Chapter Text
Soft footsteps echoed in the silent halls of the Aether court.
The castle was pristine; the walls were patterned in delicate quartz and floating candles lined the ceiling. The almost sterile aesthetic was one of the reasons it was so hard to be stealthy in the court. That didn’t stop the intruder from trying, however.
The Ender prince crept through the Aether castle like their life depended on it – because in a way it did. The secrets they carried, the questions they held tucked away in their mind . . . if they were discovered, it could ruin everything.
Turning a corner, the intruder instantly ducked their head under the hood of the white cloak they wore. Quickly downing a Potion of Invisibility, the prince vanished from view as they approached the large archway of the only room they needed to visit in the entire kingdom – the reason they had gone to such great lengths to infiltrate the court in the first place.
The Akashic Records.
Upon entering the room, however, the prince froze. The magnitude of the task they had so carelessly assigned themself began to set in as they took in the sprawling layout of the room they were standing in.
It was massive.
In fact, "massive" didn't even begin to describe the Records. The ceiling seemed to brush the sky, and the large sphere suspended in the air (above what the prince supposed was a kind of reference desk) only added to the illusion. The rows of shelves seemed to disappear into the horizon, and the young prince had a sneaking suspicion that they actually did. There were lanterns hanging on the end of each row, but there was an inherent light about the place, making the intruder doubt if one would really need a lantern to venture further into the rows to find what they need. Steeling their nerve, the prince crept around the desk that sat tucked away in a quartz pavilion, glancing at the singular book that laid open as they passed.
It was . . . blank?
Deciding not to question it, the price quickly calculated how much time they had left on their Invis potion and winced. They needed to find what they were looking for and get out of there – fast. Crouching so as not to make too much noise, the prince hurried over to one of the shelves and started browsing. Many of the books they glanced at were in a different language, they noted, but that shouldn't be an issue. What the prince had come for, they were certain it would be in Common. As the prince scanned shelf after shelf with increasing desperation, they noticed that there was a tightness in their chest, and the sound of their ragged breathing seemed to echo around the entire room. Stopping for only a moment, they forced themself to take slow, deep breaths so as not to pass out.
When had they begun holding their breath?
Glancing at their shaking hands, the prince realized the potion had worn off. How long had they been visible!?
“Omre tai?” If their own breathing sounded loud in the stillness, the sudden voice was akin to a gunshot in the deathly silence of the library, and the prince nearly jumped out of their skin. Whirling around, they saw a person with long white hair leaning against the opposite row of shelves.
“Wh-what? Who, uh . . . s-sorry, what?” The man seemed surprised they spoke Common, and they cleared their throat and tried again.
“Who . . . are you?” His accent was thick, but the young prince couldn’t place it. They also didn’t know what language the person had used. As far as they knew, the people of the Aether spoke in Common as well . . .
“I-I’m Everett.” They replied, curling in on themself underneath their cloak, much preferring to be swallowed up by the ground than have a conversation with this man. When Everett said their name, recognition sparked in the man’s eyes. As Everett took a closer look at the stranger from under their hood, they realized that they were wearing a circlet with the signature diamond pattern that frequented Aetherian architecture. Everett’s eyes widened, and the man smiled faintly.
“Do you know who I am?” It sounded like a question, but for all intents and purposes, it was not merely a question. This man was prompting Everett to reveal what they knew. But why? Was he leveling the playing field? Did they know something Everett didn’t?
Of course he does, you dolt, Everett mentally deadpanned. He lives in the Aether court, for Ender’s sake.
“Y-you’re Alerion,” Everett mentally cursed themself for stuttering. “The ruler of the Aether.”
There was one other reason the Aether court was so hard to penetrate; the reason being Alerion knew practically everything. The ruler of the Aether was known to have great and terrible knowledge; for the Aether was the oldest kingdom on the continent. The ruler was said to be given all the knowledge and wisdom of their predecessors on their coronation, and Everett shuddered to think what sort of ritual the man in front of them had to endure to gain such a magnitude of knowledge.
“Now that we’ve . . . cleared the air, so to speak, can I ask you a question, young prince?” Everett froze when the man – no, Alerion – used their title. They hadn't said anything about being a prince . . . how did he know? Was it part of their immeasurable knowledge? Did they know everything about everyone who stepped foot onto the grounds of the Aether court?
"You seem . . . troubled, Everett. Perhaps because I knew you were a prince?" Everett snapped out of their thoughts and shot a terrified glance at Alerion's silver eyes. But, the ruler wasn't angry, like they expected him to be. Hell, he hadn't even mentioned the fact that Everett had broken into the castle to steal information. Instead, they looked . . . understanding. He was gentle, like they would be with a frightened animal that had somehow gotten inside.
"I could show you how I know these things, if you'd like? Maybe this would ease your troubled mind?" Everett nodded, slightly dumbfounded. The most powerful ruler on the continent – a small voice in the back of their mind whispered: Debatable, – was willing to show them where they were getting their information from? What was the catch; what was Everett missing in this exchange?
Gesturing for Everett to follow, Alerion pushed off from the shelf he was leaning against and wound their way through the shelves, taking the prince deeper and deeper into the maze that was the Records.
If Everett hadn't been following the shockingly white hair in front of them, they would have gotten embarrassingly lost after the first two turns the ruler made. In fact, the prince looked over their shoulder once during the journey, and couldn't see the exit. How far had they gone!? Before Everett had a chance to panic, however, Alerion turned a corner, and led them into a small alcove. The curved wall was made of glass, and gave whoever was standing in front of the lectern a brilliant view of the court, for the window looked out over the bustling courtyard of the Aether castle.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Alerion asked somewhat rhetorically as they gazed upon their beloved court.
“Y-yeah. It really is,” Everett murmured, slightly unsure of what to say. Alerion tore his gaze away from the courtyard below and smiled at the prince. It was a gentle smile, one that reminded Everett strongly of their mothers and younger brother.
“Crown prince Everett, the answers that you seek are in this book.” Alerion said, running a hand lightly over the cover of a book Everett hadn’t noticed was sitting on the lectern. The book was beautiful. Its simple, leather cover was hand painted in gold, and the pages were also gilded with with the precious metal. More beautiful than the golden designs, however, was the tell-tale purple shimmer of Enchantment.
The title, however, was the most intriguing thing about the book to the young prince – mostly because they couldn’t read it.
“What’s Luh- um, L-Luxra Vo-chel? Did I say that right? Luxra Vocel?” They asked, glancing up at Alerion, who was gazing down at the book with an unreadable expression on their face. Was it sadness? Regret? Everett couldn’t tell. Alerion smiled a little sadly at them and gestured for them to open the book.
“Why don’t you take a look? I’m sure you could benefit from their knowledge.” Being now thoroughly confused, Everett gently opened the cover of Luxra Vocel and gasped.
“The ink . . .” They breathed, gazing at the pages in wonder. For Luxra Vocel was no ordinary book, it wasn’t even an ordinary enchanted book.
For in Luxra Vocel, the ink moved.
New friend??
Oh hello, you’re a new one!
Is Al there? They’re the only one who’s supposed to see us, you know.
Is this allowed!??
Wow, it’s that End prince!
Hullo Everett Morningstar <3
Everett gasped and snapped the cover closed. How did a book – a magic book – know their name!? Was this truly how Alerion got all their knowledge? If so, why would they trust Everett enough to show them this!?
“Oh dear, they’ll be cross with you for that,” Alerion tutted, shaking his head at the book. “Those pages can have quite the attitude when it comes to getting shut out.”
“Wha-you, the–“ Everett was so shocked, they could barely get the words out. “You . . . have a magic book.” Alerion looked amused at the statement.
“Technically, young prince, the proper term is Enchanted, but yes, I suppose I do have a “magic book”.”
“And it can answer any question I have? I-it’s all-knowing? Omniscient, o-or whatever the term is?” Alerion seemed to contemplate this for a moment. Everett held their breath as they awaited an answer.
“If you are looking for information, this is quite literally the best source there is,” He said finally.
“Do I write a question in it, o-or do I ask it out loud—?”
“Gracious, child, don’t write in magic books! What has my sister been teaching you? One could easily sell their soul by doing something so foolish; goodness, no, don’t write in it. Oftentimes, the pages Luxra Vocel know what you are going to ask before you can ask it. Simply let them run their course of questions and eventually they will answer yours.” Everett nodded as they reached for the cover of Luxra Vocel again, carefully peeling it open and peering inside.
Wow, rude much!?
Can’t believe they shut the cover like that!
What gives, little Star!?
Why are they here, anyway? Just to give us creases or stains?
No dummy, they came to ask us about their moms!
Wasn’t it their little brother? Isn’t he ill?
SHHHHH that hasn’t happened yet! Don’t scare them off!!
This is about your moms, right little Star?
Oooooh, are you part of the resistance yet, Ev?? I’ve always liked those.
No! We told you, this is about Kyna and Orchid!
Stop skipping around!
Watching the colorful ink shift through sentences was more exhausting than Everett expected, and they stepped back – without closing the cover this time.
“Um, y-yeah, I suppose this is about my moms. More specifically, uh, my mother Enderian. W-wait, who’s Kyna?” At the mention of the name Kyna, Alerion let out a gasp. “What, you know her too? Who’s Kyna? Who are they talking about, Aler– um, your majesty?” Alerion didn’t seem to notice the slip-up, in fact, Alerion didn’t seem to notice anything anymore. They’d gone silent, staring at a point above Everett’s head. It was slightly unnerving, his silver eyes staring off into the middle distance, focusing on something Everett couldn’t see.
Way to go, genius, you’ve ruined the surprise!
Wait, does little Star not know that part yet?
If they’re here asking US, what do you think!?
Huh, sorry little Star, just . . . ignore that . . .
Wooooow, great save >:/
Why are you using emojis right now!?
Little Star won’t know what those are, either!!
“Um, it’s okay, pages, I’ll just ignore that bit for now, I really need answers about my mother. I think she’s plotting something . . . something bad.”
Well duh she’s plotting, that’s like her whole thing.
She’s definitely sus, alright.
Overworlders would be her target, little Star. She doesn’t seem to like Fable very much.
Or the little Nether prince! They’re a funky little guy!
Yeah, Kyna’s kinda mid, definitely.
You can’t call a Queen mid!!
I can and I will, bitch, she’s MID!!
She’s building a prison, little Star. That much we know.
Yup! Don’t know why though, somehow she’s keeping it from us.
Magic, definitely.
She’s pretty good at that, no matter how mid she is.
Stop it with the mid already!!
“A prison? Why would my mother need a prison? Unless . . .”
“Have you heard something, Everett? Something your mother said or did that was in any way out of the ordinary?” Everett chewed on their bottom lip at Alerion’s question. He seemed to have come out of his stupor, but he kept glancing at the open pages of Luxra Vocel every few seconds. Everett sighed and ran a hand through their dark hair.
“I need to think.” They muttered, tugging on the bangs that hung low over their eyes. “Thank you for everything, your highness, but I need to clear my head.” Alerion gave them another understanding smile.
“Of course, young prince. I’ll have one of my attendants show you out.” They raised two fingers to his lips and gave a sharp whistle that made Everett flinch. Suddenly, a small, blue creature came fluttering around the corner, startling Everett worse than when Alerion had appeared behind them.
“Wh-what is that!?” They asked, eyes going wide as the took in the fairy-like appearance of the being. Small, delicate wings protruded from its back, and its white eyes seemed to glow in the constant twilight of the records. In fact, its whole body seemed to glow. It was holding a book that was almost twice its size in its tiny little hands, and Everett concluded that this was yet another magical creature of the Aether.
“Aedion, show Everett back to the entrance, will you?” Alerion said to the small blue creature and it chirped out a reply.
“Well, Everett, I wish you luck. If you ever need to consult Luxra Vocel again, you are always more than welcome here.” Alerion gave their shoulder a light squeeze, and Everett gave him a soft smile of their own.
“You aren’t what I expected, your highness. You’re much kinder.” With those words, they turned and followed Aedion back through the maze of shelves.
“And you are much too like your mothers for your own good, little Star.” Alerion murmured, standing alone in the empty alcove in the middle of an empty library. He glanced at Luxra Vocel.
You know what comes next, Iyan.
You don’t really want to let them go, right??
They may not survive, Al, you can’t just let them walk out of here!
I’ll miss our little Star . . .
Alerion sighed and ran a hand down his face.
“There’s nothing to be done, pages. They know about Kyna now, and that was the turning point. We have to let the events play out. Not every ruler has such a reliable source of information, you know.”
Later that night, Raemond Morningstar reported his older sibling missing, gone from their bed in the dead of night.
The next day, Everett Morningstar began gathering information that would lead them down a very dangerous path.