Chapter 21: Chapter 20 – The New Emperor

Raviel pushed open the heavy door to the Audience Hall with a pang in his heart. Not so long ago, he had gone there to ask Valens for permission to buy Aster. Now he would have to face Severus, and his intuition told him to fear the new emperor. He didn't know him and wasn't able to predict his actions.

He closed the door behind him, and the noise echoed throughout the room. He finally turned to the apse at the back of the room, ignoring the columns and the black basalt statues.

“You made me wait.”

Raviel took several steps to approach the seat where Severus was enthroned and stopped when he was only a few meters away. Two guards surrounded the emperor, and a slave stood in the background, ready to respond to the slightest request.

“I had to attend to a pressing matter.”

He looked at Severus without lowering his head. He refused to recognize him as his emperor. The latter grinned.

"Your slave?"

He had obviously been informed of what had happened.

"What do you want? Why did you summon me?" Raviel replied.

Severus raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I see my father didn't teach you proper manners,” he scoffed.

Raviel tensed, as a sudden wave of anger washed over him.

"I didn't kill mine though," he hissed.

Severus's expression changed completely. He stood up abruptly and closed the distance that separated him from Raviel in a few strides.

“Watch your tongue,” he ordered harshly. “Before I deliver punishment. I won't hesitate for a moment to throw you in a cell for a few days with men who would take great pleasure in breaking an overly insolent little patrician.”

Raviel didn't answer, aware that there were limits that shouldn't be crossed. But his gaze took on displaying all the hatred inside of him. They stared at each other for a long moment, as if nothing else existed around them.

"Why did you summon me?" Raviel asked again, through gritted teeth.

Severus smirked and took his time answering, savoring the superiority he had over Raviel.

“You put your visions to work for my father. I want you to do the same for me.”

Ravel's eyes widened in surprise. Then, his fury suddenly took over.

“Are you kidding me?” He spat.

The slap Severus gave him shut him up.

"What did you not understand when I told you to watch your tongue?"

"I can't control my visions," Raviel replied, his jaw clenched. “Ordering me to put them at your service won't change that.”

"Yet you managed to save my father's life for years. I leave you no choice anyway.”

Raviel stared at him.

“Don't expect anything from me. I don't choose what I see.”

Severus's mouth twisted into a slight smirk.

"I'll give you a day to think about it. If tomorrow you haven't changed your mind, I will force you to bend to my will.”

Raviel didn't flinch at the threat. Severus wanted to change his mind. He would be surprised if the young emperor succeeds.

"May I take my leave now?"

Severus nodded. However, Raviel did not have time to take more than a few steps before the Emperor called him back. He stopped and half turned his head.

“I'm looking for a locket that belonged to my father, but it seems to have disappeared. Do you know anything about it?”

Raviel froze imperceptibly. He had thought it safer not to wear the chain Valens had given him today. Was Severus talking about that jewel?

“No, I absolutely do not see what it is.”

Severus studied him carefully as if trying to read the truth from Raviel's impassive face.

“Good. See you tomorrow,” Raviel.

***

Aster suppressed a painful gasp. Sitting on his bed, his memories tortured him without giving him the slightest respite.

Aster moved between the trees and the bushes, as silent as a shadow. His prey was near. He didn't see it yet, but he heard it. He pushed aside a branch, and the doe he was tracking finally revealed itself. Without a sound, he grabbed an arrow from his quiver and drew his bow. He held his breath, aimed at the animal, and… The noise suddenly broke the peace of the forest. The doe jumped up and disappeared from his field of vision, but Aster wasn't paying attention to it anymore.

The noise was coming from his village, and he could now hear screams. Without hesitation, he rushed towards the place, his heart pounding. He ran with all his might, so worried that he forgot to breathe. He wasn't far away, but it felt like it took forever to reach the edge of the forest.

First, it was the smell that hit him hard. The pungent smell of ashes floating in the air. Then he saw the flames, huge and glowing, devouring the thatched roofs. And in the middle of all that, the screams.

“No!”

He rushed to his house, one of the closest to the forest. He then saw the soldiers and recognized the Massallian armor. A cry of rage escaped him as he resumed his run. It was not possible. None of this was possible. It couldn't be real.

He reached his house in sweat, his lungs burning. The door was wide open. He rushed inside, and stopped abruptly, his mouth opened in a silent cry. Her mother was lying on the floor, her dress torn and soaked in blood. She was motionless.

“Mom! Mom!”

He threw himself next to her and shook her shoulder, praying she would open her eyes.

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“Mom.”

His voice broke when he realized it was too late. His mind struggled to align coherent thoughts.

“Mom…”

He jerked his head up abruptly.

“Dad! He yelled. “Aya! Aya!”

He got up and left the house at full speed.

“Aya!”

He walked around the house, rushing towards the vegetable garden where he had seen his little sister before leaving. Suddenly a piercing scream rang out.

“No!”

His heart raced. A man in a dark cloak and armor held a sword. The blood rolled off the steel and dripped steadily onto the floor, inches from the body it belonged to. Aster went pale when he recognized his father. But he quickly looked away at the child slightly behind. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

”Aya! Step back!”

The man turned to him, and Aster had to stop himself from taking a step back as he felt crushed by his aura. He had nothing to defend himself with, much less to fight on, except a hunting knife. But the soldier quickly turned away from him to grab Aya before she could escape. Her tears redoubled.

“Please,” she sobbed.

The man raised his sword once more.

“No! Don’t hurt her!” Aster begged.

“Aster…” Aya called, turning her big blue eyes towards him.

“Let her go!”

The weapon descended, leaving a long scarlet trail behind.

“No,” Aster gasped.

He collapsed to his knees, his legs suddenly unable to support him. The man walked toward him with a quick step, but Aster could only give him a lifeless look. He grabbed him by the collar of his woolen tunic. Aster shivered when the dark and relentless eyes fell on him.

"Pitiful," he said scornfully.

A spark briefly lit Aster's brown irises as the man threw him to the ground. He aimed the sword straight at him. But Aster drew his hunting knife and rushed forward, shouting in rage. However, he barely heard his scream of rage as his opponent’s steel touched his skin and the pain seized him.

He slumped to the ground, his hands pressed against his stomach. But he couldn't hold back the blood, which quickly soaked his fingers.

“Aster.”

The bodyguard sat up, suddenly coming back to reality. He met Raviel's silver gaze, shining with concern.

“I ... I woke you up?” he asked in a low voice.

Raviel shook his head.

“I wasn't sleeping. But…I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he added hesitantly.

Aster shrugged.

“I'm fine.”

Still, tears clouded his eyes. He stifled a sob and wiped them away angrily.

“You shouldn't waste your time like this. I am just a slave.”

He turned his head away not to see the sadness invade Raviel's face.

"Do you still think I think of you as such?" He whispered.

Aster didn't answer.

“I’ve never seen you as a slave.”

Aster finally decided to face him again. He knew that Raviel was sincere. And if at one time he had only seen him as his master, this was no longer the case today. Raviel was much more than that. He had rescued him from the clutches of Mordax, had protected him, had offered him a reassuring presence, and had broken his loneliness. He understood his fears, worried about him, and smiled with him.

“I know,” he breathed.

"So please don't treat me like I’m a stranger."

"I'm not treating you like you’re a stranger," Aster replied gently.

He moved away slightly so that Raviel could sit next to him.

"What do you dream of at night?" Aster whispered.

Raviel's face darkened.

“Many things.”

He said nothing more, and silence quickly filled the air.

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