Page 53 of I Ran Away to Evil #3
He Dropped to His Knees
Julian
Earlier That Day
“You want me to ask Justice?” Queen Henrietta looked at Julian like he’d grown a second head.
“If you could?”
“I was surprised to find out myself, but Justice doesn’t commune with his chosen.” King Keith wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist.
“It’s true.” Queen Henrietta nodded. “I’ve spoken with him only twice; when he announced in his temple that I was his chosen, and when my parents wanted me to use my connection with him to better their personal standing …
And both times, I had to actually go to his temple and pray.
He told me that he wouldn’t treat me any differently to others because it wouldn’t be ‘fair,’ and that I had to prove myself on my own. ”
“But you could ask?” Julian urged.
“I can,” Queen Henrietta said. “Do you have a Temple of Justice in the palace?”
“We have one in the town.” Julian gave them directions and asked them to get back to him with what they found.
His sister was easier. He waited until Julia summoned breakfast to determine that she was awake, then dragged her disheveled, disgruntled form off to the sanctuary.
“I can’t believe you interrupted us for this.” His little sister shot daggers at him with her eyes. “See if I don’t ruin your wedding night.”
“It is almost noon, Julia,” he replied.
“Hmph.”
He opened the door to the sanctuary and pushed his sister inside.
It was mostly repaired, the debris swept, and the broken glass panes set aside.
Duchess Calisto had the highest-level repair magic of any in her castle, and they were all just waiting for her to recover her strength so she could fix the murals and stained glass windows.
“I need you to ask Light what she thinks about Fate’s prophecy, and if the gods will really destroy our world if we let Madame Potts save people she isn’t supposed to save,” Julian said. “Please?”
“Fine.” The Paladin of Light sighed, then started to glow. “Oh, great patroness, Light of the world, hear this humble servant. I—”
“ JULIA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY TEMPLE?” Light’s voice was as overwhelming as Shadow’s, more so even due to the goddess’s proximity and wrath.
He dropped to his knees from the sheer weight of the goddess’s intent. She was like a solar flare walking over his body. Dragon flame in his soul. Blinding white hurt his eyes as the sanctuary exploded in light all around him.
“ THOSE WERE RENBENT MURALS! AND ELIZABETTA LORE SPENT THIRTEEN YEARS MAKING THOSE GLASS WINDOWS. THE DRAPES! ARACHNE WOVEN SILK FROM THE ANCIENT CITY OF SHARN. ALL RUINED! ”
His sister tried to speak. “Forgive us, Light. Mother will repair it as soon as she can, I promise. Please, my brother is wondering if the gods are planning to end the world—”
“ THIS DISRESPECT ALONE IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME END THE WORLD! ” Almost unbearable heat radiated in waves with her words.
“ BUT DO THEY ASK ME? NO! FATE IS TOO DIVIDED AMONG HER THREADS TO HEAR A WORD, AND LUCK IS BUSY TOYING WITH JUSTICE. MY SIBLINGS NEVER ASK MY OPINION. WHY WOULD THEY? I’M JUST LIGHT.
WHAT WOULD I KNOW OF THE HEAVENS? MY CELESTIAL STARS ARE ONLY THE DUST OF CREATION.
MY AMBIENT MAGIC THE HOPE AGAINST THE DARK. ”
“You are my goddess. Life would die without your sun, and Shadow would have no shade without your light,” Julia spoke softly, flattering her patroness. “ Of course you are the Heavens.”
“ THIS IS WHY YOU ARE MY CHOSEN .” Light’s voice softened to the pressure of a hot summer day.
“Thank you, Light. I will do my best to repair your temple, with added gifts,” his sister placated. “Why don’t I have Master Gaukler come and carve your benches with etchings of the moon and stars?”
“ DO NOT SUMMON ME UNTIL YOU HAVE. OH, AND JULIA ,” the goddess added in a voice soft as a kiss, “ congratulations on your wedding. ”
And then, Light was gone.
Julian blinked rapidly, but it did nothing to stop the sunspots. He was sweating and exhausted from the small exchange, and he wasn’t even the one facing the goddess directly. His sister grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.
“I hope you got your answer,” Julia told him. “Also, your eyes should clear in ten minutes or so.”
“That’s good to know.” Julian did not have an answer, but they’d tried, and that was what mattered. He wiped his forehead and pulled at the damp tunic clinging to his chest. “Gods, I need a shower.”
“As your kind and loving sister, I’ll guide you back to your rooms.” She pulled his arm, and he readily followed.
When Julian arrived at the western garden, he was already running a bit late.
In a rush, he’d simply activated [Light Foot] to jump off his balcony, but there was no Gerda waiting for him in the garden below. Was he later than he thought? There should still be time before the official start.
“Gerda?” he called out hesitantly. No one answered. He waited five minutes more then decided he would swing by the palace entry. If she wasn’t there, he’d send out a search party.
It was a short distance to the gathering point, but his heart was beating faster and faster as he went. After Julia’s kidnapping, he was already fearing the worst.
All of it built up until he saw her standing there.
She was speaking with a group of younger debutants, none of whom he readily recognized.
Relief washed over him, and then embarrassment, and then frustration.
He’d been late, of course, but she could have waited for him …
Julian wasn’t used to letting his emotions get away from him, and he fought back against his own thoughts, trying to find his feet.
That’s when she spotted him.
Unexpectedly, a bright smile pulled at her lips, and he was free from the storm of frustration that plagued him. She politely excused herself and walked his way, her eyes playful and expectant.
“You made it just in time,” she greeted, taking a spot beside him.
“Did I?” Julian replied, trying to read her expression. She wasn’t angry at him for being late to their agreed-upon time, just genuinely glad to see him.
Gerda glanced over her shoulder back at the group she’d just come from, explaining. “Lord Erik kept asking me who I was going with, and I didn’t know how to tell him that it was you without boasting.”
There was a giant staring at them with a disappointed look on his face. Another member of the group slapped Lord Erik on the back in sympathy, and Julian quickly reached out to offer Gerda his arm. “Then it’s good I wasn’t any later …”
She readily took it.
He wanted to ask if she’d forgotten they were supposed to meet in the garden. Had it slipped her mind? Or had he simply recalled incorrectly?
She squeezed his arm and leaned in a little closer. She smelled like the pine forests in the North after a fresh rain, crisp and refreshing and of the earth. “I know I’m not technically a part of the investigation team … but do you know of any assassins who escaped yesterday?”
That brought him up short. “No? Why? Did you see something?”
“Heard something, actually.” Gerda sighed and dropped her hand. “But they might just be an Assassin class and not actually a problem. I’ll let you know if it proves to be the latter.”
“Stop me if this is rude,” Julian broached, still worrying, “but is there anything else I should know about today?”
“No … Well, maybe one thing.” She searched the room, found what she was looking for, and gestured with a slight head nod toward a human woman without a partner.
She had chestnut brown skin and long black hair, bright pink eyes, and she wore a very exciting shade of pink that hurt to look upon.
“The girl in the unfortunate pink. She’s going to light her date on fire at the ball tonight.
Which isn’t so much the problem as what comes next … ”
“What comes next?” he asked, dragging his eyes away.
“He ruins the toast.” The troll shook her head sadly. “Knocks into a waiter while he’s trying to put out the flames and shatters glasses everywhere. I was going to do something about it, but it would probably be easier if you just let the staff know ahead of time?”
“Alright,” he agreed. Having a date who knew the future had its perks, the least of which was knowing the future, honestly. Gerda herself was already keeping him on his toes. A small part of him relaxed for the first time in what felt like days.
“I’m not saying that’s the only thing that will happen,” she said, immediately shattering his calm. “But that is the only thing I’m going to tell you.”
She raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. Julian took a deep breath and managed an, “As is your right.”
“You’re right it is.” She nodded, and he was taken aback by the hard edge in her voice. She softened it by slipping back into a smile. “But you can relax. Honestly, nothing else is going to affect you much, and if it does, that’s only because you’re escorting me. Sorry.”
Julian didn’t think he was going to relax again anytime soon. Maybe when he was not-so-safely back in the North, fighting off another monster surge and getting some of this nervous energy out on the battlefield.
“Welcome, everyone.” Grand Duchess Calisto descended the grand staircase in the lobby, glancing around the room until her eyes rested on Julian.
He caught her eyebrow twitch when she saw whom he was partnered with.
“And thank you for joining me today. I’ve moved us to a shaded area near the goblin-lily pond. ”
There were a few happy whispers from the crowd of debutants. It was a hot summer’s day, and no one wanted to be out under the direct sun for long. Especially in semiformal attire.
“Please follow me.” His mother looked kindly at a few of those standing off to the side, alone, adding, “And if you have yet to find a partner, you may pair up now. Do not worry, we are simply making introductions. Meeting new people is all a part of the experience … I will partner with you, Lord Shiro.”
The fox stiffened but recovered quickly and hurried over to offer the grand duchess his arm.
Calisto eyed Julian once, and from the look she gave him, he realized he’d dodged a flaming arrow—she’d planned to partner with him and use him as a proper etiquette demonstration.
He barely contained the shudder, unconsciously holding Gerda closer.
It was time for tea.