Legends of Vecira

Ulven entered the waiting room alongside Scholar Serin. Risi bowed to both, though Ulven still didn’t deserve it.

“Trying to get out of this, are you?” Ulven asked, “You have one piece of good news.”

Ae threw the book back to xer. The air helped xer catch it with ease.

“The records state the book was returned to The Demon of Vecira,” The Scholar said, “As its kin, you are allowed to reclaim it.”

Risi checked the pages, unsure how xe would know if it was damaged or not.

“Your presence is no longer necessary, Scholar Serin.” Ulven insisted.

“The law is my domain,” Serin said, “As it has been for every scholar since Vecira’s—”

“I understand.”

And Risi thought Vara was the only one who could scare Ulven.

“Do you know what the book is?” Serin asked.

Risi shook xer head.

“According to the records,”Serin revealed, “It was the spellbook of a powerful mage, gifted to the demon’s mother by the mage itself. It was confiscated to persuade the demon to share all it knew of demonkind. By the time it was formally returned, the Demon—”

“And what is the punishment for trespassing?” Ulven asked.

“That wholly depends on the damage incurred. As neither of us are allowed to enter the space, we cannot determine any physical damage. Emotional damage, well, you reacted no more emotionally toward xer than you usually do.”

Ulven growled.

“Reputational damage, however, if xe weren’t officially yours, this would immediately become a duel. As it stands, xe has more right to the First Consort’s garden than anyone.”

“Are you seriously defending the demon’s kin?”

“I am the final say on the law. Release xer in one piece, general.”

Serin left the room, winking at Risi. Xe ignored it and prepared for the attack.

“Your recklessness won’t be so far in your favor next time,” Ulven warned, “The guards will know better.”

“You mean to say the guards will break the law?”

“They answer to their teacher, not someone holed up in a library at all hours.”

“That’s treason.”

“That’s the way of things.”

Ae grabbed xer arm, dragging xer out of the waiting room, through the jail, and onto the street. Risi only avoided the dirt thanks to Veli miraculously catching xer fall.

“Thank you,” Risi focused on him as xe stood up.

“If I see you in Vecira again,” Ulven warned, “Your master will pay.”

The crowd stepped away from Risi and Veli. Ulven returned to the building.

“What does the general hold against you?” Veli asked.

“It’s not something I wish to discuss here.”

Veli nodded.

“I got the supplies; we can leave.”

Risi nodded. Veli would have to have his duel soon.

Risi and Veli watched the door. They had been ordered to greet the guest as soon as it arrived.

Vara hadn’t elaborated on who it was, just that it apparently brought an extra dimension of assistance to Veli, someone with experience in politics who Vara trusted to be discreet.

“Aran Evar,” Veli guessed, “He moved to Ribum after stepping down as Scholar.”

Risi shook xer head.

“A former scholar couldn’t be so discreet. Ulven would know the moment he was close to Vecira.”

“But he could disguise himself, and travel alone.”

“A Scholar?” Risi doubted.

“A Veciran Scholar.” Most Vecirans had some level of martial ability, more than the laypeople of other cities.

The door opened before Risi could counter, revealing an older individual in colorful and flowing garb. It looked more like a cloth merchant than anyone of political importance.

“You must be Risi.” The stranger walked right up to its identified target, hugging xer. Veli caught a confused look on Risi’s face, proving xer just as lost as he was, “And you,” the stranger didn’t touch Veli at all, “Must be Veli.”

Veli bowed.

“It is an honor to—”

“Don’t feed me irfinshit, I know Vara didn’t dare say my name for fear it would tip Ulven off. I was careful though, don’t worry.”

“What is your name?” Risi asked, “I fear I am as ill-informed as Veli.”

“You have your mother’s social skills,” the stranger commented, causing Risi’s eyes to widen, “My name is Maela Ril.”

“As in Vara Maela’s—” Veli began.

“Mother,” Maela confirmed, “I am here to train you in diplomacy before you must fight Ulven.”

“Mother!” Vara finally called from the stable. Maela ran over to him as he stepped inside, offering the same hug she gave to Risi. Much like Risi, Vara had to bend down, but instead of confusion, his expression seemed content.

“Did you have any—” Veli began.

“I had no idea she was alive,” Risi revealed.

“How does she know your mother?”

Risi ignored Veli, walking over to Maela and Vara. It looked like a true family reunion. Maela, Vara, and Risi even seemed to share the same smile.

Maela had greeted Risi like a family member even though they’d never met. Maela knew Risi’s mother, and the more Veli stared, the more he could see the small similarities that couldn’t just be attributed to Risi’s upbringing.

What secret affair had Vara held that meant he couldn’t claim Risi as his own?

Risi’s mother wasn’t Raosi, and there was one non-Raosi that Vara could have known so intimately as to have a child.

The Demon had left. Vara didn’t know Risi’s exact age. Ulven was able to throw her with no one batting an eye. Risi was Nephilim, and Nephilim were the children of demons.

Veli had all but asked aer to be consort.

But xe’d refused, for xer own safety. Vara had never said he was actually helping for the sake of Vecira. He’d mentioned his mentor’s legacy, but Risi had always seemed more invested. Xe never said xe cared about Vecira either.

Veli needed some air. He left through the same door Maela entered, trying to keep his stomach from overturning as he thought through it all.

This was insane. Vara could have learned those mannerisms from Maela before Risi learned them from him. This was all panicked conjecture.

But the thought had taken hold, and it was strangling Veli. If Risi was part demon, was all of this a manipulation? Was Veli a tool to control the city? Why not just become general xerself then. Xe was clearly a better fighter, and if that skill was combined with the demon’s mind…

“Are you alright?” Risi asked behind him. He stepped away, keeping an eye on xer.

“Stay away from me.”

“Ve—”

“Don’t use my name!”

Risi looked scared. Veli held back on the instinct to protect xer. He was what xe was afraid of, his knowledge anyways.

“Vara was right,” Risi said.

“Why call him by name? Is he not your father?”

Risi looked down in shame.

“He’s never had it tested,” xe admitted.

“Why not? You look like him and Maela. It’s more obvious than your demon mother.”

“Because Ulven couldn’t risk a threat to his reign. I appeared in the first consort’s garden, so I am officially his child. As long as that is the case, I cannot challenge his title.”

“So you trained me for you to take over from.”

“No! I trained you so Ulven would stop exerting control over us, and we can live in peace. Vara agreed because he knows you could improve the city.”

Veli wanted to believe more than anything, because then this friendship wasn’t a lie.

“What are you hiding under your scarf?” He asked, “Horns of loyalty? A mark of whatever deal with Ulven?”

She unwrapped the scarf, revealing blood red hair, proof that Veli’s accusations were true.

“Nothing but a damning inheritance from a mother I never met. I would have told you if Vara hadn’t rightly told me it was too much of a risk.”

Veli was supposed to feel something, but all he felt was hollow. Xe wasn’t even the guardian xe was still pretending to be.

Before xe could leave, Maela’s wagon was tossed to the side.

“The demon’s child in a lover’s quarrel with the rock-thrower,” Ulven identified, “Your parents would be ashamed if they hadn’t already disowned you.”

All the feelings of betrayal made Veli forget his reason for training in the first place. The source of his training didn’t matter as long as it worked.

“Ulven Praen, I challenge you for the position of general. Let your reign of terror end now.”

Ulven laughed.

“Conspirators, I see, not lovers. I’m sure you look forward to being reunited with your parents. I will see you in three days.”

He took a wheel off of Maela’s cart for good measure.

“And tell Vara there will be hell to pay after his student fails.”

Vara finally came out at that.

“What is this, Ulven?”

“Your student, the one you promised not to take on, has challenged me for the generalship, all to defend your right to bring a foreign agent into your home.”

“It’s not a crime to host your own kin.”

“You haven’t been in contact with Maela Ril since you’ve returned. She is a foreign agent here to train your attempt to usurp me. So long, Vara.”

Ulven finally left after that.

A cacophony of curses started the moment Ulven was out of earshot.

“I suppose this scholar isn’t as discreet as Aran,” Vara noted, “I was too eager.” He finally looked at Risi with her hair down, then back at Veli, “I suppose that was the yelling mother kept me from interfering with.”

“Yes,” they both admitted.

“Please,” Vara begged Veli, “We’ll even leave for somewhere less isolated once you ascend, just let us go in peace.”

“So you don’t deny it?” Veli asked.

“I have fear for Risi’s safety, but no shame for our relation. I just wish I’d ignored Ulven from the start and proved it decades ago.”

Somehow Veli held the power now, even surrounded by two people who could easily defeat him.

Whatever their crimes, Ulven was far worse.

“Beg for amnesty after I win. In the meantime,” He looked at Risi again, the sting of betrayal still feeling hollow, “In the meantime, just focus on making sure I have a chance.”

Veli disarmed Ulven of his sword immediately after they bowed, throwing it to the side.

Ulven took the opening to punch Veli’s face, but he rolled back from it, letting Ulven’s momentum push him forward.

He kicked Ulven so he fell to the ground, placing a foot on his back as Veli leaned down.

“You can surrender now,” he offered, “Or I can grab your sword and finish this.”

Ulven rolled with enough force to knock Veli on his back. When he scrambled up, Ulven had the sword.

“Vara wouldn’t have trained someone who wasn’t as demon-addled as he was. Surrender now, and I won’t ruin the nephilim.”

He wouldn’t have offered a deal if he didn’t believe he could lose. Veli was at a certain disadvantage, but he knew Ulven’s faults.

“You threaten another while I only threaten you. They were right to call you a coward.”

Ulven thrust. Veli grabbed his arm, disarmed him again, and elbowed him to the ground.

The sword was close enough for him to grab this time. Veli held it to the general’s throat.

“You fight an unarmed challenger with a sword, and you abuse your power against those without it. Surrender, and maybe your life can become worthwhile in your later years.”

Ulven glared at him.

“Many decades ago,” he yelled, “Vara Maela removed the Demon’s child from the dungeon.”

No.

“He threatened me to never reveal this, even though the child was officially my responsibility. He sent aer frequently into Vecira with intentions I never managed to learn despite numerous interrogations.”

Veli had no way to stop this without his motives being found suspect. He pushed the sword closer nonetheless.

“This new general was trained by Vara because I was close to the truth, and I surrender to him, so I may freely reveal who has been tricking you all this time.”

Veli took a glance at Risi and Vara, whose expressions were steeled. They must have expected this.

“Risi Ulven is the demon’s child. Vara claims ae is also his, but has never had that fact tested.”

Veli stood up to an enraged crowd.

“I will no longer let you starve from our isolation,” he insisted as the crowd shouted, “If it took a hero’s help to do that, I feel no shame.”

In the middle of the throng, Vara was pulling Risi away. Her face looked regretful until Veli lost sight of her.

He turned with a growl toward Ulven, but Purevi and Niale were already providing medical care. All the power of the general, and Veli still feared their judgmental looks.

“Things will improve,” he insisted under his breath, “At this cost, they have to.”

After defeating his first challenger, Veli was told the mandatory rest time could be used to train, enjoy the company of consorts, or catch up on paperwork. He had no consorts, his paperwork was swiftly handled, and now he stood in front of Vara’s home, unsure what to ask.

Arnelo opened the door as he waited.

“Veli! Oh, sorry,” xe bowed, “General Veli.”

“Anyone in Vara’s service may speak casually to me.”

Arnelo grinned, opening the door.

Instead of guiding him to the training room, xe took him to the doors only Risi and Vara were allowed to enter. They looked similar to a pair of doors in the general’s annex.

Veli knocked.

“I finished my chores,” Risi insisted on the other side.

“I was looking for Vara,” he explained, “Arnelo must have been confused.”

She opened the door, her headscarf absent and hair in a braid. She had a tentative smile at the site of him.

“This look suits you,” he admitted.

“So does yours,” she offered back, “Are we finally being kicked out?”

Veli shook his head.

“I wouldn’t have had the gall to enter if I came here for that.”

Her smile grew wider.

“Do you come as a friend, then?” she asked.

“I come as a student, who knows he gained his position through luck as much as skill.”

Her grin vanished.

“But I hope to remain your friend,” he promised.

“Why cultivate friendship with the Demon’s child?”

“It’s practical to keep the trust of someone who could easily defeat you,” he claimed, “Especially when you still owe xer a great debt.”

“And what would that debt be?”

“The debt incurred by bringing me here in the first place, only to achieve my goals at the cost of revealing your parentage.”

Risi seemed to be calculating something.

“I also wanted Ulven to lose his foothold,” she admitted, “I realized the consequences by the time you entered the arena.”

She stepped back, gesturing for Veli to enter a garden.

It seemed well-maintained, if a little sparse, primarily made up of flowers that weren’t quite blooming. A fountain in the center didn’t take up too much space, but clearly seemed to be the focus of the design.

Risi took a seat on one of the low benches surrounding it, looking out. She thumbed through a well-worn journal, though the pages seemed pristine.

“I didn’t realize you had a garden.”

“Technically it’s my mother’s,” Risi said, “Vara holds a vain hope it will return.”

“You don’t seem fond of the idea.”

“It abandoned me to the general without checking who held the title. Why should I want it to return?”

“Confrontation might help you feel better at least.”

Xe sighed, lifting the book again.

“My only memento from it is a book of Magek that I can’t even read.”

Xe revealed a script that looked more like swirls than letters. Veli found his head unconsciously tilting as if an angle might reveal its secrets.

“Perhaps I can bring it to Serin,” he offered, “He doesn’t seem to bear ill-will toward your mother, even said he wanted to stay on the good side of anyone in contact with Maela Ril.”

“I would prefer to show it myself,” Risi said, “But I won’t be able to enter the city walls.”

“Should you ever wish to visit Vecira, I will escort you myself.”

Risi shook xer head.

“That would be unwise. No one needs to assume you are as demon-addled as your mentor.”

“But you are not a demon,” Veli countered, “You are nephilim. I’m not sure you could addle me.”

“I do not have the mental abilities of demons,” Risi confirmed, “Nor their restrictions on falsehood.”

That made sense, xe’d probably lied to him several times.

They sat in silence, Risi occasionally flipping through xer journal with disgruntled sounds.

“I still believe you could become consort with little difficulty,” he noted.

Risi finally smiled at that, but quickly became solemn.

“Your company is not worth enduring a whole city’s hatred.”

“The whole city doesn’t hate you.”

“Individuals might not, but the city does. My kin permanently harmed it. No amount of friends will make up for their deeds.”

“The Demon—”

“Not that one.”

Veli looked at xer hair again, recalling the worst day of his life. It was hard to know how old a demon was or if it possibly had children.

They could never truly be friends again, or anything else meaningful, until something major changed.

He hugged her tightly, trying to ingrain the moment in his soul.

“Vecira owes you a great debt,” he insisted, promising, “I will do whatever in my power to make up that debt to you.”

Xe didn’t smile. The air around them felt heavier.

“I want no one in my debt,” Xe finally stood up, “I’ll find Vara. He should be willing to teach you something.”

Veli took a breath now that all his paperwork for the day was done. Even after many years as general, it felt like a slog.

“A messenger is claiming it must see you immediately,” his aide informed, “Claims it’s an emergency that the general must hear of.”

Either Serin had ignored it, or it thought this wasn’t Serin’s domain. Veli was always wary when it came to overlapping domains with the other triumvirate members. Too much insistence, and he could become another Ulven.

He rolled his neck, and took a deep breath.

“Let her in.”

The messenger looked terrified. Perhaps this was an emergency.

“What is your name?” the messenger asked before the doors even closed behind it.

A question that feared the interference of Demons. That explained it.

“I am Veli Vecira, General of Vecira, sometimes called the abandoned general.”

His altercation with the demon as a child, apparently a story already discussed around the city, had become a legend that painted Veli as a defiant defender of the city, but everyone focused on the consequences.

“What is your name?” he asked the messenger.

“Avir Riva. This is a matter of sensitive information.”

Veli signaled for the aide, and the hidden guards, to leave the room. They weren’t necessary for a one-on-one fight anyways.

Veli nodded for the messenger to explain.

“The Demon of Vecira is on Earth.”

Veli glanced briefly at the golden irfin ornament on his desk.

“Where?” he asked.

“I do not know the place. I used Earth as a smokescreen for messages of a private nature, tried to keep sojourns brief.”

The messages Veli was passing to agents in other cities.

“Then how did you discover it?”

“I did not recognize aer at first, but ae spoke in Raosi to me the first time I used this Earth location, and recently…”

Veli prompted xer to continue.

“I was attacked by strange beings who tried to bleed me. Ae warded the beings away and offered medical care, but I suspect they were aer own agents, along with a small, frail individual who could communicate with my irfin. I have refrained from sending the messages I was given, so we could insure no interference.”

Veli failed to see what the Demon could gain from interfering with Raosi politics again after so long away, especially if it wasn’t living with other demons.

“Was it the only demon you saw?”

“The only one I was able to identify, but it was a populous area.”

“Inform Scholar Serin of this, and follow his instructions on checking the mail.”

“How—”

Veli watched the irfin ornament again.

“This is a discussion between the triumvirate. You may be tasked with sharing your testimony again. For now, speak to Scholar Serin.”

Veli returned once more to the irfin.

If this was a threat, he would be the one in charge of handling it, but if this was a false alarm, he may finally have a way to repay Vara’s mentorship, so long as the information held.