"Brother...what is the meaning of this? Your appearances around Valtherion, the way you're all laughing? We just sent the boy to war..." Ahri seemed sorrowful as she questioned her brother's behaviour.
"Ahri...my sister, I know it all seems misplaced. My heart is heavy; I wish I could tell you all some things, however...I can't. Not yet. All I can tell you is Valtherion is the Goddess' Favourite. Remember the baptism, sister..." Alexander spoke with both sorrow and expectation, as he knew what was coming.
Ahri's eyes flickered for a second; she thought about conversations she'd had with Morgana, then the baptism and the intervention of the Imperial Seer who had lost her mind. The words she had spoken until finally something clicked in her mind.
"No...No...Alexander, you cannot allow this to happen! Alexander, please, stop this madness! He is barely sixteen, Alexander; you cannot allow this to happen at all. This is too much!" Ahri seemed to have lost her rationality as she rushed towards her brother, hitting him on the chest as tears fell one after another. The Emperor lightly embraced his sister as he let her vent.
"There was nothing we could do, Princess Ahri. Prophecies can not be avoided. Had we tried to intervene, we could have caused a bigger tragedy than this to occur..." The War Marshal said as his head was down, the laughter gone from his face. War was death; war was loss. Even if the Empire won, it would not be without a price. The Dark Elves commanded their hordes well, their intellect equal if not even better than that of humans.
"Emperor! I do not know what is going on...you just sent my godson to war...Please, allow me to join him!" Luther bowed down as his head reached the floor. Dain was the next to follow. Prophecies from the seer were fatal, and they knew the moment they heard it, they would not understand it until they lived it through. There was no point in asking questions to which they would not receive an answer. A warrior did what a warrior did best - pick up his sword and advance.
Juliet was deep in thought as she was learning more and more new things. The reason why her father wanted her to possibly marry Valtherion, as well as why he was gifting him such valuable gifts...it seemed like Valtherion was destined for glorious deeds; whether they resulted in his death or not was unknown.
"Luther, my friend, do not hate me. I know you love the boy and he is as your son. You heard the prophecy; you just never realised it. Louis knew since the birth of the boy and has carried it with a heavy heart until now. The fact that he could not even summon him personally and Morgana had to do it, it says a lot. Keep this secret, in the name of your son...Louis will either baptise your son in the Holy City, or you will both bury Valtherion there." Luther heard the Emperor's voice in his mind as he raised his head and met his golden eyes. Now he understood as well what it all meant, how things were prophesied to go. Nobody heard what had been transmitted to him; only he and Ahri knew.
"Luther...Dain, you might die or bury a loved one if you go. Do you still wish to depart?" The Emperor spoke now with his voice, looking at his Imperial Guards.
Ahri turned around and looked towards Luther. She could see the sorrow of understanding the prophecy on his face, yet she also saw resolution on his face. She nodded towards him.
"Ahri. Take Axel, head to Emberfall. Morgana has known it for her whole life and has had to carry it with her. Her only son...Go there, depart now. I am going with my Godson. Let us see how we will go down in history. Dain, you do not have to come. You're young, an only son. There would be no shame to remain here. As strong as you are, this War will be one that will reshape the whole Empire." Luther spoke, determined to see it to the end. It was either glory, or glory in death. The result had already been fixed; fate had decided.
"No. I am coming. My cousin is barely 16 and will lead armies. If what you say is true, then why not leave my name in history? I may be an only son, but I am not a coward. My duty lies in my homeland. Let us depart, grab the child. Embercity awaits! My cousin awaits! My uncle awaits! The whole east, my father and grandfather await us!" Dain spoke each word with determination; he was going, regardless of who was coming with him or not. Everyone in his family, except Alexstraza, was fighting in the East.
"Father...what is going on? Is there nothing we can do to stop this?" Juliet asked as she looked towards the Marshal, whose head lay low; Jenkins, who did not dare take a look at Ahri or Luther; and finally her father, who had his hands clenched, yet met everyone's gaze.
"No, Juliet. When the gods wage war against each other...our fates are already sealed. A bet has been made in the Heavenly Palace; we mortals cannot do anything but go through it..." Alexander said, disappointment evident. Orianna had picked a champion and declared victory a year ago, indeed; however...how many lives will be lost? What of the war that was to follow after that? The Salerios Empire had heavy years ahead.
"Prophecies and whatnot...Father... I agree to the arrangement; I accept that marriage... however, if he is to fall, I will marry no one. Is that understood?" Juliet took a step forward as she looked the Emperor straight in the eyes.
"Yes, my daughter. Let it be him, or no one else, if that is how you wish it." Alexander agreed, giving his blessing. All or nothing.
"Then, father, you will have to excuse me...It seems I will have to begin my duties earlier than intended. I am leaving the capital." Juliet bowed as she departed, Alfred tailing behind her. He had not said a word until now, but he understood some things. Valtherion would either live as a hero or be buried as one. All he wished for was to help him, to be there for him.
"Your highness...Are you going to Emberfall? Please, take me with you if so!" Alfred bowed in front of her, standing in her way, knowing it could cost him his life.
"Get up! We are leaving in a bit!" Juliet walked past him, climbed onto her horse and beckoned to him to take the reins of his own horse. In the end, she left with the two butlers.
Two minutes later, Ahri, Dain and Luther followed on horseback. Ahri had created a rain protection barrier, shielding her son in an embrace, while Dain and Luther had to bear the storm.
Their destination was obvious...Emberfall!