“And there’s never been a case when a Celestial has made a mistake. When they just came out a few days later and decided that their Chosen One wasn’t the one after all,” ZaiWin tried to confirm.

VinWei’s eyes widened in disbelief, her shocked expression as she stared at him as if she were sitting next to a madman.

“That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. You do know that the bound between a Tien’Elhar and his Chosen One, once established, is unbreakable, right? If they could renounce it, just like that, would they get sick and even die when their Chosen Ones deviate from the righteous path?”

Snow looked at ZaiWin, at his conflicted expression, no less shocked than VinWei had been. What had she meant by that? That he would die if he … what? And what was that righteous path she was talking about? No matter how much he looked at that cold, rude man he didn’t look like a righteous type of person at all!, Snow concluded with a deep frown. And why would he have to pay for whatever that unfeeling man might decide to do? He didn’t even remember having chosen anyone or whatever they believed he’d done! He really wanted to voice out his indignation right then! As if that weren’t enough, as he stared at him, the darkness returned, massing all around him, covering him in dark, wavering shadows, until the figure of the cold-faced man was completely gone. What in the world was righteous about that?, he wondered angrily.

“So they have never, in the entire history, regretted their choice,” ZaiWin insisted and VinWei sighed.

“Even if they did, what could they do? Tien’Elhar are holy beings, sent by the Heavens with a sacred mission. They choose one person from our Empire as their link to this land, so that their blessings can be delivered and spread as far as possible. The one they choose is tasked with the sacred mission of protecting them and shielding them from our harsh world. If their Chosen Ones refuse or fail to uphold their mission, what can a Tien’Elhar do? They are not like us. They don’t know how to harm others, how to look for revenge, how to use violence to get what they want. They are a blessing sent by the Gods and they trust their Chosen One to keep and protect the light that they are. If the first one to betray that holy bound is exactly the one tasked with protecting it, what do you expect them to do?”

“I don’t know! Kick them in the butt and send them flying, that’s what I’d do!” ZaiWin grunted, clearly annoyed, and VinWei laughed, patting his leg.

“Sure you would. And that’s why you’re not a Celestial,” she laughed again. “You know the Tien’Elhar are all very private about their personal matters.”

“Bunch of stuck up snobs, if you ask me!”

She sighed.

“Whatever the case. They don’t really like to discuss such matters. And so there isn’t really much we actually know about the nature of the bound that is established when they select their Chosen Ones. All we know is that it is unbreakable, that it lasts for a lifetime. And that, most of the times, when they die their Chosen One doesn’t last long either. On the other hand, when the Chosen One dies first, the Tien’Elhar also dies almost immediately. And that’s why the Empire tries to keep the Chosen Ones safely guarded inside the Palace, no matter their original bloodline. Especially since nowadays, since most of them are chosen while they’re still children.”

Snow squinted his eyes, wishing he could see his expression right then, if he’d been caught off guard again, or maybe gotten angry, or even scared, but it was no use. No matter what he did he could only see those blue eyes that were now looking down at the blue carpet beneath their feet, as if he were pondering about something.

So, no matter what the dark monster did he could not kill him, Snow concluded, reflecting on the woman’s words. If ZaiWin died he died. If he died, ZaiWin might live? And how was that even remotely fair? Above all he was glad he hadn’t tried to kill him back at the Fortress, when the thought had firstly crossed his mind as part of one of his escape plans.

“This bound you’re talking about. It has to be accepted by both parts, right?” he asked again and Snow’s attention immediately perked up.

“Yes. It is offered by the Tien’Elhar and it is accepted by his Chosen One.”

“And no one ever refused it?”

“Refuse?! Why would they? Being chosen by a Tien’Elhar is the greatest honor one can receive! The entire Empire will recognize and bow down to that person! They also automatically become one of the possible heirs to the throne, once the present El’Dur departs from this world. Besides, like I said, it brings good fortune and prosperity to ones entire Province. Who would ever refuse such a blessing?” VinWei asked, her expression glowing in clear adoration and enthusiasm. Anyone watching her could easily guess that she herself had attended a lot of those so called Ceremonies, in hopes of becoming one of the lucky ones.

Who indeed, Snow wondered, looking at the mass of darkness occupying the armchair next to her.

So that was the real reason why they were here, he begun to understand. Because he might not remember choosing him, but ZaiWin most certainly hadn’t accepted any bound he might have offered him, or whatever that woman was talking about. The dark monster wanted to get rid of him, of that much he’d been certain since the beginning.

He didn’t know why, but ZaiWin had openly pointed out, more than once, that Snow was bound to lead him to his death. Not that Snow had wanted him dead, not really, he considered. And so the monster’s words had never made sense, until now. The truth was that Nox ZaiWin had probably wanted to kill him all this time, and simply hadn’t done so because he was afraid he might die as well.

Snow could almost laugh at the irony. As if his life hadn’t been bad enough up till then! He had to go and bind himself to some guy he didn’t even know, who he didn’t want to be close to, who wanted him dead, and who he couldn’t kill even if his life depended on it. Just great! So what was he supposed to do? Just sit there and wait until that cold, unfeeling man found a safe way to put an end to his life? That is if he didn’t go and do something considered outside of that righteous path the Jundai had mentioned and get him killed anyway!

Fine! He could get that ZaiWin hadn’t wanted to be bound to him, and that he hadn’t asked for any of this! But he didn’t want to be bound to him either! All he had ever wanted was to be free! And now they were both apparently stuck together in that shitty situation.

So maybe he was right, Snow considered, his anger cooling down a bit. Since they really hadn’t form a true bound yet, maybe there was a way to undo the whole thing. After all, that’s the reason why ZaiWin had come here in the first place. And if there was a way then, once that was done, they would see who’d kill who. He’d kill him first and make a run for it, Snow decided, settling his indignant heart. And until the right time came he’d simply be a good boy and play along.