Chapter 560 – The Quiet Passing

The morning after the semi-finals, Runald found time from his duties in Silver Hall to join Kanae out into the city. With only the final match left set for tomorrow so that the contestants could rest today, the two were short on time to plan their wedding. Kanae and Runald settled on a small private ceremony in the Basilica of Saint Rue, to be officiated by Archbishop Patrice. Neither of them wanted a big hubbub about it like when she and Arenade wedded.

Firstly, Runald needed a suit. Since Kanae had already gone through this before, she already knew where to go. To Risa's. The old high elven seamstress who tailored her and Arenade's wedding dresses before.

The bell chimed as they entered the boutique, and Risa glanced up from behind the counter. She held a steaming cup of tea in one hand and twirled a yarn stick in the other. The old seamstress wasn't alone this time. Two younger high elven ladies worked about the shop, folding sheets of silken cloth, and opening packages.

"Long time no see, Risa." Kanae waved on the way in. "I was hoping you could get us dressed for our wedding. We're to be wedded after the Knights' Tournament."

"Every time you come in here, it is with a new high elf. I suppose you have a taste for our kind, Your Majesty?" Risa eyed Runald in particular.

He scoffed. "You should see what other tastes she has in a stable— ooumph?!"

Kanae slapped a hand over his mouth.

"We need a suit and wedding dress! Nothing extravagant like last time!" Kanae explained.

"Very well. Annie and Arenade, see to their measurements for me." Risa snapped her fingers, then disappeared into the back.

Kanae perked up at the name. Both women escorted Kanae and Runald to the mirrors. They were 'young' relative to Risa, likely in their older 30s and still very beautiful. Annie, the one with the shoulder-length hair, whipped out a measuring tape to measure Runald. The other, who was named Arenade, boasted much longer and straighter locks, attended to Kanae.

"So, your name is Arenade?" Kanae asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is actually a very common name. I find myself very fortunate that my parents named me after a demigoddess of The Many, as well as Her voice, Arenade Brightwind!" Arenade exclaimed.

"You… wouldn't happen to be a member of Bright Cloister, would you?" She gulped.

"Why, yes I am! How did you know? It must be her shining and dazzling grace upon me that earned your notice! Oh, I've been trying to fashion my hair to appear more incandescent like Arenade's, but I just can't get the shine right—"

Kanae quietly casted Charm on Arenade.

"Take my measurements in silence, I beg you…" Kanae sighed.

The Bright Cloister fanatic continued without another word. Great. Arenade's cult was beginning to take root in Radevic, too.

When Risa's apprentices finished, they left Kanae and Runald in the boutique to join their employer in the back. The two found a couple of stools to sit down on in the meantime.

"It's actually happening. We're really getting married. I can't believe I used to hate your guts, now I'm in… erm… l-love with you." Runald cleared his throat.

"I think there was a little bit of succubus charm at work there. Well, what do you think about a honeymoon?" Kanae leaned right up to his ear and whispered, "Arenade and I had so much sex on ours. Do you want to do the same?"

He pushed her at arm's length and went red up to his ears. "I think we had plenty these past two weeks!"

Risa, Annie, and Arenade returned with the latter two holding two outfits. One a suit and the other a wedding dress. Runald's was blue with gold trim. An elegant floral pattern was embroidered on his chest. Kanae had a less extravagant gown this time around. It was a shoulderless dress that parted open in the back for her wings, as well as a hole much lower for her tail.

"They're perfect!" Kanae beamed.

"Of course, they are. I selected them for you. Now, will you pay now? Or shall I bill the crown?" Risa asked, creating a clone of herself to walk behind the counter to fetch a ledger.

Kanae and Runald checked their coin pouches. Pieces of lint fell out when she turned hers over. After partying all night with Edina and the others, she somehow lost all her gold during a few poorly-thought out poker games.

"Uh… Send the invoice to Ehmvier, please." Kanae bowed apologetically.

"Certainly. They will be boxed up and shipped to your mansion promptly. A magical enchantment, triggered upon opening, will smooth out any creases. Congratulations on your marriage. It is a pleasure dressing you once again, Your Majesty." Risa grinned.

With their wedding attire secured, Kanae had completed nearly all of the preparations necessary before the big day. It was exhausting. She couldn't imagine being in Arenade's shoes planning that grandiose and extravagant ceremony. Fortunately, and it was largely Runald's wish, they were going to wed quietly. The invitations had already been sent to their loved ones, including his father purely out of courtesy.

"What's next on the list?" Runald asked.

"Flowers. Mainly because Suvee really liked being a flower girl in my last wedding, and I have a hard time telling that one no." Kanae recalled fondly. "Oh, and also to give invitations to a few more people around Radevic." She patted her satchel of letters.

A passing shadow flew past them. They looked up in time to find Sivvy, the Knight of Red, descending from the sky. Her large talons touched down gently on the cobblestone.

"Amethyst. We're needed at the Basilica. Archbishop Patrice says it's urgent," Red explained.

"Knight of Colors duty. I get it. You go and let me take care of the flowers," Runald assured her.

"Make sure you find some firelilies. Kanade adored having them in her flower crown," Kanae said.

Runald gave a thumb's up as Kanae and Red took flight. The heavy beat of their wings kicked up a flutter of many ladies' dresses on take-off.

"What does the archbishop want this time?" Kanae asked.

"Master Marwin. He kicked the bucket last night," Red answered somberly.

Kanae stared in disbelief. A sharp yet brief pain stabbed her chest. They flew the rest of the way in silence. Red led her into the Basilica of Saint Rue. The clergy went about their day, attending to parishioners and tidying up the temple. There were no processions of ceremonies.

They entered a long corridor to a room deep within the Basilica. Instead of palace guards, Vestrid and Delayn stood outside the door, each struggling to muster their usual stoic yet emotionless expression. The Saint Priest pair nodded and let them in.

The rest of the Order of Colors, including the newest members, were waiting inside a dim candle-lit room of dull stone. A statue of the Supreme One stood vigil over a body covered in cloth, where two veiled clerics walked circles around the table swinging their censers. It was Marwin Frank lying still, his head uncovered and eyes closed shut in peaceful slumber.

Kanae swallowed hard, fighting back tears.

"King Turren and Grand Eye Analise have been made aware of Marwin's passing," Archbishop Patrice said, peeling away from behind a column. "Seven of the eight Saint Priests were notified soon after. You all of the Order of Colors are the next to be informed. Marwin Fransk has passed."

"Seven?" Dalu'luna, the Knight of Ivory, squinted so hard that it was noticeable from behind her blindfold.

"Bocchiri Ruu has been absent ever since his last match. This is no need for concern. He is likely taking time for himself," she said, sounding unconvinced.

The archbishop couldn't hide the distress in her own voice.

"When… How did it happen? With Marwin, I mean," Kanae asked.

"In the night. Peacefully, according to his caretakers. Which brings me to why I have called you all here— to reiterate your vow of secrecy. Marwin's death must not be made known to the public. I will personally oversee his interment into the crypts beneath the basilica," she explained.

"Marwin Fransk was a hero. He deserved to be buried with more dignity and ceremony." Esta growled.

"And as a hero, Marwin will continue to serve Radevic in his death. The Cult of Lust and Depravity cannot know that he is gone. He has been one of our greatest leverages against succubi from acting out." The archbishop's grip on her staff tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"No complaints from me." Garuda, the Knight of Umber, folded her arms. "Temptation is right next to Hollow Glades. If Temptation and the cult ever started anything, our tribes are the first to see trouble."

Kanae walked closer to the body. The runic tattoos and engravings on Master Marwin's skin were unmistakable. The archbishop put a hand on her shoulder.

"For the time being, I have given your daughter Mikki express permission to make use of Marwin's tower. Particularly his alchemical laboratory. Her presence there will make for decent cover that he is still alive and taking on an apprentice," Patrice said.

"My daughter isn't your pawn." Kanae brushed her hand off.

"Quite right. It wasn't my intention to insinuate that. Mikki is extraordinarily intelligent. I wish to nurture her gifts and talents. With her there, Marwin's tower will not collect dust. I also believe that he would have wanted a succubus to inhabit his tower," she explained more cautiously.

One by one, the Knights of Colors offered their last words to Master Marwin until Kanae was the last one. She wasn't exactly sure what to say in times like these. It was the same when Arenade had died back in Capillis. The censers no longer billowed with incense.

A cleric came up to her and said, "We will have to prepare the body soon, my lady."

"Right, sorry. Is it alright to leave something with him?" Kanae asked.

"Of course." She nodded.

Kanae reached into her satchel to pull out an invitation addressed to Marwin Fransk. She had hoped her old master would pull through until then. Fate had other plans. She slipped the envelope under the cloth, leaving it atop his chest.

"I understand you and Marwin were particularly close. My condolences," Archbishop Patrice said.

"If by close, you mean possessing the bodies of many different creatures to have sex with me, then sure." Kanae chuckled.

Both clerics paused briefly to take in what she said, and then went right back to work.

"Hm. My experience under his tutelage was much different, but thank you for sharing. Marwin had a knack for thinking unconventionally. The markings on his body were his idea," the archbishop explained.

"And me wielding a wand with my tail was thanks to him, too." Kanae picked up her wand and waved it.

"We may have had our differences lately, but know that our goals are aligned. The Cult of Lust and Depravity poses an existential threat to us all. Sometimes, drastic steps must be taken for the betterment of all," she explained.

Kanae heard enough and excused herself to leave. With her hand on the door, an idea came to mind.

"I'm willing to bet Bocchiri Ruu left Radevic, and you suspect the same thing. If he did, that means there can only be one place he is going to— Nu-hauta," Kanae said.

"You present this hypothesis to me for what purpose?" Patrice arched her brows.

"For years, the King, Grand Eye, and Archbishop have been declining Bocchiri in sending help to his home nation. Send me. Let me help them. I'll even secure the cult temple that's allegedly somewhere in Tau'we."

She sighed, as if this wasn't even the hundredth time hearing it. "The past leadership and myself, now, have not declined him because we refuse to help. It is because Nu-hauta sinking is as much an inevitability as the sun setting. We have granted them land to settle on the mainland, but Toro Squa is a stubborn king."

Stubborn was right. The elf had gone as far as Savir to fight for the tyrant Harpy King in exchange for power to save his sinking islands. Unfortunately, that didn't pan out.

"You've given me much to consider. Bocchiri has long been a valuable… loyal Saint Priest. Losing him after we lost Marwin would be a severe detriment to Radevic. You will have my answer at the tournament's conclusion, Amethyst." Archbishop Patrice smiled.

Kanae exited the room to Vestrid and Delayn straightening their backs. The two were definitely listening in just now.

"You actually convinced the archbishop to think about helping Bocchiri. That's more thought than the triumvirate has given about it for years," Vestrid said.

"I don't suppose it would be too much to ask that you guys know if he left?" Kanae asked.

Delayn shrugged. Vestrid, however, pursed her lips and held back.

"I only know that this has been a long time coming. If Bocchiri left recently, he must have received word that something has happened in the archipelago," Vestrid explained.

"I'll keep that in mind. Oh! Can you guys give these to Camilla and Ulric." Kanae handed them two wedding invitations.

"What about us? I mean… n-not that I'd care to go to your profane wedding!" Delayn turned the other way, huffing.

"Haha! Maybe if you were less of a stickler. Don't worry, Amethyst. I'll make sure they get them," the drakeling Saint Priest assured her.

Kanae thanked them and left to deliver the rest.