“My lord, that would be a horrible mistake,” Colonel Ire stuttered. His face went white. He licked his lips as sweat formed on his brow. “Treason? For doing what is best for my empire, the empire I love?”

“Treason for betraying the tenets we hold dear.” The Emperor stood and slammed his hands on the desk. The objects on top rattled, some falling to the floor. Xaleyp jumped, startled by the sudden noise. His voice rose with each word until he was almost shouting. “Honor. Bravery. Loyalty. Supremacy. Does that mean nothing to you? You disgrace our flag, and my father let you get away with so much shit because he was weak. He sought only his own power, and you helped him with that. That all ends today, here and now. No more fearmongering. No more tyranny. You will be punished for your actions, and you will be nothing more than a stain on our history. Who do you think you are, acting as if you are the only that cares for this empire, that you are the only one looking out for its wellbeing?”

“When someone makes the decisions that you have in these last few years, is it really that strange to believe they have less than the best in mind for the empire?”

“One man’s opinion is hardly enough for a description of causation.” The Emperor composed himself and lowered his own voice. “Now, get out. Guards, remove him.”

The two guards stepped forward, each grabbing an arm of the colonel. He shrugged them off, walking to the lift of his own accord with the soldiers following, making sure he kept moving.

“This is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made as Emperor, Seth,” Ire yelled over his shoulder. “Every questionable choice that you’ve made will look like peanuts next to this. You’ll regret this, you’ll see. By then it’ll be too late.”

The Emperor tried to ignore the Colonel’s comments but appeared to be failing. He continued to stare into Xaleyp’s eyes, tapping the stylus on the desk with rapidity.

“Who do you think has been keeping your opposition at bay?” Ire reached the lift and stopped to turn around. “The dissenters who desire a change in leadership? Why do you think they’ve never acted on their rhetoric? Me, that’s why. I’ve convinced them I can ensure you do the right things, but that’s over. You’re on your own now. Good luck.”

He scoffed as the door opened and he walked in. The guards kept their eyes on him until the lift closed and descended back to the space station. When Ire disappeared, the Emperor turned back to Xaleyp.

“That was not exactly what I was expecting to happen.,” he said, keeping his voice soft. He held up the sword for the younger boy to see. “Anyway, let’s move on to the second reason that I brought you here. I told you that there are very few who can hear the voices inside. It is said that even fewer can withstand the sword’s power without going mad. I understand if you don’t want to, but I’d like to test you and see if you’re one of those lucky few. All you’d have to do is take it and listen.”

Xaleyp considered it for a moment. This sword contained enough power that the Emperor of the largest empire in the galaxy wanted to use him for it? That would mean Xaleyp could use it to keep his friends safe. It was too late for him to save his parents, but he didn’t want to have to stand by as his friends died if he could have prevented it. Lina, Caster, Oliver, Rach, wherever she was, and now Mian. If he could keep them all safe….

Without him even aware of what he was doing, his hand wrapped around the hilt. It was cold. Too cold. Impossibly cold. He had never felt something so cold, even when his family used to take those trips into the mountains. The metal that was showing between the straps of leather tried to bind to him. Once red, the runes turned to a calming blue and green, gently swaying through the sword. But the voices pierced into his ears.

They were whispers when he entered the room. Now that he was this close, they were echoing shouts. So many of them, each vying for control of his mind. He closed his eyes to shut them out. The noise bombarded him from all directions. It was too much. He dropped the sword to cover his ears. The metal clanged to the floor, and the voices dissipated back to a whisper.

“I see.” The Emperor walked around the desk and picked up the sword. The runes were back to their original red. He stroked the blade, as if trying to soothe a wild beast. “I had thought as much.”

“I just wasn’t prepared, sir.” Xaleyp gasped for air, sitting back in the chair. Sweat was forming at his hairline and working its way down his face. “I wasn’t expecting that. Let me try again.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” The man held up a hand. “I knew the odds were going to be stacked against me.”

“Let me try again, sir,” Xaleyp insisted. He needed to be able to control it. Not for him, but for his friends. “I can do it this time.”

The Emperor considered him for a moment before holding the sword out once more. Xaleyp took it, and the immediate sensation of panic flooded into him. After a brief flash of light, the runes changed color once more, and the voices returned even stronger than before. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths, trying to push them away. After several seconds, he felt their strength waning. Somehow, he was pushing them back to the point that they dissipated until just one remained.

Power. Pure, unadulterated power was all he felt coursing through the hilt into his arm. It seemed to surge through him, flowing into every fiber of his body. He felt like nothing could stop him, as if he could take on the galaxy singlehandedly and emerge victorious.

“Oh, how long it has been since I last talked to a mortal,” the voice said. It was a deep, rumbling voice, filling Xaleyp’s entire body. A moan of pleasure followed the words, as if it were relishing the moment. “You seek strength, do you? I can give it to you. All the power in the galaxy can be yours. You just need to follow my instructions.”

Xaleyp unconsciously nodded as if to say, “Yes, voice, I will do whatever you say.”

“Strike him down.” It enunciated each word, its voice deep and commanding. “The man who gave you my sword. Kill him where he stands.”

Xaleyp felt the sword lift above his head. The action was foreign to him, as if he weren’t fully aware of it. In his head, the voice screamed out its pleasure, urging him to finish the blow. The Emperor simply sat still, looking up at him and holding his hand up to stop someone behind Xaleyp. The guards must have moved forward. Good, it would be better if they didn’t interfere.

“Do not listen to him, young one,” a fresh voice said. It was feminine and calm and soothing, far different from the first. It was also somehow familiar to Xaleyp, as if coming from a dream. “The power stored within the Cursed Sword is great indeed, but you must wield it cautiously. It is the key to success.”

After a second of silence, the two voices started arguing, piercing into Xaleyp’s head. Pain. Agony. Misery. He could hardly think as overwhelming doubt replaced the surge of ambition and power from before.

He released the sword again, and it clattered back to the ground. A deep gash ran through the floor this time. The runes returned to red. He took deep breaths to steady himself, sitting back in the chair and clutching the arms.

Is this what having power was like? Periods of intense highs followed by depressing lows? If this was what it took to keep his friends safe, it might not be worth it. The sensations flowing through him were almost too much to bear. But he had to try. They deserved that much.

“That was very good, Xaleyp.” The Emperor picked up the sword and replaced it above the fireplace. “The fact that you didn’t kill me is a good sign. There is hope for us yet.”

“What—” Xaleyp’s throat was suddenly dry. He coughed several times before he managed to talk again. “What were those voices?”

“Some believe them to be the voices of ancient gods. Razeph, Kochbiel, Dezmir, Enir, Boena, to name a few. According to legend, there was some sort of demon threatening life as they knew it. With the help of a local farmer turned swordsman, they imbued the sword with their powers, giving up their mortal bodies to strike down that venerable evil. It’s actually very good that you were able to last that long. Not going insane is always a good start.”

“What does the sword do? Why is it important?”

“That, like I said, we’re not entirely sure about.” The Emperor sat back down in his chair, stroking his chin. “It is said to be able to power a machine of immense power. We’ve searched, however, and have yet to find such a machine. But enough about that. We have more important matters we need to discuss right now. How has life been under Colonel Ire’s rule?”

“Mostly okay.” Xaleyp shrugged. “He personally kidnapped me and killed my parents, so it’s not like we’ve been best friends. Until last week, though, it’s been passable.”

“He killed your parents?”

“That’s what he told me.”

“Interesting.” The Emperor’s voice trailed off as his brow furrowed in thought. After several seconds, he came out of it. “Anyway, to our second to last matter of business. Would you be willing to fight Colonel Ire? I’d hope it not be to the death, but I cannot guarantee how he’d react.”

“ I’d like revenge, but I don’t think this is the right way.” Xaleyp shook his head. “Fighting for sport? No thanks.”

“Very well. Praetorian Fallon, I am sending you my identification code for the immediate arrest of Colonel Augusta Ire. Please see to it that he is located and detained.”

“Right away, sir.”

One guard nodded and took the lift back down into the station. The other stood watch, keeping an eye on Xaleyp to ensure he would not make another move towards the Emperor.