“I apologize for keeping you waiting, grandfather.”
“Claudia. I’m sorry, I know it is late.”
“Not at all. I understand that it must be a rather important matter that you have summoned me to discuss. As a member of House Saifice and your granddaughter, I consider it a great honor.” She smiled softly at him. Only the quality of her education kept her flattery from veering from simply adoring to outright saccharine.
Egberd accepted it quite naturally and quickly moved on to the matter at hand. “I called you here because there is something I wish to show you.”
“Yes, grandfather.”
“I am old, and you are next to inherit the dukedom. The time will soon be upon us.”
“Please, grandfather, do not speak of such things. You are still in perfect health.”
“It is all right. There is no need to deny what is true for my sake.”
“That wasn’t my intention...”
Egberd looked down at his granddaughter fondly, proud of her grace. Slowly, he began to walk. He was a man of few words, and Claudia understood that she was meant to follow. They went from the courtyard to the cloister. It dawned on her, as they worked their way through its inner chambers, that she realized she did not recognize where they were anymore.
Claudia had been a student at the Institute for two years now. She had thought herself perfectly familiar with its layout, every last nook and cranny. Apparently that wasn’t the case.
The furnishings here were upside down; Claudia and her grandfather were walking along the ceiling and, outside, the stars studded the ground instead of the sky. It was as though they—and they alone—were trapped in an inverted world.
“Where are we, grandfather?”
“Remember this path well, Claudia. It is the only path to our destination.” As usual, Egberd kept his explanation brief and weighty.
Claudia chose not to pursue the matter and followed him obediently. Before long, they came to a stairwell leading up.
“Would these stairs lead to the basement, then? I never knew this was here.”
“Correct. This place is known only to those who lead House Saifice. Not even the royal family is aware of its existence.”
“Its secrecy certainly explains its location.”
That even the Crosellodes didn’t know of this place surprised Claudia, but she supposed it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. The Saifice family had existed here since before Lainur’s sudden prosperity, fighting off invading tribes and nations. It was written that they had refused to budge, even when the odds were stacked against them, until eventually the Crosellodes arrived to lend their support. With that, the invaders were routed once and for all. Whatever Egberd was about to show her had to be the reason their forefathers had so stubbornly stood their ground. Claudia’s body tensed slightly with nerves; she felt just as proud as she was nervous.
When Egberd took a step inside, a crystalline installation on the wall lit up, revealing a spiral staircase. It was the least remarkable set of stairs Claudia had ever seen—plain and wholly without ornament. It was tempting to assume they were metal, but they didn’t have the feel of it. Nor did they have the warmth of wood. And yet, with their perfectly smooth corners, it was impossible to imagine just how they had been made. Claudia suppressed a gasp as she realized it was likely a remnant of an ancient technology.
Lifting up her skirts, she followed Egberd. She walked carefully so as not to trip on her hem, but did not forget to keep her movements elegant. She took the stairs step by step, being sure to keep her footfall as soft as possible.
At first, the stairs never seemed to end. When they did reach the top, the lighting converged to illuminate their surroundings. The room was huge, big enough to fit the entire floor space of the Institute within it.
“To think this was concealed beneath the Institute...” Claudia said.
“It is said that our ancestors constructed this space during the time of The Magician’s Elegy.”
“It is that ancient? I find its architecture quite agreeable.”
“There are more surprises to come, Claudia. I have something even older to show you.”
She swallowed nervously. She had never seen the material that the floor was made of, nor encountered lights that reacted to movement, nor imagined a space this wide anywhere, let alone hidden beneath the building. And now Egberd was promising her something even more mind-boggling.
At the farthest end of the room was a glimmering lump of mineral some three meters square or more.
“Is this crystal?” Claudia asked.
“Indeed. It is said that this was crafted by the Saint himself.”
“The Saint? Of the three sages?”
“Yes. Behold what lies in its center.”
“I see a black...figure?”
“It is a djinn, a servant to the demons. You know of Groswell, don’t you?”
“Yes. He waged many a battle against the Saint.”
Several fairy tales had been spun from the original anecdotes of both figures.
“It is said that the djinn is sealed within this crystal.”
“I see only a shadow. I must confess that it is inconceivable to me that a figure of folklore should be confined in a place like this.”
“Your disbelief is most understandable. Nevertheless, it is true.” Egberd turned to his granddaughter. “Claudia. This is what I wished to convey to you. Long before the rise of Lainur, the founders of our house stood on the brink of destruction. It was then that the Saint tasked them with protecting this crystal. The djinn must remain sealed away till the day he returns to destroy it.”
Although she could accept the majority of what he said, there was one point she felt she must question.
“I understand that we are to protect this crystal, grandfather, but I do not understand how the Saint will destroy it.”
“Consider the following passage, said to come from The Prophecy of Shadows: ‘The indomitable spirit may only be destroyed by the Saint’s left arm.’”
“But has the Saint not passed on?”
“He has. The Spiritual Age contains the full span of his days.”
“Then I do not understand.”
Egberd did not elaborate. Keeping her grandfather’s face in the corner of her vision, Claudia reached out to touch the crystal before her. The mineral sent a gradual chill through her fingers, one she feared would freeze her very soul if she did not remove her hand.
“The indomitable spirit... Was the djinn’s invincibility not borne of a deal with the demons? The tales say he exchanged his soul for it.”
“That is exactly right. They say that, upon receiving such power from the demons, he became invulnerable to all wounds. That is why the Saint was forced to seal him away.”
“The djinn was as powerful as the stories say, then.”
“Yes. Therefore, the Saint will walk the Earth again and release this calamitous being in order to destroy it. Until then, we are to obey our master’s wishes and defend this crystal from all who might threaten it.”
“Our master... Is His Majesty not our master?”
“Indeed he is. However, House Saifice received a stipulation from Lainur’s first king: that we might serve two masters.”
“Did the king have no objections to such an arrangement?”
“No; he was well acquainted with our circumstances. We are to serve the royal family, but when the Saint returns, we will be permitted to serve him. This is a promise we were made by the first king; his descendants cannot overturn it.”
It was almost too absurd for Claudia to take in. Their family held great power within the kingdom; how could they be allowed to serve two masters? It was as if they’d been given license to commit treason. No ruler of any nation would permit such a thing. On the other hand, the fact that it went unchallenged showed just how much importance was attributed to the events of The Spiritual Age.
“Claudia. The magic we possess was afforded to us by the Saint. He took pity on our forefathers, who lamented the misfortune brought about by their talents, and tasked them with a great duty. Certainly, we are to serve the Crosellodes, who granted us their protection during a time of warfare, but we are also greatly indebted to the Saint, and must work to repay that debt.”
“I understand.”
“It won’t be long now until you are to inherit the crystal, and the Institute with it. Claudia. I expect from you the initiative and leadership required of the role.”
“Yes, grandfather. I vow that I shall endeavor even harder in my duties to the Institute; I shan’t bring shame to you, who left me something so sacred.”
“Claudia.”
“Grandfather. My heart trembles. Truly you have shown me that you approve of my inheritance of House Saifice.” The eyes she laid on the crystal were filled with delight at his trust.
Though he had kept his expression stern thus far, Egberd’s eyes now took on a tender light. He regarded Claudia now not as his successor, but as his granddaughter, with all the affection one would for the last surviving member of their line.
“There is such a thing as too much fervor, Claudia. This place is preceded by several mechanisms to ensure no one may reach it.”
Claudia shook her head. “Even so, grandfather, I intend to double my efforts. I shall one day have to lead this Institute as you do. For that, I cannot allow the days to pass me by without making full use of them.”
“You are still young. There is no need to push yourself beyond your limits. A leader must know when to delegate.”
“I am to inherit the house. I intend to fulfill my role with more devotion than anyone before me, for mother and father are no longer here to offer their support.”
“It was a cruel twist of fate that took their lives.”
“Yes. All the more reason for me to give my utmost.”
“Claudia...”
Her determination shone too brightly to take in Egberd’s tender warnings. Learning that their family had the honor of serving the Saint and had done its duty for generations had made her all the more aware of her responsibilities. She needed to work harder for the sake of her name and for those who would come after her. And that meant she needed to display more discipline than ever. So too would she require it from others.