Author's note : Do check the image attached in third scene. Four new royals greet us, and in the next chapter two more will. All the next chapters are connected back to back just different POVS, because no Eleni now. We are officially in the end game!

***

A petrified guard informed me, when I had gathered them all in the courtroom, that he had indeed seen Eleni with Orella. My blood ran cold. Colder than Orella's Ice magic. A bone-shattering punch landed on his nose, and I regretted it instantly - wasn't his fault. The Summer guards trusted whom I trusted. But I had lost my mind.

Why would Orella risk it like that... she was a Defensor! The Throne would never choose her if she sided with Neo. Was she a slave? But... she had showed no signs of tranced hollowness. No, she knew exactly what she was doing. And it was my fault - I had suggested trusting her. I had suggested to warn her about Neo masquerading as her darling Nova. I always trusted people easily and I had myself let her in the palace where Eleni was. Lord Orlon and Doran had been skeptical about her, but I hadn't.

Well, I led Neo to Eleni myself.

A desire so immensely nerve-wrecking, gripped me hard, and I found myself walking into Lord Orlon's wine cellar. I had even forgotten that as per habit, I was supposed to pick up a bottle and run away from the shame, from the pain. From the slap. There had been no need to drown in liquor as long as Eleni was by my side. But now she was gone and it was my bloody fault. Orella better not cross paths with me. Breathe, I told myself. Three deep breaths.

You are hopeless, son!

My breath shuddered. I snaked my hands around a random wine bottle. Not strong enough; I put it back.

You are a disgrace, Ralph. How dare you talk back to me?

Whiskey - just the smell of the old bottles intoxicated me even before I picked one out.

Is this how you will fight in the Conquest, you stupid boy!

My breathing quickened. The memories crashing in like tidal waves, one after another. Merciless. Unrelenting. Suffocating. As always. Practiced, and with uncanny precision, I flipped the cork open. But... my hand shook this time, for the first time.

I had learnt not to tremble...not to show the fear... not to show the pain...to stand my ground, no matter what. Even when the lashes would become intolerable. I'd stand my ground. Not a tear. No sound. No movement. I had learnt to take all of my mother's wrath.

Just like your father, disgrace to the whole Summer Realm.

My hold tightened around the tall-necked bottle of whiskey. The urge was growing thicker. Eleni was gone because of me! Father had sent his daughter to me... the angel who fell from the stars... who resurrected my whole life in a span of mere weeks, who was ready to sacrifice her golden sundial for me. All that she did for me... and what had I done in return, dangled her like a bait for the enemy. My lips dried, throat parched, mind craving harder for the sweet oblivion.

Orella had always been a comfortable presence in my murky life. And today that friend had broken my trust. An ugly feeling rose in my chest, as the impulse to shatter something became heavy, as the childhood Ralph's cries tore through my flesh. Too much. Too many feelings. Colliding onto each other.

My head was on the verge of exploding, senses on fire, nerves straining inside my skin, throbbing and writhing. The scars on my body suddenly flickering alive, concealed under overcoats and armors. My Mind Healer would erase my most gruesome memories, but the reminders on the flesh - they stayed. Had to.

Mother had done it in public today. Everyone saw. There was no telling with her, what would get her triggered. Maybe just my eyes. Maybe looking at me, she saw a mistake - an obligation, left by her adulterous husband. Everything seemed futile now. What was I without a stupid crown? What was I to do with the pain that made me relate to others' pain? What was there even a purpose to choose Mind Healing as a means to keep myself sane?

No one other than grandmother, had ever stood up for me like that.

If you dare lay a finger on my brother again, I will burn you with my Fire and bury you so deep into the Earth, that your rotten soul will never find a way out.

I slammed the damned bottle down on the table. A loud thud resonated in the silent underground chamber. A crack appeared on its outer glass covering, ready to spill out the liquid inside.

Why was I still sober? Why wasn't I running away from the shame submerged in an ocean of liquor?

I sighed long and slow, and got up, making my way back to the hall. The bottle lying on the table. Forgotten and spared.

Because my little sister needed her brother and a King.

***

The energy was restless, since the truth had come out, since the betrayal had been unmasked. But the strangest bit was - Eleni hadn't struggled. She had just walked out - as if they both were in on it together. I'd have to teach her a thing or two about not being such a dimwit! But she did it for her sister, and maybe I would've done the same for Eleni.

I watched Una put an arm around Serena's shoulder while the girl sobbed for her friend. Lord Orlon was seated near Doran, and I could see the worry etched on his face for his son, and for the girl whom he had so dearly come to cherish. I'd a lot to thank him for. He had given her a shelter while she had rightfully belonged in the Aries palace as the Princess of the Summer Realm. He gave her what I couldn't.

Nova sat on a far corner's ottoman, deeply perturbed, shadows under his eyes and, I realized - he must be feeling just as betrayed, maybe more than I did. In no words, with no spells, could I comfort him.

"Una," I called, my mind made up, "It's time." She let Serena go, a little hesitating, and stood up, her face grave. She looked around the room, through my eyes, and nodded.

After meeting Neo and Orella at the High Panel's convention, after getting the Enigma, we had talked - the talk could've escalated into arguments, may or may not have involved a certain someone calling the other rocky, and the other one repeatedly calling the other chicken - but we had talked. A war was coming and allies were what we needed. And armies.

"Summer Realm's convoys might still take time, even after the re-routing we have done. The new treaty is in place..."

I heard Doran clear his throat, raising his shadowed eyes, voice heavy, "My... well, my father's army at least is fully armed and awaiting commands. Just let them rest for tonight. The number is less but the Centaurs will guard the foothills of the mountain."

"Really?" Una turned, with wide eyes, "When did you assemble them?"

"The night after bringing Nova, after the... portal." He sighed. I closely watched Lord Orlon's face quiver with a surprisingly new emotion. Doran never wore his crown, never used the title, but the Prince of the Summer Realm had always known his royal responsibilities - he worked in an absurdly undercover fashion - always taking up his father's burdens onto him, without Lord Orlon ever finding out.

I nodded, relieved, "Perfect, also... wait - what mountain? Is that where the Throne..."

Both Una and I, turned our heads to Nova, who sighed like a disappointed teacher. "The tallest mountain of the Winter Realm in the east. Sun rises... land stops on the mountains utmost." He waved a hand, not bothering to look at us, a bit absent-minded.

"Riiiight. Of course, I knew that," Una scratched her head and I gave her a half-smile. We were both clueless.

I clasped my hands behind my back, "As we speak, Neo is readying an army of his tranced and un-tranced Eclipses, Gemini guards, and I kind of got intel on Spring Realm's military status from my spies. Well, he has long back called the entire Spring army over here, and they follow him as Nova. So, a war is unavoidable now. A reason why Serena has been condemned - Lord Gareth must be scratching his head now, having received two different orders from two different Novas."

"Bloody Hell." Nova muttered under his breath.

Una clicked her tongue, "Many fleets arrived from my Realm, when our Alchemist had gone missing. So, at least I have my warriors and healers in more numbers." She added, "Also Orella's army is a naysay. We had been so sure, that we got Three Realms. But well, seems like it's just us."

"The irony is not lost on me," I mumbled.

Lord Orlon cleared his throat, suddenly getting up, "You are forgetting something. High King Maris is from the Winter Realm, is he not? He will have all his four powers till midnight tomorrow, and he could be helpful, before the Throne takes it all back from him and lends it to one of you three. I am on my way right now, which I should've done a long time back. But, alas, I am a tad slow, unlike my son here, who is always a step ahead."

Doran raised his hooded-eyes to look at his father in horror and Lord Orlon patted his shoulder hesitating a bit, and walked out with hurried footsteps. I couldn't help but feel my heart shrink and swell simultaneously. He had a father - I pushed the bitter feeling down.

"I was thinking, Una," I twirled a ring, and shifted my weight from one leg to another, "Since, you got the power of stealth and a greater number of soldiers, would you mind... leading?"

She blinked; mouth open. I could see the sheer oddness of our situation reflected on her face, in her black eyes. Regaining her composure quickly, the Autumn Queen stepped ahead and extended her hand to me, "Of course, I will, Ralph. G-Good thinking, that"

I supplemented further, shaking her calloused hand, "Send over your Commanders in an hour, I will have them meet mine. Let's burn that midnight oil to the last drop."

"I... I have something tell you." Nova suddenly looked up, as if the war inside his head had come to a conclusion and he was yielding. A shrill piercing of an omen scorched my skin as I took in his wretched face.

He lowered his head, "I know what Neo must have done to Eleni." A chair scraped; Doran had stood up. "Since the Debt of Life bond is severed, that only means, he has made her his slave. She is tranced."

The world stopped. A numbing pain slithered in my guts. Nova added, "There's a potion. It kicks in after a while. And when it does, you only listen to one person's sound in the world - your master's."

Master. I stood still. Mind Sorcery!

"You might wonder why I could never break the trance, well, honestly, the trance can be broken by various external impetus and at times I did. But he makes certain slaves stronger, by pointing out their entire baggage of insecurities. Fears. Guilts. Unfulfilled desires. Bringing them to their knees. Making hollow promises that he would give them everything that they were deprived of."

He swallowed, before continuing, "Neo kept telling me how badly I messed up his life, how I had tortured many people in my trance for two years. And recently my trances had been pretty heavy, because I... he told me about Spikes, Milan, about you, about your sister in the dungeon. How you all hate Nova. And it is hard to shirk it off. The voice, his voice echoes in my head. Even now." Nova shut his eyes, exhaling long and slow. Una, who had been frozen, walked over to him and linked her arm with his.

Neo had mixed Mind and Dark Sorcery. Did he know all the branches of magic? And he wanted the Throne!

"Slave..." I whispered. A trap. I blinked my eyes, pushing the moistness back. A young orphan girl, who had been juggling a whole new life and a whole new people in a whole different Realm, must have many insecurities, a diffident outlook to everything. The room swayed around me. 

Serena had made Doran sit, squeezing his hands in comfort. He had been holding the whole plan together, every single thing. But now he was gone. Lost like a ship in a thunderstorm. Lost without his anchor. Everyone had relied on him a little too much.

One glance around the room, one thorough glance at the trepidation hanging like old dusty curtains in the room, I took three deep practiced breaths, for my mind was spiraling out, like always. But now a crown was all that I had; a sister was all I had, who herself had another kid to look after. I could bring the change, mend the old rules about people debarred from living in other Realms other than their own.

I'd crush all the senseless laws into pieces and have them as appetizers with my whiskey.

Resolute, I turned to Doran. "Mate, I have a task for you. Do you think you can... manage?" I was being cruel but he raised his head, eyes unblinking as if in a trance of his own. "Give me something. Anything." He said.

As I took in his groggy voice and exhausted face, I realized Doran hadn't slept for two days. I walked over to my broken friend urgently. I could buy him a few hours of strength - A finger pressed between his brows, I entered his mind, which resembled a crumbling tunnel. Closing my eyes - I unclogged his head, sucking out his need to sleep, his exhaustion, from all the nerve endings of his body, like a wispy cloud. But it came with a price - he'd be exhausted to the core once the spell ran out. I watched him blink and color returned to his skin.

"Get that Eclipse soldier of yours and go find the Chief of the Eclipses."

Doran's eyes flew open at my blunt words and he looked up at me from his chair. I added, "We need that Eclipses army. And the Chief will... help us." The Chief will come for her daughter.

He straightened up abruptly, his furrowed forehead, relaxing into understanding and hope. I squeezed his shoulder once and stepped back. The slaved Eclipses were a threat bigger than anything else. They would annihilate everything, their powers unmatched to our single-elemented ones. And hurting them in that tranced-state, killing them... was out of question. Only Eclipses could fight against Eclipses. Eleni was now another slaved Eclipse. There was no saying what otherworldly powers she was capable of unleashing. My terror touched the sky.

"Una," I said, and she raised her eyes, "Get your other Autumn Lords, willing, unwilling doesn't matter. They'll come after their Queen." She gave a brisk nod.

I turned to Nova, my mind blazing with fury already and his posture straightened, "And you, I have half a mind to smack you in the head. Why didn't you tell me about those echoes haunting your mind?" I calmed myself down, looking at his still guilt-stricken face, before adding, "Go, get a bath and some strong tea or whatever it is that gets you going. But we need you back. Now."

Nova gave me a tight-lipped apologetic smile, and quickly jogged off upstairs. My mother had thrown my insecurities on my face all my life probably I could relate and give Nova a Mind Spell, strength to hold himself for the battle ahead.

Finally, I looked at Serena. She stood up in haste, her eyes flickered to Una once, and gulped.

My voice toned down to a gentle cadence, "In Eleni's opinion, my handwriting is hideous. So, could you please write a few letters on my behalf? Maybe also suggest us a few books and articles about Ancient Warfare, Dark Magic, anything helpful. Focus on Ancient Sorcery I'd say, the Throne's powers, precisely."

Neo was planning something for the Throne, wasn't he?

Serena's face lightened up, and I could see she was relieved at not being given any other task than this. "Gladly, Your Majesty." She said, smiling just a bit, her eyelashes still sprinkled with fresh tears. I dipped my head, fists clenched tightly behind me.

The suffocation became too much. I turned around, as the pressure clutched at my throat. Overpowering. I reminded myself, that I was doing okay. This was okay. I'd correct my faults. All of them. I'd get Eleni back. I'd do all that I can. More than I can.

My Sorcery had been a secret for the longest time, for no one really knew, why I needed it, why I had learnt it - but maybe it had all led to this and this alone. If Neo could do it, so could I!

Do not show your fear, do not show your pain, stand your ground.

***

Una brought along Lord Nigel, First Son of House of Taurus, the previous Prince of the Autumn Realm, and Lord Terran, First Son of House of Capricorn. Lord Nigel seemed to narrow his eyes at me frequently, and I saw Una elbow him just as frequently, with not-so-subtle warning in her eyes. Both the Lords looked around the Summer Palace as if it were a dungeon - how Una had managed to get them here, only she knew. Must be one hilarious tale.

Lenox, was just the same by my side - The Lord of House of Leo, shared their wariness. I couldn't really blame them, recalling how I, and Una ourselves were childishly skeptical at the forest. I sighed, and balanced my hands on the table sprawled ahead of us. This was going to be a long night.

Only Angus seemed to have acclimatized faster, even when he looked as if he had come directly from a deep slumber, after having received a letter in the dead of the night, which Serena had gracefully whipped out. The Second Son of House of Aquarius, Nova's good friend from his Realm, had arrived while his older brother, Eaton, had certainly peed in his breeches, like he had in the Conquest. It was time to let the Second Sons be worthy of ruling, if the First Son wasn't. The laws were seeming even more ridiculous at this point.

"Where's Doran?" Lenox enquired to particularly no one, scratching his brunet head.

"Getting an... army. Well..." I looked at Una, and she nodded her head. To tell them in all transparency, about everything.

And tell we did.

"I am sorry for your sister, Ralph." Lenox spoke in a soft voice, clutching my shoulder.

Una added, probably noticing my unease, "That girl only realizes her powers, unleashes her perfectly tucked-in rage, when a certain someone, is in danger. Last resort, fireboy, I'll push you down the mountain and she'll come back to her senses to save her brother." The rarest of her soft smiles, reassured me or maybe added to my pile of guilt. My heartbeats slackened - Eleni had always been there for me - she knew how to be an older sibling. I'd learn that from her.

"But how and why is that silver-eyed devil still alive!" Lord Nigel shrieked, but quickly shut his mouth, when Nova entered into the room like a spring draft.

His clothes changed from red to white, hair wet, looking like he indeed had had an extremely eye-opening, life-altering bath. He looked like he was done with his shit. He spread his arms wide, and bowed again with a distinct smug smile, as if taking an ovation after one of his mesmeric musical performances. I shook my head amused and relieved. He might not even need my spells at this rate. Which bath salt did he use!

"Angus!" Nova smiled boyishly at his fellow Spring Realm's Lord. The younger Lord, with a bounce in his step instantly pulled Nova in a one-armed hug, almost a kid-brother like adoration shining in his eyes. "I heard and it is... Hell, we didn't know a thing. I, now, understand why you... no... Neo had put up this Eclipses committee all of a sudden, and I am glad that I had refused to be a part of it. For obvious reasons."

"You're clearly the smartest one of this lot," Nova mocked, ruffling his friend's wheatish hair, making us all frown. He then leaned over the table and shook hands with Lenox, who was a reserved person in every sense, albeit he looked at Nova in admiration stammering a greeting.

I tapped my fingers on the map sprawled on the table, while the two Autumn Lords took their sweet time to greet Nova warmly. They had all been at Terraskee, training together, and it didn't surprise me, when they all laughed at some shady inside joke. Typical! But he needed it. Deserved all the welcome. All the validation that the world hadn't forgotten the real him.

"So," Una clapped her hand on the table loudly, after what seemed to have been ages, and gestured to the three deep green-hued armor-clad burly people, two women and a man, standing behind her, "My Commanders have a strategy ready. But there needs to be a clear idea about who leads which flanks, who takes over when... something goes wrong." When someone dies.

I craned my neck back to the three Commanders standing behind me, one of each House of the Summer Realm, "Strategies are all fun until we know what we are dealing with. But Neo... is different. There's no telling with him. We need to prepare our soldiers for any sorcerous move..."

I stopped, looking at Una. But she stood taller even, hands at the back. He had killed Spikes just two days back, how was she holding herself together?

Subdued, I continued, "After rallying the troops, we need to make it clear to them what they're going to be dealing with. Dark magic, enslaved Eclipses, a bloodthirsty Sorcerer... there is no script here, just improvisation."

Lord Nigel asked, "King Ralph, what about the people who'd gather for the Throne's arrival, and the people in the Winter gala, or in their homes? You reckon, he is going to stick to just the mountain?"

"Of course, he won't. That bastard plays unfair. But if he has Orella by his side then, I do reckon that she'd take care of her subjects. And we take care of our own arses."

Lord Terran, in all his green glory spoke into the eerie silence, "I will take the southern flanks, once Una is gone for the Branding. The mountain is tall, yes, and sharp at most places, where no one other than Earth soldiers can station themselves. Camouflaged."

"Same old!" Lenox said out of sheer habit of ridiculing the Autumn Realmers.

"Got a problem with that, fireling?" Lord Terran raised a brow, nostrils flared.

"Stop. Right. There." Nova put his palms flat on the table, voice suddenly raised. "None of this in here. I'll kick you and your petty feud down from the mountain myself, I swear." The air in the room stopped breezing. Una and I stepped away from the table in a reflex.

Angus said cautious and slow, "I'll get whatever Spring Army I can, but don't you think this is dubious. Neo knows that we know. Hell, he even must know that we are all here in the Sagittarian Palace." Una countered, brows knitted, "You do have a point, Angus. In a few hours let's shift our base. Leave that to me." Her words seemed to be forged with irrevocability.

Nova added, "Be respectful to the Eclipses, they are going to save all of our sorry lives. When we three leave for the Branding, Doran is the one who will lead you." His piercing hazel gaze pinned the Autumn Lords, "Is that quite understood?"

"Doran? The one who wasn't in the Conquest?" Lord Nigel asked, tone of misplaced trust evident.

Before I or Nova opened our mouths, Una glared at him, turning sideways, "You should be glad he wasn't up against us." Her eyes then widened and she looked at me, panicked, "Don't you dare tell him I said that."

Oh, I am definitely telling him that!

Lenox speculated, "But why would the Chief of the Eclipses join forces with us, with Doran? As far as I know, they prefer working alone. They might just rescue their enslaved warriors and flee."

Because, the Chief's daughter is in danger, Lenox.

"Because the Eclipses have always been on the side of the good, even when the world treated them as an Abomination. I... I used to fund them in secret, when a friend confessed to me that he was an Eclipse. Their Chief's a virtuous lady - I met her three years back." Nova said, casually, rubbing his sleepy eyes. My jaw dropped. Nova was such a sneak.

He placed a finger on the north-eastern snow-covered mountain on the map sprawled on the table ahead of us, named Stellus! And Una gasped, "That's... that's the mountain where I took Serena... and Eleni to see the meteor shower when we had just met, after the royal ball." Her black eyes twinkled with a distant memory.

"Small world indeed. Here we go, then. Ready, you two?" Nova said, a sly mischievous smirk gracing his face, concealing all the nervousness unceremoniously.

"I need a beer." I said, rubbing my hands over my face.

"I need sleep." Angus said, sighing aloud, maybe yawning.

"I need time to digest this all," Lord Nigel scratched his head.

"I need to get another bath." Nova cackled his knuckles.

"I need to get back to my wife." Lord Terran grinned.

"And I need to smack you all boys in the head." Una glowered at all of us.

"I am good." Lenox said promptly.

A thick curtain of palpable anticipation drenched us, even when we smiled at each other hopefully. I looked around all the young faces, we were all naïve, and we were going to a war. We clearly had a death wish.

***

Author's note again: *Apple of my eye, ladies and gentlemen!*

To all those who complain that there are no proper Winter Realm's characters included - I hear you and they are coming, other than you-know-who!

Also, I edited some of the old chapters, to include bits about Mind Sorcery - since I had completely overlooked foreshadowing that part, my bad. The new readers would be better acquainted but for those who are with me so far, you are still good, because Ralph pretty much told it right now. A mere mention in chapter 30's second scene's opening has been added. In case you want to check out.

~Happy Reading✨❤~