"There is no possible way that he wants to see me about that…" Jay begins to speak in disbelief. The face of Jay's brother goes through many different phases, the primary among them being shock. Jay tries to reassure his brother that he is the one who should be king, and that Jay had always wanted Illia to be the next king; but Illia is not listening. Trying to recover the stature he had before, Illia smiles looking his brother in the eye.
"Father has called for you, don't keep him waiting," Illia says softly, keeping his voice purposefully tender out of fear of what might be said if he doesn't.
"Illia I see the fake smile you have on, brother you are overreacting," Jay says trying to get through his brother's facade, "You and the others have this notion that whoever father calls first will be king and your wrong! You have no evidence to back up that claim! Father and I speak often, how do you know he is not just trying to tell me another story?" Without another word, Illia simply walks away. Illia always desired to be viewed as a king, to be above immaturity and to give off a dependability about himself. However, in that moment, he could not do so for his brother at this time. His brother had just been called to his father's chamber as his father was at death's door. The fact was that the next king had not yet been told by their father and Jay of all of them was the only one to be called in all these years. After five years of "selfless" acts to help others, Illia wanted to keep his selfish jealousy towards his brother.
Jay watches his brother walk away for a moment, forming words in his head to hopefully get through to him; but the words don't come. The words that could heal the wound that Illia now has do not exist. Even if Jay were to claim he doesn't want to be king, there still remained that their father found Jay to be more worthy than the first born, the one deserving of the birth right. The moments walking from the stairs to the king's chamber seemed to go by in an instant as Jay was encumbered by his thoughts. He looked before him at the large door, and hesitated to open it, leaving this moment and moving on to a whole other one that might bring even more anger and confusion. "Jayfifth…" Hector starts to say, "I must tell you that your father isn't very talkative today, I know that it was only the other day since you saw him but he has gotten much worse in such a short time…" Jay turns from the door to hector. Hector remains in his serious, guardly manner, however now a deep sadness is added into the mix. "I believe that these may be his last hours…" For Jay, Hector"s words inflicted wounds upon his soul. Jay not only was about to enter into his father's room for the last time, but it was also almost assured that the birthright was his. Instead of sadness or joy at this realization, a sickening look dawns on Jay's face. Hector opens the door to his father's room, and Jay slowly steps forward over the threshold, and then hears a silent click as Hector closes the door behind him.
-
The room is stiff and still. Across the long hard wood floors lays a large bed fit for a dying king. The room itself is filled with decorum, vases and colorful furniture, a fireplace with many statues of various magical creatures around it, and a large window on the left side of the room, looking out over the kingdom and bay below. The queen always loved having bright colors and the act of filling a room, and the king never spoke in dis test against it. Jay looked towards his father's bed where he lays looking out the window as the sun reaches high in the sky and tries to shine its light upon the room. All the color and light in the world could not make the room feel anything but grim. A steady flow of magical steam was rising from the kings body, it was a light gray with crackles of blue in it, if it was not for the sadness of what it represented, it would have been beautiful. Jay walks forward, feet wobbling, and sits beside his father's bed in a chair that had been placed there by him many years ago. He had sat in the chair many times over the last five years, and could almost see the images of different memories passing by to represent the different times he sat there. Times he and his father read together, times Jay listened eagerly to his stories, even one time where his father laughed so hard that he ended up crying. There were also times where they talked solemnly, his father would talk about his love for his mother, and the pride he had in his kids. But there were also times they were silent, just being in each others presence, or that tears streamed down both their faces. With each step these memories seem to appear and disappear until Jay is now taking the place of these memories by sitting himself in the chair. A flood of emotions come over him, despair, anger, disappointment, nothing positive existed within his emotional spectrum at the moment. Despite the growing he has had to endure, Jay is still an eleven year old boy. An eleven year old, who is about to lose his father despite spending his last 5 years doing everything he can to save him. And not only has he failed, but he is being rewarded for his failure with the birthright that belongs to someone better. The tears begin to fall hard, and don't stop, he puts his hands on his knees and begins to shake as the tears fall. While looking down Jay sees a crippled hand reach out and grab his own, Jay lifts his head to the smiling, dried up face of his father. Despite looking to have aged forty years in the length of five, he smiles with a child like love, beaming at the sight of his son.
"Hello Jay, I am so glad to see you, today of all days, I am so thankful that it is you I get to see," The king says. The tears do not stop, Jay grabs his father's hand tightly and through all the words he desired to say, only one sentence could come out.
"Dad…" Jay says through stifled tears and heavy breaths, "I am so sorry I failed you!" After that sentence the words began to spill out like vomit, he was unable to keep it in. "I have tried for the last 5 years to find a way to save you! I wanted to be a hero, I wanted to be this world's Einstein, and yet still here we are! I failed, I failed, I failed at everything...your still dying...I still can't tame the chromatic...and I still have no desire to be king. How can I! I have no right, all I ever desired was to explore, this kingdom would look down on me as their childish king while my brothers take care of everything! Dad I have already failed you and I don't want to fail the kingdom you have made prosper. Illia would be the greatest king in your stead! He can manipulate the very air with prowess like I have never seen! He is the best elementalist in the kingdom, he can fly! I can't even use my ability correctly. I have broken magic that is nowhere near the level of my brothers, and NEVER WILL BE!" Jay began to hyperventilate as his hands got more sweaty and his face got flushed, his eyes sharpened as he looked at his father. "I will never be able to emanate the dependability that is inherent in you...I cannot be the stability of the world." Jay became shocked by his own words. They came from the depths of his heart, hidden there by his insecurities. He was disappointed in his feelings but he knew they were true. His father looked at him, with the same radiant smile on his face.
"Jay B. Cornelius, you are exactly the man you are supposed to be," the king says, "you call yourself a failure, and maybe in some ways you are, but your failure is not a defining trait. I'm sure even your hero, Albert Einstein failed, and your own father has failed more times than I can count." The king turns his head to look out the window, "when I first was crowned king, your mother and I were already married and pregnant with Illia. We were about to have to raise a child and take care of a kingdom at the same time and we spent many nights afraid. My brother, Lincel, was my advisor at the time and he helped me along the way. I depended on him a lot and never realized that in my own fear I worked him and pushed upon him many of my own duties in fear that in my hands they would fail. When the kingdom went under raid by the foreign marauders, I was supposed to be the one who went out and showed the people that their king would protect them, but instead I froze. I held Illia in my hands and watched as your mother and my brother left to protect our kingdom. I still remember holding Illia, listening to him cry as the explosions rocked the entire castle. I convinced myself I was protecting my son, but really I used him to protect myself. I was so afraid and I had resigned myself to the fact that once this was over, hand my kingdom over to my brother, and exile myself...but he never came back…" The king reached out his other hand and put his other hand on Jay's and returned his gaze to him. "I felt the feeling that you have described to me, the world felt completely unstable, and I couldn't stop the shaking. Your mother held me as I cried for my brother and for the loss of my stability and I yelled to her just as you did 'I failed'. Your mother slapped me across the face, like the fury she was and held my face close to hers saying 'you are the king of this kingdom, you may have failed but you are not a failure. I fell in love with you because you I see a strength that has been bestowed upon you that is more than enough to protect the people of this kingdom. I need you, my husband, and my king, to get up and overcome your fear to accept the destiny that is yours to obtain." Jay's father takes his hand away and reaches for his bedside table, he shakingly opens up the drawer and pulls out a large, golden metal phoenix pin, with the colors of the kingdom hanging down from it. "So now, I say to you, Jay B. Cornelius, fifth in line to the kingdom of Illverstand. Son of Cathelyn and Markus Cornelius, with the magical affinity of telekinesis. The kindest, most curious, and most worthy of being king I have ever seen. You are the only one of my sons that I have seen and heard has done things in consideration of others, not because of the want of a crown, but because of the goodness of his character. Over the years before my sickness, I tried my best to become the ideal symbol that your older brothers wanted me to be, but in these past five years, you are the only one who saw through that. Despite losing strength every single day, the warmth of your friendship made me feel like something I hadn't felt since I used to get to talk with your mother, a regular man. I am honored to be able to pass on my kingdom to not only the son that I adore, but my friend…" The king held out the metal pin towards Jay. The pin couldn't have weighed more than a view ounces, but when the metal was put into Jay's hand, it felt as if the numerous pounds of responsibility were to much for Jay to handle. Jay stuttered, trying to speak through his tears and uncertainties.
"Dad...I..I.I don'ttt knoooww if I am ready….How are you so suure of mee…" Jay says he is trying to build up courage and accept but everything within him pushes against the notion of being king. A voice in his head whispers to him your just a boy who likes to explore in the forest, you weren't made to be a king. Jay looks at the pin and almost resents its sight.
"Because, I know that one day you will be king of Illverstand, and you will be the symbol and man that I never could be. It is nothing to be afraid of, although it appears scary in the mind, it is simply the path that is inherent to the nature you have been given." The king lifts up Jay's head to look into his eyes. Despite the sunken sickness that the king's eyes hold, they have a fire of life that Jay hasn't seen in them in years. "Will you overcome your fear and accept destiny…" Jay could tell his father wanted an answer at that moment, but Jay could not oblige. The voice in his head kept telling him over and over in a loud tone REJECT DESTINY. Jay stood quickly, letting the pin drop to the floor and move quickly away from his father's bed. Jay could see hurt in his father's eyes, but despite that hurt, a smile still shone proudly. "It is okay Jay, you are still young. Someday, I hope to be able to look down and smile as you accept your crown." The king says with a single tear coming down his cheek. Jay kept trying to force his body to move, to speak, to do anything then move away from his father's bed; but like his telekinesis, his body could only move in a solitary direction away from his father.
Suddenly, the sun that streamed through the window brought no more light into the room. A thunderous boom resonated throughout the kingdom, shattering the window and showering the room with glass. Jay's mind couldn't handle the many stimuli hitting him at once and fell on his but against the hard wood. A moment later Hector busted into the room frantically.
"YOUR MAJESTIES!" Hector ran towards Jay and helped him get to his feet. Jay felt his feet turn to jell-o underneath her. Hector put Jay's arm around his shoulder and moved him to the chair by his father's side. Hector grabbed the shoulders of the king, "are you alright King Markus! Have you been hurt?" The king moves his hand in a shaking swishing manner trying to force Hector away from him.
"I am ok, what is going on outside?" The king coughs out his answer. Hector rushes across the room towards the now shattered window. His face falls agape looking through the window and his entire body seems to collapse. "What is going on Hector!" The king says a little louder trying to command the authority of his guard.
"My king…" hector says meekly, "may the one above have mercy on us all…" Jay rises to his feet and wobbles towards Hector. His curiosity carries him although his feet still wobble as if they no longer know how to carry his weight. He reaches where Hector is, and places his hand on Hector's shoulder to give himself some stability before looking out at the kingdom. Before Jay's eyes he sees an enormous portal, that looks to be a mile long and almost a mile high out in the bay blocking the view of the ocean. The portal has a blue outline but the inside is completely black and speckled with what looks like stars. Jay could not believe the size of the portal nor how enough magical power could exist to conjure it. "Jayfifth…" Hector says exasperated, "that looks like a larger version of Prince Tyrius's magic…" Jays eyes grow wide as he stares at the portal. He wants to protest the notion, but he can not help but see that Hector is right. He had seen Tyrius's portals many times in his life, no two magic users that can teleport can create similar portals, and that one was definitely Tyrius's.
"No, Hector that's not possible! Tyrius does not have anywhere near enough power to create something...something like that...it's not possible!" Jay grabs Hector and shakes him angrily in a fit of rage, hoping that by doing so it might reverse the facts that lay before him. Jay and his brother had not been fond of each other for years now, but he never thought his brother could be capable of something like this. Jay finally stopped shaking Hector when a figure began to emerge from the portal. At first, it didn't appear to be anything in comparison to the size of the portal, but as more of it came through they were able to tell that it was a ship of some kind; but this ship was made entirely of metal and was massive compared to the ships that Illverstand had. The ship had massive metal cylinders around it that looked to be some sort of projectile device. Their massive barrels were at least as long as the mast of any normal ship. On both sides of the ship, smaller ships came through the portal that seemed to have many people inside wearing black uniforms and their helmets gave them the look of demonic beings. Jay, Hector, and the King were silent. The entire world felt silent. The only sounds came from the magic portal that sounded like a loud buzzing noise, and the weird noise coming from the ships sounded like metal clashing against more metal. The large barrels on the front of the largest ship began to shift, until they were pointed directly at the castle. The next few moments happened in an instant. Hector, remembering his sense of duty to his kingdom, ignites his magic as his eyes glow a bright blue. He pushes Jay behind him with a heavy enough push that Jay is thrusted on his father's bed. A noise that sounds of explosion magic comes from the ship; at the same time Hector begins to shout. All of his magic begins to thrust out of his body through his voice. The once invisible projectile that came from the ship explodes as it collides with Hector's voice. This causes the house to shake but the explosion doesn't seem to affect the house other than that. Hector begins to pant, keeping his magic going strong despite having just lost most of it, a second projectile is fired from the ship and sails towards the castle once more. Hector deflects this one as well and an assembly of guards burst into the room to support Hector. One of the guards walks towards the bed.
"Your Majesties, please get out while you can!" One of the guards yells as he pulls Jay to his feet. Jay frantically speaks to the guard as more projectiles head towards the castle.
"What is going on!" Jay yells.
"The forces that have come from the portal are raining fire upon us. The castle is under siege by the main ship but the kingdom is being assaulted by soldiers that seem to be wielding miniature versions of whatever magic that is being used to attack the castle." The guard told Jay this and he shuddered at the thought of this destruction being replicated. The guard called for one of the members of his unit to pick up the king, and the five of them proceed out of the room. As they walk down corridor after corridor, trying to find a way to the safety of the throne room, the castle is in complete disarray. As the shudders from the explosions shock the house, pictures and furniture fly off the walls and many of the housekeepers are running around trying to evade the commotion. Along the way, the group finds Illia carrying Lalend to the throne room as well.
"ILLIA!" Jay yells. Illia turns and looks at his brother, then at his father being carried by a guard, with magic pouring out of him.
"Oh gosh father…" Illia hands an unconscious Lalend to the guard in the front and proceeds to helping carry his father.
"What happened to Lalend?" Jay asks.
"Don't worry, I found him unconscious as I was heading to the throne room, hes drunk." Illia tells the group. Lalend kinda laughs in his unconscious state then goes limp once again. Jay slaps his face.
"RIGHT NOW! He had to choose now of all times!" Jay has a fury in his voice that is half anger and half a way to relieve the tension in his chest from all the events that led to this moment. The group heads down the long hallway to the throne room. Jay ignites his magic and flings the doors open for them and once all of them are through closes the door behind them. Euctis sits at the round table in the throne room as they enter, but almost immediately jumps to his feet as they enter.
"Thank the one above all of you are okay!" Euctis says. He walks over and to Jay's surprise, begins to hug his brother. Jay can feel Euctis's hands trembling against his back. Jay wraps his arms around his brother and for a moment the two just simple breathe. Jay feels as if he hadn't breathed since he stepped into his father's room. Euctis unwraps himself from the hug and walks towards the door. His eyes glow a deep green as he moves his hands around the room in a fluid motion. The areas where his hands point, the ground erupts and large earthen walls cover around the throne room. "Where is Tyrius?" Euctis asks, he puts his hands down and his eyes stop glowing.
"Who cares," Illia answers after setting down their father on the table, "Tyrius betrayed us."
"We don't know that for sure," Jay responds. Illia gets angry at this.
"Did you see the portal! That couldn't have been anyone but him...Who is he working with? Is it the Draconis kingdom? Where did they get that magic?" Illia asks exasperated. Euctis dismisses his thoughts.
"It couldn't have been Draconis, I got back from their kingdom no more than an hour ago. They have no reason to attack us, nor the type of magic we see coming from that ship." Euctis scratches his head though, "I feel like I have seen that somewhere before, it almost seems somewhat familiar…"
"What part of that seems familiar to you Euctis? It is a giant mass of metal floating in the water, how is that even possible?" Illia says. The two brothers begin to argue over what it could be. Jay hears the slight whisper of his name and turns to look at his father. His father is holding out his hand to him, with something closed within his fist. Jay turns and reaches out his own hand to his father. The king drops the golden phoenix that was once onto the floor into Jay's hand along with a crumpled up letter. In a small whisper that almost no one can hear, the king whispers.
"You must redeem Illverstand, King." The word king is louder than all the others. The two brothers stop arguing and look towards Jay. The pin matched the phoenix that was adorned upon the ceiling, symbolizing the king. Euctis and Illia both have a look of both anger and defeat at the same time.
"You have got to be kidding me," Euctis says, "You? Your just a boy...you have no desire to be the king, how could he…" Euctis continues to kinda mumble shocked by what he has just heard. Illia just shakes his head, clearly saying to himself I knew it. Jay opens his, forming thoughts of how to defuse the next rising conflict of explaining he has no right to be king, but instead he is left speechless by the appearance of a portal that appears just in front of the door. A blue outline with a black, star speckled space in the middle, clearly belonging to Tyrius.
"Well now this is a surprise…" Tyrius comes through the portal smiling widely, a smile very similar to that of their father, but more sickening and malicious. "All hail King Jayfifth, the rock collector," he says while walking around the room laughing, "King of Illverstand for the next five minutes that is has left." The look on his brothers face was one he had never seen, a look that portrayed the deepest desires of Tyrius's heart. From that one look all in the room could tell, Tyrius desired their death.