Change Of Plans

The empire. Nir and Rain are on the carriage on the way to the castle.

The carriage arrives at its destination, stopping right next to the statues.

The soldiers are starting to get off. Some who are wearing empire armor come from within the chamber of the carriage and some wearing leather armor, who sat next to Nir and Rain.

Those with the leather armor start removing it, as if to not identify with it in public and in front of the castle. Underneath that armor, they are wearing a shirt with a minimal drawing of the two statues.

The friendly soldier decides to first undo the ties, releasing Nir and Rain. He then removes his leather armor as well. As he does that - his vision is distorted for a moment. Nir notices that, but instead of thinking about running away - he thinks about how this guy is lowering his guard on purpose, to either signal they won’t be able to escape no matter what, or to just show they are friendly and there is truly no reason to run away.

“Alright. Let’s meet her”. - He says, showing them the way forward into the castle.

They walk with the rest of the soldiers to the entrance. The doors to the main hall are already open. They enter and walk straight.

They reach a well lit area with a throne, and a mighty looking empress sitting on it.

“Empress! As promised…” - He gets interrupted - “My special delivery! Well done Ranmei!” - She jumps off of the chair and bounces towards them happily”.

Nir and Rain both notice his name is somewhat familiar.

-”Thank you, empress!” - He replies, overjoyed.

-”So here are my special little prizes…” - She claims as she studies them from up close, with no sense of boundaries - “...My delicious treats!”

-”Are you…” - Rain mumbles in confusion - “...Planning on eating us?”

Ranmei tries not to laugh: “Pfff”. The rest of the soldiers seem to be trying their best too.

-”You think I want to eat you?” - The empress asks.

Nir and Rain look at each other.

The soldiers cannot take it anymore and burst into laughter: “HAHAHAHAHA!”

-”Why would you think that? Is that what they told you in the village?” - The empress asks Rain.

-”You just said we are delicious treats”. - Rain answers.

-”You definitely are”. - The empress insists. “My soldiers here said they encountered a ‘mighty female warrior who resembles the goddess and never misses an arrow’, that was already one reason to bring you here alive”.

Rain blushes from the compliments she received by the empress. Nir isn’t sure as to what to think of that, wondering if the empress leans to that direction, or just lacks boundaries left and right.

“Soldiers! Leave the room at once! Let me have some time with my darlings”.

-”YES, EMPRESS!” - They yell as they turn and leave.

Ranmei stays in place.

-“It’s okay Ranmei, I’ll be fine”. - She tells him.

-”Yes, empress”. - He tells her and leaves too.

-”So… Did you figure out the rules of this world yet?” - She asks them.

Nir looks at Rain. She looks back at him and nodes, as to signal she understands what he means. They are factually in another world. No question about it anymore.

-“We have hearts above our heads. We seem to be able to use them”. - Rain says.

The empress looks at them. She seems to be thinking hard for a few moments, as if trying to understand something. -”Hmm... You’ve never killed before, have you?” - She asks while looking at Rain.

-”Me? No, I have never killed anyone”. - She replies. “What are those numbers above our heads?”

-”Your hearts. If you have never killed, every year it increases by one, and one day, not knowing when, you will die one way or another. For example, Ranmei, my trusted subject. His hearts count shows ‘35’. Each year it increases by 1.

-”Oh, so that is indeed why we had the same number…” - Rain says while looking at Nir.

-”But you…” - The empress says, looking at Nir as well. Your numbers work a bit differently.

-”How so?” - He asks.

-”You killed... Haven’t you?”

-”What better choice did I have while fending for us? I did it to…”

-”I wasn't judging you. I simply knew you already killed because my vision is improved compared to most people”. - She gets back to her point. “Your numbers work differently. Every year, you will lose one heart, and you will die when it reaches zero.”

-”What??!” - He gasps in panic. “Why?”

Rain covers her face in shock.

-”Those are the rules of our world”. - The empress says.

-”So having 12 hearts remaining, I will die at the age of 30 no matter what??”

-”Not at all.” - She replies. “In this world you can even live forever… If u kill for it. Every time you kill someone - you get their hearts”.

-“Wait... In that battle I managed to decrease my hearts on my own…” - Nir tells her.

“On your own, huh? Without receiving a blessing first? That is extremely odd… Maybe it’s the effect of summoning you here”.

“You... Summoned us here?” - Rain asks, surprised. How can we get back??”

-”I'm not aware that it’s an option”. - She replies to her.

-”That's a violation of our rights!” - Rain yells, traumatized by facing that reality.

The empress suddenly makes a very serious face. -”Do you believe in your right to die?” - She asks, looking straight into Rain’s eyes.

-”So if we don’t fight for you… You will just kill us? How is that any different from the village-people?”

-“No. You got it wrong”. - Says the empress. My skill to summon from another world is not a skill to create a warrior for the empire. It’s a skill to save someone from certain death”. - She explains. “In your world... You were dying, weren't you?”

Rain is speechless.

“Apparently if I lose focus for even a second… You may spawn someplace else”. - She claims, realizing that’s the reason they didn’t spawn inside the empire. “Anyway, this is your reality now… How could you even tell your hearts are decreasing? If you don’t get a special skill from the statue to see other’s hearts, it’s not just strange you can use them… It’s strange you even know you have them”.

-”You mean since it’s hard to look up? I told him. I reported to him mid combat”.

-”You say you can see each other’s number?” - The empress asks. “That’s interesting”. - She mumbles to herself, smiling.

-”His heart count got reduced to ‘1’, and then when he killed him…” - Rain says, hoping she doesn’t enter a bad territory for Nir.

-”I got 18 back”. - Nir completes her sentence. “Does that mean he had exactly 17 hearts? was he… Just a kid? But he had armor… He seemed so experienced”.

-”So you got your 18 hearts back, but now you transformed your hearts”. - The empress summarizes. “What happened is as follows: If he was wearing our armor, he wasn’t a kid, so you getting 17 hearts just means he had 17 hearts left. You understand? Because he already killed before. In this world you grow old, never having to spend a heart… And you couldn't even if u wanted to. You can only spend hearts if your hearts transform”.

-”So basically... If we kill”. - He understands.

-”Correct. There are criminals, wars and even successions that allow the transfer of hearts. But all of those require killing. However, if you share a bed with someone who did, your hearts transform as well, and you sync your hearts to be 50%-50%”.

-”Wh…” - Rain barely manages to react.

-”I said ‘your numbers work differently’ - meaning the both of you. I assume that’s how your numbers transformed as well? I was just addressing him since he is the one who killed before. I can see a lot with my vision. You currently have 9 hearts. The ‘mighty female warrior who resembles the goddess’ surely doesn’t seem to look 9 years old. If you used hearts - it means they are already transformed”.

Rain looks down. She doesn’t take this well.

-”Anyone who has ever killed, or slept with someone who did - will not age. Ever”. - She explains. “Some people in this world do whatever it takes to live forever. Some stand for something greater than themselves”.

Nir is also in complete shock. It is a lot for them to process.

“In our empire those who live normally age normally, and if parents or grandparents choose to bequeath their hearts to the next generation, they transform them… By letting themselves be killed at old age - instead of dying naturally. Living normally can get you a lot of hearts. Most people with transformed hearts join the empire's empress guard, and protect the empire. And me, the empress. That is of course mutual. I protect them as well. As well as those who can’t contribute hearts directly. They contribute by living normally, working jobs, and making families”.

-”I see…” - Nir replies. “So they ‘generate’ hearts for the empire in the long run as well”.

-”Exactly”. - The empress replies.

“Look. I’ll give it to you straight. I summoned you not specifically to save you, but because I earned that skill. Hopefully, you can contribute to the empire. The truth is… You can even live a normal life here if you want… But, remember what happens in a few years if you don’t kill anyone. And it’s not like you will be forgiven for killing people without a reason if you suddenly want to get some hearts. I suggest you join my empress-guard. That lifestyle could suit you, knowing you managed to survive living in the village as outsiders. Just remember: The empire will win no matter what. We don’t need you specifically for victory. In fact…” - She suddenly looks dangerous, with her eyes shining in multiple colors as she looks at Nir and Rain and sees their age, their hearts, their skills, their kills - all in different colors - “…We don’t need you at all”. - The empress says, as her aura starts changing the temperature in the room.

She suddenly switches back to her normal mannerism, looking more cheerful. “I’ll personally show you to your rooms. You will be allowed to live in the castle, but if you don’t join the guard… In a month from now you will start paying rent. You are not above any citizen here”.

The empress goes in between them, saying: “Follow me”. They both follow. Nir looks at Rain. She doesn’t look back at him. Neither say anything. They reach the room and enter. Let me or one of the guards know if you need anything. Or… If you decide anything”. - She tells them. She then leaves.

Both of them stand quiet for a few seconds.

-”Rain… I…”

-”So you transformed my hearts”.

-”I didn’t know this would happen”. - He answers.

-”Wherever you go - I follow you. And when I stop - you follow me, as if to make sure I’ll end up following you again”. - She says.

-”I just want us to stay together!”

-”Why?” - She asks.

-”Why do you think?”

Rain doesn’t say anything.

“Look, I think the empress has got the wrong idea. Do you think your hearts will transform just from being in the same bed? She probably meant something slightly different. It realistically happened because she summoned us. Didn’t she suggest something about it herself? Think about it, our hearts are not in sync”.

-”You are probably right”. - She says quietly. “But… She summoned us - saving us from death. I didn’t ask to die for you to stand up for me!” - She raises her voice, while some tears are starting to show.

Nir is suddenly quiet for a few seconds, lowering his head. His tears are seen falling onto the carpet, leaving small marks.

-”I died for you too”.