Shain entered his rooms at the Azalstin estate. As soon as he entered the outer room the walls, doors, and windows lit up light blue. As he walked to the inner part of his sanctuary the light dimmed and faded completely.
He knew this imprison magic. It was a magics that combined lightning, soul and mental magics. It was a potent magic and difficult to break through.
Shain entered his inner sanctum, a black, cold room with blue and silver points of star light in the ceiling and walls.
This was his room of tranquility and solitude. He always regained his focus here and he devised his most elaborate plans here.
He sat on the floor and his stern expression melted away, replaced by a sly smile then a look of exhaustion. Once he set things in motion he promised himself he would not think about any part of it anymore. It was too easy to be caught. He had siblings who were powerful telepaths and diviners. A single thought could change everything and ruin all his plans.
But still. He wanted it all to be over and done. He was a man who enjoyed his solitude but he still missed them. He hadn't truly understood star light until they were in his life.
He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the ceiling. He allowed the power of the room to wash over him. This room was made of a material imbued with fate magic. It was a rock like material that formed over long periods of time during celestial phenomenon.
As the magic rolled over him visions swam through his mind. Faint lines of fate materialized and began stretching outward.
He was not using fate magics it was more akin to stretching before exercise.
The best part of this entire situation was he had actually advanced much more than he ever thought he could. He would have to spar and train with Rachel more often. If all went well.
A throat cleared, he sat up straight, all magical flow stopped, and he looked around.
There was a smile in her voice when Rachel spoke.
"Hello brother. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Can we talk?"
Alarm bells went off within Shain. 'How the hell did she know… wait…. What does she know?!?' Being the Milana was a very powerful existence.
He stilled his mind and made sure his thoughts were subdued, but still he did not want to talk.
"That's fine I will talk, you can listen. I find your calm demeanor confusing. Can you explain why you are not shouting to anyone who will listen. That you are innocent or that we do not understand anything, or some such notion. I mean you are a manipulator to your very core."
Shain still did not speak. His sister was Milana and one of unfathomable power. He was sure she would know everything if he spoke one word or if he allowed his mind to relax even a little.
Rachel stepped out from a shadowy corner and only then did he perceive her.
He steadied his breath and set quietly as Rachel walked to his side. She sat down next to him, her knee touching his as she crossed her legs. She was silent for so long that Shain slowly turned his head and looked at her.
Her face was shrouded in a mist of rainbow light and her body was shimmering stardust.
It had been long years since he had seen a Milana aligned with the realm. And even then the Milana did not have such a perfect alignment as Rachel had at that moment. Maybe the entire body would not be stardust, or the face would not be fully shrouded, or even one of these aspects would be completely missing.
Yet here was Rachel a shimmering cosmos. As he looked at her he realized he could actually see distant planetary bodies within the starry mist.
Something in him swelled and he understood how powerful and important his sister was. Just as he had this thought her rainbow shrouded face turned to him.
"I don't understand what Shain but I know something is off about all of this. I can tell you do not want to say anything so I will leave it."
She stood and her form swirled, expanded, then resumed its humanoid shape.
"I will trust you brother and not interfere." He felt her eyes on him. "Don't do anything dangerous Shain and if you need help ask."
A small intricate circular rainbow that could fit on the tip of a pin moved from her and entered Shain's body. She was gone before the next breath.
Shain felt the rainbow stretch from him and telepathically connected him to Rachel.
"I guess you can't manipulate a true manipulator."
He shrugged it off and focused. He needed to be ready for the verdict tomorrow.
The tribunal president set to the right and spoke sternly as she discussed the verdicts. Everyone listened in wrapped fascination.
"We, the Azmin tribunal have found Azalstin Shain guilty of treachery against the Azmin people and the core realm Trannisa. Because he is an Azalstin he will be confined, indefinitely, to the penal continent of Small Color."
There was complete silence after the sentencing was done.
"Out of respect for his lineage Azalstin Shain will be given ten days to prepare for his incarceration. During this time a guard chosen by this tribunal will ensure that he does not try to flee or use his powers in anyway. Once he enters Small Color's facilities we will ask the Milana to cut Azalstin Shain off from the realm's soul well and place his abilities into dormancy." She looked to Rachel who nodded her agreement.
All heads turned to Rachel just as she nodded and a torrent of whispers erupted in waves.
Rachel set quietly as her family discussed the verdict and sentencing. Her eyes roamed over the members of the tribunal and seemed to become stuck on the tribunal president.
This was a very interesting woman. To assume Rachel would cut her brother off from the origin well of Trannisa. For her to even know of such an option. Rachel was curious, very curious indeed.
There was also something very familiar about her. Something that was both familiar and somehow disconnected. This disconnection seemed wrong at first but now it felt like missing information. She sensed this the previous day as well but she was focused on her brother then.
Was she a part of this? As Rachel thought this something clicked within her. Was she a part of Shain? Her instincts sent a shiver through her.
She had hit on something.
"Uncle Tomas. Who is the tribunal president."
Everyone stopped talking at her question. They all looked as one at the sitting tribunal.
"Hmmm. That is Angelica. She is the daughter of Chief Marcos."
Rachel nodded as she listened. "The one who married the previous White?"
Her uncle nodded at her question. "Yes. Exactly. It is only because of her husband that we understand the extent of the corruption in our realm's government. "
"Hmph! Ashan continually avoids us as if he no longer respects the Azmin."
Rachel shook her head. "The current Black and White no longer recognize the Azalstin Uncle Chase. They understand the Azmin are still needed and integral to the functioning of the realm, but they do not like what they call a royal class."
"This is true. They have an understanding of a need for the Azmin but they do not like our clan system. They want to be able to have a say in Azmin politics."
Rachel nodded at her aunt's words. Aunt Claris was the current Azalstin chief and she was a very smart woman and always fair. Sometimes too fair.
"When Lance White died it was a hard blow to the Azmin. We will never get another Azmin in the Whit or Black positions."
"I hope you are wrong in that Chase."
"Has Angelica entered a new union?"
Everyone stopped talking at Rachel's words.
"Hmm. No. She has not. It will be hard for her to find a second soulmate."
"That is definitely not true Tomas. I have found three soulmates."
Her uncle rolled his eyes at his cousin and moved the conversation back to the conglomerate's Black and White.
The family instantly began speaking about corruption in the realm.
Rachel thought quietly.