223 Prophecy (1/2)
”For it would be all too easy to end my life,” said Cicero as he sat on the couch, shaky hands wrapped together on his lap. ”If you were to send any message to the north suggesting my desire to topple the current Republic, which you with your guild's influence could easily do, then the Imperator will investigate me and promptly execute me for treason.”
”And why would you decide to topple the Republic? Is it not an advanced society that secludes itself from the rest of the world in its own utopia?”
”Utopia?” Cicero smiled wryly. ”Perhaps, in a way, it is such, but it is not the Elven way. When the Republic was originally envisioned, it was meant to be an idealistic society. An alliance forged from the necessity of the last demonic invasion meant for all races of the world to band under.”
”Interesting. And here, the records indicate the Republic was forged to stand against the human kingdom of the time and to absorb it under its rule.”
Cicero shrugged. ”We would have absorbed the Beaumont, yes, but for the sake of a worldwide peace. We had already advanced significantly by then with the unique bloodline of Lucius – the Imperator - capable of so easily connecting with the Source and granting us technological marvels to accelerate our means of living drastically.
Magic is a wonder, but it is elusive, lying in the hands of the few. Advancement spreads to the hands of many, and with the many, there is far more power.”
Li began to recall and pick out all the relevant information he knew about this world's history and politics. He drew from his book reading in the cottage to discussions with Alexei and Ven'thur. ”A fact that seems to be contradicted by the fact that the arrival of heroes deterred the Republic from absorbing the human lands. It seems to me that the power of the few can certainly stand against the many.”
”And it leaves a particularly bitter taste in my mouth to hear of you speak of advancement for the many,” said Sindra. ”What did that mean for what you generalize as the many? All those that were not elves? Slavery and sacrifice, that is all.”
Cicero gave Sindra a tired nod, his eyes downcast. ”Yes, my dear-,”
”Do not call me 'dear'. It sickens me.”
”Yes,” continued Cicero. ”It the end, advancement required sacrifices. But I tell you now, when I was younger, when I was friends with Lucius, friends like brothers, we envisioned a Republic far, far different. One where we would uplift all others and minimize the sacrifices we would have to make.
”From what I hear from Sindra,” said Li. ”It really does not seem like you were looking after the good old ideals of equality and fair treatment.”
Cicero looked at Sindra with concern. ”Sindra, I knew from the moment you stepped into my study that you had a fire within you that would yearn to change this world, and there was more than enough ability in your mind for that. But in the Republic, where beastmen can hold no office, you would simply have had no chance.
The only loophole in the codified laws to grant you any power was the method I proposed to you. I should have presented it to you far better. I was too strict. I believed with harshness and authoritarian demand for obeyance, I would have kept you at my side and seen you grown.”
Sindra's words were stern but collected, loosed like a calmly drawn weapon. ”I was still a child, Cicero. A child of what, fourteen years? And you come to me one day and demand that I become your concubine for my greater good? I may have been a child, but I was not a foolish one.
I knew of what happened to girls of my kind that came into the servitude of elven nobles. We become toys devoid of worth, and, if your true elven wife finds us grating to her eyes, we were disposed of discretely and efficiently.”
”For that alone, I am judging the value of your life quite low. Dangerously low,” said Li.
Cicero looked to Sindra, then Li, and nodded not with defeat, but acceptance. ”I am no father, I shall admit it, and I knew I never had it within me to be one. I was an accomplished academic, a teacher of many students, but teaching and nurturing I learned are far different.
I taught you, so little and fatherless, discipline and drive and ambition and knowledge with harsh words and strictness, but I have come to know that treating you as student beholden to my orders, to understand unconditionally that all that I do is for your future good, was wrong. Terribly wrong.
I can offer nothing more than that admission of wrong. If it must be so, then I offer my head to remedy the wrongs I have wrought.”
Cicero bowed his head deeply, baring his neck.
Li knew he had not been there to see every moment of Cicero and Sindra's history, so he was not a qualified judge. However, he trusted in Sindra to make decisions entirely unclouded by irrationality and emotion.
”It is up to you, Sindra,” said Li.
Sindra looked emotionlessly at Cicero for a few seconds. She sighed. ”Let him live for a little longer. My personal grievances should not interfere with his usefulness.”
Li nodded. ”Be grateful, elf. You get to live another day.”
”And with each passing day, I hope to act such that neither of you will regret this decision,” said Cicero.
Li spoke to Gronn now. ”And you, dragon. Tell me, why is it that you gather these lesser bloodlines? Why do you act against the will of those that grant you your orders?”
Gronn grunted. ”There was a prophecy. The Elder whispered. Spoke of the end. End of all dragons.”
”I see. A prophecy, is it? What is its wording? When was it uttered?”
”In mortal terms, twenty years ago. Wording, I do not know. Only highers know well. But I know it meant the end.”
”And the higher dragons did not act against it?”
”Highers ignored it. Believed themselves too strong. I knew better. The higher are a lost cause. The lessers like me, I can still save.”