* EMBER ELLIOT ELYSIAN *

It's today.

It's happening today.

I made no verbal communication with anyone last night -- not Zenix, not Keith, not Ilayna and not even Ace or Ira. I thought of visiting my father, having one last conversation with him about my amalgamation but I couldn't -- there was something within me that held me back. I couldn't walk there, open the door and stand in the very room where my mother hung, her lips blue and her eyes closed for eternity. I couldn't bring myself to talk to him because I knew if I did, I would have started to beg him, beg him to spare me, beg him to stop this wedding, beg him to let me live as what I was and I wouldn't do that.

I would rather live as an abomination my entire life than beg my father.

And thus, I ended up staying in my bed chamber, closing my window and locking the doors -- thinking, thinking and thinking until the sun rose. I thought of every plan to destroy this wedding without anyone's help and every plan that I thought of always needed someone's assistance and I realised just how significant my friends were and how fortunate I was to have them. But I wouldn't be dragging any of them in this mess. This plan was suppose to be initiated by me and Vivianne and no one else, because I couldn't trust anyone meeting the same level as my father -- it was risky for my friends. Getting any of my friends into this mess of mine would mean getting their lives in danger.

Keith tried to talk to me last night, pushed my window quite a few times and even tried to barge in using Air Manipulation, saying he knew something had happened and he wanted to help but I couldn't face him. I was ashamed — it was Keith who'd contributed the most in the infiltration — without his abilities, we couldn't have even stepped out of the palace, let alone talk with Vivianne and that plan had failed. I failed Keith. Everything that Keith worked for had come to a failure.  And I couldn't ask for.

It was unfair, I knew — pushing away my friends like that but I didn't want to bring any of them harm anymore. What I was about to do today was about to be reckless and dangerous — it had no solidity in it and no backup plan as well. It would either work or go down once and for all.

So, I would be doing this all alone.

Despite having a grand ceremony just last night, the Elisora Palace still managed to make the complete arrangements for my amalgamation -- as if there wasn't a knighting ceremony just yesterday. There was a full blast of a wedding, and here I was, standing in front of my mirror and still making sure of my not-so-safe plan. It was an unlikely thing of me to do, to take such a drastic step without completely thinking of the consequences but I was sure of one thing: this was the perfect plan to break my wedding, and to break our alliance with the Aesterins for once and all.

This was not how I wanted to break the wedding, of course -- the plan was to speak against the wedding, both Vivianne and I, right in front of everyone so that our parents would have no choice but to listen to us, since we both were against the wedding. It wouldn't stop the wedding instantly, but it would buy me time and Vivianne and I could conspire another plan, to completely call off this wedding peacefully. But Vivianne had betrayed me, she was completely against me, she wanted me to be a Naught just as much as father did -- in fact, she was my top enemy right now and I would have to eradicate her.

And so I came up with a plan, as always.

It would cause us harm for a while and father's long-term friendship with Empress Agatha would come to an end and though the cancellation of this wedding would cause the most harm to the Aesterins, Empress Agatha herself would call off this wedding on her own will, in front of everyone.

Why?

Because Empress Agatha would never let her people believe that she could do something as disgusting as let her daughter marry an Ezèrian, despite her strong want of them.

***

My step-mother cried when she saw me.

I was dressed in the traditional Elysian attire of grooms -- a tmeli -- which consisted of me wearing a heavy embroidered coat, which was in light green colour, white aiguillettes hanging from my shoulders, gemstones pressed into the chest, the crest of the kingdom secured in my right side, just below my shoulder and a vest beneath the coat. They also changed my earpieces, replacing it with long ear studs that almost reached my neck. I hated them.

My step-mother held my cheek, caressing it softly. "You look like your father -- when he amalgamated me," she was holding a necklace, a huge green gemstone at the centre of it, carved with intricate details. She came closer and slowly put it on me, adjusting the gemstone and making sure it stood still against my chest.

"I look nothing like him, mother," I said, smiling at her, caressing the necklace.

"Three of you have resemblance of his. Ace got his eyes and his mannerisms, Ira basically got his entire face," she laughed at that. She always loved talking about him -- anything about Ira and it would lit up her eyes, and she would talk about him, with the utmost soft voice, and with a smile that would make her eyes go small. He was her one true son and she was most proud of it. "And you, Ember, you got his voice. Sometimes I can not tell apart you and your father's voices."

"His voice?" I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Your observations are a little peculiar."

"You don't believe me?" She raised an eyebrow, with a small smile. "And there's nothing to observe. It's just too obvious for the eyes."

"Are you happy in this marriage, Ember? I never saw you having any enthusiasm about it," she said once she saw me being quiet. It was odd, her asking this question to me, asking about my own feelings and it sounded so genuine from her mouth I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to tell her the truth about everything but she didn't know I was an Ezèrian.

And she would be disgusted when she knows the truth about me.

"It happened really quick, so I am still taking time to adjust," I said, bobbing my head.

"You will do fine. Vivianne is an exceptional girl and she will treat you better than anyone," she expressed.

I swallowed. "Yes," I let out a shaky breath. "She is exceptional. Very exceptional."

***

The Grand Hall was filled with people and for the first time, I felt like like the name brought justice to its title.

My father had invited almost all of Elysia -- even the commoners who used to be his friends back in the days, before he took Elysia, and they were seated among the noblemen and women, no one daring to say anything about their sudden presence. All the court men sat in a long table, dressed in white clothes and among them were court men from Eirlys as well, as witnesses I presumed. Apart from the soldiers placed in every corners, the rest of the Grand Hall was taken by the guests, all of them dressed lavishly, flaunting their wealth and murmuring against one another the moment they heard of my arrival.

"I now declare the arrival of prince Ember Elliot Elysian, the second prince of the kingdom of Elysia, the Sun and pride of Elysia, accompanied by the crown prince Ace Ezèkiel Elysian, the first born of His Majesty, the true inheritor of the throne, the next in line to the crown," the footman paused, taking a breath as all eyes rested on me and my brother.

Everyone, except for my father, stood and bowed to Ace, who smiled kindly and gestured them to seat. I walked behind him, just like the rules but he matched my pacing and looked over his shoulder. "You have been quiet," he said, raising his eyebrows, looking at me questioningly.

"I am going to cause you a lot of inconvenience," I said, lowering my voice.

"Not an inconvenience for me if it frees you from this torture," he shook his head, giving the Aesterin sisters a smile. The Aesterin sisters were seated among the noblemen and only their mother was seated beside my father, for her higher rank. Vivianne's seat was beside mine, sitting crosslegged, giving me a sly smile and I looked away in disgust.

"This one is going to be big," I muttered. "So, I'm apologising in advance."

Ace couldn't say anything more as we were already at the dais and before we could even settle down, my father stood up, already starting his speech.

My father ended up talking for almost half an hour, and I also stopped focusing the moment he opened his mouth but after he was done, it was my turn to speak. I smiled at him and then at my bride-to-be. She frowned but I stood up and walked at the edge of the dais, facing everyone staring at me. I had never given a speech before, I was never allowed to but my father had no option today -- I was the one getting married, I had to say something, and so, I would.

I would say everything.

"Since this is an important day for me as well, I believe I have been given a chance to express my thoughts and feelings as well." I said, smiling, looking at everyone giving me perplexed looks-- and I understood why they were all so confused because I was never given a chance to talk, to express my thoughts in public -- I was always tossed away, for it was risky of me to bring myself attention and now that I had done it, now that almost all of Elysia was only looking at me, they were all bewildered.

"I know most of you probably don't even know how I sound like and have only seen me for a few moments in important events and ceremonies and have always seen me as one of the spare prince," I paused. "Most of you probably started to get to know about my existence ever since my father, His Majesty started talking about my amalgamation. You all must have realised that 'Ah, yes yes, His Majesty has another son as well'. And I don't blame you as well. It was not your fault," I smiled at the gathering.

"It was my fault. It was my fault that I always had to hide myself from being seen. It was my fault why I was always dragged in a dark room, being beaten until I was out of breath, it was my fault why I had never even seen a speck of the courtroom or the men in it, or the work they did, it was my fault for always lying to live," I let the people sink in what I just said, watching as they began murmuring to each other, watching my father looking at me darkly, knowing very well he couldn't do anything even if he wanted, for I had my mother's protection.

"But now I ask you -- all of you," I raised my voice. "Am I a liar? For lying to live?" My eyes were set on my father's cold ones.

They were all silent.

They had no idea what I was talking about but they would, now. They would know about everything now. "To those who don't know me, who are only here because king Edric's son and Her Empress, Agatha's daughter is getting married, this is to let you know that I am Ember Elliot Elysian, the second prince of the kingdom of Elysia and I am here to make a confession," my voice remained raised and all the fear that I was feeling just a while ago had left my body, now replaced with rage towards my father and Vivianne.

More murmurs erupted among the noblemen and women, each of them either eyeing me with incredible curiosity or with utmost confusion. Ace and Ira were seated behind me, so I wasn't able to see them but I did see how Vivianne's face was as white as a paper, how she was whispering at me, almost pleading me to not do it -- to not ruin everything but she didn't know that I did want to ruin it all.

Father finally stood up, walking towards me, but he would do no such thing because today, as I stood there, in front of this old dais, it was all mine to talk and I would not be interrupted until I was done.

Father opened his mouth but I cut him off. "I will make it short and precise because it is honestly too amusing for me to look at your faces and not laugh but that would be rude, no?" I chuckled.

"Elysia is my homeland but I cannot accept it as my own as I watch the Ezèrian being tortured to death, as I watch them killing themselves because of the guilt that their ancestors dropped upon them, as I watch the other Power Holders constantly disgracing them all because of what?" I asked, to every one of them, eyeing my father, the Empress, Vivianne, the noblemen, the court men and every person who talked down to the Ezèrian.

"Because their ancestors slaughtered the likes of us years ago? But are we any different to them right now? Are we doing anything changeable as of now? Are we not doing the same thing as them? Brutally killing each one of them?" My expression remained on my father as he finally started walking towards me.

"Elliot, step down before I—"

"There are children among them!" I raised my voice, cutting off my father's one. "Children who are being beaten to death! Children who are being killed! And yet we call them the monstrous ones! Yet we say they are godly when they can't even use their powers! We have belittled them so much they are afraid of themselves!"

"Ember. . . ." My step-mother spoke, her voice breaking. But I paid no mind to her.

"Elliot!" Father raised his voice -- for the first time, I heard my father raising his voice with pure rage and that meant that I had gone to his worst side and anything could happen right now.

Good.

"I'm not going to obey you today!" I snapped, watching him turn around and facing the soldiers, contemplating ordering them to take me down but he wouldn't -- he knew what would happen. That was why he himself wasn't even approaching me.

"Listen to me, people of Elysia and the guests from Eirlys -- today, I stand before you to let you know of the truth that my father has been hiding for the past twenty-three years. Many people have died for knowing this truth and many are in death threats for having to know this truth but fear not, you who is afraid, for I will reveal the truth today," I grinned, placing my hands on my head, slowly taking off my hairpiece, letting my hair fall -- my real hair fall down.

I wanted to wait for seeing the people's reaction after I reveal my authentic eye colours but it was too good to not see it right after. They all stood up, all of them gasping together as I watched the men with swords placing their hands on their scabbard, eyeing me with fear and uncertainty and with a tint of disgust.

I smiled and walked down the dais as the people sitting shrieked away from me, moving as far as they could. I grabbed the jug of water from the dine table and sprinkled some water from it into my eyes, watching the people's shocked reactions as a way of knowing if my eyes had returned to its normal colours.

"He's an Ezèrian! There's an Ezèrian in the palace!" One of the nobleman yelled, his voice loud and suddenly, the Grand Hall erupted into utter chaos.

I heard all kinds of screams and shouts: screams of help, shouts of prayers, shrieks of fear and terror, yells of panic. I heard people escaping the Great Hall, tripping on their own gowns, falling in the ground, letting out cries, cursing the gods and me. I heard the children asking their mothers what was wrong, what was happening, why was everyone crying in a wedding. I heard the mothers telling their children to run away to save themselves from this monster.

I heard the men talking among themselves, confused if they should take out their swords and attack me. I heard some men saying they should, but then the other said I was the king's son. I heard the elders trembling in their seats, mumbling, muttering, looking at me with horrified expressions, and eventually passing out. I heard the Empress and her daughters losing their mind as they talked and yelled at my father.

I heard all sorts of things but among them all, my step-mother's look caught my eyes.

She was looking at me -- her eyes so wide I thought she was almost dead but then I saw tears rolling down from her eyes  uncontrollably and then she placed her hand on her chest, breathing heavily. Ace and Ira both went to her, helping her breath but she was still looking at me, as if she didn't know me at all -- as if we just didn't talk about my attire just a while ago. Among all the chaos, my mother's hurtful expression actually made me feel bad about what I just did.

I did it.

I ruined my wedding. I ruined my father's reputation. I ruined Elysia by making it lost its strongest ally.

It had all come to an end.

The Empress would call off this wedding now. She knew better than anyone that no one would accept me as her daughter's groom and as much as the Emperor's health was at stake here, she also had a whole country and its reputation to hold and nothing would come between that -- not her husband and nor her desire of expanding her territories.

And father would also have no say over this. I just declared to half of Elysia that I was a born Ezèrian, that king Edric Elvin Elysian, the man who told to not show any mercy to any Ezèrian, had a son who was an Ezèrian. He would have no right to say anything over this marriage -- instead, now he had more things to worry other than making me a Naught. He had a whole country to handle who was ready to discard him as the king. A war could be ensued right this moment between Eirlys and Elysia but that was Father's concern, not mine.

This was it. None of my friends would get sold, my amalgamation with Vivianne had been called off, and I wouldn't have to worry about my Protection Spell for a while and lastly, I could finally see Erin.

I let out a sigh, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulders, watching the people still yelling in havoc. I almost laughed watching them.

I walked down the red carpet, the people clearing the way for me when they saw me walking out but I couldn't exit the hall when my father's raging voice quieted down everyone.

"Seize him!" He ordered his soldiers who immediately jumped at me but they all flew back, hitting the ground with a loud thud, letting out curses and watching me in fear. They all watched as the force shield stood still, holding me inside it, its skin transparent, making me see everyone getting more scared and flabbergasted.

"Emerson," my father called, giving Ira a look. "Unsheathe your sword."

Ira looked at me, and then looked away. He walked towards the force shield, unsheathing his sword and waiting for father to command it.

"Break this," he said quietly, watching me while I smirked at him. "Break this abomination right now."

Ira brought out his sword in the air but even he flew back when a second force shield appeared, golden particles appearing with it and devouring the space of the Great Hall. The force shield was glistening like the sun, blinding the people looking at it. Ira released his renéi Possession in self-defence, flapping his wings, reaching the chandeliers and moving them. He came down, about to attack but father signalled him to stop and took the sword from his hand.

Father was about to attack the force shield and for some reason, I was afraid. As much as Ira was the strongest swordsman of Elysia, when it came to strength, father could surpass anyone and besides, father had never attacked my force shield. He saw it a few times but he never took the initiative of harming it but now he was holding a sword and by the way he was holding it high in the air, he was ready to break it, even if it meant killing him.

Father clashed the sword against the force shield, almost shaking it as it vibrated through the Great Hall, creating more gold particles as they flowed in the air aggressively, creating more and more brightening specks. Father didn't give up -- he struck the force shield again, his face indicating that he had used every last bit of strength left in him.

I swallowed, my heart picking up as I watched the force shield shuddering against the earth, as if it was not able to take it anymore and I feared it would break anytime soon. Is this it? Will it break now? After everything I sacrificed? My thoughts couldn't prolong any longer as suddenly, a blinding light scattered throughout the entire force shield, making me close my eyes and feel the circle growing even more and more. I opened my eyes, only to see the force shield having another layer of circle above it, this time force shield was big enough to shake the chandeliers.

My father just caused a triple force shield and that meant perhaps he was even strong enough to break the entire thing.

Father stood a few feet away from the force shield and I watched, from the transparency, Ace standing with terror in his eyes, Ira equally surprised, Ilayna in her armours, not being able to help me out, Vivianne and her sisters yelling at me along with their mother, perhaps even cursing at me but I couldn't care less. I even noticed Zenix, who must have arrived here right after hearing all the commotions and he was frowning, clearly confused and among them all, was my mother -- my step-mother, walking towards my father and placing her hand on his shoulder.

She whispered a few words in his ear, my heart wrenching when I saw the tears in her eyes. Father gave her a look, his eyes not calming and only being inflamed even more. Moments passed and soon, my force shield terminated it self, leaving its shining specks as its toil as they hung in the air, slowly vanishing when they hit the floor. I now stood at the centre, soldiers facing me with spears in their hands, all directed towards my heart, their pupils dilating seeing my true self. Ilayna walked towards me but I signalled her not to and she eventually backed down, now standing beside Ira. Zenix knew better than anyone to not come my rescue now.

And so, they all stood, watching me, waiting for my next move.

"What are you fools waiting for? We can break that shield if we all try--" father yelled at the top of his lungs when my step-mother held his arm firmly.

"He's your son, Edric," she said, her voice breaking. "Our son," she looked at me and then back at him. "What are you doing?"

"Can't you see?" He let go off her hold. "He's to be punished! He has destroyed everything! He is an Ezèrian! He should be exil—"

"Please, Edric," she swallowed, tears streaming down her face. "For the sake of Miranda—"

Do not bring her—"

"For the sake of your daughters, then. For the sake of Eryl and Efyr, let him go," she broke into tears, and I realised then that I'd always caused pain to my step-mother, and nothing else.

"Eris. . . " father pressed his lips, taking her hand and thinking, but his eyes softened and he looked around, noticing the chaos I'd caused and he looked like he wouldn't change his mind, he looked he'd either turn me into a Naught anyhow or exile me. But then he walked towards me, letting go off the sword as it met the ground.

He stopped in front of me, locking his eyes with mine. "You are a disgrace. No matter what you do, no matter how much pride you take in for being something as repulsing as the creature you are, you will always be a disgrace. And no matter where you go, know that I will not rest until I have turned you into something that's acceptable,"

I held my head high. "Or what, father? What will you do if you can not change me into something acceptable?"

"I will break that shield of yours and do it my way," he said quietly.

"And I wish you good luck with that. May the gods side with you," I smiled at him. "And also, do not try to look for me. I'm going somewhere where your men can never find me, where your son's wings can never reach."

My eyes landed on Vivianne and her mother, both of them eyeing me dangerously. "You can not escape the gods' wrath!" Her mother said to me, her voice loud.

I looked at them, my eyes stern, and then at my father. "No, you can not escape my wrath," I replied back.

I gave one last glance to the Grand Hall -- everything was messed up -- the tables were upside down, the foods were scattered, there were people hiding behind chairs, the noblemen were ready to use their possessions against me, one of the chandeliers fell because of my force shield and broke into a thousand pieces, all the maids and workers from the palace had gathered, everyone having no idea what to do.

I smiled at the scenery and faced my father. "All hail Elysia." I gave him a slow bow and turned around, with only one destination carved in my mind.