“People will always bow down to you,” VinWei¹Literally vin (hard) + wei (crystal) said, which immediately made Snow feel very uncomfortable. “I know we don’t treat you like that. But you need to understand that, as far as society is concerned, our actions are not only unacceptable, they are borderline criminal. So, once we leave here, we too will have to address you according to your standing.”

Snow didn’t like that one bit. But he also didn’t want to get anyone into trouble. And so he said nothing.

“Tien’Elhar²Literally tien (Heaven) + el (supreme) + har (girl child). The Heavenly Beings also known as Celestials in the common language. are sacred beings. Even if you don’t believe that, or don’t feel that way, you must never forget that that’s how other people will always see you. They are the only beings that will not kneel in front of the El’Dur³Literally el (supreme) + dur (ruler). Name given to the Emperor.”

Snow’s eyes widened in fear.

“So … I’ll be the only one standing?”

“If you’re the only Tien’Elhar present, yes.”

That was a terrifying idea, to say the least.

“You can curtsy. I will teach you how to that in a minute. But some Tien’Elhar don’t even do that. As far as a Tien’Elhar is concerned, the most important person in the world is their Chosen One. Some say that they feel that their Chosen One is the only important person, which means they don’t recognize the importance of anyone else, no matter what title they hold.”

Even so! Even if they didn’t feel that other people were important! The El’Dur was the ruler of the entire Empire! Weren’t they afraid he’d be offended if they failed to treat as such?

“You don’t have to worry,” VinWei added with a smile. “Everyone knows this. Everyone expects this. Believe me. It would be much worse if you went and knelt in front of him like everyone else. Thank the Heavens that, in this, you’re like any other Tien’Elhar?”

Snow gave her an inquisitive expression, and VinWeir couldn’t help frown in doubt.

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t realized it? You can’t kneel in front of anyone else but your Chosen One. It’s the same with all Tien’Elhar.”

Snow remembered trying to kneel near MenTar⁴Literally men (lake) + tar (wind) so he could help him, and not being able to do so. So it wasn’t just him, then? Back then, his thoughts had been filled with the need to do something, anything, to make sure MenTar wouldn’t die. He hadn’t considered the reason behind his sudden inability to bend his stubborn knees.

“The bond between a Tien’Elhar and a Chosen One is obviously invisible. The fact that a Tien’Elhar is able to kneel in front of another person is also how other people recognize their bond.”

And that was why ZaiWin⁵Literally zai (blade) + win (chaos). kept accusing him of ruining his life. Because he had apparently knelt at his feet, publicly announcing that he’d become a Chosen One, Snow finally realized.

“Once we reach the Temple, after you’ve passed all your tests and are recognized as a Tien’Elhar, we’ll hold a public ceremony where you’ll have to kneel in front of ZaiWin again. You’ll probably have to do that once more, when you’re summoned to the Palace. It’s the only way others will recognize ZaiWin as your Chosen One. It’s also the only way to make sure they won’t kill him, since his death means you’ll die as well, and no one wants to lose a precious Tien’Elhar. You’ll be his shield. Don’t worry. I’ll explain all about those ceremonies later.”

Snow lowered his head.

“Are you sure I’m really that important?”

“All Tien’Elhar are. If nothing else, because there aren’t many of you. As long as we don’t give them a reason to want you dead as well, we should be fine.”

So he wasn’t only a shield, Snow quickly concluded. He was also a sharp blade pointed at ZaiWin’s chest, should things stray from their plan.

“However, even though you could actually just tell them all to go screw themselves and no one would punish you for it, the idea is to make them think that you’re a quiet, shy, cute Tien’Elhar. To play it safe, I want people to love you and feel protective of you. For that to happen, you must be special, but not powerful enough to make others fear you or covet you. I also don’t want other Chosen Ones to feel threatened by ZaiWin’s sudden increase in perceived power. And so I want them to think that you’re beautiful like any Tien’Elhar, yes, but frail and delicate. And humble. I also think you won’t have a problem acting this part in a convincing way. And so I will have you humbly curtsy to the El’Dur and El’Dai⁶Literally el (supreme) + dai (light). Name given to the Empress. And bow respectfully to the El’Gin⁷Literally el (supreme) + gin (gold). Name given to the male children of the Emperor. Could be translated into prince in the common language. and El’Lin⁸Literally el (supreme) + lin (silver). Name given to the female children of the Emperor. Could be translated into princess in the common language..”

Snow nodded, now completely focused on her words.

“But that’s how far it goes. You will not recognize anyone else’s position. You can’t appear to be too humble, or others will think they can do whatever they want to you, whenever they want to. So you will have to keep your head high, when facing the Janwan⁹Literally jan (flower) + wan (fire). Could be translated as Concubine.. And believe me, that won’t be easy. Some of them will most certainly quickly become your worst enemies. They will hate the fact that ZaiWin will be in a position to claim the throne, the same as their children. Of course, such thing has never happened before, and the El’Dur’s successor has always been one of the El’Gin. But the law does dictate that all Chosen Ones are equally rightful heirs to the throne, and they will not appreciate that the number of heirs has just increased. All Janwan obviously support their own children in this matter, and they can be much more fierce in the way they defend their children’s positions than the El’Gin and El’Lin themselves.”

Snow nodded again.

“Besides, even though you are obviously above them all, ZaiWin is not. He will have to put up with them, no matter what they throw his way. And believe me, they will do their best to humiliate him and undermine his position. But you must never get angry or argue with them in his defense because of this. You must always remember that you’re supposed to be a quiet, timid Tien’Elhar. And that ZaiWin is a big boy. He’s not only used to dealing with such things, but he can also fend for himself, should he choose to do so.”

Snow nodded. He had no doubts ZaiWin was strong enough to defend himself if needed. Unlike the idea of being the only one standing in a hall full of important people prostrating before the important El’Dur, he couldn’t foresee having any problems regarding what VinWei had just told him.

“Now. So you can understand. Stand here,” she told him, grabbing his shoulders and placing him with his back to the wall. “The El’Dur and El’Dai will be probably be sitting on their thrones, placed atop the imperial dais, when you meet them. But if not, or if you happen to cross paths with them outside, they will bow to you like this,” VinWei said, taking one step back and lowering her head.

Snow’s eyes widened in panic.

“They will bow to me?”

“Of course. Haven’t I been telling you that you’re a holy being?”

Yes! Yes she had! Multiple times. But every time those words left her mouth Snow couldn’t help feeling that they sounded very much like a big hoax.

“El’Dur or not, in the end, he is just a man. There are lots of people who can take his place,” VinWei declared, waving a dismissive hand.

“You, on the other hand, will curtsy like this,” she went on, lowering her head again and slightly flexing her knees. “You’ll just do it once and be more or less quick about it. Almost like saying hello. You can even say it inside your head. Like this. Hello.” She repeated the curtsy.

“The El’Gin, El’Lin, and any other Chosen One will bow down to you like this.”

She bent her body forward from the waist.

“Some will probably just make a mock of it. You must never buy into any of their provocations.”

Snow nodded. He doubted he would feel offended at the fact that someone hadn’t bowed low enough.

“You will bow your head back, but only your head, like this,” she showed him again. “Remember, no matter what, you’re above them all. You’re just being respectful, that’s all. And you will only bow your head to the royals. Other Chosen Ones you can nod in appreciation if you want to, but that’s it.”

Snow couldn’t help grimace at that.

“Everyone else will actually kneel in your presence,” VinWei went on and, with all the elegance expected of a noblewoman, she knelt down in front of him.

Snow couldn’t help stare at her in a near panic, his heart beating faster inside his chest. It was awkward and strange. More than strange!, he decided the next instant. He didn’t like it one bit!

His distaste must have been so clear that VinWei smiled up at him.

“You’ll have to get used to it,” she simply stated and he nodded.

“People will kneel and won’t look up at you,” she said, lowering her head. “Looking someone of importance in the eye is considered disrespectful. And most of them will actually prostrate themselves in front of you,” she went on to exemplify, placing both hands on the dark floor and bending forward until her forehead almost touched the rough stone.

Snow felt really nervous, imagining a room full of people behaving like that in front of him.

“In public events, they will not rise unless they’re told to,” VinWei went on, her voice sounding muffled. “But it’s not up to you to tell them to do so. Also, when meeting outside, they may happen to kneel down like this and ask you for a blessing. They will not stand up again until you do so.”

“Blessing …? What blessing?”

VinWei raised her head and smiled up at him.

“I will teach you what to say in such situations, don’t worry.”

Snow didn’t know if that should tranquilize him or make him feel even more nervous.

“Now, of course not everyone will kneel like this at your passage. If people serving you would have to kneel like this every time they saw you, no work would ever get done. So servants caring for your needs will mostly bow like I’ve shown you before. This is also the reason why Tien’Elhar’s movements are normally restricted. If they were allowed to freely wander around, people would have to spend their lives on their knees.”

How stupid was that?, Snow wondered feeling slightly annoyed. So he wouldn’t be able to freely walk around because someone had decided to instate a bunch of idiotic rules?

The sound of voices reached his ears and, true enough, ZenTar¹⁰Literally zen (silent) + tar (wind) and ZaiWin stepped into the cave.

“It’s getting late. Isn’t this enough for today?” ZaiWin was asking, but then they were both frozen at the entrance, looking at the picture inside with complicated expressions.

Still on her knees, VinWei raised her head and glared angrily at them.

“What are you two doing, just standing there? You’re in the presence of a Tien’Elhar! Act accordingly!” she demanded angrily and Snow couldn’t help looking at the both of them with a panicking expression. He hoped they would, at the very least, laugh at her. Doubt her insanity or something like that.

Without as much as flinching, they both stepped inside to stand beside VinWei.

Snow closed his eyes as if he were standing before a horror scene. If they were going to kneel like she’d done, he’d rather not see it.

“People are paying their respect to you. Don’t you think it’s rude to close your eyes and refuse to look at them?” VinWei reprimanded him, and Snow’s eyes immediately popped open.

He really didn’t know what to do. He felt so nervous that his legs were even trembling. And he couldn’t help swallow dry when both ZenTar and ZaiWin knelt down right in front of him and pressed their foreheads against the dark stone floor, like VinWei had done.

He felt sick, Snow thought, his gaze fixed on ZaiWin’s bent back, his long dark hair sliding over one of his shoulders and pooling on the ground beside his head. He really wanted to go to him and pull him back to his feet. His chest hurt. He couldn’t breathe. In fact, he couldn’t stand it another second, he suddenly decided, and simply ran out of the door.