“We are all going to become memories someday; some of us before others, but what will set us apart is how we, as memories, live on in those who follow us.”
Though he had said these words many times before, they were of little comfort to him now, especially not after Cynox. For years she had been a constant source of comfort. But now she was gone. Even though King Eric IX knew that he would see his wife again, that didn’t make the awful feelings go away. As he sat in the lavish royal suite in Andorianis’ palace, he couldn’t help but remember the woman whom he had shared the suite with. He remembered their very first date…
“Eric, wait up!” called a teenage girl, trying to scale a rock bigger than her.
Eric looked down, staggering slightly from the immense weight he carried on his back. “Come on, Andi!” he said firmly, “I’m carrying everything on my back, and you only have your light armor!”
He was mostly right. While he was carrying their lunch, two sets of armor, weapons, and an awkward signal beacon on his back, Andrea wore her cutlass around her waist. The sword constantly got stuck in the rock face, threatening to send her to a brutal death.
“You don’t have to go so fast!”
Eric sighed, knowing that she was right this time. He jumped down a couple of rocks to help her, falling backwards as he landed. Andrea reached out for clump of grass, pulling it out of the rock as she tried to pull herself up onto the next rock. Her slender fingers slid off the gray stone, allowing her body to fall.
Just as she was expecting a painful end, Andrea was surprised to find herself motionless against the gray stone. Looking up, she saw Eric’s smiling face looking down at her, one of his wiry arms reaching down to support her. In one graceful motion, he pulled her up. She embraced him, refusing to let go, even as he retrieved the burden he had set aside.
“How about we fly to the top?” asked Eric, pulling Andrea off.
“Fine by me” replied Andrea, firmly grabbing Eric’s left arm while he concentrated on his magic. A large red disk appeared under their feet, carrying them up to the top of the mountain they’d been trying to ascend. A snap of Eric’s fingers brought their meal out.
They enjoyed their lunch on the rock, under a sunny sky. It went well, until Andrea started to cry.
“What’s wrong?” asked a concerned Eric.
“It’s just… so perfect” she managed through her sobs.
Eric gave her a quizzical look that brought Andrea out of her fit. “Well,” started Andrea, “You know who I am. You know who my father is. You know what I’m destined to become.”
Eric frowned. This was not what he’d planned for this lunch. This was supposed to be a romantic outing, not a matter of social positions. “Andrea…” he tried.
Andrea broke out into a fresh round of tears. “You’re royalty. I’m no good for you.” She started to get up.
Out of sheer irritation, Eric cast a spell that rooted Andrea to the rocks. “Andi, I know where you are in Andorian society, and quite frankly, I don’t care. You can choose your own destiny. You know that I love you; and no gap in social status can change that.” He removed his spell, which allowed Andrea to leave. But she didn’t. She flung herself at him, locking him in an embrace he couldn’t break.
Eric managed his way out of the Andorian Palace and onto the wide boulevard out front. It was dark outside, despite the noon hour, cloaking the magnificent street in a darkness that hid its true beauty. Now another memory came back…
The clarion call of two thousand trombones pierced the air, echoing around the acoustically perfect buildings that towered over the processional. Eric IX and his sister stood on an ornately carved wooden stage, facing the long, wide street. Eric was holding large golden sword in his left hand, while his sister held a purple cushion with an oaken crown inlaid with jewels.
“I don’t like this” said Eric’s sister under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear.
“What now Frances?” he replied with a sigh.
“I don’t like the fact someone like Andrea is becoming the Queen of Andoria. The country is going to descend into choas.”
Eric ignored this insult. He knew that Frances was bitter about Andrea’s coronation, keeping in mind that his sister was supposed to be crowned instead.
“This isn’t going to last” whispered Frances. Eric tried to respond, but a sudden breakout of cheering stopped him. The 50,000 piece band below the stage proceeded to play the Andorian National Anthem, cueing the procession to start moving. Andrea was seated on an oak chair fettered to a floating platform at the end of the parade, waving happily to the citizens lining the streets. Eric smiled broadly for Andrea. Frances was not, preferring to wear a scowl instead. When Andrea finally ascended the stage, she did so with the mien of a lady. She knelt down to accept the crown and blade from the siblings.
“Citizens of Andoria” boomed Eric, magically enhancing his voice, “In the tradition of your great nation, and to ensure your continued peace and prosperity, I hereby crown Andrea Mynossos the next Queen of Andoria!”
As the citizenry cheered their new Queen, Eric took the crown from his disgruntled sister and placed it on Andrea’s head, handing her the sword as she rose. The cheering intensified as Andrea stood up straight. Unable to restrain herself any longer, Frances walked off the stage.
“This isn’t over”, sneered Frances quietly.
Eric shuffled away from the processional, toward Andorianis’ looming Wonder. On the way he passed through the shadow of the city’s ancient cathedral. Looking down at the gold ring he wore on his left hand, he remembered how his sister’s anger boiled over.
Eric stood at the cathedral’s altar, holding Andrea’s hands as Adam V read the traditional wedding rites. A sudden increase in violence and the threat of a horrific continental war following Andrea’s coronation had forced the pair to get married earlier than they wanted.
“If there is anyone who believes these two should not be united in happiness” spoke Adam to the assembled citizens and Pyros, “may they speak up now or forever hold their peace.”
There was a slight murmur among the crowd, but no one spoke out, allowing Adam to proceed. “Then, by the power invested in me by the Council of Nations, I hereby pronounce…”
He was cut off by the cathedral doors swinging violently open, allowing the bright daylight to spill in. A platoon of armored soldiers marched in, followed by a heavily armored woman wearing brown armor from head to toe. In her right hand she carried an epee, the weapon of choice for dueling.
“What is the meaning of this?!” demanded Adam of the soldiers as the panicked congregation fled. “Explain yourselves!”
The soldier wearing brown armor stepped forward, taking off her helmet. “I have come to challenge Andrea’s claim to the throne, and by extension, her marriage to my brother.”
Frances ran an armored hand through her hair, straightening it out of sheer habit. Her brothers were stunned at her audacity. Andrea stepped behind Eric for protection.
“You have no right” spat Adam, readying a fireball in his right hand.
“I have every right” retorted Frances, brandishing an aged document, “A right guaranteed me by the Ascension Treaty of 5000.” She threw the document at her brother, who caught it deftly.
“Well?” asked Eric, supporting his quivering fiancé.
“Unfortunately, Eric” replied Adam, lowering the document, “Frances is right. She has the right to challenge Andrea for the throne. Right here, right now.”
“She’s not ready” protested Eric.
“Bummer” sneered Frances, “And you two can’t interfere in the duel” she spat at her brothers.
Eric looked at Andrea, finding her serene face full of determination. “Can you do this?” he asked her.
“I must” she replied.
“Just remember what I taught you.”
Andrea peeled herself away from her lover, mentally preparing herself for the fight. She appeared to be at a disadvantage: Besides her armor, Frances wore a variety of weapons and was well trained in magic. Andrea had on her wedding dress, her crown, no weapons and only a basic understanding about magic.
“Your move” taunted Frances.
To protect herself, Andrea conjured a fiery short sword and large round shield into her hands. Frances started to circle her opponent, while her brothers looked on. Frances’ soldiers began to chant encouragement for their commander.
Frances struck first, bringing her sword around towards Andrea’s side. Andrea dodged, but was liberated from her dress’ long train. Andrea retaliated with a shield bash that made Frances jump back. A fireball cast by Frances was absorbed into Andrea’s blocking shield.
“Impressive” commented Frances, “But I’m done playing. Now we really fight!”
“Fine by me” retorted Andrea, adjusting her crown.
Frances flew at Andrea, unleashing a punishing volley of strikes Andrea barely managed to block. A shield bash knocked the assailant away, leaving a large partially melted red mark in her armor. Frances raised her sword, but found a melted lump of metal attached to her hilt. Andrea smiled over her shield. Frances threw the lump away.
Not amused, Frances let out a battle cry that sent shivers down Andrea’s spine. Her eyes glowing, she absorbed the Andrea’s arms into her palm, leaving her defenseless, and then shot it back at Andrea as a fireball. Andrea instinctively cowered in the face of the attack, but she was not roasted. A shield had appeared between the combatants, which had sent Frances’ attack through the cathedral’s roof.
“I said you two can’t interfere!” Frances shouted at her brothers over the dying chants of her soldiers.
“I did that myself” said Andrea, rising to her feet. The crown on her head was glowing with more colors than a rainbow. “And now you’ll see what else I can do.” Concentrating as hard as she could, Andrea drew all of her inner energy to the surface, unleashing it as a great tornado of fire that engulfed her. With less effort, Frances created a larger cyclone around her. The two twisters slammed into each other, merging into one monster vortex that rotated rapidly. Its strong winds roared around the enclosed space, sending any loose objects flying at incredible speeds. Eric caught the train from Andrea’s dress as it flew by.
“Is Andrea going to be alright?” asked Adam.
“I just hope she knows what she’s doing” replied Eric. The twister started to spray lightning around the cathedral, forcing Adam to cast protective spells.
Finally, Frances was shot out from the cyclone in defeat, crashing into a damaged wall with a sickening splat. The twister dissipated, allowing Andrea to float to the floor. Fearing reprisals, Frances’ soldiers rushed out as fast as they could.
“The challenge is concluded” said Andrea coldly.
“As per tradition,” said Adam, “I hereby confirm Andrea’s place as Queen of Andoria. Long live the Queen!”
Eric smiled as he remembered his wife’s humiliation of Frances. That single event put an end to the upheaval after Andrea’s coronation. He continued to walk through Andorianis, passing the city’s largest hospital on his way to the Wonder.
“Congratulations, your majesties” said the doctor as he lifted the baby up, “It’s a girl.”
Andrea sighed in relief after going through a tumultuous five hour labor. Eric pulled her damp hair back so she could see their daughter properly.
“She’s beautiful” said Andrea, still breathing heavily.
“Excuse me” began the doctor.
“Oh, of course” said Andrea, gingerly handing her screaming newborn over to the doctor so she could be cleaned off.
Eric’s eyes followed the doctor holding his child out of the birthing suite. “So” he said to Andrea, “how are you feeling?”
“Exhausted” panted Andrea, “Relieved to have her out of me.
“I’d imagine. Did you have a name in mind for her?”
Andrea cocked her head to the side in thought. “I didn’t have one in mind. I thought we were going to have a son. Did you have one?”
“How about…Erika? Would that work?”
Andrea smiled.
Eric sat down on a concrete bench, gazing up at Andorianis’ towering Wonder. In the twilight, the massive cat statue’s brilliant colors were reduced to a dark gray. As he gazed up at the Wonder’s apparent lack of color, he couldn’t help but remember Cynox…
“Father!” called Justinian, pointing to the corpse of a green feline hanging from a grotesque hook by his bound hands, “I recognize this one! He’s with the division we’re looking for!”
Panicked thoughts flashed across Eric’s mind. If the division’s colonel had been kept in that manner, he could only imagine how Andrea had been treated. He continued to walk down the dark cold hall until he came across a slender female with blonde hair and a distinctively tattooed left leg. Recognizing the woman as Andrea, he cast a spell on the hook, catching her as she fell. Andrea proceeded to tell each of her children how proud she was of them and that she loved them. Then she turned to Eric, thrusting upon him the mantle he had avoided for so long. The lordship of Andoria.
But before she died, Eric used his temporal power to trap Andrea’s spirit within the moment. She was not happy.
“Can I die with dignity?” she demanded, “Haven’t I earned at least that right?”
“Andi…I just wanted to say goodbye to you in private.”
“In the privacy of the moment?”
“Yes.”
Andrea’s mood softened. “Then do so.”
Eric kissed her lips, their spectral nature strangely cold to him. “Good bye, Andrea. Until we meet again.”
Andrea smiled. “And we will meet again.”
With that, Eric let her spirit go on to the next world. He stood up, sent Andrea’s body back to Andorianis, then went off to slay vampires.
A pearly tear escaped Eric’s eye as he remembered Andrea. She meant the world to him, and with her gone, it just seemed like a smaller place. The Wonder loomed behind him, standing now as a monument to what was in addition to Andoria’s might. But through the monotone, it stood only as a sad monument to loss and decay.
A small communicator rang on Eric’s belt. Hesitantly, he picked it up. “Eric here” he said into the device.
“Father, the transport to Osaple is awaiting your command” spoke a soft female voice.
“Very well, Erika. I will be there shortly.” He shut off the device, replacing it on his belt. He stood up and took one last look at the Wonder. With a sigh he flew off, leaving two red feathers behind.
