Diamond Faction, The Ace’s Meeting Hall and Gardens
Long, delicate fingers drummed lightly against the white stone surface of her desk. Eyes scanned the neatly written text of a small book that laid open before her. There’d be a meeting of the Ace’s soon, in the coming days, and Ara had wanted to reread her notes from the past few meetings they’d had since she’d joined their ranks. The notes themselves were nothing incriminating, simply her thoughts and takeaways- all of which had been clearly, and precisely voiced. This council had kept her as quiet as they could for so long, she wasn’t about to let them silence her now that she could freely say what she wanted to.
Reviewing her notes, however, wasn’t the only reason she was here at this hour.
Normally, she’d be at home at this time on a day off from the theatre, enjoying dinner with her betrothed- going over wedding plans or continuing her work on their wedding outfits. But not tonight.
Tonight, she’d agreed to a very different meeting.
The drumming hand lifted to rub at her temple, the other closing the small book. Ara closed her eyes, just for a moment, to clear her mind. Ease the soft thumping already building behind them. A moment passed and turned into two, then three. Before it could reach four, her eyes opened with a sigh, the only noise in the private room. She lifted the book, sliding it into the drawer she’d taken it out of, locking it back up with the manacrystal she kept with her.
Then, as gracefully as ever, she stood and took the few steps to the large window her desk had been placed in front of. The newest Diamond Ace had been given an office with a view of the prized gardens. It wasn’t so long ago that she’d walked those gardens for the first time, at the tea party thrown by the then aces. It was often enough that she found herself standing before the great window, as she was now, seeking solace and wisdom and inspiration in the blooms thriving on the other side. Watching a bird or a butterfly flutter about, as if they’d lead her to the answers she was looking for.
There were no birds or butterflies looking for nectar tonight- the creatures must have had the good sense to find dinner elsewhere. No, tonight, all she had to calm her mind and settle the slow moving knot in her stomach was the swirls of purple and pink and gold of the setting sun.
The final straw of a letter had reached her that morning, while she was attempting to enjoy a quiet breakfast. Expensive parchment covered in their sigil and written in someone else’s hand, she was going to simply ignore it- as she had with the many, many letters she’d received the past several weeks since she’d been called to her new rank. She wasn’t sure what had changed her mind this time, what made her decide to actually read the letter. Maybe it was that this was the third one in as many days, or simply that she was alone this time in receiving it and therefore had no one to remind her that she needn’t bother with it.
Or maybe the curiosity had become too much, and she simply had to know what could have been so important for the senders to so willingly pester an Ace about.
Unfortunately, the contents of the letter hadn’t answered any questions she might have had. But it had that underlying threat to it.
We won’t stop until you grant us a meeting.
So, she had. Though in her reply she hadn’t given any options as to when. Simply: Tonight, 7pm or never. She’d gotten a confirmation an hour after sending her reply.
The sun hung low in the sky, it’s golden light deepening and fading slowly with it. She didn’t need a dial or clock to tell her that it was nearing the agreed upon time. That knot in her stomach twisted again, and she found herself crossing her hands before her, the right gently encircling the bronze cuff on her left wrist. She’d left her wrists and arms exposed for the most part, choosing a silk gown the color of the deep sea, with two long, flowing strips of fabric hanging from each shoulder via gold metalwork in place of sleeves. Gold accents also adorned her ears and the simple pin that held her coiled hair up at the crown of her head. The gown itself simple, understated in it’s appearance, though impeccably tailored to every curve of her body.
She heard the footsteps in the hall before the door to her office opened, and an attendant stepped in, the door closing behind them. They approached her, but stopped at her desk.
“My lady, Narae and Minjun Sobong are here for their scheduled meeting.”
A glance back at them, and she gave the attendant a small smile. “Thank you, Kal. You may show them in.”
A nod and small bow and Kal turned back towards the door. Ara turned her gaze back to her window and it’s view, straightening her back, her form striking a regal silhouette against the sunset. The door opened again, and she heard faint footsteps on the marbled floor. The footsteps stopped just before the chairs on the other side of her desk, and she did not turn around to face them. Simply watched as the gold continued it’s slow decent in the sky.
It was silent for a long few moments, no breathing, no sounds of movement save for a soft rustling of stiff fabric as, she assumed, one turned to look at the other. Then, a soft clearing of a throat, and a gravely voice finally spoke.
“Thank you, for.. answering our letter and agreeing to meet with us.” There was a slight pause in her grandfather’s words, a placeholder for what she knew was something along the lines of finally. Ara said nothing, and remained still with her back to them.
Another few moments of silence fell over the trio, somehow more awkward and tense than the last. Then the stern, eerily steady voice of her grandmother- Sobong by blood- cut through the silence. The forced pleasantness of it shrill, like the grinding of metal.
“We’ve brought something for you. Think of it as a symbol of goodwill.” A pause and a couple of light footsteps. “Between family.” Ara nearly rolled her eyes, ready to fully ignore whatever attempt at a bribe they’d brought- when the unmistakable sound of ceramic on stone hit her. Her heart leaped, jumping to a long abandoned hope.
But still, on the outside, she remained composed. The picture of nonchalance as she finally, slowly, glanced over her shoulder. And there it was, sitting on the desk where her grandmother had placed it. A plainly painted, ceramic urn.
Just like the one she’d been forced to leave behind, all those years ago. The one she’d put the ashes of her mother in.
The veteran actress did not react, outwardly. Much to the obvious disappointment of her grandparents. Both of their faces fell a fraction as Narae stepped back to join her husband. The corners of her mouth twitched. Though it was unrefined and a little immature, the sight of whatever plan the Sobong’s had thought the urn would accomplish for them, failing, brought her more joy than she’d ever admit to.
Finally, she turned to face them, her expression still calm. Slowly, she rounded the edge of the stone desk, her footsteps silent as always. She gave the pair a good look as she moved.
Though they still wore the customary outlandishly heavy and stiff clothing the faction was known for, they had aged since she last saw them- though, not by much. With their grey hair and wrinkled skin, they’d always seemed old to her. Sure, they’d aged handsomely. They’d always had that kind of strong bone structure that implied that they both had once been very attractive- in a harsh, strict kind of way. But there was something different in them now- a frailness about them. Like time had finally weakened them.
But perhaps, a stray thought supplied, it wasn’t that they had grown weak. Maybe it was her. She’d grown stronger. Both in will and in ability.
Though it took all of her strength, she ignored the supposed peace offering. Rounding the desk until she was in front of them.
Then, calmly, “May I see them?” Their faces paled and they had the nerve to look confused. “Your markings.” Her tone was firmer now, reminding them that she hadn’t needed to ask. “I’d like to see them. If you’d please roll up your sleeves.” She enunciated the words, leaving no space for a refusal. If they wanted to play a game, they’d play hers.
To their credit, they followed her direction, if more than a little reluctantly. They forced the shining, hard fabric of their sleeves up, far enough for her to see what they knew she wanted to see. A grin broke her serene mask as she took in the new, matching, curse given tattoo they now sported.
MA, with three arrows pointed downward, indicating disfavor.
They would have gotten them as soon as she was made Ace. Right before the bombardment of letters started.
“Three really is the maximum, it seems.” She murmured, more to herself than to them. A gentle hand reached out towards her grandmother, the one of them standing closest to her. She traced over her own initials with a finger, the skin it sat on almost translucent, and thin as cheap parchment. “It’s funny, how things turn out, isn’t it?” This time her softly spoke words for them. “All you’ve ever wanted was a Sobong on the council. And yet here you are.. Failures.” Narae jerked her arm away from Ara’s touch and the Ace met both of their hateful glares with her own, and the both of them rolled their sleeves down without a word.
Ara only chuckled, finding their squirming truly amusing. She retreated a step to lean against the desk, and leveled a questioning look towards her father’s parents, fingers lightly grazing the urn beside her. There was no offer given for them to take a seat, and they had the good sense to not assume one would come.
“A gesture of goodwill, yet you use your mana to fill your lungs, instead of actually taking a breath. Why is that?” Her head dipped to the side, curious. Then, a sly smile as she answered her own question. “Scared I’ll grab hold of it and take it away, just as you taught me to do?” The nervous look that passed between husband and wife wasn’t lost on her. It made her laugh, free hand coming up and waving in dismissal. “Oh, I don’t blame you. The thought did cross my mind.” Not to mention she’d thought to do the same thing- use her mana to hide the current her breath would make. “But I made the decision a long time ago: I’ll never be like either of you.”
Neither them, nor she, took a breath. Instead, the Sobong’s stood still, their mouths drawn in matching tight lines. Since neither of them seemed ready to discuss whatever true purpose brought them here, Ara continued, her attention on the urn.
“The curious thing about gestures of goodwill, is that often- when done poorly- they come all too late. As it is now.” She turned her gaze towards the elder elementalists then, smile still spreading her lips. “It seems you’ve failed at this, too.”
“We simply thought,” Minjun started, forcing the words out. “that it was high time to put aside our differences-”
“Differences?!” Ara roared with laughter, cutting him off. “Is that what you call spending near forty years trying to kill your only grandchild?! Differences?”
“-and come together as a family. You’ve clearly proven yourself worthy of our good name.” He finished, despite her interruption.
She stared at them in shock for a good few moments. At first, she thought they were joking- they had to be. After so long, they really thought one urn filled with ashes that might be her mother’s would be enough for her to forgive and forget all that they’ve done? Were they so absorbed in their own false sense of importance that they truly thought she’d waltz so willingly into their arms and want to be accepted into their family?
Another laugh bubbled out of her, the shock of their audacity still making proper words impossible. Because of course, they were really that self absorbed. Her left hand lifted and rubbed at her temple, before falling again as she looked at them.
“I’m to be married in a few months. It’s been announced, I know you’ve seen it. And yet- I haven’t heard a single congratulations from either of you.”
And there it was, that flash of anger across her grandmother’s rigid face. Narae dropped all traces of the fake sweetness from her voice as she spat out, “Ara, you can’t possible intend to soil our-”
“Ace. Moon.” Ara’s tone, though softer, was equally cold and unfeeling as she cut the old woman off. Narae fell silent. “Though I’d prefer that my name never cross your lips, if either of you must address me or speak of me, you will refer to me as Ace Moon, and nothing else. Do I make myself clear?” The last of the Sobong’s remained frustratingly silent. Ara’s tone turned dangerously quiet. “Must I repeat myself?” This time, she received two strained, solemn nods of understanding. She smiled.
“Good. Still, you did return her to me.” A loving glance towards the urn. “And I suppose you think I owe you something for that. Even if it is forty years late. So,” She turned back to the pair, hands clapping together. “How’s this: I’m going to let you both leave here with your lives intact. Even though, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, I’m well within my right to do whatever I damn well please.” Her eyes hardened as she fixed a look to both of them. “But, I will allow you both to live the rest of your sad, little lives in peace. Well,” she amended, “as peaceful as they can be. I, myself, won’t bother you.”
The sight of them was beautiful as she spoke. The building anger breaking their thin veil of superiority as they registered yet another failure of their own doing.
“But only on the condition that you fade away. We are not a family. You denounced me decades ago, and I have neither the time nor the interest in forming a relationship with people who aren’t even half the man and woman they think they are.” Her words dripped a venom she could not hold back. “It shouldn’t be too difficult for you, either of you. You only have- what? A couple of decades left? If that. And you needn’t worry about what will happen after your deaths. The Sobong’s may die with the both of you, but their name won’t be erased. From what I remember, you have many artifacts from all over the continent that the city should find very interesting and educational.”
She snapped her fingers, the idea popping into her mind all at once. “We’ll turn that grand estate of yours into a museum!” Minjun’s mouth quivered in rage and opened, but Ara didn’t let him speak. “Don’t get yourself all in a huff. You’re too old to survive the possible aneurysm. And it would be such a shame to die now, don’t you think? To fall so short of being average.” She tsked, her head shaking. “Besides, I just told you. I won’t erase your name. We’ll have a plaque made, perhaps.” She was antagonizing them now, she knew that. But she simply didn’t care. After all they’d done to her, to her mother, they deserved it. And frankly, it just felt so good.
They were too scared of her and her new position over them to risk their own reputations by retaliating now. But the sight of them, writhing and squirming with their anger over their own failures was growing tiresome. And Ara longed to take the urn and bring it back home. To the only family she needed.
“You understand, now, of course, that we are done. You have lost. I’m giving you the chance to leave things as they are, this once. There will be no more chances.” Ara paused, meeting the eyes of the last remaining Sobong’s. She watched as her words sank in, took root within them. “Now, unless you’d like to tell me, once and for all, what happened to your son..?” Her eyebrows rose, expectantly. Only to be met with vile looks and tightly shut mouths. Ara scoffed and shook her head. A hand reaching for a little bell she kept on her desk, and gave it a single ring. Fine. Another mystery she'd solve once they were gone. “Then we have nothing left to discuss.”
Kal silently entered the room, and approached the Sobong’s. Ara, for her part, stood, urn held gently, safely, in her hands, and walked to the far side of the room to set it on another table. She didn’t spare either of them another glance. “You can both leave. Exit through the gardens if you wish. I doubt you’ll see them again.”
For a moment, she thought they’d fight her, argue. For a moment, they almost did. But Kal ushered them out, in no uncertain terms, and they followed without another word. Just faint footsteps.
She waited until she couldn’t hear their footsteps any longer, couldn’t sense their use of the mana they shared. Only once it was clear to do so, did the tears prick at her eyes, gathering at the rim.
Finally, she took a breath. And sobbed.
