Reunion

I walked side by side with the Keeper looking around the palace. Its glimmering walls and ceilings were polished and flower wreaths hung on the wall. I noticed some were seasonal and others were kept preserved by magic.

We took a turn and came to a wider area in the hall which was adorned with framed golden words of wisdom and courage, as well as a few portraits of the royal family and the battles that the fae had fought over many centuries. One portrait was of a man with sharper eyes and features than the rest. I had learned earlier in life that this particular man was the first representative King of Nanari in the monarchy.

He was known to be someone of strong values. Someone who believed in preserving culture, tradition and modesty within our people. Someone who rejected the fae of the old and their belief of them being symbols of divinity and power.

My eyes landed on the next portrait. Which was of my family - or rather my adopted family. I stopped to gaze at it. I noticed in the portrait I was quite young, my stature was small and height minuscule compared to everyone else at that time. I was wearing a golden tiara and a deep purple traditional gown. My eyes were sparkling and I had a small smile on my face.

Next to me was my brother, he had his arms crossed behind his back and stood over me like a protective guardian - alert and sharp. He was wearing a purple waist coat adorned with some gold embroidery and underneath the waist coat was a simple brown royal gown. Back then, I did not notice it, but our clothes were miniature versions of our parent’s clothing that day. Looking at it now, it brought a smile to my face.

We looked happy.

“Sentinal Thalia, is there something wrong?”

The Keeper’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts and I almost jumped. I quickly composed myself and looked towards the Keeper. He was staring at me with a confused expression. I suppose I must have been looking quite odd to make even the normally composed Keeper confused.

“Of course, just… this…” I pointed to the portrait, “...this portrait, I thought it was nice.”

The Keeper looked towards the portrait, then at me and his expression changed to the composed face of a Keeper once again. He only gave a single nod before he started to move again expecting me to follow.

I started walking fast trying to keep up with him.

At last, we came to a door adorned with several runes and an emblem of several swirls meeting in the middle, with a circle around them - this symbol apparently represented the Keepers of Nanari and its true meaning was simple yet profound. The swirls were the Keepers and the meeting at the center represented Unity, the Keepers never acted alone, they were stronger together and they knew it.

I stood behind the Keeper as he knocked once, then twice and waited with his arms behind his back in a more formal stance than before. My brother had that effect on all the soldiers present here. Keepers had a deep respect for authority and authority figures - especially the Monarchy, Sentinels and of course the Grand Keeper, which was my brother.

The door opened and out stepped a man with ice blue eyes and sharp pupils, he had a slightly pale face much like the other Keepers but his face had soft edges, Nevertheless, his authoritative tall figure gave off an aura of command which translated into instant respect from anyone. I should know, he was my brother after all.

“Keeper Sol” He spoke in a deep voice then turned to look at me, “Sentinel Thalia.” He said with a nod, I nodded back, “Grand Keeper Yozoran.” I replied in a respectful soft tone.

Yozoran turned back to Keeper Sol, “You are excused.”

Keeper Sol nodded and started to walk away without question.
After he had left completely, my brother relaxed and opened his arms for an embrace.

I jumped into his arms without question immediately with glee, “Oh brother, I’ve missed you so much.” I let out a childish squeak melting into his embrace, compared to him I felt so small his arms covered most of my armor.

“I missed you too sister, it feels like months since I last saw you.” He said and hugged me back.

After a few seconds Yozoran let me go and led me into his room. “I have something quite wonderful to tell you, Thalia.” He said, closing the door behind us.

Yozoran’s office was quaint, there was not a lot of furnishing, only a few artifacts he used for sending and receiving messages as well as a wooden desk with a stack of papers on it which he was no doubt working on. He leaned against it with the widest grin I have ever seen on his face in a very long time.

“Brother, may I inquire what is this wonderful thing you have to tell me?”

“Well, as you know I have been courting someone.”

Yes, in fact I did. I also knew for a fact that she was the Princess of the Soranus region - Freya Osmandus. Our parents had gone several times to dinner at the Royal Palace of Soranus. Yozoran was really invested in this relationship, and truth be told I was too, not just for the fact that he was my brother, but also that the girl was just perfect for him. She was smart, caring and beautiful. The two of us had also recently become close friends and had spent a lot of time talking about each other, and of course my brother.

Now, standing before me with that expression I had already guessed what this wonderful news was, but I wanted to hear it directly from him.

“Freya and I are getting married at the end of this season!”

I gasped and hugged my brother once again, even tighter this time - well as tight as was possible for me.

“Oh brother, this is just wonderful to hear. I am really happy for you.”

“Thank you, now you know why I was impatient to have you back here.”

As if suddenly remembering what I had come to the Royal Palace to do I pulled back from his embrace.

Sensing the sudden shift in my mood Yozoran’s mood soured as well which I deeply regretted.

“Thalia, is everything well?”

I gulped then shook my head slowly.

“Yozoran, the reason I came back so quickly, was that I sensed something in one of the human villages near the border.”

Yozoran came close and held my shoulders gently looking at me with his blue eyes that were now gentle and kind, all traces of authority gone.

“Thalia, are you well?”

I shook my head again.

“So many voices.” I said in a trembling tone, “so many of them… I heard them crying out for help. But I couldn’t do anything because of the border. It was so hard to turn away.”

“It’s not your fault. You did the right thing.”

“No. No I didn't, that is why I need to go back.”

Yozoran stepped back at my resolute tone, “Go back…” He repeated the words trying to make sense of them.

“Yes, I came back to ask mother and father for permission to go to the village and find out what is truly going on.”

Yozoran stayed silent for a while mulling over the information then he shook his head, “Mother and father are quite busy with the other monarchs. So much has been lost and damaged because of the Darkest war and… him.”

I sighed, “I know, but this cannot wait either. This was not just a cry for help.” I paused contemplating whether or not I should continue. Yozoran looked at me expectantly.

“What was it then?”

I hesitated then finally spoke up the words I had been dreading to say, “It was darkness… corruption… evil.”

“Darkness?”

“Yes, not the kind that’s just there. It was the kind that corrupts and spreads until it consumes everything pure around it. Just like it did in the darkest war.”

“are you certain?”

“I am, that is why we need to tell mother and father. I need to be there as soon as possible. I can’t wait.” I said, grabbing hold of his hands firmly. I looked up at him with pleading eyes from behind my helm, “please brother, you have to stand with me in this.”

Yozoran pulled away his hands and put his hand on the top of my helm.

“You’re my little sister, a life weaver and one of the most trusted people in my life. I believe you.” He said, “but to convince the monarchy you need more than just belief. You need proof, irrefutable proof that no one can turn their eyes away from.”

I understood what he meant. Everything that needed to be heard was heard in the court of Kings and you could not just say that you believed something and it needed to happen, you needed proof, but I did not have proof except for this strange feeling in my chest that would not go away. This is why I needed to see someone I always went to whenever I was unsure of something.

“I need to speak with Nexus.”

Only the Void Walker sentinel would have answers to my questions, and perhaps he could help me find the proof I needed to convince the monarchy that something was truly wrong.