Who are you?

Chapter 4

We imprisoned Valeria and Ignatius in separate arcane cells designed to dampen magical abilities. The walls hummed with glyphs and incantations that effectively shackled them in a realm of null magic. After ensuring their confinement, Aleera and I returned to our private chamber, both mentally and physically drained.

"How are you holding up?" Aleera's voice was a soft whisper as she gently touched my belly, her eyes filled with concern.

"I'm okay, but it's not just me we need to worry about," I said, my hand meeting hers, the sensation spreading warmth through my body."I know. The risks we face now are more perilous, but so are the rewards," she replied, holding my gaze.

"I can't help but wonder—why did Valeria and Ignatius betray us? What could've twisted them so?"

"We'll interrogate them tomorrow. For tonight, we need rest, especially you," Aleera insisted, guiding me to the plush bed adorned with celestial motifs.We slept, but sleep brought no relief. The night was riddled with nightmares—visions of shadowy figures stealing our unborn child, of time unraveling like a frayed thread. I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird.

"Y/N, what's wrong?" Aleera jolted awake, immediately sensing my distress.

"Just nightmares, but they felt so real." I could see her eyes harden as if she were calculating the probabilities of dreams manifesting into reality."We can't afford to dismiss anything as mere nightmare or coincidence," she declared, rising from the bed. "Get dressed; we're going to the interrogation chamber."We walked in steely silence through the castle corridors, finally reaching the chamber. Aleera instructed the guards to wait outside as we stepped in. The tension was palpable, like electricity in the air before a storm.

"Valeria, Ignatius. Why have you betrayed the alliance? What do you gain from destabilizing the realm?" Aleera's voice was icy, her patience clearly worn thin.

Valeria looked up, her eyes meeting Aleera's. "You don't understand; we're trying to save it.""Save it? By attacking us?" I interjected, skepticism lacing my voice."You're tampering with forces you can't comprehend. That Scepter—it's an abomination!" Ignatius finally spoke, his eyes filled with genuine dread.Aleera clenched her fists. "The Scepter is the key to saving our realm from the looming apocalypse. How dare you question our intentions?"Valeria sighed. "It's not just the realm at risk, Aleera. It's the multiverse. The Scepter could create ripples through realities, causing a cosmic catastrophe."

"So, you decide to take matters into your own hands by attacking us? Do you not trust me?" Aleera's voice cracked, a rare moment of vulnerability.

"We couldn't take that risk, not when the stakes are this high," Valeria replied.Aleera turned to me. "What do you make of this, Y/N?"I pondered their words, my instincts tingling. "They might be misguided, but I believe they're sincere. Perhaps we should consult the Council of Elders. They've overseen magical artifacts for eons; they'll know if the Scepter is safe."

Aleera nodded, her expression contemplative. "Very well. We'll summon the Council. But know this: if you've deceived us, there will be dire consequences."

As we exited the chamber, I felt a strange sensation—an inexplicable, yet urgent pull. It guided me toward a concealed alcove I'd never noticed before. Hidden there was a mysterious tome with pages that seemed to glow."What's this?" I murmured, sharing my find with Aleera."I've never seen it before, but it feels... important," she responded, the intrigue evident in her eyes.

As we opened the tome, an incantation revealed itself, glowing incandescently. It spoke of an ancient rite that could unveil the 'veil of veracity'—truth hidden even from the gods.

"Do you think this could help us understand the Scepter's true nature?" I asked, the words barely escaping my lips."It's worth a try," Aleera said, her eyes meeting mine.

The Council of Elders convened in a celestial chamber adorned with artifacts that had shaped the history of our realm—crystal orbs, runic tablets, and staffs glowing with primordial energies. Each member had eons of wisdom distilled into an immortal form: Syra, the Oracle; Gideon, the Archivist; and Elysia, the Warden of Light.

Aleera and I stood side by side, the weight of the decisions that lay ahead feeling like a tangible force between us."We've convened the Council, per your suggestion," Aleera told Valeria and Ignatius through a telepathic link. The link would allow them to hear and speak during the council without leaving their confinement.The Council members focused their attention on the Scepter of Time laid out before them."I sense a convolution of intentions, a cocktail of potential disasters and miracles," Syra began, her eyes milky yet penetrating.

"The Scepter's power, while prodigious, is not innately malevolent. It's the intentions behind its use that will manifest its nature," Gideon added, scanning through an ethereal tome that floated before him.

"Valeria and Ignatius fear that the Scepter could disturb the balance of not just this realm, but the entire multiverse," I explained, keenly aware of every eye on me, every ear attuned to my words."That's a justifiable concern," Elysia weighed in. "We've seen artifacts of lesser power inflict catastrophic damages when misused.""So, what is your counsel?" Aleera asked, her voice tinged with impatience."We cannot give a verdict yet. We must perform the ritual of the Veil of Veracity to ascertain the full scope of the Scepter's powers," Syra proposed.With a unanimous agreement, we prepared for the ritual. I felt a rush of nerves, like prickling static, and not just because of the Council. Our child seemed restless too, as if aware of the pivotal moment approaching.Aleera noticed. "Are you alright?"

"As alright as one can be when the fate of multiple universes hangs in the balance," I answered, half-jokingly.

We positioned the Scepter at the ritual's focal point. Each Council member started chanting incantations, their voices melding into a harmonious hymn. I felt the room's atmosphere thicken, saw the reality around us blur as if oscillating between dimensions.

"Whatever happens, I love you," Aleera whispered, her voice steadying my trembling hands.

The chant reached a crescendo, and then there was silence—a silence so profound it felt like a vacuum. The Veil of Veracity shimmered into existence, revealing a series of visions. They were like threads of reality, each a different outcome of using the Scepter.I saw realms flourishing, timelines healing, but I also saw apocalyptic landscapes, universes disintegrating into voids. Among them was a particularly heart-wrenching vision: Aleera and I, separated by a chasm in the fabric of reality, reaching out for each other but never touching.As the veil dissipated, the room returned to focus, and we were left to digest the gravity of what we'd just witnessed.

"The Scepter is both a blessing and a curse," Syra finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"It could either save or doom us all. But its misuse could lead to unprecedented disaster," Elysia added."So, what should we do?" Aleera's voice had a hint of desperation.

"I propose sealing it away, at least until we can ascertain how to wield it without risking annihilation," Gideon suggested.

"The sealing spell should contain multiple layers of protection, and the key should be split amongst us," Syra concurred.I felt a twinge of relief but also disappointment; the Scepter could have been the solution to many problems. Yet, the visions had made it clear: it was a gamble we couldn't afford, especially with our child on the way.

"We agree to your counsel," Aleera nodded, her hand finding mine as if drawing strength from our connection.

"As do we," came the begrudging agreement from Valeria and Ignatius through the telepathic link.As the Council members performed the sealing spell, I felt a momentary sense of loss, followed by a wave of assurance.