“What is it?”
“If the Protheans do end up coming because of the Signal or any other reasons, please… try to verify if they are hostiles first. We might have made many mistakes, but… “
“I truly am not interested in waging war on your kind for no reasons Suk’kulkan. Yes our anger is justified, but my people have suffered enough. I wish to grant them peace and prosperity. To heal from the wounds left by the Protheans, not to open them once again.”
Suk’kulkan starred at Akhenamen, her eyes a strange mix between surprise, pride and thankfulness.
“Then… I suppose it’s only a question of time before the Cygilites are brought back. At least under you, they will not suffer or wage war on Zenthia to “avenge us”.”
“I never said I would rule them.”
Suk’kulkan scoffed, staring at him with eyes that were definitely asking something alongside the line of “are you serious?”.
“You should stop lying to yourself. You negotiated safe passage for your people instead of asking for any sort of weapons or resources. You’re trying to reach the Grand Factory Cygislax, otherwise you would definitely not just walk aimlessly through a desert. Even if you do not see yourself as a leader, they will all see you as their savior.”
“I fear disappointing them. I have none of the qualities or competences of a leader. I have failed a family once. I gave up when I swore I would not.”
Akhenamen’s mind went back to his family, his sadness and grief had been deeply lessened by his interaction with Syllena and Saphyrra. But he still felt that to rule an entire race when he couldn’t protect a family of four? What rights did he have?
“Yet you’re still here are you not? How many times have you almost died yet kept going? How many times have you thought about others before yourself? A leader isn’t the smartest, strongest or most knowledgeable of his people.”
“He is the one who is able to unite them against a common cause. Who is able to gather reliable allies and know that he is not perfect and needs advisors. In our thousands of years of travels I have seen many many empires, kingdoms and all kinds of nations.”
“So I assure you, the Cygilites, our children, lack neither knowledge nor strength. However… they lack a figure to unite them. Give it to them Akhenamen. Give them a worthy leader and remember that you serve them more than they serve you.”
Suk’kulkan’s voice started soft before rising higher and higher, her sentence carrying far more than just words, but meaning, the true meaning behind becoming a leader. A meaning Akhenamen had to stop hiding from.
“Become their guide through the darkness of their awakening and they shall follow you into the Empty.”
“Become their peace bringer and they will know to listen to your words.”
“Become the shoulder they can rely on through hard times, and they shall be there to support you.”
“Become their shield against any threat, and they will raise their weapons against the very gods.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Becoming the Cygilites guide and leader, it was already something the System itself was ready to encourage and reward, and now he understood that if he wished to have a true influence over this world, to help people as he once wished he had been helped.
Then it would be by leading his people to help make this world into a better one. One where no father would have to see their family die before his time. Where no children would be betrayed by their own parents.
Suk’kulkan smiled seeing Akhenamen’s eyes changing, she could see them becoming more resolute in his goal. She had lived long enough that even a small flicker in someone’s eyes could tell her a lot.
She might not have told Akhenamen the full truth of who she was, but it did not change her thoughts. Regrets, guilt… love for the children she had once abandoned. She did not lie. Not about that. Not after her dear Savia. She knew she had not been forgotten by her people, not someone of her rank. She had been left on purpose.
She did not know how or why, but she knew it gave her a chance, a chance to repair what she now saw as her people’s greatest mistake. She had long thought about how to help the Cygilite, how to bring them back, and who could lead them.
Now she had the answer in front of her. She had started making hundreds of plans in her head, during hundreds of years of loneliness inside this ring. She found it almost funny that all she had to do to fix that mistake was give a pep-talk to the best candidate.
She raised one of her tentacles, gently touching Akhenamen’s forehead, she transferred, almost instantaneously, two pieces of information : how to grant Cygilites the ability to feel and how to free themselves of the Disabling Commands the Protheans had hidden in their very nanites.
“Thank you Suk’kulkan. You are a good person. And I know… that Savia would be proud of you.”
“Thank you, Akhenamen. I know you will be a good leader for them. I should go back to the carriage and make sure those two kids didn’t mess up anything.”
“One last thing before you go.”
Suk’kulkan’s tentacles softly swayed around, as if pushed by some invisible wind, Akhenamen was quickly realising that despite the Protheans having a face, it was their tentacles that truly showed their current mood.
“What is it?”
He raised his hand and lifted it above her cap, gently poking it.
“I hope it will not offend you, but I really must know. Mmm… It’s firmer than I thought yet still a bit squishy.”
Suk’kulkan’s eyes were wide as she stared at him, silent, her mouth slightly open, her tentacles frozen alongside her expression, before they started to wiggle strongly as she smiled and let out a loud laugh.
“Do not be worried, it is a truly common reaction. Many people wonder if we are gelatinous or solid. The answer is a mix of both. Savia loved poking my cap too.”
Her laugh felt lighter than before, as if this conversation hadn’t just allowed him to be resolute about his future on Zenthia but had also allowed Suk’kulkan to feel relief in a Cygilite who knew the truth telling her her daughter would be proud.
“Thank you again, Akhenamen. I hope to see you again someday.”
Her body gently floated back toward the carriage, her tentacles feeling more free and light than during her arrival, while Akhenamen’s back was straighter, his shoulder feeling more light despite the added responsibility.
“What do you think about that, Ascylla?”
{We… do not know anymore. We do not like the Protheans, we doubt we ever will. But…}
“Take the time you need.”
{No. We feel we must say it. We have to if we wish to do what the Protheans thought we couldn’t. We… I need to evolve. The Protheans betrayed us all. I hated them so much for it, for their lies and manipulations. But… they are not worth my hate.}
“I’m proud of you Ascylla. It is not through hate we will rise but through hope for a better future for our kind. That is why we do what we do. That is why we fight.”
[Dad?]
“Yes Syllena?”
[You know when you said that the Prothean’s daughter would be proud of her?]
“Yes, what about it?”
[Why did you say this?]
“All children want to make their parents proud. I did too. But the truth is; they are not alone. I wish I had told my parents, my childrens, my wife… when I still had the chance to, that I am and will always be proud of them.”
“It sounds cheesy to many people, but those are the kind of words you’ll forever regret not having said until it's too late.”
[Then… we’re proud of you Dad! ( ????? ) ]
“Thank you Syllena. I’m proud of you too. I’ll always be.”
[ (っ? ? ??)?? ???) ]
***
High above the carriage, an old man was sitting down, cross legged, watching the scene that had taken place before him. A Prothean’s soul and a Cygilite talking and making up was not something he expected.
As an Authority, staying hidden when he was in his domain, the sky, air and wind, was easy. Still he had to be careful, he could feel that old monster sleeping beneath Cygislax. If as much as a grain of sand touched him, he’d be fucked.
“What do you think we should do, old friend? I can’t feel any Intent or Law in him… yet he’s clearly a Transcendent. Favored by the System maybe? But why would the System favor a Cygilite?”
An answer only he could hear reached his ear.
“Mmm. Maybe that’s not a bad idea. Let’s try that, yes.”