The princess talks. She addresses the Aya Runa simply. Bluntly.There. Leave.
The fastest one, the Feline mimic, carries the man and runs off. The others help each other off the dais slowly, limping, stumbling. Like victims. Like they were the ones facing the dea–
I stay on the ground. Suyai stays on my lap, unmoving.
The princess projects her voice and commands the guards. They listen, but they’re scared. I can see it on their faces, their eyes darting from the princess’s face to the gaping wound on her chest, out on display for all to see. Everything is clearer now. Her clothes are in tatters. She’s covered in blood. The only wound on her is the self-made one on her hand.
I look at Suyai.
She was not the only person Yanami drained today.
I stay on the ground. Suyai stays on my lap, unmoving, as the puzzle completes itself.
Yanami barks another order, but this time she takes a step forward, and the guard flinches back. His hand goes for his weapon, a quality mace, at his side. I was wrong. They’re more than scared.
There’s chaos below us.
I saw it on the way up, but what did I care then? My face was concealed as I climbed the plateau and wielded the Sun Staff effortlessly. The crowds were thick. Families with small children were dehydrated and shivering as the sun began to set. The cold here is nothing compared to that of the lake, at least, that’s what I thought then.
All those people huddled up for warmth, watching blood spill at Yanami’s hand, staring from below. A view like that only ever gives the impression of a monster or a god.
It’s obvious which Yanami falls under to her own people.
She looks heartbroken. Her face falls, her mouth opening in an attempt to calm the guard, but he only steps closer to the edge.He’s going to fall, I think, one second before he does.
I stay on the ground. Suyai stays on my lap, unmoving.
The princess jumps into action and grabs him by his military chumpi. She saves his life, but people beneath us scream in outrage. The guard isn’t paying attention to them, though. All he stares at is Yanami’s hand, staring and staring until he starts to shove it away.
Yanami blinks and steps away, bringing the guard back to safety in the process. She lets go of him, but the guard only calms down after she’s stepped far away from him.
She’s a pariah. Everyone saw what the stone, whatshe, can do.
The princess, no, Yanami. I shake my head to clear away the clouding anger. Yanami is trembling as the crowd around us isthrown into further chaos. The guards are inching toward the steps. I hear shouts and leers. People on all sides. Our people. The people Yanami is meant to lead.
There’s no escape from their eyes. Maybe for me with this cursed crown atop my head, but not for Yanami.
I have to get up, but my hands refuse to let go of Suyai.
Of Suyai’s corpse.
Corpse. Corpse. Corpse.
Suyai’s corpse because Suyai is dead.
I stay on the ground. Suyai is on my lap, unmoving because she’ll never move of her own will again.
What had Suyai and Yanami been talking about? Why didn’t I understand?
Yanami’s words echo in my ears.She’ll never forgive me. It fuels my anger, my need for violence, my rage at watching the Aya Runa go free.
That’s not important.
What had Suyai said? Suyai, dead Suyai, what had she said with her dying breaths?
You have to, princess. We’re running out of time.
“But I got here…” I muttered to Suyai, to Suyai’s corpse, to myself. “I was right here.”
