Cursed - III

Nuriya and her retinue have all passed through the main gates and immediately made their way inside.

Sasan Manor was a labyrinthian-web of keeps connected by lines of small white walls and arteries of open and closed-off corridors. Each keep was about three stories but varied in elevation according to its place around the man-made hill and lake that the manor was built around. While it served to comfortably house and train the members of House Sasan—it was also designed like a castle. Each keep, in a way, oversaw its own small courtyard and could be closed off in case of an emergency or an attack so the damage does not spread to the other parts. The different elevations and the nigh-countless number of secret openings could give its mages the right position and vantage point no matter where the threat originates.

Perfect for a family of imperial mages.

A grand, hearty meal awaited the Maiden's entourage upon entering the conservatively furnished audience hall---there were no tables: everyone sat on a cushion, and had their meals served in front of them by the servants. Ul-Sasan sat on a cushion atop a dais, to signify his supremacy over his family. Warm, spiced porridge and freshly baked bread was served in porcelain bowls and trays of blacked-lacquered wood. The scent of garlic and ginger permeated the air of the banquet hall as everyone sat down for a nice meal after a long trip.

The mood in the hall was lively. Everyone who sat beside each other was keen on having their own conversations. Nuriya sat beside her grandfather, regaling him about her time at the Capital as her grandfather nodded and eagerly listened on. Sometimes, he would ask Nuriya to pour him some half-watered wine in mid conversation, which the girl happily did.

He also played his old tricks on her. This time using a crystal ball—which he manipulated using both simple mummery and some light magical application.

Beside his uncles, Isetzar sat quietly with his meal. Keeping a close eye on anything that might be off.

"My, that is lovely, dear!" he heard his grandfather say. "I'm happy to know the Capital has treated our dearest so well. I'm also glad to know that boy Valri has grown-up to be such a splendid young man."

Ul-Sasan then stood up—his wine up in hand, and made an announcement:

"Everyone? Your ears, please."

Everyone stopped talking and silence quickly followed.

"Thank you," Ul-Sasan continued. "As you know? I brought you here because I wanted to celebrate our dear Nuriya's birthday. She is turning seventeen! Can you imagine? My, does time go so fast."

Everyone listened on. The mood was light and people smiled and grinned at Ul-Sasan's glowing pride for the Maiden of Mille-Sezanse.

"Nuriya? You are everything we had hoped you would be. You made us, your family, very proud and very happy. We know you do your best? You allowed us to place our ambitions as a house into your pretty little shoulders—and you have not disappointed."

"To Niya!" her uncle Arbaz yelled out. Everyone raised their glasses in the air to her honor.

Nuriya blushed slightly, put a hand behind her nape, and lightly chuckled.

"Can you imagine? A mage for an empress? To think that when I was but a boy, us mages used to be seen with eyes of distrust. Some have even called us "demonkin". But, through hard work? And many sacrifices? Many mages, not just those of our house, have finally won our place in the world. Now, look—look at us? Look at where we are now. We are now seen as "gifted" …not cursed."

Everyone smiled and reflected on that sentiment. Some even pursed their lips in gratitude to the Heavens.

"Nuriya…We have you to thank for this milestone." Ul-Sasan bowed his head to his granddaughter and everyone followed suit.

Nuriya waved a hand in front of her to temper the praise.

"Oh, and that's not all I heard!" Ul-Sasan spoke with an exaggerated excitement now. "If I'm hearing right? Nuriya here, at just sixteen, mind you all—is already, I say, three times more adept at the art than I was at my peak! My, her raw power alone already surpasses my own!"

Isetzar's ears pricked a bit. Why the emphasis on comparison? Could it be jealousy? No, impossible. Their grandfather was never a petty man. Not once did they ever see him as such a small man.

He looked around him and saw the expression of his uncles, cousins, and all the gifted members of the Sasan Household.

Their faces turned pale. They weren't saying anything, but Isetzar knew then that there was something being said right now. Perhaps? Something only mages could understand.

He looked at Nuriya—but she seemed oblivious.

He switched his gaze to the rest of the family listening on. Wait, the younger mages? They're not reacting.

What could this mean?

He even tried to look through memories as "that person"—but there was nothing.

Isetzar's eyes sharpened and his breathing slowed as he heightened his senses.

"I heard that just last month? You revived the dead woods of Burseti for the Emperor! The place where his mother lost her life. Such a kind, sweet gesture."

Silence. Dead silence.

Even Nuriya noticed it.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

Ul-Sasan turned to his granddaughter with his kindest smile and reassured her. Child, there is nothing you did wrong. You did very well, in fact. I wish I could have done that for His Majesty when he was a boy. Thank you for doing it for him—and me."

"Then why is everyon—"

"Shhh…" Ul-Sasan put a finger between his lips. "It's nothing, dear. But do you mind answering a question for me?"

"Y-yes? Of course!"

Ul-Sasan hugged his granddaughter tightly. And then pulled back to face her:

"What would you like for a birthday breakfast tomorrow?"

Nuriya laughed. "Grandfather! You scared me! I thought you were going to ask something serious?"

Ul-Sasan laughed back. "Niya, by this time, you should understand your old man's taste for the dramatic? Anyway, I think we should all wind down by now? Get ourselves into more comfortable clothes. After all? We have a birthday to prepare for! Ul-Sasan then turned his face to the now completely stunned household.

Everyone relaxed and made their way out the hall to do what they wanted to do in the manor.

"Nuriya? I want to keep this a surprise. So, would you mind staying in your old room until we can get ready?"

"Alright…. But I think I'm a little old for surprise parties."

"Please? For me"

Nuriya threw her arms at her grandfather's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you, Grandfather."

Ul-Sasan hugged his granddaughter very tightly.

"I love you too, Niya…" he said gently. "I'm sorry we couldn't let Valri come here."

"It's all right! I'll have more birthdays and he can always attend on of those! This one's for you. Hope you don't forget that?"

Ul-Sasan kissed Nuriya's forehead before pulling back to face her with a visage of pure paternal radiance.

"I won't, child…"

Nuriya stood up and soon left the audience hall.

Ul-Sasan looked on—his eyes downcast and full of pain.

"For whatever's left of my life…I probably never will.

...….....

Inside one of Sasan Manor's secret meeting rooms…

The family's most talented mages assembled.

"Is grandfather serious?" said Baratzar, one of Nuriya's older cousins. A strong. well-built lad, though not as tall as Isetzar. He had dirty gold hair and brown eyes.

"It seems, he is," answered his father, Malatzar, who had the same coloring and build, but had a face full of whiskers. "But father wouldn't kid about something like this…Oh, poor Niya…"

"I don't understand either…" replied Solahi, Ul-Sasan's niece. A beautiful older woman of light-brown hair but the family's golden eyes. "But…We're here. Uncle has our attention. We caught the message. He should explain it now that we're here in this room."

"We've been with her all this time…I didn't know she did that in the woods!" added Arbaz, dark brown haired, and amber-eyed. "Curses! How did this happen? Why Brother Mitraz' children?"

"We need to keep this a secret from Nuriya and the other kids," added Malatzar. "We can't let them know what scares us so until we can confirm it."

"—No need. Tell everyone—at once."

Ul-Sasan walked into the meeting room.

His face grim and humorless.

"I've already confirmed it…"

Ul-Sasan took something out of his wide sleeves: the crystal ball he played tricks on Nuriya with.

"!"

Its color had turned completely black.

"This is awful…" said Baratzar.

Everyone in the room went pale.

"It is…" Ul-Sasan replied dryly.

"Have you…taken a look inside, uncle?" asked Solahi.

"I…don't have the heart yet…" answered the old man. "I want us to look at it together."

They did.

They put their hands on the ball and looked at that which was seen…

A glimpse into the curtain of destiny…

...

...

"...!..."

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"!!!!!!!!!!!..."

Everyone yanked their hands out and closed their eyes which strained from the sight.

"No!"

"Niya…."

"Why!?"

Ul-Sasan covered his face with his palms as he took a deep breath.

"Assemble the House tonight. Put on your hunting gear. We can't keep this error uncorrected."

Everyone, disturbed and appalled, reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"We drink the bile tonight," the old man took down his hands and wore a face of cold determination.

"What do we do about Setzya?" asked Baratzar.

"Don't let Setzya find out…" added Arbaz. "I wouldn't want him to get involved in this."

"No! We'll tell him," replied Ul-Sasan. "We'll explain as we carry out our duty. I'm going to need you all to help hold him down if he acts out. But above everyone here? He's the one who has the right to know."