Bab 40: Krodian
As the four walked through the decrypt streets, Goleil was experimenting with his mana.
'I've exceeded my old power; I wonder just what is possible now! What is mana capable of?' He wondered.
A cold breeze blew through the streets, and he wrapped his cloak tighter around him.
'Damn weather...'
As he felt the comfortable fabric of his cloak, he realized he could feel the faint enchantment still left on it.
His eyes widened a little bit, and he sent his mana into the garment, discovering that the cloak was indeed still magical, but barely.
'Thank the Flame! The Krodians did not destroy you!'
Goleil chuckled as he linked the cloak to his core, as he had the first time he was given the cloak.
Goleil examined the enchantment with which he was so familiar and began to carefully supply it with some of his mana from his heart.
Information started to appear in his mind as he explored what the cloak could still do.
He could feel the protective enchantment get stronger and stronger as he supplied more mana, slowly regaining its former glory.
"It is going to take a while to repair it... Might as well start the process now." He whispered to himself.
...
Beyond the Colosseo, but before the keep, lies a building of beautiful architecture. Its arches and pillars of marble glinted in the morning, and the lone short tower that rose slightly above the roof got its fair share of warmth.
The tower had a flat top, perfect for stargazing.
A man in his late forties with midnight black hair and piercing black eyes sipped appreciatively from his cup as he sat on the top of the tower, overlooking the city. The stone crenels along the perimeter of the tower observatory prevented him from jumping. It would've been simply too much effort.
He groaned as he rubbed his bloodshot eyes. His loose midnight black robes felt like sandpaper on his skin.
He sighed. "I have to stop doing this," He said and stretched his back, "I'm getting too old for all-nighters."
The man glanced down at his copious sheets of notes and back at his telescope, which pointed out into the grey sky.
He followed the telescope's gaze, and out in that grey sky, the size of a nail, the faintest outline of a spherical object hovered above the brightening horizon.
"Staring again?" A voice said as the steps creaked under the new weight.
The astronomer glanced at Y'dra Murdoc, the court mage.
"There is something out there, Y'dra. I have been charting and studying for years, and I'm sure of it."
Murdoc raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, you old fool?"
"Old?!" That man looked offended, "I am far younger than you!"
Murdoc grinned. "That's not much of an achievement!"
The astronomer shook his head and sighed. "Why have you come up here, my friend? Just to disturb me?"
"Of course, but there is also someone I think you'd like to meet. Come with me."
...
The City Library was the oldest building in the city, older than the cities very walls.
Books, new and old, lined the massive shelves. The gothic architecture made it seem more like a church than a place of learning and research.
As Goleil walked through the massive oak and iron doors, his entrance drew many stares.
Gwen tapped his arm and whispered, "Are you trying to make them jealous? Stop that."
"Stop what?"
She raised an eyebrow and pointed down towards Goleil's knees.
He looked down, and his eyes went wide.
At the edges of his cloak was a dark red frost that fell away and reformed every few seconds; if one looked closely, the cloak could be seen slowly repairing itself.
He looked behind him and saw that he had left a fading trail of magic behind him.
"What is this stuff??"
Gwen was about to answer when an enthusiastic voice shouted, "Mana frost!"
Goleil looked up and noticed that whatever eyes weren't on him were definitely on him now.
"Hello, Goleil. It's good to see you once again! I have with me my esteemed colleague Doctor Zafas Favar. He is an accomplished mage and astronomer. Zaf, Goleil. Goleil, Zaf."
The black-clad astronomer narrowed his eyes at the Vrean. "Sun Guard?"
Goleil narrowed his eyes at Zafas as well. Those black eyes, black hair. Pale skin and sallow complexion. It was telling of a very particular hereditary tree.
Goleil looked around him at the cathedral architecture. He then looked down at Favar's dress. Black as the night sky.
Coils of red energy began to curl around Goleil's body. The red mana frost seemed to grow thicker as the ground below his feet also developed shards of mana.
His eyes glowed a pale red as he locked eyes with Dr. Favar.
"You worship Kosbokal?"
Dr. Favar sighed. "No, Vrean. Just because this is a beautiful library, and I happen to love the stars does not mean I worship the Cosmic God."
"But you are certainly Krodian."
The man walked over to a shelf full of books, casually browsing.
"I was born in the Krodian Empire, that is true. Does that make me your enemy?"
The red energy seemed to grow sharper around Goleil. "It does."
"Then you are a fool."
Suddenly, he was gone.
Goleil spun around, but it was too late. The mumbling of a language lost to time and human memory resounded behind him.
Black chains erupted from around him, binding his hands and legs. They tightened, restraining his ability to use his hands or from running.
Zafas cleared his throat. "Now, we might have a civil conversation."
Goleil growled as he pulled at the restraints, then remembered his memories, how he had manipulated his mana into a weapon.
The mana curling off his body suddenly thinned into a razor-thin blade and slammed into the chains, freeing him from his bondage.
Murdoc and Zafas's eyes widened, as did every magic practitioner in the building. They began to quickly clear out of the area, as it seemed as if the mages might start to get serious.
Goleil reached out beside him and a glaive of blood-red energy formed.
Suddenly, Mord and Gwen stepped in front of the two mages. "Steady, Goleil! He isn't your enemy!"
Goleil scoffed. "He's one of them! I'm sure you rejoiced when you heard my people had been executed like dogs; I'm sure you threw a grand celebration, you scum!"
Gwen took a step forward, her arms outstretched. "He isn't like that, Goleil! Why do you think he's in Redvale and not Krodia?!"
Goleil heaved in heavy breaths, his hand still grasping the glaive.
This was the first Krodian he'd seen since that day.
'How can I forget that black armor, slaughtering my comrades like cattle!'
Ty'Bral materialized beside him. "How rich. You can't even remember their names or even their faces anymore. Don't pretend to care about them."
"I do care about them!" He roared.
Gwen took a step back. "What?"
"Look at him! Say something, Krodian!"
Dr. Favar scoffed. "Save me your petulance, Vrean. I haven't had a connection to the Krodians for decades. Not since the Cosmic Church disagreed with my scientific views."
"Goleil, you can't take your anger out on every Krodian and Adalian you see on the street! You'd beat half of Redvale to death!"
"What?"
"Where do you think the people in Redvale came from?! We didn't get pushed out. We escaped! My father came here from Adal after he was wrongfully accused of murder, and we did nothing wrong! But because of that, one of the greatest swordsman alive barely escaped with his life."
Gwen's eyes had tears but were hardened with resolve.
Ty'Bral sighed and said, "Who knows, maybe some Vreans escaped the genocide and reside here."
Goleil dropped his glaive, the magic dissipating into a fog of red mana.
In the back of his mind, a tiny voice whispered, 'This is the right choice. I'm doing the right thing.'
'But what if I'm not? What if I'm dishonoring my people? What if he's lying?'
He looked up at the astronomer. Dr. Favar met his gaze, his own eyes soft. It almost looked like pity.
It spoke again. 'They would've wanted this, and my rage is misplaced. There are others far more deserving.'
The face of Lord Belmore crossed his mind.
Goleil sighed, his rage withering away. "I'm sorry, doctor. I hope you can forgive this transgression."
"You'll have to do more than apologies, Goleil. But it's a start. I'm sorry about what my former Kingdom has done, and you must still be coming to terms. Know that not all Krodians thirst for your blood, and not all Adalians are traitors."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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