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the day of unity was getting closer everyday, and everyone was working extraordinarily hard to make sure the preparations were ready and perfect. Despite the amount of responsibilities that were placed on the scouts, the castle was running like a well-oiled machine. As you carried out your own duties, you wondered how everything ran so smoothly, and how, despite the lack of break days, and the harsh conditions everyone was working under, the coven structure from top to bottom never complained.
But then you thought about Him. A figure of excellence and power, a man everyone feared, almost equally as much as they admired, and how ironic that was. How can you love someone you fear?
Well, its not like either one was hard to do. The emperor was obviously and without a shadow of a doubt the strongest witch in the boiling isles, so fearing him was instinctive.
But, he wasnt a brute despite his unmatched strength. He was wise, and he guided everyone with compassion, using words before fists. And oh, how those words resonated. He wanted everyone's safety and happiness, and who wouldnt listen to a leader who was protecting them? After all, everyone who knew the history knew of the horrors of wild magic, and the damage it caused while it went unchecked.
Damage, that was evident on His face. The reveal of the emperor's scarred face certainly struck a chord within you. His eyes seemed so kind, despite the exhaustion and the scar apparent on his face. It appeared to you that despite what hes been through, he was kind enough to care about the fates of everyone on the boiling isles. This made you want to work harder for him.
But...still...forcing wild witches to be branded, to lock their magic away forever...that still left a bad taste in your mouth.
And as this was your mission for today, carding them off to their certain doom, you couldnt help but to hesitate. Is this really the right thing to do?
You decide to stop the carriage, despite your superior's protests.
"What do you think you're doing you idiot!" The captain barks at you "Keep driving, or I'll send you to the conformatorium as well!"
you hesitate, but decide to protest "No! I wont! I respect the emperor's orders but I can't have a hand in forcing these witches to join covens!"
Despite the mask, you can tell your captain is seething, fists balled and shaking with held back rage, but suddenly, they go still.
"Really now? well. If you really feel that way, why dont you tell the emperor that yourself?"
You freeze. He cant possibly mean-
"I'm writing you pipsqueak up, I'm sure the emperor would love to hear about your insolence, and your blatant disrespect to his orders"
You try to speak, but find that youre frozen. You know you can't get out of this now, not with this vindictive captain. He will relish your pleading and your punishment, and youd rather not give him the satisfaction of both.
That is how you find yourself in the correctional quarters, awaiting the emperor's presence with baited breath.
And it seems you dont have to wait long, as he appears quickly, entering the room and swiftly closing the door behind.
Your mouth goes dry, but you instinctively swallow, fearful and not knowing what to expect.
He begins in a very calm, level tone. Distant, and perhaps disinterested, but not insulting. "So, I hear you were causing trouble for your captain? Disobeying orders, and questioning my judgement? Well that's certainly a damning report. What do you have to say for yourself?"
You tremble.
You're trembling.
And as he turns to look at you, the golden gleam of his mask reflecting into your eyes, half-conciously, unfinished apologies begin to flow from your mouth. This gives him pause.
He holds up his palm and you shut your mouth quickly as soon as you see the gesture, as you were trained to do for years.
But then, he lifts his hand up and slides his mask off, in a move you werent anticipating.
He begins again, a small smile on his lips, and softened eyes look into you as he speaks, warmly this time
"Scout, from your records it appears you've always excelled at preforming your duties, so please just explain to me what happened out there?"
Your terror begins to fade. This is emperor belos, he's looking at you with such kindness, like someone comforting a scared animal, guiding them to safety and asking for their trust. You speak now, more clearly and consciously.
"I beg your forgiveness, Emperor Belos, I really did want to do my best to fulfill your orders, I want nothing but to help with preparing for the Day Of Unity, and to do everything exactly to the letter...But...it's not in my nature to force people to do something they dont want to do, even if they are wrong not to do it. I wish it was within my control, my Emperor, I would never do something so insulting as to question your authority, but-"
The emperor places his palm on your shoulder, and you stop talking immediately. He gently rubs your shoulder, and you relax into the touch despite yourself.
you hadnt even noticed you fell to your knees until you see him crouching in front of you.
"My dear. Thats quite alright. I understand you have great respect to me, and your speech has been heard. You are no troublemaker, you were simply assigned the wrong task. Perhaps, an oversight of your superior, really, I thought I made sure they knew their scouts well. No matter, you are in no trouble. You will be assigned a different task."
Your heart swells with relief, respect, and whats unmistakably pure devotion and love.
"You know I wouldnt force these witches to do anything if I didnt have to, in fact I've allowed them to live freely for so long" He says, in a tone so heartwrenching you almost begin to tear.
"I know, my Emperor...but I know they will find true purpose and salvation when they join their assigned covens. I believe in your divine judgment completely"
The emperor smiles at you as he stands up tall, towering over you "The Titan's judgement, my dear. Dont forget, I am but a humble messanger."
"Of course." You say breathlessly.
He leans down and grabs your shoulders, standing you up straight. You cant bring yourself to look him in the eyes, not now when you feel such crushing shame at disobeying his orders.
But you feel his fingers at your chin, gently, but sternly lifting it up, forcing you to meet his gaze. His smirk quickens your heartbeat, his simple expression doing to you what only miles and miles of running laps can normally do.
"Keep your head held high, my dear scout, you're part of the most prestigious coven there is, and your loyalty is as valuable as gold."
You salute him, head held high and heart brimming with so much emotion it feels like you're gonna explode, his presence, his smirk, his aura, his words, they're intoxicating and reinvigorating. He puts his mask on again and opens the door, but you know he's still smiling, as he offers for you to go in front of him.
The emperor is very easy to fear, and even easier to love.