I actually never got a copy until I was brought to the Little Palace. They keep it in the library, there.
I wasn't as interested as I should have been, except for the parts about Morozova's stag. The amplifier I mentioned, made by Sankt Ilya from his finger bones.
It's just one of those things everyone knows about but doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about.
That's not surprising. Do you think things would be different regarding the way you're thought of by Ravka as a whole if you'd been a public figure before?
Definitely the latter. Maybe not the former. Sometimes when people know you, know of you, for so long, is hard for them to accept that you're more. Being an unknown quantity is very powerful. They're not going to have a choice with you, soon enough. They'll have to take you seriously.
Sometimes I want to look up my poster sales, but I know better.
The fame was part of the appeal. First person in ten thousand years to become a lyctor. You could get posters of all of the lyctors, and here I had proved I was good enough despite everyone thinking I wasn't capable. I proved that it was possible. Should have been an inspiration to young necromancers throughout the Empire.
But that was before I knew what was really going on, what it meant to be a lyctor, because of course that was kept from everyone. And that nobody really cared. My own parents didn't even celebrate my ascension.
Checking the sales would just prove that I'm the least liked lyctor. And I already know that.
If the lyctors are so important, why didn't they celebrate? I don't understand. You seem to be quite the patriot. I don't see why anyone wouldn't like you for it.
Because I'm not Coronabeth. I played my part too well.
Corona was captured by Blood of Eden - the insurgents - at Canaan House shortly after everything went to shit, along with the other survivors that weren't me and Harrow. Neither of us even knew. When John showed up to collect us, they were gone. No bodies, just gone. So they were declared dead.
My parents were notified, just like every House was, of the dead and of the two new lyctors. To my parents, I was a lyctor, and Coronabeth was dead. They declared our birthday as an official day of mourning.
And now that you've learned that she's not dead? I know it doesn't undo the grief, but surely there's no reason for a memorial.
[ ianthe thinks she's a terrible person so often, but in this moment, alina can't help but feel awed that ianthe persists in loving coronabeth, where alina would have learned to hate her for this. ]
[Bold of Alina to think Ianthe doesn't also hate her sister.]
I've never believed she was dead. Corona's too fucking dumb to die, and I know I'd feel it if she did. But that's not the problem. I can't tell them she's alive. I can't two anyone in the Nine Houses.
What I'm going to tell you, you can't tell anyone. Okay?
[ it's a little validating, being brought in on such secrecy. to feel trusted, included. equal. it shouldn't feel thrilling. she should still feel sorry for ianthe, still be focused on the pain she's discussing, but it heals something in alina. just a little. gives her something that she'd been longing for with aleksander. ]
It's complicated. It depends on which BoE you ask.
There are disputes over ancient treaties that were intentionally written in a way that take advantage of ignorance. Disputes over the Empire's expansion practices and military presence.
Which are all valid; I'll give then that. But that's not what the real issue with Blood of Eden is. They believe that necromancers are abominations and need to die.
My sister is trying to survive and take advantage of the situation she's in; she was their prisoner and is in love with the necromancer she was captured with. She's in a unique position to try and... bridge certain gaps.
I don't like it, but I can't do anything about it right now. Corona is missing some very important framework that I can't give her until I get her back.
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I wasn't as interested as I should have been, except for the parts about Morozova's stag. The amplifier I mentioned, made by Sankt Ilya from his finger bones.
It's just one of those things everyone knows about but doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about.
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I suppose having a living God does make it easy to encourage religion. Prople can buy posters of God or individual lyctors.
Are there any other saints alive aside from you?
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It's only me.
Honestly, I think Ravkans prefer dead saints. Easier to control.
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They'd see me as Ravkan.
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Sometimes I want to look up my poster sales, but I know better.
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But that was before I knew what was really going on, what it meant to be a lyctor, because of course that was kept from everyone. And that nobody really cared. My own parents didn't even celebrate my ascension.
Checking the sales would just prove that I'm the least liked lyctor. And I already know that.
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I don't understand. You seem to be quite the patriot. I don't see why anyone wouldn't like you for it.
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Corona was captured by Blood of Eden - the insurgents - at Canaan House shortly after everything went to shit, along with the other survivors that weren't me and Harrow. Neither of us even knew. When John showed up to collect us, they were gone. No bodies, just gone. So they were declared dead.
My parents were notified, just like every House was, of the dead and of the two new lyctors. To my parents, I was a lyctor, and Coronabeth was dead. They declared our birthday as an official day of mourning.
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I know it doesn't undo the grief, but surely there's no reason for a memorial.
[ ianthe thinks she's a terrible person so often, but in this moment, alina can't help but feel awed that ianthe persists in loving coronabeth, where alina would have learned to hate her for this. ]
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I've never believed she was dead. Corona's too fucking dumb to die, and I know I'd feel it if she did. But that's not the problem. I can't tell them she's alive. I can't two anyone in the Nine Houses.
What I'm going to tell you, you can't tell anyone. Okay?
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I won't.
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John knows, but he thinks she's just a tool they're using. I know what she's doing, and I'm okay with it. Mostly.
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Aren't they resisting the government you lead?
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There are disputes over ancient treaties that were intentionally written in a way that take advantage of ignorance. Disputes over the Empire's expansion practices and military presence.
Which are all valid; I'll give then that. But that's not what the real issue with Blood of Eden is. They believe that necromancers are abominations and need to die.
Sound familiar?
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I don't like it, but I can't do anything about it right now. Corona is missing some very important framework that I can't give her until I get her back.
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Or is it what you hope is true?
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Yes.