I'm staring at my father and it's the first time I see him genuinely smiling. For once, he forgets to guard his mind and even leaks his emotions. He feels immensely relieved that the Divementis Royal bloodline won't end with him. Everyone starts celebrating, Celestials and the Divementis alike, both for the same reasonâtheir ruler is guaranteed now.
I look at Liana and I catch dozens of excited thoughts going through her head. As usual, she's a few steps ahead of everyone else and starts to come up with numerous possible implications of my confirmed immortality and a bright future for the whole Celestial race. After all, most empires fall apart when a strong ruler dies, but that won't happen to us.
Gotrid is still clutching my hand, so he is super easy to read. I expected him to feel upset because it means that we're not sharing the same lifespan, but he's just as overjoyed as Liana and other Celestials. He doesn't care that he will die before me if it means that our race keeps its embodiment of magic forever.
I'm absorbing everybody's emotions like a sponge and I almost start to feel excited as well because immortality means that I will be able to work for the benefit of Celestials for thousands of years. For a moment, I even feel a spark of responsibility towards the Divementis. With unlimited time, I could accomplish a lot and possibly rule two races at once.
My head spins which, ironically, centres me again. Overwhelmed by the avalanche of emotions all around me, it takes me a while to realise how I truly feel. When I finally separate others from myself, dread overcomes me and I shudder.
I try to imagine living for thousands of years, but all I can think of is that I'll inevitably lose Erik, Gotrid, Liana and everyone I know. If I somehow persevere and keep on ruling so that Celestials prosper, it will be a lonely and hollow life. I wouldn't dare to fall in love only to have my heart broken again and again.
"Gotrid, can we go out, please? I need fresh air," I pull his sleeve, my voice weak. I feel nauseous and it's suddenly hard to breathe.
"Love, it's so amazing! You're amazing!" Gotrid is celebrating, ignorant of my inner turmoil.
"Our Emperor is the true embodiment of magic!" Liana is so ecstatic that she even hugs Soren out of pure excitement. "Divine!"
"Don't forget, Viceroy, that my son is just as Divementis as he is Celestial, the examination confirmed it," my father reminds her strongly. "His claim to the Divementis throne is undeniable now, so we will have to negotiate how to divide his time between us. He might be immortal, but a day still has only twenty-four hours."
"Gotrid, please," I pull my husband's sleeve again because I'm starting to get seriously dizzy. It's just too much to take in. I feel hopelessly overwhelmed by everything and everyone.
Gotrid finally notices that I'm not feeling well, just in time to catch me when I can't take it anymore and my vision goes dark. My last thought before I lose consciousness is that of Erik.