The Cursed King

"What are we, Alexei?" Elise asked at last. When the two of them entered the room to talk in private, Elise decided to simply ask and get it over with. There was no need for any more delays.

"We?" Alexei raised a brow as he pulled out a chair for her. "Uh, how about you take a seat first, Elise?" 

"Are we really going to need to sit down?" Elise asked. "It's just a simple question with one answer."

"I know that, but I assure you that you might want to take a seat first." Alexei insisted. Once Elise sat down, Alexei went over to the other side of the table and then sat down. "So you want to know what we are?"

"Yes. I know you tried to tell me I'm someone ordinary that just awakened her powers, but I'm done trying to deny and convince myself that I'm just like everybody else," Elise said.. "So what did you really mean by saying I'm someone like you?"

"...Well, that's," Alexei rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to say yes right away. "I mean you're not wrong, but I can't confirm it either. It's a gut feeling and until I know for sure, you must not take my suspicion as the truth."

Some of them were born immortals, and some were gifted the immortality potion which made them part of the same kind, immortal beings which many humans called gods.

Now, which one was she? Alexei was wondering.

"What do you mean?" Elise frowned. "You said that I'm just like you. Isn't that what you helped me for in the past? Because I'm like you and your friend?"

It seemed like Alexei couldn't wait for somebody else to tell Elise the news, he needed to do it himself. He hoped that he'd take the news well as he broke it down gently.

"I can't exactly ask if you participated in the trial of Cretea since you lost your memory and all, but the thing is, I believe you're immortal like me," Alexei said. 

"Cretea?" Elise raised a brow.

Alexei averted his gaze. If he was wrong about Elise's immortality then it was best to keep that one a secret. "Humans in the past have called us gods due to our innate ability to connect to the world's magic and you've witnessed that already."

"...gods?"

"Yes?"

Elise stayed silent after that.

"Er, I probably shouldn't have said that last part right away." Alexei quickly stood up from his chair and stared at the silent woman. Even though he knew Elise was shocked, he still worried about her. "Do you need water or a minute to calm down?"

After a couple of seconds, Elise shook her head. "No… no, I'm fine. I can take this information." She massaged her head for a moment and breathed in deeply.

"Are you sure?" Alexei asked. "I'm not the best with words and you're looking pale."

"This is just one of the many things I've yet to know." Elise already discovered that she was pregnant twice before, so what was so shocking about immortality and godhood? 

These were just other matters that Elise herself didn't know about. 

"Okay, if you say so." Alexei looked at Elise doubtfully before he sat back down and leaned back on his chair. "I think that's everything that I have to say about our origins, Elise. Even if you cannot remember, your entire being exudes certain energy that all immortals contain."

Elise took all of that information without much doubt and instead, decided to ask a question that was burning at the back of her head. "If you're a god… or immortal. Why are you staying around humans?" 

"I'd ask the same question to you as well." Alexei chuckled. "You seem to enjoy life as a regular human. You even fall in love and got married. That very rarely happens, you know."

Elise frowned at him. "You already know I can't answer that. I spent the majority of my life thinking I'm like everybody else. My answers would not be sufficient."

Elise still needed to digest the information she received from Alexei. It was so hard to believe, sounding so crazy and impossible, yet… she didn't even have the slightest suspicion that Alexei was lying.

"Very well… you have a point there," Alexei chirped. He rubbed his chin and finally answered Elise's question. "I guess we are just bored, I am speaking for Baron and myself. For us, it's fun to live among humans and lead different lives each time. It's like entering a movie and played a part that we can choose and leave when we have enough."

"So, are there many immortals like you in the world?" Elise asked again.

Alexei shrugged. "Yes. But not too many. Mostly they keep to themselves. I don't always recognize them if we meet."

"Do all of them have powers like us?" 

"Ah, you mean… like this?" Alexei twirled his index finger and created a small fire at his fingertip. Elise nodded. The man smiled. "Not all. Only special people have powers."

"Oh…" Elise became more intrigued. So, she was part of the special people who had these magical powers. How did she have her powers? Did she learn them? Was she gifted naturally?

Ahh.. so many questions!!

She thought she would feel relieved when she found out who she was, but why did everything seem more complicated than she ever expected?

"I know, this is a lot to take in," Alexei said sympathetically. "You should sit down and think about it. Once you are ready, we can talk more and I will answer your other questions."

Elise bit her lip. She realized Alexei was right. She heaved a long sigh and closed her eyes. Then, she cupped her face with her hands and tried to force her mind to remember.

It was in vain. Nothing came to her, not even glimpses of memory. Now that she heard from Alexei that she MIGHT be an immortal, Elise was suddenly reminded of her dreams in the past. She sometimes would see herself in a beautiful palace.

Was it… part of her memory fragment?