Chapter 518: End of Cle (1/2)
Who would have thought the impromptu concert would go over so nicely. The media attention surpassed even the squabble of Kyle and Igna. Broadcasted live, it felt hypnotic, the way the melody spoke to the soul, the way the mind buckled under the slow and heavy pressure – none could have wanted anything more.
And so, curtains were pulled onto Cle. The amphitheater cleared into a desolate land of seats. The lifeless faces of those who sat before, a grave of some kind, or so thought the people who had to clean after the giant event.
What kind of Fine-Dining institute would it be if not for a place to enjoy food. Lord Amsey, Chef Yuki, Chef Yanni, and their respective cooking staff took the ginormous kitchen. Half of the guests left as soon as the event ended, those remaining were of the upper-class demographic.
'It's over,' thought Igna wandering along the lonesome ever-going corridors, '-what's the point of such large windows?' he wondered to a stop. Gazing out showed an instant drop, said part of the building was built over a cliff or some kind. The view onto the mountain-range gave a sense of comfort.
”Hey cousin.”
”Cousin Julius. The performance was very touching,” he turned to Lizzie, ”-you too, the piano was amazingly good, I felt my heart beating in my palms.”
”Big brother, you liked it?” she hid her hands in embarrassment.
”I loved it,” he replied to a squat, ”-was that an original piece?”
”No, no,” she shook her head, ”-it's a composition from Syndra Lordon.”
”Syndra?” he turned to Julius who nodded in agreement.
”She released it as a music sheet a few days ago, I don't know why but the piece is unusually sad. I can't help but think something's wrong with her.”
”Do you know her personally?” he stood.
”No, I've only seen her in pictures. The daughter of the Medusa of Cooking, right?” he gestured to walk.
”Yeah,” Igna followed, Lizzie held both their hands and hopped.
”Cousin,” the tone sunk into seriousness, ”-I know you said you didn't want to get involved in politics…”
”I rather not,” the demeanor after remembering changed the perception a little. The thirst to know what was happening dried the tongue even more, ”-still, as a Haggard, I guess I must know?”
”Good response,” smiled Julius, ”-thing is, the conflict between the Federation and the Empire hasn't gotten any better. I'm suspecting the first world war in the coming years. We're trying hard to alleviate the situation on democracy alone. Alphia and Marinda are neutral as far as I know. The problem lays in the Empire itself; their neutral provinces are moving in such a way to support Old Cray.”
”I see,” they stopped at a better view of the mountains, a small draft entered few steps away, ”-Cousin, if I may be so bold, what's Arda and Oxshield thinking?”
”Arda's more or less neutral, lady mother hasn't said anything. Her companion sure is ready to wage war, the Blood-King faction's holding him in a strangle. He's dangerous, I feel it, but mother and big sister Eira don't want to admit it.”
”What about Hidros?”
”Queen Gallienne is more preoccupied with her child. The continent is being run by a roundtable of representatives of the various allies of the Federation. Arda, Oxshield, Easel Run Gard, and Elendor have to move as one, else, it's chaos. I tell you, the ambitious nobles are annoying as hell, I so wish father was here to take firm hold of the falling alliance.”
”The Federation is falling apart?”
”No, not falling apart… I'd say we're growing distant. The common pillar we had hasn't made an appearance for six years.”
”Come on,” he sighed heavily, ”-Cousin, are you not the son of King Staxius, take the reins and do something. I'm sure you can take his mantle. Queen Gallienne and Queen Shanna are best-friends, Queen Ela is another good person… the siblings ruling Easel Run Gard aren't that hard to convince. Honestly speaking,” a tinge of intellect flashed across Igna's face, ”-this coming war might be a boon. Remember, there are only two things that ally people strongly – love and war. They'll see the strength in wanting to help. I'm sure, King Staxius prepared the Federation in such a way that even when he died, those allied were obligated to help one another.”
”Cousin,” paused Julius holding a look of disdain, ”-how do you know so much… are you hiding something from me?”
”No, no,” he shook the head, ”-it's what I came to after reading multiple articles on the subject. The Arcanum is a place of vast knowledge. Set that aside, what's Phantom going to do?”
”Up to Lady Elvira and aunt Courtney.”
”Either way,” smiled Igna, ”-I can't do anything even if I wanted. There are more things to discover out there, I don't want to be bound by a single nation anymore. I might depart on a voyage after graduating from the Academy in a year.”
”How so?”
”You said it earlier,” laughed Igna, ”-Marinda, the land of lost treasure, the land built on witchcraft and arcane knowledge of the wild and earth. There are rumors of floating islands and mythical animals. Arda's, no,” he paused, ”-the world's magic revolves around one's magical element, not in Marinda, their knowledge runs deeper than we know. Since we're more technologically focused now, even that piece of knowledge is lost.”
”A quest for treasure?” wondered Julius bemused by the prospect.
”No, more of an adventure into the second tower of gods.”
”Tower of gods?”
”Tis what the indigenous people refer to the Tower of Aris as.”
”Oh boy,” smiled Julius, ”-cousin, do ease on the pace a little.” The conversation broke shortly when Lizzie threw a tantrum about being hungry. ”Excuse me, cousin,” said he nodding, ”-we'll part here, see you soon.”
”Likewise, cousin,” the wave stopped as the prince turned the corner.
”Thanks for the save.”