Zyric got out of bed early and asked a nurse to give his message to Elzilaura of Fliska, the Crystal Princess.
Just after the nurse left, he was distracted by a broadcast on the viewing screens. It was a replay of Alsuva's public address announcing his resignation as Gaulani to concentrate on his new role as the first-ever Diai Gaulani or Chairman of the Seravdi Gaulan Alliance.
He will not only ensure peace and understanding between all Gaulans but also with the Patara. The prime minister will tentatively hold the Gaulani position before a new one could be elected.
In the middle of his viewing, the princess comes storming into Zyric's room while the nurses were trying to stop her.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" An enraged Elzilaura throws the letter at Zyric which lands somewhere near his lap.
Zyric motions to the nurses to go and let Elzilaura do as she pleases.
"My resignation letter." He turns away from her and keeps his head down which infuriates Elzilaura more.
"I'm so disappointed in you. You're acting like a sore loser. Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Zyric slowly looks at her. His eyes looked so distraught. "I am sorry for being a failure to you and for offending you now. I understand your hatred towards me for which I am asking for forgiveness".
He bends his head and stretches his arm forward. It was an old Fliskan gesture showing great remorse usually done by a vassal to his overlord.
"Stop that. You made a mistake. We all do. Don't be so hard on yourself. No one is that perfect." She speaks.
"We were trained to have zero error. We were always taught to choose wisely as mistakes no matter how simple might be too costly. My mistakes had grave consequences. Because of my simple mistake, Ranued and Haxialle are now dead. I placed so many people's lives in jeopardy. I hate myself and I am not fit to be your Marshal."
Elzilaura moves toward the side of his bed and sits almost beside him. "You know what, failure is part of life. We all make lapses in judgment. I made foolish mistakes in trying to use the crystal cross. I placed people's lives in jeopardy too."
She clutches Zyric's arm. "What I have learned is that mistakes teach us important life lessons. You said so yourself that we grow day by day."
"Thank you for believing in me that much," Zyric says in a nonchalant tone. "Do you still want me to be your marshal? I feel Jarin could take my place. After all, he will be your husband."
"I believe a Fliskan should handle my armed forces. Besides, I need you. You're one of my most trusted friends and allies." Elzilaura says. "And are you jealous of Jarin?"
"No, I'm not. Why would I be?" Zyric claims as he tried to straighten himself. Elzilaura thought maybe he was being defensiveness. "I just thought he has good military training. It will be good for him to lead the armies of his future wife. It will bring you both closer." There was a pain in the way he said the last part.
"He will have a different set of duties as prince consort. I don't want to overwhelm him and as I've said, I want a Fliskan to be my Marshal."
"I will accept the responsibility for the time being. Once Fliska is restored, I wish to hand over my position to Harrion or anyone of your choosing." He makes his thoughts known.
"If this is the only way to win you back, then I will agree to this. I do hope that you will still change your mind. I still wish that you will stay long after we regain our home." She says and pats his shoulder.
"But thank you, Zee, for reconsidering and for every sacrifice you've made. I appreciate it, greatly." The Fliskan Marshal smiles and thanks his commander-in-chief while placing his hand on top of hers.
Elzilaura frowns. She faces him. "But don't ever make me worry like that again. I hurried back here to Carandessa after learning of your accident. I hardly slept because we were discouraged to visit you. I thought you were in critical condition." She looked anguished.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Zyric agrees. He takes her hand and squeezes it. He felt joyful that she cared that much for her but also felt remorseful for being the cause of her stress.
For a moment there, they were both lost in each other's gaze until they heard someone knocking.
"Sorry, I told the doctors I have urgent news for the crystal princess and the lord marshal so here I am. Kanunia enters and informs them of an incident that just happened.
"Soradina was kidnapped by Lizena." Elzilaura gasps in shock while the Fliskan Marshal asks what had happened. Kanunia continues narrating.
"The Duchess of Craiine saw Lizena enter Alednos' room. Soradina claims that Lizena grabbed her after being discovered. The assistant restrained the Duchess and swiftly drags the latter to the nearby room as the former was figuring out an escape plan.
Luckily, Soradina remembers a technique of self-defense Zedon once taught her. With good timing, she uses it and breaks free from her captor. She sounds the alarm and the nearest guards come close to her aid. The assistant, in panic, runs back to Alednos' room and closes the door before the guards could catch her.
Before the guards reached the door, there was an explosion. The door shatters and the walls crack. Debris flies out of the door. The guards drop to the ground. Some of them had minor injuries.
Investigators are on the site. Harrion and Alednos have joined in. Zedon and Zora are both looking after the Duchess. The physicians say she is fine. Sabaria is being held for questioning but it seems she too was betrayed by Lizena."
Back at the scene of the crime, the investigators transfer from Alednos' room to Lizena's room searching for evidence. Alednos joins the investigators. He was surprised to see an amulet that he recognized. It belonged to Zyric.
They see a communicator but they could not open it as it was encrypted. They brought it back to the investigation center but no one has figured out how to open it. Alednos stays behind as everyone left. He persists in figuring out how to open the communicator.
After all his efforts, he finds a way to open the device which unfolds on the table. When he views the screen, he sees the person for whom Lizena was truly working and it was somebody from his past.
It was Kalmera. She was the daughter of their closest allies. Her parents perished in a fire that swept their estate. She and her servant who acts as her guardian sought help from the Duke of Vanaris, Alednos' father.
He offered them refuge and assistance in rebuilding their abode. In turn, she was married to his son when they were of childbearing age. Though their union was arranged, both cared for each other.
One day, his father dropped to the ground unconscious. It was discovered that Kalmera and her servant are behind the assassination attempt. As guards came to arrest her, she cried out to him pleading innocence but he could not listen nor look at her. His brother then volunteered to accompany his sister-in-law. She died in a riot due to a jailbreak including his brother.
"Surprise, surprise!" The lady says. "Good to see you again Alednos. You look well, my husband."
"No wife of mine would dare cause me and my family harm." His voice was full of angst. He despised her.
"You are stupid just like your family."
"Leave them out of this."
"Your brother is the culprit. He framed me and made you believe that I tried to murder him. Didn't you ever think of that possibility?"
"Yes, but all evidence led to your treachery and you had every motive. You fooled me Kalmera." He explains
"You idiot. Did you ever consider he could have planted the evidence?"
"No, that is not my brother. He could be cold and seemingly cruel at times but he is not that."
"Oh, my husband. I was naive just like you." Mortezia explains. " But let me tell you what truly happened.
When you were away, your brother came to my bedchambers and tried to force himself on me. I managed to break free from his grip, push him, and lock him out. He offered me a deal. If I give myself to him, he will marry me once he has eliminated everyone. He wanted to be the duke. He warned me that there will be consequences. I still refused to open the door so he planted the evidence of my alleged treachery.
He threw me and my guardian in prison and revealed all his schemes to me. He did not only frame me up, but he was also the one responsible for the fire that ruined my family's holdings. To make matters worse, your father had supported it too. He was the mastermind.
Burning down my estate would lead me straight to your doorstep and as your father's ward, he was free to wed me with one of his sons and annex what is left of my land to his holdings. They will never share this secret with you because they know you and your mother will never agree to it. They used you too to get to me. They know you will be kind enough to sway my affections.
Alednos could not believe what she was saying. He shivered as tears escaped his eyes. "How dare you accuse my brother and my father of such lies? You can't fool me."
"YOU know I am not LYING!!!" Mortezia shouts.
"Why would I lie about the misery you all caused me?" Tears escaped her eyes. "They threw me in prison. My servant who acted as my guardian for most of my life died in my arms during the jailbreak.
Before she drew her last breath, she told me my late mother was a Nybian refugee and my father hid her identity to prevent discrimination. She suggested that I flee to Nybos and seek refuge there.
I followed her advice. I was reluctant but I had nowhere else to go. Upon arrival in Nybos, I claimed my Nybian heritage but no one believed me. Instead, they threw me in prison and made me a slave. I was harassed, abused, and sold to the highest bidder.
My new master, the Lord of Vezar, was surprisingly kind to me. He saw the best in me and gave me a new identity. I became known as Mortezia. Eventually, he married me and introduced me to Kyron who favored me too. Upon my husband's death, I assumed his position as Lady of Vezar.
When Kyron discovered the Shadow Shale, he gave me the Power Stone for safekeeping. He linked me to it. I am honored with such a prize but you have no idea how many horrors I had to face. These horrors started because of you and your father." She sobs. When Alednos tries to speak she cuts him off.
"You have no idea of the physical and emotional tortures I had to endure and you never even visit me in prison. I kept myself alive because of our child. I was hoping you'd visit me and see our baby but you didn't. I lost it too. I wanted to die. But when I recovered, I swore I will keep myself alive until I finally see you dead!"
"We had a baby?" Alednos asks. Something inside him ached upon learning the idea he had a child.
"I kept it a secret because I wanted to surprise you. I was planning a special dinner for the wedding anniversary and tell you afterward. It would have been my gift for you." Her eyes seemed to sparkle with the memory. "But it didn't happen because I got imprisoned. I lost the child. In a way, I'm glad it is gone because it would have suffered more. My baby doesn't deserve to have a father like you."
"I am sorry." That was all he could say. He felt pity for both of them.
"You are too late," Mortezia says. "You made me too miserable to change my mind. I do promise that I will stop only if you die and all your comrades, every single one of them. I will stop only when Kyron conquers this universe. That is when I will accept your forgiveness."
"You are not the only one in anguish. I was miserable too when I thought you betrayed me. Now, I feel pitiful. I cannot accept what you have become. You are no longer my Kalmera."
"Well, it sucks to be you right now. Yes, I am no longer Kalmera. She died the day you turned your back on her. Your hatred killed her. I am Mortezia of Vezar and I promise you, I will wipe you out and make you feel more remorse than-"
Then the communicator bogged down. Alednos fell on his knees feeling weak yet he musters his strength so he could report the incident. He goes to Elzilaura who was at the moment conversing with Zedon and Kanunia. Of course, the Fliskans were all stunned by Alednos' discovery. Each of them looks back on their respective memory of Kalmera.
Kanunia recalls meeting Kalmera during the latter's engagement party. She was simple, classy, subtle, and yet witty while conversing with the nobles. Kanunia thought to herself that Kalmera was perfect for Alednos and the former was hopeful about the newly engaged couple having a good life together. She was saddened by the news of Kalmera as a traitor and also of the latter's death.
Elzilaura was introduced to Kalmera during one of the official Queen's ball. She and Alednos had recently been married. She observes both glowing with affection for each other considering their marriage was arranged. On certain occasions, she would come across Kalmera and have delightful conversations with Alednos' wife. She mourned the loss of Kalmera despite the accusations against the lady. Elzilaura found it hard to believe that someone as kind as Alednos' wife could be evil. She is even more downhearted learning of the lady's plight in Nybos.
Zedon's first encounter with Kalmera was at a party thrown by a Craiinian vassal. He represented his father while Kalmera stood in for her father-in-law and husband as well. He took notice of how smart she was and even praises the lady suggesting that she could be a royal adviser to the Queen someday. The lady thanks him for his kind remarks but affirms she would rather leave political matters to her husband.
Zedon also recalls how his sister was fond of Alednos' wife. Zora doesn't trust easily but thanks to Kalmera, the Duke's daughter learned to open up and be sociable. When Kalmera died and news of her treachery spread, Zora was so angry that she built her walls up again. Once again, she had trust issues. Perhaps, this was the reason she was so doubtful of Soradina.
They were all worried as Kalmera knew so much about them and Fliska. It made sense to them now. She was the strategist behind the Fliskan siege that Raeon warned Kanunia of. No wonder why their defenses have been infiltrated and brought down so easily.
Zedon promises to investigate Mortezia and takes his leave. Alednos then bids the sisters good night and returns to his chambers to rest. He sat on his desk trying to run through his conversations with Mortezia. Alas, he had found his love lost only to discover that she has been corrupted not just because of Kyron or his family but by neglecting and abandoning her.