Empyrean

Chapter 11

Chapter 11-Serena

Emperor’s Bed Chamber

Morning, 6th of Pachon, Year 612

            The room gets eerily quiet after Mentor speaks. I still can’t decide whether or not Mentor is happy or annoyed that the new Emperor speaks like he was born for this. And then again I can’t decide if a prince is born to lead or not. Just because you are descended from a great man does that make you great as well? Or do we just allow them to rule because their ancestors were great? Then that gets me thinking whether or not we should allow people and rules to remain constant for long. Did the people who first instilled the Epochs think that eventually they Epoch-less would grow to this number? A number that is strong enough to rebel, as Mentor seems to think.

            Two dark fingers pass each other and snap just before my face. “Serena! Snap out of it. I would like you to meet the prince—excuse me, Emperor.” It is now that I realize I don't even know the name of the boy that I had just consented to rule over the whole City of Light. What have I done?

            As a gentleman and a properly trained courtier, the Emperor makes a bow and holds out his hand in the most pretentious way I can possibly imagine. As I look him over I realize he is actually quite good looking, tall, muscular body, a cut face with sharp edges, and precise movements. He has obviously prepared his whole life for the times that were about to come, whatever they may be. I am daydreaming again so the Empress shoots me a snake’s glance and I take his hand in response. “Nice to meet you, milady Serena.” His voice is monotone and I hope it isn’t his real one.

            I curtsey in the way I have been taught in my seemingly lowly old Blue home and lower my eyes. The feeling of his hand in mine tickles my stomach with little feathers, but still, my control is much more than it was a year ago. It’s all gone so fast, in little over a year I have been desensitized to authority. The touch of an Emperor feels the same as Jacob’s or Lucy’s. But I must continue the act, what for? I don't know, but it is want Mentor wants me to do, and he has never led me astray. “The pleasure is mine, Emperor…”

            “I’m sorry milady! It seems that I know you, but you know nothing of me! Funny that my first subject doesn't even know my name!” Before he opened his mouth I awaited the sound of an angel, the real voice of my Emperor. “My name is Lír Menes of the Lake. For you Lír.” The boy’s voice lacks the melody that I thought it would, though his vocabulary and grammar is high class his voice just doesn't seem to satisfy. He just sounds like anyone that speaks the Language of the Rainbow. Not that my way of talking is particularly melodic, but he just seems to squander the way the language is meant to be spoken.

            Before I can reintroduce myself to Lír his mother decides it is time to stand up. When she does everyone seems surprised, even she, except Mentor. The Empress approaches her son and kneels before him. “My son, your father left you this. He swore me to give it to you when his spirit left him. I have not looked upon the contents.” The Empress holds out a piece of parchment for the newly crowned emperor to take. Through her words Lír doesn't take his eyes off of me.

            Lír eyes shift away from me like they had never moved before. But as soon as he manages to move them he mutters “thank you mother,” and all but snatches the parchment and runs his eyes over the ink like a starved man would look at food.

            When Lír finishes reading the letter or whatever it is, he says nothing. His arms just go limp at his side and he holds onto the paper by his ring and pinky fingers on his right hand. Lír stares at the ceiling with blank eyes. “Oh come on now boy! What does it say?”