"Tell Catherine that I will meet her after my recovery."
Rowena nodded before storming out of her room. Avione had just finished reading another book and had just sent Rowena away to do some errands for her such as sending Catherine another design she personally made. Looking back on her recent poisoning, the maid was immediately captured and went into interrogation.
It has been three days since she met the Goddess who brought her back to life and three days that she had been bed-ridden after the whole ruckus of her being poisoned. The Empress had not permitted her to go back to work unless she strictly follows the prescription of the royal physician, which Avione didn't get the reason to. An imperial knight was also stationed outside her quarters now, inspecting any food or item that she receives.
In the past, she avoided getting sick and letting anyone know aside from Rowena. Her mother had never visited her chambers and thus never knew if she was on the verge of death or is still eating fine. The recent care she has been receiving is all new to her and Avione still wondered whether it was because of her last visit at the Sanctuary or the Empress' Chambers.
A sigh escaped her mouth. She held her hand closer to her face, examining the ring Helios had given her. "Helios, I need to talk to you." she whispered.
"Come in, child." A serene voice immediately answered back.
In a few seconds she was back to the space she spoke to Helios before. Facing the Goddess' back, Avione walked closer only to see her creating a mirror again connected to the outside world, this time out of thin air. "What are you looking at?"
Helios poked the water again creating a riptide and slowly the image of soldiers fighting appeared on the surface of the water. "Them. This happened yesterday."
Brows furrowing in seeing the familiar armors and flags scattered around the bloodied field, Avione asked. "Those are Imperial soldiers. Are they fighting another kingdom? A peace meeting has been held a few years back to show the allegiance of the neighboring countries to Helione, that can't be possible!" she exclaimed, worried that another war is happening and the damage it would cost the empire.
The Goddess simply shook her head, "Look closely Avione, and tell me, are they fighting humans?"
Scooting closer to see better, the princess' eyes widened in shock to see large animals with eyes glowing red and skin rotting away are attacking the soldiers. "Animals?"
"Demons, to be precise." Helios quickly replied.
Confused by what she heard Avione faced the Goddess, "According to the legend and the ancient history of our Empire, you have given our ancestors the power to drive demons away from this realm. And now you're saying that those things attacking our soldiers are demons too?" she said, looking at the mirror again and seeing a familiar face in the crowd. Phrygrine Idelstein. His sword glowing in a deep red as he slashed the monsters attacking.
The Imperial Knights lead by Phrygrine have been stationed recently at the north with complaints from the citizens there that their crops are dying and news of people who went into the
"That is what I need to tell you child," Helios waved her hand in front of the mirror and the scenery disappeared. "You see, the miasma from the demon realm have been seeping at the Northern barrier. The powers maintaining the shield from their world is weakening at a terrifying rate."
"What powers?"
The Goddess sighed and showed two glowing things in her hand. On her left hand laid a golden leaf and on the right is a red sword. "I have given your ancestors these two powers in particular," she started, and lifted the red sword, "The power of destruction." and she lifts the leaf, "and the power of creation."
Putting the pieces of information she knew, Avione spoke, "My mother had always been good at fighting even when she was just the crown princess, she must've been blessed with the power of destruction then. My aunt Aviella, who became the Saintess is the one who has powers of creation."
"On the contrary, your mother carries the gift of creation." Helios turned her head to face her. "Your aunt's powers are strained and are almost out."
"Your Aunt is the one who is protecting the empire from the demon realm for almost 30 years. The powers they gain every generation weakens as they share blood from the normal people." Helios started explaining, wanting to give light to how the power structure in the Empire is maintained. "The ones who hold the power of destruction uses their powers for the barrier. It may not be seen by normal humans as it only is effective against tainted souls and creatures. The power you aunt wields is as weak as it gets and she may be using her own life force to make up for it."
"That's why she looks older when I last visited the Sanctuary." dread filled the face of Avione, "T-That can't be, Aunt Aviella is still young!"
"It is her choice, child. After all it is her job, the moment they awakened."
"Then help her, you gave them those powers, why can't you just help her?"
Helios walked slowly along the seemingly endless road of pure white, "I have given them the greatest gift in order for you to survive, in exchange I could never interfere with any of their affairs ever again. We had a law in the heavens and I chose to break it to save your Empire. However, seeing the state of the current protectors, one unable to use her powers and the other almost out of it, I had to do something." the Goddess spawned an infant version of Avione in her palms, along with the powers she showed earlier.
"Me." A lot information had just been told to her and Avione was now aware of what her role in life is. "Then how come I had a sister? And she had powers too."
"Material magic is as simple as deceiving those who are looking at it child. I cannot grant you another chance again, Avione. It is now in your hands to walk upon the path you are destined to."
__
After her whole discussion with Helios, Avione had been for days thinking on how to manifest her powers sooner before the whole chaos in the lake happens again and the introduction of her half-sister. She had been busy with Catherine, drawing plans about the dress she will be wearing at her ceremony. In the past, the dress she wore was a dead shade of pink, filled with ruffles as if she was still a kid and it didn't do her good in front of the nobles present during her coronation.
However, a sudden invite from her father, the prince consort, had somehow ruined her plans. Avione awkwardly reached out for the cup of tea served in front of her, uncomfortable of the look on her father's face sitting in front of her.
"I apologize for my sudden request um, Avione." Tristan stated, clumsily knocking over his cup and splattering tea all over the tray. He muttered a simple sorry before asking a maid to clean up his mess and brew a new batch of tea for him and his daughter.
From the way he's been acting, it's like it's his first time meeting his daughter and he's like a parent who doesn't know how to talk nor act around their child. Avione wondered why she had never been able to meet him before. For imperial affairs, the Empress would always be present but he would nowhere to be seen. Even in the castle grounds where Avione had asked an imperial knight to find him, they said he wasn't there.
Putting down the cup in her hand, Avione offered a small smile, "Is there something you want to tell me, your highness?"
"F-F-Father," he stammered, with blush colored cheeks, "I would like it if you would refer to me as your father."
Surprised by his simple request, Avione felt a tug in her heart. "I apologize, f-father." she didn't mean to stutter however, it was the first time she'd be saying that word.
"I wanted to ask if you'd want me to escort you on your c-crowning ceremony, Avione." Tristan stated, clearing his throat and fixed his posture. "I had given it much thought that it is only proper that I, as your father, be the one to walk you before you get crowned." his eyes averted Avione's curious gaze, embarrassed of what he is saying.
Truthfully speaking, Tristan had always wanted to be around his only daughter. However, being advised by his wife not to go near Avione until she has come of age, he has no choice but to comply. Even if it meant, hurting his daughter and grow up distant and wary of him.
Avione on the other hand, didn't know what exactly to feel. To get offered by her own father whom she craved love and attention before is an extremely new thing to her. She didn't hate her parents. From a young age she has come to understand that what they are doing is probably avoiding any conflict around her. Even if they did not care, Avione learned to live without it.
But now, things are certainly turning towards another path.
"I'd be honor-"
The door slammed open, startling both Tristan and Avione as the tall figure of a man with hair as black as night and eyes as red as blood busted from it, wearing the silvery armor of the Empire. Phrygrine Idelstein.
"Your highness, I apologize for the unannounced welcome. I bring grim news from the northern borders." his eyes darted around the room and laid upon the princess whose gaze stayed glued on him the moment he entered. "Please forgive me of my rudeness, greetings to Princess Avione, the one and only star of the Empire."
Tristan sighed as he massaged his temple, unable to prioritize either one at the moment. He looked sorry at his daughter, "Avione, I-I'm sorry but this is very urgent. The general and I need to talk about something private. I can ask Freddie to escort you back to your chambers." he states, signaling for his butler to come inside.
However, Avione knew exactly of what the young general has come to report. "I don't need escorting as I want to stay and be part of your discussion, father." she sternly said, enunciating the last word.
"But your highness, you probably don't have any idea of what we will be-" Phyrgrine stepped in but was quickly cut off.
"You may speak now."