Chapter 17

Aeliana stood in the cold, dimly lit chamber, her mind racing as she looked at the imposing figure before her. Tharx had summoned her abruptly, as he often did, with no explanation beyond a simple command to attend a ceremonial event. His expression, as always, was unreadable, his glowing eyes fixed on her with a mixture of authority and something else-something she couldn't quite place.

"Follow me," he said, his deep voice echoing in the empty chamber. Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward the door, his long cloak trailing behind him.

Aeliana followed, her heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. Tharx had never allowed her to witness anything of importance in his world before. Whatever this event was, it seemed significant. But the lack of explanation, the way he commanded her to observe without offering any context, only heightened her sense of unease.

As they walked through the winding corridors of the fortress, Aeliana couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a ceremonial event. There was a tension in the air, a weight that pressed down on her as they neared the grand hall where the ceremony was to take place.

They reached the entrance to the ceremonial hall, and Aeliana's breath caught in her throat. The doors were massive, towering slabs of dark stone etched with intricate symbols and patterns that pulsed faintly with an energy she couldn't quite understand. Two guards, their faces hidden behind imposing masks, stood watch at the entrance. At a nod from Tharx, the doors slid open with a low, resonant hum, revealing the grandeur inside.

Aeliana stepped through the threshold, and her eyes widened in awe-and discomfort.

The hall was vast, its ceilings soaring high above, supported by columns carved with alien runes that seemed to shimmer with life. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the light was dim, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls. The room was filled with high-ranking officials and nobility, all dressed in intricate, alien attire. Their robes were woven with metallic threads that caught the faint light, reflecting their status and power within the empire. Some wore elaborate masks, others had adornments that seemed to blend seamlessly with their skin-an unsettling reminder that Aeliana was surrounded by beings from a world far different from her own.

As she walked beside Tharx, she could feel the eyes of the attendees on her. Curious stares, sharp glances, and some filled with outright hostility. She was a human-a fragile, out-of-place creature in this world of towering figures and ancient traditions. Every step she took seemed to echo louder than it should, and her human appearance made her feel even more vulnerable in the presence of these alien dignitaries.

The feeling of isolation was overwhelming. The architecture and symbols around her were entirely foreign, each detail more complex and alien than the last. She couldn't read the runes on the columns or understand the patterns woven into the officials' robes, but she knew enough to realize that everything in this room was steeped in meaning-meaning she would never grasp.

They reached the center of the hall, where a raised platform stood. On it was an elder, dressed in ceremonial robes far more elaborate than the rest, his face obscured by a mask adorned with jewels and strange, glowing crystals. In front of him lay several strange artifacts, each one humming with a faint energy that made Aeliana's skin tingle. The elder's voice filled the room, deep and guttural, reciting prayers and invocations in a language Aeliana couldn't understand.

The ceremony began.

The elder's hands moved over the artifacts, drawing symbols in the air as he chanted. The air in the room seemed to thicken with energy, the walls of the hall vibrating slightly as if in response to the elder's words. Aeliana felt a strange pull, as though the very ritual itself was binding the rulers of this world to something far greater than she could comprehend. It was like watching a bonding of energy, not just between individuals, but between Tharx's people and the planet itself.

Aeliana couldn't take her eyes off the scene. She felt a mix of awe and confusion, struggling to make sense of the alien customs unfolding before her. Tharx stood at her side, his posture rigid, his face as impassive as ever. He fit seamlessly into this world, a perfect embodiment of the power and authority that ruled this empire. His cold mask remained firmly in place, and yet Aeliana couldn't help but watch him closely.

There was something about the way he stood-so composed, so unmoved by the strange rituals taking place-that made her feel even more isolated. He belonged here. He was a part of this world in a way she could never be.

After what felt like an eternity, the ceremony came to a close. The elder finished his final incantation, and the energy in the room seemed to settle, the hum of power fading into silence. The officials and nobility began to move, slowly dispersing from their places around the platform.

As Tharx turned to leave, a group of his advisors approached him. They spoke quickly in their native language, their voices low but tense. Aeliana stood nearby, ignored by them all, feeling the weight of their disdain pressing down on her. She didn't need to understand their words to know that they were discussing important political matters-matters she wasn't meant to be a part of.

One of the officials, a tall figure with sharp features and piercing eyes, glanced at her with thinly veiled contempt. His name was Kadrin, one of Tharx's most vocal advisors, and Aeliana had seen him before, always lurking in the shadows, always watching her with suspicion.

"Why is she here?" Kadrin asked in the alien tongue, his voice cold and cutting. Though Aeliana couldn't understand the exact words, the tone was unmistakable. "A fragile human, allowed to witness such sacred rituals? She does not belong."

Tharx's response was immediate and icy. His voice was a low growl, but even without understanding the language, Aeliana could feel the warning in his tone. He dismissed Kadrin's objections with a sharp wave of his hand, but the tension in the air was palpable.

The other officials exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of unease and disapproval. Aeliana could feel their hostility toward her growing, their disdain for her presence hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.

As the advisors walked away, Aeliana's chest tightened. She hadn't needed to understand the conversation to know what had been said. She was an outsider in this world, a weakness in Tharx's carefully crafted rule. She was being seen as a threat to their traditions, and though Tharx had dismissed Kadrin's complaints, Aeliana couldn't shake the feeling that her presence was causing more harm than good.

She glanced at Tharx, but his face was unreadable as always, his attention already focused elsewhere. He hadn't even acknowledged the tension between his advisors and herself. He had simply dismissed it, as though it didn't matter.

But it did matter. At least, it mattered to her.

Later that evening, as they walked through the fortress halls, Aeliana's mind raced with everything she had witnessed. The alien culture was so different, so complex, that she could hardly begin to understand it. The ceremony, the rituals, the hierarchy of power-it all felt so foreign, so far removed from anything she had known on Earth.

"Tharx," she said quietly as they walked. "What exactly was that ceremony about? What were they doing?"

Tharx didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained focused ahead, his expression distant. "It is not for you to understand," he said, his voice as cold as ever.

Aeliana frowned, frustration bubbling inside her. "I'm here, aren't I? You told me to observe, so I'd like to know what I just saw."

Tharx stopped, turning to face her. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something-hesitation, perhaps? But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "The rituals you witnessed are a part of our connection to this world," he said, his voice clipped. "They bind us to the land, to the empire. That is all you need to know."

"That's not an answer," Aeliana pressed. "You expect me to stay here, to live in this world, and not understand it?"

Tharx's gaze hardened. "You are an outsider, Aeliana. You will never understand."

The words hit her harder than she expected. She had known, deep down, that she didn't belong here. But hearing it from Tharx-hearing him remind her of her place-made the reality of her situation all the more painful.

"I'm trying," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm trying to understand."

Tharx's expression remained cold, distant. "Do not try too hard. There are some things you are not meant to know."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Aeliana standing alone in the dim corridor, her heart heavy with the weight of her isolation.

She was an outsider in this world-a world that would never fully accept her.

But despite the growing distance between herself and Tharx, her curiosity about him, and about the empire he ruled, only deepened. If she was ever going to survive in this place, she needed to understand more. And perhaps, just perhaps, understanding him was the key to everything.