Aleksei sat next to Lady Selythia. There were twenty three spots at the table, with one empty chair. One was likely for a lord whom Aleksei never knew. It was as if his ghost still loomed at the table, and his presence was honored. Aleksei wanted to ask questions, but he felt as though it would be the wrong place.
Lady Selythia stood. “Tonight, we welcome Lord Aleksei to the table. He will be treated as one of ours.”
A loud cheer erupted. Aleksei almost hated it, feeling wrong. They wanted everything for him, but he wasn’t ready for it. He almost wanted to cry. He should have been happy, but a part of him was terrified.
Ildihor sat next to him. Aleksei wanted to ask him a bunch of questions, but he wasn’t sure how to ask any of them. He had a lot on his mind as he considered what would happen. He would be accepted into this elven family, yes. But somehow, even after a day, Ildihor felt like the brother Aleksei had always wanted.
“Welcome to the elven world,” Ildihor said. “By the blood of the halygor, I wish you safety and prosperity.”
Aleksei had studied mythology as a young child. But he still had no idea what the halygor was. Nevertheless, perhaps he would leave that question for his tutor. He did not, after all, want to sour the mood of the feast. Instead, he reveled in the fact that he found a place where he was truly welcome. Even if something felt wrong, he had to revel in it.
“So swear words here are often by the blood of something, right?” Aleksei said. “So by Orthanik’s blood is a bad swear, too, then.”
“Precisely,” Lady Selythia said. “but you boys should not be cursing at the table. Specifically you, Aleksei. Never curse the god who blesses you with a gift, regardless of who they are.”
“Is by Orthanik’s name okay?” Aleksei asked.
“If you mean it, it’s absolutely okay,” Lady Selythia said. “Always respect the god whom you are closest to. But if you’re not serious, then it’s not okay. Be careful with how you address the gods. But let’s not discuss swearing at the table.”
Something deep inside him felt off every time Orthanik was mentioned. It was as if something told him that there was something wrong with the curse. Because even as he said the swear word, it felt as if something was wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Aleksei flushed. His old stepmother would have slapped him if he swore. But human world swears mostly had something to do with farming. “I don’t even like swearing.”
“Your words hold weight, Aleksei,” Lady Selythia said. “Whether or not you know it. The gods are always listening. They know when you take their name without the utmost respect. Same with their creations.”
“Do I need to atone for my swears, then?” Aleksei hated the question. But he had to ask. “We had to atone for everything back in the human world. But swearing wasn’t considered a sin.”
“No,” Lady Selythia said. “You were just asking questions. But please be careful, Young Man. Especially with what they found of your magic.”
Aleksei shuddered. “There’s something you’re not telling me?”
“You need to talk to your tutor first,” Lady Selythia said. “the king forbade us from telling you the truth.”
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