Aliya knocked on Xerxes' door, inviting him to her workspace. With nothing much to do and Airi resting, he couldn't think of any reason to object. Plus, she asked in a way that showed some desperation in her voice.
They then headed over to the medical room, and Xerxes was invited to an assortment of various potions with vibrant liquids swirling in their bases. There were: pink, purple, white and red that had writing on them.
Healing, Poison, Mana increase and Strength. Xerxes didn't know how any of them were possibly brewed, but he did recall a moment where Aemon had told him, 'Rose Orkalia' plants are used for healing potions, so maybe he could spot them.
He pointed at a pink rose that was withering away, but still emitting the same 'warm' feeling, healing mana provided. "Is that the Rose Orkalia?"
Aliya nodded, slightly surprised with his knowledge, "I am surprised you know. Various other plants can be used, but for convenience and potency's sake, we use the rose."
She went on to explain the other ones, starting with poison, but Xerxes was extremely familiar with poison, after all, the southernmost parts of Layne were filled with it, making the people grow natural resistances over time.
And as expected, the plant which was used was called "Phornaroot."
"Phornaroot was especially useful in our old days when we didn't have a leader for the outpost. This was no more than 4-5 years ago, when Conrad was still recovering from a devastating attack, and then I took control. You'd think it to be the Lieutenant, but no one has the survival skills as I do. Surviving The Fallen Kingdom isn't about being strong; it's about being tactful with the resources around you."
"You, Mrs Aliya, led the outpost!?" He could barely get the surprise tone from seeping into his speech.
Aliya responded with a victorious grin, but perhaps the tale of that battle would be answered another day, she thought.
Promptly moving along, she then went on to explain further depths of what was held in her workroom, and Xerxes couldn't fathom half of it, but he knew it was amazing and required diligence and expertise in her field.
Xerxes looked in confusion, "So Aliya, what even is all of this?"
Aliya smiled whilst walking over, "This is the role I play for the Truth Kingdom; I provide medicines to the townspeople, healing potions to those at the outpost, strength potions, and I try to research more into the mana beasts, using what Aemon has left for us."
Xerxes had never really considered the importance she held within the city; she was more like a figure shadowed by the immense power of her husband and father-in-law, but in reality, the city prospered off her work.
Healing, strength, medicines, it was all essential for the outpost and for the townspeople to prosper, and Xerxes couldn't help but respect her in the likes of Aemon and Conrad.
"What you do here, Aliya, it's so important. I haven't ever got the chance to see all of this deeply and even thank you for what you do, so no time like the present, right?"
"A young man with great manners, exactly how I'd expect you to be after saving your life," she chuckled, whilst patting him on the shoulder.
"Anyway, I have information regarding Airi and what I was able to derive from the type of mana beast she is."
So this is what she called me here, Xerxes' thoughts finally being answered.
"Ancient mana beasts are known to be aligned with particular elements, and there are a few that are still alive in today's world. Whether it be ancient texts recovered from The Fallen Kingdom that provided the knowledge, or historical reports and sightings of them, they're a confirmed species."
She flipped through a few pages of a book stored on her desk and began showing it to Xerxes.
"First is what we know as the Elderwood Beast, a beast that controls nature, and it is considered one of the weakest amongst its kind; however, in the Fallen Kingdom, its strength is somewhat unparalleled due to the vast amount of nature this place has."
The depiction in the book was something resembling a chimaera; it was grotesque but alluring. It had a lion-esque body, with antlers resembling branches of trees and a wicked expression that instilled fear into the hearts of those who saw it.
"The beast following that is something we call the stormveil; don't let the name fool you. 'Born from storms and war, it emerged, casting down its fury on the entirety of the Fallen Kingdom,' is what has been said about it. As the passage hints, it does control storms, so it is in possession of an enhanced level of water and ice magic."
The drawing depicted a serpentine beast wreathed in black clouds of smoke, with enraged eyes that were pressing and dominant. There wasn't much to really gather, as it was mostly wreathed in that smoke.
However, Xerxes' curiosity piqued when Aliya mentioned something.
"Currently, there is someone like you who is in possession of such an ancient beast; he is an elven mage from the Kingdom of Eros, respected as one of the strongest mages, and his name is Cyrus Lanthir."
Lanthir, Xerxes thought, it couldn't be, could it? He had heard that name before, but only very briefly; it was when Guild Master Tully and Vanessa were conversing about a potential threat he may hold on the guild, but why was that the case?
"I know the name of Lanthir, but I don't want to believe he has it..."
Xerxes tried to brush past the anger he held towards Cyrus Lanthri and then asked. "If most of the ancient beasts are within the Fallen Kingdom, then how did he get a hold of it?"
Aliya turned to the next page and thought deeply. "That is what I am having trouble figuring out; I have never seen or even sensed the mage known as Cyrus Lanthir, but one thing is for sure: to claim a beast like that, someone else must have already been in possession of the stormveil beast. So, it could have gone two ways; Cyrus either killed that person for the beast, or the beast saw something in Cyrus that it didn't see in its own master."
She took a moment to think, explaining the harsh reality, "I doubt it is the latter, ancient beasts tethering to another soul is very unlikely and the reports I had gotten on the Stormveil beasts belong to a continent east of your own, Fedradia."
Xerxes shot Aliya a concerning glance. If her analysis was true, when he returned to the Layne, could there be people who would try to kill him over his mana beast?
"Could anyone want to kill me?" Xerxes asked nervously, expressing his thoughts.
Aliya sighed and looked upset to answer. "I won't try and make you feel better and lie, so, yes, you may have people coming after you if they know you have a phoenix, but that's not the dangerous thing. The dangerous thing is that ordinary people aren't familiar with ancient mana beasts, so the people you do encounter that would want to kill you would either be in a position of power from their status or from their raw physical strength."
Xerxes took a slow exhale and nodded. "I won't let anyone take her from me; no matter who they are, I have more damn honour than dying to someone like that!"
Aliya agreed. "Yes, and that is how it should be; if Airi or any of the ancient mana beasts were in the hands of the wrong person, then it could spell disaster. There aren't any accessories like a sword that can be replaced; they are weapons of a different calibre that invoke destruction if used irrationally."
"I'll keep Airi safe, Aliya, I promise," he confirmed matter-of-factly.
"I'll hold you to that when you return to the Fallen Kingdom; I do hope you visit when you set out on your journey. You will, won't you?"
Xerxes looked at everyone. He thought of the Truth Kingdom, and it wasn't something he could leave behind indefinitely. This was
"The next beast is a Hollow; there isn't actually a drawing for the beast, but what is known is that it controls a strange portion of mana, unique to demons, called gas magic. Not even Aemon knows the full capabilities of the mana, as in his time, it wasn't something known widely, but this beast could be anywhere—in the Fallen Kingdom, in someone's possession, with us right now—but I am not sure. One thing is certain: this beast is definitely terrifying."
"Lastly is the phoenix."
Flipping the last page, Xerxes saw a phoenix; it was drawn more intimidating than Airi—perhaps that was similar for all of them.
Aliya chuckled and pointed at it. "Airi is so cute; there is no way she could be as scary as that"
Xerxes agreed and then asked Aliya, "So, what does it say about Airi, and what have your studies shown you?"
"Airi bears the gift of life and fire; her flames are derived from two natures. One of healing and one of destructive flames that burn all. The phoenix is one and eternal; even through 'death', it will rise through the ashes reborn, burning through her destiny."
Rise through the ashes reborn—Xerxes was hearing that quote more than often, from Aemon and now from Aliya, and her studies gave her answers to her flames.
"It does make sense; if she is a gift of life, as it says, her flames would be capable of such, but the destructive flames and 'burning through her destiny'—what could it possibly mean?"
"That isn't for me to find out; whatever it is, know that the answer will likely provide you with strange answers. It's all a big puzzle, and one part of the puzzle is something I can help you with."
Frowning, Xerxes raised an eyebrow.
"Do me a favour, radiate some fire mana from your hand, keep it controlled but at Tier 6."
Xerxes obliged, and fire began sprawling from his hands, rotating into a spherical shape.
Aliya then put out a hand of her own, and the nature of the magic she had was finally revealed. It was fire; she too did the same as Xerxes.
"Bear in mind, I am a Tier 5 mage with fire, but this level of power is Tier 6. What I am getting at is that there's not a vast difference in firepower, wouldn't you agree?"
Xerxes began to analyse their firepower, and he didn't want to boast his own strength, but it seemed as if his firepower was almost three times stronger. Was it because of the fact he was near enough ready to pass onto the next tier? He didn't know, but he answered.
"It seems I've surpassed your strength?" Xerxes answered, shocked even when articulating it.
"That is what I suspected; I imagine you yourself have an influence on his power, then the next person being Airi, but for the strength to be three times my ordinary power means that it is something to do with Airi, or it runs even deeper."
Xerxes admired the flames, and in the midst of his flames, almost peering back at him, an answer was given to him and him alone.
There were draconic-like eyes, with a daunting and imposing gaze, peering back at him, as Xerxes immediately extinguished the fire, terror enveloping his being
"It's him," he muttered.
The wisps and crackling of the flame made it so no one could hear him well, but Xerxes knew the power wasn't a fluke; his words weren't a lie.
Xerxes decided to quickly thank Aliya for her information and hastily left the room. His body started feeling feverish, and everything around him was spinning. He tried his best to reach the room.
"Only a few more steps," Xerxes whispered through gritted teeth.
With a few more agonising steps, Xerxes arrived at his room, but before he could close his door, he collapsed on the floor.