"You're strong. Stronger than you’ll ever know." for my boy, Azarhi? :3c
(all dragons are in gijinka’d forms!)
--
“I would like you to tell me my future, Lady Eclipsim.”
Eclipsim looked at Azarhi, sitting across from her in her quarters. The young Imperial had come in the middle of the night, asking her for a favor. Already awake at that point, she let him in, and set up her things, lighting incense and candles. She had forseen him coming; she knew hours before his arrival. She had the supplies ready to do his request.
“And what would you like to know about your future, young Azarhi?” she asked, settling on the cushion in front of him, tail curling around her body.
Azarhi sat on his knees in front of the seer, hands resting in his lap, tail twitching anxiously behind him. Coming here in the middle of the night was a risk; he didn’t know if she’d be awake. Plus wandering the palace in the middle of the night? And visiting Eclipsim? No one was allowed to see her, without Janto’s permission. And he didn’t get permission.
Not with everything going on...
“I want to know what will happen in my immediate future.” said Azarhi, after a moment, “I don’t know if you can see that close, or if it has to be the distant future...”
Eclipsim chuckled, shaking her head, “Don’t underestimate me. If it’s your immediate future you wish to look into, I’ll do it. Is there any particular reason?”
He opened his mouth...before closing it. Should he tell her...? Or did she already know...?
“No matter.” she said, interrupting his thoughts, hands hovering over the low table in front of them, turning them palm-side up. She nodded to them, and Azarhi put his into hers. Her hands was warm and smooth, nails painted daintily. The tops of here thumbs gently rubbed across the tops of his hands. The air seemed to get heavy, the smell of the candles and incense further relaxing his body, the smells strong but not overwhelming. A strange, but nice combination...
After a few tense moments, her face twitched, a frown coming onto her lips.
“...You will experience great pain. Intense pain.” she said softly, almost sagely, “It’ll be the most pain you’ve ever felt in your life. It has the potential to break you. You will have to decided if you will let it, or not.”
Azarhi swallowed hard, shuddering as a cold chill went down his spine. Pain? What sort of pain? From who? From what? He wanted to ask, but Eclipsim contined.
“Then there’s a divergence in your future.” She tilted her head, “You have a choice to make. You can end the pain...or use it.”
“Use it?”
She nodded, “You can use that pain...and turn it into strength. You’ll suffer...but you can use it.”
Azarhi frowned, ears drooping. He could either use the pain...or end it? But if he used it, he’d have to suffer more. What did that even mean...? And use the pain and turn it into strength...?
“...I’m not strong enough to do that...” he said quietly, hanging his head, “I wouldn’t have the strength to use that pain. I’m too weak. I’d probably choose to end it...”
He jumped, as he felt Eclipsim reach out, taking his chin gently, and lifting his head. A kind smile was on her lips, her hand moving to cup his cheek.
“You’re strong. Stronger than you’ll ever know.” she said, gently patting his cheek, “Don’t belittle yourself like that, Azarhi. You’ll have the strength to make that decision, when it comes to it.”
“Will I?”
Eclipsim nodded, as she took her hand back, “You will. I’ve foreseen it. I can’t tell you which decision you’ll make, but you’ll have the strength to choose one.”
Azarhi looked down at his hands, as he contemplated this. Pain? A decision between two things, regarding the pain? ...Though something else came to mind...
“...May I ask one more thing, Lady Eclipsim?”
“You may.”
“...Does...any of this involve Emperor Janto?”
Eclipsim regarded him for a moment, Arcane eyes hidden behind her veil. After what seemed like forever, she slowly nodded, her voice hushed, “...Yes.”
“Oh...”
So Janto would be issuing the pain. A fearful chill went down his spine, and he went pale. Janto...would hurt him? Physically? His tail wrapped around himself protectively, as he let out a shaky breath. Janto had never raised a hand against him. The only ‘pain’ he caused was during sex, with biting and scratching and bruises, and he always treated them afterwards with the most gentle of touches. Would he suddenly change...? Given everything, though...
Shaking himself, he sat up straight, giving Eclipsim a smile, “Thank you, Lady Eclipsim. I’ll leave you to rest, then.”
She nodded, as they both stood up. With a shake of hands, Azarhi left her room, his mind whirling. Eclipsim’s predictions always came true. Her visions were never wrong. So that meant...Janto was going to hurt him. But would it be physical or emotional pain? Should he have asked? And when would it come? How could he prepare himself, without Janto getting distracted?
As he rounded the corner, he glanced up...and nearly ran right into Daasdrei.
“E-Empress Daasdrei!”
Daasdrei regarded him cooly, as he knelt down before her. With a gesture of her hand, he stood back up.
“Azarhi... Odd to see you around the palace this late at night.” she said, looking him over, “What are you doing on this side of the palace?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I was wandering around.” said Azarhi, “I like to walk around the palace, when I can’t sleep. When the nightmares prevent me from falling back asleep...”
He watched nervously as Daasdrei watched him, before simply nodding, “I hope you rest well, Azarhi. Be on your way.”
Azarhi bowed to her quickly, before going back down the hall, his pace quickened. Ever since his one encounter with Daasdrei, he never liked being alone with her. And with her not having the same powers as Janto, he could be nervous around her. She couldn’t sense it...
...Right?
--
Daasdrei watched Azari turn the corner, before looking over where he came from. He smelled of incense and candles. Eclispim always had candles and incense lit, in her quarters. Why was he in there? No doubt he didn’t have permission...
Maybe it was time to visit her, herself.
Drawing herself up, she walked down the hall to the seer’s room, knocking twice, before letting herself in, not waiting for Eclipsim to respond.
“Good evening, Eclipsim...” she said, smirking, fangs glinting in the candlelight.
She closed the door behind her.
...Moments later, there were screams.
