A mystery to uncover

San Francisco, California. 

"You still do not know how to get back to our world, do you? It's been one hundred and fifty years since we were cast down to this forsaken realm and you still have not given a single thought to how we can return to our world?! I am sick, frustrated, and tired of waiting! 

"You assured me that when we kill the girl and her parents, we would be able to return, and I did it. I did everything you asked of me to the letter and still, I find myself stuck here and there is nothing you are doing about it! Why are you so quiet, Master Faizar? Speak!" A man dressed in a spotless dark-blue suit yelled. 

He took an agitated puff of the Cao Gold cigar in his hand and exhaled it out slowly as he ran his fingers through his glossy honey-blond tresses. 

The person he was speaking to rolled his eyes in irritation. He hated being pressured into doing things. He preferred doing things at his own pace and in his own time. 

"Why wouldn't I be quiet when you have been complaining non-stop for over twenty minutes, Adryan?" Master Faizar asked as he rubbed his temples. 

Master Faizar was a handsome and brooding man in his early sixties. Shrewd and cunning, he evoked a certain command that made Adryan bow his head in respect almost instinctively as he spoke in a reverberating, though exasperated voice. 

His shoulder-length charcoal hair which was greying at the temples was swept to the side to reveal a chiseled face with piercing hazel eyes that seemed able to look into a person's soul with a mere glance and uncover their deepest secrets. 

Adryan's gaze remained fixated on the tiled floor of the spacious living room of the condo they had rented out anonymously as he remembered just who he was speaking to so brazenly. 

"Forgive me, Master for speaking out of line. I was merely angered by our…I mean, my failure," He said nervously, making sure to keep his gaze on the floor. He was a man in his late twenties and though his haunting green eyes, a deep scar that ran from his forehead to his left eyebrow, and mouth that was usually pulled up in a smirk or pulled down in a frown, made him appear threatening to anyone he encountered, he was nothing to Master Faizar. Only a mere servant. 

"You should know that patience is a virtue, Adryan. When things are done in haste, the quality of the outcome is always greatly diminished. I know what I am doing, boy. You will not question my plans and motives again, do you understand? Your only job is to do whatever I ask of you diligently, efficiently, and most important, quietly," Master Faizar hissed, his voice lowered to a dangerous tone that caused a shiver to run down Adryan's spine. 

"I understand, Master. But may I have your permission to ask something?" 

"Go ahead," Master Faizar nodded, reclining further into his plush leather armchair. 

Adryan licked his lips and swallowed anxiously. Finally, he gained the confidence to meet his master's expectant eyes. 

"The girl's lover, Victoria, is still out there? What do you command to be done to her? She is a liability and poses a great risk to your carefully formulated plot," He asked. 

Master Faizar thought for a moment. Victoria had been warned and threatened but with his vast wealth of experience, he knew that oftentimes, people do stupid things for the ones they love and he strongly believed that Victoria was one of those people who would go crazy because of love. 

However, he needn't silence her just yet. Perhaps she could turn out to be essential to his endeavors. After all, people in love were the easiest to manipulate. 

"Leave her alone. A child like her would not be able to do anything. And before you cut me off, I am not underestimating her. I know exactly what kind of a person she is and the risk she poses." 

"You know all this Master, and yet you do not want to eliminate her?" Adryan was perplexed. What in the world was going on in his master's head? 

"Yes," Master Faizar answered curtly. 

Adryan knew better than to argue with Faizar. 

"As you wish, Master Faizar," Adryan said in resignation. 

"You may leave now. Go back to Los Angeles and await further instructions, I have a manuscript to finish," Master Faizar said, dismissing Adryan with a wave of his hand. 

As Adryan took the private elevator, he wondered why Master Faizar was still writing about the history and cultures of their world. The previous works had already served their purpose so what was the need of writing more? Sometimes, he just could not figure out the maze that was Master Faizar's mind. 

After Adryan had left, Master Faizar rose from his favorite armchair and headed to his study. His current obsession would not be delayed any longer. 

… 

Asghavia, Volcaris. 

"Your Majesty, I believe your brother, Chief Kaius, would be honored to host the engagement feast at Estoria. It is your ancestral home as well," The master of sea travels, Chief Faustos of the Byzantius tribe in Nebulos, suggested during the latest council meeting. 

Emperor Vulcan contemplated the suggestion carefully. He had wanted to host the feet in Asghavia where he could keep a close eye on his son because he knew that Daegal could not be trusted to behave when in the presence of his cousins. 

"I have reservations about that, Chief Faustos. I feel it would be better to host it here," Emperor Vulcan said. 

"Your Majesty, Chief Faustos is absolutely right. You have not been to Estoria since your coronation. It would be best for the engagement feast to be hosted there and then the wedding feast would be hosted right here in Asghavia," Chief Topher said. 

Chief Topher did not care where the feasts would be held as long as the prince married his daughter. It could as well be hosted in any of the far cities across the Great Sea and he would not mind, but as Royal Minister, he had to do his job and choose the most suitable and beneficial location for the feast. 

"I am aware of all that, Chief Topher, but I still feel that it would be wiser to host both ceremonies here." Emperor Vulcan refused to budge. 

"Your Majesty, I can understand where your reservations are coming from but duty and diplomacy must come before all else. Hosting this feast in Estoria would deepen the bonds between Nebulos and Asghavia. In addition, it would bring you and your brother closer and help ease the tension between you," Chief Topher advised. 

Growing up, Emperor Vulcan and his brother, Chief Kaius used to be very close to each other. As boys, they were often mistaken to be twins because of how they shared similar features from the same dark brown hair and pitch-black eyes to their speech and mannerisms, however, Kaius was older by three years. 

In the correct order of succession, Kaius was to be crowned as Emperor of the continent while Vulcan would be Chief of Estoria and Paramount Chief of Nebulos as their uncle, the reigning Paramount Chief of Nebulos, had passed away and left no heirs. 

Despite this, their father, Emperor Numa decided to name Vulcan the future Emperor because he believed that he was more in control of his actions, accountable for his mistakes, and more skilled in the mastery of magic and the art of war, and diplomacy; better than his older brother, Kaius. 

This infuriated Kaius so much that after Emperor Numa's death and Vulcan's subsequent coronation as Emperor, he refused to speak to Vulcan or even entertain the thought of seeing him. He remained loyal to the throne though as his duty to the continent mattered more than his emotions. 

Emperor Vulcan missed his brother terribly but had been too afraid of rejection to reach out to him in the years that had passed. "Perhaps, this would be a great opportunity to try and re-ignite the brotherly bond between us that we had shared as children," He mused. 

"Fine. Send a message to my brother that the location for the engagement feast has been changed and he is to immediately begin the preparations to host the members of the court of all the five kingdoms," Emperor Vulcan commanded. 

"At once, Your Majesty." Chief Topher nodded at one of the guards around the chambers and he understood the signal. He bowed and saluted the emperor before leaving the chambers to prepare and deliver the message. 

"Now that that is settled, Emperor, there are growing riots in Alsayf. Most of the cities there are brewing plots against you and—" 

"Father, I want to speak to you alone." 

Before the Master of Spies and Information, Chief Davit of the Avraham tribe of Hamvra in Aesos could complete his report, Prince Daegal strode into the council chambers bearing a stormy expression. 

"If you made out the time to attend the council meetings instead of flying around all day on that dragon of yours, you would be able to voice out your complaints without disrupting the flow of the meeting, Prince Daegal," Emperor Vulcan said, fastening a rein on his temper. 

"I do not require a lecture now, Your Majesty. I demand an immediate private audience with you. It is a matter of great urgency," Daegal said firmly, refusing to back down. 

Emperor Vulcan sighed heavily. Nowadays, Daegal always managed to find ways to give him a splitting headache. 

"My Chiefs, please excuse my son. We shall discuss the matter of Alsayf at length tomorrow," Emperor Vulcan said, dismissing the Chiefs. 

One by one, they all saluted the emperor and Prince Daegal before exiting the chambers. 

"Now, what is it?" Emperor Vulcan asked as Daegal took a seat at the chair closest to his father's right. 

"This marriage cannot hold."