This story is part of the Wanderer series.
Miyako walked down the scarlet hallway, chin down and eyes shadowed. The corridor lightly echoed with her footsteps, muffled by the crimson carpet that ran across the entire length of the hall. At the end was a junction. To the left, a turn deeper into the palace. To the right, an opening to the outside. Flaming rays of light shone through the open doors, followed by the arid summer air. A quiet howl sounded as she approached. A breeze blowing past the doors.
As she reached the junction, out of the corner of her eyes, a shape caught her attention. Glancing up, she saw a silhouetted figure standing outside on the canopied balcony, turned slightly towards her, hands grasped behind his back in a familiar manner. Rays of the setting sun radiated around the man’s outline, making him glow.
Miyako’s eyes widened, briefly glimmering. Her lips parted, but not a sound came out. The man met her gaze, addressing her presence with a slight nod.
“Your Highness.”
The voice surprised her, snapping her out of her illusion. It was Akasuki.
The two of them stared at each other in silence, neither of them moving from where they stood. Her throat strained to find her voice. She was not prepared to speak with anyone.
“A— Aka— ki,” she eventually managed.
Akasuki simply blinked, his eyes adopting a new shade of rue.
“I received the news.”
Feeling tears swell up, she dipped her head down again. Without another word, she slowly walked forward, to his right flank, joining him on the balcony. Akasuki turned to accompany her as they stared out over the orange mountains. Though, the young woman’s gaze was lost, reaching out with no desire or purpose.
“I volunteered my services to the Emperor to aid the investigation however I can.”
Miyako remained silent.
“We will uncover who is responsible for this,” he promised.
“It’s the Adders, isn’t it?”
Akasuki’s eyes flashed her a quick glance, gauging her trembling voice.
“We do not know,” he admitted. “We do not know if this was the work of the group the traitorous Toru worked with or if the assassins indeed conspired with our besieged opponents.”
Tilting her head directly back, facing towards the sky, she took in an audible breath. Her long bangs landed on her face, shrouding any hints of emotion in her eyes. Only when she spoke was her agony exposed.
“He had so much hope… so much vigor for this world… and yet… yet…”
Her voice stammered as she drew in another shaky breath.
“To be taken this way…”
Akasuki said nothing. For once, he knew not what to say to comfort his princess.
Her chin lowered, her long bangs continuing to curtain her face. With one hand, she covered her eyes, pinching the sides of her forehead with her thumb and index as she shook. Her left hand clenched into a fist as she tried to contain her emotions. Seeing her anguish, Akasuki tried what he could to reach out to her.
“Your Highness. If there is anyone you must direct your anger at, I am prep—
“Don’t.”
Voice trailing off, Akasuki shut his mouth. Miyako shook her head back and forth, her hand following along.
“Please… don’t… Not you… I can’t—”
She dipped her head lower, turning it further away from him.
“I need you… right now. So please…”
Hearing her plea, he drew silent once more, tilting his head down and gazing helplessly down the mountain cliffs.
With a sniff and another shaky breath, Miyako allowed her tears to finally shed, though she dared not let Akasuki see her like this. She abruptly turned her back to him, keeping her eyes masked.
“Please don’t bring yourself down to their level…” she finished. “I need you up here.”
Closing his eyes briefly, he opened them with new conviction. He now understood his princess’ pleas, and knew how to proceed.
“I am here for you, Your Highness. Whatever orders you have, whatever ordeals we must face next, I am ready.”
Hearing him address her so seriously, despite their solitude company, brought her some sense of comfort, of familiarity.
“It’s just us… Akasuki…” she eventually whimpered, her voice filled with longing as she recited the phrase.
Akasuki did not understand what the words meant. Yet, still, he nodded.
“I am here for you until the end.”
The words finally brought some solace to her. A reminder there were still members of her family who remained behind.
“Thank you…”
She wiped her eyes and breathed out, finally revealing her closed, tear-streaked eyes to the open air again. Her solace was short-lived, however. As she tried to make peace with her uncle’s passing, memories of him flooded back, returning to the beginning, when the Horde invaded her family’s small little kingdom. She remembered as Uncle and Father tried to sue for peace, negotiating away the kingdom’s wealth, its pride, and some of its citizens’ trust, only for their efforts to prove for naught as the Horde trampled those concessions and invaded the rest of their country. They knew this little kingdom had no teeth to defend itself. Her family could do nothing but watch until the Horde closed in on the dynasty’s walls, where they were forced to make their final stand. Where she finally took a stand for her country.
Becoming conscious of her own state, she gritted her teeth. Her family, her nation, had been attacked, and here she was, sobbing like a little girl at home, just like those bygone days, while her uncle’s assassins retreated into the shadows, plotting their next strike. So long as they remained, the cycle could repeat once more, and her cherished ones will never truly be safe.
Anger welled up inside her chest, twisting her sorrow and torment into a torrent of fury, her fist clenching again as her limitless energy bubbled up to the surface. Unable to contain herself anymore, she knew what she wanted to do. What she must do. For the sake of her family. And the sake of her own.
“Akasuki.”
The lieutenant looked up. “Yes?”
The breeze over the mountains began to swell.
“I leave the royal magic division to you.”
He straightened a little, confused by her words. He did not get a chance to speak, however.
With a sudden outburst of maleficent energy, her silhouette glowed brilliantly. The wind suddenly crescendoed, becoming a light gale, howling with anger against the tiles of the palace roofs. Miyako’s long, dark hair flew off her shoulders, vividly swaying with the wind.
Then, in a blink, she disappeared.