38 True Imperial (1/2)
The spoon descended agonisingly slow in Elya's eyes, small vibrations running through the utensil and splattering drops of mashed potato on the tray. A gust of air entered through the open window, bringing the chill of night and cries of hawkers winding up their sales, making her shiver. Her mother had once told her the 'silence was deafening', when her grandparents were fighting. She'd never understood the phrase until today. Normally vibrant and loquacious to a fault, Nikolai's quiet stare was even more ominous, deep eyes flickering with something horrifying in their depths. The sort of eyes you'd expect to see in an executioner, indifferent to life and death.
Indifferent to people.
Words caught in her throat under that gaze.
”It's not like I try to hide it.” He said suddenly, voice flat, without the slightest hint of emotion.
She squeezed his hand, regretting the question. But there was no way to take it back. She could only continue forwards now. ”Alexis told me you had some… troubles… after I was incapacitated.”
”You mean I almost called down a storm on the warehouses.” Weariness laced his tone, face drawing down in agony. ”It's one thing to look back and realise what you almost did Elya but in the moment nothing matters and you fight with your own Blood for control.”
”My grandfather is one as well.” She explained and his lips twitched in a sad smile, commiseration in his eyes.
”I don't know how much he talks about the… Blood.” He spat the last word out, nose twitching like he smelled the sewers.
”He doesn't.”
”Foolish question, I guess he wouldn't. And if I wasn't clear, yes I am a 'True Imperial.'” He chuckled, some life coming back to his expression.
”It's alright Nikolai, I understand.” She stroked his hand, staring deep into his eyes to show she wasn't afraid.
”No Elya, you can't understand.” Frustrated, he pulled his hand loose and strode to the window, slamming it shut so hard the glass rattled dangerously. ”No one can.”
Sighing at the sudden shift in mood, Elya curled up within her blankets and stared at his profile. The flickering candle light cast shadows around him, almost alive, seeking to consume all light. His dark hair flowed loosely, ragged and carelessly brushed into place by hand. His chest heaved, and he murmured, lost in memories. Elya sat in silence, not wishing to draw his ire. The fragile Mage was strangely terrifying right now.
”How much do you know about it?” he asked, returning to her side, the darkness suppressed deep within.
”Only what I've read in the histories and common stories.”
”So the parts about it being a curse because we betrayed the Gods during the Reclamation?”
”Yes.”
Tearing some bread with his hands, Nikolai rubbed some sauce on the inside and passed it to her, forcing her to take it and eat.
”You need to take more to recover faster.” He said, and she agreed, her stomach rumbling shamefully at that moment. Smiling at the sound but making no comment Nikolai continued. Even though it was embarrassing, seeing his relaxed expression returning gave her relief. ”The battles of the Reclamation were terrible by all accounts. Magical tools and spells of incomprehensible power capable of threatening even the Gods were common place. Honestly, it doesn't really matter that we were bound in servitude to the Gods or that they used us as expendable shock troops in their invasions but for whatever reason the First Emperor struck a deal with the last few Illyri Sages that remained.” He took a sip of water and Elya chimed in.
”The First Compact. It's alluded to in many historical texts, although the details are always vague.”
”Exactly. There's a copy that still exists deep within the Son of Heaven's personal archives which I've had the misfortune to glimpse. Leaving out the details, it was a contract which bound the Blood of our Ancestors to renounce our Gods in return for the Illyri spirits aid to break the bonds of servitude.”
”The Cleaving.” She whispered, listening in rapt fascination as he explained the deepest secrets of their Empire's founding.
”Yes. The Cleaving.” He snickered suddenly and Elya jerked, staring at him wide eyed. ”Sorry, just thinking how Historians love giving portentous names to all these events. Seems sort of snobbish actually.”
”They were turning points in History Nikolai.” She chided, defending her fellow Historians. The same Historians she'd never spoken to before but it was important to protect their honour as a colleague and Knight.
”Yes Yes. Leaving out the crazy exaggerations and unimportant details, we renounced the Gods and created the schism with the Theocracy. But it's easier said than done to deal with the Divine. As far as I or others can tell, their counterstroke warped the Compact in some way, turning what was supposed to be a severing of bonds into a compulsion to break forced servitude. At least that's the most significant aspect of the 'curse'.”
”So we never renounced our Gods?”
”Oh no, that part worked. Everything seemed to be working fine as our ancestors forced the Gods off this land saving us and the Illyri.”
”Imperials are the reason the Illyri are almost extinct. Imperials are the reason the Illyri exist.” She quoted in agreement.