Chapter II
Asteria raised her head to the snowy skies. “Back home...” she muttered to herself. “At least I can put my affairs in order now...” The Mursamune seethed with darkness as she departed Alghetty en route to the sky station. As she boarded the teleporter, entering Zeal, she glanced around.
“It's been a year's time... but I shall be more assertive this time...” she said, walking towards Enhasa, placing the Mursamune in its sheath. She noticed the gurus out front discussing the Prophet's arrival, before noticing Asteria. “Another newcomer?” Melchior asked. All three glanced at her as she went inside.
There, standing by the healing rune on the floor, was Janus. Asteria hesitated a bit before making her way up the opposite staircase, though Janus watched her the whole time. As she decided to do a little reading from the nearby bookshelf, a few commoners where conversing nearby. “Poor Schala... The poor girl's being worked so hard by the Queen these days.” Asteria glanced over with a snicker at how pathetic she thought they were.
They took notice and glared at her. “How dare you disrespect our fair Princess!” they exclaimed. Asteria crossed her arms. “Dis Princess of yours... She be seemin' like a doormat ta me, mon.” she said. The group of commoners didn't take too kindly to this. “Your days here are numbered, witch!” they said. Janus stood watching the whole thing. “I'm telling my sis on you.” Asteria turned her eyes to him. “Joo go do dat den, young Prince. I be doubtin' she has de aut'ority ta discipline meh.”
Janus clutches his fists, and watched grudgingly as Asteria took her leave. Dalton watched from the corner with a grin. “That woman seems just what we need.” he said to himself.
Asteria made her way to the palace next, glancing around curiously. The guards moved in to question her but she gave them so cold a glare that they stopped dead in their tracks. “It'd be a fatal error ta draw steel against me, mon.” Her aura was so powerful that they obliged and returned to their posts. “Did the Prophet say anything about this one?” one guard asked the other. “Hell if I know...” the other replied.
She continued up the marble stairs in the palace's interior, about to head to the throne room, when the distracting idea of visiting her old room took hold of her. “It wouldn't hurt...” she thought and turned, heading for her old room. She spotted her old bodyguard Lance standing by the door and hid behind the corridor. Asteria pulled her mask down and called out. “Lance, I'm granting you a break for an hour. You haven't seen your family in days.” Lance replied. “Yes, your Highness.” he said walking away from his post. She remembered that back then Lance rarely left unless granted the opportunity, which she seldom did in her busy schedule. She smirked and calmly walked into her old room.
Along the walls of numerous oil paint portraits was her Scholar's Degree from Kajar. It read “This is to certify that [Schala A. Zeal] has completed all necessary studies of Kajar Magic Academy.” Below that read “Signed [Norstein Bekkler] – Designated Professor” and “[Belthasar], [Gaspar], [Melchior] – Headmaster(s)” Asteria looked around more and saw her diary by the window. Sitting on her old bed, she flipped through it, realizing it was about a month before the ocean palace disaster. “Hmm...”
She glanced out the window more and sighed. Getting up, she took one last look at the room and headed off.
Queen Samele was deep in thought in the throne room in the meantime, with the Prophet and past Schala at her side. “The gurus have been transgressing me. They must be taken care of. I will not tolerate delays any longer!” Magus nodded just as Asteria walked in. Samele stood up. “Who are you?!” she asked in alarm. Magus and past Schala looked over. “Da Prophet be a fake, mon...” Asteria bluntly said.
Samele and Schala turned to Magus. “What? But he's been right about everything!” Asteria shook her head. “He be stealin' mah predictions! If joo be wantin' proof, Dalton be comin' t'ru da door in t'ree... two... one...” Indeed, Dalton walked in. “Pah, that could have been on cue!” Samele stated. Dalton stared at Magus and Asteria. “Actually, she's right your Highness. The Prophet is a fake.”
Samele thought for a moment before looking up at Magus. “Guards, seize the fake!” Magus turned to Asteria with a cold expression. “You've crossed a terrible threshold, woman...” he said before fleeing, the guards following after him. Dalton grinned as the “Prophet” went fleeing.