Secrets Thou Wouldst Conceal

As the wild beast guarded the iron gate, the group of hooded figures stood watch from a lofted nook.

One of the men looked around the ancient stonework, his voice carrying through the cavern. “I must say, I still can’t quite fathom what this place must once have been.”

“The nobility were rather fond of spectacle,” another mused dispassionately. “Night after night, they would arrive dressed in their finest. Yet for all that splendor, what they had come for was wholly devoid of dignity.”

“You see, entertainment was quite scant back in the day,” someone else remarked with a raspy chuckle. “There were feasts, plays, tournaments… Still, even those eventually ceased to indulge the basest of appetites.”

“...So, they turned to this.”

Aya could almost imagine it—rustling silk, glittering jewelry, deafening voices and applause as the arena came alive. Her brows drew together. She found it discomfiting.

“When this place fell into desolation, most assumed it would remain but a relic,” a man said before turning a meaningful stare on the beast. “Master saw another use for it, however.”

“The cells and chambers are certainly fitting.”

“And I suppose you simply changed what’s being observed?”

A crooked smile touched the face beneath the hood. “Indeed.”

An arena once devoted to enjoyment became a laboratory devoted to discovery.

Somehow, that seemed more disturbing. Aya glanced at Drystan and Aiden to find them just as aghast. For some time, it was simple research on magic tools and potions. Then, the study expanded.

“Recently, we developed a substance that would enter a quiescent state for a predetermined interval before producing symptoms.” At that, her attention sharpened. “A compound of delayed manifestations, if you will. It is one of Master’s greatest breakthroughs.”

Someone bemoaned, “Oh, yes, that... What woe it was that Lady Sorovia had to use it so carelessly.”

Aya staggered, suddenly nauseous as the memory of that hot, itchy sensation returned. From the sound of it, their leader had been Maruscha’s accomplice in the makeup incident during the crowning ceremony. That made the Pureblood Covenant complicit as well. A while ago, she had also already learned that House Sorovia was associated with the secret organization.

It could be an unrelated case. There could be another motive.

Even so, she feared all of it was somehow tied to Calixtus’s disappearance.

Drystan held her wrist, concerned. “Are you alright?”

“...Y-Yes, I…”

“Perhaps we heard enough.” Aiden peered at her face with worry.

“We need to report everything we find here when we get back, but in the meantime…”

The three came up with a plan.

They had to get past the beast to reach the gate. To avoid being seen, they would set up a diversion. An illusion would’ve done the trick, but they needed it to keep themselves hidden, and Aya didn’t have much mana left after teleporting. Someone else would have to distract the beast.

“Allow me.”

Aiden began to chant, creating arrows out of thin air.

Wind gathered around the shaft, twisting faster and faster until it whistled. Then, he released it. The arrows struck the beast on the head with a crack of compressed air. It snarled, but before it could recover, more slammed into its ribs. The creature darted around while gnashing its teeth.

That rattled the men.

“What's happening?”

“It’s gone berserk!”

“Move it away from here!”

As the group broke into a frenzy, the three took off running. The iron gate was a short distance away, fortunately. Behind them, the beast roared and scampered, scattering dust all over the arena. They slipped through the door without sparing another glance.

‘Oof! That’s horrifying!’

Aya took a moment to catch her breath, only to have it stolen away again at what came into view.

Iron bars stretched from floor to ceiling, and before them stood a man. His well-groomed hair was a deep ebony, his steely eyes citrine-yellow. He wore prim, gold-trimmed clothing that exuded a sophisticated intellect. Aya recognized him from that time in the Royal Palace, from way back when she’d finished the sacred trial at the Evertread.

It was Chrysander, the head of House Oulixeus, leader of the Light faction, and Premo of Ruxandrion Isle.

“Why-”

Aiden quickly hushed Drystan, both also recognizing Chrysander.

They ducked into a corner, staying out of sight. As they shifted positions, Aya finally saw the inside of the cell. Her heart stopped, and a strangled gasp nearly escaped from her mouth. There were three others present in the room with the man.

Irvin, Eunice—and most shockingly, Calixtus.

‘Calix! W-Why…? Why is he…? Why are they….?’

Drystan stopped Aya and Aiden from advancing. Their heads swerved at him, then he mouthed, ‘Do not!’ At once, they went still. He was right. They had to wait. If they moved closer, they could get caught, and they would ruin their chance of escaping.

‘Calix… We actually teleported to where he is. Could it be because we did it with him in mind? Did that somehow lead us to him?’

It was all too mind-boggling.

Their friend was slumped on the floor, his face a grayish pallor. While his clothes were clean, he appeared battered and worn. Even from where she stood, she could see he had lost weight. Her heart ached at the sight.

“You would do well to heed my words.” As though that alone was a threat, the two other children cowered under Chrysander’s shadow. “What happened that day is a secret best left where you found it. You shall return home, you shall sleep, and tomorrow, you shall forget.”

Aya bit at her lip, her stomach churning in trepidation. ‘That day? Did Irvin and Eunice get into some trouble?’

“If that’s true, you wouldn’t have brought them here in the first place,” Calixtus spat, a sardonic smirk across his face.

“Yet you are here, and I shall see to it that you leave soon.” The man’s frigid gaze settled on him. “It pains me that things should end up this way. My prince, had you continued treading the path laid out for you, you would not have lost your footing.”

“Stop calling me that,” the boy hissed under his breath. “You are delusional. Only I will choose the path I walk—not you, not even the gods. I can always abstain from the Calling. I did it before. I can do it again.”

‘Calix did not do the Primer Beacon…?! B-But of course, you can’t be chosen if you don’t go.’

“I am keenly aware that you’ve only forgone it because of Prince Aiden. Sacrificing oneself for the sake of an ailing friend who couldn’t come… Why, that is a most worthy quality in a king!”

Aya turned slightly in Aiden’s direction. ‘Is that true? Aiden was sick, and Calix somehow ended up missing the ceremony after helping him. The Primer Beacon can only be done once, unlike the Aqueous Bestowal, which can be taken again even after years. If one misses it, then they’ll have to make up for it on the next rite of passage, which is…’

“We cannot have you doing such a thing again, though. On your coming-of-age ceremony, you shall have the Calling again, and you shall succeed.”

Calixtus snorted, “And if I don’t?”

“You will if you go. Once my invention is complete, you have no choice but to do so. It is a precaution should you prove unwilling. Defy me, and your very life will be in my hands.”

Aya froze. ‘His invention…? Could this person be that ‘Master,’ and also, Lady Maruscha’s accomplice?!’

The puzzle was slowly piecing itself together. The compound in the makeup could have been an experimental substance primarily devised as a deterrent. Its defining characteristic was its capacity to remain inactive within the body until deliberately triggered. A conventional poison existed to kill or incapacitate, but this existed to make obedience preferable to rebellion.

And Chrysander intended to administer it to Calixtus, making his compliance a matter of self-preservation.

‘...Such a vicious thing.’

“What does any of that have to do with those kids from Anonas?” Calixtus looked towards Irvin and Eunice, who had pressed themselves against the walls in fear.

“Let us say they are obstacles in the grand scheme of things. Roniel should have been the only casualty, but these children are witnesses to that casualty.”

‘My stepfather…?!’

Her eyes bulged wide, and her face turned deathly pale. At first, she thought she heard wrong. But then, they continued speaking.

“Very well. I’ll change my question.” Calixtus’s face darkened, his teeth bare and jaw clenched. “What does that have to do with her and her family?”

“Family?” Chrysander raised a brow, the corner of his mouth curling into a scornful smirk. “I do hope they are, but they aren’t, and that is the problem. So, I took care of him.”

Aya flared up, irate. ‘What is that supposed to mean?! To Dad… This man… Is he the one behind the poison and the fire?! What is going on?!’

“Ah, we have talked for long enough. It has been a pleasure, my prince.”

He turned towards the gate, where the wild beast awaited.

A man in robes entered, apologizing for the commotion that no one knew Aya and the others had caused. Chrysander dismissed it and instead said, “I entrust this to you.” The robed figure bowed, then turned to the cell and approached Eunice. With that, the nobleman took his leave. Calixtus tried to intervene, but his strength gave out.

“N-No!” Eunice shrieked.

Irvin bellowed, “Get away from us!”

Aya could not take any more.