Chapter 155: Living With Piers Has Made Him Rebellious

Chapter 155: Living With Piers Has Made Him Rebellious

Go and bring Lady Ilyana at once. A familiar voice spoke from the other side of her bed and Tori automatically turned her head. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but she could recognize her brother without a problem.

Kasey? Tori croaked once more, and someone brought a glass of water to her lips. Her brother leaned over the bed and helped prop her up so she could drink.

Youve been asleep for hours. Drink first. Her brother gave Nanny Rey a nod and Nanny Rey made her drink until the glass was half full. Better?

Better, Tori said. The water felt good against her throat. She squinted and looked around the lavish four poster bed and the gilded walls. There was only one place she could be. Palace?

Palace, Kasen said with a slight smile. Are you hungry?

Tori wasn't sure, but she knew she hadnt eaten breakfast as shed been busy getting ready for the dance. I can eat.

My angel, I will request a light meal for you. Nanny Rey stroked her hair back lovingly before scurrying out the door.

Kasey, what are you doing here? Tori said as she turned her head to her brother.

I was in the same meeting as Piers and the Emperor, her brother said as he sat on the chair next to her. He uncrossed his legs and leaned over to push her hair back. I had planned to come to your stores opening, but we heard about what happened.

Tori frowned. Duels opening...what time is it?

Her brother raised a brow and immediately put a hand on her shoulder, as if knowing shed try to sit up. Dont get up. Its already afternoon and Duel has already opened.

Are you sure?

Dont you trust your friends? Kasen asked. He gave her a gentle smile. Lady Ilyana, Miss Sonia, and Ewan are here.

Tori furrowed her brows. Where are they?

In the hearing room. The Guthrys came, presumably to beg for forgiveness. Kasens face darkened at the family name.

Tori frowned. Did the collapse have something to do with them?

We will find out soon, Kasen said. I just came from speaking with the Emperor. The Empress is overseeing the matter of the Guthrys.

Tori took a deep breath and sank down into the bed. Children were hurt, Kasey. In the past, I didnt want to get involved with Hart or Guthry, but I just cant seem to get rid of them. Now theres this.

What do you want to do?

First, Id like to go back to the orphanage, Tori said. She looked towards her brother. The children mustve seen me faint. It could have added additional trauma. If I visit and show Im alive and well, it may help.

All right. Im free next week and will be working in Horizon during your winter break. Ill accompany you, he told her. He smiled softly at her and stroked her head. You did a good job, Tori. You kept the roof from collapsing long enough to get the children out, and cleared the debris quickly and safely.

Her eyes crinkled up and her lips pulled into a smile. Thats what heroes do.

Kasen laughed. Yes, yes, my little sister is a hero.

Well, this hero also wants to know what is going to happen to Harts project. Guthry was heavily involved in it. There must be some repercussions.

Piers will manage that, as this goes beyond the Lyce project, Kasen told her seriously. The Belcoy Church will be notified, but they cant do much.

Did they send doctors? Im sure some children were injured.

Prince Gideon called for imperial doctors and engineers to check on the children and to try to find out what caused the collapse.

Tori raised a brow and found herself a little impressed. He actually did something useful.

Tori! She slowly turned her head towards the half open door as Ilyana ran through with Sonia and Ewan behind her.

Relief at seeing Ilyana safe and sound filled her, and Tori shut her eyes tight and held back a cry. Shes fine. Shes safe. Its okay.

Ilyana, dont move your hand! Sonia scolded and Tori opened her eyes to look towards Ilyana.

Her brows furrowed. What happened to her hand? Ilyana immediately retracted it and tried to hide it behind her.

She punched Guthry in the face! Ewan told her, sounding impressed. She was fast, too, and sent him to the ground. All that training with Nanny Rey paid off.

Sonia rolled her eyes, but Ilyana puffed out her cheeks. He deserved it!

Ilyana. Toris strained voice tempered the excitable atmosphere, and her friends turned their attention back to her. Tori lifted her hand and Ilyana grabbed it instinctively. She hissed and pulled her right hand back. Did someone call for her hand to be checked?

Someone will come in a moment, Sonia replied.

What about Guthry? Tori asked as she kneaded Ilyanas left hand, as if to reassure herself that she was fine.

An imperial doctor was called, too, Sonia said.

There was blood everywhere, Ewan said with wide eyes.

She punched him in the nose, and it might be broken. She didnt stab him. Sonia sighed. She crossed her arms.

He tried to blame Tori for the roof collapse! Ilyana seethed and Tori stopped kneading her hand.

Her eyes were wide and tense. Beside her, Kasen lifted his head and frowned. He tried to blame my sister?

Is he crazy? Tori spat out as her face heated up. With what reason did he have to blame me? Why would I overexert myself if I wanted the roof to come down?

Mr. Guthry insisted that he was not completely at fault and believes that as you went inside the schoolhouse before it collapsed, you may have done something to instigate it. Piers stood by the door with a stoic expression.

Did the engineers and knights report? Kasen asked from his seat. He looked at Piers with a sharp gaze.

Yes, Senior.

Then report it.

Tori listened to Piers repeat what had been reported and the more she heard, the more tense and angry she became. Her grip on Ilyanas good hand tightened and she forced herself to let go so as not to hurt her friend. A doctor arrived to check on Ilyanas hand and as they finished wrapping it up and putting ice on it, Tori trembled with anger.

He deserved it, she said in a low voice. He knew that this was being built for children. He has no excuse to let incompetent craftsmen build it and without a seasoned foreman! It shouldve been inspected to make sure the building was sound before children were even let inside! What is wrong with Dimitri Guthry!?

Her voice echoed off the high ceilings and Kasen put his hand on her shoulder to keep her from flying out of bed to hunt down Dimitri.

Piers, Kasen said, without taking his eyes off her. Has his punishment been decided?

I will have a meeting with the Guthrys and Headmaster Laurent to discuss this week. Until further notice, he is suspended. Outside of the Lyce project, as he is partially responsible, he will be fined and issued punishment, Piers said. The two masons and the carpenter who sold the original building materials have been found. They should be held for questioning at the moment. Horizons city judicial council will oversee their trial and punishment, as proof is conclusive.

Tori let out a low breath. Will Hart be held accountable in any way?

At the moment, there is still an investigation pending on her involvement. Hart accepted donations and labor. At the very least, shed be fined for improper site management and dereliction of duty, Piers told her.

Your Highness, it is still her Lyce project. Will it be affected? Ewan asked.

Piers nodded. Yes, however, she still has a year to complete it. This will heavily affect the outcome, but she has not failed completely.

Sonia sneered and Ilyana scowled, but Tori frowned. As much as I dont like her, I dont want her to fail. There are innocent children depending on this and they shouldnt have to suffer.

Theyre already suffering, Ilyana muttered. She sat down on the edge of Toris bed. I dont see why she had to build a school. Wasnt her project just to make sure orphans had a place to learn? They were learning in the abbeys communal space previously. Couldnt Hart have provided materials and hired suitable teachers?

Come to think of it, this whole time, have those children been taught? Sonia said, furrowing her brows. Didnt Hart once complain that Tori took the teachers she was trying to hire?

Tori shut her eyes again. In the end, this doesnt have a major effect on Hart, even if shes the cause of it.

Ilyana snorted. How is she so lucky?

Tori held back a bitter reply about Alessa. She looked over at Ilyana and held her hand once more. Her friend was more important. Ilyana, please dont hit anyone anymore. Im sure the Guthrys were mad.

I wouldnt say they were mad, Ewan said with a slight shrug. The Prime Minister and his wife were upset with him. After Ilyana punched Guthry, all Madam Guthry did was ask why, but neither asked for Ilyana to be punished.

Whatever it is, its worth it, Ilyana insisted.

Tori furrowed her brows. Is the table a conscious entity now?

It is better explained as having its energy resonate with you. If your energy resonates with the crystal, then you are allowed in, Piers told her. It triggers the wall to disappear.

And you didnt tell me this when I panicked?

I thought you got lost and made a mistake.

Tori tilted her head and looked at him and then back to the table. Then, its tied to other crystals in the room?

It is tied to all energy. That is what it is, Piers told her. He walked closer and looked down at the glowing table.

Ive never seen something like it before. Its quite spectacular.

Its an ancient relic that pre-dates the establishment of the empire.

She glanced up at him. Do you know what it is? He nodded. Then, do you know how to play?

Piers raised a brow. His eyes flickered towards her before looking back at the table. Play?

Isnt it an ancient chess board?

Piers had a slight line between his brows. He looked at the table and the numerous crystal obelisks. Its many things. It was used as a strategy board.

That connects, Tori nodded to herself. She peered back at the crystal and the clusters of colored obelisks. How does it work as a strategy board?

The crystals represent important families. Large ones, like the imperial family ,the duchies, and the marches have multiple crystals representing important people.

Tori perked up. Do I have one that represents-

Before she finished, Piers was already pointing as a small reddish-brown crystal with a small crack on it. You. Her crystal was away from others of a similar color, meaning she was away from her family. There was another similar colored crystal near hers.

Is that one Kasey?

Madam Biancci, Piers said. He pointed to a crystal on the outskirts of the table, away from the rest of the clusters. That is Seniors. He was there as of the last time the table was used.

Tori furrowed her brows and circled the table. From the lines she could make out beneath the crystals, it was outside of Soleils borders. She looked across the table at Piers. Where is this?

Pargath. It was a small city state on the far southeastern border, touching Osten and near where her villagers had fled from. Its wealth came from trade, and it claimed neutrality, allowing for both Soleil and the Duraga Federation to pass through and use their ports for trade. It was a major caravan stop, as it avoided the hostile Duraga Federation.

As long as they didnt attack, the Duraga Federation was free to buy and trade there without having to deal with defending a location they were ill-equipped to run.

Tori drew her lips inward and bit them. Can I ask why?

Piers was quiet for a moment and shook his head. Confidential.

Tori wrinkled her nose. She shouldve figured as much. She circled the table, trying to read the carvings. What else does the table do?

My grandfather said it can do many things, including commune with the gods. However, ancient relics are difficult to use and may or may not actually do what their legends say, Piers told her. The symbols for the gods are carved around the table.

Tori bent down and saw the carvings along the side. These are the elemental gods.

They were the first gods, Piers said as he walked around. Here is Suraelle, for wisdom. Necessary for strategic war. Gods for luck, prosperity to support our people, strength, and valor.... He stopped and ran his fingers across a symbol. Time.

Tori craned her neck. Raelus, god of time. It makes sense. Timing is important in nearly everything. Growing crops, building during the seasons, tides, weather, definitely in war....

Piers glanced at her and let out a low hum. He looked at the table. Your crystal was moved when you came to Lyce.

Tori smiled a bit. I didnt know I was important enough to get a crystal of my own.

You are very important.

She drew her head back, surprised at the firmness in his voice. Well...I suppose if Im going to build a port city....Did my crystal fall? It has a crack on it.

Piers was quiet for a bit. A few years ago, my grandfather found it on the ground.

Tori narrowed her eyes and looked at the cluster of similar colored crystals where she assumed Sur would be. Her familys cluster wasnt close to the edge. It should stand to reason that her crystal couldnt have just rolled off the table. Was it not with my family?

I dont know. When Grandfather found it, it was on the floor.

With a crack?

Yes.

...When did it fall?

Two years and seven months ago.

Tori let out a small snort. Thats a precise answer.... Her voice trailed off and her eyes narrowed. She fell off a horse about two years and seven months prior. How often are crystals replaced?

They are not. They are placed when the table calls for it. The family cluster will glow and then we put a new crystal into the cluster. They are removed when the person they represent is no longer of use or die. He swallowed and against the light of the table, he seemed to pale.

Tori furrowed her brows and looked at him. Is something wrong?

Nothing.

She restrained her curiosity to respect his wishes. She gave him a nod. She wanted to play with the crystals, but at the same time, was afraid of touching the table and breaking something. Tori let out a heavy breath.

I should get back in case Ilyana or Sonia wake up, she said. Piers nodded. He bent down and picked up Alexander, draping him over his shoulder.

Come. He held out his right hand and Tori grasped it. She took one more look at the table and followed Piers out. After she took a few steps outside the door, she turned around. The doorway was still there.

Tori frowned and continued to walk. She made it to the intersection and looked back once more. The door was gone.

Maybe I stepped out of its boundary.... Tori muttered.

When my grandfather returns, he will teach you how to use it, Piers told her as they walked down the narrow corridor and towards the newer part of the palace.

Tori jerked her head back and looked at him with surprise. Why me? I mean, is that allowed?

There is no reason for there not to be.

But Im not an imperial family member, Tori said.

You are allowed if it calls for you, Piers told her. Didnt you say before that you felt a pulse of energy that reminded you of the energy vein in the delta? Not everyone feels that.

Then, that was the crystal calling for me? Tori asked. She furrowed her brows. I didnt search for it. Alexander led me here and then I felt the pulse again.

It called for you again. Grandfather says that very few people are called by the crystal and only those it calls can use it.

But why me? Tori shook her head. I think Im improving greatly with my crystal work, but Im not as sensitive or powerful as my brother and masters. Sebby never mentioned this. I would think hed be qualified.

Master is not qualified.

Hes tried?

He has been to the palace before and has not felt the pulse, Piers said. Nor did he find the room.

That table gets more and more mysterious.... Tori said in a hushed voice. She glanced at Piers. Did you find the room by yourself or did your grandfather show you?

I found it by myself. Then Grandfather brought me.

Tori stood up straight. Then at one point it called to you! That means you can use the crystal table, too. Have you?

Piers kept his eyes ahead of them as they emerged into the main palace corridors. I have.

Then, next time you should show me.

I cannot, Piers told her. His hand tightened around hers. It no longer calls for me.