"Cheers indeed!" A foreign voice intrudes, he dares to invite himself to a conversation between kings?
We both look up to see Maud, I internally contort my face into one of disgust. "Greetings to my King," Maud claims, mid-bow. Our eyes meet, and his eyes glimmer with disgust.
"Rise," I say, looking down at him, "what is it you wished to talk about?"
"It is almost time for the ceremonial prayer to the angels," He states, "I do apologize, but I have pressing matters to attend to. As always, turpe autem mori est detrimentum honoris."
A moment of silence passes after the Red Elder walks away. "Sooo… what was that about? I mean the weird saying, the angel prayer, and your cold attitude towards him?"
"Do you really want to know?" I avoid eye contact.
"Of course!" Vie readily responds.
"After I tell you this, you won't see me in the same light." I look up and stare him dead in the eye, "so, I'll ask you again. Do you really wish to know?"
He returns my gaze with equal intensity and responds in a now softer, more serious tone. "Yes, I really do want to know."
I sigh. "My 'names is N13, of the Red Angel Orphanage. I was considered lucky to have a letter in my name, believe it or not. But I only had the letter because of this pendant I wire with the letter 'N' inscribed on it. Anyways, this orphanage was brutal, kill or be killed. Children were tortured, murdered, and experimented on. All in the name of 'Raising Kings', we were put through brutal 'tests'. I was given a choice most did not have, become a Priestess or a King. I chose the King's path, while my best friend, four, chose Priestess. I never heard from her again."
Flashback [Whoosh~~~]
Four and I sat on my bunk. "Hey N, you know how path choosing is comin' up and all? Well, I think I want to be a Priestess. Better that bring a bed-warmer."
"Well, that is true but, I'm not into memorizing prayers and joining a weird 'Hey-so-we-worship-this-angel-being-who-may-or-may-not-have-killed-millions-but you-know-how-religions-are' cult thingy. I'm just not that kind of person. I wanna be a King. Top of the food chain, y'know?"
"Haha, that is so you, I hope our paths cross again in the future."
I punch her in the arm, "Hey! I'm still here you know, I haven't left yet!" We both laughed, not knowing of what would happen the next day.
Three hours had passed and we were called down to the testing center. Three priests walked forwards, all but one wore black ceremonial robes. The last one wore a white robe with red handprints covering it, almost no white was visible. "Hello numbers Thirteen and Four, you may have realized that you are the only children to have been called down in pairs. Well, maybe you didn't notice, seeing as you're are children."
The man smiled, but something was off about it. His teeth were sharpened to a point, and it looked like he had sharpened them recently. I looked down at his robe, there were fresh handprints on it. I looked over at Four, and then at the door. Locked in.
"My name is Maud, soon to be elder of Red Faction. Nice to meet you, well, actually it is you two who should be honored to meet me."
One of the what I thought were priests behind him shook his head and stepped forward. "Head Priest Maud! You are not yet elder, you have no right to speak like that!" From his tone of voice, it was easy to tell that he had the higher ranking that Maud. The man who just spoke turned to Four and I. "I do apologize for his attitude, his head has been up with the angels recently, as he just recently got word that he is to be sworn in soon. My name is Iver, Red faction elder."
Maud stepped in front of Iver. "As I was saying, you are here to choose your path. King or Priestess. Four, what is it you wish to be?"
"I wish to be a Priestess." She claimed with a steeled look in her eyes.
"Alright, now for it to be official, you must cover your hand in your blood and place it upon my robe."
Four did as he said and placed her bloodied hand on his robe, covering the last of the white. Maud turned to me and spoke with an annoyed voice, "Now. Number Thirteen, what path do you want to follow? Keep in mind that you have failed all religious classes."
"I wish to be King," I claim, just as I had to Four earlier today. Maud looks disgusted while Iver had a look of pride.
"Are you positive? There has never been a female King."
Iver cuts in, "Don't you see the determination her eyes? There is no dissuading her."
I think I'm starting to like this Iver character.
Flashback End [Insert reversed whooshy whoosh noises]
Vie avoided eye contact. I sighed, I guess I just had to ruin one of my only chances at friendship. I stood up to leave and was just beginning to walk away when I felt a hand grasp my wrist. I instinctually ripped my hand away and threw whoever did it to the ground.
"Owww…" Vie whines in a puppy-like voice, "did you need to do that?"
"Instinct." I shrugged and continued to walk away. Only to feel his hand around my wrist again. This time I resisted flipping him on the ground, barely.
"Anyways," his usual smirk straightens out into a serious one, "I was also an orphan. I know I didn't go through the things you did, but… If you ever need to talk to someone I'll be here, okay? Friends?"
"Emotion is a weakness little one, you must never be tricked into believing that lie. There is a reason I am the longest ruling elder. I trust no one, not even you little one. You must remember emotion is a lie. Trust is a scheme. Love is an illusion." The words of my old mentor, Iver, ring through my head. Perfect timing as well, I was just beginning to trust this Vie. Is that even his real name?
"Friends," I reply, my voice turning cold. I walk away and wave farewell, "I must pray to the angels, turpe autem mori est detrimentum honoris." A friendship can work without trust right? I mean, there are famous relationships without love. Famous rulers without mercy or emotion. I hope a friendship without trust will work out in the end. He appears to be nice, but is this the real him?
I sigh. Again. Geez, this Vie future sure does make me sigh a lot. Or maybe it's just the added stress of being King. Probably both.