Magus Reborn

Kai stood motionless atop the castle's rooftop, feeling the calmness of the breeze that tugged at the edges of his cloak. The city was definitely coming together, so lively and energetic, even at night. The lanterns, the laughter, the commands, the noise of the hammer—all sights and sounds that usually bought him a sense of pride, today, however, they might as well have been echoes from another world.

His eyes scanned the expanse as he usually did—to see what goes on behind the castle gates. Yet, the warmth that naturally crept into his chest when he saw the people failed to ignite. It was as if a shadow had crept over him.

Yesterday's events replayed in his mind, relentless and vivid. The astral realm had revealed more than he had bargained for. The image of Queen Regina, towering and fearsome, etched into the very essence of Amara's deepest fears, had been a revelation that left him with more questions than answers.

Kai's jaw tightened, frustration building beneath his calm exterior.

He had gained slivers of understanding, yes, but it felt like grasping at smoke. Until he confronted Amara and heard the truth from her own lips, the puzzle would remain incomplete. His assumptions would be just that—assumptions.

Fortunately, she had agreed to give him the answers, but he hadn't asked them right away. His concern for her well-being had compelled him to request that she rest until she felt better physically.

They had agreed to meet on the rooftop to discuss the matters she had promised, and Kai knew this was for the best, as it would offer more privacy.

Yet, as the minutes stretched into an hour, the hope for her arrival felt like it was being crushed into fragments with each passing second.

Kai's fingers drummed restlessly against the stone ledge, the rhythmic tap-tap mirroring the rapid thrum of his heart. The castle's hum blurred into a meaningless drone as he glanced at the empty space beside him.

Where is she?

His mind raced with possibilities. Is she not coming? Maybe she just changed her mind, I can't blame her for that—

"Count Arzan."

Kai turned to see Amara approaching.

She moved with deliberate steps, dressed in plain, unadorned clothes that looked almost out of place for her stature. A simple grey tunic and dark trousers hugged her slender frame, giving her an unassuming appearance. Anya was notably absent.

Kai inclined his head respectfully as she came to stand beside him. Amara's eyes swept over the rooftop and towards the scenery in front of them before she spoke, her voice tinged with quiet regret. "I'm sorry to make you wait. I got lost on the way here and had to ask a maid to show me around."

"It's not a big deal," Kai replied, his gaze shifting to her face. The pallor that had once defined her features was fading, replaced by a healthier glow. He realised, with a touch of surprise, that he hadn't found her particularly striking when they first met. But now, she was regaining the beauty she had lost to her ailments.

"Have you been feeling better?" he asked, the concern in his tone unmistakable.

"Yes," Amara said, a small, genuine smile appearing. "The pain has lessened, and I've been sleeping much better. I believe after the external surgery, I will be all good."

Kai nodded. "Yes, that will be particularly simple. But before that, I wanted to—"

Amara's gaze sharpened, her voice cutting through the silence. "I know. You have questions about my mother, but I have questions of my own first."

Kai's brow creased as confusion flickered across his face. He nodded. "Go on."

He placed both of his hands in front of him and waited for Amara to continue with whatever she had on her mind.

"Your questions about my mother," she began, eyes searching his, "are they because of what you saw in the astral realm, or is there another reason?"

Kai nodded at the question, his mind racing with all the reasons behind what he was about to ask her. The pause stretched on for several more seconds before he finally decided to respond.

"A bit of both," he admitted. He found himself carefully measuring his words when he responded. "I've had questions for a long time. What I saw in the astral realm—it only deepened them."

Amara's lips quirked in an almost knowing way. "Is that why you've tried to send letters, asking subtly about the royal family and the capital?"

Kai shifted, leaning onto the railing. The night air seemed thicker now, or it was just his intentions. He wasn't surprised she had pieced it together; she had always been observant. Many nobles had probably sought her out for similar reasons, though none with the persistence he had shown—and none with the same success.

Kai exhaled slowly, a hint of tension threading through his posture. "Yes," he said, the admission steady yet tinged with regret. "I'm sorry if that hurt you, but I didn't see any other way."

Amara's eyes softened as she shook her head, the movement gentle, almost resigned. "It's alright. I never expected you to help me without seeking something in return."

A small, genuine smile curved Kai's lips. His gaze found hers, earnest and unwavering. She couldn't be more wrong about that.

"I would have helped regardless. I wouldn't have saved your life back then otherwise. I wasn't at the ball to make connections and hadn't known about your illness before." He paused, the weight of his words settling between them. "But yes, I thought this might be my only path to answers."

Her eyes studied him, the hardness in them fading as her expression lightened. "Is that so?" A smile ghosted her lips, delicate and fleeting. "That makes me feel better." She turned her gaze to the horizon, blinking away her thoughts. "Actually, I hope this is the last time we deal with each other like that."

Kai's brow arched, curiosity sparking in his expression. "What do you mean?"

Amara's tongue swept over her lips, moistening them. "I don't want our relationship to be one of transactions. I've seen it too many times—the nobles who rally behind my brother, their loyalty a mere bargain. They stay close as long as there's something to gain, but if he faltered especially at the game of crown..." She didn't finish, but the unspoken end hung heavy in the air. "I don't want that for us."

Kai's brows knitted together at her words, understanding where she came from. But again, almost all royal affairs were similar—transactional at its finest.

"What sort of relationship do you want between us?"

Amara's gaze drifted downward, the silence stretching as if she weighed her answer carefully. Finally, a light sigh escaped her, and she met his eyes. "Why don't we start with friends?" Her lips quirked slightly before she added, "Either way, I think we're straying from the point. You have questions, and I'll answer them. But after this, I want no hidden motives between us."

Kai's expression softened as he nodded, the unguarded sincerity in her voice resonating with him. "Alright. If that's what you want." His eyes lifted to the open sky, the cool breeze brushing against his face as he took a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Is Queen Regina the one controlling your brother? Is it true that he's just a figurehead, and she's the real kingmaker behind all of this, trying to use him as a puppet to fulfil her own desires?"

Amara's response was immediate, no hesitation or uncertainty. "Yes, you're right. Did you piece that together from what I said in the astral realm?"

Kai's eyes darkened, the memory surfacing in fragments. "Yes, but I had my suspicions since I first met him back in Hermil." His gaze shifted to meet hers, searching for understanding. "He was nothing like I expected. Not the cunning prince I had prepared myself for—he was... simple."

A rueful smile touched Amara's lips. "My brother never had a reputation for being shrewd. Competent? Perhaps he might have been, if not for our mother. He does what she commands, exactly how she dictates. He has no will of his own." Her voice softened, an almost imperceptible tremor betraying a deeper hurt. "Part of me believes he wishes for it, but he can't. Not with her."

Kai's eyes narrowed, questions bubbling beneath the surface. "How is she able to command such power? Is she a Mage?"

Amara's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of something unreadable crossing her face. She shifted her weight, crossing her arms as she leaned back. "Actually, no," she said, voice laced with a strange certainty. "She's not a Mage. A lot of people think she is, but from what I know, she's not." She glanced away briefly, as if weighing the weight of her next words. "But... I don't know. She's more terrifying than any Mage I've ever known."

The statement hit Kai like a well-placed blow. His mind churned, piecing together fragments of information and implications. If he was right, if Queen Regina really was the puppeteer orchestrating events from the shadows, then her control likely extended to Archine Tower as well. It would fit; everyone knew the Tower supported the first prince. Even the history books whispered about how the Mages had stood behind the Mad King, bolstering his rise and reign.

A shiver traced down his spine. Was it possible that Regina was the one behind the attempts on his life? The thought settled uncomfortably.

He turned toward Amara, hesitation flickering in his eyes before he spoke. "Do you know if your mother holds any enmity toward House Kellius?"

Amara's brow lifted, genuine surprise etched into her features. "No," she said slowly, searching for his expression. "I don't think so. Duke Lucian Kellius is part of my brother's alliance, one of its leading figures. I don't believe my mother has any reason to bear a grudge against your house."

Kai clenched his jaw, the gears in his mind grinding as he considered the next question. "What about me?" The question hung in the air, taut and uncertain.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. "You?" She paused, as if trying to recall some lost detail. "I don't know. I don't think you've ever crossed paths with my mother, have you, Count Arzan?"

"No, I haven't," Kai said, a frown tugging at his features. "And that's why it's so strange."

Amara tilted her head, a shadow of confusion in her eyes. "What is?"

Kai took a deep breath, the weight of the secret pressing on his chest. He exhaled slowly, deciding it was time to come clean; there was no reason for him to hide it anymore.

"Last year, someone from Archine Tower tried to assassinate me."

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, the world seemed to still.

"I killed the Mage," he continued, voice steady despite the storm brewing within him. "That's why I was summoned to the capital for interrogation. But here's the part that matters: that Mage had orders— orders from someone within Archine Tower. I believe Magus Verdia knows who it is, or worse, she might be the one behind it. If not, they would have uncovered the traitor by now."

Amara's lips parted, the realisation dawning on her slowly, like the first rays of dawn breaking the horizon.

"And since Archine Tower supports the first prince," Kai added, his gaze sharpening, "and he's nothing more than a puppet controlled by your mother—"

"You suspect my mother wants to kill you?" she interrupted, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Kai nodded in confirmation.

A heavy silence fell between them, neither speaking as the weight of his response lingered in the air. Amara's eyes darted away, her mind seemed to working through the pieces of the puzzle, trying to make sense of it all. After what seemed like an eternity, she broke the quiet.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Kai's gaze hardened, the answer clear in his mind. "It's a hypothesis," he said slowly, "but it's the most potent one I have. I'm certain they'll try again, and I need to know why. What reason might there be."

Amara fell silent again, her brow furrowed in deep thought. The wind whispered past them, ruffling the strands of her hair, but neither of them moved. Finally, Amara spoke again, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

"Count Arzan," she began, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Your mother... she was the Frost Queen, right?"

Kai nodded, his expression unreadable, but he saw the shift in her eyes. They were no longer filled with just confusion, but something else—something deeper. Slowly, her features seemed to settle, as if she had finally arrived at some conclusion.

"I believe there might be one reason why," she said, voice steady now. She looked him straight in the eyes. "Count Arzan... you actually might have a claim to the throne."

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A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.