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“My Lord, we have captured one of the rebels.”
Two soldiers came forward into the throne room and then knelt on one knee, right in front of their Emperor in reverence. They had their heads bowed; one soldier seemed to be far more experienced. He seemed to be the mentor of the younger soldier who was only starting to grasp how the armies of Palamecia worked.
“Ah, is it that insect… Firion? That wretched thorn in my side.” the Emperor drawled as he sat with poise on the throne. “Or perhaps one of those people he closely travels with?”
“No, Your Grace.” said the older soldier.
“Then I have no interest in meeting them. Throw them in the dungeons or dispose of them as you wish.”
He waved his hand dismissively, as if this was just a waste of his time. To the Emperor, human life was disposable. Only those who serve him purpose have any remote importance, and even then, they were almost always replaceable unless they had any outstanding traits that he could benefit from.
In this case… Firion. Firion was someone he was very interested in, standing out as the only opposing force that came close to thwarting any of his tactics and strategies. As such, he saw only two options for the rebel warrior: either he made Firion surrender and be a part of his army (which was unlikely due to the unwavering principles Firion had), or to personally execute him for giving him such a hard time. After all, despite seemingly giving up his humanity for power, he still had human emotions.
Despite being an Emperor, he could still be petty as Pandaemonium.
“Your Highness, if I may interject.” said the older soldier. “It may not be Firion, nor his usual travel companions… but I have a feeling you would be interested in him.”
“It’s a pretty white mage, Sir!” said the younger soldier, to which the older merely grunted at in disbelief.
“You shall refer to me as ‘Your Grace’, ‘Your Majesty’, or ‘His Excellency’. Not ‘Sir’. Have I made myself clear?” the Emperor wasted no time in chastising the younger soldier. “I am far too important for such trifle titles. Jinn, see to it that your… apprentice, learns how to converse with the Emperor better.”
Jinn, the older soldier, sighed. “Yes, Your Majesty. Percy… you heard the man.”
Percy, the younger soldier, merely bowed lower as if to apologise. He decided to keep quiet.
“Now then…” the Emperor rose from his throne. He ordered the two to look up at him as they kept kneeling.
And that was when they both observed that his eyes seemed to have a spark of life in them. Which was odd… usually, his eyes were consumed by darkness; his insatiable lust for power beyond his wildest dreams. Now, there seemed to be something more… human, behind them. The two just quietly eyed each other before they returned their full attention to their liege.
“You spoke of a white mage? Does it happen to be the White Wizard of Fynn?” the Emperor spoke; his voice still full of unmistakable authority, but is slightly tainted with something that resembled concern.
“Yes, my Lord.” Jinn affirmed this. “We… figured that you would be interested to speak to him.”
“… Bring him in my office. I would like a word with him… and then leave us be. Make sure that we will not be interrupted by anything.”
Jinn rose and then bowed in reverence, and then he beckoned the younger soldier who had clumsily gotten up and followed his lead. The Emperor then left his throne room and headed for his office, which was not too far away; it was a few hallways down, where it provided a beautiful view of the desert vista. He looked down at it with a hint of longing in his eyes, before he tried to collect himself again. This was uncharacteristic of him to actually feel any deep emotions, but he could not help it…
Minwu was coming into his office very soon.
He cleared his throat and paced around his office, obviously perplexed. He did not really think that Minwu would be captured, however… here they were. He began to speak on his own to cool off his thoughts.
“So, Minwu. We finally meet again.”
…
He shook his head, he thought that approach was quite cliché. He wanted to go with something that had a little more edge to it; something impressionable. Dare he say it… something “cool” that would grab Minwu’s attention.
“Minwu, it has been a while.”
No, that sounded a little too sentimental. Disgusting, he thought.
“Minwu, you’re…”
And when he was just rehearsing, the door quietly creaked open. He snapped his head back to the door with a surprised look upon his face; he was more lost in his thoughts than he initially thought he was. Being the monarch that he was, he did not allow his countenance to be anything but presentable. He cleared his throat and was able to resume his dignified, elegant aura in a flick of the wrist.
Before him, the two soldiers brought in the White Wizard of Fynn – Minwu.
“…” Minwu stared at him with inscrutable eyes. His wrists were tightly bound behind him with ropes as the two nudged him forward.
“CAREFUL.” the Emperor growled at them, even if they were not even remotely rough on the white mage. They bowed their heads in apology, and gently allowed Minwu to sit on one of the office chairs in front of the Emperor’s den desk, before turning back to the doors to leave.
And now, they were all alone… just the two of them. Minwu sat on the chair, as if he was just waiting for the Emperor to break the silence. The Emperor paced quietly as his gaze never left the white wizard… and then he slowly leaned forward to study his eyes more closely. He raised a hand and gently cupped the white wizard’s masked cheek, and then caressed it slightly. He then took a seat on one of the chairs in front of his den desk, just across Minwu.
“It has been a while, Minwu. How have you been?” asked the Emperor, as he leaned more comfortably against the chair. He crossed his legs and then gingerly propped his elbow up on the desk, as his gaze never left his guest.
“… Mateus.” Minwu spoke in a low tone. He could not sit as comfortably, as his wrists were bound behind him. Despite his elegance, he was forced to sit stiffly on his chair as he gazed back at the Emperor.
The Emperor did not seem to mind being called by his first name. “It has been a while since I heard that name. Ah, but didn’t you use to call me something else?”
“…” Minwu glared at him, and then he whipped his head away. “That was a long time ago. In any case… what do you plan to do with me?”
“Why don’t you use your gift of divination to figure that out?”
The two sat in uncomfortable silence for a while; neither seemed willing to unfold this conversation in a friendly manner. The Emperor was the Emperor… and Minwu, as the adviser of the royal family in Fynn, did not want to divulge any information or weaknesses to their sworn enemy.
“You will not kill me.” said Minwu. “But I will not say yes, and you know that.”
“… Tch, is that so.” the Emperor grunted in disappointment. “Whyever not? I could offer you much more than what they are offering, you know. Power beyond your wildest dreams, a chance to use your prophetic powers for something much grander… please, tell me. Why?”
“Because I cannot allow you to go down this path any further.” Minwu retorted firmly, his eyes now becoming fiercer as he turned back to glare at him. “It is not what you are offering me that truly matters. If you cannot see the error of your ways, even I cannot save you from your fate.”
“…” the Emperor stood and then leaned forward, his hands firmly clasping the arm rests of Minwu’s chair. “And my fate is…?”
“…” Minwu recoiled, just a little, as the proximity of Mateus’ face was a little too close for comfort. However, he did not whip his head away this time. “… It… has not changed. Because you have not changed.”
“I have not changed? Oh, dear me. When was the last time you set foot in Palamecia, my dear?” the Emperor exclaimed, as he taunted his captive. He rose and then gestured to his office; his expanding empire. “Palamecia has never been better. I am the best Emperor that ever existed, and you know it.”
Minwu shook his head in disbelief, hearing him speak like this. His eyes reflected not only anger, but also… grief?
“You were too overcome by lust for power. I have foreseen a doomed path for you as you went down your path of wickedness. But I fear… I fear that was what propelled you to prepare for this act of world domination.” Minwu shook his head.
“… Even without your prophecy, I would have gone down this path.” Mateus said in a hushed tone. “And I do not regret it, not one bit. Tell me. Am I doomed? I am still standing, and I will crush your wild flowers beneath my heel… and shred them until there is nothing left. Especially that one rebel.”
“LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS.”
Both of them seemed to flinch slightly, without the other noticing. Minwu was surprised that came out of him, and Mateus was also surprised that Minwu had such a strong reaction from what he deemed was casual trash talking.
“Is that what this was? Hahaha… Min-Min is in love.” Mateus taunted him, his voice almost slightly child-like.
Minwu tried to keep his glare astute, but how could he? Before him, he saw Mateus… not as the Emperor, but as… Mateus. The young Mateus that used to smile at him, taunt him, and learn magic with him.
“Min-Min is in love!” he could still hear Mateus say in that innocent tone of his as a child. Back then, Mateus was taunting him for finding a character in a book they were reading to be attractive.
“…” Minwu bowed his head in an attempt to keep his closed-off emotions from bubbling up to the surface. No. He cannot get sentimental right here, right now. Mateus is… the Emperor is…
“I could not promise that I will grant him the honour of a quick and painless death. But I will be sure to grant him the honour of being disposed of by my hand – personally.” the Emperor spoke once more, as strutted to the panoramic windows of his office that oversaw the desert vista and the skies. “That is the least I could do for my ex best friend.”
“Teo, I…” Minwu spoke, his voice came out more shaky than he had intended. “Please… you can still save yourself. If you stop your reign now, I…”
“… I have not heard that name in a long time. Say it again, and I just may consider listening to your drivel.”
“Teo…”
“Louder.”
“Teo.”
“…” Mateus paused, and then he finally faced the white wizard. He was illuminated by the golden sun seeping from the windows; highlighting his porcelain skin and his golden hair that matched the sun’s rays itself. He had always been beautiful, but his heart, compared to the previous predecessors of Palamecia, was cursed to have been more predispositioned to evil.
This was because of the pact that Palamecian Emperors of times long gone had made with the devil. In exchange for plentiful bounties, despite the barren deserts that had surrounded their Empire, a random descendant in their bloodline would be cursed to fall as a vessel of the devil himself. He would become the devil’s successor… a truly terrifying curse.
Even as Minwu was sat there, his wrists bound behind him… he felt no animosity towards him. What he truly felt animosity towards was this curse. Both of them knew that nothing could have been done about it… and perhaps the darkness in Mateus’ own heart only quickened the process. The two of them could only stare at each other, as they reminisced some of the good old days… times long past where life was not as complicated.
***
“Mateus, don’t be shy.”
A very young Mateus could be seen peeking from behind the then-Emperor of Palamecia; his father, who had very much resembled him in stature.
“But Father, he… how do I talk to him?” asked the young Mateus shyly, as he looked at the lad before him. A lad who came from a foreign land. It was scary enough for the young prince to think of speaking to other people outside of the palace, let alone someone from an entirely different land…
“Just like how you talk to other people. Don’t tell me the prince is cowardly?”
“Nnnnno!” young Mateus shook his head, and then he huffed and pushed himself to stomp over to the young child in front of them. The truth was, he was not afraid of the lad… he was nervous. He never saw someone outside of the palace before and… the boy before him was pretty. Very pretty. His little heart started to have this foreign feeling he could never quite place.
“Hello, it is nice to meet you. My name is Minwu.” said the boy from the foreign land, dressed in white robes. “You are the prince of Palamecia?”
“Y-Yes, I am!!” Mateus bowed. “But y-you can call me M-Mat… Mateus! You are… Ming?”
“Minwu.”
“Mindu.”
Minwu chuckled at this. “That is close. Try again.”
“M-Min… Min… Min-Min!”
Minwu could not help but laugh at this. “Heh heh! You are funny. Call me whatever you like.”
As it seemed, the little prince was barely literate. Minwu was summoned by the Palamecian Empire as a result of a diplomatic agreement between Palamecia and Mysidia. He was summoned so that little Prince Mateus could learn magic together with him. His parents figured that if he had someone his age study magic with him, it would have helped him develop his skills better at a young age.
The two would often meet each other every summer. Mateus looked forward to the seasons changing, as it meant that Minwu would once again come to Palamecia in an exchange of knowledge between the two. They would help each other hone their magic spells, and for a time, the two were an indestructible duo. They had a phase where they caused some trouble for some of the grumpier attendants of the palace, which would often be orchestrated by Mateus… Minwu would often help him refine their strategies.
Even at that age, they had proven themselves worthy of being the revered strategists they would be in the future.
And even at that age, Mateus was slowly getting corrupted, despite all the love and care he had been getting. The curse had taken effect, slowly but surely, like a potent poison. Minwu could sense this whenever he would see Mateus in a ravenous pursuit for knowledge… which was often fixated on histories of past empires under unjust authoritarian rule. He also seemed to slowly shift to dark magic instead of the magic he and Minwu learned together.
Minwu's gift of prophecy had developed through the years, and with this, the Emperor and Empress of Palamecia sought his visions to help guide the Empire, persisting in the present and onto the future.
He saw visions of the young prince going through a path of unspeakable darkness. That he was to be defeated by a warrior hailing from a peaceful town, if he would not be able to fight the darkness in his heart. The royal couple was terrified, as they knew the curse all too well… and they had indeed seen the darkness of his heart. They did all they could to fight the curse, and even went as far as to leave the palace to find a cure for him. Perhaps in Mysidia, Salamand, Altair… anywhere. They would even attempt to find the fabled Jade Passage, if it meant finding a cure for their son.
Alas… they died in their conquest, leaving poor Mateus waiting for them indefinitely. Nobody had the heart to tell him, and he waited all his life until he was old enough to understand that they were never coming back.
That further corrupted his soul, as he believed that his parents left him because they never loved him. It pushed him to lead Palamecia with an iron fist, and then he led a conquest to bring entire towns to ashes in attempts to quell the pain in his heart. As well as to alter his destiny that Minwu had foretold.
If he killed the “warrior hailing from a peaceful town” before the said warrior could even reach him, then he could alter his destiny.
He would not allow Minwu’s predictions to come to fruition.
“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.” were Minwu’s last words to his friend before he left Palamecia one last time.
They would no longer meet each other the next summer… and it stayed that way for as long as they could remember.
***
As their past together flashed in their minds in an unspoken moment, the two once more were grounded in their present.
Mateus was now the Emperor ruling over Palamecia with an iron fist, with an insatiable conquest for power. He lusted for power mostly due to the darkness in his heart, and partly to fill the void in what was left of his heart when his parents never came back.
Minwu became the White Wizard of Fynn, advisor to the royal family. He used his gift of divination to help those in need, and to restore peace in the land alongside them and Firion.
Gone were the carefree summers they spent together.
“Min-Min… I do not beg. I do not ask for favours from just anyone… you know that. This will be the only time I will speak like this. Please. Please reconsider. I want you to be by my side.” said the rarely vulnerable Mateus, as he sauntered towards the white mage. He sat on the chair close to him once more, and then leaned forward. He cautiously laid his hand on the mage’s mask, as if asking for his permission.
“…” Minwu made no motion to refuse nor allow him to. Mateus seemed to understand this, and he gently slid his mask down to reveal the smooth, delicate face underneath. He leaned back to appreciate the beauty before him.
His smooth, unblemished brown skin… his thick, curled lashes upon his brown eyes that reminded him of the warm earth that once comforted him. His soft black hair that peeked from underneath his headdress that was adorned by gems. The way his form was both elegant but muscular; the perfect muse for painters to admire. Everything about him was perfect.
“Min-Min… you’re even more beautiful than I remembered. How long has it been since we last met each other?” Mateus’ gaze softened for the first time. For once, there was no lust for power or blood that corrupted those beautiful lilac eyes. No… this time, it was just Mateus. It was just… Teo.
“Far longer than we would have liked it to be.” Minwu whispered back, his eyes reflecting more sorrow than anger. They were most definitely wistful, but he still did his best not to be too affected by this.
“I am asking you once more. I will not kill you. Please, just stay by my side. Let us rule Palamecia – and the rest of the world – together. Just you and me. You… you don’t even need to like me back that way. I have accepted that. Please just be with me. Don’t leave me anymore.”
“Teo, you know why I left… you know why we could never be.” Minwu shook his head, as he balled his bound hands into fists from behind him. “It was our destiny to be apart. All was foretold… and now, it may be too late to do anything. Teo, it is now my turn to negotiate with you. Please… stop this. Stop all this. You did not need to do all this to prove yourself…”
“I have nothing to prove. I am simply the best Emperor there is. Far better than my father, or my forefathers, or even my own mother would have expected.”
“You were your parents’ pride and joy.”
“… If I were, then why did they leave me?”
“It hurt them to leave you… they did everything in their power to stop the curse from taking effect on you. They did not want the pact to take effect on you, and yet…”
“I no longer care for them. They are dead… they are in the past. But you… you are the only person I care about now. The only person left in the present. And now… I ask you one last time.” Mateus said, as his tone started to sound firmer. “Min-Min… will you conquer the world with me, or will you wither for your hopeless insects?”
“… You know my answer, Teo. I decline. I am sorry.” Minwu said in a hushed, yet decisive tone that carried tinges of sadness. “I am sorry.”
“… So be it.” Mateus said with a blank expression, as he rose from his seat. He then paced slowly behind Minwu to place his hands on his shoulders. “Tell me, White Wizard... what do your visions say now?”
“… We… we are both doomed.” Minwu closed his eyes in resignation, his tone low. “You will still perish in their hands, and I will…”
Mateus gently reached for the wrists behind him and unbound him. Minwu instinctively rubbed his wrists without looking back at him. It looked like Mateus had made up his mind.
“Leave. If we are doomed… leave this place.” said Mateus as he prompted the white wizard to depart his palace, his back turned against the mage. “Let this be my last act of kindness towards you. The next time that we meet… I will not show any mercy.”
Minwu bowed his head as he tried to look back at Mateus. “Teo…”
“… Teo is dead.” the Emperor murmured, as he did not even look back at him. The Emperor stayed quiet as he waited for the other man to stand up and leave.
Minwu debated if he should reach out for him, but… he was right. Nothing was like before. All those summers that they shared were nothing but a memory now. The Emperor’s parents were nothing but a memory now. Their friendship… it was nothing but a memory now, of times long gone; times that they will never get back, no matter how much they desired it.
“Farewell… Mateus.” was all that Minwu could say before he put his white mask back on, and then made his way to the door with cautious steps. He took one last glance at the Emperor… the man who used to be his best friend. The man whom he learned magic with. The man who used to have such an innocent laughter. The man who would not even look back at him now as he left Palamecia for good, as they fought from two opposing sides of the war.
With a shaky breath, he bit his lip, a single tear rolling down his face that had soaked his silken white mask. While he had foreseen all this, it was still painful when he had to personally experience it. He tightly gripped the doorknob and then he walked through the door. The door closed with an all-too familiar gentle thud. The last familiar thud that Mateus would ever hear.
Mateus had already mastered the art of letting go of things that were no longer useful to him. His parents? Whether or not they truly died, they were already dead to him. His best friend? Both of them would be dead at the end of this, anyway. He needed to plan ahead. If he were to die, he had to make sure that he took everyone with him.
Especially that wretched Firion. His eye twitched at the thought of the rebel warrior. Not only was he foretold to be the one that would slay him, but he had also apparently caught the heart of his first love… his only love, forever unrequited.
He watched as Minwu made his way away from Palamecia and into the hot desert sands. From his tower, he once watched him fondly and awaited his return every year… but that was no longer going to happen.
Minwu had been sidetracked by this sudden “trip” to Palamecia, but he was now back on his way to his true mission. He was to travel to the Mysidian Tower, where the Ultima Tome was sealed.
The ultimate magic of which the two former best friends dreamt of learning together to protect their own homelands.
By their long-forgotten shared dream, they would both die.