A Traveler's Curse

Chapter 15- The Truth

"The story as I've heard it in my time is quite different," I say. "According to history, you and Celestia were responsible for the senseless slaughter of countless innocent Astralites and anyone who dared to intervene. And let's not forget the villages you set on fire."

Caspian shakes his head in disbelief. "That's absurd. My closest friend is an elf and so is our grandmother. The Viena family has been engaged in hunting these creatures for generations. Why the fuck would we do that?"

I am taken aback by his statement. "Could it be possible that they have manipulated history?" I wonder aloud.

Caspian takes a swig of his whiskey, his expression pensive. "They wouldn't be the first. It seems like the only logical explanation. If they were to seize the throne, they wouldn't want their reputation tarnished. My sister and I may not have the best reputation, but we are far from being heartless murderers."

Our attention turns to Celestia, who is dozing off at the table, her hair decorated with a stray chicken bone.
Suppressing a giggle, I delicately remove the chicken bone from Celestia's white hair before taking a shot of whiskey myself. "If what you say is true, then we must stop them."

"When is this rebellion supposed to commence?" Caspian inquires, filled with determination.

"I wish I could remember the specifics," I confess. "I wasn't the most attentive student. But we must find a way to help the Astralites."

"Well, no shit," Caspian responds. "We won't just leave our friends to die. The only solution is to bring the war to them before they can bring it to us."

Anxious, I bite down on my lip. "But do you truly have the means to wage war? Do you possess the necessary troops and resources?"

"Indeed, I do. We have the Giants fighting alongside us, along with numerous firebreathing deargs and the magic of mine and Celestia's Elemental Power," he assures me. "However, let's not dwell on war tonight." He signals a knight to approach with a simple wave of his hand. "Sir Williams, kindly guide Celestia to her chambers. She is an embarrassment."

The knight nods and approaches the table, carefully lifting Celestia, who is still asleep with her head resting on the surface, and silently exits the room.

As I rise to depart, Caspian halts me. "Please, stay. Your presence brings much greater joy than that of my sister, and I am eager to learn more about your time era."

"I'm curious, what would you like to learn?" I inquire.

His eyes widen with fascination as he leans closer. "Tell me, how is it in your era? Are the politics and people vastly different from ours?"

I pause, contemplating how to answer. "It's a mixture of both, really. While we still rely on candles and torches for light, and women unfortunately still face limited rights, the magic remains unchanged. However, the people in my time are more cruel, burdened by tradition and societal restraints, especially under the current king. The previous king, on the other hand, was much better."

Intrigued, he leans in further. "What made him better?

A nostalgic smile graces my lips as I recall the past. "He was kind-hearted, and his reign brought prosperity to the kingdom, even extending to the villages. People had more freedom to marry whom they loved unless their fathers forced them into unwanted unions."

Caspian's eyes widen with sympathy. "Did your father force you into such a marriage?"

I speak bluntly, not hiding the pain in my voice. "My father had already passed away, and it was my brother who insisted I marry."