Ch 26: A Dark Omen.

On the top floor of the Backwater Palace, in the Council Chamber where quartz pillars stood among proud banners, the Spearhead were having a friendly discussion.

“You fool!” Mira shouted, barely holding herself back from storming out the door like she did at the last meeting.

Oden slammed his heavy fist into the table, causing the glass chandeliers to sway and emit their lyrical chime. “I did not come here to bicker over such insignificant matters.”

For the whole discussion, it felt like only the two of them were going back and forth, but maybe that’s because it was precisely the case.

Snow stood pensively, analysing the morbid corpse laid to rest on the central pearlwood table, an anomalous addition to the opulent Council Chamber. Was she deep in thought? Zoning out? No one knew. Not even me, the author.

Sprawled across the L-shaped leather sofa next to the bookshelf and playing with the aether in his palm, Shell was gracefully nestled in the plump cushioning without a care in the world. He had long lost interest in the argument. Once they began going back and forth, there was no point trying to stop them. It was pointless.

“The pair aside, Dr Hemlok needs to be incarcerated and thoroughly questioned,” Mira spoke with utmost confidence, believing it to be a fact.

“Never question a ward of the state, Mira. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“You’re blinded by authority.” Mira’s crystal earrings swayed as she turned sharply, looking steeply upwards to Oden’s eyes. “Can’t you see? Lately, he’s been acting…strange.”

“You dare suspect Dr Hemlok? The man himself, who governs the Medical Institute, who has saved hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives, dedicating over twenty-five years as a medical professional for the Syndicate, and you suspect him?”

“The evidence speaks for itself. It could’ve been any one of us that got cursed. All because YOU keep allowing it to happen.”

“Snow, what do you think?” Oden leaned against the pearlwood table, his scarred metal armour gleaming from the sunlight peeking through the mosaic windows as he presented Snow a gentle smile.

The graceful figure with frosted hair and a frilly dress had a blank expression, still studying the body. Her ears twitched whilst she considered whether or not to add to the discussion.

Covering her mouth with her hand as she spoke, her voice was hushed and delicate, lighter than a feather. “Well, the boy was a doll. It’s possible it was used to inflict a curse. Don’t you think that lines up with the other doctors dying?”

“Exactly!” Mira pointed right at Oden’s eyes, “You, listen to the mages and stick to throwing your big axe around.”

“I’m sure there’s been a mistake somewhere,” Oden’s eyes wandered towards the ceremonial banners mounted on the walls showcasing a fiery phoenix rising from ashes, as he took a stroll down memory lane. “I’ve known Dr Hemlok for many years now. Even when I, as old as I am, first joined the Syndicate, he was already working tirelessly to improve the health infrastructure. For him to want to endanger the people he cares so much about, it doesn’t make sense to suspect him.”

“Well, maybe he’s simply had a change of heart.”

“People aren’t so shallow as to do something of that manner, Mira.” Oden straightened his posture, adjusting his tone of voice. “Without him, the entire health infrastructure in the Cradle will suffer. You’d be putting hundreds, if not thousands of lives at risk.”

“You think you have any right to speak to me about the people?” This was it—Mira’s final straw. She scrunched her pale face in frustration, spitting her words not only at Oden but the Spearhead as a whole. “You know what, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one here who gives a sh*t about the people. Oden, you always speak of these magical virtues and values, yet when it comes down to it, you don’t practice what you preach. You do whatever gets Hellia’s attention.”

Mira’s boots paced against the polished wooden floor as she was making her exit. Then, a broad arm plated in armour was extended into her path. She stopped.

“Mira think ab-“ but before he could speak, Mira interjected again.

“Lately, I think her decisions haven’t been in the people’s interest but in the interest of power. Is that not apparent?”

Mira glanced at the other two members. Shell, conflicted about what to say, turned away; meanwhile, Snow had that same blank expression she always carried. That’s it. Doing what they always did. This was the problem.

In their silence, Oden raised his head to the banners that lined the walls. “It is the power that allows us to protect the people.”

“And when you get it, it'll never be enough, will it?”

Moving her wispy bangs from her face, Oden thought that her eyes would be overflowing with anger. But instead, he saw disappointment. Downcast and disheartened, her usual glittering grey eyes seemed distant. “You’ve changed, Oden. It was the warrior who welcomed me to the Spearhead that taught me the importance of protecting the people. Now? You bend to her will like a dog.”

THWOOM!

The banners flailed and the chandeliers quivered as a gust of wind shook the Council Chamber.

“That’s enough,” Shell signed, his grey writing appearing in the air, finally rising from the luxury sofa. “You’ve strayed far from the initial topic. Let’s keep things simple and get rid of the two before they cause anymore trouble.”

After waiting for any excuse he could, he finally had a reason to kick Hiro out. Was it petty? Yes. Did Shell care? No. Snow never took well to new people anyway.

Inhaling deeply, Oden returned to his usual composure. “They did what they had to survive. If anything, this shows us they're capable. To find and kill the one who cursed them must have been no easy feat. Now more than ever, we need all the hands we can find.”

Shell had a brief look of disappointment, then more words appeared in the air. “Then we wait for Hellia. She returns from The Barrens soon, right?”

“Three days,” Mira replied, “After meeting with some people from Nexus and investigating something in the Barrens.”

“Hasn’t it been longer than she said?”

“Yeah.” Oden walked to the windows, casting his eyes to the distant horizon. “Something must have come up along the way.”

The words left the Council Chamber in silence. Was there good news to come? Bad news to come? The state of the Phoenix Cradle had never been so up in the air. The Scourge was making its way here, and the people were anxious. But the fact that Hellia, her majesty herself, and the strongest mage in the Syndicate, was delayed on her journey was a dark omen. Was it a sign of doom on the horizon? It was too early to tell.

                                                                             ***

Deep in the underground cellars, Ace and Hiro were falling in and out of slumber. Having no sunlight, they were unable to keep track of the time, and this time around, Ace had no intention of using his own fingers.

Suddenly, they both awoke to the rattling of keys and a silhouette poking through the doorway.

“Her majesty will decide your fate upon her return.”