This came later than I wanted it too. But alas, I got a LOT of hard life crap going on so it's impossible to focus on anything right now. But hey, better later than never, right?
Anyways, Chapter 4 here is mostly unchanged. Mostly. Maybe I SHOULD have rewritten it, but I did not think I REALLY needed to. I think I can still work with it.
Chapter 5 on the other hand... ...L-let's not talk about that hot mess... :/
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Aegis of Iridescence (Draft Two)
Chapter Four: The Plan
Draft One: 2,220 words
Draft Two: 3,352 words
UP 50.99%

Despite the fact that Aero had hoped this would happen, he could not prevent his shock when it was confirmed. “We’re what!?” he exclaimed. “A-are you serious?! Can you really just leave Hydyraen again? And why DO I have to go with you anyways? I must wonder…” he couldn’t stop asking these sorts of questions. It was right then he realized that their location was one where he knew that such a conversation would be risky to have.
Shade, however, remained calm. “You know I can leave Hydyraen again, right? I HAVE done it before after all,” she said.
“Yes, I know, but how? Isn’t security gonna be beefed up around you? And aren’t I gonna be baggage that would slow you down?” Aero fretted.
“It probably will,” Shade stated in such a way that made Aero think she was out of breath. “But I know what I need to do to escape,” she said. “And don’t worry Aero. I got you covered. You’re the reason I’m here again after all,” she added.
“But why?” Aero pressed. “Why me of all foxes in this place?”
“I’ve been requested to find you and bring you to…” she paused. She looked around and pulled them back down the passage towards the gardens. She moved her face closer to Aero’s. “The Guardians of Iridescence,” she whispered.
Aero tilted his head in confusion. “Guardians of Iridescence…” he echoed. “What in the world is that?” And yet as he asked that question, he realized the familiarity of that name. He’s heard it before… but where? And why?
“I’m surprised you haven’t heard of them,” Shade replied with surprise indeed in her voice.
Aero shook his head. “It does ring a few bells, but I can’t put a paw on it,” he said earnestly.
“You are aware that across the land of Nyethra, foxes are the most hated creature of them all for countless generations, right?” Shade suddenly asked.
Aero was somewhat taken aback by the question and even found it surprising if it were true. Were shadow vulpines just that horrendous? He doesn’t know their true nature on the surface, but… “Honestly, this is news to me,” he started. “If shadow vulpines are as bad as this then… perhaps it shouldn’t be,” he added. “Should I feel shame in who I am?”
Shade shook her head adamantly. “No Aero. It shouldn’t matter what you are. It only matters what you actually do with your life. That’s why I left Hydyraen years ago to join the Guardians upon learning of their existence. They’re an organization of foxes much like Hydyraen that operate for the exact opposite reasons. On top of opposing Hydyraen, they also serve to preserve and protect the well being of all Seven Forces of Life,” Shade explained.
Aero could not believe his ears. “Benevolent foxes!? Hah, that’s a good one! Tell me another, please!” there was so much unwarranted and unexpected bitterness in his voice, that it scared Aero. If these were his feelings, then he knew something had to change. Was Shade’s offer the answer? It had to be. There was simply no questioning anything anymore!
“It’s a big world out there, Aero,” Shade replied. “And besides, it was I who saved your tail this morning, right? Aren’t I proof that foxes can do good things? Also your pacifism is another example. Am I wrong?” she countered.
Aero could only stare at her. “And here I thought that foxes were only capable of doing dastardly, and unimaginably horrible things,” he said. “I really hope you aren’t lying to me like Arcane is. Gods know that’s what shadow vulpines do best.”
Shade held up a paw as if to swear an oath. “I promise you, that I’m not,” she said sincerely.
“You have to had escaped Hydyraen for a pretty damn good reason like that after all,” Aero conceded with a sigh. “Okay, I believe you.”
“Thank you Aero,” Shade said with a bow of her head. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Still, Aero had no idea why specifically he was so important to this vixen. It made no sense to him. “Why though?” he voiced his thoughts aloud. “I still can’t see why I’m so important to you.”
Shade shook her head. “That information would take too long to give you now. We’ll have to wait until we get there. Honestly, I’m bursting at the seams with it; I really want to tell you right now, but I know I cannot as long as we remain here in hostile territory.”
Aero nodded. “I get it. I suppose what we need to focus on now is how the hell we’re going to escape this damned place,” he said. “I have no idea how you did it and avoided detection before, but… think you can do it again?”
Shade nodded. “It will be harder that’s for sure, with you in tow. The rumors were right in saying I escaped using that hole in the garden ceiling. I used Shadow Smoke to do so,” she explained.
“But since I can’t…” Aero started.
“We have to find another way,” Shade finished. “And I know what we have to do. It’ll be much riskier, but… if we can do it…” she trailed off.
“What?” Aero encouraged her to continue.
“I have contact with another Guardian just outside of Hydyraen who will help me escort you to the Guardians when we escape. I will have them assist us, but we have to find a way out of Hydyraen to do so,” Shade explained.
“G-get outside Hydyraen?” Aero echoed nervously. “H-how are we supposed to do that in our position? Considering Arcane is wary of both of us, this can’t be possible!”
“He’s openly wary of me,” Shade responded. “He wouldn’t make it obvious that he is wary of you. After all, if you are a pacifist, what does Arcane really have to worry about you for?” she asked.
“I feel like he knows the answer to that question, whether it’s obvious or not,” Aero replied skeptically.
“Perhaps he does,” Shade replied. “I think our best bet is if we get Arcane to permit us to leave Hydyraen, but as you said, his suspicion of us both will make it very difficult,” she looked thoughtful.
“So what’s your idea?” Aero asked worriedly.
“You need to convince Arcane yourself, I’m afraid,” she said solemnly.
A tingle of dread sunk into Aero fingers and toes as she said that. He had spent nearly all his time in Hydyraen since Arcane rose to power simply avoiding him. He had already failed earlier that day, but now he would have to be willing to see him directly? That cannot be allowed to happen!
Shade recognized the look he must have had on his face. “I know how daunting this must be, but you know that I can’t face him myself.”
“C-can’t we just leave Hydyraen without him knowing about it anyways?” Aero replied apprehensively. “Y-you have done it before you know.”
Shade shook her head. “Again, I can’t explain why I know this, but he can’t track me very easily. But unfortunately, he can track you. Getting his approval will make it easier on all of us, even if it’s still possible for him to track us. It will buy us time, which is all we really need,” she explained.
“I-I see,” Aero replied with a firm nod.
“Though your concern is not unfounded; Arcane will eventually find us both again once we’re out. But with the time we buy, we can prepare that much easier,” Shade explained. “It can make the difference we need to gain the upper paw on him.”
Aero huffed regretfully. “To think I spent so long trying to avoid his gaze. Now I must seek him out willingly. What a world.” He felt his ears flatten apprehensively as he thought about confronting Arcane again, for the second time in just one day. This was something he thought he’d never survive at all!
“Thank you Aero. I know this must be really hard for you to do, but we need you to temporarily break that seal that binds Arcane’s senses to our hearts and minds,” Shade said as Aero slowly began walking up the stairs out of South Wing. Aero took a look back at her, not even hiding obvious fear on his face before continuing. Aero knew the dangers he was about to face and yet it did not stop a new feeling from rising in his chest with each stride he took. Overcoming and succeeding in evading these dangers would result in his lifelong dream of freedom. Freedom… finally to reach the surface as a free fox. There was some kind of good feeling resting in his heart. What was it? Was this what they called, hope? Such an incredible feeling. But he had to face Arcane for that to come to fruition. This is something he must not fail to do. It felt unreal. It felt like a dream. Aero suddenly felt he could take on anything. Even face Arcane. His fear was suddenly shoved to the side. It was still there and Aero could feel it, but it was the hope that took over his soul right then. Facing Arcane. Rendezvous with a Guardian outside and flee the hell that was all he knew. It couldn’t be, but it will be. Aero will make it happen.
Without even realizing it, Aero had reached North Wing, where Arcane presided. He must have been lost in his thoughts again as his paws carried him to where he needed to go. Aero momentarily wondered how he did not run into anything being that absentminded. Then he realized where he stood. This was where that hellish tyrant lived! North Wing was the highest place and closest to the surface in Hydyraen besides the front gates themselves. It is supposedly where Arcane was able to spy on passerby that walked above not knowing what nest lied underneath their paws. As Aero ascended the stairs, he saw something emerge from the top of them. Arcane!?
“I hope Arcane will figure out who it was that intruded in my sanctuary and rip them apart!” came the muttering voice of the gardener. Aero’s eyes crossed his and there was fire in the gardener’s limited ones. For a brief moment, Aero thought he saw a flash of recognition in them that jolted his senses, but it vanished quickly as the gardener descended. Aero gulped as he continued ascending the stairs that would take him towards Arcane’s quarters, he felt the warm feeling vanish and become replaced with a new one that oppressed him. What was this one? It was so familiar, yet Aero could not tell what it was. Was it fear again? Nervousness? Maybe. For a split second, Aero wanted nothing more than to turn back. ...No. This was one confrontation he could not afford to run from. This was his mission, and his alone. He had to do this. Aero clenched his fists to force his self control not to tell him to turn tail and run. He knew he may never get another chance like this again; there was no room for hesitation of any kind.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Aero was met with a large, heavy looking. And unusually fancy wooden door. Did Arcane steal this from something? Aero was vaguely aware of a fist attached to his arm flying up to the door. He could not stop it as it rapped on the door a couple times.
Overpowering and intense silence followed after the knock echoed for a couple seconds. Then the voice came through the door. It was a growl, but it was emotionless. Aero could not tell how the owner of it felt. “Who’s there?”
Aero’s muzzle opened with difficulty and no sound escaped it right away. Though he knew it’d be worse if he dawdled so he forced himself to speak. “I-it’s me, Aero, sir,” he said, first word or two croaking out.
A few more of silence that intimated Aero followed, then Arcane spoke again. “Ah! Aero! This is a surprise! Come in, come in!” Arcane’s voice sounded genuinely warm and inviting. Still, Aero could not help but feel that something was amiss about it all. Nevertheless, Aero pushed open the doors.
What he saw within Arcane’s quarters did not shock him in the slightest, yet he couldn’t help but let a small gasp escape. The whole room was dotted with all kinds of objects and fixtures. All of which were likely worth a fortune. Paintings, vases, statues lined the walls on tables and pedestals. In front of Arcane’s desk, where he sat, looking patient as Aero took in the sights, there was a display case with what looked like at least one specimen of every precious metal and gem he could imagine. Some were capable of sparkling, despite not having nearly enough light to do so. These must be rare magical gems like mythril and orichalcum. How in the world did Arcane obtain these…?
“Liking what you see around you, Mister Aero?” Arcane spoke, as he stood. “This is the rewards we obtained from every deed we have put into action throughout Nyethra. Yes… just within Ryandan Forest and as far north as Deltania and Lyron. Yet, the world is so vast and unimaginably big in comparison. Who knows what more we could find if we were able to journey much further?”
“I-I-” Aero stammered, trying and failing to find the right words to say in response. He felt a tap on his shoulder and he summoned all the self control not to flinch or whirl around in complete fright. The mere prospect of Arcane touching him? Not something Aero was remotely okay with at all.
“Yes, I understand your speechlessness. Such a large amount of beauty to behold. But out there, there is so much more, waiting to become our spoils. However much they are worth, I must say, is nothing compared to the feelings inflicted on their previous owners’ faces when we took what was ours from their grasp. Looks of defeat, despair, desperation… nobody could put a price on all that,” he said softly.
“Hmph,” was the only sound Aero could manage to make. He had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from saying what he really meant.
“So, my young, fellow mercenary, what can I do for you tonight?” Arcane stated as he took a seat at the desk. Behind the desk there was what looked like a small mirror, but Aero realized that this must have been what he used to spy on the surface. He saw a dark blue color in it. It was dotted with several little white dots. Was that the night sky he’s heard a lot about? Wow…
“I-I… uh…” Aero stammered, completely forgetting what he wanted to say. He cursed himself. Why did this always happen when he needed it to not!?
However, Arcane was chortling. “What is it? Cat got your tongue?” he sighed. “That takes me back. One of the first things I ever took was from a couple of cats. You see that scepter over there?” he pointed to a scepter with a large glass ball at its tip. Inside it appeared to be a huge red metal of some kind. “That’s exactly it. Blood platinum. Extremely rare on Nyethra. Incredibly valuable. In fact, it’s likely the most valuable thing I have in this entire room.”
Aero felt anger rising in his soul. How dare Arcane do any of this to anybody!? If this is the legacy that Arcane wished to continue inflicting on this world… Aero could not let it happen any longer. He won’t let it happen! “I want to go outside, into Nyethra!” he suddenly said loudly.
Arcane stopped talking and looked at Aero with curiosity is his eyes and nothing more. Aero shifted his paws uncomfortably on the rough stone floor. He wished he had waited until Arcane had stopped talking. Interrupting him was probably a very bad thing for him to do… The two of them stared at each other for seconds. Minutes? It felt like hours before Arcane finally spoke.
“Well aren’t you an eager one?!” Arcane burst out with a little laugh. “I like that you are eager to finally learn our arts! I knew it was gonna be a matter of time before we’d get to ya! You are long overdue, after all. Though with your power, there won’t be too much time to make up for!”
“So I take it as I am able to then?” Aero prompted hopefully.
Arcane shook his head. “Hold it right there, Aero. You are still acting much too kind for me to completely have faith in your ability. Remember. Our powers are fueled by hatred and negativity,” he growled.
Aero felt himself flush red. Of course they were. Arcane truly was an enigma; he seems to want to be treated without respect. What was the reason behind these contraries…? “What I mean to say is… I WILL go into Nyethra whether you want me to or not! I need no permission from you, you understand me!?” Aero exclaimed, voice rising. Under normal circumstances, Aero hated being defiant, but against Arcane? For some reason it felt… exhilarating! For good and bad reasons of course.
“Aha! There’s that gumption I was looking for! However it could use some work, naturally. We’ll make a natural shadow vulpine out of you yet, my friend,” Arcane stated with approval. “Yes. I will permit you to leave the gates into Nyethra tomorrow.”
Aero nodded. He tried to keep his defiant and demanding demeanor as he said, “Shade will be accompanying me, will she?”
Arcane stopped his happy look and put on an angry face that Aero hated seeing. He tried not to flinch. “What!?” Arcane growled.
No turning back now, by a long shot. “Well as far as I know, nobody will be keeping an eye on her while I’m out in Nyethra. Who knows what kind of trouble she would get into… unsupervised? And besides, a good way to observe her motives is to observe her out in the fields. If she tries anything funny, I’ll be certain to stop her,” Aero explained, hoping he sounded far more confident than he felt.
Arcane looked thoughtful as he looked past Aero. “Hm… a compelling argument. You are also quite a lot smarter for your age as well. Brains and brawn eh? Of this caliber at age sixteen? This is impressive! Alright then. Shade will be joining us in the fields tomorrow.”
“Us?” Aero echoed, instantly feeling crestfallen. He attempted to keep his face from reflecting it.
“If this is your first time out, then you will need a guide. As I said, I do not trust Shade and that extends to what she would tell you. I will join you,” Arcane insisted with another growl.
Aero sighed silently. “Yes sir.”
“Good boy. Now, is there something elses you wished to talk to me about?” he asked in a strange voice. It was as if he knew something Aero wished he didn’t. The gardens? No. It couldn’t be. Could it?
“N-no sir,” Aero accidently let a stammer slip out.
“Then off with you!” Arcane declared. And it was with that, before Aero could even react, he was facing the closed door to Arcane’s quarters as if he teleported. He couldn’t remember moving or being moved out of the room.
As Aero descended the stairs, he began to fret as he always has. He may have gotten Arcane’s approval as Shade asked, but if Arcane was to join them directly tomorrow, then escape would prove impossible with such company. And then there was Arcane’s strange behavior in addressing Aero at the end of the meeting. There was something up with the way Arcane acted and Aero was not sure what to think of it. But most importantly, how was Shade going to react to all of this!?
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S-so... chapter five is next... ...Oh boy... this... this is gonna be a disaster... hopefully I can fix it then, my friends...