Lucid, Ayame, and Arthur were brought to the inner palace room with cuffs binding their wrists. The queen sat on her throne, hair without any blemish, any fault, any minor disnote. Her skin remained crystal clear. Her eyes were deep sapphire, cold and calculating.
She looked down at the three of them and walked down the steps. Slow. Measured. Each footfall echoing in the vast chamber.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur yelled, struggling against his restraints.
Ayame pulled at her cuffs, but to no avail. The metal bit into her skin, drawing thin lines of blood.
The queen stopped in front of Arthur. She crouched below him, meeting his eyes at his level.
"Arthur," she said softly. "You have been a fine person. You have taught me everything that I ever needed to know. I want you to be my knight."
Lucid could not help but be pissed off. After what she said inside that soulscape. That she planned for all of this. Used them all like pieces on a board.
A foot came down at the side of his cheek. He was repeatedly met with an iron fist as well. His face snapped to the side. Blood filled his mouth. He healed in the process, white light flickering weakly.
The blue figure with their cape and concealed head, Lyssandra, told him to stay quiet.
Ayame watched desperately. Wanted to intercept. Her eyes flashed red.
The queen ignored the commotion. "You can be my knight right now. I am the queen. You do not need any graduation ceremony. All I want you to do is be by my side and forget these people."
Arthur looked to his side. At Lucid bleeding on the floor. At Ayame straining against her bonds.
"Vow a new oath to me, Arthur." The queen pressed his chin with her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes.
Arthur laughed. A bitter, hollow sound.
"I vow an oath to myself, then to the people, and then only should I vow an oath to you."
Lucid smiled. A bloody smile, teeth stained red.
The queen's innocent face was broken for just a moment. Her cold, hard gaze met Arthur's.
Then she smiled. "Very well. You pass."
Arthur looked bewildered. "What?"
"I knew you were not naive enough, Fredri... oops, I almost slipped." She resumed a more casual tone now, standing up. "Good. You remain true to your principles. That is what I need."
Lucid yelled from below the feet of the paladin. "What do you want with us?"
The foot threatened to cave down his skull. Lyssandra's weight shifted, prepared to crush.
The queen raised her hand. Lyssandra stepped back.
"It is simple. I want to sponsor you. I want you to head down—"
"Hell no!" Lucid yelled.
The foot released, and he was kicked into a shelf of an armory where silver swords lay and armor hung. He crashed into it. Metal clattered to the ground.
Ayame briefly stood up, but Arthur pulled down at her sleeve. "Wait."
The queen looked down at their confused faces. "I shall head to the Order. Well, they are the Order. Every leader, every representative of each faction and kingdom and empire participates in the Order. Of course, some do not and do not care for such things. Others do."
She walked back toward her throne, hands clasped behind her back.
"There used to be one like this before. It was called the Old Commission. But it was destroyed long ago by a single person. Though I cannot blame her actions. The Old Commission was composed of factions that supported Materna. Though Materna did not really participate themselves."
Lyssandra carried Lucid back to where Ayame and Fredrick were. His wounds were healing, skin knitting back together.
Lucid asked, his voice strained. "I do not understand, though. Should the person that had the Holy Grail not have absolute authority over the scattered realms? Moreover, can a non-Illuminated be one?"
"I am an Awakened," she said, her tone low and matter-of-fact. "Lyssandra, the Sky-Sundered Saint, is an Enlightened of the Ascendant rank. My powers are physiological. I do not wish to discuss my powers so freely, but know that I can give you an illusion."
She looked at Arthur, hand below her chin, a smile playing at her lips.
"Of course, some illusions may be true. But who is to say they are not?"
"Do you need to be an Illuminated to enter the Transcendence race?" Lucid asked.
"No."
"But what is in it for us? Why should I follow after your scheme?"
Her eyes narrowed to a glare. Cold. Absolute.
"What do you desire, Lucid?" She spoke his name like a weapon. "Riches? Power? Fame? Honor? I can give it to you."
He looked down, thinking. Then looked back up.
"Yeah, about six diamond coins will do. Plus interest."
"Lucid!" Arthur yelled, shocked.
She laughed. Genuine amusement lighting her face. "My, you really are an unpredictable variable. Very well."
She looked at Ayame. "And you?"
Ayame spoke quietly. "To revive my clan."
The queen nodded. Then she looked at Arthur.
He stayed silent. Did not say anything.
Lyssandra spoke in an overly formal tone. "Thou shouldst speak, or thy actions may lead to consequences."
The queen's voice was low and teasing. "What is the matter? Do you not want to be my knight? Do you not want to be my most trusted subject?"
Arthur looked at Lucid. Then down at himself. His jaw clenched.
"I wish to protect you. My oath remains unbroken. And I also wish to protect this kingdom. So no amount of words can persuade me from doing so, even if you carry orders for me to do otherwise."
Lucid looked at Arthur. He was impressed. Truly.
"Alright then. Alright." The queen's voice was formal again. "Transportation and any costs and fees shall be covered by the royal decree of Vex. You are now hereby sponsored by Queen Elara, and I wish you a safe journey. Upon your expeditions, you may encounter others sponsored by other factions. You do not have the protection of the Transcendence rules, so stay prudent on your journey. And abide by my orders."
An orange glow traveled up Ayame Arthur's arm, coiling around her wrist and hardening into an ancient band etched with burning runes.
"This is the Mark."
"And you are to carry it to the southern reaches of Osteria — to Port Vexis."
"There has been a concerning rise in deaths, and cultists opposing the Luminari Covenant…"
"I want you to go there and rid the city of them."
"Of course, if you stray from my path…"
"The Mark will carry the wrath of Mother Alisia. And her wrath can be… exceedingly brutal."
Lucid spoke, voice challenging. "So when you do get your Grail thing, what will you do? How am I not so sure that you will just go around and commit genocide? Because your actions do not align well with what is being said and what you did."
"What do I want and what do I wish for? Hmm, interesting question." She paused, considering. "I want to decide the fate of my kingdom."
"But that is not for you to decide."
"I agree. But is it also for Mother Fate to decide? We are all connected to her. All of our wills, acts, generosity, all intent are driven and predicted by her will before we may act."
"No. We have free will."
"Do we, Lucid?" Her voice was soft, dangerous. "What is to say that you will not make it back alive? What is to say that you will have coffee over tea this evening? What is to say that you will die tomorrow by my hands?"
He looked down. Thought. Then looked back up.
"I'll make it back alive because i want to, no i need to... I usually will have tee over coffe and I alone am responsible of my own death."
She laughed. "My, how splendid. Arthur, you found a great partner. Now, journey well. You may contact me through the pendant House of Valerius gave you."
"Since when did you—" Lucid started.
"I have my ways," she said.
The gates remained closed. That day, down the kingdom, Lucid walked. Ayame stuck close. Arthur walked close as well. Not sure what they had walked themselves into.
Lucid laughed.
"What is so funny?" Arthur said. He was pretty down, shoulders slumped.
"My hair has grown!" Lucid touched the back of his head like a curious child with both of his hands.
Ayame sighed and gave an imperceptible smile. Barely visible.
As the three of them walked side by side, a certain figure with a wide-brimmed hat that obscured their eyes, with green hair, sat at a table looking down the road. Watched them pass.
It was the fortune teller.
She spoke to herself, voice quiet.
"I followed your script. As always."
"How interesting. This is the path you envisioned, right?"
"How interesting indeed. I am rather curious as well."
The fortune teller smiled. Took a sip of tea. The three figures disappeared down the street, unaware they were being watched.
Unaware that every step they took had been planned long before they were born.
The fortune teller set down her cup. Looked at the leaves at the bottom. Read the pattern.
"Yes," she whispered. "I'm quite curious as well."