of no other fitting for the role of Conductor as you Elc!” His words earned a tiny flush crawling along Elcrest’s face. He looked away sheepishly, twisting a piece of his bangs between his fingers.
“C-C’mon, Xeno, it’s not that amazing…” Xeno hadn’t been this happy for him since he passed his knight examinations. It was hard to battle his enthusiasm quite like this. Xeno, however, finally pulled away but his smile continued to stay on his face.
“It may not seem like it, but do you know what this means Elc? You can bring even more good to the world with your powers!” Before Xeno could continue, he paused, “Oh, then you have met Hilda then? What happened?” Elcrest blinked before his expression turned serious again. His eyebrows crinkled together as he looked back up at his friend. Xeno took a step back, his face returning back into an even one to let his friend speak.
“I’m not really sure… I was out on a patrol that day when I managed to bump into her. She was speaking nonsense really… I could hear what she was saying, but the rest of the knights couldn’t understand it. She was also wrapped in these dark, black chains but no one else could see them.” Elcrest’s eyes narrowed together, “It was like she was possessed by something. I wanted to get her back to the castle to rest, but she refused. She was saying something about war in Hildegaria…”
“Then what Kallias was saying…” Xeno cupped his chin in thought.
“Was right. I learned later her advisors had been planning to overthrow her. While she was on royal excursions, they would be passing laws under her name and secretly raising taxes to bleed the people dry. All the while, they would blame it on their queen. While she was out one day, they started throwing stones and saying she was an evil witch.” Elcrest’s eyes narrowed. Xeno mimicked his expression, though his face darkened further. So they really had been plotting behind her back. Hilda wasn’t particularly that old, but she had only taken the throne a few years ago, around the same time as Xeno.
While Xeno had the support of Elcrest and his brother, Hilda was an only child. She had told him her parents had died of a plague that had swept over Hildegaria before, leaving her to rule by her advisors alone. Xeno had his own advisors, but they only desired for the peace and prosperity of Regnant. What was happening in Hildegaria was despicable.
Suddenly, Xeno felt a hand brush over his own. He blinked in surprise, seeing that Elcrest had moved close. He looked down to notice his hand had clenched into a tight fist. Ah… He really should be getting a handle on that. Somehow, it was always around Elc he could freely let his emotions run wild like this. Elcrest gave him a soft look, but continued speaking.
“Before I could gather any more information, her powers started going berserk. I think her emotions just got the best of her and… exploded. A lot of the other side of the Kingdom was damaged by her warping power. People were caught in the crossfire… but fortunately, no one was severely injured. The worst of it was done to the buildings. I didn’t know what to do at first… Then a voice just… told me to tune her.”
“A voice?” Xeno asked. Elcrest nodded.
“I’d never heard it before, but somehow I just… knew what to do. My body was moving before I could think about it.” Elcrest moved to look at his hands, staring as if they held the explanation within his gloves’ wrinkles. Unfortunately, they didn’t answer back no matter how long the pair stared. Eventually, Elcrest recomposed himself and looked back at his friend.
“I was sent to a strange place. It was completely different from Lambert… I think it was inside Hilda’s heart. I heard the truth about it inside there… and by the time I woke up, I was back in the castle with both Hilda and Dr. Veronica hovering over me.” His expression dimmed a little. Xeno didn’t say anything else, digesting what his friend had explained to him. Then he turned towards him, staring back at him.
“Dr. Veronica was there, you said? I’m surprised she came out of her lab to see you.” It was an attempt at a joke; anyone who knew the good Doctor knew she never came out of her lab unless it was for a meal or an audience. She kept to herself mostly, but Xeno had come to rely on her knowledge of witches powers. She had once called herself a scholar of “emotional magic” or some such. Not to mention, she had been the start of his newfound hobby in tinkering with those odd machines she had created. Elcrest crossed his arms over his chest, gently humming to himself.
“She said she only came because I’m the Conductor.” Despite his words, Elcrest didn’t seem too bothered by it, “It turns out I have a Qualia inside me.” That surprised Xeno. He blinked at him, leaning forward just a little too close to Elcrest. Elcrest’s face brightened a little, but Xeno didn’t seem to notice.
“Ah, is that so?! My, the world is filled with such strange things!” He smiled before Elcrest hurriedly turned his face away, trying to hide his sheepish expression. Xeno only laughed, straightening up a little bit.
“It’s said in scripture that only witches can possess Qualia. To think, those tiny little stones would allow such unfathomable power at the tips of their fingers... It’s quite amazing when you think about it.” Xeno cupped his chin again, musing to himself, “I suppose if the Conductor is a catalyst for the witches, it would make sense why he would hold one within him too.” Elcrest nodded at that, though he didn’t look any more comfortable than before.
“What of the Doctor and Hilda then?” Xeno ended up asking, once his fixation had passed. Elcrest let his arms fall to his sides, resting a hand on his hip in thought.
“Veronica asked to take Hilda to her lab for an examination. I asked Hilda if that was okay, and she agreed. They’ve been there since the accident.” Elcrest explained, but soon he grew quiet again. He continued not quite meeting his friend’s gaze, despite their conversation. Xeno blinked at him, noticing the shift in his mood.
“Is there more?” He asked, and Elcrest nodded reluctantly.
“I don’t need to tell you about the Conductor’s powers and responsibility. Anyone grew up knowing that.” Elcrest glanced out towards the balcony, staring up at the blue sky. He looked lost in thought for a moment, but soon he regained his nerve again.
“When the rite happens, we will have to visit God. ‘With the Conductor in hand, they will ascend to the Throne of God and thus the wishes of the world will be tested by Them. If God deems the people's wishes as unworthy, the Conductor will face punishment’ .” Elcrest closed his eyes as he repeated the passage, “I think… you can guess my meaning.” Xeno stared back at his friend, brows creased together. Visiting the throne of God… A perilous journey that stretched to the moon; the one said to have given birth to humanity itself. Only a few witches had returned from in fact. There were only a few living remains of what the rite entailed and the result of its passage.
It was still unknown what the rite would do, but they couldn’t ignore the will of God either. Their power was seen enough throughout their lives, what other choice would they have to believe it? The final part, about the ‘Conductor facing punishment’ lingered heavy on the air...
Xeno frowned. It could mean that he would never see Elcrest again. Elcrest could possibly become the martyr for all of the people... But Xeno believed in his people. There would be no such way that the people of Regnant would doom his best friend. Humans were cruel, greedy , and selfish at times… but they were also kind, warm, and caring people. Surely, God could see that. Even if it happened… A thought bloomed in Xeno’s mind. He turned back towards his crestfallen friend, staring at him gently. Yes… that would be a good idea, he decided.
“I believe there is an easy solution to that.” Xeno said quietly. A shocked Elcrest turned to face him, looking at him quizzically.
“You mean, you’re alright with this?!” He asked almost harshly, catching Xeno off guard. The brown haired man merely stared down at his friend, smiling that same smile he always did.
“I will just have to accompany you all.” The words threw Elcrest into a stupor. He blinked back at him dumbly, shaking his head a few times as if he hadn’t heard Xeno quite right at all. A King coming alongside witches and the Conductor? While there were no records to confirm or deny such a thing, it sounded like heresy for a king to leave his people to meet with God! Still, Xeno knew that such a thing could be considered a selfish wish. He was thinking with his own heart as Xeno, not the King of Beasts this time.
“Xeno, you can’t…” Elcrest trailed off, trying to protest, but Xeno could see his heart wasn’t completely in it. Elcrest and he had been inseparable since they were children. The thought of him going off on a dangerous quest alone without him? It was hard to imagine for Xeno. He wanted to keep him safe… and perhaps if the wrath of God did happen, could Xeno do something to change that outcome? He wasn’t sure, but his heart was telling him there must be something he can do. In truth, he just didn’t want to be left behind while Elcrest went off on some crusade. Because Elcrest… was someone truly special; even beyond being chosen as the Conductor.
The two stared at each other for a long time. Neither budged an inch from where they were, nor said anything more. Xeno could see Elcrest’s worry in his eyes; the worry that he would leave Xeno behind if something happened to him. Eventually, Xeno cleared his throat.
“If God truly wishes to punish someone, then They may punish a mere human living in this world. I made you a promise long ago Elc… and I intend to keep it.” Xeno’s words were filled with conviction. It was hard for his knight, his friend, to fight back against them. He could see him deflating a little, and Xeno almost felt guilty. However, the memory of their promise tugged him along.
‘As long as you are my friend, I will protect you no matter what.’ A familiar voice echoed in Xeno’s heart and stamped those words into it.
“You say that like I’m not human.” Elcrest teased, though his smile looked almost relieved at his friend’s words, “Besides… I made that same promise. I’m not going to let you get killed, Xeno.” His gaze was steely. Xeno could feel it and he couldn’t argue with that. He smiled and nodded in acceptance.
“And…” Elcrest continued, causing Xeno to blink gently back at him. He was fidgeting his hands a little, staring to the side just enough. The king couldn’t help but find him a bit adorable, but at the same time his curiosity was piqued.
“And?” He urged. The knight winced slightly before he began scratching at his neck.
“I think… once the rite is over, I can tell you something, um, properly.” Elcrest glanced away, finding Xeno’s room’s walls much more interesting than talking to the man himself. Xeno blinked once before he smiled a little. Xeno couldn’t really be sure what he was thinking, but it no doubt was probably something too embarrassing for him to admit. He supposed he could let this one secret slide as well.
“Alright. Then I shall eagerly await what it is.” Xeno smiled and Elcrest finally looked at him. He returned the smile, and Xeno’s heart nearly burst from the sight of it. With how radiant he looked in that moment, Elcrest being chosen as a Conductor was truly the right choice he believed. His kindness was enough to fill that service nicely. It seemed almost silly that anyone wouldn’t fall for Elcrest like Xeno already had. It was a silent confession to himself, but Xeno was a king and Elcrest was his knight and best friend. Such feelings could only be buried for now.
“With that out of the way, I say we celebrate with a trip to the finest bakery in Lambert!” Xeno said cheerfully, shattering the quiet moment between them. Elcrest stared at him bewildered, but soon laughed a little. The tense atmosphere had finally lightened, and the two friends no longer felt the oppression that was once there.
“Of course you would suggest that.” Elcrest shook his head slightly, almost defeated by how predictable Xeno could be, “Let’s go to the one off Market Street, actually. Your favorite one got caught in the blast by Hilda.”
“Wh-what?! That cannot possibly be true! Not the Á La Mode!?” Xeno worried, his calm and collected demeanor melting faster than sugar in a heated pan. Elcrest could only pat his shoulder in sympathy, but Xeno soon recovered.
“We will just have to direct some funds from the royal coffers until it is back in proper shape again!”
“X-Xeno, you cannot be serious?!”
“I’ve never been more serious!” Despite himself, Elcrest was laughing and those worries fluttered away into the blue skies above them. Xeno was only half serious, those pastries were to die for after all, but seeing Elcrest’s face brighten into a smile only made it more worthwhile to him.
The days to come would only shape truly just how God felt.