I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. Sunlight peered through the window as I examined myself. I wore a long white gown with nothing underneath. The room I was in, was almost empty aside from what I could tell were medical supplies.
I got up and walked to the door. Halfway through my legs gave out. I have no strength left in my body.
"Where am I?"
I crawled my way to the door and used all my strength to pull a chair nearby and elevate myself to the knob. Upon opening it, I found myself in an unfamiliar corridor. Unlike the hotel at Fontaine, this place is not as grand nor is it as glamorous as our mansion.
The place was majestic, it carried a sense of solemnity and dignity. I can't put any words to describe the place aside from looking like a place where a nobleman or a King would live. A castle for royalty if you will.
My memory was hazy, some parts were missing. All I could remember was broken fragments as I fought the Lawachurl and a few instances of pain that I felt during that time.
As I crawled, I heard a few voices talking behind a door. I decided to listen in and put my ear on the door.
A voice behind the door said with a tone that belonged to a young woman. "Did you hear what happened? They say Lord Harbinger Pantalone's sons fought a Lawachurl, and I also heard they got a vision and are taking rest."
Another woman said with a rough voice. "I heard something more interesting, they say that one of them used the power of the abyss, and what's more, that kid had gone crazy and went into a rampage!"
Another woman giggled and said with a mischievous tone. "I'm actually acquainted with one of the people that stopped him and he said that there were creepy tentacles that came out of his body, Isn't that wonderful! Those sticky, slimy tentacles. Ugh, I want them to violate my body!"
"..."
"..."
As they continued to chat, a clicking noise was heard behind them.
"Alright, that's enough. Go back to work." A grumpy old voice stopped their chat with an annoyed tone.
Upon realizing that they were approaching the door, I quickly crawled out of the way but it was too late and I fell on my butt as they opened the door.
"Hmm? You!" Upon seeing me, the old woman was shocked.
"Girls! Take him back to the room!" The old lady ordered, her face full of worry and concern.
The three girls then grabbed me and gently put me back on the bed inside the room. I don't know anything about this place, I also don't recognize these maids. I'm fairly confident in recognizing faces and appearances so I'm sure it's the first time I met them. That means this is not our mansion.
"Where is this? Where's Leon? Where's Papa?!"
"Young Master, please calm down. You are currently inside Zapolyarny Palace, and on the order of the Tsaritsa, you, and your family have been summoned."
"What about Leon? Where is he? Is he alright?!"
"Master Leo, Master Leon is...fine."
The pause in her voice, "What happened to Leon! Tell me!"
It's too early to come to conclusions but the way they act meant something happened to him.
As I sent a barrage of questions at them, someone knocked on the door. One of the maids opened the door and I was relieved to see who came in.
"You're awake, Leo!"
In front of me was Leon. But he didn't look like how I remembered him. His purely black hair now has streaks of yellow and his eyes now have a tint of red.
"Leon! You're fine... I'm so glad,"
Tears fell out of my eyes like a fountain. An overwhelming sense of relief and happiness surged from deep within me.
"Why are you crying? Look, I'm fine, see!"
He turned around showing me his whole body. His arms were covered in bandages and had a sling supporting them and his body was covered in bruises under the cover of bandages.
"Young masters, we shall leave you to yourselves."
The maids left after putting a chair beside me for Leon to sit.
As he got close and sat on the chair, my emotions overwhelmed me and I couldn't help but hug him.
"Ouch! Leo, that hurts!"
With his complaint, I let him go and wiped the tears from my eyes.
We spent the time catching up. I asked him many questions with some of the answers surprised me for a bad reason.
"So, the Tsaritsa called us because of me?"
"Yes, I don't know what this "Tsaritwatsa" wants but Papa already talked with her a few days ago."
I'm sure of it, considering the things that those maid said earlier, I'm sure they know what happened with the Lawachurl. Please don't let me be a lab rat.
"What about you? Are you alright?"
Leon smirked. "Heh, I'm amazing you know. There's this Doctor that looked at our body, he said that we have something unique that no one has."
"Doctor? Did you get his name?"
"Uhhhh, it was something like dottere or dottecari."
"Dottore?!"
"Yes, that! Dottero!"
Please no, tell me he didn't do anything to us, please.
"What did he say?"
"He said were the opposite of each other. He said that I resist elements and different powers but you accept powers and energies. Quite amazing no?"
"You don't understand what that really means don't you?"
"I don't!"
Then that explains why Leon is fine. But seriously, to meet the doctor this early...
I could only sigh in worry.
***
A few days passed. I was in a coma for three weeks and during this time, Papa took me to the nearest doctor and he said that my body was also already in tip-top shape. That in itself is weird. I know my body got brutally smashed by that Lawachurl, so how did I recover so fast? Plus, I felt very heavy, like my soul was drained of fuel.
As I pose this question to myself I can't help but shiver. The memories of that day haunted me. Whenever I recall what happened, I feel like I could taste the blood in my mouth and my body reacts horribly. Whenever I closed my eyes, I could see myself sinisterly smiling. I know for a fact, what I did was for survival. 'But was it really the right decision?'
During that time I also gained a vision. It's the only good thing that happened, the rest was just trauma.
"How do you work?"
I asked myself, as I clutched my vision, unable to make it work and comprehend how elemental energy works.
I remember how I managed to use its power back then, so why doesn't it work now?
'Enough of this, let's focus on the matter at hand.' I shook my head, trying to put my attention to a far greater issue. Right now I'm on my way to the chamber where the Tsaritsa resides. I was finally called and I had a feeling this would be the start of my life, For better or For worse.
I arrived at a huge door with two armored guards waiting in front. Unlike the Fatui, their attire is different. They have large, robust bodies paired with large armor covering their chests, leggings made of steel, and Greatswords in hand. They looked like those imperial guards that a King would have.
They blocked my way with their swords, forming an X on the door.
"I'm Leonid, I've been summoned by the Tsaritsa."
They looked at each other before resting their swords.
I heaved a sigh as I readied myself to enter. I felt fear, reluctance, anticipation, and worry as they slowly opened the doors. With a creaking sound, the doors were opened and a gust of cold icy wind met my skin.
I walked inside at a snail's pace. I looked around and saw a wide space with icy pillars. In between them are ten people. I recognize them, I know them. They're the Fatui Harbingers, the leaders of the Fatui.
My eyes landed on one of them; it was Papa. He smiled at me but something was amiss. In his usual unchanging smile, I could feel... fear and worry.
As I continued to walk forward and scanned the surroundings, my eyes landed on the front of the room. In there was a throne covered in ice. On the throne sat a beautiful lady. Anyone who would have seen her would instantly realize, they are in the presence of a god.
She wore a long bluish-white dress that reached the ground. Her hair was white mixed with streaks of blue. Her face was stoic, unchanging, and without any hint of emotion, she ordered, her voice cold as ice.
"Let us start"
With a flick of her finger, a circular table made of ice appeared in the middle of the room. Eleven chairs were erected, one in the middle and Ten on the side of the table.
"Leo, sit in the middle," Papa said, his voice low.
The room grew silent as each of us sat. Everyone sat in silence as if waiting for someone to start. Finally, the Tsaritsa spoke.
"If my memory serves me true, your name is Leonid."
"Yes, Your Majesty. You are correct."
"Then, By my will, tell us, who are you?"