Origin of Legends - The Rise of Facade (Ongoing)

Origin of the Legends: Façade

Façade stood on a balcony overlooking the courtyard of the Twilight palace. Down below, the various officials that populated the palace during that period that passed for day in this place made their ways home largely oblivious to their masked onlooker. Occasionally, they would send a glace towards the great glass statue that had been erected in honor of the first king of the Twili, Sol of the Dark Wing. Sol had united the disparate dark interloper tribes into the great kingdom that ruled the Twilight realm almost entirely uncontested. His statue, long since lost its translucency from countless scratches and general wear, was of the great king riding on the kargaroc that gave him his name. Façade couldn’t help but feel a bit of nostalgia knowing the old monument was still there.

“Yes captain Nidi?”

Nidi froze, door still pulled halfway open. No matter how many times it happened, it still caught her off guard. “It’s the king,” she managed, “he’s called for you, and he…he says this might be your last chance to talk.”

Façade turned. Nidi shivered. She was still getting used to sight of that impassive mask; there was something vaguely unsettling about it.

“Thank you for informing me. We shouldn’t keep his majesty waiting.”

Flanked by Nidi and another member of his personal guard, he was escorted to the king’s private bedchambers. He entered alone, leaving his guards outside with the king’s royal guard. Once inside, he bowed to the king’s bedridden form. The king beckoned him forward with a withering hand and Façade dutifully obeyed.

“You summoned me your majesty?”

“Façade,” he said so softly it was nearly a whisper, “my time fast approaches.”

“Please don’t say that my lord, I’m sure the doctors will find a cure soon.”

The king laughed which quickly devolved to dry hacking. When he recovered he continued, “No Façade, I’ll soon be joining my father and his fathers going back a thousand generations. All men must go one day, and to delay is folly. The best we can do is make sure the future is in good hands.”

“Is that why you summoned me here my lord?”

“Indeed. You’ve always had your finger on the pulse of the court, who do they favor as my successor?”

Façade shifted slightly. “I believe Zant is the favorite, as he has been since your unfortunate illness. A handful support that young Sol, but your daughter seems to have a vote of no confidence.”

The king scoffed. “I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s a stubborn one, and that’s why they’re supporting Zant. He’ll do whatever he’s told. They want power, and he’ll be easy to manipulate.” he sighed. “I know you get a vote this time around, who will you through your support behind?”

“I am your humble servant and will support Midna if that is your wish.”

“Are you sure?” the king asked incredulously, “Stubbornness goes both ways. She won’t let the court boss her around, but she won’t listen to your advice either. I’m sure Zant or even Sol would be more receptive to your advice.”

“Perhaps, but I’m sure I have the patience to make her listen to reason.”

“If she doesn’t replace you with some guru on a whim first.” he muttered. He descended into a coughing fit and managed to gasp out, “Medicine…on the shelf…”

Façade rose and measured out a small glass worth of the sticky elixir. With his back still turned, he also opened a latch on his ring and added a small amount of white powder from the tiny compartment within. He gave this drink to the king who gulped it down and breathed deeply as the coughing fit subsided.

“Façade, you’ve served me faithfully for many years and even helped my father manage the country when he was at his darkest point. Now I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything my lord.”

“Promise me that you’ll make sure that you’ll protect everything we’ve worked for and ensure the Twilight realm will never fall into darkness.”

“You have my word.”

--------------------

Seele shivered in his robes as the press of the crowd became ever more pressing. Once more he was glad for the concealment his mask provided. He could concentrate on breathing and no-one would give him strange looks and hasten a panic attack. All he had to do was somehow ignore the hundreds of Twili all around him, the cream of society all jostling and jockeying for the best position to see the unveiling of some statue. He swallowed.

“Um..Lord Umbra…don’t you think you’d be more comfortable somewhere where there’s a tad less people?”

Viscount Umbra, a handsome young Twili of comparable age, looked at Seele as if he’d gone mad. “What? And give up this ideal spot?”

Seele risked a look around. With the hundreds of Twili crammed around them, every spot looked the same in the sea of bodies. “Sir, we can’t even see the unveiling from here. We’ll be lucky to even hear the dedication.”

“The statue isn’t going anywhere. We’re here to see her.” There was something about the way he said her that made Seele take notice. By any benchmark the Viscount was a handsome young man. He could (and usually did) have the pick of the ladies, so to call attention to one in particular was unusual.

“Who’s her?” Seele asked as the crowd pressed again and he tried to take up as little space as possible.

The viscount merely gave him a smug smirk and said. “You’ll see.”

The next immeasurable block of time passed uncomfortably in a pocket of other people’s noise and body heat. Seele concentrated on keeping his breathing steady and was obliquely aware of a stir among the crowd.

“Sounds like the ceremony’s starting.” said Seele mostly to himself.

“Mhmm.” said Umbra.

“It’s only an hour or so before we can go back to the estate then, right?”

“Mhmm.”

“Are you even listening?”

Seele followed Umbra’s gaze up to a balcony overlooking a courtyard. There were a few important looking people up there, but the one that drew the viscount’s attention was immediately apparent. Sitting at the right hand of the most important looking watcher was a young twili woman. Seele did not consider himself an authority on attractiveness, but even he had to admit that she was beautiful. She was the very image of moderation, wearing a black lace dress that flattering, was not excessively so. Her fiery hair was done up in simple yet elegant twist. Her skin had just the right amount of blue, and her cat-like amber eyes, though partially masked by a lace veil, practically glowed. At that moment she looked directly at him and he turned away in embarrassment.

“What did I tell you? Isn’t she wonderful?” asked Umbra.

“Who is she?” asked Seele as a curious warmth flushed his cheeks.

“That is lady Lumina. She’s the daughter of the king’s grand advisor, and I’m going to marry her some day soon.”

“Oh…is that so?” choked out Seele.

“There’s nothing wrong with that is there confessor?”

“No, of course not.”

A great cheer went up across the whole crowd as the statue of Sol of the Dark Wing was unveiled.