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Vex'ahlia had been pacing around her and Percival's chamber in Whitestone Castle for what seemed like hours at this point. The upcoming Apogee Solstice would be upon them in just mere hours now, her stress level about the whole thing had spiked since those Children - Bells Hells, if she recalled correctly - had come to revive their friend. They had mentioned something about it and they had messaged Pike about an apparent 'God Eater' that would be released. This day was already something everyone had been keeping an eye on, Keyleth especially. She had been keeping Vex updated periodically through their earrings and various Sendings, her trip to Vasselheim a month or so before had been a somewhat success but the skyship they had sent after her begging was now lost. They had apparently sent forces to Yios and Basuraus as well; they hadn't found much, if anything, according to what Vasselhiem was sharing.
The recent weeks hadn't been any less distressing than the months prior. Not even a week ago a group calling themselves the Ruby Vanguard had attacked Terrah. They had nearly opened the rift located there before they had been bested by The Air and Earth Ashari. The survivors fled, taunting as they did so, yelling the name of The Ruby Vanguard and that they would be victorious. The Message to Pike shortly after hadn't made Vex any less on edge. She had been trying to hide it while she performed her Chamber Member duties, it was working enough. Though today she had let herself hide in her and her husband's chamber. When she claimed to be sick, she wasn't entirely lying.
Percival, the ever stoic man that he was, wasn't any less stressed than she was, but he was better at hiding it. He had been working with Pike to try and connect everything that they had been told into a plan that was about to be executed when he had the free time. When Pike had rushed into Castle Whitestone with urgent news they all had spoken in a private chamber about all of this, reaching out to Keyleth via earring to ask for any help she could give, she wasn't much help. The only new thing Keyleth had added to the proverbial chess board was that Orym, and by extension The Bells Hells, had learned that whatever they were going after was in Marquet at the 'Tishton Excavation Site'. Pike reached out to Scanlan shortly after seeing if the Gnome was on that continent, he was not and he was incredibly busy and couldn't help them this time.
That was days ago now, and here she was alone in her chamber, waiting for Percy to join her after his work for the day. She had wanted to go and help Keyleth, who was planning a full frontal assault on the site but her and Percival had said it wouldn't be wise. If this was as big as it seemed to be, Vex knew they would need all the help they could get but, according to Keyleth, she had reached out to Vasselheim for aid and they had shockingly agreed. Their ships were armed and ready to join when the Ashari beckoned them.
She knew her sister would be fine, she had been assured of that far too many times by now. That hadn't stopped the ever growing pit in her stomach that told her otherwise.
There seemed to be too many loose ends, everything seemed connected but nothing seemed to tie together correctly. There was a missing piece, and she couldn't pin down what it was.
The sun was setting, sending a golden light into the room that made her feverish pacing slow, letting air full into her lungs before slowly releasing it. She moved her path to the shut door to the balcony, stepping past the glass doors and into the cold biting air of one of the highest parts of Whitestone. The clouds were magnificent today, glowing with pinks, purples and oranges. She began to study the small wisps of clouds that floated through the atmosphere and let her attention be held by them as she let her breathing steady itself. She shifted her attention to the clocktower Percival had built, it stood tall and proud as it overlooked the city that they ruled together, the time upon one of the many faces read 7:33. A shiver ran down Vex's spine, it had been nearly an hour since Keyleth had messaged Pike, letting her know the assault would be within the next hour. Pike had been in the room with her at the time to help keep her nerves in check, she had been acting like a therapist and, for once, Vex was thankful for that. Pike had left shortly after, beckoned by Percy to join him in his study; she had been extended the offer but declined. She didn't regret the decision to stay alone in her chamber but she wouldn't say she was loving it either.
The stress was pooling in her stomach again, stronger than before. Everything was approaching too fast and she couldn't do anything to stop it now, they had no time left to plan or send in help. They were powerless if anything went wrong, and she was so certain something would.
A knock on the door made her pull from her thoughts and turn, staring at the wooden object before steadying herself. "Who is it?" she called out, putting on the fakest tone of regality she could.
"It's me Dearheart," Percival's voice came through, hesitant and calm but full of love and comfort. He had pulled out the pet name he only used when he knew something was terribly wrong, and she loved him for it, "Would it alright if I joined you?"
"You never have to ask Darling," she responded, letting the mask drop as she turned back to face the ever fading sunset. Her body let itself relax as she heard the door swing open, groaning slightly against the aging hinges it swung from, footsteps walking toward her, strong and steady with help from the cane Percy had built for himself.
He draped a thick coat over her shoulders, smiling down at her before placing a kiss on her forehead. She kissed him quickly in return, pulling him into a hug, careful not to disrupt his balance as she did. They pulled away from each other after a long moment of comforting, they stood, hand in hand as the sunlight began to fully fade.
The wind seemed to slow down after a moment before it stopped completely, locking both de Rolos in place. Time was suddenly unmoving but somehow also seeming to pass far too fast, hours seemingly going by within seconds. Vex's eyes were locked just above the clocktower, unable to move as the hands moved too quickly for her brain to comprehend. The sun was gone in an instant, revealing the stars in an unnatural fashion, the Moons moved overhead and then locked in place. The roaring wind returned as quickly as it had dissipated, stronger now than before and the Lord and Lady of Whitestone took a breath.
The next few moments were a blur, Percival was calling for guards to grab Pike, Cassandra and to make sure the children were okay, and Vex was messaging Keyleth to ask what was happening. There was a moment of silence before screaming started from the city below them. Something was wrong, and they needed to figure out how to help. Immediately.
Pike ran in less than a minute later, clad in armor like the old days, hair up in a ponytail and glowing morningstar in hand. Percy was pacing, adjusting his glasses repeatedly while mumbling something about Dunimus. Vex was waiting on a response from her sister, there had been nothing yet, and she needed there to be anything coming from her.
"We need to get there and help them, we can't just sit here!" Vex yelled, already holding Fenthras and searching for the quiver she kept underneath the bed. The door swung open once more, Cassandra entering, rapier shining in the sudden moonlight that streamed through the room.
"We don't have a way to get there Vex'ahlia," Percival retorted, adjusting his glasses once more, the glare from the lantern light shining against them, "our only quick transportation is likely there already."
"I could see if The Everlight could help?" Pike butted in, hand already over the glowing necklace she wore.
"I'm more than willing to try anything to get there." Vex said, grabbing Percy's shoulder to stop the man from pacing more. "Our sister is there, we need to help her." it was directed at all of them, but mostly Percy and Cassandra, his eyes locking with hers as he nodded.
Pike's eyes were closed the moment Vex had agreed, trying to call on her Goddess for aid. Her eyes opened, filled with the familiar golden light of The Everlight's magic before it faded.
"She can't help us." Pike sighed, looking distraught and more importantly afraid. "She said it would be too dangerous for us, she wouldn't say why."
Vex began to walk towards the door, they had to have some kind of wizard within their walls that could teleport them. There had to be someone, anyone, that could help.
She wasn't about to lose her sister.
The pain she felt in her chest was sudden and familiar, and made her head spin. She leaned against the door as the world around her seemed to shift and sway. She heard Percival, Cassandra and Pike yell her name before they ran over, Pike pumping healing into her.
"It can't be." She choked out, tears flowing faster than they had in ages.
"Vex, what's going on?" Percy was kneeling next to her, gently holding her chin and fruitlessly wiping the tears that didn't stop flowing. His voice was soft and full of worry, his brows furrowed and his eyes seemed to pierce her soul from behind his golden glasses. Cassandra knelt next to her brother, one hand on his back and one on hers.
She was going to respond, but her voice failed her, just collapsing into Percy's chest, soaking his shirt. Her sobs were loud and full of anguish, she wouldn't believe it, she couldn't. "Vax." she choked out between sobs, it was almost a scream but Percy's chest muffled her cries.
"Jenga." the soft and panicked voice cut through her skull like a well thrown dagger. Her brother was here, and he was in danger.
Percy stiffened against her shaking body, his breath shallow and fast. The room was silent, other than the sobs that came from Pike and Vex. Unspoken sorrow hung in the air, the tension and anger that swirled through the stillness made Vex cry harder. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't lose him again. She couldn't lose both of them.
Percy moved Vex to look at her, shaking hands on her shoulders as tears streamed down his own face. He kissed her forehead, letting his shaking lips steady while tears dropped onto her hair and forehead. He pulled her into a hug, and she just grabbed onto his shirt like he would disappear in an instant. She wouldn't let him go, she couldn't lose them all. Cassandra was hugging them all as well, comforting her family even if she didn't have the full story yet. Pike joined the hug then, letting her smaller form get pulled in by the de Rolos. They were all crying and they weren't going to stop any time soon.
"We're going to save them." Percy choked out, fury dripping from his voice like venom, hugging all of them tighter as a momentary bright flash of red and white filled the chamber.
They would save them, Vex would make sure of it.