Velor stretched out his long legs and gazed at the flickering fire. His playful demeanor transformed into seriousness as he spoke. "I know you have many questions, but first, let me share my story." Ariadna nodded and settled more comfortably on the couch, her eyes locked on him, intrigued. The firelight danced in his dark eyes as he continued.
"I grew up as the only child, the sole heir. That's why it took me a while to realize I was... different. From a young age, I was taught to be an heir. I memorized all the holy texts and prayers for the God of Night and Secrets. I learned to sail, swim, and dive deep into the ocean before I could even walk. What you're just starting is what I experienced every day. There was a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I was always alone. My parents were too devoted to the God to be there for me. I had servants, but they all belonged to the God, too. They revered me as the heir, adored me not for who I was, but as the next vessel for the God and our power. I didn't understand that then; it was just a vague feeling that something was off.
Then came the night before my ceremony, when I was your age. My parents visited and offered light guidance, but my mother said, 'The power will change you. You'll grow closer to God. As His vessel, you'll receive His gifts, but you will also lose part of your humanity and most of your emotions. Don't be afraid – it will be wonderful! You will become a more perfect vessel for His will! It will be glorious!' He smiled sadly at the memory.
That was when I first recognized the source of my discomfort – my parents weren't entirely human. I felt fear about what the ritual would do to me. I went through with it, expecting to change, but... nothing happened. I could use the power without feeling like I was missing something. That's when I knew something was wrong with our beliefs. But I couldn't tell anyone; if they found out, I feared, and still do,a they would see me as defective.
So, I began to pretend. I read and searched for insights, using my power to uncover secrets, though it didn't yield much reward. I observed other heirs, learning about their domains, traits, and powers. I convinced my parents that understanding each domain's secrets would honor our God. This allowed me to travel.
He smiled again, remembering. "That's how I became your teacher, although I didn't realize it until I met you. I found others like me – the youngest in the holy families. For the first time, I didn't feel so alone or lost. Now, our task is to understand why this is happening and uncover the truth together."
Ariadna paused for a moment before speaking. "Thank you for being so honest. But I'm not like all of you. The holy flame did change me." Velor tensed slightly. "But it didn't change me like... the others did."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"The holy flame fed on my emotions—especially hate. Before the ceremony, I hated my family, and I felt that fueled the holy flame. After using it and pouring all that hate into it, I felt... empty. Like there was nothing left," she explained, her gaze drifting to the flame.
"I still have other emotions. I feel annoyed, intrigued, and sometimes I can feel a spark of anger again, but they all seem so... hollow compared to how I felt before."
Velor looked at her with curiosity. "We will learn more about this, I promise. I think it might be connected to the holy flame itself. After all, it's the strongest divine power."
The playful spark returned to his eyes. "But we'll discover more in our lessons. Speaking of which, our main topic for tomorrow will be how to act as an heir and all that comes with it. It's crucial that your parents believe you're becoming the heir you're meant to be. Once we earn their trust, we'll have more freedom to learn and explore."
Ariadna opened her mouth to ask something, but he cut her off. "Not today. We should go to dinner. We'll have plenty of time to discuss more later."
She nodded and stood up. "All right then. My Lord, please escort me to dinner. My parents and sibling shouldn't be kept waiting."
He rose, donning the mask of a pleasant and devoted heir once again. "Lead the way... my Lady." With that, they left the room together.