[INTERLUDE]
Palatine Tyr paced around at the Sanctum's gates. He had arrived at the crack of dawn. He was not a morning person, but the nervousness that came with the first day of a new job made sleep elude him, just as love seemed to. His mind pulled out memories of Enis. Swirling in bits and bites of their moments together before flashbacks of their time at the southern bastion flooded his mind. Back then, love deluded him into thinking that they might have a life together after their education.
He dreamed of building their careers together, bolstered through the ranks with nothing but the power of love. In truth, Enis's dreams were all the same, but with another guy. Some bum that Tyr challenged to a duel, and he won, but it was not enough. It's never enough for women. He thought.
The resounding temple bells drove him out of his stupor. The gates screeched open, and after a long wait, their ushering in felt like a much-needed warm embrace. Palatine Tyr entered the Arx Sanctum very unprepared to tackle the day.
The area beyond The Sanctum's temple was out of bounds for all who were mundane. Palatine Tyr believed these 'mundane' were plebeians or those of the same cloth. But his thoughts were now challenged- those confined in a world different from those of the other castes, for he is one of the mundane.
The rest of Sanctum's forum was crafted to what Palatine Tyr believed heaven would look like. And this feeling is not new. The rush of wonder and awe whelmed him when he reported to the southern bastion.
The pristine marbled floor accommodated his wobbly and unworthy walk to the Head Palatine's office. By the door, he looked down, the floor reflecting the annals of his soul, and from it, he could see his fear. Or was it nervousness? He could not tell, but he had to pull through as he had many times.
He rapped on the door. Not too soft to be disregarded and not too strong to be arrogant. A voice from inside beckoned, then he entered.
The office was not as plush as the rest of the sanctum. It lacked the glistening, polished finish and the acute, symmetrical design of everything. It was plain and mostly wooden. Heaps of papers and books were thrown around. Shelves of books strung along the walls on each side, all halted by a floor-to-ceiling narrow window that lit the entire office, or rather, a study.
The head palatine, Sebastin Tibaus Kilx, was on one shelf to the right of Tyr, riffling through a book. The pages were flying, then they stopped. He turns. His eyes met Tyr before shifting back to the book. Tyr stands there awkwardly. The book snaps to a close.
"Sorry for that. Have a seat," Sebastin looked around, "if you can find one."
Tyr could not." I prefer to stand, Sir."
"Even better, this won't take long," Sebastin paced the table where a long black weapon case lay. "How was your first day?" The weapon case clicked, then creaked open.
"Amazing, Sir, it seems like a dream come true,"
"It always feels that way the first time, pray it stays like that."
"I will."
Sebastin turned once more to Tyr. He had a custom longsword in his arm. It was wrapped with the holster belt. From where he stood, Tyr could tell the leather of the belt was extravagant.
Sebastin flicked his hand, Tyr sensed the pulse of aether. The wrapped longsword floated in the air before floating towards Tyr at a steady pace. Tyr tried to hide his excitement, but his enormous grin was not helping his case. As Tyr caught the longsword, the aether around it dispersed slowly, till vanishing completely.
"It was made to your preference," Sebastin finally settled at his desk, " We do not usually assign tasks to newcomers, but the task at hand needs someone of your mold."
Tyr eagerly said," I am ready for anything, Sir."
"I like the enthusiasm. You are to escort a noble child to the Arx Sanctum of Sylvannis."
"Okay."
"Questions?" Sebastin was resting his head in his arms as he stared at Tyr.
"May I ask why I was chosen?"
"You are disposable while my other palatines are not. If there is nothing else, you may leave."
Tyr's joy melted into an ugly frown. Clutching the longsword tightly to his chest, he bowed slightly. With a short sigh, he walked to the door.
"A coach has been arranged, so proceed to the stables."
Tyr bowed once again and left.
*-----*
"Damned!" Tyr cursed as he waited in the midday sun. With the sun at its highest, its scorch was unbearable. The heat boiled his tension, cramping his nerves and breathing. He walked back to the coach to avoid the heat, but the softness of the pillows unsettled him, so he went back out.
He was met with the sight of a young man. A noble. With the demeanor to match. The noble carried his body with a confident swagger. His lean frame cut through the air, his luscious hair floating backward.
The closer he came, the harder Tyr breathed. Vehemently trying to offset his heart. Which was pounding against his chest as if it were revved up. And it was. The ambiguity of Sebastin's words seemed to hint that he might not make it out alive, and it scared him.
"You staying back?" the noble asked, shocking Tyr out of his stupor.
"Yes, sir." Rushing to the coach," Sorry, I meant no, sir. I'm going to escort you, sir." Tyr stammered.
"Drop the sir," the noble demanded.
"Yes, sir." Tyr shaken," Sorry. Well noted."
"Damn!" Tyr cussed under his breath.
The air was still thick. The noble seemed too distracted, staring out of the window with too much intent. It was like he was sightseeing. Tension's grip on Tyr had loosened a bit; he could finally appreciate the comfort of the coach.
He had seen enough extravagance for one day; he had to save some for the following day and the day after, if he made it to then.
The coach was sailing past the basilica by the main square. Its speed was slow as the street was crowded with merchants bellowing out what they had to offer. Tyr was still admiring the noble, wondering about too many things. The noble turned to him. Tyr quickly looked away.
"Your name," The noble demanded.
"Tyr.." almost stumbling 'sir' out.
"Tyr, I would like to walk for the remainder of the journey."
Tyr looked outside through his window," I do not think that is possible...", avoiding saying 'sir' once again.
"Tyr, I want to walk for the remainder of the journey." His words oozed something. Dark and twisted. The noble's eyes lost their light. His gaze carved into his soul.
Tyr instinctively reached for the longsword placed right by the door.
"It was worth a try," The noble crossed one leg over the other and reset his sight to outside of his window.
Tyr sighed heavily, shaking his hands, freeing himself of the fear that had washed over him.
"I'm Cassian. Nice to meet you, Tyr."
"Pleased to meet you to Sir,"
Silence settled once more.
Cassian looked over towards Tyr, hesitated, then went back to his window. He turned to Tyr once more.
"What is your dream?"
Tyr was taken aback. He stops. Thinking.
" To shed my plebeian status," Tyr sounds as confident as he could.
"Hmm. What a noble dream. Ambitious," Cassian smiles for the first time since their meeting, "How do you plan on doing that? "
Tyr racks his brain for a while before answering, " Rise the ranks within Sanctum, and when an opportunity presents itself, I'm willing to do anything within the realm of possibility to achieve it."
Cassian's smile beams even further, and his head bobs in acknowledgement. Satisfied, his attention is drawn back to what the outside of the window had to offer.
*-----*
With the midday sun way past its peak, the courtyard was the place to be, and Tyr had picked a spot right under a tree. He assumed it was ornamental..Thoughts of Enis occupied his mind away from the petty politics of the palatines from Slyvannis' Sanctum. Eventually, he ran out of memorable moments of their time together, hence his wild emotions bundled up with the frustration of having to wait eternally.
The immortal wait came to an end when a servant came to direct the Head Palatine's office. Tyr stepped forward to knock on the door, and he did.
A middle-aged man came to the door. His wiry hand shot for Tyr's chest, stopping him in his stride. His voice shrill
"You cannot enter with the weapon," He demanded.
"I come here as an escort, and the laws demanded that unless instructed by the one I'm escorting, I am to bear my weapon at all times."
The man was about to rebuke, but a woman's voice stopped him.
Tyr and Cassian walked in. There were three other people in the room. The only woman was behind the desk. Tyr recognised her; she was Horatia Ceres, head of the Sanctum's Palatine and an inspiration to most plebeians Tyr included.
Apart from her, two other men were standing behind her. One to her left and the other one right behind her. The middle-aged man went and slotted to the right of Horatia. They all now faced Tyr and Cassian. Their eyes threatened to banish them into the underworld for damnation.
Cassian sat on the only other chair in the room. He and Horotia were face-to-face. Cassian's grin shone within the room. He slouched slightly within his seat, supporting his head with his right hand resting on the chair's arm.
"I was summoned," He said. Fidgtly Tyr took his spot behind Cassian.
"Oh, yes," Horatia responded, " I had some questions for you," her voice soft yet firm.
"I will answer to the best of my ability."
"Then we may proceed with the interrogation."
The man to Horotia left, took the pen and book on the desk, and flipped the pages, resting the nib on an open page, ready.
" Why did you divert to this city on your way back to school?"
"I don't remember," Cassian answered. The man's pen took off.
"Are you in any way or form connected to the attack on the City's forum on the day of your arrival?"
" No, I don't think so."
Horatia, satisfied, carried on," Do you have a clue as to where the bodies in the forum vanished to?"
" I sacrificed them to Varniel," Cassian smiled.
"Blasphemy!" The middle-aged man shouted. Horatia raised her arm to stop any further outbursts.
"Final question: Did you kill the two palatines in the dungeon when in captivity?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
"I thought it was the last question," Cassian said.
"This is unrelated to the investigation."
" Retribution, I guess. I was stripped of my dignity and confined like a dog. Only through death could I have reclaimed what I lost," Cassian sat upright." Now I have a few questions,"
His eyes tore away from Horatia. His gaze stuck on the middle-aged man, "What's your name?"
Puffing out his chest," Team leader Ignis Varo Nera,"
"You are Gauis' son,"
"No, his brother,"
Cassian smiled and nodded.
"Do you think the meager power you hold warrants your arrogance?" Cassian asked as he stood. The hairs on Tyr stood prickling against his uniform, trying to thrust out of it. His grip on his sword's hilt tightened even further when Cassian took a step in Ignis' direction.
"The question was for you, Horatia," Cassian turned to the head palatine.
Horatia looked up at the towering Cassian. She looked down, then up. She had an answer.
"No."
"Do you know why you are going to die?"He asked, his voice crackling," Ignis, I am asking you a question. Do you know why you are going to die?"
Ignis stumbled backwards, his eyes darting to a fellow palatine. Horatia's deadpan gaze said it all. He was going to die, and nothing was stopping it.
"You can't kill me. I am the chancellor's brother."
"I am my father's son and that's why I can kill you," He turns Tyr his right hand outstretched," Your sword."
The order struck Tyr like a hammer. His mind rocked; he could not think. He panned from the despairing faces of his fellow Palatines to the diabolical dead eyes of Cassian.
The short silence was split apart by the sweet melody of the sword's blade grinding out of the sheath. Cassian's head slanted slightly, the shine in his smile blackening. Blade in hand, he was onto Ignis.
"KNEEL!"
The decree chained Ignis to his knees. He was about to break free when thick vines erupted from the ground, jailing him once more. Cassian faced Horatia; her arm was outstretched towards Ignis, aether pulsing off her.
"This is a consequence of your decision and failure. You left me for dead. Your feeble attempt to avenge, only for an enemy of the state to escape, was stupid. You are lucky it's not you."
Cassian gripped the sword with both arms. The tip of the blade was placed on Ignis' throat. Cassian seemed to take his time until his grip tightened. He pushed the blade slowly into Ignis. He withdrew the sword. The vines began to retract to the floor.
Cassian handed Tyr back the sword.
"I apologise for killing your daughter in the dungeon. It was out of my hands. I believe our score is now settled; you can handle the rest."
Cassian turned to the retreating Tyr.
"You took your opportunity. From today, you work for me," Cassian taps Tyr by the shoulder." I am glad I didn't have to kill you. Take me back now."
As the two close the door, Tyr is startled by the wave of aether that floods out, then the screams from within the room. He watches Cassian strut towards the coach.
*-----*
The wooden door creaks often. Tyr rushes to the kitchen to find his mother cooking. He hugs her tightly until she breaks it off.
"How was the first day?"
"I met an Imperator's son," Tyr was leaving for his room.
"And how was that ?"
"Hell," Tyr entered his room. Closed it.
Strength left his legs; he crumpled into a cradle with his back to the door.
He weeped.