It didn't take long for the Jester and the daughter of Asgard to find themselves wandering alone in the dark hallways of Emilia's palace. The masked man spoke no words, simply striding forward at a pace to which Fei was expected to match. Only when roughly a few minutes had passed to ensure they were truly alone did the Jester halt, turning around to face the young girl.
"It would seem the Imperium has come to an impasse, Fei. The capture of Asgard was unexpected...but not unseen. As you can imagine, the Imperator does not take lightly to her Knights being used as mere toys of bodily pleasure," he stated with no emotion.
Even with the vigorous amounts of training Fei had been through, it was still an effort to keep up with the Jester. He said nothing as they walked to where Fei had no idea. If it had been anyone else, she would have demanded answers but the hot headed girl kept her mouth shut. Questions ran through her feisty mind, curious as to what the Jester wished to say. She hoped he wasn’t here to take her back home for she would absolutely refused. Even if the Imperator came down herself and ordered her return, she would go down fighting. Fei wouldn’t rest until her mother was back safely at home.
Finally, the Jester came to a stop and turned to face her. As he explained the already known situation, she couldn’t help but be surprised and confused. The capture of her mother had been seen?
“Are you saying my mother’s capture could have been avoided this whole time? Why wasn't any action taken? How is it that she was even captured in the first place?” Try as she might, Fei couldn’t control the anger beneath her words.
The Jester was unfazed by Fei's anger though his head did tilt when faced with it. He waited for her questions to be fired before saying, "The Imperator was unaware of these predictions. Only I was. And even then, I could not predict the exact measures and methods to be used in Asgard's capture."
Knowing the Jester of the Court, it was every bit reasonable he was lying. But to call him out on that was probably not going to get Fei anywhere. The fact remained that Asgard was captured and what was done was done. Now all that remained was the strategies needed to release her from her own mental prison.
"Your mother was captured on the very same night of the Imperator's speech. When Emilia of Warovia foolishly attacked the Imperium head on. I assume you remember the resulting explosion? She was then brought to Excadia shortly after your own departure from the Imperium."Despite the Jester’s claims, Fei still couldn’t believe her mother had been captured so easily. Perhaps if he had warned people, kept her on watch, anything and this incident could have been easily avoided. Something had to have gone wrong. Eleonor wouldn’t have just been taken so easily, she was the Crimson Warrior for a reason. She supposed it explained the presence of the Jester and what he had been tasked to complete. Although what he had in mind, she couldn’t quite figure out.
“Of course I remember. It was the first time in months I had seen her. How exactly did Emilia capture someone of such strength as the Asgard though? It seems impossible to think this happened so easily,” Fei said. She wondered how the Imperator had taken the news that one of her knights had been kidnapped and now held as a mere puppet in a pitiful desert.
The masked man leaned back on the wall with crossed arms. He could tell Fei was getting emotional again and while it was understandable, such rash reactions would get them nowhere. So the Jester said, "There are things at work within the Imperium. Who is to say your mother wasn't set up?"
His eyes narrowed just briefly before he continued with, "However, your thoughts on the matter of how it occurred are irrelevant. Reality shows us now that it did happen. Reality also inquires upon us the question of how to bring her back. The Imperator was...most displeased with the actions of Emilia Warov. Her anger is the reason I stand before you today."
The Jester tilted his head and for a moment his eyes seemed to flash. They focused on Fei's face; it was difficult to tell if there was passion or something more hidden in those red depths.
"Tell me Fei...how strong is your dedication to the woman you call Mother? How much power is behind the flames that burn in your shared bond together?"Fei’s breath escaped her as the Jester mentioned both a traitor and something at work within the Imperium. Who could be so foolish as to betray the government? She was aware of the Librarian and the growing army of rebellion he was building but they had always been within the Imperium’s control. This... This was different. One fact was true, though. Whoever had betrayed her mother, Fei wouldn’t rest until they were punished. The thought that one of her own had sold her out didn’t settle well with her and she couldn’t shake the feeling off that something extremely bad was brewing.
As if he could read her thoughts, the Jester revealed the Imperator’s response to the capture of the Asgard. She had tasked the Jester with the job of returning the Asgard back to the Imperium. It seemed simple enough for one of the Jester’s abilities but why hadn’t he already acted? Was he waiting for some sort of invitation?
The Jester cocked his head at her with his wicked eyes and stared, as if assessing her abilities and strengths. She easily returned his stare, a fire roaring within her eyes.
“More power than you could possibly imagine.” She spoke, letting the tome beneath her shirt glow brightly.
“I don’t care what I have to do, what obstacles stand in my way, I will burn anyone or anything that tries to stop me from rescuing my mother.” "As expected of the daughter of Asgard," the Jester mused before reaching out with one hand.
"It is obvious there is determination in your gaze young Fei and I have no doubt you are completely loyal to the Imperium. I can see it in your expression. You wish to wonder why I have not intervened, yes? I do not meddle in the affairs of idiots...however, your devotion to your mother and the Imperium have impressed me. Saving Asgard? That task is up for you. Consider it a noble deed in serving your Imperium."At once the Jester's palm glowed with a silver fire that coated the entire hand. He did not say so, but the flames would not burn Fei and he offered the limb out to her. She would become most valuable in the coming events ahead.
"There will be a time when I will require your service Fei. To ensure these future actions of yours, a deal must be struck. Agree to these conditions, and there will be no doubt in your power on the battlefield. You will never lose another battle again. What was once a flame of desire will grow into a maelstrom of chaos for with which you will create to protect the one you love. And in the end...you will be the one to have Emilia Warov's head. How does that sound? Do we have a deal?"The masked man waited patiently.
As the Jester spoke with such high praise of Fei, she couldn’t help but stand up a little straighter and grin with pride. Since she had come to this god forsaken dump, no one had come to recognize her strength or acknowledge the power within her. In fact, many had told her to leave and return home where she would be safe. Fei’s grin grew even wider as the Jester claimed the role of saving the Asgard would be her own. Thoughts of the relic no longer stayed within her mind, she simply didn’t care anymore. All that mattered to her was rescuing the Asgard. When she finally returned home with her mother, everything she had been training for would be worth it. Eleonor could finally be proud to call Fei, her daughter.
A breathtaking silver flame enveloped the Jester’s entire hand as he extended it out to her. It was unlike any fire she had witnessed and she stared into it, unable to take in how magnificent it was. All of her attention was fixated on the Jester and the flame as he spoke, speaking of a time where he would request upon Fei’s services. Why he would ever need her help, she wasn’t sure, but Fei would be more than honored to serve the Imperium in any way she could. A deal, the Jester continued, was to be made between the two to ensure she withheld her promise in the future. While it seemed strange to even consider her disobedience, the thought was completely erased when he claimed her as the one who could burn Emilia. There would be no other way to restore her mother’s honor than by killing the one who had made a fool of her. Fei glanced down at his hand again, confident that could accomplish the Jester’s wishes.
Despite the breathing flame on his hands, Fei felt no fear as she took the Jester’s hand.
“We do,” she said.
The Jester's eyes flashed as the flame began to burst even brighter for just a moment before fizzling away to little more than sparks. The masked man stepped back, his body already beginning to fade away from sight. A deal had been struck and things were no doubt about to get...interesting.
"I look forward to seeing your next course of action young Fei. Do not disappoint the Imperium," his lingering voice said before fading out of sight like a ghost.
