"Daddy Liorei..."
Moon tailed Emperor Maxism as he bring the King to the Heart Palace. He called the attention of the knights to call for Princess Diamanda or Princess Aurora, the latter being the beloved wife of Prince Izaac. Both were awakened as healers better than anyone.
"What happened!?"
"Save that for later and heal him first!"
The griffin landed and walked in. The egg was riding its back.
"What are you doing here?"
Prince Fiery scanned Moon from her head to her toes. How unsightly; her face is red from all the crying and her red nose is runny.
"You're creepy! Stay away from us, freak!"
Prince Fiery pushed Moon hard. Moon stumbled over. The egg jumped in surprise, and jumped again as if throwing a fit. The griffin took a single step, and that's when they recognized its regal presence.
"How dare a mere boy push the Princess of Heart?"
Its golden eyes flared. Prince Fiery was stricken by terror but he steeled himself before the legendary creature. Why would he be afraid? He's a Prince, son of the Empress of Heart!
"Don't call her that! The only Princess of Heart here by name and blood is our sister!"
The griffin squinted its eyes, head held high, seeing the Prince in the lowest regard.
"It seems the blood of Siofra is soiled if something like you came from it."
The griffin helped Moon get back up.
Prince Fiery was speechless.
"What's the problem? Why is his wound not healing?"
That's when Moon's breath hitched.
The Princesses were doing their best to heal the King's wound. Everyone has gathered around him now at the Palace's living room. The King was laid on the long sofa and receiving immediate treatment, but that immediate treatment doesn't seem to work.
"D-Did you just attempt to murder him!?" Prince Fiery accused Moon with a finger pointing her.
Blaming eyes shot through her. She trembled, slowly shaking her head.
"I-I will never do that! It was... It was..."
"Accident happens," said the griffin.
"You call this 'AN ACCIDENT'!?"
The Empress arrived with the King and Sun at her both sides. Moon caught sight of their lovely picture altogether, and it pinched her heart. Sun met her stares and when she passed her by, she smirked at Moon.
The griffin saw it.
"O-Oh my!" Sun gasped, jumping in horror when she saw the current state of the King. Her father King LIFE covered her eyes to not see the gore.
"It's that girl's fault, Mom, Dad! She tried to kill King Liorei!" Prince Fiery said while pulling the King's hand, still pointing his finger at Moon.
"You bastard!"
Moon snarled, shocking them all.
"You fucking piece of shit, how fucking dare you point your finger at me?"
"W-What..." Prince Fiery was stunned for a moment, until his anger got to his head and marched to Moon to send his palm across her face.
"How dare you curse at me, you Veil!? Who do you think you are to talk to me that way!?"
Moon got up and with her balled fist, she took a stance. They all felt it. That goddamn murderous intent. That seriousness of killing the Prince on her face. That unexplainable kind of fury screaming in her eyes---and as she pull her fist back aiming to blow his brains off---King LIFE acted faster than light. He pushed his son away and tried to catch Moon's incoming fist...
Only for his entire arm to be blown, and so was the space behind it.
"KYAAAAHH!"
Moon chased after her rugged breath. The husbands round their wives and children around, away from Moon who finally lost her mind.
"You bitch-ass of a motherfucker who only knows how to run his fucking mouth,"
Moon corrected her posture. They were even more stunned and horrified when they found her crying blood.
"You're lucky your rapist of a father blocked my fist. I would've erased you completely in this world."
'Rapist?'
King LIFE transformed his left side, the part where he was wounded, into a Veil, and it healed. He did so while glaring at Moon.
"You're not funny, girl."
Moon clenched her fists tighter and glared at him the same.
"Ironic, since your entire existence is."
"Bars---"
Empress Clastigaufeas elbowed her husband hard on his chest, enough to almost break his ribs. Princess Aurora gasped and crawled to Emperor Maxism who folded to the ground, writhing, and healed him first.
"Finally showing your true colors, huh. Thank you for being so dumb and blowing your cover. Now I have enough reason to execute you."
He pulled Excalibur with his right hand and pointed it to Moon. She was not even fazed. She only bare her teeth to the King as her blood tears drip to the floor.
Knowing the trick into it, King Liorei got up all healed and complete.
"I suggest you put that sword down, Van," he said as he walk to the Princess. She softened in no time.
"D-Daddy Liorei..."
When he was close enough, she ran to him. She locked her arms around his waist, crying with the sincerest apologies. Her guilt was gnawing her.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Daddy Liorei. I'm sorry..."
King Liorei smiled helplessly. He carried her and pat her back, telling her it's nothing and that he was clearly at fault. The griffin nodded at his confession and the egg, too.
"I shall take my leave and rest with my child. Siofra, watch your youngling. If you won't correct your mistakes, then you're a disappointment."
Empress Siofra clenched her fists to her side and lowered her head.
The griffin began walking away, taking the path to its nest. The egg jumped and landed on the ground. It did not break. It rolled to Moon and bumped itself against King Liorei's leg.
The griffin noticed that the weight on his back felt light. And when he turned---"WHY!?"
It wept before the egg. "My child, how attached have you grown with her? Come to me!" He tried rolling the egg to his side using his claws but the egg did not budge.
"Our Princess is so strong like me. You really are a Dragunovv like me." King Liorei praised and kissed her head. Moon pouted and buried her face to his neck.
"I don't like it. I don't want to hurt Daddy Liorei."
The King's robust laughter filled the living room.
"You caught me off guard! Next time, I'll sustain it. Now I know how strong you are."
It didn't make her any better.
King Liorei brushed her hair with his palm and kissed her forehead. "It's alright, my love. Really. So, hush. I forgive you. Is that what you want to hear? I forgive you."
Her lips trembled. His words hit something more within her. And it triggered her to cry like a baby in pain. King Liorei smiled through it and rocked her to comfort. Whenever she cries, it felt like she's carrying the heaviest weight. If not, then the most unforgivable sin.
"It's okay. It's okay..."
King Liorei turned their backs on them and started walking away, when the King asked them where they're going.
"Leaving, what do you think?"
"After what she's done? She attempted to murder not just you but my son, a Prince of this empire!"
King Liorei turned back once again to face him. Them.
"He deserved it, though?"
King LIFE's bloodshot eyes widened with indifference.
"What did you say?"
"It's not about who struck who first. Your son laid his filthy hand to a Princess. I'm sad that you defended him. I'd celebrate if he were to die right here, because Van, believe me, I have what it takes to kill Fiery right now, but I won't, because the Princess already made an example of what she can do. Does this sound like treason? I don't think so. What he did was. What do you think will happen if we were to tell the Diamond Palace this?"
"Why are you so obsessed with that Veil, Gerson Fucking Liorei!? You are out of your goddamn mind, we know, but to this extent? Confusing us, for what!? Stirring conflict over that imposter---FOR WHAT? Every inch of her screams how monstrous she is! How Veil-like her roots are---"
"Well, aren't you one yourself, Van?"
The rebuttal silenced King LIFE.
"The irony makes me so fucking sick, really. Speaking loud about executing Veils, when you are one too yourself. I don't understand why Excalibur chose you either. It is made to annihilate Veils, yet a Veil is wielding it himself to kill its own kind."
"Enough, both of you." Empress Siofra mediated and went between them. She raised her hand only to her husband.
"Why, bitter? You wish it was you? Still trying to earn your daddy's recognition? You wished to inherit his sword, I knew it."
King Liorei's aura stirred differently upon the mention of his father, Daro.
"Just accept the fact that you're nothing but a tool to him. Who knows, maybe all of you are nothing but artificial. He's quite the inventor, right? Maybe, your mother isn't real either. Maybe, she's artificial, too. Maybe... You're not real."
Moon slightly turned her head to the King. Now, two pairs of heinous eyes with pure murderous intent drill holes through his soul. At the same time, they smirked.
"I would've taken you seriously if only I was not the one who ruined your life and made you my bitch. I can do it all over again, Van. It'd be twice as much of pleasure now that you have a big, happy family. Pfft!"
"He's so miserable." Moon covered her mouth and mischievously laughed at the King.
Neither of them took him seriously, and that was what provoked him more.
King Liorei turned his back on them.
"So, let's just tolerate what happened. Fiery is at a disadvantage. If you're looking for proof, this is proof. Don't go around pissing her off~ Or she will make you a donut."
"I-I won't do that, Daddy Liorei! That's abuse of power! That's bad and mean!"
How contradicting.
King Liorei can't help but think if this is what it's like to raise little girls. They contradict themselves; they're like little land mines. One time she's tame, the next she's about to go supernova.
"Good thing you are aware, Princess."
They started walking away but they noticed the griffin following them.
"Why are you coming along?"
"My child is attached to her."
They all looked down and found the egg rolling, following their pace and was a little bit ahead of them.
"Won't it break?" The stairs is right ahead. What if it breaks?
"Your skull is still softer."
King Liorei gaped his mouth to the griffin.
The monarchs left behind could only watch their backs. King LIFE was trembling in held fury. He raised his hand, the one that was blown to nothingness. That kind of strength was uncannily familiar, with the raw intent of killing.
"Mom, we should do something about this. We can't leave them be. She harmed royals! Isn't it obvious that she's a threat?" Prince Eddrien broke the silence and approached his parents. Empress Siofra kept her stares lingering at the path they took.
She was watching. It was not intentional. But against Prince Fiery, it was. Moon really wanted...to kill him.
He added, "Give the order for her execution. Everything---all of this is a fraud, Mom! Can't you see the conflict she's bringing to us? Our family will fall apart in no time and our people will lose their trust to us if we won't do anything about her! She had Liorei completely dancing on her palm, she's taking our sister's identity---and look! She almost killed Dad and Fiery!"
"Y-Yeah! Bet she blackmailed the great griffin, too! She's using the egg as hostage!" Prince Zephyrus.
Empress Siofra massaged her temples. She is so... Lost.
"I will...reach out to the Matriarch."
"Ugh, Mom! You're not seeing the threat at all!"
The Princes beat their hands in the air and paced around, disappointed that their mother is refusing to take legal actions against Moon.
"As much as I wanted to, but I can't. She can go in and out of the Diamond Palace freely. The griffin left its nest after so long, and its child is becoming active. Worst, she got Gerson Liorei on her side. Do you really think he will leave us be if we killed his daughter?"
"That Veil is not his daughter, Azazel! That girl is an imposter! That girl is trying to ruin us from within, and she wants the throne for herself! Give me the order and I will do it. You don't have to bother the Matriarch for this! You are the Empress---DO IT."
The pressure weighed on the Empress's balanced shoulders. Everywhere she look, she sees faces that portrays their wish for Moon to be executed right then. Her face twitches with confusion when all their eyes looked the same to her. With spirals.
"What...?"
Her eyes landed on Sun. She was smiling at her sweetly, the only one who do. However, beyond the Empress's vision was Emperor Maxism.
Observing.
"Do it. Give the order."
Emperor Maxism kicked the vase on the table. The shattering noise disrupted their mania and the spirals in their eyes faded. They all looked back to him. He was grinning like an idiot.
"Y'all are too tensed, guys! Can we all calm down? Siofra is right. Though what she did is wrong, but if we execute her, a Princess of Heart, I can't imagine the possible consequences that will befall on you. I'm not gonna say 'on us' since I ain't belong here. So, I'm gonna bounce with my fam, alright? I have bastards to beat up at home."
He clapped his hands and left as soon as he could. He climbed the Tower to see his sister, being fed by Chancellor Titania while cuddling.
"Aww, my precious baby girl. Look at you, are you eating well~?"
The Grand Duchess beamed a gummy smile at him with her cheeks puffing. She chewed her food and hugged him when he got beside them.
"I understand. If you need any of us, give us a call and we will be there."
Emperor Maxism shook Chancellor Titania's hand with a flat smile after giving their excuse to leave.
He didn't want to bring his sister back home as there still rats to catch inside. However, he'd be more restless if she's away from him. The most trustworthy person to entrust his sister to is himself alone. He won't leave her behind at the Tower if the most suspicious thing was just right below it. Or maybe, he can entrust her to King Liorei.
Wait, what if?
The Diamond Palace is secured. No harm will go near it. And the griffin is hanging out with them now. Two walking nukes hover around Moon. She's practically untouchable now.
But Moon hates them. Aww, man.
.
.
.
"Uwaaah! Why did I do that!? Why did I do thaaattt~!!!"
Moon rolled here and there on the bed, kicking her feet, and screaming against the sheets---when she finally realized what she had done last night.
"Mother... Mother hates me now! She hates me now!"
The griffin pushed its child to the bed using its beak. The egg was rolling around, too, and it almost fell to the floor.
They were camping in Moon's room. The Diamond Palace adjusted its size to accommodate the griffin's size.
"You are facing quite the predicament, Princess. I myself is confused. I cannot identify which of you is legitimate, but I am strangely drawn to you. Hmm, what is happening?"
The egg rolled to Moon and jumped to land on her back. She's lying face down, sulking while crying.
"I am the real one. That doesn't matter if no one believes me."
The griffin stared at her closely. As in CLOSELY. Moon tightly shut her eyes because the griffin is right in front of her face, pressing its forehead against hers.
"Someone do. Daro's offspring."
Moon looked to the other side.
Right. She still have King Liorei. Then and now, he got her back. He saw her for who she is. And despite what she is, he still cared for her like his own. He didn't have to, but he still do.
Why can't...her father do the same?
He only knew how to be cruel and ruthless.
That's why the only person she's looking forward to receiving affection from was her mother, Empress Siofra. They can't have a proper reunion yet because of the Empress's walls. The King always tail her wherever she goes. She want to hug her mother, feel her warmth, talk to her, laugh with her---she have so many things in mind that she want to do with the Empress, but she can't get close to her.
And she sinks whenever her mind tells her that Sun is doing all that freely with the Empress. She only wanted, needed, to be with her mother. Only her mother.
"Why... Why is your baby not hatching yet? And where is its mother...or father?" Moon changes the subject. The griffin fell into a mourning silence.
"Who knows? I am still waiting for her return."
The griffin turned to the skies past the Palace's windows.
King Liorei entered with a tray of food.
"You have a love story like that?"
The griffin was annoyed instantly. Moon got up and smiled at him. King Liorei noticed that her smile was not the same.
"Don't think about it. I won't let them hurt you."
That is not what's bothering her, but she's still grateful of him.
King Liorei served her food on the bed table. Steak and there's something new: mashed potato.
"Let's train your taste buds, Princess. So you can eat and enjoy my delicious dishes someday."
Oh...
"Thank you... Daddy Liorei."
The King smiled and kissed her on the forehead. He gave the griffin the same food. The griffin looked down on it.
"Hey, I didn't put poison in that," he chuckled. The griffin pecked him once and ate the food in one gulp.
"Not enough."
Right. What do griffins eat for nourishment? He merely assumes that it's carnivorous since it is part-lion.
"What do you eat?"
"Meat, but mostly grass. Otherwise, we will hunt most livestock."
King Liorei subconsciously clapped his hands to applaud the Matriarch's mindset. Truly ahead of her time.
"She's so eco-friendly."
The griffin was all smug. "Our creator is the greatest."
King Liorei noticed how it liked hearing praises for the Matriarch, so he tease it by praising her more. When it sounded way too obnoxious, the griffin pecked him again for teasing it.
"Mr. Griffin, do you not have a name?"
Finally, Moon asked.
The griffin stood mightily. And with a straight face, it answered, "I am griffin."
"Pfft!" King Liorei rolled on the bed laughing, "The Matriarch didn't give it a name! Bwahahaha!"
Aggravated, the griffin wrapped its claws around the King and slammed him countless times against the ground. The King kept laughing. He's not even hurt.
"Oh no, your mommy and daddy didn't give you a name?" Moon chewed her steak with a concerned look on her face.
"I have no mother nor a father. I am my own. I am among the firsts of my kind. The only now, since they sacrificed their lives for the Empire. I am as old as time."
The truth froze Moon and King Liorei.
"WHAT!?"
The griffin let the King go. King Liorei got up, looking up to it with disbelief.
This entire time, they thought that it was merely the last generation of its race. But it turns out that the last griffin is not the product of reproduction, but was among the direct creation of the Matriarch!?
"Holy shit. Why didn't you tell this to us sooner!?"
King Liorei covered his mouth. This truth... This griffin---! It possess the truths of the earliest times in its memories!
The griffin seemingly raised its brow. "Why would I?"
"What do you mean 'why would I'!? Do you have no idea that we are trying to understand the past and this world's history? You may have all the answers!"
There was silence between them. The griffin did not cut eye contact with the King. And while still looking straight into his eyes, it said,
"I do not wish to remember. I do not wish to be reminded."
The King's shoulders dropped.
"Was it bad?"
The griffin walked to the wall where the balcony goes. It breathe the cool breeze of the early day.
The curse of longetivity is grief and yearning for the past to replay again. Another is the desire for it to end.
"I am the weakest of my kind and the smallest. The Matriarch's ingredients ran out, but she hated to waste what's left, and thus, I was born from her loving hands. My elders made fun of me behind her, secluding me, and so, even if I was born during her time, there are things I don't know of. Even if there are, they are either too painful or too precious to share."
Moon watched the griffin isolate itself in the balcony.
"Won't it be better if other people were to hear them? We are capable to feel for others. You can share our pain with us and your chest will lighten. Share the precious memories you behold, and we will cherish it the same. Anyway, guess who are dead and guess who is alive in your race now."
The griffin snorted. "Son of Daro, you have a strange way of comfort."
But it worked, though. The griffin was smiling and they know.
"Shall we pick a name for you? Let's celebrate your first name day!"
"Wow! Yes, let's do that!" Moon clapped her hands while still holding the utensils.
"I-I need no name!" The shy griffin refused, but they teased it and convinced it, until it gave in. The egg seemed to like the idea as well because it jumped high.
"See! Even your child liked it!"
The griffin smiled.
"Very well. Once it hatches, I will give it a name as well."
"Yeyyy! I hope it's a girl!"
Moon hopped off the bed to bring a pen and notebook to them. She started thinking and writing cute names for the egg, and cool names for the griffin.
Before the day ended, with Princess Lorreign joining them after hearing the news, they threw a simple celebration for the griffin's nameday. The Diamond Palace was lit up all day and all night to commemorate it, marking the special day for the Matriarch's beloved creation.
"Happy, happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~" The Princesses sang for him. Moon was the one holding the cake and Princess Lorreign was carrying a quality cattle over her head as her present for the griffin. She hunted---bought it herself. King Liorei will cook it later for the celebrant.
"Hmmph! There is no need for these immaturities, but I guess I will humor you." He blew the candles of the cake.
"Yey!"
"What a tsundere!"
"A what!?"
Princess Lorreign cackled and ran to send the dead cattle to the kitchen.
Moon placed the cake on the table so she could wrap her arms around the griffin's body.
"Happy birthday to you again, Mr. Starquill!"
After a long list of names, the Princesses narrowed it down to the name 'Starquill'. It took them time of taking his traits into consideration when naming him. There were still other cool names in their notebook, but guess they will use them as reference then and now for the future.
"Thank you." Starquill bended his head and pressed it against hers. Moon smiled even wider.
King Liorei smiled at the sight. It made him chuckle when the egg rolled to join them.
It came from him himself: their race can self-reproduce; however, for Starquill, he cannot because he was an 'imperfect' creation of the Matriarch who was only born from others' scraps and leftovers. For King Liorei, that's only how Starquill regards himself because of the underlying issues he went through under the discrimination of his elders. Be it so, he is still the Matriarch's proud creation with equal capabilities.
And earlier, Starquill shared a valuable piece of history to them.
About the Matriarch...and the being he called 'His Equal'.
'His Equal' is the Matriarch's close confidant, companion, fellow---Starquill regarded 'His Equal' in confusing terms, but King Liorei knew the perfect term for it: a friend.
And this 'friend' of the Matriarch is quite a powerful creator who gave life to new beings alongside her; the one who gave life to the mother of Starquill's child. They were both of different race. As Starquill describe his partner, it seemed to be yet another mythical creature, the 'Winter Phoenix'.
As what the tales says about it, it's a majestic bird rendered in shades of luminous ice and snow. Its feathers seemed to be made of frozen light, glowing with a soft, ethereal blue. It has massive wings and layers of feathered tail, and leaves of tiny flecks of starlight or snow crystals drifting from its form. The most ridiculous thing is, it can grant wishes. Any wishes, since 'His Equal' created it. Not without a price or consequence, warned Starquill.
The Winter Phoenix is the only of its kind...but not anymore, because it seems that her shared fruit with Starquill takes after her. That is why the egg feels cold to touch. It must be another Winter Phoenix.
King Liorei couldn't hide his grin. Who would've taught that they have a past like that? Damn, even birds have a crazy love story. Starquill didn't go into the details of how he lost his partner, but he assured that she was alive somewhere, maybe, just lost.
This is what excites the King about history.