Winter’s Rebirth: B1 - 4. Past Sins

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Victor’s heart pounded as he stood by his mother’s side, Elara still clinging to her dress, the weight of their earlier experience pressed heavily on his young shoulders—perhaps some sort of premonition from the Silent One. The grand hall, now filled with the scent of freshly cooked delicacies and the soft hum of conversation, seemed surreal and trivial.

Once again, he hardly had time to process anything as the doors swung open, revealing Emperor Lucius. The emperor’s presence loomed larger in Victor’s mind, now racing with the possibilities of what might unfold. Yet, the emperor’s casual demeanor was the same, only without murdering his parents or their citizens, and this time, he paid more attention to his imperial knights’ weapons.

A lump formed in Victor’s throat while examining Kris’ spear point, its blade and shaft semi ghost-like, the internal silvery glow illuminating its glassy exterior in a beautiful sheen that almost looked as if it cut the air in passing. He’d hardly noticed it the first time due to his mother’s focus on the inquisitor.

“Nyxie?” Emperor Lucus asked as his mother’s question came up, glancing toward the silent, black-veiled woman before directing an innocent smile at him that wasn’t fooling Victor. However, his father was the one to speak this time, cooly stepping forward as the doors were closed.

“There’s no need to be concerned, Anna,” his father assured, his voice stoic and without emotion; obviously, that was not true after what Victor had just experienced. “The Silent Inquisition is here on a matter of education. As for Master General Musashi…”

He turned to direct everyone’s attention to the scruffy man in his early forties beside the inquisitor, Victor’s mind reeling at the name—a Japanese name.

“Master General Musashi has committed an unpardonable sin and has been exiled from the empire. It is a crime that cannot be named, yet due to his skill and service, he is to spend the rest of his days as a branded man… A criminal to pay for his sins on the frontier..”

Victor’s mother accepted it with a grace that Victor had to admire, yet still held onto Elara as his little sister trembled and held onto her dress. “I understand. I am sure whatever the emperor desires will come about. All is within his reach.”

Emperor Lucius forced a chuckle, almost as if embarrassed. His gaze swept the room again. “Everyone freaks out when the Silent Inquisition shows up. I’m not here to cause trouble for you, Princess Anna. In fact, I’m here to help the frontier as much as I can since this operation is technically my responsibility! I was the one who sent Alden’s father here, after all.

“Might I add that your decorations are delightful, Anna. And you must be Elara and Victor from the letter I received regarding your birth,” he said, his eyes locking onto him. “A pleasure to meet you both.”

“Our lives are yours,” his mother responded, smiling down at Elara to comfort her. “I owe my life and happiness to Your Grace. We merely manage what you have given us to tend. If you are to take what is yours, then what right do we have to complain?”

Victor had a hard time hiding his scowl, shifting from the exiled Japanese general, the imperial knights, and Lucius himself. Mom’s terrified of this man… The God Emperor. It’s sounding more and more like the Japs government system. I’ve never felt this clear-headed since the first time I was born into this world, and that can’t be a coincidence.

His father nodded, yet Victor didn’t miss his position and ability to act, as he’d seen his father act in the previous encounter. It had been too fast for him to see much, other than the results. If he did survive this, he had to reevaluate everything he knew about this world.

“If you would like a report on how the frontier is fairing, Your Grace, I would be happy to provide you with a complete account. New mines have been discovered now that we are pushing further into the northern mountains, but there are traces of a new threat moving beyond its peaks.”

“Now, now, no need for such formalities,” Lucius lightly reprimanded with another laugh and dismissive wave. “We’re here to discuss the future, after all. And in just the short time I’ve been in your house, I believe your young children have much potential. I’d say they’re far more intelligent than you give them credit for,” he commented with a glint in his eyes.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” his parents said in unison.

Victor forced a nod, his stomach twisting as the God Emperor once again brought focus to them, only to turn abruptly and gesture to the blade at his father’s side. “May I see your sword, Sir Alden?”

This man…is dangerous. Victor internally snarled as his father hesitated for a fraction of a second before unstrapping it from his belt and holding it out for Kris. What is his game? What can I do? I feel so…helpless…weak. Is it possible to use my age as an excuse to surprise…

“Careful with your emotions, Young Reincarnate. I may be able to grasp the internal emotional turmoil of individuals, but do not make the mistake of thinking His Grace is not proficient in the use of Amethysts and their mind reading attributes.”

Victor’s focus snapped to Nyxie, her small, petite frame and head still staring right past them to the table of food beside the chained general. The voice in his head had been feminine and young, perhaps twelve or fourteen, yet held a commanding presence that made his bones shiver.

The female imperial knight who had killed his father accepted the sword she’d broken. All Victor remembered of that moment was the shattered blade held in his father’s hands, and the ghostly spear point piercing his parents. The ornate and well-worn leather around the hilt was something he’d looked at often throughout the summer, yet his father never drew it.

Relinquishing his weapon, his knight of a father handed it over. “Of course.”

The serfs gulped and looked at one another, as nervous as the rest of them due to the emperor’s unusual cadence. The imperial knights maintained their defensive position while Nyxie and the exiled general remained in front of the grand hall’s door. The emperor’s bag-carriers were as silent as the inquisitor, off to the side observing every action as if searing it to memory.

Barely a sound was made as Kris stepped forward and presented it to the emperor. Lucius ran a finger down its rather ordinary-looking cover, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. “Your father was a modest man for an imperial knight of his station, Alden. I doubt many of the Winterhold nobility have such a weapon as yours, though… Ah, I thought so…starmetal.”

Lucius took the sword and slid it out of its sheath, making Victor’s eyes widen. Deep blue, almost black, with sparkling, star-like specks of silver and white, the blade’s surface was smooth and almost glassy, resembling a piece of the night sky.

“Your father was truly a master at his craft,” Lucius whispered, running his fingers along its length. “Even I have never seen starmetal so refined, which is saying something since the Imperial Capital has the finest craftsmen that can forge most of the mythical metals. I’d say…this could hold up against the likes of mithril for a few swings,” he noted, his gaze sliding to Victor.

Looks of awe came from many of the serfs who had likely not seen his father show the mythical blade since he never unsheathed it unless outside of the city. However, Victor’s sharp eyes were moving from his father’s sword to Kris’ ghostly spear.

Hold up a few strikes to mithril? If you can hear my thoughts, it’s obvious you know I’m no ordinary five year old and a stranger in this world. Are you trying to taunt me, Lucius; what is the purpose of telling me all of this and doing this show?

Nyxie’s forceful voice struck his mind as if a bullet cutting through steel, making him wince. Yet, at the same time, it was ethereal and a whisper, coming to him through a dense sea.

“I would suggest listening rather than speculating, Captain Victor E. Smith. There is much you can learn, and there is a limit to how much longer I am able to amplify your brain to retain it. Although…

“I will say your mind is an intriguing and horrific place… How do you handle such traumatic memories with such compartmental internal grace? Without my training and experiences in my previous life, I would have lost my nerve at a glance of merely one battlefield you’ve tread.”

Victor caught the general’s dull gaze a moment as a small shiver ran down the inquisitor’s frame. His father bowed his head as Lucius examined the typical leather sheath of their soldiers and the well-worn hilt. Nyxie wasn’t finished with him, her words impressing into his mind as if a wax seal.

My sister? He asked, seeing her blink and her fear lessen while shifting to stare at the blueberries on the table, licking her lips and gulping. What did he do to us?

“I have suppressed Elara’s memories of what the emperor did before he reversed time, and yes…that was very real, Victor. What do I want? To understand you,” she replied, her mental touch gentle but insistent.

“My mental prowess has increased in leaps and bounds in this short visit, which is one of the emperor’s goals. You have experienced things no child should, yet your resilience is something I have rarely encountered, not that I have personally had an extensive life…even in my previous world of magic, which was far divergent than your history.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed, darting to Lucius as he slid the mythical blade into its sheath and handed it to Kris to return. And he felt the invasive presence of Nyxie fade.

“You flatter me, Your Grace,” Alden said with a proud smile as he glanced at a painting of his father slaying Icebane the Frost Bringer. “Naturally, I am the only one he taught the method to. My skill in the craft of starmetal is far from his, and, as you’ve pointed out, mithril is a far superior metal.”

Lucius’ lips curved as he moved around them with his guard to collect a bowl of blueberries to passively snack on. “Oh? If you believe that, then your father must not have taught you the true value of starmetal. Everything has its strengths and weaknesses… Yes, starmetal is several times stronger than steel, yet that is only one of its three other attributes. Haha. Four, if you count its beauty. One of those four affixes acts as a particular type of dampener.” 

He paused in front of them and handed it to Elara, who eagerly reached out, paused, and looked up at their mom with big eyes. Getting permission with a gentle nod, his twin grinned and began snacking on the berries, staining her fingers blue.

Lucius glanced at their father with a thoughtful hum in his throat. “Did your father not tell you starmetal’s ability to dampen the mental effects of Amethysts and the dream or illusionary attributes of Moonstone within a certain proximity? Even a Mother Superior candidate, such as my dear Nyxie here, would have trouble penetrating a shield of such a size, given its length” 

It clicked in Victor’s mind, now focusing on Nyxie’s hands gripped at her front, trembling slightly. She’s been struggling to maintain her mental abilities… I hadn’t even noticed. His gaze darted back to the grinning man. What is his game?

Alden accepted his weapon, displaying a rare expression of shock as he stared at the covered blade before the inquisitor’s rigid posture. “No…he did not. It is not a sure defense then? I can put the weapon away if it is a problem, Your Grace.”

“Perhaps it would be better to retire it to your chambers, Sir Alden.” Lucius chuckled and turned to gesture at his two attentive servants. “Bring out the common, uncommon gems, and mythical metals I’ve brought.”

Both servant’s eyes narrowed while glancing toward one another. Victor’s vision locked onto a half-hidden wristband poking out of their silky long sleeves—the same cosmic metal as his father’s sword.

“Your Imperial Majesty,” the left man stated, setting down the bag and opening it. “You instructed me to bring the fine cloth and incense bag.”

The right man did the same, revealing what appeared to be filled with smaller bags. “And I was instructed to bring the many seeds you wished Sir Alden to experiment with on the barren northern soil.”

“Such a blunder!” Lucius sighed smacking his forehead and shaking his head, making Elara giggle and the other serfs smile a little. “I told you nothing of the like. I ordered you to get the bags on the left side of my bed. Are you suggesting I misplaced the proper bags?”

“Not at all, emperor,” they responded in unison, without a blink, but Victor could sense a tension pass between them as a wicked smile lifted the emperor’s face. “Still, those are good gifts, so there’s no trouble. You two just need to return to the ship and collect the proper bags. I had other presents in those bags to present to my loyal knight and his beautiful princess.”

He turned to aim an innocent grin at Victor’s parents. “On my way out of the Forbidden City, I made sure to collect some of the latest and finest cloth that would be fit for a princess and her knight!”

“Ahem. Your Imperial Majesty,” the left servant stated, his eyes cold steel to Victor; it was the eyes of a killer. “The Empress instructed us to not leave your side.”

A pressure filled the room as Lucian half-turned to look at his wife’s servants, his casual cadence and charm vanishing as if the doors swung open and the arctic chill snuffed out the fires. Kris and the other two imperial knights’ hands moved to their mythical weapons, cool gazes fixated on the two men.

“Are you refusing to comply with my order and suggesting I give a serf the task of entering my private chambers on the royal flagship or dispense with one of my guards?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“One of us would be more—”

“You are trying my patience, nameless fool one and two,” Lucius cut in, now shifting to look them dead in the eye and making a shiver run down every spine present. “There are two delicate bags and two fools… Let us hope they are not clumsy fools, at that.”

Victor could see the sweat that broke out across their forehead as if they’d been raked over hot coals. Without a second word, they bowed, and exited, Sir Mathis opening their way. When the howling chill of the wind was once again silenced, Lucius broke the tense atmosphere with a strained laugh. He rubbed his neck and turned to face the lady and lord of the manor.

“I apologize, which I know is likely quite uncomfortable to hear from someone such as myself. I know this might seem a little forward, Princess Anna, Sir Alden, but we are on a clock, and a short one given the speed of my terrible wife’s spies. Would you mind clearing the grand hall and humoring me for a moment?”

Victor’s father acted without a word of question, holding out his sword for Merek to take his sword to his room. The servant jogged toward the stairs to reach the second level to enter the hallway leading to the main manor. The rest of their serfs scattered without a word or glance, hurrying to the side exit to reach the servants’ quarters.

“Your word is law, Your Grace.”

Victor glanced at Nyxie as everyone but his parents, twin, and the emperor’s escorts remained. The teenage girl breathed a sigh through her veil and walked toward the fire to likely warm herself by the quake that ran down her frame. Her mental voice reached all of them, still mysterious, yet sounding exhausted.

“I’m exhausted. ”

Victor stood frozen, his mind racing as the events took a rapid turn as the emperor began talking with his subjects as if war buddies around a fire, passing wind. The grand hall, now filled with the rich aroma of freshly prepared dishes, seemed an odd juxtaposition to the tension and danger he felt emanating from the emperor and his entourage moments before.

Emperor Lucius’s voice broke the uneasy silence, his tone a mix of amusement and irritation. “You know, Nyxie, I almost feel bad dumping you in this frozen wasteland to tutor Baroness Morgana’s daughter. Almost. Not dying is a plus on the board.”

Nyxie’s dry response and chuckle met all their minds, far less forced and commanding as it was before. “Your Grace, I’m sure my skills will be put to good use in instructing Lady Seraphina, and dying…again, is not high on my list of things to do. Though I must admit, I’m not looking forward to the cold. I might need more than just my mental fortitude to keep warm.”

General Musashi lifted his hands and caught a key Kris tossed him, a grunt in his throat while unshackling himself. The imperial knights clasped him on the back with grins and comments as if greeting their master.

“Don’t be a baby, Nyxie. You’ll manage. Here,” he said, dropping the thick black metal cuffs, their subtle greenish sheen polished like a mirror.

He grabbed a thick, woolen blanket from a nearby chair and tossed it to her, Musashi’s deep laugh met her complaints, the sound reverberating through the hall. “Wrap yourself up and practice blocking out the cold like a true member of the Silent Inquisition. If you keep complaining, I’ll have you swinging a wooden sword for another two hours outside.”

“Like you have any say over what I do anymore. I’m practically nobility!” she chimed, her voice not reflecting her still and mysterious presence under her veil and robes.

“Keep dreaming, kid. And was that really the excuse you gave them, Emperor? They’ll report it to Isabel.”

“Lame, I know,” he chuckled, losing all pretense to his imperial status again, yet there was a serious undertone in his voice. “I wanted it to be that way to grate on her nerves.”

Victor watched as Nyxie caught the blanket and wrapped it around herself, her posture relaxing slightly. Despite her composed exterior, the strained been under was evident in her voice from maintaining her mental abilities in the presence of so much starmetal.

“Thank you, Master Musashi,” she replied with a hint of sarcasm. “I’ll be sure to practice my fortitude. Maybe I’ll even surpass you one day. I’ve been fourteen twice and been in more depraved minds than you could fathom, so I’m practically twenty-eight, I’d say.”

Musashi smirked, patting her head like a child. “That’ll be the day, little one.”

The other imperial knights exchanged respectful nods with Musashi, treating him not as an exile but as a revered master. This display of respect puzzled Victor, adding another layer of complexity to the already bewildering situation, and he could see the same look in his parents’ faces.

The emperor, now more relaxed, strolled around the grand hall, examining the game trophies mounted on the walls. “You know,” he said casually, “Musashi may be exiled, but technically, the frontier isn’t part of the empire. So, despite my wife’s attempts to knock him off my board, I’m sending him here for you to deal with.”

Victor’s father took obvious care to remain neutral as he nodded. “We’ll do our best to accommodate him, Your Grace.”

Anna showed her brilliant smile. “We are sure to make great strides with the Master General cutting his way through the north, as he did with Alden and my father so many decades ago. I grew up hearing about your grandeur in martial combat, Grand Master Musashi.”

“I’m afraid that will be a little challenging,” Lucius laughed, a sharp sound that echoed off the stone walls, yet his glare was aimed at his general. “You see, Grand Master Musashi has made a pledge, on his honor, to never raise another weapon again to my wife…or else take his own life. And every part of him is a weapon.”

Victor’s mother’s eyes saddened while looking toward the legendary warrior, her voice steady despite the underlying tension. “We understand, Your Grace. There are other ways Grand Master Musashi can be of use besides combat, but I understand the burden that must have on you.”

“I’m sure you will find something… We can talk about it later. And speaking of dumping problems on you, there are some…future changes that may bring some challenges.”

He moved to the table, picking away at some of the food as he went. “You manage the north, Sir Alden. House Ravenshade manages you within the Frostholm region, and House Snowmantle oversees the region itself…but Frostholm, while within the Winterhold kingdom, is actually under empire law and jurisdiction. After all, this area was thought to be uninhabitable.”

“We are aware,” his father slowly agreed, following his guiding hands to sit with the rest of them. “All of the mythril and gems mined in the north are sent directly to the Imperial Capital to be distributed to the rest of the kingdoms.”

“Right!” Lucuis mused, piling meat on his plate with the other imperial knights, while Eliara was more interested in berries and greens since they were rarer than meat in the north. “Therefore, shouldn’t you all be granted the privileges of the citizens of the Imperial Capital?” he questioned. “I think so! Though many in the capital disagree. But I’m the emperor, so who cares what others think!”

Nyxie’s voice, now soft and silky, entered his mind. She seemed to single him out this time as the teenage girl huddled close to the fire as Kris brought her a plate of food to eat, facing away from them. “Stay vigilant, Victor. This is only the beginning.”

The emperor’s gaze shifted to their mother, a calculating glint in his eyes; he leaned back, his casual demeanor belying the intensity of his scrutiny. “Well, I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of everything. But first, there is one thing you must do before my wife’s spies return. Anna, would you kindly bring forth the item you’ve been hiding?”

It was almost as if his parents were waiting for this prompt because his father swiftly rose to his feet. He couldn’t say a word as his wife stood at the same time, raising her hand to halt him from speaking. Victor’s heart pounded louder, eyes fixed on his mother.

The grand hall, now filled with a tense silence without the serfs, the dampened wind outside coming into the foreground seemed to press in on all sides. The warmth from the crackling fireplace did little to ease the chill settling in Victor’s bones.

Victor watched as his mother took a deep breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on her shoulders. She glanced at her rigid husband, who shook his head, eyes pleading, but his mother addressed the emperor nonetheless.

“Your Grace, it was I who took the Celestite pendant; my adopted father, Sir Reginald told me of the incident… When he rescued me from the burning ruins of Frostveil Keep. I was three years old at the time, and when he found me after Master General Musashi and he executed my mother, I was wearing it. My mother had hidden me in her private chamber, and I wore it because I thought it was pretty.”

The room’s atmosphere grew heavier, all eyes locked onto his mother, and despite her steady voice, he could see her trembling hands, held at her front. Victor could feel the fear of what might come next gripping his heart. He understood what his mother was doing—she was taking the fall to protect them, to ensure their father could raise them if she were taken or executed.

No, they can’t take her away. If they take her, they might as well kill me now rather than later. Victor’s thoughts burned with a fierce resolve, a silent plea directed at Nyxie. What bullshit is that? She was three!

His twin seemed to read the room because a scowl was on her five-year-old face as she jumped out of her chair to cling onto her mom. “No! My mom’s not a bad mom! You’re the bad man!”

Nyxie’s presence brushed against his mind, a whisper of reassurance. “Stay calm, Victor. Your sister is a little spitfire! I like it. The emperor is playing a game, sure, but he’s placing a lot of power in your parents' hands. Watch and understand.”

Emperor Lucius chuckled, the sound breaking the tension like a knife through butter. “Anna, you aren’t in trouble,” he said, his voice light, almost amused. “In fact, this turns out in your favor,” he added, his gaze shifting meaningfully to Victor and Elara. “Yes, I am a very bad man, Elara. What sharp intuition you have!”

Victor’s mother visibly relaxed, though she still held herself with the poise of nobility. “Thank you for humoring her, Your Grace…and for your mercy.”

The emperor’s smile widened. “Obviously, Sir Reginald told you about using the Celestite before his death…to use it when Anna was pregnant. It draws in and strengthens the souls of your children while they grow in the womb… I was conceived in the same manner, and yours may have been even more potent than mine.”

His vision narrowed. “Your mother had quite a powerful collection of stones for the queen of Winterhold, Princess… Materials that should have been confiscated from the previous monarchs of the kingdom by the emperors long, long before my father.”

Anna nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I see… So, there is more to these plots than we are aware. It is hard to grasp our own kingdom’s politics this far north, much less the Imperial Capital’s. In any case… Thank you, Lucius,” he said, using his first name for the first time as he’d been asking, which seemed to make him brighten up further.

The emperor waved a hand dismissively. “A minor inconvenience. Now, please bring the Celestite… I wouldn’t want your family being pulled into something dreadful before it is able to defend itself.”

Anna curtsied before leaving the hall. Victor felt his neck take yet another twist; it was practically ready to pop off at this point. The room remained hushed, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Victor’s father stood tall, his gaze steady but betraying a flicker of concern at the direction the emperor was taking. Clearly, he had plans for their frontier, and he was leaving his exiled general here to oversee something.

Victor’s mind raced as he glanced at Elara, who was now happily nibbling on berries, occasionally shooting narrowed-eyed stares at the emperor. His mother’s sacrifice had not gone unnoticed, and it only deepened his resolve to protect his family; she was willing to give up everything for them.

Anna returned, holding a small, ornate box. She opened it to reveal the Celestite pendant, a sky-blue gemstone with an iridescent sheen, set in a ghostly mithril casing. The sight of it brought back memories for Victor—the first conversation he remembered in this world, the stone’s presence during his mother’s pregnancy.

“Despite our efforts,” she said, presenting it to Kris to give to the emperor, “I haven’t been able to get pregnant since, even when wearing it. Are there…side effects from channeling it?”

Emperor Lucius took the pendant, holding it up for all to see. “Phenomenal! This,” he said, his voice carrying an almost reverent tone, “is a truly legendary gemstone. Though it’s the size of a walnut, the mithril’s amplification affix acts as if it were the size of a man’s fist, while being far more stable than a gem of such a size.”

He slipped it into his robe pocket while returning the box to Kris to give back, a sad look on his face as he stood. To the shock of everyone in the room, he bowed his head to his fire-haired mother.

“Princess Anna, I do not expect or deserve your forgiveness…but in order to pardon you, I was forced to agree to have you forcefully sterilized as a child. It is not a physical ailment but a spiritual one, and it was only by the combination of this legendary Celestite and the powerful willpower of your precious children that you were able to enjoy the privilege of being a mother. Words are not enough… I’m sorry.”

Victor could see his father’s closed fist becoming white as it tightened, yet he maintained his stoic, standing position. A somber note fell over the room at the confession; the emperor of six kingdoms was bowing his head to the wife of a lowly knight.

“Please understand,” Lucius continued, his voice softening, “I want you to know that it was not my choice but the demand of my mother, the previous empress. She feared the potential threat of your lineage and sought to ensure control. The Celestite, as powerful as it is, should remain our secret. It’s best that neither my wife nor my mother ever discover its existence, much less its size, potential…nor who owned it.”

Victor’s mind reeled. The previous empress was the one who pushed for his mother’s sterilization when she was three years old? His fists clenched at his sides, hidden beneath the table. He glanced at Elara, who had stopped nibbling on berries, her eyes wide and filled with a mix of confused anger, likely only partially understanding the situation without Nyxie enhancing her mental function.

Elara, still clutching a berry, looked at their mother with wide, questioning eyes. “Mother, what does all this mean? Why do I feel…mad and really sad? Do…do I not get more brothers and sisters?”

His mother took a deep breath, her posture unwavering, soothing his twin before returning her shining eyes to the emperor, clearly holding back tears most women would have shed.

“It means that we are stronger than we knew, my dear. And that we have much to be thankful for. It’s going to be alright, sweetheart. There is nothing to forgive, Your Grace. We are grateful for your honesty and humility. The past cannot be changed, but we can choose how we move forward.”

Lucius straightened, a relieved smile spreading across his face. “You are truly kind, Princess Anna. I appreciate your understanding more than you know.” He paused, the tension in his shoulders easing. “That has been a stain on my heart since I was a teenager. Let’s not dwell on heavy matters. After all, we are here to enjoy your hospitality…and to mask important events with festivities.”

Nyxie’s mental voice reached Victor’s mind as he was about to speak. “Do not reveal your intelligence or your past to your parents. It’s crucial to maintain the facade for now.”

Victor’s jaw tightened, his gaze shifting between his mother and the emperor. The memory of his parents' earlier execution replayed in his mind, fueling his frustration.

If he really felt that way, then how the hell did he do that to my mother when you first came through those doors? Nyxie, why did that bastard need to kill my parents, even if he reversed it? Why is he putting so much pressure and stress on my parents? They’re good people. Honest, hardworking. They keep this damned place running!

“Careful with your language, Captain,” Nyxie’s voice was a cool whisper in his mind. “But you have every right to be angry. The emperor has his reasons, complex and convoluted as they may be. Stay calm and observe. There’s more at play here than you can see.”

 Don’t give me that bullshit. He knows exactly how our grandmother obtained the Celestite and the hell my family was thrust into. My grandfather had to kill a ice shitting drake so my mother could live, but he drops the subject the second my mother forgives him. No, that’s bullshit, and I bet my dad feels the same way!

All I’ve gotten from this is that the emperor isn’t as powerful as we all think he is in the Imperial Capital, and his citizens are thrown into the shitter so he can maintain some kind of balance against all-out war with other political factions. If he’s got the power to rewind time, why the hell can’t he fix all his damn mistakes?

Nyxie’s tone was soft and just as reflective. “You’ll have to ask him that yourself tonight. Soon, I’ll need to rest, and you’ll sink back into your child-like state. I understand you have many questions, but you’ll get the bulk of it later. Great change is ahead…and you have a chance to be a part of that. Will you answer that call…or let your temper get the better of you like a child?”

Victor’s hand hurt with how tight he clenched it under the table, his gaze hardening as he watched the emperor. It took a few breaths, but he cooled his temper. Lucius clapped his hands together, breaking the lingering tension.

“Enough of this somber talk! Let’s enjoy the feast before us. I’ve heard so much about your culinary skills, Anna. I’m eager to taste everything!”

The room seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief as the emperor’s demeanor shifted back to his initial casual self. He made a few light-hearted jokes about the cold weather and the peculiarities of the northern frontier, drawing soft laughter from those present.

Victor couldn’t join in the laughter, keeping his thoughts to himself. This whole situation is dangerous, but for now, we must play along. He reached for a plate, determined to keep up the appearance of a normal, curious child. His father didn’t seem to miss his sour attitude, though.

Elara, encouraged by the change in atmosphere, began to chat with their mother about the various dishes, her earlier anxiety melting away.

As they ate, Victor couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of being evaluated. Nyxie’s presence lingered in the back of his mind, and he figured she wanted him to know she was there. The emperor’s laughter filled the hall, but Victor’s thoughts were miles away, already planning, already preparing for whatever might come tonight—their next conversation would no doubt shape much of his life.

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