Chapter 70 Montague & Capulet (2)
In the Glyph-Lined Room, Capulet's Southern Fortress
Queen Capulet, Vivienne, stood before Sigrid—a once-loyal member of Arkanum Veritas, who now found herself an exile, burdened by the knowledge of who forged the Gaia-Earth Treaty. The air in the room shimmered with an unsettling energy, charged by an intricate tapestry of magical symbols etched into the stone walls, pulsating like a heartbeat with the essence of sealed time magic. Sigrid, the last survivor of the Arkanum Veritas, had witnessed the brutal execution of her fellow faction leaders, a grim fate that had spared her solely because of her unique talent for discerning the authenticity of the Arkanum's copies. Now, she stood under the unwavering scrutiny of the formidable Capulet family.
"I know the Arkanum conceals counterfeit manuscripts," Vivienne declared, her voice fierce yet laced with an underlying tremor. "But I need solid proof. I want the world to understand that my child's marriage springs not from coerced mining, but rather from eradicating the web of deception that surrounds us."
Sigrid slowly shook her head, the weight of her knowledge pressing heavily on her chest, the air thick with unspoken truths.
"There is no proof. The Arkanum does not retain manuscripts. They are the manuscript, intricately weaving every word within the shadows of their clandestine schemes."
Vivienne narrowed her eyes, a fierce spark of anger igniting in her gaze, her resolve hardening like tempered steel.
"Then I will burn their bodies. Let history speak through the ashes they leave behind."
The statement thickened the air in the room, making it feel stiflingly hot, as if the ancient magic woven into the glyphs was awakening, igniting in response to the steadfast resolve of the Queen. Sigrid eyed Vivienne with an unsettling mix of disbelief and concern, her gaze betraying her inner turmoil. She understood all too well that such drastic measures would not yield a solution; rather, they would only sow the seeds of greater conflict and chaos.
"Your Majesty," she said slowly, her voice heavy with caution, "do you truly believe that fire will cleanse all of this? Lies do not simply dissipate; they morph, lurking in shadows darker and far more menacing."