13 Truth

Dawn, the next day, the rustle of the winds cascaded over the immature features of the young Prince leading his Mother forward. A poised sense of assurance, of Authority, trailed the Young Prince as he strolled, with a certain sense of purpose in his step.

"Good," Tenebrae said. "But where is your smile, my Prince?"

"Smile?" He looked up at his Mother.

She nodded, a dotting hue in her serine stare. "A smile is a dangerous tool, whether it's your enemy, ally, or me: Whether you're happy, sad, weak, or defenseless, you must carry a warm yet unfamiliar smile." She said, reminiscent of the year the little slave girl brutally died.

"Even to the people I hate?" He asked, unsure whether he could face—

"That is correct, but do not mistake the smile as anything but a mask." She assured him.

Altair fell into deep thought. He'd wanted to bow his head but refrained from doing so: 'A king must never bow, if even towards the heavens.' He recalled, peering dead ahead without expression.

"Mom…" Altair asked, turning to his Mother. "When will… When will I become fully awakened? You said last night."

"Oh! That's my bad." She muttered, scratching the back of her head. "I did say that. In the end, I started teaching you about proper etiquette. I should have taught you this at birth, but… "She turned to him, smiling with starry eyes. "You were just so cute! Mama couldn't help but give you kisses all day long!"

He smiled, a giddy sensation gathering in his chest. "Mama is the best. She's even walking me to school."

"School? Oh yeah… Naw! We are skipping that!" she carelessly said, shooting the young Prince a most glorious thumbs up. She nodded.

"Eh?"

"Yup. Mama did promise to awaken you. So let's do it. But you did make a promise to meet up with Syris." Tenebrae mentioned. "Part of being a King… No! Better yet, part of being a man is keeping your word, even if you didn't mean for them to have meaning. As both a King and a man, your words carry weight."

He stared at his Mother with uncertainty.

"For example, If someone hurt your most precious mother, what will you do."

"Kill them!" He coldly said, scrunching his brow.

"Good. Then I will hold you to those words for all eternity." Tenebrae said. "Even if you don't understand what it means today, you will one day. Mean everything you say, and never agree to anything you are hesitant about. EVER! understand?"

"Yes! Mommy!" The boy promised, leaping into her embrace like a little spider monkey.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~ My baby is so cute!!!!! Let's go to town! Screw these Aros asshats!!!!" She childishly squealed, swinging little Altair around, a faint blush over her serene expression. "We'll take a teleporter into T—"

"You two seem quite ecstatic." The Reverend Mother, alongside Syris, said, eyeing the mother-son duo, an amused chuckle held in. "Quite a pair you to make."

"Morning Revy! Morning Syris!" The young Prince said. A charmingly innocent smile on his lips. "Did you sleep well?"

'Revy?' The Revened Mother thought. "I have a name, you know.' She smiled beneath her porcelain mask and said: "Altair do you know who I am? What, I represent?"

"Master, he—" Syris tried to explain, but the Reverend Mother raised her hand, silencing her.

Altair tapped his Mother to place him down, which she did. A tinge of expectation in her eyes.

"Was I overly familiar?" The young Prince asked, his tone poised, regal, rather than apologetic like most would expect. "If so, then it shall not happen again." He said, reaching for his Mother's palm, ready to take his leave.

The smile the Reverend Mother carried instantly faded as she noticed rather than an apology. He acknowledged a mistake he'd had no intention of apologizing for.

'This child…' She thought, shaking her head, and spoke: "No, that's not it, Young Altair. But Reverend Mother is merely a title. I do have a name: Please call me Karis. After all, you and my disciple here will be spending more time together."

"Really!" He turned to Syris, who grinned.

"Yup!" She said. "I get to kick your ass until you cry to your mot—"

"Syris, language." Karis snapped her expression behind her mask like a frigid storm. She shook her head and turned her attention to Tenebrae. "I do hope that's Ok? While I won't be here. Syris and her Seven Master will spend the next ten years on Earth."

'How fun!" Tenebrae said and shifted her gaze to the young Syris. "Earth has many fun things, especially if you wish to journey into Babel Tower. They say that everything you seek resides… for a price within Babels tower."

Syris pursed her lips. " Price? I thought all you needed to do was get strong too—"

"How young you are," Tene interrupted. "Everything has a price there." Her eyes narrowed with a devilish glint. " I'm sure a… 'young woman' like you can understand that."

She stirred, nearly quivering when Altair's voice resounded. "Mom! Let's go! I want to awaken! And you! Just wait, Syris! I'll defeat you!" He pointed, glaring daggers at Syris with a bright grin." I'm going to awaken today and defeat you with a single finger."

Tenebrae couldn't help but giggle. " See you, Reverend Mother, you too, Syris."

The Reverend Mother watched them leave, and her gaze slid down to Syris. "Shall we—"

"She knows Karis." Syris coldly said, her once cyan eyes a blood stain scarlet, whirling with the flames of the Hells. " That woman… knows. She knows what I am… " her fingers clenched.

And she thought, "How! My mask has never once broken! Even with that little monster! How could she…?! "

'My queen… 'The Reverend Mother started, falling to one knee, spreading her awareness to ensure there was no one present. She continued in a whisper, barely audible within the forest. "That's not possible. No one aside from me knows of your resurrection. And if they did, no one would believe in reincarnation, at least not like what you did. There's simply no proof.'

The winds rustled to and fro, leaving only a coldness pinching at the Queen's heart. She gritted her teeth. 'Young… Woman. That's what she called me. Then there was the comment of 'Price'. There'd be no reason to tell a child that.' Syris told herself. 'Could she be a Transcendent? No. Earth is barely a tier-one planet. There is no reason for a Transcendent to be here like in Genesis. And there'd be no way for a Transcendent to know about me. I'm missing something.'

The icy winds whirled around Syris, colling her mind, if only for a moment, as she felt her chest tighten against her heart.

"Karis… we'll maintain the ruse. That mysterious woman, Tenebrae, doesn't seem interested in me. That'll buy me some time while I investigate." She said, somewhat doubtful.

"Is that wise, my lady? While I, too, am curious of Tenebrae we—"

"We have to assume she knows who I am." Syris grimaced at the very words. " And I am too weak to do anything, as I am now. My Astral Qi is in hibernation. Earth is our best bet for me to grow. These towers and dungeons will do as well. Especially after I awaken. I'll keep you updated on the Duke. But I don't have much hope in him."

"On the contrary, my lady. It's greedy men like him that will surprise even the gods," Karis mentioned a thin veil grin upon her lips. "I'll handle the rest. You just keep training. You've yet to get accustomed to moving your body."

"True… Although, I'm no fan of the name. Syris… I sound like a man."

Karis giggled. "My lady, you picked the name."

"We'll. I like my original one better." Syris moaned, puffing her cheeks. She sighed."You head out first… I'm going to go catch up with the boy."

"Of course, your grace. And may Soloman's Wisdom guide your path. "