“I cannot be the hero.”

“Well, you are so you better accept it.” Rue stops moving.

“What about the real hero? What will happen to him?” The question was hardly above a whisper but echoed in the quiet room. A stark contrast to the earlier chaos.

“They are no longer needed. Additpnaly he can no longer claim the necklace since it’s now yours. You are a fake and still real.” Rue pulls at their hair disheveling it even more. They messed up.

“Excuse me.”

“AH!” Rue almost falls out of the window. Turning around they see their escort there. His expression as clean as his appearance. Furthermore, his speech and tone still sound like he has not only a stick but a whole tree up his ass. Rue smiles nervously.

Looking around they note several things. First Nyx is no longer around. Second their messenger bag is still on the ground with the legs of a chair somehow disappearing inside it. Thirdly they are standing in front of an open window. And lastly they were screaming or talking rather loudly this entire time with their escort right outside their door.

“heyy-” their voice cracks painfully. “I was just getting some fresh air.”

“Of course. It is now time to meet the emperor. If you would follow me.”

“Yes yes. Wait a second??? HOW DID I KNOW THEIR NAME!” Rue just realized that they started to refer to Nyx with their name inside their head???

“Did I eat any weird mushrooms lately.” Mumbling Rue again forgets their audience. Damn I look insane. Rue smiles.

“Just… had a small realization.”

“Am I right in the assumption that you are planning to wear this to your meeting with his majesty?” The escort was asking his face, hinting at disgust but it was very slight.

“Yeah? Why?”

A deep sigh and no answer. Fuck you too, Rue frowns.

“These clothes do not appear appropriate for such a meeting. May I ask where you are from? These clothes appear rather-”

“AROUND!” Rue cringes “I’m from around.”

“I see.” Rue looks around for paper to write their testament.

“Follow me please.” The escort walks and Rue follows. They walk a long way and end up at a big door decorated in red and golden accents. Though calling them accents might be too light for the vast amount of gold on that door.

The door opens.

“Welcome, chosen one.” A smooth voice greets. On the throne sits a middle-aged man with golden hair, purple clothes with gold and a blinding smile. Rue cringes internally. Something was creeping Rue seriously out. Taking the room in, they notice just how big it is. It appears even emptier due to the fact that the only other people besides Rue and the emperor are the rest of the hero’s party and a fuck ton of knights.

“Greetings your majesty.” Rue bows. The emperor doesn’t show any reaction to Rues appearance at least not openly.

“I am quite happy that we found you so swiftly. There are still 5 years until the prophesied awakening of the sleeping one. In that time, I ask of you to ready yourself. I will make sure that you have everything you need to come out victorious.” Not once did the emperor look doubtful but Rue doesn’t think that they spark a lot of confidence in anyone here that they have even a slight chance of winning.

“I will do my best to be of service.”

Translation: run as far away as possible and find the real hero. That cat thingy was probably just lazy and didn’t want to do it.

Rue’s hand goes to clutch the necklace, but they quickly catch themselves.

“Is there something you would like to say.” Rue lightly bites their lip at the emperor words. Is there?

“Do not worry you have permission to speak, Mira.” The emperor’s eyes are trained on the blue one.

“I apologize I was merely contemplating the age of the chosen one.” Rue and the blue one both cringe. Rue also notes how she is talking stiffer. Well, it makes sense since they are in the presence of the emperor

“That is an interesting question. Would you be so kind as to answer it.” The emperor turns their attention back to Rue. No matter how that sounded this was not a request.

“I…” They look around. All escape routes are too far.

“I do not think that this is something you need to concern yourself with. My age will not get in the way of my training or victory.” The judgmental one side eyes Rue.

“I do not believe that I asked you whether or not you think of the answer as important or not.”

“Well, I believe that you kindly asked me to answer and I must kindly decline.” All eyes turn to Rue. They weren’t exactly rude though that could still change but this was also no way to talk to the emperor. A complicated expression crossed the emperor before signing either in annoyance or fondness. Maybe both?

“You are hereby dismissed.” They all quickly leave.

“That’s not exactly anyway to talk to his majesty you know.” The blue one whispers to Rue wringing their hands nervously.

“Well, it’s not like I was rude or anything and he did technically ask me if I wanted to answer which makes it valid to decline.” Rue gives a sheepish smile.

“Not really…”

“Oh well it already happened no changing it now.”

The blue one seems to give up deciding Rue is not worth the trouble.

“I believe that we should train.” The calm one says. While the gentle one enthusiastically agrees and the blue one somewhat reluctantly the judgmental one gets a strange determination. This might be the most motivated Rue has seen them this entire time even if they aren’t showing it openly.

“We can show you all we can do! I promise we will be a ton of help.” The gentle one excitedly exclaims and leads Rue to some training ground. It was huge!

“You look a little pale. Are you ok, Rue?” the blue one asks them. Rue doesn’t need pity.

“And you look like you have pronouns.”

“Huh.”

Just as the gentle one promised the hero’s party showed Rue some of their spars. Even the calm one could fight. Rue decides that they are in fact fucked. Additionally, the calm one wouldn’t stop giving Rue these weird looks. Silently panicking, Rue wonders if she knew but if she did wouldn’t she have said something?

“So do you want to show us your tricks now?” the judgmental one turns to Rue.

“Sure! Yup let me just go grab something from over there. By over there I mean behind the door.” Rue runs fast enough that they don’t see the hero’s party reaction.