The Requiem Of An Empress

Sarakiel"s eyes narrowed upon considering a thought that he had a deep-rooted repugnance to.

"Did the Empress suffer the consequences of gaining immortality at an obscenely tender age?" - He muttered his abas.e.m.e.nt with a blistering mixture of despondency and fury.

Roughly two aethras ago, the Duke had witnessed the quest of the Revesta Tribe, a kin of demi-humans known for their transitory lifespan averaging 36 aethras, in their attempt to obtain eternal prosperity for the current generation. Unsurprisingly, their failure was stamped the moment they aspired for it.

He could still hear the harrowing screams of the tribe people, gradually drowned by the repulsive sound of flesh melting and bones crumbling; smell the amalgamation of bodily liquids that pooled the dirt, transforming the ground into a muddy disaster; see the magic circle ingurgitate what little life and mana it could from the wreckage. The experience left a perpetual bitter taste in his mouth. It was totally unsavoury that disremembering it would be the last deed he can do.

Wherefore, with that image in mind, he was aggravated of the thought that the Empress underwent an ordeal as such. What"s more, it was when she ought to be learning how to read and write.

Although he was talking under his breath, to his comrades, Sarakiel"s statements were as apparent as his trembling hands. Mikhail and Zelel had a slew of questions to ask, yet they opted to remain quiet for it was the more appropriate action to take.

All of a sudden, Duke Helian snapped his head towards Tara and Sura with a prying, nearly pontifical, glare. If not for the man"s role, the twins would"ve considered his gesture to be misplaced vulgarity.

"Explain.", Sarakiel commanded without removing the demand"s ambiguity.

Fortunately, the maids were amply clever to capably grasp the meaning behind the knight"s message. Tara enlisted to respond, sighing an air of resignation before she did so.

"Let"s be honest. There are many nations that research the quintessence of immortality, Karche Kingdom is no exception. Accordingly, as the heirs of a ducal household, we have seen the numerous experimentations of the Kingdom with our own eyes. We are perfectly aware of how gruesome it is for the people who are directly involved. I don"t know if this answer will comfort your aching conscience, My Lord. However, that was not the case for the Empress." she paused, contemplating on whether to open the labyrinth of a novel regarding her master"s life.

"The contexture for Her Highness"s acquirement is sort of complicated. That is--", Tara, with interlocked hands, shifted her gaze from the impatient man to the sleeping Empress. She is worried about the repercussions of entertaining the Duke"s questions loquaciously.

Sarakiel noticed the uncertainty in her body language, ergo, he spoke up to keep the conversation going.

"Complicated? Is it something that the Empress forbid you to tell us?" - Sarakiel, with a hint of restlessness, questioned the maid. The suspense in the woman"s hesitation to speak added to his annoyance.

"Well, it"s not that we were forbidden, My Lord. It"s simply... quite difficult for me to talk about.", Tara then lowered her head and firmly shut her eyes to rattle the indecisiveness out of her mind. She faced the Duke after a couple of seconds.

"Earlier, we did acquaint you that the Empress is living her second life. On the dier she should"ve been happily celebrating her 6th aethras from birth, she mournfully pa.s.sed away because of an unprecedented cause. The Royal Family was tormented with the death of Her Highness, so much that they were willing to utilize any method just to bring her back. Therefore, the 1st Prince delivered, promptly ordering the magicians to use her as the main testee of their next trial. ", following her speech, the maid bowed her head once more, trying to prevent the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

Sura observed her sister, sympathizing with the latter"s emotional sentiment. Howbeit, the situation is obliging them to be rationally reserved. Hence, she met the stare of Sarakiel who was presently appalled of what he heard.

"Are you wondering how the Empress" family could stomach the idea of exploiting her premature death, Lord Helian? ", Sura extrapolated the Duke"s thoughts by solely scrutinizing his countenance, and she hit a painful spot with that query.

The corners of Sarakiel"s mouth went up ever so slightly, as though sneering at how the seemingly benign remark managed to offend him.

"It would make me a hypocrite if I state that I loathe people that commit atrocities against children. I have my fair share of unwarranted killings of innocent minors, be it during a war or a mission. I am still bearing the shame of my wrongdoings, vowing to not repeat them in the future.", every word that Sarakiel uttered was seeping with mockery not exclusively to the Empress" relatives, but also to himself.

He removed the touch that he had on the Empress" hand, latterly clenching his fists that tightened by the second.

"Withal, voluntarily violating the body of your own blood to use them as a test subject? There is a special place in the underworld for those people. They chose to give her the burden of eternal life for the benefit of completing their examen.", the Duke declaimed his outlook that was full of misprision, the ridicule in his visage long replaced by abhorrence.

Sura"s jaws hardened as she gritted her teeth, clearly unappreciative of the ill-favoured comment.

"And what do you suggest, My Lord? Resurrection? You do know that, even to us who are able to manipulate mana, the idea of resurrection is as absurd as immortality. However, at that time, the research on immortality was the sole option available. Are you too privileged to comprehend what I"m saying?"

"No, they should have honoured her death, let her soul rest peacefully in the heavens. And what privileges are you talking about? The Seraphiel Empire has not yet conducted a disquisition on either."

The maid audibly stifled her breath. She felt insulted, obliquely branded as heartless.

"I guess it is convenient for you to downplay the longing of those who had engaged in an act opposed to your righteous philosophy despite the fact that they"re grieving. It"s easy for you to say that when the G.o.d of death hasn"t paid a visit to any your loved ones. How resentful.", Sura finally let go of her restraints as she unfeignedly displayed hostility towards Sarakiel.

Meanwhile, the whole time that the maid was speaking, the knight"s grip slowly loosened up. In turn, his gaze harnessed a sharper glint, making the woman heighten her guard.

"Death hasn"t visited, you say?", the Duke said as he took a step forward.

"Aren"t we two peas in a pod? Like it had nothing to do with us, we spouted accusatory statements that solely validated our morals. If only you knew the number of comrades whom I"ve seen perish in battles, you wouldn"t have done the same fault. Even recently, I, no we, we almost lost Khamael to those dem-"

"Enough."

Immediately upon Sarakiel"s ingress at an inch distance away from Sura, Mikhail inserted himself in the s.p.a.ce between the two to intervene in their discord, first halting the lad"s unfiltered sermon.

Concurrently, Zelel grabbed Duke Helian by the shoulders to put some distance in the middle of the pair of distraught adolescents.

"The Empress is right in front of us, yet you dare show such an unsightly behaviour? Do both of you have no shame in your conduct?"- Mikhail gave them a reproaching sans raising his voice. He was not mad per se, merely disappointed that the n.o.bles got carried away by their emotions.

The misdoers hurriedly dropped their heads out of contrition. In a sense, the couple was aware that their spontaneous quarrel was nothing short of blasphemy. Nevertheless, they ceded control of their presence of mind to their unstable emotions, resulting to the disarray of the order of objectives. For that reason, Sarakiel and Sura deftly admitted that they were to blame.

"I sincerely apologize, My Lord. This will not happen again."

"I ask for your forgiveness, Lord Percival. I also express my regret for lashing out on you, Lord Sarakiel. I should"ve known that all of us have our own painful encounters. There could"ve been a better way to get our points across without hurting each other. "

"I very much agree, Lady Kishnar. I am sorry for what I"ve said. It was indecorous of me to undermine the lament of Her Highness" family and the two of you who continues to serve her unconditionally."

"I accept your apology, My Lord."

Mikhail, satisfied that he didn"t need to force them to offer their remorse, sighed with relief once the reconciliation transpired.

"Let"s proceed with our business now that you"ve resolved your differences. What do you surmise of the Empress" infirmity, Sarakiel?" - Percival inquired while he traipsed back to his initial spot by the fireplace, turning their attention to the most pressing matter at the moment.

The Duke readily straightened his body to properly address the interrogatory. Granting that the tension within the room lessened, it does not dismiss the actuality that the Empress" condition is in a dangerous state. The sobriety of their duty was still plastered on his visage.

"Subsequent to observing the changes in the DNA Methylation, namely the epigenetic clock and epigenetic drift, in her blood, I can safely say that the Empress" physique is similar to that of a toddler"s, organs, muscles, bones, and all. Her outer appearance is probably the doing of the spell to match her supposed growth. Physical aspects aside, the mana residing in her body has not matured at all. Be that as it may, there is one thing that I"m utterly curious of."

Sarakiel regarded Sura to notify her of his upcoming probing.

"What is it My Lord?"- The maid said, giving him the go-ahead.

"I can detect multiple layers of mana veils encompa.s.sing the Empress" body. Howbeit, the mana signature of the veils is dissimilar to the fragmentary immortality spell. As I"ve concluded, correct me if I"m wrong, this concealment is your feat, isn"t it? It is emitting the same aura that you and your siblings have."

"Yes, that is right, Lord Helian. It is the combination of our efforts. Our spell activates at the end of the dier, provided that there are wounds to enshroud. The veils are sectional, concealing only the areas of injury."

"I see. Then why did you do it? I cannot make out the necessity for it when the immortality spell has a function of healing Her Highness" wounds in an instant."

The older twin leered at her sister, hoping to pa.s.s the responsibility of discussing the overcomplicated topic. Dismally, Tara looked tensed, still upset from the recollection. Sura had no other choice, so she responded herself.

"You see, Your Grace, we haven"t a.s.similated how the spell works entirely. Apropos to your confusion, except for some instances wherein the wounds were nothing but insignificant, this incantation does not heal any of the Empress injuries, nor it covers them up."

Sarakiel tilted his head to the side, markedly further puzzled of the new data.

"Insignificant? What"s the basis for that?"

"Predicated on our observations, bruises and lacerations that are twain smaller and thinner than the tiniest magic circle that could be drawn suffice the insignificant criterion."

"Isn"t that considerably small?"

"Yes, My Lord. It"s akin to the size of an eye pupil."

"And how many layers are in effect?"

It was an indispensable query to broach, born from the concern of a healer. Withal, somehow, through scrutinizing the mien of the maid, it was a topic she wanted to avoid. Sura repeatedly opened and closed her mouth, debating with herself if she"s in the right to tattle. After a while, she settled on pursing her lips, an answer in itself.

"Well, if it"s burdensome for you to discuss, then can you give us permission to find it out ourselves? Otherwise, we"ll have to waste time in convincing the two of you." - Sarakiel proposed, honest to his purpose.

Truth to be told, the discretion on the procedures to be done on the Empress does not fall on the twins" decisions, but to Duke Helian who"s the main worker. Regardless of that, he made it a point to seek for the siblings" input for the sake of civility.

"11 aethras worth."

"Pardon?", Sarakiel faced the source of the voice, a fog clouding his vision. Mikhail and Zelel"s reactions reflected the one that the lad had.

"11 aethras worth of concealment is the response you are looking for, My Lord. In that window, there was never a dier that Her Highness spent without torments that greatly jeopardized her life.", Tara conveyed, in a feeble manner, her reply that struck the knights like a mace on their heads.