The Cloven Summit

The very next day, the sun didn't peak from past the clouds. It was supposedly colder as they approached winter. The gray overcast sky really set the mood, but all would change soon enough.

Early that morning, Rene woke up to prepare breakfast. But at her dismay was met with a knock on her front door. A knight in full regalia approached Rene's doorstep, and handed her a letter addressed to Syndel and Kendell. Rene's demeanor shifted as she closed the door behind her and made her way to give the letter to them, "those were honor guards, what the hell are they doing in Lightcrest?" Rene thought to herself.

Rene knocked on the door of Rene and Kendell handing them the letter, Kendell tore along the top and pulled the paper from the envelope. It read as follows,

"So, did you think waltzing into my country freely would be reasonable knowing you're both highly sought out? Fret not though, I am lenient in this case. However, I will be hosting a summit in a week from this day the letter arrives. Leaders from all over the continent will be present, and I expect you two to be present as well. My honor guard will give you a lift to Luminaria in a few days. But they'll be sticking around for the time being, assuming you'd attempt to flee. I hope to see you both and someone you two should know very well will also be there. A selection of suits and dresses will also be sent your way... You are my guests after all.

- Warm regards, Empress Reiki Sakuragi."

As they read the letter, Syndel and Kendell exchanged nervous glances. Rosa arrived and was stopped by the honor guard outside, adding to the tension. They knew they were in deep trouble, but they also knew they had to face the consequences of their actions.

Kendell spoke up, his voice filled with determination. "We're in this together now, even if we die. I'll get us out of this." Despite the fear and uncertainty, there was a sense of solidarity among them. A few hours later, Ash, Jillian, and Marco returned to Rene's loft.

"Did you know there are soldiers stationed outside your home? I guess even when you think you're staying behind the scenes; you can still end up in the spotlight. But, we also received a letter, so it's fine. We'll be there with you on the day of arrival." Ash spoke, sitting at the dinner table.

"Thank the gods, that's comforting to know. My investigation about that family has come closer to being complete. This will make for a great opportunity. I'll go under the guise of representing North Deiden, this should give me enough freedom to go about it as I please."

"Be careful Rene, we may be detectives; but this is an Empress we're talking about. Choose your words going forward wisely. For everyone's sake." Jillian suggested, rubbing her thumbs underneath her chin in deep thought.

Marco chimed in, "in that case. I see this as an even larger reason to go after them. No matter what position you hold. Your actions will have consequences."

"I hate to say it, but I agree with him. Gavriel may have been doing something very shady, but to think he'd be murdered in broad daylight. It still doesn't bode well with me." Kendell agreed, standing near the fridge.

"I wonder if the High Council will be in attendance, and that woman... I hope to see her again." Rene pondered.

"No reason to worry too much now, we'll meet up on the day of and go together." Ash spoke.

She felt some way now that Rene had the eyes of the kingdom watching over her.

As the days pass, several shipments of clothing directly from the tailor arrive at Rene's loft. Everyone picked their outfits, they exchanged cheerful laughs despite the thought of the Empress watching over them. Then came the week of the Summit.

Kendell stood in front of the mirror, slipping on the coat he ordered from the tailor a couple of days prior. He whispered, "perfect," as he zipped up the coat. It was a slim fit patterned coat with a hidden pocket on the inside. He wore his sword on his left hip, and packed his clothing in a suitcase he also got made from the tailor. The tailor managed to create a small compact space to pack lots of clothing into a small box like case. He got Syndel and Rene the same thing, and they began to get dressed. All of them decided to change clothing once they got there.

Syndel knocked at the door, "can I come in?"

"Of course, there's no need to ask." He replied, as he met her as she walked into the room. The two of them shared a kiss then Syndel continued with her thought. "The guards said we can go ahead and pack our things in the carriage. Weapons are supposedly prohibited, but I think that won't be the case once we reach our room. We should be leaving soon." Syndel spoke, looking into the mirror at Kendell standing behind her.

"Oh yeah? Okay, I'll load it on." Kendell grabbed his and her luggage and walked it outside as one of the guards packed it onto the carriage.

Rene came out and passed her luggage as well, she had on a sleek black dress revealing the tattoo on her left calf.

"I didn't know you had a tattoo Rene, that's cool." Kendell spoke.

"Thanks, I got it around my second year of working with the Ministry." She replied, looking back at it as Kendell looked down at it. Syndel came outside with her raincoat on, along with black slacks with a pair of boots.

"You think it's gonna rain?" Kendell asked.

"This feels comfortable for the time being, but it just might. This air feels strange." Syndel replied, as she got into the carriage.

"If it does, I'll make it stop." Rene said, smiling looking up.

They all got inside and rode to the front of the guild, Darian and Marwarida got into the carriage.

"You're the adventurers who helped with the investigation, I don't think we've introduced ourselves. My name is Darian and this is Marwarida." "It's a pleasure to meet you all, you may call me Mara." She spoke, smiling.

"Likewise, I'm Kendell, Syndel, and Rene." He spoke, pointing to the respective person.

"Any idea where we're headed?" Mara asked.

"The Holy City of Luminaria." Rene added, Darian chimed in; "with a name like that, you'd expect it to be otherworldly."

"It is." She replied.

"Are Ash, Marco, and Jill not coming?" Syndel asked.

"They were supposed to ride with us, let's just assume they're already headed there." Rene assured her.

A few more carriages from all over Lightcrest pulled in front of the guild. More adventurers, well-dressed, along with Gil and Rosa climbed inside one. The High Council along with their guards were also present in the line of carriages. The long line of carriages departed shortly after, it would roughly be a four-hour drive. They departed just before noon, Kendell looked out the window appreciating the beauty of the rural side of Cloven.

Darian wore a deep purple suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie to the Summit. The suit was tailored to fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall, lean frame. The deep purple color complemented his naturally silver hair and his brown skin, and gave him an air of confidence and sophistication. Marwarida wore a black dress with a deep purple corset that complemented the color of Darian's suit. The dress had intricate lace details and a flowing skirt. She paired the dress with black combat boots and silver jewelry, including a chain necklace and several bracelets. Her makeup was bold with dark lipstick and smokey eye makeup. Both of their outfits complimented each other to a T.

The carriage was silent, all you could hear were horses' galloping and wheels lugging on the ground. Mara spoke up, "so, Kendell. Will this be your first Summit?" She asked, curiously.

"It will be, I don't know what to expect of this." Kendell replied, focusing on her.

"It's going to be a meeting of all the surrounding countries, there are five overall sets over the year. You can expect lots of unfamiliar faces along with familiar ones."

"I see, I see."

"Don't think too much of it. There will be lots of opportunities to network with different nations and kingdoms while you're there so don't feel too scared to socialize." Darian chimed in.

As the carriages drew closer to Luminaria, Syndel's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow, this city is beautiful," she remarked, admiring the towering spires and glittering lights that shone in the distance. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Rene, sitting beside her, smiled in agreement. "And look at all the flowers," she added, pointing to the fields of blooming flora that surrounded the city. "It's like a dream."

Mara, who had been gazing out the window in silence, spoke up. "And the air is so fresh here," she said, inhaling deeply. "I can smell the flowers and the sea all at once."

Kendell, who had been lost in thought, finally looked up from his musings. "This is the first modern city I've seen since coming here," he said, taking in the sight of the paved roads and the central fountains that adorned the city's streets. "It's impressive."

As they entered the city, the feeling of love was almost palpable. Couples strolled hand in hand along the streets, and the air was filled with the sound of music and laughter. The architecture of the buildings was breathtaking, with intricate designs and patterns etched into the stone facades.

The group continued on in silence, taking in the sights and sounds of Luminaria. It was as if they had stepped into another world, one of beauty and magic. The feeling of love only grew stronger as they made their way deeper into the city, and Kendell couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale of it all.

As they approached their destination, a grand palace that stood at the heart of the city, Kendell couldn't shake the feeling that something momentous was about to happen. The city of Luminaria had a certain air about it, one that hinted at secrets and wonders beyond imagining.

-Meanwhile, in the palace, Reiki Sakuragi sat in front of the large vanity mirror in her private quarters. She fidgeted slightly as the seamstress, a timid woman with large spectacles, carefully pinned her dress in place. The dress was a deep, rich red that matched Reiki's hair, which was faded to a grayish-white color. She was a striking figure, with sharp features and a vitiligo blemish on the left side of her face.

Valentine stood beside her, looking worried. "Are you sure it's safe for us to all be here?" she asked, her red hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "What if he decides to show up?"

Reiki raised an eyebrow at her. "He wouldn't dare step foot in Luminaria," she said confidently. "Besides, we have the Ironhearts watching the perimeter."

Lilac, a young woman with long purple hair and sharp features. "I'm going to finish getting ready," she announced, giving a small bow to Reiki and Valentine. "Excuse me."

Reiki nodded, turning back to the mirror as Lilac left the room. "You worry too much, Val," she said with a small smile. "Everything will go according to plan."

"Do you think our brother being here will cause any problems?" Valentine asked.

"He suffered a grand injury for sure, but he should be fine. Besides, he may be getting old; but he can handle himself." Reiki reassured her.