The Phantom's Gambit-Chapter 54: Pacify her

Void, who had been observing the commotion from a safe distance, noted that the tension had lessened and the two were now staring at each other. Thinking they had started flirting, He leapt down from his perch, and made his way towards them.

[What did I miss?] he asked, his mental voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

However, Octavius didn’t respond. Instead, he sat up properly, seemingly oblivious to the sword still pointed at him. His gaze drifted over Nadia’s hair, and she, realizing her mistake, quickly turned to grab her cloak from a nearby spot. She wrapped the cloak around her shoulders with one hand, still keeping the sword trained on Octavius.

As soon as she pulled the hood over her head, she removed it, revealing her bald head once more. The movement was swift and practiced, like a ritual she had performed many times before.

Octavius’s voice was barely above a whisper when he finally spoke. "You speak of my mother..." He paused, his eyes locked on Nadia’s. "She is long dead."

Nadia didn’t bear any expression on her face that revealed that of surprised, shock or anger even at the information. And Octvaius didn’t fail to point that out.

"You knew," he stated.

"We have our way of knowing things," Nadia curtly stated not wanting to reveal more.

Octvaius on the other hand did his best not to ask who the ’we’ was.

Instead he asked, "If you came here because of my mother— why didn’t you just ask me about it straight on, how did you even come about finding me? Also, why proceed with joining the academy and putting yourself at risk? I’m sure you are well aware of the cleansing rites happening later in the day."

Nadia slowly lowered her sword, but her eyes remained fixed intently on Octavius. It was then that he realized, with a start, that she knew exactly who he was. The revelation left him puzzled, and he took a cautious step back.

"I was drawn here because I sensed her presence when the box opened," Nadia started to explain.

"The Kyrium box was gifted to the former king of Wysteria by the Creator, To call upon Him, and He would send His...less fortunate offspring— that being us—to rescue His favored children."

Octavius noted the disdain in her voice as she said "favored children."

"After the Creator saw that the hearts of His children were impure, He abandoned them and sent a flood to destroy His creation," Nadia continued. "But some people survived, and some of His artifacts weren’t destroyed by the flood. Instead, they were hidden from the face of the earth. Or so we thought, until the Kyrium box called. And Mother, out of curiosity, wanted to investigate...now she’s no more."

Nadia’s voice cracked as she uttered the last words.

[That explains a lot, ] Void let out as he licked his paw from a nearby rock. When he realized what he was doing, he spat down and tried to vomit whatever content that had touched his taste bud.

"My people requested that all artifacts facilitating communication with other beings be destroyed after that," Nadia continued, composing herself after a moment of emotional turmoil. "However, I concealed a particular artifact, holding onto the hope that one day... I would have the opportunity to come to this godforsaken place—and I mean that quite literally—to exact vengeance upon those responsible for her death.

It seemed as though, for once, the Creator was on my side, and you reached out. With the Kyrium box’s assistance, of course. When I caught your scent, I rushed here without hesitation, informing no one, and hoping against hope that I would find the queen. You bear her scent, after all. But, as it turns out, you are merely an offspring of hers."

"You sound disappointed." Octavius let out after she finished talking.

Nadia in turn let out unapologetic. "What’s not to be disappointed about? You don’t even resemble her."

"This is not my original appearance." Octavius let out curtly. And after a moment of hesitation, he added. "I was killed, and somehow I sprang up back to life, and I figured altering my features was best to help infiltrate those who eradicated my family."

Worried lines etched Nadia’s face. "Wait, you were restored to life in the same body?" Octavius nodded in affirmation.

Nadia scoffed. "Why would the Creator intervene after all this time?" she muttered to herself, but Octavius and Void had overheard.

Octavius corrected her, "I didn’t mention the Creator."

"The Fates don’t restore people to their original bodies after death," she explained. "They either reincarnate you or condemn you to damnation. The fact that they made an exception... means they were ordered to do so. The Fates only bend their rules when something greater is at play, and nothing can sway them except the Creator."

Octavius’s eyes widened in surprise as Nadia mentioned the Fates. He hadn’t shared that information with her yet, and he wondered what else she knew.

When she didn’t talk more on that, Octavius posed another question. "Where are you from really? If you claim my mother is your mother too… are there more of us? Like… her children? And if you aren’t a Wysterian… how are you going to maneuver the passage rites?"

"She’s not a slut if that’s what you’re asking," Nadia said as she eyed Octavius wearily. "Everyone calls her Queen Mother, but I hold an exception in calling her mother because she raised me herself."

"As for the rites," She continued. "I’m not concerned. They’re designed to detect artificial traits that don’t embody one essence. I am like the waters. Pure. The only thing I worry about is my hair displaying immediately when my hair touches the water. Aside from my hair, I’m authentic."

Octavius’s mind reeled as he processed this new information. At least some of his questions had been answered.

But another question or even questions still lingered in his mind to ask her.

"If you knew all of that you knew, why are you still here in the Academy? Why ask me for an aetherstone or participate in the tournaments? You’re risking exposure, and if your hair is revealed... you know the consequences. Not just to you, but it would soil the architect faction even more. I think you should leave now, while you still can."

"What about you?" Nadia asked after Octavius finished talking.

"I can’t leave just yet. There are matters I am yet to settle."

"I, too, have unfinished matters to address, The queen may not have been my biological mother, but I have a singular opportunity to uncover the truth about my past. I aim to exploit this chance, no matter the cost."

Octavius made to say something, but he stopped himself when he noticed Nadia’s attention was no longer on him. Her eyes had drifted closed, and her head was tilted slightly to the side, as though she was listening to something. Her ears twitched, and her face tensed, indicating that she had detected a sound that was inaudible to Octavius.

"Erick is headed this way," Void and Nadia informed Octavius in unison. Void mental voice and Nadia’s physical one, overlapping in a brief, urgent warning.

Without hesitation, Nadia sprang into action. She leaped onto the trellis, using the wooden lattice work to push herself upward. From there, she jumped from tree to tree, disappearing into the darkness with an ease that belied her earlier, more cautious demeanor.

Octavius, meanwhile, remained rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the point where Nadia had vanished.

Void’s mental voice cut through his reverie. [At least we know the mystery behind the open windows now.]

Octavius’s gaze shifted, his attention refocusing on the approaching Erick.

’Now might be the perfect opportunity to talk to Erick’ Octavius thought to himself.

The cleansing rites were scheduled for later that day, and if Octavius was discovered, he might not get another chance to act.

After deciding to wait till Erick got close to apprehend Erick and extract some answers from him, he noticed Erick halt in his tracks and turn around.

Octavius frowned immediately when he noticed Miss Wilmort had stopped him, her voice carrying through the night air.

"What are you doing here, Erick?"

Erick pointed down the path, his finger aiming directly at Octavius’s hiding spot amidst the trees. "I thought I heard voices," he explained.

Miss Wilmort’s expression turned stern, and she instructed Erick to return to his dorm. "I have an important announcement to make," she added. Erick nodded and began to walk back, not without darting his gaze back to the bush as he walked, before he finally disappeared into the darkness.

Once she was satisfied that Erick was out of earshot, Miss Wilmort made her way towards the stream, her footsteps quiet on the damp earth.

She wanted to verify whether Erick’s claim about hearing voices was true or not.

Void, sensing an opportunity to deflect her attention, sprang into action. He leaped down from his perch and padded silently down the path, positioning himself to intercept Miss Wilmort.

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As she caught sight of him, her expression transformed from one of concern to relief. She exhaled a gentle sigh, and the tension in her shoulders eased.

"Just the academy’s resident feline," she murmured to herself. She patted the cat on his head coolly and With her concerns eased, Miss Wilmort turned and made her way back to the dorm, leaving Octavius to breathe a silent sigh of relief.