Prologue:
Since the day two years ago when he’d returned to Malkuth from his “death,” Jade Balfour-Curtiss was never quite the same. It became typical over the somewhat long period of two years for him to have odd turns, ranging from moodiness to illness and fatigue. As much as he laughed and made light of it, it was not old age that was wearing the Necromancer down.***
The Necromancer removed his glasses and closed his eyes while he massaged his temples. During his work, he’d been overcome by a splitting headache.
“I’ll never get used to this,” Jade murmured, his head throbbing. Numbly, he rose to his feet, but his eyes burned as his blurry vision fought to focus, so he reached for his glasses. Or at least he tried, but they fell from his trembling fingers.
“Damn it!”
The uncharacteristic curse was out before he could stop himself, and then a wave of sickness passed through him. Jade lunged for the paper basket next to his desk, but he was so utterly disoriented that he merely fell to his side.
Is life worth this? He wondered as he slipped into unconsciousness. Fortunately for him, a low ranking soldier happened upon him while delivering some papers to his office. The fonist was quickly taken to the military infirmary until he came around. The Emperor paid him a visit sometime while he was trying to slip out of the place.
“Are you a fool, Jade?” Peony questioned heavily. “I’m about this close—“ he separated his fingers by a centimeter to emphasize “—from outright
ordering you to Belkend for a blood fonon test.”
Jade looked up at Peony, his crimson eyes resolute.
“I have had enough of this worrying. You made me have a blood fonon test about three times every six months since I came back,” he said tonelessly. The emperor nodded.
“Yes, and each time, your fonon levels have increased slightly. Recently, it was a dramatic rise. It hadn’t been my intention to tell you
which fonon is increasing, but if—”
“It shouldn’t matter!” Jade snapped. “I am a fonist!”
“Dammit, Jade, you aren’t seeing reason!! I
know you’re a fonist!! If you’d look at the answer even
I can see, you’d know…
At that point, Jade lost his composure and lashed out at Peony with his spear. Swiftness saved the emperor a serious blow, but a shallow cut traced down his flesh nonetheless. The nurses flinched, unaware of what they should do. The Colonel and the Emperor were friends.
Peony looked away, his eyes shadowed by his blond hair.
“Restrain him…help him…I’m going to the prisons.”
The nurses nodded, doing their best to pull Jade back.
“
Dist?! You trust him over me?!”
“No, Jade…I just don’t trust your judgment right now.”
***
“So what is it you need, ‘Emperor?’”
“Stop it, Saphir. Enough mocking.”
Dist crossed his arms, looking disdainful.
“I was right, and he can’t admit it, correct?”
Peony shrugged.
“He is violent…”
“It’s on an unconscious level, then,” Dist said, utterly convinced. “A state of thinking you’d know all too well, eh, Peony?”
The tease didn’t amuse the emperor.
“He didn’t know his Seventh Fonon levels even
existed,” Peony replied tersely. “Now tell me what’s going on, or I’ll put you on a spit and roast you slowly, Reaper.”
Dist pouted at his former God-General title, but quickly figured that now wasn’t the time.
“Neural degeneration. Jade was revived by the Seventh Fonon itself. It’s in him, diffusing from his body. He’s no Seventh Fonist, as you well know.”
Peony
did know. How could he not?
“Yes, but can we prevent death?”
Dist scoffed.
“Be logical, Peony. You’d have to go to the ends of the earth—”
“Wouldn’t
you?” the blond challenged. “You may try unsuccessfully to hide it, but the attempts are just that; unsuccessful. I’m doing this for
both the Balfours. At least do it for one, Saphir…”
“Travel Auldrant on my own? I’d get no help!”
Peony had to admit that Dist was in the right again; he’d become unpopular, and the world would scarcely believe or help a former God-General. However, a God-General with the assistance of someone valid…
“Perhaps you won’t be believed if you’re on your own,” the emperor murmured, “but if I send you to Baticul with a message for Luke fon Fabre…”
“No. You must be joking!”
“…and then send you to Daath with a message for the Fon Master…”
“Peony, you can’t seriously mean for me to—“
“I certainly do!’ Guy will escort you to Sheridan where you will pick up one of the Albiores from Aston. Then you will go to Baticul with a message for Luke and Natalia. Upon finishing that quest, go to Yulia City and relay the same message to Tear Grants. Finally, go to the Padimyan Continent and relay the message to the Fon Master.”
“I can’t…Your Majesty, be reasonable…”
Peony closed his eyes and sighed in frustration before telling the guard to open Dist’s cell. The former God-General knew that couldn’t bode well.
“Peony, control your—eeeeyyaaghh!!”
Quick as lightning, Emperor Peony had shoved Dist the Reaper against the wall.
“Now, Saphir…listen to me well. I don’t want to hear so much as a
snivel!” he hissed dangerously. “You are going to
try. Whether Jade lives or dies depends on you, but if I feel you put forth your greatest effort to stop this, then I will grand you amnesty from your crimes—as one friend to another. Should you fail to attempt…I will let you rot in this cell for the rest of your days.”
His blue eyes shone with electric fury as he pressed Dist against the wall harder.
“Am I making myself clear as your Emperor?”
Even pinned, Dist managed a nod.
“Good.”
Peony let the man drop to the ground.
“You head out tonight by your true name, Saphir Wyon Neis.”
