Dax

I sat beside Haelan in silent disbelief.

"This is hardly easy to believe, you know this, correct?" I told him quietly.

"I am aware, but it is true. You must believe me." He pleaded. "If we do not address it now, you could seriously harm someone when it inevitably grows too strong to be contained. I understand that you are wary, but this could be a matter of life or death."

"It is just a little difficult for me to believe that someone has 'suppressed' my abilities as a Magi. That is impossible, Haelan. No one can be that powerful." I argued.

He gave an exasperated sigh. "I cannot make this more clear for you. I do not understand how, but it is true. Someone has contained your full potential, and you are so at odds with yourself that you are about to erupt with this stored energy, and that is beyond dangerous. If you are in a stressful enough situation, you could kill people, Dax. Does that not scare you?"

"It terrifies me, Haelan! But do you truly believe that I am able to drop everything to figure this out?!" I raised my voice, beyond frustrated with him. "Besides, if I am more likely to lose control when under high stress, why did it not break free when I was attacked? That was a moment of high stress, I can assure you."

"I do not have all the answers, Dax! I know what I felt though, and you are playing a dangerous game right now!" Haelan now raised his voice in return. "We have no information as to what you will lean towards in terms of offensive or defensive abilities, and your emotions are already rampant! Your head is so confused, it pains me!"

"You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do!" I practically yelled.

"It seems you need someone to!"

I took a breath, halting my original plan to continue yelling with Haelan. He was right, there were too many uncertainties for me to continue life as it was, but I was unable to simply drop everything. I had too many responsibilities and time away was not an option.

"Haelan, I understand your worry and it is valid. But I have too many responsibilities to stop and focus on solving this. Perhaps when I am not as busy we could reconvene and further discuss this."

"You do not understand. If you continue digging yourself further in this anxiety and stress, you will be too far gone by the time I am able to return to you." He matched my calmer tone. "I am worried for you. While I am concerned for the people you are around when it happens, I am petrified as to what may lie in wait for you."

"I understand but I have a kingdom to lead, and examples to set."

"And coronation parties to attend, it seems." Haelan said quietly.

I fell silent. He knew. What would he say?

"You were trying so hard to hide it, that it was the very first thing I was met with." He admitted with a low tone. His hair fell over his eyes as he tilted his head away from me. "The person you care so deeply for, it is theirs, is it not?"

I did not move. Was this a trick?

I debated on lying to him, but I had a feeling that he was already aware of what the truth was.

I nodded my head. "It is."

"And the only coronation that comes to mind is taking place in Grohera. The kingdom that ran the attempt on you life." Haelan spoke quicker now, as if excitedly solving a mystery that plagued him.

"Yes." I said in a low tone. He was putting it all together, piece by painful piece. I doubted he understood the true velocity of the situation, and I feared he would want to know more of how Kai and myself came to know each other. "The coronation I was invited to will take place in Grohera."

"Correct me if I am wrong, but that must mean that this mystery person must be Kai, the soon to be ruler of Grohera. It is his coronation, is it not?" He spoke quickly as he neared the end of his short lived hunt for answers.

I tensed. I thought I would be prepared to hear him say Kai's name, but I still found myself flinching at his mention. The gravity of the situation felt all too real after Haelan's discovery.

"You mustn't allow this to spread." I told him as sternly as I could manage. "It has remained a secret for this long, and it must stay that way. Who knows how the public would react if they discovered how close he and I had been?"

Haelan looked over to me from where he sat. "Perhaps they would not react as outlandishly as you are expecting? I will keep your secret, but you will have to explain to your subjects why you will be attending a coronation in enemy territory."

"It will work itself out." I said simply. It seemed he was unaware of the treaty Kai had planned on signing that night as well, so I decided to keep that to myself. He was still simply a visitor, and the information he already held was more than enough to use against me. It was best to keep it to myself for the time being. "Now I appreciate your help, but I must ask you to retire for the evening. I plan to do so myself, as well."

He seemed to realize that arguing with me would get him nowhere, so he silently agreed and left my room without another word. Though I appreciated all he had done for me, Haelan's presence created rooted anxieties within me, presumably from all that he knew.

I shook my hands and took a breath, regaining my composure before stepping out of the room to call a maid.

I only had to wait a few moments before someone answered my call.

"Would you please gather my advisor and commander? There is much I need to discuss with them. If they resist please inform them that it is urgent business." I told her hurriedly.

She gave a quick nod and disappeared back into the halls.

Knowing I would have to wait for them to arrive, I leaned against the door frame behind me. My fingers trailed to the cream colored shirt I had half tucked into my trousers and plucked at the loose strands. I had hundreds of shirts just like it, so no worry for it's well being plagued my mind.

Telling Jade and Helios of the invitation would be risky, but it was necessary in order to attend the party Kai was holding. I would need Jade's company while in Grohera for protection if the need arose and I would need Helios to remain in Madeo to maintain the throne until I returned. I needed the both of them to, at the very least, make their peace with the idea in order for it to run smoothly.

Soon enough I heard their voices as they rounded the corner at the end of the hall. I took a breath. I had to remain calm.

"Is everything alright, Dax? The maid that gathered us seemed frantic." Jade asked politely.

I opened the door to my chamber. "What needs to be discussed, must be discussed in private."

They filed in, unnerved by my sudden change in behavior.

As the three of us sat in chairs we had pulled from around the room, I began to notice my companions' appearances. Helios' hair was disheveled, his clothes were wrinkled beyond belief and Jade looked no better. Perhaps I woke them with my summons.

"I received an invitation before Haelan and Maven arrived, one of significant value." I found myself overflowing with fear and anxiety. My heart pounded as if it were trying to burst from my ribcage.

The two looked at me with growing anticipation.

"It was for a coronation," I paused, forcing myself to speak the words I needed to. "One that will be taking place in Grohera, where I will be signing a formal peace treaty with the new ruler, the late king's son, Kai."

Silence blanketed over us.

But it was soon broken by both of my friends speaking frantically. Their words were lost in the moment, but the meaning drowned me. They did not support the trip in the slightest.

I held up a hand, and they quieted.

"This is not up for debate. I will be leaving for this coronation, and I will be signing the treaty. Madeo has suffered for years and I hold the power to end it." Their eyes filled with a mixture of rage and confusion. "Make your peace. Jade will accompany me and Helios will remain here to maintain rule."

They were filled with rage, I could see it in their eyes, but no part of me felt remorse for my decision. This would put an end to the war that plagued this kingdom for years, and perhaps I could receive closure after all the years of not knowing what had come of Kai. It was selfish of me, but I found myself growing excited at the thought of seeing him once again.

"With all due respect, Dax, are you out of your mind? Growing senile?" Helios asked in a quiet anger, something he specialized in. "Travelling there would be begging for another attack on you. Do you have a death wish? Does this life mean nothing to you?!"

"You see for yourself each time we leave the safety of this castle! The townsfolk despise me for this war, and I have the chance to end it! Why would I not take that?!" I countered with venom on my tongue. I looked between my angered companions, steadfast in my decision. "I would rather die than for this discourse to continue!"

I tried to soothe my anger, though my chest continued to heave with a labored breath.

"Dax, I never took you for the tyrant type," Jade spoke slowly and deliberately, breaking her silence on the matter. "Though you always find ways to surprise me."