I have no idea what I was waiting for.
After living with the Wraith Lords, I didn't doubt that the tales of the Corrupter's castle were true. This meant the castle and the surrounding land were protected by a wall of impenetrable shadows. Sort of like the wards around the Wraith Citadel and the Imperial Castle except very visible. In a way, that was considerate. It warned people and animals before they walked into it. For me, however, it sucked ass. Xae and Rath were probably searching for me, but I was in the one place they couldn't find. Well, they could find it, but they couldn't get to it. My men could be standing on the other side of the Corrupter's ward, so fucking close but utterly out of reach.
I had to get out of there on my own.
“Go on then,” I said to the Corrupter. “What's your version of our history?”
“The truth, Ember.” The Corrupter sighed and sat back in his chair. “The past that the Emperor has hidden.”
“You mean, there's something worse than the immortal races enslaving humans?”
“Not worse or better. It's just the truth.”
“Let's hear it then.” I started eating, focusing on my plate. As beautiful as the Corrupter was, his beauty was twisting in my mind. He was making those refined features and luscious hair look ugly.
“Before there were immortals, there were only mortals,” the Corrupter began.
My head jerked up.
“Humans populated this world. Only humans. They didn't understand the magic around them. The holy elements were unknown. But eventually, some of them began to learn. They looked closer. Listened harder. Immersed themselves in the magic of their world. And the magic accepted them.”
A shiver went down my spine. “No.”
“Magic infuses all things on Varr,” he went on. “All but humans. Have you never wondered why?”
“Magic does infuse humans. It's just not enough to give them power over the elements. All but me.”
“Ah! Very good. Yes, the magic in humans is equivalent to that found in animals. Because they evolved from animals. They hold that connection inside them. That link to the beasts of this world. We immortals recharge our magic by consuming plants and animals, taking their small portion of magic into ourselves and using it to fuel our immortality.”
I leaned forward, my food forgotten. No one had ever explained that to me before. Not even the mages. “Go on.”
“The humans who took an interest in the elements found magic outside themselves. They found it and rejoiced in it. It called to the magic inside them and taught them how to embrace that magic andmagnifyit.”
“Magnify it?”
“Yes, just as you've done for your lovers. The magic took them back to the wild places, some even went into the sea. And it changed them. It changed them so much that the other humans didn't recognize them as human anymore. They grew scared of the altered people. They drew away, refusing to accept magic. Fearing it. Because those changes weren't just internal. They were also physical. Humans grew tails and horns. They shapeshifted into beasts. They sprouted wings. They developed gills. And their ears elongated into points. The other humans called them monsters.”
“Holy fuck. Are you saying the immortal races evolved from humans?”
“Yes. And that is something the immortals do not want known. They've hidden the truth in their archives, then banned those archives to all but the eldest scholars, those who guard the truth.”
“So, most immortals don't know their origins?”
“Correct. And those who do would die before they betrayed that secret.”
“Except for you. Why?”
“Because I don't fear the truth. That is our origin and there is nothing wrong with it. I don't believe humans are worthless or somehow less than I am. Their ancestors simply chose another path.”
“The Emperor said that I have magic because you have been corrupting my people for so long that some of your magic has taken root in me.”
“Yes. That's true,” he said excitedly. “And it is more than I could have hoped for, Ember!”
“Why?”
“Because now I know that empowering humans can give them the magic they lack. Maybe one day, I can make your race immortal too.”
“Immortal,” I whispered. “Do you think I'm immortal?”
